Original subtitles

I'll be home for Christmas.

You can plan on me.

Please have flow and mistletoe

and presents.

Thank you.

Christmas Eve will find me

where the love light

gleams.

I'll be home for Christmas

if all...

find somewhere else to play. Come on. I was just kidding.

Leave me alone.

I was just kidding. Come on.

Come on.

Davey, I'll take my paper now.

Save your stuff at my house.

Roger.

My brother Mike is coming home. He did 25 missions and got a medal.

Don't know why I spend good money on a newspaper when I can get all the news

from you.

My brother Mike's coming home, Mr. Phillips. He got a medal.

That's good.

Will he have to go back?

No, he completed his mission. And after the holiday, they're sending him to

Kansas to be an air corps instructor.

How wonderful.

How about your other boy, Terrell?

Terrell's coming home, too. It seems that most of the boys at Camp Devens are

getting leave.

And Leah is coming from Pittsfield. They drew lots at the plant, and she got

Christmas off. You'll have all your children home.

Can't ask for more than that.

Except for the war to be over.

We all want that.

I don't see it before. Have a happy Christmas.

Thank you.

Bye -bye.

Why is your coat unbuttoned, Davy?

Because I'm that cold.

Well, button it. And don't find another drift to fall in. You came home

yesterday soaked down to your underwear.

It was an accident.

Oh, I'm sure. Now, you stop by the store and you tell your father that I have a

lot of gracing to do, so we'll have an early supper.

And button your coat before you catch pneumonia.

Okay.

You look like W .C. Fields.

Where'd you get that thing? It was Dorothy from the dancing school gave it

me. She makes them for the soldiers.

She's come up with a secret weapon.

The Nazis see those on our troops, they'll laugh themselves to death.

I didn't think of that.

Oh, almost forgot.

Mom said to tell you that you gotta come home early because we gotta eat early

because she's got a lot of stuff to do tonight.

It's a lot of gutters.

And I also gotta not come home soaked down to my BVDs.

See you later.

Anything else?

In case I didn't mention it, I'm glad Mike got a medal.

But mostly I'm just glad he's coming home.

I know.

That was lovely, Alan.

It's a very good lesson.

I hope you'll work just as hard for your next teacher.

Can I come see the baby when it gets born?

Of course you can.

I want you to.

You have a Merry Christmas, okay?

Yes, ma 'am. Bye.

Bye -bye.

Merry Christmas, Alan.

Merry Christmas.

with those groceries. I think you're carrying me now. Okay.

Peaches. I found peaches.

They took 16 ration points, but I couldn't resist.

Five more days took us.

Only five more days.

All right, Nora.

Al. Come on. I'll call you when I need you. Out of the kitchen.

You'll be home soon, Nora.

I know.

I just hope the baby doesn't get here before he does.

You didn't make it?

Jacobson, Montelli.

It's a hell of a time for me to be going home.

Come on, Mike. It's not a one -man war.

I'm sorry, Mike. I know how close you were.

You want to give us a rundown?

We got the train yard, but not the bridge.

The flight got too heavy.

Are you sure about the bridge?

Armored vehicles were still crossing it.

Tanks, anti -aircraft.

All right, well, we're going to have to go in again at night.

One bomber and a couple of fighters.

If you want to volunteer, you've got one.

No way.

Colonel Jacobs and Montelli were my friends. Don't argue.

You've completed your missions and you're going home.

Any volunteers?

You asleep, Terrell?

No.

No, me neither.

You scared?

I guess everybody is.

Now that we're going to be shipped out soon.

I guess.

Hey, where do you think they're going to be sending us?

Probably somewhere in the bulge.

Yeah.

My parents tried to talk me out of enlisting.

Cheers. Only my mom.

I guess she figured that one hero in the family was enough.

My brother's a pilot.

Oh, yeah?

Mm -hmm.

He's in the ETO.

Hey,

knock it off, you guys.

I just got Betty Grable to say yes, and you busted it up.

Kelly, you're full of it.

You got it, Leah.

Want to catch a show at the Colonial? Your boyfriend can get you a date.

Thanks, but I still got a lot of shopping to do.

You just don't want to go.

You always say no.

Betty, I just don't like going on blind dates.

Now, I know it's tough to have your boyfriend killed in the war, but you got

pick up the pieces sometime.

The way I figure, if you can't change what was, you got to enjoy what is.

to be in the war, and I'm glad you're not.

