04x09 - Dance Your Sugarplum Off

[bunniefuu]

- ["Destination" by Nickel Creek playing]
- ♪ You don't owe me ♪

♪ One more minute of your wasted time ♪

♪ You act like it's all fine ♪

♪ It isn't hard to leave ♪

♪ Knowing that I'll be getting life
On track ♪

♪ I wanted to believe ♪

♪ I've gotta make a destination ♪

♪ Find where I belong ♪

♪ This time I've got no hesitation ♪

♪ I'll be movin' on ♪

♪ To where I belong ♪

♪ I'll be movin' on ♪

♪ Over the line I've drawn ♪

♪ I'm already gone ♪

[music fades]

- [gentle music playing]
- [kettle hissing]

They don't have to be Christmas mugs.

[Paula] Oh, yes, they do.

We've all fallen behind on decorating,
what with everything,

but you are our guest for Christmas,
so it has to be Christmas mugs.

We're usually a "can barely wait until
after Thanksgiving" family,

but as you can see…

I'd be happy to help.

If it doesn't feel like I'm rushing you.

- [mugs clattering]
- [Paula] Ah! Ah-ha!

[laughs] And if Maddie turns you down,
I will take you up on it.

This friendship feels more enabling
than supportive some days.

Iris, I really appreciate the offer,

but I need another day or two
to get myself in order

before I accept any outside help.

Then you're with me.

Now, I can wait a few days
to start on the baking,

but I cannot sleep another night until
my adventsljusstakar are in the window,

and it's easier

when someone's outside making sure
that they're centered in the window.

- Advent candles.
- Oh.

Do you have any Christmas traditions
you'd like to do while you're in Serenity?

I haven't thought about
those things in a while.

Cal's father made holidays difficult,

to put it lightly, so… no.

We stopped doing anything fancy
some time ago.

We're your family now.

Is there a tradition you'd like to reclaim

as a part of our first Christmas
as a joined family?

[clears throat]

Yeah, the… the good wishes paper chain.

I did it with my parents.

I managed to do it a few times with Cal.

You start with the family, and then
all your holiday visitors join in.

You take a paper link,

and you write something
that you're thankful for in the past year

or a wish in the new year.

And, at the end, you… have a chain

built out of thankfulness and hope,

just as any family or community should be.

Oh!

[joyful music playing]

[both laughing]

Maddie, what are you doing?

[Maddie] Looking for paper and scissors.

- [laughing] Oh my goodness!
- [laughing]

[upbeat music playing]

[Helen] Hmm.

You know, all I need under the tree is
a year's supply of this coffee creamer.

[upbeat music ends]

How about a gift certificate
in your stocking,

redeemable at appropriate increments
to ensure it's always fresh?

I have big plans
for what goes under the tree.

[Helen] Mmm.

No, no, no.

These are résumés submitted
to the mayor's office.

They are not for casual perusal.

- Well, you got me.
- [Helen laughs]

In the spirit of the season,
I'll stop peeking.

[Helen] The job listings are
public knowledge, but this much I can say.

I am counting down the days

of being Mayor Peggy's
"Temporary Whatever."

- Congratulations.
- Mmm.

And on that note,
I'd like to have a conversation.

- Right now? Or is it something that can…
- [phone vibrating]

[vibrating continues]

[phone unlocks]

Good morning, Madam Mayor.
How can I help you?

[inaudible]

Uh-huh.

[June] Thank you for meeting me here
rather than my office. [chuckles]

I've taken to pacing because of the baby,
and there's plenty of pacing room here.

[Dana Sue laughs]

There was a mention of
a new motorcycle when you asked to meet.

The motorcycle isn't the problem… [sighs]

…but I know it's… a symptom.

I've thought about it off and on.

I'd even picked this model out.

The purchase itself was an impulse.

I know Dana Sue is upset

because this tends to be
the beginning… of a pattern,

but this is different.

I swear.

I just didn't want to let time
get away from me.

To put off a dream.

Tomorrow's not promised.

[June] Coming back to counseling
is progress.

It's a clear sign

that you're not following
the same pattern as before,

and I'm glad
you're talking things through.

Partners in any relationship
can't be afraid to share with each other.

But they also need to truly hear
and consider the other person's concern.

Hmm?

- Thanks for sharing, Ronnie.
- Yeah.

