Party of Five s05e10 Episode Script
One Christmas to Go
1 Mm.
oh, thank god you brought food.
barely enough to feed this house anymore.
where's Daphne? she's in the living room.
she's kind of aMess.
is Diana sleeping? I just put her down, and she's taking a nap, but, uh, Charlie, should I serve dinner? 'cause there's a lot of hungry people around here all of a sudden.
claud, it's not going to work, ok? no amount of good deeds is going to fix what you did.
no, Charlie, that's not what-- now, if you want to make it right, you should get on the phone and call Hanover and beg them to take you back after Christmas.
forget it, Charlie.
I'm not going back there, so if you want to be mad at me till the millennium, that's fine.
what are you talking about, a lot of people? we're not a lot of people.
Oh, you're home.
Um-- it's ok.
i--i got the baby.
just relax.
go out, do whatever you want.
I mean, if you're not up to it, you're not up to it.
this came off the chair from your room.
les thought it was a recliner, so we forced it a little.
oh.
chairs ought to have a label or something so this don't happen to people.
mom! You better not have been unpacking.
I told you not to unpack until I talked to Charlie.
you'reyou're Daphne's mom? I'm--I'm Charlie salinger.
Doreen jablonsky.
such a pleasure.
and this is Lester perch, my well, my very good friend.
nice to meet you.
how are you? good.
if I can just get that remote there, little lady.
thank you.
they don't have to stay, you know.
we didn't invite them or anything.
as soon as I heard that Diana was born, I just--i just had to get over here and meet my little grandchild.
they just sort of showed up out of nowhere.
are you kidding me? it's Christmas, Daphne, and she's your mother and your family.
of course they'll stay-- fine.
then they can stay in the attic or the garage.
they'll stay in our room.
we'll--we'll sleep with the baby.
such a gentleman.
you know what? this is the way it should be.
the holidays.
really.
Grandparents, grandkids, I mean, a house full of family I mean isn't this the way it should be? Everybody wants to live like they wanna live and everybody wants to love like they wanna love everybody wants to be closer to free-ee-ee closer to free Christmas is 10 days, Julia.
10 days.
wow.
ned, but we can see each other over the break.
the drive's, what, only 40, 50 minutes.
you're going to want to be at home with your sister and the baby and everyone.
I mean, the dorm, they've already turned off the heat.
you're not going to want to visit.
wait.
you mean here? you're not going home? I thought you knew that.
my poli sci paper was due, like, yesterday, and it's 5 points off for every day late.
man so once I've missed Christmas, I might as well stay and start cramming for finals.
ned, that's so depressing.
well it's mainly that I'm missing you that bums me.
mm ok, you know what? I don't care if it bothers you.
I am calling you every other minute, day and night, so you better never leave the phone.
sure.
that's great.
never.
oh, gosh, grandma to a great big new family! what a hoot! whoo! (Claps) remember how you used to love the zoo? I hated the zoo, mom.
I used to cry and beg you to leave.
you know, les is a big softie.
wherever we go anywhere, first thing he wants to do is just find the baboons, you know, and then just laugh while they do their business.
she's not nearly old enough to go to the zoo yet.
she's barely seeing colors.
well, what about the snaps? next year's Christmas card.
besides, I already promised les.
mom! I told you a hundred times not to light up in front of the baby! what's the matter with me? I forgot les' foamer.
I promised him a game beer half a quarter ago, and here I am, babbling like a monkey.
you know what? I'll get it.
no, no, I can get-- no, you two stay and talk.
no, you-- I got it.
isn't he nice? Listen, Charlie, I know you're still pissed about the Claudia thing, and I sort of can't help but hear from the shed when you give her hell.
well, try, 'cause it's really none of your business.
if you'd have just heard what it was like for her there, man, maybe you would've-- no, I wouldn't.
I wouldn't have just yanked her out without telling anybody.
because now the school is pissed, and they might not release her transcript, which means that she might have to take the whole year over again.
really? yeah.
Really.
so please don't tell me when I can or can't be mad or how I should be taking care of my little sister, 'cause you know what, Griffin? you sleep here, and you get your mail here, but your sharing an address doesn't make you family.
(Knock on door) oh, man, it's cold in here! I think it's actually colder than it is outside.
Julia, I really, uh, i--i can't right now.
if I could just trouble you for a kiss good-bye.
I'm in the middle of something.
ok.
are you all right? I'm fine.
I'm in trouble here.
what, w-with poli sci? ned, come on, if you get a "b", that's 85 points minus 10 for being late.
which brings me to a "d" overall when you average in the midterm, which makes my g.
P.
A.
1.
9, which puts me on academic probation.
waitwhy did I I thought you were doing ok.
I know.
I just ah, I don't know how to multitask like you.
I mean, you spend all this time with me and then cram and pull off as, and me, I just I can't.
but, listen, go.
you know, I mean, you--you should go.
no, i-I'm not.
I'm going to, uh-- you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to blow off dinner at home, and I'm going to spend the night with you here, and I'm going to work on your paper.
Julia, no.
and you're going to get an "a," and you're going to stay off probation, and we're both going to get to go home and have Christmas.
I don't want you to do this.
and I'm just going to ask you for one thing.
in the future, don't use me as an excuse for not working, 'cause i--i don't want to feel guilty for spending time with you.
ok? and one more thing.
I'm going to insist that we get a room somewhere, 'cause icelandians couldn't study in this cold.
ok, so I don't want to gloat or anything, but this pencil holder that I'm making is actually going to be able to hold pencils.
nice.
hey.
what's the matter, owe? you're not done with Charlie's present yet.
yes, I am.
but it's barely even it's not whatever it's supposed to be.
is exactly what it is.
'cause, you know, there is no good or bad when you're making a present, so if Owen says that it's done, then it's done.
ok.
so what'd you make there for Charlie? what's your pile of Clay supposed to be? a pile of Clay.
which is completely fine.
because you made it especially for your brother, and you had a lot of fun doing it, right? I know what everyone's doing.
ok? everyone's pretending.
like me staying over, like it's all some special treat.
but I know why I'm still here.
it's 'cause they don't want me back.
because of the baby.
that's all.
if she says "my oogie boogie bastard grandchild" one more time, I'm-- shh she can hear you.
good.
I hope she does.
I hope she hears me-- the baby.
and starts packing-- you're going to wake up the baby.
and could you not use your knees for emphasis? that's kind of a tricky area there.
this is-- ow.
this is serious, Charlie.
you don't know what this does to me.
all this "I want to be a family" crap? since when? since the last time she called me, like, half a year ago? ok, so it's painful.
I get that.
but you know what? she's all we got.
