Original subtitles

(majestic tone)

(gentle festive music)

- Would ya look at that folks?

You couldn't ask for more perfect

Christmas weather than this!

Unfortunately, those shots were taken in Vermont

and you live in California!

Hello, wake up and smell the latte!

Our forecast for the next five days calls for the usual:

warm, toasty, hot, scorching!

So, I hate to be the one to break it to you,

but there is not a chance of there being a white Christmas

this year within a hundred miles of where I'm sittin'.

- No skiing?

- Nope, no snow!

Not a drop, not a flake.

Except for maybe that!

Merry Christmas to you!

- I cannot believe even you would do this to me!

- Yeah, and I can't believe that this jerk

would ask me for a raise and he can't even deliver snow!

- Don't change the subject!

Look, I only get two weeks a year,

how can you give them away?

- Mary, I need you.

All right, fine, the station needs you.

You know the Channel 3 motto, three for the people?

Well, Duckworth wants more people stories

and nobody does people stories better than Mary Maloney!

- Yeah, well, I'm a people too,

and I need snow at Christmas, I need Vermont,

I look forward to it all year!

Christmas around here is all hype and no heart.

- I have all the heart you need.

- Get a transplant.

- Mary, the station needs one of those great, big

Mary Maloney Christmas stories, you know,

the kind that touch you right here!

- I hate making people feel like Christmas

has to be perfect, they end up feeling hollow

and disappointed, like I do now.

- Mary, you are looking at this the wrong way,

that's your talent!

See, you can make people think Christmas is wonderful

even though it is hollow and disappointing!

Come with me, come with me.

There's a station in St. Louis that's following

a real family as they prepare for the holidays,

the audience is eating it up!

That is your ticket, I promise you!

We're gonna find you a family and you're gonna follow them

as they prepare for Christmas.

We're gonna bring the audience right into the living room!

- Mac, how long have you been promising

that you'd move me into news?

- And I will, but you have to be a good sport,

you gotta play by Duckworth's rules.

Which reminds me, he wants you to wear this.

- You know, my contract is up in February

and there is nothing holding me here except a job in news.

- And, well...

- What does that mean?

- Well, I mean, Mary, you know,

your contract's up every year and every year

you threaten to quit but you never leave.

I mean, something's obviously keeping you here

and I have a pretty good idea I know what it is.

- You are absolutely right, I have stayed here far too long.

It is time to put my foot down

and I'm putting it down on this story!

- I, I wish you would pick it up and then put it down

then pick it up again and put it down again

because you're on in 53 seconds.

- (sighing) Letters to Santa,

it's like fingernails on a chalkboard!

Dear Santa, can you get me a new life?

- Best idea I ever had!

- No doubt.

- Hey Steve. - Hello, Mary, 30 seconds!

- Thank you.

Nice legs! - Hey, Mar.

- Do you have this? - How are my teeth?

- Good.

You look good.

- [Steve] 15 seconds.

(bell ringing)

- Hola!

- Got your bags packed?

- There's been a change of plans.

- Oh!

- And five, four - You must be really

disappointed, I'm so sorry! - Three, two...

- Well, it's that time of year again when thousands

of letters to Santa on the way to the North Pole,

and that means it's time for lifestyle's reporter

Mary Maloney to help us write our very own letters to Santa.

Mary?

- That's right, time is running out but there's still time

for you kids of all ages to write to Santa.

Thousands of letters filled with Christmas wishes

are already on their way to the North Pole

and we have just a few of them here

on loan to us by the postal service.

So, to write to Santa, all you need is some paper,

a pen or a pencil, an envelope,

and a lot of hope in your heart.

So, Dan, Rita.

Here it goes.

Dear Santa, what I would like for Christmas...

- How do you spell Ferrari?

- You haven't been that good, Dan.

- But there's hope in my heart, Rita.

- All right, now you just fold it, put it in the envelope,

and send to Santa Claus care of the North Pole.

But I have it on good authority that if you send it

to St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle,

Father Christmas, or just plain Santa,

your letter will reach the jolly old fellow.

- And Mary, what did you wish for?

- I asked for our entire audience

to have a happy and healthy holiday season.

And, of course, for all of these wishes to come true.

- [All] Ho ho ho!

(Mary laughing)

(bell ringing)

- Hey, hey, great job, great job, everybody!

Well done, well done, well done, well done!

Hey, Rita was too shiny.

Okay, good job, good job, good job.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, you people were beautiful!

Excellent as always, thank you, thank you!

You were all great, especially my Mary Christmas.

Mary Christmas, isn't that smart, huh?

- What do you need, Mac?

- Well, I had this genius idea.

Why don't we get you story from there letters right here?

I'm sure it's... - You can't open that,

that's official mail! - I'm sure Santa's

not gonna mind, I'm sure he's not gonna mind,

these are filled with ideas!

Here, we'll grab some, let's see.

"Dear Santa, please bring me a new truck,

"the one I got last year broke, love, Jared," No.

A-ha!

"Dear Santa, I've been a good person

"except when I bit my sister," No.

Here, here, here, here, here.

I'm sorry, I know we're gonna find gold here, okay!

"Dear Santa, I might be too old

"to be writing you but you are my only hope.

"My mommy died when I was two,

"Daddy and I have been alone ever since.

"He's a very good daddy! (sniffing)

"But all I really want for Christmas is a mommy,

"I think Daddy would like that, too.

"I don't want us to be alone again this year.

"I know I'm asking a lot but I hope you can bring someone

"to love us both, love, Felice Wallace!"

Smell that!

Do you know what that is?

Ratings!

Mary, this is it, this is your family!

I want you to follow the single father and his daughter

as they struggle to get through Christmas.

- No, Mac, this family has enough problems,

I don't wanna impose on their privacy!

- Privacy? (chuckling)

Mary, privacy?

You're a reporter!

Listen, if you wanna get into the news you...

- There's no way this little girl can get her wish

in the next four days, it would be a downer!

- But, Mary Maloney, no, no, no, no, Mary Christmas!

Yeah, she'll be able to figure out the good, happy angle!

This is it, Mary, I'm assigning you this story!

- No! - No, I can see it!

The dad, he's struggling to make ends meet,

and the little kid, him and her,

they live in some shabby cottage without a woman's touch...

- Mac!

No.

I am not doing this.

- Mary.

(Mary sighing)

Mary, if you do this for me I,

I promise you on my own next promotion

that I will have Duckworth move you to the news.

I'll put my own job on the line.

Mary, it's that important to me.

- Give me this.

I'll call them.

- No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!

Call, no, Mary Maloney doesn't call, Mary Maloney shows up!

See, they see the pretty smile and they can't say no.

- Whatever you say, boss.

- That's a good sport, Mary!

- Don't make it worse, Mac!

- Ho ho ho!

(gentle music)

- Tony, it's all so beautiful.

