#Movie
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:004, 3, 2, 1, here I come!
00:00:14Sophie, I see you behind Henry.
00:00:20You have to tag me, I'm not caught!
00:00:22She always changes the rules to win.
00:00:25That she does, Sammy.
00:00:26That she does.
00:00:30Now, who can tell me what the best type of maple tree for making syrup is?
00:00:47I'll give you a clue.
00:00:48It's what makes the syrup taste sweet.
00:00:51A sugar maple!
00:00:52Yes!
00:01:00Do you really have to go tomorrow?
00:01:14Do you really have to go tomorrow?
00:01:27My mom says I have to get back to the city.
00:01:31Why don't you come?
00:01:32You can have Christmas dinner with my family.
00:01:33I can't.
00:01:37Your great uncle Henry would be all alone.
00:01:41I'm glad he has you, Sammy.
00:01:42And I'll be back next year.
00:01:44I promise.
00:01:49Let's not talk about it.
00:01:52Tell me one of your stories instead.
00:01:53I've been thinking of a new one.
00:02:03It was Christmas in the town of Bramble Hollow.
00:02:07The Lady Soph and her dashing nicer Sammy were riding on the back of his trusty steed.
00:02:14Through a snow-lit field, toward the old stone church with the candles in the window.
00:02:20The implication that our clients at AgroMerge International are happy about the disappearance of family farms is completely delusory.
00:02:38To characterize it in any other way is just another example of how our system has gone to seed.
00:02:45And that's all the time we have.
00:02:47Thanks for the insight, Sophie Marlowe.
00:02:49And congressman, as always, pleasure having you here.
00:02:52Thank you so much.
00:02:53Merry Christmas.
00:02:57Delusory is definitely a word, right?
00:02:59I didn't just make that up on national television.
00:03:01That's definitely a word.
00:03:03I think.
00:03:03Yeah.
00:03:05I particularly like that part about gone to seed.
00:03:08That was good.
00:03:09Yeah.
00:03:09I didn't plan that.
00:03:10It just came out.
00:03:11And that is why they're going to partnerize you at the next work meeting.
00:03:15Oh, don't jinx it.
00:03:16And partnerize is definitely not a word.
00:03:19Oh, speaking of words, the messages are coming in from the execs at AgroMerge.
00:03:24They loved what you said.
00:03:25Well, that's encouraging.
00:03:27But I'm still not comfortable not telling the truth, Layla.
00:03:31What's not true?
00:03:32I just told those viewers that AgroMerge isn't taking over family farms and turning them into factories.
00:03:39No, no, no.
00:03:39What you said, very tactfully, might I add, is that they're not happy about taking over the family farms.
00:03:45You didn't lie.
00:03:46You're not lying.
00:03:47They're not happy about it.
00:03:48It's just a necessity of progress.
00:03:50Eh, still doesn't make me feel any better.
00:03:52Hmm, what'll make you feel better is when that merger with Brixton goes through.
00:03:57Brixton?
00:03:58That's in Washington.
00:04:00Hmm.
00:04:01I have family there.
00:04:02This could end up affecting them.
00:04:03It's progress, Sophie.
00:04:05It's big business.
00:04:07It's not a movie.
00:04:08It doesn't end well for everyone.
00:04:09Although you'll probably make a few million from it, so, you know, happy ending for you and me and AgroMerge.
00:04:15Are we still on for that working weekend to go over the acquisition contracts?
00:04:18Gotta make sure we're ready for the meeting next week.
00:04:20Yeah, I'll be here.
00:04:21I want to get it hammered out before the holiday break.
00:04:23That's why I got my Christmas shopping done early.
00:04:25Aw, who are you Christmas shopping for?
00:04:27Your house plant?
00:04:30I gotta take this.
00:04:32Jessica?
00:04:33Can you, uh, look up delusory?
00:04:35I want to make sure it's an actual word.
00:04:39You're not Jessica.
00:04:41No.
00:04:43I'm Gordon.
00:04:43I'm filling in for Jessica.
00:04:46By the way, you were fantastic on the news just now.
00:04:52You also had some calls this morning, uh, from Waynesbridge, Washington.
00:04:58Waynesbridge?
00:04:59Mm-hmm.
00:05:00Sounded urgent.
00:05:01There's the number.
00:05:03And what was that word you wanted me to look up?
00:05:05Delusory.
00:05:09It was peaceful.
00:05:12He went in his sleep.
00:05:14I spent every Christmas with Uncle Henry until I was 14.
00:05:18I know, Sophie.
00:05:19I'm sorry.
00:05:21I understand this is difficult news to hear.
00:05:23But, according to your great-uncle's will, you are the majority interest beneficiary of his estate.
00:05:30Marlo Maple Meadows?
00:05:32Henry didn't want a funeral service, but transferring over the deed will need to be notarized in person.
00:05:39Okay.
00:05:40We have a notary in the office.
00:05:41In the state of Washington, probate laws differ from state to state.
00:05:47Unfortunately, posthumous transfer of property need to be done within the same calendar year.
00:05:53How soon could you be here?
00:05:54How soon are we talking?
00:05:57Tomorrow?
00:05:57Tomorrow?
00:05:58Tomorrow?
00:06:01Um.
00:06:02Yeah.
00:06:03Yeah, I guess I have to.
00:06:05And just out of curiosity, when you say majority interest beneficiary, your great-uncle left you 60% of his estate.
00:06:13Who got the other 40?
00:06:15Ring, ring.
00:06:16Ring, ring.
00:06:17Ring, ring.
00:06:19Ding-a-ding.
00:06:19Ding-a-ding.
00:06:20Ding-a-ding.
00:06:22Ring-a-ding.
00:06:22Ring-a-ding.
00:06:23Ring-a-ding.
00:06:24Ring-a-ding.
00:06:24Ring-a-ding.
00:06:25Ring-a-ding.
00:06:25Ring-a-ding.
00:06:25Ring-a-ding.
00:06:25Ring-a-ding.
00:06:28This better be important, Chris.
00:06:30I'm working.
00:06:32I'm hearing water droplets hitting the phone.
00:06:34Are you doing that thing where you dunk your head in a bucket again?
00:06:38It's a sink.
00:06:39And I told you, sometimes I need to change my environment to get a little inspiration.
00:06:44Isn't that why you bought the Airstream?
00:06:46So you could change your environment whenever you wanted?
00:06:48What do you need, Chris?
00:06:50I'll give you a hint.
00:06:51It starts with an S.
00:06:53I have no idea what you're talking about.
00:06:55It's script.
00:06:59It's your script, Sam.
00:07:01I really, really need that third act.
00:07:04Can't direct a movie unless I have an ending.
00:07:06Look, I know you get Nancy.
00:07:08No, no, no.
00:07:08Nancy would have been about four months ago.
00:07:10Now it's...
00:07:11What's worse, Nancy?
00:07:14Disquieted?
00:07:15No, no, no.
00:07:15Worse than that.
00:07:17Distraught?
00:07:18This is great.
00:07:18See, this is why you're the writer.
00:07:20I'm having a little trouble with the ending.
00:07:22Yeah, but you've already ended four wildly successful movies perfectly so far.
00:07:28And every time you say the same thing.
00:07:31Every time.
00:07:32They're hard.
00:07:32And this one, this one's got to be better.
00:07:34It's got to be better than the others.
00:07:36Why don't you get Richard Gere to help you with it?
00:07:38For one thing, he doesn't have opposable thumbs.
00:07:42Do you, Richie?
00:07:43But you're still my best friend in the whole world.
00:07:46Yes, you are.
00:07:47Look, Chris, this is me hanging up, my dog needs a little bit of love, and I need a little
00:07:57bit of inspiration.
00:07:59Besides, you're not going to shoot anything before Christmas anyway, right?
00:08:02If you get me the script before the end of the week, I will start shooting the day after
00:08:07Christmas if I can.
00:08:08The studio pivoted.
00:08:10They want it for a Christmas in July release.
00:08:12Look, Sam, you are very, very good at this.
00:08:18You have a worldwide fan base.
00:08:21I just want to see your next movie.
00:08:23It's time to take over Christmas.
00:08:25So, get your head out of the bucket.
00:08:28Start writing, okay?
00:08:29Love ya.
00:08:30Ciao.