Now, I'm gonna encourage you
to listen with an open mind

and open heart to Dana Sue.

Dana Sue,
what does the motorcycle mean to you?

I'll be alone.

Open mind, open heart.

Why do you interpret
the motorcycle that way?

Open mind, open heart to you, too,
Dana Sue.

It's just so,

um…

- It means Ronnie will leave.
- Dana Sue.

[Dana Sue] Annie's getting ready
to leave too,

and I will be left
to hold everything together,

trying to build new things
with no one to lean on.

That's not…

I've worked… so hard to make our home.

Why is everyone leaving?

How do you define home? Hmm?

Dana Sue and Annie.

All three of us together.

Is it possible that the answer
is much more complex than

who's in our house at the end of the day?

May I offer?

Home is showing up for each other
in all kinds of different ways.

But you both are afraid of how different
it's about to be, and that's okay.

Facing an emptiness amid
your own changing futures is daunting,

but I encourage you to remember
what feels like a loss of security

could actually be

freedom.

[upbeat music playing]

I wanted to give you space,
give us both space after the game,

and then we had midterms,
and we needed to focus on those,

but those are over, and now,

I… I just didn't want
to go into the holidays

with this still in my heart.

I'm thankful for everything
you bring to this relationship,

and I hope
you've felt everything that I put in,

but I wonder if we'd both benefit
from taking a step back.

I love having you in our friend group,

but not everything
is a group activity, you know?

And Lily and I appreciate
your enthusiasm for life,

but we need our own time.

I've apologized to her, and we're good.

- I'd like it to stay that way.
- I'm…

I'm in the friend group?

- Yeah. Yeah, dude, of course you are.
- I know I'm a lot.

My moms tell me… all the time.

And I didn't know what to expect
when we first moved here,

but you guys have been
so welcoming and cool.

I was worried today was a dismissal.

Like it was time for me to start
hanging out with the jocks or something.

[Kyle] Dev, seriously, you're really fun.

You'll make an excellent rogue thief
in our next campaign.

I'm not cutting you off.

I'm just encouraging you to not limit
who you invite into your party.

Spread your wings, try some new things.

Start a new chapter in your own book.

Have my own identity
outside of being your friend?

Yeah.

I can do that.

If you think I can.

I can do that.

Yes, you can.

Have you ever hung out
with Carter one-on-one?

- No. Think he'd be open to that?
- I bet he would.

[Dev] And Jaden from my history class
invited me to Charleston

with some of his friends
to see the Postal Museum.

I could take him up on that.

Great idea.

[joyful music playing]

[Kyle groans]

[Dev] Oh.

Down a notch, Dev.

Come here, man. Come here.

[jolly music plays, ends]

[Annie] Mom.

You know how much I love
Christmas high tea with you, right?

And the memories of all the years of
getting dressed up and having girl time.

- But?
- But can we go after Christmas this year?

Oh.

Serenity hasn't replaced
their patio furniture from the hurricane,

so they're at half capacity, which means
the high tea time slots booked up

way faster than normal.

But I grabbed us a reservation
on the 28th,

as long as you don't mind going
after Christmas this year.

I'm more than happy to go after Christmas
because that means we're still going.

Of course we're still going.
Traditions are important.

Yeah.

Traditions are important.

And they shift over time.

And they're allowed to change and evolve
as the people who honor them do.

So as long as they're still happening
in any form,

I'm happy.

[both chuckle]

[upbeat music playing]

[Isaac] You know,
Santa won't ignore the stockings

if he disagrees with your spacing.

This is not about Santa.

This is about my mother, who will focus on

the stockings in the background
of every picture we send her.

- [phone vibrates]
- [Isaac sighs]

If that's already Mama
bugging you for pictures,

tell her I will send plenty
the moment all the decorations are up.

It is actually Michael.

[Noreen] Michael is texting?

That's exciting.

I appreciate that Michael was willing
to pivot from calling to texting

after I explained that calls
in the middle of the workday

make me assume the worst.

And it's nice that we're talking

while we wait to see
when his boss will send him out here next,

but he is still the most awful texter
I have ever dealt with.

- And certainly the strangest.
- Well, I won't be of much help.

My resident bad texter is Garth.

He texts
like they still charge by the letter.

I might actually prefer that.
[chuckles softly]

Michael texts like he's writing
a law firm memo.

I'm… I'm used to
a more casual conversation,

but he makes sure to respond to
every single thing I say.

- I… I keep expecting b*llet points.
- I think it's a good thing.

Since I know that you proofread every text
like you're turning it in for a grade.

Seriously. Isn't it a good thing
that he's putting effort into this?

It means he's still interested.

We're not official,
but he sends a winky face with everything,

which I think is flirting.

But who knows with him.

Have you asked him
if he's flirting with you?

Of course not.
How weird of a text would that be?

[upbeat music playing]

[upbeat music fades]

[light jazz music playing]

How can you tell if fast is too fast,

or if it's just fast and that's okay?

I never know when
you're being rhetorical, Chef.

Could you define fast, sir?

Guys, how do you even know
if you're in a position to define fast?

Is there some cheat codes
to unlocking the secrets of a text?

Is this about Michael?

- Give me your phone.
- [Isaac] Relax. Relax.

Say two people are simmering. Happily.

But one of them is simmering
on the way to a boil.

Simmering when you're just
supposed to be simmering is good.

But simmering
when you're supposed to be boiling

is the longest, most agonizing stage.

Exactly. And if only one of you
turns up the heat too high, too fast,

rather than rising to boil,
the other could scald.

Yes?

Is this a test?

Okay. So let's start with the basics.
A winky face is flirting.

Hang on. Should he be taking notes?

What is a winky face after asking

how many times I've already heard
Mariah Carey this year?

[Bailey] Well, I mean, has he sent you
any Mariah Carey memes?

[Isaac] Of course,
but they're winking. Everything is.

[Bailey] Winking memes?

Yeah, I don't have
a good cooking metaphor, so I'll just say…

[Isaac] They're all winking.

…when you know, you know.

- You have to be sure they know too.
- [Isaac] He spelled this out.

- "Winky face."
- You know.

- [Isaac] It's italicized.
- [Bailey] How do you italicize a text?

I've missed these talks.

[both laugh]

Seriously, though,

I have missed these talks.

[Isaac] He's a little uptight,
but we're working on it.

That's crazy. Just emojis.

I hope you didn't think my question was
somehow about the restaurant.

No, and I don't mean to pry
or change the subject.

It's just you clearly want to talk,
and I'm here for you,

but… I need to apologize first.

For what?

Not handling the delay of the opening well

or the hurricane or after the hurricane.

Cal, we're fine.

[chuckles] I appreciate that,
but we're not.

I tried to pretend I was,
to just jump back in and say,

"Erik seems to have moved on.
I guess I can move on too."

But I can't because that would be
taking our friendship for granted,

and I don't want to ever do that.

Nor do I.

I was just so anxious
to get back to normal after the storm

and everything else…
that I rushed through the steps

that I should've taken my time with.

Apologizing, explaining,
making sure you're okay.

So, I'm sorry.

I handled the stress badly.

I hope you're okay, and I hope we're okay.

Thank you.

We're okay.

We're solid.

Wonderful.

And anytime you need someone to talk to,
I hope you know I'm always there for you.

I appreciate that.

More than I can say, friend.

So… friend,

want to talk about
whatever it was you were talking about?

We just did.

Okay.

[chuckles]

[gentle music playing]

[music ends]

[inhales sharply]

If a dragon… meets a unicorn,
would that book sell better?

[keyboard clacking]

[Iris laughs]

You wash your hands.
Focus on writing. Okay.

I've made enough peanut butter cookies
in my time that I can help with this part.

Thank you so much.

Oh, sweetie, I know how hard it is
to be a working mom.

Especially around the holidays

when every part of your life
and the kids' lives

are demanding a piece of you.

I also know accepting help is hard.

[Iris chuckles]

Sometimes feels like defeat.

But every mom throughout history
has had help.

Some are just more open about it
than others.

[Maddie chuckles]

After being a stay-at-home mom
for so many years,

I'm still finding it harder than
I thought I would to achieve balance.

I'll let you in on a secret.

- There is no balance.
- [laughs]

It's a juggling act.

Listen, ba*ls are gonna drop,

and you just pray
they're ba*ls that can bounce back.

A community helps with the juggling.

No one person
is responsible for the cookies

or the sets
or any piece of The Nutcracker.

Except Brianna's mom.

Oh.

In my role as a professional seamstress,
not even as a proud grandma,

I offered to help with the costumes
for The Nutcracker back at Halloween.

I was informed that Brianna's mom
takes care of the costumes.

Always has and never needs help.

Well, last year's Snow Queen
begs to differ.

[both laugh]

No.

["Waltz of the Snowflakes" playing]

[children chatting indistinctly]

Is this still about winking faces?

'Cause you've got
a thinking face going on.

Or are you imitating an emoji
I don't know?

Thinking about family.

I get it. Holidays tend to cause that.

You visiting your dad?

For New Year's.

A bunch of professors are getting together
for Christmas

and celebrating the end of the semester,
so he's not alone.

Just seemed like
an important year to stay in Serenity.

It's nice to hear.

Good, because you are part of the family
I was thinking about.

When I first met you,
we were friends, basketball buddies,

or rivals, depending on the teams.

And now you're my boss, and you're also
married to Maddie, which makes us…

In each other's lives forever.

I hope. No need to label it.
Unless you want to.

But I'm here for you
on whatever level you need.

I'd like to do the same for you.

Thank you. And if you're thinking about
giving me anything for Christmas,

I wear a size "Ferrero Rocher."

Noted.

Behave. Listen to Coach and Isaac.

All right. [laughs]

So, Isaac, how'd you get roped into this?

I was told
this is a Townsend family tradition.

Katie's in The Nutcracker,
and all the men help with the set.

[Kyle] This is the second year.

Anything Katie likes
and does at least twice,

she considers a tradition.

- Proceed with caution.
- [chuckles]

You ready to hear my idea?

Yes.

I've been thinking since
we talked to June, and I realized

what the motorcycle really means to me is

the wind in my hair
and feeling connected to the landscape.

Okay.

And it's not about running away
or being irresponsible.

It's about… leaving my mark.

Tire tracks.

One of the many things I love about you,

one of the things
I've been so excited to watch you do

these last couple of months,
is lead people to new experiences.

Teach them to see something in a new way.

I love this town so much.
All the low country.

So I wanna make my mark
by leading people to loving it, too,

by giving guided road tours.

Oh.

Of course
I'd love to do it on motorcycles,

but lots of folks
don't know how to ride them.

Good point.

Then I was chatting with Jeremy

about using an old barn
at the co-op as a garage,

and Jeremy suggested e-bikes.

He thinks we can fit the barn
with solar panels.

Start with maybe eight bikes
and grow as demand increases.

Start with morning and afternoon options,
but could easily design a full-day ride.

What do you think?

I think I'll have to pause
my teaching kitchen

if you're going ahead with this.

No. You don't have to pause anything.
I'm… I'm dreaming right now.

And you've always been
the type to dream today

and start building first thing tomorrow.

This would be starting a business
from the ground up.

And I know, very well,
that that takes more time,

money, and paperwork than you anticipate.

I'm seizing the day, so I'm ready…
when the time is right.

I didn't seek Jeremy out,

but when he got excited
and… and wanted to brainstorm,

how could I say no?

I mean, he knows
it won't happen for a while.

We all have dreams. You, me, and Annie.

Dreams that cost money

and dreams that are getting bigger
by the day.

Can we really afford them all?

[Helen] While the flood of résumés
seemed promising,

we don't actually have
a lead candidate yet

because everyone who has passion
for the town doesn't have experience.

Everyone who has experience
only sees the town as a spreadsheet.

[spluttering] So it's
a difficult balance to strike.

- [Helen sighs]
- [jazz music playing]

[inhales] Everything in its season.

Are you waiting for something
other than Christmas?

[jazz music ends]

You know, the worst part of growing up
is having to come up with mature gifts

for the people you care about.

Gone are the days of making a craft
in school that counted as a present.

The signs of approaching adulthood.
No one tells you what to do.

But that extends
to arts and crafts projects.

I miss the days

when homework was making sure
you're coloring inside the lines.

Well, and it's not just my mom,
but Lily, Cal.

You could always get them socks.

[birds chirping]

I'm stuck on what to get for my dad.

His only request is
to share a new experience with me.

- But how do you put that under a tree?
- Socks fit nicely.

You could do something

that ends in a physical reminder
of the time spent together.

You know, like woodworking,
or the nerdier option, glassblowing.

[Sophie] Hey, I like that.

An experience with a take-home.

To have something tangible at the end
means the experience will last.

[Kyle] Well, there's different ways
for things to last.

You know, photographs, tacky souvenirs.

My dad bought me theater tickets

so we could go to Charleston
to see a show together.

So… now I'll think of him
whenever I use the tickets.

Whenever I go to the theater, probably.

Well, nothing beats that.
Might as well give up on Christmas.

I'm still pretty sure
socks are a good answer.

[all laugh]

[Valerie] A and B cameras
from the chest above.

And, oh, it looks like
we lost light right there.

- Yeah.
- Could we get that?

How did you do this?

Valerie is a lovely journalist.

She makes it feel like a conversation
instead of an interview.

No. I mean, how did you
talk about yourself?

[gentle music playing]

Think of it as telling a story,

and you just happen to be
the main character.

- Ready?
- Oh.

This way.

Okay. Just sit right there.

Thank you for accepting
my interview request.

Maddie spoke so highly of the library
as a pillar of the community.

- I knew I had to get more of the story.
- Of course.

[Valerie] While I do wanna talk to you
about the library,

I also want to move into a conversation

about how you're both a librarian
and an author

and how those identities feed each other.

- How did you know I write?
- Maddie told me.

I always thought that
I'd be content just writing for myself.

But Maddie encouraged me
to share my talent

because talents aren't meant to be hidden.

Perfect. Hold on to that thought.
I wanna make sure we get all of this.

[upbeat music playing]

[upbeat music ends]

I just came by to drop this off.
No one needs to stop what they're doing.

[Dana Sue chuckles]

[Dana Sue sighs]

Unless there's something
you need to talk about.

What's this?

Well, I know that y'all have been busier
than bees in a hive,

so I brought some cherry bounce.

I made it over the summer.

People expect it.
It's a town holiday tradition.

It's not Christmas in Serenity without it.

[Dana Sue] It wasn't fair
to force this workload onto you,

so I took care of it myself.

The cherries go on
all sorts of holiday desserts,

and the grown-ups can order a shot…
if they want.

[both laugh]

I don't know what to say.

I'm moving into a space where…
I don't know if I'll be successful,

but when I made this cherry bounce

before y'all even finished
renovating this place,

I prayed, even though I knew…
that you would be successful.

Making this was my reassurance
that you would be open by Christmas.

[upbeat music playing]

And these… are our reassurance
that we all believe in you.

And tradition.

Thank you.

Do Christmas wishes
work like birthday wishes,

where they lose their magic
if you discuss them?

I hope not.
I talk about my wishes all the time.

That's how manifesting works.

Can we make wishes
on behalf of other people?

[Maddie] Wait, wait, wait, wait.

We have to pour it out
before we pour it out.

- Okay.
- Right.

- [Maddie] My ladies.
- Me.

- [all] Pour it out.
- [glasses clinking]

[chuckles]

Mmm. Mmm!

Is this about Annie and college?

Mmm. A little bit.

And a little bit about Ronnie
and this wild idea he had

for motorcycle tours of the low country.

- Oh, that sounds fun.
- Sign me up.

You're not helping.

[Dana Sue, Helen laugh]

The one consolation is Annie
has become a wonderful, thoughtful adult

right before my very eyes.

And she's proven
she's prepared for the future,

which makes me feel more prepared.

I can't put my dream in front of Ronnie's,

but we both owe it to Annie
to put hers first.

Well, you all can have
simultaneous dreams.

Yeah, but between Annie
and these very expensive schools,

Ronnie and his tours,
me and my teaching kitchen,

there just doesn't seem to be
enough money to go around.

Or hours in the day.

I think I have a handle on
everything happening,

and then I spin out about being alone
in the home I built for all three of us.

You will never be alone.

The three of us are a kind of home.
Same as you, Ronnie, and Annie.

Home is having someone wonderful
to come back to.

- June would be very proud of your answer.
- Wait, you two went back to see June?

For a tune-up,
more than heavy maintenance.

Good for you.

[Dana Sue] It was. Genuinely.

I needed to be reminded

that the pothole in the road doesn't mean
that the bridge up ahead is out.

Listen to you
and all these metaphors. [laughs]

Ronnie's gonna have you on a motorcycle
before you know it.

Oh, maybe an e-bike.

Oh, well that is definitely more my speed.

[laughs]

On paper, it seems so simple
to encourage your loved ones to dream big,

and in reality, it's… scary and sticky.

Mmm.

One link is money,
one is responsibility, and one is dreams.

Now, it feels strong,

but you put too much weight on one link,
and the chain breaks.

You worry about money too much,

and responsibility and dreams
fall by the wayside.

You're too responsible,
and dreams and money don't matter.

[paper rustling]

And when you dream too much…

There's a cost.

Yeah.

[Dana Sue] How did you do it, Maddie?

- High-quality paper.
- [Helen] Come on.

Come on. I mean, the "money,
responsibility, dreams" balancing act.

You were a single mother helping
to run the spa and writing two books.

Well, Iris says it's about juggling,

which I'm doing because
the second book isn't finished,

but it needs to be since I agreed
to read an excerpt at the winter festival.

Wait, I heard that you arranged
a TV interview for Beatriz.

[Maddie] Yes!

She believes in
the weight and worth of stories.

That's why she was
so protective of the library,

and that belief came from the fact
that she is an author herself.

- Mm-mm.
- Romance novels.

Shut your mouth.

- I can give you a first-hand account.
- Stop it.

They are wonderful, dramatic… and steamy.

- Beatriz? Steamy?
- Do we get to read them?

I'm helping her query publishers
in the new year.

To the hidden dreams of Beatriz Barrera.

- Come on!
- Oh, yeah.

[all laugh]

[sighs]

Helen, what about your Christmas wish?

I am one step closer to no longer being
the town's Temporary Whatever.

- Thank you much. Thank you.
- Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo!

[laughing] Thank you.

The job has been posted,
and the résumés are in,

but… some of them are
downright terrible. [laughs]

People with all sorts of confidence
apply for a job they are deeply unfit for.

But the hope is that the right résumé
is somewhere in the pile.

As for other things, um,

I broke a vase that Erik made,

and I am having a Dickens of a time
trying to glue it back together.

No matter the adhesive,
the cracks still show,

and it might be for the best.

It's a fitting way to symbolize
that… bliss is ending,

and the "bumpy road to love" phase
has begun.

[upbeat music playing]

[glasses clinking]

- Excuse you.
- [laughs]

We're very sorry you and Erik
are going through a moment.

Oh, but we're thankful for the indication
that you and Erik are indeed human.

[laughing]

[Dana Sue] You're welcome to join us
in this fabulous phase

of the rest of our lives.

The rest of our lives. [laughs]

Well, that sounds like a phase
with its own pleasures.

[upbeat music playing]

[intriguing music playing]

- [music ends]
- What are you doing?

I'm going to church with you.

[upbeat music playing]

[music builds]

[Helen exhales]

[music fades]

Nature

doesn't fear the change of seasons.

It understands the need
for rest… and renewal.

And how they lead to new growth.

And yet,

so many people resist it all.

I come here because I yearn to understand…

what I love

and what I fear.

I love you.

The other day,
I was in such a rush to tell you

that I panicked
that I wouldn't say it right.

[Helen chuckles]

That it wouldn't be the perfect moment.

And then I worried the moment had passed,
but I was helped to see

that what matters…
is that you speak your truth,

raw and unfinished as it may be.

Because in the space between
unspoken words…

that's where the fear lives.

And what do you fear?

Time.

Time is the ultimate betrayer.

I thought

I had a lifetime of moments with Vera…

which makes each moment
that I have with you

that much more precious and vital.

Our road has been challenging,

marked with joy and pain,

but we are learning,

growing,

loving.

And love casts out… all fear.

[joyful music playing]

Embrace love…

and faith

in me,

in us.

I do.

I… will be with you

every step… of the way.

[joyful music ends]

We are all loving
your paper chain tradition so much,

we wanted to invite you into one of ours.

This is our Christmas village.

Everyone has a few houses
they put in every year,

and the rest are up for grabs.

Every house has a story,
and some of them change from year to year.

The couple who lived there
got a divorce last Christmas,

so now, Miss Yellow lives there
with her three dogs,

and Mr. Yellow moved into the Blue House
with his new girlfriend, Miss Blue.

My goodness, Katie.

What an interesting neighborhood.

[Kyle, Paula laugh]

Why don't you select one of the houses?
And it'll be yours forever.

- Okay.
- [Cal] I'm the firehouse, Mom.

If you choose the pet store,

you can be next door
and spoil my Dalmatians.

[laughs]

I'm honored and… a little intimidated,
if I'm being honest.

Mom says, "In this family,
we're proud to tell our stories."

- Because we know we're heard.
- But you can share it when you're ready.

I love sharing the one we're writing now.

I really appreciate this, man.

[laughs] Yeah, you too.

Okay, bye.

I recognize that smile.

You're up to something.

That was Alex.

Ronnie… you're talking to him
about the tours,

which means you're leaping
before you look again.

I love that you just go for things.
Please understand that.

But also understand
that when you don't look,

I worry you'll fall and get hurt,

and I cannot stand to watch you get hurt!

That phone call was me looking
before you leap, actually.

I was convincing Alex
to come to town in the new year

and help you look for a place
to build your teaching kitchen.

[splutters] What?

Well, no. We're… not ready.

But we could be getting ready.

[gentle music playing]

Merry Christmas, baby.

Oh, Ronnie.

You could've stopped me
before I got wound up.

I enjoyed that part.
A Christmas gift to myself.

[both laughing]

[phone vibrates]

Oh, I have to get this.
I will catch up with you later.

Hello?

[Helen] Naomi,
I didn't know you took yoga.

I don't, normally.
Though maybe I should start.

No, this is about sneaking in
some dedicated relaxation time

before The Nutcracker tonight.

- You're not performing, are you?
- Never! [laughs]

No. Priya and I swore that
the glass at our wedding would be

the last thing broken in our lives,
but our children seem to find

new and exciting things
to destroy every day.

Picture frames, drinkware, the peace.

I need to relax before I get tense
about how The Nutcracker will go.

Otherwise, my shoulders
will end up above my head.

Abigail is a little too eager
to be a public spectacle.

[Helen chuckles]

Um, if… I may.

The glass… at your wedding?

Oh, of course. At Jewish weddings,
the newlyweds stomp on a glass together.

The rabbi who married Priya and me
blessed it by saying,

"May this be the last thing
that shatters between you."

We've had our fights.

What couple hasn't? [exhales]

But everything after that glass
has been fixable.

We even have the pieces in a shadow box
to remember that

and to inspire us to grow past the cracks.

Hey, kiddo. Ready to go?

I need another one of your sports stories.

Sure. What's this one about?

What if you're a pitcher like Ty,

and you work really, really hard to be
the best pitcher and win the big game?

I'm with you.

And the catcher doesn't care
as much as you and keeps messing up.

- Dropping the ball?
- Yes.

Okay, first off,
you're not the coach, right?

Miss Wendy and Max are your coaches.
Maybe you're the team captain.

- I guess.
- It's an important distinction.

It's means
you're on the same level as the others.

I'm team captain, then.

It's not the captain's job to tell
the other kids to take it more seriously.

Your job is to encourage everyone
to work together.

Going for the championship and having fun
can happen at the same time.

I know it doesn't feel that way right now.

It can be frustrating
when other people don't care as hard

about the same things
that mean the whole world to you.

But tonight's not a playoff game, okay?
Tonight's a friendly.

[gentle music playing]

So you're going to go inspire,
not complain.

Smile at your friends, have fun tonight,

and dance your little sugarplum off.

[Ronnie] Uh-huh.

I know we need to leave
for The Nutcracker soon,

but I wanted to steal
a daddy-daughter moment

to tell you something important.

- Mmm?
- I got into my dream school.

Monterey Institute for the Arts
in California.

[upbeat music playing]

- What wonderful news! Wh...
- [laughing]

Baby girl! Oh yes! Oh!

- Oh!
- There's a catch to my telling you.

I want you to tell Mom with me.

You've both been so supportive,

but it's tons more expensive
than anything we've talked about,

and I know she's going to get
super serious and super practical,

and that's fair, but I want her
to be excited like I knew you would be.

And even if ultimately I can't go,
I want to celebrate that I got in.

You should be happy and celebrate.

And you should also know your mom
is practical because she loves you.

But yes, we will tell her together,

and I bet you'll be surprised
by her reaction.

- [Annie laughs]
- [joyful music playing]

[Ronnie groans]

[music fades]

[jazz music playing]

[indistinct chatter]

Please, Chef Erik, if I have to wait,
all the corners will be gone.

- Can I please have one now?
- [Max] Just a moment.

Come on, Abigail,
it's time to finish getting ready.

But the brownies.

[Max] They're for after. Sugarplums first.

