A Christmas for Mary (2020) - full transcript

♪ WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO ♪

♪ HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING ♪

♪ GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING! ♪

♪ PEACE ON EARTH
AND MERCY MILD ♪

♪ GOD AND SINNERS RECONCILED ♪

♪ HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING ♪

♪ GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING ♪

OKAY, THIS IS IT.

I NEED A STORY
FOR THE CHRISTMAS ISSUE

THAT REALLY POPS,

AND ALL I GOT IS AN EMPTY CHAIR.



I'VE GOT TWO PULITZER
PRIZE WINNERS,

A PEN AWARD WINNER,

AND TWO BEST-SELLING NOVELISTS
ON MY STAFF.

SO I ASKED THEM
FOR SOME STORY IDEAS.

THEY LOOK AT ME LIKE
I'M THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST.

I'M SERIOUS.

YOU GET ME RIGHT, LENA?

THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOING ON
IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW,

AND PEOPLE NEED A BREAK
FROM ALL THAT NOISE.

I KNOW I CERTAINLY DO.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

I WAS JUST HOPING THAT ONE
OF THEM WOULD VOLUNTEER.

I COULD FORCE ONE OF THEM,
YOU KNOW?

I'M NOT SURE THAT WOULD BE
IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.



HMM.

I-I MEAN...

JUST THAT, UH...

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN,
AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

JUST LIKE I'M RIGHT ABOUT
THIS CHRISTMAS STORY.

I COULD FEEL IT IN MY GUT.

MY GUT IS NEVER WRONG.

I WANT NEWS IN THIS NEXT ISSUE.

AND I WANT THIS CHRISTMAS STORY
TO HAVE, YOU KNOW,

THE VIBRANT WAY
WITH LIFE, STYLE, SOUL.

I COULD WRITE IT.

YOU?

DID YOU READ THAT WRITING SAMPLE

THAT I SENT YOU YET?

THE ONE ABOUT THAT SOCIAL WORKER

IN THE TENDERLOIN?

LENA, I KNOW
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE

MY ASSISTANT FOREVER.

SO YOU DID READ IT.

UM...

VIVIAN.

WHAT?

READ IT TONIGHT. PLEASE?

IF YOU DON'T THINK
IT'S ANY GOOD,

I WON'T MENTION IT AGAIN.

AND WHAT IF I DO THINK
IT'S GOOD?

LET ME WRITE
YOUR CHRISTMAS STORY.

OH, WOW.

OH, THAT'S A BIG LEAP, LENA.

FROM MY ASSISTANT
TO A FEATURE ARTICLE.

I CAN DO THIS, VIVIAN.

I PROMISE YOU.

I'LL CALL YOU TONIGHT.

YEAH.

OH, BABY, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

IT'S NOT DEFINITE YET.

NOW, LOOK, WHAT DO I ALWAYS SAY?

GET UP.

STAND UP, GET UP, STRUT.

YOU GOT THIS.

I STILL HAVE TO
THINK OF SOMETHING.

I MEAN, IF SHE LIKES
MY SAMPLE STORY.

DO YOU THINK SHE WILL?

NOW, SHE STRIKES ME
AS A VERY BRIGHT WOMAN.

NOW, IF SHE CAN'T SEE
THIS LIGHT IN YOU,

THEN YOU JUST GOT
TO SHINE BRIGHT

UNTIL SOMEBODY ELSE DOES.

BUT I HAVE A FEELING
SHE'LL BE CALLING.

OH.

HELLO?

HEY, MAYA.

YEAH.

OH? OH.

OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL NEWS.

WELL, YEAH, OF COURSE SHE CAN.

COME ON. HE'S GONNA BE FAMILY.

OH, OKAY.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.
THAT'S AMAZING.

OKAY, YEAH.

OKAY, I'LL SEE YOU THEN.

OH. YOUR COUSIN JUNE
IS GETTING ENGAGED.

SHE'S BRINGING HER FIANCé
TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY.

HERE I THOUGHT I'D BE
BRINGING MY FIANCé

TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY.

OH, NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

JUST WAIT A MINUTE.

THAT WAS SIX MONTHS AGO.

I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY
BEING SINGLE AT CHRISTMAS,

BUT I ALSO KNOW
THAT THE RIGHT PERSON

FOR A WONDERFUL WOMAN LIKE YOU

IS STILL OUT THERE.

BUT WHAT IF HE WAS THE ONE, MOM?

THE ONE?

GIRL, WHAT AM I
GONNA DO WITH YOU?

DAD WAS YOUR ONE, RIGHT?

AND GRANDMA FOR GRANDPA.

THOSE TWO.

DAD AND MOM. YEAH.

IF THERE WERE EVER TWO PEOPLE

MEANT TO BE TOGETHER,
IT WAS THEM.

MM. THEY'RE
TOGETHER FOREVER NOW.

TOUGH YEAR. YEAH.

FIRST CHRISTMAS
WITHOUT THE BOTH OF THEM.

BUT WE'VE STILL GOT
TO CELEBRATE, RIGHT?

YES. OKAY.

OH, BABY, NOW, THERE'S A FAVOR
I WANT TO DO FOR ME.

THERE'S A BUNCH OF POP'S STUFF.

WE PUT IT UP IN THE ATTIC.

I'M GONNA GO THROUGH
ALL OF IT SOMEDAY,

BUT THERE'S A SANTA
HE USED TO PUT ON THE PORCH.

IT'S UP THERE SOMEWHERE.

THAT SANTA? YES.

NOW, COULD YOU GO UP THERE
AND JUST TRY TO FIND IT?

IT'LL SORT OF BE LIKE
HE'S STILL HERE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

HMM.

"MY LIFE, LOVE AND SOUL."

A CHRISTMAS FOR MARY.

"ALWAYS, CLARENCE."

MM.

WOW, GRANDPA'S PALETTE.

WONDER KIND OF MUSIC
HE LISTENED TO.

LOOK HOW HANDSOME HE WAS.

WHAT'S THIS?

GRANDPA'S JOURNAL.

YOU'RE NOT GRANDMA.

YOU MUST BE MARY.

ALOHA, SANTA CLAUS.

I STILL REMEMBER
WHEN MOM AND DAD

BROUGHT HIM BACK FROM HAWAII.

I WAS IN COLLEGE.

THEN I WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE,

AND MOM AND DAD
STARTED ACTING LIKE

THEY WERE A COUPLE
OF COLLEGE KIDS AGAIN.

SMELLS LIKE CHRISTMAS.

YOUR FAVORITE PIES IN THE OVEN.

ALRIGHT, NOW, APPLE CRUMBLE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

AHH.

I SEE YOU FOUND
CLARENCE'S SANTA.

THOUGHT I'D HIDDEN HIM
BETTER THAN THAT.

JUST KIDDING.

I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT HIM OUT.

WHAT'S THAT, LENA?

I FOUND THIS, TOO.

IT WAS WITH
SOME OTHER PAINTINGS.

OH, THE PAINTINGS.

DAD'S OTHER LIFE.

YOUR GRANDPA,
HE WAS A TRUE RENAISSANCE MAN.

SHE'S BEAUTIFUL. MM.

I MEAN, NOT AS BEAUTIFUL
AS YOU, OF COURSE.

DOESN'T LOOK MUCH
LIKE YOUR MOM, THOUGH.

THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT MOM.

"MY LIFE, LOVE AND SOUL."

A CHRISTMAS FOR MARY.

"ALWAYS, CLARENCE."

WHAT?

THAT'S WHAT IT SAID.

WELL, WHO IS MARY?

YOU KNOW. IT'S YOUR DAD.

I FOUND THIS, TOO.

I THINK THIS IS HER.

- THAT'S HER, ALRIGHT.
- HMM.

- HMM. STOP IT.
- WHAT?

HMM. I KNOW WHAT HMM IS.
THIS IS NOT A HMM.

THIS IS... WHAT?

NOT A HMM.

DO YOU THINK IT'S SOMEBODY
THAT GRANDPA WAS DATING?

I SAID IT'S NOT A HMM.

I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT'S WHAT A "HMM" WAS.

LOOK, IT'S ALRIGHT FOR YOUR DAD

TO HAVE ANOTHER GIRLFRIEND.

THIS IS NOT ANOTHER GIRLFRIEND.

BABY... HMM?

ALL FAMILIES HAVE SECRETS.

YEAH, MAYBE YOUR SIDE.

NOW, DEBBIE, YOUR DAD WOULD
BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT

THAT HE HAD
A PRETTY SPIRITED YOUTH.

LOOK, MOM AND DAD WENT
TO HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER.

BUT YOU SAID THEY GOT MARRIED
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

DID YOUR GRANDDAD EVER TELL YOU

THAT STORY
ABOUT HARLEM JAZZ CLUB?

NO, GRANDPA, JAZZ CLUB?

MOM WAS WITH HIM THEN.

SHE CALMED DAD DOWN
FOR THE BETTER.

HE MENTIONED THAT
ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.

BUT SHE DOES LOOK ABOUT
20-SOMETHING, DOESN'T SHE?

SHE'S SOMETHING.
I GIVE YOU THAT.

STOP.

DAD. OH.

PINEVILLE.

PINEVILLE?

YEAH, I BET YOU ANYTHING,

THAT'S WHERE THIS PHOTO
WAS TAKEN.

IT'S A LITTLE TOWN

ABOUT THREE OR FOUR HOURS
AWAY FROM HERE.

THERE'S A TRAIN STOP THERE,

AND IT'S KIND OF HIDDEN AWAY.

YEAH, DAD USED TO STOP THERE

WHEN HE WAS TRAVELING
AND WRITING, PAINTING.

WHAT ELSE DID HE SAY ABOUT IT?

IT'S LIKE HE MARKED HIS LIFE

BEFORE PINEVILLE AND AFTER.

I NEVER KNEW EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT MUCH,

BUT HE MENTIONED IT
A COUPLE OF TIMES VAGUELY

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

THAT ALWAYS STUCK
WITH ME, THOUGH.

THE LAST CHRISTMAS IN PINEVILLE.

DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE

THAT HE MIGHT HAVE
FALLEN IN LOVE

WHEN HE WAS IN PINEVILLE?

WELL, I NEVER THOUGHT MY DAD

HAD EYES FOR ANYBODY
BUT MY MOM, BUT...

WHAT WAS HE WORKING ON
IN PINEVILLE?

I'M NOT SURE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW
THAT HE STARTED WORKING

AT THE "EAST BAY TIMES"
SOON AFTER.

"CHRISTMAS IN PINEVILLE"?

HMM.

YOUR GRANDFATHER

WROTE THOUSANDS OF STORIES
IN HIS LIFE.

YOU PROBABLY KNOW SOME
OF THEM BETTER THAN I DO.

