The Fitzgerald Family Christmas Page #5

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this building?

No. Should I?

Yeah. You know the picture

in the living room of Dad with Grandma

on his First Holy Communion

sitting on a stoop?

- Right there.

- Oh? This is where they used to live.

Yeah. Third floor.

Well, if the stoop could talk

it'd probably tell us

what an a**hole Dad was

as a kid.

How do you know

which building it was?

You know, he used to take me

into the city all the time

when I was little.

He wanted to show me

where he grew up,

how he grew up.

Said, "it's important that you know

where the Fitzgeralds are from."

Never did that sh*t with me.

Well, why do you think

I'm doing it now?

You know, he didn't call me once

when I was up there.

I don't know why

that surprises you.

I mean, I keep trying to tell you guys

he is who he is.

All right? And he's certainly

not gonna change

now that he's in his 70s.

Once a selfish cocksucker,

always a selfish cocksucker, huh?

Yes. Yeah.

You should know, though,

he wants to come out to the house

tomorrow for Christmas,

have dinner with us.

What do you think?

If he's gonna be there,

I'm not gonna be there.

[doorbell rings]

Mom, what are you doing here?

Dottie just called

and she's just busy this morning.

This is so typical of her.

Busy with what?

She didn't say.

She just asked me to cover for her.

She is so irresponsible.

Oh, everyone has their own issues.

Besides,

what's up with you these days?

Doesn't the holidays

put everyone in a shitty mood?

No, it shouldn't.

it should do just the opposite.

Well, it never has for me.

Is it just the holidays

or is there something specific

- got you down in the mouth?

- Mom,

- I'm really not in the mood

- I mean, no...

- to have this talk.

- I look at this beautiful home,

that loving husband,

that gorgeous child,

and I can't imagine what you've got

to be so down in the mouth about.

Yeah? Well, as usual

you don't know half the story.

Well, why don't you

try explaining?

Mom, we don't have

that relationship.

We never did

and we never will.

You don't even want to try?

Consider it the birthday gift

you didn't get me.

Guilt trips, they work

with the others but not me.

- Ah.

- Hey, Rosie.

- You pinch-hitting?

- Hi, Corey, yeah.

- Happy belated birthday.

- Thank you.

Where are you two off to today?

Well, we're gonna

have some lunch,

see the tree, do the whole

Christmas Eve thing.

Aha. Oh, so even though

we don't believe in God

we're still celebrating

Christmas?

Doesn't mean you ever stop

believing in Santa Claus.

[Rosie chuckles]

You know, Rosie,

today would be the perfect day

for you to do that thing

you asked me about.

- Oh, my...

- Rosie.

If you do it,

don't tell anyone.

Especially this one.

It's between you,

Aaron and God.

- Okay?

- To the grave.

- To the grave.

- ERIN:
So, Mom...

Aaron's down now

and he'll go back down again

- in two to three hours.

- Right. Okay.

Now, you two just take your time,

have a great day.

Aaron's in good hands with me.

Oh, I know he is.

You did such a great job

with this one.

I had nothing to do

with raising her.

She raised herself.

Bye!

Father Mike,

it's Rosemary Fitzgerald.

Hey, Mom! Look who's home.

Hey, Mom!

Ma!

Huh.

That's weird.

She must have stepped out.

Uh...

Well, look, the idea was for you

to stay in your old room.

So, you cool with that?

Yeah, of course.

And you're allowed to just

be left here on your own

without any supervision?

I suppose.

Yeah?

Well, what do you think?

- I think I'm good.

- Yeah?

- I don't need to lock up the booze or...

- No.

I'll be okay.

All right, brother.

Look, I got to get up

to the restaurant,

but it was awesome

to see you.

- All right? You're looking good.

- Yeah.

Hey, Gerry...

Can I borrow a couple of bucks?

Look, there's plenty of food

in the fridge and...

No. I want to do some

Christmas shopping.

Yeah, of course. Sorry.

That should cover it.

Thanks.

Hey. And don't worry

about anybody else.

Just get Mom something good.

All right?

She's gonna be excited

to see you, brother.

Welcome home.

[Door closes]

I think I'm good.

[Knocking]

- [whispers] Hey.

- [whispers] Hey. What's going on?

She's asleep.

- Sh*t. Sorry about that.

- No. It's cool. It's cool.

Come over here.

- How's it going?

- Good. Good.

What are you doing?

Look, I just wanted to come by

and apologize for last night.

I mean I don't know

if that was...

No, you don't have to apologize.

I had a great time.

It was really fun.

Oh, cool. And I brought a little gift

for Mrs. McGowan.

- Oh, you did?

- Yeah.

What a nice boy.

Yeah, well, I figured it'd give me

a good excuse to come by,

see you again today.

Right, oh...

I'll be sure she gets this.

So, um, what do you got

doing for Christmas?

Well, I volunteered

to stay with Nancy through New Year's

so that the other nurse

could go be with her family, so...

Well, what about your family,

though?

You're not going up to Boston or...

I don't really have anybody left.

Um, yeah, after my dad,

it's kinda just me. So...

Well, in that case why don't you

and Mrs. McGowan

come over

to my mom's house tonight?

It's just gonna be a little dinner.

But at least you're not going

to be sitting here alone.

That would be great.

But she can't leave the house.

The doctor just wants her

to kinda stay put. So...

But we're great.

We're gonna order in pizza,

eat our faces off

till she falls asleep at 8:30.

Then I'm gonna have

a glass of wine, maybe two.

I gotta tell you

that just sounds, uh,

a little bit depressing.

- I mean, for Christmas Eve.

- It's not depressing.

If you think it's so depressing,

why don't you come over?

Come over for the wine part.

You know what,

I would love to.

But I actually...

It's Christmas Eve.

And we've got

this thing going on

with my father

and my whole family that...

that's gonna need

to be addressed tonight.

Yeah. So you're gonna

need a drink.

Yes. I probably will.

So, you know what,

maybe when I'm done with them,

- I could come by here.

- Yeah. Okay.

All right. I'll, uh...

I'll throw a pebble at your window

if you're still up.

All right.

Just don't wake up Nancy, please.

GERRY:
[sighs]

What do you say, Dad?

Hey. I was hoping to get

a decent burger.

But no such luck.

Yeah. Well, that didn't stop you

from eating it.

That's probably

why this place is empty.

You know my dad would be heartbroken,

he saw the place like this.

Yeah, well, look,

you're more than welcome

to jump behind the grill

any time you want.

[Dad sighs]

Why don't you get some young people

in here, you know?

Bring the kids in.

Hey, maybe your brother, Cyril...

Good idea. Dad,

Cyril just got out of rehab today.

All right? The last thing he needs

in his life is this bar.

Yeah.

That's another regret in my life.

- I don't even know that kid.

- Yeah.

Try picking up the phone.

He won't talk to me.

You know what he told me?

That I'm dead in his life.

Can you blame him?

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