Original subtitles

[MALE ANNOUNCER]: ...AND N OW BACK TO THE WNYJ NEWS CENTER

FOR AN UPDATE ON THE WEATHER AND HOW IT MAY AFFECT RETAILERS

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

[FEMALE ANNOUNCER]: THE HIGH TODAY

IS A CRISP 32 DEGREES,

WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING TO THE LOW TEENS BY TONIGHT,

BUT OUR WEATHER CENTER PREDICTS

THAT NO SNOW IS EXPECTED IN THE CITY ANYTIME SOON,

SO IT LOOKS LIKE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

IS GOING TO BE A DISAPPOINTMENT,

NOT ONLY FOR THOSE HOPING FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS,

BUT ALSO FOR RETAILERS EVERYWHERE

AS FAMILIES CUT BACK ON NON-ESSENTIAL ITEMS

SUCH AS TOYS.

THE ONE BRIGHT SPOT IS THIS YEAR'S MUST-HAVE TOY.

INTELLYTRON...

THE TALKING ROBOT IS BREAKING SALES RECORDS

ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

NOT SINCE TICKLE-ME-ELMO

HAVE WE SEEN A TOY FLY OFF STORE SHELVES

AS QUICKLY AS THIS.

GREAT.

[TURNS OFF TV]

[SIGHS HEAVILY]

WONDERFUL.

AND PERFECT.

[WOMAN]: HOW'S YOUR CEREAL?

WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE FRENCH TOAST,

OR EGGS, OR SOMETHING MORE FITTING

FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY?

NO, THANK YOU.

DAD AND I ALWAYS EAT CEREAL FOR BREAKFAST.

OKAY.

HE DOESN'T USUALLY LET ME HAVE MEGAPUFFS.

WHY?

HE SAYS THE FIRST INGREDIENT IN THIS CEREAL IS CAVITY.

OH.

UH... OKAY.

"BUY HEALTHIER CEREAL...

UM...

HOW ABOUT SCRAMBLED EGGS?

SOUND GOOD?

ALL RIGHT...

SO, I HAVE A GOOD IDEA.

TOMORROW'S SATURDAY.

WHY DON'T WE GO VISIT SANTA?

ARE YOU... PAST THAT?

AUNT HOLLY, I'M 10.

RIGHT.

SORRY.

IT'S JUST

WHEN YOUR DAD AND I WERE KIDS,

THERE WAS ALWAYS A PRESENT UNDER THE TREE

THAT NOBODY COULD ACCOUNT FOR.

GRANDMA AND GRANDPA DIDN'T BUY IT.

IT WAS ALWAYS JUST THERE...

WAITING FOR US.

WEIRD, RIGHT?

GABE?

I NEED TO GET TO SCHOOL EARLY

SO I CAN GET SOME EXTRA HELP

ON MY MATH HOMEWORK.

WELL, I CAN HELP YOU.

MY TEACHER DOESN'T WANT YOU TO "HELP" ME ANYMORE.

RIGHT.

YEAH, MATH HAS CHANGED SO MUCH SINCE I WAS YOUR AGE.

RIGHT.

CAN WE JUST GO?

SURE.

AYE-AYE, CAPTAIN, WARP SPEED AHEAD.

STAR TREK?

NO? NEVER MIND.

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

HANG ON...

HELLO?

HI, LINDY.

YEAH, OF COURSE, I HAVE TIME TO GET YOUR DRY CLEANING,

AND YOUR COFFEE.

UH-HUH...

MY DAD AND I

WE ALWAYS GO ICE SKATING AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

WE COULD GO ICE SKATING AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER,

AND THEN WE COULD DECORATE THE TREE,

AND BAKE COOKIES, AND GO SHOPPING.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

COOKING AND SHOPPING?

YOU KNOW I'M A BOY, RIGHT?

SOME OF THE BEST CHEFS IN THE WORLD ARE MEN,

AND WHAT I MEANT WAS,

WE COULD GO TO A TOY STORE

AND GET SOME IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS...

BOY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

I ALREADY KNOW WHAT I WANT.

INTELLYTRON!

CAN WE GO LOOK AT THEM?

ALL RIGHT, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW

WHAT'S GOING TO BE UNDER THE TREE.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

DON'T FORGET HOW SPECIAL YOU ARE!

SORRY.

[SIGHS]

BYE.

GOD BLESS YOU!

[SNEEZES]

THAT'S STRANGE.

HE SAID HE WANTED TO SEE ME RIGHT AWAY?

WELL, DID HE SAY WHY?

ALL RIGHT, I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

THANKS, BUDDY.

HEY, HOLD UP!

HEY, CAN YOU HOLD UP?

[SIGHS]

HI. CAN I GET A TALL NON-FAT LATTE

WITH EXTRA WHIPPED CREAM, PLEASE?

$3.90.

OKAY.

I KNOW, NON-FAT? WHIPPED CREAM?

YOU MUST THINK THAT'S ODD.

FREAKY.

IT'S FOR MY BOSS.

SHE'S FULL OF INCONSISTENCIES.

SHE ACTUALLY HIRED ME TO BE THE MARKETING MANAGER,

BUT NOW SHE JUST TREATS ME LIKE I'M HER PERSONAL ASSISTANT.

THERE YOU GO.

IT'S EMPTY.

YOU'RE ALL OUT OF BUCKS.

REALLY?

UH, OKAY.

I-I HAVE CASH.

UM...

HANG ON.

HERE, WHY DON'T YOU LET ME GET IT?

NO, IT'S OKAY. I-I HAVE IT.

IT'S FINE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

LOOK, JUST LET THE CUTE GUY BUY THE COFFEE.

I HAVE TO GET TO WORK.

I ACTUALLY AM A PERSONAL ASSISTANT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.

I'LL BUY YOURS TOMORROW.

OKAY...

I MEAN IF YOU DECIDE TO COME TOMORROW.

IF NOT, I'LL JUST WAIT FOR ANOTHER TIME.

NOT WAIT LIKE I'M STALKING YOU.

I MEAN, WAIT

LIKE A NORMAL PERSON...

WHO SOUNDS LIKE A CRAZY PERSON.

JAKE FINLEY.

HOLLY... WILSON.

NICE TO MEET YOU, HOLLY WILSON.

YOU TOO, JAKE FINLEY.

UH, YOUR DRESS IS...

OH, THANK YOU!

I DESIGNED IT MYSELF.

IT'S ACTUALLY REVERSIBLE.

YOU CAN WEAR IT DURING THE DAY,

AND THEN YOU FLIP IT INSIDE OUT, AND WEAR IT IN THE EVENING,

LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A DATE.

DID THAT SOUND LIKE I WAS ASKING YOU OUT ON A DATE?

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T.

N-NOT...

THAT YOU'RE NOT SOMEONE I WOULD DATE.

IT'S JUST I WAS EXPLAINING

ABOUT THE DRESS, AND, UH...

I'M GOING TO GO... NOW.

SEE YOU LATER?

IT'S A DEAL.

"IT'S A DEAL?"

WHAT AM I, A GAME SHOW HOST?

MORNING, BETTY.

MORNING, JAKE.

WHAT'S THE MOOD LIKE IN THERE THIS MORNING?

HE'S BEEN HIS WARM FUZZY SELF ALL MORNING.

HE GAVE ME A BIG HUG

AND ASKED ME ALL ABOUT MY CATS.

THAT BAD?

HE'S STILL MAD THAT I HIRED A STORE SANTA.

WELL, YOU KNOW HOW HE FEELS ABOUT CHRISTMAS.

I SURE DO.

I TRIED SNEAKING THIS INTO THE BREAK ROOM.

BETTY, YOU GOT THAT NUMBER YET!

HE REFUSES TO USE THE INTERCOM.

I'M ON IT!

GO ON IN.

WISH ME LUCK.

[CHUCKLES]

[SIGHING ANGRILY]

[CLEARS THROAT AWKWARDLY]: GOOD MORNING, DAD.

ARE YOU AWARE

THAT THE INTELLYTRON IS THE HOTTEST,

MOST SOUGHT-AFTER TOY OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON?

YES,

BUT I ALSO BELIEVE

THAT DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES,

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE BASICS.

OLD-SCHOOL TOYS

LIKE TRAIN SETS AND BOARD GAMES.

SO, WITH YOUR VAST EXPERIENCE OF TWO MONTHS

AS MANAGER OF THE STORE,

YOU DECIDED

THAT THE HOTTEST SELLING TOY OF THE SEASON

SHOULD BE COMPLETELY UNAVAILABLE AT OUR STORE.

[ANGRILY]: WHY DO PEOPLE SEND

CHRISTMAS CARDS?

TO BE NICE?

LOOK, DAD,

WHEN YOU MADE ME MANAGER,

YOU SAID THAT I WAS IN CHARGE OF ALL DECISIONS,

AND I'VE DECIDED

THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BUY PLASTIC TOYS

THAT BREAK THE FIRST HOUR YOU PLAY WITH THEM.

THOSE TOYS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY.

THAT WASTE OF MONEY IS OUR PROFIT MARGIN.

WE DEPEND ON CHRISTMAS REVENUE

TO BALANCE OUR YEARLY BOTTOM LINE,

AND TOY SALES ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THAT PLAN.

SO, SALES, THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS?

LOOK, WHEN I WAS A KID, YOU USED TO SAY

THAT IF YOU TREAT PEOPLE WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT,

THE SALES WILL FOLLOW.

[CLEARS THROAT NERVOUSLY]

WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF CHRISTMAS,

I WOULD LIKE TO REVIVE THE TRADITION

OF THE FINLEY'S EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS PARTY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

WHY DON'T YOU CONCENTRATE

ON BRINGING IN CUSTOMERS AND BOOSTING SALES?

LOOK, I AM CONVINCED

WE'RE GOING TO SELL OUT THIS TOY DEPARTMENT

BY CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS IS IN 10 DAYS.

I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'LL RESIGN AS MANAGER IF WE DON'T.

I'M WILLING TO STAKE MY JOB ON THIS.

YOU JUST DID.

[SEWING MACHINES WHIRR]

IS SHE LOOKING FOR ME?

I TOLD HER YOU WERE DOWNSTAIRS

DELIVERING SKETCHES.

THANK YOU.

I CANNOT LOSE THIS JOB.

HOW ARE THINGS GOING WITH GABE?

[CHUCKLES WRYLY]

WELL, LET'S SEE, UM,

I FED HIM SUGAR FOR BREAKFAST,

HELPED HIM FAIL A MATH TEST

AND EMBARRASSED HIM IN FRONT OF HIS NEW FRIENDS.

AH, KIDS ARE RESILIENT.

[DROPS SHOES]

HAVE YOU, UH, HEARD OF THIS TOY, INTELLYTRON?

THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS.

THAT'S WHAT EVERY KID WANTS.

