Journeyman (2007–…): Season 1, Episode 11 - Home by Another Way - full transcript

Previously on Journeyman:

Katie says you disappeared for
a couple days and didn't know it?

Something like that.

He's going through some stuff.

In his "way back" machine?

I found livia.

She lives in the past.

where?

let's go visit your father.

Frank?

- Vasser?
- What?



You want to hurt me.

- Do you know why?
- Why?

'Cause when you grow
up,you're gonna try to kill me.

Good morning,dan.

- What do you want?
- Do you have an apron?

- Yeah.
- Put it on.

I just don't want anything
to happen to my family.

Neither do I.

- Who are you?
- Your brother's been shot.

What the hell are you guys doing to me?!

Now,you're either going to
die from a lethal injection

or my brother over there
is gonna blow your head off.

hello.

Merry christmas.



Merry christmas.

didn't you already make cookies?

I decided we could use some more.

We're using fennel seed.

Fennel seeds?Fantastic!

Do you even know what that is?

I've no idea.

Uh,I'm not complaining,but
do we need more cookies?

Well,we've got the carolers and
about 20 neighbors coming over.

And,you know,the christmas rule.

"Feed 'em till they drop," so,uh,yeah.

When do you go to the station?

Mom's train gets in about
noon,so I guess pretty soon.

Zack,I left my keys on the dresser.

- Could you get them for me?
- Sure.

How are you feeling?

I'm fine.

And you're okay with all this?

The party,you know,my mom coming?

Yeah,'cause I'm fine.

It's a lot.

Especially after what
you've been through.

You're the one who got shot,dan.

What aeden bennett did to you is
far worse than what he did to me.

Well,that's sweet,but the big scar
on your shoulder says different.

We could call the party off.

Just have a peaceful day with family.

Your mother's coming,so "peaceful,"
I don't think that's an option.

Listen,what I really want is
just a big,happy,noisy christmas.

- All right.
- Okay.

Can I have one of these?

Not if you want to keep the hand.

I'm serious.

Hey!

Hey,hugh!Merry christmas.

Dan,I hate to bug you on the
holidays,but I need you to come down here.

What's it about?

I'll tell you when you get here.

Danny vasser,where you been
hiding these past few weeks?

Nancy stokes,did you miss me?

Nah.How's your shoulder?

Better.Where's hugh?

Holed up in his office,I think.

Hello?

I had a meeting with dennis
ambacher this morning.

He's cutting editorial
staff by 25 percent.

Effective today.

Today?It's christmas eve,hugh.

Dennis doesn't want to carry an oversized
payroll into the new fiscal year.

Severance package will be the standard:
Two weeks pay for every year at the paper.

- Hugh...
- cobra'll provide three months health coverage.

Are you saying I'm fired?

You'll need to dump your
hard drive onto a zip

'cause they're gonna confiscate
your computer.I'm sorry,dan.

I...

I'm sorry.

Wow.

So what are you going to do?

I'm out.

I told ambacher I
wouldn't cut any people.

Well,that's one of
the things I told him.

You all right?

Yeah.

No.

That's for you.

Merry christmas.

What's the news,dan?

Is it true?Are they cutting staff?

Yup,25 percent.

25?That's crazy.

Even for ambacher.

Who's being let go?

Me,I'm gone.

Dan,I'm so sorry.

You hear any other names?

Hugh's gone,too.I don't know who else.

Ambacher's gonna make some
kind of announcement at 5:00.

Tell you one person's not getting cut.

Long as ambacher runs
this paper,she'll be here.

You don't know that.

Danny...

we all love nancy,but she
bought the job on her knees.

That's what I'm saying.

Look.

Oh,scrooge himself.

- Little dennis ambacher.
- I'll see you later.

Hey,ambacher!

- Vasser.
- You can't do it.

You can't cut 25 percent of the
newspaper's staff; you'll kill it.

I'm not killing anything.

I'm eliminating inefficiencies.

Yeah,inefficiencies like me.

