A Hobo's Christmas (1987)

[bunniefuu]

(gentle music)

(train rumbling)

(train horn blowing)

- And the Christmas before that,

Harold and me was deep
in the heart of Texas.

Pink grapefruit, finest in
America, ours for the picking.

And last year, we had
our turkey in Phoenix.

Cincinnati Harold piled on
at the mission to bake pies.

Harold's pies are legendary.

- You bought a new shirt
and tie in Boise, Chance.

- And they say my hobo
stew is legendary also.

- You haven't bought a
new anything for Christmas

as long as I've known you.

- Yeah, well, this year I changed my mind.

- All along, you've been
planning a stop in Salt Lake.

- You should be able to
find work in Salt Lake

in the rail yards,
unloading Christmas trees.

- California is warm, only a day away.

- Busiest time of the year,
the week before Christmas.

- Why stop in Salt Lake?

- You wanna go on, Harold, go on.

I'm not holding you back.

- I might just do that.

- Shouldn't matter to you anyway, Harold.

You always sleep through
Christmas, anyhow.

(cheerful festive music)

This your first Christmas away from home?

- Yeah, me and Carolina both.

- This Christmas counts 25
I've been away from home.

- You'll learn,

the worst place to be
anywhere is Christmas.

(train horn blowing)

(cheerful festive music)

- They'll be ready to unload
those trees within the hour.

- Well, good luck to you.
- And you, too.

- Merry Christmas to you.
- You, too.

- You're up to something,
the new shirt, the tie.

- It's my son. He's
living in Salt Lake now.

- Ah, I should've figured it.

How many years you
talked about seeing him.

- Too many. That's why I'm here.

I'm going down to the
Y, and shower and shave,

and put on that new tie.

- What if this reunion don't work?

- Then I'm gonna be on the
first train out of here tonight.

- I'll be waiting for you.

Pick me up at the mission.

Christmas and that boy are a memory.

Leave it be.

(cheerful music)

- [Boy] If it comes down to
the aquarium and the dog,

I'll take the dog.
- [Man] That's it?

- [Boy] Today it is.
- Uh-huh.

- Bye, Dad.
- Bye.

- Dad, what's the capital of Missouri?

- Jefferson City.

Hey, wait up. I haven't
heard your list yet.

- You haven't told us what you want

for Christmas.
- I asked first.

- Can't policemen ever
be with their families

on Christmas Day?

- Is that what you want for Christmas?

(school bell ringing)
- [Girl] Bye, Daddy.

- Bye bye, pumpkin. See you later.

(children chatting)

- Bigger.

- Well, Slim, Topeka, Omaha.

I didn't expect to find you boys

so far north this time of year.

- You either, Chance.

Guess we all heard Santa's
hiring bowls this year.

- Well, just shows the old boy
knows what he's doing, huh.

- (chuckles) I hope so.

- Well, I'm heading into town.

See ya.

(gentle harmonica music)

(cheerful music)

- Good morning, Mrs. Ellenbottom.

Aerobics in the gymnasium,

geriatrics council meets in Wing C.

Your key and your towel, Mr. Brensdale.

Nutrition in your Less
Stress, More Life seminar

starts at 8:30 in Room 205.

It's just up the stairs and to your right.

- Morning.

- 75 cents for the shower,
50 cents for the towel.

- I said "Good morning."

- Soap will be 25.

And if you needed the locker, it's 75.

It's the new transient rates.

- You know, when I was your
age, just starting out,

we had a saying,

"Courtesy pays big dividends

and doesn't cost a penny."

49, dollar.

50.

Have a nice day.

- [Charlie] I was counting
on having Christmas

off this year.

- You and a hundred others.

- My kids want me home this year.

- You will be, by 4:30, Christmas Day.

- Lieutenant, you have told me that

for the past two years now.

- We run this department
strictly on seniority.

Come on in. I have something for you.

When you take these gifts to the hospital,

take this with you.
(bells jingling)

Tell Laurie I'm sorry, but
I'm turning in my Santa suit.

- Lieutenant, you know you've become

a Christmas tradition for those kids.

- Well, this Christmas, the tradition

is gonna be sitting in the
sand and sun in Hawaii.

Two weeks.
- Sounds great.

- It's our first year
without our kids at home.

My wife wants a change.

Laurie found me, she'll
find another Santa.

Maybe she'll get you to do it.

And, Grovner,

next year you will have seniority.

And maybe the day off.

(dispatch speaking indistinctly)

(Chance singing indistinctly)

♪ Made his home the water fountain ♪

♪ Near the lemonade swing
where the bluebirds sing ♪

♪ On the good raw candy mountain ♪

(sniffing)

(melancholy music)

(cheerful music)

(bell jingling)

(indistinct chatter)

- You fellows wanna take a seat over there

and I'll call the officer on duty.

What do you want?

- I'm here to see my son.

- Okay, the jail is down the
hall, up two flights of stairs

and to your right.
- No. He's not in jail.

- Sergeant Jameson.

You wanna bail him out?

Bail is posted straight down the hallway,

to your left right after
the Christmas tree.

- My son is a policeman.

- Well, what took you so long to say so?

- Charles Grovner.

Officer Charles Grovner, Junior.

- [Charlie] Uh-uh. No way, not me.

I'm too skinny.
- No, you're not!

We could put a little padding right here,

a little bit right there.
- Hey, cut it out.

You don't have enough padding for me.

- (laughing) Come on,
Charlie. Give me a h* h* h*.

- Sorry, I'm on duty that day.

- What about Christmas Day?

- 4:30. It's the best I could do.

- Well, I'm off at noon.

- (sighs) Mrs. Morgan could
come over earlier, I guess.

- Well, good, she and I
can get the turkey started.

- Uh. Great, carry that for me.

- Thanks.

- So, what do you hear from San Francisco?

- Well, they made the offer.

- [Charlie] And?

- And I'm thinking about it.

- Well, it'd be a good
opportunity for you.

Bigger hospital, more responsibility.

More money. There's a
lot to be said for that.

- Well, I told them I'd let them know.

- When?

- Right after Christmas.

- Well, as it happens, I may have

the week after Christmas off.

I thought it'd be a good
time for us to get away.

- Charlie.
- Together, alone.

- If I do take the job, they
want me to start right away.

- Oh.

(phone ringing)

- [Laurie] San Francisco's
not the end of the world,

you know?
- Yeah, yeah. I know, I know.

- Did you get your Christmas
list from the kids yet?

- [Woman] Call for you, Charlie.

- Um, Bobby, an aquarium or a dog,

and Kathy's still making her mind up.

Hello.

- [Woman] Dr. (indistinct),
Physical Therapy.

- He said what?

- That he's your father.

Yeah, an old guy.

He's standing right here.