What if it gets over before I am?

God willing.

Fine.

This morning, the 5 ,000th Boeing B -17 rolled off... And take

the time today, most everybody in town is refurbishing old stuff for...

Christmas presents.

Flora's featuring one of her mystery blue plate specials over at the diner.

I know I don't have the time.

Temperature's dropping fast.

It'll probably be cold enough tonight to freeze the gleam in my bull's eye.

That bull of yours hasn't been capable of producing the gleam in ten years.

I can't imagine why you hold on to him.

Maybe it's because he reminds me of myself.

We're both over the hill.

I must be getting old.

Old folks do a lot of grousing.

Oh, I seem to recall you did just much grousing when you were young.

Only about things that counted.

Well, I better get over to the dining room before Florida runs out of blue

flames. Yep.

Must be a relief to you to know that Mike's coming home.

Relief doesn't come close to what I feel.

But there's still Terrell to worry about. The war will probably be over

Terrell is sent overseas.

Well, be sure to say hello to Michael when he gets home.

Say it yourself.

I'm expecting you to stop by on Christmas Eve for a drink, just like

I got a bottle of bourbon I've been hoarding.

In that case, I'll be there with bells on.

Well, it was a Bill Malden cartoon.

This dog face, that's a GI infantry. I know what a dog face is. I'm sorry, I

forgot you were our military expert.

Anyway, this dog face is standing next to a beat -up wreck of a jeep that's up

to its axles in mud.

Well, he's covering his eyes with one hand while he aims his gun at the jeep.

He's going to put it out of its misery.

I don't get it.

Well... It probably looks funnier than it sounds.

Oh, it sounded pretty funny when Fred Allen said it on the radio.

Real wise guy, aren't you?

What's in this?

Everything that doesn't taste rationed, Sam.

I'm saving those for Christmas dinner.

Nora, we're going to sit down.

Coming.

You know, that letter says the same thing now that it said when you got it

weeks ago, Nora.

Wow, you're a fine one to talk.

You saved every one of my letters in that old cigar box. Must have read every

one of them a hundred times.

Well, it's only because I'm still trying to figure out the parts that were

censored.

I made a barber appointment for you, Davey.

Barney will fifth you up real good.

I want a G .I. haircut.

Oh, you get cropped that way. You'll be wearing your hat down on your nose.

When do you need an appointment with Barney?

He's only got one chair now. It's boy enlisted.

He's only 17.

So was Terrell when he enlisted.

Nothing wrong with a boy wanting to fight for his country.

Well, eat up. It's getting cold.

Just heard on the news it's going down in the 20s tonight.

Hope the pipes don't freeze.

You're worried about Terrell, aren't you?

Terrell doesn't know what war is.

Mike made it through.

Terrell will, too.

Terrell is not Mike.

And he'll do things.

He'll take chances that he shouldn't because he wants you to be proud of him

way you're proud of Mike.

That's news to me.

Since when has Terrell cared about what I think?

Well, he cares.

And when he comes home, I want you to talk with him, Joseph.

It'll be like talking to the wall.

Now, what can we do for you, Mrs. Bundy?

A large ham will take up most of my ration points, because I want to get

bacon, too.

I want my boys to have a real breakfast Christmas morning.

Oh, you mothers are all the same. Think the army starves your boys, when the

fact is, that's where most of the meat is going.

Well, it should.

All right, I'll forget the ham, and I'll take a turkey, the largest one you

have, and I'll take as much bacon as my ration points will cover. And don't

forget to give me credit for my facts.

As though you'd let me forget.

Have you heard from your son since he went overseas?

No, he's with Patton's Third Army.

They're fighting in the boat.

I wish Terrell was a pilot like Mike.

Takes time to train pilots. Right now, the Army needs regular soldiers.

Why?

Well, infantry can move, even when planes are grounded.

Oh, I didn't think of that.

Let's hope Mike brings home some more stuff.

You'll be glad he's bringing himself home, baby.

There goes all reliable.

You know, I hope they start making refrigerators again before we set up

housekeeping. Well, after the war, they'll be making plenty of kitchen

appliances.

I know. I was just hoping.

Don't you think you've made enough gingerbread, ma 'am?

They're not men.

They're boys.

I'm concentrating on boys because I'm going to have one.

You're that sure it's going to be a boy?

A boy's what Mike wants, and a boy's what Mike's going to get.

I like you very

much.

If you want to be in someone's arms tonight, just be sure the arms you're in

mine. I like your lips.

And I like your eyes.

You do like my ears?

Toots, no ties, you weep. See, see, see, see, see, see the moon above.

Way, way, way, way, way up in the blue.

See, see, see, see, I think I fall in love.

And when I fall, I think I fall for you.

Son and... Yeah, it's some father you'll make. You don't even know what goes in

the potty.

The baby bottom.

I'd like to make a toast.

Oh, shh.

To my imminent and happy fatherhood. Yeah, you get any happier and you won't

need a plane to get home.

A mere bagatelle.

I appreciate you giving me a lift.

It's not out of my way. I could use the company, you know.

How much did you pay for that old jalopy?

Thirty -five dollars.

I only bought it because it's got good tires. My car has no rubber left on his.

You taking those home with you?

Might as well.

Can't take them overseas with me.

What's that one? Is that a Bible?

It's Paradise Blot by John Milton.

What's it about?

Vision, I guess.

Forget it. I bet your folks will be glad to see you, huh?

After the war's over, I'm going to get myself a car.

I'm going to take off and leave the country.

How come we got to put water in the tree stand?

So the pine eagles won't dry up and fall off too soon. Right.

Oh, I think Charlie McCarthy is coming on.

General Eisenhower said today that the enemy is taking a last great gamble to

break out of its desperate flight in the bulge. General Patton's 3rd Army is

performing heroically, but the War Department admits casualties are high.

it off, Davey.

If we don't want to disgrace ourselves on Christmas Eve, we ought to practice

our peace, Davy.

Okay.

Ready?

One, two, three.

The tree is up.

Hello?

Hello? Mom?

Did I wake you up?

No, no, no. It's only 8 o 'clock.

Nothing like working a night shift to make you lose track of time.

Well, I can imagine.

Now, do you know what bus you'll be taking?

Yeah, that's why I called.

They're running an extra bus tomorrow, so I'll have the whole day before

Christmas to give you a hand.

As though you don't work hard enough as it is.

Just leave something for me to do, too, okay?

Oh, I've got to get back to work. Bye.

You didn't have an extra nickel, would you, hon? I've got to call the beauty

parlor.

Hey.

I'm thinking of getting a henna wrist.

How do you think I look with red hair?

Like Rita Hayworth.

She's convinced me.

Up here? Just me.

Why don't you wait till I've brought the ornaments downstairs?

Oh, I have a cake in the oven. I was just looking for something to do.

Joseph, that's Leah's old prom petticoat you're using as a dust drag.

When it's silk, I want to make something for the baby out of it.

It's not the end of the world. I can wash it.

Sit.

You've been on your feet all week.

Thank you.

Now, you be careful how you handle them. The old ones are very, very fragile.

Four generations.

My great -grandpa brought that back from China.

Traveling man.

Like all the men in my family.

Hailers and wailers.

I felt like a traitor marrying a landlubber.

Remember when we got this one?

When Leah was born.

Got this when Mike was two.

He wanted to play catch with it.

Had a fit when I wouldn't let him.

He always knew what he wanted.

He still does.

He wants a boy, and Nora's not about to give him anything but.

How'd this thing get in with the ornament?

Must be a mistake.

You brought that home to Terrell when he was four years old.

Now, he loved that so much, he took it to bed with him every night for a month.

Leave

this for

me. I'm gonna... I'm gonna get some air before I go to bed.

Evening, Joseph.

Ah, Marcus.

Evening.

Cold night, suddenly start coming to church.

Well, I wouldn't have gone to the diner except it was closed.

Maybe I can convince Florida to close the diner more often.

Leave half the truckers in the country homeless.

Well, I guess I better get down. I want home before Martha sends out the troops

for me.

Something troubling you, Joseph?

Oh, I always felt church was for people who needed something to lean on.

We all need something to lean on.

Martha never comes right out with it, but I know she blames me for not trying

stop Terrell from enlisting.

He'd waited till he was drafted. The war might have been over by then.

Hard to keep a boy from doing what he thinks is right.

The thing is, Martha got it all wrong.

She's afraid he'll try to be a hero.

But it's not in Terrell to kill.

When he was a boy, he'd walk with his eyes down for fear of stepping on a

caterpillar. Never went hunting with Mike or the other boys.

Just wouldn't bear to hurt a living creature.

And that worries you?

It could cost him his life.

I was always close to Mike.

