Original subtitles

[Music]

her mother was my friend

what do you want for me I wanna help

[Music]

the creature the being under table

you really are my hopper yes

think we'll ever find my mom

we'll find her

[Music]

all done let's go get some lunch I have

to get into another line anything for me

[Music]

yeah you take the bills oh what's wrong

I have to go home they sent you a letter

not my home

all Foresters home what listen dear Paul

it's very important that I see you you

know I wouldn't ask if it weren't so

please try to make it home for Christmas

I'm counting on you thank you love

mother

this is typed anybody could have sent

this she's got her name printed on the

paper

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 the

first thing about foresters mother I

mean you never pull it off

she needs her son besides there's no

place like home for the holidays but you

don't even know them wouldn't you come

and see me if I needed your help of

course you're my father would you help

me even if I weren't your father you

have a talent for unfair questions ago

ten dollars even great car I could get

you a couple thousand for it if you were

interested in selling it

oh thanks it's just what we need can you

tell me how to get to two eleven Union

Street yeah go down to stop like take a

left

thank you everything okay Ted hey Dave

how's it going

who was that looks familiar not from

around here won't know how to get out -

Stella foresters place Paul Forester

[Music]

gotta bring her something I mean that

much I know I can't show up empty-handed

especially at this time of the year okay

I'm convinced have you got any ideas

antiques old folks love antiques could I

see that it's from the 1890s the face of

the man on the moon was very popular

then and it has that little star there

it was an earring originally but since

there was only one I had it made into a

keyring I know just you should have this

how much in the spirit of Christmas I

can let you have it for $50 out of my

league thanks

why is it that all the good stuff is

always so expensive that's a universal

law

flowers you can't miss the flowers women

love flowers I don't know why but they

go nuts over me well I can explain it to

you but I think you're too young anyway

they're waiting

hi boys hi

is it pancetta or poinsettia poinsettia

it's your traditional Christmas plant

and at 995 it's a real good deal well

that's nice

we'll take it out of 20 you want to

deliver it we deliver no we'll take it

ourselves we're going to Stella

foresters that's just up the street

isn't it

you boys buying that for Stella Forester

do you know we're not many people in

this town don't find the house I'm a

house that woman has done more for

Ironwood than the people can ever repay

just tell her Milt said Merry Christmas

oh thanks milk Merry Christmas

here let me put a nice ribbon on

Ironwood it's a nice place to be from

[Applause]

well well well

Paul Forrest well officer Winfield well

I guess it doesn't surprise me but I

always thought you were destined for

bigger stuff isn't this kind of slim

pickins these boys didn't have anything

to do with it Dave and you know it as

well as I 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

tell you what in a spirit of the holiday

season I'm gonna give you till Christmas

Day if you're not out of town on the

26th I'm gonna shove that smile down

your commie pinko throat

I get the feeling I know that guy

[Music]

leave the flowers here you can get it

later you don't want your hands full

when you're gonna say hello besides we

may have to run for it now my approach

would be to have as many distractions as

possible so she doesn't notice that

you're not her son like for example if

we'd brought a string of elephants and

tires that way I got his act down trust

me

dad it's one thing to full cop you

haven't seen in years but I mean this

lady she's your well she's his mother I

don't understand how you can be so cool

I'm not so cool

I have bluebirds in my stomach me and

you and me both

see we hanging you and blow this burg

we're not gonna hang you and we're not

gonna blow this bird till we meet Paul's

mother my mother good luck you certainly

deserve it yes mother it's me Paul what

the hell are you doing here I got your

letter what what are you talking about I

came home because you asked me to you

said you needed me I never asked you to

come here

but I got this

not believed 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

[Music]

your stops in the Attic yeah well you

didn't expect to come back and find

everything where you'd left it did you

oh I suppose not

where do you want this wood Stella it's

me Paul Hal Walker I guess you're a

little surprised to see me here no no

well the way you looked I wasn't sure

you may not approve but your mom and me

we mean a lot to each other you don't

have to explain anything to him if he'd

had any verse a he should have said it

17 years ago 17 years has it been that

long why don't you just go up and take

what you want and get out I want to talk

to you Oh dad we don't need all this

stuff let's just hit the road okay what

did he say

I 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

[Music]

you must favor your mother 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

oh that's easy she's not your mother not

her son she's probably figured all that

out by now she's rejecting her son me

[Music]