- All right, thanks. I'll be right down.

- Charlie?

What happened?

- He's here.

- Who? Who's here?

- My father.

(solemn music)

- Thank you.

(tin cans jingling)

Hello, son.

- [Charlie] What are you doing here?

- It's Christmas.

- Where are you staying?

- Most of the fellows are
staying down at the mission.

- I'll give you a ride.

(gentle solemn music)

(tires squealing)

You show up.

You just show up.

Why are you here?

- Because it's time.

- Not by my clock.

Time.

Where have you been for the last 25 years?

- I went by the old
neighborhood last summer.

- And found out where we were.

You keep sending your cards.

- I learned your wife had died.

- [Charlie] Look, if
it's money you want...

- No, I'm not here for money.

I work for a living. I
pay my way, I always have.

I'm here because I wanna
spend Christmas with you.

- You haven't earned the right.

(car horn honking)

- I wanna know the
grandchildren that I never met.

- I did not invite you here.

- Not many more Christmases left, Charlie.

(soft music)

Hi, how are you doing?

- [Man] How'd it go?

(crickets chirping)
(dog barking)

- Last year, you didn't
get home till after dark.

- Well, this Christmas
will be better than last.

- Will Laurie be here?
- Yeah, about noon.

Mrs. Morgan will be over even earlier,

and you guys can get
started on the turkey.

- What are you giving
Laurie for Christmas?

- I'm still making up my mind.

- Did she get the job in San Francisco?

- Uh, no, not yet.

- Will she?
- What's Laurie giving you?

- I don't know.

- You don't ask what someone's
giving you for Christmas.

- Yeah, well, I do.

Dad, when are we getting the tree?

- Soon.
- How soon?

- Couple of days.

- Last year, we had to wait
until the day before Christmas.

- Dad, I like Laurie.

But I miss mom. A lot.

Why can't Christmas be
the way it used to be?

- I know, baby.

I know.

- [Harold] Don't say I didn't warn you.

- And I heard you the first time.

You could've saved yourself
trouble if you'd have listened.

- Get off my back, Harold.

- Harold's rule of the road.

- Knock it off, Harold.

- A hobo can go anywhere

except home again.

Let's go, Chance.

- I thought he'd ask me to stay.

(train horn blaring)

- [Kathy] Dad, Laurie's here!

- Hi. You had supper?

- Yeah, I had something at work.

- What do you think?

- Charlie, it's beautiful.
- Yeah.

Well, if business keeps up this way,

I might just hang up the
uniform and do this full time.

- Ex-steel worker becomes
successful wood worker.

- Sounds pretty good to me.

- I thought I was gonna
get to meet your dad.

- Well, you thought wrong.

- Well, excuse me.

- He thought I was gonna invite
him to stay for Christmas.

- Yeah, well, what's wrong with that?

- (sighs) My father and I don't need

to hurt each other all over again.

- Oh, Charlie, you said
that was a long time ago.

- Which is exactly where its gonna stay.

It's not your family.

- I can take a hint.

- No, I didn't tell the kids.

- Well, don't you think
Bobby and Kathy have a right

to meet their own grandfather?

- I sent my father away.

- You didn't answer my question.

Don't shut me out.

Look, it's between me and my father, okay?

- No, it's not okay.

(Laurie sighs)

Boy, you sure don't make
it easy for me, do you?

I'm trying to get to
know the whole Charlie.

I mean, how can we ever
talk about the future

if you're so unwilling
to talk about the past?

Those kids upstairs have a
right to meet their grandfather.

Goodnight, Charlie.

(melancholic music)

- Damn you.

Good morning, Mrs. Morgan.
Thanks for coming over.

The kids are already asleep.
- Oh, good.

Police work calling you out, Charlie?

- [Charlie] No, ma'am.

- Sounded very urgent.

- It's, uh, personal business.
Kind of an important errand.

- Chance Grovner?

Never heard of him.

Besides, even if we did know him,

we got you marked for a cop.

- He told me down at the
mission he was headed this way.

He's my father.

(soft music)

- [Harris] Well, I for one
need some California sun.

My bones ache here.

- [Chance] You know, you've
been complaining about cold

since I met you.

Get to California, you'll
complain about the heat.

- Railroad cops, he's spotted us. Come on.

This used to be a safe yard.

- [Harris] Yeah, the world
used to be safe, too.

You don't count on
nothing except your pals.

- [Chance] Come on, this way.

Come on, Harry, down here.
Come on, come on, hurry up.

- One day.

I give you one day.

(solemn music)

(cheerful music)

(Chance snoring)

(gentle music)

(Chance coughs)

- How come he sleeps with
his shoes on his chest?

- You'll have to ask him.

- [Kathy] You said you'd
take him to hockey practice.

Ask him then.

- [Charlie] Well, whatever you do,

you two are in charge of your granddad.

- [Bobby] Can't he stay more that one day?

- [Charlie] (sighs) He's a traveling man.

He never stays anywhere long.

- That's why he's a hobo.
- [Charlie] Exactly.

- [Bobby] A hobo has to
be somewhere on Christmas.

- [Charlie] All right, look, just remember

he is an older man.

Don't expect him to be
able to do everything

you want him to do.

- Well, I'm too old for hockey.

- Hi, I'm Bobby.

I peeked and saw you last night

when Dad carried me into my sister's room.

- Well, good morning, Bobby.

- I'm Kathy.

- Morning, Kathy.

- Coffee?

- Ah, yes, thank you, I would.

I recognize a good deal of that furniture

up in your room, Bobby.

I made some of that for your
father when he was your age.

- I gotta be going.

You just tell Bobby and Kathy
whatever it is you wanna do.

Come here.

- [Bobby] When do we get the tree?

- Tomorrow, first thing.

- Granddad can stay that long. Can't you?

- The best trees are
down at the rail yard.

Last shipment before
Christmas came in yesterday.

- [Charlie] I'll be home by six.

- What would you like for breakfast?

- This year I want a big tree,
to the top of the ceiling.

- Some toast and juice.

And more coffee, please.

I always made choosing the
tree a very special time.

- When you were home.

- Well, today I am home.

The whole day with both of you.

- I'll go get on my uniform.

- What's a hobo?

- A man who works as he travels.

(festive music)

And always carry a couple
of quarters in your shoes.

Good for bus rides and telephone calls.

- How come you sleep with
your shoes on your chest?

- Well, because that way
they're as close to me

as if I was wearing them.

Good shoes are important to a hobo.

Good shoes and a good
road to travel them with.

Okay, in you go. There you are.

(whistle blowing)
- [Coach] Concentrate.

- [Boy] Come on, pass it.

- There you go.
- How come you've never come

to see us before?

- Well, I, uh-

- Daddy says he was my
age when you left home.

- You're not here because
you're sick or dying, are you?

