The Wonder Years (1988–1993): Season 5, Episode 9 - Christmas Party - full transcript

-♪ WHAT WOULD YOU DO
IF I SANG OUT OF TUNE? ♪

♪ WOULD YOU STAND UP
AND WALK OUT ON ME? ♪

♪ LEND ME YOUR EARS,
AND I'LL SING YOU A SONG ♪

♪ I WILL TRY NOT TO
SING OUT OF KEY, YEAH ♪

♪ OH, BABY, I GET BY ♪
- ♪ BY WITH A LITTLE HELP
FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ ALL I NEED IS MY BUDDIES ♪

-♪ HIGH WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ I'M SAYIN' I'M GONNA GET HIGHER ♪ - ♪
TRY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ WHOA-OA-OA-OA ♪

-♪ OH, OH, OH, OH ♪

-♪ SOMEBODY WHO
KNOWS QUITE SURE ♪



♪ BABY ♪

-♪ BY WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ SAID I'M GONNA MAKE
IT WITH MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ TRY WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ OH, I'M GONNA
KEEP ON TRYING ♪

-♪ HIGH WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ I'M GONNA KEEP ON
TRYING NOW, BABY ♪

-♪ OOH, OOH, OOH ♪

[CORK POPS]

["ROCKIN' AROUND THE
CHRISTMAS TREE" PLAYS]

-EVERY YEAR WHEN I WAS A KID,

MY PARENTS THREW
A CHRISTMAS PARTY.

[SLIDE CLICKS]

EVERYBODY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CAME.



[SLIDE CLICKS]

DAD PLAYED THE "BIG CHEESE"...

[SLIDE CLICKS]

MOM PLAYED "DONNA REED"...

[SLIDE CLICKS]

AND A REALLY STUPID
TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.

[SLIDE CLICKS]

IT WAS A TIME WHEN
HOPES WERE HIGH,

WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS YOUNG.

IT WAS FUN BEFORE FUN
GOT SO... COMPLICATED.

[SLIDE CLICKS]

BEFORE LIFE GOT SO...

-VOILà!

- SIMPLE.

-WHAT'S THIS?

-SALISBURY STEAK. SEE?

-OH.

-BY DECEMBER OF 1971,

MY FAMILY WAS AFLOAT IN THE
CONVENIENCES OF MODERN LIFE...

WHETHER WE LIKED IT OR NOT.

-HEY, MOM?

WHAT HAPPENED TO,
YOU KNOW, LIKE... DINNER?

-OH, WELL, WITH CLASSES TODAY,

I DIDN'T GET HOME
IN TIME TO COOK.

SO I STOPPED BY THE
MARKET TO PICK THESE UP.

WHY? IS ANYTHING WRONG?

-[Laughing] NO.

-AFTER ALL, MOM WAS GOING
TO COLLEGE PART-TIME NOW.

SHE DESERVED OUR SUPPORT.

AS FOR DAD...

-SO, HOW WAS WORK TODAY, HONEY?

-LOUSY.

-WELL, DAD WAS DAD.

-JACK, DO YOU THINK
YOU COULD HELP ME

WITH THE PARTY
INVITATIONS THIS WEEKEND?

-ME?

-YEAH, I HAVE A MIDTERM ON
MONDAY. I'VE GOT TO STUDY.

-WELL... BUT, I GOT
TO GO TO THE OFF...

-AND WE GOT TO GET THAT
COFFEE URN OUT OF THE GARAGE.

BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT
IT'S STILL WORKING,

SO MAYBE YOU COULD
CHECK IT FOR RUST?

-I'LL TAKE A LOOK.

-MOM? DAD?

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO HAVE
THIS CHRISTMAS PARTY THIS YEAR?

-'COURSE, I WAS JUST
AN IGNORANT TEENAGER,

BUT IT SEEMED TO ME

THIS WAS A BAD TIME TO BE
THROWING A NEIGHBORHOOD BASH.