question is why

that was note lendin he's pretty upset

about the window that makes three now

when folks are afraid of losing their

jobs they get a restless coud I don't

approve of it I'm gonna put a stop to it

but I understand it what are you doing

refreshing my memory about a bad penny

that just turned up in Town Hall

Forrester

Stella foresters kid yeah the big

magazine photographer flag-burning I

don't get it what's the big deal why

don't they make you Punk's learn

something about history run this guy

through the computer see if there's old

warrants of speeding tickets I need an

excuse to bust him Barry oh you know I'm

just trying to help you sweetheart this

thing between you and your son what's

between Paul and me has suited both of

us just fine for a long time we don't

need no goat like you telling us what to

do correct I'm not sure you haven't

changed and I have you if I 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 I apologize

but it just didn't seem right that you

two don't make up it's not as easy as

you think Oh too much pride huh let me

tell you something you get to be my age

you can look back and see what pride

cost you

Daniel wonder maybe was it worth it just

think about that

I will we got these for you I was afraid

they'd get you cold with high needs

water well thank you Scott it's lovely

the man at the Flower Show said to wish

you a Merry Christmas and he also said

that you've done more for this town than

anybody else some people would say I'd

done too much I guess I'll go back

inside

no no wait a minute what grade are you

in

mine's how are you doing I bet um badly

do 9th graders still read or does the

whole class just sit in front of a big

television set I just finished reading

Catcher in the Rye I liked it

well you enjoy books Oh novel that was a

good one novel books good pun

do you enjoy music - yeah yeah I I loved

Mozart well I'm into the stones myself

you're kidding

hey check this out why would she keep

one mitten if the other one was lost

well why the looks of this place she

saved everything Paul Forrest or ever

touch yeah I guess you're right

this sock doesn't have a mate either

well that's because it's a Christmas

stocking she probably made it to you

hang by the chimney with care

I knew that well I'm never sure never

Christmas talking well I guess I had one

once but you can't outgrow that stuff

you know I guess the fat man is gonna

have to give your presents to someone

else then well it doesn't have to be all

fancy like that I mean in an emergency

any sock will do you understand hmm kind

of a scrawny looking kid not so scrawny

well I guess for you it's like reading

the history of your body if 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 bingo

this doesn't make any sense

these are probably peace protesters what

happened was there were a lot of people

who didn't think our country should be

fighting a war and so they had rallies

you know the cops would come and Bob him

on the head I've only read about this

stuff I'm probably not explaining it

very well you're explaining it very well

it just doesn't make any sense

what happened doesn't make any sense

well when Forrester got involved with

this his parents must have freaked

they probably kicked him out and told

him never to come back 17 years is a

long time not to come back it took you

14

how is picking me up in a few minutes I

don't suppose it matters to either of

you but some day still mean something to

some people yeah Sunday's mean big

dinners color newspapers sports on

television and church oh yeah that too

don't tell me you're going to church now

sure all the time Wow don't be late

your hair sticking up in the back Scott

as the tiny hand of the infant reached

out from the manger nearly two thousand

years ago it touched the world with a

spirit of peace and forgiveness we

celebrate that same spirit here today

and the lesson is the same love thy

neighbor as thyself o Lord in the spirit

of this holy season let forgiveness be

our Christmas gift to each other

[Music]

thank you very fair-minded thank you hi

Sam

Vera it was very moving Reverend but

what's happened to this town ain't no

fairy tale and I ain't gonna have no

fairytale ending Sam it's Christmas

let's go home

that's all I 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 town 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 poisoning your

own drinking water we're done effort

about enough are you Sam I listen stop

it

it's Christmas for heaven's sake now you

two boys have known each other since you

were in diapers a we've had hard times

before but we've always pulled together

and found a way out of our troubles

Merry Christmas

how can this town come apart like this

he didn't mean anything against you

personally Stella

oh I don't play Sam he's afraid of

losing his job but if we don't stop

pulling in different directions we're

gonna pull this town apart

now that is incredible nothing to it

just flour and eggs I could make you

into a first-rate pancake cook her in

about ten minutes are you serious I mean

I could make these by myself respect you

couldn't you know I've got a busy day

today

want to come um no I've got to do

something what are you doing I'm gonna

round up a few old souls who remember

this town the way it was back when we

used to care for each other and when we

we'd all pitch in and try to make things

better and then what well there's a town

meet night and I'm gonna see if an old

woman can breathe some life into this

town before it dries up and blows away

why you shortchanged you yes or no Harry

thanks for the breakfast anytime morning

what happened to sky gold not the wind

you didn't get that from any stranger

did he like son like father do you have

anything to put under this pancakes

he's a nice boy I don't know how it

happened exactly but he is nonetheless

Scott said that someone was here looking

for me fella from Washington about three

months ago I told him the last place on

earth if you expect to find you was here

during trouble aren't you yes

same old chart 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 I never gave a damn about

