Coming Home for Christmas Page #3

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She's not exactly... welcoming.

I'm the last person

you should be asking

for tips on how to manage pippa.

Why?

She doesn't want

to sell ashford,

so I'm not exactly

her favorite person

in the world right now.

Then why are you?

I mean, the house

is so beautiful.

The history, the architecture,

the antiques...

Could we just focus on this

for right now?

Please scan that

and email it to me

when you can.

[Lizzie]:

i don't know

which pieces

will be up for auction yet,

but I can get you a list

by the end of the week.

This is a weird question.

I know you're an auction house,

but do you happen to know

where I could find

a stained-glass repair company

around here?

[Car speeds up]

Um, uh...

You know what?

Can I call you right back?

[Tires screech]

Gerard?

What was that noise?

That was Mr. kip.

Gerard!

Please introduce me

to this strange and

intriguing woman

at our doorway.

I'm Lizzie,

the new house manager.

It's nice to meet you.

Well, it's nice

to meet you too.

Have you alerted

the press?

Please do,

because I think my

brother has finally made

a right decision

in his life,

and I cannot

believe it.

I just mean

that our last house manager

was far less

interesting than you.

I mean, he was

terrified of pippa.

Can you believe that?

My sweet little

grandmother, pippa.

This house definitely

requires someone

who can hold

their own.

I will certainly try my best.

I don't doubt that,

and I have very good instincts

about people.

That's something

we have in common.

Ah...

And what do your instincts

tell you about me?

I hope I made

a good showing.

Gerard, tell me

i made a good showing.

[Gerard]:

excellent showing, sir.

Thank you, Gerard.

You definitely know

how to make an entrance.

Yep...

She definitely holds her own.

All right, I'm going

to go see my grandmother,

and we can get more

acquainted later.

Gerard,

great to see you.

Pippa Lou!

Where are you-hoo?

[Pippa]:

is that my kip?

It's so good to have you

home for Christmas.

Where in the world

are you returning from

this time?

[Kip]:
you would not believe

the sights I've seen.

[They laugh]

[Lizzie]:

Robert! hi.

I didn't know

you'd be in town.

Um, are you coming to ashford?

Do you need anything?

No, I'm not,

actually.

I have a meeting with

the estate's attorney

just down the street,

and then I have to go

straight back to D.C.

Uh...

Oh, wow.

Oh, I promise everything

is getting done.

That stack is scanned.

Uh, bills are paid.

Piano's getting tuned

tomorrow.

These are

Christmas decorations

for ashford.

Can't wait

to get started.

What's your fascination

with Christmas?

It was my dad's favorite.

To sit by the fire

with my family,

the lights flickering

on the tree,

I mean, it's...

It's magical.

We've never had that.

Then you should

definitely come home.

It's the last Christmas

at ashford,

and I promise I'm doing

everything I can

to make it

beyond special.

I don't think

anyone wants me there.

Don't do anything

without running the gala

theme by pippa first.

[Knocks]

[Pippa]:

who is it?

Uh, it's...

It's Lizzie.

Who's Lizzie?

The new

house manager.

What do you want?

This is for your room,

a little

Christmas spirit.

Robert suggested

that I talk to you

about my plans for the gala.

Oh.

My grandson is asking

my opinion about something.

How novel.

Yes, he...

He said that you are in charge

of the gala.

The only topic on which

Robert and I can agree.

I was looking

through some of the

old gala pictures...

Why aren't you married?

You're in your 30s, no?

Well, I...

I actually almost got engaged

a few months ago,

and he was a good man,

but I just wasn't

in love with him,

and, you know,

i couldn't take that leap

knowing that true love

might be out there somewhere,

but I'm probably just being

a silly, hopeless romantic.

You know what I mean?

No.

May I?

Mm.

Okay, so I have

a few options.

Winter wonderland.

Boring.

Martinis and mistletoe?

Gauche.

Um, polar express?

-No.

-jingle mingle?

-No.

- apres ski?

No!

You're... you're right

to be underwhelmed.

I mean,

none of these really do

justice to ashford,

do they?

It's the last gala,

so it needs to be pure class.

Yes, it does.

What about...

Silver bells?

Silver bells?

Yeah.

Uh, so the whole house

would be in silver and blue

with bits of gold

and woodsy garland.

Elegant, but warm.

I think this house could use

a little more warmth.

Do you, now?

Very well, then.

"Silver bells" is the theme.

Spend what you must.

I trust you will

not disappoint me.

I will do my very best.

Do better than that.

Okay.

Thank you.

[]

[Giggles]

[Groans]

[]

[Lizzie]:

I've drawn up some plans.

I was up all night.

Oh, but it's so fun

imagining people's reactions,

you know,

when they walk

into the main hall.

I can't wait for it to be done,

and for miss pippa to see it.

You're quite good at this,

miss Lizzie.

Thank you.

Maybe in another life,

party planning was my path.

Well, why not this life?

Thank you.

Oh, there you are.

Looking everywhere

for you.

On the jogging trails?

Ha!

Actually, I found

this incredible new restaurant

that I think is perfect

to cater the gala.

Oh, great.

Send me the information,

and I'll look into it.

Well, I can do

you one better.

I secured us a private tasting

of their catering menu tonight.

I had to pull a few favors,

but anything to make

the last gala at ashford

the best it can be.

We'll talk about ashford

the entire time.

I will bore you to death...

And then we'll, uh,

expense it back to the estate.

It's a business meal.

Okay.

i appreciate you doing this.

I knew I'd get you to cave.

This is not

me caving.

This is me working,

for you, actually,

since you're my boss.

Uh-uh-uh, that would be Robert

who is your boss.

He cracks the whip.

Sloane, pippa, and I,

we just enjoy our lives.

It's actually

the perfect dynamic

for all of us.

If it's okay to ask,

what's the story

between Robert and pippa?

It seems... tense.

Well, I mean,

she's lived here

all of her life.

Robert's just selling the place

from under her.

What's to know?

Where will she go?

Again, you'll have to ask

the boss that question.

He hasn't informed

the rest of us.

Hmm.

So, tonight, you and I,

strozzi,

downtown.

Yep.

Oh, and hey,

by the way?

Silver bells?

Really great idea.

Thank you.

[Phone rings]

Robert.

I need you

to pull a file for me.

It should be

in the second drawer

of the cabinet,

labeled "Virginia

historical society."

I was just taking

a little break from decorating,

exploring the grounds.

Let me head to the house,

and I'll call you back.

But where are you now?

I'm at the pond.

I think

it's the most beautiful thing

I have ever seen.

I know.

It's incredible.

This was your playground

as a child!

I don't know

if it's the air here

or the view,

but... being at ashford

makes you feel

like you're on the verge

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