Home for the Holidays (2005) - full transcript
The McMurrin family - parents John and Susan, and their three children, preteen twins Amy and Sam, and young adolescent Michael - live on a rural Washington farm that has been in Susan's family for generations, the actual house built by Susan's father when she was a young girl. At the beginning of December, John and Susan die in an automobile crash. The only real family the children have left is their single maternal aunt, Martha McCarthy, who also lives in town. Despite she barely being able to provide for herself, there is no question in Martha's mind that she will take care of the children, they all to live on the farm so that the children will continue to be together in the only home they've ever known. Paige Holloway, who is assigned the case worker for Social Services, this her first ever file, is sympathetic to Martha's goals, especially in not wanting any disruption to their family unit during the Christmas season. Paige wants to help Martha in any way she can. But the harder Martha and Paige work toward this end result, the more it looks as if the system is working against them toward the possible reality that the children will be split up in the foster care system, regardless of the fact that John and Susan listed Martha as the children's legal guardian in their will. First, Paige's supervisor, Carol Parker, a by-the-books but generally fair woman, believes Paige is letting her emotions take over and not following the guidelines which are in place for everyone's best interest. And second and perhaps more importantly, Jonathon Covington, a heartless man who is handling the estate on behalf of the bank, informs Martha that the McMurrins were deep in debt, with the life insurance and expropriation of the farm property not even covering that complete debt, meaning that the children not only lose their home but get no money in the process. Martha is hoping that her old beau Jack Cooper, a San Francisco lawyer who has just returned to town, will be able to assist legally in dealing especially with Covington. A little ingenuity plus some Christmas angels may be what is required for Martha and children to be able to stay together under one roof that is truly a home for Christmas.
- Two occupants, one
male, one female.
Both deceased at the crash site.
And Sarah, it's John
and Susan McMurrin.
Oh my God,
those poor kids.
What will they do?
- Looks like they hit an
icy patch of road and uh...
Should I call Martha?
- No, I'll take care of that.
And Sarah, better call
the child welfare.
- Hello.
Yeah.
What?
Oh, no.
Oh no, no, no, no.
What happened?
Oh, my God!
- Michael, mom asked
me to make sure
you ate everything on
your plate, peas included.
- Mommy, mommy!
Mommy, mommy!
Mommy, mommy, what
did you get me?
- Michael, get back inside.
What's
wrong aunt Martha?
- I just need a few
moments alone, okay?
- This is the hardest
part of the job.
- You've done this before?
- Well it seems
like every couple
of years this town
gets hit by tragedy.
Either a farm mishap
or a car crash.
Last year the Krems lost
their little boy in a creek.
- This is my first case.
I would rather face down a lion
than deal with those
kids tonight.
- It never gets any easier.
- And so close to Christmas.
- It's a shame.
A damn shame.
- I'm so sorry.
- My name is Paige Holloway.
I'm a case officer with
Children's Services.
I'm here to help any
way that I can.
- What's going to happen to us?
- Don't you worry
about that right now.
Everything will
be taken care of,
you don't have to
worry about anything.
- Well, we'll stay together
Amy, I can promise you that.
- Is there someone that I can
call to come stay with you?
A friend or a relative?
- No, no we just,
we just need some time
alone, that's all.
I'm all they have
left in the world.
- Here's my card.
Call me if you need
anything, okay?
Anything at all.
I'll drop by in the morning.
- It'll be easier on him.
He's too young to understand.
- I'm not so sure.
You're up.
- Mhmm, good morning.
Yeah, we're all up.
Well, Michael's still sleeping.
- Here.
- Oh, that is so thoughtful.
Thank you for thinking of us.
- Oh, it's just
that social worker.
I hope she's not
here to take us away.
- Sam, Amy, now
you listen to me.
Miss Holloway is a very nice
lady and she's here to help.
You need to listen and you need
to mind your manners,
you understand me?
- Yes, ma'am.
- Yes, ma'am.
- Sam, the last
thing I want to do
is take you and your
sister and brother away
from the home you know
and the people you love.
- There, you see?
She's here to help.
Now, she brought us some food.
I want you guys to
eat it while we,
while we have a little talk.
Go on.
- You manage any sleep?
- No.
- How'd last night go?
- Well the twins have accepted
it as best can be expected but,
Michael, he's in his own world.
I'm a little worried about him.
- Children deal with
trauma in different ways.
Sometimes it takes time
for it to sink in.
- Yeah.
Well, you're the expert.
- Actually, this is my
first week on the job.
I've been with the department
for three years, desk job.
So, this is my first time out in
the field with cases of my own.
- Well then we can
learn together.
- Miss McCarthy, from here on
try and take things
one day at a time.
Try, try
one hour at a time.
You can call me Martha.
- Okay, if you'll call me Paige.
- So what's next?
- Next?
- Where do we go to from here?
- Oh, there'll be plenty of time
later to discuss those options.
- Well, if you don't mind
I'd like to discuss them now.
- Okay.
First the children will
need a legal guardian.
- That'll be me.
- I hope so,
but I have to be frank.
It's not automatic.
There are a series
of events that need
to take place before
the department,
or the courts, will
give approval for you.
- Approval for me to take
care of my sister's children?
I am their aunt.
I'm their only relative.
Look I didn't ask to be
put in this position.
Okay, but here I am, and there
they are and we need each other.
- All I meant to say
was, there's a process.
There's paperwork, a
formal assessment.
- An assessment?
The department
needs to be sure that
the guardian is capable of
caring for the children.
- I'm capable and I'm here.
And I know it's what Susan and
Jonathan would have wanted.
- And you know this because?
- Because we talked about it.
In case anything would
have happened to them.
I agreed that I'd be the
one to take care of them.
And I know it's in the will.
- Well, in that case I can grant
you temporary custody right now.
And I can get the paperwork
started for permanent custody.
- Good.
I'll uh,
I'll move my stuff
in here tomorrow
after the funeral services.
- Okay.
- Thanks, thanks a lot.
- Okay.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Thanks, thank you.
- If you need anything done
around the farm, Martha,
you just, just let
me know alright?
- Thanks Ned, thank you.
Oh, Roger.
- Look, what's this I hear about
your coming back
to work on Monday?
- Well when the kids are back
in school I thought that I'd...
- I'm sure I can look after
the shop until you're,
well, til you're
back on your feet.
- Actually...
- I know what you're
going through, okay?
So just take all
the time you need.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
- Doing okay?
- Fine.
Susan would have loved
all of this attention.
- It's the power
lines, you know.
- What is?
- Everything is,
everything bad, that is.
The county's gone to hell.
You know it's just, people
are selling out and moving on.
It's a damn shame.
Used to be you could raise
up your family, but oh.
We're losing our sense
of community, Martha.
I don't know what we're
going to do about it.
With gas prices what
they are, well.
It's a wonder we survive at all.
Time was when I knew
everyone in Riverton
and what they were doing.
I don't know half of
what's going on anymore.
I'm losing control.
I don't know what
we're going to do.
Who are these people
that are coming in here?
- Excuse me, Martha,
but the flower
delivery guy needs
your signature.
- Oh.
- Martha, you must tell
me once you get settled.
I'm going to make you
a nice shepherd's pie.
- Lois, isn't it?
- Yes, Lois Krem.
You're new in town, aren't you?
- If I could just get your
signature right here, please.
Thank you, my condolences.
- Thank you, yes.
Jack?
- Martha.
Here.
- Ohh.
Oh!
Did you come all the
way from San Francisco?
- Yeah, I just, I heard the
news and came right away.
Oh, Martha I'm so sorry
about what happened.
- Let me introduce you.
Paige, this is an old
friend of mine, Jack Cooper.
- It's nice to meet
you, Mr. Cooper.
- I wish the circumstances
were different.
- Don't we all.
- Coop?
- Hey, Rog, how are you?
I'm good, I'm good.
Remember you owe me 20
bucks from that bet in '98.
I took Dallas.
You had Dallas?
I had Dallas, what are
you talking about?
Now you're
a big shot lawyer
I guess I can't sue you for it.
Come on, I'll buy you a drink,
we'll call it even, come on.
- Thank you.
- Friend, huh?
- Miss McCarthy.
- Jonathan, we've
known each other
since I was three years old.
Please, call me Martha.
- Martha,
I know this is probably
the wrong time,
but there's the
matter of the will.
- What about it?
- Well there's a stipulation of
the departed's loan agreement.
You can bring in a
lawyer if you want to.
- Is that a requirement?
- No, no, no, not at all.
Tuesday afternoon be
okay, say three o'clock?
- That will be fine.
- You have my condolences.
- Thank you.
- You look good.
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la
La la la la
Troll the ancient
yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Fa la la la la, la la la la
- Can I give you a hand, Bob?
- Sure thing, Jack.
Mind handing me these
when I get up the ladder?
- Sure.
I didn't know you went in
for this kind of thing.
- Well it's for the
kids around here.
Makes me a kinder,
gentler sheriff.
Don't you think?
- I seem to remember
a few years ago
when you put the
fear of God in me.
- Well, kids today aren't
nearly as wild as we were, Jack.
- Excuse me.
Cooper.
I know I'm not there.
No, Taylor can handle
the brief today.
That'll buy me a couple days.
Jim, look, he's been with the
firm for a year, he's ready.
Well tell him to call me
if he gets in trouble.
No, no just a few days, okay?
Alright.
- So, you thinking of
hanging around for a while?
- I don't know.
- I can think of some
who wouldn't mind.
- They say you can
never go back.
- Jack, for quite a few
of us around here,
you never, ever left.
- Thanks, buddy.
- Michael, Sam,
aunt Martha's here!
Wow, you sure got a lot
of stuff, aunt Martha.
Yeah,
everything I own.
- You can have mom
and dad's room.
It has a bathroom, a
TV and everything.
- Oh, that's okay, I'll
stay in the sewing room.
- Okay, but it's kind of small.
- I know, when I was a
little girl it was my room.
- Really, you lived here?
- My father, your grandfather,
he built this house
with his own two hands.
- Wow.
Aunt Martha, I'm so happy
you're coming to live with us.
Sam said we'd all be
going to an orphanage.
- Well, we're a family now
and the most important thing
is that we stick together
through thick and thin.
- I told him you wouldn't
let us go to an orphanage.
- Here Sammy, here Michael.
- Hey, I went by your
place to help you pack,
but you'd already left.
- Well I didn't want to
leave the kids too long.
- Any second thoughts?
- I haven't had any time
to have second thoughts.
- Do you want these
in your room?
- Yes, please.
- Aunt Martha?
- Uh, upstairs, bathroom.
- I told you.
- Sure you can handle this?
- Somehow we'll get by.
- Raising three young
children won't be easy.
- Yeah, I know.
But eventually I'll
get used to two hours
of sleep and doing
a lot of laundry.
- I've got the document
that will grant you
full custody of the children,
pending the assessment.
- Um, you want some coffee?
- Sure.
- Good, me too.
I think all we have left, yeah,
is instant Copenhagen
Mocha Delight.
Is that okay?
- Beggars can't be choosers.
Okay, this says that
you will provide
for the children and
that you understand
that there will be an
assessment at a later date
as to their permanent situation.
It also authorizes a
routine background check.
- Oh, my heart's beating fast.
- I'm sure you'll be fine.
There is one consideration
we need to discuss.
- I know, money.
- In foster care the state
would pay for everything,
but once you assume
guardianship you're on the hook.
- Yeah, I've been
thinking about that.
- And?
- Well you know I have
the part time job
at the antique boutique,
but it could become
a full time job just
for the asking.
And then there's Susan
and John's life insurance
and I have, I have
a small savings.
- Well you really have
a handle on this.