00:08:32Ciao, Chris.
00:08:34Still haven't finished the script, Chris.
00:08:52I'm sorry.
00:08:54I'm sorry, what?
00:08:55Oh, no, Henry.
00:09:03Oh.
00:09:05You're just going to quit everything and become a maple farmer?
00:09:07Oh, hardly.
00:09:08I'm going to catch the 6 a.m. flight to Burlington.
00:09:11I'll be in Waynesbridge by 9 a.m.
00:09:13I'm going to meet with the real estate agent at 11, the estate lawyer at...
00:09:181 p.m. tomorrow.
00:09:19Confirmed.
00:09:201 p.m.
00:09:21I'll wrap everything up by 5 o'clock.
00:09:24And then I'll be back on a flight in time for the company Christmas party tomorrow evening.
00:09:29Hmm.
00:09:29Well, leave your Brixton notes.
00:09:32If you decide to stay in the country for the holidays, I can fill in for you at the meeting next week.
00:09:36Christmas in Waynesbridge?
00:09:38No, we have a deal to firm up with AgroMerge.
00:09:40I need the notes.
00:09:41I will see you tomorrow.
00:09:43Do you want to make a wager on that?
00:09:45Five blowouts.
00:09:46You're on.
00:09:47Get back to work.
00:10:11Here you go.
00:10:13And this is for you.
00:10:17Bye.
00:10:20Hi, Aaron.
00:10:21Hi, Sammy.
00:10:22Hi, Sophie.
00:10:23Two maple candy canes, please.
00:10:29Going back to the city today?
00:10:31Yeah.
00:10:34If you want someone to help you out here, Sam, you can always count on me.
00:10:37Oh, Lazarus.
00:10:38It's very sweet.
00:10:39Don't worry.
00:10:54Oh, wow.
00:10:58I don't know.
00:10:59I don't know.
00:10:59I don't know.
00:11:31You coming?
00:11:52It's not looking good, is it?
00:11:54Okay, you stay here.
00:12:01You stay here.
00:12:31You stay here.
00:13:01Hey!
00:13:11Whoa!
00:13:12Whoa!
00:13:13Whoa!
00:13:14Whoa!
00:13:15Grab the ladder!
00:13:16No!
00:13:17No!
00:13:18Careful!
00:13:19This ladder's not meant for two people!
00:13:20Be careful!
00:13:21Ow!
00:13:22Oh!
00:13:23Hold on!
00:13:24You're on my foot!
00:13:25Your foot is in my shin!
00:13:27Hi, Sammy.
00:13:29Hi, Sammy.
00:13:30Hey, Soph.
00:13:31You shouldn't have sneaked up on me like that.
00:13:44How could I have sneaked up on you?
00:13:45How could I have sneaked up on you?
00:13:46I didn't even know you were here.
00:13:47Well, you didn't see my red sports car in the driveway?
00:13:50No.
00:13:51No, no.
00:13:52I parked on the lower road.
00:13:53Why are you renting a sports car in winter?
00:13:55Well, it's all-wheel drive.
00:13:56And why didn't you drive up to the house?
00:13:58Well, I don't fit.
00:13:59You don't fit?
00:14:00What do you drive, an 18-wheeler?
00:14:03It's an Airstream.
00:14:05Oh.
00:14:06You live in a trailer?
00:14:08It's an Airstream.
00:14:10Oh.
00:14:11It's good to see you again.
00:14:13You too.
00:14:15How long has it been?
00:14:1730 years?
00:14:18No.
00:14:19Well, 29 and 11 months.
00:14:21Really?
00:14:22Pretty much.
00:14:23I mean, it was right before Christmas when you left.
00:14:26Well, this place is still here.
00:14:28Yeah.
00:14:29Yeah.
00:14:30It's the last place I saw you.
00:14:33I came back a few times, um, but it just wasn't the same without you.
00:14:52When did you move away?
00:14:54About 10 years after you did.
00:14:56I worked on the farm right up until the day I left.
00:15:00Hmm.
00:15:01I come here every day after school and on weekends.
00:15:04And Henry taught me everything there is to know about tending the trees and keeping the farm.
00:15:09He was...
00:15:11He was a true artist.
00:15:13Hmm.
00:15:14Remember when he would say, the craft of making maple syrup is as delicate and intricate as making wine.
00:15:24Yeah.
00:15:25Oh, remember his maple candy cane?
00:15:29Oh, they were the best.
00:15:31People would drive for miles around.
00:15:33We could not make enough of them at Christmas.
00:15:35Why did he stop making maple syrup, do you think?
00:15:38Look, he's just such a traditionalist.
00:15:44Always insisted on doing everything the old fashioned way.
00:15:47He was fed up with seeing how obsessed the world became with doing everything faster and bigger and cheaper.
00:15:52Everybody's buying artificial trees and he hated how other farms turned maple syrup production into processing plants.
00:16:01Processing plants is for sewage.
00:16:04Definitely had his fair share of offers for companies coming over and taking over and modernizing the farm, but he wouldn't have anything to do with that.
00:16:14I could have stayed here forever.
00:16:20Why didn't you?
00:16:23I got an opportunity to teach at Berkeley.
00:16:27So I took it.
00:16:29It was a job that still allowed me to write scripts on the side.
00:16:33On the side?
00:16:36Like, what do you have?
00:16:38Two Emmys and an Oscar?
00:16:41You have always been such a great storyteller.
00:16:44Henry would always talk about you.
00:16:47And you would say how proud he was of you.
00:16:52God has big plans for that one, Sammy.
00:17:02I should have been here.
00:17:05We spoke on the phone only a few months ago, but still.
00:17:12You couldn't have known.
00:17:13Neither of us could.
00:17:15Plus, he was in the place he loved most in the world.
00:17:18Marlo Maple Meadows.
00:17:24So were you married or anything?
00:17:26I, uh, you go first.
00:17:30No.
00:17:31No, neither.
00:17:32Still waiting for the day God brings me the right person to love.
00:17:37You?
00:17:38No kids, but I did get married.
00:17:40Oh.
00:17:42It ended.
00:17:43Awkwardly.
00:17:44Oh.
00:17:45I'm so sorry.
00:17:46No, don't be sorry.
00:17:47The awkward part was that we probably shouldn't have got married in the first place.
00:17:52Didn't last very long.
00:17:54I wonder who that is.
00:18:06Oh, hi there.
00:18:09I'm Vera King with Green Mountain Realty.
00:18:12You must be Sophie.
00:18:13I spoke to your assistant on the phone.
00:18:16And you must be the mister.
00:18:19Oh, no.
00:18:20I'm, uh, I'm the Sam.
00:18:22Sam Stackhouse.
00:18:25I love your movies.
00:18:27When's the next one coming out?
00:18:30Maybe July.
00:18:32What?
00:18:33Vera King, Green Mountain Realty.
00:18:35Hi, nice to meet you.
00:18:37Your assistant indicated you wanted to get this property on the market as soon as possible,
00:18:42seeing as it's so close to Christmas and all.
00:18:44Yeah, I think so.
00:18:46Mm-hmm.
00:18:47You shouldn't have any problem selling this property.
00:18:50You'd be surprised how much the value of this land has gone up to companies these last few years.
00:18:57Companies?
00:18:58Yep.
00:18:59Corporate agriculture.
00:19:01Mm-hmm.
00:19:02I've got a few companies lined up right now who are grabbing up all the land around here.
00:19:07They'll take down the house, clear the land, and set up factory farms.
00:19:11They'll pay top dollar.
00:19:13They'll take down the house?
00:19:15Oh, trust me.
00:19:16This house and everything in it, it's as old as this town.
00:19:19It's just in the way of progress.
00:19:21The house actually looks like it's in pretty good shape.
00:19:24Well, you know what?
00:19:25I will draw up a letter of intent for you to sign.
00:19:30I'll write up the listing for you.
00:19:33You'll be here tomorrow?
00:19:34Oh, tomorrow?
00:19:35Oh, you know what?
00:19:37I have an open house that I have to get to on the other side of town.
00:19:40It was lovely to meet you all.
00:19:42I'll talk to you soon.
00:19:51I guess we're selling.
00:19:52I mean, I wanted to talk to you about that, of course, because he left the place to both of us.
00:19:58Right, but it's, I mean, it's really your decision.
