The Spirit of Christmas (2015) - full transcript

Lily.

♪ On the fifth day... ♪

Lily.

Kate...

Yes, Larry?

You are amazing.

I knew, when we met,

the man who won you
would be beyond lucky.

Um...

Kate... that man
just isn't me.

Uh, I'm sorry?



You're beautiful and smart

and I know that
somewhere deep inside you

is a woman capable
of great love.

But I don't bring that out
in you and I never will.

Are you breaking up
with me?

Yes.

Oh, thank God.

What?

I thought
you were proposing.

I know this
may seem sudden

but it's something
that's been lurking since...

well, the beginning.

I know, being an attorney
is an all-consuming job,

but if you really wanted us to
work, you'd make me a priority.



True.

- And I'm not your priority.
- You're so not.

Also... you're tired of dating someone
who hasn't learned how to love.

I never said that.

Joe did...
my college boyfriend.

Sam called me his phantom girl.

It was cute,
until it wasn't.

And Larry told me I should go
to love repair boot camp,

because of my childhood.

Who even knew those
things were real?

You've heard this before?

Mm, yeah, lots.

But you know, I'm not going to pretend
to feel something that I don't.

And, you're so right,
I just... I don't.

Are you going to eat that?

Mm...

Henrietta Forsythe
finally died.

And good morning, Oliver.

It was. Visions of
my Bahamas vacation

were dancing in my head
till I got this news.

Guess what I don't want to think
about on my Bahamas vacation?

Henrietta Forsythe?

You're quick.

I knew there was a reason
I came to you first.

I also never have
Christmas plans.

That too.

It's a simple execution
of her will, mostly.

How many assets?

Just the one big one.
Come on.

Hollygrove Inn, nice huh?

Charming, who gets it?

No heirs, so to
the trust it goes

and they want it sold quickly,

before they get
hit by taxes.

By?

- End of the year.
- That's in three weeks!

I know, between you and me,

Joyce just got a
new gig in Toronto.

That means the Senior
Associate position here

will be up
for grabs.

And while I can't make
any guarantees,

I can go to bat
for you over Kirk.

That's... thank you, Oliver.

We both know
it's totally selfish.

You work harder
than anyone here

and that makes
my life easier.

Okay, well I will have
the business evaluations

done right away,
review the books,

hire a local appraiser...

That's strangely not
as easy as it seems.

Why?

I've already hired
two companies, both failed.

Oh, come on.

I know, 45 percent of
the population still

believes in ghosts
and as of right now,

so do 100 percent
of our appraisers.

So we'll hire someone else.

Already have, Mr. Murray will be at
the inn on the 12th and so will you.

You want me
to hold his hand?

Basically.

You'll knock this out
in no time.

You always do.

Uh, Mr. Murray?

Wait.

Wait!

What the...

Where are you...
we have a meeting!

Seriously?

Hello?

May I help you?

Hi, sorry.
The door was open.

It isn't, actually,

I'm in the middle of closing
the inn for the holidays.

What... closing?

Isn't it high season
for a place like this?

Why would you
be closing now?

Tradition...

I'm Walter Rafferty.

I take it your Ms. Jordan?

Kate, with Patton
and Turner,

I'm here for
the property appraisal.

Yes, Mr. Murray arrived early,
left early, too.

What happened?

Unh, it was
probably the ghost.

The ghost?

Usually is when
they leave like that.

Though Daniel's never
harmed anyone...

every once in a while
he does assert himself.

Daniel.

Mm-hmm, you're on a first
name basis with the ghost?

Oh, when you've worked here
as long as I have...

Daniel Jacob Forsythe.

He once owned this inn,
many years ago.

Hmm.

The inn is of the utmost
importance to him.

Now, I'm sorry, your trip
has been a waste of time.

Oh, no, I'm not done.

I just got here. There has to
be some appraiser, somewhere,

who's not going to let a silly
ghost story scare them off.

Sorry, Daniel.

And where will you
stay until then?

Uh, well, this is an inn,

so I kind of figured
that I would stay here.

Impossible.

Uh, as I said, we're closed
until December 26th.

The staff's already gone

and I'll be leaving
within the hour.

Mm, well, as executor
of the estate,

I have a set of keys,
so, not impossible.

Inadvisable.

Because of the ghost?
I don't scare easily.

I'll be leaving soon.
You will be alone.

I'm a big girl,
Mr. Rafferty.

Besides, it's only
for one night

and I'll lock up
the place when I leave.