BUT WITH HIS CRAZY SHORTHAND,

IT'S HARD TO PUT
ANYTHING TOGETHER,

ESPECIALLY STUFF
THAT'S DECADES OLD.

THE WAY YOU KEEP YOUR JOURNAL,

YOU REMIND ME OF HIM.

- "25 - K SAVINGS,

ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT
IN THE CITY.

WRITER AT VIBRANT."

IS THIS YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST?

GOAL.

AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT

ALL THAT GRANDPA
ACCOMPLISHED BY MY AGE,

I MEAN, ALREADY PUBLISHED,
WRITING, PAINTING.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
ABOUT THE JAZZ CLUBS.

YOU'LL MAKE YOUR OWN WAY
IN YOUR OWN TIME.

NOW, WAIT. NOW, WHAT'S THIS?

IN GRANDPA'S JOURNAL,

IN BETWEEN THE SHORT STORIES

AND THE CRAZY SHORTHAND,
I FOUND SOMETHING ELSE.

DID HE EVER MENTION
A CRIME STORY

HE WAS COVERING IN PINEVILLE?

CRIME?

MY DADDY DID A LOT
OF REPORTING LIKE THAT.

I KNOW FOR THE PAPER,
HE COVERED EVERYTHING.

BUT... I'M SO SORRY.

I ALWAYS MEANT
TO GET HIM TO OPEN UP

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
IN PINEVILLE, BUT I NEVER DID.

HMM.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT A STORY,

AND I KNOW FOR CERTAIN

HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING TO ME
ABOUT A LOVE AFFAIR.

YEAH.

HE MENTIONS THIS MARY
IN THE JOURNALS,

BUT ONLY IN BITS, FRAGMENTS.

CHRISTMAS IN PINEVILLE.

IT'S LIKE HE HAD ANOTHER LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

WELL, EXACTLY WHAT DID HE SAY?

WERE THEY...

THERE'S NOT A LOT
OF REAL DETAILS,

AT LEAST WHAT I COULD MAKE OUT.

WELL, THAT'S
A PRETTY BIG DETAIL.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT IF... WHAT IF
HE AND THIS OTHER WOMAN...

OH, I JUST WISH I KNEW FOR SURE.

ME TOO.

IT'S VIVIAN.

YOU GOT THIS.

VIVIAN?

YOU'VE GOT HEART, YOU'RE RAW,

BUT YOU'RE TALENTED.

I AM?

Drop the question mark, Lena.

YOU NEED TO BUILD CONFIDENCE,

AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

YOU ARE?

I MEAN, YES, YOU ARE.

THATAGIRL.

NOW, TO PROVE
THAT YOU'RE NOT A FLUKE,

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A CRACK
AT THE CHRISTMAS STORY.

And if you deliver,

I'm gonna put you
on staff first of the year.

YOU'RE GONNA PUT ME ON STAFF?

I MEAN,
YOU WILL PUT ME ON STAFF.

I GOT TO SEE YOUR STORY FIRST.

NOW, WHAT DO YOU GET?

THE LAST CHRISTMAS IN PINEVILLE.

OKAY, NICE LOCATION. LOVE STORY?

I'M NOT SURE.

I FOUND THIS PORTRAIT
MY GRANDPA PAINTED

OF THIS WOMAN.

OOH. AND THIS WOMAN,
NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER?

MAYBE THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY?

She's beautiful.

Decorating a Christmas tree.

HMM. SPICY.

I THOUGHT THAT YOUR GRANDPA
WAS A WRITER, THOUGH?

WRITER, PAINTER, PHOTOGRAPHER.

HE WAS A RENAISSANCE MAN.

MM. I LOVE A RENAISSANCE MAN.

AND HE WAS WORKING
ON SOME STORY.

I'M NOT SURE
HE EVER FINISHED IT.

THERE'S SOME PIECES MISSING.

I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT EXACTLY
WHAT WENT ON THERE.

LOVE, ROMANCE,
MYSTERY, CHRISTMAS.

SOMETHING IN MY GUT
TELLS ME IT'S SPECIAL.

I DON'T KNOW. IT'S...

NO, NO, NO, NO. YOU DO KNOW.

THIS IS YOUR STORY,
AND IT'S CALLING YOU.

YES, YOU COULD SAY THAT.

I WANT YOU TO SAY IT.

YES, IT'S CALLING ME.

THEN GO TO PINEVILLE

AND FIND THAT STORY
AND BRING IT BACK TO ME.

OKAY, I WILL.

THANK YOU, VIVIAN.

YOU'RE WELCOME.
TALK TO YOU SOON.

♪ YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY ♪

OH, I'M SO PROUD
OF YOU, LITTLE GIRL.

OH, I'M GONNA MISS
HELPING YOU WITH CHRISTMAS.

I SAW THE DECORATIONS.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.

OH, SWEETHEART.

I MISS YOUR GRANDFATHER SO MUCH.

IF YOU CAN MANAGE TO GIVE ME

JUST A LITTLE BIT
MORE OF HIS LIFE,

WELL, THAT WOULD BE
THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

ANYONE COULD EVER GIVE ME.

OH.

MAN, YOU MAKE ME PROUD.

YOU GO GET THAT STORY. I WILL.

♪ FRESH-WORN CLOTHES,
MISTLETOES ♪

♪ IT'S MY FAVORITE
TIME OF YEAR ♪

♪ WE HANG HOLIDAY LIGHTS ♪

♪ MAKE THE CITY SHINE BRIGHT ♪

♪ EVERYONE IS FILLED
WITH CHEER ♪

♪ HEY, IT'S CHRISTMAS ♪

♪ SMILING FACES, BUTTER CHEEKS ♪

♪ EVERYBODY'S IN THE KITCHEN,
HAVING HOLIDAY TREATS ♪

♪ CANDY CANES, PEPPERMINT ♪

♪ GOT MARSHMALLOW
IN THE HOT COCOA ♪

♪ LET'S GO,
IT'S TIME TO DECORATE ♪

♪ HANG STOCKINGS
ON THE FIREPLACE ♪

♪ TURN ON THE LIGHTS
FOR THE CHRISTMAS TREE ♪

♪ AND OPEN UP THE CURTAINS
SO THE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE ♪

♪ FRESH-WORN CLOTHES,
MISTLETOES ♪

♪ IT'S MY FAVORITE
TIME OF YEAR ♪

♪ WE HANG HOLIDAY LIGHTS ♪

♪ MAKE THE CITY SHINE BRIGHT ♪

♪ THE WHOLE WORLD
IS FILLED WITH CHEER ♪

♪ HEY, IT'S CHRISTMAS ♪

♪ BREAK IT DOWN NOW ♪

UH, MISS?

HELLO. HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

UM, I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE.

I WAS HOPING
TO CHECK YOUR ARCHIVES.

MY NAME IS LENA JONES.

WE MIGHT HAVE SPOKEN
ON THE PHONE.

SOMEONE SAID RECORDS
HAD TO BE SEARCHED IN PERSON.

THAT'S RIGHT.
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU OUT.

WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

WOULD YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW A MARY?

- WELL, THAT'S MY NAME.
- REALLY?

AND THEN THERE'S MARY WHITE
AND MARY BOYD.

MARY RUTH LYNN.
OH, AND MARY CORNWELL.

A LOT OF MARYS HERE. MM-HMM.

YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN
TO KNOW THIS MARY?

MARY PAYTON.

YOU DO KNOW HER?

I KNEW HER.

SHE JOINED HER BELOVED
RICHARD FIRST OF THE YEAR.

HE PASSED AWAY A FEW YEARS AGO.

GOSH, THOSE TWO
WERE INSEPARABLE.

SUCH A LOVE STORY.

DID YOU KNOW HER?

SHE KNEW MY GRANDPA.

I THINK, UM, HE PASSED
THROUGH HERE A LONG TIME AGO.

WELL, I'VE BEEN HERE 10 YEARS,

BUT MARY AND RICHARD
WERE ALREADY LIKE

AN INSTITUTION AROUND HERE,

ALWAYS HOLDING HANDS.

WOULD I BE ABLE TO CHECK
YOUR OLD LOCAL NEWSPAPERS?

OR IN OUR CASE, PAPER.

THE ONLY LOCAL PAPER ANYMORE
IS THE "PINEVILLE PRESS."

OH. HAS THAT
ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE?

NOT ALWAYS.
YOU KNOW, A LONG TIME AGO,

PINEVILLE HAD AS MANY
AS FOUR NEWSPAPERS.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

BUT "PINEVILLE HERALD TIMES"
SHUT DOWN IN 2010.

OH.

OR WAS IT 2012? THAT'S...

ACTUALLY I WAS HOPING
TO CHECK YOUR OLDER PAPERS.

OH, WELL, WE HAVE
A COUPLE OF HARD COPIES.

ALL THE OTHER ARCHIVES
ARE ON MICROFICHE

AND THE COMPUTER, OF COURSE.

THAT'S GREAT.

SO YOU SAID YOUR GRANDFATHER
LIVED IN PINEVILLE?

NO, HE WAS HERE
WORKING ON A STORY...

I THINK.

HE WAS A REPORTER
FOR THE "EAST BAY TIMES"

FOR FOREVER.

DID YOU LOOK THROUGH
THEIR ARCHIVES?

WHAT I COULD BEFORE I LEFT.

YOU KNOW, I TRIED GOOGLE,

AND I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING.

AND THEN
WHEN I CALLED THE PAPER,

THEY SAID THAT A FIRE
IN THE '70s

HAD PRETTY MUCH WIPED OUT
EVERYTHING BEFORE THAT.

OH.

WHAT'S WRONG?

PINEVILLE ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET

THEIR LOCAL PAPER UNTIL 1958.

OH, THAT'S FINE.

BUT THE OLDEST ARCHIVES
WE HAVE ARE ONLY 25 YEARS OLD.

YOUR OLDEST ARCHIVES
ARE FROM 1995?

THAT'S LAST CENTURY.

WE DO HAVE A FEW PIECES
THAT ARE OLDER,

BUT NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL.

JUST BIG EVENTS,

MAN ON THE MOON,
THAT KIND OF THING.

I'M SORRY.

THAT'S OKAY.

I MEAN, YOU DO HAVE
A PRETTY NEAT TOWN HERE.

THAT WE DO.

DOES MARY HAVE ANY FAMILY
LEFT IN TOWN?

OH, YES, MARY'S CAFE.

THAT'S ONE OF
THE OLDEST BUSINESSES IN TOWN.

HER FAMILY RUNS IT NOW.

THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

THANK YOU.

- GOOD LUCK.
- THANKS.

HO, HO, HO.

HEY, HEY, HEY.

UH... I MEAN...

I'M SORRY.

WE'RE A LITTLE BIT
SHORT-STAFFED RIGHT NOW.

I'M GETTING READY
FOR THE BOOK EXCHANGE.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU? COFFEE?

