The Apology

Okay. I'm coming back.

Oh, do you need these?

Yeah. One sec. I'll take a look at --

Oh. Oh, no.

I can't serve this to people, not even the kids.

The kids are not even gonna eat this.

Are you -- You've got to be joking.

It's cake -- and kids. The -- The messier the better.

-I mean, I'm sorry about that. -All right.

-Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine. -They're gonna love it, though.

What, are you mad?

-Uh, no. No. No. -What's wrong?

I just...

This -- This is hard, you know?

It's -- It's just hard. Sorry.

First time hosting Christmas in 20 years.

-Gee. Why would that be hard? -Yeah.

I do not know what I was thinking, taking all this on.

It's so stupid.

I mean, I used to be really good at this,

and then I just lost all my skills.

You have not! You're -- You're fine!

Listen. As my mother used to say, the queen ain't coming.

It's just us -- just your people.

And you know what we're gonna do?

We're gonna drink too much coffee.

We're gonna spoil the kids.

We're gonna open gifts.

We're gonna eat so much that we have to unhook our bras.

And then fuckin' Julie's gonna put everybody to work

to clean it up.

It's gonna be great.

It's gonna be fine, all right?

You're right. You're right. You're right.

Okay.

Now have a bark cookie.

-I'm sorry it's not booze.

Yeah.

- Oh! - Mm.

Is that my cue to leave?

I think it is.

-Well -- -Oh, shit.

-What? What? What's wrong. -Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

-No. Hang on. -Is everything all right?

Yeah. I think so.

I-I think this is finally finished uploading.

- What is it? - Hang on.

This month is the 20th anniversary

of Sally's disappearance.

How has it been for --

Why do they call it an anniversary,

like it's something to celebrate?

Whoo!

Oh, man!

Be careful!

-Okay! Bye-bye! -Don't slip down those stairs!

And I love you, and thank you for everything today!

-Whoo! -Bye, Gretchen! Drive safely!

Ooh.

Mm!

I can only imagine the pain you must be in.

Well, I-I have had the honor

of working with other searching families over the years.

And -- And for most of us,

the...the hardest part is...

is the not knowing,

the daily void of just not knowing.

But Sally is always going to be alive to me

until I know different.

And I will never, never stop looking for her.

You're so brave.

What can people do if they have any information?

They can contact me through my website --

Oh, my sweet girl.

What...

Jack?

Hey, Darlene. I...

I'm sorry I scared you.

Well, what -- what are you doing here?

My truck got stuck in the snow.

Wait. What?

-It -- Oh! -I lost control on Rogers

and just skidded out into the snow.

And then I-I saw I was a block from your place, so...

Well, come in! Come in! It's freezing!

Thank you. Thank you.

Why don't you call Shane or Lisa?

My phone died. I am 0 for 2.

Well, I-I didn't know you were coming.

Wait. Was I supposed to know?

I was trying to surprise everybody, so, um...

Surprise.

Hey.

Come on.

Good to see you, kid.

-It's been a minute. -Nineteen years.

-You believe that? -Ah.

Well, I mean, what's a couple decades

between, you know, ex-family?

So because your sister and I didn't work out, I'm --

I'm ex-family?

I'm so sorry.

May I please take your coat?

Oh, no, no, no. That's okay.

I'm still a little cold, so...

I imagine.

Let's get something to warm you up.

-Um... -Yeah. Sounds good.

How about some tea? It's actually strictly --

It's strictly chamomile around here these days.

The kids told me.

Yeah.

I actually just hit 19 years.

It's, um...

Well, I should've done it a lot sooner, right?

But...

Well, you look great.

No. I mean reallygreat.

You're such a...

And I-I heard that you were hosting again,

so, you know, I...

I figured it would be okay.

Oh, you thought this would be

enough of a-a buffer for you and Julie.

I know it's a stretch. I admit it.

But, you know, I never got Christmas

-with Lisa and Shane again. -I know.

I just want to be with them, you know?

Look. I can keep the peace with Julie.

I want to make things right.

I was gonna make it a surprise.

You know, stay at the motel and surprise everyone

with a big bag of presents in the morning.

- Oh. - But...

Well, I'm not just here to see them, you know?

I have a lot to make up for it with you, too, and...

I know that.

I'll get you your tea.

So, you hungry?

Always.

I remember.

Ooh. Okay. Got it.

-All right.

-Thank you. -En joie.

Oh, God. Oh, it's amazing.

You have to give me the recipe.

-The recipe? -Mm.

I'm sorry. Who -- Who are you?

Well...

-Um... -Thank you.

...I'm gonna need you to call Julie...

-...and get her blessing

before you stay for Christmas.

Why? It's your house.

Jack, I'm not kidding.

You have to call her.

But...not tonight.

She would rip you --

Tonight, you know, you can -- you can stay here.

I mean, obviously.

I don't know where else you would stay.

I-I, uh...

I-I'd offer you Sally's room, but --

No. No, no, no, no, no. No. Of course.

But, however, I can offer you my super-swank sofa,

which is actually -- It's actually pretty comfy...

-Sounds great. Sounds great. -...once you make it up.

Hey. One second.

-Merry Christmas.

You still love playing Santa, don't you?

I hope you still like mint patties.

I do.

I do. They're simple but classic.

This is beautiful. Look.

-Did you wrap this? -Uh...

Oh, you didn't do it, did you? You didn't do this.

Let's see.

Our Christmas Eve reading and chocolate eating.

Oh, Jack.

This is very sweet, but I --

Hey. It was a family tradition.

No, it wasn't. You started it.

You gave everyone the book and chocolates

so they wouldn't notice that you gave mea book and chocolates.

Maybe.

Mm-hmm.

So how about you? Hmm?

Girlfriend?

Yeah. We're going steady and everything.

You think she'll go to the prom with me?

-Oh, you know,

I mean, after our super-fulfilling marriages...

Really odd that we wouldn't rush to commit again, huh?

I guess I just...

I just never found someone who could quote Oscar Wilde

while shit-talking in the corner at a party quite like you could.

I should never have left the way I did.

It has haunted me all these years.

-It's haunted you? -Yeah.

It's very Heathcliff on the moors.