The Fitzgerald Family Christmas Page #6

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You were a lousy father.

Exaggerated.

I slapped the kids around

a little bit. But...

that's the way it went

in those days.

I'm not talking about that.

You walked out on us.

- I got back when I could.

- Yeah. Which was never.

Look, I don't even

wanna have this conversation.

So, what else you got, Dad?

Ah, I went to see Father Mike.

I had a confession.

You must have been in there

a while.

Hmm.

We had a good talk.

Well, I didn't with Mom.

I spoke to her and she does not

want this to happen at all.

I don't understand that woman.

All I wanna be is with my family

at Christmas.

Is that so unreasonable?

You're just lonely.

All right? This is your first

Christmas on your own.

After the holidays pass,

I'm sure you will be fine.

No, Gerald.

It's, uh...

It's gonna be my last Christmas.

Your last Christmas?

What are you gonna do?

Kill yourself because of the money?

Because of Carol.

I mean, come on, Dad.

Oh, it's not that.

Well, then what--what is it?

I'm dyin'.

Pancreatic cancer.

Very advanced.

I got four or five months, tops.

[Whispers] What?

I'm sorry. I didn't know.

What are the doctors saying?

That I'm dying.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Who else knows?

Just Erin.

Driving over to see Dorothy,

tell her, then...

I thought it would be better

to tell each of you face to face.

So... I need your help.

Can you talk to your mother?

Tell her this is

so important to me.

Okay. Yeah.

- I will.

- Okay?

- Yeah.

- Thanks, Gerry.

[Pats Gerry's hand]

We got a good family.

The best.

The best.

- Let me get you a drink.

- Yeah.

[exhales deeply]

[doorbell rings]

Skippy, it's...

What are you doing here?

It's Christmas Eve.

I've got some gifts for the boys.

I was hoping

that maybe we could talk.

No. I don't want to talk.

I told you if you wanna talk,

call my cell.

Is he here?

- There's nobody here.

- There's nobody here.

Is he in my f***ing bed?

Because I'd like to have

a little chat with him,

- rip his f***ing head off.

- Calm down.

There's nobody here. All right?

What is going on?

I can't do this anymore, okay?

Our life wasn't bad,

but I know that there's more out there.

- And I just can't do it.

- What is that?

What's... What's...

What's better?

- I don't know.

- You don't know?

I don't know, but when I find it

I'll let you know.

Oh, thank you.

That's very kind of you.

That's extremely generous.

Please, please,

let me know when you find it.

Skippy.

Merry f***ing Christmas, Dot.

[Footsteps]

DOTTIE:
Hey. Hey.

Where are you going?

- Hey.

- Come on.

Yeah. You know

with Mr. Ryan comin'...

And I gotta go help my mother

for dinner tonight.

No, no, no, no. Come on.

I want some more action.

I would. I would.

But I gotta go pick up

a bunch of fish for my mom

and help her with the tree

and with the lights.

You know, I'm looking forward

to meeting your mom tonight.

Yeah, Dottie, about that...

Um, you know, it's just gonna be

sort of like a little get-together

with family.

I'll bring a few decent bottles

of wine, okay?

'Cause it's terrible to eat a nice dinner

with cheap-ass wine.

- All right?

- Okay.

- All right. Bye.

- Ciao,mammone.

Ciao.

Good morning.

- Hey.

- How are you?

Good.

- Oh, hi, babe.

- Hi.

It's 1 P.M.,

so that's actually afternoon.

Oh, good afternoon.

All right. What's the plan?

What are we doing?

Hey.

Just doing a crossword.

What do you need,

a four-letter word

for sitting around on your ass

on a beautiful day?

Just relax, okay.

Have a little breakfast.

Relax? No, come on.

I wanna go down to the beach.

Mm-mm. It's way too cold

to go to the beach today.

I got some herb

if anybody wants some.

- Really, you got weed?

- Yeah.

Wait. Seriously, we're not going

to the beach at all while we're here?

- No. We are going to the beach.

- Just relax.

You and I,

we're going to the beach.

Enjoy the herb.

I will.

Come on, last chance.

Have a good time.

I'll see you when you get back.

Okay.

Hi.

Hey.

- Where you been?

- I was down at the pub.

That was fun last night.

Yeah. I guess.

Been a while.

Yeah.

Actually, it's been

about three months.

Yeah. Well,

I've got things on my mind.

You know howl remembered?

'Cause it was so special?

Yeah, it was.

You're not gonna believe it.

And I didn't want to tell you

'cause I know you're scared,

but it's gonna be okay.

No. What are you talking about?

I missed a couple of periods.

- You what?

- And I took a pregnancy test.

- And guess what?

- No, no, no, no, Connie, do not say that.

- Oh, JJ, it's a good thing.

- Do not say this.

- It's a good thing.

- No, no, no. This is not a good thing.

This is a goddamn disaster.

How could you let this happen?

How the hell could you

let this happen?

We can't afford this.

It's gonna be fine because you're

gonna find something soon.

And we can ask

my brothers for help.

No, no, no, no. I don't want

any favors from your brothers.

- Sh*t. This is a nightmare.

- Oh, JJ. JJ.

Once it settles in,

you're gonna see it.

- Why didn't you take the pill like I asked you to?

- This is a blessing.

- JJ, we're gonna have a family.

- A blessing?

Yeah. Oh, come on.

Just get out of my way.

RICHIE:
Hey.

You better get your ass

out of here right now

- before I kick your...

- Piss off, Richie.

Get your ass out of here.

- Are you okay?

- Yeah.

Yeah, I'm okay.

What are you doing with this guy?

He's a total scumbag.

No, no. It's not like that.

He's just having a hard time.

He's out of work and...

Bullshit. I've heard

what goes on over here.

Look. I'll call Gerry, okay?

He'll know what to do.

Please, just... It's fine.

It's fine.

Thank you.

Father, not a word of this

to anyone.

Agreed. Confidential.

And now, I want to ask

something of you.

Anything you want, Father.

James was in to see me

this afternoon.

Was he, really?

I am forbidden to break

the seal of confession

but I want you to know

that he is deeply sorry

for the wrongs he committed

in the past,

particularly to you

and the children.

I'm glad he's made

his peace with you.

But I am not having him

over tomorrow.

Rosie, he only has

a few months left.

A few months?

Where's he going?

He's dying.

Is that what he told you?

People don't lie about dying.

Then you don't know

the same James that I know.

Rosie, this is it.

Now, he's going to be dead soon

and I suggest,

in your own best interest,

that you forgive him

and invite him back into the arms

of his own family.

Family?

Is that what he calls us now?

You insisted on having

this child baptized.

Yet you yourself will not follow

Christ's teaching on forgiveness?

Because he's got his whole life

ahead of him.

Me?

I figure I'm already a lost cause.

This is not the season

for your jokes

or for hardness of heart.

You say that as if I have

a choice in the matter.

- Thanks again, Father.

- [phone rings]

Hi, this is Rosie.

Leave it at the beep.

[beep]

Yeah. Hey, Mom, it's me.

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