Original subtitles

Michael, Honey.

Wash up for dinner.

Okay, Mommy.

And put your toys away. It's bath night.

Oh, I just had one!

That was a week ago, Mijito.

Barely.

I'll see you in the kitchen, okay?

Do you want corn?

Potatoes?

Greens?

No!

Children, we have to move out of the hotel for a while.

Your father's savings is gone.

I have to work in the city for a couple months.

Where will we live?

We will be offering this room to other renters

while we are gone to work.

We get to live in the homes of other people

that are working out of town.

Okay?

The railroad has been very helpful.

What about Grandmother?

Your father's mother has not written back,

but I have it all figured out.

It'll be an adventure.

Sounds fun!

It will be.

Now eat your food!

This place has seen better days.

Kids, don't get in anybody's way!

Good morning!

Ah, Roger?

That's me.

Ease up there, Roger!

We're still not divorced.

Hey, yeah.

Catherine said there are no guests currently,

but they will arrive later tonight.

So how much of the hotel is damaged?

The east wing is collapsed,

but the rooms and lobby are sound.

With a little bit of work, they'll be available to be used.

How much staff?

Two!

Catherine and Rojelio. They call him Junior.

They?

Well, he's got a crew.

And we pay them?

I'm not exactly sure what the deal is.

I didn't spend a bunch of time here

when your grandfather was alive.

I just met these folks at the Thanksgiving feast.

So how many plates did they sell?

75.

And how many are we expecting for Christmas?

Catherine just said, "125."

Why don't you come in? I'll introduce you.

Hi! I'm Jason.

I'm Nadia.

Catherine. This is so great.

Pop talked about you guys all the time.

Pop?

- Your grandfather, Mr. Lawrence. - Yeah.

He was really excited about

you taking over this place.

We're not gonna stay very long.

We're just gonna clean it up and sell it.

Oh! Well, that makes me very sad.

It's for the best.

Yes, it is.

Right! So I will get you a room key.

Two rooms, please.

Right.

Thank you.

- I'll take the kids with me tonight. - That's fine.

Where are they? They just ran in here.

Ah, yeah. Up the stairs.

I think they're on the third floor.

Thank you.

Hey, Junior!

- Hi! - You can grab their bags?

Yeah! Yeah! Your bags, they're in your car?

- Yes! - I'll take your keys.

- Thank you, Junior. - Thank you.

It's nice to meet you both.

Okay, thanks. I'm on my way.

- Thank you, Roger! - Up the stairs,

across the hall, and up the second step of stairs.

Thank you!

I know the way. Thank you.

Hi, there. Welcome to the Val Verde.

The Flynns.

The Flynns!

There you go, Mr. Flynn.

Thank you very much.

What is this?

My name is Michael. My dad's name is Michael too.

He died in Germany.

He flew the B-17 bomber.

He was a navigator,

that means he was the one who told them where to go.

35 missions.

These are my toys.

My dad played with me.

If you find these toys, please be careful.

Your friend, Michael.

Dear Michael, my name's Laura.

My daddy's name is Thomas.

He died on the railroad.

My new daddy is my daddy's brother, Bob.

He's nice to me and my mom.

My mom's name is Sabrina.

She makes clothes.

I like your room.

I will take very good care of your toys.

I will continue to write you letters as we stay here.

I hope you write me back.

Your friend, Laura.

Kids! It's just us tonight.

Your dad's staying in another room.

What's there to do here?

I don't know yet.

We'll walk around after dinner.

Catherine said dinner in an hour.

Get unpacked.

How long are we staying?

As long as it takes to sell this place

so your father and I can split the money and move on.

Sounds done.

Where are we gonna go then?

Well, we'll figure it out then.

Where's Dad gonna live?

Who knows? He's really focused on his new career.

I don't know much about where he plans to land.

Well, can we at least sit together and figure this out?

There really isn't much more to figure out, Honey.

Your father and I just don't work out like we used to.

Dinner though. We can have dinner together.

Yes, of course! Of course!

Come here, Luke.

Get unpacked, okay?

Okay.

Nic, look!

All right. Well, that doesn't matter to me, okay?

That's not what's important.

All right, fine. Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine.

I'm busy now for the rest of the day.

Hey, look!

I don't care who you sell it to, just sell it, okay?

The sooner, the better.

I got an industrial group looking tomorrow.

If they bite, all your troubles will be over.

Good, 'cause I'm not gonna spend my life savings

rebuilding this place just to have it torn down again.

All right? I'm selling it as-is.

The last time these guys bought a property,

it was twice the market.

You could build this building from scratch, tear it down,

and still be in profit.

All right. Good.

I'm not gonna do that, but good.

You're selling?

Uh, divorce isn't cheap.

Oh, it's none of my business.

I'm sorry for you both, really.

Yeah, me too.

♪ Tried to conjure up friends ♪

♪ But they ran away ♪

♪ Said I'll make an incantation ♪

♪ That would make my troubles just fade ♪

♪ But what was I trying to pull ♪

♪ Out of ♪

This old place.

♪ 'Cause I was just lying about the life I had ♪

♪ Where is the magic that holds the sky up ♪

♪ It makes me look upward whenever it rains ♪

♪ And where is the feeling that fills my life up ♪

♪ To tell you I don't think it's stayed ♪

Do you think these were the doors they had

when this place was first built?

You mean when Grandpa had it?

No, before that.

Grandpa bought this place when Dad was born.

How old is it?

About a hundred years old.

How many people do you think stayed here?

I don't know. A lot, I suppose.

Kids, dinner!

Shoot!

Mom's gonna freak!

Okay, don't say anything.

We'll clean it up when we get back.

Your funeral!

Woo! Woo! Dinner time!

Where's Mom at?

You didn't see any real ghost stuff, did you?

Did you?

What'd you guys see?

You can tell me.

Ghosts.

No, you didn't!

Why'd you stand up?

