11x11 - Christmas!

Episode transcripts for the TV show "7th Heaven". Aired: August 26, 1996 – May 13, 2007.*
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Eric Camden is a reverend, husband and the father of numerous children who faces everyday challenges of raising a family during permissive times.
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11x11 - Christmas!

Post by bunniefuu »

CAROLERS:
♪ I'll be home for Christmas ♪

♪ You can count on me ♪

♪ Please have snow ♪

♪ And mistletoe ♪

♪ And presents under the tree ♪

♪ Christmas Eve will find me ♪

♪ Where the love light gleams ♪

♪ I'll be home for Christmas ♪

♪ If only in my dreams ♪

♪ Christmas Eve will find me ♪

♪ Where the love light gleams ♪





♪ I'll be home for Christmas ♪

♪ If only in my dreams. ♪

♪ 7th Heaven ♪

♪ When I see
their happy faces ♪

♪ Smiling back at me ♪

♪ 7th Heaven ♪

♪ I know there's
no greater feeling ♪

♪ Than the love of family ♪

♪ Where can you go ♪

♪ When the world
don't treat you right? ♪

♪ The answer is home ♪

♪ That's the one place
that you'll find ♪

♪ 7th Heaven ♪

♪ Mmm, 7th Heaven ♪

♪ 7th Heaven. ♪

♪ Joy to the world,
the Lord is come ♪

♪ Let Earth receive
her King ♪

♪ Let every heart
prepare Him room ♪

♪ And Heaven and nature sing ♪

♪ And Heaven
and nature sing ♪

♪ And Heaven, and Heaven
and nature sing ♪

♪ Joy to the world,
the Savior reigns ♪

♪ Let men their songs employ ♪

♪ While fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains ♪

♪ Repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy ♪

♪ Repeat, repeat
the sounding joy ♪

♪ He rules the world
with truth and grace ♪

♪ And makes the nations prove ♪

♪ The glories of
His righteousness ♪

♪ And wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love ♪

♪ And wonders, wonders
of His love. ♪

WOMAN:
Eric. Eric.

- Oh.
- Oh.

I'm sorry I'm late.

I didn't... I didn't know
you were coming.

Neither did I.

Oh, that is wonderful

to arrive with a sense of humor.

That's my son-in-law.

Well, most people,
when they get here,

they're so confused, they...
they don't know where they are

and they walk around
in a daze for weeks.

- Where am I?
- Oh, you.

No, Charles
would have been here, but...

but he offered
to help the homeless.

There are homeless people in...?

Well, not here; there.

A lot of work is done here.

All day, all night,
all eternity.

I... I understand. I... I do.

A lot of things
are done from here.

It's just that...
I have this feeling

I didn't quite finish
my own work.

Oh, well, few people do.

You know what we should do?

We should go
Christmas shopping.

Isn't it a little late
for that?

Oh, heavens, no.

Heavens, no.

- I really wish
I hadn't worn this kilt. -Why?

You look great in it.

Really. I mean, if I...
if I had legs like that,

I'd show them off every day.

Really?

Absolutely.

But if you're uncomfortable,
then...

Slightly.

Was that a, uh, remark?

No.

He just got here.

Well, in that case,
merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

So, are you comfortable now?

Yeah, yeah.

I... I'm feeling
a little better.

I'm-I'm... I'm feeling
kind of happy.

Wonderful.

This is a very happy place.

In fact, this is the happiest
place not on Earth.

(chuckles)
Yeah.

All right, who shall we
start with first,

the oldest or the youngest?

The Christmas presents.

Oh, right, the presents.

Uh, I don't know. I...

Christmas has always been
for the children.

Well, we're all children.

Yeah, right.

Well, then, I guess let's go
with the oldest--Matt.

That's it--Matt.

Oh, Matt and Sarah
and their boys.

Oh, are they not
the cutest things?

Have you seen them?

I was there
with the whole family

when they were born.

Ah.

I have just the thing.
Come on.

Come on.

(bells clanging)

You see?

They have some very nice
timepieces here.

And some pieces of time,
as well.

And you think Matt
would like a... what?

Reverend Camden, I had no idea.

Oh, neither did I.

He took me completely
by surprise.

I think you know my son, Phil.

Oh, yeah, I think I do.

I know a Phil anyway.

He looks like a million bucks.

He lost 75 pounds.

- No kidding.
- No kidding.

He's walking every day
with his wife.

I'm so happy to hear that.

Phil's a... Phil's a nice guy.

A nice, healthy guy.

You gave him so much time.

No, no. Not really.

I mean, just an hour
here or there.

An hour here or there
every week for years.

And now, because of that,
he's going to have more time.

More time. More time on Earth.

More time with his wife
and more time with his children

and more time to laugh

and just more time
to enjoy his life.

You see,
this is the perfect gift.

Matt and Sarah stay so busy
with their work.

Well, as they have to,

because being doctors
is such important work.

But... if you could give them
more time with their children,

I think they'd love that.

And it would be so good
for the boys.

All right, well, then, uh...
wrap it up.

Got it right here.

Golly, you're so generous.

Reverend Camden's been
very generous

with his time, don't you think?

Oh, I do. I really do.

Well, thank you.

You're welcome, Reverend.

And I hope that Matt
and his family

enjoy having more time
with each other.

Yes, yes. So do I.

Oh, and, uh, here.

Take this, too.

This is, uh,
just a little something

from me to you to say thanks.

Oh, but I don't have anything
for you.

Don't have anything for me?

What, you just forgot
what you did for my Phil?

Please.

Well, thank you.

Really, this
is very nice of you.

Merry Christmas.

Yeah. Merry, merry Christmas,
Reverend.

Thanks.

Matt will be thrilled.

Yes, I think he will be.

Oh, I know he will be.

Time is the nicest gift
you can get.

And you can really
only find it here.

You won't find it
on the Internet.

- No?
- No.

Can I tell you something
just between you and me?

The Internet sucks the life
out of time.

Oh, there is something.

I see something perfect
for Mary.

Are you ready?

Yeah. I-I... I don't know.

I'm feeling a little strange.

Oh, the hot chocolate
must be wearing off.

You okay?

I don't know.

I-I'm kind of light-headed.

Or maybe lighthearted.

Here, come on.

- Come over here and sit down.
- Okay.

I'll go get you something
to eat.

(sighs) Thank you, Jenny.

It's... it's so good to see you.

Oh, and it's so good
to see you.

Not that I don't look in
on you and Annie every day.

Every single day.

You've taken such good care
of my daughter.

I'll be back.

More time.

- (sighs)
- (door opens)

(door closes)

Oh! Hey, there's my girl!

Mommy!

Come here.

You're supposed to be
in San Francisco.

Oh, yeah, we just...

we had a feeling
that we should come home,

and I wanted to come home.

I missed Savannah.

Oh, she was fine.

What's cooking?

Something smells great
in the kitchen.

Pork chops.

I'm trying to lure Eric home,

you know,
so we can decorate the tree.

- Without us?
- Well, you have your own tree.

I know, but you know I... I like
to be here with you and Dad

when you put up the tree.

And you didn't tell me you were
putting up the tree tonight.

Well, I-I-I didn't plan on it,
you know.

Did you go by the church?

Uh, no, I didn't,
but I did talk to Dad.

He said he had a lot of people
come in all day,

and, um, he said
he was coming home

right after I called.

He's not home yet?

No, no. I'll give him
another five minutes,

and then I'll bug him again.

That really is a beautiful tree.

Yeah, it is nice.

Um, we picked it out--
Sam and David and I--

at the market this afternoon.

You're putting it up
a little early.

I mean, why tonight?

There's no set time to put up
a Christmas tree.

I just felt like
putting it up tonight, you know.

And so did Sam and David.

And T Bone helped us bring down
the decorations

before he went off to work,

and Jane and Margaret,
they want to put up

their own Christmas tree
in the garage apartment.

So, tonight's the night

to put up the Christmas tree.

And now that you and Lucy
are here,

we can have a little
family party

and kick off the season.

Okay. Sounds like fun.

Doesn't it, Savannah, huh?

Oh, uh, Kevin and I have
been trying to figure out

something to do
for Dad for Christmas.

I was thinking, what if we all
donate our time to help others?

I think that's what would do
your dad's heart the most good.

Yeah, I-I think
I can get everybody

in the church to do that--
everyone.

We should get everyone
to volunteer their time.

Oh, I like that.

Yeah.

Hello.

Merry Christmas, Reverend.

Oh, merry Christmas.

May I?

Oh... yeah, of course.

I have something for you.

It's not much,
considering what you've done

for me and my husband.

- Do I know you?
- No, you don't.

And yet you saved the lives
of our five children.

This is going to be
a beautiful Christmas,

the most beautiful Christmas
I could ever have imagined.

You just found a home
for my children.

My five children.

Nell.

Oh, yes. Nell.

She has the most
wonderful heart.

And she'll make
a wonderful mother.

So, those are your children
that she's adopting?

Mine and my husband's, yes.

All five.

She took all five of them.

And they're all going
to America together.

Well, that's... that's nice.

And you know what else is nice,
Reverend?

One day she'll return
to my country

with our five children
and her husband, a doctor.

He's a wonderful man, too.

I've been looking for someone
for him.

So Nell is going to get married
to a doctor?

Yes.

He's with Doctors
Without Borders.

She'll meet him
when she takes the children back

to visit my mother in Ethiopia.

It's going to change
her whole life, this adoption.

It's going
to change their lives.

It's going to change the lives

of those we haven't
even thought about.

You are a very powerful man.

Well, no.

I mean, I didn't really
do anything.

Oh, yes, you did, my friend.

And God bless you.

Please take this.

This is for Lucy.

It's courage.

You gave Nell courage to adopt,

and now my husband and I
will give Lucy

the little bit of courage
she needs to have another child.

(sighs)

We were blessed with courage,
you know.

And it made all the difference
in our lives.

Merry Christmas, Reverend.

Merry Christmas.

Thank you.

♪ God rest ye merry gentlemen ♪

♪ Let nothing you dismay ♪

♪ Remember Christ our Savior ♪

♪ Was born on Christmas Day ♪

♪ To save us all
from Satan's power ♪

♪ When we were gone astray ♪

♪ Oh, tidings of comfort
and joy ♪

♪ Comfort and joy ♪

♪ Oh, tidings of comfort
and joy. ♪

♪ Don we now our gay apparel ♪

♪ Fa la la, la la la, la la la ♪

♪ Troll the ancient
Yuletide carol ♪

♪ Fa la la la la, la la la la. ♪

(sighs)

That was amazing.

Brought to you by just a small
representation of the waiters

you generously tipped
over the years.

- Really?
- Absolutely.

(chuckles)

Feeling better now?

Yes, I...
I'm feeling much better.

Good. Come on.
I want you to see this.

Okay. Okay.

Well, thank you. Thank you.

And... and merry Christmas.

ALL:
Merry Christmas!

If you could give Mary

anything in the world,
what would you give her?

Oh, I'm not sure.

Come on.

I'll show you.

I'm so pleased to see you.

So pleased.

Merry Christmas.

Well, merry Christmas to you.

It's such a practical gift.

An eraser?

JENNY:
Mm-hmm.

The ability to forget,
all wrapped up in brown paper

to look absolutely ordinary
when it's so very extraordinary.

- Yeah.
- You know, if Mary could just

forgive herself
for her mistakes,

oh, it'd be so nice,

but it's so hard
to forgive yourself.

Besides, forgiveness belongs
to God,

so all we can really do
is forget, right?

- Yeah. -I mean, people
are always saying,

"Forgive and forget."

It sounds like such
simple advice,

but it's so complicated.

Best to just forget.

And Mary would forget...?

That she, um,
toilet-papered the gym

and got kicked out of school.

I'd forgotten.

I'd completely forgotten.

You see what I mean?

But Mary can't let it go,
she can't forget it,

and so that little mistake
became another mistake

and then another mistake.

And she would be
so much better off

if, like you,
she could forget.

Yeah, but if Mary erases
her mistake...

There'll be nothing to remember.

Yeah, but shouldn't
she remember,

so that she'll learn something
from it?

That's not working.

Okay, well, then...

you know, then forgetting
sounds good.

I guess you have to know what
to remember and what to forget.

You got it.
(chuckles)

So, uh... the smallest eraser
you have will do,

because it was
a very tiny thing.

Most of the time it is.

She's a young mother, isn't she?

If I only had

one of these when I
was a young mother,

oh, the trouble it would
have saved me.

I would have gladly gone hungry
and just bought that stupid doll

if I had known the trouble
I was going to cause.

The doll Joyce wanted for
Christmas that she didn't get.

You know Joyce?

I do. I'm her mother.

I'm the one who didn't
buy her that doll

because I bought her food.

She never forgave me for it
my whole life.

After a while, I couldn't
forgive her for holding onto it.

That's why I got into the
business of selling erasers

when I came here.

I could see the value
of a good eraser.

She could not.

She could not forget

that I didn't buy
that doll for her.

She clung to resenting me for it

most of her life,
until you came along.

God bless you.

I really didn't do anything.

You erased a 70-year-old grudge.

I think that's something.

Didn't I tell you
he was wonderful?

And just to let you know, Joyce
isn't due here anytime soon,

but when she gets here,
I've got the doll to give her.

Can you imagine anybody

holding a grudge
against their own mother

for 70 years because of this?

Let's not let Mary hold
onto a bad memory,

certainly not till she's
an old lady.

Thank you.

No. Thank you.

And merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

An eraser.

See, I-I wouldn't
have thought of it.

Ah, just wipes out the memory
and lets you move on.

Of course, sometimes you forget
something that happened,

and it just torments
someone else,

and we don't even know.

Hmm.

Now, any ideas for Simon?

(sighs)

Simon doesn't really ask me
for much anymore.

He's gotten pretty independent.

He's living on his own this year
with no help from us,

and he's doing fine--
better than fine.

Doesn't that make you proud?

But, of course,
the important thing

is that he's proud of himself.

After all, it is self-esteem,
not parent esteem.

Hmm.

When are we eating?

Uh, as soon as your dad
gets here.

Well, when's that?

Uh, well, it should be
anytime now.

I've been calling him,
but he's not answering,

which usually means
he's helping somebody.

Yeah, probably.

But, uh, you can, uh, help

take away your hunger pains
by, uh, putting up

some ornaments or getting out
some decorations.

Oh, um, we were trying to think

of something good to give Dad
for Christmas.

So, I was thinking that maybe
we should volunteer our time

to a good cause during
Christmas, and... and maybe

we could even get
the entire church--

everybody in the church--
to do the same thing.

So, what do you think?

Okay, but we always do that,
don't we?

I mean, isn't doing something
for others

really doing something
for ourselves?

I mean, doesn't it always
make you feel better

by doing something
for someone else,

especially during
this time of year?

You're right, Ruthie.

Helping others is really a gift
we're giving ourselves.

So maybe we could help others
twice as much as we normally do.

A day for ourselves,
a day for Dad.

Or what if we make it
three days?

One day for ourselves,
one day for Dad

and one day to honor
the one born on Christmas Day.

CAROLERS:
♪ O little town of Bethlehem ♪

♪ How still we see thee lie ♪

♪ Above thy deep
and dreamless sleep ♪

♪ The silent stars go by... ♪

This is one of my favorite
things we do at Christmas.

♪ Yet in thy dark streets
shineth ♪

♪ The everlasting light ♪

♪ The hopes and fears
of all the years... ♪

Reverend Camden, how are you?

Uh, I'm... fine.

Merry Christmas.

Yeah. Merry Christmas.

I'm so happy to see you,

but I didn't know
you were going to be here.

Neither did he.

But that sometimes happens.

Especially around the holidays.

Reverend, I just want to say
thanks for fixing up Betsey.

My wife and I want
to say thanks, rather.

We really appreciate it.

You know, with Van.

He's a great guy.

Yeah.

Are you actually...

Oh, no, no, no.

No, we're just recreating
what was created.

Oh!
(chuckles)

We have the honor this year.

And quite an honor.

Oh, thank you, Jenny. It is.

We feel very lucky
to be chosen this year.

Anyway, our daughter, Pearl--

you've heard Betsey complain
about her Aunt Pearl, right?

Yeah.

Well, thanks to you,

this year, her Aunt Pearl,
our daughter,

couldn't be happier.

She's been pushing Betsey
every year

to find herself a man,

probably because Pearl herself
never married.

Hmm.

And this was going to be, uh,
Aunt Pearl's last Christmas.

But now she has a purpose.

She's got to cater the wedding

and the baby shower
and the birthdays,

and take care of Uncle Mason.

Yeah.

Aunt Pearl's going to hook up
with Van's Uncle Mason.

She's got her niece

and her husband

and their children
to take care of.

And she's going
to have Uncle Mason

to help her do it all.

She's got purpose.

All of a sudden,
at her age, purpose.

And she'll be happier
and live longer.

She certainly will.

So, thanks again.

I have to get back.

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.

Purpose.

That's what I should get
for Simon-- purpose.

He-he... he needs a purpose.

(stammering):
He wants to make money,

but he-he doesn't have
a purpose.

Oh, that is good.
That is really good.

I mean, just look what happened
to Paul Newman

when he got purpose.

Good Lord, I mean, you think
he's a big star down there?

Up here... I mean, big.

I mean, really big.

Oh, speak of the angel.

- Oh, merry Christmas.
- Oh, merry Christmas.

Does she look familiar?

No.

I'm... I'm sorry. Do I know you?

Uh, no, but some people
say my son looks a lot like me.

Martin.

- Are you Martin's mother?
- I am.

Such a pleasure to meet you.

Martin's such a nice young man.

And what would he have done if
he hadn't had you in his life?

Not had a baby when he was 18?

(laughs)

But that was meant to be.

Baby Aaron already
has a purpose.

It's to show Martin
how much he was loved by me.

And truly,
he's already seeing that

when he sees Sandy with Aaron.

All his life, Aaron will be
bringing people together

for common causes.

Well, good.

Well... well, then,
that's good, then?

Yes, it is.

She has a real knack
for knitting purposes.

Give Simon this.

Is it...?

His purpose in life.

And that would be...?

Something he'll have
to unravel himself.

Something he'll have to discover
on his own.

Not even a hint
about what's inside?

No. Sorry.

All will be revealed in time.

You're a good father.

Thank you again for taking care
of my son and my husband.

You were there
when they needed you.

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.

She is so nice, isn't she?

And that's a lovely gift
she's giving to Simon.

Even if it takes him
a few Christmases to open it.

- Even if.
- Yeah.

Ruthie.

Oh, we have to get something
for Ruthie.

Um... maybe a boy?

Nah.

Now I think about that,

those presents
never really last.

And she has Theodore.

Oh, I love that kid.

- T Bone? Yeah, so do I.
- Yeah.

♪ Dashing through the snow
in a one-horse open sleigh ♪

♪ O'er the fields we go,
laughing all the way ♪

♪ Bells on bobtails ring,
making spirits bright ♪

- ♪ What fun it is to ride
and sing... ♪ -Come on.

Let's take a break
and have some fun.

- Yeah. Come on. -♪ Oh, jingle
bells, jingle bells ♪

♪ Jingle all the way,
oh, what fun it is to ride ♪

♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way ♪

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

♪ In his master's steps
he trod ♪

♪ Where the snow lay dinted ♪

♪ Heat was in the very sod ♪

♪ Which the saint had printed ♪

♪ Therefore, Christian men,
be sure... ♪

Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.

And thanks again
for the ride.

Anytime, Reverend.

And I didn't get a chance
to mention it--

I didn't want to interrupt
you two--

but I sure appreciate
you looking after my Lindsay.

Lindsay?

The same Lindsay
who just apologized

to her brother and his fiancée?

Yes, that's the one.

Her brother's been praying about
it for years, and so has she.

But you know, you can pray,
or you can do.

And I don't think you
should pray

for anything
you can do yourself.

I think that's
a very nice philosophy.

Say, that little girl
of yours, Ruthie,

she likes horses, doesn't she?

Yeah, she does.

Take her something
from Snowy and me.

Dignity.

Beauty.

And loyalty.

Beauty's from the horse,
of course.

Oh, please.

Everyone knows
what a beautiful man you are.

Thank you.
I-I-I will give these to her.

Dignity, beauty and loyalty.

You helped my children recover
their dignity.

It's so undignified
to carry around

such public
and hateful grudges, you know?

Might make good for daytime TV,
but it's not a pretty life.

You gave them a chance
to be beautiful again.

That was a beautiful thing,
that apology.

Beau-ti-ful!

And hopefully now they have
some real loyalty to each other.

To the family,
to their families.

Loyalty is in such short supply.

Can't thank you enough.

But you did.

Merry Christmas.

(whinnying)

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.


To both of you.

He's not answering,
but you know,

maybe he just got a phone call

or someone stopped into
his office with a problem.

Do you want me to go
down to the office

- and pull him out of there?
- No, no, that's okay.

He'll be here.

He's not answering
his cell phone

or the church phone, Mom.

- I know that. -Why don't I just
take a ride down there,

hurry him along?

Because I'm not worried
about him.

I'm not. He's fine.

Like Luce said,
he's talking to someone

or helping someone,
which is where he always is.

Where's Dad?

Oh... oh, hi, honey.

He's just running a little late.

But you know what?

While we're waiting for him,
come help us.

We're going to get
everything ready

to decorate the tree, okay?

You can start by getting out
the decorations.

- Okay.
- Okay!

Oh, and boys,

we were talking,
and we thought that this year,

it might be nice to volunteer
to help out somewhere,

like we did last year.

But this year, we're going
to work a day for ourselves,

a day for Dad
and a day for Jesus,

kind of like a birthday present
for Christ at Christmas.

Isn't that nice?

- I like that.
- Me, too.

It feels funny in here.

It does.

Is something wrong?

Dad is coming home tonight,
isn't he?

ANNIE:
Luce!

Have a little faith.

All of you, have a little faith.

He'll be here.

So, now, Sam and David.

Um, do you want
to get them the same thing,

or each something different?

- Each something different.
- Yeah.

Yeah, but then,
I don't know, they...

they like the same things.

- I don't know.
- (laughs)

Oh, twins, triplets,
quadruplets--

all multiple births--
it's just... it's amazing.

To arrive and... and have
a friend or friends--

I mean, that's fantastic,
don't you think?

The world
is a miraculous place.

Reverend Camden!

Oops. Sorry.

Just got the wings.

Um, you are
Reverend Camden, right?

Well, I mean, you look like him,

but you're not supposed
to be here yet, are you?

- Ah, we'll see.
- So it's him?

Well... I am Eric Camden.

Or was.

Oh, you are and always will be.

Well, I just got my wings,

and I've been assigned
to your two sons, David and Sam.

Can you believe it?

So they're your first
assignment?

Yeah. Cool, huh?

- Yeah.
- Now, don't you worry.

Now, Angelica comes from
a long line of guardian angels.

Her grandmother is one
of your guardian angels.

And she's around?

Well, she's off doing
some paperwork.

Oh. There's paperwork here?

Are you kidding me?

Everything is written down--
every little thing.

Except for the stuff
that gets erased.

Erasers, you see?
They can come in very handy.

So, do you know what I should
get David and Sam for Christmas?

Of course.

They need cooperation
and understanding

and respect for each other.

And I can get those
for them where?

I love doing that! Love it!

Here you go.

Here, I'll help you. Come on.

You created cooperation,
understanding and respect

between those two people
you pushed into getting married,

so I just grabbed some
while it was in the ether.

Dean and Andie?
I-I didn't push them.

Oh, pushed, shoved--
what's the difference?

It's okay, Reverend.

Everything is going
to be fine.

It is.
And whenever it isn't, well...

I'll be there.

- (gasps)
- Oh!

Uh...

Cooperation, understanding
and mutual respect.

I can just see
that they'll be there

for one another
for the rest of their lives.

And it's a good thing that this
is her first assignment?

Oh, well, she's not their only
guardian angel-- oh, no, no, no.

There are bands
of guardian angels

surrounding each
and every human being.

No, Angelica is very
enthusiastic and very smart,

so she'll just get better
and better.

You'll see.
It's going to be wonderful.

So, where were my bands
of angels when...

Well, one was standing right
there with you in clear view.

Stanley Sunday.



- Oh, you didn't suspect?
- No.

- He told you to ask
for your life. -And I did.

Which is why Gertrude
has gone off

to make your case.

Gertrude
is Angelica's grandmother

and your guardian angel.

Gertrude is doing
the paperwork.

So we should know shortly
how this all turns out.

(sighs) Okay.

In the meantime,

you have one more person
on your gift list.

- Annie.
- Yeah.

♪ Christ is born in Bethlehem ♪

♪ Hark! The herald angels sing ♪

♪ Glory to the newborn king. ♪

♪ The first Noel ♪

♪ The angels did say ♪

♪ Was to certain
poor shepherds ♪

♪ In fields as they lay ♪

♪ In fields where they ♪

♪ Lay keeping their sheep... ♪

I think I found something.

They have some really
interesting books in there.

Yeah, but you can't take
any of them with you.

Did you find your story?

I have a story?

Of course you have a story.
We all have a story.

And you write a lot of it,
you know-- you do.

Of course, as I mentioned,
your guardian angel

is trying to do some revisions.

The revisions being...?

Paperwork, remember?

But everything's going
to be fine.

So, did you come up
with anything for Annie?

Well, I thought I might get her
a first edition book.

You know, she likes books.

You can read the books
in the bookstore,

but you can't buy them.

You can't take them with you.

No one needs to know
every single thing

about another person.

Except, of course,
for the man upstairs.

- Hello, Reverend.
- Hi.

I... I just wanted to thank you

for everything you've done

for our men and women
in public service.

Oh, you're welcome.

Not that I've done anything.

Oh, but you have.

You remember Larry?

Friends call him
Larry the Loser?

He always wants to spend more

on his children
than he has to spend?

And he has no money because
he spends all of his time

at the computer trying
to get rich quick?

He's one of those projects

that I just never felt I...
I quite finished.

He's a person
I couldn't get through to.

I tried, but...

(chuckles)

I mean, I like Larry.

He's a sweet man.

And I tried-- honestly, I did.

That's why we don't let you
run the place.

You just get to work there.

Have a little faith, man.

You got through to him.

- I did?
- Absolutely.

Larry spends three days
playing with his children,

realizes that they have
absolutely no respect

for him or anyone else,
invents a computer program

that teaches morals--
and ba-boom!--

he hits the big time

and donates his money
to helping public servants.

- That's amazing.
- You're amazing.

You wouldn't have an idea

about what I could get Annie
for Christmas, would you?

Shopping for your wife is no
easier here than it is there.

Sorry.

But nice meeting you.

Nice work.

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.

You know, I can't remember

when anyone
was so well received here.

You have so many friends here.

I also have a lot
of friends there.

I know. You want to go home.

Do you think there's
any possibility of that?

All things are possible.

Just have a little faith.

Now, come on, let's think.

Think about what to get
for Annie.

Maybe that's it--faith.

Faith that someday
we'll see each other again,

'cause by now,
she has to be missing me

'cause I'm missing her.

That's another sign that you're
not really supposed to be here.

If you were really supposed
to be here,

everything would be fine,
and you wouldn't

be missing anyone,
because you'd know

that you're going to see them
again soon enough.

But does Annie know that?

That no matter what happens,
we'll see each other again...

soon enough?

Oh, she does. She really does.

That's why you're going
to have to think

of something else to get her.

Something other than faith.

Because she already has faith.

She has faith to spare.

How could she not, after being
married to you all these years?

Have some popcorn.

Have some cheese and crackers.

He'll be here.

Annie, let me just
go check on him.

He's 20 minutes late.

That's all--20 minutes.

It only feels as if he's later

because you're all making it
so important.

Don't make it important.
He's late all the time.

Okay, Mom.

I'm going to give him
five more minutes.

I know you've already called
your little buddies

down at the police station
and no one's seen him, right?

And then they called
the hospital,

but he's not there
because he's busy working.

I'll tell you the man is fine.
I feel it in my bones.

He is not going to miss
a pork chop dinner.

Mom, what if he's not fine?

What if he had a heart att*ck
or something

in between the church and home?

I'd know it.

I'd know if he were in
any real trouble. I would.

He's fine.
I know it in my heart. I do.

CAROLERS:
♪ O come all ye faithful ♪

♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪

♪ O come ye... ♪

Annie already has everything

that you would want
a person to have.

She has patience and kindness
and virtue and strength

and love and passion
and dedication and...

I don't know.
I never know what to get her.

Yeah, all the other gifts
are so special, and we...

really have
to think of something...

Oops. I dropped my pin.

Oh. What does it look like?

Um, it's a cameo--a blue cameo.

It-it must be around here
somewhere.

Let me help you.

It's something Charles gave me
when Annie was born.

I should have just left it
with her, but I didn't.

Let's see.

Oh, wait.

Here it is.

Ah, thank you.

Isn't it pretty?

- Yeah, it is.
- Yeah.

Oh, here she comes.

Is that...?

That's Gertrude,
your guardian angel

in charge of paperwork.

She's very experienced.

Gertrude, how'd it go?

Oh, that Stanley--
how brilliant of him

to tell you to ask
for your life.

Sometimes it works.

Sometimes I guess it does.

I... I'm just so grateful.

Well, I'm sure that had
a lot to do with it--

your attitude
and your gratitude.

But that Stanley,
I mean, he is something.

But other people ask
for their lives,

and they would be grateful
for a second chance, so...

For most people,
it's time to start a new life.

For you, it's time
to go back to the old one.

Because you were right.

You have a lot
of unfinished business

to take care of,
and people need you.

They really do.

♪ I'll be home for Christmas ♪

- ♪ If only in my dreams ♪
- Thank you.

Thank you for everything.

Oh, you're welcome.

And don't you worry--
I'll be around.

Could I ask you something?

♪ Christmas Eve
will find me ♪

Will I remember this?

You'll remember
that everything is fine.

Whatever happens,
everything is fine.

♪ I'll be home for Christmas ♪

♪ If only in my dreams ♪

♪ If only in my dreams. ♪

Dad! Dad!

Hey! Whoa!

How are my guys?

Hey, Dad.

Hey, pretty one.

We were waiting for you.

I know.

I'm sorry I'm so late,

but it's really good to be here.

It's really good to be here.

We're putting up the tree.

I see that.

We picked it out with Mom.

Well, it's beautiful,
and you know your mom

can pick out a tree better
than anybody in the world.

- Are you okay, Dad?
- I'm fine.

I'm really fine, Luce.

And I told you
you didn't... you...

you didn't need
to cancel your trip.

I know. I wanted to.

I wanted to be here tonight.

- Are you hungry?
- I'm starving.

You had us all worried,
you know.

Oh, well, don't worry
about me, please.

Not this Christmas
or... or next Christmas

or the next one or the next one.

Okay, Dad.

Come on, guys.

I love you.

I love you, too.

More than ever, Annie.

What's that?

What's... what's in your hand?

Uh... I...

I don't know.

You don't know?

You don't know
that this is... this...

is the pin that my... my dad
gave my mom when I was born?

- Is it?
- Yes, Eric, it is.

Where on Earth did you get this?

I... found it.

Where?

Where could you possibly
find this?

Oh, Eric, don't.

Don't, don't, don't. Don't.

It's okay. I-I don't care.

I don't...
I don't care where you found it.

Thank you. Thank you.

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.

ALL:
Merry Christmas!
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