NO, NO, THANK YOU.

UM...

MY NAME IS LENA JONES.

I WAS LOOKING
FOR SOME INFORMATION

ABOUT A MARY PAYTON.

THAT'S MY GRANDMOTHER.

SHE PASSED AWAY
EARLIER THIS YEAR.

YES, I HEARD. I'M SORRY.

I'M MICHAEL. MICHAEL PAYTON.

VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.

MY GRANDFATHER PASSED AWAY
EARLIER THIS YEAR, TOO.

OH.

WELL, I WAS GOING THROUGH
SOME OF THESE THINGS

AND, YOU SEE,
I THINK OUR GRANDPARENTS

MIGHT HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER.

HOLD ON TO THAT THOUGHT.

I THINK MY COOKIES ARE ON FIRE.

YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.

FOCUS, LENA, FOCUS.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO,
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

OH, MAN.

ELLA.

OH, YEAH.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE
CHRISTMAS ALBUM.

I HAVE THE SAME ALBUM.

YOU HAVE GOOD TASTE.

BUT DON'T TASTE THESE.

OH, NO, I'M SORRY.

NO, DON'T BE SORRY.

IT'S OUR FIRST BOOK EXCHANGE
WITHOUT GRANDMA.

WE ALL BEEN A LITTLE SCATTERED.

LAST TIME,
THE SPRINKLERS WENT OFF.

YEAH.

SOMEHOW GRANDMA DIDN'T MANAGE

TO PASS ON HER BAKING
INTO THE NEXT GENERATION.

YEAH.

MY DAD'S THE ONE
THAT SET OFF THE SPRINKLERS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE,

IT DIDN'T SKIP
AND LAND ON ME EITHER.

SORRY, YOU DON'T NEED TO HIT US.

NO, I DO ACTUALLY.

THIS IS EXACTLY
WHAT I WANT TO HEAR.

I'M WRITING A STORY.

A STORY ABOUT MY GRANDMA?

I WORK AT VIBRANT MAGAZINE.

OH, VIBRANT.

I'VE BEEN READING THAT
FOR A LONG TIME.

BIG FAN. THANK YOU.

LOOK, I WOULD LOVE
TO TALK TO YOU,

BUT I DO HAVE TO GET BACK
AND CLEAN UP

AND MAKE ANOTHER BATCH
OF COOKIES IN A HURRY.

MAYBE YOU COULD COME BACK LATER.

WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?

THAT'S MY GRANDPA
STANDING NEXT TO HER.

WOW. THEY LOOK LIKE A COUPLE.

YOU KNOW, I COULD HELP YOU MAKE
A NEW BATCH OF COOKIES,

AND YOU COULD TELL ME A LITTLE
MORE ABOUT YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

YOU COULD?

YEAH, LET ME GO MAKE
A QUICK PHONE CALL

WHILE I GRAB THE PAINTING.

THE PAINTING?

OF YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

WAIT, YOU HAVE A PAINTING
OF MY GRANDMOTHER, TOO?

HI, MOM.

CAN YOU TEXT ME
YOUR CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPE?

Which one? Little soldier boy?

THE CHOCOLATE
GONNA KNOCK YOU OUT,

OR MY SWEET DREAMS OF CHRISTMAS?

THE GINGERBREAD.

AH, SUGAR AND SPICE
AND, OH, SO NICE.

OH, WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU'RE MAKING COOKIES?

I thought you had a story
you were working on.

MICHAEL HAD A LITTLE ACCIDENT.

MICHAEL? WHO'S MICHAEL?

IT'S NOTHING.

HE'S MARY'S GRANDSON.

MM-HMM.

MOM, IT'S NOT A MM-HMM.

HE'S CUTE.
I CAN HEAR IT IN YOUR VOICE.

OH, HE'S GORGEOUS.

I MEAN, MOM, I'M WORKING
ON A STORY, OKAY?

YEAH. WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT DAD?

WE JUST MET.

I'M GONNA ASK HIM.

OKAY, I'M GONNA
TEXT YOU THE RECIPE.

Good luck.

THANKS, MOM.

AH. DEFINITELY MY GRANDMOTHER.

SHE'S BEAUTIFUL, MICHAEL.

THE BOOK EXCHANGE WAS SOMETHING
SHE STARTED WAY BACK.

SHE WAS A TEACHER, TOO.

COMMUNITY AND LEARNING,

THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS ALL ABOUT.

AND WE WANTED TO KEEP
THE SAME TRADITION.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M DRESSED
LIKE THIS, BY THE WAY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST GOING

FOR A NEW LOOK OR SOMETHING.

I'M SANTA A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR.

REALLY?

IT'S A PERK OF THE JOB.

HEY, IF THERE'S ANYTHING
YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS,

LET ME KNOW.

WOW. THEY REALLY
REMIND ME OF GRANDMA.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS LITTLE,
I USED TO HELP HER BAKE.

YOU DIDN'T LEARN ANYTHING
WHEN YOU WERE HELPING HER OUT?

I WAS 5 AND MAINLY LICKING
A BOWL AND SPOONS.

CHRISTMAS WAS HER FAVORITE,

AND THE FAMILY
LOVED HER COOKIES.

SO DID THE TOWN.

SHE SOUNDS LIKE MY MOM.
I CAN'T LIE.

THIS IS HER
CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPE.

MM.

SHE'S LIKE THE QUEEN
OF CHRISTMAS.

EVERY YEAR,
COOKIES, CAKES, PIES,

BIG CHRISTMAS PARTY, THE WORKS.

WHAT IS IT?

IT'S JUST THAT, UH,
DO YOU REALLY THINK

THERE'S MORE TO OUR
GRANDPARENTS' RELATIONSHIP

THAN JUST FRIENDSHIP?

I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S... IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN.

I... YOU KNOW,
I WENT THROUGH THE ATTIC

AND WENT THROUGH
SOME OF HIS THINGS,

AND THERE WERE
UNFINISHED PAINTINGS

AND STORIES
AND FRAGMENTS OF IDEAS.

AND MARY WAS SOME BIT
OF THAT, BUT...

SEEING ALL THAT STUFF,
IT OPENED UP

A LOT OF MEMORIES FOR ME,

BUT I DON'T KNOW
HOW IT ALL FITS.

AND YOU THINK GETTING
TO KNOW MY GRANDMA

COULD HELP YOU PUT
SOME OF THE PIECES TOGETHER.

MAYBE.

A LOT OF MY GRANDMA'S STUFF
IS IN HER OLD ROOM.

I MOVED IN A COUPLE
OF MONTHS AGO,

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN READY TO GO
THROUGH ANY OF HER STUFF YET.

ARE YOU SURE

SHE NEVER MENTIONED
A CLARENCE COBB?

I MEAN, I'LL ASK MY DAD,
BUT THAT'S HIS MOM.

HOW LONG YOU IN TOWN FOR?

JUST A FEW DAYS.

MAYBE YOU COULD
COME BY TOMORROW FOR LUNCH.

- DAD WILL BE HERE.
- THAT'D BE GREAT.

I'LL GO THROUGH SOME
OF HER STUFF TONIGHT.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW
IF I CAN FIND ANYTHING.

OH, NO, YOU DON'T...
I JUST MEAN,

I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO
ANYTHING YOU'RE NOT READY FOR.

IT TOOK ME A WHILE, TOO.

TALKING TO YOU REALLY GOT ME
THINKING ABOUT HER.

I WANT TO.

HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE
SOME NEWS FOR YOU TOMORROW.

HEY, BEFORE YOU GO, DO YOU MIND

IF I TAKE A PHOTO
OF THE PAINTING?

I COULD SEND IT TO MY DAD NOW.

NO, NOT AT ALL. PLEASE.

OH, COOL.

NICE.

WOW. YEAH, THAT'S MOM, ALRIGHT.

YEAH.

I BET YOU
THE REAL THING'S INCREDIBLE.

YEAH.

IT'S JUST AMAZING
THAT THIS WOMAN

WOULD HAVE A PAINTING OF MOM.

I TOLD LENA

THAT YOU'LL BE HAPPY
TO SPEAK WITH HER ABOUT IT.

LENA, HUH?

BEAUTIFUL.

LENA'S BEAUTIFUL?

THE PAINTING, DAD.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PAINTING.

SO WHERE IS THIS LENA FROM?

SHE FROM NEW YORK?

NO. WHY YOU SAY THAT?

WELL, BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAID
HER NAME JUST NOW,

YOU LIT UP THE SAME WAY YOU DO
WHEN YOU SAY "NEW YORK."

SHE'S CUTE. WELL, YOU KNOW.

YEAH, I KNOW.

YOU TO KEEP YOUR HEAD
ON STRAIGHT, THOUGH.

YEAH.

I CAN'T BELIEVE NEW YORK
IS FINALLY HAPPENING.

HMM.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

I REMEMBER HOW EXCITED YOU WERE

WHEN THAT ACCEPTANCE LETTER
CAME IN FROM COLUMBIA.

I WANTED NOTHING MORE

THAN TO BE ABLE
TO SEND YOU THERE BACK THEN,

BUT, YOU KNOW...

IT ALL WORKED OUT, DAD.

AND IF THIS JOB TURNS OUT
AS GOOD AS I THINK IT WILL BE,

MAYBE YOUR GRANDKIDS
WILL BE COLUMBIA GRADS.

YOU TALKING ABOUT MY
WHAT NOW, GRANDKIDS?

SOMETHING YOU WANT
TO TELL ME, SON?

YOU SURE?

NO, NO, NO. ONE THING AT A TIME.

ALRIGHT. PRIORITIES.

YES, AND NEW YORK
IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

BOYS, TIME FOR DINNER.

"MARY, I JUST WANTED
TO WRITE YOU A NOTE"

AND THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL
PICNIC ON SUNDAY.

EVERY DAY WITH YOU
HAS BEEN A TREASURE.

TIME SEEMS TO STAND STILL
AND AT THE SAME TIME

MOVE TOO FAST
WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER.

I LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU AGAIN.

"ALWAYS, CLARENCE."

AND WHO WERE YOU EXACTLY,
CLARENCE?

MICHAEL SEEMS LIKE
SUCH A NICE GUY.

THE FAMILY'S A LOT LIKE OURS.

SHOULD I SET ANOTHER PLACE
AT THE TABLE FOR CHRISTMAS?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOU'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT MICHAEL, WHAT,

FOR THE PAST 10 MINUTES?

THAT DOESN'T MEAN

I WANT YOU TO START
PLANNING OUR WEDDING.

HE SOUNDS WONDERFUL.

MOM.

He really likes Ella Fitzgerald?

MOM, I'M WORKING. OKAY?

Okay, okay, but I think
you can multitask

AND FORGIVE ME
IF I'D RATHER TALK ABOUT YOU

AND A NEW GUY THAN
MY FATHER AND A NEW WOMAN.

