A Bramble House Christmas Page #4

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Look around you,

and then close your eyes.

Okay, put everything

you just saw

into your brain

like a picture.

That way, you can keep it,

even after we've gone.

Okay, now, open 'em.

It belongs to you now.

WILLA:
It's been so long

since I've seen Scout

having such a wonderful time,

and now you're drawing

a custom portrait of him

with Santa.

[as Santa]

KEN:
Ho, ho, ho!

Merry Christmas!

WILLA:
Scout would

lose his mind

if some version of that

ended up in

Everyday Sam.

Can I tell you my wish?

No, because then

it won't come true.

That's only birthdays.

I wished...

La la la la la...

Can I tell you, then?

Yeah, sure, why not.

[whispering]

I want to stay in Bramble.

Oh...

Okay, well, now

I want to know.

Too late.

Now tell me yours.

Oh, well, I haven't made

a Christmas wish

for quite some time.

Well, you are going to have

to get started on that soon.

That's what Christmas is for,

to remind us

that wishes can come true.

[laughs]

SCOUT:
So skating tomorrow?

And maybe make a snowman,

and...

What?

You want to do

all of that in one day?

I want to do everything now.

The doctors said

go at my speed.

Maybe my speed is changing.

It's really cool

that Finn Knightly wants

to teach me how to skate.

He's really, really nice,

isn't he?

He really, really is.

Okay, get some sleep.

How am I supposed

to sleep now?

I'm going to be

right across the hall,

in the library, okay?

Hey, buddy...

are you sure

you don't want to tell me

what your Christmas wish was?

I want stay here longer...

for as long as we can.

It is pretty great, right?

It's the best place

I ever came to.

I love you, Scout.

Good night.

Good night.

You look cozy.

Sorry. I didn't mean

to startle you.

I was just going to...

do you mind?

Of course.

Job market.

Slim pickings.

Yeah.

Do you ever think

about going back

and finishing your degree?

Yeah, I just don't think

that'd be right for me.

Right, yeah...

I guess managing

school and work

would be pretty hard, huh?

And I guess...

Scout's dad

isn't in the picture?

Well, we divorced

a few years ago,

and now he's a...

birthday and Christmas card

kind of dad.

You said that you and

your dad weren't close.

Was he in your life?

Uh...

he was until I was 10,

and then...

he disappeared

two days after Christmas

one year.

The end.

And you never saw him again?

No.

That's so sad.

Is that kind of what happened

with Scout's dad?

He...?

Um...

it was more gradual.

I'm just still trying

to figure out

how to help Scout through it.

If you don't mind...

what helped you?

Oh, um, my mom, my sister...

yeah, um...

a decent stepdad,

and, uh...

and my art, yeah.

You do what you love.

Mm.

You don't love your job?

I love the people I've met.

Really, it was Mr. Conrad

who affected me the most,

because he showed me

that it's okay

to want a rewarding

life for myself.

He said that?

He said so many things.

I think the thing

that stuck with me the most

is that I'm Scout's example

of how to live,

and he encouraged me

to do a better job of it

than he did with

his own children.

Oh, look at that.

Oh!

It's snowing.

It's beautiful.

Let's go grab our coats.

Can I ask...

why do you keep asking

about Mr. Conrad

and my work?

Am I?

I just feel like you want

to hear something bad

about it, or about me.

Oh, no, no.

I...

I think

I'm just all out of sorts

with what's going on

in my own life.

I really...

wanted to say some things

to my dad,

and I just really wish...

yeah, it's...

and now it's too late.

I could listen to

what you wanted to say.

That can be very healing,

and I'm here.

Wow, that's...

No wonder people

open up to you,

tell you their secrets...

I mean, being there for people,

that's what you love.

I don't know

if it's that simple.

What if it is?

It's yours to choose.

What's holding you back?

Um, Scout might wake up

and wonder where I am,

and you need to work.

I'm sorry

if I said the wrong thing.

You didn't.

You didn't.

You said incredibly nice things.

Look, if you meant it

about teaching Scout

how to skate,

and me...

I'd like that.

I would be happy to.

Tomorrow morning?

And you.

Okay.

Okay.

Night, Finn.

Good night.

Good night.

Night.

[loud clatter]

MABLE:
Where the heck is that pan?

Excuse me?

I'm not here to help

or anything, don't worry.

Um, you said

there were ice skates,

so if you could just tell me

where they are...

then...

Of course

you can't just tell me.

MABLE:
Okay,

if you tell me your sizes,

then I can find them for you.

I can take it from here.

There she is.

So, Mable,

we're still on for that catch-up

over coffee?

Oh...

I'm sor...

I can't.

I have the dishes,

I have recycling,

and I have a handyman

coming at 11:
00.

Actually, Scout

can handle the recycling,

and we will be done skating

by 11:
00,

so I can wait

for the handyman.

Look, I know you like

to do everything yourself,

but you have to admit

that when I have helped,

it's been useful,

so why not let me do it?

I'm fine, really. I--

Ms. Bramble,

I have had

half a dozen patients

who won't admit

they need time to recover.

They sound just like you.

Now, I think

that you should go

and have coffee

with the man

who has been coming here

for 22 years,

and I'm paid

through the end of the week,

so you can't throw me out

for saying all of that.

Fine.

Fine? That's it?

Yes.

Okay.

Okay, then.

Well, go get ready.

No more ordering around.

Quick!

Go before

she changes her mind.

Willa, thank you.

What are Christmas wishes for?

Hey! Found 'em.

Like night time

during the day.

Okay, here we go.

Shoulders back,

and then relax.

Just sit in it.

Now, bend those knees.

[grunts]

Gorilla!

Yeah, loosen it up.

[laughs]

What are you

laughing at?

You're up next, gorilla.

Just teach one beginner

at a time.

Ah ah,

we're all in this together.

So, make the pizza for me.

Then we're going to go

pizza, pizza, glide.

French fries, all right?

Step...

step...

glide!

There you go. Good.

You got it.

Oh! Scout! Are you okay?

That was amazing.

Kid's a natural.

Lesson one of ice skating,

falling down.

Lesson number two,

getting back up.

There you go, buddy.

All right, give me

that pizza, pizza, french fries.

Push, push, glide.

Okay, okay.

Now the fun part.

You got this.

Hold on tight.

Okay.

Huh? So now just push.

Mm-hm. Got it.

You--

Ooh!

There you go.

- I got... Whoa!

- Whoa!

[both laughing]

Come on, you got this.

FINN:
Nice.

Oh, there we go!

Yeah!

Nice and gentle.

This is fun!

I know!

Look at you.

Olympics, here you come.

There's your new job.

Whoa, whoa!

Whoa, whoa!

Oh!

[both laugh]

Olympics, there I go.

Yeah, you okay?

Yes.

You've got a little, uh...

Sorry, my hands are cold.

SCOUT:
Look at me!

I'm flying!

WILLA:
You're amazing!

Go, go, go!

Oh, do you know

what time it is?

I promised Mable I would

be back at the house by 11:00

for the handyman.

Honey, we've got to go, okay?

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