The Bridge Part 2 (2016) - full transcript

It's coming down.

Tell me what it's like.

It makes everything

feel like...

Like what?

Like a blank slate,

new and promising.

Maybe that's what
new years are for.

Do you ever make
any resolutions?

I try,

but I'm not good
at keeping them.



- Molly...
- Ryan, I'm...

Sorry, you first.

No, you.

Was it that house
i was living in?

Or where I come from?

Or was it just me?

Tell me the truth.

It wasn't any of those things.

So it was just kristen?

Because I really want
to understand

what happened last night.

It doesn't make sense, if...

You're the most...

Important...



Knock, knock.

Preston.

Oh.

You have company.

No. No, no, no, no.
Can you just give me a minute?

Please?

No, it's fine, we were done.

No, no, finish
what you were saying, please.

It was the most important...

Study help I've ever gotten,

and I'm really grateful for it.

That's all I was going to say.

Merry Christmas, Molly,

and good luck with...

With everything.

Yeah, you too.

We're going to want to get
the legal department

on that radio station deal.

And then after lunch,

I need to see Roger
about that app development.

There's my killer.

Always catapulting us
into the future.

Well, somebody has to.

Ha ha.

Hi, dad.

So, how was
your business trip

to Chicago?

Cold. How was
new Orleans?

Humid.

You wanna switch
next time?

You bet.

You free for
dinner tomorrow?

Uh, tomorrow, why?
Who needs me tomorrow?

I do.

I thought
we should start talking

about your 25th birthday,

taking over as ceo.

It's time to start
drawing up the papers.

Oh, I can, uh,
get Preston roped in, too.

Our newly-appointed cfo

should be there.

Sure.

Make it
a real celebration.

And maybe part of
a bigger announcement?

No, dad...

Come on.

Turn 25, hitch yourself
to a real go-getter,

take over the company,

and get your trust
all in one.

Can you set us up
for steaks at mccann's tomorrow

with Preston?

And tell publicity
I'm coming down.

You okay?

Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

Red meat. Publicity.

Turning 25.

Yeah, who'd have thought?

There he is!

Home for the holidays!

Oh...

Oh, I missed you.

I missed you, too.

Oh, no, I got this.

You have a real nice mom.

Oh, he knows.

Don't you know?

Yes, I know.

Your room,

and your desk.

But I kinda re-purposed it.

And Italy, your favorite.

Yeah.

George Jones and Johnny cash
are in the closet.

You're not mad, are you?

Mom, of course,
you should have.

But I might be done
with the road

for a little while,

and I was thinking
I could crash here?

Really?

I can make it work.

I can work
at the dining-room table.

Are you serious?

I'm still looking
at possibilities,

but I thought I might,
you know,

stick around
after the holidays this year,

if that's okay.

Of course, it's okay.

Oh...

Oh, I really should have
checked with you first.

But you know what,
we'll get you unpacked,

and we'll get you sorted...

Oh! What did you pack?

Books.

That's what I did
on the tour buses.

Ever hear of an e-reader?

Real books with actual paper?

I like the way they feel.

You know what,

I might swing by
the bridge this afternoon

and pick up a new one.

Oh. You didn't hear.

Hey, Eloise!

Happy holidays, Charlie.

I can't wait for the re-opening.

Oh, very soon.

Thank you.

Hey, Bert!

Hi, Charlie.

Okay.

Luther!

What's
the good news?

Show him.

No way.

You finally did it.

All thanks to you
introducing us

in the cookbook section.

How are
the repairs coming?

Well, we're nearly there.

My favorite people!

Do you have a date
for the re-opening yet?

Miss big-shot
law firm partner.

Ah, any day now.

In the meantime,

Luther just got the lease
for his restaurant.

So you just
camp out there

until we're ready
for our big day.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Charlie.

We need to put in more orders

for that new bestseller.

They went fast.

I know.

I can't believe

everyone actually
came out in this weather...

Days like this,

I wonder why

we ever started a business
made out of paper.

Oh, Charlie!

I think I've got
another leak!

Do we have
any more buckets?

Sure, yeah, maybe I can
steal one from the cafe.

- Donna!
- Charlie!

- Donna!
- Charlie!

Water's coming
in the roof!

There's a huge hole!

It's coming in quick!

Let's call 9-1-1.

There you are.

You didn't bring your scarf.

I, uh...

Heard from
the insurance company.

Fred's insurance
on the building

only covers structural damage.

What about
our renter's insurance?

The bare minimum.

Far from enough.

We need to repaint,
buy furniture...

Most of all...

Books.

It's their
final decision.

Hey, do you remember
ray curts?

He was a teller at
Winston hills bank.

Well, now he's a loan officer.

I ran into him.

Uh, Charlie,
that's not our bank...

He was talking about

how much this place
meant to him.

I'm meeting with him tomorrow.

I've got
a great feeling about it.

Charlie...

We're late on our lease,

we can barely pay our bills.

What are you saying?

We've had so many
wonderful years here,

but we need to be honest
about what's going on.

I know what's going on.

This is still our dream.

We just...
We need to have faith

a little longer.

And there's always room
for hope.

God wouldn't have
brought us this far

to give up on us now.

Christmas is coming.

Good things...

Happen at Christmas.

You'll see.

All right, my love?

Within 10 years,

I'd like to play at that club,

have my music there,

be considered in company
with part of everybody else

that's been there.

Okay, now you.

What?
Hey, stop it.

Stop it.
Come on, cut it out.

Right, you've got to
say stuff out loud, right now.

It's your video.

Yeah, but you'll be
in my life in 10 years, so...

What do you think?

Uh...

What? Say it.

Say it right now.

I don't think I want to run
my dad's company, and...

I'm not even sure
i want to stay in Seattle.

Molly,

i can't believe
i just said that.

Preston, hi.

Peking duck for me,
long life noodles for you.

Thanks.

Hi.

Hi.

...the last day
of every school year,

my mom waltzed me
into the bridge

to pick out my summer reading.