I'M SORRY, MOM.

OH, WELL, IT'LL BE
WHAT IT'LL BE, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE THERE
TO FIND OUT.

I'M TALKING
TO MARY'S SON TOMORROW.

MM.

ARE YOU STILL THERE?

YEAH, IT'S JUST...

IF I DO FIND OUT

THAT GRANDPA HAD SOME OTHER LIFE

or some kind of affair
or something,

do you really want to know?

WELL, YOUR GRANDPA MAY HAVE,
AT ONE TIME,

BEEN IN LOVE WITH THIS MARY,

but I have to believe

that my mom
was his one true love,

his one. I've got to believe.

I got to believe that my father,

WHATEVER THIS WAS,
IT WASN'T SOMETHING UGLY.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE
MY FATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL.

HE REALLY WAS, WASN'T HE?

LENA, BABY,
I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING,

BUT MAYBE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR IS RIGHT THERE,

RIGHT THERE IN PINEVILLE

AND LIKES ELLA FITZGERALD.

DAD, LENA DOES SEEM
WELL-INTENTIONED.

AND HOPEFULLY SHE IS.

I JUST THINK WE SHOULD HOLD OFF

ON MENTIONING THESE LETTERS
TO HER JUST YET.

THAT'S HER GRANDFATHER.

YEAH, BUT THEY'RE LETTERS
TO MY MOTHER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
KIND OF PRIVATE SECRETS

ARE IN THESE THINGS YET.

LOOK, YOU HAVEN'T READ
ANY OF THIS, HAVE YOU?

NO, NOT YET. I FELT A LITTLE...

GOOD. WHERE'D YOU SAY
YOU FOUND THIS ANYWAY?

I FOUND IT IN HER OLD TRUNK
WITH THE REST OF HER STUFF.

YOU DO UNDERSTAND WHERE
I'M COMING FROM, RIGHT?

I JUST THINK
I SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE

TO LOOK THROUGH
ALL THESE MYSELF FIRST.

MM-HMM.

I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST
HAVE A CHAT WITH LENA

BEFORE WE SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT THEM, THAT'S ALL.

MICHAEL, THIS GIRL...
IS SHE NICE?

KATHY. ALLEN.

I'VE GOT NOTHING.

ZERO, ZIP.

HI.

SO HOW'S IT GOING?

GREAT.

SEND ME SOMETHING.

Oh, God, no.

I MEAN,
IT'S REALLY ROUGH RIGHT NOW.

YOU DID INTERVIEWS, RIGHT?

JUST THE GRANDSON, REALLY.

GRANDSON.
SO HOW'S THE LOVE ANGLE?

UH, WELL, VIVIAN,

HE SEEMS REALLY NICE,

But trying to be professional.

ARE YOU REALLY?

I WAS TALKING
ABOUT THE LOVE ANGLE

BETWEEN YOUR GRANDFATHER
AND HIS GRANDMOTHER,

BUT NOW THAT YOU BRING IT UP...

I'M CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS

WITH THE REST
OF THE FAMILY TODAY.

IN FACT, I SHOULD
PROBABLY BE GOING.

OKAY, KEEP ME POSTED.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO SEEING WHAT YOU GOT.

ME TOO.

TONI MORRISON.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES. MINE TOO.

MOM, DAD, THIS IS THE WOMAN

I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT,
LENA JONES.

LENA, WE'VE HEARD
A LOT ABOUT YOU.

I'M ALLEN.
THIS IS MY WIFE, KATHY.

WHAT A LOVELY SWEATER.

THANK YOU.

MICHAEL TELLS ME YOU WRITE
FOR VIBRANT MAGAZINE.

IT'S NOT OFFICIAL YET,

BUT I'M HOPING THIS STORY
WILL CHANGE THAT.

THIS IS A STORY ABOUT MY MOM
AND YOUR GRANDFATHER?

YES.

DID YOUR MOTHER EVER HAPPEN
TO MENTION A CLARENCE COBB?

WHY DON'T WE TAKE A LITTLE WALK?

OKAY.

BYE.

SEE YA.

SO YOU'RE FROM THE BAY AREA?

OAKLAND. MY WHOLE LIFE.

YEAH, MY WIFE, KATHY,
IS FROM OAKLAND, TOO.

OH, YEAH? WHAT PART?

SHE GREW UP IN MONTCLAIR.

- I'M FROM MONTCLAIR.
- REALLY?

YEAH.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU
TWO BEEN TOGETHER?

WOW. ALMOST 35 YEARS. WOW.

WERE YOUR PARENTS
TOGETHER FOREVER, TOO?

SURE SEEMS LIKE IT, BUT...

YOU KNOW, LENA, EVERY
RELATIONSHIP HAS ITS TRIALS.

YEAH.

AND... WOW.

THIS IS ACTUALLY
REALLY HARD TO TALK ABOUT.

UM... MICHAEL DOESN'T KNOW
ANY OF THIS,

BUT THERE WAS A ROUGH PATCH
THERE BEFORE HE WAS BORN.

MOM AND DAD, THEY WERE
GOING THROUGH SOME THINGS.

I DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS ANYTHING SERIOUS.

I CERTAINLY DIDN'T THINK

MY MOTHER HAD AN AFFAIR
OR ANYTHING.

BUT NOW ALL OF THIS COMING UP

WITH YOUR GRANDFATHER
MAKES ME WONDER

IF MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING
TO THOSE ARGUMENTS

THEY HAD BACK THEN.

AND TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW
IF YOUR GRANDFATHER

HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THAT OR NOT.

MY MOM SEEMS TO BE WORRIED
ABOUT THE SAME THING.

MAYBE I AM, TOO.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT
MY GRANDPARENTS WERE SOUL MATES.

MICHAEL SAID THE SAME
ABOUT YOUR PARENTS.

GROWING UP, DID YOUR MOM
EVER MENTION ANYTHING

ABOUT A CRIME STORY OR REPORTER?

NO, BUT YOUR GRANDFATHER

WAS A CRIME REPORTER, I ASSUME?

WRITER, BUT IT SEEMS HE WAS
WORKING ON A STORY HERE.

WELL, MICHAEL FOUND
SOME LETTERS.

HE DID? FROM MY GRANDPA?

THAT'S AMAZING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT STORY
YOUR GRANDFATHER WAS WORKING ON,

BUT TO BE HONEST,
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE

WHAT KIND OF STORY
YOU'RE WORKING ON.

WELL, ME NEITHER, REALLY.
I LOVE MY GRANDPA.

YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT
I KNEW HIM PRETTY WELL.

AND THEN

I FOUND THAT BEAUTIFUL
PAINTING OF YOUR MOTHER,

AND IT JUST OPENED
A WORLD OF THINGS

I NEVER KNEW.

I JUST WANT THE STORY BEHIND IT,

WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.

WELL, THEN I IMAGINE
THESE LETTERS

WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO YOU.

BUT IF IT'S ALL THE SAME TO YOU,

I'D JUST LIKE TO HAVE THE CHANCE

TO LOOK THROUGH THEM
MYSELF FIRST.

I JUST LIKE TO FIND OUT
ON MY OWN

IF THERE WAS ANYTHING GOING ON
DURING THEIR MARRIAGE

RATHER THAN READ ABOUT IT
IN A NATIONAL MAGAZINE.

UNDERSTAND? OF COURSE.

THANK YOU.

YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN

TO HAVE THE PAINTING, WOULD YOU?

MICHAEL SENT ME A PICTURE,

BUT I WOULD LOVE
TO SEE THE REAL THING.

WOW.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS PAINTED HERE.

- WHAT?
- WHAT?

THERE USED TO BE
A WALL RIGHT HERE.

THEY KNOCKED IT DOWN.

I REMEMBER IT
LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

I'M GONNA GO THROUGH
THE REST OF THE LETTERS TONIGHT.

LENA AND I HAD A LITTLE CHAT.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME OVER
FOR DINNER TONIGHT?

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A WHILE
SINCE I'VE TALKED TO SOMEONE

FROM THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE BAY.

THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

7:00? 7:00 IS PERFECT.

I THINK I'M GONNA BE
A LITTLE LATE.

OH, DID SOMEBODY INVITE YOU?

STEPHANIE IS RETURNING TONIGHT.

I WAS GONNA PICK HER UP
FROM THE TRAIN STATION.

OH, THAT'S SO NICE.
I'LL GET TO MEET YOUR SISTER.

SHE'S NOT MY SISTER.
SHE'S MY GIRLFRIEND.

YOUR WHAT NOW?

AND HE LIKES TONI MORRISON?

AND HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND.

YOU'RE GOING TO DINNER, RIGHT?

YEAH, I STILL HAVE
A STORY TO WRITE.

HOPEFULLY MICHAEL'S DAD

WILL AGREE TO LET ME
READ THE LETTERS.

LETTERS?

GRANDPA APPARENTLY WROTE MARY,

LIKE, A STACK OF LETTERS.

WELL, LOVE LETTERS?

I don't know, Mom.

THAT'S WHAT
I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT.

MICHAEL FOUND THEM WHEN HE
WAS GOING THROUGH HER STUFF.

AND YOU DIDN'T FIND
ANY LETTERS UP THERE

WHEN YOU WERE LOOKING AROUND?

I DIDN'T LOOK
THROUGH EVERYTHING.

I AM SO GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT.

OH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

OF COURSE, HONEY. YES.

IS MICHAEL HERE?

NOT YET.

CAN I HELP YOU IN THE KITCHEN?

OH. NO, WE ARE GOOD. THANK YOU.

THIS IS SUCH A LOVELY TOWN.

YEAH, WELL, IT'S NOT OAKLAND.

NO, IT'S NOT.

COULD YOU EVER SEE YOURSELF
LIVING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS?

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW,
MY FAMILY'S IN THE CITY.

IT'S MY HOME. MM-HMM.

I GUESS... NO.

RIGHT. OKAY.

NO, I... I KNOW I'M YOUNG,
AND I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN,

BUT I KNOW ONE THING...
OAKLAND IS MY HOME.

I LOVE IT.

I LIKE YOU, LENA.

MICHAEL WAS GONNA MOVE
TO SAN FRANCISCO, YOU KNOW.

OH.

MAYBE I'M OVERSTATING.

HE HAD A JOB OFFER THERE
AFTER COLLEGE.

NOW HE'S TALKING
ABOUT NEW YORK AGAIN.

NEW YORK. WE'LL SEE.

HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT
MOVING TO NEW YORK

SINCE HE WAS A LITTLE BOY.

BUT SOMETHING ALWAYS CAME UP,

TOOK HIM IN ANOTHER
DIRECTION, YOU KNOW?

MM-HMM.

IT'S A DREAM OF HIS.

I HOPE HE FINALLY
MAKES IT THIS TIME.

YEAH.

WELCOME HOME, STEPHANIE.

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?

UGH. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU,

I WAS SITTING NEXT TO THIS
MAN WHO'S SNORING...

I WAS TELLING MY SISTER

THAT IF SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO
50-50 ON THE TICKETS,

THEN WE'D HAVE TO FIGURE
SOMETHING ELSE OUT.

I MEAN, IF WE'RE ALL GOING
ON THIS VACATION TOGETHER...

HELLO.

HI. HI.

EVERYONE'S GOT TO PITCH IN.

STEPHANIE, THIS IS THE WRITER
I WAS TELLING ABOUT,

LENA JONES. HI.

I USED TO WRITE FOR THE PAPER
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

OH.

IT'S SO MUCH FUN.
THOSE WERE SUCH GOOD DAYS.

SO ARE YOU WRITING A STORY
ABOUT US?

UM... WELL, MICHAEL'S
FAMILY TECHNICALLY,

BUT MAINLY HIS GRANDMA.

HIS GRANDMA LOVED ME SO MUCH.

Lord. I MISS HER.

ANYHOO, WE WERE TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT

IF WE'RE GONNA GO
TO THE OUTER BANKS AGAIN

OR TO MYRTLE BEACH.

I HAVEN'T BEEN TO
MYRTLE BEACH, EXCEPT...

STEPHANIE, THAT IS NICE. IT IS.

BUT WE WEREN'T REALLY TALKING
ABOUT YOUR VACATION SO MUCH.

WE WERE ACTUALLY TALKING

ABOUT LENA'S GRANDFATHER
AND HIS LETTERS.

AND WHEN I READ THEM,

HE DID OCCASIONALLY
KEEP MENTIONING "THE STORY."

I CAN ONLY ASSUME

THAT'S THE STORY YOU
MENTIONED EARLIER, LENA?

DO THE LETTERS
GO INTO ANY MORE DETAIL?

NOT MUCH.
YOU SEE, YOUR GRANDFATHER

WAS CONVINCED
SOME MAN WAS INNOCENT.

WAS THIS PERSON IN TOWN?

NO, BUT HIS BROTHER WAS.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHY

HE STOPPED HERE TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT THE MAN
HE WAS TRYING TO HELP

WAS ACTUALLY IN SAN FRANCISCO,

AND THAT'S WHY HE LEFT
PINEVILLE SO ABRUPTLY.

WAS THERE ANY MENTION
OF THE PORTRAIT?

I MEAN, WAS IT
WHILE THEY WERE MARRIED?

NEAR AS I CAN TELL
FROM LOOKING AT THE DATES,

HE CAME THROUGH TOWN
FOLLOWING THIS STORY.

MOM WAS DEFINITELY
LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM

RETURNING AFTER HE FOUND
WHATEVER IT WAS

HE WAS LOOKING FOR,
BUT IT SEEMS HE GOT A JOB

WHILE HE WAS AWAY
AND HE NEVER CAME BACK.

MOM AND DAD GOT MARRIED
SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

THE LAST CHRISTMAS IN PINEVILLE.

YEAH, I DON'T THINK
IT WAS CHRISTMASTIME, THOUGH.

I THINK HE JUST PAINTED
THAT PORTRAIT

WHILE HE WAS AWAY
AND NEVER SENT IT.

THAT'S PROBABLY WHY
YOUR FAMILY HAS IT.

LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY,

I'M JUST RELIEVED TO KNOW
THERE WAS NOTHING GOING ON

DURING MY MOM
AND DAD'S MARRIAGE,

BUT YOU CAN READ ALL THAT
FOR YOURSELF IN THE LETTERS.

- IT'S OKAY?
- ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU DON'T MIND,

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THE LETTERS, TOO.

WE CAN SPLIT THEM UP
IF YOU LIKE.

SOUNDS GREAT.

HMM, WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

MM.

TRADE TOMORROW?

SURE THING.

I THANK YOU FOR DINNER
AND EVERYTHING.

OUR PLEASURE.

HEY, MOM.

I THINK
I MAY HAVE FOUND SOMETHING

TO HELP YOUR STORY ALONG.

It's coming along great now.

I'M READING GRAMPA'S LETTERS.

I JUST FOUND MARY'S.

WHAT?

MM-HMM. THERE ARE, LIKE,
ALMOST A DOZEN HERE.

MOM, CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR?

SCAN THEM AND SEND THEM TO ME.

SURE, SURE, AND YOU DO
THE SAME WITH DAD'S.

YOU GOT IT.

"CLARENCE,
I ADMIRE YOUR COURAGE."

EVEN THOUGH
IT'S ONLY BEEN A FEW WEEKS,

I FEEL AS THOUGH
I'VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER.

I DO HOPE YOU FIND THE TRUTH
IN SAN FRANCISCO,

"BUT I ALSO HOPE THAT YOU KEEP
YOUR PROMISE AND RETURN TO ME."

"I'VE BEEN
HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD"

AND WHO KNEW THAT I WOULD FIND
SOMEONE IN PINEVILLE?

ROSA'S BROTHER WAS INDEED
THE MISSING CLUE.

"AND THANKS TO HIM,
HE'LL BE A FREE MAN."

"I KEEP THINKING OF THE NIGHT"

WE DANCED TOGETHER.

"DO YOU REMEMBER THAT SONG?"

"A-TISKET, A-TASKET."

MARY, MY LOVE, I'M SORRY TO SAY,

IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE LONGER

BEFORE I'M ABLE
TO RETURN TO PINEVILLE.

A GENTLEMAN
FROM THE "EAST BAY TIMES"

WAS IMPRESSED WITH MY STORY

AND HAS APPROACHED ME
ABOUT A JOB.

"BUT I PROMISE
THAT I WILL RETURN."

"I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU'VE
KEPT IN TOUCH, CLARENCE."

I HAVE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE
ON FERGUSON'S LITTLE GIRL,

CLAUDIA, THESE PAST FEW DAYS.

I MUST BE SPEAKING OF YOU
RATHER FONDLY

AS SHE KEEPS ASKING
WHEN YOU ARE COMING BACK.

I KEEP ASKING MYSELF
THE SAME THING.

"I CAN'T WAIT FOREVER, CLARENCE."

FINISHED YOURS?

YEAH. JUST NOW. YOU?

YEP. READY TO TRADE?

SURE THING.

WHAT'S THAT?

MY MOM.

SHE WANTS A PICTURE
OF MY SMILING FACE.

WELL, I CAN'T SAY I BLAME HER.

OH.

YOU CAN'T?

NO.

UM...

WHERE'S STEPHANIE THIS MORNING?

SHE LEFT EARLY THIS MORNING.

SHE DOES A LOT
OF DAY TRIPS FOR WORK.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE
YOUR PHOTO FOR YOUR MOM.

I DON'T MIND.

YOU DID NOT JUST
PHOTOBOMB MY SELFIE.

HEY, I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF.
MY BAD.

YOU CAN RETAKE IT.

OH, NO, I'M SAVING THAT
FOR POSTERITY.

IT'S THE SAME ONE,

THE SAME ONE
THAT'S IN THE PAINTING.

HMM?

I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE IT
FOR SURE,

BUT... I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I THINK YOUR GRANDFATHER
DID COME BACK.

HE WORKED AT THE "EAST BAY
TIMES" FOR 50 YEARS.

HE GOT THE JOB
AND NEVER CAME BACK,

LIKE YOUR DAD SAID.

THIS IS A SPECIAL ORNAMENT.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOCAL EMPORIUM

WHERE YOU COULD PAINT
YOUR OWN ORNAMENTS.

IT'S BEEN HERE FOREVER.

YOU SEE THIS GOLD FRAME
AROUND THIS ORNAMENT?

I THINK YOUR GRANDFATHER
DID COME BACK TO PINEVILLE

AND PAINTED HIS PORTRAIT.

YEAH, BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW

IT WASN'T PAINTED
BEFORE HE LEFT?

LOOKING AT THE DATES
ON THESE LETTERS,

OTIS' STORE DIDN'T OPEN
UNTIL AFTER

YOUR GRANDFATHER
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GONE.

OUR FAMILY HAD
QUITE A FEW ORNAMENTS

JUST LIKE THIS ONE.

AND THEY'RE ALL
FROM THE SAME SHOP.

IS THE SHOP STILL AROUND?

YEAH. AND THE GUY
WHO RUNS THE SHOP,

HE MIGHT... YOU MIGHT
REMEMBER YOUR GRANDPA.

MICHAEL. OTIS.

- HOW ARE YOU?
- DOING GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HI. YOU'RE NOT STEPHANIE.

- YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.
- OH.

- I'M LENA.
- NICE TO MEET YOU.

DO YOU GUYS NEED ANY HELP
SELECTING AN ORNAMENT TO PAINT?

ACTUALLY, WE WANTED TO... I'D LIKE TO PAINT

A RUDOLPH ORNAMENT,
IF YOU HAVE ONE.

YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO HAVE
A LITTLE CHRISTMAS BELL.

ABSOLUTELY. HMM.

SORRY, I GOT SIDETRACKED.

JUST SEEING EVERYTHING,
I GOT REALLY EXCITED.

IT'S OKAY.

OTIS SEEMED
A LITTLE BUSY NOW ANYWAY.

I DON'T MIND WAITING.

I LOVE PAINTING.

MY GRANDPA AND I USED TO
PAINT TOGETHER.

IT SHOWS.

I AM NOT QUITE
AS GOOD AS HE WAS.

YOU'RE NOT BAD.

THANK YOU.

OH, I HAVEN'T DONE
ANYTHING LIKE THIS

IN A LONG TIME. ME NEITHER.

STEPHANIE DOESN'T
PAINT ORNAMENTS/

OH, SHE DOES.
SHE'S PRETTY CRAFTY, BUT...

YOU KNOW.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT.
I'M BETTER COMPANY.

MAYBE.

THANK YOU. THAT WAS SO FUN.

THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

OH, SORRY. I HAD TO TAKE
CARE OF A CUSTOMER.

SO WHAT DID YOU WANT
TO ASK ME ABOUT?

AN OLD ORNAMENT.

DOES THIS RING A BELL?

I FOUND IT WITH SOME
OF MY GRANDMA'S STUFF.

THIS IS ONE
OF MY FIRST ORNAMENTS.

YEAH, MY THIRD ONE.

WHO ARE YOU?

I'M CLARENCE COBB'S
GRANDDAUGHTER.

DO YOU REMEMBER HIM?

REMEMBER HIM?

CLARENCE COBB
SAVED MY BROTHER'S LIFE.

YOU KNOW, MICHAEL,
I KNEW YOUR GRANDFATHER

A LITTLE BIT BACK IN THE DAY.

HE BOUGHT THAT ORNAMENT

AND GAVE IT TO
YOUR GRANDMOTHER, MARY,

WHEN HE ASKED HER TO MARRY HIM.

WAIT. MY GRANDPA PROPOSED?

NO, NO, NOT YOUR GRANDPA.

MICHAEL'S GRANDPA, RICHARD.

THEY DID GET MARRIED, YOU KNOW.

CLARENCE HAD ALREADY LEFT TOWN.

YES, I KNOW. I-I'M CONFUSED.

I THOUGHT MY GRANDPA
GAVE MARY THE ORNAMENT.

ARE YOU SURE? IT'S THE SAME ONE
FROM THE PORTRAIT.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT A PORTRAIT.

OH, THAT'S...

THAT'S DEFINITELY THE ORNAMENT

AND THAT'S DEFINITELY MARY.

GOD, SHE SURE WAS
A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

CLARENCE AND MARY DID SPEND
A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER

BEFORE HE LEFT TOWN.

I MEAN, HE WAS SO WORLDLY,
SO CHARMING, YOU KNOW?

MY GRANDFATHER KNEW HIM?

NO, HE WAS STILL SERVING
IN THE ARMY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT,
HE CAME TO TOWN

RIGHT AFTER CLARENCE
HAD LEFT FOR GOOD.

WHY WAS MY GRANDPA IN PINEVILLE
IN THE FIRST PLACE?

YOUR GRANDFATHER, CLARENCE,
WAS WORKING ON A STORY

ABOUT MY BROTHER WILSON,
WHO HAD GOTTEN INVOLVED

IN A VERY SERIOUS CRIME
IN SAN FRANCISCO.

AND YOUR GRANDFATHER
WAS CONVINCED

THAT HE WAS TOTALLY INNOCENT,

AND HE CAME INTO TOWN
BECAUSE HE WANTED

TO TALK TO ME ABOUT MY BROTHER.

HE WENT OUT AND FOUND
A CRITICAL WITNESS TO THE CRIME.

HE JUST UP AND LEFT.
HE WAS GONE.

MICHAEL, YOUR GRANDFATHER
CAME TO TOWN,

AND HE STARTED SEEING MARY.

AND THEN OUT
OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY,

YOUR GRANDFATHER, CLARENCE,
CALLS ME AND TELLS ME

THAT MY BROTHER WILSON
IS RELEASED FROM PRISON.

- AHH.
- YEAH.

AFTER THE TRIAL,

YOU KNOW, I NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN.

MY BROTHER AND I WERE IN EUROPE

CELEBRATING UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.

CLARENCE NEVER CAME BACK.

I THINK THAT MUST HAVE BROKE
MARY'S HEART A LITTLE BIT.

BUT YOUR GRANDFATHER, RICHARD,

MADE SURE THAT
BROKEN HEART MENDED,

AND THAT'S FOR SURE,

BECAUSE THEY WERE
TOTALLY INSEPARABLE.

SOUNDS LIKE A BIG STORY.

NO ONE EVER MENTIONED
A CLARENCE.

NOR A CLARENCE AND MARY.

OH, NO, NO, NO.

WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
CLARENCE OR MARY

OUT OF RESPECT
TO YOUR GRANDFATHER.

WOW.

MAYBE HE PAINTED IT

AND WAS GONNA SEND IT
TO HER FROM OAKLAND.

MAYBE.

MY GRANDPA WAS A GOOD PAINTER,

BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE HIM
PAINTING SOMETHING

THAT DETAILED FROM MEMORY.

- YEAH.
- HE HAD TO HAVE BEEN THERE.

OR AT LEAST HAD A PHOTO.

HMM.

BUT OTIS SAID
HE NEVER CAME BACK.

BUT READING THOSE LETTERS...

THEY REALLY SEEM
TO CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

I WONDER WHY SHE DIDN'T
GO WITH HIM.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE
MY GRANDMA WITH ANYONE ELSE,

BUT IT'S EVEN HARDER TO IMAGINE

HER LIVING ANYWHERE ELSE.

HOW SO?

SHE LOVED THIS TOWN.

SHE WASN'T MUCH FOR TRAVELING.

DID THAT SKIP A GENERATION
AND LAND ON YOU?

NO, LIKE THE BAKING,
I HAD MY FILL OF PINEVILLE.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE A MOVE.

REALLY? YEAH.

YOUR MOM MENTIONED SOMETHING
ABOUT NEW YORK.

STEPH GOT A JOB OFFER THERE.

WHAT'S SHE DO?

SHE'S IN PHARMACEUTICAL SALES.

SHE'S DOING PRETTY WELL
FOR HERSELF.

SHE GOT THIS JOB OFFER
THAT SHE CAN'T PASS UP.

I VISITED NEW YORK IN HIGH
SCHOOL ON A CLASS TRIP,

AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

I WAS GONNA THERE FOR COLLEGE,
BUT WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

SAN FRANCISCO IS NICE, TOO.

YOUR MOM MENTIONED
YOU HAD A JOB OFFER THERE?

MOM THINKS THAT.
I ALMOST HAD A JOB.

THERE WAS THIS RECRUITER.
BIG FINANCE COMPANY.

I STUDIED FINANCE
IN COLLEGE, TOO.

YEAH, BUT...

WHAT?

I KNOW THIS MAY SOUND SILLY,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
ANYONE THERE AT THE TIME.

GRANDMA AND GRANDPA
WAS STILL AROUND THEN.

GRANDPA GOT SICK,
SO THEY NEEDED MY HELP.

I FELT LIKE I CAN WAIT.

PINEVILLE, THAT'S FAMILIAR.

A LOT OF FRIENDS STILL IN TOWN?

A LOT SINCE MOVED
TO SAN FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND.

OH, YEAH? YEAH.

FRIENDS IN OAKLAND, HUH?

A FEW.

WELL, NOW YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

HMM.

- MICHAEL.
- HEY, THERE.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR KEEPING
THE BOOK EXCHANGE GOING.

YOUR GRANDMA WOULD BE SO PROUD.

YEAH.

AND THIS YEAR'S COOKIES
WERE DELICIOUS.

THEY WERE ALMOST
AS GOOD AS HERS.

- DID YOU BAKE THEM?
- AS A MATTER OF FACT,

IT WAS THIS YOUNG LADY
RIGHT HERE.

HI.

LENA JONES
MEET CLAUDIA FERGUSON.

MY GRANDMA USED
TO TAKE CARE OF HER

WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

AND WHEN SHE GOT OLDER,

SHE STARTED HELPING
OUT WITH MY GRANDMA.

CLAUDIA. SHE WAS IN THE LETTERS.

WHAT?

YOU KEPT ASKING

WHEN MY GRANDPA
WAS GONNA COME BACK.

I ONLY READ IT IN THE LETTERS,

BUT I JUST KEPT IMAGINING

THIS LITTLE GIRL SO DISAPPOINTED

THAT MY GRANDPA NEVER CAME BACK.

YOUR CLARENCE'S GRANDDAUGHTER?

YEAH.

BUT HE DID COME BACK.

CLARENCE. GRANDPA.

I REMEMBER WHEN HE SHOWED ME
THOSE INITIALS.

I WAS JUST TICKLED PINK.

THINKING ABOUT IT,
THEY PROBABLY HAD TO DO IT

THE FIRST TIME
HE CAME OUT TO VISIT.

I REMEMBER YOUR GRANDMOTHER
BEING SO EXCITED

WHEN SHE WENT TO THE TRAIN
STATION TO PICK HIM UP.

SHE WAS WATCHING ME THAT DAY,
SO SHE TOOK ME WITH HER

WHEN SHE GOT HER HAIR DONE.

SHE GOT A NEW DRESS.

SHE SEEMED SO GROWN UP.

YOUR GRANDMOTHER WAS ACTUALLY
REALLY PLAYFUL WITH ME,

KIND OF LIKE A BIG KID.

SHE WAS MY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER,
YOU KNOW.

HMM.

AND I REMEMBER THINKING
THAT YOUR GRANDFATHER

WAS JUST SO HANDSOME AND TALL.

YEAH, WE SPENT THE DAY TOGETHER.

I REMEMBER ASKING THEM,
"YOU GONNA GET MARRIED?"

YOUR GRANDMAMA, SHE HUSHED ME.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME

I'VE EVER SEEN HER EMBARRASSED.

COME TO THINK ABOUT IT,
IT'S PROBABLY WHY I REMEMBER IT.

IT WAS A PARTY
IN THE TOWN SQUARE.

IT WAS CHRISTMASTIME.

WHAT IS IT?

EVERYONE SEEMED SO HAPPY
TO SEE CLARENCE AGAIN.

YEAH.

EXCEPT YOUR GRANDFATHER,
MICHAEL.

SEEMS THEY GOT
IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DUST-UP.

CLARENCE AND YOUR GRANDFATHER.

WHAT HAPPENED?

I HAD TO GO HOME,
BUT DON'T GET THE WRONG IDEA.

YOUR GRANDFATHER
WAS A VERY NICE MAN.

YEAH.

AND YOUR GRANDMOTHER
WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

NO WONDER SHE HAD ALL THE BOYS
FIGHTING FOR HER AFFECTION.

YEAH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN TOWN

WHO WOULD HAVE
KNOWN THEM AT THAT TIME?

GABE SMITH SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WITH YOUR GRANDFATHER

FROM WHAT I REMEMBER.

OH, GABE SMITH.

GABE SMITH?

YEAH, WHEN HE WASN'T WITH MARY,
HE WAS WITH HIM.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY.

I JUST REMEMBER THEM SPENDING
A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.

- IS HE STILL IN TOWN?
- GABE SMITH.

YEAH, HE HAS
A CHRISTMAS-TREE LOT.

THIS IS HIS BUSIEST TIME
OF THE YEAR.

WHICH REMINDS ME,

I STILL HAVE TO GET A TREE
FOR THE CAFE TONIGHT.

WELL, LET'S GO
GET A CHRISTMAS TREE.

LET'S GO GET A CHRISTMAS TREE.

DO YOU SEE HIM?

NO, HE'S AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE.

HE KNOWS ME. HE'LL FIND US.

I FEEL LIKE A BIG KID
AT CHRISTMAS.

THIS IS SO EXCITING.

YEAH.

ARE YOU OKAY?

YEAH, YEAH, IT'S JUST HEARING
ALL THE STORIES

AND READING ALL THE LETTERS,

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR GRANDPA
WAS CRAZY ABOUT MY GRANDMA.

OH, I CAN'T BLAME HIM.

NOW, I AM GLAD
HE WOUND UP WITH MY GRANDMA...

OBVIOUSLY.

I KNOW THIS SOUNDS
SELF-CENTERED,

BUT BEFORE THESE PAST FEW DAYS,

I JUST NEVER GAVE MUCH THOUGHT

TO MY GRANDPARENTS BEING YOUNG.