Look,let's not make this personal.

Oh,it's pretty personal already.

All right,since you asked.

Your work product's down 30
percent over the last four months.

That speaks for itself,I'm afraid.

I've been at the paper 12 years.

I have earned my place.

For which you will receive
a generous severance package.

and our thanks.

Happy holidays!

Can I get you started?

- Absolutely.
- All right.

Have I seen you around the office?

Don't think so.Dan carson,upi.

All right.

Well,merry christmas,dan carson upi.

Nancy stokes.

Nancy?

Yeah,that's right.Okay,do I know you?

No,uh...

- are you a reporter yet?
- Copy girl,but hopeful.

How did you know I
wanted to be a reporter?

- Just a hunch.
- Oh,yeah?

All right.

Well,look,have fun.

And you,nancy.

You know,I don't remember your
office being this much fun.

It isn't anymore.

How's 1948?

Truman beats dewey,in
case you were wondering.

Does that account for the dress?

No,just celebrating the holiday.

Did you get the year?

It's christmas eve,1979.

- Why so sure?
- It's a gimme.This was a big night.

See that man over there?

Merritt ambacher,he was
the publisher of the paper.

He ran the place for 40 years.

A real old newshound.

- He is gonna die tonight.
- Here?

In his office,christmas eve in the
saddle,if you believe the legend.

There's a woman with him when he dies?

That's always been the rumor.

Do you know who?

Uh...

allegedly...

her.

Oh,geez.Sorry,my fault.

Frank vass whavee met?

Yeah,yeah,uh...

dan carson,upi.

We talked a couple years back.

Yeah.Y-yeah.

Well,if you'll,uh,excuse me,sorry.

Something tells me your
mom is not at this party.

Nope.

It's a pretty big night for my dad,too.

Why?

'cause tomorrow,he's
gonna leave my family.

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JourneyMan
Season1 Episode 11
Home by Another Way

Hello.

- Merry christmas!
- Ho,ho,ho!

Oh,what smells so good?

- We made cookies.
- We did.

Hey,zack,can you help theresa
put the presents under the tree?

- Okay.
- Thanks

Jack,can I talk to you for a second?

- Yeah.
- Thanks.

Those cookies do smell good.

Did you run wild with
the fennel seeds again?

Yeah,listen,your mom just called.

She's at the station.

Dan was supposed to get
a cab and pick her up,

but i guess he never showed up.

Any idea where he went?

- No.
- That's not good.

What's going on?

Oh,it's just,like,a little mix-up with
the reception committee for my mom.

Not a problem,I'll get her.

I thought dan was going to do that?

He probably flaked.Don't
worry,I'll be back in half an hour..

thanks

The hostages in the american embassy in tehran were
gathered together this evening by their captors...

I wonder what he's thinking.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

The last time I saw you,you had a hole
in your shoulder and a fever of 105.

So why do I think that's not true?

I'm fine... granted,I still can't
raise my arm all the way over my head.

And whenever I try and talk
to katie about aeden bennett

she starts baking,oh,and I got fired.

Apart from that,happy holidays.

Fired?Why?

My work product's down because
instead of filing stories in 2007,

I've been in 1982 and '77 and
1994,solving other people's problems.

I'm sorry,dan.

Yeah,well,let's just do the job.

So we keep old man ambacher alive,

and if that means keeping his
pants zipped,and,okay,gross...

but looks like that's the assignment.

No,I don't think that's it.

I don't care what people say,nancy stokes didn't
sleep with merritt ambacher to get her job.

She's too smart,too good.

She didn't need that kind of help.

Okay,so we keep the old man alive
without worrying about his zipper.

I think it's something else.

What?

My dad.

Maybe...

getting him to stay with my mother.

You know that's not how this works,dan.

Why not?

Because you don't change
your own future.It's bad news.

I don't think the news
could get much worse.

You really want to find out?

I'm not going off-mission,liv.

I think I am here to talk to him.

Fine.

Go.

What?

I don't know what to say.