At first, I thought I'd hate it,

but I fell in love.

I have a son now,
six months old.

We read to him every night.

Nothing better in the world.

So...

I worked the numbers
a million different ways.

Bookstores are
hard right now.

I tried explaining
how unique the bridge is,

and that you and Mrs. b.
Have made it work

for so many years,

and it was just bad luck
with your roof,

but I was told
it's too big a risk.

I am so sorry.

We can't offer you
a loan right now.

Charlie...

I would've called,

but I wanted to
tell you in person.

Your store means so much
to the community.

You're like family.

Well, I'm... I'm sure
you did everything you could.

If you wouldn't mind

not mentioning this to anyone,

I'd appreciate it, thank you.

Hi.

You didn't
answer your phone.

How did it go?

Oh, Charlie.

We still have options.

No.

Fred heard from
the insurance company, too,

and without
our back payments,

or a promise
of catching up,

he wants to put
the building up for sale

January 1st.

He wants to offer it to us
first, of course, but...

Two weeks?

There's no way
that we could...

I know.

Now, listen, Charlie,

I heard about a new job opening
at pricemart.

You're a good salesman...

I'm a bookseller, Donna.

All right? I sell books.

I know,

but if we don't stay open...

We have to!

So, what, are you saying
you're giving up?

- I don't want to...
- Yeah, but you are.

What else are we
going to do, Charlie?

If we don't talk
practically about this,

it won't just be our store,

it will be our house, too.

Now, I love this place
just as much as you do,

but it's been
months, Charlie,

and we are facing...

Look, if we...

So, if we just...

Give up...

What did it all add up to?

It doesn't change who you are.

Maybe Christmas
isn't coming after all.

Don't say that, Charlie.

I'll meet you
back at home, okay?

No.

Let me drive,
Charlie.

Okay?

Come with me.
Leave your car here.

We can pick it up
in the morning.

I just need a minute.

Hello?

What?

Wait, what...

What are you talking about?

When?

No...

No, no, no.

Charlie's in a level 3 coma.

That means
he's unresponsive

to eye, verbal,
and motor testing.

He's on a respirator because
he can't breathe on his own.

What are his chances
of coming out?

Well, if the swelling
from his injury

resolves quickly,

it's a matter of days.

What...
What do I do?

Talk to him,

tell him what's waiting for him.

And no one knows for sure,

but people believe
it makes a difference.

And there's a chapel
down the hall

if you're interested.

Praying never hurt.

Anyway, I'll circle
back in a few hours.

Dr. mats is
an excellent doctor.

Charlie's in good hands.

Um... I...

I need to call
some people, so...

I'll do it.

Give me your phone.

You stay by his side.

Everyone on this floor knows
what you and Charlie mean to me.

Last time I even
tried to pray...

Charlie's the one
with the faith.

We'll find it together, then.

I'm here, okay?

Charlie bartons has been
in a terrible car accident,

and when I saw your name
on Donna's phone,

i thought you would
want to know.

If you want more information,
my number is...

I'm so sorry.

You don't know any more?

There was a mention
in the Franklin paper,

"bookstore owner
in an accident."

He skidded on ice,
then he hit a pole.

So, you looked it up.

I haven't seen them in years,

I never went back
to Franklin.

I left it all behind.

No one in this room thinks
you left anything behind.

Did you watch
that video?

Okay.

Please...

...stop me from doing
something I'll regret.

Why would I do that?

Because it's a place
I lived for three months.

Why should I go back?

Honey,

you don't just miss
Charlie or the bridge.

You miss the girl
you were there,

or else why would you be
watching the video

this many christmases later?

Why do you know everything?

We both know

if you don't
go to Franklin,

in three months, you'll be ceo,
engaged to Preston,

and never look back.

It's now or never, right?

Well, that is not
young Ryan Kelly...

How you doin'?

Man, you sure grew up a lot

since you used to try to
sneak in here underage

to hear the music.

Ah, not that often.

Every weekend.

Come on.

I seen you've been
playing backup gigs

around the country.

Good on you.

When you heading out?

Actually, I was thinking
about sticking around here,

trying to find
some new work in town.

Ooh... yeah.

That bad, huh?

It's the new
technology.

Makes for fewer gigs,

and those go to locals
who stuck around.

You know what?

I just lost
my back-up guy

for amateur night.

Tuesdays and Thursdays?

If you're serious, it's yours.

Good way to connect
with the regulars.

Start tonight if you like.

It's only two hours.

Sounds great, I'll take it.

I gotta get out of
my mom's house

as soon as possible.

Welcome to lucky.

Thanks.

Ryan Kelly!

Kristen?

Ooh!

Oh, I didn't know
you were back!

What are you doing here?

Me?
What are you doing here?

I'm gainfully employed.

Me too.

Starting Tuesday
and Thursday nights.

Amateur night.

You're gonna be so much better
than the last guy.

So does this mean
you're staying?

Everything okay?

They fire you?

No, nothing like that.

I took a break
from the last leg.

Thought I'd try to get
something going

around here, you know?

Stick around for more
than just the holidays.

What about you?

What happened
with your degree?

Why are you waitressing?

Well, I guess getting
married and divorced

in the span of two years

leaves you with
a lot to think about.

I guess I'm just doing
the same thing you are,

trying to figure out
what comes next.

I'm staying
in my parents' guest room.

My mom turned my room
into her office.

Drinks after you play tonight?

Yeah. Yeah, you bet.

I'm gonna go grab my guitar,
though, and stop by the bridge,

and see if they
need anything.

Oh. You haven't heard.

About the flood?

Yeah, my mom told me.

They're rebuilding,

or so I thought.

What?

Um... Charlie was in
a car accident.

He's in the icu
in a coma.

Ryan, I'm so sorry.

I figured you heard.

You know, people are leaving
voicemails like crazy.

Jenny said she would
be happy to sue the pole.

The weather forecast doesn't
call for snow this week,

but we're hoping for Christmas.

I brought some of
your favorite decorations, too.

I...

You're the talker, Charlie,
not me.