- No, Bobby. I'm here
because it's Christmas.

- You sure?
- I'm sure.

- Why did you leave home?

- Well, Kathy, think of it this way.

Long time ago, there was this man.

- You.
- Yeah.

Me.

Growing up, there wasn't
a thing in this world

that I was afraid to take on.

I never did less than well
in anything I ever tried.

I was a salesman, a traveling salesman.

Came a time for change,

I guess too many changes for me.

How much has your father
told you about me?

- He never talks about you.

But he keeps your postcards

and your pictures down in the basement.

Bobby and I knew what you
looked like right away.

- [Bobby] Granddad! (groans)

(whistle blows)
(both laughing)

(players speaking indistinctly)

(gentle music)

Granddad!

- Yeah?

Just admiring your dad's work down here.

- We're getting a tree tomorrow morning.

And I told dad you'd be here to help us.

- Oh, that's the boy.

Just great. Good, good.

(gentle music)

(cheerful music)
(people chattering)

- Kathy, this way! Follow me.

- So was this one always off
and running like Bobby is?

- [Bobby] Granddad!

- He was a real handful.

Curiosity, and this that
and everything in between.

- Granddad!
- Yeah, coming, Bobby.

(Laurie laughing)

- Looks like you've added
another kid to the family.

- Well, Bobby insisted that he stay on

and help with the tree.

You were right. The kids
deserve to see their granddad.

(people chattering)

- Carolina, Cajun, merry Christmas!

- $2! Am I getting $2?
- Yeah, my grandkids.

- About the other night,

I didn't mean to shut you out like that.

I apologize.

- [Laurie] Apology accepted.

- By the way, if you do take
that job in San Francisco,

I just wanted you to know that
a team of wild horses and I

are gonna come there and drag you back.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

- That's fine. Keep on going.

- Which did you do the
longest, salesman or hobo?

- Salesman.

Yeah, there they are, stay right there.

- [Bobby] What?

- (sighs) Just watch.

We'll wind up with the most
expensive tree in the lot.

Douglas fir.

- Douglas fir, that's why.

Ah, yeah. This is more like it.

You won't find a more
beautiful tree ever grown.

Sometimes they grow as
high as 100 feet tall.

- Costs a lot.

- [Chance] At my age, I'm past
putting a price on Christmas.

- You know, last year we just got pine.

- Yeah, I know it's a good charge

but this year, they're a little dry.

- Over here, of course,
we have the nobles.

- No, no, no, no. Too picked over.

- Blue spruce.
- Too much sap.

- Well, I have heard that the Douglas fir

does give you more tree than money.

- Lasts twice as long, too.

- Mm-hmm.

Sold.

- Made a good choice, Son.

Ah, put that away. Come
on, kids, lend a hand.

- No, no, no, no. Hold on, now Charlie.

Now wait a minute.

- [Charlie] I do believe this
is the best tree we ever had.

Here we go.

- So Charlie tells me you
used to be quite the salesman.

- No, I've got money, I
could've paid for that tree.

Charlie, hold up there, will you?

Look, Son.

(gentle music)

I carved these heads out of apples

during the harvest season up
in the state of Washington.

- When I was your age, he carved
new decorations every year.

- Yeah, I've been carving and whittling

since I was your age, Bobby.

- Well, easy to see where you
get your talent with wood.

- Hey, kids, come here,
take a look at this.

This is a hobo knife.

See, this blade here is
for carving and whittling.

That one there is a can opener.

And this here is a scissors.

For sewing. Sewing on
buttons and the like.

Charlie, remember that
Christmas turkey I won

at Oliver Henry's hardware
store in Chester, Pennsylvania?

- The one you bought a ticket for

on the Pennsylvania railroad.

- Hold on, you two.

A ticket for a turkey on a train?

- True story.

- What happened to the turkey?

- Well, he sat in the seat beside me

all the way home to Pittsburgh.

(Laurie laughs)
Your grandmother and I

were there to meet the train.

- When I stepped off that train,

I was leading a 16 pound Tom turkey.

- Yeah, with a collar around
its neck and a string.

- And I said to your father,
"Sharpen up the axe, Son."

- Oh, boy.

I looked at him, and he looked
back down at me and he said,

"Well, you do want turkey for
Christmas dinner, don't you?

- (chuckling) You cut its head off?

- Sure scared I was gonna have to.

But you just laughed at me
and told me not to worry,

and led the turkey away
and put it in a taxicab.

- (laughing) Oh!

- A turkey in a taxicab?

- I swear, and there
were two nuns in the cab.

(all laughing)

- I'd heard that the nuns

up at St. Rita's Home for Wayward Girls

were in need of a Christmas turkey.

So thanks to me and that
bird their dream came true.

- Tell us another story.

- Yeah, come on, just one more.

- Well, now, let me see, let me see.

Well, now there was that
year that Ned Tomkins,

over at the barber shop,

was gonna play Santa Claus

at the health club Christmas party.

So he called me up that morning, he said,

"Chance, you gotta help me out.

You gotta play Santa Claus."
(children laughing)

I said, "Why? What's the matter, Ned?"

And he said, "Well, to tell you the truth,

I went to a party last night.

And I got there a little too early

and I stayed there a little too late."

(Laurie and kids laughing)

- [Bobby] What happened to Ned Tomkins?

- Oh, he was run over by a reindeer.

(both laughing)
No, no, no.

That's the truth. It was.

Really. Yup. Really. (all laughing)

- [Chance] This is the cross
my heart, hope to die truth.

- [Laurie] He's a very proud man.

- [Charlie] Well, he
never lacked for pride.

- But he wanted to buy that tree.

You know, he had out that leather purse.

You just brushed him off.

- I guess I was too busy thinking about

just how easily he
conned me into that tree.

- Well, I think he's really
trying to get to know you,

so you should give him equal time.

- The man I still see is the
one that left 25 years ago.

- Charlie, find out who
he is now, why he's here.

- I've already told you,
the only reason he is here

is for the kids.

- Try, Charlie.

(children laughing)

- The way they're taking to him

he could be Father Christmas himself.

- Father Christmas.

But you're right.
- What?

- He's perfect. He's Santa Claus.

Well, no, at the party.
At the children's party.

- I don't think so.

- So I took the turkey into
the dining car for lunch.

I just had a sandwich.

He had a chocolate sundae.

No nuts.
(kids laughing)

- Are you all alone
when you ride the rails?

- No, no, I have friends.

- Who?
- Well, the Topeka kid,

Biloxi Slim, Omaha John Boswell.

My best friend is Cincinnati Harold.

- Do they all sleep with
their shoes on their chest?

- Absolutely.
(Bobby giggles)

- What do you eat when you ride the rails?

- Hobo stew, what else?

- What's hobo stew?

- Oh, well, now, that's a secret.

But I'll teach you how to make it one day.

It's just plain
stick-to-your-ribs delicious.

- You remember that Sunday
we drove up to Park City,

and you were determined
that you were gonna

teach the kid from Pittsburgh how to ski?

- (laughing) Oh, boy, it wasn't easy.

- I fell down a lot.
- Yeah?

- Yeah.

(gentle music)

Um, anyway, uh...

When it comes to telling you
how I feel about you, I, uh,

I'm just as clumsy.

- Charlie, I've been thinking this,

this move to San Francisco,

it could be the best thing for both of us.

- Made up your mind, huh?

- Well, you have priorities.

You have the kids, two jobs,

you had a wife you loved very much.

- This time you're not
answering my question.

- No.

No, I haven't decided yet.

I only know if you just let me-

- I don't want you to go.

- We have been seeing
each other for a year

and I think we've fallen in love.

But Charlie, we are standing still.

Just when I think I'm
getting close to you,

you close me off.

(gentle music)

- You kids haven't told me what
you want for Christmas yet.

- I want a dog, she wants a piano.

- Bobby!
- Ow.

But she hasn't told Dad.

- Oh? Why not?

Why haven't you told him?

- I was taking lessons.

My mother died, so I stopped playing.

I think about her a lot.

- I told dad if I can't have
a dog, I want an aquarium.

- Well, if you don't tell
you father you want a piano,

he can't buy one for you.

- Maybe I'll tell him,

maybe I won't.

- Night, Kathy. Night, Bobby.

- [Both] Night.

- Did you really buy a
train ticket for a turkey?

- Now could I make up a story like that?

- (chuckles) I think you could.

- [Bobby] Where are my shoes?

(gentle music)

- Still selling.

Still at it.

I thought I'd wait until
morning to tell them goodbye.

- [Charlie] You know damn
well they want you to stay.

You're making sure they want you to stay.

- [Chance] All right, I am.

But right now, I'm waiting
to hear it from you.

- You wanna stay, stay.

- You're the one I came to see.

I'm waiting to hear it now.

Yes or no?

I want the vote to be unanimous.

- If I tell you to go,

you know who the kids are gonna blame.

Me.

- I'm not talking about-
- I'll be the fall guy.

I'm talking about us.

- [Charlie] No, I'm not
gonna tell you to leave.

You came for Christmas,
you stay for Christmas.

But you just remember this,
when it's time for you to leave

you're the one who's gonna have
to face your grandchildren.

- [Chance] All right, Bobby,
time for the potatoes.

There we go, right there.

That's it. And the corn, Kathy.

There we are. And the onions, Bobby.

- Whew.
- There we go.

Carrots, right, in they go next.

And the beer.

Yeah, I'll pour that and you stir, huh.

There we are.

All right, and now the cabbage.

- Well, let's not forget five
pounds of Polish sausage.

- Okay, in it goes.
Cabbage, cabbage, cabbage.

What did you do with the cabbage, huh?

- I couldn't find the cabbage.

- She hates cabbage.

- Oh, yeah? Well, you're gonna love this.

- Yuck.

- Yes, sir, vitamin-packed
stick-to-your-ribs hobo stew!

Cooks for three hours, keeps
a man going for three days.

- If it's so good, why isn't
he here to eat his own cooking?

- He's working down in the basement.

- You can only cook hobo stew
outside in a garbage can.

(Bobby chuckles)

- Well, I'll just take him a
bowl full of his own medicine.

- I'll take it to-
- No, no, no. Thank you.

(Bobby sighs)

- I wanted to take it to him.

- Daddy wants to talk to him.

- How do you know?
- Because I know.

- Know what?

- All you do is ask questions.

You're such a geek.

- At least I didn't hide my
cabbage under my sausage.

- Yeah? Who's there?

- [Charlie] Bringing your supper down.

- Now hold it, hold it. Just a second.

I wish I could tell you
what I'm up to, but I won't.

You know, in my shop at home,

I have my lathe just where you have yours.

You're doing fine work here, Son.

(exclaims) Hobo stew.

Just plain-

- Vitamin-packed,
stick-to-the-ribs hobo stew.

You know Bobby and Kathy
have never eaten carrots,

they have never eaten onions,

- Did Kathy try the cabbage?

- They have never had beer,

which only goes to show what
a liking they've taken to you.

(Chance chuckles)

I don't want them hurt when you leave.

- You think I want that?

- Well, the only way you ever
wanted to be close to anybody

is on your own terms,

always coming back and never staying.

Always thinking of yourself.

My father, the hobo who ran
away from the real world.

You were always running,

always looking for the easy way out.

- What do you know about my world?

How do you know how I felt?

- Look I didn't come down here
to pick a fight, all right?

- Yeah.

You could've fooled me.

- You say you always work wherever you go.

Well, I got a job for ya.

You do so well with Bobby and Kathy,

I'm sure you'll work out
just fine as Santa Claus.

- Santa Claus?
- Yeah.

For Laurie and the kids
over at the hospital.

- Look, I'm not playing Santa Claus,

not in front of a bunch of kids.

I wouldn't know what to do!
- We will talk about this

in the morning over the finest breakfast

you've had had in years.

- [Chance] I will not play Santa Claus!

(gentle music)

(door slams)

♪ See the pyramids ♪

- Hi.
♪ Along the Nile ♪

- My kinda place, Charlie.

All those years I was traveling,
this was my kind of place.

Look, if there's gonna be any talk

at this meal about playing Santa Claus,

forget it because you're taking the job.

- Won't hear it from me.

Always used to say the food
was better at the counter.

- Yeah, 25 years ago.

Those were my salesman days, remember?

- Always on the road.

Trains mostly.
- Mm-hmm.

Pittsburgh to Philly,
south to Washington DC,

north to Trenton.

Far west as Cleveland.

- Everything from w*r surplus
canteens and rubber rafts,

bats and ba*ls, hula hoops.

Mom said you sold it all.
- Oh.

I sure did.

25 years ago.

That was the last time.

Remember the home office?

Home office, Charlie,
where all of us salesmen

used to gather once a month.

Exchange ideas, swap stories,

collect our bonuses,

Johnny Acres in from the south,

Bill O'Grady in from New York,

Buck Marshall from the far west.

We were the road.

- Territory.

(sighs)

You know, three years ago, I
lost my job at the steel mill.

25 years ago you lost yours as a salesman.

You ran away, I didn't.

Why?

- Well...

It started small enough.

I was selling baseball gloves.

These gloves were genuine
Texas cowhide leather.

Only thing was, uh, the big chains

were selling those same gloves, too.

Pretty soon they were buying up

all the mom and pop stores
who were my customers,

people I sold to.

Everything was moving out
of the shopping centers.