00:20:01You were actual family, and you're the majority...
00:20:07Beneficiary owner, but I don't see it that way.
00:20:11You are like family to him, too.
00:20:13We should decide together.
00:20:16Okay.
00:20:19Because I'm sure you need to get back to your life.
00:20:21Yes.
00:20:23Right.
00:20:24My life, of course.
00:20:25Yeah.
00:20:26And I need to get back to mine.
00:20:28Yeah, it's not like we're going to become maple sugarists.
00:20:31Is that a word?
00:20:33No.
00:20:34I made that up.
00:20:35No.
00:20:36One of the benefits of being a writer.
00:20:37Right?
00:20:38So, Sal?
00:20:39I guess so.
00:20:40Just...
00:20:41What?
00:20:42I don't know.
00:20:43I just feel like it would be so sad to see them tear the house down and then turn the farm into something that is not.
00:20:56I mean, Henry built this place with his bare hands.
00:20:58I know.
00:21:00I know, but there's not much we can do about that, is there?
00:21:05No.
00:21:08I guess we just got to sign the papers and get on with it.
00:21:11Oh, reminds me, we need to get to the estate lawyer's office.
00:21:14Oh, do you mind riding with me?
00:21:17In the trailer?
00:21:19It's an Airstream.
00:21:20And no, in the truck.
00:21:22I got to plug it in.
00:21:23I got to let Richard Gere out.
00:21:24Oh.
00:21:26Richard Gere?
00:21:30Richard, meet Sophie.
00:21:31Sophie, meet Richard Gere.
00:21:33Oh, I like your Christmas collar, Richard.
00:21:37But you don't look very much like the actor.
00:21:40Are you kidding me?
00:21:41Look how handsome he is.
00:21:44Plus, he's an officer and a gentleman.
00:21:47Hmm.
00:21:48And he clearly likes a pretty woman.
00:21:53Thanks.
00:22:03I don't remember a law office around here.
00:22:06Well, this is the address.
00:22:07It's a place called Barista Barrister's Coffee Council.
00:22:10Hmm.
00:22:12So it's a coffee shop.
00:22:14So, not a law office.
00:22:17Counsel with your coffee, lawyer with your latte.
00:22:21Ah, coffee shop and a law office.
00:22:24Huh.
00:22:25Seriously?
00:22:33Afternoon, may I interest you in a ginger prespresso or a crisp macchiato?
00:22:37Oh, actually, we're here for a...
00:22:39Ah, egg nogachino.
00:22:41Oh, I'll have one of those.
00:22:43Make that too.
00:22:44Okay.
00:22:45We're here for a meeting regarding the Marlowe Estate.
00:22:50Hey!
00:22:53Sam!
00:22:55And...
00:22:57Sophie!
00:23:00It's Aaron.
00:23:01Oh.
00:23:02Good to see you.
00:23:03Hi.
00:23:07It's hard to make you guys come all this way.
00:23:09It's just Washington State's probate laws are quite strict,
00:23:12and with Christmas here, it's better to just get it all squared away.
00:23:16Yeah, it's okay.
00:23:17It's nice being back.
00:23:19You look really great, Aaron.
00:23:22Uh, thanks.
00:23:25You do too.
00:23:29Um...
00:23:30And...
00:23:31And...
00:23:32And Soph, gosh, I don't think we've seen each other since we were kids.
00:23:36I know, right?
00:23:38So...
00:23:39So this is your place?
00:23:40Yeah.
00:23:41You know, after I passed the bar after college, I was trying to figure out what I was gonna do,
00:23:46and, you know, I thought about going to Chicago or any work,
00:23:50but I just, I wanted to know the people that I was working with.
00:23:53I didn't think that fancy corporate law was really for me, so...
00:23:56Although, I've been doing a lot more of it these days with all these huge companies trying to come into town from all sides.
00:24:03You know, all our staff are paralegals or law students, and they give affordable advice to locals who need it.
00:24:09It's really cool.
00:24:10And I'm a bit of a coffee aficionado, so I just decided to put two and two together and...
00:24:16Voila!
00:24:19Sorry, enough of this chitchat. I, uh, occupational hazard of owning coffee shops, I get a little over-caffeinated sometimes.
00:24:24Okay, so...
00:24:27You should find that everything here is in order.
00:24:32Okay.
00:24:33Henry left the entire estate to the two of you.
00:24:37The estate being the farm and everything on it.
00:24:40Which, as you know, is a considerable piece of property.
00:24:44Marlow Maple Meadows.
00:24:47Cornerstone of our community.
00:24:50Have you decided what you're gonna do with it?
00:24:52Oh, I'm so sorry.
00:24:58That is none of my business.
00:25:00It's just...
00:25:02So many of the family farms are gone these days, it would just be such a shame to see another one go.
00:25:07Especially the Marlow.
00:25:10It might need some work.
00:25:13I know a few contractors.
00:25:15But, of course, it's up to the two of you.
00:25:23Uh, so, yeah. If everything looks okay, you can sign.
00:25:31Uh, have you decided...
00:25:33How long are you gonna stay in town, Sophie?
00:25:35I'm hoping to leave tonight.
00:25:37Hmm.
00:25:39Yeah, but in retrospect, that might have been a little ambitious.
00:25:44Well, if you do end up staying and you need a place to work, you're more than welcome to come here.
00:25:49We're the only place in the entire county that has secure high-speed wifi.
00:25:55Yeah.
00:25:56Sam, are you planning on sticking around?
00:25:58I don't know. I'm just, um...
00:26:00I'm kind of playing it by ear.
00:26:02Well, um, let me know if you want to get together for a catch-up Christmas drink or something.
00:26:09Okay.
00:26:15You too, Soph.
00:26:18Yeah, that'd be great.
00:26:20Mm-hmm.
00:26:22So, yeah, as you're aware, uh, Henry specifically stipulated in his will that he did not want a funeral.
00:26:30So you can pick up his cremains at the funeral home down the street.
00:26:35His cremains?
00:26:36His cremains?
00:26:53Well, that's a lot to process in less than 24 hours, isn't it?
00:26:57You said it.
00:26:58Um, do you... do you have plans for dinner tonight?
00:27:10Well, the mayor of Waynesbridge is throwing a holiday gala in my honor.
00:27:15The governor's flying in.
00:27:17Mariah Carey's performing. You didn't get an invite?
00:27:19Oh, I did. I did, but I'm gonna take a pass.
00:27:21Mm-hmm.
00:27:23Now, if the Muppets were performing, I'd be there with bells on.
00:27:27Mm-hmm.
00:27:31Hey, what do you say I make us both dinner tonight at the house?
00:27:35For all time's sake.
00:27:37Oh.
00:27:38Like the time you tried making mac and cheese.
00:27:40And you overcooked it.
00:27:41And it became a mushy bowl of orange noodle soup.
00:27:45Well, my culinary skills have improved since then.
00:27:50Slightly.
00:27:52Okay, well, if you're gonna cook, then let me buy the groceries.
00:27:55And, uh, I wanna do a little clothing shopping.
00:28:07It's just so strange.
00:28:09You live 89 years, and all that's left is an urn of ashes and a will.
00:28:14It seems so unceremonious.
00:28:16Henry wouldn't have had it any other way.
00:28:19He wasn't exactly the most sentimental guy.
00:28:22And yet he was such a romantic.
00:28:24Hmm.
00:28:26Now, he would say those are two very different things.
00:28:28Do you remember his love of literature? Hemingway, Dickens?
00:28:32Oh, James Joyce.
00:28:33Yes! He introduced all that stuff to me.
00:28:36If it wasn't for Henry, I wonder if I ever would have become a writer.
00:28:41And somehow he managed to make the art of getting sap from maple trees.
00:28:46He's poetic as well.
00:28:48Do you remember that old typewriter he used to have in the living room?
00:28:52The Underwood?
00:28:54Yeah. I wonder if that's still around.
00:28:57It's definitely still around. It's in the Airstream.
00:29:00He gave it to me for Christmas before I left for college.
00:29:03I'll never forget it.
00:29:04When he gave it to me, there was a piece of paper in it with one sentence typed on it.
00:29:07It said, one day you'll write something perfect with us.
00:29:11Oh.
00:29:13I wonder what he used that typewriter for.