It's the polite thing to do when a lady sits down.

Why don't we ever do that at home?

Well, sometimes we get so busy at home,

we forget to do the things that we should.

Mm! Is that why we're getting a divorce?

Honey, we are not getting a divorce.

Your mother and I...

It has nothing to do with you guys.

It's between us as adults. Okay?

You guys are wonderful.

Yeah guys, we love you both very much.

Just sometimes grownups just grow apart.

Well grow back! Like a lobster claw.

Doesn't work like that actually.

But you'll be fine, really.

Guys, sometimes it just works out better.

You'll be fine.

Bon appetit!

Seared scallops with infused butter and herbs.

Thank you.

Don't we get to order something?

Oh, not here, sweetheart.

We pick the menu and we serve it to you.

What if I'm vegan?

Are you? Your mother didn't say.

No, I was just wondering if there was an option

if I was vegan.

Yes, there is.

That's quite enough, Nicole.

Catherine, this looks amazing. Thank you.

Yeah, enjoy.

Thank you.

Dig in!

Do we really own this place?

Yes, we do.

Why are we selling it?

This is amazing!

Well, we can't afford it.

I mean, this place will cost so much money

just to get back up to code.

They're gonna condemn it.

How can they condemn someone's property?

Well, we're eating in here because

the roof in the dining room has collapsed.

Well, maybe if they had menus

and let people order what they wanted,

they might have made more money.

Yeah, that'd be nice

if they actually had access to the kitchen.

Mm!

It's good though, right?

Uh-huh!

Mm!

Hey, Junior!

Thank you.

Hey, that Jason.

He's a strange guy, huh?

What do you mean, "Strange?"

Well, you know he spends a ton of time looking at you

when his wife is standing right there.

Like looking at me, looking at me?

Yep. Looking at you, looking at you.

Well, I guess they are getting a divorce, so.

Oh, really?

Well, that's kinda sad.

Yeah, especially for those kids.

Look at that.

Someone left all these toys.

Do you think they're a hundred years old?

I'm sure they're old.

Probably not a hundred.

These letters.

My name is Michael. My daddy's name was Michael too.

He died in Germany. He flew in the B-17 bomber, Squadron J.

He was a navigator,

that means he was the one who told them where to go.

35 missions.

Those are my toys.

My daddy played with me.

If you find these toys, please be careful.

Your friend, Michael.

Dear Michael, my name is Laura.

My daddy's name is Thomas.

He died on the railroad.

My new Daddy is my Daddy's brother, Bob.

He is nice to me and my mom.

My mom's name is Sabrina. She makes clothes.

I like your room

and I will take very good care of your toys,

but I will continue to write you these letters

as we stay here.

And I hope you will write me back.

Your friend, Laura.

Laura, your picture was exhilarating to see.

I pictured you as an angel,

but I had no idea how much you looked like Heaven.

Michael! The bus will be here in 20 minutes.

Okay, Mom!

♪ Mary Lou ♪

I have been going to school with a lot of pretty girls,

but I don't talk to them like I talk to you.

There's something special about you.

I wish I could explain it.

Thank you for the bracelet you made.

I gave it to my Mom.

Here's a picture of me and my family.

Mom said she would try to get me a photograph of just me.

She's been busy. Christmas is coming up.

I 've left you a gift.

I hope you like it. Yours, Michael.

♪ 'Cause then I'll cry ♪

Michael, I'm so sad we haven't met yet.

Mom says we missed you by only a few days.

Mom's dresses made it to the sample room.

It was wonderful to see her start to become successful.

My baby doll is my new addition to the vault.

She is a fighter like your soldier.

Please take care of her.

She is tough. Your friend, Laura.

♪ Bye Mary Lou ♪

Wow!

These two are falling in love over letters

and they never even met.

Imagine if Dad wrote something like that to Mom.

She would stop being mad at him for being so busy

- for a year. - I bet if Mom told Dad that

she was his and he was hers,

he'd find the time to call her even if he was busy.

What if...

We write letters to them?

Yeah!

We can write them letters like this from each other

and let them fall back in love.

Okay, but we need to keep them apart

so they don't give it away.

You take Dad and I'll stay with Mom.

We place the letters we write and make sure they find them.

Brilliant.

Kids, I'm going to bed. Not too late.

Goodnight, Mom!

Let's see. Let's start with Mom.

What would Michael say?

My dearest Nadia.

It seems like ages since we've spoke.

All the lovely things in life,

I see none of them make me feel like I feel when I see you.

That's good.

Ooh! This is good.

This hotel wraps its arms around me like they are yours.

And even as the leaves fall in the courtyard,

I feel your presence around me.

Okay, let's back it off just a bit

so you don't make it too much to believe.

Add in there:

Work is very important to me,

but I think I forgot what I was doing it for.

That's good, little brother.

Michael said it in this one when he started high school.

Football player.

Just because I'm busy,

it doesn't mean you're not always on my mind.

Still yours?

Too much?

No, but we are going to need to be really careful

not to let them cross paths for the next few days.

Yeah, we need help.

Who?

Okay, so what do you have in mind?

Well, if we can keep them apart

until we deliver them a couple letters

to lock them back into their marriage,

I know that when they finally do see each other again,

it'll make all the difference.

How do we do that?

Well, we have that dinner coming up.

Can you set them jobs that'll separate them?

I could use some help with the toilets.

Maybe your dad could commit to helping me with that.

Ow! Oh!

I bet if I tell him that I want to help,

he will want to be sure that I do it right.

So we're gonna need to keep them on separate floors.

The guest rooms need setting up.

How's your mom at decorating?

She's great! She should be an interior decorator.

She just didn't wanna travel while we were in school.

Who knew she was so perfect for this place?

Mom's pretty perfect all around.

I believe you.

Yeah. You believe in bacon?

I'm getting it! I only have two hands.

Oh, yeah.

And I'll take a couple of those hands for the season.

Yeah, I know.

Dad and I can help.

- Yeah? - Sure!

All right! 'Cause, you know, like I said, I need to do

the toilets before the drip breaks them through the floor.

Let's do it.

All right. Let me get some tools.

Oh! Catherine, coffee please!

Oh, you didn't sleep last night?

I know getting coffee isn't your job,

I just did not have a coffee maker in my room.

No, it's no problem. Here.

I will take you a coffee maker after lunch.

Thank you.

Is the room very comfortable?

No, it's fine.

I just can't get used to these noises in this old building.

Ghosts?

I'm sure!

No! There are no ghosts here.

Old buildings have their own noises.

Mm!

Mmm!

So what's the plan?

I'm gonna learn how to replace toilets.

Sounds fun.

Mom, Catherine was telling me

they need help decorating upstairs.

Can we help them? Please?

Mom, you haven't decorated in years.

Okay! If Catherine needs our help, we'll give her help.

It would be a huge help.

I have a ton to do and not enough hours in my day.

Well then, I'll make myself available to you.

Great! I'll meet you upstairs after breakfast.

See you in about an hour?

Sure. Nicole?

Wouldn't miss it!

Good morning, fine people.

How's the life of you future tycoons?

Fine, thank you.

What's a tycoon?

Masters of industry and property development giants.

Aren't we selling?

Yes!

But what we're selling this place for,

we can buy two more.

We don't talk business with the children.

Well...

They're gonna learn about it eventually.

Shouldn't they know where it comes from?

I'll decide when they should learn about our business.

I don't like that we're selling this place.

Like I said, the offer's too good to pass up.

Like I said, I'll decide what's best for my children.

Kids, go upstairs.

Hey, Mom, I'm gonna stay with Dad tonight, okay?

Whatever you want, Honey.

Okay, I'm gonna be with you all day tomorrow though.

I wanna learn how to do rooms.

Look, Nadia, I'm sorry if I stepped over the line.

I'm just really excited for you and your family

and I think you'll be very pleased with

the deal I'm working.

Not if it means selling this place.

I'm sorry. It's none of my business.

No! You're not all wrong.

Too bad Jason's the one in charge of this situation.

Thank goodness, right?

Then he'll get all the credit for this amazing deal.

Thank goodness.

- Thank you, Junior, for cleaning all of that up. - Yep, yep, yep.

Thanks.

Wait, isn't your husband coming down?

Just missed him.

I'll call him. No worries.

Breakfast?

Oh! No, maybe just coffee.

Yeah! Woo!

Whew!

Now what?

Junior!

Oh!

Oh! Yep.

Get it off the table!

Oh, yeah. Okay.

What are you doing with the toilet?

Well, what do you normally do with a toilet?

Nothing in a dining room.

Who uses a toilet in the dining room?

Exactly.

Then we're on the same page.

I gotta go.

All right, ah! Here we go.

Upstairs, I think. I think I'm going upstairs.

These are beautiful.

They're handmade!

That's how they did it back in the day.

Grab these bedsheets. I'll show you.

Okay.

This room is much smaller than the one we're in.

Yeah! We have the Penthouse.

It's where people who worked in a hotel used to stay.

It's almost like a dorm.

Even Dad's room is bigger than this.

Yeah, he's in the Governor's Suite.

That's where the VIPs used to stay.

Elizabeth Taylor used to stay there.

Who's she?

Ssh! Shut your mouth, girl.

That's blasphemy!

What? Is she like famous or something?

What? Ah!

She was! She was the Angelina Jolie of her time.

So many of the best old movies.

She was wonderful. She was beautiful.

Quite the history between her and Nicky Hilton

here in this hotel.

Like Paris Hilton?

Yes! Her grandfather.

Oh!

You know, I think I saw Dad writing you a letter earlier.

A letter? He's not really a letter guy.

Don't write him off like that.

I seriously think he was.

I love you, Honey, but this is grownup stuff.

Well, what you guys do affects me and Luke too, so.

I know. Look,

Go to the closet and grab me two more pillows, please?

I told you I'm not gonna be free!

Not until next week.

I know. All right.

All right, fine! All right, bye.

Hey!

Come here. Come here.

You all right?

Here!

Come here. Come here. Come here. Come here.

Come here. Come here. Come here.

There you go. There you go.

All right.

I got the pillows!

Ah! Did you get lost?

No. I just don't like public restrooms.

Chicken!

Perfect.

Wow, Mom, this looks amazing.

Thank you, Daughter.

You're quite the helper bee. You ready for lunch?

Yeah, let's go!

You got it.

Hurry, Mom. I don't want them to see us.

Why not?

I've spent every second of the last week with them.

I just want one lunch together.

Okay. But that is silly.

Girls' day?

- Girls' day. - Okay.

All right, Luke,

just drive that screw right all the way

through that into the wall.

Hey! There you go.

Good job, Buddy!

Thanks!

Yeah!

Hey, did you talk to Mom?

Ah, when? What about?

I don't know.

Anytime today.

She was writing you a letter last night.

I wanted to know what it said.

Well, I don't know 'cause I didn't see anything.

Oh. Well, maybe she wasn't done with it yet.

Well, how do you know she was writing it to me?

My dearest Jason was a clear giveaway.

Unless you know another guy named Jason.

No, I don't.

Maybe she-

My dearest Jason? She really wrote that?

You sure?

Dad, I'm 10. I can read.

Junior, that was just a test, right?

Yep! Mm-hmm.

Well, I had to make sure it could handle the load.

The what?

Well, you know?

I needed to test that it was flushing

and I just didn't wanna waste the water and flush nothing.

Junior! That's gross!

- We're right here. - Mm-hmm!

Not anymore though. We're outta here. We're going.

Come on, Buddy. Let's get outta here.

Oh, my gosh.

Oh, come on. That's what a man smells like.

Doesn't smell like perfume, for heaven's sakes.

Oh, man! I just dropped my cell phone in the toilet.

That Junior sure is a goofball.

Hey! This must be the letter that your mom wrote.

She doesn't wear perfume much anymore.

Did she lace it on the letter?

Maybe.

Out loud, Dad! What does it say?

Hold your horses.

All right.

My dearest Jason, it seems like a year

since we've had any connection to each other.

I stare out of this window into the courtyard

and the world seems so large.

You are so far away.

But I breathe in the air from this room

and know that you are here with me.

It's a peace that I haven't felt in so long.

It's almost Christmas

and the only thing I've asked Santa for-

Is the chance to spend a few moments with you.

We have such a difficult relationship.

It's easy to think of even the smallest thing

to make things better.

A smile, a kind word,

a brush of my hand on yours.

Place the star on the tree with you,

would make this the best Christmas I've ever had.

Nadia.

We should go get a Christmas tree for the courtyard.

What do you think?

That's a great idea, Dad.

You wanna help me go pick it out?

Sure!

Let's do it. Come on.

10 minutes ago.

The guacamole was really good.

Oh, it was.

All right! Here we go.

I'll be right back with your refills.

Thank you!

Mm! Smells so good.

Have you ever had carne adovada?

Never heard of it.

Oh! I have failed you as a mother twice today.

Elizabeth Taylor used to eat carne adovada.

Okay, Mom. I get it. It does smell good.

It is really good.

Oh, but it's hot. It's really hot.

Yeah, chili is ridiculously good.

But if you're not ready for it,

you are going to get a shot and shoot.

What?

Don't look!

Oh, my gosh.

Isn't there anywhere else he could be right now?

Guess not.

Oh, man!

Nadia! Ladies! Hi!

Hi.

Gentlemen, this is Nadia and her daughter Nicole.

Nadia's husband's grandfather owned the Val Verde.

Ah! Ladies, pleasure to meet you.

Roger was just about to take us over to see the property.

Are you guys looking to buy it?

We are considering it. Do you have another idea?

Well, yes. I'd like my parents to keep it.

Well, Mr. Miguel Rivera here can be quite persuasive.

Although if you kept it,

might be good for the employees.

But if you sold it,

your family stands to reap quite a nice profit.

What do you say, Mrs?

Nadia is fine.

Are you the investor?

The developer.

Okay. I see.

Well, I'll do whatever my husband wants.

And what do you want, Mrs. Nadia?

Well, our first date was at that hotel.

My children's memories of their grandparents

are at that hotel.

So I prefer we keep it, we restore it.

Aren't you getting a divorce?

Good day, Nadia. Ma'am.

Have a lovely day, ladies.

Hopefully we can speak again when you're not eating.

And I sincerely apologize for the rudeness.

It is, of course, not our business,

so please enjoy the rest of your lunch.

Thank you.

Gentlemen, wait!

Look, Mom, you don't owe anyone anything, okay?

Let's just eat.

I know, Honey. You're right.

I love you, Mom.

I love you too, Honey.

Guys! Gentlemen, wait!

Roger, that is one of the rudest things

I've ever seen in my life.

You're so lucky she didn't smack you

and she had every reason to.

You embarrassed us.

What about this one?

Ah! I mean, I don't know. I'm thinking taller.

Taller?

Yeah! Taller.

Okay.

Welcome to JB's Christmas Tree Farm.

- Hey! - How can I help you fellas?

Taller.

Taller?

Taller! Yeah, like 10 feet.

Let me see what we have here.

You know, we're out in the desert.

We don't have those really big Christmas trees

like they do on the West Coast or back East.

I think eight feet is about all we're gonna be able to do.

I don't think eight feet's gonna cut it.

No?

Then what?

Hey, never give up, Son. Never give up!

Hey, wait a minute. You gentlemen are in luck.

Follow me.

Ah-ha! Told you.

Is that a doghouse?

Is that a doghouse in the trash over there?

Is that your coat?

Yep!

That's what this is for.

All right!

Get my jacket back.

Here we go.

Sweetie! Come here! Come here!

Come here! Come here!

Yes, come on and look at this little house you got.

All right!

Now go ahead and go inside.

Ah! You spoiled little mutt.

Dad, I didn't know you liked dogs.

Of course I like dogs, Son!

Come on, Sweetie!

I'm giving her my jacket. Come on, Sweetie.

Come here! Come here!

Yes! Come inside. Check out your new house.

Look at your house. Can see if that's good.

All right, let's go get the tree. Come on.

Come on!

Come on, you gotta help me get this tree unloaded

before your mom gets back.

That tree, Dad?

What? Too much?

To unload!

Not for you! Look at you. Come on.

You're like a superhero. Look at these muscles.

You're like Miles Morales.

Wow! That's a nice tree.

Oh, thank you. Thank you, Junior, so much.

Could you grab that tree stand

in the back of my truck, please?

Why do you have a tree stand in your truck?

I just bought it.

Oh! Okay, good.

'Cause we don't have tree stands in the hotel.

If you're gonna want one of those,

you're gonna have to go the store and get it.

You mind just help me get this tree out

before Nadia gets back?

I don't want her to see it.

Yeah, she's not here.

I know.

We wanna get the tree set up before she gets back

so she doesn't see it.

Oh, okay.

'Cause when she comes, she's gonna see it.

Come on, Junior. Help us.

Yeah, come on. Here!

You take this side, will you?

All right.

Ah!

Yeah, just put it there, Junior.

Right there. Up!

All right, Luke, what do you think?

Should we put the tree between the fountain and the street?

Or between the fountain and the hotel?

I think in the front between those two tables.

That way everyone can see it from the hotel

and from the street.

I like your thinking. Up top!

I'll get the tree stand. Woo!

Woo-ha!

Hey!

Hey!

Weird.

What?

What are you guys up to?

Nothing!

Just got some stuff from town and had a bite to eat.