Does dan talk about his father?

- Frank?
- Not much.

Jack never talks about him.

Every time I bring him up,he makes
a joke or changes the subject.

I guess I'm trying to
understand the vasser male,

and in my experience,the
dad is a good place to start.

Well,frank's kind of a
charged subject,I guess.

He was a photographer at the register.

A war correspondent,so he was,you know,ve
romantic figure when they were boys.

He was on assignment so much,barbara
essentially had to raise jack and dan on her own.

And then when dan was,um,

dan was seven,jack was
nine,he finally left for good.

You know,just packed a bag,took off.

I think that was probably the last
time dan and jack ever saw him.

Why did he leave?

All barbara says is that
he had "other things to do."

Oh.

What do you want to do with this?

Um...

I am just going to take that upstairs.

I was in the middle of my christmas eve when I
got yanked here,and I'd kind of like to get back.

So I'm going to go check on the old
man and see if maybe he's the mission.

- Okay?
- All right.

Hi there.

Can I get you a drink?

No thank you.Excuse me.

MR.Ambacher?

Excuse me.

Hi,livia beale.

I'm here with a friend
who works for the paper.

Oh,pleasure,ms.Beale.

Thank you for adding some much
needed elegance to the evening.

Oh,thank you.

You know,I remember when all
these parties were black tie.

Of course,that was way
before your time,I'm afraid.

How are you feeling?

Fine,thank you.

- Yourself?
- I'm good.I'm good.

So,you're feeling well.

As opposed to not well.

That's right.

- That's good.
- Here you go,sir.

- Ah,thank you.
- You're welcome.

Nancy stokes,livia beale.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Ms.Stokes is a very talented young
lady who's recently joined our staff.

Thank you,sir.

Well,congratulations.

I'm going to go get a drink.It
was really nice to meet you both.

- Carson.
- Yes...frank?

- Who is she?
- Who?

The woman you're with.What's her name?

Uh,livia.

'Course not.

'Cause you're wearing one
of these and...she isn'T.

It's not what you think.

Don't worry,I'm not gonna narc on you.

Merry christmas.

- hi.
- Hey.

Okay,I know how you
feel about nancy stokes,

but she's on the prowl and I think old
man ambacher is up for some game,too.

Are you sure?

He practically jumped down my dress.

Well,I could understand that.

My point being,the elements
of a crime are in place.

We need to keep an eye on those two.

Hello again.

Excuse me again.

Oh,you're not getting away that easily.

- I think I am.
- We were talking.

I saw her first,pal.

You what?

Do you know who I am?

No.

I'm dennis ambacher.

- You're dennis?
- That's right.

And this is my party.

So back off,or you're
going to regret it.

Son of A...

you know,dennis...

that felt good.You all right?

My locket.

My locket's gone.Do you see it?

This?

Liv?

Hey!We're here.

Hello!

Hi!

- grandma!
- How are you,kiddo?

How do you like the decorations?

Oh,they're wonderful.

Your mom puts up so many.

Makes everything so fancy.

Hey,mom,I'd like you to meet theresa.

How do you do?

Oh,it's a pleasure,theresa.

Jack's told me almost nothing about
you,but then of course he never does.

Good times.Thanks,mom.

Um,I'm sorry about dan,I
think he got stuck in traffic.

- Traffic?
- Jack said it was a flat tire.

Well,I mean,of course traffic
and then he got a flat tire.

Uh-huh,really?

No,mom.They're covering for me.

I overslept.

Danny.

Oh,never mind that.

Well,how are you?I mean,have you healed?

I can't believe you got
shot in your own home.

I'm fine.I tell you about it later.

But I got to go to work
right now,I'm sorry.

Why?

Something came up.

Hey,jack,could you help,um,barbara
upstairs with her things?

Zack,why don't you help your uncle,okay?

- I want to see his room.
- Can I talk to you?

Hey.

You were already at
the paper once today.

Is this work or the other thing?

Both.Sort of.

Can you tell me anything about it?

I'll tell you tonight.

And I promise,I'll try and
get back as soon as I can.

Don'T.Stop it.

Don't promise me that
when you don't know.

- Katie...
- I'm sorry.

It's just,it's christmas,you know?

And,and,and your mother's here and...

I miss you.

- Hey.
- Hey.

What,you did your
reappearing act upstairs?

Very nice.You make me
look like a liar to mom.

I arrive where I arrive,jack.

I can't control that.I'm sorry.

Now,could you do me a favor and pull out the
police records of the death of merritt ambacher,

december 24th,1979?

Dan,it's christmas eve,I'll be
lucky if anybody answers the phone.

Do what you can,okay?Thanks.

I just heard.

I am so sorry.

No,it stinks.

But,you know,I could be on the unemployment
line with you by the end of the day.

You know,I wonder about that.

Nancy,you knew merritt
ambacher,didn't you?

The old man?

No.

You sure?

You were here when he
ran the place,weren't you?

Yeah,but I was a copy
girl,he was the publisher.

Wasn't a lot of mingling.

I actually never laid eyes on the man.

- Why do you ask?
- Uh,just curious.

- again,sorry.
- Sure.

So?

I got a police file from 30 years ago pulled
on christmas eve and read to me over the phone.

- You owe me.
- So,what you got?

Okay,call came in from the paper at 10:07
saying someone had had a heart attack.

The emts and uniforms responded.

Ambacher was dead when
they arrived at 10:19.

- Is that it?
- There's one weird thing.

The call that came in was anonymous.

Which is strange because it
had to be somebody who knew him.

Or worked for him.

Yeah.

Was there a tape of the call?

Uh,not on christmas eve there's not.

I told you,you owe me,right?

Yeah,you did.

carson.How are you?

Uh,great.

Uh,this is maggie.

Hi.

I'M...going to get another drink.

Do you want one?

- You?
- No,thanks.

Believe it or not,she
wants to be a journalist.

Oh,yeah?

How's your family,frank?

Fine.

Home,decorating the tree.

It's christmas eve.Aren't
they expecting you?

No,not at this point.

I'm gone so much,it's when I
show up that freaks them out.

No,they're,uh,they're fine.

You know,my dad was in
the newspaper business.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Yeah,he was always out chasing a story.

We'd get a call,sometimes.

- Postcard.
- It's not a job,it's a life.

- You know that.
- Yeah.

I remember,when I was a kid,I...

just lay in bed at night and...

just wish my dad would come home.

Your dad is he,uh,still around?

Where's he,uh,where's he work?

- I don't know.
- He left when I was seven.

excuse me.

Yeah.

- How's it going?
- You were right.

The old man is the job.

I guess nancy was with him when he died.

What changed your mind?

I talked to nancy in 2007 and
she lied to me about meeting him.

Then let's get out of
here and save the old man.

I just need a couple
more minutes with frank.

It's five after 9:00 and the old man
won't even be in trouble for another hour.

Sure.But let's get
the job done,all right?

Does,um...

that mean getting back to him?

I'm thinking that explains the dress.

His name is henry.

We were on a date when I left.

- Is it serious?
- Hey!What are you doing?

Everybody just stay calm.

You are leaving this building now.

Listen,I'm sorry.I
shouldn't have popped off.

Please,just let us stay.

We won't cause any more trouble.

Put them outside.

And if they try to come
back in,call the cops.

Ambacher,wait,hey,hey.

What the hell?

What's going on here?

Don't worry,dad,I've
got it under control.

Got what under control?

What have you done,dennis?

Nothing... the guy took a swing
at me,so I'm putting him out.

Nothing to worry about,dad.

Took a swing after
he took a swing at me.

I don't know you.Who invited you?

I did,merritt.

Dan's a friend.

- So he's with you,frank?
- Yeah.

Frank vasser's guest is my guest.

- Dad...
- let him go,boys.

Sorry for the trouble.

Please don't do this to me.

Don't do what?

Can you just let me
handle it?Instead of...

in front of everybody.

A guy takes a swing at you,

and you need security
to finish the fight?

Grow a pair,dennis.

Back to the party,everybody!

Hey,thanks.

I want to talk to you about your dad.

Barbara?

Everything okay?

Of course,dear.

But the back chairs are lined
up right behind the front chairs.

So that the people in the second row will be
staring at the heads of the people in front.

So by scooting them off center just a little
bit everybody's going to be able to see.

Well,thank you.

No problem.

Are you sure you don't want a nap?

'Cause I know,um,it was a long trip.

- No,I'm fine.
- Maybe just a little rest.

No,I wouldn't think of it.

Katie,what are these?They're fantastic.

Those are figs and goat
cheese wrapped in pistachios.

Oh.You mind if I take a few dozen home?

Katie is wonderful in the kitchen.

She's always surprising
us with arugula or,

or something with pine
nuts in it or milky cheese.

I like my cheeses.

Well,I just wondered all the work,dear.

People are perfectly,happy
with chips and dip,you know.

Yeah.

Is it just my imagination,

or does your mom have a target painted on
my back a little sooner than usual this year?

It's not your imagination.

Katie...you heard from dan yet?

No.But we shouldn't wait for him.

Got some rolls here I shot
a few years back in florida

when I was covering nasa.

Took the family with me.

Things were better then.

Nasa.You covering the shuttle prototype?

Yeah,that's right.

Here's the wife and kids.

That's jack.

Dan.Barbara.

When your dad left.How'd you...

how'd you take it?

I was seven.

Yeah,it's always tough,I guess.

You think there's any way
boys that age can understand,

you know,why their,uh,why
their dad has to leave?

I don't know.Why does he have to leave?

Maybe because he's not much of a father.

Or husband.

- That's too easy.
- Easy?

Guy's got people who love him,depend on
him,why does that guy have to disappear?

Maybe 'cause he only really
sees people like this.

take the camera away,and it's
like he's not in the room.

Especially to the people he's
supposed to be closest to.

And the harder he tries to get close...

the more he can'T.It's like
he's a freak in his own house.

I know what it's like to
be the freak in the house.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Lately some things have happened,

made me feel even more like
I'm out on the edge,you know?

- Away from everybody.
- That's right.That's it.

I'd never leave my family.

How could you do that?

Easy.You walk.

You know,frank,those
boys are going to...

think about you every day.

Wonder where you are,imagine
what you're doing,

dream about birthdays
with you and ball games...

you think about that
before you walk,okay?

Hey.

I've been looking for you.

You were going to take my picture.

Yes,I was.

Stick around,frank.

See you later,carson.

A car's pulled up.

Oh,that's probably the florist.

- I'm going to go help them.
- Yes,go ahead,dear.

And by the way,I haven't
painted a target on your back.

Or anywhere else,for that matter.

Old does not mean deaf.

- Barbara,look...
- katie,

you make dan happy and you've given me
the most beautiful grandchild in the world.

And for those things I am grateful.

But first you hurt jack.

Now,I guess all the rest of you are fine
with it,so I don't say anything,but...

it still matters to me.

- It's complicated.
- Of course it's complicated.

So why don't you go
help with the flowers,

and I'll finish cleaning up in here.

Barbara...

oh,katie,do you have a
sweater I could borrow?

Yeah,um,upstairs in the bedroom,sweetie.

Thanks.

Hey.

You okay?

I'm fine.

What are you doing?

Uh,I'm sorry.

- Katie said you were cold.
- I'm sorry.I,I was just...

checking out your brother's meds.

Snooping.

Did I say I was sorry?I'm sorry.

- What were you looking for?
- Don't be a cop,jack.

I am a cop.

What were you looking for?

Anti-psychotics,anti-convulsants.

Anxiety or mood disorder meds.

Because you think dan's crazy.

I think he might be mentally ill,yes.

He's not.

Okay,and if he were,it wouldn't
be any of your business.

- Yes,it would.
- Look,theresa,I like you.

Okay,I like you a whole lot,but you
are a guest in my brother's house.

No,jack,I'm actually
a lot more than that.

There are studies linking
mental disorders to dna.

If it's part of dan's makeup
it could be part of yours.

What,you're worried that if
dan's crazy I might be crazy,too?

No.

I'm worried about our child.

You're kidding.

No.

Oh,this is so not how or when
I wanted to tell you,but...

I just took the test this morning

and I didn't want to ruin
your family's christmas and...

hey,we got to split.

- What,why?
- Something came up.

Sorry.

- jack.
- It's all right.

- We have a problem.
- It's 9:30.

We got to find nancy and get her out of
here before she has a date with ambacher.

We can'T.Nancy's gone.She left.

What?Did you speak to her?

No,she left on her own.

And the old man's in his office,and
I don't know who's with him.

What the hell's going on,dan?

We got to get up there.

Ambacher!Open the door!

Ambacher!

Dennis,what happened?

Dennis?

He's warm.He might still be breathing.

We need to call 911 right away.

Don'T.I'll call.

- It's a family matter.
- We need to get your father some help.

I said I'll call.

Do you understand what's happening here?

Dan.

He's dead.

I'd like to be alone with my father.

Let's go.

I'm zack's grandmother.

Mom,people are arriving.

Okay.

you be careful.Don't you
fall.They're so excited...

hi!

Hey,everyone.Merry christmas!

Welcome.Hi.Hello.

so...

- congratulations.
- Thanks.

I want you to know that
I'm,I'm in for this,okay?

Because this is something that I wanted.

I mean granted this is not the way that
thought it would play out,but I don't care.

I just think you should know that.

Thanks,jack.

But?

I don't know how I feel about this...

or us.

What are you saying?

I don't know you.

I,I mean,you're great to be with

and you would probably
make a wonderful father,

but we haven't been
together for that long

and you have a pretty
strange family and...

I just feel like I'm getting into
something that I don't understand.

Vasser.

When?

Forget it.

Call chase or menzel.

Because I can'T.

Because it's christmas
eve and I can't go.

Yeah.

That's right.

- Fine.
- Trouble?

It's a cat in a tree.

- Well,you should go.
- No,I should be here.

Unless you,you want to go.

- Do you want me to take you home...
- no.

No,uh,no.

No,it's,it's christmas eve.

I'd like to spend it with you.

All right.

So we weren't supposed
to save merritt ambacher.

I don't think so.

Then we're done?

I better come up with
a good story for henry.

I should have told you about him.

Sorry.

I didn't tell you about katie so fast.

No,you didn'T.

There's so much i can't say to henry.

About who I am,where I've been.

That television's not just a fad.

The more I lie the harder it gets.

Is it easier since you u told katie?

More honest.

Easier,I don't know.

maybe we just can't
be with other people.

Be right back.

Frank.

So what are you going to do?

I don't belong there,carson.

Then tell the boys why you're doing it.

If you don't,they'll spend the rest of
their lives thinking it was their fault.

See you.

Merry christmas,frank.

So if we weren't here to save
ambacher,why were we here?

I think so I could save something else.

Save what?

Nancy.

Dennis ambacher is going to
gut this paper in 20 minutes.

If you want to help me stop
that from happening,follow me.

You didn't sleep with old man ambacher.

You made a deal with his son.

- With dennis?
- Yeah.

What kind of a deal?

He needed an alibi for the
night that his father died,

so you let him spread a rumor
that the old man was with you,

so no one would think that
dennis was in that room.

Wow.That's a pretty wild story,danny.

Why would I do that?

'Cause you wanted to
be a reporter,nancy.

Dennis agreed to make you one.

Maybe it's a good thing
you're leaving the paper.

You should write fiction.

You could have shot
that story down any time.

You weren't even in the
building when he died.

How do you know that?

Believe me,I just know.

Whatever I did to start
out,I've earned my career.

I was a pulitzer finalist.

I have an overseas press club award.

But if this story gets out,nobody
will remember anything else about me...

forget it.

50 of your friends are
about to lose their jobs.

We can stop that.

Excuse me

Why did you come here that night,dennis?

- What?
- To yell at your father,ask him to treat you better,demand...

I don't know... respect?

What are you talking about?

Christmas eve,1979.

The old man must have told
you he wasn't feeling well.

Did he mention chest pains?

That he had a tingling
sensation down his left arm?

I know what you did,ambacher.

You sat in this room,and
you watched your father die.

Blackmail.

From you.

Interesting.

- What if I just told you to go to hell?
- Then I tell your family.

They hear what I have to say,

they'll sue those shares you
bought right out of your hands.

What's your proof?

You made a 911 call and
left an anonymous message.

- I have the tape.
- Really?

if a call had been made

that a man was sick in
the publisher's office,

that would have gone
directly to the precinct desk.

And they tape nothing.

Get out of here,vasser.

You go quickly,I won't
have you arrested.

You told me what happened.

- Told me no one could know.
- All right,nancy.

Don't do this.

And you told me that
I could be a reporter

if I just did one thing for you.

So what's it going to be,dennis?

and I'm aware that there have
been rumors about layoffs and such,

and I just wanted to come down
here myself and assure everyone...

there's no truth to them.

There will be no staff cutbacks
in the foreseeable future.

So,happy holidays,

and let's get back to work putting
out the best newspaper in america.

all right,what do you know about this?

Not a thing.

Why don't I believe you?

Gloria...

congratulations.

Ken.Thank you.Thank you.

katie?

Are you okay?

Yeah.Sorry.I just...

had a moment.

A moment?

the,um...

man who came to the
house who shot dan...

his name is aeden bennett,

and sometimes...

I have trouble getting
him out of my mind.

Well,that must be frightening.

I'll be fine.I just need a minute.

you need more than a minute.

It takes time to get
over something like that.

And dan isn't much help,is he?

- Dan's been wonderful.
- Oh,no,I know.

He wants to help,and he
says the right things,but...

truth is,he's not here,is he?

Just when you need him,he's gone.

And it's never his fault.It's
always work,or it'S...

some damn thing that's pulling him away.

Yes.

You worry...

that he's going to leave some
day and not come back,don't you?

- I do. = Now,you listen to me,katie.

You don't need him.

You don'T.

He's my son,and I love
him,but you're strong.

You are a strong woman,and you
don't need anybody except yourself.

Now,come on.

Come on downstairs.

The music is so beautiful.

you sure you don't mind sticking around?

Yeah.

I'M...

having a good time.

It's kind of a relief,actually.

Um,I might have messed up.

I told,like,a couple of
dozen people in there.

You what?

And katie wants to throw us a shower.

Joke.

joking.

- Three months,right?
- At least.

look.

I-I know this wasn't
what you were planning on,

but it's going to be a good
thing.I really believe that.

I'm starting to feel that way myself.

want to go back inside?

Sure.

Jack?

Is there anything I
need to know about dan?

Seriously?

No.

Okay.

Go back in?

- Yeah.
- All right.

hey,hi.

Hey,you made it.

Yeah.

Merry christmas,dan.

Merry christmas.

Hey.

nice trip?

Jack...

you remember the night dad left?

Yeah.What happened?

Do you really want me
to tell you this again?

Christmas eve,dad came
home,and he woke us both up,

and he told us that he was leaving
'cause he felt like a freak.

And kind of ruined christmas.

That was better,right?

He told you that?

It was better than not hearing it.

At least he tried.

What,you really don't remember this?

No.

No.I guess I was too little.

merry christmas.

how are you feeling?

Better.

Your mom helped me,actually.

- My mother?
- It's a christmas miracle.

Wow.

Do you want to hear another one?

I just saved the newspaper.

Really?

And I went to the past,and
I learned something.

What's that?

That I'm not my father.

That I belong here.