00:29:16I've got no idea.
00:29:23So how long were you married?
00:29:26Four years.
00:29:28Was it tough when it ended?
00:29:32It was tough.
00:29:33But not as tough as you might think.
00:29:35We're still friends.
00:29:36We just came to realize that she wasn't the one for me, I wasn't the one for her.
00:29:41We set each other free.
00:29:44How about you?
00:29:45Did you ever come close?
00:29:47Not really.
00:29:50Like I said, I'm still waiting for the day God sends me the one I'm supposed to be with.
00:29:55The all-elusive one.
00:30:04The last time I talked to him, he said he hadn't been into the sugar bush in a couple of seasons.
00:30:08Yeah, he was starting to have a little trouble getting around, but he was determined that everybody wanted a Maple Meadows candy can at Christmas, so he'd get a Maple Meadows candy can at Christmas.
00:30:18I love that he had the place decorated.
00:30:22First of the month every year.
00:30:27Wait.
00:30:29Right here.
00:30:30Okay.
00:30:31It's perfect.
00:30:40I had a service come in and help him out a little bit, just with general maintenance and keeping the place tidy.
00:30:48I guess they didn't get the general maintenance part.
00:30:51Well, at least it's tidy.
00:30:54You know, I used to tell great Uncle Henry how much I loved this house and he would just smile at me and he'd say,
00:31:04I wonder if it's the house you love or the love that fills it.
00:31:08Hmm.
00:31:10Can't imagine a company coming in here and buying this place and feeling the same way.
00:31:14I don't like the idea of someone knocking it down.
00:31:18It's a little outdated, but it's got great bones.
00:31:24Time for dinner.
00:31:29Hmm.
00:31:53Hmm.
00:32:03Wow.
00:32:08Dinner's gonna be ready soon.
00:32:10Okay.
00:32:15Ugh.
00:32:17Maybe not that soon.
00:32:19These pipes.
00:32:20Not good.
00:32:39I owe you five blowouts.
00:32:41I knew it!
00:32:43Actually, I think we said six, didn't we?
00:32:45And I want them from that nice place on Rodeo.
00:32:47Fine.
00:32:49So, thanks to you for Christmas.
00:32:51Hold...
00:32:53Hold on. Let me call you back from a landline.
00:33:05Okay.
00:33:07Oh.
00:33:09Okay.
00:33:10I got this.
00:33:11I got this.
00:33:23Sorry, the wifi and cell reception is practically non-existent here.
00:33:28Are you staying there for Christmas?
00:33:29Oh, no.
00:33:30I'll definitely be home by Sunday.
00:33:32You want to make another bet? Double or nothing?
00:33:34No.
00:33:35And besides, you're a lawyer.
00:33:36You should not be engaging in felonious illegal gambling.
00:33:39I'm sorry. I had to bail on our work weekend.
00:33:42No, no, no. Don't be silly.
00:33:44The meeting next week's gonna be a cakewalk.
00:33:46I prepared.
00:33:47I know what we're doing.
00:33:48I only suggested we work the weekend so we can sip Chardonnay and write it off as a business expense.
00:33:54This is harder to do than I thought it would be.
00:33:56It's no problem.
00:33:58But, Sophie, I do need your notes on the merger contract.
00:34:00Yes. I will send those as soon as everyone in the state of Washington gets off their phones
00:34:05and gives me enough cell reception to send a file to the server.
00:34:08I hope.
00:34:09Okay, well, be sure to send me some of those maple candy canes you keep talking about.
00:34:15They're gluten-free, right?
00:34:16Goodbye.
00:34:24Look at all that red ink.
00:34:25That reminds me of my grade school math test coming back from the teacher.
00:34:29I love this farm, but the cell reception is terrible and forget about the Wi-Fi.
00:34:35Pretty sure Henry didn't know Wi-Fi was a thing.
00:34:37Well, thankfully I brought hard copies of everything so I can work the old-fashioned way.
00:34:43Henry would be very proud.
00:34:45So, you ready to eat?
00:34:48Yes.
00:34:52That's just like the one we had in the treehouse.
00:34:54Yeah.
00:34:56I bought that one at an antique shop years ago and now it's got a year-round home in the Airstream.
00:35:02To Henry.
00:35:03To Henry.
00:35:04To Henry.
00:35:05Did I mention that that one is battery-powered?
00:35:14Yes!
00:35:15And then you said it.
00:35:16You said, I'm just here to help my great uncle milk the trees.
00:35:18That's the way you said it.
00:35:19And the look of that poor woman's face.
00:35:20I was six years old and that's a pretty accurate description of how you get maples, sir.
00:35:25Fair enough.
00:35:26Oh, little maple sugar.
00:35:27That word.
00:35:28Henry would have loved it.
00:35:29I wonder why he never married.
00:35:30I don't know.
00:35:32He never even talked about it.
00:35:33I mean, he was the most open person I ever met.
00:35:37That's a pretty accurate description of how you get maples, sir.
00:35:41Fair enough.
00:35:43Oh, little maple sugarists.
00:35:45That word.
00:35:46Henry would have loved it.
00:35:50I wonder why he never married.
00:35:54I don't know.
00:35:56He never even talked about it.
00:35:57I mean, he was the most open person I ever met.
00:35:59And, like, I learned so much from him,
00:36:02but I always got the sense that there was a part of him that was off limits,
00:36:05that was locked away only for him.
00:36:09He was so full of life, but, yeah, there was always a little sadness in him.
00:36:17It's amazing that you saw that,
00:36:19because he was always so happy when you were here for Christmas.
00:36:21But, yeah, you're right.
00:36:22I mean, sometimes he had this faraway look in his eye,
00:36:29like he was missing something or someone.
00:36:33Maybe it was because he was estranged from my entire family.
00:36:39I mean, except for me and my mom.
00:36:41They didn't like him?
00:36:43It wasn't about dislike.
00:36:45It was just he was an outlier.
00:36:48They didn't understand him.
00:36:50The rest of the Marlow family,
00:36:51they're very pragmatic, practical people.
00:36:55Very boring.
00:36:58Myself included.
00:36:59You are not boring.
00:37:00I followed in my parents' footsteps and went to law school.
00:37:05A fallback, they called it.
00:37:07Which great-uncle Henry loathed.
00:37:10Fall forward, my dear.
00:37:12Always forward, never back.
00:37:15And here I am.
00:37:18Another lawyer.
00:37:19Just what the world needs.
00:37:22I think you're selling yourself a little short.
00:37:25I should probably get some work done before I go to bed.
00:37:35Now?
00:37:36You don't take a break for the holidays?
00:37:39Oh, the demands of my job knows no boundaries.
00:37:43And what about you?
00:37:43You screenwriters, don't you, uh,
00:37:46earn the midnight oil working on your opuses?
00:37:48Yeah, we certainly do.
00:37:50I'm just not feeling very opic tonight.
00:37:56Another new word.
00:37:57It's a gift.
00:37:58Mm-mm.
00:37:59I probably should get some work done, though.
00:38:00I got a deadline.
00:38:02I have a director friend who keeps reminding me I'm well past.
00:38:08It's too bad, though.
00:38:09What?
00:38:12Did you have something else in mind?
00:38:14Three, two, one.
00:38:19Ready or not, here I come.
00:38:22Five, four, three, two, one.
00:38:44Ready or not, here I come.
00:38:46Oh, ho, ho, ho.
00:39:14Gotcha.
00:39:14You didn't get me.
00:39:16You have to tag me.
00:39:18This is not reindeer tag.
00:39:20This is elves in the trees.
00:39:21Those are two totally different games.
00:39:22No, but it's round five.
00:39:24And in round five, the rule is the game changes to Santa's hide-in tag.
00:39:27It's an alamation of the two games.
00:39:29Don't you remember?
00:39:30I remember that you always change the rules.
00:39:32No, I don't change the rules.
00:39:34I just know them better than anyone else.
00:39:36And I remember that you always have to win.
00:39:40Ah, I tagged you.
00:39:42Ha, ha, ha.
00:39:43I really missed you, Soph.
00:39:48I missed you too, Sammy.
00:39:50Tag, you're it!
00:39:51You're it!
00:39:52Ow!
00:39:54That was fun.
00:39:56Hey, the electricity's back.
00:39:58Oh, thankfully.
00:40:00You think now somehow there's Wi-Fi?
00:40:03Never in Henry's house.
00:40:04Well, now that it's our house, do you think the rule changed?
00:40:09Our house?
00:40:11Wow.
00:40:12Technically, I guess that's right, isn't it?
00:40:17You know, there's something that I don't understand.
00:40:20What's that?
00:40:20Why Henry left the majority of the estate to me?
00:40:24Why didn't he split it between us 50-50?
00:40:28Because, like you said, you were the only family that was close to him.
00:40:33Yeah, but I didn't come visit for almost 30 years.
00:40:38He still knew you cared about him.
00:40:40You stayed much longer than I did.
00:40:43And even after you left, you still visited.
00:40:47You're just as much family to him as I was.
00:40:49Maybe even more.
00:40:51I should get some writing done.
00:40:58Thanks for dinner.
00:41:00Anytime.
00:41:01Oh, and thanks for the lucky elf hat.
00:41:04That one makes it really easy to win.
00:41:07Hmm.
00:41:07Hmm.
00:41:21I just need a couple of scenes.
00:41:24Okay?
00:41:24I don't even need the whole ending.
00:41:26Just a few little scenes so that I can get everyone excited about it.
00:41:29Chris, does a chef serve cold soup?
00:41:33Absolutely.
00:41:34Gazpacho?
00:41:35Vichy swas?
00:41:36Borscht?
00:41:36There's a Turkish one.
00:41:37I'm definitely going to butcher the name Yaya Chorbusy?
00:41:41Look, I don't know how many times I've got to tell you this.
00:41:43It's not finished.
00:41:44And when it is finished, I'm going to send it to you.
00:41:47If you're blocked on the ending, you've just got to find something that inspires you.
00:41:56Like a muse.
00:41:58Yeah, a muse.
00:41:59You're surrounded by Christmas muses.
00:42:01Just sit down and write about it, okay?
00:42:03You got this.
00:42:05Love you.
00:42:05Ciao.
00:42:17We got this.
00:42:32So I've got some good news for you.
00:42:34Oh, let me guess.
00:42:35You're at the office Christmas party and you just had a miso shishito pepper appetizer.
00:42:40Full disclosure, I had three and they are to die for.
00:42:44But that's not what I'm calling back.
00:42:46Guess who I ran into?
00:42:48Timothee Chalamet.
00:42:50Alex Turnbull.
00:42:52Alex Turnbull, the CFO of AgriMarge Internationals at our Christmas party?
00:42:56He is a client after all.
00:42:59I guess even corporate farming execs need to blow off a little steam once in a while anyway.
00:43:03Anyway, their in-house legal are still doing their due diligence for the merger with Brixton
00:43:07and they want to push our meeting to Wednesday.
00:43:10The day after Christmas?
00:43:12Yeah.
00:43:13They just need a little more time, so they're going to call our office tomorrow morning to confirm.
00:43:16Okay, that's great.
00:43:17Yeah, that actually helps me out a lot.
00:43:19I've been scrambling to get everything done here.
00:43:21Great.
00:43:22You don't have to stress.
00:43:23By the way, you still need to send me your notes on the documents.
00:43:27I'm so sorry.
00:43:28I never got any cell service.
00:43:30Well, can you find another way?
00:43:32Because I need those notes.
00:43:35Sure.
00:43:36Bye.
00:43:37Bye.
00:44:02Oh.
00:44:04There you are.
00:44:06I was hoping you were home.
00:44:07Oh.
00:44:08I guess phoning people isn't really a thing around here.
00:44:11We're big fans of the drop-by in Waynesbridge.
00:44:14Well, it's a little late, isn't it?
00:44:18Oh, real estate never sleeps.
00:44:20I drew up the listing for you.
00:44:22All you need to do is sign and we can get this property on the market.
00:44:26It should sell in no time.
00:44:28I put those little sticky arrows in the spots where you need to sign.
00:44:31I find them super handy.
00:44:34Do you need a pen?
00:44:35Here.
00:44:36Have mine.
00:44:37Oh, I have to discuss this with Sam.
00:44:39He's a co-owner.
00:44:41Absolutely.
00:44:43Though, you are the majority owner.
00:44:45Did a little research.
00:44:47Technically, you can override him if you have to.
00:44:51Yeah, I don't.
00:44:52Have to.
00:44:54And I'll need to read this before I sign it.
00:44:57Can't get past the lawyer part of me.
00:44:59I'll be in touch with you tomorrow morning.
00:45:02The sooner we can get it on the market, the sooner we can sell.
00:45:05I have buyers lined up.
00:45:07Oh, I'm sure you do.
00:45:09But I'll be in touch tomorrow.
00:45:20Hey, thanks for sticking around for me.
00:45:42No problem at all.
00:45:43I live right above, so I am here 24-7.
00:45:46What can I do for you?
00:45:47Well, I tried sending these from the house,
00:45:50but...
00:45:50No, there's only spotty cell service for the entire family.
00:45:53Yeah.
00:45:53Happens to everyone.
00:45:55Do you mind scanning them for me and sending them to Davenport?
00:45:58Not a problem.
00:45:59I can adjust.
00:45:59Okay.
00:46:00Okay.
00:46:20Your clients send you Christmas cards?
00:46:22Yeah.
00:46:23And cookies and cakes and Christmas fudge.
00:46:26It's one of the benefits of knowing the names of everyone who walks through our doors.
00:46:30Oh.
00:46:33That sound means it's sent.
00:46:36Oh, thank you.
00:46:37Hey, how's it going over there with Sam?
00:46:40He's a sweetheart, isn't he?
00:46:43Yes.
00:46:44Yeah, he is.
00:46:45If you guys do decide to fix up the farm, I might be able to find a buyer for you.
00:46:51Lots of people don't want the family farm to disappear.
00:46:53Just saying.
00:46:54Okay.
00:46:56Yeah, I'll keep it in mind.
00:46:58Oh.
00:46:59Oh.
00:47:03Angels we have heard on high
00:47:07Sweetly singing on a plate
00:47:12Gloria
00:47:19Hi.
00:47:27Hi.
00:47:30Oh.
00:47:35Wow.
00:47:35You certainly have this place decked out for Christmas.
00:47:39Yeah.
00:47:40Try to live inside Christmas so that I'm inspired to write the perfect Christmas movie.
00:47:45Perfect.
00:47:46That's a high bar.
00:47:47Well, I'm sorry, I interrupted your process.
00:47:50It's fine.
00:47:51I mean, I'm fine.
00:47:53So, the whole standing on your head, immersive Christmas ornament kind of thing is because?
00:48:01If I'm having trouble coming up with something, say an ending, I try to completely change my perspective as to kickstart my creativity.
00:48:09Like, I dunk my head underwater, or...
00:48:13Or standing on your head.
00:48:15Or standing on my head.
00:48:22So, what was on your mind?
00:48:23Oh.
00:48:29I couldn't stop thinking about what you said about the house.
00:48:32Was it the thing about the water pipes? Because you weren't supposed to hear that.
00:48:36No, no, no.
00:48:37It was when you said you'd hate for the house to be torn down and the farm turned into something it's not.
00:48:43What if we decided to fix it up?
00:48:45Fix it up to keep it?
00:48:46No, no, but to sell it to someone who would agree not to change it.
00:48:51I mean, you said yourself, Henry, he did so much for us.
00:48:57Yeah, ever since I got back here, I've had this feeling, it's like...
00:49:02I'm at home.
00:49:05And I haven't felt that in a really long time.
00:49:08Maybe since the last time I was here.
00:49:11Me too.
00:49:11Really, I feel like this place was such an anchor for me growing up.
00:49:18But, Soph, selling is selling.
00:49:21No matter what, we wouldn't be able to come back here anymore.
00:49:25Unless you're saying we both give up everything and become maple farmers.
00:49:28Hmm.
00:49:29Well, it sounds more fun than my job.
00:49:31But not very practical.
00:49:34So then what difference does it make what happens to the farm or the house?
00:49:37When you were out, living your life, did you think about this place ever?
00:49:45Did you miss it?
00:49:46I've always called this place home.
00:49:49Me too.
00:49:51And even though I didn't come back for years and years, I've always had a comfort knowing that it was here.
00:49:59Like a Christmas star guiding you to the place you need to be.