Now, if you don't
mind my asking,
what's with you and Jack Cooper?
- Nothing.
We were close once.
- Close?
- Oh, Paige, you know.
Puppy love, nothing serious.
Hello.
Will you take that up
to my room, please?
Okay.
- Has Michael mentioned anything
about what's happened yet?
- Not a peep.
- I hear from Lois Krem
that Jack is divorced.
- I didn't know that.
- Sam, that's my sock.
Which, the green
one or the blue one?
- The one with the stripe.
- No, it's mine.
I have another one just
like it somewhere.
- Take it off I don't
want you wearing my stuff.
- Stop it, you two.
Sam you're giving that
sock back after school.
And if you miss the bus and I
have to drive you to school,
there's going to be hell to pay.
Now, go on.
- Hurry up, Michael, the bus!
- Hey, hey, hey, thank you.
Bye.
Look, I didn't ask to
be put in this position.
Yet, here I am and here they
are and we need each other.
- Actually, this is my
first week on the job.
- I know this is
probably the wrong time,
but there's the
matter of the will.
- Once you have sole
guardianship, you're on the
hook.
You're on the hook.
- Hello.
- Martha?
- Oh, Roger, I'm late again.
I'm sorry.
I just dozed off for a minute.
- Don't worry about it, Martha.
Look, maybe you should take
the rest of the week off.
- I don't know what to say.
- You don't have
to say anything.
At least that's what I
always say, anyway.
Martha, how are you managing?
- I don't know, we're
coping, I guess.
I'll be in on
Thursday, for sure.
- Okay then, we'll see
you Thursday, alright?
- Okay, I'll be there.
Wait a minute.
Here you go.
Here Michael.
- Aunt Martha, don't
worry about us.
We don't need Christmas
presents this year.
- Yeah, it's just a bunch
of stuff to play with.
Who needs it anyway?
- Well, we have a tree
and we have stockings,
so let's hang
stockings up, okay?
See what happens, see
what Santa brings us.
- It's okay, really, if Santa
doesn't visit us this year.
- Come on.
It's time for bed, goodnight.
Goodnight.
- Hello.
Martha?
- Jack?
- I'm sorry to call so late.
- I didn't know you
were still in town.
- Yeah, Martha I wanted
to come by and see you,
but I can't walk out the
door without somebody
trying to talk my
ear off about all
the changes that's
happened to Riverton.
- Well there are a
lot of changes.
We're even getting a strip mall.
- That'll sure put
'em on the map, huh?
I wonder if the old place
could use a new lawyer.
- Well we could certainly
use an honest one.
- Ow, Martha.
You sure haven't changed.
- Why, what do you remember?
- Look, I wanted to see you.
- I'd like to see you, too.
- I gotta be back in San
Francisco the day after
tomorrow.
- Oh, well I've got
to go, actually,
Michael just woke up and being
a school night and all it...
- I understand.
I'll call you.
- Have a nice trip.
What are you doing up?
Hmm?
Come on, let's go.
- Paige Holloway.
- Hey, it's Martha.
They're reading the will at
three o'clock today at the bank.
- I see.
- Paige, I know you're
busy, but I just
don't feel like I can
face this alone.
- Martha why not ask
Jack Cooper to join you?
- Oh, I don't think
that's such a good idea.
- Okay, well how about we meet
at the deli, say around 2:15?
We can grab a coffee first.
- Okay.
Listen, I really
appreciate this.
- Okay, bye bye.
- Come in to my office,
Miss Holloway.
Close the door,
dear, and sit down.
I've reviewed the McMurrin file.
Tragic, simply tragic.
- Martha McCarthy is
doing her best to provide
a loving and stable
environment for the children.
- Yes, I've read your report.
Paige dear, you cannot allow
one file to dominate your time.
It isn't fair to the
county who pays you
or to the other
families who just
as desperately need
your assistance.
- I'm just trying to help.
- I want you to read
this thoroughly.
That manual outlines our
procedures to the letter.
Each rule is in place to protect
children and their
social workers.
I won't tolerate exceptions.
Now, take young Michael
McMurrin for example.
Have you scheduled that
boy's psychiatric evaluation?
- I think that in time
he'll come around.
Except for not talking
he seems fine.
- He may very well
come around in time,
but Paige, he may also
withdraw further.
Only the district psychologist
can make that judgment.
- Yes, ma'am, I'll arrange it.
- And I see you've extended
the assessment for
Martha McCarthy.
- Yes.
- If we are going to be forced
to place those
children in homes,
that process must start
as quickly as possible.
With luck we may
find a family who
is willing to take both twins.
- Now might not be the
best time for Martha.
- That assessment must
be completed within
10 days of granting
temporary custody.
I'll do the evaluation myself.
- But Miss Parker, I...
- You've quite a
caseload already,
I'll take over the assessment.
Have you updated
your other files?
- I'm just getting to them.
- I suggest you
read that manual.
- I'll have it read
by tomorrow morning.
- Hey.
- You're looking better.
- Why, how bad did I look?
Sorry.
Well, I dropped the
kids off at school
bright and early and
I'm pretty tired.
- It's a huge life
adjustment for you.
Give yourself credit,
you're doing a great job.
- It seems like when I get
the hang of it something
else happens.
- One day at a time.
- Yeah, I remember.
What?
- I'm not doing your
guardianship assessment.
- Why not?
- Carol Parker, my supervisor.
- Oh great!
- Martha, Miss
Parker is strictly
by the book, but she is fair.
- Oh yeah, yeah,
fair, that's always
how I've seen her,
fair, Miss Fair.
Well, what if Miss Fair
refuses to give me custody?
- Are you concerned
about the assessment?
- I am concerned about
everything, Paige.
What if I fail the assessment?
- Are there any other
relatives who could take them?
- No, I'm it on our side.
John has a brother in
Oregon, but he's already
got five kids and
they weren't close.
- Look, if there are
no relatives able
to assume guardianship
then the children will
become wards of the state
and placed in foster homes.
- Foster homes, as
in more than one.
- It's almost impossible
to place three children
in the same home, they
could be separated.
Maybe into three homes,
maybe even out of the county.
- Yeah, of course,
separate the twins,
makes perfect sense, yeah.
Who invented social
services, anyway?
- I know, I know.
Martha look, Martha could
you just wait a minute.
- Okay, what?
- I need to take
Michael away for
a few days, for an evaluation.
- I am not giving those
kids up one at a time.
Michael's quiet, he
just needs time.
It's routine
in these cases.
- These cases, what case?
- Michael's behavior is,
well, he needs a
professional opinion.
- And?
Okay, I agree that
Michael may not
understand what's
happened, okay.
But...
Okay, for how long?
- I have made an
appointment with
the district child
psychologist for tomorrow.
I promise that...
- What?
- I promise he'll only
be gone a few days,
then he'll be back home.
- And they're not
going to give him
any drugs or shocks or
anything will they?
- No, of course not.
They'll simply observe him and
then send me the assessment.
- Is that all you social workers
ever do is make assessments?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
- The system thrives
on paperwork.
There is a tendency to
avoid making decisions
until a child turns 18 and
then it's out of their hands.
I hope that one day I
can help change that.
- As in make a difference?
- Well, it's worth a shot.
- I knew there was
something about you I liked.
- Refresh your coffees?
- Make mine a double, Sally.
- Just to let you
know we started
a little fund up for the kids.
We keep it up at the till.
- Everybody's being so nice.
- You know when I lost
my Joe two years ago,
your sister, she came to see my
kids were fed every
night for weeks.
- That's the kind
of person she was.
I miss her.
- Yeah, me too.
And this coffee hon,
it's on the house.
- Oh!
- You see?
You're not in this alone.
- Okay, I'm not alone, but
with taxes and mortgages
and low wages, people
don't have much to give.
Oh, is it time to go?
- It's five to.
- Okay.
Let's go see why Jonathan's
being so nice to me.
- I'm not one for
formalities so we'll
get right to the
reading of the will.
If you don't mind we'll
skip the addendum regarding
the decedent's wishes for
Martha to take the children.
- I'd like to see that, please.
- And you are?
- Paige Holloway, Children's
Services and Martha's friend.
- The last will and testament
of John and Susan McMurrin.
In the event of our
death or incapacitation
the Riverton Bank and/or
its designate will be
the sole and only
executor of this will.
It is understood that in
exchange for providing
a second mortgage on
the property as well as
an equipment loan secured
by future crop sales,
the property legally
designated by county statutes
as farm lot 261, also
known as the McMurrin farm,
in the county of Riverton
in the state of Washington.
I, John McMurrin and
I, Susan McMurrin,
hereby and with sound mind
agree that the Riverton Bank
is entitled to first
beneficiary position.
Any and all further
funds or materials
as may be remaining
are to be transferred
to a trust account
for the children
to be administered
by Martha McCarthy.
- How much is remaining
on the loan?
- Loans, Martha, loans.
- Okay, how much is
remaining on the loans?
- I have that here.
There is $363,785 on
the first mortgage.
$144,560 on the
second and $87,029...
- Okay, it really doesn't
matter how much the total is.
How much do the children get?
- Well there's one more thing.
The only assets of any
appreciable value here
are the farm and the
life insurance policy.
Used farm equipment is
of very little value
and zero value is
assigned to future crops
because there won't be any.
Now as the beneficiary,
the bank will be paid
by the insurance company for
the small $100,000 dollar
life policy and that will
cover the equipment loans.
- Well, I could sell
the right of way
to the power company and then...
- I'm afraid it's not
quite that simple.
- Why?
- You missed the county's
appeals deadline.
Now the farm has fallen under
what is called eminent domain.
- Eminent domain?
- It means the farm has
been legally stolen.
- Yes, well, expropriation
is a more accurate term.
- You're taking the whole farm?
- I'm not taking anything.
The title has already been
transferred to the power
company.
The county has issued a
payment to the McMurrin estate
for the fair market value
of $512,000 dollars.
- You can't take our farm.
That farm has been in our
family for three generations.
- I'm not taking anybody's
farm, Miss McCarthy!
My only concern here is the
outstanding loan
owed to the bank.
The bank is a business
and I need to make good
on the farm's outstanding
debts in accordance
with the wishes of your
brother-in-law and sister.
Now in light of the
situation I've also arranged
for the power company
to pay the county
directly for the
purchase of the farm.
- Just tell me, how much
money do the children get?
- The staff worked
out the numbers.
Let's see.
Including $12,000 dollars
in outstanding taxes
and other incidentals,
at the end of the day
the McMurrin estate is in
arrears to the bank for $2,100...
- You're owed money?
- Simply put, the assets
don't cover the loans.
- Oh, my God.
So, the children
don't get any money?
- I'm a fair man, Miss McCarthy.
I didn't charge any fees
for the bank's services
and considering the situation,
I'm quite willing
to call it even.
- Well, that is just so
sweet of you, Jonathan.
Paige, there's got to be
something that we can do.
Some way that we
can appeal this.
- Jack will know.
- I assure you, it's quite
legal and above board.
- When we were kids
and your family
lost its farm, we all
chipped in to help.
- Yes, I remember.
My mother took in other
people's laundry and cleaned
other people's houses for
less than a living wage.
- That's not what it was like.
Your mother was a proud woman.
- Yeah, I was proud,
too and the families
around here smugly
tossed me a few coins.
50 cents for hoeing the garden,
a quarter to wash
out the milk cans.
- That was the only
way that we could help!
Your mother wouldn't accept
any charity, Jonathan!
- Well neither will I.
You're asking for pity
here, Miss McCarthy?
Well I'm sorry, I
can't help you.
- No, I'm not asking for pity!
I just want those
kids to stay in
the only home
they've ever known!
- Well that is out of my hands.
The land legally belongs
to the power company now.
I would suggest you take
it up with their board.
- Who do we call?
- Try information.
- They can't take
the whole farm.
My grandfather, he pulled
out each stump by hand!
My father, he built the house!
- We'll figure out something.
- How do I tell the children?
- I'll call the power company
and see if anything can be done.
Meanwhile, you fax
Jack the papers.
- Okay.
How can I tell those children
they're losing the house?
How do I do that?
I gotta get home.
- You want me to come with you?
- Yeah, but I gotta tell them.
I gotta do this alone.
Alright, thanks.
I still have three days left!
I'll appreciate it if
you'll get off my property!
- You showed them, aunt Martha.
- Hey guys, did you see this?
That's what I think about that.
- Can we stay?
- I don't know.
But the most important thing
is us staying together.
Let's go make some dinner, okay?
And Amy this time I'll
cook the potatoes.
Michael upstairs?
Okay.
- 72 hours notice?
Well then who can I talk to?
Who is in charge?
He's the one who
suggested I call you.
Okay, and when is she
back from vacation?
January, no, that is too late!
Okay, thank you, goodbye.
- Paige, what's going on?
- I'm sorry Miss Parker.
It's just very frustrating
trying to find someone
who can make a decision
at the power company.
- You have other
things to do, Paige.
- Okay.
- Michael, don't you get it?
Mom and dad are
never coming home.
And the power company, they're
kicking us out of our home.
- Leave him alone,
at least he's happy.
Aunt Martha, are they
really going to kick us out?
- Yeah, dad said he'd fight them
all the way to the
Supreme Court.
- Well, I wish he was here.
Nobody's been able to stop
the power lines so far.
They cut right through
the Krem's farm,
had to tear down the barn.
And then the Hogans, they took
the corn field and
they had to sell out.
- Where will we live?
- I don't know, but God willing
we'll find a place, okay?
Just, kids just eat up, okay?
Sam, come on.
There's got to be something
I can do to keep our farm.
- I've been over the
paperwork twice.
Maybe if you'd come
to me a month ago.
But now, with eminent domain,
they can take
anything they want.
- Yeah, I've heard all
about eminent domain.
- Look, your sister and
John mortgaged this place
to the hilt, there's
nothing left there.
Let me help you out, I
can loan you some money.
- Oh, Jack I'm not going to
take any charity from you.
But I would really
value some legal advice.
Who do I sue?
- It's the old Martha,
taking on the world.
- Oh, I'm not as radical
as I used to be, I promise.
I have three kids
to care for now
and I just want to
keep our farm is all.
That's it, very small request.
I always loved this spot.
- Me too.
You know every time
I came back here
to see ma and the farm I
wanted to call you but,
I never did, did I?
- No, you didn't.
Why was that?
- For one thing, my wife
wouldn't have liked it.
But also, you know,
what was I going to say?
- Well I've got to
focus on those kids,
but I could use your help
with all this legal stuff.
Pro bono, of course.
- You got it.
I've got a hearing in
San Francisco tomorrow.
I've got to leave
tonight, but I'll take
all the paperwork
with me, I promise.
- Well you know
where to find me.
- If you think of anything else,
give me a call at
the office and I'll
give you my private home phone.
Goodbye, Martha.
- Okay Michael,
I'll see you soon.
- Mr. Cooper?
Adrienne, Adrienne Lange,
we spoke on the phone.
- Adrienne Lange, are you,
are you Duke's little sister?
- It's been a few
years since anyone's
called me Duke's little
sister, but yes.
- Well you're...
- All grown up.
- Yeah.
- So you're interested
in office space?
- Well, I'm just
looking, that's all.
- Well, we're getting
a strip mall
with a sixplex cinema
a couple blocks away.
Opens in a month or so.
- So this would be a prime
location being close to the
mall.
- For a lawyer to
hang his shingle.
- Uh huh.
- Have a look?
- Okay.
- Okay.
You know this place used to be...
- Yeah, the Riverton
Times, I know.
- Oh, sorry Jack, I'm so used
to showing newbies around.
You know this town
better than I do.
- Every Wednesday and
Sunday when I was a kid
I would get my papers out
back there and I would
pedal halfway across this
county to deliver them.
- Well, as you know,
demand is high.
But seeing that you're
from around here,
I'm sure you could
work a good deal.
- Let me think about it.
- Okay, nice to meet you.
- Nice to see you again.
- Hey.
- Hey!
- How's Michael?
- I dropped him off first
thing this morning all smiles.
- Sounds like him.
Homework?
- Yeah, I'm a little
behind on my assessments.
- Do you have time for coffee?
- Uh, sure, why not?
- I saw Jack yesterday.
- And?
- Well, there's got to be some
way to fight the power company.
- You and he talk?
- Yeah, we talked.
- How's apartment hunting?
- Nothing.
- Nothing at all?
- Everything's either too
expensive or too small.
So what's
your back up plan?
- Win the lottery and
live happily ever after.
- Start off with the usual?
- Rich uncles, aunts?
- None that I know of.
- Martha, Christmas is
coming and the children
are young enough to
be placed in homes.
At least in time
for them to be...
- I asked you here for
support, not to concede defeat.
- I know, I know but
my job is to consider
what might be best for
everyone's future.
- What's best is
staying together.
Those kids growing
up in foster homes,
well, they'll turn out
like little criminals.
- A foster home is not
a death sentence.
- Well tell that to the
psychopaths who grow up in them.
- I grew up in one.
- Oh.
Wow.
I didn't know that, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to offend you.
- You don't need to be sorry.
I understand your feelings,
but I don't think
I'm a psychopath.
- Nor do I, I'm sorry.
- My third foster
parents were very loving.
They're my true parents.
- I am never going to give up
those kids, you understand me?
- I'm glad to hear that.
- Well, I gotta move
them out to my place,
the kids, on Saturday.
- You know your
place is too small.
- Yeah, I do know that.
It's just that I don't
have a choice in
the matter until I find
somewhere bigger, do I?
- They don't waste
any time, do they?
- They're like vultures waiting
to feed on our carcasses.
Do you know they already
cut the electricity
and the plumbing, too?
- It'll work out, Martha.
Somehow, it'll work out.
- You know Robert, I
try to believe that,
but lately each day is
worse than the day before.
It is so frustrating.
I mean, it's 10
days til Christmas
and they couldn't let us stay?
Y'all have a merry
Christmas, you hear?
- It's not them, Martha.
They're just doing their job.
In my job I see a lot of misery.
Martha you have to
think of this as
a tragedy like a tornado
or a hurricane.
Don't waste any time on hate.
Try to, you know, get
on with your life.
- I know.
- Now, how can I pitch in?
- Aren't you on duty?
- I'm always on duty.
Sarah.
Go ahead.
- I'll be out helping Martha
move for the next hour or so.
Roger that.
- Oh, my.
You know Michael was 41
inches just a week ago.
That's a good idea.
This is awful.
I can't stand it.
I can't stand it.
- I'll be outside.
- Oh Susan, I'm so glad
you're not here to see this.
Hello.
- Martha, I picked up Michael.
- Hey, how's he doing?
- He's fine, but
Martha, Miss Parker's
on her way over to
your place right now.
- Now?
- You might want to
clean up a little.
- Oh, my gosh.
Alright, thank you, bye.
Miss Parker's coming
over right now.
We gotta, we gotta clean up
really quickly, you guys.
Quickly, quickly!
Come on!
Miss Parker?
- I'm here to do the
guardianship assessment.
- Yeah, Paige mentioned
something about that.
- Have I come at a bad time?
- No, no, good time.
Come on in.
- I know the guardian
will be relieved,
as I am, to know
that Michael's okay.
Thank you, doctor.
- So how did we do?
- Well it's not a
contest, Miss McCarthy.
I'll forward my assessment
to Miss Holloway
and she'll be in touch.
Michael's back!
- Doctor says the best therapy
is to be with his siblings.
- Thanks for bringing
the little boy home.
- Hi Michael, how was it?
Hey, Michael.
- Come on.
- Did you have fun?
- Come here, you.
So how was it, huh?
How was it, did they
teach you to talk yet?
- I'd like the
doctor's full report
on my desk in the morning.
- Well?
- In the morning Miss
Holloway, in the morning.
- Look at them, they're
such good kids.
- Yeah, your sister sure did
something right raising them.
- Yeah, she was
the domestic one.
I was always the wild one.
Paige do you think I'm
making a mistake?
- A mistake?
- Yeah, I mean I know I'm
really trying to fulfill
my sister's wishes for
the kids, I know that.
But maybe I'm just too
selfish to face the facts.
- I would hardly
characterize taking
three kids into your
life as selfish.
- No, I don't mean that,
like, in a material way,
but maybe in a spiritual way.
I mean I just feel like
the world is giving
me punches and I'm not
getting the message.
- Martha, my biological mother
abandoned me two days
after I was born.
I went to live with an aunt
til I was, I was Michael's age.
But she was over 70
when I was born.
Things got to where
she just couldn't
cope anymore she was
too old and weak.
So, here I was this little girl,
cooking and cleaning
up after her.
- Wow, I had no idea.
- Well it didn't seem so
bad to me at the time.
But then one day a social
worker came to my school.
Before she got to
my class I could
see her through the window.
She was holding my
favorite doll in her hand.
I knew then.
Anyway, a moment later there
was a knock at the door
and I never saw my
auntie or my home again.
- Oh, Paige.
- I hated my first foster
home, it was like a prison.
And the second was even worse.
But my third family was
wonderful and they adopted me.
But, I would give anything
to see my auntie again.
- Wow.
- Paige dear, can
you come in here?
- Coming, Miss Parker.
- I want you to drop
the McMurrin case.
- Drop it?
- Now, I'm suggesting
this for your own good.
- I can't drop it, I
need to see it through.
- Through til what,
Miss Holloway?
- Through til I...
- Paige, this family's situation
will likely not have
a happy ending.
Are you certain
you can continue?
- 100 percent, I'm certain.
- Should the time
come to take custody
of these children
could you do it?
- Miss Parker, especially
since there's a chance
I may have to place
those kids in a home,
I want to keep this case.
They're going to
need me even more.
- I'm sure your
daughter will love it.
I had a doll like that
as a little girl.
Thanks again.
- Rough day?
- Well they're all
sort of rough.
- Assessment.
I need to sit down.
Okay.
- You get full marks
on emotional support.
You squeaked by on
financial ability.
But...
- But what?
Hey, after what I've been
through I can take it.
- Martha you, I mean,
we have five days
to find you suitable
accommodations.
- Five days?
- Proper housing is
a state regulation
and five days is the
longest reprieve
that Miss Parker
could legally grant.
- Five days, this is ludicrous.
Martha, I know things
are going slowly here,
but I will certainly
guarantee you
an advance on your salary or...
- No, no, Roger
thank you so much,
it's very kind, but
I've already looked
at everything in town
and there's nothing.
- Well, Miss McCarthy, what
can we do for you today?
- Well,
okay I'm desperate.
I have to find a place to
live for me and the kids
before December 24th
or else the state
will come and take them
away to a foster home.
You're the only person
that I could turn to.
- That little place of
yours seems cozy enough.
- Not for the children.
- What do you expect me to do?
Wave my magic wand and solve
all the world's problems?
- No, I was hoping you'd give me
a loan so I could
build an addition.
- A loan?
- Yeah, that's what
banks are for, right?
- Okay.
What's your collateral?
- Well, I promise
to pay it back.
I won't need much, just
eight or 10,000 is all.
- As much as I might
like to help,
the bank can't loan
money without it
being secured against
something tangible;
land, bonds, investments.
