Original subtitles

[♪♪]

[RADIO DJ]:GOOD MORNING!

IT'S THE FIRST OF DECEMBER,

SO YOU BETTER REMEMBER,

THERE'S JUST 24 MORE SHOPPING DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS...

AND HERE'S A HOLIDAY FAVORITE

TO START YOUR DAY OFF WITH A SMILE!

♪ DECK THE HALLSWITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY ♪

♪ FA, LA, LA, LA, LALA, LA, LA, LA ♪

"DECK THE HALLS?"ALREADY?

[BANGS ALARM,MUSIC CONTINUES]

♪ DON WE NOW OUR GAY APPAREL

[LOUD CRASH]

MM...

IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG MONTH.

JUST ONE?COMING RIGHT UP.

WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONEREAD NEWSPAPERS ANYMORE.

VERY OLD SCHOOL.

WELL, I WORK FOR THE PAPER,

SO I LIKETO KEEP THE ILLUSION GOING.

WRITER?

I WISH.

COPY EDITOR.

I GET ALL THE NEWSI NEED TO KNOW ONLINE.

MM, YES,THEY DO SUCH IN-DEPTH REPORTING

ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

WELL, SOMETIMES,YOU NEED TO KNOW

WHAT YOUR FRIENDS HAD FOR LUNCH.

MISS?

UM, MEDIUM DRIP,ROOM FOR MILK, PLEASE?

HOUSE, OR CHRISTMAS BLEND?

WHAT MAKES ITA "CHRISTMAS BLEND?"

IS IT BREWED BY ELVES?

I DON'T KNOW...

IT'S JUST A THING...

FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

PEOPLE LIKE IT.

YOU WANT IT?

MM, THAT'S OKAY,I'LL STICK WITH THE HOUSE.

SURE YOU DON'T WANTTO ROLL THE DICE?

NOT WITH MY COFFEE, NO.

OH, CAN I ALSO GETA MULTIGRAIN, GLUTEN-FREE BAGEL,

EXACTLY ONE TABLESPOONOF LIGHT CREAM CHEESE?

THANK YOU!

WOW, YOU AREA THRILL-SEEKER.

AND YOU'VE GOT PAINTON YOUR FACE, AND IN YOUR HAIR.

HAZARD OF THE PROFESSION.ARTIST.

["DECK THE HALLS"PLAYS ON RADIO]

HEY!

"DECK THE HALLS."THAT'S MY FAVORITE.

MM... THAT MAKES ONE OF US.

HI.

I'LL TAKE A CHRISTMASCOFFEE, PLEASE.

EXTRA LARGE.

OOH, IS THATTHEIR CHRISTMAS BLEND?

OH, HEY, HALES.

NO, IT'S HOLIDAY-FREECOFFEE, THANKFULLY.

UH-OH, HEREIT COMES AGAIN...

THE I-HATE-CHRISTMAS-BLUES.

YOU HAVE SUCHA VIVID IMAGINATION.

NO WONDER YOU WORKIN THE CREATIVE DEPARTMENT.

YOU DO REALIZEIT'S BEEN TWO CHRISTMASES

SINCE STEVE PROVED

WHAT A WORTHLESS EXCUSEFOR A BOYFRIEND HE WAS.

ISN'T IT TIME YOU GAVETHE HOLIDAYS A BREAK?

I AM OVERFLOWINGWITH CHRISTMAS CHEER.

HEY, WATCH ITWITH THE REINDEER!

YOU ARE SO NOTOVERFLOWING WITH CHEER.

I'M STRESSED.

I HAVE A MEETINGWITH YVETTE

ABOUT MY STORY PITCH.

OH, THE ONEABOUT THE DOG WEDDINGS?

THAT'S GREAT! THAT MUST MEANSHE REALLY LIKES IT.

OR SHE JUST WANTSTO REJECT ME FACE TO FACE.

AGAIN.

I'M SORRY, IT'S A PASS.

REALLY?

'CAUSE I FEEL LIKEA LOT OF OUR READERS

WHO LOVE DOGS WOULD...

SUSAN...

MAYBE YOU WERE JUST MEANTTO EDIT OTHER WRITERS' WORK.

THERE'S NO SHAME IN THAT.

IT'S A COMPLIMENT.

THANKS, YVETTE, BUT I'M TIRED OFBEING A COPY EDITOR.

I MEAN, I WANT TO BE A WRITER.

WELL, THEN BRING ME AN IDEAWITH SOME MAGIC.

SOMETHING AUTHENTIC,EMOTIONAL...

PERSONAL.

I MEAN...DO YOU EVEN HAVE A DOG?

NO, BUT...

I REST MY CASE.

SUSAN?

OKAY, FINE,

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOUONE MORE CHANCE.

[EXHALES IN RELIEF]

SOMETHING JUST FELL THROUGHFOR THE CHRISTMAS DAY EDITION.

PITCH MEAN AMAZING HOLIDAY STORY,

AND THE SLOT IS YOURS.

YOU ARE INTO CHRISTMAS,AREN'T YOU?

CHRISTMAS?

ME?

ARE YOU KIDDING?

I LIVE FOR CHRISTMAS!

I MEAN, I AM, LIKE,THE QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS.

OKAY.OUTLINE ON MY DESK IN TWO DAYS.

TWO DAYS.TWO DAYS!

WHY DO YOU STILL BOTHERWITH THESE LIGHTS?

HALF OF THEM DON'T WORK,THEY ALWAYS GET TANGLED UP,

AND YOU JUST END UPTHROWING THEM OUT.

AND BUYING NEW ONES.

THAT'S JUST WHAT WE DO,SWEETIE.

WELL, IT DOESN'T SEEMVERY PRACTICAL.

YOU SHOULD WRITE ABOUT THIS.

A STORYABOUT AN OLD PIECE OF WOOD...

I SMELL PULITZER.

YOU CAN MAKE JOKES,

BUT THIS "OLD PIECE OF WOOD"IS A STORY...

ONE FILLED WITH MAGIC.

OH, MOM, PLEASE,NOT THAT AGAIN.

WELL, BE "CYNICAL SUSIE,"IF YOU WANT,

BUT THIS LITTLE ANGELBRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

OH, HON,THAT'S OLD FAMILY FOLKLORE.

HOW DID YOU AND I MEET?

IS THAT A TRICK QUESTION?

YOU MET ON A BLIND DATE.

SO?

SO WHAT WAS I DOINGTHE FIRST TIME

YOUR FATHER CALLEDTO ASK ME OUT?

I WAS DECORATING OUR...

FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE!

YOU WERE "LITERALLYPLACING THE ANGEL ON TOP OF IT

WHEN THE PHONE RANG."

THAT'S RIGHT...

AND 10 MONTHS LATER,I WAS WALKING DOWN THE AISLE.

MOM, IT'S SENTIMENTAL,BUT IT'S NOT A FEATURE STORY.

THANK YOU, THOUGH.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT...

TAKE IT,IT'S YOURS.

WHAT?

HOW IS IT MINE?

DON'T I HAVE TO GET MARRIED

BEFORETHE BIG "ANGEL PASS-DOWN"?

ISN'T THAT THE FAMILY RULE?

RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN.

SINCE WHEN?

MAYBE THE ANGEL WILL HELPINSPIRE YOUR ARTICLE.

WHICH IS TO SAY,HELP FIND YOU A BOYFRIEND.

[LAUGHS]

PREFERABLY BEFORETHE HOLIDAYS!

OH, HON...

AND SOMEONE SPECIAL, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MOM,

BUT I'M NOT LOOKINGFOR "SOMEONE SPECIAL," OKAY?

NOT RIGHT NOW, ANYWAY.

THAT JUST MIGHT BEUP TO THIS LITTLE ANGEL HERE.

OH!

GOT IT!

AND THENIT SEEMS MY GREAT-GRANDPA

CARVED THE ANGELFOR THIS ACTRESS HE FELL FOR,

BUT, IN THE END, HE MARRIEDMY GREAT-GRANDMA MAGGIE...

AND GAVE THE ANGEL TO HER.

YOU SHOULD AT LEASTWRITE ABOUT IT.

MAYBE THE THING WITH YOURGREAT-GRANDPA AND THE ACTRESS

WAS REALLY ROMANTIC...

OR, BETTER YET, TRAGIC!

THE PROBLEM IS,NO ONE KNOWS MUCH ABOUT IT.

ACCORDING TO MY MOM,

HE NEVER TALKEDABOUT THE ACTRESS.

WELL, MAYBE NOT TO YOUR MOM.

LOOK, YOU WANTTO BE A JOURNALIST, RIGHT?

SO GO INVESTIGATE...

AND WOULD YOU PLEASE GETTHAT ANGEL A CHRISTMAS TREE?

SHE WORKS ONE MONTHOUT OF THE YEAR.

DON'T DEPRIVE HER!

EVEN IF I WANTED TO,I CAN'T, REMEMBER?

NO BACKYARD.

OH, RIGHT.

YOUR WACKY FAMILY CUSTOM...OUTDOOR CHRISTMAS TREES ONLY.

WHO STARTEDTHAT BRILLIANT IDEA, ANYWAY?

MM, MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER,

AGES AGO, IN WALES.

"SO THE TREECOULD LOOK UP TO GOD."

THAT PART'S ACTUALLYSORT OF NICE.

YEAH, IT IS.

SWEETIE,YOU NAIL THIS ARTICLE,

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.

WOW, YOU ARE AN OPTIMIST.

GOTTA THINKOUTSIDE THE BOX, SISTER.

♪ SILENT NIGHT

-HI. HOW'S THAT PITCH COMING?-OH!

FABULOUS, YVETTE...FABULOUS.

UH, CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUTO READ IT.

AND I CAN'T WAIT, PERIOD.

IF IT'S NOT ON MY DESK TOMORROW,I LOOK ELSEWHERE. UNDERSTOOD?

MM-HMM.

YOU KNOW,FOR "THE QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS,"

YOU'RE A LITTLE LIGHTON YOUR DECORATIONS.

[GROANS]

MM...

[TV CLICKS,PLAYS "SILENT NIGHT"]

[TURNS TV OFF]

OKAY...

YOU WIN.

[I.M. BEEPS]

I READ YOUR PITCH.

YOU HATED IT.MESSAGE RECEIVED.

MAYBE I'M NOT MEANTTO BE A WRITER AFTER ALL...

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT'S OKAYBECAUSE I'M THINKING,

MAYBE I SHOULD JUST QUITALTOGETHER...

