Ten!
Nine!
Eight!
Seven!
Six! Five!
Four! Three!
Two! One!
That's it, everyone!
The 57th annual
"dear santa project"
Is declared officially
and successfully over!
Congratulations to
each and every one of you!
You've helped santa
make christmas
A little more joyful
For a lot of
special children this year.
Thank you.
Merry christmas!
Merry christmas!
Where's oliver?
Oh, he's making
a last-minute delivery.
It's his favorite part
every year.
Oh, me too.
I delivered two talking
"tiny teena" dolls
To 10-year-old tap-dancing
twins from telluride
Named tammy and ruth.
Well, rita and I
went in together
On a whole cooking set
For a little girl
from park hill
Who wants to be
a famous chef one day.
Mm-hmm!
And I threw in a bunch of
my christmas cookie recipes.
You know, just to get
her started early.
Oh. All of them?
Even
the chocolate gInger sn*p ones
With the blue cheese-and-mustard
frosting?
Oh, yeah!
Shane mcinerney, right?
Yes, that's right.
-Dead letter office?
-Mm-hmm.
Jordan marley.
It's nice
to meet you.
This is my colleague,
rita haywith.
Haywith, with an "i."
Whoa. Ha! Wow.
Nobody ever gets it right
the first try.
And you're norman dorman.
That's me. You're the guy
that made history this year.
We processed 22% more
christmas lists thanks to him.
That's impressive.
Well, the powers that be
sent me to troubleshoot
The christmas rush,
But there wasn't any trouble.
You guys going
to the christmas ball tonight?
That's the plan!
That is, if we don't have
more work to do.
I thought
you were all finished.
Not if you're on
"team o'toole."
Ah! The famous
oliver o'toole.
Is it true that he runs
Some kind of super-secret
dead letter task force?
He wouldn't exactly
say "secret,"
But we do have
a rather extensive--
...license
to deliver.
And to oliver,
that's a sacred trust.
So where is this paragon
of postal virtue?
Well, he's meeting us
at the party.
Oh! That reminds me.
I can't find
my cummerbund.
It is hanging
on the bear,
Underneath my tiara
in the d.l.o.
Tiaras and cummerbunds
and bears...
Rita was just voted
"miss special delivery"
This past year
And we keep her crown
on top of this stuffed bear
That's airing out
norman's tuxedo.
The d.l.o. Is sort of like
a second home to us.
Do you guys do
everything together?
Or will I get a chance
to dance with you this evening?
Hi there.
I'm oliver o'toole.
I'm from the dead letter office
Of the united states
postal system.
I like the new uniform.
Oh! Uh, sorry.
I have a special event
this evening.
Do you have a son
named darrell?
Is he in trouble?
No, no, not at all.
He just wrote a letter
to santa claus,
And sometimes, they require
a little "special handling."
So, santa's got elves
working at the post office, huh?
Oh, yes. Some are volunteers,
some are employees like...
Like you?
Darrell!
Ah, I just love christmas.
It makes anything
seem possible,
You know?
When I was little,
I used to spend christmas
At a different
foster home every year.
I was eight before I had
a christmas stocking
That didn't have
somebody else's name on it.
But santa
always found you, right?
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
Okay!
20,000 Children
in the greater denver metro area
Have now had their faith
in santa claus restored,
So it's now time to party.
Oliver...
Rallying the troops,
ms. Mcinerney?
Well, look at you.
Thought we were meeting you
at the ball.
Oh, just a little
last-minute inspection
Before the festivities.
Ms. Mcinerney, this is
your first christmas with us.
You may not be aware
of our golden rule. Norman?
"No letter to santa claus
shall be unanswered.
"All gifts and responses
Must be delivered
by christmas eve."
Rita? Update, please.
As of today,
we are all caught up.
So far, but anything
can happen tomorrow.
Yes! Which is exactly
Why we should eat, drink
and be merry tonight.
Ms. Mcinerney,
You're the only person
I know
Who can rationally
combine fatalism
With the christmas spirit.
This isn't christmas spirit,
mr. O'toole.
This is what desperation
looks like
After processing
20,000 dead letters
In 25 days.
No, I don't celebrate
christmas anymore,
But I definitely
celebrate getting off work early
To go on vacation.
You don't celebrate?
Rita! We only have 15 minutes
to get to the salon.
Norman? What are these?
Hockey pucks?
They fall off of a shipment
of sports equipment?
Rita has been baking again.
Alright, boys!
We'll see you later.
Oh, and don't eat
all my brownies,
Or you will ruin your appetite.
Promise!
Okay. Bye!
What are you wearing tonight?
Oh, I wear the same thing
every year.
It's green and red and gold
And... Green.
Not this year.
There is a dress
in the window next door
That would curl
norman's cummerbund.
Why would I want to do that?
Rita!
Look, I might not be
a big fan of christmas,
But it does have its benefits--
Such as christmas parties,
And christmas bonuses
and christmas...
Mistletoe.
You mean... Kiss norman?
Yes! I mean kiss norman!
Oh, come on.
Don't tell me
you haven't thought about it.
You can't rush these things,
you know?
I mean, we've never even
been out on a real date.
But that's exactly
what I'm saying!
You've gotta jump-start
this relationship.
You've known each other...
How long?
Three years, 11 months,
and 30 days.
We were both working
the holiday nightshift,
And I tipped over an entire box
Of misdirected christmas
fruit basket catalogues...
Well, norman came over
to help me pick them up
And wouldn't you know it,
and as we stood up together...
Our heads bumped, and...
Bang.
"Bang"?
Bang.
So you're saying there's been
some physical contact, then?
Oh, yeah.
Of course.
Every year, they've always
had the same entertainment.
Mark the magician guy,
Who makes mrs. Woollard from
certified letters disappear.
And then comes the guy
from international shipping
That does impressions.
It's true,
Our christmas ball
traditions rarely vary.
And now...
They've added a band.
And people are dancing.
And they are
Dancing with each other.
And I don't do that.
Well, you should try it,
norman.
It is called a ball,
after all.
It seems appropriate.
Not to mention
it's also very good for your...
...heart.
I believe our...
Colleagues
have arrived.
Oh, I think I see
a curling cummerbund.
Oh, what if
he asks me to dance?
Oh, what if she
asks me to dance?
Rita, you certainly have
Expanded your wardrobe
this year.
Very... Very festive.
Where's your red
and green and gold one
That you always wear?
Shane thought
that maybe
I should branch out
a little,
Since I'm miss special delivery
now.
That is excellent advice.
Where is ms. Mcinerney?
Oh, she was just right here.
Oh, there she is.
Uh...
Would anyone like, uh...
Some punch?
I hear the punch
is very good this year.
Let's get some punch.
I hear it's surf-
and-turf for dinner.
"Turf." That's
such a funny word!
Turf? "Turf."
Turf-turf!
"Turf."
An old english word derived
from the early saxon,
Of, or pertaining to, an area
considered another's territory.
How can somebody
not like christmas?
Christmas is for kids.
And people who want to
feel like kids again
For a little while...
All hopeful and magical...
Peace on earth.
You know,
There's a champagne
fountain over there,
If you need something
a little stronger.
One never
consumes alcohol
When one dances
the rumba.
But you're not
dancing.
Not yet.
Nobody gives up christmas,
But, sometimes,
it gets taken from them,
And they just need a little help
getting it back.
Whatever.
It's no big deal.
That's too bad.
Where I come from,
christmas is a very big deal.
Oh. And where's that?
Ahem. May I cut in?
Oliver.
Jordan, this is my boss,
oliver o'toole.
Jordan marley.
What a pleasure.
How do you do?
Please, dance.
He's the guy
they brought in
To troubleshoot
the dear santa project.
Mm. You amaze me.
What?
What's the matter?
You were dancing
the dance.
"The dance?"
What are you talking about?
If you recall, ms. Mcinerney,
Last summer, I was received
dance lessons as a gift
And, temporarily requiring
a partner,
I shared them with you,
So, technically,
you're using my steps
To dance with someone else
Who has not earned the right
to dance with...
With the steps.
Well, that makes all
the sense in the world.
Teaching one person steps
Learned under the auspices
of another
Is tantamount to theft.
I was teaching the guy
a few steps.
I wasn't selling state secrets.
Dip.
Oh. I love this part
with the fruit!
Norman.
Are you going to, uh,
dance tonight?
Yeah, I've been
thinking about that...
Great!
I don't think
it's a very good idea.
I'm going to go back up
to the buffet.
Would anyone else like
some more... Turf?
No. Thank you, rita.
Uh, norman, don't you
think you should...
No.
No, no, no, no, no!
My necklace. It's gone!
Oh...
If it's here,
we'll find it.
I can't believe this!
Did you lose something?
Yes.
Uh, ms. Mcinerney
misplaced her necklace.
It's a small gold disk
With a purple crystal bead.
Yeah.
When did
you last see it?
I wear it all the time.
It means the world to me.
I'll check
the dance floor.
I'm sure we'll find
it, ms. Mcinerney.
Norman, will you and rita
please check the buffet?
I believe
We need to search
in small concentric circles.
I have to find it.
I can't replace it.
I know.
That was the last gift
my parents gave me before...
Found it!
Oh! Thank goodness!
"To c. With love.
Mom and dad."
To "c"? Not "s"?
It was the family joke.
When we still were a family.
Thank you.
Did you find it?
Jordan did!
Oh!
Would you
like to join us?
I'd love to.
You know,
oliver was saying
Something
really interesting
About the word,
um, uh, "turf."
What was that again?
Just that it's
an old english word
Derived from
the early saxon.
That's right.
But, oddly enough,
The word "turf" can
be traced to the latin
Through
a corresponding translation
Of old frisian
and norse.
Not to mention
The parallel translation
from the high german "surf,"
Also deriving from--
-...indo-european--
-...sanskrit.
Oh. Wow.
Two word-nerds
sitting at the same table
At the postal ball.
It's a christmas miracle.
Thought you didn't believe
in christmas miracles,
Ms. Mcinerney?
Or valentine's day miracles,
labor day miracles...
Guess you could say I'm just
your basic bah-humbug.
Well, that's a shame.
I was told that if anyone could
pull off a christmas miracle,
It would be you
And oliver o'toole's
dead letter team.
We actually call ourselves
"the postables."
Mm.
I do, anyways.
Was there something
that you needed us to do?
Another letter entered
the system tonight
As I was leaving.
It was mailed this morning
from a young girl in wyoming.
Last-minute letter
to santa claus?
No.
This one is a letter to god.
Five "dark of night" awards?
Yes. One of them
was my grandfather's,
The other four we earned
On an particularly difficult
assignment.
Happy ending, I assume.
Very happy.
Would it bother anyone
if I took my cummerbund off?
Make yourself
comfortable, norman.
We may be here awhile.
A christmas carol
by charles dickens.
Nice leather-bound
edition, too.
Haven't read it
since high school.
Every year, I promise myself
I'll read it again,
But I never do.
Looks like I'll have time
this christmas.
Anybody hungry?
What's this?
Did you make these?
Mm-hmm.
Maybe oliver should
take a look at that letter now.
Oh!
According to the letter,
she is from wyoming,
But it was postmarked
here in denver.
Entered the system
this morning.
Now, technically,
It doesn't qualify for
the "dear santa" program, but--
But it still
deserves an answer.
She didn't leave
much to go on.
Well, oliver o'toole can deliver
a letter to anybody, anywhere.
Atypical envelope,
not business size.
Double-weight linen,
color is ecru.
Uh, the paper inside,
I'm guessing,
Is three-hole,
wide-rule school-grade.
Norman?
Handwriting confirms
the writer is a young female,
Approximately eight.
Instrument
used is crayon.
Oh, that's not your typical
christmas stamp.
Yeah, it comes from
An industrial-sized
stamp roll,
Like a bank
or a large company
Might use.
Or hospitals
and clinics?
This is a stamp
honoring american nurses.
I think you're right.
You'll see when you read it.
Ah. There's a drawing
in this one.
Ah! Very nice
use of color.
"Dear god,
my mommy is really sick.
"The doctor doesn't
know what's wrong,
"So we have to drive
to denver, colorado,
"And take her
to a big hospital.
"Daddy says
there's a hotel next door
"With a swimming pool inside.
"But he says if mommy
doesn't get well,
"We won't be home
for christmas.
"Please make my mommy get well
"So she can see me
be a shepherd.
"I promised her I'd be one,
"And I can't break my promise
to my mommy.
"Love, hannah from wyoming.
"P.s. Merry christmas,
And say happy birthday
to jesus."
My goodness.
Postmark is today,
from denver.
Mr. Marley,
I believe you're right.
This was mailed
from a local hospital.
"Please make my mommy get well
So she can see me
be a shepherd."
Oh! I bet she was gonna be
in a christmas pageant
In wyoming.
There are a lot of
sheep in wyoming.
I hope her mom is okay.
See? This is my problem
with christmas miracles.
Little kids
ask for them
And we can't
make them happen.
Hannah's not asking us
To perform a miracle,
she's asking god to.
Well, then maybe
we should let god
Answer the letter.
Well, I believe he did,
by entrusting the letter to us.
And we are probably
the only people
In the united states
postal system
That could help
find hannah.
And...
What about when we do?
What difference will it make?
Well, perhaps
If we identify
the hospital,
We can go there
and find out.
That will take all night.
Rita has a bus to catch
in the morning.
That's okay.
Buses leave to albuquerque
all the time.
I can take a later one.
My folks would understand.
Where are you going
for christmas?
I'm not going "for christmas,"
I'm just going to a spa
in arizona,
To be warm for five days.
Ms. Mcinerney, I believe
we have plenty of help
If you feel
you need to leave.
Right. Like I'm gonna let
any of you touch my computer.
I'll run a check
on hospital admissions
For women from wyoming
in the last 24 hours.
Okay, and I will check
All hotels
with indoor swimming pools
Next to a hospital.
And I will start...
Calling ambulance companies
in wyoming.
I will pick up
a new phone.
What can I do
to help?
Do you have
an indoor swimming pool?
Oliver.
Hmm? How are you coming?
Well, i...
I accessed
the admissions records
Of three out of the four
major denver hospitals,
But there's no record of a woman
being brought in from wyoming.
What about
denver mercy?
I don't know.
I can't get
into their system.
I have tried everything,
But they have a firewall
like I've never seen.
Maybe it's a sign.
That we should give up?
I thought you knew me
better than that.
Then again, I thought
I knew you better than--
Than what?
Just say it.
I'm just a bit mystified.
You've been cheerfully working
without complaint
For six weeks, day and night,
Answering thousands of
children's letters
To santa claus,
So why are you so disturbed
by one child's letter to god?
Because.
When a letter
to santa claus gets answered,
It's wrapped around
something real--
A doll,
A bike,
A puppy.
But with god,
who knows what the answer is?
There's nothing to unwrap,
Nothing to hold,
Nothing to see.
And that's assuming
He's even bothered
to answer you at all.
Oh, hello! Yes. I'm calling
From the dead letter office
of the u.s. Postal system,
Regarding
a little girl's letter--
Oh, yeah, of course, I'll hold.
Great! Thank you so much.
Merry christmas.
I think we got something!
Colorado hospital transfer won't
give me a name,
But they did transfer a patient
To denver mercy
from silver bow, wyoming,
In the last 24 hours.
Oh! Great! Thank you so much!
Okay.
The cherry creek welcome inn
Has an swimming pool,
And it's right around the corner
from the denver mercy hospital.
I think
we have our next move.
Oh, I'll get my coat!
I'll get my field kit.
Giving god a chance,
ms. Mcinerney?
Giving you tech support,
mr. O'toole.
If you're not
On the patient's
approved visitor list,
Then we don't let you upstairs.
No exceptions.
This could be tough.
We are definitely not
on anybody's visitor list.
We may actually qualify
For somebody's
best-dressed list.
Mr. Marley, you are
a troubleshooter, correct?
That is the unofficial title.
Norman, do have anything
in there that sparkles,
Or lights up?
Are you kidding me?
It's christmas.
This baby's fully-loaded.
Excuse me, miss... Hodges?
Name and room
Of the patient
you're visiting, please.
I'm not a visitor.
I'm looking
for the christmas carolers.
What christmas carolers?
Uh, there
you are, mr. Marley?
There they are!
We're here!
We're here!
Sorry we're late.
We...
Ran into
a lot of lights.
Uh, is he all right?
Mm-hmm. He loves music.
Uh, there's a lady
here from wyoming?
She has a little girl?
Not on this floor,
But the only other patients
in the hospital at christmas
Are having babies.
Maybe she's on maternity.
Amen!
That is
just what I needed.
Oh, my goodness.
You're--
The post office guy!
Oh, look at you!
You're all lit up.
We are actually trying
To deliver our last
christmas letter.
There's a little girl
hannah, from wyoming.
We believe her mother
was admitted here today.
They're here.
Ambulance brought 'em in
last night.
Sweet little thing
asked me for a stamp.
A nurse's commemorative?
Oh, that's the letter
that came to us.
Poor thing's writing letters
to santa claus,
Asking for help, I bet.
It was a letter
to god, actually.
Good.
Then she got her answer.
What do you mean?
Well, he sent all of you,
didn't he?
Hi, mommy.
Mr. Casey?
There are some folks out here
I think you should meet.
We just mailed this
last night.
Well, letters like this
tend to be expedited,
Especially
around christmas.
Would you mind if we ask
your daughter a question?
It's just a formality.
No.
Of course.
Hi, hannah.
My name's rita.
I work at the post office.
I just wanted to make sure
That you're the one
that mailed this letter.
Yeah.
You have an owl
on your purse.
Oh! Yeah.
That's because I love owls.
You wanna see it?
-Yeah.
-Oh!
Come on.
Mr. Casey, we were
very sorry to hear
Your wife was unwell.
We thought
it was the flu,
And then she just got
worse and worse,
And nobody
could figure it out.
Our doctor finally said
We'd better get amy
down here
To a big-city
hospital.
Do you mind
if I ask about the baby?
It's a boy.
He's not due for a month,
and, um...
They don't want to deliver early
if they don't have to,
Because, they, um...
Mr. Casey, do you have
any family here in denver?
I work for
a mineral company in texas
And got transferred to wyoming
last month.
First thing we did
was look for a church.
It's a good way to meet folks.
And we found one
that's having a nativity pageant
On christmas eve...
And hannah was going
to be a shepherd.
That's all she's ever
wanted for christmas.
Well, there must be
a church pageant nearby
That would be happy
to include her.
I can look one up.
Thank you,
But the way
things are going,
We should probably stay close.
I want to make sure
That hannah spends
as much time with her mom
As she can...
Just in case.
Of course.
There must be a way
That we could do both.
Once a child loses hope
at christmas,
It's hard to get it back.
What if...
What if we bring
the christmas pageant to hannah?
And then, the owl
flew right over my head
And it said, "who? Who?"
And I said "me! That's who!"
And all the other kids
in the school
Were pretty shocked,
Because I was always
really quiet in school,
But there I was,
talking to an owl,
And it was talking
right back to me.
And then my teacher said
That, well, owls are so wise,
They only talk
To interesting people
who wear glasses.
Did you make him your pet?
No. No.
He needed to fly away
and keep being an owl.
And I never saw
another owl again.
Oh!
Oh, that's too bad.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But...
That's why I always carry around
something to remind me
That, well,
even if you don't know it,
There's always somebody
out there flying around
That thinks you're special.
Where are we gonna
get cattle and camels
On christmas eve?
We don't need camels.
We just
need the basics.
You know, mary, joseph,
Angel, wise men,
et cetera.
Can I be joseph?
I've always wanted
to be joseph.
I suggest
we go home, get some sleep,
Meet at the mailbox grille
in the morning,
And make a plan.
How about 11:00?
I thought you had
a plane at noon.
What happened
to "bah, humbug"?
Well...
Hannah wrote a letter to god,
And I know
who's not going to answer it,
So it's up to us.
Rita, when's the last plane
to tucson on christmas eve?
Um, arizona airways,
Leaving at 9:55,
with a connection in phoenix,
Which arrives at 2:00 a.m.
Rita has
a photographic memory.
Oliver, if you're headed
back to the d.l.o. After this,
There's something I'd like
to discuss with you.
In private.
I have not had one
of these in decades.
I, uh...
Find a certain comfort
In things
of the past.
Things of quality.
Something to be said
for that.
How long have
you been married?
Um...
The wedding
was three years ago.
Being married is another story.
Always is.
We were visiting
The national postal museum
in washington.
She knew how much
that meant to me...
So her walking out on me there
had, uh,
A certain...
Sting to it.
Where is she now?
Paris.
I wrote her a letter
a while back...
Never got an answer.
Nothing?
It sounds like
you got your answer.
I guess.
That first
Christmas was hard...
But this second christmas
Makes it...
Real.
So, it's just you
and charles dickens
For christmas
this year, hmm?
To the ghost
of christmas past.
Speaking of which,
That reminds me of what
I wanted to talk to you about.
I've been carrying
this letter for a long time.
It's another
letter to god.
"Dear god.
"I miss my daddy.
"Please make him
want to...
"Come back home.
I just want to have
a happy family again."
These are
the hard ones.
But I've enclosed
the answer with it.
I think you're the one
to deliver it.
Well, there's
a seven and a zero
In the return address,
And the last three letters
of the street name
Are "...o-m-a place."
Perhaps ms. Mcinerney's
computer can look for--
Oh, no. It's no problem.
Okay, let's see.
There are two streets
in the arvada area
With numbers
higher than 7,000
And the last three letters
of "o-m-a..."
Tacoma and acoma.
But one of them's
a commercial district,
So it's got to be tacoma,
And tacoma place
is a cul-de-sac,
So you'll probably
only have about...
Oh, 10 houses to try.
Huh. You see?
That wasn't that hard.
Well, the hardest part will be
ringing the right doorbell
And seeing the look on
that little boy or girl's face
When they open the door
and realize it's only me.
Do you want us
to come with you?
Oh, no. No. I can, uh,
I can take it from here.
Besides, you have
a christmas pageant to...
Oh...
Norman, what have you done
with the sourdough?
Oh. Well, uh, look. Um...