I mean, we haven't had a parent or a grandparent in this house for, what 6 years? Charlie, she's just--oh.
she's not oh.
you know my first memory of Christmas Eve as a kid? I, uh I snuck downstairs really late, and I saw this gray-haired guy stuffing stockings, and, uh, for a second, I thought for sure he was Santa.
and then he turned around, and of course he was my dad's old man.
but I was almost as happy that it was him, because that's what the holidays are about.
they're about family getting together and doing stuff for each other.
and I want that for Diana.
you don't know her, Charlie.
Daphne, she's here.
she exists, and she wants to be here.
which frankly, we could use some of that around here.
Ok.
Quick, while he's in the bathroom, let me show you.
Sarah, what are you doing? We're late for his rehearsal.
look, I know I said whatever he made for Charlie was going to be fine, but then I thought, why not something nice instead? so I stayed up and I turned his pile of Clay into an amazing painted tree frog-- oh, my god is that all the stuff how did did Owen Bailey, what are you going to do? I mean, you have to say something to him.
you have to talk to him.
now? when probably the only reason he did this is because he thinks his family hates him? maybe he needs it.
you know, maybe he needs the attention.
no, not like this.
not on Christmas Eve.
there's got to be-- Bailey you want to say anything? hey, champ.
you ready for that rehearsal? well, then wait for me to get there, claud.
or get Charlie to help you out.
I know.
I miss you, too, but I'll be there soon, ok? ok.
Bye.
come here.
read this.
ok.
"world war ii was only that after propaganda wars were first" no, no, no.
if you want to Ace this thing, you got to--you got to say something more original.
like, um like the reason isolationists lost was because they followed their own philosophy and isolated themselves, or--or something.
no.
No, that's good.
that's perfect.
type that before you forget it.
ok, start pulling quotes.
and put down the remote.
No more pay-per-view porno till we're done.
hey, it's only soft-core, and we never would've stayed awake last night without it.
ok, but I'm about to write Stalin into a 3-way, so not now.
hey, listen, um, I just want you to know that whatever you're missing at home right now you're saving my life.
ned, stop saying that.
'cause, really, you're practically doing me a favor.
day before Christmas, swarming shopping malls and tangled tree lights, you know, who needs that? I'd much rather relive world war ii.
hey, hey, hey, come on, wait, wait-- n-n-no-- no, we have to work.
Oh.
Hi.
did you have something to wash? I'm about to run a load of whites.
you got it right there.
les' work pants.
try and fold it on the crease.
right.
sorry.
do you mind if I ask you a question, Charlie? do you love my little girl? really? yeah.
I do.
I definitely then why don't you marry her? give the girl a ring.
we kind of have an understanding, and, um it's complicated, but it-- Charlie you have got to see what she's doing.
you blow on her mouth just a little, and she makes this most amazing little fish face.
(chuckling) hey.
Have you seen those old Christmas lights? these are, like, dead.
they're over there in the chest.
what are you looking for? some bike parts, a new guitar or something? a new apartment, actually.
what? you mean Griffin.
well I think my job is done here.
now that I've ruined Julia's life and yours.
ruined? look, Charlie told me that you may be having to stay back.
that is such bull.
I mean, I'd have to write them a letter saying why I left and-- and how sorry I am.
I mean, it's-- I can't believe he told you that.
I mean, he actually I'm going to go find him and talk to him-- Claudia, no, don't.
Please.
'cause you know what? Charlie's right.
he, uh, he is.
I mean, what am I doing here, really? I mean, besides saving money on rent.
I'm I'm not in this family.
Griffin-- this is a good thing.
it is, because you know, somebody had to give me a push.
I mean, Julia, she moved on.
so should I.
I mean, I should.
uh, how's that tail coming back there? I'm having a lot of trouble with the squiggle.
it won't stay stuck out.
ok, kids? could everyone gather around, please, for just a minute? I first want to say you guys are doing a great job with your lines.
you are.
but we need to work on what we're feeling when you're saying them, ok? he's the reason Christmas spirit is about giving and about love.
that's why we celebrate the day this baby was born.
you getting this, bud? can I go? my costume's done.
the day this special baby came, the whole world changed.
you know what, Bailey? you may want to-- no, no, no.
he should hear this, about this special baby.
no! Let go! ok, everybody back in their places.
back in your places.
what was that? Bailey, a special baby? one that changes the world for people? who does that remind you of if you're Owen? oh, no this stupid spirit of Christmas.
ned, turn it off.
I'm begging you.
why? You're on the conclusion.
ohhjust mute it.
"so "therefore, it denied the breast--" "best.
" "best nature of man, a nature that no mere border could caress--" nnnn "undress.
" "repress.
" there.
We're finished.
ok, you can turn the volume back if you want--ha! mm.
Thank you.
merry Christmas.
merry Christmas.
oh, my god! Christmas Eve! my family.
what--i thought you wanted-- uh, you wanted to miss it.
are you kidding me? if I get back now, I can maybe avoid my brother's "all we have is each other, Julia" speech.
ok.
Um, ok.
so, let me just print this out, then I'll catch a ride back to campus with you.
ok.
Just hurry up.
hey, if I hit the drugstore on my way home, how many personal hygiene items would it take to equal, like, a normal present? and draft mode is fine, and ned? enter.
enter.
Damn! what's wrong? the printer.
it--it it's not responding.
it must've gotten bumped in the move, or it's it'stotally it's cooked! wait.
Then-- then--uh no.
No.
forget it.
go home.
I'll find a printer tomorrow and do it then.
whatever grade I get, that's life.
no! You know what? I didn't pull an all-nighter for you to get a "d.
" no way.
we're finding a printer now, and we're turning this thing in right now.
oh, king of kings, be thou be thou (whispering) "merely a child.
" merely a child, still I worship thee.
rise, good friend from the east, for um "though my son be a king.
" though my son be a king, he bids no man kneel before him, but but "but loves every man the same.
" but but loves every man the same, Gina.
but but look! what? I don't where's the baby? everybody please look for the baby.
I hope nobody took this baby.
we've got a show to do here, people.
he couldn't have.
who took him? does somebody have the baby? he couldn't have.
oh, mom, there you are.