SUSAN, I LIKED IT.

JUST PACK UP MY STUFF...WAIT, WHAT?

WHAT'D YOU JUST SAY?

I SAID, I LIKED IT!

IT'S GOOD!

IT'S THE PERFECTCHRISTMAS PIECE.

IT HAS HOPE, LOVE,ENCHANTMENT...

AND A TEASPOON OF MYSTERYTO POLISH IT OFF.

BEST OF ALL?IT'S TRUE.

WOW...YVETTE, I'M SO GLAD.

OF COURSE,YOU COULD DRIVE A TRUCK

THROUGH THE HOLESIN THE STORY.

NUMBER ONE, WHO WAS THIS ACTRESSYOUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER LOVED,

AND WHATEVER BECAME OF HER?

I WILL FIND OUT EVERYTHING.

AND I DON'T NEEDTO REMIND YOU

THAT YOU NEED AN ENDING.

"ANGEL COMES FULL CIRCLE,FAMILY MYSTERY SOLVED,"

THAT SORT OF THING.

THERE'S A GREAT ENDING HERE.I KNOW IT.

3,000 WORDS BY DECEMBER 24th.

THANKS, YVETTE!THANK YOU.

SO?

HOW'D IT GO?

SHE ACTUALLY USEDTHE WORD "PERFECT."

OH MY GOSH,THAT'S FANTASTIC!

SEE, I TOLD YOUIT WOULD HAPPEN!

WHAT'S "FANTASTIC?"

SUSAN'S WRITINGTHE NEW FEATURE

FOR THE CHRISTMAS DAY ISSUE.

AMBITIOUS.I LIKE THAT. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU!

RIGHT BACK AT YOU, MR. NEWVICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING.

WE SHOULD GO OUTAND CELEBRATE OUR VICTORIES.

CAFE SOLANA?TOMORROW NIGHT?

DOESN'T THAT PLACE HAVE,LIKE, A SIX-MONTH WAIT?

THE OWNER'SAN OLD FAMILY FRIEND.

THAT'S A REALLY TEMPTING OFFER,THANK YOU,

BUT I'VE GOTA LOT OF WORK TO DO.

NO PROBLEM.

IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND,LET ME KNOW.

"I'VE GOT A LOTOF WORK TO DO?"

WHAT?

I CAN'T GO OUT WITHSOMEONE I WORK WITH.

STEVE WORKED HERE.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.

I GOTTA GO...3,000 WORDS TO WRITE!

SO, I JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT

HOW MY GREAT-GRANDPAMET THIS ACTRESS,

WHO SHE WAS,

WHY HE CARVED HER THE ANGELFOR HER,

AND WHY THEY BROKE UP.

PIECE OF CAKE, RIGHT?

MY MONEY'S ON YOU...

AND THE MAGIC ANGEL YOU CARRYAROUND WITH YOU, OF COURSE.

OH, STOP IT.

I JUST DIDN'T WANTTO LEAVE IT AT WORK.

IT'S NOT MAGIC.

UGH, I FORGOT...

I PROMISED I'D GOTO THIS GALLERY OPENING.

WAIT, COME WITH ME!

WHAT? NO, HAYLEY,I HAVE TO GET HOME

AND START MY RESEARCH.

OH, COME ON,IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

-FIVE MINUTES.-NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

COME ON.YOU'RE COMING WITH ME.

BUT, BUT... NO!

YOU'RE COMING WITH ME!

[GROANS]

THIS IS INTERESTING...

[HAYLEY]:LOOK AT THIS...

"BROADWAY AT CHRISTMAS, 1925."

THAT ACTRESS WAS PROBABLYSTARRING IN A PLAY

RIGHT THEN AND THERE!

HMM...

I NEVER THOUGHT OF THEMMEETING IN NEW YORK.

SEE HOW MUCH MOREYOU ALREADY KNOW?

OH, LOOK AT THIS ONE!

THIS ONE'SMY FAVORITE.

I ESPECIALLY DIG HOW THE LIGHTIS CAST ON THE LOVERS' FACES,

AND IT'S ALL REFLECTED

IN THE STORE WINDOW'SCHRISTMAS DISPLAY.

COFFEE SHOP GUY?

NEWSPAPER GIRL!

WAIT, YOU TWOKNOW EACH OTHER?

NO, NOT REALLY.

WELL, WE CROSSED SWORDSTHE OTHER DAY

AT THE BREWING STATION

'CAUSE I LIKE "DECK THE HALLS,"AND SHE DOES NOT.

UH, BRADY HOWE,ASSISTANT GALLERY MANAGER

AND ARTIST IN RESIDENCE.

MM.

OH, YIKES, I'M SORRY.

YEP.

HI. I'M HAYLEY.

HI.

TELL THE NICE MAN YOUR NAME,SWEETIE.

OH, SUSAN.SUSAN NICHOLAS. HELLO.

SO, "ARTIST IN RESIDENCE."WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY?

UH, BASICALLY MEANS

THAT THE GALLERY OWNERSLET ME USE THEIR STOREROOM

TO WORK ON MY MASTERPIECES...

THAT IS, WHEN I'M NOT HOSTINGGALLERY OPENINGS

AND GIVING MY TWO CENTS

ABOUT WHAT'S HANGINGON THE WALLS.

YOUR "MASTERPIECES"?

WELL, YOU'VE GOT TO AIM HIGH.

ANYBODY WANT A GUIDED TOUR?

OH, YEAH, IT'S JUST SO LATE... IFEEL LIKE...

WE'D LOVE ONE.

UH, YES.

AWESOME.FOLLOW ME.

GREAT, GREAT.

AND THIS ONE'S IS CALLED"CHRISTMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE,

1955..."

EVEN THOUGH IT'S REALLY JUSTA WHITE HOUSE IN OHIO SOMEWHERE,

BUT WHAT'S COOL ABOUT IT

IS THE WAY THAT THE LIGHTLANDS IN A WAY...

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S DAYTIME ABOVETHE HOUSE,

BUT NIGHT TIME BELOW.

EXACTLY!

UH, HAYLEY,WE REALLY HAVE TO GO.

BUT BRADY'S NOT DONE YET.ARE YOU, BRADY?

HONESTLY,

I COULD TALK ABOUT THIS STUFFFOR DAYS,

SO YOU SHOULD PROBABLYGET OUT OF HERE

WHILE YOU HAVE THE CHANCE.

OKAY, WELL,THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR.

YOU ARE A WEALTHOF INFORMATION.

IT WAS A PLEASURE.

UM...

THERE'S ONE IMPORTANT THINGI DON'T KNOW, THOUGH.

UH, WHAT'S THAT?

WHETHER OR NOT I COULD TAKE YOUFOR AN ADULT DRINK SOMETIME.

WH...

MARTINI?

WINE?

EGGNOG IF YOU'RE INTO THE WHOLESEASONAL BEVERAGE THING?

[LAUGHS NERVOUSLY]

PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME DRINKALONE.

DOES THAT LINE REALLY WORKFOR YOU?

DON'T KNOW.DOES IT?

MM... NOT SO MUCH.

PITY.

I'M EXCELLENT COMPANY.

[LAUGHS]

TAXI!

ARE YOU INSANE?HE WAS ADORABLE!

I DON'T TRUST ARTSY TYPES.

I'M AN ARTSY TYPE!

ARE WE DATING?

YOU'RE NOT DATING ANYONE!

THERE IS NOTHING ON EARTH

THAT COULD MAKE MECONSIDER THAT IDEA.

[BRADY]: HEY, HEY!

SORRY FOR INVADINGYOUR UMBRELLA SPACE.

YOU FORGOT THISIN THE COAT ROOM.

OH...UH, THANK YOU.

NO PROBLEM.

NICE MEETING YOU.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHINGON EARTH, HUH?

HELLO.SHE'S COMING.

OH! COMING!

I SEE SOMEONE'S GETTINGHER CAFFEINE FIX.

HI, DEREK.

YEAH, 3:00 ROLLS AROUND,

AND IT'S EITHER THISOR A POWER NAP...

AND SINCENO ONE EVER GOT A RAISE

BY DOZING IN THEIR CUBICLE...

SAY NO MORE.I'M WITH YOU.

HOW'S YOUR CHRISTMAS STORYGOING?

YOU ALL SWEPT UPIN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT?

[LAUGHS]

NOT SURE "SWEPT UP"WOULD EXACTLY DESCRIBE IT.

ANYWAY,I'M STILL IN RESEARCH MODE.

HOW ABOUT YOU?ARE YOU A HOLIDAY KIND OF A GUY?

CAN I BE COMPLETELY HONESTWITH YOU?

MM-HMM.

I'M NOT A BIG FANOF CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR'S.

REALLY?

IT ALL FEELS SO FORCEDAND MANUFACTURED.

I MOSTLY CAN'T WAITFOR THE WEEK TO PASS

SO I CAN GET BACK ON SCHEDULEAND BACK TO WORK...

AND I KNOW IT'S EARLY DECEMBER,

BUT IF I HAVE TO HEAR"DECK THE HALLS" ONE MORE TIME,

I CAN'T BE RESPONSIBLEFOR MY ACTIONS.

A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART.

I MEAN...

I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

HEY, ENJOY YOUR COFFEE!

UGH...

HEY THERE!

WHAT? WHAT?HI, BRADY! HI.

SUSAN NICHOLAS.

LEAVING SO SOON?

WHAT? NO, NO, NO.

I MEAN,I DIDN'T EVEN SEE YOU HERE.

I WAS JUST WALKING...

THAT IS A LOVELY ANGEL.

CAREFUL, SHE SEES ALLAND KNOWS ALL.

IF YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS.

LET ME GUESS... YOU DON'T.

LET ME GUESS...YOU DO.

WELL, IN ART,ANGELS ARE EVERYWHERE,

SO IT'S HARD NOT TO.

SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING HEREOTHER THAN WINDOW WATCHING?

ACTUALLY, I WAS ABOUTTO POP IN SOMEWHERE WARM.

YOU UP FOR THAT DRINK?

OH, NO,I HAVE TO GET HOME.

WORK TO DO FOR TOMORROW.

YET HERE WE ARE...

YOU, ME... AN ANGEL.

SOMETHING'S GOING ON.

COME ON, ONE DRINK.

THEN YOU CAN GO BACK AND BETHE RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYEE.

YOU KNOW,YOU HAVE PAINT ON YOUR NOSE.

KIDDING.

I'M GOING TO TAKE THATAS A YES.