How about I promise
to set aside a corner piece for you?

I'll put your name on it and everything.

- You really promise?
- [Max] Thanks. So glad you could make it.

Pinkie promise. Thank you, Chef Erik.

All dancers, let's get backstage.

Now, Abigail.

[Helen laughing]

Congratulations on handling
an anxious dancer

who probably has already had
too much sugar.

[laughing]

You look good
with a child hanging off you.

[Helen chuckles]

This, um…

this is a delicate question for…
for us both.

How does being immersed in all this

beautiful chaos… impact your stand
on having children one day?

Wherever the path may lead us,

I will be happy

because we'll be on it together.

[Helen chuckles]

What about you?

Change of vision?

Expanding, actually.

- I already have children of the heart.
- [Erik] Mmm.

[chuckles] One of them is backstage here.

And I am sure if asked,

Katie will accept you as
a non-blood relative too.

[laughs]

Children of the heart.

Those lost.

Those loved.

Those to come.

[Helen chuckles]

Oh!

[Erik laughing]

["Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" playing]

[audience cheering]

[indistinct chatter]

It was really cool seeing
Abigail and Katie dance together.

I know Abigail put
a lot of practice into it.

She played that music nonstop.

Wait until next year.
Two years means it's a tradition.

- Yeah.
- Good evening, Kyle.

- Hey.
- Dev, we need…

Dev, Mama and Mata
have a surprise for me at home. Let's go!

Abigail, honey, isn't there someone
you have to talk to first?

[Abigail gasps]

- Katie!
- Abigail, congratulations!

[Katie laughs]

Thank you for your help.
You're a great squad captain.

Did you hear that? I'm a great captain.
Thanks, Coach.

I am so proud of both of you.

My little sugarplum,
you were… spectacular.

I could feel you all loving me.

That's why I danced so well.

[Jimmy] Excuse me, has anybody seen
that superstar sugarplum?

[Katie] Mr. Jimmy, you're here!

Of course I am.
I came into town just to see you.

[Jimmy, Paula laugh]

And you.

Oh! And without any mistletoe or anything.

I brought three fellow businessmen
with me tonight,

and I've been telling them
about all of you.

I showed them Maddie's interviews
after the hurricane.

I brought them here because I knew
they couldn't resist the spirit

and the future of this town.

Delivered in little sugarplum packages.

[all laugh]

Who among us could?

Ladies, allow me to introduce you to
the suite of suits.

- Guess I'll meet you back at the house.
- [Kyle] Have a good time.

By the way, I saw your media pieces too.

If I didn't already love Serenity,
they would've won me over.

That is sweet of you to say.

Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Dana Sue,
and Annie got flowers for me, Mom.

They're gonna meet us at the restaurant.
We should go.

- Okay.
- Hey. Congratulations on the show.

Thanks. What are the odds
that you'll be a Cavalier one day?

Never. Bulldogs forever. [barks]

The show was marvelous.
I hope you're pleased.

Beyond words.

Very proud of every single one
of our performers, and that's why,

even though Miss Wendy
is at her sister's wedding,

this is from both of us.

We wanna give you this nutcracker not only
for your wonderful performance tonight

but for your spirit of leadership,

your spirit of friendship,
and your spirit of the season.

"Most spirited dancer."

[Maddie chuckles]

I'm so thankful for this honor.

I really couldn't have done it
without my family.

Especially the men.

[Maddie] Oh, picture.

[phone unlocks]

- [shutter clicks]
- Want to get in one?

Oh. Yes, I'd love to.

Say "sugarplum."

- [all] Sugarplum.
- [shutter clicks]

[Maddie] Hmm.

So you mentioned something about
a phone call,

but you wanted to wait
until after The Nutcracker?

Oh.

I didn't want to distract everyone
while we should be focusing on Katie.

I got a call from
an indie publishing house.

That's fun.

They saw the clips of the interviews
with Valerie and Stephanie.

The same ones Jimmy's friends saw.

The ones that a lot of people have seen.

So they want your next book to be about
Princess Katie becoming a journalist?

No. They actually called with a job offer
in the marketing department.

Marketing and books. It's a perfect pair.

I know you've never got to use
your degree the way you'd hoped.

Now you can.

Wonderful news.

It would be.

Except the job is in New York.

[dramatic music playing]

[dramatic music ends]

[closing theme music playing]

[closing theme music ends]