those charges you know it I stood up for

you through through the whole business

that's not what sticks in my craw sit

down in the juice

you waste a lot that way Scott that's

just what your father used to do I did

the herald angels sing' I thought you'd

gotten lost in the Attic it wasn't in

the Attic it was in the basement like I

told you in the first place well come on

come on I've got all night well don't

blow a gasket well I'll go get the

dinner started yeah I graded the carrots

and I bought those raisins you told me

to count good Scott

let's go for a walk but it's almost

dinner we'll make it a short one

[Music]

you like Stella alive don't you yeah I

know it sounds crazy but it's almost

like she's really my grandmother I like

her too in fact we had a chance to meet

her I can't change

Paul Forrester what he did I can only

try to understand it what's too late

today for what Paul Forrester died

before the wound between them healed but

if I hurry I can make peace between them

before Stella dies what are you saying

she's not even sick missions

no mistake

why are you crying because somebody I

care about it's gonna die don't they cry

were you come from when somebody dies no

they don't

why not where I come from it's it's just

simpler

take a favorite book Catcher in the Rye

yeah so well when you were reading the

book you enjoyed it but when you were

finished you weren't happy and you

weren't sad you were just finished with

that book do you understand know what I

like a book I wanted to go on forever I

don't want it to end but what you like

about that book does go on forever

because it became a part of it

[Music]

I knew I couldn't explain it

[Music]

you

it's kind of hard to figure out what to

get somebody haven't seen him for a long

time

Kevin Stella won't care it isn't the

gift it's the idea behind it my goodness

he's happy that you're back I'm not so

sure about that believe me if she wasn't

so stubborn she'd admit it you sure

turned out different than I expected

in fact it's hard to match up what I see

with what I heard Wow look at all this

interesting stuff maybe there's

something in here you could buy her a

nice diamond ring you know what would

inflation it might run to eight or nine

hundred dollars but it would certainly

be appropriate wouldn't it I thought

that diamonds were for weddings you

really don't know what I'm talking about

do you 17 years is a long time but it's

hard to believe that you could forget

how you've got your first camera how

Stella hocked her engagement ring to get

it for you oh yeah yes of course that's

how I got started I mean I'm just

telling and sold a ring I'd be a lawyer

so I'm stupid like that Hey look at that

why it's a size of a credit card how can

they make a radio that small well

actually

nomes huh tiny little elves what is it

for

oh it's about Stella not being well

I thought you knew

isn't that what you wrote I wanted you

two to make peace that's why I really

now it's obvious Dave can't handle the

job now just a damn minute Cecil you

won't do anything Dave because you side

with him yourself you want to blame me

and art and LuAnn for something that the

people at the mill are bringing on

themselves

come on a minute paper those mill didn't

do anything like that at all Merry

Christmas all right hold it down please

cela you've got the floor I'm old enough

to remember most of you when you were

throwing things at each other in the

sandbox and I don't see a whole lot of

progress for all your years of

experience what it used to be a time

when we could get together once in a

while and so I decide our squabbles and

well then lend each other a hand

Christmas used to mean something in iron

wood is this about that damn tree 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 few

hundred dollars to light up that tree

well things are starting to go one by

one

you stay with her I'm gonna get duck

Hartley don't leave me have you hang in

darn it you're gonna see that Christmas

tree lit if I have to set it on fire

[Music]

what was it like when you were a little

girl Stella well they'd come in from all

over the county Austin buggy you know

and everybody pitch in you'd see folks

it but you hadn't seen since since

Easter took a whole day to decorate that

tree it was a lot smaller then we used

to snatch those candy canes off the

lower branches of the tree faster than

our folks couldn't hang them up I

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

just doesn't seem fair does it

I know what you mean we've known her for

such a short time well she's a tough old

lady maybe she'll pull through you don't

believe that ya know get ready just wake

up some of the jackasses around good we

should just be glad that we got a chance

to meet her at all

I know thank you for twisting my arm

you sure have taken me to some

interesting places

[Music]