IT SHOULD BE EASY TO FIND.

OKAY.

DAVID'S BROTHER IS COMING TO TOWN

THIS WEEKEND.

I WAS THINKING THAT YOU COULD...

NO.

NO, THANK YOU.

FIRST OF ALL,

I HAVE NO TIME TO DATE,

AND SECOND OF ALL, DAVID'S BROTHER IS...

GETTING A DIVORCE.

ISN'T HE THE ONE WHO PAWNED HIS WIFE'S WEDDING RING

FOR METS TICKETS?

LIKE I SAID, HE'S GETTING A DIVORCE.

[LAUGHS]

THANKS, BUT I'LL PASS.

RIGHT NOW, GABE IS THE ONLY MAN IN MY LIFE.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CHAZ?

THAT TALL GUY WITH THE PORSCHE?

UH, WELL, IT WASN'T HIS CAR OR HIS REAL NAME.

OOH.

THAT HAPPENED TO ME ONCE IN COLLEGE. IT WAS...

[BLUSTERING] PHEW!

OOH!

HOLLY!

FINALLY YOU'RE HERE!

THERE YOU GO.

IT'S COLD.

IT'S EIGHT BLOCKS TO YOUR FAVORITE COFFEE PLACE.

I TRIED TO...

SPEAKING OF HOLLY BEING LATE!

I NEED EVERYBODY TO STAY LATE TONIGHT

TO HELP ME GET READY

FOR TOMORROW,

WHEN I'M GOING ON THE HOME SHOPPING CHANNEL

TO SHOWCASE MY NEW "AVERAGE WOMAN" DRESS LINE.

"EVERY WOMAN."

WHAT?

IT'S NOT YOUR "AVERAGE WOMAN" DRESS LINE,

IT'S YOUR "EVERY WOMAN" DRESS LINE.

I SAID THAT.

"'CAUSE EVERY WOMEN DESERVES TO WEAR A LINDY LOWE DRESS."

WE'RE NOW AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENT STORES,

AND ONLINE...

I KNOW

YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY.

I PAID FOR IT.

RIGHT.

UM, I HAVE TO

PICK UP MY NEPHEW AT 6:00.

THAT'S WHEN THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM CLOSES.

YOUR WHAT?

MY NEPHEW?

GABE?

I-I TOLD YOU ABOUT HIM.

MY BROTHER, MIKE, WAS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS,

AND I'M IN CHARGE OF...

OKAY, EVERYBODY!

WE ALL HAVE TO STAY LATE TONIGHT

EXCEPT FOR HOLLY,

WHOSE LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT

THAN OURS.

SORRY.

I ASSUME YOU WILL BE

AT THE STUDIO TOMORROW

FOR MY TELEVISION DEBUT.

OF COURSE.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

WELL, LET'S HOPE SO, CONSIDERING IT WAS YOUR IDEA.

LINDY...

HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT MY SKETCHES

FOR THE DRESS DESIGN?

I RUN AN ENTIRE COMPANY BY MYSELF.

I BARELY HAVE TIME FOR MY OWN BASIC NEEDS,

AND NOW YOU WANT ME TO MENTOR YOU?

I HIRED YOU FOR MARKETING,

NOT DESIGNING.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'M SORRY.

IT'S...

NOT A HORRIBLE IDEA.

THIS LITTLE BLACK DRESS OF YOURS

THAT'S REVERSIBLE

AND GOES FROM DAY TO NIGHT.

I MEAN, IT NEEDS A GREAT DEAL OF WORK,

AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT COUTURE...

BUT IT'S NOT A...

HORRIBLE IDEA.

THANK YOU?

MORNING.

MORNING.

[JINGLES]

GOT YOU, YOU LITTLE WEASEL.

GOOD MORNING!

AND WELCOME TO FINLEY'S TOY DEPARTMENT.

MAY I HELP YOU?

HELP ME?

YEAH.

ARE YOU SHOPPING FOR YOUR CHILDREN?

BOYS OR GIRLS?

NO, I...

WE HAVE A HUGE SELECTION OF CLASSIC TOYS,

SO YOU FOLLOW ME.

I'M SORRY.

UM...

WHO-WHO ARE YOU?

"MRS. MIRACLE?"

[CHUCKLING] YES.

ACTUALLY, I'M MRS. MERKLE,

BUT THEY MADE A MISTAKE

ON MY NAME TAG,

AND I KEPT IT

BECAUSE IT SOUNDS SO HOPEFUL AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,

DON'T YOU THINK?

I'M JAKE FINLEY.

OH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

CAN I INTEREST YOU

IN, UM, SOME PUZZLES, OR GAME BOARDS?

OH, WE HAVE SLINKYS!

[GIGGLING]

THIS IS FINLEY'S DEPARTMENT STORE.

F...

OH!

OH, MY!

I AM SO SILLY!

OF COURSE!

YOU'RE J.R.'S SON.

SO, YOU KNOW MY FATHER, THEN?

OH, ONLY BY REPUTATION.

NO, NO, SEE, I'VE NEVER HAD THE PLEASURE

OF MEETING HIM,

BUT I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE MEET YOU.

OOH, I SEE

YOU HAVE YOUR COFFEE.

HOW DID THAT GO?

[STAMMERS]

F-FINE.

[CLEARS THROAT]

SEE, I'M THE STORE MANAGER.

THE MANAGER?

OH, ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL.

YOU MUST BE SO PROUD.

AND THE FUNNY THING IS

IS I DON'T REMEMBER GETTING A CALL FROM HUMAN RESOURCES

ABOUT YOU.

OH, WELL, I'M JUST HERE TO HELP YOU SAVE CHRISTMAS,

AND THE TOYS ARE JUST FLYING OFF THE SHELVES.

ACTUALLY,

THE BIGGEST ONE OF ALL ARE TRAIN SETS!

TRAIN SETS?

WELL, UH...

WELL, HOW MANY HAVE YOU SOLD?

TWO!

[LAUGHS IN TRIUMPH]

TWO?

THAT'S RIGHT!

OH!

HAVE SOME CHRISTMAS COOKIES.

YEAH!

MY MOTHER USED TO BAKE THEM JUST LIKE THIS.

THE STARS WERE ALWAYS MY FAVORITE.

OH, I MUST BRING A PLATE OF THESE TO YOUR FATHER.

UH, UH, NO.

PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.

WELL, WHY NOT?

MY FATHER DOESN'T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS...

COULD YOU EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT PLEASE?

OH, SURE.

OKAY.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

ALL RIGHT.

GLORIA...

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS NEW EMPLOYEE?

[QUIETLY]: I THOUGHT YOU HIRED HER.

YEAH.

SHE WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THIS MORNING

WEARING THAT NAME TAG

WHEN WE OPENED.

COULD YOU DO ME A FAVOR?

COULD YOU CALL H.R. AND SEE IF THEY SENT HER?

I WILL, YES.

I THINK SHE MIGHT JUST BE

A CONFUSED OLD LADY

WHO WANDERED IN OFF THE STREET.

YOU THINK SO?

OH, COME ON, HER NAME IS MIRACLE,

SHE SAYS SHE'S HERE

TO SAVE CHRISTMAS.

UNFORTUNATELY,

WE MAY NEED A MIRACLE THIS CHRISTMAS.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

♪ DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW IN A ONE-HORSE OPEN SLEIGH ♪

♪ OVER THE FIELDS WE GO WE'RE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY ♪

IF YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE,

I'LL BE GOING NOW.

NO, THAT'LL BE ALL,

AND THANKS FOR STAYING LATE TO FINISH THE INVENTORY REPORT.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

BETTY!

BETTY...

I THREW THESE CHRISTMAS CARDS AWAY THIS MORNING.

DID YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF THE TRASH?

NO, I DIDN'T.

W-WELL, I-I...

I DON'T UNDERSTAND...

NEVER MIND.

GOOD NIGHT.

'NIGHT.

[SIGHS]

HEY, AUNT HOLLY,

YOU REMEMBER WHAT DAY TOMORROW IS, RIGHT?

OF COURSE, HOW COULD I FORGET?

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN THE CITY!

I NEED EXTRA LUNCH MONEY NEXT WEEK.

I HAD TO BORROW FROM THE OFFICE TODAY.

I FORGOT TO GIVE YOU YOUR LUNCH MONEY?

AGAIN?

OH... I'M SO SORRY.

I MEAN, HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO LEARN ANYTHING

WHEN YOU'RE TOO WEAK TO CONCENTRATE?

NO BIG DEAL.

[SIGHS SADLY]

WELL, OTHER THAN THAT MINOR FIASCO,

HOW WAS SCHOOL TODAY?

FINE.

HEY, I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO START AT A NEW SCHOOL,

AND I KNOW YOU MISS YOUR FRIENDS

FROM BACK HOME,

BUT I PROMISE YOU THAT EVERY DAY

IT'S GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

YOU TOLD ME THAT LAST WEEK.

WHAT'S THIS?

OH, THIS IS VEGETABLE BROWN RICE.

WHAT ARE THESE GREEN THINGS?

THE GREEN THINGS?

THAT'S ZUCCHINI AND SPINACH

THAT I PUT IN THE SAUCE.

SEE? YOU GET EAT WHAT YOU LOVE,

AND IT'S STILL GOOD FOR YOU.

THAT'S WHAT THE "HEALTHY KIDS RECIPE BOOK"

CALLS WIN-WIN EATING!

HMM...

YUMMY.

PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANAS?

ALL RIGHT.

NO, WAIT, WAIT!

LET'S LOOK AT THE WINDOW.

[HOLLY GASPING IN DELIGHT]

OH, LOOK AT ALL THE TOYS!

OKAY, SEE, THESE ARE THE TOYS

FROM MY CHILDHOOD.

YOU SEE THAT JEWELRY BOX?

YEAH.

I USED TO HAVE ONE JUST LIKE THAT.

AW, I LOVED THAT JEWELRY BOX!

I WONDER IF IT PLAYS MUSIC

WHEN THE LITTLE BALLERINA GOES AROUND INSIDE.

THEY DON'T HAVE IT.

WHAT?

INTELLYTRON. WHY DON'T THEY HAVE IT?

WELL, THEY'LL PROBABLY HAVE ONE INSIDE.

LET'S GO LOOK.

OKAY, YOU READY?

COULD YOU HELP US, PLEASE?

OH!

WELL, HELLO!

HI.

WELCOME TO FINLEY'S.

"MRS. MIRACLE?"

OH, NO, WELL, ACTUALLY, IT'S MERKLE,

BUT YOU CAN CALL ME "MIRACLE."

WELL, I THINK MY NEPHEW WANTS TO LOOK AT...

INTELLYTRON?

HOW DID YOU KNOW?

EVERYBODY WANTS THAT FOR CHRISTMAS!

SO DO YOU HAVE ONE?

