01x07 - Christmas

[bunniefuu]

[car horns honking]

It's Christmas morning!

["Russian Dance" playing]

[Lily] Every year,
I wake up to find my entire family

wearing matching pajamas
in front of a tree piled with presents.

[cheering, laughing fades out]

At least this year, Notebook Boy,

I have the gift of your name
to look forward to.

- [grunts]
- [Langston]Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

The notebook.

That's
the book on serial K*llers I got Dad.

[sighs]

If the notebook's not here yet,
I'm sure there's a reason.

Yeah.

Did you have fun at the party?

[exhales]

Merry Christmas, Grandpa.

- Where do you think you're going?
- To Mrs. Basil E's...

- To Great-Aunt Lillian's.
- Why?

I promised her
I would help her bake cookies.

I can think of few activities
my sister would enjoy less.

It's not like anyone's celebrating here.

Be home by : .

Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

Oh, merry Christmas, darling.

Did, uh, anyone leave anything for me?

Uh, maybe something red
that's, uh, shaped like a notebook?

I haven't seen our friend
since he brought me a boot.

Do I spy its mate by the door?

[clicks tongue]

I told him I was ready to meet.
I don't know when it will happen.

But I figure
if I'm wearing it when he sees me,

he'll know right away who I am.

Have you considered what you'll do

if the person in person
isn't the one in your head?

You met him.

You liked him.

His persnicketiness charmed me, I admit.

But it's whether you like him that counts.

And you'll have
to discover that for yourself.

He said he'd bring the notebook here.

What if he forgot? What… what if I said
the wrong thing and scared him off and...

[phone sounds, vibrates]

[sighs]

It's my caroling troupe.

They want me to join them at McSorley's.

Ah, McSorley's.

I went there
with Estelle Getty and the cast of Hair.

They didn't allow women yet…

But they made an exception
when Estelle and I climbed on the bar,

hiked up our skirts and…

You should be with your friends.

What if the notebook comes?

I'll dash it right over!

No pun intended.

What pun?

I said, "Have fun, dear."

Dash. Why would "dash" be a pun?

What does it mean? Is he fast?

Is he a hyphen?

[Dash] My name is a connector of words.

"A connector of words."

- His name is...
- I'm Dash.

Oh, no.

[Sofia] Dash?

I knew I'd find you in a corner.
You promised me a dance.

Oh, no.

- Boomer!
- [phone chimes]

Lily? How did you get my number?

Called Two Boots,
told them I was your girlfriend,

in the Army, and I wanted
to surprise you for Christmas.

- That worked?
- It's an emergency.

It's about your friend…

Dash.

He told you his name?

Oh, he didn't tell you.

But I just did.

I need to know. Last night,

was your friend
at a party for a girl named Priya?

You know it's against the rules.
I… I can't answer that.

- Please. You have to tell me.
- I… I can't.

Because if it's him,
he left the party with his ex.

He did what?

Please tell me I'm wrong.
I want to be wrong.

Look, you're not wrong.

I'm… I'm sorry, Lily.

[sighs]

[upbeat music playing]

[man laughing]

Notebook Boy has a girlfriend,
and he's been keeping it from me.

Oh, honey.

Drink up.

- Hey, you're not old enough to.
- Shh.

Nope.

Ew, nope.

- This tastes like a candy cane.
- Peppermint schnapps.

I want another one.

- [all cheering]
- Yeah!

He didn't forget me.

[chuckling] He has another girl.

And she's perfect,

and so is he.

Smart and funny,

cute,

everything I wanted him to be,

and we connected.

But then he left with her.

Hmm.

And… and I've never been kissed,
and I don't care that everyone heard that.

And there was this guy who acted
like he was gonna kiss me, but he didn't.

Text him and tell him how you feel.

[all chuckling]

Here's to your first heartbreak.

- [man] I'll drink to that.
- [all cheering]

[rock music playing]

- I'll get you one. Okay.
- Thank you.

How did you get here?

You texted me, you weirdo.

But I don't have your…

So you wanted me to kiss you?

♪ Let's be ourselves ♪

♪ Just be yourself ♪

♪ Make the yuletide gay ♪

♪ From now on, our troubles will be… ♪

So, why didn't you… kiss me?

Well, I was thinking about it.

But then you said
that you'd never been kissed,

and I was like…
[chuckling] "Whoa, pressure."

[chuckling] What's that?

Mistletoe.

I stole it from outside.

Actually, it's holly.
But a lot of people make that...

[panting]

Lily?

[Lily] It's you.

[singing rewinds]

[clock winding]

What's wrong?