The freeloading
farmers around here
would suck me dry in a week if
I started handing
them unsecured cash.
- I have a car that's
almost paid for.
- Miss McCarthy, let's not
waste your time any further.
To be perfectly blunt
you are too high a risk
for any financial
institution to consider.
And with custody of
your sister's children
you're only becoming
a higher risk.
- Jonathan, I'm
desperate, please,
for the sake of those kids.
Please.
- The world is not a nice place.
And the sooner those children
accept that fact, the better.
I mean, look at me.
I lost my home, I
lost my mother.
I had nobody and nothing.
And today, well.
- Yeah, yeah, you're the
richest man in the county.
The question is,
would your mother be
proud of you now?
I rather doubt it.
Goodbye, Jonathan.
- Damn thing won't start.
It just won't start.
- That's the cupola
that grand daddy built.
- Daddy says that's
where the angels live.
Do you think they
could hear us if we pray?
I think so.
- Please help us find a way
to stay with aunt Martha.
- And if there's a
Supreme Court in heaven,
could you ask them to
help us keep our home?
- Anyway, we could sure
use your help, amen.
Let's go!
- Michael, what are you doing?
Sam,
is our house still standing?
- Yeah, but not for
long, as soon as
they get that machine running.
It's called
a bulldozer, dummy.
Oh.
- Hello.
Jack.
- Martha, what is it?
- Hey, listen, uh, is there any
way that we can move our house?
- What do you mean,
move the house?
Oh.
- Jack!
- Wait, wait a minute, I'm
thinking it through now.
- Well?
- The previous owner
has salvage rights.
The bank has been paid in
full so there's no lien on it.
So yes, Martha, I think the
house is yours to move, yes.
- Thank you, thank
you, thank you!
- What is it?
What are you guys talking about?
- It's just an idea.
Shh, Sam.
- Where will you move it to?
- Here, my place.
- Martha, you know,
that might work.
Hey, do you remember Larry
Clark from high school?
He used to work with a
pro house moving company.
I'll give him a call,
see if he can help.
- Well, Roy's got a flatbed.
- Volunteers, yeah, that's
what we need, volunteers.
- We?
- What?
- You said we.
- Well, I'm getting
excited for you,
I'll do anything I
can to help you.
- Thank you, Jack.
Goodnight.
- Aunt Martha, what's up?
- We are going to move our house
right where she
sits to over here.
It's been done, people move
houses, it's not unthinkable.
- Hey, what are you doing?
Keep this filth off of my car!
- You guys need to get to bed,
we have a long day tomorrow.
Yes, aunt Martha.
Goodnight.
- Okay, that's all I
need to know, thank you.
Sheriff got the
permits, he'll be able
to block the road for two hours.
- Really?
I don't believe it.
God this is really going
to happen, isn't it?
- This time tomorrow
you'll all have your home.
- Should I wake Sam?
- No, let him sleep, it's
going to be a long day.
- You really think we
can move the house?
- I don't see why not.
It's like an old-fashioned
barn raising.
- A what?
- Well, when I was young
folks would pitch in
and contribute
whatever they could
to an old-fashioned
barn raising.
They'd bring food or
tools or equipment
and everybody would pitch in.
- Everyone?
- Yeah, back then
folks seemed to care
more about their
neighbors seems like.
- Things sure have changed.
- Hopefully not too much.
- The people are the same,
just the goodness is
further down inside.
- We'll find out soon
enough, won't we?
Hopefully, we'll need a
lot of sandwiches today.
- Stop, stop, stop!
The whole town is coming
at 10 o'clock to move
this house from this
property to mine.
It's all in the works.
- You must be kidding?
- No, I'm not kidding.
- This is a legal
demolition order.
- I know, but you can't
tear this house down.
- You're going to move it?
Okay guys, okay, at ease.
She going to move it.
- What's the problem?
- No problem, everything's fine.
Help me set up the
coffee and sandwiches,
people should be
here any minute.
- The way I see it,
if we move the house,
your crew can go home
for the holidays.
- Me and the guys, we get to
go home for the holidays early?
- That's good, Michael.
Carry that, put it on the table.
Nobody's to eat any of
these sandwiches, okay?
We're going to need
plenty of sandwiches
and coffee when
everybody shows up.
- I thought I'd be late.
- Nobody's showing up.
- Just relax, Martha.
- Where are they?
Look,
they're arriving.
- Hey you guys, I need cribbing
on all four corners, okay?
Hey Martha, I'm sorry
to be so late.
My dad's old rig needed a little
coaxing this
morning, that's all.
- That thing's been
sitting in the field
rusting for 10 years, hasn't it?
God, were you up all
night fixing it?
- No, no just a little while.
Alright, hey you guys
we're gonna do it.
We're gonna do it, come
on let's get going.
We gotta go, you guys ready?
Wow!
Let's get going!
- Okay, where do we start?
Wow, any of the
corners, come on, you.
- Just a little bit,
watch the window.
- Okay, Jack, more on your side.
- Alright.
- Okay, fella, just hand
me up one of those, please.
That's exactly it.
I'll need the other
in a second here.
- Keep going.
Easy, easy, easy.
- Ow!
Okay, I got both jacks
into the north side
of the house, we're ready to go.
- Hey, one more, alright,
I think this is level.
What do you think?
- Yeah, yeah, that looks good.
- Okay.
- Let's go around the
other side, come on.
Okay you guys, ready?
We're going to move
it on one, right?
One!
- Jack, Jack, it's
not going to work.
- What do you mean it's
not going to work?
Look Bob, we're going
to have this house
moving in three or
four hours tops.
- No, I just drove the route.
The house won't clear
the power lines.
- What power lines?
- There are power lines
across the highway
just about a half mile
before Martha's house.
There's no way, there's no way.
- Well, we'll get somebody to
cut 'em down, Bob, move 'em.
- I had Sarah call
the power company.
- What'd she say?
Is it gonna work?
- What's wrong?
- Martha, it's the power lines.
The ones across the highway
just before your place.
- Bob, we'll get
somebody to take
'em down just until we can roll
the house over
them, that's easy.
- The lines run directly
right off the damn turbines.
You cut them off,
the entire town
goes dark on Christmas Eve.
- Oh no, no, I'm
sorry, but we have
come too far to turn back now.
- I'm sorry, Martha.
I can't find anybody
at the power company
who's willing to
take responsibility
for shutting the
power off to half
the county just to move a house.
- No, no, no, Jack, there's
gotta be something we can do.
There's got to be.
- Wait, wait, wait, I gotta
make a call, I'll be right back.
- My gosh, Martha, what is it?
- Oh, it's those power
lines, I'm so sick of them!
The power lines by my
house are too low,
so the house won't
fit under them.
- What are you talking about?
Where are the kids?
- Oh, Jack said it
was too dangerous
so I sent them over
to Lois Krem's.
- Hey Martha, Martha!
We can move the house.
We can move the house to my
mother's farm with
her blessings.
She's got plenty of
land and no power lines.
- Jack, it'll have to
be a permanent location.
- Let's make it permanent.
Look, what do you say, Martha?
Are you sure?
- Yeah, yeah, I'm sure.
Come on, let's get going,
we've gotta get this done!
Hey you guys, let's go,
we can get it done now!
- Jack, we're moving
a house, a house!
Damn
straight, we are!
I gotta admit though,
I had some doubts.
- Oh, big city lawyer, doubts.
- I'm just a country
boy at heart.
- Jack, we can only block the
road for another 30 minutes.
- That's plenty of time.
- Okay.
- Martha.
- We're moving the house!
- All is well in the world!
- Jack!
I'm so excited.
A little more.
Okay, here!
- Okay, let's get the
blocks under the house.
Houston, we've got contact.
- Paige Holloway!
- Miss Parker, isn't
it wonderful?
- Paige, it's wonderful indeed,
but look at the
state requirements.
These are the minimum
requirements.
Toilet facilities,
drinking water,
heat, electricity, the basics.
- We can accomplish all this
in a few days, Miss Parker.
- It's a mandatory requirement
before occupancy, not after.
- This isn't going to be easy.
- That's because
against my wishes,
you got personally involved.
- Just give us one hour.
You guys, you guys!
- What?
- Miss Parker says that
the house needs heat,
water, electricity
and a working toilet
by 6pm or the kids
can't stay here.
- You've got to be kidding me?
- Otherwise the house isn't
an acceptable residence.
- This woman just doesn't stop.
- Let me talk to her.
Miss Parker, excuse me.
- Martha can reapply for
custody after New Years,
once the house is
fixed up and given
a certificate of occupancy.
- Come on, there's gotta
be some way we can keep
this family together,
at least for Christmas.
- The regulations are clear.
This house is not suitable for
the children, not
even temporarily.
I've told Paige you have one
hour and I'm sticking to it.
- Fine, okay, we'll
work something out.
Guys, guys listen up.
Nobody's going to
split up this family.
Ned, do you have a
generator at home?
- Well yeah, it hasn't
been run for a while, Jack.
- Well, go get it,
go get it and get
a bunch of extension cords.
Hell or high water,
we'll make it work.
You got it.
- I've got a water
cooler and some
cases of bottled
water at my house.
- Yeah, bring them and what
about a propane heater?
- Yeah.
- Get that, too, good.
- Okay.
- Think she'll go for it?
- You know, technically, if
there's water in the house,
even if it's bottled,
and electric,
however limited, and a heater,
even if it's a portable,
and a toilet, technically,
no violations.
- Oh, I hope you're right.
She probably just needs
a face-saving way out.
- Yeah, well let's
give her one, huh?
You think you can track
down a chemical toilet?
- I saw one, construction
site just down the road.
- Go get it.
- I'm all over it.
- You're kidding.
- It's going to work, I'm
telling you, don't worry.
- See, if Ned's got a
generator over there,
I'm telling you, this'll work.
Here.
And Roger Jenkin, here we
go, he's got this heater.
Yeah.
- And a lot of
water, right, Roger?
Hey, look
at the sheriff.
- Jack, the damn
generator won't start.
- Oh, you're kidding.
- It won't catch, I'm sorry.
- Alright, never mind, I
got another idea, come on.
- I'm sorry, Martha.
- What's wrong?
- It's too late, the house isn't
acceptable without electricity.
I have to take the kids.
- You can't take the kids.
Jack's working on something
right now, he's on it.
- Please, don't make this
harder than it already is.
- Look, it's mom
and dad's light!
- You know you told
that you were going
to help us stay
together as a family.
You promised!
- I'm just doing my job.
- These kids are mine,
now, do you understand me?
- Dad said that's where
the angels live.
- Martha the rules are clear.
The kids need to
come with me now.
- Really?
Over my dead body!
- I'll take over, Paige.
It's alright, Miss Holloway,
I said I'll take over from here.
Uh, Miss McCarthy,
do you know anything
about those Christmas lights?
- Susan and John put
them up there on
the same day that they
had their car accident.
- I see, they seem
to be electric.
- Yeah,
yeah, they are.
- I'm sure Paige told you the
rules concerning the house.
You know I'm duty bound to act
in the best interests
of the children.
Under the circumstances,
the law is very clear.
I have no choice but
to certify this house
as habitable for you and
three young children.
Merry Christmas, Miss McCarthy.
Merry Christmas to you,
too, Miss Parker.
- No exceptions?
- I trust those lights are
electric as Miss McCarthy
claims.
You're right, a
good social worker
knows when to follow her heart.
Merry Christmas, Paige.
- I'm sorry.
I know I let you down.
- You know we wouldn't
even be standing
here if it weren't
for your help.
I understand.
- Look!
Whoa!
- It doesn't say who it's from.
- Open it up, maybe
there's a note.
- Yeah.
I told mom I wanted this.
How did you know, aunt Martha?
I never told anyone else.
- Yeah, how'd you know?
- You guys, I didn't
buy these presents.
- Look!
- Hey, hey Michael.
There you go, man, I got ya.
Atta boy, go get it!
- Remember the collection
jar from the coffee shop?
Tada!
- Did you two bring
those presents?
- Not me, no I had to
rewire the old rig.
Some jerk blew the
electrical system.
- Paige?
- No, after I left here I
wrote assessments all night.
- Oh well, I don't believe
either one of you, but thank
you.
- Brought you a little
something, Martha.
- It may be too
late for the words
I never said seven years ago.
- But I hope it's not
too late for us.
- Are you going to be
my mommy and daddy?
- Absolutely.
- Martha, I think
I'm finally home.
- I think we all are.
male, one female.
Both deceased at the crash site.
And Sarah, it's John
and Susan McMurrin.
Oh my God,
those poor kids.
What will they do?
- Looks like they hit an
icy patch of road and uh...
Should I call Martha?
- No, I'll take care of that.
And Sarah, better call
the child welfare.
- Hello.
Yeah.
What?
Oh, no.
Oh no, no, no, no.
What happened?
Oh, my God!
- Michael, mom asked
me to make sure
you ate everything on
your plate, peas included.
- Mommy, mommy!
Mommy, mommy!
Mommy, mommy, what
did you get me?
- Michael, get back inside.
What's
wrong aunt Martha?
- I just need a few
moments alone, okay?
- This is the hardest
part of the job.
- You've done this before?
- Well it seems
like every couple
of years this town
gets hit by tragedy.
Either a farm mishap
or a car crash.
Last year the Krems lost
their little boy in a creek.
- This is my first case.
I would rather face down a lion
than deal with those
kids tonight.
- It never gets any easier.
- And so close to Christmas.
- It's a shame.
A damn shame.
- I'm so sorry.
- My name is Paige Holloway.
I'm a case officer with
Children's Services.
I'm here to help any
way that I can.
- What's going to happen to us?
- Don't you worry
about that right now.
Everything will
be taken care of,
you don't have to
worry about anything.
- Well, we'll stay together
Amy, I can promise you that.
- Is there someone that I can
call to come stay with you?
A friend or a relative?
- No, no we just,
we just need some time
alone, that's all.
I'm all they have
left in the world.
- Here's my card.
Call me if you need
anything, okay?
Anything at all.
I'll drop by in the morning.
- It'll be easier on him.
He's too young to understand.
- I'm not so sure.
You're up.
- Mhmm, good morning.
Yeah, we're all up.
Well, Michael's still sleeping.
- Here.
- Oh, that is so thoughtful.
Thank you for thinking of us.
- Oh, it's just
that social worker.
I hope she's not
here to take us away.
- Sam, Amy, now
you listen to me.
Miss Holloway is a very nice
lady and she's here to help.
You need to listen and you need
to mind your manners,
you understand me?
- Yes, ma'am.
- Yes, ma'am.
- Sam, the last
thing I want to do
is take you and your
sister and brother away
from the home you know
and the people you love.
- There, you see?
She's here to help.
Now, she brought us some food.
I want you guys to
eat it while we,
while we have a little talk.
Go on.
- You manage any sleep?
- No.
- How'd last night go?
- Well the twins have accepted
it as best can be expected but,
Michael, he's in his own world.
I'm a little worried about him.
- Children deal with
trauma in different ways.
Sometimes it takes time
for it to sink in.
- Yeah.
Well, you're the expert.
- Actually, this is my
first week on the job.
I've been with the department
for three years, desk job.
So, this is my first time out in
the field with cases of my own.
- Well then we can
learn together.
- Miss McCarthy, from here on
try and take things
one day at a time.
Try, try
one hour at a time.
You can call me Martha.
- Okay, if you'll call me Paige.
- So what's next?
- Next?
- Where do we go to from here?
- Oh, there'll be plenty of time
later to discuss those options.
- Well, if you don't mind
I'd like to discuss them now.
- Okay.
First the children will
need a legal guardian.
- That'll be me.
- I hope so,
but I have to be frank.
It's not automatic.
There are a series
of events that need
to take place before
the department,
or the courts, will
give approval for you.
- Approval for me to take
care of my sister's children?
I am their aunt.
I'm their only relative.
Look I didn't ask to be
put in this position.
Okay, but here I am, and there
they are and we need each other.
- All I meant to say
was, there's a process.
There's paperwork, a
formal assessment.
- An assessment?
The department
needs to be sure that
the guardian is capable of
caring for the children.
- I'm capable and I'm here.
And I know it's what Susan and
Jonathan would have wanted.
- And you know this because?
- Because we talked about it.
In case anything would
have happened to them.
I agreed that I'd be the
one to take care of them.
And I know it's in the will.
- Well, in that case I can grant
you temporary custody right now.
And I can get the paperwork
started for permanent custody.
- Good.
I'll uh,
I'll move my stuff
in here tomorrow
after the funeral services.
- Okay.
- Thanks, thanks a lot.
- Okay.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Thanks, thank you.
- If you need anything done
around the farm, Martha,
you just, just let
me know alright?
- Thanks Ned, thank you.
Oh, Roger.
- Look, what's this I hear about
your coming back
to work on Monday?
- Well when the kids are back
in school I thought that I'd...
- I'm sure I can look after
the shop until you're,
well, til you're
back on your feet.
- Actually...
- I know what you're
going through, okay?
So just take all
the time you need.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
- Doing okay?
- Fine.
Susan would have loved
all of this attention.
- It's the power
lines, you know.
- What is?
- Everything is,
everything bad, that is.
The county's gone to hell.
You know it's just, people
are selling out and moving on.
It's a damn shame.
Used to be you could raise
up your family, but oh.
We're losing our sense
of community, Martha.
I don't know what we're
going to do about it.
With gas prices what
they are, well.
It's a wonder we survive at all.
Time was when I knew
everyone in Riverton
and what they were doing.
I don't know half of
what's going on anymore.
I'm losing control.
I don't know what
we're going to do.
Who are these people
that are coming in here?
- Excuse me, Martha,
but the flower
delivery guy needs
your signature.
- Oh.
- Martha, you must tell
me once you get settled.
I'm going to make you
a nice shepherd's pie.
- Lois, isn't it?
- Yes, Lois Krem.
You're new in town, aren't you?
- If I could just get your
signature right here, please.
Thank you, my condolences.
- Thank you, yes.
Jack?
- Martha.
Here.
- Ohh.
Oh!
Did you come all the
way from San Francisco?
- Yeah, I just, I heard the
news and came right away.
Oh, Martha I'm so sorry
about what happened.
- Let me introduce you.
Paige, this is an old
friend of mine, Jack Cooper.
- It's nice to meet
you, Mr. Cooper.
- I wish the circumstances
were different.
- Don't we all.
- Coop?
- Hey, Rog, how are you?
I'm good, I'm good.
Remember you owe me 20
bucks from that bet in '98.
I took Dallas.
You had Dallas?
I had Dallas, what are
you talking about?
Now you're
a big shot lawyer
I guess I can't sue you for it.
Come on, I'll buy you a drink,
we'll call it even, come on.
- Thank you.
- Friend, huh?
- Miss McCarthy.
- Jonathan, we've
known each other
since I was three years old.
Please, call me Martha.
- Martha,
I know this is probably
the wrong time,
but there's the
matter of the will.
- What about it?
- Well there's a stipulation of
the departed's loan agreement.
You can bring in a
lawyer if you want to.
- Is that a requirement?
- No, no, no, not at all.
Tuesday afternoon be
okay, say three o'clock?
- That will be fine.
- You have my condolences.
- Thank you.
- You look good.
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la
La la la la
Troll the ancient
yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Fa la la la la, la la la la
- Can I give you a hand, Bob?
- Sure thing, Jack.
Mind handing me these
when I get up the ladder?
- Sure.
I didn't know you went in
for this kind of thing.
- Well it's for the
kids around here.
Makes me a kinder,
gentler sheriff.
Don't you think?
- I seem to remember
a few years ago
when you put the
fear of God in me.
- Well, kids today aren't
nearly as wild as we were, Jack.
- Excuse me.
Cooper.
I know I'm not there.
No, Taylor can handle
the brief today.
That'll buy me a couple days.
Jim, look, he's been with the
firm for a year, he's ready.
Well tell him to call me
if he gets in trouble.
No, no just a few days, okay?
Alright.
- So, you thinking of
hanging around for a while?
- I don't know.
- I can think of some
who wouldn't mind.
- They say you can
never go back.
- Jack, for quite a few
of us around here,
you never, ever left.
- Thanks, buddy.
- Michael, Sam,
aunt Martha's here!
Wow, you sure got a lot
of stuff, aunt Martha.
Yeah,
everything I own.
- You can have mom
and dad's room.
It has a bathroom, a
TV and everything.
- Oh, that's okay, I'll
stay in the sewing room.
- Okay, but it's kind of small.
- I know, when I was a
little girl it was my room.
- Really, you lived here?
- My father, your grandfather,
he built this house
with his own two hands.
- Wow.
Aunt Martha, I'm so happy
you're coming to live with us.
Sam said we'd all be
going to an orphanage.
- Well, we're a family now
and the most important thing
is that we stick together
through thick and thin.
- I told him you wouldn't
let us go to an orphanage.
- Here Sammy, here Michael.
- Hey, I went by your
place to help you pack,
but you'd already left.
- Well I didn't want to
leave the kids too long.
- Any second thoughts?
- I haven't had any time
to have second thoughts.
- Do you want these
in your room?
- Yes, please.
- Aunt Martha?
- Uh, upstairs, bathroom.
- I told you.
- Sure you can handle this?
- Somehow we'll get by.
- Raising three young
children won't be easy.
- Yeah, I know.
But eventually I'll
get used to two hours
of sleep and doing
a lot of laundry.
- I've got the document
that will grant you
full custody of the children,
pending the assessment.
- Um, you want some coffee?
- Sure.
- Good, me too.
I think all we have left, yeah,
is instant Copenhagen
Mocha Delight.
Is that okay?
- Beggars can't be choosers.
Okay, this says that
you will provide
for the children and
that you understand
that there will be an
assessment at a later date
as to their permanent situation.
It also authorizes a
routine background check.
- Oh, my heart's beating fast.
- I'm sure you'll be fine.
There is one consideration
we need to discuss.
- I know, money.
- In foster care the state
would pay for everything,
but once you assume
guardianship you're on the hook.
- Yeah, I've been
thinking about that.
- And?
- Well you know I have
the part time job
at the antique boutique,
but it could become
a full time job just
for the asking.
And then there's Susan
and John's life insurance
and I have, I have
a small savings.
- Well you really have
a handle on this.
Now, if you don't
mind my asking,
what's with you and Jack Cooper?
- Nothing.
We were close once.
- Close?
- Oh, Paige, you know.
Puppy love, nothing serious.
Hello.
Will you take that up
to my room, please?
Okay.
- Has Michael mentioned anything
about what's happened yet?
- Not a peep.
- I hear from Lois Krem
that Jack is divorced.
- I didn't know that.
- Sam, that's my sock.
Which, the green
one or the blue one?
- The one with the stripe.
- No, it's mine.
I have another one just
like it somewhere.
- Take it off I don't
want you wearing my stuff.
- Stop it, you two.
Sam you're giving that
sock back after school.
And if you miss the bus and I
have to drive you to school,
there's going to be hell to pay.
Now, go on.
- Hurry up, Michael, the bus!
- Hey, hey, hey, thank you.
Bye.
Look, I didn't ask to
be put in this position.
Yet, here I am and here they
are and we need each other.
- Actually, this is my
first week on the job.
- I know this is
probably the wrong time,
but there's the
matter of the will.
- Once you have sole
guardianship, you're on the
hook.
You're on the hook.
- Hello.
- Martha?
- Oh, Roger, I'm late again.
I'm sorry.
I just dozed off for a minute.
- Don't worry about it, Martha.
Look, maybe you should take
the rest of the week off.
- I don't know what to say.
- You don't have
to say anything.
At least that's what I
always say, anyway.
Martha, how are you managing?
- I don't know, we're
coping, I guess.
I'll be in on
Thursday, for sure.
- Okay then, we'll see
you Thursday, alright?
- Okay, I'll be there.
Wait a minute.
Here you go.
Here Michael.
- Aunt Martha, don't
worry about us.
We don't need Christmas
presents this year.
- Yeah, it's just a bunch
of stuff to play with.
Who needs it anyway?
- Well, we have a tree
and we have stockings,
so let's hang
stockings up, okay?
See what happens, see
what Santa brings us.
- It's okay, really, if Santa
doesn't visit us this year.
- Come on.
It's time for bed, goodnight.
Goodnight.
- Hello.
Martha?
- Jack?
- I'm sorry to call so late.
- I didn't know you
were still in town.
- Yeah, Martha I wanted
to come by and see you,
but I can't walk out the
door without somebody
trying to talk my
ear off about all
the changes that's
happened to Riverton.
- Well there are a
lot of changes.
We're even getting a strip mall.
- That'll sure put
'em on the map, huh?
I wonder if the old place
could use a new lawyer.
- Well we could certainly
use an honest one.
- Ow, Martha.
You sure haven't changed.
- Why, what do you remember?
- Look, I wanted to see you.
- I'd like to see you, too.
- I gotta be back in San
Francisco the day after
tomorrow.
- Oh, well I've got
to go, actually,
Michael just woke up and being
a school night and all it...
- I understand.
I'll call you.
- Have a nice trip.
What are you doing up?
Hmm?
Come on, let's go.
- Paige Holloway.
- Hey, it's Martha.
They're reading the will at
three o'clock today at the bank.
- I see.
- Paige, I know you're
busy, but I just
don't feel like I can
face this alone.
- Martha why not ask
Jack Cooper to join you?
- Oh, I don't think
that's such a good idea.
- Okay, well how about we meet
at the deli, say around 2:15?
We can grab a coffee first.
- Okay.
Listen, I really
appreciate this.
- Okay, bye bye.
- Come in to my office,
Miss Holloway.
Close the door,
dear, and sit down.
I've reviewed the McMurrin file.
Tragic, simply tragic.
- Martha McCarthy is
doing her best to provide
a loving and stable
environment for the children.
- Yes, I've read your report.
Paige dear, you cannot allow
one file to dominate your time.
It isn't fair to the
county who pays you
or to the other
families who just
as desperately need
your assistance.
- I'm just trying to help.
- I want you to read
this thoroughly.
That manual outlines our
procedures to the letter.
Each rule is in place to protect
children and their
social workers.
I won't tolerate exceptions.
Now, take young Michael
McMurrin for example.
Have you scheduled that
boy's psychiatric evaluation?
- I think that in time
he'll come around.
Except for not talking
he seems fine.
- He may very well
come around in time,
but Paige, he may also
withdraw further.
Only the district psychologist
can make that judgment.
- Yes, ma'am, I'll arrange it.
- And I see you've extended
the assessment for
Martha McCarthy.
- Yes.
- If we are going to be forced
to place those
children in homes,
that process must start
as quickly as possible.
With luck we may
find a family who
is willing to take both twins.
- Now might not be the
best time for Martha.
- That assessment must
be completed within
10 days of granting
temporary custody.
I'll do the evaluation myself.
- But Miss Parker, I...
- You've quite a
caseload already,
I'll take over the assessment.
Have you updated
your other files?
- I'm just getting to them.
- I suggest you
read that manual.
- I'll have it read
by tomorrow morning.
- Hey.
- You're looking better.
- Why, how bad did I look?
Sorry.
Well, I dropped the
kids off at school
bright and early and
I'm pretty tired.
- It's a huge life
adjustment for you.
Give yourself credit,
you're doing a great job.
- It seems like when I get
the hang of it something
else happens.
- One day at a time.
- Yeah, I remember.
What?
- I'm not doing your
guardianship assessment.
- Why not?
- Carol Parker, my supervisor.
- Oh great!
- Martha, Miss
Parker is strictly
by the book, but she is fair.
- Oh yeah, yeah,
fair, that's always
how I've seen her,
fair, Miss Fair.
Well, what if Miss Fair
refuses to give me custody?
- Are you concerned
about the assessment?
- I am concerned about
everything, Paige.
What if I fail the assessment?
- Are there any other
relatives who could take them?
- No, I'm it on our side.
John has a brother in
Oregon, but he's already
got five kids and
they weren't close.
- Look, if there are
no relatives able
to assume guardianship
then the children will
become wards of the state
and placed in foster homes.
- Foster homes, as
in more than one.
- It's almost impossible
to place three children
in the same home, they
could be separated.
Maybe into three homes,
maybe even out of the county.
- Yeah, of course,
separate the twins,
makes perfect sense, yeah.
Who invented social
services, anyway?
- I know, I know.
Martha look, Martha could
you just wait a minute.
- Okay, what?
- I need to take
Michael away for
a few days, for an evaluation.
- I am not giving those
kids up one at a time.
Michael's quiet, he
just needs time.
It's routine
in these cases.
- These cases, what case?
- Michael's behavior is,
well, he needs a
professional opinion.
- And?
Okay, I agree that
Michael may not
understand what's
happened, okay.
But...
Okay, for how long?
- I have made an
appointment with
the district child
psychologist for tomorrow.
I promise that...
- What?
- I promise he'll only
be gone a few days,
then he'll be back home.
- And they're not
going to give him
any drugs or shocks or
anything will they?
- No, of course not.
They'll simply observe him and
then send me the assessment.
- Is that all you social workers
ever do is make assessments?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
- The system thrives
on paperwork.
There is a tendency to
avoid making decisions
until a child turns 18 and
then it's out of their hands.
I hope that one day I
can help change that.
- As in make a difference?
- Well, it's worth a shot.
- I knew there was
something about you I liked.
- Refresh your coffees?
- Make mine a double, Sally.
- Just to let you
know we started
a little fund up for the kids.
We keep it up at the till.
- Everybody's being so nice.
- You know when I lost
my Joe two years ago,
your sister, she came to see my
kids were fed every
night for weeks.
- That's the kind
of person she was.
I miss her.
- Yeah, me too.
And this coffee hon,
it's on the house.
- Oh!
- You see?
You're not in this alone.
- Okay, I'm not alone, but
with taxes and mortgages
and low wages, people
don't have much to give.
Oh, is it time to go?
- It's five to.
- Okay.
Let's go see why Jonathan's
being so nice to me.
- I'm not one for
formalities so we'll
get right to the
reading of the will.
If you don't mind we'll
skip the addendum regarding
the decedent's wishes for
Martha to take the children.
- I'd like to see that, please.
- And you are?
- Paige Holloway, Children's
Services and Martha's friend.
- The last will and testament
of John and Susan McMurrin.
In the event of our
death or incapacitation
the Riverton Bank and/or
its designate will be
the sole and only
executor of this will.
It is understood that in
exchange for providing
a second mortgage on
the property as well as
an equipment loan secured
by future crop sales,
the property legally
designated by county statutes
as farm lot 261, also
known as the McMurrin farm,
in the county of Riverton
in the state of Washington.
I, John McMurrin and
I, Susan McMurrin,
hereby and with sound mind
agree that the Riverton Bank
is entitled to first
beneficiary position.
Any and all further
funds or materials
as may be remaining
are to be transferred
to a trust account
for the children
to be administered
by Martha McCarthy.
- How much is remaining
on the loan?
- Loans, Martha, loans.
- Okay, how much is
remaining on the loans?
- I have that here.
There is $363,785 on
the first mortgage.
$144,560 on the
second and $87,029...
- Okay, it really doesn't
matter how much the total is.
How much do the children get?
- Well there's one more thing.
The only assets of any
appreciable value here
are the farm and the
life insurance policy.
Used farm equipment is
of very little value
and zero value is
assigned to future crops
because there won't be any.
Now as the beneficiary,
the bank will be paid
by the insurance company for
the small $100,000 dollar
life policy and that will
cover the equipment loans.
- Well, I could sell
the right of way
to the power company and then...
- I'm afraid it's not
quite that simple.
- Why?
- You missed the county's
appeals deadline.
Now the farm has fallen under
what is called eminent domain.
- Eminent domain?
- It means the farm has
been legally stolen.
- Yes, well, expropriation
is a more accurate term.
- You're taking the whole farm?
- I'm not taking anything.
The title has already been
transferred to the power
company.
The county has issued a
payment to the McMurrin estate
for the fair market value
of $512,000 dollars.
- You can't take our farm.
That farm has been in our
family for three generations.
- I'm not taking anybody's
farm, Miss McCarthy!
My only concern here is the
outstanding loan
owed to the bank.
The bank is a business
and I need to make good
on the farm's outstanding
debts in accordance
with the wishes of your
brother-in-law and sister.
Now in light of the
situation I've also arranged
for the power company
to pay the county
directly for the
purchase of the farm.
- Just tell me, how much
money do the children get?
- The staff worked
out the numbers.
Let's see.
Including $12,000 dollars
in outstanding taxes
and other incidentals,
at the end of the day
the McMurrin estate is in
arrears to the bank for $2,100...
- You're owed money?
- Simply put, the assets
don't cover the loans.
- Oh, my God.
So, the children
don't get any money?
- I'm a fair man, Miss McCarthy.
I didn't charge any fees
for the bank's services
and considering the situation,
I'm quite willing
to call it even.
- Well, that is just so
sweet of you, Jonathan.
Paige, there's got to be
something that we can do.
Some way that we
can appeal this.
- Jack will know.
- I assure you, it's quite
legal and above board.
- When we were kids
and your family
lost its farm, we all
chipped in to help.
- Yes, I remember.
My mother took in other
people's laundry and cleaned
other people's houses for
less than a living wage.
- That's not what it was like.
Your mother was a proud woman.
- Yeah, I was proud,
too and the families
around here smugly
tossed me a few coins.
50 cents for hoeing the garden,
a quarter to wash
out the milk cans.
- That was the only
way that we could help!
Your mother wouldn't accept
any charity, Jonathan!
- Well neither will I.
You're asking for pity
here, Miss McCarthy?
Well I'm sorry, I
can't help you.
- No, I'm not asking for pity!
I just want those
kids to stay in
the only home
they've ever known!
- Well that is out of my hands.
The land legally belongs
to the power company now.
I would suggest you take
it up with their board.
- Who do we call?
- Try information.
- They can't take
the whole farm.
My grandfather, he pulled
out each stump by hand!
My father, he built the house!
- We'll figure out something.
- How do I tell the children?
- I'll call the power company
and see if anything can be done.
Meanwhile, you fax
Jack the papers.
- Okay.
How can I tell those children
they're losing the house?
How do I do that?
I gotta get home.
- You want me to come with you?
- Yeah, but I gotta tell them.
I gotta do this alone.
Alright, thanks.
I still have three days left!
I'll appreciate it if
you'll get off my property!
- You showed them, aunt Martha.
- Hey guys, did you see this?
That's what I think about that.
- Can we stay?
- I don't know.
But the most important thing
is us staying together.
Let's go make some dinner, okay?
And Amy this time I'll
cook the potatoes.
Michael upstairs?
Okay.
- 72 hours notice?
Well then who can I talk to?
Who is in charge?
He's the one who
suggested I call you.
Okay, and when is she
back from vacation?
January, no, that is too late!
Okay, thank you, goodbye.
- Paige, what's going on?
- I'm sorry Miss Parker.
It's just very frustrating
trying to find someone
who can make a decision
at the power company.
- You have other
things to do, Paige.
- Okay.
- Michael, don't you get it?
Mom and dad are
never coming home.
And the power company, they're
kicking us out of our home.
- Leave him alone,
at least he's happy.
Aunt Martha, are they
really going to kick us out?
- Yeah, dad said he'd fight them
all the way to the
Supreme Court.
- Well, I wish he was here.
Nobody's been able to stop
the power lines so far.
They cut right through
the Krem's farm,
had to tear down the barn.
And then the Hogans, they took
the corn field and
they had to sell out.
- Where will we live?
- I don't know, but God willing
we'll find a place, okay?
Just, kids just eat up, okay?
Sam, come on.
There's got to be something
I can do to keep our farm.
- I've been over the
paperwork twice.
Maybe if you'd come
to me a month ago.
But now, with eminent domain,
they can take
anything they want.
- Yeah, I've heard all
about eminent domain.
- Look, your sister and
John mortgaged this place
to the hilt, there's
nothing left there.
Let me help you out, I
can loan you some money.
- Oh, Jack I'm not going to
take any charity from you.
But I would really
value some legal advice.
Who do I sue?
- It's the old Martha,
taking on the world.
- Oh, I'm not as radical
as I used to be, I promise.
I have three kids
to care for now
and I just want to
keep our farm is all.
That's it, very small request.
I always loved this spot.
- Me too.
You know every time
I came back here
to see ma and the farm I
wanted to call you but,
I never did, did I?
- No, you didn't.
Why was that?
- For one thing, my wife
wouldn't have liked it.
But also, you know,
what was I going to say?
- Well I've got to
focus on those kids,
but I could use your help
with all this legal stuff.
Pro bono, of course.
- You got it.
I've got a hearing in
San Francisco tomorrow.
I've got to leave
tonight, but I'll take
all the paperwork
with me, I promise.
- Well you know
where to find me.
- If you think of anything else,
give me a call at
the office and I'll
give you my private home phone.
Goodbye, Martha.
- Okay Michael,
I'll see you soon.
- Mr. Cooper?
Adrienne, Adrienne Lange,
we spoke on the phone.
- Adrienne Lange, are you,
are you Duke's little sister?
- It's been a few
years since anyone's
called me Duke's little
sister, but yes.
- Well you're...
- All grown up.
- Yeah.
- So you're interested
in office space?
- Well, I'm just
looking, that's all.
- Well, we're getting
a strip mall
with a sixplex cinema
a couple blocks away.
Opens in a month or so.
- So this would be a prime
location being close to the
mall.
- For a lawyer to
hang his shingle.
- Uh huh.
- Have a look?
- Okay.
- Okay.
You know this place used to be...
- Yeah, the Riverton
Times, I know.
- Oh, sorry Jack, I'm so used
to showing newbies around.
You know this town
better than I do.
- Every Wednesday and
Sunday when I was a kid
I would get my papers out
back there and I would
pedal halfway across this
county to deliver them.
- Well, as you know,
demand is high.
But seeing that you're
from around here,
I'm sure you could
work a good deal.
- Let me think about it.
- Okay, nice to meet you.
- Nice to see you again.
- Hey.
- Hey!
- How's Michael?
- I dropped him off first
thing this morning all smiles.
- Sounds like him.
Homework?
- Yeah, I'm a little
behind on my assessments.
- Do you have time for coffee?
- Uh, sure, why not?
- I saw Jack yesterday.
- And?
- Well, there's got to be some
way to fight the power company.
- You and he talk?
- Yeah, we talked.
- How's apartment hunting?
- Nothing.
- Nothing at all?
- Everything's either too
expensive or too small.
So what's
your back up plan?
- Win the lottery and
live happily ever after.
- Start off with the usual?
- Rich uncles, aunts?
- None that I know of.
- Martha, Christmas is
coming and the children
are young enough to
be placed in homes.
At least in time
for them to be...
- I asked you here for
support, not to concede defeat.
- I know, I know but
my job is to consider
what might be best for
everyone's future.
- What's best is
staying together.
Those kids growing
up in foster homes,
well, they'll turn out
like little criminals.
- A foster home is not
a death sentence.
- Well tell that to the
psychopaths who grow up in them.
- I grew up in one.
- Oh.
Wow.
I didn't know that, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to offend you.
- You don't need to be sorry.
I understand your feelings,
but I don't think
I'm a psychopath.
- Nor do I, I'm sorry.
- My third foster
parents were very loving.
They're my true parents.
- I am never going to give up
those kids, you understand me?
- I'm glad to hear that.
- Well, I gotta move
them out to my place,
the kids, on Saturday.
- You know your
place is too small.
- Yeah, I do know that.
It's just that I don't
have a choice in
the matter until I find
somewhere bigger, do I?
- They don't waste
any time, do they?
- They're like vultures waiting
to feed on our carcasses.
Do you know they already
cut the electricity
and the plumbing, too?
- It'll work out, Martha.
Somehow, it'll work out.
- You know Robert, I
try to believe that,
but lately each day is
worse than the day before.
It is so frustrating.
I mean, it's 10
days til Christmas
and they couldn't let us stay?
Y'all have a merry
Christmas, you hear?
- It's not them, Martha.
They're just doing their job.
In my job I see a lot of misery.
Martha you have to
think of this as
a tragedy like a tornado
or a hurricane.
Don't waste any time on hate.
Try to, you know, get
on with your life.
- I know.
- Now, how can I pitch in?
- Aren't you on duty?
- I'm always on duty.
Sarah.
Go ahead.
- I'll be out helping Martha
move for the next hour or so.
Roger that.
- Oh, my.
You know Michael was 41
inches just a week ago.
That's a good idea.
This is awful.
I can't stand it.
I can't stand it.
- I'll be outside.
- Oh Susan, I'm so glad
you're not here to see this.
Hello.
- Martha, I picked up Michael.
- Hey, how's he doing?
- He's fine, but
Martha, Miss Parker's
on her way over to
your place right now.
- Now?
- You might want to
clean up a little.
- Oh, my gosh.
Alright, thank you, bye.
Miss Parker's coming
over right now.
We gotta, we gotta clean up
really quickly, you guys.
Quickly, quickly!
Come on!
Miss Parker?
- I'm here to do the
guardianship assessment.
- Yeah, Paige mentioned
something about that.
- Have I come at a bad time?
- No, no, good time.
Come on in.
- I know the guardian
will be relieved,
as I am, to know
that Michael's okay.
Thank you, doctor.
- So how did we do?
- Well it's not a
contest, Miss McCarthy.
I'll forward my assessment
to Miss Holloway
and she'll be in touch.
Michael's back!
- Doctor says the best therapy
is to be with his siblings.
- Thanks for bringing
the little boy home.
- Hi Michael, how was it?
Hey, Michael.
- Come on.
- Did you have fun?
- Come here, you.
So how was it, huh?
How was it, did they
teach you to talk yet?
- I'd like the
doctor's full report
on my desk in the morning.
- Well?
- In the morning Miss
Holloway, in the morning.
- Look at them, they're
such good kids.
- Yeah, your sister sure did
something right raising them.
- Yeah, she was
the domestic one.
I was always the wild one.
Paige do you think I'm
making a mistake?
- A mistake?
- Yeah, I mean I know I'm
really trying to fulfill
my sister's wishes for
the kids, I know that.
But maybe I'm just too
selfish to face the facts.
- I would hardly
characterize taking
three kids into your
life as selfish.
- No, I don't mean that,
like, in a material way,
but maybe in a spiritual way.
I mean I just feel like
the world is giving
me punches and I'm not
getting the message.
- Martha, my biological mother
abandoned me two days
after I was born.
I went to live with an aunt
til I was, I was Michael's age.
But she was over 70
when I was born.
Things got to where
she just couldn't
cope anymore she was
too old and weak.
So, here I was this little girl,
cooking and cleaning
up after her.
- Wow, I had no idea.
- Well it didn't seem so
bad to me at the time.
But then one day a social
worker came to my school.
Before she got to
my class I could
see her through the window.
She was holding my
favorite doll in her hand.
I knew then.
Anyway, a moment later there
was a knock at the door
and I never saw my
auntie or my home again.
- Oh, Paige.
- I hated my first foster
home, it was like a prison.
And the second was even worse.
But my third family was
wonderful and they adopted me.
But, I would give anything
to see my auntie again.
- Wow.
- Paige dear, can
you come in here?
- Coming, Miss Parker.
- I want you to drop
the McMurrin case.
- Drop it?
- Now, I'm suggesting
this for your own good.
- I can't drop it, I
need to see it through.
- Through til what,
Miss Holloway?
- Through til I...
- Paige, this family's situation
will likely not have
a happy ending.
Are you certain
you can continue?
- 100 percent, I'm certain.
- Should the time
come to take custody
of these children
could you do it?
- Miss Parker, especially
since there's a chance
I may have to place
those kids in a home,
I want to keep this case.
They're going to
need me even more.
- I'm sure your
daughter will love it.
I had a doll like that
as a little girl.
Thanks again.
- Rough day?
- Well they're all
sort of rough.
- Assessment.
I need to sit down.
Okay.
- You get full marks
on emotional support.
You squeaked by on
financial ability.
But...
- But what?
Hey, after what I've been
through I can take it.
- Martha you, I mean,
we have five days
to find you suitable
accommodations.
- Five days?
- Proper housing is
a state regulation
and five days is the
longest reprieve
that Miss Parker
could legally grant.
- Five days, this is ludicrous.
Martha, I know things
are going slowly here,
but I will certainly
guarantee you
an advance on your salary or...
- No, no, Roger
thank you so much,
it's very kind, but
I've already looked
at everything in town
and there's nothing.
- Well, Miss McCarthy, what
can we do for you today?
- Well,
okay I'm desperate.
I have to find a place to
live for me and the kids
before December 24th
or else the state
will come and take them
away to a foster home.
You're the only person
that I could turn to.
- That little place of
yours seems cozy enough.
- Not for the children.
- What do you expect me to do?
Wave my magic wand and solve
all the world's problems?
- No, I was hoping you'd give me
a loan so I could
build an addition.
- A loan?
- Yeah, that's what
banks are for, right?
- Okay.
What's your collateral?
- Well, I promise
to pay it back.
I won't need much, just
eight or 10,000 is all.
- As much as I might
like to help,
the bank can't loan
money without it
being secured against
something tangible;
land, bonds, investments.
The freeloading
farmers around here
would suck me dry in a week if
I started handing
them unsecured cash.
- I have a car that's
almost paid for.
- Miss McCarthy, let's not
waste your time any further.
To be perfectly blunt
you are too high a risk
for any financial
institution to consider.
And with custody of
your sister's children
you're only becoming
a higher risk.
- Jonathan, I'm
desperate, please,
for the sake of those kids.
Please.
- The world is not a nice place.
And the sooner those children
accept that fact, the better.
I mean, look at me.
I lost my home, I
lost my mother.
I had nobody and nothing.
And today, well.
- Yeah, yeah, you're the
richest man in the county.
The question is,
would your mother be
proud of you now?
I rather doubt it.
Goodbye, Jonathan.
- Damn thing won't start.
It just won't start.
- That's the cupola
that grand daddy built.
- Daddy says that's
where the angels live.
Do you think they
could hear us if we pray?
I think so.
- Please help us find a way
to stay with aunt Martha.
- And if there's a
Supreme Court in heaven,
could you ask them to
help us keep our home?
- Anyway, we could sure
use your help, amen.
Let's go!
- Michael, what are you doing?
Sam,
is our house still standing?
- Yeah, but not for
long, as soon as
they get that machine running.
It's called
a bulldozer, dummy.
Oh.
- Hello.
Jack.
- Martha, what is it?
- Hey, listen, uh, is there any
way that we can move our house?
- What do you mean,
move the house?
Oh.
- Jack!
- Wait, wait a minute, I'm
thinking it through now.
- Well?
- The previous owner
has salvage rights.
The bank has been paid in
full so there's no lien on it.
So yes, Martha, I think the
house is yours to move, yes.
- Thank you, thank
you, thank you!
- What is it?
What are you guys talking about?
- It's just an idea.
Shh, Sam.
- Where will you move it to?
- Here, my place.
- Martha, you know,
that might work.
Hey, do you remember Larry
Clark from high school?
He used to work with a
pro house moving company.
I'll give him a call,
see if he can help.
- Well, Roy's got a flatbed.
- Volunteers, yeah, that's
what we need, volunteers.
- We?
- What?
- You said we.
- Well, I'm getting
excited for you,
I'll do anything I
can to help you.
- Thank you, Jack.
Goodnight.
- Aunt Martha, what's up?
- We are going to move our house
right where she
sits to over here.
It's been done, people move
houses, it's not unthinkable.
- Hey, what are you doing?
Keep this filth off of my car!
- You guys need to get to bed,
we have a long day tomorrow.
Yes, aunt Martha.
Goodnight.
- Okay, that's all I
need to know, thank you.
Sheriff got the
permits, he'll be able
to block the road for two hours.
- Really?
I don't believe it.
God this is really going
to happen, isn't it?
- This time tomorrow
you'll all have your home.
- Should I wake Sam?
- No, let him sleep, it's
going to be a long day.
- You really think we
can move the house?
- I don't see why not.
It's like an old-fashioned
barn raising.
- A what?
- Well, when I was young
folks would pitch in
and contribute
whatever they could
to an old-fashioned
barn raising.
They'd bring food or
tools or equipment
and everybody would pitch in.
- Everyone?
- Yeah, back then
folks seemed to care
more about their
neighbors seems like.
- Things sure have changed.
- Hopefully not too much.
- The people are the same,
just the goodness is
further down inside.
- We'll find out soon
enough, won't we?
Hopefully, we'll need a
lot of sandwiches today.
- Stop, stop, stop!
The whole town is coming
at 10 o'clock to move
this house from this
property to mine.
It's all in the works.
- You must be kidding?
- No, I'm not kidding.
- This is a legal
demolition order.
- I know, but you can't
tear this house down.
- You're going to move it?
Okay guys, okay, at ease.
She going to move it.
- What's the problem?
- No problem, everything's fine.
Help me set up the
coffee and sandwiches,
people should be
here any minute.
- The way I see it,
if we move the house,
your crew can go home
for the holidays.
- Me and the guys, we get to
go home for the holidays early?
- That's good, Michael.
Carry that, put it on the table.
Nobody's to eat any of
these sandwiches, okay?
We're going to need
plenty of sandwiches
and coffee when
everybody shows up.
- I thought I'd be late.
- Nobody's showing up.
- Just relax, Martha.
- Where are they?
Look,
they're arriving.
- Hey you guys, I need cribbing
on all four corners, okay?
Hey Martha, I'm sorry
to be so late.
My dad's old rig needed a little
coaxing this
morning, that's all.
- That thing's been
sitting in the field
rusting for 10 years, hasn't it?
God, were you up all
night fixing it?
- No, no just a little while.
Alright, hey you guys
we're gonna do it.
We're gonna do it, come
on let's get going.
We gotta go, you guys ready?
Wow!
Let's get going!
- Okay, where do we start?
Wow, any of the
corners, come on, you.
- Just a little bit,
watch the window.
- Okay, Jack, more on your side.
- Alright.
- Okay, fella, just hand
me up one of those, please.
That's exactly it.
I'll need the other
in a second here.
- Keep going.
Easy, easy, easy.
- Ow!
Okay, I got both jacks
into the north side
of the house, we're ready to go.
- Hey, one more, alright,
I think this is level.
What do you think?
- Yeah, yeah, that looks good.
- Okay.
- Let's go around the
other side, come on.
Okay you guys, ready?
We're going to move
it on one, right?
One!
- Jack, Jack, it's
not going to work.
- What do you mean it's
not going to work?
Look Bob, we're going
to have this house
moving in three or
four hours tops.
- No, I just drove the route.
The house won't clear
the power lines.
- What power lines?
- There are power lines
across the highway
just about a half mile
before Martha's house.
There's no way, there's no way.
- Well, we'll get somebody to
cut 'em down, Bob, move 'em.
- I had Sarah call
the power company.
- What'd she say?
Is it gonna work?
- What's wrong?
- Martha, it's the power lines.
The ones across the highway
just before your place.
- Bob, we'll get
somebody to take
'em down just until we can roll
the house over
them, that's easy.
- The lines run directly
right off the damn turbines.
You cut them off,
the entire town
goes dark on Christmas Eve.
- Oh no, no, I'm
sorry, but we have
come too far to turn back now.
- I'm sorry, Martha.
I can't find anybody
at the power company
who's willing to
take responsibility
for shutting the
power off to half
the county just to move a house.
- No, no, no, Jack, there's
gotta be something we can do.
There's got to be.
- Wait, wait, wait, I gotta
make a call, I'll be right back.
- My gosh, Martha, what is it?
- Oh, it's those power
lines, I'm so sick of them!
The power lines by my
house are too low,
so the house won't
fit under them.
- What are you talking about?
Where are the kids?
- Oh, Jack said it
was too dangerous
so I sent them over
to Lois Krem's.
- Hey Martha, Martha!
We can move the house.
We can move the house to my
mother's farm with
her blessings.
She's got plenty of
land and no power lines.
- Jack, it'll have to
be a permanent location.
- Let's make it permanent.
Look, what do you say, Martha?
Are you sure?
- Yeah, yeah, I'm sure.
Come on, let's get going,
we've gotta get this done!
Hey you guys, let's go,
we can get it done now!
- Jack, we're moving
a house, a house!
Damn
straight, we are!
I gotta admit though,
I had some doubts.
- Oh, big city lawyer, doubts.
- I'm just a country
boy at heart.
- Jack, we can only block the
road for another 30 minutes.
- That's plenty of time.
- Okay.
- Martha.
- We're moving the house!
- All is well in the world!
- Jack!
I'm so excited.
A little more.
Okay, here!
- Okay, let's get the
blocks under the house.
Houston, we've got contact.
- Paige Holloway!
- Miss Parker, isn't
it wonderful?
- Paige, it's wonderful indeed,
but look at the
state requirements.
These are the minimum
requirements.
Toilet facilities,
drinking water,
heat, electricity, the basics.
- We can accomplish all this
in a few days, Miss Parker.
- It's a mandatory requirement
before occupancy, not after.
- This isn't going to be easy.
- That's because
against my wishes,
you got personally involved.
- Just give us one hour.
You guys, you guys!
- What?
- Miss Parker says that
the house needs heat,
water, electricity
and a working toilet
by 6pm or the kids
can't stay here.
- You've got to be kidding me?
- Otherwise the house isn't
an acceptable residence.
- This woman just doesn't stop.
- Let me talk to her.
Miss Parker, excuse me.
- Martha can reapply for
custody after New Years,
once the house is
fixed up and given
a certificate of occupancy.
- Come on, there's gotta
be some way we can keep
this family together,
at least for Christmas.
- The regulations are clear.
This house is not suitable for
the children, not
even temporarily.
I've told Paige you have one
hour and I'm sticking to it.
- Fine, okay, we'll
work something out.
Guys, guys listen up.
Nobody's going to
split up this family.
Ned, do you have a
generator at home?
- Well yeah, it hasn't
been run for a while, Jack.
- Well, go get it,
go get it and get
a bunch of extension cords.
Hell or high water,
we'll make it work.
You got it.
- I've got a water
cooler and some
cases of bottled
water at my house.
- Yeah, bring them and what
about a propane heater?
- Yeah.
- Get that, too, good.
- Okay.
- Think she'll go for it?
- You know, technically, if
there's water in the house,
even if it's bottled,
and electric,
however limited, and a heater,
even if it's a portable,
and a toilet, technically,
no violations.
- Oh, I hope you're right.
She probably just needs
a face-saving way out.
- Yeah, well let's
give her one, huh?
You think you can track
down a chemical toilet?
- I saw one, construction
site just down the road.
- Go get it.
- I'm all over it.
- You're kidding.
- It's going to work, I'm
telling you, don't worry.
- See, if Ned's got a
generator over there,
I'm telling you, this'll work.
Here.
And Roger Jenkin, here we
go, he's got this heater.
Yeah.
- And a lot of
water, right, Roger?
Hey, look
at the sheriff.
- Jack, the damn
generator won't start.
- Oh, you're kidding.
- It won't catch, I'm sorry.
- Alright, never mind, I
got another idea, come on.
- I'm sorry, Martha.
- What's wrong?
- It's too late, the house isn't
acceptable without electricity.
I have to take the kids.
- You can't take the kids.
Jack's working on something
right now, he's on it.
- Please, don't make this
harder than it already is.
- Look, it's mom
and dad's light!
- You know you told
that you were going
to help us stay
together as a family.
You promised!
- I'm just doing my job.
- These kids are mine,
now, do you understand me?
- Dad said that's where
the angels live.
- Martha the rules are clear.
The kids need to
come with me now.
- Really?
Over my dead body!
- I'll take over, Paige.
It's alright, Miss Holloway,
I said I'll take over from here.
Uh, Miss McCarthy,
do you know anything
about those Christmas lights?
- Susan and John put
them up there on
the same day that they
had their car accident.
- I see, they seem
to be electric.
- Yeah,
yeah, they are.
- I'm sure Paige told you the
rules concerning the house.
You know I'm duty bound to act
in the best interests
of the children.
Under the circumstances,
the law is very clear.
I have no choice but
to certify this house
as habitable for you and
three young children.
Merry Christmas, Miss McCarthy.
Merry Christmas to you,
too, Miss Parker.
- No exceptions?
- I trust those lights are
electric as Miss McCarthy
claims.
You're right, a
good social worker
knows when to follow her heart.
Merry Christmas, Paige.
- I'm sorry.
I know I let you down.
- You know we wouldn't
even be standing
here if it weren't
for your help.
I understand.
- Look!
Whoa!
- It doesn't say who it's from.
- Open it up, maybe
there's a note.
- Yeah.
I told mom I wanted this.
How did you know, aunt Martha?
I never told anyone else.
- Yeah, how'd you know?
- You guys, I didn't
buy these presents.
- Look!
- Hey, hey Michael.
There you go, man, I got ya.
Atta boy, go get it!
- Remember the collection
jar from the coffee shop?
Tada!
- Did you two bring
those presents?
- Not me, no I had to
rewire the old rig.
Some jerk blew the
electrical system.
- Paige?
- No, after I left here I
wrote assessments all night.
- Oh well, I don't believe
either one of you, but thank
you.
- Brought you a little
something, Martha.
- It may be too
late for the words
I never said seven years ago.
- But I hope it's not
too late for us.
- Are you going to be
my mommy and daddy?
- Absolutely.
- Martha, I think
I'm finally home.
- I think we all are.