Downtown's died.

I was a hotel man in a motel world.

- More coffee, fellas?
- No, just check please.

- Friday nights, we've got you home.

Friday night fights on TV.

Seemed to you like Ruby
Goldstein was always the referee?

(Chance chuckles)

We'd get you for weekends.

And early Monday morning you'd be gone.

One week,

white shirts were still
hanging in the closet.

Ties were on the rack.

All the shoes nice and neat in a row.

One hat missing.

Panama straw, summertime.

Mom said you were trying a different line.

New road, different territory.

- Yeah, remember all those
years I tried to come back?

Even if it was only for a week at a time.

Trouble was each time I came
back, it became more difficult.

- Why? Why did it become more difficult?

- In my day it was the man

who was the provider for the family.

I'd just become an out-of-work salesman.

- Became a hobo.

- I worked, I sent money home

- Hey, I was just a kid, I was home.

You were gone.

Think I wanted to put
my arms around money?

- Don't you think that that hurt me, too?

All I was trying to do was provide

for you and your mother as best I could.

- Times changed, you
were just too damn proud

to change with 'em.

- I'd lost my life's work.

- Yeah, the proud salesman,
the man who was the territory.

- No, I had no territory.
I had no profession.

- And when they were gone,
your pride sent you running.

- Running, me, no, never.

- And when you did, you left us behind!

- Do you think I've wrote,

sent those post cards and pictures home,

because I was trying to leave
you and your mother behind?

All I knew was, that
I'd failed your mother,

and I was failing you.

I told him, "No way, no way

am I gonna play some Santa Claus."

- Well, somebody forgot to tell me.

- Yeah, so he invited me out to breakfast.

- That must have been nice.

- I never had a better
breakfast or a worse time.

- (chuckling) Humbug.
- First thing you know,

he conned me into playing Santa Claus.

- Here, try the whiskers.

- I don't know where'd he
learn all that sort of stuff.

- Can you hold still?
- He tricked me.

He said he was coming over here

so he could play Santa Claus.

- Well I'm in charge and I
wanted you. Charlie's too skinny.

Now, here, try on this hat.

- You think so much of my son.

Why don't you do something about him?

- Sit down. I'll fix your boots.

- He's a widower with two children.

Now, if you two are on
your way to falling in love

why don't you do something about it.

- Whatever is to be worked out, if it is,

Charlie and I will work
it out in our time,

in our own way.

- Hey, the kids are ready.

Uh, we've told them not to
throw things at you this year.

- Throw things at Santa Claus?

- Yeah, we've tried to get
rid of all the bubblegum.

- Bubblegum? Look, what is this?

- Yeah, you know, gets in the beard.

- All right, here's the
sack. We're ready to go.

- Oh, gentle Jesus, meek and mild,

if Harold could only see me now.

("Here Comes Santa Claus")

♪ Here come's Santa Claus,
here come's Santa Claus ♪

♪ Right down Santa Claus lane ♪

♪ Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer ♪

♪ Are pullin' on the reins ♪

♪ Bells are ringin', children singin' ♪

♪ All is merry and bright ♪
- Santa! Santa!

- Look at my list!

- [Chance] Come on, come on, kids.

Watch what you're doing now.

♪ Here come's Santa Claus,
here come's Santa Claus ♪

♪ Right down Santa Claus lane ♪

(all cheering and clapping)

- What do I tell these little squirts?

- Well, start them off
with a "h*, h*, h*",

you know?
(Chance groans)

Come on.
- h*, h*, h*.

- [Children] Louder!

(all shouting) Louder!

- h*, h*, h*! Merry Christmas!

(all cheering and clapping)

Everybody got their lists for Santa?

(all shouting)
Come on!

Tell Santa all about it.

Now, let's see. This is just swell.

("Jingle Bells")

- [Laurie] This is Heather.
- Hi, Heather.

You're a pretty girl.

Now you look over there
in that camera there

and let them take our picture.

- [Laurie] And here's Richie.

- Well, Richie, how are you?

You got a list for Santa Claus?

Yeah, I'm sure we must
have something in that sack

for a good little boy like you.

Now, let's see, what do we have.

Hey! Oh, goodness.

What are you doing? Come on.

- [Man] Come on, Richie. Atta boy.

(children chattering indistinctly)

- All right, did we all get
a good present from Santa?

(all cheering)

All right, I think it's
time for another song!

- [All] Rudolph!

- Well, you know it,
why don't you sing it?

(festive piano music)

♪ Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer ♪

♪ Had a very shiny nose ♪

♪ And if you ever saw it ♪

♪ You would even say it glows ♪

♪ All of the other reindeer ♪

- He's so good! Do you think
we can get him back next year?

- I seriously doubt it.
(Laurie laughs)

Wouldn't you know it, I
get Christmas eve off.

How about lunch?

- Sure, sounds good, about one o'clock?

- Okay, I'll pick you up.
♪ Then one foggy Christmas Eve ♪

♪ Santa came to say ♪

- Until he showed up,
I had Christmas planned

around the kids and you.

- Hey, come on, come on.

- Oops.

- Oh, Santa needs his elf.

- Bye.
- See you tomorrow.

♪ Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer ♪

♪ You'll go down in history ♪

(all cheering)

- Yay, Santa!

Once, but never...

Oh, boy, though I may never again.

(cheering continues)

♪ Red-nosed reindeer ♪

♪ Had a really shiny nose ♪

♪ You would even say it glows ♪

(Chance vocalizing)

(footsteps approaching)

Waiting up for someone?

- You. I wanna ask you a question.

- Ah, that's fair enough.

- Why can't you and Daddy be friends?

- Well, you remember that
little conversation we had

that day at the skating rink?

- Why you became a hobo?
- Yeah.

Well this is the only family I have left,

and I tried to move back into it.

But your father wasn't ready for me

to move back into his life.

His, or yours, or Bobby's.

- But Daddy wants to
love you. I know he does.

I told you, he saved your pictures.

- Now it's my turn to ask a question.

- Fair enough.

- How do you feel about
Laurie and your father?

- I like her and so does Daddy, a lot.

- Oh, good.

Because I think your father
and maybe one day you and Bobby

will need her in your life
more than you need me.

- When are you leaving?

- Morning after Christmas I'll be gone

before you're even awake.

- Now that you know where we live,

you'll come back every
Christmas, won't you?

- I'd like that, I'd like that very much.

- I'm glad I waited up for you.

- So am I.

Good night.
- Good night.

(gentle music)

- [Laurie] New shoes? That's
all you could think to get him?

- What else do I know about him?

He travels.

- Well, what else have
you two been talking about

for the past three days?

- Oh, way we were,

why he's here.

- [Laurie] And?

- (sighs) And he's brought
up a lot of old feelings.

Not all of them about him.