[♪♪]

IT WARMS THE COCKLESOF ME HEART.

BEST IRISH COFFEE IN THE CITY.

SORRY,JUST A LITTLE CRAZY IN HERE,

AND I'VE GOT A LOT ON MY MIND.

EVERYBODY NEEDSTO RELAX SOMETIMES.

THAT'S NOT A WORDON MY SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW.

IS IT EVER?

BRADY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

NO, UM...

I'M TRYING TO.

WANT TO GIVE ME A HAND HERE?

FINE...

I'M KIND OF STRESSED OUT

ABOUT THIS CHRISTMAS ARTICLEI'M DOING.

SO YOU'RE WRITING.THAT'S GREAT.

YOUR WISH CAME TRUE.

I FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVINGWITHOUT A MAP.

I MEAN,I KNOW WHERE I HAVE TO GO,

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW,OR EVEN IF I'LL GET THERE.

ENJOY THE RIDE...THE DESTINATION WILL UNFOLD.

AND DID YOU JUSTMAKE THAT UP NOW,

OR STEAL ITFROM AN OLD "STAR TREK?"

[LAUGHS]

THAT'S FUNNY.

SO, TELL MEABOUT YOUR ART.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?

OH... ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

PORTRAITS, LANDSCAPES...

ABSTRACTS.

SCULPTURES, MOSAICS,MIXED-MEDIA... YOU NAME IT.

WELL, AT LEASTYOU'VE NARROWED IT DOWN.

CHOICE ISONE OF LIFE'S GREAT LUXURIES.

YOU THINK YOU'LL CHOOSETO RUN YOUR OWN GALLERY ONE DAY?

NO IDEA.

HAVE A BUDDY, ZACK...HE FOUND A SPACE A WHILE BACK.

HE THOUGHT WE COULD GO INON ONE TOGETHER...

BUT I DON'T KNOW.I JUST...

I WANT TO CREATE.I WANT TO STAY LIBERATED.

YEAH...

BUT THINK ABOUT IT...

IF YOU HAD YOUR OWN GALLERY,YOU COULD SHOW YOUR WORK

WITHOUT ANYONE ELSE'SPERMISSION.

THAT'S LIBERATION.

IT'S GOOD, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT BAD.

[LAUGHS]

WELL, IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUTWITH YOUR ARTICLE,

AT LEAST YOU HAVE CHRISTMASTO LOOK FORWARD TO.

MM...

OKAY.

LET'S JUST SAY I HAVEA COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP

WITH CHRISTMAS.

HAVE YOU SEENA COUPLES' COUNSELOR?

I TRIED.

SANTA KEPT MISSINGTHE APPOINTMENT.

SOMETHING ABOUTHIS "BUSY SEASON?" I DON'T KNOW.

I'M ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS.

YEAH? YOU SHOULDMEET MY MOTHER.

ON SECOND THOUGHT...

HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOINGTOMORROW NIGHT?

BRADY...

THIS WAS NICE.

I MEAN, YOU'RE...INTERESTING.

[GIGGLES]

I JUST DON'T HAVE ROOMIN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.

I JUST ASKED YOU WHATYOU WERE DOING TOMORROW NIGHT.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?MAYBE I'M TAKING A POLL.

WHAT ARE YOU DOINGTOMORROW NIGHT?

THANKS FOR THE DRINK.

BYE, BRADY.

SEE YOU.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[LAUGHS]SUSIE Q!

HI, GRANDPA!SORRY I'M LATE.

I'M JUST GLAD YOU MADE IT.

I WAS AFRAID YOU MIGHTNEED A PASSPORT

TO COME ALL THE WAY OUTTO LONG ISLAND.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLYWHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, ANYWAY.

JUST SOME HISTORYOF GREAT GRANDPA OWEN'S LIFE...

WHOA.

LIKE MY ORGANIZING SYSTEM?

YOU REALLY DON'T THROWANYTHING AWAY, DO YOU?

YEP... EVER SINCEYOUR GRANDMA ROSE PASSED,

I...

YEAH, I KIND OF JUSTLET THINGS PILE UP.

UH, YOUR GREAT GRANDPAOWEN'S STUFF

SHOULD BEIN ONE OF THESE BOXES.

NOT THERE.

OH, BOY...

I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS THINGIN AGES.

I REMEMBER THAT.

YEAH, IT WASGRANDMA'S FAVORITE.

SHE PAINTED IT HERSELF.

WELL...

OUR FAMILY LOVESITS ANGELS, HUH?

OH, YEAH.

DOES YOUR MOM STILL HAVETHE FAMILY ANGEL?

ACTUALLY...SHE GAVE IT TO ME.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT GOTTHIS WHOLE THING STARTED.

MM.

YEAH, MY DAD WAS SO PROUDOF THAT THING.

HE USED TO SAY IT WAS--"IT WAS MADE WITH LOVE."

HE CARVED IT BACK IN 1926.

HE SPENT WEEKS WORKING ON IT, AS I RECALL.

HE WANTED TO GET EVERY DETAIL JUST RIGHT.

DID HE EVER TALK ABOUTTHE WOMAN HE CARVED IT FOR?

THAT ACTRESS?

THE ACTRESS...

OF COURSE!

FASHIONED THE ANGELAFTER HER...

ESPECIALLY THE EYES.

AT LEAST... THAT WASWHAT HE TOLD US.

ANY IDEA HOW THEY MET?

HOW THEY MET...

HOW THEY MET...

ACTUALLY, I DO KNOW.

IT WAS CHRISTMAS TIME...

I WANT TO SAYAROUND 1925.

MY FATHER TOOK A TRIP INTO MANHATTAN...

AND ONE NIGHT, HE WENT TO SEE A PLAY,

ON BROADWAY...

[APPLAUSE]

...AND IT WAS THERE THAT HE LAID HIS EYES

UPON THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN HE HAD EVER SEEN.

SHE WAS AN ACTRESS PERFORMING IN THE PLAY THAT NIGHT.

[APPLAUSE, CHEERING]

I REMEMBER HIM TELLING ME

ABOUT HER LONG, GOLDEN HAIR AND BEAUTIFUL LAVENDER EYES.

HE SAID IT LOOKED AS THOUGH SHE WERE SENT FROM HEAVEN.

[KNOCKING]

YES? MAY I HELP YOU?

I'M, UH, OWEN THOMAS.

I'M VISITINGFROM BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

OH, THANK YOU.

PLEASE DON'T BE TAKEN ABACK,

BUT I LOVED YOUR PERFORMANCETHIS EVENING,

AND I ALSO HAPPEN TO THINK

YOU'RE THE MOST BEAUTIFULWOMAN I'VE EVER SEEN.

WELL,THAT'S QUITE A DECLARATION,

OWEN THOMAS FROM BETHLEHEM.

I KNOW...

AND I REALIZEIT'S CHRISTMAS WEEK,

BUT...

IF YOU HAVE ANY FREE TIME,

I'D BE HONOREDIF YOU'D SPEND IT WITH ME

WHILE I'M HERE IN NEW YORK.

[SUSAN]: WOW...

THAT WAS A PRETTY BOLD MOVE.

IT MUST'VE WORKED...BECAUSE SHE SAID YES.

UNLIKE ME, WHO WOULD'VE FILEDA RESTRAINING ORDER.

NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON LOVE,SUSIE Q.

YOU WOULDN'T HAPPENTO REMEMBER THE ACTRESS'S NAME,

WOULD YOU?

NOPE, CAN'T SAY THAT I DO.

MY FATHER SAID THEY WROTETO EACH OTHER FOR ABOUT A YEAR,

BUT THAT WAS IT.HE NEVER MENTIONED IT AGAIN.

REALLY?

YEP.

IN FACT, IT USUALLY TOOKA COUPLE OF SLUGS OF SCOTCH

FOR HIM TO BRING IT UPIN THE FIRST PLACE.

WELL...

SORRY IT'S SUCH A MESS.

SO, DO YOU THINK

OUR FAMILY ANGELHAS MAGIC POWERS?

MOM SEEMS TO THINKIT'S THE NEXT BEST THING

TO HAVING A MATCHMAKER.

WELL, YOU KNOW HOW I METGRANDMA ROSE, DON'T YOU?

IN A SUPERMARKET, RIGHT?

NO. HARDWARE STORE.

OH.

ONE CHRISTMAS EVE,

I DROPPED THE ANGELAND BROKE ITS NOSE.

WHEN I WENT OUTTO GET SOME WOOD GLUE,

WHO WAS IN THE NEXT AISLEBUYING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS?

ONLY THE PRETTIEST GALI'D EVER SEEN.

COINCIDENCE?SPECIAL POWERS?

WHO KNOWS...

BUT I'M SURE GLADI DROPPED THE DARN THING.

YEAH.

THAT MOMENT CHANGED MY LIFE.

[RINGS BELL]

[DEREK]: HOW'S THEBUSIEST BEE IN THE HIVE?

OH, HA...

NEW TIE?

WHAT'S THE OCCASION?

WINING AND DININGSOME PROSPECTIVE ADVERTISERS.

BIG SPENDERS.

COULD HELP ME REACHMY ANNUAL GOAL.

GOALS ARE GOOD.

WELL, I'VE GOTA MILLION OF THEM.

REALLY? NAME THREE.

MAKE V.P. BY NEXT YEAR.

BUY A CONDO.

MEET THE WOMAN OF MY DREAMS.

THAT SHOULDN'T BETOO HARD FOR YOU.

IT IS WHEN SHE'S TOO BUSYTO GO OUT WITH ME.

I MEANT, LIKE,TO BUY A CONDO.

WHAT'S WITH, UM...

ALL THE ANGELS?

OH, YEAH...

THEY'RE FOR THIS ARTICLEI'M WRITING.

LONG STORY.

THE ONLY ANGELS I BELIEVE INPLAY IN THE BASEBALL TEAM.

[LAUGHS]

MM-HMM, YEAH.

YEAH... OH!

MY OFFER TO CELEBRATESTILL STANDS, YOU KNOW.

WE COULD GO OUT...OR STAY IN.

I COOK A SUPERB BRANZINO.

WELL...I LOVE BRANZINO,

BUT I LOVE MY JOB MORE.

I NEED TO FOCUSON THIS.

GOTCHA...

BUT WE ALL HAVE TO EAT,

SO CALL MEWHEN YOU COME UP FOR AIR, OKAY?

MAYBE.

NO, NO, NO, NO...

