Alright, the entire movie (As you may or may not know) Is about this this woman named Kathleen who is a real grinch about Christmas. She owns a restaurant, and in the beginning of the movie, she gets a bad review because of her "lack of Christmas spirit". This makes her pretty unhappy. And when she gets a phone call from her mother asking her about coming to the family Christmas party, she remains even worse. After a few hours, her boy friend calls about coming to the restaurant to have diner... except, he has to bring a "friend". "Alright, who is this friend?" ...It's his daughter. *Gulp*. Now, she and his daughter don't get a long very well, mainly because his daughter is... Well, a brat to her. The reason Lucy acts so coldly around Kathleen, is because "She's... She's..." "She's what, Luc?" "So not mom...". Her mother had past away just a couple years before... And she didn't want her dad seeing anyone else. No one could replace her mother.
So, that night, the dad has to go on a business trip... But, uh-oh. Babysitter quit on them. So, guess who he relies on? "What??" Was Kathleen's response. "What happened to the baby sitter?!" "She called it off last minute." he whispers. "Com'on, I'm only going to be gone for a day, and we have no where else to go... Please?" Kathleen isn't thrilled, but says yes anyways. One last thing, the dad says that Lucy is going to be in their churches Christmas program, she's an angel, and needs help with her costume. "Alright, I can do that...I think....."
So, he leaves and they start to work... Only, she has no pins or anything. Craft store is calling. "Com'on, Lucy." "Kathleen, go, I can stay by myself." "What?!?" "I do it all the time." "I really don't think that's a good idea..." "Kathleen, I'm ten years old. I am not a child." (*Insert dying laughing here.*) Well, after a rule check, and lock check for that matter, she heads off to the store. It's cold and foggy, and she can hardly see a thing. She's trying to wipe off her windshield, and find something to do it with when. *Thud*, she hits something. It's scares her half to death because she saw it was a person... But, when she looks up, the mysterious man simply glances at her. She mouths "I'm sorry", and he tips his hat and continues onward.
A few minutes later and she's at the craft store. She picks up what she needs, and starts to head to the check out when two thuggish guys ride a skateboard in her way. "Watch it!" She yells, then rushes to the check out counter. After doing so, she goes out. One problem, she can't find her keys. She starts digging in her purse to find it, when suddenly she hears a voice. "Hey, lose somethin' lady?" It was that thug from before. "No, no, I'm fine, really." The other one comes and says "Are you sure? Here, let me help you!!" He snatches her purse away, and she tries to tug it back. They continue until we hear "Back in my day boys were suppose to be gentlemen to the lady." A cold sweat arises, and glares are exchanged. "Now, if you would kindly give her back her purse." "Oh yeah, old man?" He comes at him, only to get grabbed by the shirt collar. "I said it, and I meant it boy." "Spsssh, whatever." "Oh, you want it? Here!" He says as he throws the purse down on the ground, causing everything to spill out. They then go to harass the man more, but when that happens, he comes back, only to get beamed in the head with their skateboard. "Com'on, let's get out of here!" They ran off. There this stranger lies, Kathleen looking at him in horror. "Sir?? Sir, are... Are you alright??" He jumps, causing Kathleen to jump. "Yes, yes, I'm alright, I'm fine." "Oh, good." She sighs in relief, but is still concerned. "Ooh, you're bleeding." "Ah." He says touching his wound. "It's just a scratch." He then places his hat back on his head. "See? All better." "Well... *Sigh* Thank you, for saving me. And, I want to apologize for nearly running over you." "Ah, it's alright. He replied, grinning in the grandfatherly style that he really was."No worries, it was an accident. And, I'm alright." "Is there anywhere that I can take you? Do you have a home somewhere around here?" "Well, I was trying to catch the bus to the next town..." "Well," She pauses... "Here, I can take you to the station. Get in."
A few minutes later and they arrive... Only to find that the last bus had already left and the station was now closed until the next morning, and the next bus wasn't until 9. It's beginning to snow, and all is frosted over. "Where are you going to go? Where are you going to sleep tonight?" "Well, I can pretty much make myself comfortable anywhere." "What?! Oh, no. I nearly killed you, you saved me, I'm not going to let you die out here in this weather!" She looked at him... "Get in." "What?" "You're coming home with me, get in." "No, no, I can't let you do that." "No arguing, now come on." "Well... Thank you."
When they get back, she shows him to a guest room, and then is still very worried about this stranger being in the house. She picks up a sleeping Lucy and brings her to her room, lays her on her bed, and runs and locks the door. Pressing her ear up against it for just a few, just in case. (Please, do not try such things at home, thank you.
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The next morning comes bright and early, but not for Kathleen. She over slept, and her alarm didn't go off. What's worse? Lucy is gone. She panics, grabbing the closest thing for defense as possible. (An umbrella.) She comes running in the next room like a maniac! Only to find Lucy and
Sam, in the kitchen drinking hot chocolate. They laugh at her, as she looks embarrassed. "Well, no matter, it's time for work and school anyways." "there is no school." "What?!?" Kathleen snapped. "Look outside." She then rushes to the window, and what to her wondering eyes does she see but over two feet of snow. "This can't work, I HAVE to get to work." So, she tries shoveling... That didn't work. She wants Lucy to stay with her, because she
still doesn't know about Sam. But, that doesn't work. After a few tries, she gives up. "I need to call your father..." Going inside the house, she looks for her phone... Only to realize that she left it at the restaurant. "What am I going to do now??" Thankfully, Lucy has a phone. The dad is not thrilled about a stranger, but after a long discussion, "Just... Be careful, alright?"