- Heh, you ain't seen nothin' yet!

(clicking) Oh!

- Wow!

Yeah!

It looks just like Christmas.

Except there's no snow.

- Ah, who needs snow?

I like sunshine all year long!

- Not me, I like it when it snows at Christmas.

(horn honking)

(engine revving)

Hi, Daddy!

- Hi, sweetheart!

How's my big girl?

- Good!

- Tony?

The house looks beautiful!

- I picked out the colors, they're my favorite.

- (chuckling) Well, they're my favorite too, sweetie.

- Cool, huh?

- Yeah.

Tony, great job.

Come on, Felice, I am starved!

- Okay.

- [Joel] Mm, something smells good!

- Rosa made salad too before she left, it's in the fridge.

- Terrific!

Sweetheart, have you decided what

you wanna do for Christmas yet?

- Can't we just spend Christmas at home together?

- Well, yeah, I suppose we could do that

but it's not very exciting around here

with just the two of us.

- Doesn't always have to be just the two of us, you know.

- I suppose not, I can always call

some friends and invite 'em on over.

Don't you think it's time you told me

what you want for Christmas?

- I wish you could make it snow.

- Sweetheart, why is making it snow so important to you?

- Dad, it's what makes Christmas special!

(calm music)

- Some shabby cottage.

- So, what do you want for Christmas?

- How 'bout one kiss from my big girl, huh?

(kissing)

Let's pray, I'm hungry.

- Okay.

(doorbell ringing)

- Did you order pizza again?

- No!

- I'll get it.

(somber music)

- Santa'll make it snow.

- Mr. Wallace?

- Yes?

- Hi, Mary Maloney, KBTS News.

Merry Christmas!

- Hey Dad, she's the lady from TV!

- That's right!

And you must be Felice.

- Yeah!

- You've been selected for a special segment

we're doing on families at Christmas.

- I don't think so.

- We're looking for single parent families

and you were recommended.

May I come in?

- Yes!

- Look, um, Felice...

- Thank you.

- Felice!

(Mary laughing)

- Please, sit here.

- Thank you.

- May I get you something to drink?

- Oh, no, thank you.

- Felice... - Look, I'll cut to the chase.

I'd like to come back with my crew

and be a fly on the wall for the next few days.

Taping your holiday preparations

and just hanging out with you and Felice.

- No, I don't think so.

- Daddy, we could be on TV!

- That's right!

You could be an inspiration to other single parent families.

- Yes, Daddy, please!

- Felice, sweetheart, I don't think this is a good idea,

it's way too intrusive.

- It won't be, we'll, we'll blend into the wallpaper.

- Can I speak to you?

Please?

- Sure.

- Alone.

Look, uh, sit down.

I've never really been a big fan of the media

and this story sounds like just another one of those

tearjerker manipulative things that they do on...

- No, no, I'll put it in a positive light,

it'll be an upbeat Christmas story!

- Miss Maloney, I've seen your work

and I like it, I really do, but I'm,

I'm just not, not comfortable with this.

Do you have any kids, Miss Maloney?

- No.

- Well, Felice's mother died when Felice

was only two-years-old and I promised myself that

that little girl would not have a sad Christmas ever again.

You see, she means the world to me and I, I don't want

her turned into some little pathetic media darling,

you know, the poor little rich girl and I watch the news,

I know what the stories are,

they're all just a bunch of hype and no...

- Heart.

- Right!

- Right.

I couldn't agree with you more.

If I were you, I would say no.

- (scoffing) Wait a minute, now when,

when exactly did we change sides?

- (chuckling) Who said anything about sides?

Look, it's been a pleasure not doing business with you.

And you have a beautiful daughter.

- Thank you.

And I appreciate your understanding.

I'm surprised but I'm appreciative.

- You're actually doing me a favor, so thank you.

(calm pensive music)

- You're welcome.

- Okay.

- I'll walk you out.

- Great.

- Mary.

- Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

- And to you.

Hm.

(engine revving)

(doorbell ringing)

- Mary Maloney, hm.

Joel!

- (chuckling) Samantha!

- Hi, I hope I'm not too early.

- No, no, you're right on time.

You remember Felice?

- Well, hello Felice!

- Why don't you say hello, Felice?

- Hello.

- Come on in.

You sit right here, Samantha.

- Say, wasn't that the television reporter leaving?

Mary Maloney?

- Yeah, yes it was.

- Wow, what was she doing here?

- Well, she wanted us to be on TV but it was a bad idea.

- I didn't think so.

- So, what're you two doing for Christmas?

- Samantha, I am so glad that you asked!

How would you like to join Felice and I for Christmas?

- I would love to!

But I always have Christmas with my family in Oakdale.

Mommy and Daddy would love to meet you both!

- Great!

- Okay, wait, we're having dinner here!

- We always open our presents on Christmas Eve,

you can spend the night!

- But Santa brings our presents

on Christmas morning, right Daddy?

- Well, yes he does, sweetheart, but I'm sure that

Santa brings presents to some houses on Christmas Eve.

- But Santa wouldn't know to bring my presents there!

- Felice, we could leave a note.

- I'm opening my presents on Christmas morning.

- Samantha, it was a very, very nice invitation, thank you.

- So, what do you want for Christmas, Felice?

- Felice is having a little trouble determining exactly what

it is that she wants for Christmas, isn't that right, honey?

(Felice crying)

(sad music)

Felice, what's the matter, sweetheart?

I don't wanna go to Oakdale,

I wanna be on TV with Mary Maloney

and all I want for Christmas is to be on TV, Dad!

- That didn't go well.

I'm sorry.

- No, you have to do this story.

- Mac, it's outta my hands.

The guy doesn't wanna do it and, frankly, I don't blame him!

- For you information, I already told

Duckworth about the story.

I told him about the little girl

and the letter to Santa and she wants a mommy

and I also told him how wonderful you are

and how we're gonna lose you

unless he moves you to the news.

- And?

- And he said if you can deliver the ratings on this story,

he will move you into the news at the beginning

of next year, which is like in a week.

- So I'll get another story.

- Duckworth does not want another story,

Duckworth wants this story and so do I.

Do you remember Nancy Dunne?

Exactly!

She used to work here, then she crossed Duckworth.

Get my point?

- Yeah, I got it.

(tense music)

- Again, I'm sorry about Felice, I'll talk to her

about Christmas as soon as she calms down.

- Does she know we've been seeing each other?

- Oh yeah, just the TV thing's got her upset, that's all.

- (sighing) Well, good night, Joel.

- Good night.

(engine revving)

Thanks for understanding.

- [Samantha] Bye.

(crickets chirping)

(horn honking)

- Me again!

- You forget something?

- Not exactly.

- Look...

- Before you say anything, just hear me out.

- Mary...

- On the way to the station I was thinking,

we can work this out...