All I can say is...

Come back to me.

Please.

Ryan Kelly.

You didn't have to come,

but I'm so glad you did.

The bridge, you and Charlie...

What can I do?

Nothing.

We're just...

Waiting now.

This was probably...

I brought some books.

I thought I might
help you restock,

or you could read
to him...

Or I could.

I actually don't have
that much going on right now...

Wait a minute,

not much going on?

In your emails,

you mentioned all that work
you were doing on the road.

I'm back now.

Well, that's good.

It is good, isn't it?

How about I grab you a coffee?

Yell at a nurse?

Buy you lunch?

You know, there is one thing.

I don't know
if Charlie remembered

to lock up before he left.

Just give me your keys,
I'll stop by tonight,

and I'll bring you back
some dinner, too.

Well, I think edna
has that handled, but...

I do think I want to
head down to the cafeteria

and get something
very bad for me.

Besides, I could use the walk.

Charlie's a fighter.

Have faith,

you'll see.

Come on.

Hi.

Little house in the big woods.

You guessed it
my first day in the bridge.

Somehow you knew

how badly I wanted
a family like that.

You made such a difference,

you and Donna and the bridge.

I came to tell you that.

I wish I'd said it sooner.

I wish I'd sent a note,
or something, but...

I guess I just came
to say thank you.

Molly?

Ryan.

What are you doing?

Charlie.

Oh, of course.

Yeah, edna called, and...

Edna?

Yeah, she thought
that I might...

Even though it's been...

...seven years.

Yeah.

She was right.

I don't know what
I thought I could do,

but just
if there was anything...

Yeah, I was running
an errand for Donna,

and I got all the way
to my truck

and realized
I forgot me...

Oscar?
Oscar the truck?

Yeah.

Yeah, I haven't driven him much
in the last few years, though.

Oh, new truck?

No, no, you know, I've been
on the road, playing music.

Oh.

Great.

Right, I remember you saying
you were going on tour.

Yeah.

How's kristen
with you being away?

Your wife?

Do you guys have kids yet?

Uh... no, we...

We never married.

She married a guy that
she met in Virginia

at school.

And I never got married, so...

Hmm.

But you're engaged.

To, uh...

Oh.

Preston?

And the company?
Your dad's...

Yeah, in three months,
I'm taking over as ceo.

On your 25th birthday.

Looks like it all worked out,

just like your dad wanted, huh?

Well?

Okay.

Uh, Ryan, wait.

Are-are you...

Yeah?

Sorry, uh,

if you're doing anything
to help Charlie and Donna,

I would really like
to be a part of it, if I could.

It's why I came.

Sure.

Yeah, yeah, I'll let you know.

Okay.

Bye, Molly.

Bye.

I thought Ryan
not being married

would be a good thing.

Well, not if he never married
and he never called.

You never called him.

Because he was
going back to her.

They were gonna
be together forever.

- You okay?
- Yes.

I mean, it's just, I'm sad.

At least you're feeling.

That's more than
you've done in a while.

I guess I just thought that

if I came back here,
things would be clearer.

That I would know
about my future,

what I'm supposed to do, but...

You do know.

You're just too chicken
to say it out loud.

Are you coming home?

Not until I make up for
being horrible

and do what I came here to do,

which is help the bartons.

That's what this trip
is about now.

You could do worse.

You're a good friend,
you know that.

Best friend.

I'm sorry about this.

Call when you need to, okay?

Okay.

Bye.

Talk to me.

You've been quiet all night.

I told him to give up,

at the bookstore,

right before
the accident.

What state must he have been in,

when he got behind that wheel?

Don't do that.

People say things.

He knows how much you love him.

So much I told him
to give up his dream?

He's coming back.

That's what you tell him,

what he's got
to come back to.

See, that's the thing,

our insurance appeal
was denied.

There's no money
for the repairs...

What?

Why didn't you say anything?

Because he thought
we'd overcome it.

Fred's putting the building
up for sale January 1st.

Donna...

I'm so scared...

I'm scared that's why
he's not rallying.

No. Stop.

There are so many people
that are pulling for you,

so many people that know
Charlie would never give up.

You need to let him know
you're one of them.

Donna said you'd
be here tonight.

The bridge is in trouble.

Donna and Charlie
are in trouble.

Their lives
are gonna go up in smoke

unless somebody
does something fast.

Are you willing
to help?

Yeah.

It's terrible.

I had no idea.

No one does.

That's the thing.

He was too proud
to say anything,

and now...

What do we do?

I don't know.

But I thought,

if we can rally enough people
who care as much as we do...

...we might be able to
figure it out.

We're gonna have to.

Hi.

I'm not sure
if you remember, but, um...

Molly callens.

Yeah.

I-I, um, I really
don't mean to barge in,

but I was hoping

maybe you would have
some time...

The storm hit everyone
pretty hard.

I mean, people were
cleaning up for weeks.

You know, if it wasn't for
the condition of our roof,

we might be like everyone else.

You know what,

I want to hear
about you.

What are you
doing in town?

Um, actually, I came to see
you and Charlie.

Really?

After all this time?

I never forgot Franklin,

or my time at the bridge.

I mean...

I know it was short, but...

It was very important to me.

So, Molly, is your life good?

Are you doing
what you want to do?

Who's that?

Well, look
who I found.

Hi.

Hey.

They're from the bridge.

I was just
bringing them for Donna.

Oh, and your keys.

Thanks.

Do you want some tea?

I can make
some more tea.

Oh, no, actually,
I've got to get to lucky.

I don't mind.

I'll make you
some tea.

Lucky?

Oh, yeah, yeah,

I just got back to town,
and, uh...

It's...
It's not really important.

Sure it is.

You're playing at lucky.

I'm happy for you.

Yeah.

Well, I should probably
get going.

Okay, see you.

Hey. Can I ask you
a question?

Sure.

We need to help
the bridge and Charlie,

and I just thought,

this needs
a wider audience,

so...

Would you know
how to get the word out?

Yeah. 100%.