-DON'T BE SILLY, HONEY! OF
COURSE WERE HAVING THE PARTY!

-WHY?

-WELL... BECAUSE WE
ALWAYS HAVE A PARTY.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT, JACK?

-[CHUCKLES]

-AND THERE YOU HAD IT.

COME YULETIDE, HIGH
WATER, OR SALISBURY STEAK,

THE ANNUAL ARNOLD
CHRISTMAS SHINDIG LIVED ON.

-HURRY UP WITH THOSE LIGHTS.

-NOT THAT I HAD
ANYTHING AGAINST PARTIES,

YOU UNDERSTAND.

WHAT I HATED WAS...

-WATCH IT, KEVIN, HUH?!

- HELPING OUT.

-THOSE BULBS COST
ME 32 CENTS APIECE!

-RIGHT, DAD.

-EVERY YEAR, FOR TWO
WEEKS BEFORE THE BIG NIGHT,

DAD ROPED US INTO SOMETHING
AKIN TO INDENTURED SERVITUDE.

KIND OF LIKE... ELVES.

-DAD? DO I HAVE TO STAND HERE?

-NO! YOU CAN GO
SWEEP OFF THE DRIVEWAY

AND HOSE OUT THOSE
ICE BUCKETS FOR SPIDERS.

I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO
RUN OUT OF ICE SATURDAY NIGHT.

- GOT THAT?
- [SCOFFS]

- IT WAS HUMILIATING.
- YOU KNOW, UH, DAD,

I-I'VE BEEN THINKING MAYBE I...

WOULDN'T COME TO
THE PARTY THIS YEAR.

-YEAH, ME TOO.

-WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
"NOT COME TO THE PARTY"?

-WELL, I DON'T WANT TO
HANG OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

I'VE GOT MY OWN LIFE.

-ME TOO!

-YOU KNOW, I'M NOT
A LITTLE KID ANYMORE.

I COULD BE A FATHER.

-ME TOO!

-BUT EVEN IRON-CLAD LOGIC

COULDN'T ALTER ONE
UNESCAPABLE FACT...

[HORN HONKS]

THE NEIGHBORS.

-[CHUCKLES] HEY, JACK!

GETTIN' READY FOR
THE BIG SHINDIG?

-SURE AM!

-THAT WAS ED ERMIN,
KING OF LAWN CARE.

BIGGEST WHEEL ON THE BLOCK.

-YEAH, THE WHOLE
DAMN NEIGHBORHOOD'S

LOOKIN' FORWARD TO
THIS PARTY, YOU KNOW!

WOULDN'T BE THE HOLIDAYS
WITHOUT A NIGHT AT THE ARNOLD'S!

-YOU BET!

-YEAH-HA-HA. SEE
YA LATER, OKAY?!

[TIRES SQUEAL]

-YEAH. YOU BET.

-SO, DAD?

-WHAT?

-ABOUT THE PARTY.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?

-MAKE SURE THERE'S ICE.

-WELL, THINK OF IT THIS WAY...

AT LEAST I COULD TAKE
SOLACE IN THE FIRM KNOWLEDGE

NO ONE ELSE I KNEW HAD ANY
GREAT PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]

-SKIING? YOU'RE GOING SKIING?!

-YEAH. MY PARENTS ARE TAKING ME.

IT'S GONNA BE GREAT!

-I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!

WHAT ABOUT YOU? YOU WANT TO
DO SOMETHIN' OVER THE HOLIDAYS?

-I CAN'T. I'M GOING TO MONTANA.

GETTING MY SISTER
OUT OF A COMMUNE!

-MADE YOU WONDER WHATEVER
HAPPENED TO THE DAYS

WHEN ALL PEOPLE DID ON CHRISTMAS

WAS WATCH FOOTBALL AND OVER-EAT.

-WELL... SEE YA ON THE SLOPES.

-YEAH.

-MY FRIENDS WERE DESERTING ME.