Could always talk to him, but Terrell shut me out.

Couldn't understand him.

Still can't.

Is Terrell coming home for Christmas?

Yeah.

Talk to him, Joseph.

Won't listen.

Never has.

Well, good night.

Good night, Joseph.

I'll see you back in camp.

Good to have you home, Terrell.

Glad to be home.

The eaves have snow, and metal knows.

Time to quit.

I got orders not to let you stay here too long. Okay.

Terrell, this is such a special Christmas.

We'll try to make it a happy one for everyone.

Why shouldn't it be?

You know, it means so much to your mother if you'd make peace with your

I didn't know we were at war.

Look, I'll go get your coat and galoshes.

This stops Concord.

Merry Christmas, Charlie.

Well, two more days to go. You take it easy.

Where'd you disappear to?

Those old newspapers have been laying around for a week. I took them over to

salvage depot.

Well, Davey would have done that tomorrow on his wagon.

He'd never make it. Stop somewhere to read them again, make sure he hadn't

missed anything.

True.

Did Terrell go to bed?

I guess.

He's not downstairs.

Did you talk to him, Joseph?

It takes two to make a conversation.

Does anybody hurt?

Is the baby all right?

Sorry, folks. Must have skittered on a patch of ice.

Well, we better take a look. You got a flashlight?

Why don't you close the door behind us?

Just pull that lever.

Hold on.

Shut it down there.

Looks like we broke a tie rod.

We won't be able to steer.

Broken tie rod. Some Christmas present.

Is it bad?

Oh, it could be worse. Nobody got hurt.

Sorry, folks.

Looks like we're stuck.

Well, the next bus will pick us up, won't it? There isn't another bus. We

stay here. We'll freeze.

Oh, no, no. The motor and the heater, they're still working.

And we're only ten miles or so out of town.

If we don't show up, the dispatcher will figure something's wrong. Send out a

tow truck. That could take hours.

You know someplace around here with a telephone?

I could call the dispatcher and have the tow truck come right away.

There's an inn about a mile down the road.

I'll go, too.

I want to call my family.

I'm okay.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello? Hello?

There's no use.

I was hoping to be a caretaker around you.

You stay right here. I'm going to see if I can find a way in.

Okay.

You okay?

Pass me again when I stop shaking.

Well, power's out, so there's no heat or light, but there's a fireplace and

plenty of wood.

All that's missing is the mad Miss Havisham, huh?

And the cobwebs.

Oh, you've read Great Expectations?

Well, there's not much else to do in camp at night except read.

Oh, we have to find a phone.

Oh, I saw one in the hall.

Rachel. Leah Bundy.

Yes.

Fine, thanks.

Listen, the bus from Pittsfield broke down about a mile east of Weldon Inn.

Everybody's fine.

Please, call my family and tell them I'm okay.

Thanks. Thanks. Okay, bye -bye, Rachel.

The operator said some of the lines are down and they won't be sending out the

repair crews till the storm lets up. But I told her about the bus and she said

she'd get...

A phone company repairman to drive into town to tell the dispatcher to send out

a tow truck. So I guess we're stuck here till the tow truck comes.

You better get out of your wet things.

I'm Aaron Kaplan.

Leah Bundy.

Feel better?

Coffee's wonderful.

Not so sure we should have helped ourselves. It's bad enough we broke in.

I left a note and five dollars for the coffee in the window I busted.

I guess it's all right then.

You seem to know your way around the kitchen. Are you a cook?

I mean an army cook.

I knocked around a lot before I joined the army. I had a lot of jobs.

One of them was a short order cook in a diner.

You live in Pittsfield?

Well, for the time being.

I work at the war plant.

I'm going home to Rockport for Christmas.

I'm at Devon's.

My brother's at Devon's.

Terrell Bundy, do you know him?

Thousands of guys at Devon's.

Coming and going.

I've been asking for active duty since the war started.

I finally got it. I'm shipping out right after the holidays.

Doesn't it bother you that you might get killed?

Oh, there are worse things.

Well, what could be worse than dying before you've even had a chance to live?

It depends what that life's going to be.

I'm going to visit a buddy of mine in the army hospital.

We're in an orphanage together real close.

Maybe it's because we're both a couple of oddballs.

What do you mean?

My parents were immigrants, and they held on to their old country ways, so

they died and I was sent to the orphanage, I could barely speak English.

Jesse's parents were sharecroppers, and they moved to the city to give their kid

a better chance in life, and they were killed in a car crash.

We joined up together, and he shipped out about six months ago, and he came

back.

But he's alive.

At least he didn't die on some bloody beach.

I'm sorry.

Whatever I said.

I don't know why I'm even crying.

I couldn't cry when Frank was killed. I couldn't even talk about it.

Not even to my family.

Well, it's easy to talk to strangers.

You don't feel like you're hurting them with your hurt.

I grew up with the boy I was going to marry.

We went to school together.

We always knew that someday we'd get married.

He was killed at Anzio.

Everyone's sorry.

At least he has somebody to mourn for him.

Everyone has someone to mourn for him.

That's not true, is it?

It's very nice of you.

Better be an imposition.

We have a big house.

And it wouldn't be the first time my family invited a serviceman to spend

Christmas with us.

Besides, you don't have a place to stay.

There's an inn.

I checked.

I doubt you'll get a room.

The families that come to visit their boys in the hospital usually reserve all

the rooms in advance.

It's hard to be alone at Christmas.

I was going to knit something for the baby.

With working nights, I can hardly stay awake.

Leah, I'm heating up the casserole the rest of us had for supper.

I imagine you and Aaron are hungry.

Oh, it's nothing like a stroll through a blizzard to work up an appetite.

I believe it.

Aaron, I hope you don't mind sharing Terrell's room.

Oh, no, no, I appreciate it. I just hope I'm not intruding.

You've got your own family.

Well, the war has made us feel that all the boys and the servants are part of

our family now.

Thank you.

Davey? What?

Time for you to go to bed.

Fred Allen's on tonight. He's starting in five minutes.

All right. But right after Fred Allen, you go to bed.

Roger.

So you let me know if it's a boy or a girl, right?

Oh, it's a boy.

But if it turns out to be a girl, I'll tell her to save the first dance for

Don't think that I won't take you up on that.

You stay in touch, huh?

You know I will.

And when I get to Kansas, I'm going to work my butt off to send you guys the

best team of pilots this group's ever had.

Coming!

I don't know why Mama still holds on to it. I've had it since the first

Christmas I can remember.

Maybe that's why she won't part with it.

I want to hold on to my memories, too.

The happy memories.

You're a lot like Mama, Nora. You both care about the same things.

Especially Mike.

Especially Mike.

Yep, he's made it through and he's coming home.

I wasn't thinking.

Frank is dead.

I know I haven't been able to accept it, but I can't run away from the truth

forever.

Life goes on, even though sometimes we're not sure why.

I have to pick up something for Ma at the store.

The stores are closing early today because it's Christmas Eve.

So if you want anything, speak up. If the sweet shop has any Christmas candy

left, pick up a box. They were all sold out in Pittsfield.

Right. See you later.

Bye.

I was hoping things would be better between Terrell and Dad, that they could

aside their differences.

I don't know why they're so at odds with each other.

Your father loves Terrell as much as he loves Mike.

Terrell thinks otherwise.

Not that it affects the way he feels about Mike. He loves Mike.

He looks up to him. He always has.

Oh, I'll get it.

You're back from the hospital early.

I will get the cups and saucers.

Forget it.

It's snowing again.

You got two of the same.

The other one is Mike.

This one is me, and they're identical pictures of Terrell and Davey.

All of us three months old, bare bottom on a bearskin rug.

Not exactly original. There's never more than one photographer in town, and when

he died, his son inherited the camera and the bearskin rug.

There's something to be said for tradition.

Knowing who you are and where you came from?

Thanks for letting me share your family.

The leg's loose.

You'll break your neck.

Me and the shoemaker's wife.

Get the message. I'll fix it.

What do you want me to take down?

The little puck that matched the punch bowl.

You think that turkey you got for tomorrow is big enough?

We're going to be eating leftovers for a whole week. Besides, we're also having

sweet and sour meatballs.

Where'd you get the meat?

What meat? I'm making them out of oatmeal, eggs, and ground -up nuts.

I'm counting on the sauce to cover a multitude of sins.

You should have asked Flora over at the diner for her recipe.

Flora may be jolly and a friend of the truck driver's, but her cooking leaves

much to be desired.

And this needs more nutmeg.

It seems on snowing like this, Mike's going to have trouble getting here from

Boston after his plane land.

Oh, he's not going to let anything keep him from Nora and the baby.

You talk as if that baby's already born.

It will be.

How will it feel being a grandma?