Where do I sign up?

So, you're playing lucky.

It's really not what you think.

Oh, come on.

Today, it's back-up
for someone else,

and tomorrow, you're...

...setting the world on fire.

You still believe it?

I never doubted your talent,

or that you'd end up
where you want to be.

You, um...

Gotta go?

Uh, yeah, I do,

but, uh, could I get...

You want my number
for the bridge stuff...

Yeah.
Is it the same?

- Yeah.
- I got it.

There she is.

Preston.

Your dad had
a two-day conference

in Nashville.

He sent me
in his place.

Wasn't that thoughtful?

Super.

I figured it'd give us
a minute away from Seattle,

and you've talked
about this place enough.

Why'd you come here anyway?

I'm still pushing

that radio station
deal through, so...

Yeah.

So...

We could do dinner?

Or be part of the conference.

I'm gonna take
some time to myself.

Actually, I'm beat.

I'm gonna turn in.

Oh, yeah. Sure.

Sure.

Good night.

Good night.

If you're asking
if I sent Preston down there

after you left without
telling me where you were going,

and after
you went back to a town

you said you were
never going back to,

then yes,

I did.

I'm your father, Molly,
and I'm concerned for you.

What, that whole speech
is emotional blackmail.

Molly, what are you really
doing in Franklin?

Tell the truth.

I'm-I'm tired, dad.

I'll call you tomorrow.

Good night.

Molly, wait...

It's so awful.

Should I just...

I'm seeing Donna later,

do you want me
to take it to her?

- Would you?
- Yeah.

I mean, I don't
know them that well, but...

Sure.

Thanks.

Oh, uh, Lonnie.

Molly.

Please give Donna my best.

See you.

Bye.

I still remember
when Lonnie first moved here

to work in the music business.

You remember everybody.

Charlie's the one
with the real memory.

He'd be so touched to see
how kind everyone is being.

Maybe he does.

Hey, how did you
and Charlie meet anyway?

Fighting over a book.

At the opposite kind of
bookstore from the bridge.

Who won?

Me.

Right.

But he leveraged it
into a date,

so he says he won.

Did you know that Charlie
was the one right away?

I could see his heart
from that first minute.

He had me from go.

I still feel that way
when I see him.

Every day.

I think that anyone
who ever gets to feel that way

is very lucky.

Don't you agree?

Yup.

- Hi.
- Molly.

I think I know
how to save the bridge.

Can I come in?

Yeah, yeah, come on.

The store is a testament

to Donna and Charlie's love,

both of books,
and of each other,

and they use that love
to connect people

and help them become
who they're meant to be.

You know?

And I don't know, maybe
it's 'cause I was 18,

and I didn't
know any better,

but last night,

I was looking
at the website,

and it helped me
remember that magic

that allowed customers
to find those stories,

and the people that were
meant to change their lives.

And I just feel like,

if we could get that out there,

that people could
rally around that,

and they would
want to save it, too,

do you know
what I mean?

So, social media, then?

Exactly.

And you've seen
the website.

It's prehistoric.

They're not on Twitter,
or instagram,

or even Facebook, I think.

What?

I'm just picturing
Charlie on Facebook.

Yeah.

Maybe we can access
an old database

for a mailing list?

And then Donna could help
with the customer files.

I could go by
the hospital, and...

I could come with you.

If that's okay.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, we always did
work well together.

Yeah, we did.

A Twitter account?

We'll create it.

Or Molly will,

because I have no idea
what I'm talking about.

But we an post updates
on the store and Charlie.

How is he doing?

Well, the doctor says

he's a little more responsive
every day.

That's great.

We just want him
to have

something promising
to come home to.

Charlie would like the way
you keep saying "we".

We always knew

things would change,

but Charlie always insisted

that people would still want to
hold a book in their hands,

you know?

Turn down the pages,

pass them down.

That's why we kept
hosting events.

It's about the people,
he'd always say,

keeping the community together.

"Community."

That's it.

I've got an idea.

It's a little
old school, but...

Do you wanna
come with me?

Sure.

Come on.

All the main street businesses
benefit from each other.

We figured maybe local shops
could help get the word out.

Tell people about it,

put it in a promotion
or donate.

Charlie and Donna
are the sweetest,

most wonderful people,

but we were hit
by the storm, too,

and I really don't have
anything to offer...

Thanks.

If anything changes...

Can I ask...

A lot of the flowers
that people brought

to put outside the bridge,

they came from
your shop, didn't they?

Yeah.

Do you think

you could put aside
a portion of the sales

for Charlie's recovery?

That I could do.

That's great.

Thank you.

It wouldn't amount to much,

even if I did
donate a piece.

I bet Charlie
and Donna

have bought
a lot of stuff here

over the years.

Committed customers,

20 years?

You some sort of
businessman now?

Not even close.

Maybe you can't
donate money,

but do you have books?

The store needs
to be restocked.

Wait, the bridge needs
books?

Charlie said they were
reopening in about a week.

Yeah, that's what he's
been telling people.

The bridge needs help?

I'll lend a hand.

I'm sure a lot of people
feel that way.

Well, is there somewhere
we could gather up?

We need it
to go viral, fast.

Which means tapping into
people's emotions,

what they love.

The story of
a singular bookstore,

a beloved owner
in trouble,

everyone can
relate to that.

Yeah,

everybody has a favorite
book or bookstore.

And if we can drive them
to the bridge's website

to share those feelings
and those favorites...

With links to donate,

and support the bridge
and Charlie's recovery...

It's everything
that Charlie was all about,

bringing people together
over their love of books.

I'm gonna call
my marketing department,

and see if they give us
some help with this.

Shoot, I need a signal.

You guys keep talking.

She's some go-getter.

Wow, it's so weird
to be in here.

You talked about
this place so often.

Does it meet
your expectations?

Yeah, I mean, it definitely
looks like somewhere

somebody would go
to be discovered.

Hey, has it been
okay for you?

You said you were
on the road.

Yeah, I've been making
a decent living,

and working with some
great, great people, so...

I just kind of hoped I'd be
somewhere else by now, I guess.

Yeah.

What?

Oh, nothing,

I just thought
that following my path

might take me somewhere
different, too.

Maybe someplace more rewarding.

It has its rewards,

but I don't know, some days,
it just feels kind of...

Maybe when you're 18,

you have all these big ideas,

and then reality sets in, and...

Do you really believe that?

No.

Being here, and helping
people who need it,

it just feels so much more
like what I thought...

It would,

than being part of
a big company.

I just feel like
I could do so much good.

Are you still writing songs?

Yeah, I just, uh...
Started again recently.

Really?

Yeah.

That's great...

Hey, ry,
you're up.

Great, uh...

Hey, do you want to
stick around, watch the set,

and then we can
catch up more after?

Sure. I'd love
to hear you play.

Great.

You a fan?

I'm an old fan.

Molly. Hi.

Molly, nice
to meet you.

Uh, so, yeah, um,

we're right in the middle
of a shift change here,

so if you could
settle up from before,

then I'll have
a new waitress

who will be right here.

Kristen?

- Molly!
- Hi!

Wow, what are you doing
in Franklin?

Well, the bridge...

Oh, sure...

And Charlie, so...
It's just...

I thought

you were in Virginia.

Married,
Ryan said?

Uh, yeah, that didn't
work out so well.

I'm sorry.

It's all good.

I'm here.

Here? At lucky?

- Yeah.
- Right.

Wow.

Oh, wow, you're engaged.

Yeah, sure. Yeah.

Huh.

You know,

I just remembered.

Could you tell Ryan

that I forgot about
a business call

I have to make to Seattle?

'Cause I work in Seattle...

Actually, I...
Well, live in Seattle.

My life is, um...
Primarily, uh...

In Seattle.

Yeah. So...

Uh, I gotta go,

but if you can
just tell him,

that'd be great.

Yeah.

Thanks, kristen.

There you are.

Hi.

I tried calling, but...

You okay?

Yeah.

Yeah, how was the conference?

It was great.
Great...

Listen, I was just
about to go for a workout,

but do you want to take a walk?

Sure.

Great.

I love this time of year.

It makes me...

I don't know,

a little bold.

Molly...

I think you know
how I've felt about you

for a long time now.

It's crazy that
all these years later,

I'm doing exactly
what I want to do,

with exactly the people
I want to do it with.

There's only
one more thing

that would make me even happier.

Marry me.

I didn't expect
to be doing this

in my workout clothes,

and the ring is in my room,

but the moment felt right, and...

Oh, Preston...

"Oh, Preston... yes?"

I'm sorry.

I love you...

No.

I don't...

I don't feel...

Yes, you do, Molly.

We've been together for...

But I waited,

and if you didn't...

What have we been doing?

I should have said
something earlier,

I just...

It's being
back in Franklin, I...

What is it with this place?

Everything you love
is in Seattle.

Your father,
your friends, your work,

me.

There's a whole life
waiting for you.

It's not a life
that I chose.

Being back here, I realize

that I can't commit
to a job,

let alone a marriage,

before I figure out

what I'm supposed to be like
on my own.

I'm sorry.

You've always known

what you were meant for,

and all I'm asking for
is a chance to do that, too.

Can you understand that?

Preston?

And the stupid thing is,

ever since she's got to town,
I've felt different.

Like I have
direction again.

I know how to move forward.

And songs?

They've been flying out of me.

Good ones.

I have been waiting
a long time for this.

Ryan Kelly performing
his own music.

Sign.

Oh, wow, I've...

I've got to go right now.

Thanks so much
for the talk, Mickey.

Hi, dad.

Didn't you get my messages?

Uh, no, sorry, I couldn't.

You turned Preston down?

What, he called you?

No, I called him
to ask about the conference.

He was beside himself.

I asked him what happened,
and he told me.

What are you doing?

I'm trying
to figure that out.

Then come home.
Get away from that place...

No.

No?

No, I have to see this through.

The bookstore,
and Charlie and Donna...

You ran away from that place
after your heart was broken.

I picked you up,
I dusted you off.

If you think I'm interested in
helping you through that again,

you're wrong.

Look, I've put my entire life in
your hands,

and they're safe hands,

but isn't turning 25
time for me to take control?

Shouldn't I follow my dreams
like mom wanted me to?

But what are your dreams?

Tell me.

What is it
you really want to do?

Uh...

Honey, if you don't answer,
I am coming down there.

Charlie's getting
off the ventilator.

Wait, who is that?

Um...

Dad, I have to
call you back.

Okay, Charlie.

We're gonna let you breathe
on your own for a few minutes.

Now, it might be a little
uncomfortable at first,

because you'll be
exercising muscles

you haven't used
in a few days.

Edna here is gonna
take your vitals,

and if there's any distress,

we're gonna give you back
all the oxygen you need, okay?

Hey, you need to
breathe, too, all right?

Talk to him.

Tell him what's
happening.

You're doing great, Charlie.

You're breathing!
Good.

Keep it up, Charlie.

We're all here.

Keep going,
my love.

Okay.

That's all right.

We'll do a little
more each day...

Yeah, and
if he keeps this up,

and the swelling
continues to go down,

we're really looking at
a matter of days.

In the meantime, keep up
the sensory stimulation.

Talk to him,
play music,

anything that connects him
back to his life.

"Teachers told my parents
I'd never learn to read.

"Because of you and the bridge,

I teach English
to special needs kids now."

Hear that, Charlie?

"You gave me
my first book for free

"when I was eight.

"I traded it for another
until I had my first job

and could buy books
on my own."

"My sponsor
turned me on to the bridge.

Charlie, you helped me find
the books I needed to heal."

"We got information
about adoption at the bridge.

Thanks to you,
we have a baby girl."

There's a picture. Look.

You know,

Charlie and I weren't able
to have kids.

He said

we'll just make the bridge
our family.

Charlie...

Sweetheart...

Look at what you've made.

Come on,

open your eyes...

