Original subtitles

Your mother was my friend.

What do you want from me?

l wanna help you.

he creature

the being, right on your table.

You really are my father.

Mest

[Scott] Do you think we'll ever find my mom?

[Paul] We'll find her.

[Handbell ringing]

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, ma'am.

Ooh, it's cold. Whoo!

-All done? Let's go get some lunch.

-I have to get into another line.

Anything for me?

[chuckles]

Yeah, you take the bills.

[Scott] Huh?

What's wrong?

[Santa Claus] Merry Christmas.

-l have to go home.

They sent you a letter?

Not my home. Paul Forrester's home.

"Dear Paul,

hat l see you.

You know ! wouldn't ask if it weren't,

I'm counting on you. Thank you.

Love, Mother."

Uh, an

Stella Forrester.

Fox works for the government. I mean, they print the money.

They could sure as heck

have some stationery printed.

You don't know Forrester's mother. I mean, you'd never pull it off.

Besides, there's no place like home

for the holidays.

[Scott] But you don't even know them.

‘t youl come and see me

if ! needed your help?

[Scott] Of course, you're my father.

[Paul] Would you help me even if ! weren't your father?

[Scott] You have a talent for unfair questions, you know.

[Paul] Make that $10 even.

Great car.

! could get you a couple thousand for it

if you were interested in selling it.

No, thanks.

Can you tell me how to get to 211 Union Street?

Thank you.

[door opens, closes]

[engine starts]

-Everything okay, Ted?

-Hey, Dave, how's it going?

at? Looks familiar.

Not from around here.

Wanted to know how to get out to Stella Forrester’s place.

Paul! Forrester.

[Scott sighs]

You've got to bring her something. I mean, uh, that much I know.

an't show up empty-handed

especially at this time of the year.

Okay, I'm convinced.

Have you got any ideas?

Antiques. Old folks !

[clock ticking]

[Scott] Could ! that?

It's from the 1890s.

The face of the man on the moon was very popular then.

but since there was only one

l had it made into a key ring.

How much?

In the spirit of Christmas, 1 can let you have it for $50.

Out of my league. Thanks.

Why is it that all the good stuff

is always SO expensive?

Well, that's a Universal law.

lowers. You can't miss with flowers.

I don't know why, but they go nuts over them.

Well, ! could explain it to you, but I think you're too young.

Anyway, they're waiting...

[chuckles]

-Howdy, boys. -Hi.

poinsietta"?

Is it "ponsetta” or

s your traditional Christmas plant.

And at $9.95, it's a real good deal.

Out of 20. You Waitt it delivered?

No, we'll take it ourselves.

We're going to Stella Forrester's.

That's just up the street, isn't it?

-Do you know her? -Not many people in this don't.

On the house?

That woman has done for Ironwood than the people can ever repay.

Just tell her Milt said, "Merry Christmas.”

Thanks, Milt. Merry Christmas.

[Paul sighs]

Ironwood:

-This is a nice place to be from.

[siren blares]

Well, well, well.

Paul! Forrester.

Well, Officer Winfield.

but I always thought you

were destined for bigger stuff.

Isn't this kind of slim pickings?

and you’ know it as well as ! do.

You know who's responsible.

And if you don't stop it pretty quick

somebody's gonna get hurt.

I'd love to take you apart right this minute.

But I'll tell you what, in the spirit of the holiday season,

I'm gonna give you till Christmas Day.

If you're not out of on the 26th,

I'm gonna shove that smile down your commie pinko throat.

[door opens, closes]

! get the feeling ! know that guy.

[door closes]

[Paul] Leave the flowers here.

You can get them later.

You don't want your hands full when you're gonna say hello.

[Scott] Besides, we may have

Now, my approac!

to have as many distractions as possible

Like, for example, if we'd brought

a string of elephants and tigers,

-Listen, I've got his act down. Trust me.

Dad, it's one thing to fool a cop you haven't seen in years.

she's your-- [sighs]

Well, she's his mother. I don't understand how you SO Cool

[sighs] I'm not so cool.

l have bluebirds in my stomach.

Yeah, you and me both.

We're not gonna hang a U, and we're not gonna blow this burg.

Till we meet Paul's mother.

-My mother. -[sighs]

luck. You certainl

It's me, Paul.

What the hell are you doing here?

I got your letter.

What letter?

What are you talking about?

l came home because you asked me to.

You said you needed me.

l never asked you to come here.

But ! got this.

Not from me you didn't.

Then you don't want to see me?

As long as you're here,

why don't you come in and take your things.

Sure, that's a good idea.

That way, neither of us will have to worry about you coming back.

[birds chirping]

Your stuff's in the attic.

-The attic? -Well, you didn't expect to come back

and find everything where you'd left it, did you?

[chuckles] Well, 1 suppose not.

[friend] Where do you want this wood, Stella?

It's me, Paul.

Hal Walker.

[chuckles] 1 guess you're

a little surprised to me here.

No. Uh... [chuckles] No.

Uh, you may not approve, but your mom and me, uh,

we== we mean a lot to each other.

You! don't have to explain anything) to him:

If he'd had anything to say,

he should have said it 17 years ago.

Seventeen years?

Has it been that long?

Why don't you just go up and take what you want and get out.

l want to talk to you.

Let's just hit the road, okay?

What did he say?

-He said we don't need all this stuff.

-Don't sass me, Paul Forrester.

What did he call you?

Dad.

Scott called me Dad) He's my son.

You must favor your mother.

It's, uh-- It's getting late.

You and your son

may as well stay for dinner.

We'd! love to.

Why is my mother acting like this?

Well, that's easy.

She's not your mother, and you're not her son.

She's probably figured all that out by now.

No, she's rejecting her son, not me.

The question is, why?

That makes three.

their jobs, they get restless, Coot.

! don't approve of it.

What are you doing?

Refreshing my memory about a bad penny

that just turned up in town.

Paul Forrester?

alla Forrester's kid?

The big magazine photographer.

Flag burning?

! don't get it. What's the big deal?

hey make youl punks

learn something about history?

Run this guy through the computer.

See if there's old warrants

or speeding tickets.

l need an excuse to bust him.

[Stella] You old busybody.

Why couldn't you have the good’ sense

and let the past stay buried?

to help you, sweetheart.

between you and your son-- [stammers]

just fine for a long time.

We don't need an old! goat like you telling us what to do.

Correct?

I'm not’sure.

[Stella sighs] You haven't changed an iota, have you?

If I'd said it was night,

you would have put on sunglasses.

Excuse me.

No offense, but that mother of yours could give stubborn lessons to a mule.

Now, if I put my foot in it, 1 apologize.

It's not as easy as you think.

Oh, much pride, huh?

Let me tell you something.

You get to be my age,

you can look bac

and what pride costs you.

And you wonder maybe was it worth it.

Just think about that.

Iwill!

we got these for you.

l was alfald they'd get too col

Needs water.

Well, thank you, Scott. It's-- It's lovely.

The man at the flower shop said

to wish you a merry Christmas,

for this than anybody else.

Some people would!say I've done too much)

No. No, wait a minute.

What grade are you in?

How are you doing?

Not bad-- uh, badly.

Do ninth graders still read,

in front of a big television set?

I just finished reading

Catcher in the Rye. \ liked it.

Oh, you enjoy books.

How novel.

That was a good one.

Novel, books. It's a good pun.

Do you enjoy music too?

Yeah. Yeah, IF= ! love Mozart:

Well, I'm into the Stones myself.

You're kidding.

[birds chirping]

[Scott] Hey, check this out.

butny would she keep one mitten

[chuckles] Well, by the looks of this place,

This’sock doesn'tihave a mate either.

i's a Gihrfettmess of stositan

-She probably made it for you--

-To hang by the chimney with care.

l knew that:

Well, I'm never sure.

Do you have a Christmas stocking?

Well, ! guess 1 had one once.

But you kind! of outgrow that stuff, you know?

M yeah.

guess the fat man is going to have to

give your presents to someone else then.

[Scott chuckles]

in an emergency, any sock will do.

Do you understand?

[Scott chuckles]

Kind of a scrawny-looking kid.

Not so scrawny.

Welt I guess for you it’s like

You can read the history of a body in the body if you know where to look.

I'm trying to find out

what happened between Paul and his mother.

[Scott] Bingo.

These are probably protesters.

Um, what happened was there were a lot of people

our country should be fighting a war.

And' so they had rallies.

You know, the cops would come and bop them on the head.

I've only read! about this stuff.

I'm probably not explaining it very well.

You're explaining it very well.

joesn't make any sense.

Well; when Forrester got involved

with this, his parents must have freaked.

Seventeen years is a long time

[door opens]

It took you 14.

al's picking me up in a few minutes.

don't suppose it matters to either of you,

but Sunday still means something to some people.

Yeah, Sundays. And big dinners.

And color newspapers. Sports on television.

Oh, yeah, that too.

Don't tell me you're going to church now,

Well, don't be late.

Your hair is sticking up in the back, Scott.

[clears throat]

[preacher] As the tiny hand of the i

reached out from the manger,

nearly 2,000 years ago,

ate that same spirit here today.

And’ the lesson is the same.

Love thy neighbor as thyself.

Oh, Lord, in the spirit

of this holy season,

let forgiveness be our Christmas gift

J O come, all ye faithful J

2 Joyful and triumphant I

I Ocome ye, o come ye J

I To Bethlehem 5

-Nice sermon, Reverend.

-Thank you very much.

-It was very fair-minded, Reverend. -Oh, thank you, Hal.

That sermon very moving, Reverend,

but what's happened to this town ain't no fairy tale.

And it ain't gonna have no fairy-tale ending.

Sam, it's Christmas.

Sam, let's go home.

Not till I've said what's on my mind.

If that referendum passes,

the mill is just gonna shut the doors

and we're gonna have trouble

in this like you never seen.

Sam, for heaven's sakes--

That referendum only says you've got

to stop using Sutter Creek like a sewer.

It does not make sense to go on poisonine

your own drinking water.

Linden, I've heard about enough out of you.

Sam Ibsen, stop it.

s Christmas, for heaven's sake.

Oh) youl two boys have known each/ other

since you in diapers.

but we've always pulled together

and found a way out of our troubles.

Merry Christmas. Come on.

[reverend sighs]

How can this come! apart like this?

‘t mean anything

against you personall

Oh, ! don't blame Sam.

But if we don't stop pulling

in different directions

we're going to pull this apart.

Yeah.

[sighs]

Mmm.

Now, that is incredible.

l could make you into a first-rate

pancake cooker in about ten minutes.

you serious?

You mean ! could make these by myself?

l expect you could.

You know, I've got a busy day today.

-Want to come? -Um, no. I've got to do something.

-Ah. -What are you doing?

I'm going to round up a few old souls who remember this the way it was,

when We Used! to care for each’ other

and! when we'd-- we'd all pitch in

and try to make things better.

[chuckles]

And then what?

Well, there's a meeting tonight,

and I'm going to se elit an old woman

before it dries up and blows away.

[chuckles] Uh, ! got to go.

Well, yousure changed gears in a hurry,

-Thanks for the breakfast. -Anytime.

-What napiened to Seat

Like son, like father.

Do you have anything to put under this?

Pancakes.

Well, he's a nice boy.

Scott said that someone was here

looking for me.

Fella from Washington about three months ago.

the last place on

that he could expect to find you was here.

You're in trouble, aren't you?

Mest

Same old charge from 1969?

Yeah, thought so.

Well, your father never forgave you, I know that.

Seems like the government would have

dropped it after all these years.

What about you, Stella?

Why can't you forgive me?

l never gave a damn

about those charges, you know it.

I stood up for you

through-- through the whole business.

It's not what sticks in my craw.

Sit down and drink your juice.

["Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” playing]

You waste a lot that way, Scott.

That's just what your father used to do.

[Scott, Stella chuckle]

! thought you'd gotten lost in the attic.

[Hal] It wasn't in the attic.

Well, come on. Come on. l haven't got all night.

Well, don't blow a gasket.

[Stella grunts]

-[Hal] Ta-da! [chuckles]

Well, I'll go and get the dinner started:

he, uh,

[Stella] Oh, good.

Scott, let's go for a walk.

You like Stella a lot, don't you?

Yeah, I know it sounds crazy,

she's reall

like her too.

I'm glad we had a chance to meet her.

l can't change Paul Forrester,

what he did.

can only wy to understand it

Too late for what?

Paul Forrester died before

But if hurry, l can make peace

ella dies.

What are you saying? She's not even sick.

Yes, she is.

No mistake?

[sighs]

Why are you crying?

Because somebody I care about

Don't they cry where you come from when somebody dies?

No, they don't.

Well, why not?

Where I come from, it's-- it's just simpler.

[sighs] Take a favorite book.

Catcher in the Rye.

Well, when you were reading the book, you enjoyed it.

But when you finished, you weren't happy, and you weren't sad.

You were just finished with that book.

Do you understand?

No, when ! like a book, ! want it to go on forever.

l don't want it to end.

But what you like about that book does go on forever

because it became a part of you.

Well, knew! couldn't explain it.

to figure out what to get somebody

when you haven't seen them for a long time.

Yeah, but Stella won't care.

My'goodneéss, she's happy that you're back:

[sighs] I’m not so sure about that.

Believe me, if she wasn't

so stubborn, she'd admit it.

-[sighs] -LOOK...

you sure turned out different

In fact, it's hard to match up what I see

with what I heard.

look at all this interesting stuff.

Maybe there is something in here.

You could buy her a nice diamond ring.

You know, what with inflation,

it might run to or $900,

thought that diamonds were for weddings.

what I'm talking about, do you?

Seventeen years is a long time.

But it's hard' to believe that you could forget how you got your first camera.

How Stella hocked her engagement ring to get it for you.

Oh, yeah, yes. Of course. [chuckles]

That's how ! got started.

1 mean, if Stella hadn't sold ring,

or something stupid like that.

Hey, look at that. [chuckles]

Why, it's the size of a credit card.

How can they make a radio that small?

Well, actually,

-elves. -Huh?

-[chuckles]

Elves?

What is it; Paul?

Oh, it's about Stella not being well.

I thought you knew.

Isn't that why you wrote?

! wanted you two, uh, to make peace.

That's why ! wrote.

[gavel banging]

Now, it's obvious Dave can't handle the job.

Now, just a damn minute, Cecil.

You want to blame me and Art and Luanne for something

that the people at the mill

are bringing on themselves.

Hold on a minute. The people at the mill

didn't do anything like that at all.

Can Uh, can we--

[Sam] ...is what they've always done

for years and years.

-...the mill's toying to save their jobs.

-Merry Christmas, everyone.

[gavel bangs]

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

[councillor] All right, uh

hold it down please.

Stella, you've got the floor.

I'm old enough to remember most of you

when you were throwing things

And I don't see a whole lot of progress

for all your years of experience.

hen we could get together once in a whil

and set aside our squabbles,

and, well, and lend each other a hand.

Christmas used to mean something

nwood.

Yes, Sam, it's about that damn tree.

We don't throw away old things and old ways for free.

There's always a loss.

And if the city council can't come up with a hundred dollars

to light up that tree,

well,

hings are 0

[grunts, groans]

[sighs]

You stay with her. I'm gonna get Hartley.

[Stella] Don't leave me, Hal.

-[Hal] You hang in, darn it.

You're gana see that Christmas e li

[bystander 2] See what this is coming to?

[sighs, groans]

[Paul] What was it like when you were a little girl, Stella?

Well,

they'd come in from all over the county.

Horse-and-buggy, you know?

And everybody would pitch in.

You'd ou hadn't seen since-- since Easter.

Yi

and it was a lot smaller then. [chuckles]

We used to snatch those candy canes

faster than) our folks could! hang them Up.

remember it'So well.

Where does all that time go?

If only folks had some idea

how quick time goes.

Maybe they're waiting for you to set the example.

What do you mean?

How can you expect them to forgive each other

if you can't even forgive your own son?

[Paul sighs]

It just doesn't seem fair, does it?

I know what you mean.

-We've known her for such a short time. -[sighs]

Well, she's a tough old lady. Maybe she'll pull through.

You don't believe that, do you?

No.

Get ready. A few more strokes.

e this will wake up some

of the jackasses around here.

Well, if we ain't going to have

a good Christmas, they ain't either.

[Saw grating]

Now, we should! just be glad that

we got a chance to meet her at all.

l know.

Thank you for, uh, twisting my arm.

You sure have taken me

to some interesting places.

[chuckles] That's what life's for.

] g kin crac

ke

n

ert

-[tree

How could they?

[sphere whirring]

Hey, Dave, a couple of nuts just cut down the big out front.

-What are you talking about? -Come on, take a look.

Looks like you got Christmas mixed up

with April Fools’, Lonny.

[Lonny] ! could have sworn...

-Speciall delivery for Stella Forrester.

Goodness, what's all this?

Oh, this is just the first load.

I've got to go back to the flower shop and get more.

Been) working for Mr. Linden for a couple of days.

(A hard worker, just like his grandma.

Fetch my purse.

[sighs]

Oh. [chuckles] ! can't accept that.

Don't be a goose.

l have a reputation of being a good tipper,

[Scott chuckles] Thank you.

20 bucks?

Thanks, Grandma.

There are some things that we may never

get straight between us, Paul.

But it wouldn't be right if ! didn't tell you

how much l appreciate you bringing that boy to me.

When they'd light up that tree,

it was-- it was like a miracle.

[sighs]

The main ie is that the decorations

Maybe somebody unlocked them. Let's go look.

Are you serious?

Who do you suppose is going

We'll help ourselves.

Just'camein on your pal, Paul) Forrester.

Wanted for questioning by the FSA.

Yes, Virginia,

there is a Santa Claus.

[both chuckle]

Stella was right. This is fun.

Pretty nice, Paul.

Amazing how that door was open.

Hey, you can't do that.

Sure l’can.

-SO can you. -[grunts]

[chuckles]

[residents clamoring]

[resident] Come here. Come on.

-[engine turns off]

-[door opens, closes]

What's going on here, Harley?

Well, Dave, seems to me

Iks are decorating the tree.

Those ornaments were supposed

to be locked up. They're city property.

City is just a bunch of people

with something in common, Dave.

Yeah? Where did you hear that?

Stella Forrester’s b boy said

-and it kind of makes sense to me.

-[sighs] ! don't believe this.

All right; people,

nlawful assembly without a permit.

Now, ! want everybody off this property immediately

Or you are subject to arrest.

[residents groaning]

Hello, Dave.

You forget what ! said

about waiting till Christmas.

You're Under arrest.

It's Christmas, Winfield.

Time for miracles on 34th Street

angels with wings,

a fat man being pulled around by a dozen antelope.

If all of that can happen,

We could use a ladder.

[residents laugh, clamor]

[grunts] Where are you going?

It looks like’ l need reinforcements.

[sirens wailing in distance]

[wailing continues]

Hey, look!

We got an emergency here, Chief.

Yeah, what is it?

Somebody said! they thought we might have

a star missing up on top of the tree.

[chief] Right. Let's run it up, boys.

figured you'd gone away

without saying goodbye.

lla, they say this is a time

for peace on earth.

Seventeen years without a word.

[sighs]

't you Sorry enough to make peace

with your father on his deathbed?

'teven come to his funeral.

But ! think ! must have been hurt very much.

And that it took time and distance to get over the pain.

Not'a word.

Not even a whisper.

l think as the time and distance grew,

itbecame more difficult to come back.

I'm your mother.

Didn't mean anything at all to you?

Maybe not then, but it does now.

l can't change the last 17 years.

It's time you had it back.

Oh.

-Thanks for the camera. -[sobs]

[sniffles, sighs] Paul.

-[door opens]

[Scott] Hey.

-Stella, how are you doing? -[chuckles]

-Merry Christmas. -[chuckles]

Merry Christmas, Grandma.

Oh, thank you, Scott.

Oh.

But IF=/ haven't’a thing to give you two!

You! gave Paul Forrester life

I'd be nothing without that.

And you gave your love.

That's the best gift of all.

Thank you; Paul:

And thank you, Hal,

How's it going?

It's valliset.

Oh, that's beautiful. Beautiful, Tyler

Oh, that's just right. Now, there's a spot. There's a spot.

Oh, can you reach that high?

Merry Christmas, Sam.

ing, Reverend. It's a nice night.

[resident] All right, everyone

let's sing a song for Stella.

2! Good King Wenceslas looked out J

J On the Feast of Stephen J

DP When the snow lay round about). T

What's that?

Some friends, Grandma.

J Though the frost was cruel J

J When a poor man came in sight J

J Gathering winter fuel S

J Hither, page, and stand by me J

£ lf thou know'st it tel-- S

[child] What happened?

[Stella] But, Paul,

for a second I-- I thought ! the tree.

-Let's get-- -What's up?

the power to the center of town.

Christmas tree?’ What Christmas tree?

The Christmas in the square.

Now let's get out of here.

[sphere whirring]

[carolers cheer, clamor]

J Angels we have heard on high J

J Sweetly singing o'er the plains I

J And the mountains in reply f

J Echoing their joyous strains I

£ Gloria f

St In excelsis Deo I

£ Gloria f

St In excelsis Deo I

Merry Christmas, Mother.

Merry Christmas, Son.

[carolers] J Joyful and triumphant I

I Ocome ye, o come ye J

I To Bethlehem 5

~ Come and behold him

[Hal] Goodbye, dear friend.

[carolers] J Born the king of angels J

J Ocome, let us adore him J

Goodbye, Grandma.

Dad?

[carolers] J Christ the Lord f

a lot more of each other.

I just want to say

that you're a better son

than Paul Forrester ever was.

Merry Christmas, Hal.

~ Christ the Lord

-[clock ticking] -[Paul sighs]

For a second !

! could smell pancakes. [chuckles]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Thanks to you,

go on eating Stella's pancakes.

[Scott chuckles]

Dave Winfield said he ran my name

through the police computer.

[sighs]

Well) it a good thing he warned you.

Speaking of Christmas

presents, uh...

[grunts] ...you wouldn't want to leave yours under the tree.

-Thanks, Scott. -[chuckles]

l think there is something under the for you too.

[chuckles]

Whoa.

Thanks.

It's to help you find your way

This is terrific.

[Scott stammers]

Wow. Thanks.

You like it?

Whatiis it?

It's a key ring.

Um, to put your car keys on.

There's something ! have to tell you

[Scott] It's okay, isn't it?

-Oh, it's fine.

It's just not ours anymore.

l needed the money to buy Stella's present.

It was the best present!l ever got!

From my son.