A Christmas Tree Miracle

Everyone says that Christmas is a time for giving.

But my family had nothing left to give.

No tree...

no cards...

no gifts.

But that didn't matter.

Because this was going to be the best Christmas ever.

Kids, the photographer is here!

How long is this going to take?

As long as it takes.

Come here. Stand next to your sister.

Ew, gross.

Please stop texting. I'm not.

Okay, what are we doing here?

All right, you're here.

And I'll stand here. Okay.

Okay, is this everyone?

Yes. (Small girl) Mom!

Nina, hurry up! Come... what are you...

Can this be in the picture?

It was my favorite present last year,

and I really want Santa to see that I still like it.

Santa just called.

He doesn't care. Nick.

Yes, honey, come on.

David, please.

Honey, it's Tom from work.

I think we have a lead on a property,

and I, uh...

I can tell him to wait.

All right. Got it.

Most families do this in front of the tree.

Well, we're getting ours this weekend.

If we don't get ours soon,

all the good ones will be gone.

I hate going. It's always so cold.

Molly and I have plans.

Yeah, I'm working on Sunday.

Hey, enough.

Everyone is going to stop texting,

stop complaining,

and stop whining for the three seconds it will take

to snap this Christmas card picture

from this photographer who overcharges by the hour.

No offense.

None taken.

Okay, everyone.

I want "Merry Christmas" on three.

One...

two...

three.

Merry Christmas!

Natalie, put that phone away.

I'm texting you my Christmas list. Oh, good.

I need final lists by the weekend. All right, Tom.

That means you, too, mister.

Golf clubs, green fees,

and a new satellite radio for the car.

What about you? What do you want?

Canned goods!

Thank you. That's easy.

No, I forgot canned goods for the parent food drive.

I brought them.

Whoa, whoa. Honey, those are the good peas.

You will get a Christmas miracle?

Who wrote on this?

I did.

Miss Webb said to.

She said to write something nice on the top of the can

for the poor.

Nerd. Hey, enough.

Can we pretend to like one another?

It's Christmas.

Let's just go.

We should have left earlier.

I was ready. I always...

Could we leave on time once? Just one time?

Merry Christmas!

Great...

Oh, joy.

Missed you. Hey, I missed you, too.

Hi, Mr. and Mrs. George!

Hello, Molly.

I am so sorry.

I know I said I'd help you guys out,

but it's just been so crazy with the holidays.

Here, I brought these.

Oh, Liz, could you please go put these

over with the cases we brought?

Wow, the good ones.

I'd love to stay and help,

but I have to go get Nina ready.

Next time, I promise. Bye.

Too busy?

Who isn't busy this time of year?

Stop signs are the backbone of our society.

All right, ladies. Thank you very much.

I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me.

Thank you for your support.

John Cutter, State Senate.

A cut above the rest. Thank you, ladies.

Senator Cutter.

Dave. You ever stop politicking?

Oh, never stop, Dave.

This is the place to be seen, right?

Of course. That's why we're here.

Exactly. Alicia is doing the canned food drive.

I'm the happy family man.

It's a win-win on all parts,

especially for our state, right? Exactly.

Yeah. So your kid in this?

Oh, yeah. She's actually playing the cello.

Cello? Believe it or not, she's actually pretty good.

Really? I bet she is.

You know, mine's pretty good, too. He plays the sax.

Sounds like an asthmatic marathon runner

but he plays, right?

Listen, before I go, I want to let you know

that we're closing in on a property

for those music warehouses.

Really? Yes, sir.

That is amazing. Fantastic to hear.

All those jobs. That's going to be fantastic for this area.

And it's not going to hurt my re-election either.

Well, you got to do what you have to do, right?

Which is everything, Dave.

But I'm going to get out of here.

I see someone I got to talk to. Have a good day.

Thank you. Take care. All right.

Tony...

Thank you, Deuce. Wonderful.

Next we have Nina George,

who will be playing "T'is a Gift to be Simple"

on her cello.

Nina.

I don't feel like playing anymore.

Okay, then.

Let's hear it anyway for Nina George.

There you are.

Now what was that all about?

No one wanted to hear my play.

Honey, that's not true.

Go get your cello and wait with your father in the hall.

I'll be right out.

Is everybody mad at me now?

Of course not. Nobody cares.

You okay in there?

I'm fine.

Tell me what's wrong.

It's just... It's just so hard keeping everything

all together for him all the time.

Who, Cutter?

He couldn't even sit with me during Deuce's performance.

He was too busy working the crowd.

Sometimes I wish he wouldn't even win the re-election.

What kind of politician's wife says that?

An honest one.

I can't go back out there.

Look at me, Alicia.

You are strong. You are smart.

You can do this.

You can, okay?

Okay...

Oh, no. Look at me. I'm a mess.

And I left my purse outside.

Oh, here. Let me help.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your support.

You ladies have a nice day.

My lovely wife is coming, so...

I have to get going. All right.

Cutter, State Senate. Thank you.

How do I look? Good?

Okay, come on.

Yeah, I'll have a regular with soymilk.

Hey, man. Yeah, I'm across the street getting some coffee.

You want something?

Why? What?

No, I didn't know anything about this.

No, what was the last thing he said?

No, the last thing he said.

Excuse me, sir.

Can I get you anything?

What? We're all on the same team here.

I'm fine. Okay, listen.

I just needed to come in from the cold and... think.

Look, you're going to have to order something.

What's your name?

Oliver. I'm Henry.

How old are you, Oliver?

I'm 18.

18 years old. How about that?

You know, when I was 18,

I was ready to take on the world,

and nothing was going to stop me.

Look, mister, you've been sitting here a really long time.

If you don't order something, you're going to have to leave.

I know, I know, I know. Yeah?

But see, that's the problem.

Wait, what was that?

I can't order anything.