YEAH. IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW,
SEEING THE PICTURES

AND HEARING THE STORIES

ABOUT ALL THE WILD NIGHTS
AND PARTIES,

KIND OF LIKE HAVE YOU THINKING,

LIKE, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO HELP.

HELP? WITH THE TREE.

OH, GRANDMA WOULD NEVER
FORGIVE ME

IF I FORGOT TO PUT A TREE UP
IN THE CAFE.

I HAVEN'T PICKED OUT A TREE
SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL,

SO I DON'T KNOW
HOW MUCH HELP I'LL BE.

YOU SAID YOUR MOTHER
WAS THE QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS.

OH, SHE IS.

AND WHAT THE QUEEN WANTS,
THE QUEEN GETS.

WELL, HOW ABOUT

YOU WOULD LIKE
TO BE A QUEEN FOR A DAY.

I'D LIKE THAT VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.

THIS ONE.

UH, YOU SURE?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT?
TALL AND SLENDER.

AND IT WOULD BE CALLED
THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA.

I'LL GIVE YOU A TIP,
YOUR HIGHNESS.

THE KEY TO PICKING OUT A TREE

IS THE NAME THAT COMES TO MIND
WHEN YOU SEE IT.

MM-HMM.

THIS ONE'S PERFECT, MICHAEL.

WHAT NAME COMES TO MIND
WHEN YOU SEE THIS?

♪ A-TISKET, A-TASKET ♪

♪ A BIG, BRIGHT
CHRISTMAS BASKET ♪

THIS IS THE ONE.

MICHAEL. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

SOMEBODY SAID
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ME.

CLARENCE WAS A DEAR FRIEND.

HE USED TO COME OUT HERE
AND WRITE,

PAINT THE TREES.

WE'D STAY UP LATE
SOME NIGHTS TALKING.

WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT?

EVERYTHING, LIFE, LOVE,
WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO.

LOOKING BACK NOW,

HECK, I REALLY HAVEN'T THOUGHT
ABOUT IT FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.

CERTAINLY NOT CLARENCE
AND MARY AND THE BREAK-UP.

WHAT EXACTLY
HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM?

HOW DID THEY BREAK UP?
WHY DID THEY BREAK UP?

CLARENCE WAS GOING BACK
TO THE BAY.

IT WAS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
HE GOT A JOB.

SHE WOULDN'T GO?

SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT IT.

ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS COME BACK
AND GET HER.

BUT HE KEPT DELAYING HIS RETURN.

BY THE TIME HE CAME BACK
TO PINEVILLE THAT CHRISTMAS,

YOUR GRANDMOTHER
HAD FOUND RICHARD.

IT WAS OVER.

MARY LOVED CLARENCE.

BUT SHE LOVED HIM AS A FRIEND
BY THE TIME HE CAME BACK.

- AND IT WAS TOO LATE THEN.
- YEAH.

SHE HAD FALLEN FOR RICHARD.

BAD TIMING.

WELL, MAYBE.

BUT NOTHING WAS GONNA STOP
CLARENCE GOING BACK TO THE BAY.

MARY WAS NEVER GONNA LEAVE
PINEVILLE

NOW THAT SHE FOUND RICHARD.

THAT SEALED THE DEAL.

SO MARY AND CLARENCE, JUST...

PASSING SHIPS IN THE NIGHT, HUH?

OH, NO, IT WAS MORE THAN THAT.

HECK, THAT'S WHY HE PAINTED
THAT PAINTING.

I STILL REMEMBER
WHEN HE GAVE IT TO HER.

WAIT. HE GAVE IT TO HER?

- SURE.
- WOW.

IT WAS SKETCHED DURING A PARTY
AT THE CAFE

WHEN MARY WAS DECORATING
THE TREE

THE LAST TIME HE WAS IN TOWN.

HE CAME BACK OUT HERE
TO FINISH IT.

GIVING IT ONE LAST TRY,
YOU KNOW?

TO GIVE IT TO HER
BEFORE HE LEFT TOWN,

HOPING THAT MAYBE
THAT WOULD CONVINCE HER

TO COME WITH HIM
BACK TO THE BAY.

SO CLARENCE GIVES MARY
THE PAINTING.

SHE TAKES A LOOK AT IT,

SAYS, "CLARENCE,
I KNOW WHAT I LOOK LIKE."

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO FORGET YOU,

SEND ME A PAINTING OF YOU
SOMEDAY.

I LOVE YOU. I ALWAYS WILL.

"BUT MY HEART
BELONGS TO RICHARD."

CLARENCE'S BROKEN HEART
LEFT TOWN NOT LONG.

THE LAST I HEARD,

HE'D RUN INTO HIS OLD
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART.

GRANDMA. I IMAGINE.

LOST TRACK OF HIM
NOT LONG AFTER.

YEARS GO BY, LOSE TOUCH.

LIKE I SAID, WE ALL MOVE ON.

AND FROM WHERE I'M SITTING,

CLARENCE AND MARY MOVING IN
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS

WAS FOR THE BEST.

YOU KNOW, IT DOES FEEL LIKE
CLARENCE IS HERE AGAIN WITH US.

THANK YOU.

HOW MUCH DO WE OWE YOU
FOR THE TREE?

FOR CLARENCE'S GRANDDAUGHTER?

IT'S ON THE HOUSE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

- MERRY CHRISTMAS.
- MERRY CHRISTMAS.

SHOOT.

WHAT'S UP?

I HAVE TO HEAD
TO THE TRAIN STATION.

OH.

SO HOW'S YOUR STORY
ABOUT US COMING ALONG?

ABOUT YOU?

DID MICHAEL
TELL YOU ABOUT THAT TIME

MARY AND I DECORATED
THAT CAKE TOGETHER?

I DIDN'T GET AROUND TO THAT YET.

YOU SHOULD TELL HER.

MAYBE AT THE SANTA.
WHAT TIME IS IT?

SANTA?

I DON'T THINK

I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE
IT TONIGHT, BABE.

IT WAS A LONG TRIP,

AND I HAVE TO HEAD OUT AGAIN
FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING.

YOU TRAVEL A LOT.

REALLY, JUST LATELY.

IT'S ESPECIALLY BUSY
THIS TIME OF YEAR.

BUT AFTER TOMORROW'S TRIP,

ONE MORE TRIP
OUT OF TOWN, THEN I'M BACK.

WOW.

AND WE'LL BE MOVING TO NEW YORK

AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

BUT AFTER CHRISTMAS,

WE'RE FINALLY OFF
ON OUR LONG OVERDUE VACATION.

WHERE ARE YOU GUYS GOING?

- THE OUTER BANKS.
- NOT SURE YET.

HEY, ARE YOU SURE
YOU CAN'T COME?

BABE.

I COULD REALLY USE A HAND.

I'M BEAT.

I DON'T THINK I'LL BE MUCH HELP

AND I HAVE TO HEAD OUT AGAIN
FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING.

I NEED MY REST.

ALRIGHT.

YOU MIND GIVING ME A LIFT
BACK TO THE CAFE?

I WASN'T GONNA BRING THE TREE

BACK TO MY HOTEL.

THEY ALREADY HAVE ONE.

YOU KNOW, IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU,

I DON'T THINK
I WOULD HAVE FOUND OUT

SO MUCH ABOUT MY GRANDPA.

THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU.

HEARING ALL THESE THINGS

IS LIKE MY GRANDMA'S HERE AGAIN.

YOU WERE SUCH A BIG HELP TO ME,

IF YOU NEED ANY HELP
AT THE STORE WITH THE SANTA,

WHATEVER THAT MEANS,
I COULD HERE THERE.

- REALLY?
- SURE.

♪ JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS ♪

♪ JINGLE ALL THE WAY ♪

♪ OH, WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE ♪

♪ IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH ♪

♪ HEY! ♪

♪ JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS ♪

♪ JINGLE ALL THE WAY ♪

♪ OH, WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE ♪

♪ IN A ONE HORSE OPEN SLEIGH ♪

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HELP.

OH, IT WAS A BLAST.

THIS IS A GOOD LOOK
FOR YOU, BY THE WAY.

THANK YOU.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO YOUR STORY, LENA.

THANK YOU.

ME TOO.

I GOT ALL MY INFORMATION.

NOW I JUST GOT TO PUT IT
ALL TOGETHER.

DOWN TO THE WIRE.

YOU KNOW, SINCE
ALL MY RESEARCH IS DONE,

I SHOULD PROBABLY
BE HEADING BACK HOME.

BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING
IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE

I SHOULD SEE BEFORE I LEAVE.

I CAN SHOW YOU AROUND TOMORROW.

I'D LOVE THAT.

WELL, GOOD NIGHT.

- GOOD NIGHT.
- GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

SHE SEEMS LIKE A VERY
NICE WOMAN, MICHAEL.

WHAT?

IT'S JUST THAT WE'RE LIKE
OUR GRANDPARENTS.

IF SHE WASN'T GOING BACK HOME

AND ME HEADING INTO
ANOTHER DIRECTION

WITH SOMEONE ELSE, WHO KNOWS.

YOU'RE FORGETTING
ONE THING, MICHAEL.

AND WHAT IS THAT, MOM?

YOU'RE NOT YOUR GRANDPARENTS.

OKAY?

LISTEN TO YOUR MAMA.

MM.

NOT BAD.

♪ OOH ♪

♪ OHHH, YEAH ♪

♪ OOHH-HOO-HOO ♪

♪ MERRY CHRISTMAS ♪

♪ THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR ♪

♪ MERRY CHRISTMAS ♪

♪ MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR ♪

SO HAVE I SEEN EVERYTHING?

MM. JUST ABOUT.

OF COURSE,
THE FLOWERS AROUND TOWN

IN THE SUMMERTIME
ARE GREAT, TOO.

AND THE LEAVES
IN THE FALL, OH, MAN.

YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE
GONNA MISS THIS PLACE

WHEN YOU MOVE TO NEW YORK.

AT FIRST I DIDN'T,

BUT NOW I FEEL
I'M GONNA MISS IT A LOT.

YOU SHOULD COME
TO OAKLAND SOMETIME.

WE HAVE A LOT
OF NICE THINGS THERE, TOO.

YOU EVER THINK...

WHAT?

MOVING THERE INSTEAD?

TO OAKLAND?

WHY?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I AM.

YOU KNOW, LENA,
I WAS TALKING TO MY MOM

ABOUT ALL THE STUFF WE LEARNED

ABOUT OUR GRANDPARENTS

AND HOW THAT WAS
REMINDED ME OF...

WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO,
AND I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T.

LOOK, LENA...

AM I WRONG?

IT'S COMPLICATED.

AM I WRONG?

LENA...

YOU ARE AMAZING.

BUT...

STEPH AND I...

