Christmas Comes Home to Canaan Page #7

My name's

Daniel Burton.

I reckon we need to talk

about our town.

Now, don't get me wrong.

I've got nothing against

buying from

this particular gentleman.

It's just that we require

a certain quality

in what we buy.

Well, you consider

agro-harvest product

good quality, don't you?

I suppose.

Good as any.

Well then, you'd be getting

what you're used to.

Look, you see, we buy in bulk.

That's good,

'cause we sell in bulk.

As a matter of fact,

any price you can get

we can match,

probably beat,

and by the time

you figure in the cost

of haulin' it

all the way out to here,

it's bound to be cheaper

for you.

That's another thing.

See, the fella we buy from

down in clarksboro's

been at it 20 years or more.

He's got a track record.

This shoup fella?

Shoup's family's

owned the store

since the early '30s.

He's second generation.

All right, I'll level with you.

It just doesn't seem right

buying from him.

It's nothing personal.

It's just not my kind of place.

Well, I guess I misjudged you.

Sorry for wastin' your time.

Now, hold on a second here.

I got a right to buy

where I feel comfortable.

That's my choice.

There's no law

against that, is there?

There's no law against it,

not an official one anyway.

I'm gonna level

with you, Mr. Davis.

I'm just a strugglin' farmer.

I got an old truck,

an old tractor.

Some years,

we do okay,

others, not so good,

but I can tell you one thing,

I'd be a whole lot worse off

if it wasn't for my neighbors,

if it wasn't

for this town.

You see,

if we get a chance

to help a neighbor,

and we just choose to stand by

and watch him fail

when we could have done

something about it,

then this town dies a little.

I'm just asking you

to help a neighbor,

that's all,

just one neighbor.

Can I help you?

Who do I need to talk to

about placing a seed order?

I could help you with that.

Right on over here.

We'll get you all fixed up.

Emmanuel shoup.

Delmer Davis.

So there you are.

Whatcha doin'?

Just out here thinkin'.

About?

Shoup.

He asked me if I wanted

to go in with him,

be his partner.

Do you wanna?

I might.

Let dj run things

around here.

He's been doing it

mostly by himself anyway.

I think that's

a fine idea,

for you and for dj.

I've been

thinking, too.

About?

I've been accepted

by u.T.

Starting next year,

even offered me

a scholarship.

What with working,

and Rodney's offer

to loan me a little money

for tuition,

I think I can

pay my way,

if it's okay with you.

That's great.

I think you should go.

You know, your mama

always said

you were gonna go

to college.

She'd be so happy.

Though it's gonna be a little

different around here

without you.

Maybe you could invite

briony out for a visit.

Nah, I'm sure

she's gotten

on with her life by now.

I'd expect that.

You don't know that,

not for sure.

Hi, this briony...

Hey, briony, it's...

I'm sorry I can't come

to the phone right now,

but if you leave me

a message,

I'll be happy

to return your call.

Briony.

Hi, it's just...

Hey, briony.

It's Daniel.

Daniel Burton.

I just wanted to

give you a call and...

Let you know that you were right

about you told me.

The sooner you start

trying to help somebody else,

the more you realize

that your own problems

don't really add up

to all that much.

I don't know how I ever

lost sight of that.

Anyway, I also wanted to say

if you're ever

anywhere around canaan,

I'd love it if you'd stop by,

or if you just

want to call sometime

and say hello,

I'd like that, too.

I think about you,

I think about you a lot lately.

I hope you're doing good.

Well, anyhow,

hope to hear from you,

and by the way...

Merry Christmas.

You know, whoever invented

them dad-gum answering machines

oughta be shot.

Merry Christmas to you.

Merry Christmas, son.

Thank you, folks.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, now.

Merry Christmas, son.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas

to you.

Hurry up and lock the door

before somebody else

comes in and buys something.

Listen, Daniel,

I owe you a lot.

No more than I owe you.

Well,

whoever deserves it more,

thank you.

You headed home?

Yeah, I got a whole

house full of in-laws.

You?

I'm headed out

to the Freeman place.

Rodney says it's his turn

to have Christmas

out there this year,

and I got a feelin'

him and Sarah have probably got

something special cooking.

Sounds real nice.

Yeah, I gotta enjoy

having everybody together,

you know, with Sarah

leaving for college next year.

Once they leave the roost,

it's hard to get 'em back.

Then you'd best

make the most of it.

You got that right.

Merry Christmas, partner.

Merry Christmas, my friend.

Merry Christmas.

He's here.

Hey, everybody,

sorry I'm late.

Have a seat.

I thought

you'd never get here.

Me too.

Old shoup was so full

of good tidings,

I didn't think

he was gonna lock up

and let me come home.

How can I help you?

Finish setting the table?

I'm on it.

Sissy,

I think you miscounted.

There's an extra plate here.

No, it's right.

There's

someone else

joining us.

Oh, really?

Somebody I know?

I'd say there's a good chance.

Briony?

What are you doing here?

You invited me,

don't you remember?

You said if I was ever

in the neighborhood,

I should stop and say hello.

So, here I am.

Hello.

Merry Christmas.

So, how long

you plan on stayin'?

I'm not sure.

There's a job opening

in clarksboro.

They're looking for

a good orthopedist.

I've been thinking

I might apply for it.

Are you sure

about this?

About what?

Moving to canaan.

It's a long way

from the big city.

I've always been

a country girl,

you know that.

Besides,

it'll give me a chance

to work a little bit more

with bobber.

Well, he'll sure

appreciate that.

It's not

a permanent position.

Only a year.

Then what?

I don't know.

We'll just have to

wait and see.

I reckon

a person can learn a lot

in a year, Daniel Burton,

don't you?

Yeah.

I reckon he can.

Hey, you two,

dinner's ready!

Well, let's go.

Oh, my, it's lovely.

Dj, bobber, we're ready.

Here, buddy, let me

get these for you.

No, it's okay.

I'm fine.

You sure?

What's the matter,

you never seen anyone

walk before?

Atta boy, bobber.

I'm proud

of you, buddy.

Let us bow our heads

and thank the lord,

like my grandmother,

miss eunice, would've.

We thank you, lord Jesus,

for us to share this meal

one to another,

and we ask you to bless

those folk who struggle,

even now,

as we enjoy this plenty,

and as we partake

of this food,

help us grow,

not only in strength,

but in love,

one to the other,

in a desire to be

more like thee.

Amen.

Amen.

Well said, Rodney.

Yeah.

As we gathered

around the table,

who could have imagined

how a gift for bobber

would become, for Daniel,

another gift entirely.

But, then,

in the words of briony,

"what could be better

than spending a Christmas...

"Any Christmas...

In a place called canaan?"

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