[TEXT CHIME]

[TEXT CHIME]

MAYBE... IT... SHOULD... BE...

["JOY TO THE WORLD" PLAYS]

[TYPING]

[TEXT CHIME]

[LOUD CLATTER]

I ALREADY KNOWWHAT YOU THINK I SHOULD DO.

HMM...

BACK TO THE SCENEOF THE CRIME.

INTERESTING CHOICEOF WORDS.

GLAD YOU CAME.

WHY DID YOU?

I THOUGHT MAYBE IF I DID,YOU'D FINALLY LEAVE ME ALONE.

THAT'S AS GOODA REASON AS ANY.

SO WHY AM I HERE,AGAIN?

YOU, MY NEW STUDENT,

DESPERATELY NEEDYOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT BACK,

AND I'M GOING TO BE YOUR GUIDETO ALL THINGS YULETIDE.

WHAT IF I SAY NO?

THEN YOU'LL NEVERGET RID OF ME...

UNLESS YOU CHANGEYOUR CELL PHONE.

THAT MIGHT WORK, TOO.

[CHUCKLES]

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

IT'S A SURPRISE.

OH, NO. NO, NO, NO.

I'M NOT BIGON SURPRISES.

SHOCKER!

WELL, KISS THAT BORING CHAPTEROF YOUR LIFE GOODBYE.

[SUSAN]: THIS ISWHY I HATE SURPRISES.

[BRADY]: WHY,'CAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE FUN?

NO, BECAUSEI'M A TOTAL KLUTZ.

OH, COME ON,YOU'RE DOING AWESOME.

YEAH...

I THINK I'LL QUITWHILE I'M AHEAD.

JUST TAKE MY HAND.

NOW WHO'S GOTCOMMITMENT ISSUES?

AH!

OOH!

BRADY, THIS ISN'TTHE CLASS I SIGNED UP FOR.

WHAT ABOUTYOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?

THE WORLD WILL LIVEWITHOUT IT.

YEAH, BUT WILL YOU?

[BELLS RINGING]

[DEREK]: WHAT'S THAT,YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL?

OH! OH...

OH, MY GOSH.DEREK, I'M SO SORRY!

ARE YOU OKAY?

BOY, I DON'T THINKTHAT ANGEL LIKES ME.

UH, CAN I GET YOUA TISSUE OR SOMETHING?

NO, NO, NO.IT'S OKAY.

IT'S FINE, REALLY.I...

OH, GREAT!

COFFEEON MY BRAND-NEW HUGO BOSS TIE.

THERE'S 100 BUCKSDOWN THE DRAIN!

LISTEN, I WILL PAYFOR THAT DRY CLEANING.

SUSAN,YOU CAN'T DRY CLEAN A TIE.

THEY'RE NEVER THE SAME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOINGWITH THAT THING, ANYWAY?

UH, IT'S BEING PHOTOGRAPHEDFOR MY ARTICLE.

LISTEN, I SAID I WAS SORRY.

OH, SUSAN, GOOD,YOU'RE HERE.

WE'RE ALL SET UP FOR THE...

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

WELL, YOU COULD SAYI WAS "TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL."

HMM. CLUMSY ONE,FROM THE LOOKS OF IT.

WE'RE SHOOTING IN MY OFFICE.

OKAY, I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

I JUST WANTED TO LOOK GOODFOR MY NEW CLIENT MEETING TODAY.

I KNOW IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT.

THEN AGAIN, MAYBETHERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS, HUH?

MOM, COME ON...YOU CAN'T REALLY BELIEVE

THE ANGEL WAS TRYINGTO TELL ME SOMETHING.

DO YOU LIKE THIS DEREK?

I MIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE A LITTLE...

BUT SINCE THE TIE INCIDENT,I'M NOT SO SURE.

WELL...

ANGELS SEE ALLAND KNOW ALL.

THAT'S EXACTLYWHAT BRADY SAID.

SMART MAN.

WHO'S BRADY?

HE'S THIS ARTIST I MET.

REALLY?

DO YOU LIKE HIM?

MOM, I BARELY KNOW HIM.

THAT WASN'T WHAT I ASKED.

WELL, I'LL SAY THIS...HE'S DIFFERENT.

NOW, THAT SOUNDS PROMISING.

OKAY, YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT

BECAUSE HE'S MALEAND BREATHING.

[LAUGHS]

NO.

I'M SAYING IT BECAUSENOTHING WOULD MAKE ME HAPPIER

THAN TO SEEMY ONLY DAUGHTER HAPPY...

AND DON'T THANK ME.

IT'S MY JOB.

[♪♪]

[SIGHS]

SO WERE YOU SURPRISEDTO GET MY TEXT?

PROBABLY NOT AS SURPRISEDAS YOU WERE THAT YOU SENT IT.

OH, PLEASE,I HAD A LITTLE WRITER'S BLOCK.

I THOUGHTIT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR ME

TO GET OUT.

FAIR ENOUGH...

SO, UM, HOW DID YOU REMEMBER

THAT YOU USED TO MAKEYOUR OWN CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS?

WAS THAT HYPNOSIS?

REGRESSION THERAPY?

PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY...

MY MOTHER'S.

WELL, WHAT BETTER PLACE

TO REVISIT YOUR GLORY DAYSOF ORNAMENT-MAKING

THAN AN ART STUDIO?

ESPECIALLY ONE THAT COMESWITH ITS VERY OWN ARTIST.

AND A TALENTED ONE AT THAT.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL MEYOU WERE SO GOOD?

OH...

PROBABLY ALL KINDS OF THINGSWE HAVEN'T TOLD EACH OTHER.

[SUSAN]: WORST PART WAS...

HE LEFT MEFOR OUR YOGA INSTRUCTOR.

HERE I WAS, THINKING,"OH, IT'S SO GREAT!

"STEVE AND I HAVESO MUCH IN COMMON.

WE EVEN BOTH LOVE YOGA!"

LITTLE DID I KNOWWHAT HE LOVED WAS THE TEACHER.

THAT'S A BUMMER.

AT LEAST HE LEFT YOUFOR A PERSON, THOUGH.

MY LAST GIRLFRIEND, ANNA,

SHE SAIDTHAT SHE WOULD RATHER BE ALONE

THAN BE WITH ME.

UGH, THAT'S AWFUL.YOU'RE NOT THAT BAD.

GEE, THANKS.

I'M GUESSINGSHE DIDN'T DUMP YOU

ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

HE DID?

YEAH.

YEESH, THAT'S LOW.

NO WONDERYOU'RE SO WEIRD ABOUT CHRISTMAS.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF FUNKYABOUT THE HOLIDAYS...

ALL THAT PRESSURETO ENJOY YOURSELF...

I KNOW,IT'S SUCH A CHORE.

AFTER STEVE,IT WENT INTO OVERDRIVE.

WELL...

WHEN ANNA LEFT ME,I WAS A MESS, BUT...

I REALIZED...

IT WASN'T REALLY HERTHAT I MISSED THAT MUCH,

IT WAS JUST BEINGPART OF A COUPLE, YOU KNOW?

A TEAM.

SO I JUST TOLD MYSELF,

"I'M GOING TO GO OUTAND FIND SOMEONE BETTER."

WELL, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

ME, I JUST TURNED INMY YOGA MAT,

CALLED IT A DAY.

HA!

YOGA'S BORING, ANYWAY.NOBODY TALKS.

RULE NUMBER ONE,NO RULERS.

WHAT? WHY?

I DON'T WANTA LOPSIDED GINGERBREAD HOUSE.

JUST EYEBALL THE PIECESAND GLUE THEM TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT SUPPOSEDTO BE PERFECT.

IT'S SUPPOSEDTO BE HANDMADE.

SEE?

NO, SEE, THAT'S JUST GOOFY.

[LAUGHS]

I KNOW, RIGHT?

SO, UM...

I WAS THINKINGABOUT WHAT YOU SAID...

ABOUT RUNNINGMY OWN GALLERY.

IT KIND OFMAKES SENSE.

AND YOU'RE NOT WORRIEDTHIS MIGHT QUALIFY

AS AN ACTUAL LIFE PLAN?

NOPE.

I DON'T MAKE PLANS...I... "ENVISION."

OH, WELL,I STAND CORRECTED.

MISS NEAT,

YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE SPOTOF PAINT ON YOUR FACE THERE.

-WHERE? HERE?-JUST...

HERE?

THERE. HERE.

THERE YOU GO.

GOOD AS NEW.

THANKS.

[LAUGHS]

MM!

WHO ARE THOSE FROM?

OH...

"SORRY I SNAPPED.PLEASE FORGIVE ME. DEREK."

NICE MOVE.POINT, DEREK.

I SAW BRADY AGAINYESTERDAY.

POINT, BRADY!

AND?

AND NOTHING.

WE MADE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS...

AND...

AND...

HE AND HIS FAVORITE BOTTLEOF WINE

ARE COMING OVER LATER.

I HAVE NO IDEAWHAT I'M DOING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW.YOU'RE JUST HANGING OUT.

THIS IS GOOD.

IT IS?

BECAUSE IT'S FEELINGA LITTLE WHIRLWIND TO ME.

YEAH?

LUCKY YOU.

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

GRANDPA?EVERYTHING OKAY?

SPRING CLEANING?IN DECEMBER?

I FIGURED YOUR GRANDMA'SBEEN GONE THREE YEARS NOW.

SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED METO DOWNSIZE A BIT.

MUST SAY, IT WAS QUITETHE TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.

WHA... GRANDPA!

HOW IN THE WORLDDID YOU DO THIS?

WELL, THE NEIGHBOR KIDNEEDED SOME CHRISTMAS MONEY,

SO I HIRED HIM AS MY ASSISTANT.

DON'T TELL ANYONE,BUT HE DID MOST OF THE WORK!

[LAUGHS]

I FOUND THIS BOXSTUCK IN A CORNER.

IT'S JUST A BUNCHOF OLD LEDGERS, INVOICES...

BUT...

THERE WAS ALSO THIS.

A BLUEPRINT?

[GRANDPA]: YEAH.

OF WHAT?

AS SOON AS I SAW IT,I REMEMBERED

A WHOLE OTHER PART OF THAT STORYMY FATHER TOLD ME.

WANT TO HEAR?

YES, I WANT TO HEAR!

WELL...

THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS WEEKIN NEW YORK,

BEFORE MY DAD WENT BACK HOME,HE CAME UP WITH A PLAN...

NEXT CHRISTMAS,

I'D LIKE TO COME BACKTO NEW YORK...

