[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY NCI'S CORPORATE PARTNERS] CAMERON: OH, WAS I SUPPOSED TO GET YOU SOMETHING? AMANDA: COME ON. I KNOW 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY AND ALL THAT, BUT THAT WAS NOT FUNNY. CAMERON: I FIGURED YOU FOR ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HATES HOW CHRISTMAS HAS GOTTEN ALL CRASS AND COMMERCIAL. AMANDA: YEAH, RIGHT. CAMERON: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? AMANDA: I'M LOOKING FOR A TAG THAT SAYS "TO AMANDA, WITH LOVE." SO FAR I SEE "TO RACHEL" AND "TO CORY AND ELIZABETH." "TO JASMINE." OK, COME ON. JOKE'S OVER. CAMERON: WHAT DO WE HAVE? OH. "TO AMANDA, WITH LOVE." HAPPY NOW? AMANDA: COME ON. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE IT TO ME? CAMERON: EVER HEARD OF ANTICIPATION? AMANDA: YES. THAT HAS DESCRIBED MY ENTIRE LIFE UP UNTIL A FEW NIGHTS AGO. AND MAY I SAY THE WAIT WAS WORTH IT. CAMERON: WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, IT WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS FOR THE FIRST TIME. MAYBE THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVER. THAT'S BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS GOING TO WALK IN THAT DOOR AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WOULD BE STANDING THE GIRL I'VE WAITED MY WHOLE LIFE FOR. MATT: YOU SEE THAT ONE RIGHT THERE? SEE THAT? IT'S FOR YOU. EVERY CHRISTMAS, DADDY'S GOING TO GET YOU YOUR OWN SPECIAL ORNAMENT. AND WHEN YOU GROW UP, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE TREE, AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE ORNAMENTS, AND YOU CAN REMEMBER ALL THE WONDERFUL CHRISTMASES WE HAD TOGETHER -- YOU, YOUR MOTHER, AND ME. LILA'S VOICE: OH, WISHES REALLY DO COME TRUE, DON'T THEY? CASS' VOICE: YOU WON'T BE SORRY, I PROMISE. LILA'S VOICE: OH. IF ANYONE WOULD HAVE EVER TOLD ME THAT YOU AND I WOULD BE LIKE THIS TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS EVE, I WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM THEY WERE OUT OF THEIR MIND. FELICIA: EXCUSE ME. YOUR DAUGHTER IS DEEPLY CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR NEWFOUND SENSE OF STYLE. HEY. YOO-HOO. IT'S CHRISTMAS. WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT JOINING US? CASS: OH, I'M SORRY. THERE'S THIS CASE THAT I'M WORKING ON, AND -- FELICIA: LOOK. CASS: WHAT IS IT, HONEY? FELICIA: LOOK. CHARLIE: THANKS. I WOULD ACTUALLY NOT BE EMBARRASSED TO WEAR THIS. CASS: I THOUGHT IT LOOKED LIKE YOU. CHARLIE: REALLY? USUALLY WHAT YOU THINK LOOKS LIKE ME IS THE COLOR OF BUBBLE GUM AND HAS BOWS. YOU HELPED HIM. ADMIT IT. FELICIA: UH -- NO, I DID NOT. YOUR FATHER PICKED THIS OUT. ABSOLUTELY. I MAY HAVE SORT OF PUSHED HIM IN THE DIRECTION OF SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SOPHISTICATED, BUT, NO, NO, HE DID PICK IT OUT. OTHERWISE, HE WOULD HAVE BOUGHT YOU THOSE UGLY SOCKS WITH RUFFLES. CASS: I NEVER HAD ANY INTENTION OF BUYING THOSE, EVER. FELICIA: OH, I SEE. YOU JUST ASKED HOW MUCH THEY WERE BECAUSE, WHAT, YOU WERE JUST CURIOUS? CASS: WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE -- HER OR ME? CHARLIE: WANT ME TO BE HONEST? CASS: WELL, GOOD HEAVENS, NO. IF YOU CAN'T LIE TO THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE, WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING HOLIDAYS? FELICIA: ALL RIGHT, HERE. HEY, COME HERE. YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED IN YOUR STOCKING YET. UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU'VE GOTTEN EVERYTHING YOU ASKED FOR FOR CHRISTMAS. CASS: NOT QUITE. JOE: OK, NOW, WHICH ONE'S YOUR FAVORITE? YOU GOT YOUR TRUCK -- [TOY SIRENS] JOE: WOW -- FIRE TRUCK. OR YOU GOT YOUR VERY COOL POLICE CAR. ALL RIGHT, WHICH ONE YOU LIKE BETTER? NOW, THEY BOTH GOT YOUR FLASHING LIGHTS, BOTH GOT YOUR SIRENS -- PAULINA: OH, YES. THEY ALL HAVE SIRENS, AND MOMMY THEY ALL HAVE SIRENS, AND MOMMY HAS THE HEARING LOSS TO PROVE IT. WE GOT HIM TOO MUCH, DIDN'T WE? DANTE: I WANT TO BE BY YOU. PAULINA: OK, COME OVER HERE BY ME. JOE: GO BY MOMMY. PAULINA: HE'S GOING TO GROW UP TO BE A GREEDY, SELFISH, LITTLE MONSTER WHO THINKS THE WORLD OWES HIM