So many things happen during this time, and they begin to get to know each other more. They're at the counter, when they realize they might be snowed in on Christmas... This makes Lucy cry. "Do you really think we'll be stuck here on Christmas? She asks, tearfully. Sam puts his arm around her. "Now, now. Don't cry." "But, but..." "I'm sure that won't happen. And, even if it does... We'll make the best out of it." "How?!? How could we make this week, and especially that day, better?"
These words were answered, and it was made the best time. Including a Christmas skit, burnt marshmallows, a life story... All until a fight between Kathleen and Lucy about who had "Issues" or not nearly spoiled it. She and Sam talked for a while that night... Kathleen explained why she had never been a fan around Christmas time.
"I was ten year old... Lucy's age. I was around midnight on Christmas Eve, and I should have been in bed. We had just got done decorating the Christmas tree a few hours before, and I used to love to go and lie down under it, watching the lights... I was doing it that night. And, I heard yelling from my mom and dad's room. I knew they had issues... *Sigh* But, I never thought it would happen... I heard a slam, and my father came stomping down the stairs. I hid behind the closest edge of the couch, and watched. He walked out the door, and down the steps. I ran to the window, and knocked on it. My tears clearly seen. He simply glared at me for a second... And then he walked on. He walked on, Sam. On Christmas Eve of all days..." "I know the feeling." "Did your father run away from you?" Sam sighed... "No, I'm afraid I was the one who did the running." Kathleen stared at Sam in shock... "Ho-How could you do that?" He explained how his father was the same way, and he didn't want to be like him... But, the older he got, the more he would become... Finally it got to the point of taking over his life, and he couldn't bring himself to change. Finally, he left. He knew he couldn't change, but he didn't want to make them live through that. Later on, he became a Christian, and wanted oh, so much to make things right. He wanted to forgive, and beg for forgiveness. But, at first he didn't think that they would ever forgive him... Then he set out on a quest to try. He wanted to find his daughter and get her forgiveness, and tell her how sorry he was most... And, to give her this: Sam pulled out a pocket watch, gold to be exact. And the Bible he read from often.
The talked more, as he explained that that's the reason he was getting on the bus, and she explained how her mother remarried later on, and how she couldn't stand it. He was an alright guy, but he wasn't her dad. Just like she wasn't Lucy's mom... She sighed. "That's why I haven't been in touch with my mom in so many years." "That's not good..." "I know..." "Perhaps you should try out forgiveness as well, huh?"
A couple days went by, and the power finally came back on, and life could get back to normal. Only, Lucy didn't want that. She liked having fun with Sam and Kathleen, (That is, after having a big apology session with her.)
But, after talking once again, and being able to get things settled, she finally calmed down some. Later that morning, Sam comes into the kitchen where they're at with his suitcase and his hat. He's planning on leaving, because he has a bus to catch. But, Kathleen and Lucy don't approve... At least, not yet. They ask him about staying until after Christmas, he simply answers "We'll see." Kathleen and Lucy have to go get her dad from the air port, but insist on Sam getting ready and meeting them at three for a meal at Kathleen's restaurant. They hurry off to her car, and wave. He reaches his hand on the glass oh the window, and sadly turns away.
Almost three, and Kathleen is back home to pick up Sam. she notices the package that Sam had mentioned seeing earlier in the snow sitting on the counter when she put her things down, but didn't pay it any mind. "Wow, Sam, the house looks great! You honestly didn't have to clean up around here, though. Just let me change and we can go to the dinner." Silence. "Sam?" ... "Sam??" He's no where to be found, the bedroom he stayed in was as it was before he came... All perfectly normal. All that's there is the little Christmas list that they had each made earlier, with the words, "To find my daughter", on it, and the package. She has no idea. But, before she goes to find him, his words and his note inspire her to try to find and contact her father. Only, when she looks him up, she finds "Born-#### Died- ####... She's heart broken. She goes off to call Lucy's dad about it, when she notices she has messages on it. As she listens, she hears one "Kathleen, it's your mother. *Sigh* I was hoping to get to talk to you about this... But, ... It's about your father. He... He passed away the other day. I was just told of it." Tears begin to fill her eyes as she calls him, but Lucy answers the phone. "Hey, Kathleen. Where are you? Are you coming?" "well, sweety, uh... Something's come up. Can I talk to your dad a minute?" After explaining, and crying a bit, she goes back into the other room. There sits that package. Her curiosity is peaked, so she opens it up... Only to find a will, a few letters, a Bible... And the golden pocket watch. "S-Sam?" She stops.... Shaking, and tears filling her eyes, she holds the pocket watch close to her heart. She reads the inscription on the inside of the Bible, "To my dearest Katie." It went on to talk about how he prayed for her to find peace and love in God, and to find and give forgiveness. And that he would always love her. With this, she closed the Bible, and went off to her room to pack. She was going to her mother's house for that Christmas party, she was going to forgive and forget.
Off of the plane, out of the cab, and now standing in front of her mother and step father's house. Her mother answers, expecting early guests, when she sees her daughter standing in the doorway. "H-hi mom." Kathleen grins, tearfully. "Katie? My Katie? My dear Katie, come here." With this they embraced each other, and cried tears of joy. Her step father walks in, seeing who it is, at first he's worried... But, then he realizes they're happy tears. And all goes well. As the parents go into the kitchen to finish preparing the food, Kathleen goes to their tree. And, pulling out the one last thing she had of their old family Christmas's, an angel, she places it on the tree, and says, "I choose, to forgive." With this, she glanced out the window, and who do you think was looking at her from across the street? "Daddy??" She smiled, yet cried. He smiled back. She showed him the pocket watch, and he smiled again. Then, as his last words, he said, "Merry Christmas, Katie." "Merry Christmas daddy! I love you!" Kathleen cried, and a bus passed down the street, looking back, he was gone.