AND BRING YOU HOME WITH ME,TO BETHLEHEM.

OWEN,THAT'S A WHOLE YEAR AWAY...

AND WHAT EXACTLYWILL YOU BE DOING ALL THAT TIME?

BUILDING A CABIN FOR US...

WITH A CHRISTMAS TREEOUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR,

OWEN...

THAT SOUNDS SO BEAUTIFUL...

AND I'M SO FLATTERED,REALLY AND TRULY...

BUT...

MY LIFE IS HERE, IN NEW YORK.

MAYBE SO, AND I KNOWYOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO...

BUT NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME...

I'M HOPING YOU'LL SAY YES.

AND THIS WAS HIS DESIGNFOR THE COTTAGE?

DREW IT HIMSELF.

SEE HIS INITIALSHERE IN THE CORNER?

YEAH.DID HE EVER BUILD IT?

WELL, IF HE DID,I NEVER SAW IT.

OH!

I FOUND SOMETHING ELSE...

MY PARENTS' WEDDING PICTURE.

WHAT A LOVELY COUPLE.

YOUR MOTHER WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

YEAH.

"AS BEAUTIFULINSIDE AS OUT."

THAT'S WHAT MY DAD USED TO SAY.

SHE'D HAVE TO BETO ACCEPT THAT ANGEL HE CARVED

WITH HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND'S EYES!

[LAUGHING]

IN FACT, IT WASBECAUSE OF MY MOM

THAT HE EVEN KEPT THE ANGEL.

HOW DO YOU MEAN?

WELL, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY,

IT WAS ON THE DAYTHEY FIRST MET,

AT THEIR CHURCH,BACK IN BETHLEHEM...

EXCUSE ME?

HELLO!

CAN I HELP YOU?

IS PASTOR BOYD HERE?

NO...

I'M MAGGIE,THE NEW CHURCH SECRETARY.

WELL, UM,

MAGGIE, I'D LIKETO GIVE THIS ANGEL

TO THE CHURCH,

FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS TREE.

IT'S TOP QUALITY,HANDMADE.

LET ME GUESS... BY YOU?

HOW DID YOU KNOW?

THE WAY YOU'RE HOLDING HER.

SO PROUD...

LIKE SHE'S A PART OF YOU.

WELL, SHE WAS, BUT...

NOT ANYMORE.

WOULD YOU LIKE HER?

IT'S VERY GENEROUS,

AND I'M SURE PASTOR BOYDWOULD BE GRATEFUL...

BUT JUST BETWEEN US...

WHY WOULD YOU WANT

TO GIVE AWAYSOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL?

YOU SHOULD KEEP HER.SHE'LL BRING YOU LUCK.

SHE ALREADY HAS...

BAD LUCK.

CAN I MAKEA SUGGESTION, UM...

OWEN! UH...OWEN THOMAS.

OKAY, OWEN THOMAS.

HERE'S WHAT I THINK.

WHY NOT KEEP THE ANGELUNTIL NEXT CHRISTMAS?

IF SHE DOESN'T BRING YOUBETTER LUCK,

THEN YOU CAN COME BACKAND LEAVE HER HERE WITH US.

SOMETHING TELLS MEMY LUCK IS CHANGING ALREADY.

[GRANDPA]:AND IT SURE DID.

SIX MONTHS LATER, THEY WERE MARRIED.

SO I GUESS YOU COULD SAYTHE ANGEL BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

I MEAN...SORT OF, IN A WAY.

HONEY, TAKE ITFROM YOUR OLD GRANDPA...

IF YOU WANT TO BELIEVE,YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LEAP...

BUT LOOK TOO CLOSE,

AND THE MAGIC'S GONE...

AND, REALLY,WHERE'S THE FUN IN THAT?

BLUEPRINT ASIDE,IT'S JUST RANDOM STUFF.

NO CLUESABOUT THE ACTRESS...

UNLESS THIS CARBURETORRECEIPT FROM 1958

HAS SOME HIDDEN MEANING!

WELL, LOOKEE HERE...

BABY SUSIE WITHGREAT-GRANDPA OWEN.

[LAUGHS]

YOU WERE ADORABLE...

OF COURSE.

HE DIEDWHEN I WAS TWO.

I JUST WISHI COULD'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM.

YEAH, HE COULD'VE TOLD YOUABOUT THE ACTRESS FIRST HAND,

SAVED YOUALL THE RESEARCH.

RIGHT NOW, I'D JUST SETTLEFOR KNOWING HER NAME.

I USED TO HAVEAN OLD RELATIVE

THAT ACTEDIN THE THEATER, TOO...

ACCORDING TOMY PARENTS, ANYWAY.

YEAH?

I THINK EVERY FAMILY HASAT LEAST ONE STARRY-EYED MEMBER

WHO TRIED ACTINGAT SOME POINT.

HEY, LOOK AT THIS.

[SUSAN]: "OPENING NIGHT CROWDENJOYS THE CHRISTMAS SURPRISE."

DECEMBER 3RD, 1926.

HIS SECOND CHRISTMASIN NEW YORK.

WAIT, IS THAT...?

I THINK THAT'SMY GREAT GRANDFATHER.

WELL, AT LEASTWE KNOW HE WAS THERE.

[LAUGHS]

WE STILL DON'T KNOW

THE NAME OF THE ACTRESSHE FELL FOR.

GOOGLE THE TITLE,SEE WHAT COMES UP.

"THE CHRISTMAS SURPRISE."

PREMIERED ON BROADWAY, 1926

AT THE ORPHEUM THEATERIN MANHATTAN.

THAT'S ALL IT SAYS.

IT'S A DEAD END.

NOT NECESSARILY.

THAT THEATER'S STILL THERE.

MIGHT BE WORTH A VISIT.

BRADY![LAUGHS]

YOU'RE A GENIUS!

I MEAN,THANK YOU.

ANY TIME.

[GUIDE]:THEY'RE ALL AUSTRIAN CRYSTAL.

[SUSAN]:WOW, IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.

[GUIDE]: IT'S ONE OF THE OLDESTTHEATERS ON THE BROADWAY.

[SUSAN]: REALLY?

NOW, AS I TOLD YOUON THE PHONE, MISS NICHOLAS,

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR HISTORYHERE AT THE ORPHEUM THEATER.

SO YOU THINKYOU CAN HELP ME?

I KNOW I CAN.

IF WE'RE GOINGTO FIND ANYTHING,

IT WILL BE IN THIS.

HOW LONG HAVE YOUWORKED HERE AT THE THEATER?

ALL MY LIFE.

REALLY?

YES. I STARTED AS AN ACTOR,YOU KNOW?

NOW, HERE WE GO.

1926.

GREAT.

THIS IS OCTOBER, NOVEMBER...

OH, DECEMBER!

LET'S SEEWHAT'S IN HERE.

WAIT, THERE.

OH.

AH.

"THE CHRISTMAS SURPRISE."

WELL...

NO WONDER MY GREAT-GRANDFATHERWAS CRAZY ABOUT HER.

SHE WAS A BEAUTY.

"JESSICA ROSE.

THE GIRL WITHTHE LAVENDER EYES."

[HAYLEY]: "DID 'THE GIRLWITH THE LAVENDER EYES'

"EVER TRULY CONSIDER A LIFE

"WITH THE PENNSYLVANIACOAL MINER?

"DID SHE EVER REALLY SEE BEYONDTHE LIGHTS OF BROADWAY

"TO PONDER A FUTURE WITH SOMEONEAS KIND AND LOVING AND TRUE

AS HER UNEXPECTED ADMIRER?"

READERS ARE GOINGTO EAT THIS UP.

IT'S SO EMOTIONAL, SO ROMANTIC.

YET WITHA ZIPPY YULETIDE TWIST!

OH, AND GET THIS--

THE ANGEL'S EYES?

LAVENDER.

JUST LIKE JESSICA'S.

SWEET, OR CREEPY?

TOTALLY SWEET.

MEANWHILE, HOW'S "THE BOYWITH THE HOT HAZEL EYES"?

HOW DO YOU REMEMBERWHAT COLOR BRADY'S EYES WERE?

ACTUALLY, THEY--

THEY HAVE THESELITTLE GOLD FLECKS IN THEM.

HOW CLOSE TO THEM DID WE GET?

WHAT?

I NEED A REFILL.

IS ALL FORGIVEN,OR AM I STILL AN IDIOT?

FORGIVEN,

AT LEAST BY ME.

I CAN'T VOUCH FOR HER.

PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR ME,WOULD YOU?

JUST IN CASE.

WILL DO.

THANK YOU, BY THE WAY,

FOR THOSE FLOWERS.

THEY'RE GORGEOUS.

MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY.

WHAT WAS THAT?

WHAT? WHAT WAS WHAT?

YOU TELL ME, FLIRTY McFLIRT.

WHAT ABOUT BRADYAND HIS GOLD FLECKS?

BRADY AND IARE JUST HANGING OUT.

YOU SAID IT YOURSELF.

WHICH MAKES DEREK, WHAT,SOME HANDY DIVERSIONARY TACTIC?

NOW, SEE, THERE'S GOES

THAT VIVIDIMAGINATION OF YOURS AGAIN.

[BRADY]: NOW, CHOOSINGA CHRISTMAS TREE

IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANTDECISIONS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

[CHUCKLING]

SO, WHICH TREEHAS YOUR NAME ON IT?

WHICH ONE DOESN'T?

ALTHOUGHI DO HAVE TO GO SMALL.

YOU KNOW, APARTMENT LIVING.

WELL, IF I WAS GETTING A TREE,IT'D BE THAT ONE,

AND I'D PUT MY GREAT-GRANDPA'SANGEL RIGHT ON TOP.

OH, YEAH?

YOUR ANGEL MIGHT FINDA HOME THIS CHRISTMAS.

NO, NO.

YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT

THAT LITTLE CHARLIE BROWNTREE, ARE YOU?

ACTUALLY, I WAS THINKING

IT WOULD LOOK AWESOME

ON THE TREE OUTSIDEOUR COUNTRY HOUSE.

YOU HAVEA COUNTRY HOUSE?

LA-DI-DA.

RELAX, IT'S MY PARENTS'.

AND IT'S MORE OF A CABIN.

MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS BOUGHT ITAGES AGO AS A VACATION PLACE.

SOUNDS NICE. IS IT?

IT'S TOTALLY NICE.

JUST A FEW HOURSWEST OF HERE,

MURPHYSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA.

WE SHOULD GO!