A LIVING. BUT SO WHAT? EVEN GREEDY, LITTLE, SELFISH MONSTERS NEED LOVE TOO, RIGHT? JOE: I'M GOING TO SHUT THIS THING OFF. YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU SCARED ME FOR A SECOND THERE BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO TELL ME TO STOP SPOILING MY ONLY SON. PAULINA: NO. JOE: YOU KNOW WHAT? HOW DID WE GET SO LUCKY? PAULINA: I WAS JUST THINKING THE SAME THING. THIS CHRISTMAS HAS BEEN SO BEAUTIFUL FOR US. AND THEN I THINK ABOUT JAKE, THOUGH, AND THE BOYS, AND I JUST WONDER HOW THEY'RE GETTING THROUGH TODAY. MARLEY: WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS. NOW, THINK -- THINK ABOUT WHAT VICTORIA WOULD WANT FOR YOU. SHE'D -- SHE'D WANT THERE TO BE SOME SMALL PIECE OF HAPPINESS IN THIS CHRISTMAS. DON'T YOU THINK SHE'D WANT THAT? [CHURCH BELLS] VICKY: CHRISTMAS ALREADY. OH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW THERE'S STILL A WORLD OUT THERE. BIG, BIG BEAUTIFUL WORLD THAT I'M GOING TO LIVE IN. I AM. I WILL. VICKY: RIGHT NOW I'M JUST GOING TO LET MYSELF REMEMBER. ALL I NEED TO MAKE IT CHRISTMAS IS TREMEMBER. VICKY: DID I REALLY MAKE THEM DANCE LIKE THAT? THEY LOOKED SO ADORABLE IN THOSE SUNGLASSES. [SINGING] DONNA: VICTORIA, STOP! JAKE: VICKY'S GOT TO BE THE ONLY MOTHER IN THE WORLD THAT WOULD GET HER KIDS SHADES FOR CHRISTMAS. DONNA: STOP! YOU HAVE CORRUPTED THESE CHILDREN. THEY DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HALLOWEEN AND CHRISTMAS! NO, I'M SERIOUS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, NOW. YOU ALL HAVE BEAUTIFUL SINGING VOICES, AND IT'S MY CHRISTMAS WISH THAT YOU SING BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS CAROLS INSTEAD OF THE BLUES. VICKY: OH. DONNA: AND YOU DO EXACTLY WHAT YOUR MOTHER WANTS YOU TO AND YOU BE GOOD BOYS, RIGHT? RIGHT, KIRK? KIRKLAND: THAT'S WHAT YOU TOLD ME, MOM. VICKY: KIRKLAND WAS SO CUTE. THAT LITTLE GLINT IN HIS EYE, WAITING TO SEE IF I WAS GOING TO DO WHAT MY MOMMY TOLD ME. SO I DID. VICKY: OH, ALL RIGHT, FINE. DONNA: THANK YOU. VICKY: THIS IS ONE DIVA WHO DOES NOT PERFORM WITHOUT BACKUP. I WANT YOU ALL OVER HERE. JAKE: WELL, I AM NOTHING IF NOT AN EXCELLENT BACKUP SINGER. VICKY: COME HERE, SWEETIE. JAKE: UH-OH. WHAT HAPPENED TO KIRKLAND? DONNA: I WANT BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS CAROLS. VICKY: THIS IS FOR YOU, ALL RIGHT? AHEM. STEVEN: AHEM. ALL: O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT VICKY: JAKE, YOU'RE FLAT. ALL: O COME ALL YE CITIZENS OF BETHLEHEM MARLEY: IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS, JAKE. AFTER TODAY -- AFTER TODAY, IT'S GOING TO GET EASIER. YOU JUST HAVE TO LET IT. JAKE: I DON'T KNOW. MARLEY: I HATE THIS AS MUCH AS YOU DO, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO FACE IT. SHE DIDN'T EVEN SEND A PRESENT. NOT EVEN A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO THE BOYS. WE JUST HAVE TO ADMIT TO OURSELVES WHAT THAT MEANS. VICTORIA'S GONE, JAKE. SHE'S NOT COMING BACK. [CHURCH BELLS] VICKY: JAKE. WE COULD HEAR THOSE -- THOSE BELLS AT THE COTTAGE. DO YOU HEAR THEM RIGHT NOW? I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING. THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT EVEN -- EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT WITH YOU, I CAN STILL HAVE CHRISTMAS. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS JUST REMEMBER ALL THE LOVE AND THE JOY YOU GAVE ME LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S GOING TO GIVE ME THE STRENGTH -- THE STRENGTH TO COME HOME. I AM GOING TO COME HOME, JAKE. YOU TELL MOM AND YOU TELL THOSE BOYS I'M COMING HOME. GRANT: HEY. HEY. HEY. MERRY CHRISTMAS, SON. YOU HAVEN'T BEEN SITTING OUT HERE ALL BY YOUR LONESOME, HAVE YOU? DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO COME GET ME AS SOON AS YOU WOKE UP? KIRKLAND: YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET A LOT OF SLEEP WHEN YOU GET BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL OR YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO BACK AGAIN. GRANT: WELL, I AM NOT GOING BACK TO ANY HOSPITAL. AND, YOU KNOW, I GET PLENTY OF SLEEP. I AM THE KING OF SLEEP. I HAVE -- I HAVE COUNTED SO MANY SHEEP, I JUST MAY TURN INTO A LAMB CHOP. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME ANYMORE, IS THAT UNDERSTOOD, SOLDIER? KIRKLAND: YES, SIR, COLONEL, SIR. GRANT: ALL RIGHT. AT EASE, SOLDIER. NOW, UNDRESS THOSE PRESENTS, AND THAT'S AN ORDER. GET GOING. GO ON. OH, YES. THAT'S A GOOD ONE. THAT'S A GOOD ONE. ALL RIGHT. KIRKLAND: DR. GALAXIO. I TOTALLY WANTED THIS. HOW DID YOU KNOW? GRANT: [GERMAN ACCENT] I HAVE MY SPIES EVERYWHERE. YES, I DO. [NORMAL VOICE] WELL, COME ON. YOU'VE OPENED ONE GIFT. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TURNING THIS WHOLE LIVING ROOM INTO A WRAPPING PAPER GRAVEYARD. NOW, COME ON. GET BUSY. GET SOME OTHER GIFTS HERE. KIRKLAND: THEY'RE ALL FROM YOU, RIGHT? GRANT: WELL, YEAH. THEY'RE FROM ME AND SANTA. KIRKLAND: NOT ANYBODY ELSE? IN THE NOTE I WROTE TO SANTA, I TOLD HIM IF HE COULDN'T BRING MOM HOME MAYBE HE COULD BRING SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE A PACKAGE OR A NOTE. GRANT: COME HERE. COME ON. YOU KNOW WHAT? I'LL BET YOUR LETTER JUST WAS A LITTLE BIT LATE GETTING TO SANTA, AND SO HE JUST COULDN'T MAKE YOUR WISH COME TRUE THIS CHRISTMAS. BUT NEXT CHRISTMAS, MOM WILL BE HOME AND EVERYTHING WILL BE DIFFERENT, OK? KIRKLAND: IT WILL? GRANT: IT WILL IF WE BOTH BELIEVE IT. I WANT YOUR MOM BACK JUST AS MUCH AS YOU DO. KIRKLAND: A FOOTBALL. GRANT: FOOTBALL. [DOORBELL RINGS] GRANT: BE RIGHT BACK. VICKY: HEY. GRANT: VICTORIA. VICKY: PROBABLY WEREN'T EXPECTING ME. GRANT: YOU HERE TO SEE KIRKLAND? VICKY: UH, YEAH, YEAH. BUT NOT -- NOT JUST KIRKLAND, ACTUALLY. I'M HERE TO SEE YOU. ALTHOUGH KIRKLAND IS THE REASON I'VE COME TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY. GRANT: WHAT THINGS? VICKY: GRANT, YOU TOOK SUCH GOOD CARE OF KIRKLAND WHILE I WAS MISSING, AND I'VE COME TO SEE THE INCREDIBLE INFLUENCE YOU HAVE OVER HIM. THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD INSIDE OF YOU, GRANT, SO MUCH MORE THAN I EVER KNEW BEFORE. I KNOW I HAVE NO RIGHT TO ASK YOU THIS AFTER ALL THE MISTAKES I HAVE MADE, BUT WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO START AGAIN? COULD YOU FORGIVE ME FOR BEING BLIND FOR SO LONG? GRANT: OH, VICTORIA. AS IF YOU HAD TO ASK. [DOORBELL RINGS] KIRKLAND: DAD? DAD? GRANT: WHAT? WHAT? KIRKLAND: CAN I ANSWER IT? GRANT: SURE. SURE, GO AHEAD. KIRKLAND: MAYBE SANTA CLAUS GOT MY NOTE AFTER ALL. OH. CINDY: OH, HEY, HEY, HEY. HEY, KIRK. KIRK. I WAS THINKING THAT MAYBE WE COULD TAKE A LITTLE LESSON FROM HISTORY TODAY, HUH? KIRKLAND: WHAT DO YOU MEAN? CINDY: OK. SEE, SOMETIMES WHEN THERE'S A WAR ON AND A SPECIAL HOLIDAY COMES UP, THE TWO SIDES -- THEY AGREE TO STOP SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER FOR 24 HOURS. SO WHAT DO YOU SAY? SHOULD WE TRY OUR OWN LITTLE CHRISTMAS CEASEFIRE? GUESS NOT. GRANT: WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR, HE EXPECTED TO SEE HIS MOTHER. CINDY: HE DID? GRANT: YEAH. I WOULDN'T EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT. CINDY: THESE ARE FOR HIM. GRANT: YOU -- YOU BROUGHT PRESENTS FOR KIRKLAND? CINDY: YEAH, IT'S CHRISTMAS. HE SHOULD BE WITH HIS MOM. AND I CAN'T STOP HIM FROM MISSING HER, BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE I COULD DISTRACT HIM A LITTLE. GRANT: THAT'S VERY HUMAN OF YOU, CYNTHIA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CINDY: DOES THAT MEAN I CAN COME IN? GRANT: WELL, THAT DEPENDS. ARE ALL THESE GIFTS FOR KIRKLAND, OR IS THERE SOMETHING IN HERE FOR ME, TOO? MATT: STOP RIGHT THERE. CAMERON: WHAT'D I DO? MATT: LOOK UP. LILA: WELL, Y'ALL ARE UNDER THE MISTLETOE. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. CAMERON: YEAH. WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK ME TWICE. LILA: WELL. LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL ARE HAVING A MERRY CHRISTMAS. CAMERON: I JUST TOLD AMANDA IT WAS THE BEST CHRISTMAS I'VE HAD EVER. AMANDA: ME, TOO. [JASMINE FUSSES] LILA: OH, SWEETIE. MATT: THERE YOU GO. LILA: MAMA'S GOT YOU. HEY, AMANDA? AMANDA: UH-HUH? WHAT? MATT: YOU GOT HER? AMANDA: HI, CUTIE PIE. LILA: WHAT'D HE GET YOU? AMANDA: OH, I DON'T KNOW. HE HASN'T GIVEN IT TO ME YET. LILA: WHAT? WELL, WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S GOING TO BE SCRUMPTIOUS BECAUSE THAT MAN IS OBVIOUSLY CRAZY ABOUT YOU. AMANDA: WELL, I KEEP THINKING THAT I'M DREAMING. I REALLY DIDN'T THINK THAT I WOULD EVER FIND SOMEBODY THAT KNEW MY FAULTS AND LOVED ME ANYWAY. YOU KNOW HOW RARE THAT IS? LILA: YEAH, I DO. AND YOU HANG ON TO IT AND NEVER LET IT GO. JOE: DANTE'S UP FROM HIS NAP. PAULINA: OH. OH, OK. I'LL GET HIM. JOE: LISTEN, ACTUALLY, HON, DON'T WORRY. REMY ACTUALLY HAS IT COVERED. SHE'S ALL EXCITED ABOUT PUTTING HIM IN THAT OUTFIT FROM RACHEL. PAULINA: OH, OK. JOE: WHAT? WHAT? PAULINA: THANK YOU FOR MY PRESENT. JOE: WELL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I KNEW IT WOULD LOOK GREAT ON YOU. BLUE IS YOUR COLOR. PAULINA: NOT THAT PRESENT. LETTING REMY SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH US. JOE: I'M GLAD IT MADE YOU HAPPY. PAULINA: YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING A FAMILY AT THAT AGE -- SOMETIMES YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL A DAY LIKE CHRISTMAS COMES ALONG, AND SUDDENLY IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS NO PLACE TO GO. ONCE WHEN I WAS IN CHICAGO, I TOOK A BUS ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN BECAUSE I FIGURED AT LEAST THERE THERE'D BE PEOPLE AND SOMETHING TO DO. IT WAS FREEZING OUT, REALLY COLD, AND I STILL COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THE STREETS WERE EMPTY. IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY HAD A PLACE TO GO BUT ME. JOE: HEY. PAULINA: LISTEN TO ME, THE LITTLE MATCHBOX GIRL. ARE YOU SOBBING YET? JOE: PAULINA, YOU'RE NOT MAKING IT UP. THIS HAPPENED TO YOU. YOU LIVED IT. REMY: MAY I PRESENT THE NEXT COVER BOY OF "G.Q. JUNIOR"? PAULINA: OH, MY GOSH. JOE: OH, MAN. REMY: IS THIS KID SNAZZY OR WHAT? JOE: OH, WAIT A SECOND. GIVE ME -- DANTE, COME HERE. REMY: WHAT? JOE: DANTE, YOU LISTEN TO ME. CLOTHES DO NOT MAKE THE MAN, ALL RIGHT? WOMEN ARE GOING TO WANT YOU TO GET DRESSED UP ALL THE TIME. YOU LISTEN TO ME. ONCE IN A WHILE, YOU LAY THE LAW DOWN, ALL RIGHT? YOU WEAR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S COMFORTABLE. PAULINA: OH, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, JOSEPH. BUT IF WHEN WE GO TO RACHEL'S THAT YOU DON'T WEAR THE SWEATER THAT SHE BOUGHT YOU, I AM NEVER SPEAKING TO YOU AGAIN. JOE: CAN'T HEAR YOU. CAN'T HEAR YOU. YOU KNOW WHY? DANTE AND I ARE PLAYING TRUCKS. COME HERE. LOOK AT THIS. WOW, THIS IS THE COOLEST ONE. PAULINA: AT LEAST THEY'RE NOT PLAYING WITH THE ONES WITH THE SIRENS. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU MANAGED TO SLEEP THROUGH THAT. REMY: OH, NO, I WASN'T SLEEPING. PAULINA: OH, I'M SORRY. REMY: NO, NO, I WAS JUST KIND OF LYING THERE AND LISTENING TO YOU GUYS LAUGHING. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW IT FELT TO JUST SIT THERE AND HEAR PEOPLE BEING HAPPY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME WAKE UP HERE, PAULINA. IT WAS SO NICE OF YOU. PAULINA: COME HERE. BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE THINKING -- THE SAME THING I THOUGHT EVERY CHRISTMAS -- "WHERE'S MY FAMILY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? ARE THEY THINKING OF ME?" CHARLIE: "HE KNEW NO MORE, FOR THE SPIRIT NEITHER SPOKE NOR MOVED. I AM IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS YET TO COME, SAID SCROOGE. THE SPIRIT ANSWERED NOT, BUT POINTED ONWARD WITH HIS HANDS." LOOK, JASMINE, THAT'S THE GRINCH. SEE HOW RED AND SCRUNCHED-UP HIS FACE IS? FELICIA: HEY, CASS, DID YOU POSE FOR THAT? IT'S AN INCREDIBLE LIKENESS. CASS: ARE YOU TRYING TO GET A RISE OUT OF ME? BECAUSE YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT IT. NOTHING CAN FAZE ME. I AM TOO CONTENTED. LILA: WELL, DINNER WILL BE READY IN TWO SHAKES. I HOPE EVERYONE'S HUNGRY. OOH. CASS: MMM. YOU SMELL LIKE SWEET POTATOES. LILA: DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS IS THE CHRISTMAS I'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL? CASS: YOU HAVE TO TELL ME EVERYTHING FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. LILA: THIS PRESENT WASN'T THERE BEFORE. WHERE DID IT COME FROM? IT'S TO JASMINE. MATT: WHO'S IT FROM? LILA: JORDAN STARK. LILA: WHO PUT THIS UNDER THE TREE? WHY DIDN'T WE SEE THIS BEFORE? AMANDA: WELL, I'M SURE IT WASN'T JORDAN STARK, LILA. I THINK CLAUDIA WOULD HAVE LET US KNOW IF WE GOT A VISIT FROM MR. MYSTERIOUS. MATT: HE PROBABLY HAD SOMEONE DROP IT OFF. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. IT'S A PRESENT. LILA: WHAT IS JORDAN STARK DOING GIVING JASMINE PRESENTS? AMANDA: WELL, FOR REASONS THAT I DO NOT PRETEND TO UNDERSTAND, MOTHER'S ACTUALLY BEEN SPENDING SOME TIME WITH HIM. MAYBE HE THOUGHT HE WOULD GET IN BETTER WITH HER IF HE GAVE HER GRANDDAUGHTER A CHRISTMAS PRESENT. LILA: WELL, YOUR MOTHER CAN TAKE CARE OF HERSELF, BUT JASMINE CAN'T. AMANDA: HEY. MATT: HEY, STEVEN. WE LOST YOU TO THAT BIG-SCREEN TV DOWNSTAIRS, HUH? STEVEN: IT'S PRETTY COOL. MATT: YEAH. STEVEN: IT'S LIKE BEING IN THE MOVIE THEATER. MATT: YEAH, IT IS. WELL, THERE'S SOME MORE PRESENTS TO UNWRAP AS SOON AS MOM COMES BACK FROM CHURCH. YOU WANT TO UNWRAP ONE, TIDE YOU OVER? STEVEN: NO, THAT'S OK. I'LL WAIT. CAMERON: TOUGH DAY FOR THE KID. LILA: YEAH. JUST BREAKS YOUR HEART, DOESN'T IT? REMINDS ME OF WHEN I LOST MY MAMA. MATT: YEAH, WELL, HOPEFULLY STEVEN'S MOTHER WILL COME BACK. I JUST WISH SHE COULD BE HERE FOR CHRISTMAS, YOU KNOW? LILA: YEAH. MATT: THERE YOU ARE. LET'S TRY THIS ON. STEVEN: I'M NOT COLD. MATT: I KNOW. I'M JUST TRYING IT ON, SEEING HOW MUCH YOU'VE GROWN. THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD FIT. PRETTY LOUSY CHRISTMAS, HUH? YOU KNOW, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY. AMANDA GOT TRAPPED IN A TUNNEL DURING AN EXPLOSION. THE RESCUE TEAM DIDN'T GIVE US MUCH HOPE OF FINDING HER. I REFUSED TO BELIEVE IT. I REFUSED TO GIVE UP. I NEARLY DROVE MYSELF CRAZY WORRYING. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE WORRYING. BUT SHE'S SAFE NOW. SHE'S HOME WHERE SHE BELONGS. AND I'M TELLING YOU, YOU CAN'T GIVE UP HOPE. YOUR MOTHER'S GOING TO COME HOME. STEVEN: I KNOW. MATT: HEY, LET'S GO INSIDE AND UNWRAP SOME OF THOSE PRESENTS. STEVEN: I WONDER IF JAKE UNWRAPPED THE PRESENT I LEFT FOR HIM. KIRK'S NOT THERE, I'M NOT THERE. IT MUST FEEL KIND OF WEIRD OPENING PRESENTS ALL BY HIMSELF. I MEAN, AUNT MARLEY'S THERE, BUT SHE'S NOT A KID. MOM SAYS CHRISTMAS ISN'T CHRISTMAS WITHOUT KIDS AROUND. MATT: MAYBE THAT'S WHY MY CHRISTMAS IS SO SPECIAL -- BECAUSE I HAVE ALL YOU KIDS AROUND. YOU KNOW -- CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING? STEVEN: SURE. MATT: JAKE IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU. MARLEY: THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD OLD MOVIES ON TV. YOU WANT TO CURL UP ON THE COUCH AND POP SOME POPCORN? JAKE: I DON'T FEEL LIKE A MOVIE. MARLEY: JAKE, I'M ONLY SAYING THIS BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU AND I CARE ABOUT THIS FAMILY, BUT THE SOONER YOU CAN ACCEPT THE TRUTH, THE SOONER YOU ACCEPT THE FACT THAT VICTORIA'S GONE, THE SOONER YOU CAN START TO HEAL AND CLOSE OLD WOUNDS. THE BOYS, THEY NEED YOU. THEY NEED ALL OF YOU, NOT -- NOT JUST A PART OF YOU. [KNOCK ON DOOR] MARLEY: YOU EXPECTING SOMEONE? JAKE: NO. MARLEY: HI. CAN I HELP YOU? ETTA MAE: CAN YOU HELP US? I FEEL LIKE I'M WALKING INTO A DEPARTMENT STORE. MARLEY: OH, I'M SORRY. JAKE AND I WERE JUST -- WE WERE SPENDING A VERY QUIET DAY. I DON'T THINK HE'S EXPECTING ANYONE. TYRONE: HOW -- HOW'S HE DOING? MARLEY: WELL, TO BE HONEST, TYRONE, HE'S NOT DOING VERY WELL, BUT I -- ETTA MAE: WELL, WHY WOULD HE BE? I MEAN, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY AND HIS WIFE'S BEEN MISSING FOR WEEKS. THE MAN NEEDS HIS FRIENDS. HE NEEDS A LITTLE COMMOTION IN THIS HOUSE. MARLEY: ETTA MAE, I APPRECIATE THE IMPULSE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT NOW IS THE TIME. ETTA MAE: AH, BUT ANOTHER TIME WOULDN'T BE CHRISTMAS, WOULD IT? HAPPY HOLIDAYS, SUGAR. YOUR FRIEND TYRONE TRIED TO STOP ME FROM COMING OVER HERE, BUT I MEAN TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE CHRISTMAS WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. NOW, LISTEN, WE ARE GOING TO TURN ON SOME MUSIC, GOING TO HAVE US A LITTLE MEAL. YES, BABY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN. JAKE: OH, YOU'RE AN ANGEL. BUT -- MARLEY'S RIGHT. I'M REALLY NOT IN MY BEST SHAPE RIGHT NOW, AND THE BOYS AREN'T EVEN HERE, SO -- I HATE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE, BUT -- ETTA MAE: YOU ASKING WHO TO LEAVE? TYRONE: LET'S NOT MAKE THINGS HARDER FOR HIM THAN THEY ALREADY ARE, OK? CAN YOU GIVE THE GIFTS TO THE BOYS FOR US? JAKE: YEAH. MARLEY: THANK YOU SO MUCH, TYRONE, FOR UNDERSTANDING. ETTA MAE: JAKE, WHY AREN'T THE BOYS WITH YOU? JAKE: WELL, I JUST WANTED THEM TO HAVE A HAPPIER CHRISTMAS THAN I COULD SUPPLY. COME ON, LET ME WALK YOU GUYS OUT. MARLEY: MERRY CHRISTMAS. TYRONE: MERRY CHRISTMAS. JAKE: ETTA MAE, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT AND ALL. ETTA MAE: ARE YOU OK? TYRONE: YOU HANG IN THERE, ALL RIGHT? JAKE: I'LL BE IN TOUCH. TYRONE: COME ON, LET'S GO. DONNA: I THOUGHT I HEARD VOICES. MARLEY: YES. TYRONE AND ETTA MAE STOPPED BY, BUT JAKE DIDN'T FEEL VERY MUCH LIKE BEING AROUND PEOPLE. DONNA: DID HE TELL THEM THAT? MARLEY: THIS IS A VERY IMPOSSIBLE DAY FOR JAKE. I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD UNDERSTAND IF HE NEEDS TO LAY A LITTLE LOW. DONNA: JAKE, THAT'S NOT LIKE YOU. I KNOW THAT THIS IS DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING AND DISHEARTENING, BUT PLEASE DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU'RE GIVING UP. JAKE: I'D RATHER DIE THAN GIVE UP ON VICKY. DONNA: I KNOW THAT. I JUST WANTED TO HEAR YOU SAY IT. JAKE: SHE'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE, DONNA. AND WE ARE IN HER HEART JUST LIKE -- JUST LIKE SHE'S IN OURS. VICKY: JAKE? JAKE? OH. I WAS HAVING A DREAM. I REACHED OUT TO TOUCH YOUR FACE, AND I -- IT WAS JUST SO REAL. IT WASN'T LIKE A -- WASN'T LIKE A DREAM AT ALL. I -- I REACHED OUT TO TOUCH YOUR FACE, AND YOU NEEDED A SHAVE. I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING BEFORE I WOKE UP. I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT CHRISTMAS WAS GOING TO BE LIKE NEXT YEAR. JAKE: DON'T WAKE HER UP. VICKY: ALL RIGHT. I KNOW IT'S NOT EXACTLY ROAST GOOSE AND CHESTNUTS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO STARVE. JAKE: YEAH. I GOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. IT SMELLS GREAT. BESIDES, EXPECTANT MOTHERS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO COOK. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO DO THE DISHES. HOW ABOUT YOU GUYS? KIRKLAND: NOT ME. JAKE: NOT YOU. STEVEN: NOT ME. DONNA: STEVE AND KIRK, HOW MANY OF YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS AT SCHOOL GET TO HAVE FROZEN TV DINNERS ON CHRISTMAS? VICKY: MOM, DO YOU KNOW WHAT? EVER SINCE YOU STARTED WALKING AGAIN, YOU'VE BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. BESIDES, MY BOYS UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT PERFECT, DON'T THEY? ISN'T THAT RIGHT? DONNA: RIGHT. VICKY: RIGHT? DONNA: RIGHT. VICKY: RIGHT? ALL: RIGHT. DONNA: RIGHT. VICKY: WHICH IT'S A VERY GOOD THING BECAUSE I'M VERY FAR FROM PERFECT. YOU KNOW WHAT? FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW NOT-PERFECT ME ENDED UP WITH PERFECT YOU AND PERFECT YOU. YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, LAST CHRISTMAS, WHEN -- LAST CHRISTMAS, WHEN I -- I COULDN'T MAKE IT BACK TO YOU, I HAD A LOT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE BLESSINGS. AND EVERY DAY THAT WENT BY, I JUST GREW MORE AND MORE AND MORE THANKFUL THAT I HAVE YOU GUYS IN MY LIFE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK IT WAS JUST SHEER GRATITUDE THAT BROUGHT ME HOME TO YOU. AND EVERY DAY THAT WENT BY, I PROMISED THAT I WOULD NEVER, EVER TAKE ANY OF YOU FOR GRANTED. AND I WON'T. JAKE: HEY. MERRY CHRISTMAS. VICKY: MERRY CHRISTMAS. JOE: UP AND READY? PAULINA: HEY. REMY: HI. NICK: HI. PAULINA: WE'RE ON OUR WAY OVER TO RACHEL'S. REMY: OH, WELL, YOU HAVE FUN, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. PAULINA: WHY ARE YOU SAYING GOOD-BYE? YOU'RE COMING, TOO. REMY: I AM? PAULINA: YES. I TALKED TO RACHEL. SHE'S EXPECTING YOU. REMY: GOSH, I WASN'T EXPECTING -- NICK: YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'LL MEET YOU THERE, OK? REMY: OK. PAULINA: OH. OH, YEAH. EXCELLENT. NICK: THANK YOU. PAULINA: HAVE FUN. REMY: BYE-BYE, PAULINA. BYE. JOE: BYE. NICK: SEE YOU LATER. JOE: SEE YOU, MAN. PAULINA: I THINK THIS IS IT. I KNOW WE'RE PROBABLY FORGETTING SOMETHING CRUCIAL, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S TOO LATE NOW. JOE: HON, YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING? PAULINA: HMM? JOE: NEXT YEAR, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE RACHEL AND EVERYBODY OVER OUR HOUSE. PAULINA: OH, JOE, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. TITO: MOM? I GOT YOU SOMETHING. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT. PAULINA: OF COURSE I'M GOING TO LIKE IT. ARE YOU NUTS? OH, COME HERE, YOU. JOE: HEY. BEFORE EVERYBODY GETS HERE, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M GLAD YOU FOUND US. PAULINA: COME HERE, BABY. JOE: HEY. HEY. WHAT PLANET DID YOU SNEAK OFF TO? PAULINA: NOWHERE. RIGHT HERE. JUST THINKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR. GRANT: HEY, BUDDY. YOU KNOW WHAT? INSTEAD OF WATCHING MOVIES ON TELEVISION, WE COULD GO TO A REAL MOVIE THEATER AND SEE A MOVIE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? KIRKLAND: NAH. I'M KIND OF TIRED. GRANT: YOU KNOW WHAT? I SHOULDN'T BE MAKING SUGGESTIONS FOR WHAT TO DO. YOU SHOULD BE MAKING SUGGESTIONS. I MEAN, AFTER ALL, THIS IS CHRISTMAS DAY, AND THE NUMBER ONE RULE IS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO. SO, LET'S HEAR IT. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? KIRKLAND: I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S OK. GRANT: OF COURSE IT'S OK. ABSOLUTELY. ANYTHING YOU WANT, YOU TELL ME. I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA, ALL RIGHT? LET'S GET OUR COATS. COME ON. COME ON. COME ON, YOU. GRAB YOUR COAT. JAKE: LOOK, I CALLED THE CORYS. I THOUGHT I COULD TAKE IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW. A HOUSE FULL OF KIDS AND CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, I'M JUST NOT UP TO IT, NOT TODAY. MARLEY: WELL, I'M SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS. DONNA: ARE YOU READY? MARLEY: JAKE -- JAKE HAS DECIDED THAT HE'D RATHER NOT. JAKE: YEAH, BUT YOU TWO GO AHEAD, OK? DONNA: WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU HERE ALONE. JAKE: COME ON, DONNA. I'M NOT GOOD TO ANYBODY LIKE THIS. MARLEY: JAKE, DON'T SAY THAT. YOU'VE BEEN A TOWER OF STRENGTH THROUGH ALL THIS. DONNA: SHE'S RIGHT, JAKE. NOBODY'S GOING TO THINK ANY LESS OF YOU IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF A BIG, NOISY CELEBRATION. JAKE: I DIDN'T PROMISE THE -- I DIDN'T PROMISE THE CORYS, BUT STEVEN IS PROBABLY EXPECTING ME TO SHOW UP. YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO BE LET DOWN? MARLEY: NO. NO, I DON'T BECAUSE EVERYONE'S DOTING ON HIM OVER THERE. WE WILL JUST -- WE'LL JUST CONCENTRATE ON HAVING A QUIET EVENING AT HOME, AND I'LL MAKE SOME SOUP, AND -- [CAR DOORS CLOSE] MARLEY: IS THAT A CAR? JAKE: LISTEN, I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY, SO I'M JUST GOING TO BE UPSTAIRS, OK? MARLEY: OK. STEVEN: MERRY CHRISTMAS! KIRKLAND: MERRY CHRISTMAS! JAKE: COME ON, NOW. YOU GUYS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING A BIG CHRISTMAS DINNER. WHAT HAPPENED? SOMETHING WRONG? KIRKLAND: WE WANTED TO COME HOME HERE AND HAVE DINNER WITH YOU. STEVEN: YEAH, I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WERE COMING TO GRANDMA'S OR WHAT. JAKE: I SHOULD HAVE TALKED TO YOU. MATTER OF FACT, I SHOULD HAVE CALLED BOTH OF YOU. BUT IT'S JUST I WAS SORT OF BUMMING, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING YOU GUYS DOWN. I DIDN'T WANT TO SPOIL YOUR CHRISTMAS. STEVEN: WHAT CHRISTMAS? DO YOU THINK KIRK AND I WERE HAVING FUN OR SOMETHING? JAKE: NO, I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WERE PROBABLY HAVING A PRETTY HARD DAY, BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE IT ANY WORSE. BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T THINK I WOULD DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF TAKING CARE OF YOU GUYS TODAY. KIRKLAND: THEN, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU. STEVEN: IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS BEING AWAY FROM YOU. JAKE: WELL, THAT'S JUST THE THING. YOU SEE, I CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS AT ALL. STEVEN: I DON'T THINK CHRISTMAS IS SOMETHING YOU DO. IT'S LIKE YOU'RE HOME AND EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT IS THERE WITH YOU AND YOU JUST HANG OUT TOGETHER AND STICK TOGETHER. KIRKLAND: THAT'S WHAT MOM SAYS -- "IF YOU'RE A FAMILY, YOU STICK TOGETHER." PAULINA: MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! JOE: BUON NATALE. PAULINA: HI. HOW ARE YOU? LILA: MERRY CHRISTMAS. PAULINA: MERRY CHRISTMAS. YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR I THINK RACHEL COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE A MORE BEAUTIFUL TREE, AND EVERY YEAR SHE OUTDOES HERSELF. WHERE IS THE LADY OF THE HOUSE, ANYWAY? MATT: SHE'S UPSTAIRS WITH AAIR OF STRESSED-OUT TWINS. LILA: YEAH, THEY HIT A WALL. I THINK IT WAS TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT. PAULINA: I TELL YOU, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME BOAT IF DANTE HADN'T TAKEN A NAP. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE LUCKED OUT LIKE THAT. JOE: I DON'T KNOW. IT MUST BE BECAUSE HE'S GOT THAT NICE, EASY-GOING, LAID-BACK KIND OF TEMPERAMENT LIKE HIS DAD. LILA: IS THAT IT? PAULINA: YEAH, THAT MUST BE IT. AMANDA: WELL, MOM SAID AS SOON AS SHE'S DONE WITH THE TWINS, SHE'LL BE DOWN. BUT DINNER MAY BE A LITTLE LATE. PAULINA: ACTUALLY, THAT KIND OF WORKS OUT. ON THE WAY OVER HERE, I HAD A BRAINSTORM. SHALL I TELL THEM? JOE: I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. PAULINA: WELL, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE SO MUCH AT CHRISTMAS, AND SOME PEOPLE AREN'T IN THE SAME BOAT, YOU KNOW? SO, HOW ABOUT WE ALL GRAB OUR COATS AND SPREAD A LITTLE CHRISTMAS CHEER TO SOME PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT. LILA: WHAT A GREAT IDEA. MATT: SURE, THAT'S GREAT. LILA: OH, THAT'S SO NICE. PAULINA: COATS! LILA: WHERE IS CLAUDIA WHEN YOU NEED HER? MATT: GET THOSE COATS. JAKE: WE SHOULD'VE DONE THIS WEEKS AGO, BUT I GUESS IT'S BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. MARLEY: IT DOES LOOK NICE, DOESN'T IT? KIRKLAND: I THINK MOM WOULD LIKE IT. DONNA: I THINK SHE WOULD, TOO. AND I THINK THAT SHE WOULD LIKE US TO CELEBRATE. SO, WITH THAT IN MIND -- STEVEN: NANA, YOU LOOK WEIRD. DONNA: I JUST -- I JUST THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE NICE TO HAVE A MEMORY FROM LAST CHRISTMAS. MARLEY: WHAT HAPPENED LAST CHRISTMAS? STEVEN: MOM GOT US SUNGLASSES AND HATS AND MADE US DANCE WITH HER. IT WAS KIND OF DUMB, BUT IT WAS KIND OF COOL, TOO. JAKE: YEAH. KIRKLAND: I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE. DONNA: DARLING, I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU SAD. I REALLY DIDN'T. YOU AND STEVEN SAVED THE DAY TODAY. YOU WALKED IN HERE, AND YOU MADE IT CHRISTMAS FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL DAY LONG. AND LOOK AT US NOW. WE HAVE OUR LITTLE TREE, AND WE CAN SIT OUT HERE AND LOOK AT THE STARS. KIRKLAND: I THOUGHT SANTA WAS GOING TO BRING MOM HOME. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS. I WANTED MOM TO BE HERE. DONNA: BUT SHE IS HERE. SHE'S HERE RIGHT WITH US. I CAN FEEL HER. CAN YOU FEEL HER? CAN YOU FEEL HER? O COME DONNA and STEVEN: ALL YE FAITHFUL JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT ALL: O COME YE O COME YE TO BETHLEHEM COME AND BEHOLD HIM BORN THE KING OF ANGELS O COME LET US ADORE HIM O COME LET US ADORE HIM O COME LET US ADORE HIM CHRIST THE LORD SING CHOIRS OF ANGELS SING IN EXALTATION SING ALL YE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN ABOVE GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST O COME LET US ADORE HIM O COME LET US ADORE HIM O COME LET US ADORE HIM CHRIST THE LORD VICKY: JAKE, YOU'RE FLAT. [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY NCI'S CORPORATE PARTNERS] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC.] [PUBLIC PERFORMANCE OF CAPTIONS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE]