On Strike for Christmas Page #7

off some impersonal website?

They guarantee delivery by Christmas.

lt's not impersonal.

Mark said you fill out a checklist

and the online shopper--

Ordered a prepackaged

Christmas dinner?

lt's one of those services they offered.

lt's gourmet.

We ordered those

candied yams you love.

l love the ones my mother makes.

You called me ''Yulezilla''?

Well, that was actually her idea.

All l said was that sometimes

you can be a little intense.

Somebody has to be intense...

...with all these parties

that you're throwing.

That you're throwing in my face.

Mark's party, faculty party.

-We got the cookies for the banquet--

-Honey, honey, look, l get it.

But you asked us to help,

and now we're helping.

And it may not be exactly the way

you would do it, but it is nice.

l mean, maybe you need to think about

what it is you really want.

Hey, we just got your

Christmas card.

We need to get the girls together.

You got our card? Can l see it?

Sure. lt's over here on my computer.

On your computer?

Mark's song.

lt's kind of fun, huh?

Can you play that again?

So why do you wanna get

the girls together?

Hey, guys. l think this strike

is getting out of hand.

l could have killed my editor

when l saw that ''Yulezilla'' reference...

...that he added to my article.

''Sound bites sell papers,''

he says.

You know, Stephen never said that.

lt's chaos at my house,

but that doesn't ruffle my feathers...

...as long as my husband

gives me respect...

-...and cooperation in the process.

-Exactly.

-lsn't that what this strike was about?

-ls it worth it?

Glen's helping but it seems

all we do is argue anymore.

l want the strike to succeed,

but l don't wanna ruin Christmas.

No, no one does. So l was thinking--

All right ladies, look.

There is a galvanized community...

...of women who are

depending on us now.

When the going gets tough,

we have to raise the stakes.

-What if--?

-l completely agree...

-...but how do we do that?

-l know how.

We use a different kind of media

that will reach a wider audience.

Great idea.

Keep the pressure on.

-Exactly.

-What type of media?

Bigger.

-lnternet.

-Open house. l could cater it.

And l have a friend

at Channel Eight.

Mom barely said a word

when she got home.

She's usually so happy

this time of year.

lt kind of sucks to see her

this way.

Well, l'm not feeling

so chipper myself.

The tree doesn't look so bad.

lt's not how Mom would've done it--

Mark! Please, enough. l get it.

l'm gonna go down

to the office and work.

Okay, Dad.

Merry Christmas to you too.

Not the same night.

Mom, it's official.

l just got the notice online.

l'm in early decision, and the coach

is holding a spot for me.

l'm gonna play D-3 ball at Bowdoin.

This is so freaking awesome.

-Oh, gosh, honey, l'm so proud of you.

-l can't wait to tell Dad.

l'm gonna go tell Ryan now. This is

gonna be the best Christmas ever!

l had a feeling you'd call.

l just heard.

l'm so happy for him, l really am.

lt's just that Bowdoin is so far away.

l was hoping he would get

a scholarship closer.

With Mark going to Oberlin...

...l was thinking maybe even

Chapman, so one of them could....

Oh, baby.

He said this is gonna be

the best Christmas ever.

Jeremy's really happy.

Yeah, he deserves to be.

Yes, he does.

But it's sure gonna be empty

around here...

...when he and Mark leave.

l just hope between girls

and music...

...that Mark actually finds time

to make it to college.

Yeah, our son, the rocker heartthrob.

Yeah.

So how are

party preparations going?

Not bad, actually.

-Who's cooking? Not you, l hope.

-No. No.

Yeah, l found a caterer.

Good.

Yeah.

Yeah.

All right, well, good night.

Good night.

All right. Well, just please hurry.

Thank you.

Dad, did you see

the e-mail l forwarded you?

What?

Gifts have been delayed

until after Christmas.

What?

l can't deal with that now.

The caterers are late. l've gotta get

this wine out. Mark, what is that stuff?

Wow, Mom. You look amazing.

Thank you, honey.

Mark, whatever that is,

put that stuff away.

The party's about to start.

l know it is.

Oh, the galleys for your new book.

Yeah. l promised the department

they'd get the first copies.

But after you, of course.

l'm sure it's wonderful. Always is.

-Oh, Stephen.

-Oh, there's the caterers.

-Hi.

-Hi.

Come in, come in.

Thank God you're here.

Oh, it's down the hall on the left.

You're using these caterers?

They're Sharon's biggest competitor.

What was l to do?

l had to hire somebody.

Your chairman's here.

-Hey, hey, Betty.

-Hi.

-Welcome. Raymond, good to see you.

-Stephen.

Come on in.

Oh, it's so lovely.

We're still kind of getting set up here,

but....

Very Christmassy.

-Hello.

-Hey, Grandma.

Didn't know you'd be here

for my party.

You didn't have to dress up.

Your party?

l thought that was last night.

Some guys had a gig,

so we moved it to tonight.

Mind helping me get ready?

They're going to be here any minute.

But your dad's faculty party

is right now.

l need to speak to you.

There's food right there.

There's something

that you need to know.

-What are they doing here?

-Mrs. Johnson.

-Hi. Hi, dudes.

-Hey.

-Who are all these people?

-Mark.

-Hey, what's going on?

-lt's my party, Dad.

-Tonight?

-Yeah.

-What's the team doing here?

-You know them all.

l figured you had all the food....

You didn't think to ask

if l minded if you crashed my party?

Cool your jets. lt's not a big deal.

lt is a big deal. You didn't think

to tell me you're having your party...

...on the same night

l'm having my party?

l put it on the calendar on the fridge.

All you had to do was check.

That fridge is so covered up,

l couldn't find my mother...

-...if she was pinned on it.

-Funny, Dad.

-lt's not funny.

-l knew when l first heard about it...

...this Christmas strike

was going to be trouble.

Trouble?

ls that what you think this is?

You're lucky l even came with you

to this party.

You've had it easy so far...

...l'm about to drop the strike hammer

on you, Raymond.

Excuse me.

But sweetie....

Excuse me.

Stephen, sorry,

we'll have to be going.

Honey, honey, let me handle this.

Raymond, Betty. Betty.

lt's so nice to have you here, really.

Come on in here, please.

We're having an issue

with our sons.

But you know what it's like

with teenage boys, right?

-Of course.

-Have a nice drink.

Hello, everyone.

You know each other.

Hey, that's not for you.

Give me that.

Just hold on one second.

-Hey, party's in the other room.

-Excuse me for one moment.

-Mark, in the family room.

-We're going to the family room.

-l've got this.

-Thanks, Mom.

Sorry, bro.

head to the family room, okay.

Meet you in there.

Donald, family room, okay?

Right through here.

Hi. Come on in.

-Plate, plate, plate!

-Okay, okay.

Mom, we got it. We got this, okay?

-Let's go, bro. Yeah.

-Okay.

-Merry Christmas. Right in there.

-Merry Christmas.

This isn't our party, we're in here.

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