- About Karen?

- I'll change.

That guy is like me.

(Charlie sighs)

I worked in mills.

Steel's what we knew.

And all of a sudden one
day, we're out of work.

And I mean for good.

Do you have any idea what's that like?

- No.
- I was afraid.

Where was the work gonna come from?

And I was scared to death to
leave the city, neighborhood,

where I'd been born and raised.

- And married.

- And married.

Karen and I got married
right out of high school.

We, uh...

We were so much in love,

we just couldn't wait to get married.

- [Girl] Come on, let's
go over to the pet store.

- I want to see the doggie.
- Yeah.

- [Woman] Come on, come on,
you girls. Stay with mother.

- (clears throat) It was her
idea to move west, you know?

I, uh...

I was always pretty good with my hands.

And I thought I could open

a small furniture making business.

Then Karen died.

Such small dreams, you know?

Place to live, work,

place to bring up the kids.

There's this, uh, tavern near the mill.

A place where all the guys, we used to go

and have a beer after work every day.

Nowadays, that place is full all day long

with guys who were my friends.

'Cause to a lot of them,
yesterday is gonna be forever.

Anyway, one day I was looking
at myself in the mirror

behind that bar.

And I saw my father.

And it scared me. (chuckles)

That had scared me because
right then I wanted to run.

I wanted to run and just, keep running.

It was just us, just me and
the kids, we came out here.

Four days on an interstate,

and we'd left an entire lifetime behind.

- That was the past, Charlie.
- Yeah.

This is now.

And I've got you in my life.

And you make a difference, lady.

I want to reach out again.

- Let it go, Charlie.

- And trust myself.

- Let it all out.

- (sighs) I want to love again.

It's hard, you know?

- Yeah.
- Yeah. It's hard.

(gentle music)

(Laurie exhales)

- Your dad said we could buy him anything,

from a pair of socks to a TV set.

- He bought himself a TV set last year.

- Socks are boring. Should've made a list.

- You were supposed to ask.
- Was not!

- All right, come on, come on.

- You were!
- Was not!

- The two of you, now stop that.

Come on, get in there.

Come on, Bobby, be nice
to your sister, will you?

Why don't you use your imagination?

- [Kathy] We tried that last year.

- Yeah, and what happened?
- Socks and a shirt.

- Boring.
- You're boring.

- I am not.
- All right, all right.

- Are too.
- All right.

Come on, over here.

(puppies whimpering)

Why don't you try it?

You're sure?

Well, it's only Christmas Eve.

Plenty of time to change your mind.

Hey, what have you got there?

- That one's mine.
- Yeah?

What makes you so sure?

- He brought Daddy here and showed him.

- Oh, yeah.
- (giggles) Where to now?

- Well, now, we're gonna
do something special

for your father.
- All right!

- Great!
- Just the three of us.

(gentle music)

Okay, Bobby, this is for you.

Yeah, that's for you.

Come on, now. Put the
money in, Bobby, come on.

And don't forget, when the light turns on

everyone says, "Cheese!"

- [All] Cheese!

- [Kathy] Where are we?

- Yeah, well, you'll see.

My best friends are here.

I thought this would be
a nice Christmas present

for your father from you and Bobby, huh?

Come on, come on, Bobby, inside.

(indistinct chatter)

- [Chance] Hi, boys!
- [Man] Hey!

- I want you to meet my grandchildren,

Bobby and Kathy Grovner.

- Hi.
- Hey.

- Here's Topeka, Biloxi Slim,

Omaha John Boswell and over
there, that's Cincinnati Harold.

- [Kathy] Hi.
- [Bobby] Hi.

- How soon are we leaving, Chance?

- Day after tomorrow, Harold.

- California, here we come!

(Chance laughing)
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I know you didn't bring 'em over here

to cook turkeys, Chance.

- Yeah, so what's happening?

- If I know him, it's got
something to do with Christmas.

- Well, you're right.

These young ones here want you
to spend Christmas with them.

- Count me out.

- It was Granddad's idea.

- It figures. Some more stuffing, Omaha.

- [Bobby] Don't you wanna hear what it is?

- Granddad says that the best present

Bobby and I can give our Daddy-

- Is for you to have Christmas with us.

- Sorry, I go to bed Christmas Eve

and sleep right through Christmas.

- Day and night.

- We want to give you to our
Daddy as a Christmas present.

- We didn't know what to get him.

- I'll say.

- Now, I want my son to have

a big family around by Christmas

and I guess you guys
are gonna have to be it.

- Well, I don't know.

- Oh, now look, when was the last time

you could do anything
for kids or our family,

except maybe send a card in the mail

or make a telephone call?

Harold, you think you're different

because you take to your bed at Christmas.

Well, let me tell you for all of us,

Christmas is the lonesomest
time of the year.

- Granddad says you'll cook the pies.

- You don't cook pies!

You bake them. (groans)

- Now, Topeka,

you'll do the vegetables.
- Okay.

- Slim, you do the biscuits.
- Yeah.

- And, Omaha, the salad is all yours.

- Yeah.

- I'll do the mashed
potatoes and the gravy.

And, Harold you're in charge.

Here's the address, one
o'clock, don't be late.

- If old Harold have anything
to do with Christmas,

I'll go along just to watch.

(all laughing)
- I'll think on it.

- Yeah, well, just so long
as you don't sleep on it.

(all laughing)
Hey, come on, you kids.

Come on. Let's get home.

We got important work to do.

We don't wanna be late for Church.

- [Bobby] Bye!
- [All] Bye.

- Harold, don't let me down.

♪ O come all ye faithful ♪
(Harold groans)

♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪

♪ 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 ♪

- You said he was supposed
to be back for dinner.

You're positive he didn't
tell you where he was going?

How about you?

♪ All ye citizens of heaven above ♪

♪ Glory to God ♪

♪ Glory in the Highest ♪

♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪

♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪

♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪

♪ Christ the Lord ♪

- [All] The Father, Son,
and the Holy Spirit.

- And so I take this opportunity,

to wish you all the blessings

of this most joyous holiday season.

And I would like to remind
those of you who are newcomers,

or those who have strayed, or stayed away,

or those of you who come
on Easter and Christmas,

or those of you who are only
here because your parents

or grandparents dragged you
- Grandpa, over here.

Grandpa.
- Come on, sit down.

- under the threat of receiving nothing

but a lump of coal in your stockings,

we welcome you as much as our regulars.

We wish you a very merry Christmas.

- I never finish my shopping
until Christmas Eve.

- Did you get the job done?

- [Priest] And wrapped
him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in a manger

because there was no room in the inn.

My friends, these words,
from the gospel of St. Luke,

should serve to remind us of those

who are less fortunate than ourselves.

(cheerful music)

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.

- It's from all of us.