I was, uh-- Claudia told me you were talking to Kirsten, and now I can't find her.
that's because I sent her home.
she said she was going to stick around till dinner 'cause I have all this wrapping--what? this supposed to be a family Christmas, right? and, I mean, the way I take it is she came mighty close, but in the end why did you tell her to go away? I need her tonight.
do I have to spell it out, darling? ha ha! Do I need to write it in the sky? she's a fox in the hen's house.
that woman is after your man! mom! she's married! I know what I saw, girl.
and two people that friendly? well looks to me like they have got to be-- best friends! she's his best friend! and she's the reason why I've made it half this far.
and you just sent her away? you asked me to be here for you.
so I try.
god! I see Kirsten, she's, like, she's, like, my salvation! and you, you just see-- you see man trap, and it's, like that's how it always is with you! I mean, whatever stands between you and your man, get rid of it, right? even if it's your own kid, right? the little brat hides your drunk date's liquor or she--she calls your car thief boyfriend a car thief to his face well, we know who's got to go.
(flicks lighter) No, no, no! wait, sir, you can't.
you've got to stay open one more second.
it's 8:00.
we're closed.
but you don't understand.
we've been everywhere.
you're the only print shop open in the city.
yeah.
Except we're closed.
no, no, no Julia, Julia, wait.
you got to be open! hold on.
you got to be open! take it easy! take it easy.
maybe--maybe we don't have to do this now.
maybe we can just go home, to the motel.
we can get a little room service take a bath I mean, would that be so terrible? your family will understand.
hey! You in there! don't you know what day it is? I see you in there! you can open this door for 5 extra minutes when it's the season for giving! how about a little good will towards men? how about a little peace on earth?! ok.
Ok.
ok.
god.
thank you.
merry Christmas.
for 3 1/2 months, all I thought about was home.
Owen playing in the yard, playing catch, Diana smiling and gurgling and Owen is at Bailey's, and Julia's a ghost.
I mean, they can't even get it together to show up for Christmas Eve dinner.
well.
over at my house we were lucky if my, uh, my old man didn't shove one of us into the Christmas tree or could go a whole hour without, you know, cursing my mom's memory.
I should just shut up and deal.
no.
I was just I was thinking.
man, I'm-- I'm going to miss this place.
ok, why are we doing this when we know who did it? I mean, I am ruining a perfectly good pair of stockings.
because we don't know who did it.
not for sure.
Bailey, look at him.
Sarah, if he says he didn't do it and we can't prove that he did it, then what's it get me to accuse him? I don't know.
the truth? no.
You're wrong.
you're wrong.
all it gets me is a nasty fight where he says that he didn't do it, and I say he's lying, and pretty soon he's crying because that means that means that I don't trust him, and frankly, at this point, the way he's feeling about this family, I'd rather give him the benefit of the doubt.
even if it makes us later and later for dinner to look for a doll that he probably threw in the trash an hour ago? the trash.
that's a good idea.
the trash.
I'm smoking outdoors, ok? or is the greenery going to get leaf cancer? mom, I didn't come out here to les is packing upstairs.
is that what's going on, is he leaving? we're on the 10:20 bus.
both of us.
hold on.
you're leaving? back to abilene? les was missing home, and I'm not feeling quite so welcome as I thought I'd be.
look, I'm sorry I yelled at you, ok, mom? but this is Christmas Eve.
tomorrow is Christmas day.
what was the point of you even coming if you're not going to be here Christmas day? well, that's what I thought.
but then I I made everyone so unhappy.
look, mom, don't put this on me, ok? you're the one who showed up on my front porch unannounced saying, "let's be a family.
" and, what, the first time I look at you cross-eyed, i-it's over? oh, it's not the first time, doll.
or the tenth.
it's every time.
I told you how to help me, mom.
I told you what it's like here with this baby.
when did you ever see me change a diaper or give a kid a bath? you did it for me, didn't you? that's what I need, mom.
that is what I need from you.
well, I'm sorry if I wasn't put on this earth to serve you, doll, but I wasn't.
I didn't get you pregnant.
you did that all by yourself.
and as for the rest of it I never blamed you for being born.
so don't blame me for everything that came after.
Hello?! in here! hey, we're here.
we're sorry, but we're here.
having a few minor behavior issues.
not so minor.
hey, buddy.
you need a hug? let go! I want to see Griffin.
that's, uh, that's what I'm talking about.
he's been a little-- I can guess.
keeping him away all this time during Christmas.
he's gotta be ready to kill me.
well not kill, exactly.
oh.
Thank god someone's here.
you know, let's just-- let's just start without Julia.
last time she called she was still an hour away.
really, claud? you don't want to wait for Julia? ok, you know what? we could just, uh-- yeah, we could wait forever.
yeah, we'll have Christmas sometime around easter.
you know, since no one has time for the tree, no one has time for the meal, and, oh, I'm sure we'll all come up with real good excuses when it comes time for stockings, so why don't we, you know, just spare ourselves the point of pretending and just blow the whole thing off, ok? oh, you know what? instead of that, while we're waiting on Julia, who I'm sure is coming, in our house on Christmas Eve we always got to open one present each.
ok, great.
yes, let's do that.
so what if my Turkey's aging like the portrait of Dorian gray.
Is there one for me? not so fast, buddy, you and me have to have a little whoa! 2 packages! and one's batteries.
claud, looks like a sweater for you.
well, could you at least let me unwrap it first? Sarah.
really? one for me? Yeah.
bay.
thanks.
anddaphne.
where's daph? I think I saw her go upstairs.
well, you get one, too, Charlie.
what, you can't find one over there? Claudia, didn't you get your brother a present? didn't you? it's ok.
Something will turn up tomorrow.
no.
Come on, there's gotta be something.
oh, wait.
here's something.
it's from Griffin.
Yeah, it's right here.
building 115.
you just leave it in the box? how's he gonna know when it came in? he said he was gonna check the box before midnight.
on Christmas Eve? why would he-- is this memo-- did you see this note? it's for your class.
yeah.
Forget it, jule.
I mean, the paper's in.
let's-- why don't you let me drive you home? it says late papers will get a 2-day grace period over the holidays.
I could stay at my parents' house tonight and maybe drop by your place tomorrow.
how could you not have seen this, ned? it's dated a week ago.
what? I mean, what's the problem? well, I stayed an extra day to save your grade point average.
it would've been nice to know if--if what? you knew about this, didn't you? Julia, come on.
you kept saying don't leave.
don't leave, but you fixed it so I wouldn't.
I had to write the paper, Julia.
did you make the rest up, too? like the printing place, the way you said you called all around and they were closed, but when we found one and it was open, you didn't even try to get in.
so I wasn't ready to break the door down.
so what? and what about all the other stuff? your printer breaking.
you're like Joe computer.
that time you hacked on to my machine? but tonight, you gave up in half a second because you-- you didn't want to finish, did you? did you?! jul-- god! What is the matter with you, ned?! did you think you were being romantic or something? did you think this was what I wanted? 'cause I have brothers and sisters at home, and for the last day and a half, you've just been sitting there watching me-- no, making me-- lie to them! oh Bailey, no! sit down.
Owen.
Owen, sit down.
why? tell me what this is.
I'm busy.
no.
You're not busy.
you're talking to me now.
you stole this from the church, and then you lied about it, and those are very bad things.
Owen, very bad.
why? It's just a stupid plastic baby.
because this baby matters to people.
and if it doesn't matter to you, that's no excuse.
you respect what matters to other people, because you're not the only person in this world.
do you understand that? now, we're going to call that church, and we're going to tell them that you took this baby.
Bailey, no! yes! Yes! and then tomorrow, you're going to go back there in the morning with me and you're going no! To say you're sorry to their faces.
no, I don't want to, Bailey.
please don't make me.
and then we're going to talk about what's going on with you.
listen to me! all this junk you've been pulling.
that stuff of Sarah's that you broke? you think because there's another baby in this family that you could do whatever you want? you think because you're not getting enough attention you can get away with anything? well, you're wrong.
so, you'd better start behaving, Owen, because I am going to be watching everything you do.
you hear me? (crying) do you? What was it like back then when I was Diana's age? was it hard for you to go to work every day? did you miss me when I wasn't there? what are you--why are you asking me this? because I'm curious.
I want to know how you felt when you went to work or when you went out at night.
look, uh, I don't want to talk anymore about how it's all my fault.
because I want to know if it's the same way that I feel about Diana.
I want to know if it was as easy for you to leave as it is for me.
I don't know.
'cause when I look at my baby and I wonder what would happen if something were to take her away from me, or if I'd have to live the rest of my life without her, and I would be ok.
I would actually be ok.
so, I've been thinking that maybe that's why I am so mad at you.
becausewe're really no different from one another, which is exactly-- I mean, that is how it happens.
a person, a parent who doesn't love their kids, they have kids who grow up the same and so on and so on.
and that feels bad, mom, to be a part of that.
that feels really, really bad.
So, what's going on? what's going on is he's up there crying his eyes out.
he won't even let me in.
he won't even talk to me.
Bailey, somebody had to tell him.
no.
No.
It was the wrong thing to do, because now he's up there bawling, and his Christmas is ruined.
and he was doing ok before I talked to him.
he was doing much better, just being home with everyone.
he wasn't doing anything wrong or anything.
look, Bailey, I shouldn't have told you.
I meanGod, I am definitely not a mother.
I don't know how to handle these things.
he won't even speak to me.
it was a mistake.
Doreen.
Can I say something? give us a sec, Lester? all right.
listen, sweetheart, you really should save your breath.
I can't.
I can't.
I--because when you showed up here and you said, let's be a family, I believed that.
so, please, don't-- don't go.
talk to my daughter, Charlie.
no.
I don't care about what happened in the past.
I care about right now.
I care about having someone in this house for my daughter.
she needs that, and she doesn't have that because her mom Daphne's having trouble feeling-- Charlie, i-- no.
I know the two of you are mad.
I know that, but when we get mad in my family, we have this rule, which is, "go ahead, stay mad if you want, but just stay.
" you know? is one of you gonna drive us to the bus stop, or am I gonna have to call a cab? wellduh.
3 extra hours in the oven.
I knew it.
ah, I bet you could bounce ball bearings on my potatoes.
look, it's not the end of the world, claud.
no! It's just the end of this dinner.
well, maybe it's for the best if we just call this whole thing off.
what? oh, no.
no, no, no, no.
we will not call this off.
when this family has the opportunity to sit around a table like we used to once a week? I mean, Christmas Eve, a proper Christmas Eve means stockings and the night before Christmas, and a cookie on the hearth for Santa.
and we are going to do this one thing right or just die trying! so, I'm going to go out and buy our Christmas Eve dinner.
even if it's Turkey jerky from the minimart.
Claudia, that's very-- it's very moving, but I'm way too beat to sit around here and wait anymore.
and besides, I gotta be up at dawn.
the restaurant's having this holiday brunch, soi have to get home.
have to get home.
we'll see ya.
I can't--i can't believe you're doing this for Christmas.
claud, we're gonna be back for breakfast in like an hour.
Bailey! Owen.
hey.
you ok? we're gonna go now, but we'll be back tomorrow, ok? I'm coming with you.
whoa.
no, no, no.
you should stay here.
we're gonna be back in the morning.
It's ok.
but I want to come with you.
hey, buddy, you can stay here.
It's ok.
we'll get up in the morning together and open stockings like we always do.
I want to stay with Bailey.
I'm gonna get my stuff, and I'm gonna go with Bailey.
He's just a little off, you know, with all the excitement and everything.
you don't have to explain it.
I get it.
he's gonna be begging to come back here.
soon as you're ready to take him.
yeah.
I know.
soon.
Yeah.
Sorry.
Just saw a light on.
don't sweat it.
it's your house.
can I, uh, come in for a minute? (baby cries) shh, shh, shh.
hello! is everybody in the-- kitchen? Charlie? Bailey? claud? Santa? I just wanted to thank you for the scrapbook.
I, uh spent, like, an hour, and I haven't gotten to the end yet.
really? yeah.
that biopsy you put in there, the one that-- that cleared me? it just reminded me that when that happened, I I wanted out of here so bad.
just, uh hit the road and start my life over again, but I'm a family man.
and, um all I keep thinking is that you don't have that.
you're as free as a bird, but youStay anyway.
so the the only two people who actually want to be here are you and Claudia, and I'm, like pushing you away.
and everyone else, the people who are supposed to be family, who actually share my daughter's blood they can't wait to leave.
it just makes me think that if you're not family, I don't know who is.
If you ever get out to abilene I'll call you.
so be happy, doll.
Yeah, you, too.
Window's right over there.
huh? if you want to buy a ticket.
are you buying a ticket? Hey.
Julia.
what are you, uh, what are you doing back? I drove to my house, and I ran up the stairs and I went inside, but nobody was there.
but then i--i started looking around, and everything that I saw it reminded me of all this stuff.
the--the cancer and--and all this stuff we went through.
and I love them all, and it's nobody's fault, but I don't want to go back to all that stuff.
look, Julia-- I'm not forgiving you, ned.
'cause I'm still really mad at you, so don't try to-- no.
'cause I didn't come here to forgive you.
I came here to what you did was so no one's ever worked so hard to keep me around.
and, I mean, I ha--i I hate how you did it.
and I don't ever want you to pull a move like that again, ever.
but thank you.
give me those egg rolls.
I am starving.
somebody opened them already.
oh.
Yeah.
sorry.
gross.
hey, get Griffin a present.
ok.
no way.
oh.
My hands-- they're so greasy.
thank you.
just a little gift.
this Christmas Santa come home for once Mrs.
claus won't spend it alone
oh, thank god you brought food.
barely enough to feed this house anymore.
where's Daphne? she's in the living room.
she's kind of aMess.
is Diana sleeping? I just put her down, and she's taking a nap, but, uh, Charlie, should I serve dinner? 'cause there's a lot of hungry people around here all of a sudden.
claud, it's not going to work, ok? no amount of good deeds is going to fix what you did.
no, Charlie, that's not what-- now, if you want to make it right, you should get on the phone and call Hanover and beg them to take you back after Christmas.
forget it, Charlie.
I'm not going back there, so if you want to be mad at me till the millennium, that's fine.
what are you talking about, a lot of people? we're not a lot of people.
Oh, you're home.
Um-- it's ok.
i--i got the baby.
just relax.
go out, do whatever you want.
I mean, if you're not up to it, you're not up to it.
this came off the chair from your room.
les thought it was a recliner, so we forced it a little.
oh.
chairs ought to have a label or something so this don't happen to people.
mom! You better not have been unpacking.
I told you not to unpack until I talked to Charlie.
you'reyou're Daphne's mom? I'm--I'm Charlie salinger.
Doreen jablonsky.
such a pleasure.
and this is Lester perch, my well, my very good friend.
nice to meet you.
how are you? good.
if I can just get that remote there, little lady.
thank you.
they don't have to stay, you know.
we didn't invite them or anything.
as soon as I heard that Diana was born, I just--i just had to get over here and meet my little grandchild.
they just sort of showed up out of nowhere.
are you kidding me? it's Christmas, Daphne, and she's your mother and your family.
of course they'll stay-- fine.
then they can stay in the attic or the garage.
they'll stay in our room.
we'll--we'll sleep with the baby.
such a gentleman.
you know what? this is the way it should be.
the holidays.
really.
Grandparents, grandkids, I mean, a house full of family I mean isn't this the way it should be? Everybody wants to live like they wanna live and everybody wants to love like they wanna love everybody wants to be closer to free-ee-ee closer to free Christmas is 10 days, Julia.
10 days.
wow.
ned, but we can see each other over the break.
the drive's, what, only 40, 50 minutes.
you're going to want to be at home with your sister and the baby and everyone.
I mean, the dorm, they've already turned off the heat.
you're not going to want to visit.
wait.
you mean here? you're not going home? I thought you knew that.
my poli sci paper was due, like, yesterday, and it's 5 points off for every day late.
man so once I've missed Christmas, I might as well stay and start cramming for finals.
ned, that's so depressing.
well it's mainly that I'm missing you that bums me.
mm ok, you know what? I don't care if it bothers you.
I am calling you every other minute, day and night, so you better never leave the phone.
sure.
that's great.
never.
oh, gosh, grandma to a great big new family! what a hoot! whoo! (Claps) remember how you used to love the zoo? I hated the zoo, mom.
I used to cry and beg you to leave.
you know, les is a big softie.
wherever we go anywhere, first thing he wants to do is just find the baboons, you know, and then just laugh while they do their business.
she's not nearly old enough to go to the zoo yet.
she's barely seeing colors.
well, what about the snaps? next year's Christmas card.
besides, I already promised les.
mom! I told you a hundred times not to light up in front of the baby! what's the matter with me? I forgot les' foamer.
I promised him a game beer half a quarter ago, and here I am, babbling like a monkey.
you know what? I'll get it.
no, no, I can get-- no, you two stay and talk.
no, you-- I got it.
isn't he nice? Listen, Charlie, I know you're still pissed about the Claudia thing, and I sort of can't help but hear from the shed when you give her hell.
well, try, 'cause it's really none of your business.
if you'd have just heard what it was like for her there, man, maybe you would've-- no, I wouldn't.
I wouldn't have just yanked her out without telling anybody.
because now the school is pissed, and they might not release her transcript, which means that she might have to take the whole year over again.
really? yeah.
Really.
so please don't tell me when I can or can't be mad or how I should be taking care of my little sister, 'cause you know what, Griffin? you sleep here, and you get your mail here, but your sharing an address doesn't make you family.
(Knock on door) oh, man, it's cold in here! I think it's actually colder than it is outside.
Julia, I really, uh, i--i can't right now.
if I could just trouble you for a kiss good-bye.
I'm in the middle of something.
ok.
are you all right? I'm fine.
I'm in trouble here.
what, w-with poli sci? ned, come on, if you get a "b", that's 85 points minus 10 for being late.
which brings me to a "d" overall when you average in the midterm, which makes my g.
P.
A.
1.
9, which puts me on academic probation.
waitwhy did I I thought you were doing ok.
I know.
I just ah, I don't know how to multitask like you.
I mean, you spend all this time with me and then cram and pull off as, and me, I just I can't.
but, listen, go.
you know, I mean, you--you should go.
no, i-I'm not.
I'm going to, uh-- you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to blow off dinner at home, and I'm going to spend the night with you here, and I'm going to work on your paper.
Julia, no.
and you're going to get an "a," and you're going to stay off probation, and we're both going to get to go home and have Christmas.
I don't want you to do this.
and I'm just going to ask you for one thing.
in the future, don't use me as an excuse for not working, 'cause i--i don't want to feel guilty for spending time with you.
ok? and one more thing.
I'm going to insist that we get a room somewhere, 'cause icelandians couldn't study in this cold.
ok, so I don't want to gloat or anything, but this pencil holder that I'm making is actually going to be able to hold pencils.
nice.
hey.
what's the matter, owe? you're not done with Charlie's present yet.
yes, I am.
but it's barely even it's not whatever it's supposed to be.
is exactly what it is.
'cause, you know, there is no good or bad when you're making a present, so if Owen says that it's done, then it's done.
ok.
so what'd you make there for Charlie? what's your pile of Clay supposed to be? a pile of Clay.
which is completely fine.
because you made it especially for your brother, and you had a lot of fun doing it, right? I know what everyone's doing.
ok? everyone's pretending.
like me staying over, like it's all some special treat.
but I know why I'm still here.
it's 'cause they don't want me back.
because of the baby.
that's all.
if she says "my oogie boogie bastard grandchild" one more time, I'm-- shh she can hear you.
good.
I hope she does.
I hope she hears me-- the baby.
and starts packing-- you're going to wake up the baby.
and could you not use your knees for emphasis? that's kind of a tricky area there.
this is-- ow.
this is serious, Charlie.
you don't know what this does to me.
all this "I want to be a family" crap? since when? since the last time she called me, like, half a year ago? ok, so it's painful.
I get that.
but you know what? she's all we got.