But, you know what,
you're welcome to stay here

with me if that would
make you feel better.

Not remotely.

I'll be gone as I always
am by December 13th.

Why December 13th?

Tradition.

So your appraiser was a bust.

You're kidding.

Nope, he was sprinting
to his car when I got here.

So what's your plan now?

Unh, when I get home
to Boston, I'll hire

one of the appraisers
we've used before,

so they're not caught up
in the myth of this place.

You staying there tonight?

Have you seen
anything spooky yet?

Don't start.

I almost wish I wasn't
flying tonight,

so I
could get the update.

See if you survive.

You'll get the update when
you get back from the Bahamas.

And I can guarantee you
there won't be any ghosts.

Good night, Oliver.

Oh, no.

You're trespassing.

Oh!

Unh...

Unh.

How's your head?

Sore.

Understandable.

Well, you appear,
thankfully, no worse off,

which means you can leave.

And you should, at once.

I'm not leaving.
You're the trespasser.

A man cannot trespass
on his own property.

This inn belongs to
the Forsythe Trust

which means you should leave
before I call the sheriff.

Hey!

Put me down!

Thank you for
coming, Sheriff.

No problem.

So he was here
when you got up?

Yes, um, but I think
he got in last night

because I saw someone
before I got knocked out.

He hit you?

Oh-no, no-no-no, uh,
just a vase fell on my head.

- You okay?
- Yeah, I'm fine.

I'll be better once
he gets out of here though.

Okay, well, uh, why don't
you stay down here and I'll...

I'll take a look around.

Okay, thanks.

He was here, I swear.

Well, he's probably
some drifter who came in

out of the cold and hightailed
it out back when he saw me.

I mean, I'll check
around the area though.

Well, he was dressed
awfully nice for a drifter...

he wore a tie.

Well, some do.

You might want to, uh,
use the alarm system.

Wa... I did, I set it
last night... I think.

This is my inn,
I have all the keys.

I have no wish to harm you.

I merely want my solitude
which requires your departure.

I activated the alarm,
it didn't go off.

Which means he was
inside when you left.

Well, I searched
everywhere again.

You must've
missed something.

How's your head?

It's fine!

Look, I'm not hallucinating,
there was a man here!

Well, he's not here now.

Unless you missed him, again.

Or he's a ghost.

Ms. Jordan, would you like me
to wait here until you leave?

No, that won't be necessary.

Look, I'm not making
this up, Sheriff.

A man was here.

I made sure all the windows
and doors are locked now.

Just don't forget
to set the alarm after me.

I also know the alarm code.

Are you going to keep disappearing
and reappearing like this?

Are you going to keep
calling the Sheriff?

I'm pretty sure he thinks
it's all in your head.

Is it? Are you?

You tell me...
it's your head.

I think you're real.

But what is real?

Stop it!

Impossible.

Unfortunately, it isn't.

You knew this would happen

when I said I was
staying here, didn't you?

I knew it might...
or you might leave.

He wants me to leave.

Maybe you should.

And what would I tell my boss?

Strange things are afoot
at Hollygrove Inn

and I couldn't
get it appraised?

I have a promotion
riding on this, you know.

Hollygrove should
not be sold.

Okay, can we please dial
down on the whole startling

Kate thing you
two have going on?

I have a potential head injury and
explain to me again how he's a ghost.

He doesn't look
like a ghost, see?

You can't touch ghosts.

So we're telling her then?

Seems prudent.

Except I wouldn't believe
you for a second.

And you're an expert
on the supernatural?

Just what I've seen
in the movies.

- Oh, yes, the cinema.
- Hmm.

Bit of advice, there's more
to life and the afterlife

then one can find
in the realm

of flickering lights
and pipe organ music.

Does he always
talk like that?

At the moment,
Daniel is not a ghost.

Mm.

However, when the clock
strikes midnight

on December 24th,
he will be, yet again.

How does that even work?

- A curse.
- A curse?

You just said, "A curse," out
loud and actually meant it.

How else would
you explain this.

Right now I'm leaning
towards cerebral edema,

but I am really
hoping I'm wrong on that.

Okay, look, I'm not going
to deny that there is

a very, very strong
resemblance between you

and the dead guy in that
picture out in the hall.

But there has to be some other
explanation besides curses and ghosts.

There's just no such thing.

I'll prove it to you.

I don't get it.

What?

Now, do you believe me?

Yeah, but if you think I'm leaving
now, you really are nuts.

He sure does eat
a lot for a ghost.