- [Chance] Family portrait.

(man humming "Jingle Bells")

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

♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪

♪ In a one horse open sleigh, hey ♪

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

(gentle music)

- Granddad, this is yours.

- Yeah.

It was mine, now it's yours.

That's a real hobo knife, Bobby.

Ah, how do you like that? You see this?

This is the keystone.

That's for the state of
Pennsylvania, where you were born.

- And this one's for Utah.
- Yeah, where you live now.

- Now you'll have to
fill in the rest for me.

It's beautiful, thank you.

- You're welcome, sweetheart.

- This one's from all of us.

- Well, would you look
at the size of that?

"To Grandpa, from Bobby,
Kathy, and Santa Claus.

Well, what have we here?

This.

(Chance gasps)

Well, now, that's really a handsome scarf.

Well, I certainly can use these.

Oh, yes, indeed.

(chuckles) Oh.

Will you look at that?

What do you think of your
old grandfather, huh?

Well, you kids certainly know
what your old granddad needed.

- [Charlie] One more.

- Well, I'm doing pretty well here today.

I'm afraid you're gonna have to wait

until you get back from
work for yours, Charlie.

Ah. (chuckles)

How did you know I always buy myself

a pair of shoes at Christmas time, huh?

- Well it was Dad's idea.

- All we know is you're leaving tomorrow.

Here.

- Dad, when do we get our presents?

- Well, part of Christmas is surprises.

- What'd Laurie give you?
- I don't know yet.

I gotta be going.

I will be back by 4:30.

- Don't be late.
- No.

- And don't worry about the turkey.

You left Christmas dinner in good hands.

- The best.
(both giggling)

- You all know how I feel about Christmas.

I'd rather be in bed.

Chance needs our help for Christmas.

He's our friend.

It's important to him and the grandkids.

So, we remember our manners

and watch our language in front of kids,

ladies, and the cop.

Today, we do whatever our
buddy Chance asks us to do.

All right. Get out your bus fares.

(men humming)

(dog barking)
(indistinct chatter)

(door bell rings)
- Come on, Kathy.

You better get moving
with those bread crumbs

and the celery.
- [Kathy] Okay, Grandpa.

- Come on in!
(people chattering)

Oh, merry Christmas, Mrs. Morgan.

Oh, have you two met?

- Yeah, Mrs. Morgan.
- Oh, Gladys, please.

We met earlier.

Him and his friends certainly
know how to handle Christmas.

Oh, except that one in the kitchen.

- Tell me about it.

- [Chance] How's it going
with those pies, Harold?

- They'll be ready when they're ready.

(Chance sighs)

- Do you need some more stuffing, Laurie?

- All right.
- [Bobby] Granddad.

Potatoes are ready.
- Be right there.

(men speaking indistinctly)

- Oh, I like your shoes.

- Yeah, my travel shoes.

Charlie gave them to me.

Right over there, in back of you,

you'll find the pepper and the celery salt

and the oregano and the dill
for that stuffing of yours.

- Thank you.

So, what's your specialty?

- Thoroughly mashed potatoes

and the gravy that goes with 'em.

- Mm.

All right, I will get
started on the dressing.

- I, uh...

I'll be leaving here tomorrow.

- Yes, I heard.

- Look, it's, uh, it's
none of my business,

but, if Charlie asks you to marry him,

say "Yes".

- You're right, it's
none of your business.

- If that were my dressing I'd
put a tad more pepper in it.

- You're not only a
sentimentalist, you're a romantic.

- (chuckles) Most people would
say a romantic was a fool.

- Mm-hmm.

So what's your role in this family?

Hmm? Where's your responsibility?

- It's too late for that.

- Oh, is it?

Who told you it's too late?

- [Chance] Nobody has to tell me.

Oh, if you're gonna do that dressing,

you're gonna need some more-

- No. I will make my dressing my way.

- I was only trying to help.

- You were trying to change the subject.

You know, these past few
days I blamed Charlie

for running away from you.

But now I think you're the
one who's really running.

Now this is none of my business,

but maybe it's time to stop.

(siren wailing)

(siren wailing)

- It's Dad!
- It's Daddy!

- You're home early!

Why are you driving this?

- Oh, I'm special delivery.

- I, uh...

I thought it might be nice

to have a few friends over to dinner.

- Maybe you'd like to ask 'em
to give us a hand over here.

- Sure, sure, come on, boys.

Lend a hand here.

- [Man] What in the
world have we got here?

- Now, young man, I believe that he

was tops on your list.
- [Bobby] Oh!

(puppy whimpering)

- [Man] That's nice.

- Oh, thanks, Dad. (squeals)

Just the one I wanted.

- Now, young lady, the top of your list.

Had to borrow a paddy-wagon, but

I got it here.
(Kathy gasps)

- Thank you, Daddy. Thank you so much.

I love you.
- You're welcome, baby.

- Now, come on, boys.
Come on, give a hand.

(men chattering)

- [Man] All right.

- What is this "A few
friends over for dinner?"

- Well, it's, uh...

It's been so long since
anybody, much less a family,

has shared Christmas with them that

Kathy and Bobby thought
that they would like to

share Christmas with someone

who is less fortunate than they are.

- I see.

- It's kind of like, like
a present for all of us.

One day.

Today.

It was Kathy's idea.

- Granddad, it was your idea.

- And a good one.

(festive music)

- [Man] Every kid should have a dog.

I haven't had one since I was a kid.

- [Man] My sister had a
piano she played every day.

(men chattering faintly)

- It was the meanest, darkest, thundering,

lightningest night I'd ever
seen on rails in 30 years.

Down we came on that runaway freight

out of (indistinct) right
into the teeth of the storm.

- Wherever we went, I was
always pleased to come home.

- Did you always live in Utah, Gladys?

- Born and raised here.

Some day, you should take the time

to do more than pass through, Chance.

- We always pass through.

- If you took the time,

I'd be pleased to show you the state.

- We never stay anywhere
more than a few days.

- Summer days in the
cool of the mountains.

Year-round fishing.

- Well, certainly
something to think about,

isn't it, Harold?

- Pass the peas.

(glass tinkling)

- Ladies and gentlemen,

before we get to Harold's legendary pies-

- They're not ready.

- I have an announcement to make.

Ladies and gentlemen, when I was a boy,

I heard my father say
about my grandfather that

when a man got older,
he always had this wish

to be a kid again.

To be young,

and reach for something he
never had, never could have.

Now, if my father were here
to talk today, I'd say to him

that it was tougher as time goes on,

to know, not so much what
you didn't have as a boy,

as what you wanted for your own son.

Never got around to putting it under

the tree on Christmas morning.

And Lord knows I've had as much time

to think about that as most fathers.

Probably more than most.