NOT ONE,

BUT WE DO HAVE

SOME TRIED AND TRUE TOYS.

TOYS THAT HAVE WITHSTOOD GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN.

COME ON WITH ME.

LET'S GO TO THE FUN ZONE.

[CHUCKLES]

GO AHEAD.

[P.A.]: ATTENTION, SHOPPERS. WELCOME TO FINLEY'S.

SANTA'S WORKSHOP WILL BE OPEN TILL 4:00 P.M. TODAY.

SANTA'S WORKSHOP IS LOCATED ON THE FOURTH FLOOR...

[PULL-TAB ZIPS, TOY DOG SPEAKS]: TOBY WANTS A BONE.

[PULL-TAB ZIPS]

OOH, SCRATCH MY BELLY!

[ZIP]

[IN MRS. MIRACLE'S VOICE]: MEETING THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE

DEPENDS ON THE EFFORT YOU PUT INTO IT.

LOOK AROUND YOU.

HI.

HI.

YOU WORK HERE?

YEAH.

YOU SHOP HERE?

YEAH.

IS, UH,

IS THAT YOUR SON?

NO, THAT'S MY NEPHEW.

HIS MOM PASSED AWAY A COUPLE YEARS AGO,

AND HIS DAD, MY BROTHER, MIKE,

WAS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS,

SO HE'S BEEN WITH ME FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.

OH, WELL, THAT'S GREAT.

IT'S NOT GREAT.

IT'S HORRIB... THAT'S A HORRIBLE STORY.

IT'S GREAT

THAT YOU HAVE A NEPHEW...

IT'S OKAY.

THANKS AGAIN FOR BUYING ME COFFEE

THE OTHER DAY.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'LL BE GETTING IN

SOME MORE INTELLYTRONS?

OH... NO, HONEY,

BUT COME HERE.

LET'S GO TELL SANTA.

SEE HIM WAY DOWN THERE?

GO TELL HIM WHAT YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, OKAY?

HE'S NOT REAL.

WELL, OF COURSE NOT,

BUT THE LITTLE CHILDREN DON'T KNOW THAT,

AND THEY GET A KICK OUT OF SITTING ON HIS LAP

AND PULLING ON HIS BEARD.

YEAH, I USED TO DO THAT WHEN I WAS LITTLE, TOO.

BUT IT'S STILL WORTHWHILE TELLING HIM WHAT YOU WANT,

'CAUSE THEN HE TELLS IT TO THE REAL SANTA.

THE REAL SANTA?

YEAH, LIKE YOU SAID,

HE'S A STORE SANTA, HE'S NOT REAL.

HE'S JUST A HIRED CHRISTMAS HELPER LIKE ME,

BUT HE CAN CONTACT THE REAL SANTA

AND GIVE HIM THE MESSAGES.

RIGHT.

YEAH.

GO ON, GO TELL HIM.

I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND,

BUT I SUGGESTED TO GABE

THAT HE TELL SANTA

WHAT HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS.

OH, THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO GET A PICTURE OF HIM SITTING ON SANTA'S KNEE

TO SEND TO HIS FATHER.

MUST BE HARD ON KIDS

WHOSE PARENTS SERVE IN THE MILITARY,

ESPECIALLY AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

YEAH, IT IS.

WE DON'T EXPECT HIS FATHER FOR ANOTHER NINE MONTHS.

OH...

[CELL PHONE RINGS] OH, EXCUSE ME.

HELLO?

GABE IS LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.

YOU LOVE HIM, AND HE KNOWS IT.

YOUR EFFORTS WILL BE REWARDED.

[HOLLY]: IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

TO REACH A WIDE AUDIENCE,

SO DON'T WORRY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE WONDERFUL.

AND IT'S BEEN PROVEN,

BEING ON THE HOME SHOPPING CHANNEL

EXPANDS YOUR CUSTOMER BASE.

I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO SELL, LIKE, A MILLION DRESSES.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'M A NATURAL FOR TELEVISION.

I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS A LONG TIME AGO.

WHY DIDN'T YOU RECOMMEND IT SOONER?

I-I DID, BUT...

OH, GABE.

UH, LINDY, I-I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET SOMEBODY.

THIS IS MY NEPHEW, GABE.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

I PICTURED YOU BIGGER.

IS THAT WHAT 10-YEAR-OLDS LOOK LIKE?

I GUESS SO.

ARE YOU SURE?

HMM.

UM, HEY, LINDY,

ANOTHER WAY TO EXPAND YOUR SALES

WOULD BE TO MARKET TO LARGER-SIZE WOMEN.

WHY DO YOU KEEP BRINGING THAT UP?

THE PLUS-SIZE MARKET

IS NOT BUILT FOR HIGH FASHION.

WELL, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PLUS-SIZE

SO MUCH AS NORMAL SIZE.

SEE, UM, YOUR DRESSES

ONLY GO UP TO A SIZE 10,

BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY'RE CUT,

THEY USUALLY ONLY FIT A SIZE EIGHT.

AND MOST WOMEN WEAR A 10 OR 12...

WHEN I START DESIGNING

FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE LET THEMSELVES GO,

IT'S THE DAY

I AM OUT OF THE FASHION BUSINESS.

IS THAT WHAT I LOOK LIKE?

I THOUGHT I LOOKED YOUNGER.

YOU LOOK REALLY NICE.

WELL, THANK YOU, YOUNG MAN.

SMART KID.

UGH! GET THESE OUT.

THEY HIDE THE DRESS.

GOODNESS, IS THAT YOUR LUNCH?

[CHUCKLES]

IT WAS IN MY PURSE.

I BELIEVE I SAT ON IT ON THE SUBWAY.

[LAUGHS]

OH, WELL, LUCKY FOR YOU, I BROUGHT JUST ENOUGH FOR TWO.

IS THAT ROPA VIEJA?

UH-HUH.

MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO MAKE THAT FOR ME

ON CHRISTMAS.

REALLY?

SHE SAID, "BUENA COMIDA

ES EL CORAZON DE LA FAMILIA."

WHICH MEANS...

"GOOD FOOD IS THE HEART OF THE FAMILY."

YOU SPEAK SPANISH?

OH, POQUITO.

MUJ BIEN.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?

I HAVE WORKED FOR FINLEY'S DEPARTMENT STORE

FOR 30 YEARS.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

MR. FINLEY SENIOR MUST BE VERY GOOD TO HIS EMPLOYEES.

HE IS.

WE DON'T SEE MUCH OF HIM SINCE HIS WIFE DIED.

HE USED TO BE ON THE FLOOR

WORKING WITH US THE WHOLE DAY.

HE USED TO THROW THE MOST AMAZING CHRISTMAS PARTY

ACROSS THE STREET AT VINCENZO'S

FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WELL, MR. FINLEY SR. IS A VERY HANDSOME MAN.

HAVE YOU MET HIM?

NO.

NO, NO, HE JUST SOUNDS LIKE HE'S HANDSOME.

I CALLED H.R...

HEAVENLY RESOURCES?

HUMAN RESOURCES.

OH, OH, RIGHT.

RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT, YEAH.

THEY NEVER HEARD OF YOU.

REALLY?

WELL, THAT'S NOT SO SURPRISING.

I MEAN, THEY HIRE SO MANY PEOPLE

AT CHRISTMAS TIME,

BUT...

I'LL STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT.

THANK YOU.

DE NADA.

[THEY CHUCKLE MERRILY]

THIS CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS, WE ALL HAVE PARTIES TO ATTEND,

THAT MEANS WE ALL NEED THE PERFECT DRESS TO WEAR.

WE ARE SO LUCKY

TO HAVE FASHION DESIGNER LINDY LOWE ON THE SHOW TODAY.

WELCOME, LINDY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE HOME SHOPPING CHANNEL,

WE ARE OFFERING LINDY LOWE DESIGNER DRESSES

SIZE 0 TO 10

TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.

TELL US MORE

ABOUT YOUR NEW "EVERY WOMAN" LINE.

THANK YOU, CLAIR.

I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE

TO OFFER A BIT OF SOPHISTICATION AND FLAIR

TO THE AVERAGE WOMAN

WHO ORDINARILY WOULD NOT THINK TO DRESS

WITH ANY REAL STYLE.

UH... I-I THINK WHAT MS. LOWE MEANS

IS THAT ALL WOMEN

WANT TO DRESS LIKE FASHION MODELS.

WE ALL WANT TO MAKE HEADS TURN, DON'T WE, GIRLS?

RIGHT.

WE ALL WANT TO LOOK LIKE

WE JUST STEPPED OFF THE COVER OF VOGUE...

AS UNLIKELY AND DELUSIONAL AS THAT SOUNDS.

I AM IN SO MUCH TROUBLE.

OH!

LOVELY EVENING.

MRS. MIRACLE?

YES.

MIRACLE, MIRACLE...

TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION,

WE DO NOT HAVE AN EMPLOYEE AT FINLEY'S NAMED MIRACLE,

AND I PRIDE MYSELF ON KNOWING THE NAME

OF EVERY EMPLOYEE AT THE STORE,

INCLUDING SEASONAL STAFF.

[CHUCKLES]

ACTUALLY, IT'S MRS. MERKLE,

BUT THEY MADE A MISTAKE WITH MY TAG,

SO I JUST KEPT IT,

'CAUSE IT HAS A NICE RING TO IT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

I STILL DON'T RECOGNIZE THE NAME.

WELL, I WOULDN'T LET IT WORRY YOU.

WE'RE ALL GETTING OLDER.

THEY SAY THE FIRST TO GO IS THE EYES,

AND THEN THE MIND COMES CLOSE BEHIND,

AND, SUDDENLY, YOU AND YOUR TEETH

ARE SLEEPING IN SEPARATE BEDS.

I BEG YOUR PARDON?

YOU USED TO SPEND YOUR DAYS

WORKING ALONGSIDE YOUR EMPLOYEES.

NOW YOU DON'T COME OUT OF YOUR OFFICE.

YOU CAN'T EXPECT TO KNOW ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES

IF YOU DON'T INTERACT WITH THEM,

AND THEY MISS YOU.

WHAT DEPARTMENT DO YOU WORK IN?

TOYS.

I WORK FOR YOUR SON,

AND HE'S DOING A MARVELOUS JOB MANAGING THIS STORE.

WHERE IS MY SON?

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE AT 6:30.

WE'RE HAVING DINNER AND HE'S LATE.

OH, YOU DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE?

OH, I'M SORRY.

NO, HE HAD TO CANCEL.

HE'S DOING INVENTORY.

[SIGHS TESTILY]

WELL, THEN...

[MORE GENTLY]: GOOD NIGHT, MRS. MERKLE.

GOOD NIGHT.

MRS. MERKLE, DO YOU NEED A RIDE?

OH, NO, THANK YOU. I HAVE A RIDE,

BUT I-I HAVE A FEELING

THAT GLORIA COULD USE A RIDE.