00:50:03Hmm.
00:50:04Now, the practical thing to do is selling.
00:50:08But wouldn't you like to know that this place was still here, wherever we both end up in the world?
00:50:15You know, you can be really convincing when you want to be.
00:50:21You should be...
00:50:22What's the name of that job where you talk to people and you try to convince them of stuff?
00:50:27Oh, please.
00:50:28I am a mergers and acquisitions attorney.
00:50:30Ah.
00:50:32But I'm right.
00:50:33You're right.
00:50:36Okay, so we put a clause in the deal that the new owners have to preserve the farm.
00:50:40We can do that?
00:50:43Mergers and acquisitions attorney.
00:50:45We could still visit every Christmas.
00:50:47What do you say?
00:50:48Okay.
00:50:48Hiya!
00:51:05I'm Jacqueline, but folks call me Fitzy.
00:51:08Oh, you're Aaron's handyman.
00:51:11Oh, I'm everyone's handyman.
00:51:12So, you'd like to fix up the old farmhouse, is that it?
00:51:16Yes.
00:51:18Yes, and the farm itself, just to get it up and running.
00:51:20Yeah.
00:51:21You think that's doable?
00:51:23Are polar bears left-handed?
00:51:26Fact.
00:51:27Polar bears are left-handed.
00:51:28Do you like trivia?
00:51:30Sure.
00:51:31I love trivia.
00:51:32Keeps me sharp.
00:51:33General knowledge.
00:51:34Oh, that's great, Mr. Fitzy.
00:51:36Just Fitzy.
00:51:37Fitzy.
00:51:37Okay, well, getting back to the...
00:51:40Of course I think it's doable.
00:51:41Shouldn't take more than a few days to get this place fixed up.
00:51:44Just in time for Christmas.
00:51:47Excellent.
00:51:49How soon do you think you can start?
00:51:51Oh, I don't do the actual work.
00:51:54Oh.
00:51:55Right, because you're the contractor.
00:51:57I'm sorry, what we mean is when do you think your crew can start?
00:51:59I don't have a crew.
00:52:00I'm a DIY contractor.
00:52:03DIY?
00:52:04DIY stands for do it yourself.
00:52:06Yes, I know what's...
00:52:07Trivia.
00:52:08The way I work is that I'm your contractor.
00:52:11I tell you what to do, and you do all the work.
00:52:14Okay.
00:52:16But if we do all the work, then what exactly do we need you for?
00:52:20My expertise.
00:52:22And all that's because of the Industrial Revolution.
00:52:27Door knobs.
00:52:28Put that on the list.
00:52:30Door knobs were invented in 1878.
00:52:32Huh.
00:52:33Ooh.
00:52:36Oh, look at that.
00:52:48That could come down at any time.
00:52:50Just like the Phantom of the Opera.
00:52:52By Gaston Moreau.
00:52:54Channelier canopy needs to be cleaned.
00:52:58Put it on the lid.
00:52:58New electrical wiring for the cooker.
00:53:09A new cooker.
00:53:11Put it on the list.
00:53:13Electricity.
00:53:15Nikola Tesla, 1887.
00:53:16Don't let anyone tell you it's Edison either.
00:53:18That's an incorrect answer.
00:53:25This will need a new paint job, too.
00:53:26I'll put it on the list.
00:53:31I feel like I'm stuck in an episode of Jeopardy.
00:53:34Yeah, except we're not the ones asking the questions.
00:53:42Inges?
00:53:43On the list.
00:53:47Do you know what damages this wood more than rain?
00:53:49What is the sun?
00:54:01I know it may seem like a lot, but it'll be a race.
00:54:04You'll find everything you need in the local hardware store in town.
00:54:11I...
00:54:11Oh.
00:54:14So I guess we're in charge of getting the supplies, too.
00:54:18Yeah.
00:54:24So we have all of our supplies?
00:54:26Check.
00:54:27Work clothes?
00:54:29Check.
00:54:31Are you sure this is a good idea?
00:54:32I am not even remotely a handy person.
00:54:35You're talking to a writer here, so...
00:54:38Yeah, speaking of writing, you still haven't told me what your movie's about.
00:54:43We weren't speaking of writing.
00:54:47It's about Christmas and, uh, then romance.
00:54:51Yeah, I know that part.
00:54:54It's a love story.
00:54:56It's about long-lost love that's found again at Christmas.
00:55:00Hmm.
00:55:01Sounds incomplete, Sandstack House.
00:55:03It is incomplete, Sophie Marlowe.
00:55:07Marlowe?
00:55:10Yes.
00:55:11I'm a Marlowe.
00:55:12Henry was my great-uncle.
00:55:15Did you know Henry?
00:55:16No.
00:55:17Uh, uh...
00:55:19We had a friend in common, though.
00:55:23Merry Christmas.
00:55:25Merry Christmas.
00:55:26Merry Christmas.
00:55:29Who was that?
00:55:31That's old George Wayne.
00:55:32His grandfather founded this town.
00:55:34Wayne's Bridge was founded in 1919 by two very wealthy families.
00:55:38Let me guess.
00:55:39The Waynes and the Bridges?
00:55:40That's what makes you such a good lawyer.
00:55:44Both families were huge farming moguls,
00:55:47and they, I guess, got tired of competing against each other
00:55:50because they decided to team up,
00:55:52and eventually they started marrying their sons and daughters off to each other,
00:55:56kind of like a local version of a royal family.
00:55:58Hmm.
00:55:59And then there was Henry the Farmer in the middle of it.
00:56:02Hmm.
00:56:05I wonder how he knew my name.
00:56:07I guess he heard me call you Marlowe.
00:56:10Oh.
00:56:10Yeah, I've seen him around town a couple of times.
00:56:14From what I understand, he's quite a recluse,
00:56:16and he only kind of comes out to ward off the big industry
00:56:18trying to buy out this whole town.
00:56:20Oh.
00:56:21Interesting.
00:56:21I'm filling up my Christmas list
00:56:33with gifts for girls and boys.
00:56:36What?
00:56:36Push it out.
00:56:37Push it out.
00:56:40You hold it.
00:56:44I think fixin' this place is gonna be a cinch.
00:57:06Ah!
00:57:07You gotta be kidding me.
00:57:26Okay, great.
00:57:48Ah, hi.
00:57:56Looks like we're gonna have to update
00:58:07the entire electrical system.
00:58:10Put it on the list.
00:58:14Aw.
00:58:16Look at this.
00:58:19Hmm.
00:58:26Check this out.
00:58:30Let's watch it.
00:58:37That's Henry!
00:58:40Look at how young he was!
00:58:42Who do you think the woman was?
00:58:58I have no idea.
00:59:01But whoever she is, one thing's for certain.
00:59:03Those two are in love.
00:59:06Wait!
00:59:13Look, it's us!
00:59:15Oh!
00:59:15Ah!
00:59:18Look how young we were!
00:59:20Aw.
00:59:21And how happy!
00:59:22Mm-hmm.
00:59:23Mm-hmm.
00:59:25Hmm.
00:59:25I want to point out that you were taller than me back then.
00:59:37There was a time.
00:59:38Hmm.
00:59:41Okay, here we go.
00:59:48Well, that was surreal.
00:59:50Mm-hmm.
00:59:50Seeing ourselves like that.
00:59:52The best Christmases I ever had
00:59:56were the ones I spent here as a kid.
00:59:58Why did you never come back?
01:00:01I don't know.
01:00:03Life got in the way, I guess.
01:00:06One year turned into five, and...
01:00:10Sometimes you find yourself being led on a path
01:00:13that takes you far from where you started.
01:00:17Why did you leave?
01:00:18I think I just got to the point
01:00:23where I felt like I was missing out.
01:00:26And I figured I owed it to myself
01:00:28to get out there in the world
01:00:29and, uh, to find my place.
01:00:33And yet we both found ourselves back here,
01:00:36where we started.
01:00:42It's nice to see you again, Soph.
01:00:43I was beginning to think I never would.
01:00:49Me too.
01:00:53Well, thank you for gracing us
01:00:56with your conscious presence, Richard.
01:01:03Hello?
01:01:05Morning!
01:01:06Oh, Fitzy?
01:01:08Sorry to disturb.
01:01:09This is a deep whale you have here.
01:01:12Very deep.
01:01:15Thanks.
01:01:17Vera King asked me to come out.
01:01:19Says she needs a water line here analyzed.
01:01:23Okay.
01:01:26Have fun.
01:01:27Have a great day!
01:01:28Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
01:01:31Oh, you see?
01:01:55That's why I said what I said about the pipes.
01:01:58I'll put it on the...
01:01:59Don't say it.
01:02:01Okay.
01:02:04Richard and I'll go for a little walk
01:02:05and we'll give you a little privacy.
01:02:06Okay?
01:02:06Okay.
01:02:15Here.
01:02:16Hey.
01:02:16Hey.
01:02:17Okay.
01:02:29Thanks for the shower.
01:02:48Where did you and Richard Gere go?
01:03:00I looked for you, but I couldn't find you.
01:03:02I took him out to the treehouse.
01:03:03He said he wanted to see what the big deal was all about.
01:03:06Oh, it was such a special place at this time of year.
01:03:10Do you remember those nights right before Christmas
01:03:12that Henry would get us all dressed up
01:03:14and take us out there for Christmas picnics?
01:03:17And he put those little lights on the tree
01:03:19that he put in the center of the clearing?
01:03:22Yeah, we should do that
01:03:23before both of us leave.
01:03:26Yeah, we should.
01:03:27We should get all dressed up and everything.
01:03:28Oh, I want to show you what I found.
01:03:37Okay.
01:03:45Look.
01:03:46This was yours.
01:03:48I remember it from the treehouse.
01:03:50I had dozens of these.
01:03:53These were the inspiration for so many of my stories.
01:03:56I know.
01:03:56Well, you could make one up on the spot
01:03:58and tell it for an hour
01:04:00as if you were reading it from a book.
01:04:02And every time I tried to tell you one...
01:04:04I fell asleep.
01:04:07Yeah, that's the antithesis of the storyteller's goal.
01:04:11I know, but it was just so comfortable and safe.
01:04:15You should tell me one right now.
01:04:17Right now?
01:04:18Yes.
01:04:19Yes, anything.
01:04:21Your screenplay.
01:04:23What's the first scene?
01:04:24How does it start?
01:04:25Um, once upon a time.
01:04:29No.
01:04:29Seriously?
01:04:30Is it a fairy tale?
01:04:32No, not really.
01:04:33I mean, maybe a little.
01:04:36Okay, what's the setting?
01:04:37The setting is, um, is medieval.
01:04:42Ooh.
01:04:43I like it already.
01:04:44Long ago, there was a little village.
01:04:50Hmm.
01:04:50The base of a great hill.
01:04:54And every Christmas, the snow would cover the trees and all the land, making it a winter wonderland.
01:05:01And the king of the castle loved his cakes and his pies and would have his cook every Christmas for everyone.
01:05:08Every day, a little boy down in the village would climb the great hill up to the castle and collect some of the cakes and pies and bring them down to the villagers.
01:05:18But that wasn't the only reason that he, that he wanted to go to the castle.
01:05:25There was a little girl that lived there, but she could only come out at Christmas.
01:05:29The little boy was in love with her.
01:05:33And her name.
01:05:34Oh, I did it again.
01:05:42Like clockwork.
01:05:43I'm sorry.
01:05:44It's an honor.
01:05:49What else is in here?
01:06:00Hey, look at this.
01:06:04I guess we know what Henry was using that old Underwood typewriter for.
01:06:22Hey, look at this.
01:06:25Wait.
01:06:27But that's...
01:06:28That's the same dress.
01:06:34My darling Jay.
01:06:38So...
01:06:39So he was heartbroken.
01:06:41Yeah, mourning his lost love.
01:06:44That's why he never married.
01:06:49You know what?
01:06:50I stand over here.
01:06:51I get one bar on my cell phone.
01:06:57Hey.
01:06:59Check it out.
01:06:59It's a newspaper clipping from 1962.
01:07:04Local heiress to Mary Magnate's son on Christmas Eve in a grand country affair.
01:07:11Jane Bridge.
01:07:13Jay.
01:07:17That's George Wayne.
01:07:20The old man that we ran into.
01:07:21Yeah, you're right.
01:07:24The Wayne estate is literally right next to this property.
01:07:28So she left Henry to marry for money?
01:07:31Yeah, judging by that photo, she doesn't look very happy about it.
01:07:35Hmm.
01:07:36So much for better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all.
01:08:39May I help you?
01:09:02Hi.
01:09:03When you said that you and my Uncle Henry had a friend in common,
01:09:07was that person's name Jane?
01:09:10Yes.
01:09:12How did you know her?
01:09:15She was my wife.
01:09:17Both Jane's and my parents were adamant that we be married.
01:09:31I suppose our fathers saw it as good business, keeping the two families even more intertwined.
01:09:43What Jane or I wanted was beside the point.
01:09:52It was all very Shakespearean tragedy, as it turned out.
01:10:02When we started courting, I fell in love with Jane, truly and deeply.
01:10:14She was such a kind, luminous soul.
01:10:21She loved me.
01:10:24I knew she did.
01:10:28But I also knew I didn't occupy a whole of her heart.
01:10:36There was a part of her love that was hidden away, untouchable to me.
01:10:45As the wedding day neared, I could tell that Jane was becoming more and more distraught.
01:10:53But I said we should stop the wedding.
01:10:54I loved Jane enough not to keep her from the one she truly loved.
01:11:05However, Jane came to me begging to keep our wedding plans.
01:11:15Henry told her that his feelings for her had changed.
01:11:22Hmm.
01:11:23She promised that her heart was mine.
01:11:30I believed her.
01:11:33We had such a beautiful marriage for several years until the illness took her.
01:11:49It was far too young.
01:11:56For a long time, I despised your great uncle until I realized that he sacrificed his feelings
01:12:10so that she could have a better life.
01:12:13That is the saddest story I've ever heard.
01:12:18At my age, I try not to see things as sad or happy.
01:12:27It's all part of God's greater plan.
01:12:33And it's a gift.
01:12:37I have something for you.
01:12:52These should go with the rest of Henry's belongings.
01:13:13Hi, Gordon.
01:13:28Merry Christmas.
01:13:29Miss Marlow, shouldn't you be here?
01:13:31No, we changed my flight to Tuesday, remember?
01:13:34The AgriMerge meeting is Wednesday morning.
01:13:36The AgriMerge meeting is happening now.
01:13:39What?
01:13:40What are you talking about?
01:13:41Layla's in the conference room with the AgriMerge board members as we speak.
01:13:46It's Christmas Eve.
01:13:47They're on a Zoom with Kevin Brixton, and I think she's using your notes like they're her own.
01:13:53Okay, can you video conference me in, please?
01:13:56I can try.
01:14:02It's Layla.
01:14:03Leave a message.
01:14:05There she is.
01:14:26Sophie, I would like you to meet your potential buyer, Thomas Carlaw.
01:14:30He'll be coming in with an offer this afternoon.
01:14:35Mr. Carlaw.
01:14:36Merry Christmas, Miss Marlow, with Brixton Investment Trust.
01:14:43Brixton.
01:14:44Your property is exactly what our company's looking for.
01:14:48Can I talk to you for a moment, please?
01:14:55Offer.
01:14:56I haven't even signed the listing yet.
01:14:58I know.
01:14:59I took the liberty of making a few calls myself.
01:15:02These corporate buyers are very motivated.
01:15:05They are prepared to offer you 25% over asking.
01:15:09Why so much?
01:15:11Oh, Fitz's report came in.
01:15:13There's an aquifer underneath this property.
01:15:16These guys are big agriculture.
01:15:19This is a huge selling factor for them.
01:15:23I'm sorry, Miss Marlow.
01:15:26I tried to conference you in, but the meeting has just ended.
01:15:30That's her.
01:15:32Layla.
01:15:33What did you just do?
01:15:34You're the one who decided to take a vacation during a huge merger.
01:15:36Vacation?
01:15:37Funny.
01:15:38And that whole line about the agro-merch CFO just happening to be at the Christmas party.
01:15:51Oh, I can't believe I fell for that.
01:15:54Yeah.
01:15:55Well, the miso shishito peppers were to die for.
01:15:57Didn't lie about that.
01:15:59You used my notes as your own.
01:16:02You know what kind of violation that is.
01:16:04I could have you disbarred for sending sensitive documents unsecured from what?
01:16:08A coffee shop?
01:16:09It's a lawyer's office with a secure server.
01:16:12You know what?
01:16:13You would have done the exact same thing, Sophie.
01:16:15This is corporate law.
01:16:16Okay?
01:16:17It's not personal.
01:16:18Besides, you should be thankful.
01:16:19I am the reason that the Bricks and Agro-merge merger is going to go through.
01:16:22It's a huge win for the firm.
01:16:24You seem to have forgotten the lesson from Law 101, Layla.
01:16:28Don't count your mergers until they're signed.
01:16:31I gotta go.
01:16:36Gordon, I need you to send me a full transcript of what was said in that meeting.
01:16:40Of course, Ms. Marlowe.
01:16:42Sure.
01:16:44How do I do that?
01:16:48Well...
01:16:50Congratulations!
01:16:51And Merry Christmas!
01:16:53You are selling this place 25% over asking.
01:16:58We did?
01:16:59Wait.
01:17:00I-I didn't even think we signed the listing yet.
01:17:02Oh, I saw Sophie earlier.
01:17:04I explained the whole thing.
01:17:05You did?
01:17:06She was speechless.
01:17:07And I think she was certainly happy that it was Brixton Investment Trust that came in to buy.
01:17:12I think she knows them.
01:17:14Does she?
01:17:15Vera!
01:17:16Oh!
01:17:17That's Mr. Carlaw.
01:17:18Brixton Acquisitions.
01:17:20I'll introduce you if you'd like.
01:17:22No, no, no.
01:17:24I, um...
01:17:25I got someplace I gotta be.
01:17:27What?
01:17:29I just reviewed the transcript from my office and now I...
01:17:34I don't know.
01:17:36And the worst part is my confusion doesn't just affect me but Sam.
01:17:41Ah, Sam will figure it out.
01:17:46Were you and Sam ever...
01:17:48What?
01:17:49No, no, no.
01:17:50Oh.
01:17:51For some reason I always thought, nope.
01:17:54No.
01:17:55Even if I did have a thing for Sam, I would never have a chance.
01:17:59As long as I've known him, he's only ever had eyes for one girl.
01:18:04Do you think I'm a horrible person if I sell the farm to a big company?
01:18:14Horrible?
01:18:16No.
01:18:18It does make me sad.
01:18:20Yes.
01:18:21You're gonna be fine, Sophie.
01:18:25And if all else fails, you can come and be a barista barrister with me.
01:18:30My door is always open to you.
01:18:37There may be one other option.
01:18:50Hey there.
01:18:53Are... are you packing up?
01:18:55Yeah.
01:18:56Gotta go.
01:18:57I got everything I needed here to finish the script.
01:18:59You have to go?
01:19:00Back to the city.
01:19:01What about our plan, Sam?
01:19:02What about your part of the farm?
01:19:04You can have my 40%, okay?
01:19:06No, really.
01:19:07Just...
01:19:08You can have it.
01:19:09You can...
01:19:10You can...
01:19:11You can give it to charity.
01:19:12You can do whatever you want with it.
01:19:13It just...
01:19:15It was really good seeing you.
01:19:18Merry Christmas.
01:19:19This is fantastic.
01:19:20I love the new scenes, Sam.
01:19:22Producers love them.
01:19:23Even the studio loves them.
01:19:24And they don't love anything that's gonna cost as much to make.
01:19:26When can you send me more?
01:19:28Well, the, uh...
01:19:29The whole script is gonna be done by Christmas.
01:19:30I just gotta...
01:19:31Figure out the last scene now.
01:19:32Amazing.
01:19:33Look, Sam, I don't know what has gotten into you, but whatever muse you found, don't give
01:19:35it up.
01:19:36Merry Christmas.
01:19:37Merry Christmas.
01:19:38Love you.
01:19:39Love you.
01:19:40It was a pretty slick move you pulled today.
01:19:41And you'll have to help me understand why you did it like this.
01:19:42I won't even make this.
01:19:43It was wonderful.
01:19:44I just love the new stuff, and they don't love anything that's gonna cost as much to make.
01:19:46When can you send me more?
01:19:47Well, the, uh...
01:19:48The whole script is gonna be done by Christmas.
01:19:49I just gotta...
01:19:50Figure out the last scene now.
01:19:51Amazing.
01:19:52Look, Sam, I don't know what has gotten into you, but whatever muse you found, don't give
01:19:54it up.
01:19:55Merry Christmas.
01:19:56Love ya.
01:19:58That was a pretty slick move you pulled today.
01:20:01You'll have to help me understand why you did it like this.
01:20:05You'll have to help me understand why you did it like that.
01:20:08What don't you understand?
01:20:11I meet with AgriMerge and Brixton.
01:20:13They're ready to merge. It's worth hundreds of millions.
01:20:16AgriMerge's due diligence shows that Brixton has a water problem in the area of the country where they own most of their property.
01:20:23Waynesbridge, Washington.
01:20:25Where you just so conveniently happen to be.
01:20:29Convenient isn't the word I'd use here.
01:20:31Brixton finds a property with huge subterranean water reserves that'll satisfy everybody's needs once it's tapped.
01:20:37They make an aggressive push to buy the property, and who happens to be the owner of said property?
01:20:42Your great Uncle Henry.
01:20:44Just 100% dumb luck.
01:20:47It's not luck, Leila.
01:20:49It's Christmas.
01:20:50And then you call the partners and tell them that you're going to block the sale of the property.
01:20:57Meaning AgriMerge and Brixton get shut out.
01:21:00I lose.
01:21:01And the partners lose.
01:21:02You lose, Sophie.
01:21:04I just don't get it.
01:21:06It's something you taught me, Leila.
01:21:08It's corporate law.
01:21:09It's not personal.
01:21:11Which means it isn't about people.
01:21:16Have a Merry Christmas, Leila.
01:21:18Oh, Henry.
01:21:30What am I going to do?
01:21:33What am I going to do?
01:21:33Is that a merry Christmas?
01:21:59What am I going to do?
01:22:00George Wayne, huh?
01:22:18Yeah.
01:22:19He's going to buy the farm.
01:22:21On one condition,
01:22:24that he also brings back Marlowe Maple Meadows syrup.
01:22:28How'd you know?
01:22:31Aaron called me.
01:22:34So what about the house?
01:22:37We still get to keep it.
01:22:41So I think I'm going to stick around here for a little while.
01:22:46What about your job?
01:22:48She didn't tell you the other news?
01:22:51You are looking at the newest Maurice de Barrister.
01:22:56And I'll be on the front line
01:22:58keeping family farms out of the hands of big business.
01:23:04Falling forward, Sophie Marlowe.
01:23:06And what about you?
01:23:14You happy with your script?
01:23:16I'm very happy with my script.
01:23:19Turns out,
01:23:20all I needed was a muse.
01:23:22Sam, I think that we both had to travel the path God put us on to lose each other just to find our way back.
01:23:39Sam, I think that we both had to travel the path God put us on to lose each other just to find our way back.
01:23:52Sophie, I should have told you this a long time ago.
01:23:57Sam, I love you.
01:24:01And I have, from the very first moment, I laid eyes on you when we were kids.
01:24:08And my biggest regret was not telling you until now.
01:24:16I feel the same way.
01:24:19I was so heartbroken that day that I left and I never forgot about you.
01:24:24Ever.
01:24:25Well, we can't make that mistake twice.
01:24:28I agree.
01:24:34Wait.
01:24:35What?
01:24:35Just, just one second.
01:24:50I love you, Sophie.
01:24:52I love you, Sammy.
01:24:58How'd you know I was gonna be here?
01:25:09I just came out here to try to visualize the last scene of my script,
01:25:13and I really hope that you hadn't left before saying goodbye to Henry.
01:25:19I think it's time we set him free.
01:25:28Goodbye, Henry.
01:25:40Go be with your true love.
01:25:43We'll take care of the farm.
01:25:47And from now on, whoever wants some Marlowe Maples Christmas sweets...
01:25:52We'll get Marlowe Maples Christmas sweets.
01:25:55Hmm.
01:25:58Merry Christmas, Sammy.
01:26:03Merry Christmas, Sophie.