How will it feel being a grandpa?

You know, I'm glad Leah invited Aaron here. He is a nice boy.

Not a boy, Martha.

But he'll be leaving soon. I know.

I just want Leah to look around and see that the world hasn't come to an end.

It's a time for grief. A time to put grief aside.

I hope these Christmas lights still work. They were made

in Japan before the war.

They're making other things now.

This is really, we're still making Christmas lights. Here, plug this in.

still working. Lemonavender are on.

Yay! Yay!

Lemonavender's supposed to be on.

There's special shows on Christmas Eve, Davey.

You mean Pepper McGee and Molly won't be on either?

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

Now, I fixed this, but go easy putting it on top of the tree.

What'd they say at the USO?

All the roads are snowed in, but they're getting a snowplow from the military,

and they'll be able to bring the guys in from the hospital.

You're supposed to put the icicles on one at a time. It takes too long.

I like lumpy.

Well, we don't, so do it right or do something else.

Okay, I'll do it right.

It's getting late.

It's only 6 .30. It only seems late because it gets dark early.

Yeah, but Mike said Christmas Eve.

There's still a lot of Christmas Eve left.

Besides, that plane is coming on. What is it called?

ATC Air Transport Command.

Yes, well, Aaron said if those planes take off and arrive when they please.

Also, the roads are bad.

He may have a hard time getting here from Boston when he lands.

Maybe that's Mike.

Hello?

Oh, yes, I'll put her on, operator.

It's Sioux City, your mother.

Hello?

Merry Christmas, Mama.

I would have called, but there's been a blizzard and the phones aren't working

till now.

Well, you just tell Daddy he'll have to wait.

Baby's not going to get born till his father gets home.

What about this one? The one with the big A?

First Army. They fought in Normandy.

How about this fancy one?

82nd Airborne.

Gee, you know a lot. Hi, boys.

What's up?

Oh, I'm just showing Davey some of the division patches.

Oh, hey, never mind those.

Show him the patch for Mike's squadron. Here, let me have the book.

You know, I read in Life magazine that the president designed it himself.

No kidding.

Oh, yeah, these guys are the terrors of the spies.

They have knocked down some of the big German agents. Wait a minute. Wait a

minute.

I'm sorry it was a foolish thing to say in front of Davey. It sounded as though

I'm prouder of Mike than I am of you.

Well, I'm not like Mike, am I?

I'm just a big disappointment to you.

I mean, I never won any trophies or medals.

You think that's important to me?

Sure it's important.

I love Mike.

Because he's my brother.

Not because he's a hero.

And I know he loves me for the same reason.

But I never had to prove anything to him like I did to you.

This is all in your imagination.

You're my son. I care a great deal about you.

You might.

If I came back a hero.

Is that why you enlisted?

To prove something to me?

I enlisted because I wanted to.

This is a time to be honest, Terrell. I am.

How about you?

I never measured up to Mike in your eyes, did I?

I could always see how disappointed you were.

I never meant to make you feel less than your brother.

I'm sorry.

I've never known how to talk to you very well.

I should have cared more about the things that you care about.

But no matter what you think, I love you.

I have always loved you.

It's freezing out here.

Okay, if we go home now.

Yeah.

Might as well. It's not gonna get much warmer out here.

Merry Christmas, Dad.

Merry Christmas, son.

The post might come for him at the USO. The post road is closed, and the radio

said it'll take hours for the snowplow to get through. And just watching the

clock's making you nervous. That'll do you good to get out of the house for a

while. Besides, we could use your help.

Just don't do any jitterbuggies.

Keep yourself warm. Did you ever try?

G .I. Jive, man alive.

They give you a private tank that features a little device called fluid

Check after you revive.

Chunk all your junk back in the trunk. All on your phone.

In all the old familiar places that this heart and

mind embraces all day through.

In that small cafe, the park,

across the way, the children's carousel.

The chestnut tree, the wishing well I'll be

seeing you In every lovely summer's day In

everything that's light and gay I'll always think of you

that way

The President of the United

States with his annual Christmas message.

It is not easy to say Merry Christmas to you, my fellow Americans.

in this time of destructive war, nor can I say Merry Christmas lightly

tonight to our armed forces at their battle stations all over the world,

or to our allies who fight by their side.

Here at home, we will celebrate this Christmas Day in our traditional

way because of its deep spiritual meaning to us.

Because the teachings of Christ are fundamental in our lives.

And because we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the

of this tradition and the story of the coming of the immortal Prince of Peace

and Goodwill.

But in perhaps every home in the United States, sad and anxious thoughts will be

continually with the millions of our loved ones who are suffering hardships

miseries. while risking their very lives to preserve for us and for all mankind

the fruits of his teachings and the foundations of civilization itself.

The Christmas spirit lives tonight in the bitter cold of the front lines in

Europe and in the heat of the jungles and swamps of Burma and the Pacific

Islands.

Even the roar of our bombers and fighters in the air and the guns of our

at sea will not drown out the messages of Christmas which come to the hearts of

our fighting men.

The thoughts of these men tonight will turn to us here at home around our

Christmas tree, surrounded by our children and grandchildren and their

stockings and gifts, just as our own thoughts go out to them.

Tonight and every night.

What's the count so far, Ace?

I've got the most. Oh, I figured.

Now, if the present I got you doesn't work, you can sue the Army. I bought it

the PX.

You want to see if there's anything on the news about the post road, Terrell?

It'd be great if Mike got here before midnight.

I guess it's too early for the news.

I hope you didn't put anything in that eggnog that doesn't belong there.

Who, me?

Where would I get anything to put in the eggnog?

From the attic where you hid it behind your grandfather's picture.

They're home early.

Ah, Merry Christmas, Isaiah.

It's from the War Department.

Michael's plane crashed on takeoff.

There were no survivors.

Not Mike.

It's a lie!

It's a lie!

Davey?

Davey, stop it. No.

Stop it, Davey.

Stop it.

Stop it.

You can't be.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Why him?

No.

Davey won't come out.

He locked himself in his room.

Do you want me to go get Nora and Leah?

Well, they have to be told.

They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam.

It really brought him down because it couldn't jam.

The cat needs to understand.

Because the next day the cat went out and drafted a band. And now the company

jumps to where they play trebly.

He's a boogie -woogie bugle bar company bee.

A -doot -doot, a -doot -doot, a -doot -doot -doot -doot. He blows the day to

bar.

Oh, hi.

Miss Dorothy's been looking for you. She says she wants you to do the Lindy with

her.

Order's from the front. Mama says you've been here long enough and it's time to

go home now. It's been so much fun.

Oh, has there been anything on the news about the post road being open?

No, no.

I'll go get Leah and Aaron.

The bells always sound so beautiful at Christmas.

Maybe it's because the air is so cold.

Clear.

It's because they're happy bells.

I may waddle like a duck, but I can still walk by myself.

Did it say anything yet about the post road?

Couldn't tell her.

Davy?

You asleep?

Davy?

Leave me alone!

Why don't you lie down for a while?

I'll listen to Nora.

Did you get through to Sioux City yet?

If not, I'll keep trying for you.

I, uh, talked to Nora's parents.

They want her to come as soon as the baby's born and can travel.

How do they bear it?

The mothers and the fathers, how do they bring a child into the world, raise

him, love him, and then send him off to be killed?

I wish there was something I could do or say that would help.

But there's not.

I... I've forgotten how strong a man's hands can be.

Mama? I'll make you some tea. No, thank you. I don't want any tea, Leah.

Maybe Nora... Nora's fast asleep.

I think she's willed herself into oblivion.

You know, I never told Joseph, but I lived this moment a thousand times.

I would go to the door, and Isaiah Colley would be standing there.

With a telegram from the War Department.

Joseph had his nightmares.

I had mine.

Leo, you go up and tell your father we're going to the midnight service.

Even now?

Especially now, Joseph.

I've decided not to give the sermon that I prepared for tonight.

I know there is comfort in familiar things, but these times demand something

more. On this Christmas Eve, as we celebrate the birth of the blessed

we also grieve for those who have given their lives in the terrible battle

against a godless enemy.

Tonight, we mourn the loss of one more of our best and brightest, Michael

Let us take courage from their courage and pray, O Lord, that this Christmas be

the last of this or any other war.

Amen.

Nora's gone into labor.

All right, Nora, you call Dr.

Coley. And Joseph, you bring down the cradle from the attic. They need it.

Nora,

your labor has started. No, it's all right. Just hold on.

Where's Mike?

No, no, you think of the baby.

Nora, only the baby.

Only the baby.

All right.

All right.

I reached Dr. Copley. He said he'd get here as fast as he can.

He's going to try to get the army hospital to send an ambulance, but not

count on it, and that we should make the preparations here.

That you'd know what to do?

Yeah.

Every time, ignore his pains.

I made toast and coffee.

Why does it take so long?

It just seems long. Dr. Copley said everything's going as it should.

We should go north to the hospital.

It wasn't possible, Carol. Not without an ambulance.

Besides, Dr. Copley said it's just as well north having the baby at home. The

hospital's so crowded, they're putting new mothers on cots in the corridors.

Merry Christmas, Grandpa.

He certainly is.

I want to hold him.

Will you bring him to me?

Go ahead, Joseph.

I'm not sure I remember how to hold a newborn.

It'll come back.

how I showed you your first Christmas day.

Well,

what

does he look like? He looks like a boy.

Aside from the fact that he looks like a boy.

He looks like babies are supposed to look.

Nora wants you to come upstairs now and see the baby. It's about time.

Congratulations. Thank you.

Leah.

Leah tells me that you're going to be shipped out just after you get back to

camp. Well, most of the men at Devons are shipping out. Third Army's had heavy

casualties in the bulge.

They need replacements.

Terrell won't be going, Willie. He just finished basic training.

I thought Terrell told you.

No.

He's too young.

I've been in the Army seven years, Mr. Bundy.

And I've been helping to train boys like Terrell for the last four since the war

began.

And they were all scared and young.

But they did what they had to do.

And they did it.

Well, Daryl will too.

What about Davy? Did he open his presents?

Oh, I put them outside of his room. He wouldn't open his door.

Maybe I ought to try talking to him again.

Might be better to let him be, Daryl. Everyone has to handle grief in his own

way, and I guess this is Davy's.

Oh, there's another box behind the tree, Joseph. It came last week from that big

store in Boston.

I don't know who it's for. It's just addressed to Bundy.

That says, do not open till Christmas.

I assume that means this Christmas.

Must be for Davy.

Mike must have ordered it when he was home on leave. The card says he figured

he sent a football, he'd be sure to get a boy.

It worked.

He got a boy.

Baby won't be throwing passes for a while.

So why don't I take this football upstairs and I'll put it on Mike's

Good idea, Terrell. Thank you.

Well, that turkey needs basting.

I'll give Mom a hand in the kitchen.

Did Aaron say what time he'd be back from the hospital?

Well, he knows we want him to have dinner with us.

Is he visiting someone special?

Someone he grew up with. He listed Aaron as next of kin, and that's how Aaron

knew he was wounded.

This is where you want it?

Yeah, thank you.

I want to be able to watch him.

You know, I've been thinking.

Would it be all right if I stayed on here with the baby?

I want Mike's son to grow up where he grew up.

He'd be giving us a gift.

Oh, you're just in time to get the turkey platter from the top shelf.

Joseph, it's all right. I know Terrell is going overseas.

He'll come back, Martha.

I believe that.

Would you say grace, Joseph?

we thank the lord for our bounty and for our grandchild our son's son

born of sorrow into joy even as your son was born

Is it okay if I write to you?

I'd like you to.

Have you thought about what you're going to do after the war?

Maybe open a restaurant?

Or maybe an inn?

I haven't had a chance to spend my pay.

It's been accumulating.

Where? Where would you do it?

Maybe around here. Maybe... I think I like it around here.

Would you mind if I came back?

No.

I made you two turkey and a cheese.

I'm glad Nora's going to be staying here.

It'd be nice for us having a baby around the house again.

I wish that she'd send me the picture of the baby.

But I don't know how long it will be before I'm allowed to write letters

Just write when you can.

You just take care of yourself.

I will.

The war will probably be over soon.

I just hope I get a chance to see London before then.

Maybe you'll bring back an English bride, like some of the boys are doing.

I don't give him any ideas. There are plenty of nice girls around here for

Terrell.

Going out, folks.

Thanks for letting me share your home.

Hope you'll come back for a visit after the war.

I'd like that.

All right.

Goodbye.

Bye. I'll miss you.

I'll be seeing you.

I'm going to read the paper and listen to the radio so I know where you are.

Get all Hitler for me, Carol.

I had to say goodbye to Terrell.

Of course.

Davy, button your coat.

I'm not cold.

Button your coat.

I'm not about to have you come down with a cold with a new baby in the house.

How come all Christmas songs are about peace on Earth, only there's no peace?

It's a hope, Davey.

It's what keeps us going.

The hope that someday there will be peace on Earth.