It just doesn't feel right.

[exhales]

- Maybe you're just out of practice.
- [sighs]

No, I'm… I'm kissing you,
but I'm thinking about her.

You're a disappointment
as a time-travel companion.

[chuckles]

Look, I don't want to start this again.

And I don't really think you do either.

You don't understand
because you've always lived in New York.

For me…

Every year, my dad gets a new post,
and I get a new country.

And I come back and…

You were comfortable.

Familiar.

So I'm like that peacoat
you made me throw away.

[both chuckling]

You have changed.

But I see now that…

You changed for her.

Guess that means we're…

Done.

It's sad.

But it's good to know.

We should probably go home.

Or… how many times in our lives
will we be able to say we slept

at the Morgan Library on Christmas Eve?

[chuckles] Well, probably not often.

And it's the perfect place for us
to spend our last night together…

As friends.

Um…

- [speaking indistinctly]
- [chuckles]

[big band music playing]

[phone vibrating]

[in Spanish] I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't
realize how late it was. I'm on my way.

No!
I forgot to get Lily the notebook. God!

Hey.

You want some advice, as a friend?

If what you have is real, she deserves
more than a notebook for Christmas.

[sighs]
But I don't even know where to find her.

The city's not that big.

[phone sounds, vibrates]

What? When did I download a mommy app?

I'm downloading the mommy app.

I'll upload a photo of her boot
and set you up for notifications.

These women, they know everything.

[Dash] Boomer was right.
They really do know everything.

Hi, two tickets for Collation,
the eight o'clock show.

It's amazing. I've never cried harder,
and I've seen The Notebook times.

Collation is sad?

Tears of joy.

Great. [chuckles]

I'm taking this girl.

We've been writing each other,
but we never met.

I didn't know how to find her,
but then this morning,

I saw this post on this mommy app.

- Okay. Mm-hmm.
- See? That's her.

- That's her boot.
- [man] Who cares?

Okay?
I'm trying to buy movie tickets here.

Sir, this information showing up
exactly when I needed it, it's…

This is fate!
This is the magic of Christmas!

Get out of the freaking line.

Merry Christmas,
you beautiful, angry New Yorker.

Two to Moon Boots, please.

[bell ringing]

[grunts]

I believe!

[bell ringing]

[panting]

[carolers] ♪ …fates allow ♪

Lily?

[Lily]It's you.

How did you know where I am?

I don't even know where I am.

You're the girl from the party.

And you're Dash.

[chuckles]

"Connector of words."

What's up, Dash?

You're with him.

[breathing heavily]

Of course you are.

How long's this been going on for?

As if you didn't kiss Sofia?

Wait, you two know each other?

Thought I did.

- You all right?
- I don't feel so good.

- You've been drinking?
- So much.

It's okay. I'll get her home.

I can't go home like this.

Where's my coat?

Um, I know where to take her.

It's okay.
Don't worry about it. I'll… I'll take her.

No, I'll take her myself.

Hey. I'm Thibaud.

[chuckles]

Thibaud?

Of all the guys,
it had to be Edgar Thibaud?

I mean, what do you even see in him?

He's easy to be with.

He's fun.

Oh, so you mean
he's not depressing… like me?

I don't know anything about you.

Except, oh, yeah, I know you lied.

Because you spent the night
with a girl who's obnoxiously perfect

and stupidly amazing
and unfairly gorgeous.

You left the party
wearing those clothes. I'm not stupid.

No, Sofia and I broke up a year ago.

The only thing that happened
last night was me affirming to her

that we are not getting back together.

Well, why didn't you tell me
you were still seeing her in the notebook?

I'm not with Edgar either,
for your information.

It was just a kiss.
It didn't mean anything to me.

Oh, so you're just kissing
a lot of meaningless guys then, huh?

It was my first kiss.

And I wanted it to be with you,
but you weren't there.

You told me the notebook
would be under the tree but it wasn't.

I'm sorry I was late.
What, do you have that little faith in me?

You're so judgy. You have
no idea what I've been going through.

Well, I thought I did. I thought
that was the whole point of the notebook.

Well, I guess we both
kept secrets from each other.

I hate that stupid notebook. It wasn't
even my idea. It was my brother's.

He wrote those first clues at The Strand.

You're nothing like Boomer said.

You met Boomer?

He said you'd be nicer.

There, there, dear.

Go in and lay down on the couch.

Oh! [chuckles]

I appreciate you bringing her here.

This is highly uncharacteristic of her,
I promise you.

No, it's all right.

This doesn't have to be goodbye.
I'm sure, when she sobers up...

No, no, I'm… I'm gonna go. This was…

I don't know. This was never gonna be
as easy as it was in the notebook.

Well…

You don't want to give up
just when the game's gotten interesting.

I guess
I don't want to play a game anymore.

And what have we learned, Lily?

Um, taking too many sips
of other people's drinks

leads to headaches.

[Lillian] Hmm.

And heartaches.

And?

Don't mix your drinks.

[doorbell rings]

That must be your grandfather.

Wha… what time is it?

Six-thirty, why?

I told him I'd be home by : .

- Please don't let him see me like this.
- I'm sorry, my dear.

I can't save you from this one.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[Arthur] You've been drinking.

No.

I could smell the alcohol
when I walked in the door.

Have you tried peppermint schnapps?

You should try it.
It might help you relax.

Lily, don't dig any deeper.

- Get up. We're going home.
- [Lillian] Show's over, kiddo.

- [Arthur] I don't need your help.
- Don't overreact. She made a mistake.

Did you let her drink?

- Of course not. She went out!
- Do you even know where she went?

Let's go.

[Lillian sighs]

Why aren't you talking to me?

You lied when I asked
if you'd been drinking.

You lied about going to my sister's.

I didn't lie about that.

I can't keep up with your lies.

No…

It's not what you think.

Grandpa.

[all] Surprise!

[laughing]

Mom?

- Dad?
- We came back, sweetie.

Merry Christmas.

Lily?

[retches]

[Christmas music playing]

[gasps] Yo!

Is this the robot I was promised?

Lily told me you met.

Why didn't you tell me?

Yo, I was trying to help you out.

Well, you didn't help
because now everything is ruined.

- What?
- What else are you lying to me about?

Come on, don't be like that, man.

You know
nobody got your back more than me.

Well, look, join us.

We got a weird-looking roast in the oven
and the eggnog is gonna be fire.

I'd probably get salmonella.

I was just looking out for you.

I can look out for myself.

[door closes]

[sighs]

[knocking on door]

[door opens]

[all singing "O Holy Night" in background]

How are you feeling?

[Lily] Christmas over yet?

Are you trying to break our hearts?

After your dad and I
literally moved heaven and earth

to get back here early
so we could spend Christmas with you.

You did all this for me?

It was Langston's idea.

He put the whole thing together.

Why didn't you tell me
the truth about the trip?

We didn't wanna ruin Christmas for you.

But that's exactly what happened.

Well, brace yourself.

There's more.

What?

That job I went to interview for…

I got the offer.

It starts right after New Year's.

We have to move...

In a week?

[Mom] Next week.

- [screaming]
- I know, honey. Let it out.

It's all too much.

Thousands of milesaway,
a new home, a new school.

I've been doing contract work
for the last year. It… it hardly pays.

There's no benefits and no future. I…

I know it's… it's far.

We belong in Manhattan.

We live in Grandpa's apartment.

Next week is too soon.

Everything I love is here.

It's happening…

With or without your support.

But we hope with.

I hate this.

We do too.

Put on your pj's and come join the party?

It's gonna be
the last big family gathering for a while.

And tomorrow, you're gonna have
a lot of explaining to do about that boot

and what looks to me like a hangover.

[door closes]

[sighs]

["Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
by Cat Power playing]

♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪

[Dash] Dear Lily, we set ourselves up
for this disappointment.

I was never gonna be the guy in your head,

and you were never gonna be
the girl in mine.

The fantasy
was never gonna live up to the reality.

There's no such thing
as a Christmas miracle.

And it's not your fault.

It's mine for believing.

[all singing]

Thanks for playing the game with me.
It was fun for a while.

But the thing about playing a game
is someone has to lose.

And I guess we both lost this time.

[man in movie] Love is like a staple.
Once it's in you, it's hard to remove.

[woman in movie] Be bold.

[Dash] So I'm writing to say, "Game over."

I don't think
we should see each other again.

I don't want us to.

It's better if we both move on.

[all] Cheese!

[camera clicks]

[Dash] Goodbye, Lily.

♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪

- [Dash] Merry Christmas.
- ♪ Make the yuletide gay ♪

♪ From now on ♪

♪ Our troubles will be miles away ♪

♪ Here we are as in golden days ♪

♪ Happy olden days of yore ♪

♪ Faithful friends who are dear to us ♪

♪ Gather near to us ♪

♪ Once more ♪

♪ Through the years
We all will be together ♪

♪ If the fates allow ♪

♪ Hang a shining star ♪

♪ Upon the highest bow ♪

♪ And have yourself ♪

♪ A merry little Christmas now ♪