I mean, we haven't had a parent or a grandparent in this house for, what 6 years? Charlie, she's just--oh.
she's not oh.
you know my first memory of Christmas Eve as a kid? I, uh I snuck downstairs really late, and I saw this gray-haired guy stuffing stockings, and, uh, for a second, I thought for sure he was Santa.
and then he turned around, and of course he was my dad's old man.
but I was almost as happy that it was him, because that's what the holidays are about.
they're about family getting together and doing stuff for each other.
and I want that for Diana.
you don't know her, Charlie.
Daphne, she's here.
she exists, and she wants to be here.
which frankly, we could use some of that around here.
Ok.
Quick, while he's in the bathroom, let me show you.
Sarah, what are you doing? We're late for his rehearsal.
look, I know I said whatever he made for Charlie was going to be fine, but then I thought, why not something nice instead? so I stayed up and I turned his pile of Clay into an amazing painted tree frog-- oh, my god is that all the stuff how did did Owen Bailey, what are you going to do? I mean, you have to say something to him.
you have to talk to him.
now? when probably the only reason he did this is because he thinks his family hates him? maybe he needs it.
you know, maybe he needs the attention.
no, not like this.
not on Christmas Eve.
there's got to be-- Bailey you want to say anything? hey, champ.
you ready for that rehearsal? well, then wait for me to get there, claud.
or get Charlie to help you out.
I know.
I miss you, too, but I'll be there soon, ok? ok.
Bye.
come here.
read this.
ok.
"world war ii was only that after propaganda wars were first" no, no, no.
if you want to Ace this thing, you got to--you got to say something more original.
like, um like the reason isolationists lost was because they followed their own philosophy and isolated themselves, or--or something.
no.
No, that's good.
that's perfect.
type that before you forget it.
ok, start pulling quotes.
and put down the remote.
No more pay-per-view porno till we're done.
hey, it's only soft-core, and we never would've stayed awake last night without it.
ok, but I'm about to write Stalin into a 3-way, so not now.
hey, listen, um, I just want you to know that whatever you're missing at home right now you're saving my life.
ned, stop saying that.
'cause, really, you're practically doing me a favor.
day before Christmas, swarming shopping malls and tangled tree lights, you know, who needs that? I'd much rather relive world war ii.
hey, hey, hey, come on, wait, wait-- n-n-no-- no, we have to work.
Oh.
Hi.
did you have something to wash? I'm about to run a load of whites.
you got it right there.
les' work pants.
try and fold it on the crease.
right.
sorry.
do you mind if I ask you a question, Charlie? do you love my little girl? really? yeah.
I do.
I definitely then why don't you marry her? give the girl a ring.
we kind of have an understanding, and, um it's complicated, but it-- Charlie you have got to see what she's doing.
you blow on her mouth just a little, and she makes this most amazing little fish face.
(chuckling) hey.
Have you seen those old Christmas lights? these are, like, dead.
they're over there in the chest.
what are you looking for? some bike parts, a new guitar or something? a new apartment, actually.
what? you mean Griffin.
well I think my job is done here.
now that I've ruined Julia's life and yours.
ruined? look, Charlie told me that you may be having to stay back.
that is such bull.
I mean, I'd have to write them a letter saying why I left and-- and how sorry I am.
I mean, it's-- I can't believe he told you that.
I mean, he actually I'm going to go find him and talk to him-- Claudia, no, don't.
Please.
'cause you know what? Charlie's right.
he, uh, he is.
I mean, what am I doing here, really? I mean, besides saving money on rent.
I'm I'm not in this family.
Griffin-- this is a good thing.
it is, because you know, somebody had to give me a push.
I mean, Julia, she moved on.
so should I.
I mean, I should.
uh, how's that tail coming back there? I'm having a lot of trouble with the squiggle.
it won't stay stuck out.
ok, kids? could everyone gather around, please, for just a minute? I first want to say you guys are doing a great job with your lines.
you are.
but we need to work on what we're feeling when you're saying them, ok? he's the reason Christmas spirit is about giving and about love.
that's why we celebrate the day this baby was born.
you getting this, bud? can I go? my costume's done.
the day this special baby came, the whole world changed.
you know what, Bailey? you may want to-- no, no, no.
he should hear this, about this special baby.
no! Let go! ok, everybody back in their places.
back in your places.
what was that? Bailey, a special baby? one that changes the world for people? who does that remind you of if you're Owen? oh, no this stupid spirit of Christmas.
ned, turn it off.
I'm begging you.
why? You're on the conclusion.
ohhjust mute it.
"so "therefore, it denied the breast--" "best.
" "best nature of man, a nature that no mere border could caress--" nnnn "undress.
" "repress.
" there.
We're finished.
ok, you can turn the volume back if you want--ha! mm.
Thank you.
merry Christmas.
merry Christmas.
oh, my god! Christmas Eve! my family.
what--i thought you wanted-- uh, you wanted to miss it.
are you kidding me? if I get back now, I can maybe avoid my brother's "all we have is each other, Julia" speech.
ok.
Um, ok.
so, let me just print this out, then I'll catch a ride back to campus with you.
ok.
Just hurry up.
hey, if I hit the drugstore on my way home, how many personal hygiene items would it take to equal, like, a normal present? and draft mode is fine, and ned? enter.
enter.
Damn! what's wrong? the printer.
it--it it's not responding.
it must've gotten bumped in the move, or it's it'stotally it's cooked! wait.
Then-- then--uh no.
No.
forget it.
go home.
I'll find a printer tomorrow and do it then.
whatever grade I get, that's life.
no! You know what? I didn't pull an all-nighter for you to get a "d.
" no way.
we're finding a printer now, and we're turning this thing in right now.
oh, king of kings, be thou be thou (whispering) "merely a child.
" merely a child, still I worship thee.
rise, good friend from the east, for um "though my son be a king.
" though my son be a king, he bids no man kneel before him, but but "but loves every man the same.
" but but loves every man the same, Gina.
but but look! what? I don't where's the baby? everybody please look for the baby.
I hope nobody took this baby.
we've got a show to do here, people.
he couldn't have.
who took him? does somebody have the baby? he couldn't have.
oh, mom, there you are.
I was, uh-- Claudia told me you were talking to Kirsten, and now I can't find her.
that's because I sent her home.
she said she was going to stick around till dinner 'cause I have all this wrapping--what? this supposed to be a family Christmas, right? and, I mean, the way I take it is she came mighty close, but in the end why did you tell her to go away? I need her tonight.
do I have to spell it out, darling? ha ha! Do I need to write it in the sky? she's a fox in the hen's house.
that woman is after your man! mom! she's married! I know what I saw, girl.
and two people that friendly? well looks to me like they have got to be-- best friends! she's his best friend! and she's the reason why I've made it half this far.
and you just sent her away? you asked me to be here for you.
so I try.
god! I see Kirsten, she's, like, she's, like, my salvation! and you, you just see-- you see man trap, and it's, like that's how it always is with you! I mean, whatever stands between you and your man, get rid of it, right? even if it's your own kid, right? the little brat hides your drunk date's liquor or she--she calls your car thief boyfriend a car thief to his face well, we know who's got to go.
(flicks lighter) No, no, no! wait, sir, you can't.
you've got to stay open one more second.
it's 8:00.
we're closed.
but you don't understand.
we've been everywhere.
you're the only print shop open in the city.
yeah.
Except we're closed.
no, no, no Julia, Julia, wait.
you got to be open! hold on.
you got to be open! take it easy! take it easy.
maybe--maybe we don't have to do this now.
maybe we can just go home, to the motel.
we can get a little room service take a bath I mean, would that be so terrible? your family will understand.
hey! You in there! don't you know what day it is? I see you in there! you can open this door for 5 extra minutes when it's the season for giving! how about a little good will towards men? how about a little peace on earth?! ok.
Ok.
ok.
god.
thank you.
merry Christmas.
for 3 1/2 months, all I thought about was home.
Owen playing in the yard, playing catch, Diana smiling and gurgling and Owen is at Bailey's, and Julia's a ghost.
I mean, they can't even get it together to show up for Christmas Eve dinner.
well.
over at my house we were lucky if my, uh, my old man didn't shove one of us into the Christmas tree or could go a whole hour without, you know, cursing my mom's memory.
I should just shut up and deal.
no.
I was just I was thinking.
man, I'm-- I'm going to miss this place.
ok, why are we doing this when we know who did it? I mean, I am ruining a perfectly good pair of stockings.
because we don't know who did it.
not for sure.
Bailey, look at him.
Sarah, if he says he didn't do it and we can't prove that he did it, then what's it get me to accuse him? I don't know.
the truth? no.
You're wrong.
you're wrong.
all it gets me is a nasty fight where he says that he didn't do it, and I say he's lying, and pretty soon he's crying because that means that means that I don't trust him, and frankly, at this point, the way he's feeling about this family, I'd rather give him the benefit of the doubt.
even if it makes us later and later for dinner to look for a doll that he probably threw in the trash an hour ago? the trash.
that's a good idea.
the trash.
I'm smoking outdoors, ok? or is the greenery going to get leaf cancer? mom, I didn't come out here to les is packing upstairs.
is that what's going on, is he leaving? we're on the 10:20 bus.
both of us.
hold on.
you're leaving? back to abilene? les was missing home, and I'm not feeling quite so welcome as I thought I'd be.
look, I'm sorry I yelled at you, ok, mom? but this is Christmas Eve.
tomorrow is Christmas day.
what was the point of you even coming if you're not going to be here Christmas day? well, that's what I thought.
but then I I made everyone so unhappy.
look, mom, don't put this on me, ok? you're the one who showed up on my front porch unannounced saying, "let's be a family.
" and, what, the first time I look at you cross-eyed, i-it's over? oh, it's not the first time, doll.
or the tenth.
it's every time.
I told you how to help me, mom.
I told you what it's like here with this baby.
when did you ever see me change a diaper or give a kid a bath? you did it for me, didn't you? that's what I need, mom.
that is what I need from you.
well, I'm sorry if I wasn't put on this earth to serve you, doll, but I wasn't.
I didn't get you pregnant.
you did that all by yourself.
and as for the rest of it I never blamed you for being born.
so don't blame me for everything that came after.
Hello?! in here! hey, we're here.
we're sorry, but we're here.
having a few minor behavior issues.
not so minor.
hey, buddy.
you need a hug? let go! I want to see Griffin.
that's, uh, that's what I'm talking about.
he's been a little-- I can guess.
keeping him away all this time during Christmas.
he's gotta be ready to kill me.
well not kill, exactly.
oh.
Thank god someone's here.
you know, let's just-- let's just start without Julia.
last time she called she was still an hour away.
really, claud? you don't want to wait for Julia? ok, you know what? we could just, uh-- yeah, we could wait forever.
yeah, we'll have Christmas sometime around easter.
you know, since no one has time for the tree, no one has time for the meal, and, oh, I'm sure we'll all come up with real good excuses when it comes time for stockings, so why don't we, you know, just spare ourselves the point of pretending and just blow the whole thing off, ok? oh, you know what? instead of that, while we're waiting on Julia, who I'm sure is coming, in our house on Christmas Eve we always got to open one present each.
ok, great.
yes, let's do that.
so what if my Turkey's aging like the portrait of Dorian gray.
Is there one for me? not so fast, buddy, you and me have to have a little whoa! 2 packages! and one's batteries.
claud, looks like a sweater for you.
well, could you at least let me unwrap it first? Sarah.
really? one for me? Yeah.
bay.
thanks.
anddaphne.
where's daph? I think I saw her go upstairs.
well, you get one, too, Charlie.
what, you can't find one over there? Claudia, didn't you get your brother a present? didn't you? it's ok.
Something will turn up tomorrow.
no.
Come on, there's gotta be something.
oh, wait.
here's something.
it's from Griffin.
Yeah, it's right here.
building 115.
you just leave it in the box? how's he gonna know when it came in? he said he was gonna check the box before midnight.
on Christmas Eve? why would he-- is this memo-- did you see this note? it's for your class.
yeah.
Forget it, jule.
I mean, the paper's in.
let's-- why don't you let me drive you home? it says late papers will get a 2-day grace period over the holidays.
I could stay at my parents' house tonight and maybe drop by your place tomorrow.
how could you not have seen this, ned? it's dated a week ago.
what? I mean, what's the problem? well, I stayed an extra day to save your grade point average.
it would've been nice to know if--if what? you knew about this, didn't you? Julia, come on.
you kept saying don't leave.
don't leave, but you fixed it so I wouldn't.
I had to write the paper, Julia.
did you make the rest up, too? like the printing place, the way you said you called all around and they were closed, but when we found one and it was open, you didn't even try to get in.
so I wasn't ready to break the door down.
so what? and what about all the other stuff? your printer breaking.
you're like Joe computer.
that time you hacked on to my machine? but tonight, you gave up in half a second because you-- you didn't want to finish, did you? did you?! jul-- god! What is the matter with you, ned?! did you think you were being romantic or something? did you think this was what I wanted? 'cause I have brothers and sisters at home, and for the last day and a half, you've just been sitting there watching me-- no, making me-- lie to them! oh Bailey, no! sit down.
Owen.