He says it's more
about the sensation.

All his senses are
heightened upon his return.

Yeah, uh, grilled cheese?

I think if I came back
from the dead,

my first meal would not
be a grilled cheese.

I can hear you.

Maybe a chicken vindaloo.

Hey, did they have chicken
vindaloo when you were...

Alive?

Wh... is he always this
cranky when he comes back?

I wouldn't know.

Other than our first
encounter, many years ago,

our interactions are
rare and brief.

Yeah, he doesn't
seem chatty.

I can still hear you.

Yeah.

I'm no expert on curses
but this one seems weird.

He's a ghost except
for two weeks, why?

Did he insult a witch?

There are no witches.

Oh, right, because
that would be crazy.

Daniel doesn't know the reason
behind his situation...

only that he came back
95 years ago for 12 days

and has done the same
each year ever since.

And he can't leave here?

He's restricted by
the inn's property line.

But there... there's too many
rules for this to be random.

There has to be
purpose behind it.

Agreed... but I don't
have enough information

and Daniel isn't
very forthcoming.

Why? Doesn't he want
to find out?

I mean, if it were me,
I'd spend all of my free time

back here researching until I found
out why this was happening to me.

And maybe then I could

break... the... curse.

Daniel, things
are different now.

Ms. Jordan's
presence proves that.

The inn will be sold,

and that will put you in
a precarious position.

If you're found out,
you become a curiosity.

Hmm.

And you'd never
be alone again.

Okay, so the most
obvious question first,

how did you die?

I don't know.

How do you not
know how you died?

Was it pneumonia,
gunshot, poison?

I don't remember.

His body was discovered in
the woods, right out there.

Seemed like foul play
but nothing was ever proven.

Homicide.

Okay, so what were you doing,
as of your last memory?

Returning home.

From?

Montreal.

What were you doing
in Canada?

It wasn't honorable.

I'm a lawyer,
we don't do honor.

Are you familiar
with the Volstead Act?

Somewhat.

It was a law passed
the autumn before my death,

that banned alcohol
in America.

Prohibition.

What Daniel is trying not to
say is, he was a bootlegger.

I prefer the term "rum runner".

Wait, I thought
you owned this inn?

It became mine upon the death
of my parents,

months after my return
from the Great War.

And Charles',
it was his too.

Who's Charles?

My brother.

Were it up to him, this
place would've been sold

on the heels of
my parent's demise.

But I kept it going with
the help of my cousin Harry.

Well, that's lovely

but I don't understand
the, uh, bootlegging.

Rum running was
a means to an end.

The end was, as it
so often is, a woman.

Between the economy
and influenza,

I'm surprised anyone
is venturing out at all.

I don't know how much longer
I can keep it afloat.

Look, if it's money you need,

I know some people
in Montreal.

Harry, you know I love you,

but I'm familiar with
your type of people.

I'm not comfortable going
down that route, no offense.

None taken, cousin.

I'm not always
too comfortable either.

I just hope you don't have to lose
the place after all these years.

Who is this?

Lily Culver.

She and her widowed father
recently moved here from Boston.

Oh, thank you.

But you better
move fast Danny-boy,

you're not the only one
to have noticed her.

Sorry, Aldis, this room is
off limits to the party.

Harry will gladly escort you
back to the holiday festivities.

Aren't you quick
on your feet?

Only when there's
a lady in distress,

otherwise
I'm a total blunderer.

I find that hard
to believe.

You seem quite capable...
and charming.

I promise to do everything
in my power

to keep that impression
from ever changing.

Your inn is beautiful.

More so with you here.

Oh my...
you are the charmer.

My name is Lily.

I know.

Daniel.

I know.

Was she your sweetheart?

Lily, was...

She was, until she betrayed me
with my brother,

that much I remember
quite well.

This is one of
my favorites.

Fantastical nonsense.

Don't you believe in ghosts?

I believe in what I know...

What I can see...

Touch...

When we marry, I'm going to
turn this room into a library,

filled with all
sorts of books,

especially
fantastical nonsense.

What if we lived
somewhere else?

Don't be silly, why would
we ever live somewhere else?

This inn is perfect.

It's part of the reason
I fell in love with you.

What do you mean by that?

It set you apart
from all the others.

When father first took
a look at you,

he thought you were reckless,
but when I told him

you owned this inn,
his opinion of you changed.

He said, it showed you had
responsibility, dedication,

a good head
on your shoulders.

With that,
I couldn't agree more.

