Christmas Lodge Page #3

And then after she died, well grandpa,

he couldn't bear to come up here

so we stayed at the lodge

in the national park.

To keep grandpa from

getting upset we just,

we just stopped talking about it.

You know, I always wondered

what happened to Christmas Lodge.

Well I'm glad you found us again.

Why don't you guys just

make yourselves at home

and I'll uh, get us something to eat.

Jack, that meal was excellent.

So good! Who taught you how to cook?

Three generations of my family.

Heck a couple dozen guests

taught me a trick or two. See we uh,

I didn't know how to do

everything around here

just to keep this old girl up and

running. I have a little something

I think you're gonna

want to take a look at.

Thanks.

Oh, wow!

Who are all these people?

Those are our guests. See

my great grandparents started

this tradition of taking holiday photos

of every family whoever stayed here.

And uh, when Charlene and I finally

get this place up and running,

we're gonna start another album.

- Ahh! Oh wow.

- What?

That's... that's us.

What? Which one's you?

Are you kidding me? Right there!

Oh! Nice snorkel jacket.

Jack, these photos are priceless!

So when do you think that the

uh, renovation will be complete?

Oh, you know that is a

question I've been asking

for years now.

What uh, what's set you back'?

Well my mom and dad

they had an accident.

A logging truck hit a patch of black

ice and crossed over the centre line.

So Charlene and I, we uh,

rented a place in the city

near the hospitals, hoping

they would get better.

But uh, sometimes the

Lord has other plans.

Anyway, when we were gone,

nature kind of took over up here.

Well, we've been struggling

to catch up ever since.

Jack, I'm so sorry to hear that.

It's all right.

I mean, don't you have

somebody helping you?

No, supplies are kind of expensive and

I can't afford to hire any extra help.

To hire any extra help.

More hands is the only way we're

gonna get ahead of nature up here.

Well, have you thought

of applying for funding

to help cover the expenses?

Apply to who?

Your lodge with its long and

illustrious history, I mean.

I'm sure ifs eligible

for private grant money

you could use to hire contractors.

I don't know about that.

Are you willing to try?

Christmas Lodge is my life.

I'll do anything to save her.

Great! Well I'll... I'll

research some suitable programs

when I get back to the city

and I'll give you a call.

Thank you.

Well that was some meal but I am beat,

I guess it's time we

should be heading back.

Yeah' I'll give you a lift.

Count me in, my dogs are

howlin' from that hike!

- Your dogs?

- They say that.

- No they don't.

- It was along hike.

- Back in a little bit honey.

- Take care Charlene!

- Bye!

- Bye!

All right, hey! Nice, I've got a signal.

Well, thank you for everything Jack.

Oh please, it's the least I could

do after you helped Charlene.

You're not going to be

too hard on her are you?

No, no she's a good kid.

I know it can't be easy living up there

with just me and Natty to play with.

Anyways,

I'll be in touch with you next week!

Okay. Oh, wait, wait, wait

I've got something for you.

Oh! Oh, Jack! I can't take these,

these, they belong to Christmas

Lodge. This is a part of your heritage.

No that is a part of our heritage.

See, my great grandparents

always said that anyone

who stays at the lodge

is family for life.

Sounds creepy, but it's not.

You know what, I'm

gonna have copies made

and I'll bring you back the originals.

Okay. I will look forward

to seeing you again.

I'll look forward to seeing you

too and Charlene, and the lodge.

I hope I can help you

get it back on track.

Thank you.

Okay.

Take care!

You all set?

So do you really think you can help him

bring that old heap back from the brink?

Well, I'm sure gonna try. You

know, my grandfather, he taught me

not to turn your back on your own

history. And Christmas Lodge is a valuable

part of my past, and I owe it to

my family to make sure it's around

for generations to come.

Well, it's a noble mission.

And a labor of love.

Because I've always wanted

to work on an old lodge.

Yeah?

Yeah. Oh, hey Dad!

How was your trip?

The best.

Kent propose?

Would you be happy if he did?

Yeah, that's what I thought.

I don't dislike the boy, Mary.

He's just a little too city for me.

Well, don't worry about it,

you won't have to live with him.

Here, look at this.

Christmas Lodge? I haven't

thought about this place in years.

Where'd you find this?

Well, Kent and I, we

rescued Jack Rand's daughter

and brought her back to

the lodge, and Jack...

he was, he was nice

enough to pass these along.

Jack Rand... you mean little Jackie?

Yeah, well little Jackie,

he's not so little anymore.

He's bigger than Pete.

He was a good kid, always helping

his parents around the place.

How are they?

They died because of a car

accident a few years ago.

Oh no-Oh, I'm sorry to hear

that. They were good people,

fine people. Jack doing a good business?

Actually, no... and

that's where you come in.

Me?

Yes, you. You see, the lodge it...

it went into disrepair when Jack

was in the city taking

care of his parents.

I mean, he's trying hard to

get it back on track but...

it's pretty obvious that

the elements are winning.

So, I told him I would see if

there's grant money available

to help him, but in the meantime,

I want you and the boys to

inspect the lodge top to bottom

and get an estimate of how

much it would cost to renovate.

I can tell you right

now, a lodge this size...

half a million dollars

wouldn't even cover the kitchen.

Seriously?

You coordinate restoration projects.

You know as well as I do, an old

building can easily become a money pit.

No, Dad I'm used to dealing

with old city structures

that are very complex.

I mean, I didn't think that

a lodge would cost that much!

Well, it might cost more, I'm sure

the roof, the windows, electrical,

plumbing systems are

due for an overhaul.

We're talking big money,

kiddo. Big, big money.

So what should I do?

Keep the memories and let the lodge go.

That's not what Grandpa would say.

No, and sentimental projects like that

one cost him a lot of time and money

and money and still didn't

make it to completion.

You're taking this awful personally.

You know, I just... I thought it'd

be nice to get the whole family,

even Grandpa, back up there for

another old-fashioned family Christmas.

I thought it would

bring us closer together.

Look at this photo we seemed so happy.

We were Mary, we were.

No denying it, just... time marches on.

Yeah.

- Where's Mom?

- Upstairs, tending Grandpa.

My body to be burned, and have not

charity. It profiteth me nothing.

Come in!

Hi.

You said you'd come! Here you are.

How was Silver Falls?

Oh, it was wonderful.

And I brought you this!

It's like being there.

Did you go to all our favorite places?

Yup! And I have something to show you.

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