Original subtitles

♪ I can walk one road, you can walk another ♪

♪ There is no wrong road ♪

♪ Every heart is searching for the right way home ♪

♪ And every path will lead us to the way of love ♪

♪ Oh no ♪

♪ Don't let anything get in the way of love ♪

♪ You can sing another ♪

♪ There is no wrong song ♪

♪ Let's not confuse it ♪

♪ I believe one thing ♪

♪ You believe another ♪

♪ Doesn't mean I'm wrong ♪

♪ It just means each of us has the right to choose ♪

♪ Doesn't mean I'm wrong ♪

♪ Don't let anything get in the way of love ♪

Thanks. Merry Christmas.

Don't spend it all one place. Not a lot there.

Thanks a lot, boss.

I hope that's enough. See you.

Dave, merry Christmas.

Best to your family.

Say hi to your wife. - Thank you.

- Thanks, Peter. - Hey, merry Christmas.

Here's your receipt book.

And don't forget to make out all your receipts

in triplicate.

I reuse the carbon paper

so all the ink on the sticky side is gone.

Saves a little money.

And here's accounts receivable and accounts payable.

And for goodness sake,

don't pay the bills before they're due.

I'm an old hand at avoiding bill collectors.

But how am I gonna handle all this without you, Julia?

Oh, maybe things will get better soon

and you can hire me back.

I hope they do.

I just feel so bad.

I didn't wanna do this.

Especially with the holidays coming up.

Well, everything will be all right, Mr. Macklin.

Don't worry about us.

And don't forget about the time cards.

And do you remember where the checkbook is?

I remember.

Call me if you need anything.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Macklin.

Merry Christmas, Julia.

And don't worry, you hear?

Peace on earth, good will towards men.

Right, right.

Well, we'll discuss that at the deal point.

I have the paperwork right here.

Two o'clock.

Oh, can we make it a little earlier?

No, no, no.

That's fine.

Will do.

Here we go again.

I thought you said you were gonna try

and leave early tonight.

I will. I will.

This meeting won't take long.

What time do you want me to pick you up?

Cocktails are at 6:00.

I'll be there at 5:30.

Brian? Hi, Felicity.

Hi Susan. I'm going now.

Please don't let him work late tonight.

We have a very important party.

I'll do my best.

I'll be on time.

I wish I could trust that.

- I promise. - Mm-hm.

See ya.

Bye. - Bye.

We've got a problem.

Can't it wait till after the holiday?

Nope.

Joe's stuck in a snowstorm in Albany.

Alice is stuck in a snowstorm in Springfield,

and there's nobody left in the office

to go up the mountain to make this collection.

What about Molly?

She's stuck in freehold.

Oh, I hate handling things like this.

Makes me feel like Scrooge.

'Tis the season.

You got any better ideas?

Here we go, girls.

Just two more cakes and we can take the first run into town.

I'm tired, Mommy.

Persevere, Emily Rose.

We are not mere bakers of cakes.

We are Julia Stonecypher and Daughters Incorporated.

We mean business.

If we make a million dollars,

are you gonna quit your job at Mr. Macklin's?

I have to think about that when the time comes, Deenie.

He'll be real sad.

But we can give him a ride in our limousine

and that'll make it all better.

You bet.

All right, let's go.

I'm gonna go check on Daisy before we go.

Don't be too long.

Okay.

Let's go.

Can you manage that?

- Uh-huh. - Okay.

Feel better, Daisy.

We'll be back soon.

Deenie?

I gotta go.

Bye!

- Here we go. - Yeah.

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪

♪ Jingle all the way ♪

♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪

♪ Jingle all the way ♪

♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Dashing through the ♪

Careful, careful the cakes now.

Hi, Julia!

- Mrs. Wimblewood in Box A. - Deenie!

Hi, Emily Rose.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

Bye! Bye! - Yeah!

Look at it.

- Merry Christmas, Emily Rose! - Bye, Julia!

- Deenie. - Thank you!

- Merry Christmas! - Merry Christmas!

Bye!

Bye! - Bye!

Merry Christmas.

Here's your Christmas cake.

They're $5.

Oh sweetheart, I'm sorry,

but we can't afford it this year.

Oh, okay.

Well, bye.

She doesn't have any money for a cake this year.

Take it back to her, Deenie,

and wish her a merry Christmas.

We'll have to take the loss on that one.

How come she couldn't pay for it?

Some people are just having trouble

making ends meet these days.

My mom says you can have it anyway.

Oh, that's kind of her. Thanks.

Bye. Merry Christmas.

That's great.

Bye, Deenie. Bye!

- Last one. - Yes!

Yes!

I'll be right out.

You two wait here, okay?

Okay.

- Move over! - No!

And no fighting, you hear me?

All right.

It's your fault. - No it wasn't.

- It was. - No it wasn't!

I'll hold that for you.

There you go.

The barber says to the preacher,

"Well, I know, but you don't eat a pig like

that all at once."

- Hey, Julia. - Hey guys.

Hey Julia. How you doing?

Hey, Margie, I have your cakes.

There's nothing like Stonecypher poundcake

to make it feel like the holidays.

Oh, where's ours?

You'll get yours.

Now, where's that doll that Emily Rose has her eyes on?

Ah, over there.

Oh, okay.

Oh yeah.

And I'm gonna take that used bicycle over there.

Deenie will love it.

Smart buy, that bike.

Now, could you hold them 'til I get back this afternoon?

I've got one more load of cakes to deliver

and I'll have the rest of the money.

You bet.

You better hurry, young lady.

There's a storm coming.

I will, Mr. Mel.

Hey, we'll walk you out, huh?

Thanks, Margie.

Good seeing you, Margie.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Margie.

And stay outta trouble, you rascals.

Oh yeah. Yeah.

You're coming by our place Christmas Day,

aren't you, Mr. Mel?

Well, it wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't.

Do you think you might be able to drop in before that?

- Well, howdy, boy! - Why? You got a problem?

It's Daisy, Deenie's 4-H project.

Oh yes, I know her.

Her lamb isn't due for a while,

but she's kind of restless and off her feed

and think it might come early.

Well, it'd be a shame to lose that lamb.

Yes, sir, it would.

Well, I'll be by in the morning, weather permitting.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Miss Julia...

Perfect.

How are you three doing up there this year?

Oh, we're fine.

We're just fine.

Must be kinda hard around the holidays

with Tim passed away.

Yes, it is.

Two or three more and that's probably about it.

How 'bout that (indistinct) there.

Let's go get it.

Hi, I'm having a hard time hearing you.

No, listen, the bottom line is I'll miss the cocktails,

but that's all.

Sweetheart, listen,

I don't like this any better than you do.

No, Felicity, I'll be down there as soon as I can.

What?

I can't hear. I'm losing you.

It must be the mountains or the storm or something.

I'm gonna get off of this thing.

Honey, we'll talk about it later.

What?

Ah!

Emily Rose, that red stuff's for the cakes.

I'm a princess.

You're something, all right.

Oh, that snow is really coming down.

Don't worry. We want a white Christmas.

Does that mean you are gonna shovel the snow then?

Of course we will. Won't we, Emily Rose?

I don't wanna.

She will, Julia.

Don't worry.

Do you think you could stop calling me Julia?

It kinda makes me feel like the maid.

Oh, all right, Mother.

What's wrong with Mommy?

Mommy, how many more days 'til Christmas?

Two days. Just two more days.

What are you doing?

It's the chair for the Christmas stranger.

That's just a stupid story, Emily Rose.

Besides, he's not even supposed to come 'til Christmas Eve.

What if he gets here early and he has no place to sit?

Mommy, when Daddy gets home,

could we have Christmas all over again?

Emily Rose.

Now look what you did!

What did I do?

Oh no.

Girls, I've gotta go check the animals.

So keep working, all right?

Okay.

Emily Rose!

Peace on earth, goodwill towards men.

Peace on earth, goodwill towards men.

Hello!

It's awfully nice of you to come,

but it really wasn't necessary.

Are you, Mrs-

I won't have this month's

or last month's payment until January,

and that's all there is to it.

Excuse me?

I'll call you the minute I have it all.

Merry Christmas.

No, Mrs. Stonecypher.

No, wait, wait.

Mrs. Stonecypher!

I guess I should have told you

the last time one of you was here.

Brian Harding, ma'am.

I'm vice president of the Rayburn Bank.

Didn't I used to do business with your father?

He was such a patient man.

That was my uncle. He's now retired.

Oh.

Now lemme get this straight.

You knew in October that you weren't going

to be able to make your December payment?

I kind of had a suspicion, you might say.

And then I lost my job on Friday,

and that pretty much confirmed it.

Please, don't do this to me.

I'm not doing anything to you, Mr. Harding.

I just had to cut back on some of my bills.

Cut back?

I meant with Christmas and all.

I know I can get back on my feet.

I just need a little more time.

Even if you got the best job in town tomorrow,

I seriously doubt that you would ever be able

to pay back all the loans

that your late husband took out against this property.

Now, I came up here to give you one last chance

to make these payments, but if you can't,

then I'm afraid you're just going to have to face the truth

that you and your children are going to have to leave.

What?

Please don't make me say it again.

It's hard enough as it is.

Mr. Harding, this house has been in my husband's family

for over 100 years.

I'm sorry.

There's nothing the bank nor I can do for you anymore.

You'll be getting a formal notice in the mail.

I'm sorry.

I truly am.

Mr. Harding!

You can't do this to us!

Whoa!

Mommy!

Is he breathing?

Yes. Thank God.

Deenie, take your sister back into the house

and call Dr. Owens.

Tell him there's been an accident

and there's a man that's hurt.

He's not gonna die, is he, Mommy?

We're not that lucky.

What?

Everything's just fine, Deenie!

Please do as I ask!

Come on.

He had an accident.

What?

Dr. Owens?

Hello?

What happened?

Deenie!

What happened?

I called the doctor.

He said the bridge was closed and then the phone went dead.

Just what we need.

Mr. Harding, I should have left you

in that snowbank to freeze.

We'll put him in your room, girls, okay?

You'll never get away with it.

Kidnapping's against the law.

Oh, I don't know what you're talking about.

I want an upgrade.

Who is he, Mommy?

I don't know, Deenie.

He's the Christmas stranger.

I want an upgrade.

I have mileage.

Peace on earth, goodwill towards men.

Oh sweetheart, that's nice.

Daddy?

Daddy?

He's not Daddy.

He looks like Daddy.

Daddy was handsome.

This guy's a dork.

Besides, you don't remember Daddy.

Yes, I do.

If you remembered him, you'd know that this isn't him.

Then who is he?

I don't know.

His nose is running.

We'd better wipe it.

No! Don't touch him.

He could be an escaped convict.

Angels?

Am I dead?

Oh!

What's going on in here?

Mommy, his eyes rolled around!

Oh, Emily Rose.

There's nothing to be afraid of, okay?

Tie him up.

Now, Deenie.

Can we keep him?

Don't be ridiculous.

I don't wanna keep him. He's disgusting.

We don't even know who he is!

He could be an escaped convict.

He's not an escaped convict.

He's the Christmas stranger.

I told you, that's just a stupid story.

No, it's not.

It's the truth!

You're such a baby.

No, I'm not.

- Yes, you are! - No I'm not.

Stop it. Both of you.

Now, I'm going to get him some dry clothes.

You watch him, alright?

Oh!

He's dead.

Mommy, do something.

Why don't you two go put on the kettle and make some tea?

- Okay, Mommy. - Okay.

Come on.

Here we come!

Felicity?

Oh, she's not here.

Are you the waitress?

My name's, Julia. Remember?

You've had an accident.

Could you help me a little?

I can't see.

Your glasses got broken.

Now stay there.

Let's get these off you.

Oh.

What are you doing?

Your pants are soaking wet.

Oh, I don't want you.

Look, I don't want you either, mister,

but there's nothing we can do about that, okay?

I need to look in your eyes, all right?

To see if you have a concussion.

All right?

Now, hold still.

Oh, get away from me.

I'm trying to help you.

I don't want help.

I want a cappuccino. - Ow!

Really, the service here is atrocious.

I can't do this.

If you need anything, call your waitress.

The storm that's hit the western part

of the state is expected to stick around,

at least through tonight and probably tomorrow.

Main arteries remain closed

and the state patrol is advising folks to stay indoors.

Now, back to music.

Mommy, if the snow doesn't stop,

will Santa Claus be able to get to our house?

Don't worry, he'll get here.

You always say that.

You always say that everything's gonna be all right,

but it never ends up that way.

Santa Claus can get through anything, Deenie.

Nothing good ever happens to us.

How can you say that?

Lots of good things have happened to us.

We have good friends.

Good cake.

There you go. We have good cake.

And we live in the goodest house

in the whole world.

Right.

He's awake! He's awake!

Sorry.

She hasn't been around strangers much.

I want my pants.

Your pants are soaking wet.

Are you an escaped convict?

Deenie!

No, I'm no criminal.

I'm a banker.

Big difference there.

If I can just use your telephone,

I'll be out of here immediately.

I'm sorry, but you're outta luck.

What do you mean?

The phone's dead.

One of the bills you just decided

to cut back on, Mrs. Stonecypher?

The storm must have knocked down the lines, Mr. Harding.

Well, I can't stay here.

We don't want you to.

Deenie.

Oh man. I think I need a doctor.

I tried to get him, but the bridge was closed.

What?

I'm afraid you're stuck here, Mr. Harding.

At least until the plow comes through.

I don't believe this.

I see if I have something for your headache.

Emily Rose.

Please, keep her away from me.

Excuse me, but she lives here.

Take these.

What are they?

Oh, just some arsenic I had lying around the house.

I made you some tea.

Might help your headache.

Too bad it can't do anything about your manners.

My manners didn't hit the steering wheel. My head did.

I could use a little sympathy here.

Sorry.

We're all outta that.

What's your name?

Brian. Brian Harding.

I'm Emily Rose and that's Deenie and that's Mommy.

Yes, we've met.

You're the Christmas stranger, aren't you?

The what?

I set your chair at the table in case you came early,

and you did.

I wish I hadn't.

Sorry, I'm not the Christmas whatever.

Then why did you come here?

Because, your-

Emily Rose, stop asking the poor man so many questions.

Because I got lost.

That's what happened to the Christmas stranger!

Oh, that's it.

- Hey. - Hey!

What kind of a monster are you?

What kind of a mother are you?

You let your children just climb all over people.

If you touch either of my children ever again,

you will be out in the snow, you hear?

You don't have to threaten me.

Just gimme my pants and I'll go.

Fine. There's a dry pair next to the bed.

You can't let him go out there.

I don't think he's smart enough to take care of himself.

Thank you for your generous hospitality.

I'll have my secretary send back the clothes.

There's no hurry.

They were my husband's.

I see.

Well, goodbye.

Don't go. Don't go.

What is wrong with you?

No. Please.

Is she a little?

You know?

She's five years old.

That's how they are.

Please! No!

Get off, Emily Rose.

No.

You're making a terrible mistake, Mr. Harding.

That weather is very serious.

You could die out there.

Please don't worry about me.

I'll be in touch right after the holidays about

that matter that we discussed.

Merry Christmas.

You're making a terrible mistake.

Come back!

Do you think he'll be all right?

He'll come back as soon as he sees

how bad it is out there.

He's not that stupid.

I've gotta get out to the barn and feed the animals

before it gets any worse.

I'll go with you.

No, you stay here.

It's snowing too hard.

Maybe we should bring the animals in the house.

I bet they're cold.

Don't even think about it.

We are not bringing the animals in the house.

Oh, please.

Now where did she leave it?

Emily Rose?

Where'd you put the scrap bucket?

Emily Rose?

Emily Rose?

Her coat is gone.

What? Oh my God.

Emily Rose!

Emily Rose!

She must have followed that man.

I'll go get the general and find her.

He'll help me carry her.

I'll help you!

No, you stay here in case she comes back.

I'm scared to be by myself.

Everything will be all right.

That's just what you say.

That's not how it is.

I'll find her, do you hear me?

I'll find her.

Just turn on all the lights in the house

so I can find my way back, all right?

Okay.

Damn it, man.

General, girl, I know you're hungry.

You've gotta go to work.

Okay?

Sorry about this.

Let's go.

Come on.

Let's get her.

Please let her find her.

Please.

Brian!

Brian!

Oh yes.

Oh, that's it.

That's good.

Emily Rose?

Come on, girl.

Come on, General.

Come on!

Come on!

Emily Rose!

Emily Rose!

Hurry up. Hurry up.

You're letting the heat out.

Come on.

Close the door.

Come on.

What are you doing here?

Don't go!

Does your mother know where you are?

No.

Oh.

All right, as soon as you're warm,

I'm gonna take you back up to your house.

You should never have followed me here.

Anybody out in this kinda weather is just plain idiotic.

You're here.

My point exactly.

Peace on earth, goodwill to all...