This is my "o, come
all ye faithful" pose.
And this...
Is my...
"Away...
In a manger."
Show her
your "joy to the world."
Aw! That's so great!
Okay, what?
What can I do?
Okay, so mary is over here,
holding baby...
Uh, well, this,
And I am here.
Uh, manger'll be in the middle.
Oliver...
You'll narrate
from stable right.
Uh, the wise men are there,
The shepherd is over there,
And shane,
You will be over here
Above the stable.
I'm sorry, I'm what?
You're the angel.
No. No.
No!
I'm-i'm helping jordan
design set.
I'm no angel.
A provocative thought,
Ms. Mcinerney,
but we must all do our part.
What about him?
Sorry. Have big plans
for christmas eve.
Then it falls on you to be
Our heavenly messenger,
ms. Mcinerney,
Unless, of course,
you feel you may be
Better suited
to the role of...
The virgin mary?
Okay. I'm an angel.
No halos!
Okay, so norman and I will
work on props and costumes,
And jordan, you can help
shane build the stable.
Here are your scripts.
A pageant of christmas,
By oliver o'toole?
It's the best I could
do on short notice.
Okay, now all we need to do is,
Everyone needs
to learn their lines.
Oh, and shane, you can
rehearse with hannah.
Oh, but she likes you
and your-your owls.
Yeah, but it's just that
norman and I still have to find
Stars, gold, frankincense,
myrrh...
Okay.
It's 11:53 now.
We all meet back at the d.l.o.
At 4:00.
Synchronize your watches
for "operation: bethlehem."
Um, um... Here!
I have a last
christmas letter to deliver,
But I should be able
to make it back in time.
No rest for the postal, hmm?
Alright, everyone...
Let's deck the halls.
Oh...
He is so good at this.
So I will be
seeing you
And ms. Mcinerney later, then?
I hope so.
I notice that
you call rita "rita,"
But you call shane
"ms. Mcinerney?"
Yes, well, uh...
It started
as an office formality,
But, uh,
it just continued.
Don't know
exactly why I do that.
I think you do.
She's a very special lady.
Yes, she is.
Well, it's almost noon.
I have one last letter
to deliver.
That's right.
No leftovers on christmas eve.
Jordan,
are you coming?
What?
Merry christmas.
And, well,
since it is christmas,
I am going to give you a choice.
You can either
do the right thing...
Or you can try and get by me.
Ma'am,
may I help you?
Oh! Thank you.
I'm looking for some sort
of post office restaurant?
Oh! The mailbox grille.
Yes, you've passed it.
It's just back there.
Oliver o'toole?
-Is that you?
-Yes.
Oh! For heaven's sakes.
It's me,
your old sunday school teacher.
Mrs. Genzinger?
Oh, my goodness!
Oliver, dear, you've grown!
Well, I got lost,
And they're gonna be
here any minute,
And I have to arrange
the table centerpiece.
Ah! "Reserved for
st. Clarissa's auxiliary."
Well, we always have
our christmas party
Every year
at the church,
But this year,
Betty jensen insisted
on being fancy.
She insisted on helping
with the decorations, too,
But where is she now?
I don't know.
Well, she's dead,
actually.
Keeled over
at thanksgiving,
And we couldn't get
the deposit back,
So here we are.
I have a few minutes.
I can help you,
if you like?
God love you, oliver.
You always were such
a good little helper.
Help me off
with my coat,
And we'll just get
started with all this.
Okay. Sandals,
sheets, scarves...
We can find all that
In unclaimed fabrics
and materials.
Oh, great!
We can get
hay from the feed store.
I have an old pencil box
that I can make into "gold."
Now all we need is frankincense
and myrrh.
Wait. What's myrrh?
Wait! What's frankincense?
Oh! Found it.
Coffee, anyone?
Sure.
Well, I've called
every church in town
And everybody's using
Their own stables and mangers
for their own pageants.
Well, we'll just have
to improvise, then.
Oliver would know
what to do.
I cannot believe
That he is off
delivering another letter.
Well, it's not
"just another letter."
The child
that wrote it
Wants their dad to come home
for christmas.
And somebody actually tried
to answer a letter like that?
You sound angry.
Well, of course I am!
Because I know how...
My...
Father left us
The sunday night
before christmas.
My mom never saw it coming.
I remember sitting
under the christmas tree...
And looking at all the presents
with his name on them
And realizing that...
They were never
going to be opened.
So that's where the joy went?
Right out the door
with my dad.
What is it about you?
How do you get me
to talk about this stuff?
I didn't.
I think you were just...
Ready.
I've got to
get to the hospital.
Are those what
I think those are?
No.
Now stick the candle
into the styrofoam,
Like so, yeah,
And then we'll put
some berries in there.
Very nice, oliver!
You were always so good
at following directions.
Thank you.
You were the cutest thing
in sunday school.
I remember how you loved
being the narrator
For the christmas pageant
every year.
Well, some things
never change.
But one year,
You were out of town
at christmas, weren't you?
When you were about
six or seven?
Eight.
Mm. You went to portland.
Seattle. An island
nearby, actually.
And you were very upset
about something.
Uh...
I was afraid
That there would be
no christmas trees
In washington.
But, you came back,
all bubbly and happy,
In january,
And announced to the class
That not only were
there christmas trees,
But there were angels, too.
We'd gone up to say
goodbye to my grandfather.
It was going to be
his last christmas.
On, uh... Christmas eve,
Everyone started crying,
And I was so scared,
I just ran out of the cottage
And down to the beach,
And there was
a very nice man there,
Decorating
a little twisted...
Evergreen growing
out of a rock, somehow,
Right there by the shore.
He saw I was crying...
So he let me help him
decorate the tree.
We decorated it with leaves
and shells,
Anything we could find.
I remember thinking
What a beautiful
little twisted tree that was.
And you thought
he was an angel.
He certainly seemed
like one that day.
Of course, anything seems
miraculous when you're eight.
A christmas tree
growing out of a rock...
That sounds miraculous to me,
And I'm 78.
Funny. I think about
that tree from time to time.
Just out there...
Alone in the wind.
Holding on to that rock,
just...
Trying to survive.
Or maybe the rock
was holding on to it.
Oh!
Oh. Hey, oliver.
What're you
doing here?
Well, I got a bit
of a late start.
Has there been
A sea change
in the story of christmas?
No, um,
we just realized
We were a little
short on wise men.
So we thought
it was prudent
To have a backup
wise... Thing.
Guess what
his name is?
Wouldn't know
where to begin, norman.
Well, there's, uh,
melchior, caspar...
Yes.
This is "bearthazar."
I didn't see that coming.
So how are things
with the pageant?
Uh, jordan
is working on the stable,
And, uh, shane
is rehearsing with hannah.
Oh, you know what?
I might even have time
To whip up another batch
of cookies for refreshments!
Oh... Yay...
So everything's under control?
A-ab-absolutely.
Carry on, I guess.
See you at 4:00!
Now, when
it's your turn,
I will nod,
and you will say...
I can't remember.
That's okay.
"Come, let us
go unto bethlehem."
Come! Let us
go unto bethlehem.
"And see that of which
the angel has told us."
And see which of the angel...
What?
You just say it your way.
Let's go see the baby!
That's great.
Uh, and then you will
walk down the aisle
And you'll stand
next to mary and joseph.
That's when you look down
and you see the baby,
And then you kneel.
Like this?
Just like that.
Look, mommy.
I'm a shepherd.
Uh, and then, uh, ahem,
Then they'll sing,
and you can sing, too,
But you stay
down on the groun--
Hannah, sweetheart, why don't
you go outside with shane?
Mommy!
What's happening?
Code blue. Maternity.
-Mommy!
-Code blue.
Merry christmas.
-Excuse me.
-Yes?
I know you.
I'm sorry.
Have we met?
You delivered a letter
to my house last month.
Mr. Shanahan!
Yes, I remember that letter.
Yeah, from
my girlfriend.
Got lost in the mail,
and you found it, like,
Six months later, and--
Well,
that's very good.
Well, not so good.
By the time
her letter showed up,
I'd gotten married
to somebody else,
And my wife was not so happy.
Ah, well,
I'm sorry to hear that.
Or congratulations?
Hey, forget about it!
If it would've come any earlier,
I could be married
to the wrong woman right now.
-Yes!
-So, thanks.
You're quite welcome.
Hey, could you do me a favor?
Actually, I was just
on my way to--
It'll just take
a second.
I gotta stand here
for another couple hours,
And the store that has
The earrings
she wants for christmas
Closes in a few minutes.
Could you just...
Um, the thing is, I really--
It would really mean
the world to her.
Of course. Happy to help.
Oh! Thank you.
Merry christmas.
Thank you so much.
;
Dr. Nichols, oncology.
Dr. Nichols,
report to oncology.
Can I sit on your lap?
Sure.
You have
very pretty hair.
So do you.
I like your necklace.
Thank you.
It's my favorite thing
in the whole world.
What's your
favorite thing?
My mommy and daddy.
Hello?
Hello?
Ms. Mcinerney,
I'm in the d.l.o.
Oliver, they've taken
amy to surgery.
She's losing the baby,
And they're losing her.
Oliver, please, just...
Just come.
I'm on my way.
It's called
h.e.l.l.p. Syndrome.
Something about
elevated livers
And low platelets,
And they didn't catch it
at first,
Because her blood pressure
should've been up, too,
But it wasn't.
So they are trying
to stabilize her
And then they'll
deliver the baby.
It's the only way
to save them now.
Even then, there's no guarantee
that both of them will make it.
Mr. Casey...
I am so sorry.
Perhaps it's best
If we postpone
the pageant until...
No.
It's more important
than ever now.
Hannah's gonna
need something happy
To remember about today.
Then we will make it
unforgettable.
Any news?
Still in surgery.
Funny, isn't it?
You never know
what the day will bring.
"Funny?"
I had to do something
that really mattered today,
And I couldn't get a block
past the mailbox grille.
You know the legend
of the fourth wise man?
No.
Well, the story goes
There were originally four,
not three,
Wise men from the east,
But the fourth guy
got a late start
Because he stopped
to help a lost traveler
On the road to bethlehem.
And, when he got there,
Mary and joseph
had taken the baby to egypt
To flee king herod.
So the fourth wise man
headed for egypt,
But he stopped to help
another man on the road
And didn't get there
Until the family had
left for nazareth.
Seemed he was always
one step behind
This messiah
he was trying to meet
Because he kept stopping
to help someone else.
Did he ever catch up?
Mm-hmm.
In jerusalem.
At the cross.
Only to realize that he had
already met the master
In the faces
of all the people
That he had helped
along the way.
"If you have done it
for the least of these..."
"You have done it for me."
You'll deliver it
when it's time.
But not before christmas eve.
You are so kind
to everyone else, oliver,
But you are awfully
hard on yourself.
So, you've had a tough
christmas this year,
But you're not gonna
get through it
By delivering every letter
in the bin before midnight.
That letter will get
where it needs to go.
And in the meantime,
Stop and smell
the poinsettias,
Why don't you?
Poinsettias have no fragrance.
But, uh...
Please, go on.
You may feel alone again
this year, oliver,
But you know
you're not.
You never are,
No matter
what you've lost.
Christmas is
An opportunity to remember
That love came down to find you
right here,
Where you are,
With or without
a perfect delivery record,
Or a perfect marriage,
And it happens
year after year.
In a hospital lobby,
Or a post office,
In the woods,
or on a mountaintop...
Or on a rock
by a tree at the beach.
You're not
from the post office.
I never said I was.
Pageant starts in 15 minutes,
We've only got
two wise people
And shane still
won't wear her halo.
Christmas is a gift, oliver,
But it's your choice
to accept it.
But I have to go now.
They're expecting me home
for christmas.
You take good care of
that little letter-writer.
Okay, now just remember
what we practiced.
I think I'm scared.
Why, sweetheart?
We're gonna have
such a good time.
I've never been in a show
without mommy before.
Hannah...
I know how hard it is
To do something all by yourself
for the first time,
But you're not alone.
Maybe your mommy
Won't be out there
in the audience today, but...
I promise you,
She'll be right
where you need her to be.
Right... Here.
Right where she always is.
Okay!
I found a shepherd's crook!
I borrowed it
from the rehab center.
It's perfect!
It is, isn't it?
Now, where's the sheep?
Um...
Sorry!
Ooh--
Where you going, angel?
Nowhere.
I have a favor to ask you.
I need to borrow your sheepskin
for about an hour.
Look, if you wanna buy it,
you can buy it,
But I can't wait around
for an hour,
Waiting to get it back
when I could be out on a fare.
How much?
50 Bucks.
Aww! Come on!
236, You out there
for a d.i.a. Run from u-hills?
Now, that's a $60 fare.
Price just went up.
236?
Okay. I'll get my purse.
Hey, no, no, no.
No. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, it's now or never.
I gotta go.
Okay, okay.
Uh...
How about a trade?
Ms. Mcinerney.
We were worried about you.
I just had a last-minute
wardrobe challenge.
Ah. Yes. Well, you--
you look very, uh...
Celestial.
But, um...
Did you lose
your necklace again?
No. No, I know
exactly where it is,
And I have about
five minutes to get a sheep--
What's that?
Oh.
This is the letter
I tried to deliver today.
You didn't?
But you-- you always do.
Yes. Well...
Not this time.
What's most important
right now is that,
Somewhere out there tonight,
There is a fatherless child
waiting for an answer to this,
Who's thinking that
maybe god doesn't care
Or that maybe
god doesn't exist at all.
But...
I have the answer
right here in my hand.
I just...
Ran out of time.
I'm sorry, oliver.
It just breaks my heart.
What happens
to the spirit of a child
Who's been hurt like that?
Well, I'll tell you.
She cries for...
About six months.
And then, after about a year,
She stops looking out the window
every time a car pulls up.
Then her heart
kind of freezes,
And if she's not
careful...
She turns into
kind of a scrooge
And rejects god
and christmas and...
Goes around
Saying "bah, humbug"?
Yeah.
Ms. Mcinerney,
When you were
a little girl,
Where did you live?
Alexandria, virginia. Why?
And your address?
707 Terracoma place.
Uh, look--
I have a sheep
that I have to--
And the inscription
on your necklace.
It reads, "to c.
With love, mom & dad."
It doesn't say "to s."
Yes, because my folks
always called me "crackers"
Because I loved to eat saltines.
What is this about?
I-i've got to get--
"Dear god..."
"I miss my daddy.
Please make him want to come..."
"...back home.
I just..."
"I just want to have
a happy family again."
"Love,
crackers."
Where did
you get that?
It was lost in the mail
for years, apparently.
Jordan has been trying
to deliver it for awhile.
This is
some kind of joke.
No.
I think
this is some kind of miracle.
Don't.
That's why you don't celebrate
christmas anymore, isn't it?
You wrote
a letter to god...
And you never
got an answer.
An answer?
And you think that if
it hadn't been lost in the mail,
That I would've gotten
a letter back from heaven,
Explaining why my family
had been ripped apart,
And making everything okay?
Do you think any letter
You would've received
from anyone back then
Could have
made everything okay?
Ms. Mcinerney...
The answer in here
has found you.
And maybe
Now you're ready
to read it.
Maybe I'm the one
who was supposed to deliver it.
To make sure you do.
It's too late.
I should've written to santa
and asked for a puppy.
No, no,
no, no, wait.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
Forget it.
Shane!
What did you just call me?
Made you stop,
didn't it?
Listen to me.
We have all lost
something or someone
That we love
in this world.
And someone else's
happy christmas...
...can make it hurt
all over again
If we don't let christmas
do what it was meant to do.
You asked god
for a happy family?
You have one!
Embrace it.
You have a sweet friend
for a sister,
Who loves owls
And-and makes the worst cookies
this side of heaven.
And you have a dear,
shy little guy for a brother,
Who thinks this world is amazing
And would walk across hot coals
To find something new
and beautiful in it,
If you asked him
to do it.
And then there's me...
This odd fellow who loves words
and books
And things from the past,
And has spent his life
Trying to find a future
With someone in it
to share it with.
I haven't been
very successful at that yet.
I'm not perfect,
But through it all,
I have learned
How to hold firm in a storm,
Not by holding on
to whatever I can find
For as long as I can,
But by trusting
That the one thing
that matters in this world
Will never let go of me.
And, shane...
That's what perfect love is.
Perfect love
casts out all that pain,
All that fear,
And replaces it with hope.
And hope is what you were
asking for in that letter.
And every christmas since,
Hope is what
you have been given.
Don't you see it?
It's right here for you.
Think you're, uh...
Ready to be an angel now?
I have to wear that stupid halo
now, I guess.
Do you want to read the letter?
Toss it.
I already got my answer.
Fresh cookies!
Right from the oven.
Oh... Good.
With cheese and...
Spinach.
-Norman?
-Mm...
Norman, there's something
I want you to do.
Maybe after another cookie?
Over here.
Wait! Norman.
Uh...
I-i want you to, um...
I want you
to tell me the truth.
You don't really
like my cookies, do you?
Well, um...
Not the eating part.
Thank you.
Thank you for--
for just being honest with me.
I would rather you never
ate another cookie again
Than felt
you had to lie to me.
Ever!
Oh.
Good.
I was running out of ways
not to lie.
Whew! Well, I feel
better. Don't you?
Yeah.
Well, I guess
we should get ready.
-Yeah.
-Okay.
I couldn't find
any frankincense,
But the gift shop had
some very nice bath salts.
So nice of you,
Stepping in like this
at the last minute.
I am thrilled.
Oh! Feels so good to be
in a christmas pageant
With you again.
Okay! Uh, everybody?
Are we ready?
Yeah, ready!
-Where's shane?
-I'm here!
Okay. Um... Innkeeper?
Here!
Shepherd?
Here.
Sheep? Yeah.
So I know
that we all had to do
A little bit of improvising
today, but, uh,
I think
the most important thing...
Is...
I'm sorry, i, uh...
Keep feeling like
we're forgetting something.
Oh! Oh, my goodness!
What?
Oh, my goodness.
Oh! We were so busy,
we forgot!
We forgot the most
important thing.
Good news!
I've got good news!
Really?
Well, I think
we're ready now.
The christmas pageant
will begin in the main lobby
In five minutes.
Come! Let us go unto bethlehem.
And an angel of the lord
suddenly stood before them
And the glory of the lord
shone around them,
And they were terribly afraid.
Fear not.
Fear not!
For I bring you
tidings of great joy!
For unto you this day
is born in the city of david
A savior,
And his name
shall be called jesus,
And you will find the baby
in a stable,
Wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.
And suddenly
there was with the angel
A multitude of
the heavenly hosts,
Praising god
and singing.
Glory to god in the highest!
And on earth,
Peace and good will
toward men.
And women.
And children.
And everyone!
Oh, come! Let us
go to bethlehem
And see baby jesus!
And don't forget,
stay in the middle lane,
And don't leave
your brights on,
Or you'll get pulled over
between here and santa fe.
There's plenty of gas,
And you should be home
for christmas dinner.
Thank you, oliver.
I promise you,
I'll be so careful!
You sure
you'll be all right?
Fine.
I will make my way home,
Or get a ride with someone
after I clean up.
The bear may have to
stay a day or two, though.
Just make sure he gets home
before new year's.
He's a party animal.
That was a terrible joke.
I know.
I would hate to lose him,
though.
He's family.
Mm-hmm.
It was a...
Wonderful day...
Oliver.
Thank you.
It was my pleasure.
I hope you enjoy your spa...
Ms. Mcinerney.
I will see you next week...
Mr. O'toole.
Better pack my halo.
Rita! Look.
What?
An owl!
Where?
It's, um...
Right there.
Oh, my gosh!
I see it!
Oh, it's so beautiful.
You're right.
It is
pretty special.
Oh, my gosh!
-Oh! Ow!
-Ooh...
Do you realize what
just happened, norman?
Yeah. We bumped heads.
Yeah. Just like that day
four years ago t--
...today.
You remember?
I had a bruise on my forehead
for days.
Me too!
Right here.
I never wanted it to go away.
Are you okay?
I should, um...
...finish
packing up the car.
What was that?
"Bang."
"Bang?"
"Bang?"
Oh, and it was so much better
than mistletoe.
Merry christmas,
oliver.
Merry christmas,
norman, rita.
Ms. Mcinerney.
Ahem. Did you miss the plane?
We missed you.
I can't wait
to hear this story.
First things first,
ms. Mcinerney.
Rita?
Just follow me, please.
Norman?
Put that yoo-hoo down
and obey me.
Okay.
Hand.
Put your hand here.
You're gonna lead
with this foot.
One... Two... Three--
Very nice, rita.
-Nice posture.
-Thank you.
Don't look down.
Look right at me,
And let the music
tell you where to go.
I'd like to tell the music
where to go.
Relax, norman.
You're gonna like this.
There you go!
You're doing it!
And...
Whoa!
Hello.
Hello.
Oh, no, don't stop.
You're doing great.
Tsk.
I finally have my very own.
Hmm?
Thank you.
Oh!
Oh, I didn't
do that, norman.
Well, and I know
shane didn't.
Well, whoever it was,
I guess--
I guess they wanted it to seem
like a real family lived here.
A family does.
Merry christmas.
Merry, merry christmas,
norman.
I have to say,
I never expected to be spending
christmas eve like this.
Well, it's
a christmas miracle.
Oh, h*. I know
you're just saying that.
You don't believe
in them yet, do you?
Uh, no. No. Not yet.
Is that...
How did you...
I took a taxi home.
Welcome to our World! Where we serve you cookies to ensure you get the best viewing experience on our site.
Did you know that you can remove censorship board-wide, use our advanced search functions, be notified when new content is posted, join our memberships, set episodes to show in any order you want & more if you are logged into your account?
Register or sign in here: ucp.php?mode=register
Did you know that you can remove censorship board-wide, use our advanced search functions, be notified when new content is posted, join our memberships, set episodes to show in any order you want & more if you are logged into your account?
Register or sign in here: ucp.php?mode=register
Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas (2014)
Moderators: Maskath3, GabrielAlejo2341, sidolanters, Maskath3, sidolanters, GabrielAlejo2341