IT WAS CLEAR IF I WAS
GONNA SURVIVE THIS VACATION,

I NEEDED...

-WINNIE!

-KEVIN! HI!

-WILL I SEE YOU AT MY PARENTS'
PARTY SATURDAY NIGHT?

-OH...

-YEAH, GOOD OLD WINNIE.

-GEE, KEVIN, I'M AFRAID MY
PARENTS ALREADY MADE PLANS.

-THEY DID?

-OKAY, A TEMPORARY SETBACK.

STILL, WITH THE
RIGHT SALES PITCH...

-YOU COULD COME BY YOURSELF!

-I MEAN, THERE'S GONNA
BE FOOD AND TWISTER.

I-IT'S GONNA BE A BLAST.

-I DON'T KNOW.

-OH, WINNIE, COME ON.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY
BE MORE FUN THAN THAT?

-WE'RE MARCHING IN A VIGIL
TO END THE WAR IN VIETNAM.

-OH.
[AIRPLANE CRASH-LANDS]

-MAYBE AFTER CHRISTMAS.

-RIGHT.

-I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

4 BUCKS.

-MEANWHILE, MY FATHER
WAS ON A VIGIL OF HIS OWN.

-4 BUCKS FOR A
LOUSY BOTTLE OF WINE.

-NEED ANY HELP?

-MY WIFE WANTS ME TO
BUY A BOTTLE OF WHITE WINE.

-AH, WELL, WE'VE GOT
SAUVIGNON BLANC,

CHARDONNAY, CHABLIS,
PINOT CHARDONNAY,

RIESLING, FUMé BLANC.

-I'LL TAKE THE ONE
WITH THE HANDLE.

THANKS.

DOESN'T ANYONE DRINK
SCOTCH ANYMORE?

-STILL, WHILE DAD WAS
PONDERING ECONOMICS,

WE WERE PLOTTING OUR ESCAPE.

-WHO'S GONNA TALK TO HIM?

- YOU.
- ME?!

YOU TALK TO HIM, BUTT HEAD.

-OKAY, I WILL!

I'LL HANDLE THIS.

-WAIT A MINUTE...

-WAYNE?

WAYNE, NO, I'LL TALK TO HIM!

-AFTER ALL, WE WERE
HITTIN' DAD WHERE HE LIVED.

THIS WAS GONNA REQUIRE
TACT, TIMING, DIPLOMACY.

-DAD?

UM, WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THE PARTY,

AND WE DECIDED THAT...

-WE WANT TO GET PAID.

-PAID?

-YEAH. FOR THE WORK WE'RE
GONNA DO AT THE PARTY.

-PAID.

[CASH REGISTER DINGS]

-FINE. YOU WANT TO GET PAID?!

THERE. SPLIT IT UP.

-WOULD YOU LIKE TO
HEAR A CHRISTMAS SONG?

-YEAH.

-AS THE PARTY GOT NEARER,
TWO THINGS BECAME OBVIOUS...

-SHOULD'VE KEPT THE MANUAL.

-ONE... THE OLD COFFEE
MAKER WASN'T WORKING.

AND TWO, THE ELVES
WERE GETTING RESTLESS.

-HAND ME THE MANGER, IDIOT!

-NO THANKS.

-WAYNE?!

-I'M ON BREAK.

-YOUR BRAIN'S ON BREAK.

-SHUT UP, DORK.

-HONEY? I JUST SPOKE TO IDA.

THE PFEIFFERS WON'T
BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

ALVIN HAS TO VISIT
HIS MOTHER IN FLORIDA.

AND I RAN INTO JOYCE MEDRAKIS.

THEY WON'T BE ABLE
TO MAKE IT, EITHER.

JACK...

MAYBE HAVING THIS PARTY WASN'T
SUCH A GOOD IDEA AFTER ALL.

-AND THAT'S WHEN THE FIRST
FAINT GLIMMER OF HOPE APPEARED.

-I MEAN, WE'RE SO BUSY.

KAREN WON'T BE ABLE
TO MAKE IT, ANYWAY.

-MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT.

-AND JUST FOR A SECOND,

IT SEEMED WE MIGHT ACTUALLY
GET OUT OF THIS WING-DING.

-[CHUCKLES LIGHTLY]

REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST GOT THIS?

-WITH THE GREEN STAMPS?

[BOTH LAUGH]

-JUST FOR A SECOND, THOUGH.

-OH, NO.

-YOU REMEMBER THE
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN,

PASTING THOSE
THINGS INTO THE BOOK?

-WAYNE ALWAYS GOT
'EM STUCK ON HIS ELBOW.

-THEY WERE SO CUTE.

-SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.

- "SEEMED LIKE YESTERDAY."

THOSE DREADED THREE WORDS
COULD ONLY MEAN ONE THING...

-NORMA, I THINK I CAN
GET THIS TO WORK.

- WAYNE AND I...
- [SCOFFS]

- WERE DOOMED.
[ELECTRICITY CRACKLES]

["I'M DREAMING OF A
WHITE CHRISTMAS" SKIPS]

-PARTY NIGHT.

AND MY PARENTS, THROUGH
SOME MIRACLE OF MODERN SCIENCE,

MANAGED TO PULL IT OFF.

-JACK? HURRY UP!

-NORMA, WHERE'S MY SHOT GLASS?!

-OH, IT'S IN THE HUTCH!

-IT'S NOT IN THE HUTCH!

-OH, THERE IT IS ON THE STOVE.

-EVEN IF THEY DID SEEM A LITTLE
RAGGED 'ROUND THE EDGES.

WE, ON THE OTHER HAND,
WERE JUST... HAPPY TO BE THERE.

-SO, DAD...

HOW DRY DO YOU WANT
YOUR MARTINIS TONIGHT, EH?

-JUST CRACK THE ICE!

-[SCOFFS] NICE TRY.

-STILL, FOR ALL THEIR HARD
WORK AND PREPARATION,

THE HOST AND HOSTESS

WEREN'T EXACTLY
BRIMMING WITH CHEER.

-OH, NO!

THIS AMBROSIA'S ALL RUNNY,

AND THERE AREN'T
ANY RAISINS IN IT.

THAT'S NOT HOW I
WOULD'VE MADE IT.

I WOULD'VE MADE
IT WITH RAISINS IN IT.

-IT WAS ALMOST AS
IF THEY'D LOST SIGHT

OF WHY THEY WERE THROWING
THIS BASH IN THE FIRST PLACE.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

["SLEIGH RIDE" PLAYS]

- MERRY CHRISTMAS!
- MERRY CHRISTMAS!

- HI!
- OH!

OH, NORMA, THE
PLACE LOOKS LOVELY!

-OH!

-JACK, YOU REALLY KNOCKED
YOURSELF OUT ON THOSE LIGHTS.

-[LAUGHS]

[SIGHS]

-AND THEN, THEY REMEMBERED.

[DOORBELL RINGS]
- MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[DOORBELL RINGS]
- MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[DOORBELL RINGS]

-THE THREE WEISMANS ARE HERE!

- HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
- HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
- HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[DOORBELL RINGS]

- MERRY, MERRY!
- MERRY, MERRY!

[LAUGHTER]

-YOO-HOO!

MAKE SURE YOU HANG
THAT UP, YOUNG MAN!

AND DON'T THROW IT ON THE
BED WITH EVERYTHING ELSE!

-YEP, ALL THE SAME
OLD FACES WERE HERE.

-EW!

-NOT TO MENTION
THE SAME OLD FURS.

-BAG!

-STILL, YOU COULD
FEEL THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE.

-[CHUCKLES]

-IT WAS POSITIVELY INFECTIOUS.

-HEY, THERE, YOU
LITTLE PORCUPINE.

-HI, MR. WANNAMAKER.

-AL WANNAMAKER.

THE GUY SOLD US OUR FIRST
SET OF USED MODEL TRAINS IN 1958.

-REMEMBER WHEN YOU USED TO
DO YOUR JIMMY CAGNEY? HUH? HUH?

COME ON, COME ON... A
LITTLE JIMMY CAGNEY, HUH?

COME ON, COME ON, COME ON!

-AH, WHAT THE HEY.
FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE.

-[As James Cagney] YOU DIRTY
RAT. YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!

-[LAUGHS HEARTILY]

[COUGHING]

-LOU, YOU OLD DUFFER!

-AND, FOR A WHILE, ANYWAY,

THINGS WENT ON
LIKE THEY ALWAYS HAD.

-JACK!

-HOW'S THE SHORT GAME COMING?

-JUST GREAT!

I SANK A PUTT LAST WEEKEND
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU WEEP!

OH.

-UH, YOU NEED A
DRINK TO GO WITH THAT?

L-LET ME MIX YOU ONE.

-UH, ACTUALLY, JACK, I,
UH, I DON'T DRINK ANYMORE.

I'VE BEEN DRY FOR FIVE MONTHS!

- NO KIDDIN'.
- NOPE.

I FEEL LIKE A MILLION
BUCKS. LOOK AT THIS, HUH?

I LOST FOUR INCHES.

SAY, UH, YOU GOT
ANY CARROT JUICE?

-I'LL LOOK.

-HMM...

-EVER SINCE MY YOUNGEST
WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL,

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH MY TIME.

-I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

THAT'S WHY I WENT
BACK TO COLL...

-I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH
THERAPY HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!

-MM...

-YOU HAD THE FEELING THIS
PARTY WAS LOSING STEAM.

WHAT IT NEEDED WAS A
LIFT, A SHOT IN THE ARM.

[HORN HONKS]

SOMETHING LIKE...

-LOOK! THE FOSTERS ARE HERE!

[DOORBELL RINGS]
- JACK? BILL'S HERE!

-JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED...

- HEY.
- HEY!

- BILL!
- DAD'S OLD WAR BUDDY,
BILL FOSTER.

-BILL, YOU OLD...

-NO PARTY WAS COMPLETE
WITHOUT BILL AND MARSHA.

OR, IN THIS CASE, BILL
AND A WOMAN HALF HIS AGE.

-OH, UH, JACK,
NORMA, THIS IS CAROL.

-OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS
A TICKLISH SITUATION.

-WHERE THE HELL IS MARSHA?

-W... HAS IT BEEN THAT LONG?

Y-YOU KNOW MARSHA AND I SPLIT.

- IN APRIL.
- OF COURSE!

-HERE. THIS IS FOR YOU.

- UH-HUH. AND A PARTRIDGE
IN A PEAR TREE.
- OHH!

-WHOA!

SOME PARTY IN THERE, HUH?

-CAN I GET YOU
ANYTHING, MR. ERMIN?

-OH, NO, NO, NO.

OH! SAY, HAS YOUR FATHER
FINISHED OFF THAT BASEMENT YET?

-HUH?

-UH, I'M GONNA GO TAKE
A LOOK AT THIS, OKAY?

-THE STRANGE THING WAS DAD
HAD FINISHED OFF THAT BASEMENT

14 YEARS AGO.

-WE NEED MORE CHIPS.

-OH, IN THE CABINET, HONEY.

-BUT IT SEEMED THERE
WAS MORE GOING ON HERE

THAN JUST CHIPS AND DIP.

-CAROL SEEMS VERY, UH... NICE.

-I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!

-I MEAN, SHE'S VERY...
SOPHISTICATED...

FOR HER AGE.

- "FOR HER AGE"?!

"FOR HER AGE"?!

-UH-OH.

-UH, DAD?

-NORMA, FOR GOD'S SAKE,

THE GUY'S OLD ENOUGH
TO BE HER FATHER!

-[CLEARS THROAT]

UM...

I'M AFRAID SOMETHING MAY
BE WRONG WITH YOUR URN.

THIS COFFEE'S A LITTLE CHILLY.

-AND I SUPPOSE THERE WAS
REALLY ONLY ONE THING TO SAY.

-I HAVE AN IDEA.

LET'S PLAY TWISTER.

-OKAY, OKAY! LEFT HAND, RED!

-AND SO, LIKE SOME KIND
OF PREHISTORIC BEAST,

THE PARTY TRUDGED ON.

THE LAUGHTER FLOWED,
THE DRINKS WERE POURED.

BUT SOMETHING WAS... DIFFERENT.

THE THING IS, NO ONE
ELSE SEEMED TO NOTICE.

THEY JUST WENT ON DOING
WHAT THEY ALWAYS HAD

BECAUSE... THEY ALWAYS HAD.

-LEFT FOOT, RED.

-HOLY COW.

I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

-RIGHT HAND, BLUE! BLUE!

-IT HAD ALL GOTTEN TOO WEIRD.

THE ONLY ESCAPE
WAS... UNDERGROUND.

-WHAT'S THAT SMELL?

-OH.

-AND RIGHT ABOUT THEN
IS WHEN IT HAPPENED.

-[CHUCKLING] HI, THERE, BOYS!

-HI, MR. ERMIN.

-NOW, THERE WAS THERE
SOMETHING WRONG ABOUT THIS SCENE.

MAYBE IT WAS...

-WAYNE? KEVIN? WHAT THE
HELL'S GOIN' ON DOWN HERE?

SMELLS LIKE A
MATTRESS IS BURNIN'.

-[LAUGHS]

I-I... HEY, HEY, JACK!

THE BOYS AND I, WE WERE...

WE WERE JUST
CHATTING ABOUT, UH...

ABOUT, UH... UH...

[POP] OW! OUCH! MM!

-JACK? HONEY?

WHAT'S THAT...

AND THEN CAME THE DAWN.

AFTER YEARS OF SOWING IT,
GROWING IT, AND MOWING IT,

MR. ERMIN, KING OF LAWN
CARE, HAD DECIDED TO SMOKE IT...

IN OUR BASEMENT.

-OH.

-WAYNE, KEVIN, GO TO THE
GARAGE AND GET SOME SODAS.

-WHY?

-BECAUSE I SAID SO.

-AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

-DO YOU THINK MR. ERMIN BUYS
IT OR DOES HE GROW IT HIMSELF?

-SHUT UP.

-WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

-NOTHING, OKAY?

-BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.

I KNEW IT. WAYNE KNEW IT.

[DOOR OPENS]

-ALL I'M SAYING IS YOU COULD
HAVE HANDLED IT A LITTLE BETTER.

-BETTER? HOW WAS I SUPPOSED
TO HANDLE IT BETTER? TELL ME.

-YOU SIMPLY COULD HAVE...

-MAYBE MOM AND DAD KNEW IT, TOO.

-YOU'VE KNOWN HIM
FOR 20 YEARS, JACK.

-THEN HE SHOULDN'T HAVE
DONE SOMETHIN' SO STUPID!

-NO, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE PUSHED
HIM ALL THE WAY UP THE STAIRS.

HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN HURT!

- THE GUY'S A JERK!
- NO, THE MAN IS A FRIEND!

-LOOK, NORMA, IT WAS NOT MY IDEA

TO HAVE THIS DAMN
PARTY IN THE FIRST PLACE!

- GET OFF!
- WHAT, NOW IT'S MY FAULT?!

- NO!
- [GRUNTS]

[CLATTER]

- HI, DAD!
- HI, MOM!

[METAL RATTLES]

-GET OUT OF HERE.

-WHAT?

-GO TO THE STORE
AND GET SOME SODA.

-WE'VE GOT SODAS IN THE GARAGE!

-THEN GO GET MORE.

-WE TOOK OUR TIME.

THERE WAS NO NEED TO HURRY.

DIDN'T SEEM THERE WAS
THAT MUCH TO GO BACK TO.

STILL, THAT NIGHT

DRIVING HOME THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN,

I REALIZED SOMETHING...

THERE WAS A TIME I KNEW
EVERY FAMILY ON THE BLOCK.

THEIR KIDS, NAMES OF THEIR DOGS.

BUT MOST OF THOSE FAMILIES
WERE GONE NOW, SCATTERED.

THE ONES WHO STAYED
WERE NOT THE SAME.

THE WORLD HAD MOVED ON.

MY WORLD, THEIR WORLD.

AND ONLY THE LIGHTS
REMAINED THE SAME.

[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]

-WHERE'D EVERYONE GO?

-MAN, WHAT A BUST.

-IT'S PRETTY QUIET IN THERE.

-YEAH. COME ON.

-I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT...

CHAOS, MAYHEM...

OR MAYBE TWO
LOVEBIRDS ON A COUCH.

-[CLEARS THROAT]

-♪ CHESTNUTS ROASTING
ON AN OPEN FIRE ♪

-WE GOT SOME SODA.

-THANKS, HONEY.

-♪ JACK FROST
NIPPIN' AT YOUR NOSE ♪

-I'LL JUST PUT
'EM IN THE FRIDGE.

-IN A WAY, IT WAS CRAZY.

THERE THEY SAT

AMIDST THE WRECKAGE
OF A PARTY GONE WRONG,

AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE.

-MOM? DAD?

-♪ AND FOLKS DRESSED UP... ♪

-SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

-OH, IT'S OKAY, HONEY.

-MAYBE IT'LL BE
BETTER NEXT YEAR.

-MAYBE.

-♪ A TURKEY AND
SOME MISTLETOE... ♪

-WELL, I GUESS I
BETTER CLEAN UP.

-OH, LET IT WAIT TILL TOMORROW.

-AND I GUESS THAT'S
WHEN I UNDERSTOOD.

FOR MOM AND DAD, THE
PARTY HADN'T BEEN A DISASTER.

FOR AS MUCH AS THINGS WERE
CHANGING ALL AROUND THEM,

WHAT JACK AND NORMA HAD,

WHAT DREW PEOPLE TO THEIR
HOUSE EVERY CHRISTMAS FOR 16 YEARS,

WAS STILL THE SAME...

THE THING THEY
STARTED OUT WITH...

THE ONE THEY'D NEVER LOSE.

-♪ HE'S LOADED LOTS OF TOYS
AND GOODIES ON HIS SLEIGH ♪

-MY PARENTS NEVER DID THROW
ANOTHER CHRISTMAS BASH.

AND THAT WAS OKAY, I GUESS.

BUT I STILL THINK
ABOUT THOSE PARTIES,

WHAT THEY STOOD FOR...

A TIME BEFORE TV DINNERS
AND TWO-CAR FAMILIES,

WHEN GRASS WAS GREEN
AND WE WERE YOUNG...

-♪ SO, I'M OFFERING... ♪
[LAUGHTER]

-AND THOSE NIGHTS WHEN
I'D LIE AWAKE IN MY BED,

WATCHING THE LIGHT
DANCE UNDER MY DOOR

AND LISTENING... FOR
MY FATHER'S LAUGH.

-♪ THOUGH IT'S BEEN SAID... ♪

-BILL! MARSHA!

-♪ ...MANY TIMES, MANY WAYS ♪

- ♪ MERRY CHRISTMAS... ♪
- SON OF A GUN.

-♪ TO YOU ♪

♪ LOVE AND JOY COME TO YOU ♪

♪ AND TO YOU, YOUR CAROL TOO ♪

♪ AND GOD BLESS YOU AND... ♪