how could they

heyday a couple of nuts just cut down

the big tree out front come on take a

look

[Music]

looks like you got Christmas mixed up

with april fools lonnie sworn

[Music]

special delivery for still afforded huh

goodness what's all this oh this is just

the first load I've got to go back to

the flowers job and get more but working

for mr. linen for a couple of days hard

work just like his grandma

fetch my purse Scott come here oh I

can't accept the Hat don't be a goose I

have a reputation of being a good tipper

and it's a tradition I intend to uphold

thank you

twenty bucks thanks grandpa

there's some things that we may never

get straight between us Paul but it

wouldn't be right if I didn't tell you

how much I appreciate you bringing that

boy to see me

sorry he's not going to see Christmas as

it used to be

when they'd light up that tree it was it

was like a miracle

[Music]

I guess we've used up all our miracles

you

[Music]

this is just little glass balls and

lights no it's a bigger deal than it

sounds the main thing is that the

declarations are locked in the Town Hall

basement maybe somebody unlocked him

let's go look are you serious

who do you suppose is gonna help us

we'll help ourselves just came in your

pal Paul Forrester wanted for

questioning by the FSA yes Virginia

there is a Santa Claus

Stella was right this is fun

pretty nice book amazing how that door

was open

hey you can't do that sure I can

so can you what's going on here

Harley Dave seems me folks are

decorating the tree those ornaments were

supposed to be locked up their city

property see he's just a bunch of people

with something in common Dave yeah

where'd you hear that

that's what Stella Forrester boy's head

they gotta make sense for me all right

people this is unlawful assembly without

a permit

I want everybody off this property

immediately are you were subject to

arrest forget what I said about waiting

for Christmas you're under arrest

it's Christmas Winfield time for

miracles on 34th Street angels with

wings Batman being pulled around by a

dozen antelope if all of that can happen

why can't we light up a Christmas tree

for Stella Forrester

we could use a ladder hey where are you

going

looks like I need reinforcements

[Music]

[Music]

what's the trouble 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 but maybe

we ought to take a closer look

right let's run it up boys

[Music]

I figured you'd gone away without saying

goodbye Stella they say this is a time

for peace on earth I think there should

be peace between us two seventeen years

without a word I'm sorry

what you sorry enough to make peace with

your father on his deathbed you wouldn't

even come to his funeral I don't

understand why I did those things but I

think I 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 I think is the time and distance

grew it became more difficult to come

back I'm Your Mother

didn't happen anything at all to you

maybe not then but it does now

[Music]

I can't change the last 17 years

[Music]

but maybe this can make up for a small

part of it it's time you had it back

[Music]

thanks for the camera yeah

[Music]

hey Stella how you're doing

Merry Christmas Merry Christmas grandma

oh what I I have nothing to give you -

you gave Paul Forrester life I'd be

nothing without that

and you gave your love

it's the best gift of all

and thank you howl for bringing all of

us together for this

one for Christmas

[Music]

how's it coming it's all set Christmas

Sam even rubber nice Mike

[Music]

it's that some friends grandma

[Music]

second I thought I saw the tree

let's get what's up I don't think

anybody saw me I just cut the power to

the center of town

they were about to turn the lights on

that damn Christmas tree what Christmas

tree the Christmas tree in the town

square and now let's get out of here

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

Merry Christmas mother Merry Christmas

my dear friend migrant

yeah

I got a feeling that we're not gonna see

a lot more of each other I just want to

say that you're a better son

then Paul forest ever was

[Music]

Oh

for a second I thought I could smell

pancakes yeah I know what you mean

thanks to you we'll go on eating

Stella's pancakes I don't suppose

there's any way we could stick around

until the funeral

Dave Winfield's said he ran my name

through the police computer I can't take

the chance that Fox won't find out

somehow well it was a good thing you

warned you

yeah that warned him was a Christmas

present speaking of Christmas presents

wouldn't wanna leave yours under the

tree thanks God I think there's

something under the tree for you too

[Music]

oh thanks it's to help you find your way

around the Stars this is terrific

[Music]

Thanks

I like it this is terrific

what is it

it's a keyring to put your car keys on

[Music]

something I have to tell you about the

car it's okay isn't it oh it's fine

it's just not ours anymore I needed the

money to buy Stella's present guess

securing wasn't a very good present it's

the best present I ever got

for my son

[Music]

you

[Music]

you

[Music]