Is your dad okay?

Yeah, of course, Mom.

You think you're sneaky!

I am sneaky, Mom.

Come on, Mom. Unlock the door. I need to pee.

I'm watching you.

Ah!

Good job, Buddy. Yes!

Oh! That was gonna be a mess.

What is it?

Look!

Hmm, looks like a letter from Dad.

I don't think I've ever seen him write my name.

He always writes your name.

Where?

All of his work memos include Jason and Nadia,

Christmas cards, letters to the school.

He never just signs his name.

It's always both of you.

I guess I don't think I knew that.

Well, what do you think it is?

I don't know. A Christmas list?

A love letter?

Yeah, right! Not your dad!

Didn't he used to write you letters?

Not really.

I mean, he did write me poems when we were dating.

Poems?

- Yeah! - Dad?

Yes! And he was pretty darn good too.

All right, well open it! What does it say?

My Nadia,

it seems like ages since we've spoke.

Of all the lovely things in life I see,

none of them make me feel like I feel when I see you.

This hotel wraps its arms around me like they are yours,

and even as the leaves fall in this courtyard,

I feel your presence growing around me.

The world seems so against us.

But we've come so far.

♪ That it's only, only talk ♪

If we give up now,

we will never forgive ourselves.

For giving the world that power over us.

I wish on every star and every penny I see

that we find a way out of our situation

where everything seems to be going against us.

Laura! What? What is that? What is that?

Who is that?

Who is this letting you turn into trash?

I can't imagine a life where

being with you when we are old isn't the only option.

Please be patient with me.

I'm not done fighting for us.

Still yours, Jason.

Mom, that's really beautiful.

It's like he's speaking my own words to me.

Mom, you gotta write him back.

Why?

I mean, why can't we just talk?

The same reason y'all text each other in the same room!

Like you can just get your words out

without losing your train of thought.

Here, I'll write it. You dictate it to me.

Okay. But how would I start?

My dearest husband!

Oh, my God. That's not too much?

No. Not if he's your dearest husband.

I mean, should we be writing to

another dearest husband of yours?

No, but I don't know if that's really how he feels.

Well, this is about your feelings.

You know, you put your feelings on the page

and you'll be able to crack through his tough shell.

I mean, he used to write you poems, for Pete's sake.

My dearest husband.

My dearest husband,

this year has been the toughest of my life.

Hearing your words have given me such great joy.

No, let's not include his letter.

You know, this is about you.

Don't let him take credit for your feelings.

Okay, okay, okay.

I have not given up hope that we are at the darkest point,

just waiting for the dawn.

Mm!

The Sun will rise and shine on our love

because we will will it to happen.

This hotel is our sanctuary,

and the ghosts in these walls have spoken to us,

a reassurance that love is all we need.

The noise surrounding us is just pots banging.

We can shut out that noise if we listen to our hearts.

It's pretty good.

I know.

She did it.

She wrote one?

Well, she let me write it.

It's perfect.

He won't suspect a thing.

Until they talk.

Well, I'll stay with Dad tonight.

Help him write her one.

What did he say about the letter?

Nothing.

Nothing?

Nope!

But he was bouncing all around happy about something

and he wants to put a Christmas tree

in the courtyard for her.

Really?

You know that means something

because he hates taking those decorations in from the shed.

And now he's willing to put a Christmas tree

into a hotel he doesn't even like.

Yeah, I know.

I'm not dumb.

Sure!

I need to keep Dad away from Mom

until we get another letter written.

I'm gonna have Mom take me to town

to get decorations for the lobby.

Yeah. I'll stay with Dad, help him put up the tree.

Stay out of sight, okay?

Will do!

Yeah, so I introduced the buyers to Nadia at lunch

and may have let it slip that there was a divorce in the mix

and might have been a bit rude.

Yeah, you think? That's nobody's business, okay?

Not yours, not the buyers!

Well, that's why I'm here to say sorry.

How about you don't say anything

in the presence of my wife or my kids?

- How about that? - I understand.

- Good! - So I think it may be

best to get the buyers here

- as soon as possible. - Hey!

Literally, what did I just say?

Yes, of course.

I will just give you a call later today.

How about you just take the whole day off

and we'll schedule a call for tomorrow?

Okay, good. I'll call you tomorrow.

Okay!

That guy.

Ah, so Luke's taking Mom into the mall today

to get some Christmas stuff for the lobby.

I can help you set up the tree.

Yeah? That's great!

All right! It's good that you guys

are getting along so well.

You're a little mischievous.

You guys have some kind of plan or something?

No, Dad, there's nothing else to do

but talk to each other.

Plus, I love setting up Christmas trees.

All right. As soon as they leave, we'll get it done.

I really think you should write Mom a letter back.

Me write her back?

Yeah, she said that you used to write her poetry all the time

when you guys were younger. Why'd you stop?

Honey, that was a long time ago.

And it's a lot easier to write poetry when you're young

and in love.

What if the whole point of being married

is to fall back in love?

Sweetheart, I don't want you to get your hopes up, okay?

Your Mom and I fell outta love a long time ago.

It's never too late to fall back in love, Dad.

Okay, Kiddo. Let's go.

What?

Nothing!

Let's just go get this tree up, you.

Here, take that strand right there.

Thank you.

Thank you, Junior!

Yeah!

Hey, do we have a ladder?

Where?

Here at the hotel?

Did you do something with it?

No, no. Do we have a ladder here somewhere?

Like in a storage shed or something like that?

Of course.

Okay. You mind go and getting it, please?

Yeah! Ladder.

I can. I can do that.

Thank you, Junior.

Yep.

So, Dad, tell me about the poems.

I didn't know you did that.

It was way before you were born.

Bet if it was more recent,

you and Mom would be fighting a lot less.

Well, that's not how poems work, Honey.

Bet that's how it would work for Mom.

You think you're so smart, don't you?