So, without further gabbing,

my Charlie, this is the gift
I had in mind to give you

over 25 years ago.

It's late, but I'm sure you're
not too old to enjoy it.

All yours, Charlie.

- Whoa. Let's move this here.

- Careful there now.

Yes, there you go.

Down easy now.

Put it down easy, easy.

- [Laurie] Oh, Charlie!

(everyone chattering)

- Look, there's Pittsburgh!

(heartfelt music)

- [Harold] Good work, Chance.

(train tooting)

- You know, in the last few
days, we've, uh, had our talks.

But this reminds me of something

we haven't talked about.

That's something I think we both remember.

(sighs)

When I was young, I
remember a lot of families

used to go down to the
airport to watch the planes.

But in my family, we always
went to the train station.

And if there's one memory
that stands out in my mind,

it's, uh...

It's being lifted up
onto my father's shoulder

to watch a long, long freight pass by.

And waving to the engineer.

And watching him wave back.

(sighs)

Thanks, Dad.

Thanks for remembering.

- [Man] Merry Christmas, everyone.

- [Man] Merry Christmas.

- One more Christmas
tradition left for all of us.

I thought Kathy and I might walk over

to that beautiful piano, and...

Will you join me, Kathy?

And we'll sit down and
sing some Christmas carols.

I'm sure we can get even
old Harold to join in.

- I'm sure.

- Now, I'm ready if you are.

("Chopsticks")

- [Charlie] She hasn't wanted to play

since her mother was teaching her.

- Well, chalk one up for Father Christmas.

- Yeah.

If it hadn't been for you
I'd have sent him away.

But the father I'm seeing tonight

is the one I always wanted to remember.

- [Laurie] I'm glad.

And the Charlie I see tonight,

is different.

- Could be the same fellow
who's still got next week off.

- The one who thought it'd be a good idea

for us to get away?

- Together? Alone?

- Must be the one I'm in love with.

- I love you.

♪ All is bright ♪
I need you.

♪ 'Round yon virgin ♪
- I'll stay, Charlie.

- Stay? As in...

- As in, I'm not taking
the job in San Francisco.

As in, being with you next week.

- [Charlie] And the week after?

- And the one after that.

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪
(sighs)

Merry Christmas, Charlie.

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪

- Merry Christmas.

- I told if you were here
you've gotta sing, Harold.

- My job is pies, only pies.

I'm afraid the gentleman is mistaken.

(oven dings)

If you'll excuse me, I'll be
taking 'em out of the oven.

- Well, in any case, Mr.
Cincinnati Harold, Merry Christmas.

- Same to you, Gladys.

- Come on, let's sing.

♪ Heavenly hosts ♪

♪ Sing hallelujah ♪

♪ Christ the savior ♪

♪ Is born ♪

♪ Christ the savior ♪

♪ Is born ♪

(somber music)

- I didn't want to wake them.

- That figures.

That's the way it always was.

I'd go to bed, and when
I woke up you'd be gone.

Mom said that after I went to sleep

you always came in and
kissed me goodnight.

- I didn't have the heart to wake you.

- Wish you had.

I never did get to thank you for the tree.

Douglas Fir.

You always knew how to pick the best.

I guess I'm two up on you, huh?

I wouldn't let you buy that tree-

- You suckered me into
playing Santa Claus.

- Yeah.

Well, tomorrow morning the
kids and I'll drive you down

to the train yard.

- Thanks, but I, uh,

I've ordered a cab.

- Well, that figures, too.

Mom and I would always meet
your train, but the leaving was

always up to you.

- Charlie, tonight is
goodnight and goodbye.

- Both at once.

- I wanna thank you
and the kids and Laurie

for a really wonderful Christmas.

(solemn music)

- [Charlie] Leaving is still up to you.

That part hasn't changed.

(solemn music)

(Chance sighs)

(train horn blowing)

- Well, good morning, everyone.

- [All] Hey.

- Well, Carolina! Cajun.

- Hey, looks like Christmas was real good

to you this year, Chance.

- Well, we missed you yesterday.

- We were celebrating. We found work.

- We're staying. We just
came by to say goodbye.

- Well, congratulations.

Good luck to the both of you.

- And to you.

- Well, ready, boys?

- [All] Yeah.

- Now you take care.

We'll see you next time we're through.

- You bet.
- All right. Take care.

(train tooting)

- Get your coats.

- All right.
(Kathy chuckles)

- Best turkey, dressing,
mashed potatoes and trimmings

I had since I was knee high to my grandma.

Them biscuits of yours were
downright legendary, Slim.

- What about the pies?

- The piano player was the
best I heard at Christmas.

- Remember that one-armed
preacher in Salinas last year.

- The pies, damn it!

- I'd compare the singing to

a wild baby, wouldn't you, Chance?

- Ah, yeah.

- What about the pies? My pies?

- [All] Pies?

- I ain't gonna talk about those pies

till you do us some singing.

(all laughing)

(tires screeching)
(lively harmonica music)

- Chance Grovner.

Any of you guys seen Chance Grovner?

(lively harmonica music)

Come on, kids, let's go.

(train horn blowing)

- We're too late.

There he is!

Dad! Kathy!

Granddad!

(heartfelt music)

Wait!

Granddad!

Granddad, wait up!

- Last night was our goodbyes.

- We don't want to say goodbye.

We want you to stay.

- A week ago you were out of my life.

Then you came back.

- [Harold] Chance.

- Now you're leaving again.

- Please stay with us.

- Chance.

- [Charlie] They really want you to stay.

- I'm not used to staying
in just one place!

- You're just beginning to
know your grandchildren.

- Maybe I don't want to have
kids around me all the time!

- Maybe they'll get tired of you!

- [Harold] California, Chance, it's time!

- Charlie,

you've got Laurie here, a
new start, a new beginning.

- I want you to stay.

For a while. You could
leave any time you want.

- Chance!

(train clatters)

Chance!

- No! Please, Granddad.

(solemn music)

- That morning in the cafe,

you said I ran, and asked me why.

I never really answered you.

'Cause you were right, Son.

It was pride.

Too much pride.

25 years of pride

that kept me from you.

I almost let it happen again.

But not anymore.

- I love you, Dad.

- I love you, Son.

(solemn music)

I'm staying.

- You've been away too long.

15 years, Chance.

You and me, we are the road.

- I'm gonna give it a try,
they're my family, Harold.

- You'll be right behind me.

- There's plenty, I'm not running.

- Right on to California!

- Something to keep you warm on the road.

You look after Omaha and Topeka and Slim.

You see that they get work.

(solemn music)

- Let's go home.

(heartfelt music)
(train clattering)

- [Chance] Grovner &
Grovner Custom Furniture.

How's that sound to you, Kathy?

- [Kathy] I like it.

(cheerful music)