- Okay.

- Forget about the backstory,

uh, it's just a family getting ready

for Christmas, totally...

Did you, you said okay?

- Yes.

- You mean you'll do it?

- Okay, I'll, we'll do it.

- Great!

We switched sides again!

What made you change your mind?

- I'll tell you what changed my mind

if you tell em what changed yours.

- Um, I'll get fired if I don't do the story, you?

- Felice really wants to do it

and I just can't seem to tell her no.

- Huh, well, so much for the strength of our convictions.

- Yes, (chuckling) score one more point for hype.

- No hype, I promise!

Okay, uh, 10 a.m. my crew and I will be here.

- Okay!

Oh, uh, no, I'm not gonna be here,

I have a meeting in the morning,

but Felice has a terrific nanny.

- Okay. - Okay.

- We're in business.

- This is a '56 DeSoto, right?

- You got it, how'd you guess?

- Always been a fan of cars.

- Yeah, me too.

Okay. - Okay.

- Nice lights, my favorite colors.

- Mine too!

- How did you get him to do it?

- I didn't, he changed his mind.

Oh, and that shabby little cottage?

It's a mansion.

- Really? - Mm-hmm.

- Are they attractive?

- Very!

- Sympathetic?

- Extremely!

Mac, they're absolutely perfect.

- I'll tell Duckworth.

- Great.

Be sure to take all the credit.

- Ah, come on, can't you, can't you do this one thing?

Look, I need to drop her off on my way to work.

One day that, yeah, okay, all right, fine.

Merry Christmas to you.

Great sister you turned out to be.

(clattering)

- Is everything okay, Daddy?

- Oh, yeah, sweetheart, it's...

No, I forgot that Tony and Rosa have the week off

for Christmas and I don't have anybody here

to sit at the house with you today.

- I could go to work with you.

- No, Felice, you can't go to work with me.

I got a big deal if I don't get it by the end of the year...

Hey!

You know what?

I have a big surprise for you.

- What?

- Oh no, that's what I told her!

- Told who?

- You remember that really nice lady reporter

that was here the other day?

- Mary Maloney?

- Yeah.

I changed my mind, she's coming here

at 10 o'clock to shoot a story.

- Yes, thank you, Daddy, thank you, thank you!

- Yeah, you're very welcome, but the problem is

I told her that you had a terrific nanny

and you don't have any nanny at all.

- The phone book?

You're looking for my nanny in the phone book?

- Yeah, well, I need to be at work and you need to be here,

what choice do I, hello?

Yes, my name is Joel Wallace, I need a nanny.

Today, half an hour.

Listen, I have a nine-year-old daughter

and she is extremely well-behaved and I need some help.

With references?

In a half an hour?

Well, yeah, okay, fine.

It's Wallace, 32 Weatherly Road.

Well, Merry Christmas to you!

I think it's gonna work out.

- Okay, Dad.

- [Joel] Cheers.

- If I had three wishes they'd all be the same,

I wish Christmas were over, I wish Christmas were over,

I wish Christmas were over.

- My three would be a Heritage Valley

collectable gnome number 54, the tennis player,

a couple CDs, a trip to Bermuda for me

to recover from Christmas shopping.

- Oh, free yourself, Hal, this year I'm not shopping at all.

- Scrooge!

- I didn't say I wasn't celebrating,

I'm just not buying anything.

I'm making my own cards and gifts and paper,

baking cookies, the whole nine yards!

- That sounds like a lotta work.

- Not really.

The secret is, lists!

The Eleanor Ellis Christmas Organizer,

she does everything herself, so can I!

- [Hal] Yeah, with a staff of 30!

- Thank you.

- Uh, say, how'd you get that book?

- Bought it.

- Bought it?

In a store?

- I bet it's snowing in Vermont today.

("Deck the Halls" rock instrumental)

- Felice?

Is your room neat?

- [Felice] Kinda!

- Kinda.

- [Felice] Daddy?

How long does it take for a letter to get to the North Pole?

- I don't think it takes that long, sweetheart.

It's time.

(doorbell ringing)

(peaceful music)

Punctual, I like her already!

(wacky music)

Yes?

- Good morning!

- Good morning.

- I'm here from the agency.

- Wait, you're the, you're the nanny?

- I prefer to be called governor,

it's the masculine form of governess.

- Um, sir, I don't...

- How do you do?

- Hi.

Do you wanna be on TV?

- Oh, madam, I live to be on TV.

- [Felice] Mary Maloney'll be here in half an hour.

- You don't say!

Well, we better put this place in shape, huh?

(peaceful music)

- I like him!

(slamming)

- Oh, this is wonderful!

Hal, you've gotta get a shot of that and the swings,

oh, this is just terrific, this is gonna be perfect!

- Oh, I get it, we're doing the poor little rich girl story.

- Don't ever say that.

You either, nobody say that.

- Come on, Hal, let's get set up over there.

We're gonna take some shots and we're gonna do some of this.

(thumping)

Stop!

(doorbell ringing)

- Oh, hello, Mary, welcome!

- Hi! - I'm Les Turner.

- Hello, Les, are you Felice's...

- Mary, Mary!

- Hi!

- This is Les, he's my governor, it's kinda like a nanny.

- Oh!

Oh, very nice to meet you.

- It's not kinda like a nanny, it's kinda like a governor.

- Thank you.

So, Les, I just need a little background information.

How did you become a nanny, or governor?

- Have a cookie, Cookie?

- Thanks.

- Mm.

- Mary, I started out as a song and dance man

in the dying days of vaudeville.

- Oh!

- When I got on the stage, people clapped their hands,

right over their eyes, ka-boom-ching!

Well, anywho, did a few musicals,

worked in a film now and then, and worked on TV off and on.

- I never saw you on TV.

- Well, that's because most people like me off more than on.

- Heh, well, you'll be back on TV now.

But why a governor?

- Well, I had to earn a living and I always liked kids

and I knew my way around a boarding house kitchen.

It's really a very good job.

- And how long have you been Felice's governor?

- Oh, we got way, way back.

Right, Felice?

- Right!

Way, way back.

- Anything else?

- Well, Les, I'll have to get some more

information from you later, but why don't I go get my crew

and maybe you could give me a tour of the house?

- Okay!

(peaceful music)

There's the kitchen.

There's the dining room.

And that one there is the guest room.

Here's Dad's room.

And here's Tony and Rosa, uh, I mean Les' room.

- Huh, let's take a look.

Nice!

Going somewhere, Les?

- Well, I'm always ready in case I get my big break.

- Come on, I wanna show you my room!

- Whoops, looks like we got our work cut out for us.

- What a great dollhouse.

- Yeah.

- Who's that up there?

- Oh, that's Santa.

But it doesn't make sense to have a Santa without snow.

- Snow?

You want snow?

Snow is no problem, snow is easy!

♪ There's no business like ♪

♪ Snow business like ♪

♪ No business I know ♪

(Les chuckling)

Better?

- Yes! - Yeah.

- We'll be ready in five minutes, Mary.

- Great, I'll just be a sec.

(gentle music)

Shall I comb your hair, too?

- Sure.

- You have nice hair, it's so thick.

- Thank you.

- What do you think?

- We look good.

What do you think?

- I think you're right, we look good together.

Camera ready, let's go.

Getting ready for Christmas is overwhelming

for some families, but Felice Wallace,

her businessman father Joel, and their unique governor,

that's a male nanny, Les Turner,

make holiday preparation something special.

Even a messy room means fun in this unusual household,

because when you're getting ready for the holidays,

first you better clean up your act!

From baking gingerbread men.

♪ Deck the halls with boughs of holly ♪

- [Mary] To decking the halls with strings of popcorn.

♪ We three kings of orient are ♪

♪ Bearing gifts of treasures afar ♪

- To setting up the family nativity scene

this pair adds a touch of magic to the most mundane tasks.

Now as we follow the Wallace family up until Christmas,

maybe we'll all learn how to make

our own holiday a little merrier.

For KBTS News, this is Mary Maloney, Home for the Holidays.

♪ Still proceeding ♪

- Cut, okay, how was it?

- That was great.

How was that for you?

- Looked good through the lens.

- Great. - Great, thanks guys!

(crickets chirping)

(somber music)

(piano keys tapping)

Does your father always get home this late?

- He can't help it, he works really hard.

(engine revving)

- Places everybody, he's here!

(wacky music)

- Hello, I'm home!

(tense music)

Felice?

Felice, Daddy's home, sweetheart!

Where are you?

(jazzy music)

- Ladies and gentlemen, presenting those talented

titans of Terpsichore, Turner and Wallace!

Doing their favorite number...

- [Felice] The Santa Soft-Shoe!

(tapping)

(Joel clapping)

- Say, that was pretty good!

You know, dancers run in my family.

- Well, they should!

- Ka-boom!

- Ching!

(both laughing)

- I heard a new joke the other day, I wonder if I told you.

- Was it funny?

- Yes!

- Then you didn't.

- Ka-boom!

- Ching!

- What a remark, I'm speechless!

- If only you could stay that way.

Ka-boom!

- Ching!

(both laughing)

- [Both] Ta-da!

(Mary clapping)

- That was fantastic, sweetheart, just fantastic!

I think that the team of Wallace and Turner

should be on the road for a very long time.

- Uh, no, it's Turner and Wallace,

I still get top billing, you know.

- I stand correct, Les, I'm sorry.

(kissing)

- Nice reactions.

Okay, that's a wrap.

We can put voiceover in in the morning.

- Great, I'll meet you in the van,

I just need a moment with Joel.

- Oh, uh, Les, would you mind?

- Oh, sure, come on, sweetie.

- Very cute!

- So, how'd it go today, was it good?

- Great!

- Yeah? - Yeah, that Les is a gem.

- (chuckling) Yes, he is.

- But you should know,

Felice was disappointed you weren't here.

- Yeah, I, want some? - No, thank you.

- I'm in the middle of a big business deal,

I couldn't get away.

But she understands, she's used to it.

- Joel, I wasn't going to tell you this,

but maybe I should mention how you were

really chosen for this segment.

- Sure.

- We got a bunch of letters to Santa down at the station

and one was from Felice.

Do you wanna know what she asked for?

- Of course.

- She said all she wants for Christmas is a mommy,

that you two were lonely.

- She said that?

Well, why wouldn't she tell me about it?

I, I, I thought when she didn't want us to be lonely

that she just wanted company.

(somber music)

Mary.

When Felice's mother, Jeanie, when Jeanie died, I promised

that I would take the best possible care of our daughter.

So I became a bond broker, I worked hard to make money,

not because I love money but because I love Felice.

Felice means happy, did you know that?

That's how we always wanted her to stay.

Oh, I don't know why I'm saying all this,

I don't normally talk this way, I'm sorry.

- I don't mind listening.

- It's not that I never considered remarrying,

it's just that I never thought anybody

could come close to Jeanie.

I thought, I guess I thought that Felice wouldn't miss

what she never had in the first place.

- That's not true.

- Wait a minute, you're not gonna use

any of this in your story, are you?

- Of course not.

- I shouldn't have said any of this,

you're a reporter, I forgot!

- I'm not being a reporter right now.

- You should not have opened up

my daughter's letter to Santa,

this is exactly the kind of invasion of privacy

that I was worried about!

- My boss opened the letter

and I'm not gonna read it on the air!

- I should hope not!

And I hope that you realize, Miss Maloney,

that life isn't just a series of happy little sound bites.

- (scoffing) Since when did we switch sides again?

- You're right, Mary, I'm sorry.

I just guess the letter thing kinda threw me.

- I'm sorry for mentioning it.

- I probably needed to hear it, it just brought up

a lot of feelings, that's...

- So, should we come back tomorrow?

- Yes, yes you should come back tomorrow,

I don't wanna disappointed Felice.

- Are you okay?

- Oh yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

In fact, I have a late dinner engagement,

let me walk you to your car.

- I know the way.

("God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen")

♪ God rest ye merry gentlemen ♪

♪ Let nothing you dismay ♪

♪ For Jesus Christ our Savior ♪

♪ Was born on Christmas Day ♪

♪ To save us all from Satan's pow'r ♪

♪ When we were gone astray ♪

(doorbell buzzing)

♪ O tidings of comfort and joy ♪

♪ Comfort and joy ♪

- Who is it?

- Mac!

(Mary sighing)

Hey, didn't we have a dinner date?

- No.

- Ah, come on, I thought we could celebrate your coup.

- Coup?

- Yeah, your coup, your coup, the motherless kid,

it's brilliant, it's great reporting.

What's all this stuff?

What, did you rob a toy store?

- No, I thought it would be nice

to bring some gifts down to the family shelter.

- Oh.

- I did a story on them last year, you remember?

- Yeah, yeah, I remember, I remember everything.

I just, you know, I thought you hated Christmas.

- I'm not Scrooge!

I think every kid deserves something from Santa.

- You know what I think,

Mary I-Hate-Christmas-Whenever-It's-Convenient Maloney?

I think you're a complete fraud,

you have this Christmas tree!

- Well, since you canceled my vacation...

- Ah, (chuckling) I knew you were gonna take that shot.

I mean, anyway, look at this tree, look at this tree,

it's missing something, it should have a star

or something on top, shouldn't it?

- I like it like this.

- Hey, where's your corkscrew?

- You never give up, do you?

- Why would I give up on something I really want?

- Because you can't have everything you want, Mac.

Even at Christmas.

Like the little girl who wants a mom..

It's sad.

- This story really is getting to you.

I, I didn't even know you liked kids.

("God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen")

♪ And laid within a manger ♪

- Well now you know.

And now you go.

♪ To which His Mother Mary ♪

♪ Did nothing take in scorn ♪

♪ O tidings of comfort and joy ♪

♪ Comfort and joy ♪

♪ O tidings of comfort and joy ♪

♪ From God our Heavenly Father ♪

♪ A blessed angel came ♪

♪ And unto certain shepherds ♪

♪ Brought tidings of the same ♪

♪ That now was born in Bethlehem ♪

♪ The Son of God by name ♪

♪ O tidings of comfort and joy ♪

♪ Comfort and joy ♪

("Deck the Halls" instrumental)

- A tie or a sweater.

A tie or a sweater.

- How 'bout a sweater?

How 'bout a tie?

Or how 'bout a baseball glove?

- Why would I get Daddy a baseball glove?

- Well, he probably always wanted one.

- Never said so.

Oh my gosh, Les, look!

- Well, isn't that interesting.

So, where are we going here, Cookie?

- Gallagher's, down at the end.

- Let's go.

(bell ringing)

Morning, pal, how's it goin'?

- Oh, worst day ever!

Would you believe it?

I haven't had a donation all day!

People just don't care anymore.

- Well, that's a shame!

- Wow, thanks so much!

Merry Christmas.

- [Both] Merry Christmas!

(bell ringing)

(magical music)

- Wow!

Les, look!

- That's more like it.

- Hey, look, there's Mary!

Hey, Mary!

- Make sure to get some of that on camera, would you please?

- Yeah, got it.

- Good morning!

- Hi!

- Boy, you look pretty.

People sure have the Christmas spirit

around here, don't they?

- They didn't a minute ago, Les started it.

- Nah.

- So, what do you say?

Let's go shopping!

Have you decided what you're gettin' your dad yet?

- Yes!

(gentle music)

- Okay, tape is rolling, sweetie, so do your stuff.

- Daddies like this one a lot.

- I like it, but does it come in aquamarine?

That's his favorite color.

- Oh, no, honey, I'm sorry, just the ones you see here.

How about hunter green?

Daddy would like that I bet!

- Look through the pile, Felice, hm?

- They must have aquamarine!

- I said there wasn't that color, how about a nice yellow?

- She doesn't want yellow, Milicent Faye,

she wants aquamarine!

And I have a feeling that in that pile

there's at least one large size aquamarine sweater.

Trust me on that.

- Here it is!

(magical music)

Size large!

I can't believe it!

- Neither can I.

- Next time look more closely maybe, hm?

- Okay, well, we got what we wanted,

so let's move over to Santa's Village, okay?

- Mary, did you see that?

It was almost like magic!

- Yeah, I think the next time I go shopping

I'm bringing Les with me.

("We Wish You a Merry Christmas" instrumental)

(crowd chattering)

(watch beeping)

- Sorry, kid, time for Santa's break.

Here's some candy, see ya. - Aw, that's not fair!

- What's he doing?

- Hey, listen up, Santa'll be back in an hour.

Ho ho ho.

- Where do they get these guys?

- That's not the real Santa!

- Of course not!

- Ho ho ho.

- Hey, where you goin'?

Hey, bub!

Hey!

Hey, Santa!

You stay here.

(pensive music)

(wacky music)

(somber music)

- Ho ho ho!

- Look, it's Santa!

It's the real Santa!

- Merry Christmas!

- Oh my!

Is that who I think it is?

Felice, go on up and join Les.

- Okay.

- Thank you.

That's fantastic.

- It's so great, I'm so excited!

- Hal, are you getting all of that?

- Merry Christmas, Mary Maloney!

("Jingle Bells" instrumental)

- If you're dreading that last-minute trip to the mall,

take heart, shoppers today at Ridgecrest Mall

were in for quite a treat from two of our

Home for the Holidays subjects,

Felice Wallace and Les Turner.

- Wait'll you see, Dad, wait'll you see!

- [Mary] People were in a giving mood

at Ridgecrest Mall today, but no one was happier than

Felice Wallace as she picked out a present for her father.

- Oh, Dad, don't look, don't look!

- (chuckling) Okay, I'm not... - Don't look, Dad!

- I can't see a thing, sweetheart, I promise!

- It's just what Daddy wanted!

- [Mary] And when Felice had finished her shopping,

she and her governor, Les Turner,

stepped in to make the Christmas season even merrier.

As you can see, Felice and Les

have a gift for spreading happiness.

Keep watching tomorrow night for another chapter

in this very special story we call Home for the Holidays.

For KBTS, this is Mary Maloney.

That's it!

What do you think?

- I love it, I'm on TV!

- I have to admit, I loved it too, it was fantastic!

- Great, another satisfied customer!

- Which means, Santa's little helper,

it is time for you to go to bed.

- Can Mary tuck me in tonight?

- Uh...

- Just so she's snug as a bug in a rug.

- I can do that.

- Okay, fine.

(kissing)

(kissing) - Oh, thank you.

- Good night, sweetheart.

- Night.

- Pretty nice having a woman around, isn't it?

- Yeah, it sure is.

- You know, I'm surprised that a smart woman hasn't caught

a good looking guy like you in all these years.

I remember a fella I knew just like you,

he said he was looking for an old fashioned girl.

I said, "Why don't you come to my house?

"I'll introduce you to my grandmother," ka-boom-ching.

(crickets chirping)

- What?

- You remind me of my last audience, and I do mean last.

No, I was merely saying I'm surprised

that you never married again.

- Oh.

- Of course it's none of my business

but you must know some nice ladies.

- Les, has, has Felice said anything to you about that?

- Well, she has said that there's one special lady

that's been around here lately that she likes.

- She said that?

- Mm, just this morning, as a matter of fact.

Good night.

- Good night.

- There!

Snug as a bug in a rug.

- You believe in Santa Claus, don't you?

- Sure I do.

But I don't believe that Santa can make

every wish come true all of the time.

He's got a big job, there're a lotta kids out there.

- I know.

But...

- I love these.

(gentle music)

Oh, look at the family.

Looks like Vermont.

- What's in Vermont?

- A lot of happy memories.

When I was a kid, we always used to

go to Vermont to see my grandparents

and it always snowed at Christmas, like magic.

- Were you happy?

- Yeah.

See, when I was growing up,

my family had a lot of problems so

Christmas in Vermont was my favorite time of the year.

And now, even though Grandma and Grandpa are gone,

I still go back there,

to remember the happy times.

- I love snow, too.

- Yeah.

But I guess it won't be snowing this year.

But I think you are gonna have

a very merry Christmas just the same.

(Mary gasping)

(kissing)

Good night.

- Right there.

- Good night, sweetheart.

(Mary sighing)

- Is everything all right?

- Yeah, fine, um...

She had a really busy day, she oughta sleep well tonight.

- Sorry I missed it.

Here, you left this downstairs.

- Thank you.

- Some of the things I said...

- Look, um, there're only two more days left

and then we'll be done with this story

that neither one of us wanted to do.

Excuse me, um, I have an appointment with Les.

(knocking)

- Come in!

(knocking)

Howdy-doo!

Have a seat in my chair.

- Thank you.

- I, uh, I didn't have any clips that you wanted,

but I did have some photos.

- Great!

Oh, these are terrific.

Look at you!

- Who would ever think I'd end up as a governor?

- Pays the rent, right?

- Which is more than my hoofing was doing.

I had to quit the stage because of my throat.

- Your throat?

- Yeah, the audience threatened to cut it.

(Mary chuckling)

Anyway, I like kids.

Do you like kids?

- Sure.

- You ever think of having kids?

- Well, I'm not really...

- Seems that you have a knack with kids, kids like you!

Felice sure does.

- It's probably because I'm on TV.

- Oh, I think she'd like you no matter what you did.

It's a shame, though, that she hasn't got a mother.

It's a bad break, don't you think?

- It's a very bad break.

- A pretty, talented lady like you

probably never had any bad breaks like that.

(somber music)

- Oh, I had my share.

- [Les] So, is your story almost finished?

Is it going well, you think?

- So far, so good.

I don't have my ending yet, though.

- Oh, you have to end it with a big finish,

you gotta give it everything you got!

Yeah, don't hold anything back,

that's what they used to tell me.

- Everything I got?

Les, I couldn't do that.

- Yes, you can, Mary.

- So, folks, looks like our prediction

for a scorcher of a Christmas still holds.

So make sure you wear your sunscreen

if you plan to go out caroling, because there is

not a chance of there bein' a white Christmas

within a hundred miles of where I'm sittin'!

- [Dan] No snowboarding?

- [Weather Forecaster] Nope, no snow, not a drop!

- Oh, what does he know?

That guy's so dumb,

he tried to find the zip code for the Gettysburg Address!

- Ka-boom-ching!

- Yeah.

- I had a weird dream last night.

- What was it?

- I dreamed that you were Santa Claus.

- No!

Me?

(laughing) What a crazy dream!

- Well, yesterday it was kinda like you were Santa Claus.

I mean, you started all those people givin' money,

you found Daddy's sweater, and you seemed to know

what every one of those kids wanted for Christmas!

- Well, I didn't make those things happen, it just happened!

- Yeah, but you made it feel like Christmas

wherever you went, just like Santa Claus!

- Whoa now, I may've put on a few pounds,

but I don't have a beard, I don't wear a red suit.

Now, I like Christmas a lot, but I am not Santa!

- Yeah, but in my dream you had a beard and a red suit

and you looked exactly like Santa Claus.

- If I was Santa for Christmas,

I'd give myself a one-man show on Broadway!

- Yeah, but there was somethin' else.

The way you got here so fast?

It was like you were waitin' outside for Daddy's call.

(phone ringing)

- I needed the job.

Hello?

Oh, he's not here, can I take a message?

Yeah, just a second.

(mystical music)

Uh, you're gonna have to call back.

- Oh my gosh, my letter!

- Felice, where are ya?

Where are you, Felice?

- You are Santa Claus, you have the letter I wrote you!

- Oh, whoa, whoa!

Now, Cookie, you're jumpin' to conclusions.

- You must be, there's no other way

you could've got this letter!

- Oh, no, no, no, you know what happened?

The day I got here, I found this letter

on top of the mailbox, I guess the postmaster

must've returned it, yeah.

So, I was gonna give it to you and I put it in my pocket.

Well, listen, it's still not too late to mail it, huh?

Oh, here's the problem!

You forgot to put down the zip code for the North Pole!

So, we'll just look that up and then we'll mail it.

- Our mailman doesn't come that early, you are Santa Claus!

- Felice, it doesn't make sense.

If I was Santa Claus, I'd be too busy making toys

and checking lists to be here now, right?

- Are you gonna bring me a mommy like I asked in the letter?

- Come here.

Now listen.

A mommy isn't something you order like a hamburger.

Now, you had a mom who loved you very much

and you still have a dad who wants the very best for you.

You live in a nice house, you go to a nice school,

and you got me, now that's better than a lot of kids get.

- I know, but it isn't just for me, it's for Daddy, too.

(somber music)

So if you're not Santa,

I'm just gonna have to get a mommy on my own.

- As you can see...

No, no, no, just keep watching.

Have a gift for spreading happiness.

Keep watching tomorrow night for another chapter

in this very special story we call Home for the Holidays.

(clicking)

It's sweet, isn't it?

Katrina did a great edit!

- It's too soft!

- Too soft?

Mac, I thought you wanted something that touches the heart?

This touches the heart!

- But what's the ending?

Mary, Duckworth is getting nervous,

and I have to tell you, you don't have a lot of time

to redeem yourself before your contract is up.

- Thanks for reminding me.

I'll just go someplace else.

- Well, it is easier to find a job when you have a job.

Besides, time marches on, maybe five years ago

you could pull a stunt like this.

- (scoffing) Gee, thanks!

- Mary, we are in the business of selling dreams,

where is this dream going to end?

- Well, they have a very merry Christmas, I hope.

- No, no, no, no, no!

They're going to have the merriest Christmas

that anyone has ever had in the history of Christmases!

They're gonna have every single one

of their dreams and wishes fulfilled!

- Who are you, Santa Claus?

- No, you are!

You're gonna get in there and you're gonna do something.

Okay, what does that little girl want for Christmas?

- A mother.

- Good!

Get her one.

- Mac, are you crazy?

- We have been promoting this show like there's no tomorrow,

now Duckworth wants a happy ending!

- I can't...

- Eh!

He's going to accept nothing less!

Get that kid a mommy.

- Right.

At least in news I won't have to make up the ending.

- You wanna bet?

- [Charlene] Hey stranger, this is Charlene

and I sure would love to talk to y'all but leave a message!

(beeping)

- Hi, Charlene, this is Felice Wallace, Joel's daughter.

Daddy's really down in the dumps and I think he misses you,

can you come by around five on Christmas Eve?

I think he'd really like to see you again.

Hello, Maria?

This is Felice Wallace, Joel's daughter.

Daddy's really down in the dumps and I think he misses you,

could you drop by around five on Christmas Eve?

I think he'd really like to see you again, thank you.

This is Felice Wallace, Joel's daughter.

- [Woman] Yes?

- Daddy's really down in the dumps

and I think he misses you,

can you come by around five on Christmas Eve?

I think he'd really like to see you again.

- [Woman] Okay.

- Thank you.

- Mary?

Yeah, hi, it's Joel Wallace.

- [Mary] Hi, Joel, what's up?

- Um, got kind of a surprise for you,

think you could get your crew together

and stop by my house around eight o'clock tonight?

- What is it?

- I can't tell you but I promise that

it will be great for your story and you will love it.

- Okay, we'll be there.

- All right, I'll see you then.

- Mary Maloney, I would like you to meet Samantha Bruce.

- Nice to meet you.

- I'd like to do a shot that Samantha, Felice, and I

are all in together, can we do that?

- Sure!

- Thanks!

- Got that, guys?

- Sure.

Everybody's a director.

- Okay, rolling tape.

Camera's on you, Joel.

And three, two, one.

- Um...

Felice, I know that you have wanted a mommy

for a very, very long time, in fact,

it's one of your biggest wishes.

Well, you don't have to wish for it anymore

because Samantha and I are getting married

just as soon as possible!

- I'll be your new mommy! (chuckling)

- Go on, hug your, hug your new mommy, sweetheart.

- Uh, kill the camera, pack it up.

- Wait just a second!

- This is a personal family moment,

we don't belong here, it's intrusive.

- I thought you said that you wanted an uplifting story?

- Who cares what I want?

Don't you care what your daughter wants?

Look at her!

(somber music)

Look, I'm sorry, that was out of line.

I should go.

Felice, honey, I gotta go.

- Please, Mary, tuck me in tonight!

- Sweetheart, I think that Samantha

should be the one to tuck you in tonight.

Wouldn't you like to do that, Sam?

Go on, go on, sweetie.

- I'll be back tomorrow night for the tree trimming.

Have a good evening.

- Good news, huh?

You got your happy ending.

- You think so?

- Well, Felice got her mom, what could be better?

- I'm just a reporter, how do you feel about it?

- Me?

I'm just a governor.

Good night, Mary.

- Good night.

- There you go.

Ooh!

Isn't this cute!

Looks like an antique.

It's probably worth a lot of money.

- I was hoping it would snow for Christmas.

- Mm, snow.

You know what?

It just messes up the road

and makes it difficult to get around.

(crickets chirping)

So tomorrow night you'll get to meet

your new grandma and grandpa.

Well, good night.

- Right there.

(thudding)

(sad music)

(gentle music)

- Monica, let's just get set up for the tree trimming,

the tea and cookies and then get outta here

as soon as possible, okay? - Absolutely.

- Okay by me!

(thumping)

- Stop!

Get a close up on those cookies,

I really need that cookie shot.

- Samantha, you don't have to worry, you look fine.

You look beautiful!

- Have a cookie, Cookie?

- No, thank you.

- You'll like it, it's chocolate.

- No, thank you.

- Samantha?

- No, I can't, I'm too nervous about being on television.

- Oh, sweetheart, you don't have to be nervous,

there's really nothing, there's nothing to,

I would like a cookie, thank you, Les.

There's nothing to it, right?

Right, Felice?

Look, once we've finished trimming the tree,

we're all gonna get in the car,

we're gonna go over to Samantha's parents

and we're gonna have dinner.

What're we having?

- Prime rib. - Prime rib!

- We always have prime rib!

- Ooh, that sounds yummy, doesn't it?

- I don't eat red meat.

- Exactly what do you call a hamburger?

(doorbell ringing)

- I'll get that.

- Thank you, Les.

(gentle music)

- Hi, I'm Maria Archer,

I think Joel and Felice are expecting me.

- Yes, come on in, Merry Christmas.

The gifts go in the formal dining room on the right.

(doorbell ringing)

Well, is the Wallace family expecting you?

- You bet, honey!

I'm Charlene.

- Oh, Charlene, yes.

Well, Merry Christmas, you all, come on in!

Formal dining room on the right.

Charlene.

(doorbell ringing)

- Hi, I'm Leslie.

(crowd chattering)

- Come inside, ladies!

That's it, Merry Christmas!

This way.

Formal dining room on the right.

- Sweetheart, Felice, we all have to adjust.

There are, there are things that we all have to do

because our lives are...

Uh...

Would you excuse me for a moment?

(clock ticking)

(tense music)

- Um, would you excuse me a moment?

- [Woman] I haven't seen him in so long.

- Well, Merry Christmas, Joel, honey!

How's that adorable little daughter of yours?

She's just fine, Charlene, thank you.

(wacky music)

- Could you excuse me for a moment?

- Mary Maloney,

(crowd chuckling)

ladies and gentlemen.

Uh, I wanna wish you all a very Merry Christmas,

I'm delighted that you're here.

I want to introduce you to Samantha Bruce, my fiance.

(all gasping)

- What kind of a joke is this?

- It's not a joke, Maria.

What...

- Well, bah and humbug, darling.

- Charlene.

- Nice goin'.

- See ya, Leslie.

- No, Joel, I would very much like to know what the,

what was that all about?

- Excuse me, I'm sure that you two

have things you'd like to discuss,

but I've got a crew that has other plans for the night.

Can we get to the tree trimming soon?

- Yeah, we're gonna get to it in just a minute,

but first there's someone I really need to talk to.

Tell me exactly what you did.

- I called all the women you dated.

It was before you were engaged, Dad,

I was trying to help you.

- First of all, sweetheart,

I did not date all of those women,

and secondly, how could this possible help me?

- Well, I'd get a mom and you'd get a wife!

(Joel sighing)

- Sweetheart, don't you think that

I should be able to pick out my own wife?

- You never have in all these years, I was,

I was just trying to help you!

That's why I wanted us on TV,

so maybe some nice lady would see us.

Then, then I thought of calling all your girlfriends.

- Felice, you called every woman's name in my work book.

Felice, Leslie is my dentist, come on, sweetie!

- I didn't think that they'd all come, Dad.

- Don't you think that maybe you should've asked me

how I felt about it, first?

- Don't you think that maybe you should've asked me

how I felt about Samantha first?

(somber music)

- Well, maybe, maybe I should have but...

Felice, I heard that you wanted a mommy for Christmas,

I thought I was doing the right thing.

- Les told you?

- No, Les didn't tell me, I just, I just found out.

Look.

I have held onto your mommy for a very, very long time

and it was really selfish of me

because you need a real, live mommy, not just a memory.

So I asked Samantha to marry me because I think

she'll make a terrific mommy and I thought you'd be happy.

- Do you love her?

'Cause if you don't then she wouldn't make a good mommy.

- We have a TV crew waiting for us downstairs.

(kissing)

- Merry Christmas from the Wallace house

where dreams have come true

in a surprising conclusion to this holiday story.

Over the last few days we've gotten to know

Joel Wallace, his daughter Felice,

and their very special governor, Les Turner.

Today, we're going to meet a soon-to-be member

of the family, Samantha Bruce,

whose engagement to Joel has just been announced.

All right, cut.

That's it for the stand up, now all we have left

are the beauty shots of the tree trimming

and then we get to go home, let's go.

- You too, Les.

- Uh, maybe this should just be for the family, huh?

- Okay, we'll start with the family.

- I think they need your help to trim the tree.

(Felice sighing)

- Okay.

You know, I'm kinda glad you're not Santa Claus after all.

- You are?

- Well...

I'd hate to think Santa would mess things up so badly.

(sad music)

(clock ticking)

(Les sighing)

- And now, for the piece de resistance,

this star was given to Felice by her mother

just before she left us.

This year I think that it's only right

if Samantha should put the star

on top of the Wallace family Christmas tree.

(mystical music)

(Felice screaming)

(shattering)

- Mary!

Somebody help!

- Mary?

Mary?

- Mary? - Can you hear us?

- Somebody get help! - Mary?

- Are you sure you're okay?

- I'm fine, I think I forgot to eat lunch, that's all.

Um, why don't you guys take off

and I'll meet you in the van?

I just, uh, I need to speak with Joel alone, please.

- Joel?

- It's all right, sweetheart, I'll just be a few minutes.

- Hey, I think you really oughta take it easy.

I can call someone... - No, I'm, I'm fine, really.

But I need to ask you a really blunt question.

Why didn't you tell me Felice was adopted?

- Why would you ask something like that?

- Because your wife didn't give her that star.

- Of course she did.

- Her birth mother gave it to her

and when you adopted her, the star came with her.

- Boy, you reporters really do your homework, don't you?

Who told you that?

- No one had to tell me.

- What are you saying?

- Nine years ago,

I had to make the most difficult decision of my life.

I made a string of really bad choices

but I was trying to do the right thing.

That star, my grandfather made that star,

and he gave it to my mother, who gave it to me,

and I gave it to my baby girl

the day that I said good-bye to her (crying).

I couldn't take care of her!

- How did you find my daughter?

- I wasn't looking, I swear!

It was purely by chance that my boss

picked her letter out of the pile!

- Oh, come on!

- He opened her letter and he assigned me the story!

- You expect me to believe that out of the thousands

of letters to Santa, that you found Felice's letter?

Come on!

- I, I...

It's crazy, I know, but there's no way

I could've known that it was her, I mean,

if she had told me she was adopted maybe I could've...

She doesn't know?

- She doesn't know.

And I know that that's wrong but I could never seem

to be able to find the right moment to tell her

and she was way too young anyway when he mother died

to really understand anything.

And I wanted to tell her all about you,

but I thought that would be like

losing two mommies instead of just one,

that would be way too much for a little girl to handle.

Or maybe it was just too much for me to handle

but now that she's older,

I can't seem to tell her much of anything

about that time at all.

But you gotta understand, keeping this secret so long

has been so very difficult and I don't want anyone...

- All I wanted to know

was that I hadn't made a mistake,

and that my baby girl was loved and wanted.

- Let me tell you something.

I love my daughter more than anything in the world.

- Joel, we need to get, to get going.

Joel we need to leave now, Mommy and Daddy are expecting us.

Now, you got rid of those other women, get rid of her.

- I'll go.

- I'm very sorry, Samantha,

but something important has come up.

- More important than me?

I see.

Well, Merry Christmas to you both.

(door slamming)

- Well, there goes that story.

- Ah, you know Mary,

she'll use her magic touch and get a happy ending.

- Oh no!

- What's wrong?

- I just remembered, I don't have my car, Joel picked me up.

- Oh, can I give you a ride somewhere?

- Yeah, that would be great.

In fact, if you don't have dinner plans,

you're welcome to join me and my family.

It's 45 miles but they're serving prime rib.

- Dinner with Mom and Dad is so my style!

I'm Hal.

- I know.

Samantha.

- I know.

- Les, where are you?

(knocking)

Les?

Where are you going?

- Sorry, Cookie, I have to leave, I have a deadline to meet.

- But you can't go, who'll take care of me?

- Don't you worry, you won't need me anymore,

you can trust me on that.

- But you can't leave me here with Samantha!

- And you don't have to worry about Samantha anymore either,

you can trust me on that, too!

- Trust you?

I can't trust you at all.

You're runnin' out on me!

You're no Santa, you're just an old song and dance man.

You're a big flop!

- Like I said all along.

I want you to give this to your dad,

it's something he's always wanted.

(sad music)

- Don't you have a present for me?

- It's on its way.

(Felice sniffling)

I'm sorry, Felice, but it's time for me

to shuffle off to Buffalo.

(kissing)

Merry Christmas.

I love you, Cookie.

- Les.

Les, come back!

Les, don't...

- [Joel] Felice?

- He's gone!

- Sweetheart... - Felice, what happened honey?

- He's gone. - Who?

- Les is gone! - He didn't just disappear,

listen... - He took his suitcase

and said good-bye, make him come back, Daddy, please!

- Sweetheart, I can't make him come back

if he doesn't wanna be here.

Here.

There's something...

- I should go.

- No, I...

I want you to stay.

Felice, you know that I love you

more than any daddy's loved his daughter, right?

- Mm-hmm.

- Sweetheart, there's something I should've told you

a very long time ago.

Your mommy and I adopted you

when you were a very little baby girl.

And your mother loved you so much,

but you had another mommy who loved you very much, too.

In fact, she loved you so much that when she realized

she couldn't take care of you,

she found another mommy and daddy who could.

(gentle music)

I want you to meet her.

- He did it!

He is Santa Claus!

I wrote a letter to Santa asking for a mom

and now it's come true!

- You know what, Felice?

I wrote a letter to Santa about you!

- You did?

- Mm-hmm.

- Oh!

Come on!

(gentle upbeat music)

Wait here.

He had 'em all the time.

My letter and yours!

- This is the letter I wrote on the air.

You read it, Felice.

- Okay.

(gentle music)

"Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas

"is to know that my little girl is happy."

I'm happy now, Mommy.

- Me too, sweetie.

- Oh!

He left this for you, Daddy.

(magical music)

- This is a Mickey Mantle baseball glove.

I had one when I was 10-years-old, but I lost it,

it was my most prized possession.

How did he know?

- Wow, look at the star! - Felice!

- It's back together again! - Les couldn't be...

- I told you!

- Merry Christmas.

(gentle music)

- Oh my gosh, look!

- [Joel] Look at what, sweetheart?

- [Felice] Hurry!

- [Joel] Okay, I'm comin'!

Oh, don't tell me it's snowing!

- Come on! - Wow!

- Oh! - Oh my gosh!

(upbeat music)

(Mary laughing)

- Come on!

(all laughing)

- Wow, he did everything! - Yes, he did.

(all laughing)

- Oh, spin, sweetheart!

Oh!

Merry Christmas!

- Woo! - Merry Christmas!

(gentle festive music)