I get it from my dad.

♪ Get it from your daddy ♪

♪ You get it from your daddy ♪

♪ I get it from my daddy ♪

So did you know about the letter?

Letter?

Yeah. Your dad wrote me a letter.

Great. Did you write him back?

Yes, I did.

Cool.

Let's get all the hanging stuff.

Do we have a tree for the hotel?

I think so.

I mean, I assume they have one.

They do this every year.

Okay. Let's get this stuff for the lobby.

Got it.

Oh! Do you sell coats by chance?

Yes, we do.

Down aisle three.

Where are you going?

Wait right here. I'll be right back.

Wow! That was fast.

You knew about this?

Maybe.

I told you you were sneaky.

This is beautiful.

Should we go see your dad?

No, of course not, Mom!

It's my night with you.

We'll have breakfast with Dad tomorrow.

In the meantime, let's decorate the lobby.

Okay. Sounds like a date.

That was awesome.

She was gonna cry

if Luke didn't step on her feelings like that,

being Luke.

Should we go see them?

No! Dad, we have to write her back.

I'm no good at writing letters.

Listen, you just have to come up with the thoughts.

I'll get the words.

Okay?

All right. Let's see what we get.

My dearest Nadia,

I've been a fool.

The leaves fall when they've died, but the tree still lives.

The roots grow strong and take what the world gives.

The tree can't control the place it grows,

but the tree can control

how much it sways when the wind blows.

I'm not the earth or the soil or the rain,

I'm the tree that you've sat under that is causing you pain.

The branches I've set out to capture our dreams,

I've allowed to fall as they capture less important things.

So you bleed and you cry, and your tears wet the earth.

Your love has fed the roots of our lives

and given my heart a new birth.

If you'll forgive my sin of taking your love for granted,

I will change my bloom

and share the dreams for yours to be planted.

It took the soul of this hotel to remind me that

my love is the ceiling

and your love is the floor and the walls.

Dang, Dad! You're really good at this.

Dad, I don't think you should get divorced.

I know it's your lives and you wanna be happy,

but what you just said.

Honey, it's very complicated.

You know, your mother and I...

What?

We fall back in love again

and then it just hurts more the next time.

And I just don't wanna be hurt.

Why don't we just see what Mom thinks?

And we can figure this out together!

I know Luke and I haven't always made it easy for you guys

always choosing between us.

Honey, this has nothing to do with you guys.

All right, Silly? Nothing.

No! I don't mean that.

I mean, your lives are more hectic

because of what me and Luke think we're entitled to.

It's not just me. Luke agrees.

You and Luke have talked about this?

Yeah. He's my stinky little brother after all.

Well, he is at that.

Both stinky and your little brother.

Hey, when did you learn to write in my handwriting?

I write all your letters for work, Dad.

Yeah, but I didn't realize you used my handwriting.

I had to get good for school, you know?

Do you really?

Yeah.

That's like perfectly my handwriting.

Yeah! I mean-

No! That's not okay!

You are grounded forever.

Where's Mom?

She went downstairs to get a snack.

Hey, look at this.

What?

Michael and Laura. Can't believe they never met.

All that I am is your love, my dearest love.

Your parents have made it clear that

your kind won't mingle with my kind.

I left a note with the concierge to deliver to you

the last time I stayed.

I got it back today with a letter from your mom.

She will not be allowing us to meet.

I'm not white. I'm not rich.

I'm a proud Mexican-American who will head off to college

and will never get to see you in person.

I'll never get to hear the tone of your sweet voice.

We're too far apart, even when we're in the same room,

and the world will build mountains between us.

Your dress is beautiful.

You will conquer this world.

But I'm afraid it must be without me.

I don't blame you for not seeing me.

I know my place.

You are in the heavens, where I am in the fields below.

We should find him.

Michael?

Yes!

He's probably like 80 now.

So? He may be alive.

How would we even find him?

Let's go see Catherine.

Miss Catherine, do you have a record of guests here

from the '50s?

I don't think so.

Your grandfather took over in the '70s.

There was no records on the property.

There was a big fire in the boiler room

and everything got destroyed.

Who are you looking for?

There was a family that stayed in the room we were in.

They left some toys in the wall.

Wow! That's cool.

I'd love to see that.

Kids named Michael and Laura.

Wait, how do you know that?

They wrote-

Ah, they wrote their names on the toys.

Hmm. That's pretty cool.

So how's your father?

Funny you should ask. He read your letter.

And then wrote this?

Mm-hmm!

Come on, Mom!

Yeah! Don't keep us waiting. Read it!

What is it?

It's a poem.

Oh!

Read it!

You guys, these things are private.

Unless you wanna share.

My dearest Nadia, I've been a fool.

The leaves fall when they've died,

but the tree still lives.

The roots grow strong and take what the world gives.

The tree can't control the place it grows,

but the tree can control

how much it sways when the wind blows.

I'm not the earth or the soil or the rain,

I'm the tree that you've sat under that is causing you pain.

The branches I've set out to capture our dreams,

I've allowed to fall.

Your love has fed the roots of our lives

and given my heart a new birth.

If you'll forgive my sin of taking your love for granted,

I will change my bloom

and share the dreams for yours to be planted.

It took the soul of this hotel

to remind me that my love is the ceiling

and your love is the floor and the walls.

What are we crying for?

Shut up, you meanie.

What?

Hello, friends!

Hey, Junior. What are you up to?

I'm gonna go out and water the tree.

Isn't the tree dead?

We're all dead if we don't get water.

Why do you need to give water to the dead tree?

So the tree don't die.

If you don't keep water in the base,

the needles dry out too soon and fall off.

Ah!

Maybe Junior knows them.

Maybe! Junior, how long have you worked here?

My whole life, I guess.

Do you know a man named Mike and a woman named Laura,

stayed here in the '50s?

Mike? No.

Laura? Yep.