When I find that banker...

Emily Rose!

I think I wanna read you a story.

This is a picture of the hawthorne bush at...

Glastonbury. I know this one.

Joseph of Arimathea arrived in England,

stuck his staff into the ground in the middle of winter,

and the staff bloomed.

I wanted to tell it to you.

Sorry.

And this is a picture of the chair

for the Christmas stranger.

See? It's empty.

Wanna know why?

Why?

In case he comes.

See?

No.

You're not paying attention.

Maybe we oughta get back up to your house now.

Your mother's probably worried.

My feet are still cold.

Oh, mine are frozen.

Try moving your toes.

Glad somebody found something to laugh at.

No. No.

Please. No.

So what do you wanna do now?

Easy, General. Whoa.

Emily Rose!

Hi, Mommy.

Well, hello.

- Are you all right? - Uh-huh!

Come on.

Why didn't you tell me how bad it was out here?

I tried.

Well, you didn't try very hard.

You were too full of yourself to hear a word I was saying.

Hi, General.

Nice donkey.

You didn't think we'd know how to get back?

The donkey's for my daughter.

Anyway, who invited you back?

Giddy up! Giddy up!

Come on!

Nearly there.

- Giddy up! - Hang on.

Where's your heater?

There isn't any.

The electricity went out.

Don't just stand there.

Help Deenie with the fire.

I'm going to put the General away.

You all right?

- Mm-hm. - Okay.

You're gonna need to light some more lamps.

Now are you gonna stay?

You did really well, General.

You're a great old friend.

I'm gonna find you a home where the food is better

and the roof doesn't leak.

How'd you like that?

Daisy?

How are you doing?

You've got to eat, Daisy.

Do it for Deenie.

Come on, eat.

You didn't pay your electrical bills either, did you?

That's what it is, isn't it?

I can't believe I saved your neck twice in one day.

Look, mister, this is the mountains.

The electricity goes out all the time in the mountains.

So does the water.

Do we call our accountants for help? No.

Do we call our psychiatrists for help? No.

We just learn to do without.

I'll read to you some more

Isn't it your bedtime?

It's early.

What was that?

What?

That sound.

It's just the wind.

Why are you standing over there in the dark?

Those stories are for little kids.

Right.

Well, I'm listening.

You're kind of a dork.

Oh Lord.

"Candle, candle burning bright

in our window late tonight.

See the shining Christmas star calling..."

Shepherds.

"Shepherds from afar.

Lead some weary..."

Traveler.

"Traveler here that he may share our Christmas cheer."

Here's a picture of all the animals talking

at midnight on Christmas Eve.

That's what they do, you know?

Really?

Yes.

They talk about whether us people

have been good to them all year or not.

Do you think they speak English?

I haven't gotten close enough to one to find out.

Isn't your mother taking a long time out there?

She's okay.

She can do anything.

I bet she can.

Mommy, could we go out to the barn at midnight tomorrow?

I wanna go hear the animals talk.

We'll see.

It's just another stupid story, Emily Rose.

No it's not.

Yes, it is.

No it's not. It's real.

Girls!

All we have to do is go out

to the barn at midnight tomorrow and you'll see.

And then you'll have to say you're sorry.

Just one, okay?

Dinner's nearly ready.

Now, go wash up as best you can.

Did your mother teach you how to cook like this?

You gotta be joking.

My mother had every modern convenience

she could lay her hands on.

You had to learn it somewhere.

I learned it from Tim and his family

when I first came here.

They taught me all the old ways.

What else can you do?

Oh, I can read the instructions on a TV dinner

and pop it in the microwave

and read the entire "GAP Gazette" while it's cooking.

If I had to do this every day, I'd be old before my time.

Still, it's charming.

That's because you never had to lift a finger

for anything in your whole life.

You don't know me.

No, I don't.

Just lucky, I guess.

You don't like me because I believe

that people oughta take responsibility for themselves,

rather than just be given everything.

You just don't understand, do you?

What don't I understand?

How can we help ourselves if there are no jobs.

If people are willing to do anything,

they can always find something.

What?

Whatever.

There are plenty of jobs available down in the city.

They can go down there and look for something.

So they should leave their homes

and their lifelong friends and all their relatives,

living and dead,

so they could turn out as self-centered and unfeeling as...

Me.

You said it.

Emily Rose, eat your carrots.

I don't like carrots.

I don't care.

They're good for you.

Brian isn't eating his.

There. I ate one.

You know, with the knowledge and training

that you've gotten up here,

you could go anywhere and get a good job.

I'd rather not discuss this at the table.

Go anywhere?

But we live here.

Yes we do, Deenie.

Then what's he talking about?

Just bankerly things.

Isn't that right, Mr. Harding?

Right.

This house is the goodest house in the whole world.

Eat, Emily Rose.

Our daddy grew up in this house.

He went away for a very long time.

But he is gonna come home just as soon as he can.

Just because you want something very, very much,

it doesn't mean it's gonna happen.

Well, I wanted the Christmas stranger to come and he did.

He's not staying for Christmas, is he, Mommy?

No.

I assure you all I will do everything in my power

to be out of here first thing tomorrow.

Can you please pass the salad?

I don't like that guy staying here.

I don't either, Deenie.

There's nothing we can do about it.

Are you okay?

What if Mr. Mel can't get through?

What if he can't make Daisy better?

If anyone can, Mr. Mel can.

If the lamb comes too early, it'll die, won't it?

Won't it?

It might.

I don't want anyone dying 'round here.

Bad things happen.

I can't deny that.

But good things happen too.

You've just gotta remember that

and that'll make the bad things a little easier to take.

Are you sure good things happen too?

Are you sure?

When your daddy died,

I thought that I'd never be happy again.