GLORIA?

MR. FINLEY HAS OFFERED TO TAKE YOU HOME.

OH.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU LIVE SIX BLOCKS AWAY FROM HIM.

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

YOU KNOW WHERE I LIVE?

WELL, GOODNESS,

YOU'VE LIVED IN THE SAME PLACE

FOR 30 YEARS.

COME ON, HONEY, HOP IN.

[STAMMERS AWKWARDLY]

[SIGHS]

WELL, I GUESS IT'LL BE OKAY.

OH, THAT'S AWFULLY GENEROUS OF YOU, MR. FINLEY,

BUT I WOULDN'T LIKE TO TAKE YOU OUT OF YOUR WAY.

GLORIA...

GLORIA MARTINEZ, RIGHT?

I REMEMBER YOU.

YOU'VE WORKED FOR ME FOR A LONG TIME.

Y-YOU STARTED IN... THE SHOE DEPARTMENT!

WHAT AN AMAZING MEMORY.

AH, WELL.

YES, SIR,

I HAVE WORKED FOR YOU FOR 30 YEARS.

I REMEMBER YOU.

YOU USED TO WEAR YOUR HAIR DOWN, THOUGH,

AND-AND CURLY.

[SHYLY]: YES.

WELL, PLEASE...

AFTER YOU.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

OKAY.

BUENAS NOCHES.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

THERE'S A NICE CAFE FOR DINNER AT 77th AND MADISON AVENUE

IN CASE YOU GET A FLAT TIRE

IN THE AREA.

[CHUCKLING]

WAS THAT MY FATHER'S CAR PULLING AWAY?

OH, I BELIEVE SO.

WE HAD DINNER PLANS TONIGHT.

FRANKLY, I'M HAPPY TO GET OUT OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD STOMACH AN ENTIRE DINNER

OF "I TOLD YOU SO'S."

WELL, YOU FOLLOWED YOUR INSTINCTS,

AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUALITY.

IF YOU PLAN TO RUN THIS STORE

SOMEDAY,

YOU'LL HAVE TO TRUST YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT.

I DON'T THINK MY FATHER IS EVER GOING TO RETIRE.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO THANK YOU

FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING.

YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN CONTAGIOUS

AROUND HERE.

I DO LOVE CHRISTMAS.

GLORIA TELLS ME

YOU USED TO GIVE A BIG CHRISTMAS PARTY

FOR ALL OF YOUR EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE STREET.

YEAH, WE DID.

WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

AW...

MY MOTHER,

SHE DIED ON CHRISTMAS EVE,

SO MY FATHER THINKS IT'S DISRESPECTFUL

IF WE CELEBRATE.

AW...

I DON'T THINK SO.

IN FACT, I MISS CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS

WITH EVERYONE.

YOU LOVE THIS STORE, DON'T YOU?

YEAH.

YEAH, IT'S LIKE A SECOND HOME.

WELL, WHY DON'T YOU STAND UP FOR YOURSELF?

TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL.

[CHUCKLES WRYLY]

WELL, YOU'RE A FINLEY, TOO.

HAS ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU THAT YOU CAN BE VERY NOSEY?

OH, YES!

EVERY DAY.

SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY.

[THEY LAUGH]

I'M GOING TO CATCH A CAB.

OR YOU COULD WALK HOME.

IT'LL RELAX YOU AND CLEAR YOUR HEAD.

YEAH, I SUPPOSE YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE CITY IS BEAUTIFUL THIS TIME OF YEAR,

VENDORS ARE SELLING ROASTED CHESTNUTS...

MAYBE I'LL GRAB A BAG, HUH?

HE'S WRONG, YOU KNOW.

I BEG YOUR PARDON?

YOUR FATHER IS WRONG TO THINK

THAT CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IS DISRESPECTFUL TO YOUR MOTHER.

CELEBRATING ANYTHING IN HER MEMORY

HONORS HER.

GOODNIGHT, MRS. MERKLE.

GOODNIGHT.

[GASPING IN DELIGHT]

ROASTED CHESTNUTS!

IT'S A CHRISTMAS TRADITION.

YOU WANT TO GET SOME?

YES!

OKAY.

JAKE... AGAIN.

HOLLY.

AGAIN.

WE KEEP RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER.

IT APPEARS THAT WAY.

THREE BAGS, PLEASE.

YOU LIVE AROUND HERE?

NO.

WE'RE COMING BACK FROM ICE SKATING.

OH, NICE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE...

THANK YOU.

MY MOTHER USED TO BUY ME A BAG OF CHESTNUTS

AND WE'D GO FOR A RIDE IN A CARRIAGE

AROUND THE PARK.

[GASPING]

CAN WE GET A RIDE?

PLEASE?

WELL, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CHOICE.

[CHUCKLING]

DOWN FIFTH AVENUE, PLEASE, SIR.

OKAY, CAREFUL.

THANKS. THIS IS SO COOL!

[GIGGLING]

GIDDY-UP!

I WISH IT WOULD SNOW.

IT'S JUST NOT CHRISTMAS UNLESS IT SNOWS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN

THIS YEAR.

SEE THAT?

THAT'S THE ONLY TOY GABE WANTS.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS

SANTA CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ONE.

THAT TOY COULD COST ME MY JOB.

WHAT?

I DECIDED NOT TO STOCK IT IN THE STORE.

WHY NOT?

I THINK KIDS SHOULD HAVE TOYS

THAT SPARK THEIR IMAGINATION,

YOU KNOW? IT'S...

WHEN I WAS A KID,

I HAD THESE PLASTIC TOY SOLDIERS

I USED TO PLAY WITH IN THE BACKYARD

IN THE DIRT FOR HOURS,

FIGHTING IMAGINARY BATTLES,

DEFENDING IMAGINARY CASTLES...

[CHUCKLES SHEEPISHLY]

I PLAYED WITH

THE SAME GREEN AND YELLOW JUMP ROPE

FOR AN ENTIRE SUMMER.

[LAUGHS]

I WAS AFRAID THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

YOU KNOW, MY APARTMENT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

YOU GUYS COULD TAKE MY CAR SERVICE HOME.

OH, IT-IT'S OKAY.

I APPRECIATE IT, BUT WE CAN TAKE THE BUS.

I LIVE IN BROOKLYN.

NO, I HAVE A CAR SERVICE

THAT I PAY FOR BY THE MONTH,

THAT I NEVER USE.

I AM PRETTY SURE THEY MAKE FUN OF ME

BEHIND MY BACK.

YOU'D BE DOING ME A FAVOR.

[CHUCKLES]

OKAY.

OKAY.

SEEING CHRISTMAS

THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD,

IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE...

LIVING IT ALL OVER AGAIN, YOU KNOW?

YEAH.

[THUD]

[THEY CHUCKLE]

[CLEARS THROAT AWKWARDLY]

WELL, HERE WE ARE.

YOU LIVE HERE?

FINLEY...

FINLEY AS IN FINLEY'S DEPARTMENT STORES?

I JUST PUT THAT TOGETHER NOW.

IT'S OKAY.

IT'S A COMMON LAST NAME.

[CHUCKLES]

ALL RIGHT, BIG GUY, HERE WE ARE.

JUST HOP RIGHT IN, OKAY?

WELL, THANK YOU, AGAIN.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

HEY,

UH...

DO YOU WANT TO GO OUT SOMETIME?

I'M NOT REALLY DATING RIGHT NOW.

UM, BETWEEN GABE AND WORK,

I JUST, I DON'T HAVE ANY FREE TIME.

ME NEITHER.

HOW ABOUT MONDAY NIGHT?

[CHUCKLES]

WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO WATCH GABE.

I HAVEN'T LEFT HIM ALONE FOR A NIGHT

SINCE HIS DAD WENT AWAY.

THEN WHY DON'T I BRING DINNER TO YOU?

BOTH OF YOU.

THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

OKAY.

MONDAY NIGHT? CHINESE FOOD?

THAT'S MY FAVORITE.

[LAUGHS]

MINE TOO.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

THANK YOU.

'NIGHT.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE ROASTED CHESTNUTS

TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

MRS. MERKLE!

YOU'RE IN EARLY.

I LIKE TO GET A JUMP START ON MY DAY.

OOH...

I LIKE YOUR HAIR LIKE THAT.

IT'S VERY FESTIVE.

THANK YOU.

I ALWAYS USED TO WEAR IT LIKE THIS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I STOPPED.

HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND?

THE STRANGEST THING HAPPENED.

MR. FINLEY DROVE ME HOME SATURDAY NIGHT

AND WE GOT A FLAT TIRE

RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIS LITTLE COFFEE SHOP,

SO WE DECIDED TO GO IN AND HAVE DINNER.

WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

MY HUSBAND DIED THE SAME YEAR HIS WIFE DIED.

IMAGINE THAT.

YEAH...

GOOD MORNING, GLORIA, MRS. MERKLE.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MR. FINLEY.

HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND?

FANTASTIC!

I MADE MYSELF A NEW SCARF.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

OH, IT'S LOVELY.

AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND, MR. FINLEY?

UH, IT WAS VERY NICE.

I RAN INTO HOLLY WILSON AND HER NEPHEW, GABE

ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

OH, GREAT!

DID YOU MAKE ANOTHER DATE?

OOH, SORRY.

I-IS THAT TOO NOSEY?

ACTUALLY, I DID, YES.

I, UM, AM TAKING DINNER TO HER APARTMENT TONIGHT.

OH, AND I KNOW A GREAT RESTAURANT

WITH TAKE-OUT CHINESE FOOD.

OF COURSE YOU DO.

[CHUCKLES]

SEE YOU LATER.

ADIOS, AMIGA.

[LAUGHING]: ADIOS.

[SEWING MACHINES WHIRR]

WHAT'S UP?

OH, I'M TRYING TO FIND AN INTELLYTRON

FOR GABE FOR CHRISTMAS.

IT'S ALL HE WANTS,

AND THEY'RE SOLD OUT EVERYWHERE.

OH, HERE.

YOU GOT TO GO ON SUCHHOTSTUFF.COM.

IT'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND SOLD OUT

AND HARD TO FIND STUFF.

I GOT DONNY AND MARIE CONCERT TICKETS THERE

LAST MONTH.

DID YOU JUST SAY "DONNY AND MARIE?"

DON'T JUDGE.

[CHUCKLES]

YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE

AN INTELLYTRON ON HERE?

YES, BUT THEY'LL BE SELLING

HUNDREDS OVER COST.

I DON'T HAVE HUNDREDS OVER COST.

OH, HEY!

HOW DID SATURDAY GO AT THE HOME SHOPPING SHOW?

WELL, I DON'T THINK THERE WERE MANY SALES,

AND SHE MANAGED TO OFFEND

MOST OF THE VIEWERS,

AND I'M PRETTY SURE SHE'S GOING TO FIND A WAY

TO MAKE IT MY FAULT.