Yeah, her family came here in the fall in the '60s,

and Laura Flynn was her name.

She was very nice. Very nice. Yep!

When was the last time you saw her?

Ooh!

Ah, that was the day Elvis Presley died.

How do you remember that so clearly?

'Cause I was wearing my blue suede shoes

at a ball that her mom was putting on.

And, wow, I never wore those shoes again.

That's both very sad and weird.

You liked Elvis?

I was 16. We all loved Elvis.

But they left that night and, yeah, they never came back.

I think her mom died pretty soon after.

Was she married then?

No, not that I can remember.

I mean, I never saw her with any man.

I mean, she was famous for a while.

We can find her!

Look!

Yeah. I can't tell.

Let's go look on the computer.

Oh! What are you gonna do about Dad?

I don't know. What should I do?

I don't know, but whatever you do,

make sure it's not something you'll regret forever.

You're right.

Oh! Hey, yep.

Trees. Yep! Mm-hmm!

What are you gonna do?

I love him. I don't want to get divorced.

Oh. Why don't you go find him?

It's her eyes, I think.

It has to be her.

Look! She has an office. We can call.

It's late. First thing tomorrow.

We called her. She's coming.

Laura? From the letters?

Yeah! She's coming to the Christmas party.

What else did she say?

I told her about the letters and toys.

She wants to come see them.

Wow!

Okay!

Hey, how was your mom last night?

She didn't come back to the room.

Is she okay?

We saw her go upstairs with Dad.

You guys did it!

Yeah. We're awesome.

You are awesome. You can be really awesome

and help me set the tables.

We have like a hundred people coming for dinner.

Oh, man.

Hurry up, Dork.

What is it?

Roger!

Dad, what's going on?

What? What is it?

Your Dad sold the hotel.

What?

But I thought they were gonna figure it out.

Hey! Roger, what's going on?

You said we had 30 days.

Well, Mr. Rivera wanted to get started

before the end of the year.

You said we had 30 days!

Actually, I said 30 days is customary,

but the terms of the $2 million offer is that

the new owner takes possession of the property

within 48 hours.

That's not fair.

I assure you it's quite fair.

I'm giving you double the value.

It's Christmas though, Sir.

Not quite.

Well, it's Christmas tomorrow, Sir.

Dad, what's going on?

Mr. Rivera?

It's nice to see you, Mrs. Nadia.

I wish I could say the same.

And you married him?

And had these children!

And now getting divorced?

What does that have to do with anything?

It's hard to be married

when you guys are all so different.

Are you married, Mr. Rivera?

I was married.

My wife passed away several years ago.

We aren't, by the way.

You aren't what?

- Getting divorced! - That's right!

That'll be all, Roger.

Sir, I assure you they were filing papers.

Hey, didn't I tell you not to talk business

in front of my wife and my family?

Look, Jason, this is just how it goes.

No, it's not how it goes!

Roger, you're fired.

I would not want you working for me and my investment.

I apologize for my rush.

I'll see you guys after the holidays.

You'll join us for dinner tonight, won't you?

One last dinner in the Val Verde Hotel

for the history books?

I've never eaten at the dining room.

But, yes, I will.

Dinner at five.

Thank you. Thank you.

- Thank you. - Thank you both.

Well, hello.

Okay, I'm gonna get these ones up top, guys.

Cat!

Jack!

Come here! You guys, this is Jackie.

This is Jason and Nadia and their amazing kids.

Hi! It's so nice to finally meet you guys.

She's told me everything about you guys.

Everything?

Everything! All of it!

The letters, the decorations.

The letters?

Sneaky, huh?

Kids, what have you done?

We just started it. Y'all finished it.

What does that mean?

You knew about this?

I thought it was a really romantic idea.

I'm sorry.

So you didn't write the letters?

No, I mean, I did.

Kids explain.

We may have written the first letter to each of you.

So you didn't mean those things?

No, I did! The things I wrote anyway.

What gave you guys this idea?

There were letters and toys in the wall.

Laura and Michael, they wrote love letters to each other.

We thought if two people who never met

could fall in love through writing letters,

that two people who were always in love

could fall back in love through writing letters.

So what is this?

We just wrote the first ones to get it started.

We used the words of Michael and Laura

to show you guys how much you love each other.

These are definitely my thoughts.

Mine too.

So we aren't dead?

No, you're not dead.

But you are in serious trouble, both of you.

But for now, you're gonna help with the party.

That's right! Jackie, it's very, very nice to meet you.

You too. Kids, I'm so sorry.

I didn't know it was still a secret.

Traitor!

I'm sorry.

Well, they're so in love and it's just perfect.

It is perfect.

Okay, well, we have a lot of work to do.

Last charge for the Val Verde.

All right! Kids, you get to work.

You're still in trouble.

Hi! Welcome to Val Verde!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas. Welcome!

Hi! Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas.

Hi, Randy.

Hi, how are you?

Fine, Merry Christmas. This is my husband, Jason.

Hi. How are you? Nice to meet you, Randy.

Merry Christmas. This is my wife, Kay.

Hi, Kay. Merry Christmas to you guys.

Welcome to the Val Verde. Enjoy!

- Thank you so much. - We're happy to have you.

Yes, thank you. Beautiful night.

You look beautiful.

Thank you.

Mm-hmm!

I got this for you.

Seriously?

I did. I thought you might need it.

Ah, ha, ho!

A new coat.

Thank you, Babe. That's my girl.

Merry Christmas.

♪ On your knees ♪

♪ O hear ♪

♪ The angel voices ♪

♪ O night ♪

♪ Divine ♪

♪ O night ♪

♪ When Christ was born ♪

♪ O night ♪

♪ Divine ♪

♪ O night ♪

♪ O night divine ♪

Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas, everybody. - Hi!

Thank you so much for being here.

Thank y'all. Merry Christmas.

- Woo! Merry Christmas! - Junior!

- Merry Christmas, Junior! - I can't talk, I gotta go.

He's really working.

That guy is so funny.

This is so great.

It's so great.

I wish we could have been doing this sooner.

But we're here now.

Yeah. I guess this hotel means more than we ever thought.

Doesn't it?

Ah! Miguel.

Nice to see you, Sir. Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas. - Merry Christmas.

- Ah! Mr. Jeffs. Thank you, Sir. - Absolutely.

- Merry Christmas to you. - Merry Christmas.

- This is a beautiful party, you two. - Thank you for being here.

- I'm so glad you decided to make it. - Thank you.

Would you like to take a look around?

Uh, no, I've been here before.

I'm sorry. I thought you said you hadn't been in the lobby.

No, I have never eaten in the lobby.

Why is that?

I wasn't allowed.

My mother was help here.

Wow!

Mr. Rivera, it's so nice to see you.

Can I make you a plate?

Not right now, Miss.

Anybody staying at the Penthouse?

That's our room.

Oh!

Do you wanna go see it?

Ah, could I?

I can take you up.

If you would.

This way.

Thanks, Buddy. Take your time. Enjoy!

Thank you, Santa!

You're welcome.

♪ Tonight ♪

♪ And we'll have ourselves a Merry Christmas time ♪

This is the same dresser

that was here when we stayed here.

♪ For the perfect holiday ♪

♪ But starting today, whatever your faith ♪

♪ Can we all just pray for peace ♪

Is that another letter?

You had no right! I love him!

I'm going to find him!

Laura, you mustn't ruin this for us.

You can't marry a Mexican.

You don't even know him, Mother!

Laura, you must listen to me.

You're going to get hurt.

The world will never understand.

I don't care!

When he sends for me, I'm going!

He won't!

He will! He loves me.

I told him never to contact you again.

He left.

He isn't going to send for you.

♪ Mary Lou ♪

♪ Mary Lou, Mary Lou ♪

My only love, I hope my mother hasn't got to you.

I don't care who your parents are.

You are mine. Send for me and I will come.

When you are done with your schooling,

we can start our lives together.

I won't love again until I see you.

Your most beautiful Laura.

Michael?

I haven't gone by Michael since...

Since you wrote your last letter.

How did you know?

Where'd you get these?

Why did you go by Michael?

In that time, speaking Spanish was looked down upon,

almost a disability.

I had to go to special ed classes

'cause I spoke with an accent.

That's terrible.

As I got older, I embraced my heritage.

I haven't seen these in 60 years!

You're Michael, the football player?

Son of a bomber?

Yes, that was me.

Now you're a tycoon.

I'm a man attempting to destroy the past

so I can regret my decisions a little bit less.

Hello?

Yes, this is me.

You're downstairs?

Perfect! I'll be right there.

I will be right back.

You two helped my parents' marriage.

How do you mean?

Your letters.

My sister and I wrote letters

as if they were coming from each other.

It helped them find their own words

and now they love each other again.

Thank you,

even if you do have to turn this building

into a parking lot.

She said she wouldn't love again till she sees me.

I hope she didn't waste her whole life.

How could I have possibly wasted my life

with a love like ours to carry me through every tough time?

Laura?

Michael!

My love. My love.

Yes, my love.

I still have a picture of you.

You've grown even more handsome.

I got your letter.

Just now?

I've been quite busy and I just made it back into town.

What's a few years for love?

A few years indeed.

You guys should catch up.

We'll be downstairs if you need anything.

We appreciate everything you've been doing.

Thank you so much.

Absolutely. And we're not done.

Oh! Hey!

Hey, you. Hey, we're gonna be all right.

This family is gonna be just fine!

Watch out! Coming through!

Watch out! Hey! Oh, okay.

- Move outta the way! - Junior!

Yeah, but Junior may not be so fine.

Ladies and gentlemen! Everyone!

Thank you all for joining us

for this final Christmas dinner at the Val Verde Hotel.

Next year, we'll have to find a new place together

as this place is in its final chapter.

Not so fast, young lady.

Mr. Rivera!

Val Verde Hotel's going nowhere.

Well, you, you, you're not buying it?

I am un-buying it, if you will.

He will!

I will. We will!

But to make sure no one else buys it,

Mr. Rivera and I would like to make an endowment

to the Val Verde Historic Hotel Museum.

Thank you! Absolutely!

Wow! Thank you.

So that's a yes?

Yes. Absolute yes! Yes, absolutely.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

- Thank you. - Hope this makes your Christmas.

Oh, yes it does.

Thank you. Merry Christmas.

Thank you for saving my family.

And thank you guys for saving my family.

Now we can say we're even.

We're even. Deal.

Well, Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas.

And what would you like for Christmas, young man?

I've already got what I wanted.

♪ Come on, let's go, we're feeling brand new ♪

♪ New sun, new day, nothing we can't do ♪

♪ The wrong, the past, it's all behind you ♪

♪ We got a brand new start ♪

♪ These hearts, these souls are made to be one ♪

♪ Breathe in, breathe out, it's like we're reborn ♪

♪ Fresh breeze, new skies look even brighter ♪

♪ Its like we hit restart ♪

♪ And now we're feeling elated again ♪

♪ My soul, knew the rain would finally clear ♪

♪ And even though it looks hazy now ♪

♪ We both know good times are here ♪

♪ We're feeling brand new, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Nothing can do, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ It's just me and you, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ We're feeling brand new ♪

♪ Feels good, feels right ♪

♪ Just take it all in ♪

♪ New sun, good things on the horizon ♪

♪ The wrong, the past, it's all behind you ♪

♪ This is brand new start ♪

♪ And now we're feeling elated again ♪

♪ In my soul, I knew the rain would finally clear ♪

♪ And even though it looks hazy now ♪

♪ We both know the good times are here ♪

♪ We're feeling brand new, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Nothing can do, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ It's just me and you, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ We're feeling brand new ♪