But when I look at the two of you, I feel very happy.

You two are the best thing that ever happened to me

in the whole wide world.

And I love you so much.

What if the fire goes out in the middle of the night?

Don't let it.

You enjoy torturing me, don't you?

What do you expect? Forgiveness?

I have to look in your eyes to see if you have a concussion.

Shouldn't you have done that earlier?

I tried, but you were in some kind of yuppie delirium.

What if I do have a concussion?

I'll have to look it up in my first aid book.

Now take your glasses off.

Put your head back,

and open your eyes really wide.

You know, if we make a good deal on this place,

it would really change things around here.

Other eye!

Ah! Ah!

We've been approached by a very prominent hotel chain

looking for a property in the area.

Given the view from this mountain,

this could be a very popular resort.

Ow!

You still refuse to face the truth.

No, I get it.

You want to ruin the mountain.

I'm talking about jobs up here.

Boring, lousy jobs.

You prefer welfare?

I prefer not to hear about your plans

to destroy the one thing that means everything to me

and my children.

It's not fair.

It says in here you have a slight concussion.

Goodnight.

Wait, wait, wait.

What does that mean? Slight concussion?

Is that serious?

You'll just have to wake up every four hours

and check yourself.

How am I gonna do that?

I don't know.

Do you have an alarm clock?

Not one that winds up.

You'll just have to stay awake all night.

What if I fall asleep?

Don't.

Help me.

Stay up and keep me talking.

I have a very busy day tomorrow, Mr. Harding.

It's Christmas Eve.

I don't trust myself to stay awake.

I need your help.

Oh, all right.

Just for a little while.

Then you're on your own.

You're too kind.

No.

I just don't want you dying on me.

People might think I'd murdered you.

Especially if they knew you.

What time is it?

10:30.

It feels more like 2:00 in the morning.

3:00.

So who's this Daisy I keep hearing about?

A sheep.

My daughter's 4-H project.

What's wrong with it?

It's pregnant.

She's always been rather sickly, but it's worse.

And chances are if the lamb comes too early,

he won't make it.

Still, Deenie's lucky she can have a pet at all.

I wasn't allowed any growing up.

Not even a dog?

My mother said they were too dirty.

I couldn't live without animals around.

Of course I was never home enough to have a dog anyway.

I went away to prep school.

Do you enjoy living in the city, Mr. Harding?

Brian.

Yes, I do.

Very much.

I'm in a relationship with a woman down there.

How did you end up up here?

I was an exchange student at the university.

That's how I met Tim.

When I first came up here,

I thought I could never live here.

Never in a million years.

But now I could never leave.

I've made so many good friends.

What do you do up here for fun?

There's always something to do.

Wedding to go to or a graduation,

or a funeral,

or somebody needs my help.

Sometimes I just like to lie back

and listen to the wind.

I could never live in a place this quiet.

And it would drive Felicity insane.

Felicity is your...

My relationship. Yes.

Sounds so technical.

Isn't that what relationships are?

Agreements between people to be together.

Oral contracts if you're not married,

written ones if you are.

So what happens if it doesn't work out?

Contract is broken.

So what do you do? Evict your girlfriend from your heart?

I don't like evicting people from anything.

I do everything that I can to avoid it.

Well, you're very good at it.

I'm not much good at anything.

You're good at more things than anybody I've ever seen.

Felicity's a wonderful woman.

I love her very much, but she can't even boil an egg.

Not that she has to, of course.

I usually do the cooking.

Although, we like to go out to eat.

And then we like to go out to a play or a movie.

And after that, we like to go out for coffee.

Actually, we're rarely in.

Mrs. Stonecypher?

Julia?

Mommy?

Mother, the fire in our room went out.

Oh my God.

What? What happened?

Go back to bed right now.

We're cold.

Oh, not for long.

I'm coming with you.

What are you doing?

Mommy? What's wrong?

I miss your Daddy.

Me too.

Good morning.

Morning.

I thought maybe I could do something useful around here,

but my shoes aren't exactly suitable for alpine climates.

There's an old pair of Tim's boots in the feed room.

All right.

Doesn't look like it's gonna let up.

No, it doesn't.

Mr. Harding.

Brian.

Brian,

about last night.

I don't consider myself a weak woman.

No, I wouldn't say that.

But I do have my weak moments.

And last night was one of them.

My husband's been gone two years now.

And I still have the same reflexes.

Between you and me,

I'd just like to pretend that nothing happened.

Nothing did happen.

That's right.

You know, I read your file,

but it doesn't say anything about how your husband died.

That's because it's nobody's business.

Right.

Do you know how to swing a hammer?

I think I could manage that.

Well, there's one on a nail by the door.

Knock the ice off the pump handle and bring in some water.

And don't get lost.

I'm not saving you three times.

What are you doing?

I'm going to free up the pump.

You know how to do that?

Sure, I do.

You let him go out there all by himself?

He'll be all right.

Sure.

Did she eat anything?

No. Nothing.

Why won't you eat?

What's wrong?

You've got to get better.

You've got to.

Mr. Mel's not coming, is he?

Not unless the snow lets up.

Sorry, Deenie.

Don't die.

I was gonna take that cake into town and sell it.

What is this flavoring?

I cannot get enough of it.

Bourbon.

What?

Bourbon.

I use artificial flavor for the Methodists and the Baptists,

but the Catholics and the Episcopalians like the real thing.

That cake is Episcopalian.

Mommy, when are we gonna put up the Christmas tree?

It's snowing too hard to go get one.

There are Christmas tree right up near the house.

Then why don't you go out and cut one down for us?

All right, I will.

Don't let him do it, Mommy.

He'll hurt himself.

Nonsense.

Anybody can cut down a tree.

We gotta see this.

Timber!

What a dork.

- Ta-da! - Yay.

Now it's really Christmas.

We'll plant two in spring to replace this one.

Oh, can we please hurry, please.

I think I have frostbite.

Here it is.

Yay.

My Daddy made this wooden one when he was a little boy.

Oh, why don't you hang it right there in the front.

Good. That way when my daddy gets home, he can see.

Emily Rose, your daddy's not coming home.

He's not?

No, he can't honey.

He's dead.

Are you sure?

Yes.

But you already knew that, didn't you?

Yes.

But don't tell Mommy.

I don't think she knows.

Do you believe in heaven?

Well, yes.

In my own way, I guess I do.

Do animals go to heaven?

If anyone does, they do.

Do you think our dad's in heaven?

Do you think he still loves us from that far away?

Well, from what I know about these things,

I would say absolutely.

Yes, he does.

Really?

Really.

Well, let's take a look.

It's great.

Look, Mommy, look.

It's beautiful.

Dinner's ready.

No wait. Sit here.

He's our Christmas stranger, Mommy.

Now aren't you glad to be kept him?

Yes.

Chopped all the wood.

I see that.

Looks like you kinda chewed it too.

Anything else I can do?

No, please.

You've done quite enough.

Somebody had to tell her, Julia.

You've obviously avoided facing that

the way you avoided facing your financial problems,

hoping they'd just go away.

You just don't know what it's like raising children

all by yourself.

No, I don't,

but I do remember what it was like being a kid.

Nobody ever told me what was going on,

but I always picked up on it

and I lived in a constant state

of apprehension about the future.

I told Emily Rose the truth.

I've told her over and over.

She thinks that if you believe something hard enough,

you can make it come true.

She seems to be coping fine.

You're the one who's having a hard time with it.

Just take the wood in there.

Mommy, is it midnight yet?

You're not staying up 'til midnight.

But you promised we can go hear the animals talk.

No, I didn't.

Emily Rose, I'll make you a deal.

If you can stay awake 'til midnight,

I'll take you to the barn.

I don't think

that's a very good idea. - It's a deal.

See, it worked.

I seem to have a talent for dealing with children.

Right.

What are you doing? Adding up our assets?

No.

It's the girls.

Yeah. The perspective's all wrong.

I don't like the eyes.

I wish I could have tried it from a better angle.

You could have been an artist.

That's not a profession. It's a hobby.

But you can make a lot of money doing that.

You mean, get a little booth

and sell my art at the craft fair?

Well, I guess I don't know a lot about these things,

but it seems to make you happy.

It does.

Then why not do what makes you happy?

That's an absurd notion.

What? Being an artist?

No, being happy all the time.

Especially when you have to be responsible for things.

Why can't you be both?

Wake up.

Bedtime.

It's midnight.

Deenie? Deenie? Wake up.

It's time.

We're gonna go to the barn.

I can't believe we're doing this.

Okay, you girls hold onto the clothesline.

There you go. You too.

Hang on tight.

Don't walk too fast.

I'm still basically an invalid, you know?

It's your fault we're out here in the first place.

This is fun. We're having fun.

Come here, honey.

There you go.

That's it.

They're not talking.

No, not yet.

Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine.

She's talking.

They're all talking!

I told you they'd do it!

It's true. It's true.

It is true.

Shh.

Take it easy, Daisy.

Good girl. Take it easy.

We don't wanna frighten her.

What's wrong with her?

Daisy's gonna have a baby right now

and we're all gonna have to help.

I need you to take care of her

while I get some water and rags.

What do you mean take care of her?

What do you want me to do?

Just keep her calm.

And girls, be really quiet, all right?

Nice sheep.

Lambs are born every day.

It's no big deal, right?

Huh?

I bet you wish this was all over.

I know, I sure do.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

Just lie still. Lie still.

Sh, nice sheep.

Calm sheep. Calm sheep.

That's it.

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪

♪ Jingle all the way ♪

What are you singing that for?

'Cause I know all the words.

Come on, help me.

♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh, hey ♪

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪

Come on, Deenie. Join in!

♪ Jingle all the way ♪

Okay. Okay.

Sh.

I have never done anything like this before.

Guess none of your friends growing up were farmers.

Not one.

Can be a little gruesome.

Uh-oh!

What?

Here we go.

Oh, okay.

Now she's gonna resist you, so hold her still, okay?

Okay.

- Come on. - Come on, Daisy.

Come on, girl.

Okay, Daisy. Come on.

Here we go.

Come on, Daisy. Come on.

♪ Away in a manger, no crib for a bed ♪

♪ The little lord Jesus ♪ - Come on, girl.

That's it, that's it. It'll be all right.

♪ Lay down his sweet ♪

Hold her still! Hold her still!

Okay. - Come on, now.

- Come on, Daisy. - Come on, you can do it.

Come on Daisy. You're doing it.

Come on.

- You can do it. - Come on.

Come on. I know you can do it.

You're doing it.

You're doing it, girl.

Come on. Come on.

- You can do it. - You can do it.

Come on. You can do it.

I knew you can. Come on!

You did it. You did it.

She did it. - She did it.

Good girl, Daisy.

Good girl.

Whoa. Whoa. Careful, girl.

Good girl, sh. Sh.

Good girl, Daisy.

Good job. - You're gonna have

to take this lamb up to the house

and you had to have to heat up some-

It's okay, it's okay, Daisy.

It's okay. It's okay.

Calm down, Daisy. Come on.

It's okay. You'll be okay.

Atta girl.

You're gonna have to heat up some milk

and you have to make sure that it eats, all right?

And the most important thing.

- Yeah? - Keep it warm, okay?

Okay.

What about you and the girls?

I'll bring them up later.

I'm gonna stay with Daisy.

Brian.

Yeah?

Thank you.

Daisy.

No, Daisy.

Daisy.

I wish there was something I could do.

You put up such a good fight.

I guess that's what mothers do.

We just don't always win.

They didn't even wake up.

It's eating.

I couldn't save Daisy.

Why do these things always happen to us?

What are we gonna do about Santa Claus?

There is no Santa Claus.

Don't lose faith now.

Why shouldn't I?

Anyway, it's none of your concern.

Maybe there's something in the attic for them.

Look at all this!

Oh, you scared me.

Some of these things must be worth a fortune.

Is money all you ever think about?

If you sold a few of these things,

you might be able to pay off some of your bills.

I could never sell these things.

They belonged to Tim's family.

His mother wore this.

You know, Julia,

maybe you hang on to the past a little too much.

Maybe it's been holding you back.

It's everywhere.

I can't avoid it.

How did your husband die?

I'd like to understand how things got this way.

Things were pretty much always this way.

Tim had started a welding shop.

It was kind of our last chance.

He put everything he had into it, trying to make it work.

That night was the first time he realized

he was gonna lose the business.

He had a few too many beers and he took off on his bike.

He hit a car coming up the road around about the same place

that you had your accident.

We didn't have any insurance.

Did you have to pay damages?

Mr. Whitfield settled for what was done to his Cadillac.

$5,000.

Then there was the hospital and the funeral.

And they're just some of the debts

that I'm still paying off.

Why didn't you tell the bank about it?

All you had to do was write us a letter.

Answer me honestly, would it have done me any good?

You didn't even fight for yourself.

No, it probably wouldn't have done you any good.

Well, this doll we'll have to do for Emily Rose.

And I'll give the farm to Deenie.

She'll be onto me though.

They'll know that Santa Claus didn't bring these gifts.

I'm sorry I ruined your Christmas.

It's getting cold.

We should go down.

The doll.

Excuse me.

No point in trying to get any sleep.

The girls are gonna be up soon.

Julia.

I'm gonna make us some coffee.

He came! Santa Claus came!

He came!

Merry Christmas, my girls.

- Merry Christmas, Mom. - Merry Christmas.

Thanks, Mommy.

Mommy, will you keep this dolly somewhere safe?

It's too nice to play with.

Of course.

If that's what you want.

The lamb!

You wanna hold it, Deenie?

What if I drop it?

Oh, you won't.

Is it a boy or a girl?

It's a girl.

Come on.

There. Up there.

What should we call her?

I don't know.

She's beautiful.

When can I go see Daisy?

Daisy was very sick, Deenie.

I'm sorry.

I did everything that I could for her.

But you know,

she gave us the most wonderful Christmas present

and Brian was up all night with the lamb

to make sure that it lived.

Don't be sad, Deenie.

Sometimes bad things happen,

but the good things make them not hurt so bad.

Thanks.

I guess you're not a dork.

Anyone for breakfast?

Pancakes?

Guess Santa Claus couldn't make it

through the storm, huh, Mommy?

I guess not.

I'll bet that's it.

Too bad.

Oh, look, it stopped snowing.

I don't believe it!

They got through!

- Hey! - Good morning, Miss Julia.

I never dreamed you'd make it.

Just like in the old days.

I always said a horse is worth 20 plows.

So good to see all of you.

If you don't mind Miss Julia,

we'll just park these horses in the barn

and we'll check on that sheep.

I'm afraid it's too late, Mr. Mel.

I'm sorry to hear that, Miss Julia.

She's a good 'un.

- Merry Christmas, Mr. Mel! - Good morning, Mr. Bart!

Come here! Gimme a hug.

Hi, Mr. Mel! You made it!

Oh, I am too!

Guess what happened at our house last night?

What? What?

We heard a clomping on the roof.

And when we went up there to check it out,

it seems that Santa had left these.

- My doll! - My bike!

I guess Santa couldn't get through the pass.

- Look, Mommy! - Lucky girl.

Oh, it's beautiful.

Everybody must think you're dead, young fella.

Or worse.

I don't think I've ever gone this long

without using a telephone.

That about does it.

Well, what do you say we go in the other room

for a touch of our mixture before dinner?

Good idea.

- Not you. - Come on, Mr. Harding.

Oh, I'm not much of a drinker.

Oh, you, you can't say no.

I advise you to pace yourself.

We make a mean batch.

Deenie, Emily Rose, let's clear the table.

Okay.

There you go.

♪ Good King Wenceslaus looked out ♪

♪ On the Feast of Stephen ♪

♪ When the snow lay round about ♪

♪ Deep and crisp and even ♪

♪ Brightly shone the moon that night ♪

♪ Though the frost was cruel ♪

♪ When a poor man came in sight ♪

♪ Gathering winter fuel ♪

♪ Bring me flesh and bring me wine ♪

♪ Bring me pine logs hither ♪

♪ Thou and I shall see him dine ♪

♪ When we bear them thither ♪

♪ Page and monarch, forth they went ♪

♪ Forth they went together ♪

♪ Through the rude winds wild lament ♪

♪ And the winter weather ♪

♪ Sire, the night is darker now ♪

Helicopter!

What?

Boy, he must have some important friends.

Brian!

Brian!

Felicity!

Oh!

What a surprise.

Thank God you're alive.

I've been so worried about you.

What happened?

Why didn't you call?

Well, I was gonna, but the phones are dead.

Look, I got in a car wreck. - Oh my God.

See, and, yeah, these people, they saved me.

They're very nice.

You'd like them.

Have you been drinking?

No. Come on. Come on inside.

You gotta meet them.

Howdy.

Hi.

Everybody, this is...

Felicity.

Right. Right. Felicity.

You did have a bad accident.

Oh no. I'm fine.

Really. Really.

I can't feel a thing.

Felicity, this is Mr. Betsill,

and Mr. Betsill,

and Deenie and Emily Rose,

and Julia.

There you are.

Do you have everything?

I don't know.

Well, if you've forgotten anything, I'm sure that...

Julia.

Julia will send them on to you.

Thank you so much for all you've done.

Brian, let's go.

I'm not ready yet.

There's a helicopter waiting.

But it's Christmas.

You're welcome to stay for dinner.

Thank you. We've already made plans.

That is, if you are sure you're all right.

I have to go now.

I know.

There's so much

that I wanna say to you- - Brian!

You're very pretty.

Very, very...

He's delirious. I'm sorry.

Very.

Brian, now!

Very pretty.

No!

Well, I guess that's that.

He's coming back, isn't he, Mommy?

No, Deenie, I'm afraid he's not.

Merry Christmas.

Well, that's all there was, Julia.

Thanks for holding them for me.

Next time there's a storm,

I'll tell the mailman to send back all your bills.

Wouldn't that be lovely?

What you got there, Deenie?

It's my lamb.

We named her Brian after the Christmas stranger.

I heard you had the bank man up at your house

for the holidays.

He had an accident and he hurt his head right here.

And he was bleeding all over

and he had to take all his clothes off.

Emily Rose!

And he cut down a tree and he saved Deenie's lamb,

and then he went away.

Well, that's quite a story.

Here you are.

Thank you.

Time to go.

Happy New Year. - Happy New Year.

- Happy New Year. - Happy New Year.

- Bye bye. - Bye.

Emily Rose, Deenie,

it's time for us to have a little talk, okay?

You know, Mommy's been having

kind of a hard time lately paying the bills and all.

One of the reasons is this old house, you know?

Really, it's too big for the three of us.

And I was thinking it might be kind of fun

if we moved into town.

You'd be closer to your friends,

and Deenie, there'd be lots more places

for you to ride your new bike.

What about the animals?

Well, maybe we can give them to someone

who will let us visit them once in a while and...

No!

Deenie...

We're not moving.

Who's that?

It's Brian!

Hi, everybody.

I didn't think you were ever coming back!

We thought you didn't like us anymore.

Oh, it had nothing to do with you.

I want you to know that.

Hey, you see all these boxes?

They're all for you.

For us?

All of them?

All of them!

Oh boy!

What is this? Charity or guilt, Mr. Harding?

Take them back right now.

Run, girls.

Deenie!

We can't move any more than we have already.

Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about.

I got your letter.

What more is there to say?

What letter?

This one.

Now get out.

This house is ours for a few more days at least.

It says so in print right there.

Don't go!

Emily Rose, get in the house.

I don't want him to go.

Did you look at the date on this?

It was written three days before Christmas.

How thoughtful of you.

Now, let my daughter go.

She's got me!

Look, Emily Rose!

Paints and crayons and paper and books!

Here you go.

Let me see.

Why did you come back here?

Well, your phone's still out

and I wanted to give the girls their Christmas presents.

And I wanted to see you.

I don't wanna see you.

You're in my way.

Listen to me.

You're still in my way.

What did I do?

You left.

I had no choice.

Besides, I was drunk.

That stuff that Betsill makes is toxic.

My children thought you were gone forever.

I'm sorry.

I had to deal with some things down in the city.

What things?

Well, this, for one.

It's a present for you.

Just one more thing to pack.

Julia, maybe I can convince the bank

to lend you some more money.

See, I've been thinking,

maybe you could turn this place into a cultural center,

you know, to preserve the old ways of life.

That would bring tourists up the mountain

and it would provide jobs for you

and a lotta the folks around here, your friends.

So I'd be giving demonstrations

on weaving and genuine home cooking?

Conducting tours?

And here in this room are my daughters,

Emily Rose and Deenie.

Say, hey, girls.

That's the way we greet folks up here

in the cute old mountains.

That's not what I meant.

Well, what did you mean?

I mean, I wanna do something for you.

Then get your bank to lend me some money

to do what I want.

What do you want?

I wanna go on living in my house the way I've always done.

I wanna raise my kids.

I wanna keep our animals and I wanna bake my special cakes.

How are you gonna make a living?

I don't know.

There's people that bake those awful fruitcakes

they sell in the gourmet stores.

They make a killing off that stuff.

Well, my cakes are better than those.

Why couldn't I do that?

Well, it's hard to make it in the food business.

You need the right financing and the right marketing advice.

But maybe I can help you.

I have some connections down in the city

who know about this kinda thing.

Maybe we could be partners.

I couldn't stand it down in the city.

You wouldn't last a day up here.

I already did.

Oh, what about Felicity?

What would she think about us being partners?

I broke up with her.

Julia, I never felt like this before.

I always spent all my time working

and that seemed like enough.

But now it doesn't.

I never knew that I could be happy.

Not like I have been the last few days,

ever since I got stuck up here with all of you.

Julia, I wanna be with you.

I thought you had feelings for me.

I guess I was wrong.

I do. I do have feelings for you.

Well, you have a funny way of showing it.

I guess you might've noticed I keep my guard up.

Well, I'm just not very good at expressing my feelings.

I wanna tell you how I feel.

I feel so much and I think you're...

But I just don't know how.

Well, what am I supposed to do? Read your mind?

I got you!

Ooh, you monkeys!

Oh, I'm gonna get you back!

You two are in trouble!

Oh, somebody hit me.

Get in there!

Look at you!

Hi!

Hey.

Look, Mama. Now it's Christmas.

Hey. Electricity.

There's crayons and paper and stuff!

Let's go play the piano.

Come on.

You can play?

Yeah.

Yeah, let's all sing a song.

Okay. What should we sing?

- "Jingle Bells?" - "Jingle Bells?"