CHRISTMAS EVE.

WHAT? NO.

MY ARTICLE'S DUE THAT DAY.

AND ANYWAY,

I'M NOT GOING AWAY WITH YOU.

I'VE KNOWN YOUFOR ALL OF, WHAT, TWO WEEKS?

WELL, BY THEN,IT WILL HAVE BEEN 23 DAYS,

WHICH IS THE LIFE SPANOF A WORKER BEE.

OH, WOW.

THANK YOUFOR THAT LITTLE FACTOID,

AND FOR THE OFFER,

BUT I WILL PASS.

OKAY.

GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TOFIGURE OUT SOMETHING ELSE

CLOSER TO HOME.

THINK THIS'LL FITIN THE BACK OF AN UBER?

I THINK IT COULD FITIN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT.

THAT'S VERY FUNNY

FOR SOMEONE WHO MANAGED

TO GET OUT OF THERECHRISTMAS-TREE-LESS.

UH, HELLO...

THESE BAGS WEREN'T GOINGTO CARRY THEMSELVES!

[DEREK]: SUSAN?

OH!

-HI!-HEY.

DEREK!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I JUST MADE AN OFFERON A CONDO AROUND THE CORNER.

THAT'S FANTASTIC.

YOU TWO LOOK LIKE

YOU'VE BEEN DOINGSOME SHOPPING YOURSELVES.

YEAH...

BRADY, THIS IS DEREK.WE WORK TOGETHER.

DEREK, MEET BRADY. WE...

WHAT DO WE DO?

WE ANNOY EACH OTHER.

IT'S ACTUALLYPRETTY ENTERTAINING.

THAT'S QUITETHE FASHION STATEMENT.

OH...

YEAH, IT'S ALL PART OF"OPERATION JUMP START."

WHICH IS...

BRADY'S PERSONAL MISSION

TO REVIVEMY CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

THAT'S A JOKE, RIGHT?

NO, IT'S AS REAL ASTHE SANTAS ON THAT SCARF.

IT'S... COMPLICATED.

I'M SURE IT IS.

NOT REALLY.

HEY, GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CONDO.

I'LL SEE YOUAT THE OFFICE, OKAY?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WOW. SHOULD I BE JEALOUS?

OF WHO?

THE MALE MODEL-LOOKING,CONDO-BUYING OFFICE GUY

THAT HAS ZERO APPRECIATIONFOR CHRISTMAS WEAR.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.THAT DEPENDS.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE?

ASIDE FROM TWO PEOPLEWHO ANNOY EACH OTHER?

MORE THAN THAT, I HOPE.

DON'T YOU?

YOU'RE RIGHT.

HE HAS NO APPRECIATION

FOR CHRISTMAS WEAR.

WHATSOEVER.

[SUSAN]: HEY, SO WHY ARE WEON YOUR ROOF?

[BRADY]: OKAY, WE HAVETHIS WEIRD TRADITION

IN MY FAMILY.

WE ONLY PUT UPOUR CHRISTMAS TREES OUTSIDE.

THE IDEA ISTHAT IT HELPS THEM--

LOOK UP TO GOD.

BRADY, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

MY FAMILY HASTHE SAME TRADITION.

COME ON. NO WAY!

THAT'S CRAZY.

NO, WE'VE DONE IT FOREVER!

I JUST THOUGHTIT WAS AN OLD WELSH CUSTOM.

WELL, APPARENTLY,

A FEW IRISHMENPICKED IT UP ALONG THE WAY.

ANYWAY...

THAT'S WHY THE SMALL TREE.

BECAUSE ANYTHING BIGGERWOULD BLOW OVER UP HERE.

MAKE SENSE?

ABOUT AS MUCH SENSEAS ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

HE ARRIVED IN TIME

TO ATTEND THE OPENING NIGHT

OF A NEW PLAY CALLED"THE CHRISTMAS SURPRISE."

[♪♪]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

OWEN, YOU MADE IT,AND JUST IN TIME!

CURTAIN IS IN 20 MINUTES.

YOU MADE THIS YOURSELF?FOR ME?

IT'S GORGEOUS.

AND THE EYES...

THEY'RE LAVENDER, LIKE MINE.

YOU WERE ALL I COULD SEEWHILE I WAS CARVING IT.

YOU DON'T HAVEA CHRISTMAS TREE IN HERE?

I'M SURPRISED.

SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME

THAT THE ONLY PLACEFOR A CHRISTMAS TREE

IS OUTSIDE, WHERE...

WHERE IT CAN LOOK UP TO GOD.

WELL, MARRY ME,

AND EVERY YEAR,

THE ANGEL WILL CROWN THE TREEIN FRONT OF OUR NEW HOUSE.

[KNOCKING][MAN]: TEN MINUTES, MISS ROSE.

YOU DON'T HAVETO DECIDE NOW.

GO. HAVE A MAGNIFICENTOPENING NIGHT.

WE'LL TALK AFTER.

SO WHO WAS YOUR FRIEND?

DEREK.

-YOU SCARED ME.-SORRY.

I WAS SAYING,WHO WAS YOUR FRIEND?

FROM YESTERDAY?

OH, BRADY?

HE'S AN ARTIST...

AND A HOLIDAY ENTHUSIAST.

AND...

AND WHAT?

SUSAN, I THOUGHTYOU WERE ON A DEADLINE?

I WAS. I AM.

BUT DATING'S NOT QUITE AS OUTOF THE QUESTION AS YOU THOUGHT?

BRADY AND IAREN'T EXACTLY DATING.

GOOD.

THEN YOU AND I CAN REVISITTHE IDEA OF DINNER.

OR EVEN DOSOMETHING CHRISTMAS-Y,

IF THAT HELPSYOUR LITTLE EXPERIMENT.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW, OKAY?

FINE...

BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU,

THAT...

ANGEL...

[I.M. BEEPS]

WAIT, WHY WOULD YOU ORDERA BACKUP FEATURE

FROM ANOTHER WRITERFOR MY CHRISTMAS DAY SLOT?

JUST IN CASE.

IN CASE OF WHAT?

SUSAN, YOU'VE EDITED

YOUR SHAREOF BACKUP ARTICLES.

YOU KNOW HOW THIS WORKS.

YVETTE, I'VE GOT THIS.

YOU DON'T NEED A BACKUP.

OH, REALLY?

WHAT IF YOU DON'T FINDYOUR ENDING?

THEN WHAT?

WHO SAYSI DON'T ALREADY HAVE IT?

DO YOU?

NOT... COMPLETELY...

BUT I WILL.NO QUESTION.

EXCELLENT.

THEN YOU HAVE NOTHINGTO WORRY ABOUT.

FROM NOW ON,

IT IS ALL WRITING,ALL THE TIME!

IN FACT, I'M GOINGTO CALL BRADY

AND TELL HIMI CAN'T SEE HIM TONIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE TO GOCAROLING ANOTHER TIME.

NO, NO, NO!

RIGHT NOW,BEING AROUND BRADY

IS THE BEST THING FOR YOUAND YOUR ARTICLE.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE THAT?

SUSAN, IF YOU WANTTO BE A GREAT WRITER,

YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE LIFE,

AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE

SINCE I'VE SEEN YOUTHIS HAPPY.

REALLY?

YES, REALLY.

YOU'VE EVEN GOTTHIS BOUNCE WHEN YOU WALK,

AND YOUR SKIN,

IT'S GLOWING LIKE IT WAS LITBY BIRTHDAY CANDLES.

-OKAY, THAT'S RIDICULOUS.-NO, I'M SERIOUS.

BRADY'S BRINGING OUTYOUR CREATIVE SIDE.

♪ ...HEEDLESS OFTHE WIND AND WEATHER ♪

♪ FA, LA, LA, LA, LALA, LA, LA, LA ♪

CHEERS, YOU GUYS.

I THINK SOMEBODY'S OFFICIALLYFOUND THEIR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

THAT WAS ACTUALLYREALLY FUN.

THANK YOU.

FOR THE RECORD,YOU CRUSHED "DECK THE HALLS."

YES!

AND THERE WAS NOTHING SILENTABOUT YOUR "SILENT NIGHT."

OH, AND LET YOU SINGLOUDER THAN ME?

I DON'T THINK SO, BUDDY.

OH, WANT TO STOP FOR ONE OF

THOSE "BEST IRISH COFFEESIN ALL OF MANHATTAN"?

MY TREAT.

HOW ABOUT SOME PLACEMORE PRIVATE?

OKAY.

TO SAINT NICK

AND THE SLEDHE RODE IN ON.

YOU WORKING ON SOMETHING NEW?

OH, IT'S JUST SOMETHINGI'M MESSING AROUND WITH.

YEAH? CAN I TAKE A LOOK?

YEAH, NO...

MAYBE WHEN I'M FINISHED.

OKAY.

SO, YOU REMEMBERTHE FRIEND OF MINE,

ZACK, I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT?

HE WAS LOOKINGFOR GALLERY SPACE?

YEAH.

WELL, HE STARTED LOOKING AGAIN

AND HE FOUNDWHAT HE THINKS IS A PRIMO SPOT.

I LIKE WHAT I'M HEARING.

YEAH, HE'D PUT THE MONEY UP,I'D RUN THE PLACE.

WE'D SPLIT THE PROFITS.

THAT IS FANTASTIC.

WHERE IS IT?SOHO? CHELSEA?

WAIT... BROOKLYN!

LOS ANGELES.

LOS ANGELES?

PLACE CALLED ECHO PARK.

REAL HIP.

PLACE NEEDSA TON OF WORK,

BUT THAT'S WHY WE CANDO THE LEASE.

WOW, CALIFORNIA...

YEAH, HONESTLY,

I HAD NO IDEAWHERE HE WAS LOOKING.

I JUST ASSUMEDIT WAS NEW YORK.

APPARENTLY,THE WORST DUMP

IS, LIKE, THROUGHTHE ROOF HERE, SO...

BRADY...

THIS IS HUGE.

RUNNING A GALLERY IN L.A.!

THINK ABOUT THE WORKYOU CAN DO OUT THERE.

I MEAN,THE WEATHER ALONE

SHOULD INSPIRE GREATNESS.

CONGRATULATIONS!

WHEN DO YOU LEAVE?

LEAVING?

I'M NOT EVEN SUREI WANT TO DO THIS THING.

WELL, HOW COULD YOU NOT?IT SOUNDS PERFECT!

WHAT IF I WAS TRYING TO LEAVEMYSELF OPEN FOR OTHER THINGS?

LIKE WHAT?

THIS COULD BETHE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BLOW THIS.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT US,I AGREE.

BRADY...

YOU'RE A TALENTED ARTIST.

YOUR SHOULD PUT THE WORK FIRST.

YOU HAVE TO PUTYOUR WORK FIRST.

AS FOR US...

WHO KNOWS WHAT WE ARE?

LOOK, YOU'RE A WRITER.

I GET THAT.

YOU'RE ALL ABOUT WORDS,

BUT...

NOT EVERYTHINGHAS TO HAVE A LABEL.

I THINK WE'VE STARTEDSOMETHING REALLY GOOD HERE.

I THINK IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER.

YEAH. MAYBE,

BUT I'D FEEL TERRIBLE

IF YOU DIDN'T MOVEBECAUSE OF ME.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

WHAT?

TRUTH?

I WAS KIND OF HOPING

THAT YOU WERE GOING TO TRYAND TALK ME OUT OF THIS.

HOW ABOUT...

WE TABLE THISCONVERSATION FOR NOW,

JUST FINISH UPOUR WORK,

AND ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS?

TOGETHER?

YEAH. TOGETHER.

WELL, BRADY,WE'RE THRILLED

YOU COULDJOIN US TONIGHT.

WE THOUGHTWE'D NEVER MEET YOU.

MOM...

YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSEMY WIFE, BRADY.

WHEN IT COMESTO MATTERS OF THE HEART,

SHE'S INCORRIGIBLE.

NO WORRIES.

IT'S GOODTO FINALLY MEET YOU.

I'M STOKED TO HELP YOUDECORATE THIS TREE.

AND OUTDOORS, TOO--

JUST LIKEYOUR FOLKS DO IT, RIGHT?

YEAH. THAT'SA CRAZY COINCIDENCE, HUH?

OR NOT.

WHO KNOWS?

BRADY, THERE'S SOME CIDERON THE STOVE.

WOULD YOU MINDGETTING IT FOR US?

YEAH, SURE.

THANK YOU!

OH, I LOVE HIM!

I LIKE HIM, TOO.

HONEY...

WHAT'S WRONG?

I TOLD BRADY WE COULD SPENDTHE HOLIDAYS TOGETHER,

BUT NOW I'M THINKINGMAYBE WE SHOULDN'T.

I DON'T WANT USTO GET TOO CLOSE.

I MEAN, IF HE GOESTO L.A., THAT'LL BE IT.

SO, WHAT'S THE POINT?

YEAH, LOGICALLY SPEAKING,I CAN'T DISAGREE.

HONEY,

IF YOU AND BRADYARE SUPPOSED TO BE TOGETHER,

IT MAY ALREADYBE OUT OF YOUR HANDS.

MOM, PLEASE,I NEED A REAL ANSWER.

LOOK, WHEN THE TIME COMES--

I MEAN, IF IT COMES--

MAKE THE DECISION TOGETHER.

[BRADY]: OKAY!WHO WANTS SOME CIDER?

-I WANT SOME CIDER.-YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

[CLINKING]

-FOR YOU.-THANK YOU.

AW THIS IS SO NICE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!HO, HO, HO!

DOES EATING DESSERTALWAYS MAKE YOU THIS HAPPY?

THAT'S PART OF IT.

OKAY, LISTEN,

I... I TOLD ZACKI'M OUT OF THE L.A. DEAL.

IF HE WANTS TO DO IT,HE'S ON HIS OWN.

BRADY, THAT'S CRAZY.

I TOLD YOU,YOU CAN'T NOT GO BECAUSE OF ME.

NO, YOU SAID

THAT YOU'D FEEL TERRIBLEIF I DIDN'T GO BECAUSE OF YOU,

BUT THEN I REALIZEDI'D FEEL TERRIBLE IF I DID GO,

SO IT'S ON ME.

WHAT?

I THOUGHT WE WEREN'T GOINGTO GET BACK INTO THIS

UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS?

WELL, ZACK WAS PUSHING MEFOR A DECISION,

SO I MADE ONE.

WELL, WE SHOULD HAVEMADE IT TOGETHER.

WHY, SO YOU COULD TALK MEOUT OF IT AGAIN?

BRADY, YOU JUST--

YOU DON'T KNOW ME WELL ENOUGHOR LONG ENOUGH

TO MAKE SUCH A MAJOR LIFE CHOICELIKE THIS.

OKAY, SO TELL ME EVERYTHINGI NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU.

DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT.

IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

SEE, I THINK IT IS.

YEAH, BECAUSE YOU'RE MORE...FREESPIRITED THAN I AM.

I'M A FREE-SPIRIT?

THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM.

DID YOU EVER THINK

THAT MAYBE YOU'RE NOTFREE-SPIRITED ENOUGH?

ONLY EVERY SINGLE OF MY LIFE,

WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY I...THOUGHT...

THINK...YOU COULD BE GOOD FOR ME.

JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

IF I THOUGHT THAT,

I WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERERIGHT NOW,

WHICH...

I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE.

I SHOULD BE HOMEFINISHING MY ARTICLE.

YEAH, MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE...

OR MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE A CUEFROM YOUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER,

WHO FELL FOR SOMEBODYTHAT HE'D ONLY KNOWN FOR A WEEK,

YEAH, AND I THINK YOU KNOWHOW WELL THAT TURNED OUT.

BRADY... WAIT.

MAYBE WE SHOULDJUST SLOW DOWN A LITTLE,

TAKE SOME TIME.

JUST LIKE THAT?

WHAT ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS?

I'M SORRY.

I JUST THINK IT'S FOR THE BEST.

OKAY.

JUST KNOW

THAT THAT JERK

THAT DUMPED YOUON CHRISTMAS EVE

FOR HIS YOGA TEACHER?

I AM NOT THAT GUY.

[POP MUSIC PLAYING]

WHAT IF I'VE TOTALLYBLOWN IT?

I'M SURE BRADY WILL ACCEPTYOUR APOLOGY IN A SECOND.

MY APOLOGY?FOR WHAT?

THINKING OF HIS FUTUREAND TRYING NOT TO HOLD HIM BACK?

I MEAN MY ARTICLE!

IT'S DUE TOMORROW.

I STILL DON'T HAVEAN ACTUAL ENDING

TO THE OWEN-JESSICA SAGA.

COULDN'T YOU JUSTMAKE SOMETHING UP?

I MEAN, WHO'S GOING TO KNOW?

YOU CAN'T MAKE UP THE FACTS.

THAT'S CALLED "FICTION."

I CALL IT FLEXIBILITY,BUT, HEY, THAT'S ME.

AS FOR BRADY, I'M NOT SUREWHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS.

WHO WOULDN'T WANTA GUY WHO PUTS HER FIRST?

IT'S TOO MUCH, TOO FAST,

AND I DON'T TRUST IT,

BUT, HEY, THAT'S ME.

MORE WINE? YES, PLEASE.

SO, I...

EVENING, LADIES.

HI.

WHERE'S YOURARTIST FRIEND?

UH, WE'RE...

TAKING KIND OF A "TIME OUT."

FROM WHAT,"NOT EXACTLY DATING"?

THAT SOUNDSABOUT RIGHT.

IF YOU'RE GOINGTO ASK HER TO DANCE,

WOULD YOU DO IT ALREADY?

OTHERWISE,WE'RE GETTING A REFILL.

SURE, OKAY.

CARE TO DANCE?

SURE.

[♪♪]

[POP MUSIC CHANGES TO"ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH"]

PERFECT TIMING.

"ANGELS WE HAVEHEARD ON HIGH?" REALLY?

YOU CAN'T GET AWAYFROM CHRISTMAS,

ESPECIALLY ATA CHRISTMAS PARTY.

GOOD NEWS.

THEY ACCEPTEDMY OFFER ON THE CONDO.

I CLOSE NEXT MONTH.

WOW. LOOK AT YOU,

KNOCKING DOWN THOSE GOALSLIKE BOWLING PINS.

THE PLACE LOOKS GREAT.

I CAN'T WAITFOR YOU TO SEE IT.

[MUSIC STOPS,POWER SHUTS DOWN]

[MUSIC STARTS,POWER TURNS ON]

THAT WAS NOTPERFECT TIMING.

OR MAYBE IT WAS.I DON'T KNOW...

DEREK, I'M SO SORRY.

I HAVE TO GO.

OH!-WHOA!

SORRY.

YOU HAVING A GOOD TIME?

YOU'LL HAVE MY ARTICLERIGHT ON SCHEDULE.

TOMORROW, 4:00 P.M.

JUST SO YOU KNOW,THE BACKUP PIECE CAME IN,

AND IT'S PRETTY TERRIFIC...

BUT I'M EXPECTING YOURS

TO BE EVEN BETTER.

GOT YOU A TEA.

THANKS.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T NEWS,BUT RELATIONSHIPS ARE HARD,

AND DON'T EVEN GET MESTARTED ON MARRIAGE.

I JUST WASN'TREADY FOR THIS.

WELL, I MEAN,WHO'S EVER READY FOR LOVE?

YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENS.

YOU KNOW, IT FINDS YOU...

YOU JUMP IN THE DEEP ENDAND SWIM FOR DEAR LIFE.

WHAT IF YOU DROWN?

SWEETHEART, DID I EVER TELL YOU

THAT YOUR MOTHER AND IALMOST SPLIT UP

THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE

THAT WE SPENT TOGETHER?

REALLY?

SHE ALWAYS SAYS

HOW YOU TWO WERE

CRAZY ABOUT EACH OTHERRIGHT FROM THE START.

OH, YEAH, WE WERE.

"OPPOSITES ATTRACT,"AND ALL THAT...

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT,

WE WERE BOTHJOCKEYING FOR CONTROL.

WE HAD DIFFERENT PRIORITIES,DIFFERENT APPROACHES...

AND ON THATPARTICULAR NIGHT...

OUR OWN WAYSOF DECORATING A CHRISTMAS TREE.

UH-OH,MOM AND HER CHRISTMAS TREES.

OH, YEAH.

I WANTED TO STARTAT THE TOP AND WORK DOWN,

SHE WANTED TO STARTAT THE BOTTOM UP AND WORK UP,

AND THAT WASJUST THE START OF IT.

YOU KNOW, THERE WASTHE LIGHTS, THE TINSEL,

THE NUMBER OF ORNAMENTS,THE KIND OF ORNAMENTS.

I MEAN, WE DISAGREED

ABOUT ABSOLUTELYEVERYTHING.

WE WERE BOTH SO SETON OUR OWN FAMILY TRADITIONS.

AND I MEAN,AN OUTSIDE CHRISTMAS TREE?

WHAT WAS THAT?

[LAUGHS]

WELL, THAT WAS THE LAST STRAWIS WHAT IT WAS.

WE HAD A...A HUGE FIGHT,

AND I GOT IN MY CARAND I JUST DROVE OFF.

AND I REALLY HAD NO IDEAIF I WAS EVER COMING BACK.

BUT YOU DID.

YEAH, ABOUT AN HOUR LATER.

BUT...

WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT.

WE JUST FINISHEDDECORATING THE TREE

AND THEN, TOGETHER,

WE PUTYOUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S ANGEL

RIGHT ON THE TOP.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

SUDDENLY, EVERYTHING WAS OKAY.

SO, I DON'T KNOW...

MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHINGABOUT THAT ANGEL OF YOURS.

I NEVER KNEWTHAT STORY.

WHAT EXACTLYARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME?

[CHUCKLES]

[MOM]: HE'S TRYINGTO TELL YOU

THAT RUNNING AWAY

ISN'T ALWAYS THE ONLY OPTION.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT,DARLING?

YES, OF COURSE, DARLING.

"IN THE END,

"OWEN AND JESSICA

CLEARLY MADE A DECISIONABOUT THEIR FUTURE..."

"BUT HOW?

"AND DID THEY REGRET ITFOREVER,

OR DID THEY STANDBY THEIR CHOICES?"

[DIALS, PHONE RINGS]

IT'S BRADY. TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD.

[HANGS UP]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[♪♪]

HI. IS BRADY THERE, PLEASE?

NO.

DID HE SAY WHERE HE WAS GOING?

HIS CABIN?

ONE CHRISTMAS BLEND!EXTRA LARGE!

[♪♪]

EXCUSE ME?

DO YOU KNOWWHERE THE HOWE FAMILY CABIN IS?

[♪♪]

[RINGS DOOR BELLS]

BRADY?

SUSAN?

OH, HELLO! HI!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

YOU SAID MURPHYSBURG, SO...

I ASKED IN TOWN,AND THEY DIRECTED ME HERE.

THIS PLACE IS LOVELY,BY THE WAY.

FOR SOMEBODYTHAT DOESN'T LIKE SURPRISES,

YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO GIVE ONE.

YOU MEAN,LIKE THE ANGEL PAINTING?

THAT WAS AMAZING.THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE

JUST TEXTED METHANK YOU, THOUGH,

SAVED YOURSELFTHE TRIP.

YEAH, WELL...IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE.

FRIENDS SHOULDN'T LET FRIENDSBE ALONE!

COME ON.

I... I WENTTO THE MARKET EARLIER.

I GOT SOME GROCERIES,

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE"STARVING ARTIST" THING

IS A LITTLE OVERRATED.

WHY DID YOU REALLYCOME OUT HERE, SUSAN?

BRADY, YOU WERE RIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT STEVE,NOT EVEN CLOSE.

BUT YOU'RE ALSO

NOT LIKEMOST OTHER GUYS I MEET,

AND FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME,THAT'S SCARY.

YOU THROW INMY CHRISTMAS ANGST

AND YOUR WHOLE...NEW YORK/L.A. THING...

AND THERE'SSO MANY ROADBLOCKS.

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU I WASRETHINKING ZACK'S OFFER?

MAYBE GO ON OUT WESTAFTER ALL?

I'D SAY THAT'S GREAT.

DO IT...

AND WE'LL PLAY IT OUT.

BUT FOR NOW, LET'S JUST HAVEA FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS EVE...

TOGETHER.

WOW.

YOU'RE... YOU'RE OKAYWITH NOT HAVING A "PLAN?"

FOR US, I MEAN?

I STILL DON'T HAVEAN ACTUAL ENDING

FOR MY ARTICLE,

BUT I'M TURNINGIT IN ANYWAY.

SO, YEAH, YEAH.I GUESS I AM OKAY.

YOU?

FOR A "FREE SPIRIT,"

I AM FEELINGWEIRDLY GROUNDED.

I HAVE TO AT LEAST TRYTO WRAP THIS THING UP.

I'M JUST GOINGTO GO GRAB MY LAPTOP.

THERE'S A REALLY COOL OLD DESKYOU CAN WORK AT IN HERE.

IT'S BEEN HERE FOR AGES.

USED TO BELONGTO MY GREAT-GRANDMA.

SOUNDS PERFECT.

[♪♪]

[OBJECT DROPS] OH!

BRADY?

BRADY, ARE YOU OUT THERE?

"TO SOMEONE WHO WILL ONE DAYWRITE OUR STORY."

WERE YOU CALLING ME?

UH, YEAH.

SORRY. I WAS TRYINGTO FIND A PEN,

AND, UH...

THESE ARE ADDRESSEDTO MY GREAT-GRANDMA MABEL,

IN MANHATTAN.

YOUR GREAT-GRANDMA'S NAMEWAS MABEL McNUTT?

IT WAS HER MAIDEN NAME.

I'M SURE SHE COULDN'T WAITTO CHANGE IT.

I KNOW I WOULD.

WAIT, THIS ONE'S POSTMARKED"BETHLEHEM, PA."

THEY ALL ARE.

BRADY, THAT'S WHEREMY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS FROM!

REALLY? THAT'S WEIRD.

WHAT'S WRONG?

"OWEN THOMAS,

10 SYCAMORE CIRCLE,BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA."

IS THAT...?

WHY WOULD YOUR GREAT-GRANDPA

BE WRITING LETTERSTO MY GREAT-GRANDMA?

BECAUSESHE WAS YOUR OLD RELATIVE

WHO ACTED IN THE THEATER,

WHO HAD THE WORLD'S

LEAST GLAMOROUS NAMEFOR AN ACTRESS,

SO SHE CHANGED ITTO "JESSICA ROSE."

BRADY, DO YOU REALIZEWHAT THIS MEANS?

THAT YOUR GREAT-GRANDPAAND MY GREAT-GRANDMA

WERE ONCE IN LOVE?

AND SOMETHING TELLS ME

WE WERE SUPPOSEDTO FIND THESE LETTERS.

WELL, GO AHEAD, READ ONE.

-YEAH?-YEAH.

OKAY.

"MY DARLING MABEL..."

HE CALLED HER "MABEL,"NOT JESSICA.

"IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART

THAT I AM FORCED TO SAYGOODBYE TO YOU FOREVER..."

[OWEN]:WHEN YOU SAID ACCEPTING THE ANGEL

WOULD MEAN ACCEPTING ME AS YOUR HUSBAND

AND THAT YOUR TRUE HEART WAS IN THE THEATER,

I WAS CRUSHED.

BUT, HARD AS IT IS TO ADMIT, I NOW WONDER IF THAT WAS A SIGN,

MAYBE EVEN FROM THE ANGEL HERSELF,

THAT WE ARE NOT DESTINED TO BE TOGETHER,

AND THAT EVEN GREATER LOVE AWAITS.

[♪♪]

BRADY...

THIS IS THE COTTAGE HE BUILTFOR YOUR GREAT-GRANDMOTHER,

WITH THAT OLD BLUEPRINT WE SAW!

LOOKS LIKE SHE FOUND THE PLACEAFTER ALL.

AND MADE ITA HOME AWAY FROM HOME

FOR HER AND GREAT-GRANDPA HOWE.

FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

SO, LET'S SEE...

OWEN AND MABELBOTH FELL IN LOVE AGAIN,

THEY BOTH HAD GREAT FAMILIES,

AND BOTH LIVEDHAPPILY EVER AFTER.

YEAH.

LOOKS LIKE THAT ANGEL KNEWWHAT SHE WAS DOING AFTER ALL.

I THINK SHE STILL DOES.

DID I TELL YOU SHE WHACKEDTHE HECK OUT OF DEREK?

ALL RIGHT!THAT'S MY KIND OF ANGEL.

YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE THIS MEANS,DON'T YOU?

YEAH!

YES, I NOW HAVE A PHENOMENALENDING FOR MY ARTICLE.

OH, NOT A MINUTE TOO SOON!

WHICH IS COMPLETELY GREAT...

BUT I WONDER

IF MAYBE THE REAL REASON

OUR GREAT-GRANDPARENTSDIDN'T GET TOGETHER WAS...

SO THAT WE COULD.

ARE YOU STILL THINKINGABOUT THAT MOVE TO L.A.?

YEAH. I'M KIND OF RETHINKINGMY RETHINKING.

BRADY, NO.

I TOLD YOU,YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR WORK FIRST.

WHY? YOU DIDN'T.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

UM, WHO LEFT NEW YORK WITHOUTFINISHING HER DO-OR-DIE ARTICLE

JUST TO COME AFTER ME?

OKAY, I DIDN'T EXACTLY"COME AFTER" YOU.

OH, YOU COMPLETELY DID.

YOU PUT ME FIRST,WHICH IS HUGE!

SO, NO, I'M NOT RUNNING AWAY...

AND NEITHER ARE YOU.

ACTUALLY, YOU SHOULD RUN AWAY.

BUT JUST FOR AN HOUR.

I HAVE AN ENDING TO WRITE!

OKAY.

[♪♪]

MAKE ME PROUD, ANGEL.

[DOOR OPENS]

YOU FINISHED?

YEP.

NOW WE JUST WAITFOR TOMORROW'S PAPER

TO SEE IF I HAVE A FUTUREAS A WRITER.

NO PRESSURE.

WELL, IN THE MEANTIME...

YOU WANT TO...DECORATE A CHRISTMAS TREE?

MORE THAN ANYTHING.

[♪♪]

♪ O TANNENBAUMO TANNENBAUM ♪

♪ FOREVER GREENYOUR BRANCHES ♪

[♪♪]

♪ O TANNENBAUMO TANNENBAUM ♪

♪ FOREVER GREENYOUR BRANCHES ♪

♪ NOT ONLY GREENTHROUGH SUMMER'S SUN ♪

♪ BUT ALSO WINTER'SFROST AND FUN... ♪

CONGRATULATIONS,MS. STAFF WRITER.

I COULDN'T HAVE DONE ITWITHOUT YOU.

NO... YOU COULDN'THAVE DONE IT

WITHOUT OURGREAT-GRANDPARENTS.

OH, AND THE ANGEL,OF COURSE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BRADY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, SUSAN.

[♪♪]