Tell me about Montreal.

Oh, there you are.

You persist.

Rafferty's gone back
to his place,

but I think we could still
get in some good work tonight.

No work, we're done.

Daniel...

For tonight...
we're done for tonight.

We will continue.
A promise is a promise.

So, where are you
sleeping tonight?

I don't sleep.

Of course you don't.

Look, just don't
come in my room, okay.

I would not.

You already did.

Well, I would not now.

What does your husband
say of you staying here?

I'm not married.

Your beau, then.

Don't have one
of those either.

And if you say one word
about me being an old maid,

it will not go well
with you, all right?

Times have changed since
you were last out in the world.

People don't fall in love?

Some do.

I haven't.

Good night.

Hello?

It's foolish.

It's 600 dollars
each run.

Is it illegal?

That's none of your
business, stay out of it.

It's my inn too!

Just because I don't
run it doesn't mean...

That's right,
you don't, I do!

As your brother, I can
protest your actions,

particularly when
they're illegal.

What if something
happens to you?

Well, consider... if
I'm arrested or if I die,

you'll have
your shot at Lily.

Don't pretend, Charles.

You follow her like
a puppy, it's pathetic.

At least I take her
feelings into consideration,

which is more then
I could say for you.

You told Charles
about Montreal?

He wanted to see
the books.

I had to explain where
the money was coming from...

You owe Charles
no explanation.

I'm the one you report to,
is that clear?

Cousin...

Is that clear, Harry?

It's clear.

Agreed.

But first, breakfast.

Hungriest ghost ever.

I can see that,
maybe if you hadn't...

He... hello.

Uh, Kate Jordan,
this is Molly O'Brian.

Uh, eh, uh, no actually,
back to Molly Belle, divorced.

Oh, hi, um,
so nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Sorry about my, um,
friend, he's...

- Shy.
- Weird.

Oh, well, we're
all a little weird.

Small town life, right?

So I heard my brother
came by a couple times.

Your brother.

The Sheriff.

Yeah-yes-yes, uh,

he probably thinks
that I'm a little weird.

I'm sure he doesn't get calls
like that from... from Walter.

No, Walter here is
pretty self-sufficient.

Um, so, the water pipes in
my pub, they... they burst.

- Oh-no.
- Oh.

Um, yeah, the place
is a total mess.

If there is any chance
you'd think about

opening the tavern
for the holiday's...

No!

What he means is, he needs more
time to work out the specifics.

Specifically, no.

Hi, I'm Molly,
what's your name?

D.J.

It is absolutely not, D.J.

A ridiculous name if
I ever heard such a thing.

I'm sorry, could you just
excuse us, for a moment?

So...

What is wrong with you?

Do you want her to know
who you really are?

I want her to leave.
Were you not dangling

the slim chance of
being useful,

I want you gone as well,
so I could have my solitude.

Oh yeah, well, one way to guarantee
never having your solitude again

is let her find out who
you are, so cool it, Deej.

This is shaping up to be the
worst Christmas since I died.

Oh, stop being so dramatic
and just follow my lead!

D.J. is a
Forsythe cousin.

Hello.

He stopped by to get
a look at the inn

after Henrietta's death.

Oh.

I only knew her when
she was a child.

Well, the inn has always been
one of my favorite places

around town, and, uh, frankly,

I was kind of hoping
the tavern would be open.

I mean, my pub is going
to be down for at least a week

and I would love
to send folks here.

Oh, wish we could help out,
but the staff's on holiday.

Well, I could
bring my people.

I have a great bartender.

What?

Well, I find that
hard to believe.

Well, have you ever
even been to my pub?

The only bartender
that I trust is myself.

Oh... oh, really?

Mm-hmm.

Hmm.

Prove it.

No-no proving,
he's not good at it.

You're not good at it.

Tonight, bring companions.

By then I will have secured
the ingredients needed

to establish my veracity.

Hmm, I have no idea what you just
said but I will see you tonight.

Shake. There you go.

Okay then, we'll, uh,
see you later.

A challenge from a lady.

Even after death
there are firsts.

What about your solitude?

Well, your presence has negated
much hope I have for that.

While I may be deceased, I will not allow
my honor to be questioned without retort.

- Hmm.
- It's a principle.

This bar is in
deplorable conditions.

Where's the Fernet-Branca?

What are you doing?

Making a shopping list.

If you're going to do this,
you're going to do it right.

Oh, yes.

Try this.

Mm-hmm, now that
is a Hanky-Panky.