LOOK, I HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO GET OUT OF THIS TOWN

FOR A LONG TIME,

AND I'M FINALLY...

I FINALLY GET A CHANCE
TO GO TO NEW YORK.

AND YOU'RE HEADING BACK
TO OAKLAND.

THEN WE ARE JUST
LIKE OUR GRANDPARENTS,

AREN'T WE?

I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU.

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU.

YOU OKAY, SON?

YEAH, YEAH, I'M FINE.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE
GOING TO PICK UP STEPHANIE.

SHE WASN'T SURE WHICH TRAIN
TO BE TAKING BACK,

SO SHE'S UBERING.

THAT'S A CHANGE.

STEPHANIE IN AN UBER.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE

HER DEDICATED CHAUFFEUR, JEEVES.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT FEELS THAT WAY SOMETIMES,
DOESN'T IT?

YOU GUYS OKAY?

I DON'T THINK SO.

THINK ABOUT
NOT GOING TO NEW YORK?

I MEAN, DON'T GET ME WRONG,

I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU
STICK AROUND.

MAN, YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THAT FOREVER.

NO, I STILL LOVE NEW YORK.

I JUST...

DON'T LOVE STEPHANIE.

I DO.

BUT...

I DON'T.

I DON'T LOVE STEPHANIE, DAD.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT LENA?

WHAT ABOUT HER? COME ON, MAN.

I JUST WISH WE WEREN'T

HEADING IN TWO
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

THAT'S ALL.

IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE
MEETING YOU.

YOU TOO.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, HONEY.

THANK YOU. YES.

I WAS THINKING... HMM?

YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE THIS.

- ARE YOU SURE?
- WOW.

ABSOLUTELY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

AND WE THOUGHT
YOU SHOULD HAVE THESE.

ALL OF THEM.

OH! I AM DONE FOR THE YEAR.

WHAT HAS TWO THUMBS

AND IS READY FOR HER VACATION?

HMM? THIS GIRL.

I HAVE A DEADLINE, SO...

I SHOULD GET GOING.
THANKS AGAIN.

BYE. BYE-BYE, SWEETHEART.

GOODBYE. BYE.

UNH.

♪ OOH-HOO-HOO ♪

♪ HERE WE GATHER TOGETHER
ONCE MORE ♪

♪ LIKE BEFORE ♪

♪ THOUGH SOME OF US
HAVE COME AND GONE ♪

♪ AND EVERYONE KNOWS ♪

♪ NOTHING SAYS HOME
LIKE CHRISTMAS ♪

WOW. LOVE, LOVE.

YOU DO? I DO.

AND I THINK OUR READERS
ARE GOING TO LOVE IT, TOO.

IT'S A GREAT STORY.

THANK YOU.

OH, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T
INTRODUCE YOU.

LENA, THIS IS WILL.
MY NEW ASSISTANT.

WILL, THIS IS LENA JONES,
OUR NEW STAFF WRITER.

YOU MEAN...

CONGRATULATIONS.
WELCOME TO THE STAFF.

YES!

- CONGRATULATIONS.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS, WILL.

ALRIGHT.

LENA, YOU'VE SET
THE BAR PRETTY HIGH.

YOU'VE GOT REAL TALENT,
SO NEXT YEAR,

I'M GONNA MOVE YOU ON

TO, YOU KNOW,
MORE INVESTIGATIVE, EDGY THINGS.

I THINK ONE DAY,

YOU CAN BE THE HEAD WRITER HERE.

THANK YOU, VIVIAN.

YOU KNOW, YOUR GRANDFATHER
WAS A WONDERFUL MAN.

YEAH, HE WAS.

MISS MARY,
SHE WAS TERRIFIC, TOO.

AND MISS CLAUDIA AND OTIS.

YEAH.

SO TELL ME,

WHATEVER HAPPENED
TO THE GRANDSON?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WELL, YOU WROTE SO FONDLY
ABOUT HIM.

I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE

A LITTLE
SOMETHING-SOMETHING THERE.

UM... IT JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A NICE TOUCH TO THE STORY,

BUT ANYWAYS, YOU GO
AND ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY.

YOU'VE EARNED IT.

THANKS. YOU'RE WELCOME.

LENA...

I'M SORRY THAT MICHAEL GOT AWAY.

ME TOO.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

WE COULD CLIMB
CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE,

VISIT THE WRIGHT BROTHERS
MEMORIAL,

SLED THE SAND DUNES.

MICHAEL, ARE YOU LISTENING?

SEEMS LIKE THAT'S ALL
I'VE BEEN DOING LATELY.

OKAY.

I CAN'T WAIT TO EAT SEAFOOD.

STEPHANIE, I THINK
WE NEED TO HAVE A CHAT.

WE'RE CHATTING NOW.

NO, YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT A VACATION

THAT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT US.

WHAT ABOUT US?

STEPHANIE, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING

I'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH
FOR A WHILE.

MONTHS, REALLY.

BUT I WASN'T TRYING TO BREAK UP
AROUND CHRISTMAS.

WHAT? BREAK UP?

ALRIGHT, DO YOU WANT TO DO

THIS ON-AGAIN,
OFF-AGAIN THING AGAIN?

STEPHANIE, IT'S BEST
WE DO OFF FOR GOOD.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO GO

TO THE OUTER BANKS, YOU KNOW?

YOU DON'T? NO, I DON'T.

BUT THE TICKETS
ARE NONREFUNDABLE.

WELL, YOU CAN GO WITH A FRIEND.

TASHA.

I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN FOREVER,

AND WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT HAVING A GIRLS' NIGHT.

WE CAN HAVE A GIRLS' TRIP.

OH, THAT WOULD BE SO MUCH FUN.
I'M GONNA GO TELL HER.

- MERRY CHRISTMAS.
- MERRY CHRISTMAS.

WHAT'S HER HURRY?

WE JUST BROKE UP.

REALLY?

I MEAN, OH, ARE YOU OKAY?

I'M FINE, MOM.

WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH
THE MOTIONS FOR A WHILE NOW.

SO YOU'RE NOT MOVING
THE FIRST OF THE YEAR?

Y'ALL KNOW I'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT NEW YORK FOR A WHILE.

JUST BECAUSE STEPHANIE
AND I BROKE UP

DOESN'T MEAN
I SHOULD CHANGE MY PLANS.

RIGHT?

STEPHANIE'S NOT THE KIND OF GIRL

YOU CHANGE YOUR PLANS FOR, SON.

BUT I KNOW A WOMAN WHO IS.

YOU BETTER LISTEN TO YOUR MAMA.

CONGRATULATIONS.

OH, I'M PROUD OF YOU, BABY GIRL!

I KNEW IT.
I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT.

I CAN'T WAIT

TO SEE YOUR STORY
ON THE PAGES OF VIBRANT.

OH.

OH, OH.

ARE YOU OKAY?

YEAH.

WHAT IS... IS THIS
ABOUT MARY'S GRANDSON?

HMM?

YOU TWO DO LOOK GOOD TOGETHER.

WE WERE GOOD TOGETHER.

HE'S SO SWEET...

AND DECENT AND KIND

AND A REALLY GREAT KISSER.

A GREAT WHAT NOW?

I GUESS, JUST LIKE MARY WAS
FOR GRANDPA,

IT'S A REALLY WONDERFUL MEMORY.

- HEY.
- HI.

- MERRY CHRISTMAS.
- HEY, GIRL.

- CONGRATULATIONS.
- CONGRATULATIONS.

THIS IS MY FIANCé, EARL.

THIS IS MY AMAZINGLY
TALENTED COUSIN, LENA.

- LENA, I LOVE YOUR STORY.
- THANK YOU.

NOW, MOM TELLS ME YOU'RE ON
VIBRANT STAFF WRITING NOW.

- THAT'S RIGHT.
- YOU EARNED IT, GIRL.

THANK YOU,

AND I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU'RE ENGAGED.

IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

NO, IT TOOK HIM A COUPLE
OF MONTHS TO REALIZE IT.

YOU GOT TO BE PATIENT
WITH US GUYS.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES US A WHILE
TO COME AROUND.

- HEY.
- HEY, GIRL.

DRINKS LATER? YOU GOT IT.

- OKAY. SEE YOU.
- ALRIGHT.

I THINK I'LL HAVE DRINK NOW.

HO, HO, HO, HO, HO!

- SANTA!
- SANTA!

HEY, HEY, HEY.

I AM SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT GIFTS.

MY FAMILY'S NO JOKE.

YOU WEREN'T KIDDING.

YOUR COUSINS MEAN BUSINESS.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I LOVE YOU.

WHAT? I LOVE YOU.

LOOK, I KNOW WE HAVEN'T KNOWN
EACH OTHER THAT LONG,

BUT I KNOW IT IN MY SOUL

THAT I'M CRAZY ABOUT YOU, LENA.

AND WHEREVER YOU ARE
IS WHERE I WANT TO BE.

MICHAEL, THAT'S ABOUT
THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

THAT ANYONE'S EVER...

AFTER LOOKING THROUGH
A FEW MORE LETTERS,

I FOUND THAT MY GRANDFATHER
AND MARY CORRESPONDED

JUST A FEW MORE TIMES,
THEN THE LETTERS STOPPED.

I WONDER IF THEY EVER SPOKE
ON THE PHONE

OR SAW EACH OTHER AGAIN.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THEM
SENDING E-MAILS TO EACH OTHER.

BUT THEN AGAIN,
BEFORE I STARTED THIS STORY,

I COULDN'T IMAGINE
EITHER ONE OF THEM IN LOVE

WITH ANYONE
OTHER THAN THEIR SPOUSES.

TONI MORRISON SAID LOVE IS NEVER
ANY BETTER THAN THE LOVER.

I CAN'T IMAGINE TWO PEOPLE
BETTER THAN CLARENCE AND MARY.

WHILE THEY MAY NOT HAVE SPENT
THEIR ENTIRE LIVES TOGETHER,

THEY MADE MEMORIES THAT LASTED
BEYOND THEIR LIFETIMES.

THE STORY OF THEIR LIVES
IS JUST ONE OF THEIR MANY GIFTS

TO THEIR FAMILIES.

AND PERHAPS THE GREATEST GIFT

WAS BRINGING THOSE
TWO FAMILIES TOGETHER

AND SHOWING THEM
THAT LIFE IS TO BE LIVED,

LIFE IS TO BE CELEBRATED,
AND LIFE IS TO BE LOVED.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

♪ FRESH-WORN CLOTHES,
MISTLETOES ♪

♪ IT'S MY FAVORITE
TIME OF YEAR ♪

♪ WE HANG HOLIDAY LIGHTS ♪

♪ MAKE THE CITY SHINE BRIGHT ♪

♪ EVERYONE IS FILLED
WITH CHEER ♪

♪ HEY, IT'S CHRISTMAS ♪

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS