[heartwarming music playing]
[woman] Christmas is almost here.
And after that day, I know my life will never be the same.
I'm a little scared.
Well, to be honest, a lot scared.
What will happen to me, to us?
And then there's little Jacob.
What about him?
I just hope he'll be okay.
[festive music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
- [fan] There he is! - [crowd cheering]
[cheering and chatter continue]
How's everybody doing? See you in there. Thanks for coming.
In Book Five, will we finally learn the truth about Camille?
Is she part of the French Resistance like she says?
Or is she really a Nazi spy?
You know, I've been going back and forth on that one.
[gasps] Make her a heroine! Oh, it's so much more romantic.
- Yeah... - Then again, a spy is sexier.
Hmm! You know what?
- [whispers] Double agent. - [fan exclaims]
Oh!
Could you inscribe it to Sherri, please? I'm Sherri.
So is it an "I" or a "Y"?
Either is fine.
You recognize me, non? Book Three.
[in French] Of course, of course! Camille Toussaint. How are you?
Very well, sir. Very well.
Merry Christmas, Camille.
Thank you so much!
[in English] Make it out to Todd and Mark.
Sure.
Oh, make that Mark and Todd. I read the book first.
[Todd] No way. Don't you remember? Your sister gave it to me.
- No, your sister gave it to me... - [Jacob] Tell you what, fellas.
You know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna go ahead and sign two books.
One for each of you, okay?
My treat. There you go.
So, are you staying in the city for the holidays?
I'm afraid not.
- Gotta get home to my girl, Ava. - Oh.
I didn't know that you were...
Well, she's a very lucky woman.
- Merry Christmas. - Merry Christmas.
[upbeat jazz music playing]
[sweet music playing]
Ava, hon, I'm home!
Ava?
- [whines and barks] - Come here! Come here, baby.
What's up? How are you? Come here! Hi! Hi!
- Welcome home, Mr. Jacob. - Oh, thanks, Svet. Thanks.
[Jacob] Hi, how are you? Hello!
- Everything under control? Yeah? - Mmm-hmm.
- Yeah. Refrigerator is full. Ava has bath. - Yeah. Okay.
I bring in extra firewood.
Oh, and, uh, fan mail.
Oof.
[laughs] More even than last book, I think.
Wow. Okay, fan mail. Look at that.
Now I know what I'm doing for the next couple weeks, right?
Thank you for holding down the fort while I was gone.
- Mmm-hmm. - Oh, I almost forgot.
- This, Svetlana, is for you. - Oh!
Happy holidays.
- And, you know, thank you for everything. - Oh, thank you.
You're gonna be okay, Mr. Jacob?
Okay? Yeah, what do you mean? It's me. Of course. I'm always okay.
But also always alone.
I'm alone because I prefer it that way, you know that. Besides, I'm not alone.
I got my best girl here, Ava. She'll keep me company.
- See you next year, Mr. Jacob. - Yeah! See you, you know...
Ava! [clicks tongue] Come here.
Let's, uh, see what we got here.
[sighs]
[festive music playing on radio]
[channels switching rapidly]
["Silent Night" playing on radio]
No.
- [jazz music playing on radio] - Ah, there we go. All right.
I could get down with that. That's good. That is good.
[exhales]
[jazz music continues]
[phone ringing]
[ringing stops]
[ringing resumes]
- Hello? - [man] Hi, is this, uh, Jacob Turner?
Yeah, this is,
but, you know, I don't need my carpets cleaned, or a home loan, or...
Yeah. Uh, Mr. Turner, apologies. I was, uh... hesitant to leave a message.
My name is Matt Segreto. I'm an attorney...
Oh, let me guess. You have a client who claims I stole one of their ideas.
No, um...
I'm the executor of your mother's estate.
I'm sorry. You're, uh... What was that?
I really am sorry to be the one to tell you. Uh...
She passed last week.
I thought you knew.
No, I... I didn't know that.
[somber music playing]
[Jacob] My mother and I hadn't spoken in a long time.
Our relationship was, uh...
complicated.
[Matt on phone] I understand.
She left everything to you, um, her house and all her furnishings.
There's some paperwork that needs to be signed.
Um, I can arrange to meet you in Bridgeport one day next week,
if that's convenient.
[wistful music playing]
- [Matt] Mr. Turner. - Hey!
Matt Segreto.
- Thanks for meeting me out here. - Yeah.
- I'm so sorry for your loss. - Thank you.
Place must bring back a lot of memories.
You have no idea.
- [Jacob] You just, uh... - Yeah.
- [objects clatter] - [Matt] Oh!
[Jacob] Careful.
Whoa.
[Matt] Ugh.
Yeah, neighbors said she rarely left the house.
And when they dropped by, she never let them in.
Now I know why.
Should be a piano hiding over here somewhere.
Um, yep. According to the inventory, it's a Steinway Model S, 1940.
It's worth about 40 grand.
[Jacob] Hmm.
From the look of things, you're gonna be doing a lot of trash runs.
Do you want me to get a dumpster rental for you?
Huh?
Oh, uh... Yeah.
- Thanks. - Yeah.
And, um, Mr. Turner...
Jake. [chuckles]
I hate to bother you, but my wife is just a huge fan, and, um...
Okay. [clears throat]
You know, us Regular Joes can never really live up
to the super-suave dudes in your books. [laughs]
Those dudes aren't real, Matt.
Yeah, tell that to my wife.
Her name's Mercedes.
Like the car.
[chuckles] Right.
- Here you go. - Thank you.
[wistful music playing]
[choir singing Christmas carols]
Come on, babe.
[singing continues]
All right, you ready? Hop on up.
Good girl.
[singing continues]
Simply exquisite.
Ellie, is that you?
Jacob, you came!
Of course.
I don't know, somehow I assumed that you'd send an assistant or someone,
I guess because you're so famous now.
No, some things you gotta do on your own. So good to see you. You look great.
You too. It's been a long time. What, it's 20 years, probably?
- You were about 18 when you left. - 17 when I left.
[Ellie] That was a really tough time for you.
[Jacob] Yeah, it was.
But, you know, I always knew you'd be a writer.
[chuckles]
You were an interesting kid.
You had a wonderful imagination, and you loved words.
I remember sitting in your den for hours, playing online Scrabble.
Oh, whenever your mom had a really bad day.
Mom had a lot of bad days, didn't she?
She was never the same.
[somber music playing]
[Jacob] None of us were.
[choir singing festive music]
- They're good! - [Ellie laughs]
- Oh, wonderful. - [Jacob] That's sweet. Thank you.
- [Ellie] Bye-bye now. - Bye.
Hey, are you still painting?
You might as well ask if I'm still breathing.
Listen, I'm glad I ran into you. It's good to see you.
I'm about ready to take off. I gotta, um...
I gotta come back tomorrow and tackle another room.
It's gotta be really, really hard going through all her stuff.
Yeah. What was it that Robert Frost always said?
He said, "The best way out is always through," right?
Although I'm pretty sure he never met a hoarder.
I would imagine not.
[bittersweet music playing]
[Jacob] It's lonely out here.
And I miss you.
[sighs]
[bittersweet music continues]
Oh, God! Oh, come on!
[Ava barking]
Oh, come on, Mom, really?
- What? - [Ava whines]
[intriguing music playing]
[playing soft melody]
[knock on door]
Still like a grilled cheese with tomato soup?
I figured you'd probably worked up a pretty good appetite by now.
You kidding? I'm starving.
- Does she like tomato soup? Is this okay? - She loves it. Yeah. Yeah, it's great.
[Ellie] Oh, there you go.
- Oh, she does! - Look at that!
We don't know how to thank you. Do we, Ava?
- You could put me in your next novel. - Whoa, whoa, hold on a second.
You actually read my novels?
I'm probably the only one of your readers who can recognize some of the characters.
Like whom, for instance?
- Well, in Green Eyes. - Green Eyes of Paris.
Yeah, the photographer.
Beautiful, strong woman who has a breakdown.
Well, that one's pretty obvious, though, right?
There's another character I recognize, you know, in The Final Midnight.
The father of the soldier.
Very minor character, though. Sort of like in real life.
Your memories of him can't be all that bad if you're still wearing his watch.
He came to your mother's funeral. Did you know that?
To pay his respects, but I'm pretty sure he was hoping to see you there.
No, I don't...
I don't think so, no.
And the funeral... the funeral, I feel...
It's understandable, but it doesn't matter anymore.
That was then. This is now.
Thanks.
- [Ellie] And can I ask you a question? - Yeah.
- It's personal. - Sure.
[Ellie] Um...
Am I too old for this?
[Jake laughs] Are...
- This is your question? - Yes.
No! No.
- Seriously? - This is perfect.
Have you tried one of these? Of course not. Why would you?
You got women linin' up on your doorstep.
[laughing] I do not have women lining up on my doorstep.
I see those magazines at the supermarket. You date movie stars.
[laughing] All right. Listen, they will print anything.
But the answer to your question, no, I have not tried a dating app,
but I think you absolutely should.
I have to write something.
- Dating profile? - Yeah.
I know a writer. May I?
- You're gonna write my profile? Oh! - It would be my pleasure.
Hmm.
[emotional music playing]
- [knock on door] - Come on in, Ellie. Door's open.
- Hello? - You're not Ellie.
Uh, no. No, I'm not.
No, it's just... I thought you were my neighbor.
Oh, sorry.
You were here before, right?
- You were across the street? - Yeah. Yeah, that was me.
I'm not some kind of weird stalker or anything,
if that's what you're thinking.
No, I didn't think you were. Could you close the door behind you?
- Do you mind? - Yeah, of course. Yeah, um...
What can I do for you?
- [Ava whines] - Hey. He's cute. Good boy.
Girl, actually. That's Ava.
- Cool name. Hey, Ava. - [whines]
[laughs] Um...
This is the Turner residence, right?
[sighs] Sort of. Sort of. Uh, I'm Jake Turner.
Great. Nice to meet you, Mr. Turner.
My name's Rachel Campbell. And the reason I'm here...
Sorry, this is a little complicated, but I'm trying to find my mother.
And I think you might be able to help me.
She used to live here a long time ago, I think. I hope.
Your mother lived here in this house?
Yeah, um, when I was born...
Rather, right before I was born, she lived...
This is Scott and Lois Turner's house, right?
Yeah. Uh, well, yeah. My parents.
Great. So, yeah, my birth mother, she lived here and she worked for them.
Your mother worked for my parents?
From what I can tell, she was actually their nanny.
- [fire crackling loudly] - [Rachel] Um...
Whoa! No! Oh, whoa, whoa! No, no, no! Okay, hold on! Hold...
Ow! That's hot.
You need a hand?
[chuckling] No, no, it's...
- I got it under control. - Okay.
- [Jacob] Ah, forget it. - Okay.
So what brings Nancy Drew to the Turner house, anyway?
- If you don't mind me asking. - [laughs]
It wasn't easy. My adoption file was sealed.
But a friend of mine worked for the Connecticut Records Department.
By law, he couldn't tell me my mom's name,
but he could tell me her last known address which was here, so...
I understand, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I...
I was just about ready to head out. I wish I could help you.
- I don't think I can, though. - No, I totally understand.
I guess I just gotta learn to leave the table.
Nina Simone.
That's right. Yeah, she's the best.
- One of your favorites? - She is.
- You got any others? - Uh, Peggy Lee, Ella, Lady Day.
- Aretha. - Mmm. Oh, don't forget about Gladys.
[laughs] Oh, Gladys the Baddest. My dad...
He was my own personal musicologist, taught me everybody.
Like Little Richard, Marvin Gaye.
- Marvin. We lost him when I was a kid. - '84.
- Yeah. Yep. - You in music or something?
No. No, no, I'm a...
- I write a little bit. - Really? Cool! Anything I know?
Uh... You know, no, probably not.
- No? Anything I'd like? - No. No, probably not. [laughs]
- Struggling artist? I get it. - Ah...
Well, I guess we're all struggling in one way or another, huh?
Ain't that the truth.
Listen, I'm sorry I couldn't help you with your mom.
Yeah. Don't apologize.
Honestly, just being in the house where she once lived makes me feel...
I don't know... [sighs] ...more connected to her somehow.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Anyway, thanks.
- Um, thank you. Yeah. - Oh.
Oops. [laughs] Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas to you. - Thank you.
- [Jacob] Wait, Ellie. Wait... Rachel! - [car driving off]
Rachel, wait!
[Ava barking]
[Jacob pants]
I have an idea.
Thing is, my neighbor's been living here for years, and I was thinking she...
[Ellie chuckling] I feel the same way.
[laughs]
Well, that was quick.
[Rachel] What?
Uh, nothing. I'll explain later.
Listen, why don't I, um, give you my phone number?
And then you can just text me tomorrow.
- I'm sure I'll have spoken to her by then. - Oh, that would be great.
Actually, you know what? Um...
I think I might just wait until she's back.
- I'll wait in my car. - You sure? She might be a while.
- I've come this far, so... - Okay.
- Yup.
Thanks.
- Hey. - Hey.
What's up?
Are you hungry? I was gonna grab a bite, if you're hungry.
- [Rachel] Very cool. - Mmm-hmm.
- So is this an old haunt or... - No.
I haven't been here in years, actually,
but my mom used to take me here a lot when I was a kid.
- She loved this place. - I can see why. It's nice.
- Welcome to Trattoria Toscana. - Thank you.
I am Vittorio. May I share tonight's specials?
[in Italian] Sure. Thank you so much.
- [Vittorio] Ah, do you speak Italian? - Oh, yes.
- [Vittorio] Very good! - [both laughing]
For the first course, I recommend the pumpkin tortelli.
[Rachel] Mmm!
Next, I would suggest a nice baked sea bass.
We prepare it very lightly with a drizzle of olive oil, lemon, and rosemary.
Mmm! [speaking Italian]
[laughing] Yes! Oh, no. No, no, no.
- [both laughing] - Uh, I'll take the pasta of the day.
- Good. - Thank you.
[in English] Could you repeat in English?
No, no, it's... it's fine. I'll just have whatever she's having.
- Ah. - Oh, and a glass of wine, please.
- Do you want one? - Uh, no, no.
You sure?
[in Italian] Two glasses of classic Chianti please.
- [Vittorio] Very good. - Oh, uh, um... Separate checks?
- Ah, but of course. Yes. - Thank you.
- [in English] What's that last thing? - Oh, it's, um...
- Separate checks. Yeah. - Separate checks?
You're a writer and I just want to respect that.
Both of my parents are artists. They make and sell their own jewelry.
So as you can imagine, it's, uh...
there have been times when the bills have been challenging.
So I figure it's better to...
I'm sure you can understand and appreciate that sometimes it's...
- Thank you. I appreciate it. Nice of you. - Yeah. Yeah, of course.
So you speak fluent Italian. How'd that happen?
Well, actually, I also speak French and German.
Little bit of Mandarin.
- You speak a little Mandarin? - A bit.
[in Mandarin] I kid you not!
[in English] No, it's... I'm a language major, so...
- Got it. Cool. You don't hear that... - Grazie.
Thank you very much.
Um, so how do you while away the hours these days?
Actually, I just applied for a job as a translator at the UN.
- It's a long shot. - Long shot? Why is it a long shot?
Isn't everything?
Mm.
[phone vibrating]
- Um, sorry, I should take this. - Sure. No problem.
- One second. - Sure.
I'll see you at the table, all right? Welcome home, stranger!
Dion, hey! How are you?
- Man, how long has it been? - It's been a while. 12th grade.
Yeah, you disappeared. Where did you go to college, anyway?
You know, I didn't go. I ended up... I went to Paris. School of life.
Oh, that's right. You look exactly the same.
[laughs]
Only richer.
Ah...
Is it true they're turning your new book into a movie?
I don't know. I mean, this is what they say.
- Hometown hero. - Thank you very much. You're very kind.
- It's great seeing you, man. - Good to see you.
Sorry about that.
- Where were we? - We were, um...
Potential job. UN. Long shot.
Yeah, it's...
I don't know, with this new job, it could be challenging. I don't know.
- We may have to move and it's just... - "We"?
Yeah, Alan and me.
- And Alan is? - Oh, God, sorry. Alan's my fiancé.
Oh, you're engaged?
Mmm-hmm. Yeah.
Hey, congratulations. I love love.
- Great. Thank you. - Cheers. This is wonderful.
Um, we haven't set a date yet.
And Alan wants to, but if I do get this job, then...
I don't... We'll just have to figure it out, I guess.
Haven't even looked for engagement rings yet.
Well, we went last week, and I don't know, I couldn't pick anything.
So I just... we just left and then...
Actually, this was kind of cute. On the walk home, he gave me this.
[chuckles]
- [Jacob] What's that? - It's...
Cigar ring.
Believe it or not, this silly ring came as kind of a relief.
- Yeah? - I'm not into all that
"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" kind of stuff.
The truth is I'm kind of ambivalent about the concept of being engaged.
- Mmm-hmm. - One the one hand, I like the certainty,
but on the other, it makes you feel kind of boxed in, you know?
Yeah, no, "boxed in" is something I've managed to avoid my entire life.
[Rachel laughs]
In my case, it's tricky 'cause Alan likes doing things by the book.
And it's important to respect what the other person wants. Right?
- Mmm-hmm. - But he's a tax attorney!
He's very, very good at his job, and he's super precise.
Believe me, he'll be the one planning our wedding
down to the very last place card.
It's gonna run like clockwork.
And the good thing is, then I promise I'll shut up,
but I think, I don't know, Alan and I complement one another.
And that's how it's... It's supposed to be like that, right?
I mean, I'm not an expert on the subject, but, yeah, that sounds about right.
Well, for better or worse, I am.
I don't know, I think being adopted, I'm just...
I'm always trying to fill some kind of void.
I'm always looking for security and reliability,
and that's why I think if I find my real... my birth mom, it's...
I don't know, it'll resolve this huge uncertainty in my life and then...
- I don't know. - You'll be free.
- Yeah. - Come on.
[Rachel] Honestly, I really would have been happy to split it.
[Jacob] Oh, come on. No, it was my pleasure.
Good food, good company.
[car turns off]
Huh.
That's a three-hour date.
I guess the universe really does reward the brave.
[Rachel laughs]
[sighs] I should probably tackle another room.
[Rachel] Ah.
Hey, um, I was actually wondering, do you think there's a...
there's a chance your parents kept something of my mother's?
A card? A photo?
Anything?
- [Rachel grunts] Yeah. Okay. - Be careful now.
- [Jacob] You got it? All right. - Yeah. Okay.
- [Jacob] Plop it right here's fine. - Oh, God.
[both pant]
- Is there a dead body in there? - I'm afraid to look to be honest with you.
- Hey, who played? - Huh?
Oh, my mom forced me to take lessons when I was a kid.
- At first, I pretty much hated it. - And then?
Then it made her really happy to hear me play, so...
Will you play something for me?
- Play something for you? Come on. No. - Seriously.
Seriously, I wanna see if the piano sounds as beautiful as it looks.
Please?
All right. It's been a while, so I'm probably a little rusty.
[plays "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" on piano]
- Hmm. - [playing continues]
[chuckles]
♪ 'Cause your mama's all alone ♪
[playing continues]
♪ I have tried in vain ♪
♪ Never more to call your name ♪
♪ When you left, you broke my heart ♪
♪ 'Cause I never thought we'd part ♪
♪ Every hour in the day You will hear me say ♪
♪ Baby, won't you please come home? ♪
♪ Oh, home ♪
♪ Baby ♪
♪ Won't you please come home? ♪
[playing ends]
Wow.
[heartwarming music playing]
[indistinct chatter and laughing]
[heartwarming music intensifies]
[Rachel] Ah! Young love.
- [Ellie] Hi! - So how was the date?
It went well.
Just well?
It went very well.
Hmm!
This is my friend, Rachel.
- [Ellie] Hi! - Hi, nice to meet you.
Rachel's got a question I think maybe only you can answer.
[Ellie] Of course, I remember her.
She was a babysitter, a live-in babysitter,
like, you know, like an au pair.
[Rachel] Right. Right, sure.
She was very young. Seventeen, maybe 18 at the most.
She must have moved before the baby was born.
Do you remember her name or...
Gosh, that's a good question.
Seems like it had something to do with Christmas,
like, um, Christina or Joy.
I'm drawing a blank, but you know who would know?
- Who's that? - Your dad.
Oh. Oh, no.
No, I don't, um... No.
Well, anyway, he lives in Vermont now.
It's way up in the mountains in a little town called Cornwall Bridge,
living pretty much off the grid.
How do you... [sighs] How do you know all that?
When I saw him at the funeral, we had a nice long chat.
You know, I really don't think there would be any harm in talking...
"Harm in talking"? No, there will be harm.
I haven't spoken to the guy in 35 years, Ellie, come on.
[hesitates] No, I'm aware, but...
No, no, no. I'm... Excuse me.
- [thunder rumbling] - [Jacob sighs]
Sorry. It's, uh...
- [door closes] - [Ellie] Oh, Jacob.
Now you know why he stayed away so long.
It would be good for him if he could get over it.
[thunder breaking]
- [Jacob] Rachel! Rachel, wait! - What?
- Listen. - Yeah?
I know all that stuff in there with my dad probably seemed irrational.
Oh, no, Jake, please. You don't owe me any explanation, okay?
I'm just some stranger who showed up on your doorstep.
You don't owe me anything.
You've already helped me, like, a lot. So thank you. And...
I really hope you have a lovely... a lovely Christmas.
You headed home?
Um...
No, I'm going to Cornwall Bridge.
I need to know if I ever mattered to her. Maybe you've wondered that about your dad?
Truth is, if I ever saw him, I wouldn't know what to say to him.
Well, maybe if you're up for a drive,
we could script a few lines.
[uplifting music playing]
[Jacob] Come on.
Hop on up.
You're leaving! I guess it's, uh, time to head home?
Well, yes and no, actually.
- How you doing? Jake Turner. Pleasure. - Oh, Ian Page. Pleased to meet you.
- I'm a big fan of your work, really. - Oh, thank you.
I told Ian that you basically wrote my profile.
Ah, well, you know, she made me take out all the racy stuff.
[laughs] Well, all's I can say is meeting Eleanor
is the greatest Christmas surprise I could ask for.
Aw.
Ian plays first violin with the Hartford Symphony.
Is that right? That's impressive.
- That's great. - Thanks, mate.
What did you mean when you said you were leaving, "Yes and no"?
Yes, I'm leaving. No, I'm not going home.
Uh, Rachel's supposed to be...
- Oh, there she is. Hey. - Hey.
She's convinced me... And you, uh...
I'm gonna go see my dad.
Jacob.
Good for you.
Well, the universe rewards the brave, right?
[expectant music playing]
You ready for this?
[sighs] Absolutely not. You?
No.
Let's go.
♪ Sha la da la la ♪
♪ Christmas time ♪
♪ Sha la da la la ♪
♪ Christmas time... ♪
[Jacob] Don't you think Waze would be easier?
Yeah, of course it would. But maps are so much nicer, it's like a...
tactile thing in a virtual world, you know?
Yeah, I know. I had this idea... I had this idea for a book about that.
- A Stephen King thriller-type thing. - Yeah?
Yeah, yeah, so here's what I came up with. There's this couple, right?
- They're on their honeymoon. - Okay.
And they're in a rental car.
The GPS is, like, possessed or something, or maybe the ex-boyfriend hacked into it.
That might be better, I'm not sure. Anyway.
Whatever the case, the GPS leads them into mortal danger.
You hate it. Bad? It's bad.
No, no, no! You know, I like it. I like it.
But what happens next?
I mean, like, after they're in mortal danger.
Yeah, I don't... That's as far as I got. Never wrote it.
- [laughs] All right. - That's it.
Well, as my dad said, "No creative idea's ever wasted."
- So there you go. - I like that.
[Rachel] Okay, in three miles, take I-91 North.
- [Jacob] 91 North. You got it. - Yup.
[Rachel] Alan always gets kind of annoyed when I give him directions.
- Really? - He says he doesn't need a co-pilot.
I could use any navigational help I can get.
[chuckles]
Speaking of Alan,
what's he think about this, um, this job you applied for in New York?
Um, actually, I, uh...
He doesn't... I haven't told him about it yet.
What's he think about this trip to Cornwall Bridge?
Uh, he's not thrilled. He's not thrilled.
And actually he was kind of... peeved.
Yeah. No, let me guess, it's, uh...
He's upset that you are taking a road trip with this guy you just met?
No, actually. No, it was, um...
It was about the... the gas money.
No, it's just like one of those little Alan quirks.
[Jacob] Okay.
It's no big deal, and in the grand scheme of things, it's meaningless, right?
I'm kind of insulted. He's not concerned about me, right?
- He's concerned about gas money. - Well, he doesn't know about you.
[softly] Oh.
[Rachel] As it turns out, I didn't really know about you either.
- What are you talking about? - I finally broke down and I Googled you.
- Oh, come on. - And, honestly, I tried to put it off.
Because I really don't like looking people up.
It always seems like an intrusion, somehow.
- Uh-huh. - But now... I'm really glad I did.
- No. - 'Cause now I know you're this,
like, super-famous, best-selling novelist, so...
Uh, super famous is a bit of a stretch, I think.
Well, um, five million copies sold...
It's like five and a half at this point, but it's okay, who's counting?
And number one on The New York Times Best Seller List.
- I got lucky. - And, uh, translated into 30 languages.
- I think that makes you super famous. - Oh.
Here was little old me worried about how you were gonna pay for dinner.
Hey, do you mind grabbing my wallet? It's in the backpack in the back there.
[Rachel] Sure.
Oh!
- Thank you very much. - Mmm-hmm.
[car door closes]
[soft intriguing music playing]
[car door opens]
- [grunts] - Jake, do you know what this is?
No. You know what? I just, uh...
That was in a box marked "personal" at my mom's.
I just kinda picked it up, and I didn't look at it. What is it?
[voice breaking] Okay, listen to this.
"My name is Noel Ellis."
"I'm 17 years old, and I'm having a baby."
This is my mother's diary.
I know it.
Her name is Noel. I can't believe this.
[laughing incredulously] I can't... I just... I can't...
"My parents sent me away to have my baby."
"They're ashamed of me."
[Noel] And they're ashamed of the child I'm bringing into this world.
And so, I'm leaving.
"They truly believe it's wrong for a woman to have a child outside of marriage."
"'God disapproves, ' they say."
[Noel] But doesn't God forgive our mistakes?
Everyone I know and trust has abandoned me.
"Thankfully, this really kind family hired me as their nanny."
[Noel] The Turners are a family of four.
[Rachel] "Scott and Lois and their little boys, Benjamin and Jacob."
[train whistle blowing]
[Noel] Benji's seven and has loads of energy.
Jake is four, and he's the quiet one.
Do you have any memory of that? I know you were little, but...
I really don't.
[Noel] He likes me to read the Magic Tree House books to him.
So where's Ben now?
Oh, there was this, um,
snowstorm. It was around Christmas.
We had...
We had this giant elm tree in our front yard.
Benji loved to climb and he was in that tree all the time.
And that night,
Ben decided he was gonna climb as high as he could in that tree.
And hang his favorite ornament...
[melancholy music playing]
[inaudible]
[melancholy music continues]
[Rachel] ♪ Don't know why ♪
♪ There's no sun up in the sky Stormy weather... ♪
[vocalizing softly]
[Jake sighs]
Sorry about earlier, I got so emotional talking about my brother.
No, it's...
You don't need to apologize. I understand.
Thanks.
It's been over 30 years, you know? You'd think I'd be able to...
talk about it.
You know that saying, "Time heals all wounds"?
Mmm.
It doesn't.
[bittersweet music playing]
[Noel] It's been two months now,
and I still haven't heard a word from either of my parents or Peter.
[Rachel] "One day in my room, I just couldn't stop crying..."
[both] And there was this quiet knock on the door.
[Rachel] "And little Jacob came in."
[Noel] He laid his head on my shoulder, and it was as if he understood.
I love that kid more and more every day.
I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but...
[waitress] One New York, rare,
and one vegetarian plate, no peppers, no carrots, no onions, sauce on the side.
Thank you. Perfect.
- Hey, can I ask you a question? - Can I stop you?
- No. - [chuckles]
Why is it that a handsome, successful guy like you is still single?
- Handsome? - Don't deflect.
Uh...
- I like to be alone, I guess, you know? - Hmm. Safer that way. I get it.
But you're engaged.
Still, there's always that, like, push-pull thing, you know?
- Mmm. - "Come closer."
- "I want to be alone." You know? - [chuckles] Mmm-hmm.
I mean, I've had relationships in the past, don't get me wrong.
I've had serious relationships in the past, a few of them anyway, but...
You know, in the end, they all just, uh...
In the end, I just wasn't what they were looking for, you know?
Maybe they weren't what you were looking for.
Uh, question.
What are the odds of us making it through the pass before the storm hits?
- Tonight? - Yeah.
Ooh, I'd say about...
zero.
- [Jacob] Percent? - Percent.
Why don't you check us in? I think Ava needs to stretch her legs.
- Sure! Meet you back here in 20? - Yeah.
All right.
[phone ringing]
[Rachel] Hey!
[Alan] Hey, stranger.
Look, I, uh, I wanted to apologize for the other night.
I know this stuff with your mom, trying to find her...
No, no, no, Alan. Don't worry. Don't worry. It's fine.
Uh, so, listen, on a forward-thinking note,
I had an idea for our engagement party.
[chuckles] Yeah?
Yeah, you know that Mexican restaurant you love, Casa Frida?
- Uh-huh. - So it's available Valentine's Day,
which is perfect for an engagement party, right?
Plus, they are giving us a phenomenal price.
Oh, that sounds great.
Yeah?
So my plan is give them a deposit first thing tomorrow morning.
Alan, can we just...
Can we just wait on Casa Frida?
Till I get back.
Of course, babe. Yeah. Whatever you want.
Um...
- When are you back? - Soon.
Okay. Love you.
I love you too.
[bittersweet music playing]
You're in luck! Got two rooms left.
Great! Terrific.
You know, if this were a rom-com, you'd have one room left.
We'd have to share it.
Rom-com?
Romantic comedy, rom-com.
- Oh, right! - Yeah.
Well, if it helps,
the rooms are connected.
[chuckles nervously]
Okay, I'm sorry, you're closing.
I was gonna head to the pageant, but it can wait.
How can I help?
I was wondering if you had any books by Jacob Turner?
[chuckles] Of course! How far along are you in the series?
Uh... I'm at the beginning, so I don't know.
Okay! You want Book One, Green Eyes of Paris. We should have that.
Great! So what's it about?
Paris in the '40s.
The French Resistance, espionage, forbidden love.
Oh, wow. Sounds pretty...
Riveting, right? And trust me, it is.
The world this guy creates,
it's like you're actually there with his characters.
It's what makes the book so absorbing.
That's probably why I have such a hard time
keeping them on the shelves.
Ah! Look at that, you're in luck.
Thanks.
Not bad.
Yeah, and he writes almost as good as he looks.
- [Jacob] Hey. - Hey.
So, what do you think? Should we call it a night, or...
"Or." Definitely "or."
Yeah! Yeah, yeah, come on.
[festive music playing]
Merry Christmas!
- There you are. - [customer] Thank you.
[festive music continues]
[indistinct chatter and laughter]
- [Jacob] Look at this. - Look at this! Hi! So cute.
[Jacob] You better knock it off. She'll get jealous.
[Rachel laughing]
- [Jacob] Incredible. - [Rachel] I love it here.
- How are you? - Hi!
- Do you mind if we have... - [vendor] Absolutely.
- Thank you! You're giving these away? - [vendor] On the house.
- Thank you! - It's my favorite town.
- [Jacob] Smells great. - Happy holidays.
Oh, wow, look at that! I haven't seen this film in years.
- [Rachel] I've never seen it. - You're kidding. You're in for a treat.
Excuse me, are you two together?
Oh, no.
Yeah? Well, yeah. We were, you know...
Maybe we are.
- Smooth. - [Rachel laughing]
You okay?
I'm shakin' the dust of this crummy little town off my feet
and I'm gonna see the world!
- Italy, Greece... - [inaudible]
[heartwarming music playing]
[Rachel] Wow! That may be the best movie I've ever seen.
[Ava barking]
[Jacob] He wondered if this journey was about to take an unexpected turn.
[Rachel gasps] Oh, my God. No way.
[knocking]
Everything okay in there?
- Hi. - Hi.
Yeah, I'm fine.
Great.
- I just... I heard... I thought I heard a... - Oh, yeah, no.
[laughs] Thanks for checking, though. Appreciate it.
[nervously] Okay. Just, uh... Well, just have a...
- [Rachel] Good night. - Good night.
[soft expectant music playing]
[Rachel faintly] No way!
[Rachel faintly] Oh!
[exclaims]
[Jacob] How'd you sleep?
[Rachel] Um...
[laughs] Actually, I was up last night reading.
- Anything interesting? - Uh, yeah, very.
- Yeah? - Green Eyes of Paris.
- You know that one? [laughing] - I've heard of it. You...
[laughs] You bought my book and you didn't tell me?
Yeah, well, I didn't...
- I didn't wanna tell you just in case... - Just in case what?
In case I didn't like it.
- In case you didn't like it? - Yeah.
And?
Well...
No, it's okay. You can tell me. It's fine. My ego is, uh...
I think I can handle it.
- What's up? What did you think? - Okay, well, um...
- You know, I find it interesting... - Yeah.
...that you write these novels filled with suspense, and drama, romance,
and yet your main character, Henri,
he never lets anyone get close to him.
It's kinda like what we were talking about last night.
Henri lives in occupied France, right? He can't trust anybody.
Well, yeah, but...
This isn't occupied America. So what's your excuse?
On the other hand...
um...
- I really loved the book. - Yeah?
I loved it! It was just...
God, the ending?
That was...
It kind of blew me away.
Good. Good, good, good.
The endings are, uh... ending, it's...
They're always hard to get right, you know. Yeah.
Any thoughts on the current story? You gonna get that ending right?
[chuckling]
[upbeat music playing]
- [Rachel laughs] - [car engine starting]
[Noel] I found out today I'm having a girl,
a sweet, little baby girl.
Before I left home, my parents told me not to name my baby.
"Because it would only make it harder to say goodbye."
"But I've already... given her a name."
[Noel] My angel.
[wistful music playing]
Um, can you pull over? I... I need... I need some air.
- You sure? It's freezing outside. - Yeah, please.
[Jacob] Okay. Sure.
Hey. Come on.
Ah! It's freezing out here. Here you go.
You all right?
[gentle music playing]
[voice breaking] Why would she leave it behind?
Why go through the trouble of writing everything down
and documenting all these details if she wasn't...
if she was just gonna abandon it?
I don't know.
You know, maybe she thought it would find its way back to you, eventually?
Or maybe she just wanted to forget everything.
Like it never existed.
- Like I never existed. - [quietly] No.
I'm supposed to be engaged. I'm supposed to be getting married.
[romantic music playing]
[Ava barks]
[Ava whining and barking]
- [Jacob] Oh, no! What are you... No, wait! - [barking continues]
- Come on! where are you... No! - Ava? Ava!
- [barking continues] - [Jacob] Ava!
Ava, no!
[whistling loudly] Ava Turner, get back here right now!
[whines]
[barks]
- What were you gonna do if you caught it? - Yeah.
[laughs] That was incredible.
[sighs]
Guess life's all about the chase, huh, Turner?
[upbeat music playing]
[upbeat music continues]
- [Jacob] I think we took a wrong turn. - [Rachel laughs]
- You mean you hope we took a wrong turn? - Exactly.
[Rachel chuckles]
Please tell me the universe really does reward the brave.
You got this.
[sighs] Here we go.
[gentle music playing]
[Jacob] It was a day he had both been anticipating...
and dreading.
[gentle music continues]
[axe striking]
Jacob.
You know, Eleanor called to say you might be coming.
I told her I didn't believe it,
but she said over and over again, "Just be prepared."
Are you?
Yeah! I...
I'm cutting down this Christmas tree for you.
I've only been waiting for this moment for 30-odd years, and now that it's here...
Yeah.
Same.
[grunts]
Mind giving me a hand?
Plus, if it's just you, what's the point, right?
[Jacob] Yeah, well, if it's any consolation, I've never had a tree,
so you're ahead of me.
[Scott] All right. Welcome to my humble abode.
Here we go.
- Now just set this end down here. - Yeah.
[Scott] Can you tip it up?
- Gotta get the stand. - [Jacob] All right.
- You live out here all alone? - I do!
- All right. - [Jacob] Ellie painted that, right?
Good eye. Yeah, that's hers.
All right.
- I think that should do it. - [Jacob] Yeah?
- Look at that. - [Scott] Good job.
- [phone ringing] - [Scott] Oh. Excuse me.
[ringing continues]
[in background] Scott Turner. Hello?
Yes.
[wistful music playing]
[Scott] See you then.
[grunts] Sorry about that.
That was, uh, one of my clients.
- Your clients? What do you do? - I'm a social worker at the VA.
Social, you're trying to do some good in the world?
[chuckles]
Underline "trying."
You know, I bought these forever ago when I first moved in,
and I never even took them out of the box.
Think they still work?
I don't know.
Jake...
I know an apology doesn't mean a whole lot after all these years...
You know what? It's...
You can save it.
I didn't come out here for a, uh, you know, reconciliation.
I'm only here to help a friend, honestly.
- A friend? - Yeah, a friend. It's a long story.
Well, since you're here, can I at least say what I've been waiting...
I'd, I'd... I'd really rather you didn't.
I am sorry.
[mutters] You're sorry.
I am deeply, deeply sorry.
[chuckles]
[grunts]
Yeah. Good.
Good. So we're all set then.
You know, um,
you left me alone with Mom,
and then you run up here, and you just disappear altogether...
[shouts] And you're sorry?
God! I said I wasn't gonna do this.
Uh, you know what? This was a mistake. I can't do this.
- Jake! - Enjoy your tree.
- Hey! - No, I can't handle this.
- I thought this was a good idea. Let's go. - What?
Wait, just take a breath, okay? Take a breath.
You know, if you walk away now, that's it, right?
It's over. Forever.
- Well, it's been over for 35 years... - Stop! Jake.
If you leave now,
you are doing exactly what he did.
Right?
Why don't you just try being the first adult in your family not to take the exit?
Please.
[gentle music playing]
[Scott] Jake, it's just so hard to talk about...
but two days before Christmas,
we had the biggest snowstorm of the winter.
And Benji, like every year,
couldn't wait to hang his favorite ornament
high up in the branches of our old elm tree.
He'd climbed up so many times to that platform that I'd built for you guys.
[grunts]
- Oh! - [ladder creaks]
[Benji exhales]
[Scott] I knew the branches could be slippery...
but he was such a determined little guy.
I thought, "I'll just let him hang the ornament."
[branch cracks]
[Scott] The sound of that branch cracking will never leave me.
[somber music playing]
I was Benji's father.
I should have stopped him.
The following April,
I cut down that tree.
It didn't help at all.
[sighs]
And after Noel left,
your mom and I just...
couldn't comfort each other anymore.
And it got to the point where one of us had to leave.
I wanted to take you with me,
but I just couldn't do that to her.
You were all she had left.
[sighs] I told myself that with you there,
somehow she'd find her way back.
[Scott sniffles and grunts]
You know, you used to love stringing the lights when you were little.
You remember?
[uplifting music playing softly]
[Rachel] So, tell me, be honest,
do you think we should go in or just let them be?
[whines]
[yaps]
Okay, I guess we'll let them be. Okay. I heard you.
["I'll Be Home For Christmas" playing]
You know, I tried to stay in touch.
At first, I called. Left messages for you. For years, I wrote letters to you.
I've never seen a letter or a message. Mom never told me.
- So are you married? - [laughs] Married? No, I'm not. No.
I read your first couple of books.
But my eyesight's not what it was, so I listened to the third one on audio.
I mean, it's the first time I got to hear your adult voice.
It was fantastic.
I love 'em.
[Jacob] Oh, I remember.
I think Benji called you a butterfingers...
[chatter continues inaudibly]
["I'll Be Home For Christmas" continues]
[inaudible]
♪ Where the love light gleams... ♪
That's beautiful.
Here's hoping.
♪ If only in my dreams... ♪
[gasps]
- There you go. - [Scott chuckles]
♪ I'll be home for Christmas... ♪
- Success! - [whines]
Didn't you say you came here to help a friend?
♪ My dreams ♪
[Scott] Hey. How's the weather?
It's chili!
Here it comes.
- Excuse me, girl. This is not for you. - [Rachel laughs]
Noel was a godsend.
After we lost Jacob's brother,
she was the glue that kept us from completely coming apart.
- Here you go. - Oh, thank you.
Now, bear with me.
I've been making this chili for myself for 35 years,
so I have no idea if it's safe for public consumption.
- Smells good. I'll tell you that. - All right, son, here you go.
[Rachel] Mmm.
Oh, it's more than safe. It's really good. Thank you.
- [Jacob] Mmm. That's great. - [Rachel] It's really great.
Fantastic.
So would you happen to know
where Noel moved or where she might live now?
[Scott] Oh...
You know, she sent me something years ago. Hold on.
- [Rachel] Really? - [Scott] Excuse me, baby.
[whispering] What do you think?
Um, you have his eyes.
Really?
Yeah.
It's a good thing.
Well...
[stifles laugh]
- [Scott] I, uh... Sorry. - [Ava whines]
I always held on to this. Don't ask me why.
Uh...
[sweet music playing]
It says she's gonna be living with her husband, Charles Hayden, in Ridgefield.
Noel Hayden.
[gentle music playing]
I gotta say it. You two would make a fantastic couple.
[both laughing]
- No, no, Rachel's engaged. - Yeah.
- Really? - Yeah, big time.
- Congratulations. - Thank you.
He must be a great guy because you are one heck of a catch.
- That she is. - Okay. [laughs]
So, you'll let me know how everything turns out?
Oh, of course. Of course. Thank you. Thank you so much.
You're welcome, sweetheart.
Wish me luck.
- Best of luck. - Thanks.
[murmurs]
I, uh...
- Thanks for wearing that watch, son. - Oh.
I can't tell you how much that means to me.
Yeah, come on. Come on.
[uplifting music playing]
You grew up good.
Real good.
Well, um, stay in touch.
- A hundred percent. - Okay.
[car starting]
[car driving off]
[sweet music playing]
[upbeat music playing]
[Rachel] You okay?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay. Thank you.
Yeah.
[Noel] Today, my sweet baby girl was born.
And I know I will never see her again.
"So I'm gonna leave this diary behind."
"Maybe someday she'll read it and understand how much I love her."
[Noel crying] And always will.
"And always will."
God, I hope that's true... [sniffles]
...what she said about loving me.
[sighs]
[Rachel] So I was thinking about Noel.
Should I call her first, or do you think I should just show up tomorrow?
- What do you... what do you think? - Hmm.
I think get some sleep and decide in the morning.
Yeah.
[chuckles] Like I'm gonna sleep.
[clerk] Um, let me just triple check to make sure.
Oh, gosh, I'm sorry, but we only have one room available.
- Oh, no, uh... - We'll take it.
[whines]
We'll take it?
Yeah, we'll...
- You know, we'll take it. - [clerk laughs] Great.
Thank you.
[romantic jazz music playing]
[Rachel] So...
Um...
I have a confession to make.
- Confession? - Yep.
Uh-oh! What'd she do?
Today is my birthday.
- No! - Yeah.
- Today's your birthday? - Yeah.
You're kidding. You're just now telling me this? This is...
- What? You should have said something. - Yeah.
This is a big deal. You should've said something.
You know, you, uh, we can... You know, it's a birthday. These are...
- [chuckling] What are you doing? - We're gonna celebrate your birthday!
Hi! This is Jake Turner from the Amber Suite.
I was wondering if...
Yeah, that Jake Turner. I... Thank you. I appreciate it.
Listen, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?
[voice fading] I've got a birthday girl up here. I just found out.
I know it's late notice, but do you have a birthday cake
or something, a dessert you can put candles in?
- [voice fading] - [romantic jazz music continues]
[Jacob] You do? Terrific.
Uh, you know what? Yes, more red wine.
And you might as well send up some champagne too
because it's a birthday, champagne is for celebrating.
Wonderful. Thank you very much.
[radio tuning]
["Merry Christmas Darling" by the Uniques playing]
- You wanna dance? - Really?
Yeah.
- Really? - Yeah, come on. It's my birthday.
It's your birthday. You're right. Okay.
♪ Merry Christmas, darling ♪
♪ And a happy New Year, too ♪
♪ I am so happy just being here with you ♪
♪ Your present, I will cherish ♪
♪ The wonderful gift of you ♪
♪ Moonlight is shining ♪
♪ Snow is falling down ♪
♪ Here we are together ♪
♪ True love we have found ♪
♪ Darling, let's make a resolution ♪
♪ Not for just a new year ♪
♪ But for a lifetime ♪
♪ Let's always be together ♪
♪ Come what might ♪
♪ And, darling... ♪
Happy birthday, Rachel.
Make a wish.
♪ Merry Christmas, darling ♪
Way ahead of you.
♪ I am so happy ♪
♪ Just being here with you ♪
♪ So I give you my present ♪
♪ I love you ♪
[song fading]
[Rachel] Dear Jake.
First of all, I want you to know that last night was beautiful.
And I'd be lying if I didn't admit
that I've been thinking about it since the moment we met.
But I woke up in the middle of the night feeling confused.
Really, really confused.
And the thing is Alan really loves me,
and that's not nothing.
And you have a very different life
with best-selling books, and a million Instagram followers,
and I'm...
just getting launched,
which I totally understand, at least to the extent that I can.
It's just that I'm a person who needs a lot of certainty in their life.
And this time with you, wonderful though it was,
it isn't that.
So I think it's better that we part company now
before it's too late,
at least for me.
And I realized something else,
thanks to you.
My whole life, I thought my mother didn't want me
and that I needed to find her and ask her why.
But now that I've read her diary, I know that she did truly love me,
and that's all that really matters.
Thank you for everything,
for going on this wild, life-changing ride with me.
I'll never, ever forget it.
And, lastly,
I'll never, ever forget you.
- Pardon me, the, uh, nurses' station? - Um, down the hall, to the right.
- To the right. Thank you. - Welcome.
Excuse me. Hi, can you tell me where to find Noel Hayden?
Hi, I'm Noel.
I called your house, your husband told me where to find you.
I don't know if you remember me or not, but, um...
I'm Jacob Turner.
Jacob?
Wow.
How are your folks?
Uh, my folks? My, um...
My mom just recently passed away.
Oh.
- I'm so sorry. - Thank you. Yeah, it was very sudden.
- But your dad, he's... - He's good.
He's, um...
Yeah, I just saw him for the first time in a really long time, actually.
He's... He's good. He's hanging in.
Like the rest of us.
Like the rest of us, yeah.
Um...
You gotta be wondering why I'm here after all these years.
It's a really long, complicated story, but...
Noel,
when my brother died,
I didn't realize until just recently how much you helped my family,
how much you helped me.
- You were just a little kid, Jake. - But if you hadn't been there...
But I was.
And you got through it.
Now that I'm here, I can say thank you.
Now that you're here,
you're welcome.
There's one other thing I wanted to talk to you about before I left, um...
The child that you had, your daughter.
Rachel.
She's...
wonderful, she's amazing.
I wanted you to know that.
You know her?
I do know her, um...
Yeah, she wanted to come here, she wanted to meet you in person.
And I think, you know, after... after reading this...
she felt a connection for sure, and, uh...
she understands everything.
Everything.
[voice breaks] Thank you for telling me that.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Jacob.
And thank you for this.
It's a precious gift.
And, Jake...
if you see my daughter,
would you tell her that if she ever wants to get in touch,
I would like that very much.
[gentle music playing]
Rachel.
[festive music playing]
[woman] Your dad's been working on this since Thanksgiving.
I can't wait to see it.
I think it's the most beautiful he's ever done.
- [Rachel exclaims] Yeah? - [phone vibrating]
Uh, when will Alan be coming?
Uh, soon. Soon.
- You don't sound too excited, honey. - Well, I am, I just...
I don't know, "excited" is a bit... a strong word.
[man] I couldn't get it right until finally last night at, like, 2:00 a.m.
No, you got it right, Dad. This is... It's perfect.
I love it. This is... It's perfect. Thank you.
[phone vibrating]
[phone stops vibrating]
Honey, you don't want to talk to Alan?
No, no, it's not that. It's just that I don't, um...
I don't know. Things are... We'll talk later, and it's...
We're sorting things... sorting some things out right now.
"Sorting some things out"? I thought you guys made up.
No, we... We did, we just...
You know, things are a little up in the air right now.
This is starting to sound a little like that cigar engagement ring.
- Dad, stop. Seriously. - [phone vibrating]
Um, sorry, guys, one sec. I'll be right back.
Jake, you've gotta stop calling.
No, I'm not gonna stop calling until we talk.
[Rachel] I don't want to do this.
Okay? I...
So I'm gonna just hang up the phone now.
Please don't try to find me, okay?
[dog barking faintly]
Too late.
Why are you doing this?
Do you really have to ask?
I'm not coming out.
I'm not. I can't.
Why? Why not? What are you... What are you afraid of?
What's gonna happen?
Jake, you don't understand.
You don't. I have finally found something...
that I can really...
I can really count on, and...
It may not be perfect, but it's what I want.
It's what I need.
Okay?
So I need you to understand that.
I do understand. I understand the whole thing.
I understand that...
what you may have needed before, you don't need anymore.
Look at me, I...
All I wanted my entire life was to be alone.
And it's hard for people like us to trust, right?
To let people in.
It's hard. I understand that. But here I am, right here, right now.
And I am standing here with the only friend I have in the entire world.
I'm staring at the woman that I love,
and I'm begging you to trust me.
I'm telling you, you can trust me.
Just let me in, please.
Let me in.
Tell me
you don't love me.
[car approaching]
Jake, that's Alan. You gotta go.
You tell me that you don't love me and I'll go.
I don't love you.
[wistful music playing]
[light jazz song playing on radio]
♪ Ribbons and bows Are scattered on the floor ♪
♪ Comes and it goes by so fast ♪
♪ The joy of the season ♪
♪ Spirit with feeling ♪
♪ There must be a way to make it last ♪
♪ So let's make a promise For the rest of the year ♪
♪ And even when we'll fall apart ♪
♪ Keep Christmas in your heart ♪
[song fading]
[intriguing music playing]
[uplifting music playing]
[sniffles]
[knock on window]
Saw your truck, thought we'd pop by and wish you Merry Christmas.
Oh, thank you.
Yes, I was packing up a few things,
then I need to lock up, and then take off, so...
Would you care to join us for dinner? We'd love to have you.
We really would. We're having a few people over.
It's Christmas dinner, all the trimmings.
I would, I would love to, and thank you,
but I should take off before the roads get too slick.
How did things go with your father?
Um, you know, they...
Better than expected. Much better, actually.
- I told you. - You did.
And Rachel and her mom?
I think that's gonna work itself out.
That's very good news. Excellent.
Oh, bloody hell, I've gotta go baste the ham.
You sure you can't stay?
Well, Happy Christmas, old boy.
- Happy basting. - [Ellie] I'll be right there.
Come on in.
And you and Rachel?
Oh, um...
No? Really? I was so sure.
Well, Kerouac said it.
"It all ends in tears, anyway."
But I'll be okay, and Rachel will be okay too.
Of course.
Merry Christmas.
For me?
What did you do here?
Oh, Ellie...
[stammers]
You put the...
tree back in.
Yes.
I have wonderful memories of this house.
You and Benji playing in the yard.
Your folks.
Merry Christmas.
- Take care. - Oh, you too. Take care of yourself too.
And thank you. This is just... You're special.
[sweet music playing]
[sighs]
[barks]
[joyous music playing]
[joyous music continues]
[festive music playing]
["Christmas in Connecticut With You" playing]
♪ I don't want my holidays ♪
♪ In Frisco or LA ♪
♪ I gotta see the snow ♪
♪ It's callin' me back home ♪
♪ Where every window on the street ♪
♪ Has a big, ol' little tree ♪
♪ Strangers pass you by ♪
♪ With a twinkle in their eye ♪
♪ Pack your bags, I'll book a flight ♪
♪ For a week or maybe two ♪
♪ Give me New Year's Eve in New York ♪
♪ And Christmas in Connecticut with you ♪
♪ Won't you run away with me ♪
♪ I know you'll never wanna leave ♪
♪ The slopes of Otter Ridge Or Saks Fifth Avenue ♪
♪ We'll take a horse and carriage ride ♪
♪ Through a fantasy of lights ♪
♪ I'll make all your Winter wonder dreams come true ♪
♪ Give me New Year's Eve in New York ♪
♪ After Christmas In Connecticut with you ♪
♪ Won't you run away with me ♪
♪ I know you'll never wanna leave ♪
♪ Mohawk Mountain Down to Greenwich Village too ♪
♪ There's cozy cabins way up there ♪
♪ We'll see the ball drop In Times Square ♪
♪ Makin' memories that'll last The whole year through ♪
♪ Give me New Year's Eve in New York ♪
♪ And Christmas in Connecticut with you ♪
♪ Yeah Give me New Year's Eve in New York ♪
♪ And Christmas in Connecticut with you ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
[song fading]
[upbeat music playing]