It is indeed.

Taught to me by
Coleman herself,

the summer
I spent at the Savoy.

You're hilarious.

Ah, so do you know
the Singapore-Sling?

Is that similar to
a Straits Sling?

Mm... let's find out.

It's just taking longer.

It's a property appraisal.

You should've handled this
by now, and it's not exactly

like we had a lot of
time to begin with.

This whole ghost thing is causing
more problems than I anticipated.

You know, it was funny at
first, but now it's tedious.

Tell me about it.

Are you at a party?

No... kind of.

Get the property appraised

and get back to Boston,
Kate, quickly.

I said, what are your
intentions about my sister.

She likes you.

I mean, uh, don't worry,
if you don't like her

then that's... that's fine but
just don't lead her on, okay?

I haven't and
I do like her.

So, why don't you
ask her out?

I mean, you're both adults,
you're both single,

it's not that complicated.

Mmm.

You need a Christmas tree.

Why?

Because it's Christmas.

There used to be a tree in
the front room every year.

I thought you've never
been here before.

Rafferty mentioned
it earlier.

I have always found this inn
to be so romantic, you know.

Mm.

Ghosts and tragedies
and scandalous marriages,

I mean, people gossip
about it even today.

Scandalous marriages? Whose?

Charles Forsythe and Lily.

They married only a month
after her fiancé, Daniel, died.

You've heard of
Daniel Forsythe?

A little bit.

Well, nobody believed
the marriage was real.

The baby came too soon.

Folks said, it was Daniel's.

There was a baby?

Mm... only lived a
couple hours though.

And, Lily, she passed
days later... in this inn.

That is so sad.

What's got him so bent
out of shape?

Why did you storm off
like that?

Are you really
that insensitive?

We were getting
good information.

About my life... my life.

Not some gossip to be
chatted about over drinks.

Oh, I know, to you,
this must feel like some story

from long ago to dredge up,
but it's not, it's real!

And I'm real and it certainly
doesn't feel like long ago to me.

And to answer your question,
which I'm sure is coming,

no I did not know about
Lily's fate or the baby.

Harry didn't tell you?

He told me of their marriage,

but I forbade him from
telling me more...

precisely for this reason.

Well, it sounds like it
wasn't a real marriage.

My brother's feeling
for Lily were real.

Yeah, but she loved
you though, right?

I don't know.

She was furious with me
the last time I left.

Charles told her about
the rum running.

How could you even
consider this?

The money will help me...

Means nothing if you're a
disgrace or jail or worse.

Charles blows the dangers
out of proportion.

No, I am the one who doesn't want
you to go through with this.

- I am!
- Lily...

Promise me you won't go
along with Harry's scheme.

Promise me you'll be here
with me for Christmas.

You're making
too much of this.

Just promise me.

I promise!

You lied to her.

I was protecting her.

Yeah, keep telling
yourself that.

That is unfair!

You know what's unfair
is lying to people.

She probably hated you
for it, I know I would.

Maybe she killed you.

You crossed a line,
Ms. Jordan.

Yeah?

Well, at least I'm not a jerk
who lies to his pregnant fiancé,

gets himself killed and then leaves her
to die in a maybe loveless marriage.

I want you gone tomorrow.

This experiment is over.

Daniel?

Daniel?

Daniel?!

This isn't funny!

Go away.

Are you alright?

You didn't have to do that!

Do what?

Scare me like that!

Like, I get it,
you want me out of here!

I didn't. I heard your
scream and I came at once.

It wasn't you?

No.

What about the opening and the
slamming of the doors in my bedroom?

No.

The voices in the ballroom?

Were not me, I swear.

Come on, Kate,
let's go downstairs.

I don't want to be
in this house.

There's a second ghost.

I can't get you to move on,

how am I supposed to get
rid of a second one?

Well, it's extraordinary.

What, you never noticed, bumped
into each other while haunting?

I've had memories
that seem real.

Maybe they were,
maybe they were ghosts.

I'd like to think
I know the difference.

Oh, God...

as if this Christmas
couldn't get any weirder.

Look, I know I told
you to leave...

Yeah, you did.

But I think
you should stay.

Really?

Well, clearly, there's more
to my mystery than I knew.

Perhaps your, uh, tenacity
can be of use after all.

A fir tree is
atop your auto.

Uh, yeah, it's
a Christmas tree.

I kind of figured you hadn't
had one in a while and,

um, look... I wanted to
apologize for what I said.

Look, I... I crossed a
line and I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Shall we set up
the tree?

So, what's it like,
you know,

when you're not
like you are now?

Like a nightmare that
goes on forever.

I want to wake but I can't.

So for 12 days...
why 12 days?

Why Christmas?

I don't know.

You know, I haven't had an
actual Christmas in 95 years.

It used to be my
favorite time of year.

I'd almost forgotten.

Christmas was my mom's
favorite time of year too.

I always made a point of
getting a tree,

as a reminder,
even it's just me.

And it's always just me.

I find that
hard to believe.

Ooh, believe.

Then the men of your time
must be very foolish.

What?

Tell me.

After all, I've been more
than forthcoming with you.

It... it's not them.

I mean, I want to be in love,

you know, like,
really in love,

but I don't think
I know how.

It's not a trait
to be learned.

I'm not so sure
about that.

My parents got divorced
when I was young and,

long story short, I think
I'm sort of collateral damage.

Kate...

I've only known you
for a short while now,

under unique circumstances,

but I feel quite confident that you
have a wonderful capacity for love.

Well, thank you.

And for that, you get to
hang the angel on the tree.

You know, if we don't
get this figured out,

if my theory was wrong
and nothing changes,

I'll make sure you always
have a tree for Christmas.

No!

I insist.

I don't care.

We are talking about
your safety here.

I've slept alone in
this room a few days now

and nothing scary...

or too scary has happened.

Circumstances have changed.

We now know of
the other presence.

I will be in this chair,
in this corner,

if anything untoward happens.

You don't sleep.

I will not hover over your bed,
if that's your concern.

In fact, here.

Your privacy is assured.

Good-night, Kate.

I'm sorry the trust
wants to sell the inn.

Any chance
you could buy it?

I don't make enough
money for that.

I wish I could.

I wish you could, too.

Daniel...

Daniel.

How did you not sleep?

Uneventfully.

Two? There are two ghosts?

Yeah, any idea
who it could be?

No.

If anything scary ever happened,
I always assumed, uh...

Understandable.

Okay, so let's review what we
know and what we think we know.

There were two ghosts, one
unidentified, one making pancakes.

There's a good chance the one
making pancakes was murdered.

I'm still hoping for
a tragic fall.

Oh yeah, ever the optimist,
but in case you're wrong,

there were two suspects,
Charles and Lily,

although their motives
are still unclear.

You should also
consider Conrad Labelle.

Who?

The gangster in Montreal that Harry
and I did rum runs for until I quit.

He was a nasty fellow.

You quit?

I was in over my head.

Fine, three people then.

Now, where were you,
as of your last memory?

In the forest,
beyond the manor.

And who was with you?

I was alone.

Hmm. What about Harry?

I left him in Montreal
with Labelle's people,

so I could make it back
to Lily by Christmas Eve.

I almost succeeded.
I even saw her.

Lily?

Yeah, in the doorway,
right before I...

I was struck from behind.

Hmm.

I never remembered that before.

Unnerving.

Who attended the dance?

Why?

Because whoever was there
couldn't of hit you from behind.

Then it couldn't
of been Lily.

Though, who knows how angry
she would've become,

had she found out why
I was really in Montreal.

Stop, please, don't
kid yourself, she knew.

Women always know
stuff like that.

She was probably cursing
you the whole t...

Wait, how long were
you gone, to Canada?

A couple of weeks,
maybe less.

Two days less?

Perhaps, we left on the 13th.

And you came back
late on the 24th?

That's 12 days, Daniel,
that's got to be significant.

Yes, but how?

I don't know, but
there's something there.

Now, immediately,
at once, got it.

But, Oliver...

Vacation time's over, Kate.

I'm not...

Senator Morton died yesterday,
it's all hands on deck,

including mine, which
means definitely yours.

Get back to Boston, today.
Got it?

- Got it.
- Good.

- Hi.
- Hey.

He's counting on you
to return.

I will and we'll
figure this out.

That, Ms. Jordan,
has been my hope

since you first disregarded
my warnings to leave.

Sneaky.

It belonged to my father.

His name's
inscribed inside.

It won't open,
not since I returned.

It might very well disappear

as soon as you pass
the property line.

But I'd still like
you to have it.

Daniel...

That... that way you
won't forget me.

Impossible.

Nothing's impossible,
I'm proof.

I will be back before
Christmas, promise.

So all that time

and you didn't accomplish
the one thing that I asked?

Well, I've been working with
the ghost, Daniel is his name,

to try to figure out why
he hasn't crossed over

to the other side, in hopes
that once he actually did,

I could bring in
the appraisers

and we could sell
the darn thing.

Just say you were skiing,
there's nice skiing there.

I wasn't skiing.

That's a shame,
live a little.

But not until after
you get the inn appraised.

I'll get it appraised.

You'd better!

The name Molly is appearing
on your special device.

It's a cellphone
and I'll call her back.

The modern woman's
forward nature,

when it comes to courtship, leaves
me both off-put and deeply envious.

It's friendship,
not courtship.

She's probably calling about
the Christmas Eve dance.

Well, I admit,
my prolonged isolation

has left me rusty on a nuisances
of human interactions,

but she clearly likes you...
and you clearly like her.

Which makes your inaction
all the more baffling.

So what can I do?

If I ask her out and we
like each other, then what?

Well, you were married once,
I assume you'd know.

Long-term, but
the situation with you...

This is your life.

Don't use me as an excuse
not to live it.

I could say
the same about you.

What woman would want
a man in my situation?

Kate.

At least that's the
impression I get, don't you?

Well, Kate is
a remarkable woman.

If my circumstances were
different, I could imagine.

But I wouldn't
do that to her.

It would be unfair.

Plus we don't even know
if she'll return.

She'll return.

Thanks.

Mr. Murray, I don't recall
making another appointment.

That's because I did,
on your special device.

Mr. Murray, thank you
for agreeing to stop by.

Let's start in the basement.

Please, come in.

Kate, the appraiser
just sent word,

he's completed the walkthrough
of the Hollygrove Inn, good job.

Hmm?

Which means there's a little
over a week to sell the place.

You'll need to work on
this exclusively, 24/7.

- What about Christmas?
- What about it?

I was planning on
going back to the inn.

- Your work there is done.
- But...

The trust is counting on us
and I am counting on you.

And you need to be here for
the Christmas Eve party.

I'll be announcing your
promotion... you deserve it.

Priorities, Kate!

That's new.

You came back.

Priorities.

So, any more
ghost sightings?

Only when I look in a mirror.

Well, that's good news.

So you got
the inn appraised.

I did.

Why?

It's what you wanted.

You know, um, I found out
something while I was gone,

something I think
you should know.

Daniel Jacob Forsythe.

They named him after me.

Look at the father's name.

So it's true then.

He was mine.

And the marriage
was just a cover.

At least it was for Lily.

I... I don't know what to say.

I've been angry for so long...
from the betrayal.

But it was the opposite.

Kate... you made it.

Yep, as promised.

Well, I'd say, just in time.

The caterers will
be here by 4:00.

Oh, great, we should be all done
decorating the ballroom by then.

Come on, Walter.

What's going on
in the ballroom?

Um...

How many poinsettias
did you bring?

Three.

Oh, good, because it could use
some over there on the floor

by the... by the tree.

Some bright red.

The Christmas Eve
dance, here?

Well, Molly's pub was too
damaged to host this year.

Well, that's nice.

There we go.

I was just thinking,
if we had more lights...

And it's right that
it should be here again.

I've missed it.

You know, I've missed
so many things.

How about one over...

And that's it,
that's all you do.

It's just incredible.
Molly...

- Hi, Walter.
- Good to see you.

- You, too.
- Walter.

Noah, how are you?

Good, good to see you.

Yeah, yeah.
Uh, drink?

- Uh, yeah.
- Yeah.

You look beautiful.

You're not so
bad yourself.

Oh, this?
I wear it all the time.

Better?

You're still
missing something.

I don't have a
gift for you.

Just open it.

Daniel Jacob Forsythe.

I haven't seen that
in a long time.

Everyone's waiting.

Um, shall we?

Ah, there you two are.

Oh, this place
looks amazing.

As good as my time.

Where's Molly?

Um, she's... over there.

Whoever buys the inn,
make sure there's a clause

that they have to host
this dance every year.

I'm sorry,
we need more time.

We have the evening.

No, I mean...

We need more time.
We failed.

We didn't fail, Kate.
Not at all.

I'm among the living again,

and that's thanks to you.

It appears the woman you were not
courting is being courted by others.

Thanks for the update.

Walter, you're
the one who tells me

that things
are different now.

One way or another, you and
I will both have to move on.

Well, right here
in this moment,

it's time to try.

Screw tradition.

Excuse me, Luke,
may I step in, thank you.

Molly, may I?

What took you so long?

It's nearly midnight.

I told you, Lily,

a leopard cannot
change its spots.

Men are not
leopards, Charles.

Lily!

He promised me he'd be
here by Christmas Eve.

A promise is only as good

as the character of
the man who makes it.

I believe in him.

Do you hear that song, Lily?

12 Days.

That's how long he's been
with Harry, breaking the law.

That's how long
he's lied to you.

That's how long he's put
himself before you,

before everyone,
as he always does.

12 days is long enough for
a man to have learned his lesson

and repent his mistakes.

But he's not here.

He has not learned.
He will never learn.

He will learn!

I know it.

You ask for a miracle.

Then a miracle it will be.

It's Christmas, Charles.

What better time
for a miracle?

Who?

Who wasn't there?

Conrad Labelle.

Would he have
done it himself?

No, he would've sent
someone else.

Someone who would've
known my route.

Because it was
his route, too.

Harry?

I know, Harry.

I know.

Daniel, what's going on?

It was Harry.

He's the second ghost.
He's the one.

Aren't you?

How do you know?

I saw him.
I saw Harry just now.

You had a rock in your hand,

the one you used
to kill me.

But he was your cousin...
why would he...

I had no choice.

You shouldn't
have quit, Danny.

They were afraid
you'd tell.

I wouldn't have.

I know. But Labelle,
he didn't believe me.

He told me, I had to stop
you or else he would.

And then he'd go after
my family, Henrietta.

I couldn't risk it.

She had just been born.

She was my everything.
I had to protect her.

Why is this happening?
Why haven't you moved on?

Where else would I go?
I murdered someone.

He's afraid of judgment.

And as long as you stay here,
I stay. You're my anchor.

You're the one
who chases people away

and makes sure he's alone.

You killed him and cursed
him to this purgatory.

No-no, that's not true.

I don't know why you're
stuck here, Danny, I swear.

No, I know.

He's not why I'm here.

It turns out it's not
a curse after all.

It's a miracle.
Lily's miracle, for me.

If fear is what's
keeping you here, Harry,

then I forgive you.

What?

I've been angry for a long time,
it did me no good.

And who's to say I wouldn't be
exactly where you are right now

had I not been given
a chance to learn?

I don't have a right to
judge anyone, even you.

No. After what I did,
I kept you here.

I kept me here.

This is my doing.

It turned out
to be a blessing.

It just took me a
long time to realize that.

I'm... I'm sorry.

I know.

Don't be afraid.
Have faith.

Thank you.

that you'd move on,
but you're sti

It was as good a
theory as any.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that
I'm not sorry we failed.

The truth is,

it would've broken my
heart if you were gone.

I've waited for this
for a long time and...

I don't want you to move on.

I want you here, with me.

I only have 12 days to offer.

Well, it's better than none.

And I've had plenty of none.

Kate, I don't think...

But, Daniel, what
if this is our fate?

I mean, sure, it's not
conventional, at all,

but, I mean, come on,

are we supposed to just
pretend like we don't feel this?

Please tell me you feel this?

You deserve more.

But what I want is you.

It's almost midnight.

Well then,
I'll wait for you.

Same time next year

and the year after and
the year after that.

Kate, let this be
my Christmas gift to you.

You will remember what
it means to love

and be deeply
loved in return.

And when the opportunity
for you to love once

again presents itself,

you will be ready...
and it will, Kate.

I promise you, it will.

What does this mean?

You're free,
free from this place.

Lily, wait.

My love, the choice
is yours to make.

Well, hello, Oliver.

Truce?

We aren't fighting, that's an
advantage of not working together.

I think I was a little hasty with
the whole priorities gauntlet.

You think?

Okay, I know.

The truth is,
Kate, I never thought

you'd pick anything
over this job, ever.

But the more I think about it,

the more I realize
that you're right.

It's Christmas,
you should get a vacation.

Sounds lovely.

Now what do you really want?

The trust deed for the inn.
I don't know where it is

and I got to get
my hands on it, ASAP.

Why?

Well, there's a buyer in play,
just came out of the blue.

Though, if you think about it,
it makes sense.

Who?

You bought the inn.

With a partner.

If all goes well...

Molly?

She loves the place
as much as I do.

My real goal was

and is for Daniel
to be free.

Who knows, maybe he is.

Walter, the cleaning crew
just arrived,

They need
to talk to you.

Be right there, Molly.

Good-bye, Daniel.

You came back.

How?

12 days isn't
nearly enough.

I want more.

I want you.

Merry Christmas.