OH...

IN MY OFFICE.

NOW.

SEE?

UGH!

I CANNOT BELIEVE

I LET YOU TALK ME INTO GOING

ON THAT STUPID SHOW.

PEOPLE WITH TASTE

DON'T BUY CLOTHING OFF THE TELEVISION.

THEIR MAIN AUDIENCE IS PROBABLY PRISONERS OR SHUT-INS.

IT'S ALL PART OF THE NEW MARKETING PLAN.

I-I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A WAY TO EXPAND YOUR CLIENT BASE,

REACH OUT TO WOMEN

WHO NEVER SHOP IN THE DESIGNER DEPARTMENT.

WELL, YOU WERE WRONG.

WOMEN WHO SHOP OFF THE TV

DON'T WEAR NICE CLOTHES.

THEY WEAR PRISON JUMPSUITS,

OR ROBES AROUND THE HOUSE ALL DAY,

AND THEN THEY CALL IT A "HOUSE COAT."

YOU SHOULD VISIT SOME OF THE SHOPS

WHERE WE'VE EXPANDED YOUR LINE.

TAKE A LOOK AT-AT YOUR BUYERS

BEYOND THE DESIGNER SHOPS ON MADISON AVENUE.

GET TO KNOW

YOUR CORE CUSTOMERS.

YOU WANT ME TO GO TO A RETAIL STORE

AND LOOK AT PEOPLE?

ORDINARY PEOPLE?

[GASPS]

WHAT IS THIS,

ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR MARKETING "IDEAS?"

NO...

YES.

[SIGHS IN FUTILITY]

[GROANS]

ONLY ONE WEEK TILL CHRISTMAS.

SALES ARE STEADY,

BUT THERE'S NO WAY WE SELL THIS OUT.

OH, I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

MOST PEOPLE WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE

TO GO SHOPPING.

DAD!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING DOWN HERE? YOU NEVER COME DOWN HERE.

THE ELEVATOR IS BEING SERVICED,

SO I HAD TO USE THE STAIRS,

WHICH MEANS I HAVE TO PASS THROUGH

THE TOY DEPARTMENT

IN ORDER TO LEAVE THE STORE.

IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU, MR. FINLEY,

OUT OF YOUR OFFICE.

OH...

HELLO, GLORIA.

UH, MRS. MARTINEZ.

HELLO, MR. FINLEY.

AWFULLY QUIET HERE,

ISN'T IT?

SALES USUALLY PICK UP LATE AFTERNOON.

HMM.

IT'S 5:30.

HE MEANS CLOSER TO 6:00.

MOST PEOPLE LIKE TO COME LATE.

IT'S THRILLING FOR THEM

TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET HERE BEFORE WE CLOSE.

[CHUCKLES]

LET ME WALK YOU OUT, MR. FINLEY,

SO YOU DON'T GET LOST.

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF GETTING LOST!

YOU KNOW, YOU REMIND ME

OF A GREAT LITERARY FIGURE.

REALLY? WHO?

SCROOGE.

EXCUSE ME?

AS A FINLEY'S STORE EMPLOYEE,

I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN

THAT YOU HAD CANCELED THE CHRISTMAS PARTY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I TOOK THIS JOB.

IT WAS CANCELED 20 YEARS AGO.

YEAH, I KNOW, BUT THEY STILL TALK ABOUT IT.

APPARENTLY, IT'S "OFF THE HOOK."

WHAT?

IT'S AN EXPRESSION THEY USE TODAY,

AND I KNOW THAT JAKE IS TRYING TO REINSTATE IT.

HE MENTIONED IT.

JAKE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT SALES AND NOT PARTIES.

SALES ARE GREAT!

WE'RE GOING TO SELL OUT THE WHOLE TOY STORE!

REALLY? YOU SOUND VERY CONFIDENT.

I AM.

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,

YOU SELL OUT THE TOY DEPARTMENT,

AND I WILL THROW A HUGE CHRISTMAS PARTY.

WONDERFUL,

AND WILL PLAN THE WHOLE THING.

YEAH, WELL, I WOULDN'T GET STARTED JUST YET...

WHAT ARE THESE CHRISTMAS CARDS DOING HERE?

I THREW THEM AWAY,

THEN THEY WERE IN MY BRIEFCASE,

AND NOW I FIND THEM IN MY POCKET.

IT'S EASY TO GET CONFUSED AT OUR AGE,

BUT I HEAR THAT GINGKO BILOBA BOOSTS MEMORY.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY MEMORY.

WELL THEN, READ THE CARDS,

'CAUSE PEOPLE MISS YOU,

AND THEY CARE ABOUT YOU.

THIS IS ABSURD.

[SIGHS IN FRUSTRATION]

SO I USED MY DEGREE IN DESIGN MARKETING

TO GET A JOB WITH LINDY LOWE.

I'D REALLY LIKE MY OWN DRESS LINE ONE DAY.

WELL, THEN YOU WILL.

I WILL?

MM-HMM.

POSITIVE THINKING, IT'S MY NEW THING.

YOU JUST THINK ABOUT

SOMETHING YOU WANT,

AND THEN YOU GET IT.

SOUNDS SIMPLE.

HOW'S THAT WORKING OUT FOR YOU?

[LAUGHS]

I DON'T KNOW YET.

I JUST CAME UP WITH IT, SO...

I SHOULD GO CHECK ON GABE.

HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN WITH YOU?

TWO MONTHS.

MY BROTHER GOT CALLED UP IN OCTOBER.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO,

BECAUSE HE'S A SINGLE DAD,

BUT, UH, HE'S THE KIND OF GUY WHO DOES THE RIGHT THING.

HE'S THAT GUY, HUH?

YEAH.

YEAH, HE'S ALWAYS DONE THE RIGHT THING.

HE WAS, UH...

HE WAS A GREAT BIG BROTHER.

[CHUCKLES WARMLY]

WHEN GABE'S MOM DIED,

HE WENT THROUGH A ROUGH TIME, BUT...

MANAGED TO PULL HIMSELF TOGETHER,

AND HE'S JUST BECOME THE BEST DAD TO GABE.

WELL, THEY'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU TO STEP IN.

HE'S A GREAT KID.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

GABE WAS ALL EXCITED

AFTER GETTING AN EMAIL FROM HIS FATHER TONIGHT, THOUGH.

IT TOOK HIM A WHILE TO GET SETTLED,

BUT HE'S ASLEEP NOW.

THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

ON CHRISTMAS EVE,

MY BROTHER AND I USED TO SNEAK DOWNSTAIRS

WHEN OUR PARENTS WERE ASLEEP,

AND WE WOULD OPEN OUR PRESENTS...

NO, YOU DID NOT.

UH-HUH, AND THEN WE WOULD REWRAP THEM,

AND OPEN THEM AGAIN

THE NEXT MORNING.

[LAUGHING]

AND YOU PRETEND TO BE SURPRISED?

YEAH, I ACTUALLY GOT PRETTY GOOD AT IT.

SO TELL ME ABOUT CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR FAMILY.

MY MOTHER DIED CHRISTMAS EVE 20 YEARS AGO.

FREAK ACCIDENT.

SNOWSTORM.

TWO CABS COLLIDED.

IT...

MY FATHER AND I, WE HAVEN'T CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS SINCE.

I'M SO SORRY.

YOU KNOW, SINCE THEN, HE'S REALLY JUST...

SHUT HIMSELF OFF FROM EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE.

EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE,

WE GET ON A PLANE TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS,

AND WE DON'T COME BACK UNTIL AFTER NEW YEAR'S.

IT'S BEEN THE SAME THING FOR 20 YEARS.

HE CALLS IT A VACATION.

IT'S REALLY JUST AN ESCAPE.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I JUST TOLD YOU THAT.

I NEVER TELL ANYONE THAT.

WELL, IT'S GOOD TO SAY THINGS OUT LOUD,

HELPS...

PUT THEM IN PERSPECTIVE.

HOW DID YOU GET SO SMART?

LET'S SEE...

WHAT OUR FUTURE HOLDS.

[LAUGHS]

ALL RIGHT...

ALL RIGHT, THAT ONE.

OKAY.

YOU FIRST.

[CRACKS FORTUNE COOKIE OPEN]

ALL RIGHT...

[CLEARS THROAT CEREMONIOUSLY]

"YOUR EFFORTS WILL BE REWARDED?"

THAT'S WHAT MRS. MERKLE TOLD ME

THE OTHER DAY.

[CHUCKLES]

OKAY,

WHAT DOES YOURS SAY?

IT'S A SECRET.

WHAT?

IT'S A SECRET.

I CAN'T TELL YOU, OR IT MIGHT NOT COME TRUE.

OKAY, FINE.

MAYBE

IF I WHISPER IT.

OKAY.

CAN WE GO INTO THE CITY AND GO SHOPPING TONIGHT?

I WANT TO GET SOMETHING TO SEND TO MY DAD.

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

BY THE TIME WE GET HOME

AND YOU FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK,

IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY LATE.

BUT IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS.

I HAVE MY OWN MONEY FROM MY ALLOWANCE

SAVED UP.

WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW NIGHT?

WE'LL SEE.

"WE'LL SEE" USUALLY MEANS "NO" WITH MY DAD.

REALLY?

I'M STARTING TO SOUND LIKE A REAL PARENT.

WE'LL GO SHOPPING BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

THURSDAY, OKAY?

PROMISE?

I PROMISE.

OH, AND BY THE WAY,

I HEARD ON THE RADIO

THAT TOY CENTRAL IS SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING A NEW SHIPMENT

OF INTELLYTRONS TODAY.

REALLY? HMM.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW.

BYE.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

OH, EXCUSE ME,

BUT COULD YOU HELP ME FIND A DRESS?

I WANT TO GO TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY.

OH!

I DON'T WORK HERE.

I'M JUST LOOKING.

WELL, YOU LOOK SO FAMILIAR.

OH...

I'M LINDY LOWE.

[GASPS]

THE DESIGNER!

OH, WOW!

OH, I AM SO HONORED TO MEET YOU.

OH.

[CHUCKLING]

WOW, WHAT A ROCK.

SEE, MY PROBLEM IS,

I WORK ALL DAY,

AND I WANT TO GO

TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY,

SO I NEED A DRESS

THAT GOES FROM DAY TO NIGHT.

OH.

WELL, APPARENTLY, MY DRESSES ARE SOLD HERE,

BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY'LL BE IN YOUR, UM...

WELL...

YOUR DIMENSIONS.

OH, THAT'S A SHAME

BECAUSE MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD...

WELL, WE'D LOOK GREAT

IN YOUR STYLES.

I MEAN, THEY'RE FLATTERING

ON ANY FIGURE.

REALLY?

OH, YES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD DO, MISS LOWE,

YOU SHOULD LOOK AROUND,

'CAUSE MOST WOMEN DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU

OR THE FASHION MODELS ON THE COVER

OF THOSE MAGAZINES.

[CHUCKLES]: NO...

NO, SEE, WE'RE MORE THE...

THE...

YOU KNOW, THE LOVABLE VARIETY.

OH...

[THEY CHUCKLE]

BYE-BYE, NOW.

OH. BYE.

OH...

[SIGHS HEAVILY]

WELL, I JUST CALLED TOY CENTRAL.

THEY GOT A SHIPMENT

OF 20 INTELLYTRONS IN TODAY.

THAT'S GREAT!

AND THEY SOLD OUT IN SIX MINUTES.

OH...

HOLLY!

STAND UP.

WHAT SIZE DO YOU WEAR?

A SIX?

HMM...

CAROL, STAND UP.

OH.

YOU ARE CONSIDERABLY LARGER THAN HOLLY.

WHAT SIZE DO YOU WEAR?

UH, UH, A 10, I GUESS.

OKAY, A 12.

ALL THE WOMEN IN THE OFFICE, STAND.

HUH.

CALL THE FACTORY.

I HAVE A WONDERFUL IDEA.

I WANT LINDY LOWE DRESSES TO BE MADE

IN SIZES O THROUGH 16.

WHAT A FABULOUS IDEA

YOU... JUST HAD.

YES.

I'M TAKING A HUGE RISK,

BUT SALES HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE

THIS SEASON.

I DON'T KNOW IF LARGE WOMEN

CARE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE,

BUT IF THEY DO, LET'S EXPLOIT THEM, HMM?

OH, AND, HOLLY,

CALL THE HOME SHOPPING CHANNEL.

I WANT TO GO BY ON THURSDAY TO FILM A NEW SPOT.

I WILL.

AND ON A WHIM,

I'M THROWING IN YOUR LITTLE BLACK DRESS.

REALLY?

YES.

THIS IS EITHER

THE SMARTEST DECISION I'VE EVER MADE,

OR THE STUPIDEST DECISION YOU'VEEVER MADE.

YOUR JOB IS ON THE LINE, HOLLY.

THESE ARE YOUR IDEAS.

THAT'S FANTASTIC NEWS, HOLLY.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST STEP AS A DRESS DESIGNER.

YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO CALL THE SHOW

AND I AM GOING TO ORDER

THREE OF THOSE LITTLE REVERSIBLE BLACK DRESSES

WELL, THAT'S VERY GENEROUS OF YOU, JAKE.

YOU KNOW, YOU ACTUALLY ARE MY TARGET CONSUMER.

...IN BREAKING NEWS,

CONSUMER ADVOCATES ARE SAYING THAT THE INTELLYTRON,

THIS SEASON'S HOTTEST-SELLING TOY,

HEATS UP AND EXPLODES

IF YOU PLAY WITH IT FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR...

CAN YOU HOLD ON A SECOND?

WITH ONLY A WEEK TO GO UNTIL CHRISTMAS,

PEOPLE ARE HEADED TO STORES IN DROVES

TO RETURN THE INTELLYTRON ROBOT.

LET'S GO TO JANE BINKOW IN MANHATTAN FOR MORE...

ARE YOU LISTENING TO THIS?

YEAH, I'M LISTENING.

I'M STANDING OUT IN FRONT OF TOYS-A-PLENTY

AS ANGRY CUSTOMERS LINE UP FOR REFUNDS...

TURNS OUT I WAS RIGHT NOT TO STOCK THE INTELLYTRON.

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE BOTH HAVE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.

...LOOK BEHIND ME, AS YOU CAN SEE,

THERE WILL BE BIG TROUBLE AHEAD

FOR RETAILERS SELLING THE INTELLYTRON ROBOT AS WELL.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

A SPECIAL BOTTLE FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION!

SHH! WE DON'T WANT TO WAKE UP GABE.

[GIGGLING]

[WHISPERING]: TO BLACK DRESSES

AND EXPLODING ROBOTS.

PERFECT.

[SHAKING DICE] ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO,

AND... OH, NO.

OH, I'M SORRY.

YEAH, I OWN THAT,

AND I HAVE, LIKE,

THREE HOTELS ON MY PROPERTY,

SO YOU OWE ME, LIKE, A BILLION DOLLARS.

PLEASE. SORRY.

[LAUGHING] OKAY,

YOU ARE SERIOUSLY GOOD AT THIS GAME.

YOU ARE BOTH RUTHLESS

AND POWER HUNGRY,

AND YOU NOW...

HAVE ALL MY MONEY.

WELL, I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT.

[LAUGHS]

YOU KNOW, IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE THE LUCKY THIMBLE.

THE WHAT?

THIS IS, LIKE, THE MONOPOLY POWER PIECE, OKAY?

WHOEVER HAS THIS THIMBLE

WINS THE GAME.

MM-HMM.

OKAY, THAT'S JUST PSYCHOLOGICAL MUMBO JUMBO,

AND YOU WERE TRYING TO PSYCH ME OUT.

UH-UH.

NO, I ACTUALLY TOOK THE THIMBLE WITH ME

TO MY SATs... ACED THEM!

MAYBE YOU'RE JUST WICKED SMART.

NO. IT WAS DEFINITELY THE THIMBLE.

I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO CALL MY COMPANY

THIMBLE DESIGNS.

I LIKE THAT.

ME TOO.

YOU KNOW, YOU AND I SHOULD GO ON A REAL DATE.

YOU KNOW, FANCY CLOTHES,

FANCY DINNER, THE WHOLE THING.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

WELL, GABE DOES HAVE A FRIEND DOWN THE STREET

WHO OFFERED TO HAVE HIM OVER FOR THE NIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, WHAT DO YOU SAY THIS THURSDAY?

I'LL SEND THE CAR AROUND.

OKAY.

THURSDAY.

THREE, TWO, ONE, AND ACTION!

IT'S LESS THAN A WEEK UNTIL CHRISTMAS,

AND FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK,

YOU CAN ORDER ONE OF THESE GORGEOUS DRESSES,

DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR HOME SHOPPING CUSTOMERS.

THEY ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN SIZE 0 TO 16,

AND A NEW HIGHLIGHT

IS A LITTLE BLACK DRESS THAT IS REVERSIBLE

AND GOES FROM DAY TO NIGHT

IN A FLASH.

THIS IS LIKE OWNING TWO DRESSES IN ONE...

EXCUSE ME.

YOO-HOO!

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS

THAT THIS DRESS SAVES YOU FROM THAT WALK OF SHAME.

THE WHAT?

YOU WEAR THE DRESS TO THE OFFICE,

THEN YOU SLEEP AT YOUR COWORKER'S,

GO TO WORK THE NEXT DAY AFTER REVERSING THE DRESS!

[GIGGLES WITH SATISFACTION]

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO, YOU HAVE UNTIL 5:00.

PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL NOW

TO GET YOUR VERY OWN LINDY LOWE.

[LINDY]: IT'S CALLED THE "EVERY WOMAN DESIGN,"

BECAUSE EVERY WOMAN

SHOULD HAVE ONE OF MY DRESSES IN THEIR CLOSET...

JUST IN CASE YOU DO

GET INVITED SOMEWHERE.

HERE YOU GO.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

WOW. YOU LOOK VERY SNAPPY.

WELL, THANK YOU.

SNAPPY IS WHAT I WAS GOING FOR.

SEE, I TOLD YOU THINGS WOULD PICK UP.

YEAH.

WE GOT LUCKY.

IT TURNS OUT PEOPLE WANT TOYS THAT DON'T EXPLODE.

SEE? YOU WERE RIGHT AFTER ALL.

YEAH, I GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT.

SEE, YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF,

DO YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT OR DO YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY?

I WOULD LIKE BOTH.

I'M CHECKING OUT EARLY TONIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

NEXT.

OH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WAITING.

I'M SO SORRY.

GABE, I WAS AT THE STUDIO WITH MY BOSS AND...

IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

IT IS A BIG DEAL,

AND I PROMISE YOU, IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

IT'S THURSDAY.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO SHOPPING TONIGHT.

[SIGHS]

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK TONIGHT, BUDDY.

IT'S LATE...

YOU PROMISED.

I KNOW I PROMISED,

BUT SOMETIMES...

ADULTS MAKE PROMISES THAT THEY JUST CAN'T KEEP,

EVEN IF THEY REALLY, REALLY WANT TO

KEEP THAT PROMISE,

SOMETIMES LIFE JUST KIND OF GETS IN THE WAY.

THAT'S NOT FAIR.

I KNOW IT'S NOT FAIR,

AND I'M REALLY SORRY.

MY DAD NEVER BREAKS HIS PROMISES.

I WISH HE WERE HERE!

ME TOO.

[DOOR BUZZER]

HELLO?

MS. WILSON, YOUR CAR IS WAITING FOR YOU.

IT'S THURSDAY.

JUST A MINUTE.

NO, NO, IT'S FINE.

I-I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.

NO, I STILL HAVE TIME TO CANCEL THE RESERVATION.

WE'LL JUST DO IT ANOTHER NIGHT.

OKAY, BYE.

[SIGHS HEAVILY]

MAYBE WE COULD DECORATE THE TREE TONIGHT.

WHATEVER.

GABE, GABE.

I'M SO SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

I PROMISE YOU

THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE IT UP TO...

GABE... GABE.

YOU LOOK HORRIBLE.

IT HASN'T BEEN A VERY GOOD DAY.

I DIDN'T SLEEP VERY WELL LAST NIGHT,

I'M PRETTY SURE GABE HATES ME,

AND I FORGOT ABOUT THIS DATE I HAD

WITH THIS GREAT GUY,

NOT TO MENTION THE FACT

THAT I'M PRETTY SURE I'M GOING TO BE FIRED TODAY.

REALLY?

NONE OF MY MARKETING IDEAS HAVE WORKED.

SHE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO FIRE ME.

SHE WOULDN'T FIRE YOU FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SHE FIRED THE GIRL IN THE SHOWROOM

FOR WEARING TOO MUCH ORANGE.

OH.

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

THIS IS HOLLY.

WH-WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S NOT THERE?

WHERE IS HE?

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

ATTENTION!

I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

[WHISPERING]: WHAT'S WRONG?

IT'S GABE.

HE'S NOT AT SCHOOL.

I DROPPED HIM OFF THERE, BUT HE MUST HAVE LEFT.

WHAT DO I DO?

CALL THE POLICE.

EXCUSE ME.

THEY ALREADY DID THAT.

I-I GOT TO GET TO THE SCHOOL...

OR-OR SHOULD I GO HOME FIRST AND SEE IF HE'S THERE?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HAVE TO FIND HIM.

BUT I AM ABOUT TO MAKE

AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE IT WITHOUT ME.

I CAN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU.

IT'S ABOUT YOU.

OKAY, I GET IT.

SALES ARE LOUSY, IT'S ALL MY FAULT,

AND I'M FIRED,

RIGHT?

N-NEVER MIND. I QUIT!

[STAMMERS]

HE'S ONLY 10 YEARS OLD.

NO, HE'S NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE!

HE'S A RESPONSIBLE KID.

[PHONE BEEP]

C-CAN YOU HOLD?

I HAVE ANOTHER CALL.

GABE, IS THAT YOU?

MRS. MERKLE FROM FINLEY'S?

GABE'S THERE?

WHAT IS HE DOING THERE?

N-NEVER MIND, JUST HAVE HIM WAIT FOR ME,

AND DON'T LET HIM OUT OF YOUR SIGHT, OKAY?

I'M ON MY WAY.

FINLEY'S DEPARTMENT STORE, PLEASE?

GABE...

I THOUGHT IT WAS BEST TO CALL YOU

SO YOU WOULDN'T WORRY.

THANK YOU.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THIS.

YOU TOOK THE TRAIN HERE ALL BY YOURSELF?

YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED,

OR-OR KIDNAPPED, OR WORSE!

DON'T YOU READ THE NEWSPAPER?

NO.

WELL, YOU SHOULDN'T.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

WHY DID YOU DO THIS?

I HAD TO!

THREE MORE DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS, AND THERE WAS NO MORE TIME.

THAT IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH EXCUSE.

YOUR FATHER TRUSTS ME TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.

YOU'RE MY RESPONSIBILITY!

I...

YOU SCARED ME TO DEATH!

I'M SORRY.

WELL, YOU'RE STILL IN TROUBLE.

LET'S GO.

GET YOUR STUFF.

THERE'S GOING TO BE CONSEQUENCES.

I'M IN CHARGE OF YOU,

SO IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PUNISH YOU, AND-AND...

YOU'RE GROUNDED!

HEY...

HEY, EVERYTHING'S OKAY.

HE'S SAFE NOW.

EVERYTHING'S OKAY. HE JUST CAME HERE TO...

I WAS AFRAID I'D LOST HIM.

WELL, SOMETIMES, KIDS DO SILLY THINGS.

IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.

THIS IS A HUGE DEAL.

HE-HE COULD HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED,

OR-OR KILLED, OR...

YEAH, BUT HE WASN'T. HE'S FINE.

HE DID SOMETHING WRONG,

AND HE'S NEVER GOING TO DO IT AGAIN,

ARE YOU?

NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, THIS IS MY FAULT.

I-I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN HE WAS GOING TO DO THIS.

I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO TAKE HIM SHOPPING MYSELF

AND I DIDN'T...

HOLLY, THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

YES, IT IS, BUT IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

I JUST GOT FIRED.

WAIT, YOU LOST YOUR JOB?

YES, BUT IT'S OKAY,

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GET ANOTHER JOB

THAT'S GOING TO GIVE ME MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON GABE.

HE NEEDS ME,

SO, FROM HERE ON IN, I AM GOING TO BE

THE BEST AUNT IN THE WORLD.

LOOK, WHY DON'T I COME OVER TONIGHT,

AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS?

NO.

PLEASE DON'T.

I...

I TOLD YOU WHEN I MET YOU

THAT I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR DATING.

HOLLY, I JUST THINK YOU MIGHT BE OVERREACTING.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I TOOK THIS ON.

I PROMISED MY BROTHER

THAT I WOULD TAKE CARE OF HIS SON.

HE'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD,

AND HE'S DEPENDING ON ME.

COME ON.

GABE, CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING?

I'M FINE.

DO YOU WANT ME TO HEAT YOU UP SOMETHING TO EAT?

I'M FINE!

"DEAR MIKE.

"I MISS YOU.

"IT TURNS OUT

"I'M A POOR SUBSTITUTE FOR YOU.

"I NEVER KNEW BEING A PARENT WAS SO HARD.

"LOVE ISN'T ENOUGH.

"YOU HAVE TO LISTEN,

"AND REALLY HEAR WHAT YOUR KIDS ARE TELLING YOU.

"YOU HAVE TO WATCH

"AND REALLY SEE THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE.

"IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FEEDING THEM

"AND GETTING THEM TO SCHOOL ON TIME.

"I WASN'T LISTENING OR SEEING WELL ENOUGH,

"AND GABE ALMOST GOT HURT.

"I'M SORRY.

IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN."

"MERRY CHRISTMAS, BIG BROTHER.

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING AT HOME.

"GABE AND I ARE DOING GREAT.

"BE SAFE.

"I LOVE YOU.

HOLLY."

OH, JAKE.

YES?

YOUR FATHER WANTS ME

TO GIVE YOU YOUR PLANE TICKET.

...AND WHEN WILL THAT DELIVERY BE?

GREAT. OKAY.

[CLEARS THROAT]

I'VE GOT TO GO.

OKAY, THANKS.

WHAT IS IT?

MOM DIED 20 YEARS AGO.

SHE WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED US

TO JUST STOP CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS.

IT WAS HER FAVORITE HOLIDAY.

THIS SUBJECT IS NOT OPEN FOR DISCUSSION,

AND WE ARE GOING AWAY ON VACATION

JUST LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.

VACATION?

WE DON'T GO TO THE ISLANDS TO LOUNGE ON THE BEACH,

OR TO SNORKEL, OR TO SIGHT-SEE.

WE GO BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BEAR TO BE HERE DURING CHRISTMAS.

I WILL NOT DISCUSS THIS!

I'M NOT COMING, DAD.

I'M NOT A CHILD,

AND I'M NOT RUNNING AWAY FROM MOM'S MEMORY

OR CHRISTMAS ANYMORE.

FINE.

DO WHAT YOU WANT.

...FORTUNATELY,

AUTHORITIES APPREHENDED THE SANTA IMPERSONATOR

BEFORE HE COMMITTED ANOTHER ROBBERY,

AND IN OTHER NEWS,

TOMORROW IS CHRISTMAS EVE AND STILL NO SNOW,

SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE

A WHITE CHRISTMAS AFTER ALL.

NOW LET'S GO TO JANE BINKOW IN MANHATTAN

WITH AN UPDATE

ON THE INTELLYTRON DISAPPOINTMENT.

THE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ISSUES

FOR THE MAKERS OF INTELLYTRON

CONTINUE TO MOUNT TONIGHT.

THE LINE OUTSIDE THIS TOY STORE

WRAPS RIGHT AROUND THE BLOCK

AS ANGRY CONSUMERS RETURN THE FAULTY ROBOT.

WE HAVE ONE OF THESE CONCERNED CONSUMERS WITH US NOW...

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL

ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE INTELLYTRON?

WELL, I-I DIDN'T BUY ONE, PERSONALLY.

SEE, I WORK AT FINLEY'S DEPARTMENT STORE,

AND MY BOSS, JAKE FINLEY,

DIDN'T STOCK THE INTELLYTRON.

MRS. MERKLE?

MRS. MIRACLE?

...HE FELT THAT IN THESE TROUBLED ECONOMIC TIMES...

MRS. MERKLE?

...WE SHOULD ALL TURN BACK TO A SIMPLER TIME,

WHEN TOYS WERE SAFE

AND PLAYTIME WAS FILLED WITH CREATIVE WONDER

AND IMAGINATION.

FINLEY'S DEPARTMENT STORE

IS DEDICATED TO ITS CUSTOMERS,

AND TOMORROW,

IN HONOR OF OUR MILITARY,

FINLEY'S WILL GIVE A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS

OF EVERY TOY SOLD

TO CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS

ARE IN THE MILITARY,

SO COME BE A PART

OF THE REAL, TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS,

AND GIVE BACK.

REMEMBER,

THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE

ARE PEOPLE WHO BRING HAPPINESS TO OTHERS.

THAT'S A FINLEY'S GUARANTEE.

WELL, THAT IS A WONDERFUL MESSAGE.

REPORTING LIVE FROM MANHATTAN.

MRS. MERKLE.

...BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

THAT WAS JANE BINKOW IN MANHATTAN.

HERE'S HOPING ALL YOU LAST-MINUTE SHOPPERS

WILL BE MARCHING ON DOWN

TO FINLEY'S DEPARTMENT STORE TOMORROW

TO HELP SUPPORT THIS NOBLE CAUSE.

WHEN WE RETURN...

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[HOLLY]: HELLO?

HOLLY!

YOU LEFT BEFORE I HAD THE CHANCE TO TELL YOU

MY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

A THOUSAND OF YOUR LITTLE BLACK DRESSES SOLD

IN AN HOUR.

A MODERATE HIT.

BEGINNERS LUCK, OF COURSE.

MY DRESSES SOLD OUT

IN SIZES 10 TO 16!

YOU WERE RIGHT.

FAT PEOPLE DO CARE HOW THEY LOOK!

OKAY, SO, YOU'RE NOT FIRED,

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU

ABOUT MAYBE DEVELOPING YOUR DRESS LINE.

I THINK, WITH MY HELP,

YOU COULD BE SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL.

REALLY?

YES! NOW, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS

THAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

FIRST OF ALL...

LINDY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CALL YOU BACK.

I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING.

HI.

I THOUGHT YOU'D GONE TO SLEEP.

I WANTED YOU TO WAKE UP TO A DECORATED TREE.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT

DAYS AGO.

I'M SORRY.

I KNOW IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS YET, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS.

MY DAD TOLD ME

YOU LIKE TO OPEN YOUR PRESENTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS GETS HERE.

HE TOLD YOU THAT?

YOU DID THIS FOR ME?

I WANTED TO SURPRISE YOU

AND GET YOU THAT JEWELRY BOX WE SAW IN THE WINDOW.

THAT'S WHY I WENT INTO THE CITY BY MYSELF YESTERDAY.

SORRY I SCARED YOU.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

[SIGHS]

GOOD MORNING, MR. FINLEY.

GOOD MORNING, MRS. MERKLE.

I SAW YOU ON THE NEWS LAST NIGHT.

I WAS STANDING ON THE STREET,

MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS,

AND THIS REPORTER ASKED A QUESTION,

SO I ANSWERED IT.

WELL, I LIKE YOUR IDEA ABOUT SUPPORTING THE MILITARY.

THAT WASN'T MY IDEA.

YOU'RE THE ONE WHO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HARD FOR CHILDREN

WITH PARENTS IN THE MILITARY,

AND THAT CHRISTMAS WOULD BE ESPECIALLY HARD FOR THEM.

I GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT.

WELL, I TRY TO MAKE A HABIT OF IT.

[CHUCKLING]

THE TOY DEPARTMENT DIDN'T SELL OUT.

I'LL BE HANDING IN MY RESIGNATION TODAY.

THIS IS MY LAST CHRISTMAS AT FINLEY'S.

OH, NO!

OH, DON'T BE SILLY.

YOU ARE THE FUTURE OF FINLEY'S.

I TOLD MY FATHER I WOULD QUIT IF WE DIDN'T SELL OUT,

AND HE'S NOT VERY HAPPY WITH ME.

I DON'T THINK HE'LL HAVE A PROBLEM

ACCEPTING MY RESIGNATION.

YOUR FATHER IS A STUBBORN MAN.

HAVE YOU, UH, SPOKEN TO HOLLY?

I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN THE CARDS.

DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO GIVE HER

HER CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

SHE'LL COME AROUND.

IT'S CHRISTMAS.

IT'S A MAGICAL TIME.

YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH.

THAT'S STRANGE.

THEY SAID WE WEREN'T GOING TO GET ANY SNOW.

WELL, YOU KNOW THOSE WEATHERMEN.

THEY NEVER GET ANYTHING RIGHT.

WOW.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY DAY.

GLORIA, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

I GOT HERE VERY EARLY AND THEY WERE ALREADY LINED UP.

THEY ALL SAW MRS. MERKLE

ON THE NEWS.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS

AND REMINDING US

OF THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.

MY PLEASURE, DEAR.

THANK YOU.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

DAD...

DID YOU AUTHORIZE

THAT A PORTION OF ALL TOY SALES

GO TO SUPPORT CHILDREN

WHOSE PARENTS SERVE IN THE MILITARY?

UH, YES, I... DID,

AND, AS YOU RECALL, I'M STILL THE OF THIS MANAGER,

AND IN THIS DEPARTMENT, I MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS.

GOOD JOB.

DON'T JUST STAND THERE.

THERE ARE CUSTOMERS WE HAVE TO RING UP.

YOU REMEMBER CUSTOMERS?

MM-HMM.

THEY'RE THE PEOPLE WHO BUY THINGS.

OKAY, HERE WE GO. OKAY.

WHAT...

HERE WE GO.

N-NEXT.

ROCK'EM SOCK'EM ROBOTS!

THAT'S THE TOY THAT MADE ME WANT TO BECOME A LAWYER.

REALLY?

YEAH, PERSONAL INJURY.

[CHUCKLES]

HEY, AND THANKS

FOR BRINGING BACK THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

AND SUPPORTING THE KIDS.

IT WAS MY SON'S IDEA.

LET ME RING THIS UP.

"THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS!"

THAT'S WHAT MY DAD WOULD READ TO ME

EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE.

REALLY? WHAT A COINCIDENCE.

"'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

"WHEN ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE.

"NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING,

"NOT EVEN A MOUSE.

"THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG

"BY THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE

"IN HOPES THAT ST. NICHOLAS

SOON WOULD BE THERE."

[GLORIA AND MRS. MERKLE APPROACH LAUGHING]

OH, GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT, MR. FINLEY.

GOOD NIGHT,

AND THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, YOU TWO.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU. SEE YOU BOYS LATER!

[SIGHS]

THAT WAS QUITE A DAY.

PEOPLE REALLY RESPONDED TO YOUR IDEA

OF GETTING BACK-TO-BASIC TOYS,

AND IT DIDN'T HURT

THAT YOU DECIDED TO AUTHORIZE THAT DONATION.

YOU WERE RIGHT,

ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

WELL, IT TURNS OUT

I'D RATHER BE HAPPY THAN RIGHT.

GUESS THIS MEANS I'M NOT FIRED?

I NEVER REALLY PLANNED ON FIRING YOU.

IN FACT, I'M THINKING IT'S TIME

I TURNED THE STORE OVER TO YOU.

I THINK I'D LIKE TO RETIRE,

WORK ON MY GOLF GAME.

YOU'VE NEVER PLAYED GOLF.

THAT'S WHY I NEED TO WORK ON IT.

[LAUGHS]

I CAME HERE TODAY TO BRING YOU SOMETHING.

COME ON, I'LL SHOW YOU.

[CHUCKLING]: WHAT'S THIS?

IT'S A PRESENT THAT WAS BOUGHT FOR YOU

A LONG TIME AGO.

IT'S THE TRAIN SET

YOUR MOTHER AND I BOUGHT FOR YOU

A WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

THIS IS THE XL EXPRESS.

THIS IS WHAT I WANTED.

THEY DON'T EVEN MAKE THIS ANYMORE.

THIS IS A COLLECTORS' ITEM.

YOU'VE HELD ONTO THIS ALL THESE YEARS?

EVERY TIME I WANTED TO THROW IT AWAY,

I HEARD YOUR MOTHER'S VOICE TELLING ME,

"HOLD ONTO IT,

HOLD ONTO IT."

[VOICE BREAKING]: I REALIZE NOW

SHE WAS TELLING ME TO HOLD ONTO CHRISTMAS.

CAN I HELP YOU?

I KNOW YOU'RE CLOSING.

I JUST GOT INTO TOWN UNEXPECTEDLY,

AND I NEED TO BUY A TOY FOR MY SON.

HE WANTS SOME ROBOT,

BUT I JUST HEARD ON THE NEWS THAT THEY EXPLODE.

I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR A WHILE,

AND I CAN'T GO HOME WITHOUT SOMETHING SPECIAL.

HOW ABOUT A TRAIN SET?

IT'S THE PERFECT TOY FOR A BOY.

I COULDN'T TAKE THAT FROM YOU.

NO, PLEASE.

TAKE IT.

WOW.

YOU SAVED MY NIGHT.

HOW MUCH DO I OWE YOU?

NOTHING.

IT'S ON FINLEY'S,

WHERE CUSTOMERS COME FIRST.

REALLY?

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I WON'T FORGET THIS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

YOU...

HAVE YOUR MOTHER'S HEART.

THE MAN NEEDED A GIFT.

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE.

COME ON, DAD.

LET'S GO HOME.

[SHIVERING]

[MUSIC BLASTING]

THAT'S CURIOUS.

THAT'S BETTY AND HER HUSBAND.

WHERE'S THAT MUSIC COMING FROM?

DON'T KNOW.

COME ON.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANK YOU, AND YOU, TOO.

THIS LOOKS LIKE ALL THE PARTIES

YOUR MOTHER AND I USED TO GIVE EVERY YEAR.

OH, HI, GUYS!

HOW 'BOUT THIS PARTY, HUH?

[CHUCKLES]

THE BAR IS OPEN.

[CHUCKLING]

I TOLD MRS. MERKLE WE COULD THROW A PARTY

IF YOU SOLD OUT THE TOY DEPARTMENT.

I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

LEAP OF FAITH.

WHERE DID YOU SAY

SHE COME FROM?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

SHE CAME TO ME AND SAID

SHE WAS GOING TO HELP ME SAVE CHRISTMAS.

HMM, WELL, I GUESS SHE DID JUST THAT.

WAIT A MINUTE,

DON'T YOU HAVE A PLANE TO CATCH?

WHAT ABOUT YOUR VACATION?

I'M NOT ESCAPING ANYMORE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, DAD.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, SON.

EXCUSE ME JUST A MINUTE.

MRS. MERKLE,

THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THIS PARTY,

AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU, SIR,

AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

FELIZ NAVIDAD, GLORIA.

FELIZ NAVIDAD, SENOR FINLEY.

"BUT I HEARD HIM EXCLAIM AS HE DROVE OUT OF SIGHT,

'HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'"

[SHARP KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[MUMBLING SLEEPILY]: WHO'S THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

GABE?

DADDY?

AM I DREAMING?

NO, SON.

I'M REALLY HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

I GOT REALLY LUCKY,

MY COMMANDER DREW NAMES FOR THE CHRISTMAS LOTTERY,

AND I WON.

HERE, SON, THIS IS FOR YOU.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S YOU.

ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS WISHES

SEEM TO HAVE COME TRUE.

I LOVE WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

[CHUCKLES]

THAT SORT OF THING

DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY.

WHAT'S THAT?

WELL, THAT YOU GET SOMETHING BACK

THAT YOU CHERISHED,

THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD LOST FOREVER?

I'M A LUCKY GUY.

AND IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT

THAT YOU CAN SHARE IT WITH,

DON'T YOU THINK?

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU, DEAR.

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

HELLO?

LISTEN.

["JINGLE BELLS" PLAYING]

DO YOU HEAR THAT MUSIC?

FINLEY'S CHRISTMAS PARTY IS BACK.

YOU HAVE TO COME.

BUT...

MY BROTHER,

HE'S HERE... WITH GABE.

WELL, BRING THEM.

BRING THEM BOTH.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN.

PLEASE.

I NEED YOU HERE.

IT JUST WOULDN'T BE A CHRISTMAS PARTY WITHOUT YOU.

HEY, YOU MADE IT!

YEAH, I HEARD THERE WAS A PARTY.

HI, GABE.

HI!

TRAIN SET.

FINLEY'S GUY.

WELL, THIS IS JAKE FINLEY.

THIS IS MY BROTHER, MIKE.

OF COURSE YOU ARE.

IT'S A PLEASURE.

UH, YOU THROW A GREAT CHRISTMAS PARTY.

GABE?

OH, COME HERE, SWEETIE.

EXCUSE US.

OH... HELLO.

I'M MRS. MIRACLE...

HEY, I'M SORRY ABOUT THE OTHER DAY.

I WAS WORRIED AND UPSET, AND...

NO, PLEASE,

DON'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT.

HERE.

THIS IS FOR YOU.

FOR ME?

GO AHEAD, OPEN IT.

OKAY.

IT'S MY LUCKY THIMBLE.

THIS IS PERFECT.

YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

THANK YOU.

OH, HONEY, I'M SO GLAD

THAT YOUR CHRISTMAS WISH CAME TRUE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WELL, YOU ASKED SANTA

FOR YOUR DADDY TO BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?

WELL, I MUST HAVE OVERHEARD YOU.

BUT I DIDN'T SAY IT OUT LOUD.

OH, MY GOODNESS,

IT'S SO LATE.

I'VE GOT TO RUN.

CAN'T YOU SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH US?

I WOULD LOVE TO, SWEETHEART, BUT I HAVE TO MOVE ON.

SEE, THERE ARE OTHER LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS

WHO NEED ME,

AND YOU'RE WITH YOUR FAMILY NOW.

I WISH MY MOM WERE HERE.

ME TOO, SWEETHEART.

YOUR MOTHER IS SO PROUD OF YOU.

YOU KNEW MY MOTHER?

I KNOW HER LIKE YOU KNOW HER, IN MY HEART.

OH, SWEETHEART.

I HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MRS. MIRACLE.

WHERE DID MRS. MIRACLE GO?

SHE SAID SHE HAD TO MOVE ON,

THAT THERE WERE OTHER BOYS AND GIRLS

THAT NEEDED HER.

SHE SAID THAT?

OF COURSE SHE DID.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HOLLY WILSON.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, JAKE FINLEY.

♪ ♪