Owen, sit down.
why? tell me what this is.
I'm busy.
no.
You're not busy.
you're talking to me now.
you stole this from the church, and then you lied about it, and those are very bad things.
Owen, very bad.
why? It's just a stupid plastic baby.
because this baby matters to people.
and if it doesn't matter to you, that's no excuse.
you respect what matters to other people, because you're not the only person in this world.
do you understand that? now, we're going to call that church, and we're going to tell them that you took this baby.
Bailey, no! yes! Yes! and then tomorrow, you're going to go back there in the morning with me and you're going no! To say you're sorry to their faces.
no, I don't want to, Bailey.
please don't make me.
and then we're going to talk about what's going on with you.
listen to me! all this junk you've been pulling.
that stuff of Sarah's that you broke? you think because there's another baby in this family that you could do whatever you want? you think because you're not getting enough attention you can get away with anything? well, you're wrong.
so, you'd better start behaving, Owen, because I am going to be watching everything you do.
you hear me? (crying) do you? What was it like back then when I was Diana's age? was it hard for you to go to work every day? did you miss me when I wasn't there? what are you--why are you asking me this? because I'm curious.
I want to know how you felt when you went to work or when you went out at night.
look, uh, I don't want to talk anymore about how it's all my fault.
because I want to know if it's the same way that I feel about Diana.
I want to know if it was as easy for you to leave as it is for me.
I don't know.
'cause when I look at my baby and I wonder what would happen if something were to take her away from me, or if I'd have to live the rest of my life without her, and I would be ok.
I would actually be ok.
so, I've been thinking that maybe that's why I am so mad at you.
becausewe're really no different from one another, which is exactly-- I mean, that is how it happens.
a person, a parent who doesn't love their kids, they have kids who grow up the same and so on and so on.
and that feels bad, mom, to be a part of that.
that feels really, really bad.
So, what's going on? what's going on is he's up there crying his eyes out.
he won't even let me in.
he won't even talk to me.
Bailey, somebody had to tell him.
no.
No.
It was the wrong thing to do, because now he's up there bawling, and his Christmas is ruined.
and he was doing ok before I talked to him.
he was doing much better, just being home with everyone.
he wasn't doing anything wrong or anything.
look, Bailey, I shouldn't have told you.
I meanGod, I am definitely not a mother.
I don't know how to handle these things.
he won't even speak to me.
it was a mistake.
Doreen.
Can I say something? give us a sec, Lester? all right.
listen, sweetheart, you really should save your breath.
I can't.
I can't.
I--because when you showed up here and you said, let's be a family, I believed that.
so, please, don't-- don't go.
talk to my daughter, Charlie.
no.
I don't care about what happened in the past.
I care about right now.
I care about having someone in this house for my daughter.
she needs that, and she doesn't have that because her mom Daphne's having trouble feeling-- Charlie, i-- no.
I know the two of you are mad.
I know that, but when we get mad in my family, we have this rule, which is, "go ahead, stay mad if you want, but just stay.
" you know? is one of you gonna drive us to the bus stop, or am I gonna have to call a cab? wellduh.
3 extra hours in the oven.
I knew it.
ah, I bet you could bounce ball bearings on my potatoes.
look, it's not the end of the world, claud.
no! It's just the end of this dinner.
well, maybe it's for the best if we just call this whole thing off.
what? oh, no.
no, no, no, no.
we will not call this off.
when this family has the opportunity to sit around a table like we used to once a week? I mean, Christmas Eve, a proper Christmas Eve means stockings and the night before Christmas, and a cookie on the hearth for Santa.
and we are going to do this one thing right or just die trying! so, I'm going to go out and buy our Christmas Eve dinner.
even if it's Turkey jerky from the minimart.
Claudia, that's very-- it's very moving, but I'm way too beat to sit around here and wait anymore.
and besides, I gotta be up at dawn.
the restaurant's having this holiday brunch, soi have to get home.
have to get home.
we'll see ya.
I can't--i can't believe you're doing this for Christmas.
claud, we're gonna be back for breakfast in like an hour.
Bailey! Owen.
hey.
you ok? we're gonna go now, but we'll be back tomorrow, ok? I'm coming with you.
whoa.
no, no, no.
you should stay here.
we're gonna be back in the morning.
It's ok.
but I want to come with you.
hey, buddy, you can stay here.
It's ok.
we'll get up in the morning together and open stockings like we always do.
I want to stay with Bailey.
I'm gonna get my stuff, and I'm gonna go with Bailey.
He's just a little off, you know, with all the excitement and everything.
you don't have to explain it.
I get it.
he's gonna be begging to come back here.
soon as you're ready to take him.
yeah.
I know.
soon.
Yeah.
Sorry.
Just saw a light on.
don't sweat it.
it's your house.
can I, uh, come in for a minute? (baby cries) shh, shh, shh.
hello! is everybody in the-- kitchen? Charlie? Bailey? claud? Santa? I just wanted to thank you for the scrapbook.
I, uh spent, like, an hour, and I haven't gotten to the end yet.
really? yeah.
that biopsy you put in there, the one that-- that cleared me? it just reminded me that when that happened, I I wanted out of here so bad.
just, uh hit the road and start my life over again, but I'm a family man.
and, um all I keep thinking is that you don't have that.
you're as free as a bird, but youStay anyway.
so the the only two people who actually want to be here are you and Claudia, and I'm, like pushing you away.
and everyone else, the people who are supposed to be family, who actually share my daughter's blood they can't wait to leave.
it just makes me think that if you're not family, I don't know who is.
If you ever get out to abilene I'll call you.
so be happy, doll.
Yeah, you, too.
Window's right over there.
huh? if you want to buy a ticket.
are you buying a ticket? Hey.
Julia.
what are you, uh, what are you doing back? I drove to my house, and I ran up the stairs and I went inside, but nobody was there.
but then i--i started looking around, and everything that I saw it reminded me of all this stuff.
the--the cancer and--and all this stuff we went through.
and I love them all, and it's nobody's fault, but I don't want to go back to all that stuff.
look, Julia-- I'm not forgiving you, ned.
'cause I'm still really mad at you, so don't try to-- no.
'cause I didn't come here to forgive you.
I came here to what you did was so no one's ever worked so hard to keep me around.
and, I mean, I ha--i I hate how you did it.
and I don't ever want you to pull a move like that again, ever.
but thank you.
give me those egg rolls.
I am starving.
somebody opened them already.
oh.
Yeah.
sorry.
gross.
hey, get Griffin a present.
ok.
no way.
oh.
My hands-- they're so greasy.
thank you.
just a little gift.
this Christmas Santa come home for once Mrs.
claus won't spend it alone