See what's surrounding you.

So much is waiting.

Christmas is waiting.

That's not all.

This is $500.

Oh, my gosh.

Hey, you knew about
the bridge before me.

What's your story?
How did it find you?

Guitar lessons.

I wanted them so badly,
my mom bribed me.

If I read a book a week,
she'd pay for them.

Then I found out later,

between guitar lessons
and the books,

it stretched
our budget so far,

that she was selling
magazines at night

on the phone
after I went to bed.

Wow, your mom
is something else.

Yeah,
she's a good blackmailer.

What do you say,

do you want to grab a drink
or something?

Actually, I was gonna go back to
the b&b

and work on the website...

Of course.

Yeah, of course...

But my company forbids me
from doing that.

It does not, however,
forbid me

from teaching
somebody else to do that.

Wait, you're not
talking about...

Technology?

Nope, come on.

Oscar the truck,
here we come. Come on.

So, click up here.

Mm-hmm.

Oh, the logo, yeah,
up here on the left.

Yeah, no, you're good,

and then, uh,
drag it down.

Then you can click off,
you don't need it.

And then just over there,
it will let you type.

Oh...

Yup, perfect,
go ahead.

Go for it.

Here, let's
dress it up a bit.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, see?

Nice.

Magical.

And then we should
probably put a counter

down on
the right side, yeah.

Do we still have that picture
of Charlie and Donna?

And then
we're almost done,

if you just want to...

Yup, and then,
last key here.

We're live.

You did it.

You did it.

I just typed very badly.

Okay, so...

The next thing
we should probably do...

Uh, have mercy.

It's 3:00 A.M.

I'm starving.

How are you not starving?

All right,
I think we're good.

Yeah? Okay.

Ready?

Yup.

Nice.

There you go.

There we go.

Is that enough?

It's perfect.

Now, for my favorite part.

Mm, it smells good.

It's gonna be...

Taste even better.

Okay, this is...

This is
gonna sound crazy, but...

They're really lucky,

aren't they?

Charlie and Donna?

I mean, not what's
happening right now, but...

The fact that
they spent their lives

creating something that matters.

They've inspired so many people.

I think they're lucky because...

They have each other.

Yeah.

Donna said

it was love
at first sight

fighting over a book.

Should we
put that on there?

Maybe.

And then maybe

other people
could talk about

their own
first moments,

their own love
at first sight.

What do you think?

Um, I think that...

I think it's snowing.

What in the world
is all this?

Deliveries keep coming.

We could load them
in the back of my truck.

We're gonna need
a fleet of trucks.

I don't
understand,

where are all these
coming from?

Ohio, Texas, California.

This one's
from Canada.

Why didn't you leave them
at the store?

Well, no, they should
be here for when...

...Charlie wakes up.

5,400.

Dollars?

That's just
from the envelopes.

But the website
is up to $14,043

in just two days.

No that total's wrong.

It's actually $19,043.

My record company

heard about the bridge,

and we're donating $5,000.

What?

You have
a record company?

Yeah, I'm a record exec.

Oh, well,
you've met Ryan Kelly,

musician extraordinaire, right?

Mol...

What?

Charlie put people
together all the time.

It's only fitting that
this should happen

in his room.
Right, Donna?

Right.

Oh, great.

She's here for
the ventilator.

Charlie's been breathing
on his own since yesterday.

All right, Charlie!

$19,000 plus $5,400...

...is amazing, but...

...but still a tenth
of the downpayment

on a commercial property.

We still need a savior,

a knight riding up
on a horse.

The landlord
doesn't realize

how much the bridge's
customer base has grown,

or the thousands
of followers we have

on Facebook
and Twitter.

Has anybody
talked to him?

I nominate Molly.

Oh. Yeah, sure.

I just need
his information.

Oh, also Jenny
is in charge of organizing

the Christmas Carols
for tomorrow,

so everybody
talk to her, okay?

Let's go.

Phewf!

Hey, man,

I didn't realize
you were that Ryan Kelly

till Molly said so.

You got a sec?

Yeah.

Mr. fellows...

Fred.

Fred.

I'm a businesswoman,

I completely
understand your issues,

but the bridge
is such...

You have no idea how much
I've loved the bridge.

My wife died suddenly
eight years ago

and left me with three boys.

I took them to the bridge
for books, to get a break,

find books on how to raise them.

But my eldest is
about to go to college.

If they can't rebuild...

That's my income, too.

But the money keeps coming in...

Is it enough?

For repairs?

For the downpayment.

Sir, they're booksellers.

You know they may never have
that kind of money.

It's my biggest hope
that they come up with it,

but without a guarantee...

It's a very nice thing

that you're doing,

but I can't wait.

I am so sorry.

Okay.

I understand.

Thanks for your time.

You wanted to stay.

I know, I just...

I'm playing backup
at amateur night

four hours a week.

That's the only thing out there.

Do you know how many musicians
would kill for this gig?

I know how many have
your gifts.

Zero.

And you'd give it up

to wind up exactly
where you are

in a year, again?

You were moving forward.

What's the issue?

What if what I've got
is as far as I'm going to get?

How will you know
if you keep running away?

Honey, all I want

is for you to be happy,

but I taught you to grab life

with both hands.

"Go to Italy."

Yes.

No matter how long
it takes to get there.

Ryan, show people who you are.

Or does this have
something to do with Molly?

We both know

that's why you went on the road
in the first place.

But with her
or without her,

it's time for you to decide,

are you going to step up,
or not?

I'm on break.

You don't have to keep

bringing me things.

But thank you.

How are you holding up?

Well...

You went through it with tom.

I didn't go through this.

You know,
I didn't mean that, I'm sorry...

No, I meant,

I can't even begin to imagine
what you're going through.

I wouldn't be
where I am today

if it wasn't for you
and Charlie.

You had faith.

Might have made it
easier for you.

I've been thinking.

Maybe for you,

crossing that line to faith

feels like
betraying something.

Something in you
hasn't forgiven,

or forgotten.

But this isn't about you.

It's about Charlie.

And if you can open up,
and ask for things for him...

Someone will listen?

Someone's always listening.

And prayer and faith

aren't necessarily found
in houses of worship.

They're in your heart.

And you've always had
that faith in Charlie.

Maybe,
if you wanted,

you could access it that way.

Thank you.

You came.

To your debut at lucky?
Are you kidding?

Well, it's amateur night,
so don't expect too much.

Okay, first of all,
you are not an amateur,

and I've already heard
your music, so...

How do you feel?

I'm petrified, yeah.

I play backup, so it's...

Not anymore.

You're up.

Oh, boy.

Hey, mol...

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve.

Hey, everyone!

Let's have a big lucky welcome

for Ryan Kelly!

So, I'm Ryan Kelly...

Whoo!

Thanks.

It's good to see you guys, too.

So, you probably all heard about
the bridge bookstore,

and its owner, Charlie bartons,

who was in an accident
last week.

Ever since,
I've been writing songs

about a bookseller
and his patrons

each one with a story to tell.

But this was
the first one I wrote.

It's about lost love.

♪ Been out chasing the stars

♪ and playing this guitar

♪ but every highway seemed
to circle back home ♪

♪ and lonely got hard

♪ while I was searching
for something ♪

♪ in the end
it was you all along ♪

♪ girl, it was just you and me

♪ and a handful of dreams

♪ but life had something else
in mind ♪

♪ you turned on the lights

♪ and the path was so clear

♪ but that was
once upon a time ♪

♪ so many lessons learned

♪ so many twists and turns

♪ sometimes, it's hard
to have faith... ♪

I'd walk on hot coals
for Charlie,

I'd jump out of an airplane...

Beg for mercy.

So please...

I'm following his lead here.

Please...

Answer my prayer.

♪ Once upon a time... ♪

Whoo!

Ryan Kelly, everyone!

Local boy.

Ryan Kelly!

Donna...

Come quick.

Charlie moved his hand.

Ryan...

That was incredible.

I've been bottling it up.

You are a songwriter.

You're amazing, you know that?

Nothing's changed, because...

Music just flows out of me
when I'm around you.

What?

Are you happy, Molly?

Has your 10-year plan
worked out?

You probably don't remember
that video we made...

Actually,
I watch it every December.

I know you're following
the life plan that you had,

I just have to ask...

You're not wearing your ring,

did something
change, or...?

Ryan, listen,
if I tell you something...

Hey, did you
hear that crowd?

Did you hear
that crowd?

Yeah, yeah,
it was, uh...

You can come
back here anytime.

I mean, if that
pacific rim tour

doesn't keep you
away from us.

Great set.

Great set...

You're going back on the road?

No, no...

No, it's okay.
Ryan, it's okay.

I'm happy for you.

What were you about to say?

I've got to get out of here
after this, um...

To pack,

and I'm going back
to Seattle tomorrow.

It's Christmas Eve.

To your fiancé.

Right.

Bye, Ryan.

You hung up on me.

Yeah.

Molly...

I told you I'd come down...

What do you want?
You want me home?

I'm flying home tomorrow.
It's Christmas Eve.

You don't talk to me like that.

No, I don't.

I do everything I'm told.

I hop to,
that's the kind of girl I am.

What's come over you?

Except now.
I quit.

You quit?

I quit callens media.

I don't want to be ceo anymore.

Good night, dad.

Thanks for coming.

Have you been drinking?

I'm completely clear.

I'm just, I'm done.

I can't follow
the plan anymore.

What is going on with you?

Tonight, I went to this bar,
called lucky,

and Ryan, he...

- Ryan?
- He followed through.

He played his own music
in this bar that he always...

This is about Ryan?

Would you just listen?

He followed
his heart, and...

He was ridiculously amazing,

and the look
on his face was just...

He...

By doing this,

he became the person
that he was meant to be.

Wait,

you're giving
everything up

because of him?

Look, I'm not
with him, okay?

He doesn't want me,

and it's about more than that.

It's about
what he inspired in me.

It's about
who I'm supposed to be.

I really need you
to understand this.

Dad, I've always done
everything you wanted.

I learned
the business.

I transferred
from belmont to Stanford

after my first semester...

That was your choice.

Dad, please...

You said you had nothing left
after that boy broke your heart.

He knew

that you were
better off with Preston,

or he wouldn't
have done it.

Dad...

Wait, how could he...

Ryan knew that
you belonged with Preston,

and that is why he broke it off.

How would he have known?

I never talked to him
about Preston.

The only way he would have known
would have been if...

That Christmas Eve...

What did you do?

I protected you.

You called him?

What did you say?

I said you had
a life in Seattle,

and he wasn't
part of it.

Why?

So I could come back
and run a corporation

and marry a man
that I don't love?

You did this!

So you would have
the right life!

How would you know what that is
when you never let me find out?

He probably thought
I never loved him at all.

Molly...

No, no, no, no.

We are so done.

You are going to
install Preston as ceo,

and hand over
my inheritance to me,

or I swear
I will leave Seattle for good.

I couldn't change
the inheritance

even if I wanted to.

And if you don't
take over as ceo,

you're never going to
see that money.

I get that you wanted
to save this bookstore,

or whatever lark it is
that you're on,

but you're never

going to be this store's
white knight.

Yes, I will.

Watch me.

Molly...

You said
you did all this for me.

You did this for yourself.

You ruined my life,

for you.

Molly.

Hi.

I know it's late, but I have
a proposition for you.

I don't think
i want to run my dad's company,

and I'm not even sure
i want to stay in Seattle.

Molly...

Hi.

Can I come in?

I thought about
everything you said to me,

and I tried to answer for myself
what was true.

I wanted to make your life
the best it possibly could be...

- Dad...
- Please...

Let me finish.

But I went about it
the wrong way.

The thing with Ryan,

I never should have done that.

You're entitled to make
your own decisions,

and your own mistakes.

I took that away from you,

and I'm sorry.

But don't resign.

I don't want you
away from me,

and I don't want you
angry with me.

You're my daughter,

I love you.

So, tell me how to fix this.

I found something,

being here.

It was a piece of me

I was never going to find
in Seattle,

because I was
away from you.

Okay.

When I came home
that Christmas

I was mourning that

as well as Ryan.

You know what else
I figured out, being here?

I'm really good at
connecting the dots

to make good things
happen for people.

So,

what if I stay
in the company...

Yes...

...not as ceo.

I want to head up
the callens foundation.

But there is
no callens foundation.

There should be.

We should be balancing out
the hard business we do

by reaching out to others,
forming a foundation.

I want to do that.

I think I would be
amazing at it,

and it would make my life
feel complete.

So...

What do you say?

I look forward to you
coming home.

I have a couple things
to wrap up first.

- Okay.
- Okay.

Love you.

Bye. Love you, too.

Thanks.

Charlie's going
to love this.

Hey.

There you are.

This is going to be incredible.
Come on.

I'm going to
meet you guys in there.

Okay.

Come on, guys.

Hey.

♪ Hark the herald
angels sing... ♪

You hear that, Charlie?

♪ Glory to...

It must be some church group
caroling for the holidays.

You love Carols, Charlie.

Come on, open your eyes.

♪ Joyful
all ye nations rise... ♪

Come on, Charlie.

♪ Join the triumph of skies...

♪ With angelic host proclaim

♪ Christ is born in Bethlehem

♪ hark the herald angels sing

♪ glory to the newborn king...

You're not gonna
believe this,

Charlie has been
moving all morning,

and this whole time,

he's been squeezing my hand.

Charlie?

Charlie, are you there?

Charlie?

It's me.

It's me.

It's me...

Donna.

Yes!

Yes!

Yes...

" I'll
go get Dr. mats.

Okay, Charlie,

you had a car accident,

and...

And you've been
out of it now

for over a week,

and all these people,

they've been helping

and praying, Charlie,

for you.

Hi, Charlie,

I'm Dr. mats.

We've been working
together the last week.

Looks like you've got
some fans here.

Yeah.

How you feeling, Charlie?

Like a kid at Christmas.

We've got some
presents for you

if you want.

Is that okay?

Yeah,
I think it's all right.

They're all yours.

They're all books,
Charlie.

People sent them
to the bridge

when they heard
what happened.

Am I... am I dreaming?

No.

Ryan and Molly,

and everyone,

insisted on
bringing them here

so they'd be here
when you woke up.

And people
sent money, Charlie,

from everywhere.

Thousands and
thousands of dollars.

It's marked urgent.

What?

What's this?

An anonymous source
purchased the bridge?

What?

We still have a week.

No, wait a minute,
there's a letter.

"Dear Charlie,

"it came to my attention

"you and the bridge
have fallen on hard times.

"The time I spent
at the bridge

"was the best of my life.

"So I bought the building.

"And because
I once saw you

"sell a book
to a single mother

"for a penny,

"from now on,

"and for as long as
you want to run the bridge,

"that will be
your annual lease.

One penny."

Oh, Charlie...

"Because the truth is,

"I would do anything
for you, sir.

Anything
that was right."

We don't
have to close.

We can reopen
the bridge...

And we have
all the books,

and the money we need
to repair it.

Christmas came.

Your family came.

You were right.

God's not done with us yet.

Airport.

Molly.

I couldn't do it.

I couldn't
get on a plane, and...

Leave Franklin.

What is it?

Molly...

I'm not engaged.

I was never engaged.

I lied,

and I wore my mother's
engagement ring

because I thought

you'd be happily
married to kristen,

and I-I just couldn't stand...

I'm sorry for misleading you.

But you're not engaged?

What about the ring that you...

I sold it

to put a down payment
on the building

for Donna and Charlie.

That...

Christmas Eve...

Eve...

My dad called you,
didn't he?

What did he say?

He said
a lot of things.

He played
a recording,

a conversation
that you had with Preston

that night we were together.

You said that you loved him
and were going to Seattle...

No, no, it's not...

Preston was calling
from my dad's office.

My dad records
all of his phone calls.

I...

I was actually
telling Preston

that I just love him
as a friend.

And I guess

my dad wanted me back
so badly,

that he cut that part out.

But you...

Had those feelings.

I never stopped
having those feelings.

But you wanted kristen.

You said forever.

I just did that

so you could live
the life that you wanted.

The life I wanted is here.

From the minute I got here
and I met you,

I never wanted to leave.

All that time?

You meant it?

You couldn't leave Franklin?

I quit.

I'm not
gonna be ceo.

When?

Last night.

We're forming a foundation
that I'm going to lead,

using callens media.

What?

A brand-new foundation

could be run
from anywhere, right?

But you're going back
on the road, aren't you?

Actually, there's...

This girl...

...who reminded me
who I was,

and who
I wanted to be,

and I wrote her so many songs,

that a music executive
signed me to a publishing deal.

He thinks we have enough
for a whole album.

Ryan!

I'm staying in Franklin,
and I'm gonna write songs.

You're three years early.

The 10-year plan.

You wanted to write songs
for a living.

And you wanted to make
a difference in the world.

So, we made it three years early
because of you.

Because of you.

Oh, my. Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi. Hi!

Doc...

Luther...

Hey.

Aw, edna.

Good to have you
back, Charlie.

Thank you.

You came.

I wanted to see
what the fuss was about.

All right, everybody.

Together with me,

as we've been
this entire time.

Do it with me on three.

One...

Two! Three!

Thanks, Ryan.

I want to invite
you all inside,

to the new bridge.

Come, with us.

You're gonna love this!

Merry Christmas!

I brought you
something.

Dad...

Dad...

"Following her dreams," huh?

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Thanks, dad.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Come on inside,
see what your daughter did.

You two go ahead.

I'll catch up.

Hi.

That was
really good.

I know.

Oh, it's really
coming down.

You got some
in your hair.

Hey.

You'll like this,
but I know a better one for you.

You're gonna love it.

Come on.