A Chance of Snow (1998)

[bunniefuu]

[MELODIOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

[WIND WHISTLING]

[WIND WHISTLING]

Ow!

[MAN TALKING ON TV]

KATHERINE: Ooh! Brr!

Hi, Aunt Katherine.

[SIGHS] How are
you, sweetheart?

I'm fine.

I know, it's not quite
Christmas as usual,

but we are gonna
have so much fun,
just us girls.

At Grandma's?

Good point.

Probably be forced
to frost precious little
gingerbread man.

Or maybe even stencil
angels on to toilet paper.

What do you think?[GIGGLES]

But at least we'll be
doing it together.

And we'll make it fun,
I promise, okay?

Okay.

All right, so
where's your Mom?

Kitchen.Okay.

Maddie?

MAN ON TV: ...and around
the greater Minneapolis,
St. Paul area.

KATHERINE: Princess! Now take a look at the way...

KATHERINE: Hey, Maddie?

[GROANING]

Hello?

Merry Christmas
to you too.

Hi.

What's this?

What does it look like?

A petition for divorce.
I just signed it.

Oh, Maddie.

Somehow, Christmas eve
doesn't seem like the day

for man to put asunder
what God hath joined.

Well, maybe you can
think of a better day.
How about next week,

on New Year's Day?

Or next month
on my birthday.

Or the month after that

on what was supposed to
be the 15th anniversary
of our wedding?

Yes, yes, it's all right to
feel sorry for yourself.

Matt did you wrong.

But your daughters
are entitled to
a merry Christmas.

You're right.

Good.

So come one, snow's
piling up, let's go.

I like snow on Christmas.

Make everything look new.

Yeah. Well, Mother Nature's
makeover is making driving
a b*tch, so come on.

Let's go. Out, out, out.

MADDIE: Kirby, let's go.

You ready, honey?Yeah.

What are you reading?

Back Lash.

Ah, I was gonna give you
a copy of that for
your 13th birthday.

Good girl.

Dad bought it
for me last week.

He said it's a good account of
how women get jerked around.

Have you read it, Mom?Mm-hm.

What do you think?

I think your father knows
what he's talking about.

Kirby, come on!

KIRBY: I'm coming.

Come on, girls.

[WIND HOWLING]

[DOG BARKING]

Kirby, Ellie,
careful, it's slippery.

Brr! It's cold!

Did anybody turn
the heat off?

Dad always does that.

Okay, well, then,
go on, I'll be right back.

[MELLOW PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

Merry Christmas, Matt.

[WIND HOWLING]

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
MSP passenger, Rene Shaw,
please report to gate number...

I apologize for the delay.

Sir, you'll have to get in line
down there. They'll process you.

We appreciate
your patience.

Trust me, we'll get you
on your flights.

Everyone will get to
where they need to go.

Hello.

Here we go.

Excuse me, ma'am?Yes.

Is flight 118 to Chicago
leaving on time?

Well, I'm sorry, the airport
plows are working
as fast as they can,

but we are down
to one runway
and that means delays.

How long?

Well, we're looking
at two hours,
maybe three on all departures.

[SIGHS]

Oh, we could practically
drive to Chicago.

Look on the bright side.

It means two more hours
of junk food
and crossword puzzles

before we get to Grandma's.

We'll post new
flight times
as soon as possible

and we're offering
complimentary coffee
in our VIP lounge

for all our travelers.Thank you.

Thank you for
your patience.

Okay.
Can I help you, sir?

KATHERINE: Decisions, decisions.

Hey, Maddie, here's
some news we can use.

"Cosmetic surgeries
you can do over lunch."

"Wrinkles... Must you
look like your mother?"

"Orgasms, on your own.
Guaranteed."

Guess we don't need
you guys anymore.

Okay, I'll stick to
the smart money.

What did you think of
Mother's latest?

[SIGHS] She sent me a copy.
But I haven't read it.

Neither have I.

Come on, eight volumes?

My law degree barely
required that much reading.

I wonder if Dad reads.

I don't know,
but I'm sure if he did

he'd say that Mother
left out a few chapters.

Like, "Tend your marriage
as well as your garden"?

Why do we always
blame Mother?

I mean, Dad is the one
who had the affair.

'Cause she drove him to it.

Hen-pecking wasn't
his idea of foreplay.

She made him do it? Come on!

That's right.

Since when are you an expert
on marriage anyway?

You can't commit to
a bowl of goldfish.

This thing with Matt is
not gonna turn into

some bonding thing between
you and Mom, is it?

Hey, Mom.

Hey, sweetie.
Let's go pay for this.

Mom, when are we
gonna call Dad?

What if we're flying
when we said we'd call?

Oh, don't worry, sweetheart.
We'll get hold of him.

Did he tell you girls
that he was flying down
to Miami this morning?

I think so.

Pretty strange way to
spend Christmas, huh?

Daddy's probably sitting on
Grandpa Hill's patio right now

and getting a sunburn.

I wish we could spend
Christmas at our house
like we always do.

I know.

CASHIER: Your change.Thank you.

Have a merry Christmas.

You too.

KATHERINE: We know
there is no such thing
as a civil divorce.

It's a lie and an oxymoron.

MADDIE: Like,
"happily married?"

Look, I can be gracious
about this.

He can have his clothes,
his golf clubs, definitely
his pile of sneakers.

[METAL DETECTOR BEEPS]

But I'm serious.

In a few months,
after some lawyer
trains you like a pitbull,

you'll draw blood
over the toaster.

Well, it is a poor slicer.

[METAL DETECTOR BEEPS]

Jewelry?

And the ring.

Oh... uh... this
ain't coming off.

Ma'am, this is a metal detector
and I can't let you go anywhere
until it stops beeping.

Look, I'm not trying
to be contrary,

but I'm telling you,
it won't come off.

It's like a barnacle.

Ma'am, please.

[RING CLATTERS]

Thank you.

The cold weather, Maddie,
it shrinks pinkies.

If only it did
the same for hips.

[METAL DETECTOR BEEPING]

[PEOPLE GROANING]

MAN: Come on, lady!

Okay, okay. Relax.

[METAL DETECTOR BEEPS]

Do you have anything
in your hair?

What, like a grenade?

Like a barrette?

Oh.

Sorry.

[PEOPLE CHEERING]

What do you
girls wanna eat?

Um... yogurt.

French fries.

How about you, Kat?

Before we get to Mom's,
I want to eat
any and everything

that's bad for me.[GIRLS GIGGLING]

I'm game if you are.

Quesadillas,
corn dogs,
chili fries.

Ooh. Double chocolate
marshmallow cone with sprinkles.

[GIRLS EXCLAIM]

BOTH: Dad!

Hey, Kirby! Hold on,
I'll be right there!
Excuse me.

What's Dad
doing here?

I thought
he was leaving.

Matt looks good.
That trench gives him

this sort of rugged
w*r correspondent look.

Katherine, shut up.

He looks like
a typical sportswriter.

I gave him that
because I was sick of
his hooded sweatshirt.

What's he doing here?KIRBY: Come on, Dad. Hurry!

Let's see...
Airport? Holiday?

Trying to
catch a plane?

Hi, sweet peas!

Daddy!

Hi, pumpkin.

You smell like Christmas.

I thought you went
to Grandpa's.

I am. Just
a little while.

Hi, Katherine.

Merry Christmas to you.

Same to you, stranger.

Boy, you really
screw things up.

Hello, Maddie.
You look good.

What are you
doing here?

I'm k*lling time,
I was supposed to catch
a flight this morning,

but didn't finish
my column till noon,

so ran up a cab out here
just in time to see
the "delayed" signs

lighting up the boards.

Oh, well, now that
you two are here...

[GIRLS GIGGLE]

...I don't care
if we're snowed in
all night long.

Well, you know
we're on our way to Mother's,

and I'm sure your flight
is probably gonna leave
any time now,

so, girls, say goodbye
to your father.

Mom, Dad can
eat with us!

Dad, you're hungry,
aren't you?

I'm starving.
I'm just starved.

[KISSES]

It's okay,
I've got plenty of time.

My flight doesn't leave
for an hour and a half.

Oh, well, great,
uh... then...

Why don't you and Kat go on to
the restaurant, and I'll take
the girls to the restroom.

Okay?

Matt, what were
you thinking?

I wasn't.
Obviously.

Excuse me.

I just can't believe
that you threw it
all away like that.

[SIGHS]

I know.

I know.

Well, I for one,
am gonna miss you a lot.

I mean, even though
I'm really angry with you,

I still love you.

Thanks.

How are you holding up?

Ah... Not good.

The thought of
not coming home to Maddie
and the girls ever again.

I don't want my girls
growing up
in a broken home.

So how's Maddie?

You know Maddie,
she'll be fine.

Few days,
she'll forget all about you.

I'm joking.

Matt, come on. Let's go
get something to eat, okay?

All right? Come on.

Kirby!

KIRBY: Daddy!

Thanks for
my Christmas present, Dad.

It was exactly
what I wanted.

Oh, you're welcome,
sweetheart. I love you.

[GASPS]
What did you get?

Dad bought me
a charm bracelet.

Oh, that is so pretty.
Good work, Dad.

KIRBY: I got a Vikings helmet
signed by...

Randall...

Cunningham!

And a brand-new
catcher's mask.

KATHERINE: Oh, that's cool!

I ordered quesadillas
and French fries for the girls.

Good.

KIRBY: Are you gonna take me
to spring training or not?

You said you would,
but Mom said
I'd miss too much school.

You know what?

Baseball season is
a long ways off.

I'll talk this over with
your mom later, okay?

KIRBY: Okay.

I never should have let
your father name you
after Kirby Puckett.

Good thing your Dad's
not a Yankees fan.

You could have been named
after Catfish Hunter.

Yeah. How's
my little Catfish?

Mommy!
He's tickling me.

Why don't you
sit down, honey?
Let's eat up.

Daddy's plane
is leaving soon.

We'll walk him
to the gate.

Mom, Dad, since
you're both here...

I mean, I wasn't really sure
when we'd all be together again,

so I'd like to give you
your Christmas present now.

Open it now?

Yeah.

I'm taking it to
Grandma Parker's.

She's gonna help me
decorate a cover for it.

It's a photo album.

Oh, yeah, this is terrific.

Oh, Ellie, this is
a great gift, thank you.

Let me see.

Where'd you get these?

Up in the attic.
They were in some boxes.

Ellie, I really wish
you wouldn't go
through those boxes.

They're personal.

I mean, you wouldn't
want me rifling through
your stuff, would you?

What, she can't look at her
parents' wedding pictures?

What's the point?

I'll be back in a few minutes.

Don't you have a plane
to catch, Matt?

Ellie, this is a wonderful
present, sweetheart.

I can't wait to see
how you're gonna decorate it.

I'll be right back, okay?

Could you watch the girls
for a minute?

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
All passengers,

please do not
leave your bags unattended.

MATT: Hey.

So you're not feeling nostalgic.
Why take it out on her?

I'm surprised you didn't cut
me out the photos before
you stuck them in the attic.

Don't you turn this on me.

If Ellie wants to
document our relationship,

then she'd better include
a picture of her father

and the tart that
he took up with.

I never took up
with anybody.
I made a mistake.

A mistake?Yes.

A mistake is spelling
some jock's name wrong
in your column

and then printing
a correction the next day.

It was one stupid night.
I never even planned it.

So let me get this straight.

I am home,
cleaning house,
feeding the girls,

and by the way, trying to keep
my writing career going to
help pay the mortgage,

and you're just on the road
with a football team,
writing a few columns

and oops! Falling in bed
with the team's PR girl.

That's not exactly
what happened.

I don't want to know
exactly what happened

because I don't want to spend
one more second thinking
about how you did it.

Just... Maddie,
please, just...
Will you sit down?

[SIGHS]

[SOFT, PLEASANT MUSIC PLAYING]

Maddie, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I wish there was
something I could...

I signed
the divorce papers today.

Our process server
will be coming by
your office next week.

Sorry to spoil
the surprise.

I won't be there.

Let me guess,
taking another road trip?

No, taking another job.

What do you mean?

I'm flying to
Connecticut on Monday,

straight from
my dad's place.

That's why I'm wearing
my one good coat.

Connecticut?

It's with
the All Sports channel.

Hosting a new show.

They called me
a few weeks ago,

I did an audition tape,

things moved fairly
quickly after that.

It's the best offer
I've ever had.

You mean,
you're leaving for good?

What difference
does it make to you?

For the past two months,
you've made it perfectly clear

you never want
to see me again.

You haven't even
discussed this with me.

You never returned
any of my phone calls.

What about the girls?

I'll see them
on the weekends,

which, under your terms,

is pretty much when
I get to see them
regardless of where I live.

And just when
were you planning on
telling me this?

Right after the holidays.

When did you plan
on telling me
you filed for divorce?

[SIGHS]Hill?

Hill?

MATT: Mr. Vickery.

Good afternoon.
Happy holidays.

Speaking of facts, Hill,
you got one wrong in
that column of yours.

I never said
I was interested
in selling my team.

I don't know where
you got that idea.

You write it again,
I'll see you in court.

What, you think
he just made it up?

He quoted two different sources.

Didn't think
you still read me.

You're married to him?

Technically.

By technically,
I mean we don't have
a court date yet.

We're separated.

We're history.

Oh.

Merry Christmas
to both of you.

And happy new year.

Happy new year.

[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]

Just remember,

you're the one
who wanted to end it.

Not me.

Oh, no, Matt.
You ended it.

I just handled the paperwork.

Boarding pass, please.

Have a nice trip.

I'll be back
in a few days.

How many days?

Uh... six days.

Remember, we're gonna
have Christmas all over again
at my apartment.

Oh,

maybe you can bring
some decorations from Earl's.

I got a tree,
and I got presents.

But we need decorations.

Well, make sure you bring
your Christmas stockings.
Mine too.

Dad, you don't
have a fireplace
to hang 'em on.

Well, we'll hang them from...
We'll tack 'em to the wall.

Is this how
we're gonna spend Christmas
from now on?

You know what?

Let's talk about things
when I get back, all right?

Okay.

...passengers should be
on board at this time.

Well, it's time
for Dad to go.

ELLIE: Tell Grandpa Bill
I miss him.

MATT: I will.KIRBY: Me too.

Bye, Dad.

Bye.

Merry Christmas, Katherine.

You too.

Merry Christmas, Maddie.

Boarding pass, sir.

Thank you, there you go.

Hello.

Hey, girls, penny
for your thoughts.

Okay, how about
five dollars?

I don't wanna talk
about it, Mom.

Me neither.

Look, I know
it's not fair,
and I'm sorry.

Do you know what,
every family goes through
something at some time.

And in time, everything
will work itself out.

You'll see.

But for now, it's just us girls.

So what do you say
we make the best of it, huh?

Kirby?Okay.

Ellie?All right.

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
Flight number 1312
to Denver has been delayed.

Please check the screens
for further updates.

And Katherine?

You betcha, hon.

That was very diplomatic
of you.

And sensitive.

For a moment there,
you almost had me convinced

that you didn't grow up with
the same mother as I did.

[CELL PHONE RINGING]

Hello.

Hello, Mother.
Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.
Hold on a minute, dear.

There! Finito!

I just finished
rolling my last candle

made from the beeswax
of my first colony
of honeybees.

Now we're all gonna be bathed
in beautiful candlelight.

Well, it sounds nice,
but I have some bad news.

It's snowing in Minneapolis,
our flight's been delayed.

I don't know when
we'll be leaving.

Well, the roast is in the oven
and is gonna be ready
precisely at seven o'clock.

I'm sorry, Mother,
but I'm sure we're gonna be
a lot later than that.

If you're not here by 8:00,
the entire dinner is
gonna be ruined.

Out of my control, Mother.

You should have come yesterday.

Remember, I said,
"Why don't you bring
the girls in a day early

"so that I can show them
how to prepare a holiday meal?"

Goodness knows they're not gonna
get much advice on menu
planning from their mother.

Well, they know that cereal
isn't only a breakfast food.

In fact, last night's
dinner was cereal.

Madeline!

Uh... Look,
before I go,

do you want to tell me
what you're doing
conspiring with Ellie

on this little photo spread
of fairy tales?

Oh, you know
about the album?

Well, wasn't my idea of course,

but when Ellie called me
and asked me to help her,

how could I refuse?

I was just trying
to be helpful.

I know you've always
been fond of Matt,

but you just don't understand
how I feel.

In fact, you of all people
should know how I feel.

This is not about me.

Now, your daughter has worked
tremendously hard

putting together that
little book of memories.

And I want you
to accept it.

Graciously.

In case you haven't tuned in,
this little book doesn't have
a happy ending.

Well, maybe it still can.

You really are the queen
of make-believe.

Um... Look, I gotta go.

I will call you as soon
as I know anything.

I'll talk to you later.

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[PEOPLE EXCLAIMING
DISAPPOINTEDLY]

MAN: I told you we should have
left yesterday, but no, you
didn't want to listen to me.

I heard a plane crashed.

Honey, I don't know
where you get this stuff,

the plane did not crash,
it skidded off the runway.

Supposedly started on fire...

It skidded...
I just talked to the guy.Miami, was it?

Miami?

Just left...Do you know the airline?

MSP, I guess,
I don't know.

Excuse me, folks.
Stand back, please.

Excuse me, Officer.

Did the plane crash?
My husband was on
the plane to Miami.

Which one?

I'm not sure,
he just left.

Ma'am, it would be better
to check with his airline.

Did something happen?

I don't know, ma'am,
if you check with Gate 42,

straight down, on the right.
They should have
more information.

MAN: [OVER WALKIE TALKIE]
Security, what's the status?Paramedics are on their way.

They should be there in
another three to four minutes.

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

I'm afraid we don't
have much information
at this point.

What we do know is that
there was too much snow,

the pilot had to
abort take-off.

And apparently, the plane
slid into a snow-bank.

Is anybody hurt?

We'll give you
more information
as soon as we can.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

What's going on?

It's Matt's plane.

Is Dad okay?

What happened?

I'm sure everything
is fine. Let's sit down.

Okay? We'll sit down
and wait for them to tell us.

Mom, did they crash?
Did you see anything?

No, I didn't see anything.

There's just so much snow
that the pilot had a hard time
taking off.

Mom, is anyone hurt?

I don't think so, honey,
but they don't know for sure.

I'm sure Daddy's fine.

MAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
Attention, please.

Anyone waiting for passengers
on-board MSP Flight 1102
to Miami,

the plane is now safely
returning to Gate 75.

Can I get you another one?

Oh, no, no,
it's okay, thanks.

You look like you must
have someone on that plane.

Yeah, my 10-year-old son.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I let him fly alone.

It was the first time
I let him fly alone.

Dad!Oh, Jason.

You okay?

The plane felt like
it was gonna crash
or something.

Then everybody
started freaking out.

Some people were even
pushing and shoving
to get off the plane.

Are you sure
you're okay?Yeah.

Ah, this is my son, Jason.

I'm Craig Johnson.

Oh. Katherine Parker.

Katherine Parker.

Say, uh...
Katherine Parker

from Valley View
Elementary School?

Yes.

We were in Miss Miller's
third grade class together.

Don't you remember,
we used to...

We made a couple of
milk break runs together.

You go down to the cafeteria
with a box,

count out 27 little cartons
of milk?

Oh, come on, we sat
next to each other
in the first row.

I used to give you
answers in math class.

Were you that kid that used to
make all those barnyard noises?

[IMITATES ANIMAL]

[CHUCKLING]

No, that was
someone else.

So, what have
you been up to?

I'm an attorney now.

Oh, okay.

Prosecutor?
Public defender?

Mergers and acquisitions.

Ooh.

Well, I better go.

It was nice to
see you again.

Yeah, great to see you.
Great to see you.

Nice to meet you, Jason.

Thanks, bye.

We went
to grade school together.

ELLIE: Dad!

Ellie!

Dad!

Hi, Kirby.

Are you all right?Yeah, not a scratch.

Wasn't half as wild as being
on the field after the world
series, remember that?

That was scary.Sure was.

Dad, what are we
gonna do now?

Well, uh...

We can't fly.

And we can't drive.

So, unless they rent out
sleighs, looks like we're stuck

together.

I have to tell you something.

Hey, you know what?

I'm gonna go see if I can
get some information
on our flights.

Great.

Who wants to
come with me?

BOTH: I do!

[CHUCKLING] Let's go.
We'll catch up with you.

Bye, Mom.Bye, girls.

Matt says he's moving.

He tells me this right before
he gets on the plane.

Can you believe it?

Moving?To Connecticut.

Some deal with
the All Sports Channel.

My life is going down the toilet
and he's gonna be on TV.

Guess Matt finally
realized you weren't
gonna take him back.

He's gonna be
shuttling the girls around
every weekend.

Don't you guys think
it's time to tell them that
you're getting divorced?

We decided to wait
until after the holidays.

But they suspect.

WOMAN: How much longer
will it take?

I'm sorry, ma'am.
I don't know.

Dad.

It starts with an "S".
Six letters across.

It's the name
of a planet.

You know that.

Sa...

Saturn?Yeah.

S-A-T-U-R-N.
I got it.

Can you open this
for me, Daddy?

Sure.

Thanks.

Dad, why can't you
come to Grandma's?

You already missed your plane.

A light that shoots
across the sky.
Eleven letters down...

Kirby,

remember what
we talked about?

Yeah. You and Mom
needed time.

But haven't you
had enough time?

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]

I promised my Dad
I'd spend Christmas with him.

You know how important
it is to keep your promises.

Do you think
I should cut my hair like this?

No, I like your hair.

Oh, great, it's broken.

Come on, let's go get
some coffee upstairs.

What about the color?

Maddie, you look great.

I don't feel great.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

I'm just so angry with him.

You've made that
perfectly clear.

You know,

ever since we split up,

you have done nothing
but minimize what
Matt did to me.

Maddie, what he did
was horrible and stupid.

And when I found out about it,
part of me hated him for it.

But I know you guys,
I know how much
you love each other.

After 15 years, don't you
at least want to hear
what he has to say?

No, I don't.

Look, Katherine,

he destroyed everything
we had together.

He betrayed my trust
and sorry is not enough.

And stop being
so nice to him.

Maddie, he'll always be
Ellie and Kirby's father.

Yeah, well, he won't
always be my husband.

All right.

WOMAN: [ON TV] Hi, everybody.
Meteorologist Rebecca Kolls.

The winter storm we've been
watching has now turned into
a severe winter storm.

Officials are saying,
"Don't travel."

Roads are impassable around
the state of Minnesota.

We've just received word,

Minneapolis'
St. Paul International Airport
has been closed.

Keep in mind, this is the same
system that dumped three feet
of snow in the Omaha area.

Before all is
said and done,

we're expecting 18 to 24 inches
around the Twin Cities
metro area

with visibility
down to zero.

Well, your flight's now
gonna leave at midnight,

and mine's at 11:00.

Fine.Great.

That means the girls and I
have plenty of time to get

a last-minute gift
for Grandma.

Okay, let's see,
shopping in the airport.

How about a travel toothbrush?

GIRLS: No!

KATHERINE: Okay,
a couple of mats?

Boring!

How about a pill box?

BOTH: no!

All right, well,
we'll see you guys later.

Oh. Uh...Okay, come on, girls.

Katherine...Come on.

Kath...

How is your mother?

Fine.

How's everything
working at the house?

Fine.

You remember to run
a little water so the pipes
don't freeze while you're gone?

Fine.

Was I supposed to do that?

Yes, of course.

Oh...

I got it.

Here.

Here.

[LAUGHS]

I remember this party.

Scout's first birthday.

God! It was before
Ellie was born.

Oh, I used to love
those hardwood floors.

Why did we ever carpet them?

Because Ellie
started crawling.

Oh, that's right, the wood
was hard on her little knees.

Yeah.

Well, nothing much to
remember about that.

MATT: Wait, wait,
not so fast.

I remember a beautiful bride,

and a lucky groom,
and a wonderful day,

with lots of snow.

More like a snow job.

'Cause I remember making some
vows, and they didn't include

making room for a third party
15 years down the road.

Come on, Maddie.
Do you really hate me
that much?

Hate you?

I'm hurt, sad, obviously angry
and terribly disappointed,

but hate you? No.

I don't have energy left
for that.

We're not the only couple
in the world
to go through this.

Look at your parents.

My parents?

They could have
worked something out

if your mother had gotten off
her high horse

long enough to give your dad
half a second chance.

I'm not like my mother.

You know what they say,

the apple doesn't fall
far from the tree.

I didn't mean that.

You'll be hearing from
my lawyer next week.

Fine. You'll be
hearing from mine.

Fine. Then you'll be
hearing from mine, again.

You'll be hearing
from mine again.

Whatever. You'll be
paying for both of them.

She's got you.

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]

Dad's here.

MERILEE: Your father's at
the airport? With your mother?

Not with her.
But he's here.

And I've made things worse.

What are you talking about?

Showed them
the photo album, Grandma.

All I was trying to do
was help them to remember
some good times.

They acted as if they
couldn't remember a thing.

Oh, honey, don't cry.

Your mom and dad had
wonderful times together.
Tons of them.

Even if they are too stubborn
to admit it.

Grandma?

You think they still
love each other?

Of course they do.

Why don't they just try
and work things out?

I don't know.

I just don't know.

REBECCA: [ON TV]
Good afternoon, everyone.

Meteorologist
Rebecca Kolls here.

The flakes are flying,
and unfortunately it looks
like it's going to be worse.

Those of you who wanted
a white Christmas,

you're definitely going
to get your wish.

Traveling is going
to be hampered.

In fact at the international
airport, efforts are up, trying
to keep the airport running.

The snow
is coming down quickly,

and it looks like it's gonna
continue to get worse
throughout the afternoon.

Can I get it gift-wrapped?

SALESGIRL: Gift-wrapped?

[GROANS]

Here you go.

I'll just take the ribbon.

Grandma is
going to love this.

There's enough rice here
to fill an entire barnyard
of body cavities.

Of course, she'll probably
complain that
she'd rather rip it open,

and throw fistfuls at me
and my mystery groom.

Boy, you're gonna
make somebody very happy
with that.

Hi.

You know,
about a century ago,

they would
harvest this rice by
the light of the moon.

You always were
a pretty smart kid,
weren't you?

Where'd you wind up
going to college?

I went to art school
in Chicago.

Ah, really? So you're an artist.

Painter.

Oh, really? What kind?

Houses. I am a house painter.

Well, for now.

You know, with
the new life and Jason,

in a way it seemed
like a more reliable
way to pay the bills.

So you're married.

No, no, my former wife decided

she didn't want to stay home
and play house.

So we haven't seen much
of her since Jason was born.

I'm sorry.

Oh, yeah,
my life is miserable.
Look at that guy.

No, it's great. You know,
people pitch in.

He's going down to spend
Christmas with his
grandparents in Florida.

He's gonna have
a great time.

Okay.

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
Katherine Merilee Parker,

please pick up
the courtesy phone.

Katherine Merilee Parker,
please pick up
the courtesy phone.

Girls, come here,
your mother.

Come on.

Well, excuse us.

Nice to see you.

Maybe we'll see you again
or otherwise, Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you too.

Come on, girls.

Oh, Katherine,

you might need this.

Oh!

Yes, I need that.

Bye.

So long.

[BELL CLANGING]h*, h*, h*!

What do you think
you're doing,
dumping me with Matt?

I thought that maybe if you'd
just spend some time together,
you'd kiss and make up.

[BELL CLANGING]h*, h*, h*!

What? I can't hear you.

Hold on one second.

Hey, Santa, please,
give it a rest, okay?

Thank you.

Give me back
my daughters.

Sorry, Maddie,
the girls stay with me.

You two need to hash
some things out

and I'm not just talking
about the divorce.

Have you told them yet about...

No!

Are you insane?

[SIGHS] I'm waiting
for the right time.

You're almost out of time.

Now, go talk to him.

The girls and I will
meet you at the gate later.

Call disconnects.Kat... Kat...

WOMAN: [ON TV]
...and the best part
for people traveling,

the people stranded
at the Minneapolis St. Paul
International Airport, well,

is that runways are open,
so they're gonna try to get
some of the people

shuttled out of the airport
so they can get home
for the holidays.

[CONTINUES SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY]

...eight inches of snow
in the last two hours.
That's a lot of snow!

Also right around
the St. Croix River...

Hi.

Howdy?

Earl Pulmer.

I noticed you
and your wife at...

at the restaurant
this afternoon.

You two seemed to

eat and run.

Matt Hill.

You know what Socrates said?

What?

"You get a good wife,
you'll be happy.

"You get a bad one,
you'll become a philosopher."

Poor guy.

Do you mind if I sit down?

Oh, please.

Thank you.

My!

That looks good.

Just like Mom
used to make.

Oh, yours too?

Mine even grows
her own apples.

I remember you.
You and your husband
were at...

You must think we're awful.

Oh, having had
a misunderstanding
or two with my husband

of 49 years, I would
say the two of you
looked about normal.

Unfortunately, what you saw
was not a normal dispute
between a husband and wife.

We've been separated
for two months.

Oh, I'm sorry.

There were times when
things were pretty awful
between Earl and me,

but after all, marriage
is not for the faint-hearted,
is it?

I'm just sorry you had to
witness our problems first-hand.

Oh, there's nothing
like a good crisis
to sort things out, is there?

Crisis is a wonderful word.

It comes to us
from the Greeks.
It means "to choose."

I'm a retired English teacher.

Ruth Pulmer.

Maddie Parker. Hi.Hi.

49 years with Mrs. Pulmer.

Going for the gold
next summer.

Well, congratulations. That's...

It's a feat for
the record books.
50 years.

My wife kicked me out
after 14.

Ouch.

What did you do
to deserve that?

Probably a number of things,
but the big one was

sleeping with someone else.

Sounds like my nephew.

He made the same mistake.
Twice.

And now he's on his third
till-death-do-us-part.
Let's see...

Two sons and a daughter
from his first marriage.

Two daughters
from his second.

Stepson from his third.

Me, pretty simple.

One wife, two burial plots.

So what do you write?

Children's books.

I was a reporter
and then I quit when
my daughters were born.

I started writing stories
during their nap-time

and it turned into
a second career.

What does your husband do?

My soon-to-be ex-husband
is a sports writer.

Well, that's exciting.

Do you get to go to
the games with him?

Well, it's kind of
a sore point at the moment.

Um...

Matt came back
from a road trip

for one of the Vikings'
away games,

and the dry cleaner presented me
with a business card

that Matt had left
in one of his pockets.

It was from a PR woman
who had traveled with him,

and she had written
a proposition on
the back of the card

that wasn't exactly
business-like.

So...

I confronted him with it.

He admitted that
he had cheated on me.

No, never had any children.

Something didn't work.

But...

having each other

turned out to be enough.

Well, I'm happy for you.

Of course you can't
hitch your cart to someone

without taking
a spin with them.

Yeah.

I wish I knew
your secret.

So, you obviously
have a choice to make.

Well, if your husband spends
a night with another woman,

I doubt that
there's a choice.

Do you still love him?

If love had anything to do
with it, he would have been
alone in that hotel room.

[CHUCKLES] Oh, Maddie.

Love has everything
to do with it.

[ALL THREE EXCLAIMING]

Look at this place!

Okay, stay close.

Need some tokens?

Oh, it's you again.

Yeah, it's me again.

I don't exactly spend
a lot of my time in
video arcades.

Really?

We live in video arcades.

Let's play.
Two out of three.
Loser buys a beer.

All right. But I have
to warn you, I always
play to win.

Yeah, I remember that
about your kickball.

Let's try to set a good
example for the kids.

Why?

Hey, you don't still
get violent when
you lose, do you?

I don't know. We'll see.

Yeah. Let's.

Go ahead. Take a shot.

I'm bested.
I can't beat that.

Well, if you and your husband
have been married for 49 years,

he must be doing
something right.

What's your secret?

I don't know.

I have to think
about that.

Oh, he's, uh, funny.

And he's more romantic now
than when we were fist married.

For my 60th birthday,
he covered our entire bed
with rose petals.

Stripped four dozen roses clean.

No!Yes!

That's great!

Matt...

Matt was occasionally romantic.

I mean, you know,
he would send me
French tulips

and sometimes
my favorite
chocolate truffles.

I remember once he...

I came home from work
and he'd installed
a porch swing,

which for Matt was amazing
because he couldn't
hammer a nail.

And we'd, you know,
get the girls in bed at night
and then just sit out there,

talk about our day,

snuggle,

watch the stars.

That sounds romantic.

Yeah.

Yeah, we used to
have some good times.

Not even, you know,
doing anything big,
just hanging out,

walking the dog
after dinner.

Sometimes we'd sh**t pool,
we had this...

This old pool table
that we kept down
in the basement, and...

I don't know, we just...

We just stopped.

What about you?
Did you ever get married?

Close.

Came to my senses
two weeks before
the ceremony.

Of course my mother nearly
had to be hospitalized.

What do I need
a husband for?

I have my own toolbox.

Besides, I don't see much
evidence that marriage works.

Maybe you just haven't
met the right guy yet.

Must be because I'm too busy
meeting the wrong ones.

How do all the wrong guys
get to date
the right women?

She hosed down beef
in a packing plant

to put herself
through the university.

She was something.

Wouldn't marry me till
she had that teaching degree
in her hand.

Ah, smartest thing I ever did.

Marrying Ruth Marie Jensen.

You two must have had

quite a romance.

Oh, don't we all?

I mean, isn't that
what gets us married
in the first place?

I guess you're right.

The good, old days.

No quarrels,
no responsibilities,

no problems whatsoever,

before we lost
the romance.

Lost the romance.

It's a bit of a cop-out,
wouldn't you say?

I mean, things get a little
too familiar and maybe
even a little dull.

And then we think,
"We've lost the romance."

But do you wanna know something?

Romance never goes away.

We just stop being romantic.

Did you marry her for love?

Of course I did.

Then fall in love
with her again.

Romance her, again.

Give her a reason

to fall in love
with you again.

That's the secret.

Miss, I'll take six.

Thanks.

Oh, feels so good to
work off these calories.

You mean I can't just eat
the pie and let my thighs
inflate like tires?

No.

Aw!

Young love.

Gets better, you know.

Even the sex.

Really?

Well, just because
you grow older doesn't mean
the feelings go away.

Always wondered about that.

But it's not the kind
of thing you can
ask your grandma.

Definitely can't ask my mother.

Oh, marriage, sex,
such a mysterious subject.

Ah, yes, young people think
that old, married folks just
have sex with illicit lovers.

I know I did.

What? Thought your parents
didn't have sex?

Had sex with
an illicit lover.

It was 35 years ago.

But I thought you and Earl
were still in love.

We are.

We were.

We just worked
things through.

My husband was
a firefighter.

He was working long hours
to make captain.

So I started feeling
a bit resentful,
bit neglected.

So one morning,
I poured out my troubles
to Mr. Frauer,

of Biology 10.

He'd always complimented me
on things that Earl didn't
seem to notice anymore, so...

Before long, we started
staying after school for,

shall we say, play dates?

What happened?

He was a very decent man.

Veryattractive,
but I loved my husband.

What I was missing,
I now realize,

was the romance that
I'd once had with Earl.

So, I decided to confess.

I know that sounds cruel

and maybe I was
just feeling guilty.

But I didn't know
what else to do, so...

He never said a word.

He just got up,
he walked into the garage.

He didn't speak to me again
for three days.

Later on, he told me
that he cried like a baby.

And then on the fourth day,

he showed me
how to save the marriage.

How?

The only way you can
if you're gonna love
somebody for a lifetime.

By forgiveness.

He asked me for forgiveness.

He asked me to forgive him.

Even though I was the one
who'd done something wrong.

He said that he knew
that his own behavior had

a lot to do with it
and he was sorry for

taking our marriage
for granted.

So you just started over?

Well, we began again.

I mean, why not?

Why can't you begin again

with the person
you love the most?

Come on.

Can't quit now.

How'd you get
so many baseball cards?

My Dad. He gives them to me
for taking piano lessons.

I don't really like it,
but we made a deal that

if I practice for half an hour,

then he goes and buys me
a pack of baseball cards.

You must know
a lot of songs by now.

Yup.

Why isn't your mom
at the airport?

She doesn't live with us.

I think my parents are
gonna get a divorce.

I heard my mom
on the phone, crying.

She said she was mad about
my Dad cheating on something.

She said he was a phliant...

...philanta... phliantropris.

What's that?

Ellie, what's a philantropist?

Philanthropist?

A philanthropist is
someone who does nice things
for other people.

They give away
money and stuff.

Why would my mom
be mad about that?

MADDIE: That's amazing.

And that's how I met Earl.

Oh, that's amazing,
that's a great story.

[COUGHS]

Ruth?Excuse me.

You okay?

Just a little nauseated.

Well, let's sit down.

No, no, really,
I'll be fine,
I just need a moment.

Are you sure?

Really, I'm fine. I just...

Ruth?

Ruth!

Ruth? Ruth?

Help me, somebody,
please help me.

Help me here!

Ruth?

Come on, you guys.

They'll never know
we're gone.

Oh!

[LAUGHING]

ELLIE: Come on, let's go.

Why haven't you
married again?

I'm waiting for the woman
I'm supposed to ask.

What do you mean,
"supposed to"?

I know it's old-fashioned,

but I really believe it
that there's someone that
you're meant to be with.

If that's true,
I'm running out of patience.

Hey, give me a chance.

Huh?

You got 10,000 points,
I got 10 points,

give me a chance,
you're k*lling me.

Let's check on the kids.
I'll buy you a beer.

Oh, no, the kids.

CRAIG: Jason?

Maddie is going to k*ll me.

Are you a relative?

No, we just met.
I'm a friend.

We're trying to page
her husband. Do you know
where he is?

I don't, I'm sorry.

[GASPS]

Sweetheart.
I'm right here!

I'm right here with you,
everything is gonna be
all right.

[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]

Maddie?

I was in a restaurant.

Ruth sat down next to me.

We ate some pie.

I was in the bar.

Earl sat down next to me,
we drank a beer.

Ruth talked about
their marriage.

Earl did too.

She had an affair.

They stayed together.

She called it
their second marriage.

He even proposed again.

Really?

He drove his fire truck
over to her school,

climbed a ladder up to
her classroom and told her

his heart

was still on fire.

[CHOIR SINGING
"JOY TO THE WORLD"]
♪ And ever o'er

Nice story.

♪ The blessed angels sing

♪ Joy to the world
The Lord is come!

♪ Let earth receive her King

♪ Let every heart
Prepare Him room

Good luck with
your new job, Matt.

♪ 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

MAN: Get out of here!
Go on! Shoo! Shoo!

♪ He rules the world
With truth and grace

♪ And makes the nations prove

♪ The glories of
His righteousness

Kirby! Come on!

♪ And wonders
Wonders of His love ♪

KATHERINE: Try that
shop over there.

I'll look over here.

Katherine, come here.

Careful, the bow.

Okay. You know what,
there's a second floor,
we'll look there, come on.

Don't worry,
we'll find them.

I am worried.

Because if they find my sister
before we find them,

Aunt Katherine is looking
at about ten years of
supervised visitation.

Ruth. What happened?

Now, Earl, don't make
a fuss, I feel fine.

I just got a little dizzy,
that's all.

You sure?Positive.

Is she telling the truth?
Is she gonna be okay?

Her blood pressure
is still a little high,

but with some rest,
she's gonna be just fine.

Thank you.

You know, Ruthie,

you scared
the daylights
out of me.

I picked up that courtesy
phone, and they said

there had been
an incident.

I thought for sure
that it was bad.

That

maybe I'd lost you.

Oh, now, Earl,
aren't you being just
a tad over-dramatic?

It was nothing.

No, Ruthie.

It was something.

You think just for a moment

that you actually
might lose

the best part of you.

And that brief moment,
as brief as it may be,

you find yourself asking,

"How will I ever go on

"without her?"

[SOFTLY] Oh...

Hi.

They said
you were feeling better,

so I brought the roses
that Earl got for you.

Oh! Oh,
they're so beautiful.

Oh, thank you. You see?
That's what I love
about my husband.

Even though we're stranded
in an airport,

he still thinks
he has to court me.

Is it true that
you scaled a wall to
propose to her again?

Uhuh.

You two are
something.

Well, I'm glad
you're feeling better.

Thanks.

And I want to thank you both
for trying to help Matt and me.

Oh, you just missed Matt.

He dropped in to
check on Ruth.

Really?

You know what your husband
loves about you?

The way you hold his hand
when the lights go down
at the movies.

He said that?

Right after he went on about

how you always leave
a kiss of lipstick on
a tissue in his luggage.

If I remember correctly,

he saved 237.

Thank you.

He saved them?

In a drawer at his office.

You didn't know that?

He knew the exact number?

He counted them
the morning after
you asked him to leave.

Do you think
we're gonna have to move?

Move? What are you
talking about?

When Mom and Dad
get a divorce.

Who said Mom and Dad
were getting divorced?

Ellie, Dad doesn't live
in our house anymore.

I'm not stupid.

Yeah, well,
no one said
they're getting divorced.

[SARCASTICALLY]
Yeah, right!

When my friend, Erin's dad
moved out, her parents
got a divorce.

So our parents
probably will too.

I don't see why Mom
has to be so mad at Dad.

Yeah, well,
it's not Mom's fault
if they do get divorced.

All Dad did was
cheat on something.

So what? Who said
he had to be perfect?

No one said you had
to be perfect, Kirby.

Oh.

Here, let me help you.

Oh, thank you.

Thanks.

This purse contains
the story of my life.

Hm! Efficient packer.

I think I'd need a trunk.

Is that Hawaii?

Yes.

My husband and I
dreamed to go on there.

We were saving.

And look at you in that
bikini, you look great.

Well, 1982 BC.

Before children.

May I?

Please.

I wish I had more pictures
of my family.

Well, proves
you had one, right?

I'm Maddie.

Gwen.

Hi.

My husband and our son,

Deshawn, six now.

Handsome family.

Thank you.

Do you and your husband
get any time
to yourselves now?

He died three years ago.

Shot breaking up a fight.

He was a cop.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

We're doing okay,
Deshawn and I.

I take classes at the university
during the day.

And I work out here at night.

My mother looks
after my son.

That must be hard.

Yeah.

But I just thank the good Lord
that our last words were kind.

We'd been fighting over
something the night before.

But my husband, Philip,
had a house rule.

No leaving without some loving.

So the next morning,

he snuck up behind me
in the kitchen
and kissed me.

'Cause you just never know.

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
Madeline Parker,

please meet your party
at the Concourse Restaurant,
level two.

It's my sister, finally.

Madeline Parker,

please meet your party
at the Concourse Restaurant,
level two.

Have a great holiday, Gwen.

You too.

And don't forget to
take lots of pictures.

Girls!Jason.

KATHERINE: What are you
doing up there?

You didn't even
notice we were gone.

How did you get up there?

The escalator.

Well, take the escalator
back down, please.

Fine.

Did we notice
they were gone?

Who?

The kids.

Oh, yeah, of course
we noticed, I mean...

That's why we came
running out here.

Yeah.

They look like
they're having fun.

Oh, yeah.

So was I.

Maddie Parker?

Yes.This way, please.

[ROMANTIC PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]

I don't understand.

This is your table.

Oh... Uh...

Remember the last time
we were stuck in this airport?

Grad school, spring break,
our first trip together.

Our plane was delayed
almost four hours,

but it didn't matter,

because I was exactly
where I wanted to be.

What are you doing?

Wooing you.

Wooing me?

I'm a little out of practice,
but I used to be
pretty good at it.

Give me a chance, Maddie.

I better find Katherine
and the girls.

I'm sure Aunt Katherine's
got everything under control.

Come on.

Just for a minute.

Okay.

One for you. One for you.
One for me. One for you.

Give me something
good this time.

You keep winning.

KIRBY: Tell me about it!

Hey, where's your ring?

Oh, I took it off this morning.

I'm surprised to see
you're still wearing yours.

Still didn't want
to take it off.

What did I do wrong?

You?

Nothing. I'm the one
who messed things up.

[SIGHS] I'm sure
there's enough blame
to go around.

Do you remember
the good times

or has it turned into
one big regret?

You are the only man
I ever wanted to marry.

I don't regret
following my heart.

I'm sorry that somewhere
along the way, that young couple
got lost, Maddie.

Yeah, somewhere
between jobs and kids

and a million errands
that had to be run.

On my to-do list,
not much time for us.

Remember...

when we first
moved into the house,
I installed that dimmer

so that we would
always feel like
we were dining by candlelight?

When was the last time
I turned that thing on?

I don't know.

I wouldn't mind
a little ambiance with
my peanut butter and pizza.

Who were we before
we were Mom and Dad?

We were people
who liked to dance.

[PLAYING JAZZ MUSIC]

I need some air.

[SNORING LOUDLY]

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
Attention, passengers.

The plows have cleared
the runways

and we hope
to resume service shortly.

Please check your airlines
for revised schedules.

Maddie, wait.

[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]

Maddie?

Snow is so beautiful,
isn't it?

Yeah,
sure is.

What a mess it's made
of our day.

It's almost 10:30.

You should have been
in Florida hours ago.

We should be
in Chicago.

They said,
"A chance of snow."

"A chance"?

I don't know
about you,

but I was kind of nervous
back there. I mean,

it felt like we were
a couple of kids, almost

like our first date.

Big Ten Hockey
Championship.

Yeah.

You asked me to
meet you outside
the locker room

afterwards, remember?

Your team had just won,

people were going crazy
dancing in the streets.

There were so many girls
running after you.

I only had eyes

for one of them.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

I'm sorry, I'm usually
the life of the party.

You said you painted houses.

I do.

You should see
my window trims.

But this is so professional.

You could sell work like this.

Yeah, I do on occasion.

But for now,
with a boy who needs books
and computer games

and tuition, I've gotta
concentrate on

Johnson Interior
and Exterior House Painting.

"Quality work at
reasonable prices."

[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]

Would you sign it for me?

Be happy to.

Thanks for making me
look so good.

Oh, yeah, well,
it was awfully easy.

The girls are
practically teenagers,
which can only help.

I mean, they're not
gonna need constant attention,

we can find time
for us again.

[ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING]

What do you say,

we take off somewhere
in a couple of weeks,

just you and me, hm?

How about Hawaii?

We haven't been back
since our honeymoon.

How about it?

You and me
on a beach somewhere.

I bet you still got
a string bikini tucked away
in a drawer.

I don't think that's
gonna work for me.

How come?

For one thing,
the suit won't fit.

Come on, what are you
talking about?

You haven't gained
five pounds in 15 years.

Except when I was pregnant.

You're not...

I am.

Three months.

MERILEE: [OVER PHONE]
Maddie, what's the matter?

Nothing.

It's Matt, isn't it?

Yes.

I'm gonna tell you
a little secret

that you're not gonna find
in any of my damn guide books.

[LAUGHING] A Happy Homemaker.
Oh, what a joke!

Most nights I'm sitting here
looking at the television

and grabbing a book

and climbing into
my empty four-poster.

Maddie,

it's been almost 25 years
since your father left.

I was too proud
and too stubborn to go
and try and stop him.

You still miss Dad?

That's right.

My first book was selling
better that the Bible

and that was the proof, right?

That I was the perfect mother,
the perfect wife,

and the perfect fool.

Then, a little while later,

he fell in love with someone.

Married 23 years this summer,
Dad and Audrey.

Yup. You might wanna add
"happily married."

Mom,

I always thought it would be
the same for me and Matt.

I didn't really imagine that
marriage would be this hard.

Well, you see, that's where
so many of us get screwed up.

We exchange rings,
we make a few promises,

and then we expect to
spend the next 50 years
with our heads in the clouds.

Well, that's bull!

We work hard at our careers.

We work hard at
keeping our figures

and we read all the books we can
about raising our children.

But work at marriage,
are you kidding?

Nobody works at romance.

Trust me, Maddie,
true romance is holding
the wrinkled, old hand

of the person
that you've been clinging to
for 50 years.

Not spritz of perfume
and candlelight

and under the covers
with number 14.

Fourteen?

It's just a figure of speech,
Maddie, not a confession.

Well, I haven't exactly been
cloistered all these years,

but, you know,

I've never met a man that
I wanted to be married to

the way I did your father.

Why are you telling me all this?

Maddie, when does
Matt's plane leave?

Uh...

About ten minutes.

That's why.

Sweetheart, if Matt walks
through that gate, he's gone.

And you'll have no one
to blame but yourself.

But if you
don't love him, well...

Then just go to your gate
and flip through a magazine
and, you know, relax.

I'm sorry I didn't read
your last three books, Mom,

because you know what?

You have some
pretty good advice.

Um...

I'm gonna run now.

And I'll call you.

Bye bye.

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
Attention passengers,

this is the final
boarding call...

Excuse me.

I need to talk to
someone on the plane.

Oh, I'm sorry, the plane
just pulled out.

Are you sure?

Yes, about
five minutes ago.

Thank you.

REBECCA: [ON TV] Good news
out there, the storm that
we've been watching

throughout the last 12 hours
is finally starting
to taper off.

That's great news,
especially for a lot
of people traveling.

In fact we have received word
at the Minneapolis
St. Paul International Airport

that runways are now open

so they're going to try
to get some
of the flights going.

A lot of people have been
stranded there and I know
this is good news,

that you can get to
your loved ones for Christmas.

And for the kids out there
still watching TV,

the best part. It looks like
Santa Claus will be able to
make it to the Twin Cities.

So your wish
will come true.

[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]

My bag.

Excuse me.

Oh, God!

Hey!

I'm sorry,
I was just checking.
I lost my purse.

Excuse me.

Gwen! Gwen!

I left my bag in
the phone booth,
my photo album was in it.

Okay, just try to
stay calm, what else
was in your bag?

Well, I've got the plane tickets
in my pocket,

but everything else,
my wallet, my keys, my ring.

Your ring?

Oh, that doesn't matter.

The most important thing
is that photo album.

My daughter worked
so hard on it.

Jim, this is Gwen.
Do you copy?

JIM: I copy.

GWEN: We're looking for
a photo album and a purse
last seen on the red concourse.

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]

GWEN: Maddie.

I'm sorry.

This is all
we could find.

Looks good, and here you go.

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
MSP Flight 523 will be
boarding in five minutes.

That's MSP Flight 523,
will be boarding
in five minutes.

Did they find it?

Mm-mm. No.

I'm sorry I never thanked you
for the present.

Took a lot of work to
organize all those photos

and you did
a beautiful job.

I was meant to do it myself,
but I never took the time.

You made me think about
all the wonderful times
that this family's had.

Do you think
they'll ever find it?

I wish they would,
Ellie, but I...

I'm afraid
the album's gone.

We won't be taking
any more family photos,
will we, Mom?

Honey, no matter what happens
between your father and me,

we'll always be a family.

It won't be the same.

Not if we're never
in the same pictures.

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
Ladies and gentlemen,

MSP Flight 523
is now boarding.

It's about time.

Who would have thought
I'd run into this goofy kid
I knew in grade school.

Now he's a single dad
who paints sheet rock
for a living.

And all of a sudden,
I'm writing
"lasagna at Craig's"

in my Filofax
with a happy face next to it.

You drew a happy face?

Yeah. Can you believe it?

This may be a good thing
for you, you know.

Nice guy, more concerned
about being a good father
than building his portfolio.

You think?

Absolutely.

Well, I'm just sorry
about you and Matt.

Really thought things
would turn out differently.

[SIGHS] It's over.

I can't believe you told him
about the baby
and he still got on that plane.

I didn't really
give him a chance.

Don't you worry, Maddie.

I'm gonna be there
every step of the way.

I'll go to those
breathing classes with you,

hold your hand
in the delivery room.

I promise.

I'll even learn how to change
a diaper or two.

We'll get through this
together, okay?

WOMAN: [OVER PA SYSTEM]
Will Madeline Parker please
come to the lost and found?

Madeline Parker, please
come to the lost and found?

Board without me.

You're gonna miss the plane.

Katherine, I need
those pictures.

Mom, Mom,
I wanna go with you.

Go with Aunt Kat,
I'll be right back.

Come on, come on.
It's okay.

You paged for Parker-Hill...

Maddie.Gwen!

You were in luck.

You found it.

We found it in
a recycle bin.

Thank you.

I hope you're not
as sentimental
about your purse.

That's gone.

You know what I wish?

I wish we'd taken
more photographs.

MATT: Yeah.

Me too.

What are you doing here?

You're supposed
to be on a plane.

I realized that...

I don't wanna
go anywhere.

For Christmas?

For good.

What about your new job?

I always liked my old one.

What's this?

Photo album.

I thought we could
start a new one.

You know I'm a fool
for baby pictures.

Maddie, your purse!

Oh, my bag!

Why don't you check and see
if everything's in there?

Well, they took my wallet.

Oh, I'm sorry.

My keys are here,
my date book, glasses...

[SIGHS] And my ring.

I put this ring on your hand
14 years ago.

Nothing would make me happier
than to have that honor again.

'Cause,

Maddie, this man's heart
is still on fire.

Yes.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Our plane leaves
in about five minutes.

Uh, there has been
a change in plans.

KIRBY: Dad!

Ellie, hold this for me,
will you, honey?

We're gonna start
a new one.

Let's go home.

Let's go home!
Come on!

Ah! We'll sing
Christmas songs.

KIRBY: Hey, Dad,
can we start a fire?

MATT: Sure we can.

So, we'll drink some eggnog?

KIRBY: I can't wait
for Santa Claus.

ELLIE: What about grandma?

MADDIE: We'll call her
from home.

She can send us
the leftovers.

KIRBY: Does this mean
we won't have to stencil
angels on toilet paper?

MADDIE: What are you
talking about?

ELLIE: I hope
Grandma's not mad.

MADDIE: Something tells me
she won't mind.

It's going to be
Christmas as usual.

[MATT LAUGHS]

[CHOIR SINGING
JOY TO THE WORLD]

♪ And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love

♪ And wonders
Wonders of His love ♪

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]