A Christmas Wish Page #2

( laughing )

True.

Martha.

I haven't heard

an old-fashioned name

like that in a while.

It was my

grandmother's name.

It's a derivation of Mary,

you know.

Mother Mary

at Christmastime.

Maybe the mother part.

So is Trudy having a hard time

keeping this place open ?

Well, when the economy tanks,

people don't eat out as much.

Yeah, it's

a small town, huh ?

Phone book has one page.

Wow, what about

the regulars ?

They keep the place

going.

I met the Carnes.

Mm-hmm.

They seem like

really nice people.

Oh, all our regulars are,

if you don't count Les.

Les ?

McCallum, local cattleman.

Cranky ?

Babies are cranky,

Les is miserable,

like an old hamburger patty

fizzing and sputtering

in his own grease.

Ew.

Ugh.

Who else should

I look out for ?

Joe Hopkins.

Oh, yeah,

he's miserable, too ?

No, just the opposite.

Hey.

Okay.

You probably want coffee.

Hot chocolate, actually.

Okay.

( machine whirring )

Here you go.

Thank you.

Oh, can I get you

anything else ?

( Lola )

Piece of lemon meringue pie.

And a piece of

lemon meringue pie.

Coming right up.

How is it ?

I have no idea.

Can I get a fork ?

Oh, yeah.

Fork ?

( woman )

Mrs. Evans ?

Carol Ann Bullington from

over at the motel.

Owen's wife.

Yeah, what can

I do for you ?

There's been

a little problem,

kind of an accident

in your room.

Are the kids okay ?

Kids are fine.

Best you come see

for yourself.

Um, Lola, I gotta go,

something's come up.

Who's gonna pay

for this ?

What is it ?

What happened ?

What happened ?

I'll tell you

what happened.

The toilet overflowed

and you ruined my carpet.

Oh.

It's worth probably...

No, it ain't.

You told me you was gonna

rip it out next week.

Not now, Carol Ann.

Are you trying to take

advantage of this nice lady ?

Ain't happening, Owen.

That boy...

is not old enough to

take care of 'em.

Now you find

someone who can,

or I will throw out

the lot of you !

The only thing you're gonna

throw out is your belly.

It's like being married to

a cement mixer.

Good night, Owen.

Good night, Carol Ann.

His bark is worse

than his bite.

Where am I gonna

find a sitter

that will work

late and for cheap ?

I got a stepdaughter,

Jeanie.

She's about 16.

I'll-- I'll see

if she can do it.

Really ?

Don't worry.

It'll be all right.

Good night, honey.

Thank you.

Sleep tight.

How-- how does

a three-year-old

get all that in there ?

She's stronger

than she looks.

Didn't you put her

to sleep ?

Yeah, she just

didn't... stay there.

In my office now.

You, out.

Miles...

she was your

responsibility.

She's l-l-like

a ninja baby.

She was asleep when I--

Fell asleep ?

Yeah.

Look, I know

you were tired,

but babies, they get up in

the middle of the night

and it's my fault

for not having a crib,

but...

you really need to be

more cautious

with your little sister.

She's not my sister !

Half-sister, then.

If we would have

stayed home

and wa-wa-wa--

and waited for Dad,

this would not have

happened !

No, if we had stayed home,

we would still be waiting.

He's not coming back, Miles--

I'm sorry-- ever.

I hate this !

I hate you

for doing this !

( Mel coughing )

You were listening ?

Hearing.

There's a difference.

( Miles )

None of your business.

You aren't even my sisters !

Fine.

Be that way.

( owl hooting )

It'll be okay, Mama.

Oh.

You should be in bed,

sweetie.

God won't forget us at

Christmas.

No, no.

Not you.

But I think he wrote me off

a long time ago.

No, he doesn't

work like that.

God kinda makes you

worry a while,

until you get some faith,

and then later,

you believe in Him.

See ?

Only you gotta

pray, though.

Oh.

I don't think I'm very good

at that, either.

That's the easy part.

You don't have to be,

you just have to do it.

How did you

get so smart ?

Always have been.

You'll see.

This will be

the best Christmas ever.

I love you.

I love you, too,

baby girl.

Can't we w-wait

'til after Christmas ?

No, because I want you

to get to know your teachers

before the term starts.

And the kids.

Yeah.

That's what worries me.

Look, Miles.

This is a chance

for you to start over.

It doesn't have to be like

it was before, okay ?

They'll make

fun of me.

The way I look,

the way I talk.

Look.

You need to stand up

for yourself.

You need to be

proud of who you are.

When you show

them that...

they'll respect you.

They'd respect me more

if I was a karate master.

But you're not.

You are you.

And you are someone

worth knowing.

Just show them that.

Whatever.

Promise ?

It won't do any good.

Then again, it might.

Let's go.

( school bell ringing )

First and last ?

How much is that ?

Is it furnished,

by any chance ?

Would you consider

any less ?

Okay.

That's out.

Would you consider

any less ?

That's okay, all right.

That's out.

Yes, I'm calling about

the house

that you have for rent.

Three children

and one adult.

No, no pets.

That's out.

Well, we just moved here

and we're not settled, so...

Okay.

Oh, man.

Okay.

Do you want something

to eat, baby ?

Here, come here.

Let's hug.

You go to sleep.

( giggling )

Oh, my gosh, Lilee.

Oh, my gosh !

You are a ninja baby.

Oh, what a mess.

Heard you had some

trouble last night.

Oh, hi.

I did, but, um,

everything's okay.

Glad-- glad to hear it.

Are you always on duty ?

No, I just

started a shift.

It's the afternoon.

I'm sorry, it sounds like

I was grilling you.

Were you ?

No, I mean, I just...

Just met you

at 3:
00 a.m.

and now I'm seeing you again,

and so it just seems like...

I don't know,

like you're always working.

Not always.

I'm sure your wife

wouldn't like that anyway.

Yeah, no,

she wouldn't.

If I had one.

Oh.

That's life.

I guess it's not always

like the brochure, right ?

No, no.

( sighing )

Um, are you

gonna stay here ?

At the motel ?

I hope not.

I'm sort of hoping to find

a house that I could afford,

but it doesn't look like

that's gonna happen.

There's not

a lot out there.

Did you talk to

Don Meyer ?

Who ?

Oh, he's the local property

manager.

I'm sure he can find

something in your price range.

You mean

no price range ?

I'm sure he can

find something.

He's got

special help, you know ?

No.

Right.

He's-- he's the local pastor

as well.

Oh, well.

Doubt he'd like to help

a heathen like me.

I haven't been to

church since I was ten.

Gotta help heathens

once in a while

or he wouldn't

have a congregation.

Yeah.

I can ask him to drop by

the cafe if you want.

I would

appreciate that, yeah.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Um, it's--

Martha.

Right.

Evans.

Now we're formally

introduced.

Yes, we are.

I guess today's

my lucky day.

Thanks to you, everything's

coming my way.

You know,

in my line of work,

if it's going your

direction,

you're in the wrong lane.

That's true.

Yeah, that's

a really bad cop joke.

Um, I'm gonna--

I'm gonna go.

Thanks.

Same here.

Wouldn't mind

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