BETH BOY GIRL HERSH KATIE LINDA MAN MS_LIM RUTHIE SEAN SHEILA TIM WOMAN BETH One more time. BETH ? Marshmallow peppermint ? ? Sugarplum pie ? BOY You're making me hungry. BETH Well, we're done for the day. Will this help? BOY Bye! BETH Oh, mom. This was one of the best Christmas gifts you and mom ever got me. Worked wonders for my stage fright. TIM It just doesn't seem like Christmas yet. BETH Yeah. It will. But now we're due at the school. TIM Right. I'll go get our coats. BETH Okay. KATIE We need a tree. SEAN Uh-huh. KATIE When? SEAN Watch what you're doing there. KATIE I need another wrench. SEAN Which one? KATIE Uh, forgot the name. Um, the wrench with the thingy on the other side. SEAN Ratchet. KATIE That. Can I have it? SEAN Please? KATIE Please can I have the 5/8 wrench with the ratchet on the other side, and can we please get a tree sometime this actual week and listen to another station instead of this, please, oh, please, dear father? SEAN How can I say no to that? Classical, I presume? KATIE My favorite. KATIE Hey, w-we're doing this one in the Christmas recital. SEAN Oh, yeah? How's the recital coming together? KATIE Uh, it's okay. Ms Lim says I need help on my technique. SEAN All teachers say that. KATIE Just because you didn't like your music teachers doesn't-- SEAN Katie cat, either the music is in you or it isn't. KATIE Uh-huh. I just wanna be real good, like you. SEAN Come back out here. SEAN This recital's real important to you, is it? KATIE It's the first one without Ms. Hendricks. And everyone's making it extra special, so I need to get it right. SEAN Okay. Well, maybe I can look into getting you some extra help, like a tutor or a teacher or something. KATIE That'd be cool. SEAN Great. Okay. KATIE And can we go to grandma's, too, to get mom's old decorations? SEAN You just keep asking for things, don't you? Yes, we can. Maybe. KATIE Stop. SEAN Oh... KATIE Wrench. SEAN Please? KATIE Please? MS LIM The kids are really getting there and the lineup is all set. And, Tim, I was thinking maybe you could give a speech about Johannah. TIM What, me? No, I don't really do public speaking. I'm more of a behind-the-scenes numbers guy. Uh, besides, you're head of the music department now. MS LIM Oh, just the interim head, I'm just filling in while they find a new head for the department. So, what do you say? BETH Come on, dad, it's the inaugural year of mom's instrument fund. What's the worst that could happen? TIM Oh, people get bored, people check their phones, people forget to donate. Uh, you know. Sweetheart, there's a reason why your mom was up front on these things. MS LIM Remember that year that she got Grumpy Greg to donate three saxophones to the music department? Yeah. I'll miss her for a billion reasons, but to have this fund in her memory really feels like we're continuing her work. TIM Okay, okay! I'll write a speech. MS LIM Great. Next up, the silent auction. TIM Oh. BETH It's gonna be great. TIM Oh. SHEILA Let me know if you need anything else. Hi, Beth! You look gorgeous. BETH Aww, thanks, Sheila. You, too. SHEILA Oh, I have your gift basket in the back. Feel free to file some music sheets while sitting there waiting for me. BETH Mm-hmm. All right, let's see... WOMAN That's Sean Grant. SEAN Excuse me, ma'am. Hi. BETH Hi. SEAN Uh, I'm, uh, here to pick up music for my daughter Katie. BETH Uh, yeah, sure. Uh, just a moment. Katie... Hey. Katie. Your daughter is very advanced. SEAN No, I-I just found it online. Katie said she needed some help with technique. BETH Oh, okay, I see, I would actually recommend Vivaldi's Concerto in A minor. It has a lot of scale work in it. That might be better for her. SEAN Sure, I'll take all the help I can get. Classical music's not really my thing. Better with country. BETH Okay, that's different. SEAN Oh, I take it you're not a fan. BETH All that, uh, "my dog, my truck, my woman done me wrong?" Doesn't that start to sound the same after a while? SEAN You know, some people might say the same thing about classical. BETH Well, you would be wrong. Classical has the advantage of no outdated lyrics. SEAN Oh, but those strings, they just put you to sleep. BETH I play one of those strings. SEAN You know, maybe you shouldn't be such a music snob if you work in a music store. BETH Well, I don't work here for one, and for another-- SEAN Oh, you just walk into random joints and you freelance your opinion? BETH My best friend Sheila owns this joint. And I do believe that you started it, hm? SEAN Ah. SHEILA Here you go! Sean, hi. Hi. SEAN Hey. Hey, Sheila. SHEILA I see you met Beth, my best friend in the world. Did you get the piece? SEAN Yeah, uh... She set me up. What do I owe you for it? SHEILA I'll put it on your account. SEAN Thank you. And, um, Merry Christmas, best friend. BETH Merry Christmas. SEAN Bye, Sheila. WOMAN Excuse me, do you mind if we get a selfie? SHEILA Do you even know who that was? Sean Grant. SEAN Yup. Go. BETH Who? SHEILA Country music star. Yes. BETH Really? Seriously? SHEILA City Girl? Red Tail Hawk? Sweet Huckleberry? BETH Mm, maybe that last one? I don't know. SHEILA Oh, you are the weirdest. KATIE So, green dress pants... SEAN Uh-huh. KATIE Or red dress? What do you think? For the recital. SEAN Oh... KATIE It's fine. I'll just ask grandma. SEAN Sorry, kiddo. SEAN Why don't you put the clothes away and meet me downstairs? Because you are on potato duty. KATIE Okay. SEAN Katie cat, where are you? KATIE Uh, in here! SEAN Look who made it to the country. HERSH KATIE Hersh! HERSH Hi, Katie! And I still do not understand why you guys choose to live out in the middle of nowhere. KATIE We like it here. SEAN And less guests. HERSH All right. KATIE Those look like Christmas presents. HERSH No. Those are Hanukkah presents. No, but you can't open them until the first night. KATIE When's that? HERSH Oh, I know, it's, um, tomorrow. KATIE Ah, yes! HERSH Yes! KATIE Wanna scrub some potatoes? HERSH I just got here, and you're putting me to work? SEAN Oh, I think she learned that from you. HERSH Oh, you think, eh? SEAN Uh-huh. HERSH You, fire up some music, something good, something, something country. Maybe, uh, some early Sean Grant. SEAN Oh. HERSH Huh? And, you, let's, uh, let's fire up something in the kitchen. Okay. Huh? Huh? KATIE No. HERSH Look at this concentration. KATIE Stop it. HERSH I've had at most one bar on my cell phone since I've been here. My-my boots, they're new, they're caked in mud. I can hate the countryside, huh? Also, you guys don't have a single recording studio out here on-on, what, how many acres? SEAN One hundred and twenty-nine. KATIE One hundred and twenty-nine. KATIE And a half. So, what about horses? HERSH Horses are okay. SEAN Oh, great. Because we're putting you up in the stables for the night. HERSH No, I-I got myself a hotel room in the actual town. RUTHIE Oh, well, that sounds like a good idea to me, Hersh, because every time I come out here to this ranch, it seems like it's getting farther and farther away. HERSH It is. KATIE Hey, grandma. RUTHIE Hi, baby. SEAN Well, let me fix you a plate, Ruthie. RUTHIE No, that's all right. I'm just here to keep my promise. KATIE Grandma's gonna braid my hair. RUTHIE Yes, I am. Come on, I got all this new product. Wait till you see... HERSH Well, you do her hair and I'll... finish alone. TIM Cookies? BETH Ooh, those look delicious, dad! TIM Well, thanks. It was, uh, bake or write my speech. BETH Who is this singing? TIM Hm? Oh, that's, uh, Sean Grant. BETH He does Christmas music, too? TIM Oh, just this one. It was a benefit album. BETH I ran into him at Sheila's store this afternoon. TIM Really? BETH Mm. Oh. That's a rare sighting. Why is that? TIM Oh, he keeps to himself most of the time. Moved here after his wife passed away about three years ago. Uh, his daughter is in your mom's music program. She always talked nice about him. TIM He's got a great voice, doesn't he? RUTHIE Oh, so how are you feeling? KATIE Uh, I'm excited and nervous. It's my first time performing a solo, so... RUTHIE Oh... I remember my first solo. Oh, we're gonna have to fix your hair up real special for that. You got any ideas? Cornrows? Box braids? KATIE Um, I want to wear it out. RUTHIE Yeah. KATIE Maybe? But... RUTHIE But what? KATIE But I think it should be slicked back. Mm, looks more professional. RUTHIE More professional? Did somebody tell you that? KATIE No, but I've seen it on the social media, so... RUTHIE I think it's good to stand out. You be proud of who you are and what you are. And no matter how you wear your hair, it will be beautiful, just like you. Yeah! All right. SEAN Knock-knock. I thought you could use something sweet. KATIE Thank you. RUTHIE Aww, thank you. SEAN You're welcome. RUTHIE Ooh. SEAN Hey, Ruthie, you, uh, got a minute? RUTHIE Sure. You think about it, okay? KATIE Okay. RUTHIE Because whatever you wanna do with your hair, that's what we're gonna do, all right? KATIE All right. RUTHIE I'll be right back. SEAN You two okay in there? RUTHIE Oh, we're fine. Braiding time is bonding time. She talks, I listen. Huh. Before you know it, she'll be braiding her own hair. SEAN Different tools than I'm used to working with. RUTHIE I'm sure. Have you had a chance to talk with Katie about the recital? She seems a little anxious. SEAN Yeah. Uh, yeah, actually, I got that impression earlier. RUTHIE I think she doesn't wanna just play the part, she wants to look the part. Look, it's normal, even when she was little, she noticed the difference between you and Allison. But, uh, now that she's older, she can articulate her feelings better. SEAN She's getting smarter every day. RUTHIE Mm-hmm. SEAN More inquisitive. More curious and... I don't have the answers. RUTHIE Of course you don't. I mean, sometimes you will, sometimes you won't, but all you have to do is keep being Katie's dad. SEAN Yeah. RUTHIE Oh, this is good. SEAN I know how to make a good hot chocolate. RUTHIE Too many marshmallows, but that's okay. HERSH There he is. How's Katie doing? Looks like you're getting the hang of things. SEAN Yeah, yeah, it's, it's just the whole without-Allison part I'm struggling with. So, dare I ask? What's the news? HERSH Can't a guy just sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and chat about the realities of fatherhood? SEAN How is it, by the way? HERSH This is a mountain of marshmallows. SEAN That's the way we do it on the ranch. HERSH All right, man, listen. The label is really laying on the pressure. A lot of pressure. No more delays. You gotta get back to Nashville, you gotta get in the studio and record that album. SEAN What if I can't? HERSH I've heard that song before. Everybody has heard that song before. SEAN Uh, what if I refuse to? HERSH W... Eventually you'll be in breach of contract. You know, people are forgetting about you, Sean. I... Your fans are only gonna stick by the sad widower part for so long. SEAN Hersh, come on. HERSH I'm starting to feel like you've run away to West Virginia. SEAN What if... What if I don't have anything to say? HERSH What if you got something new to say? About loss, about being a dad, about driving that big-old pickup truck to PTA meetings. HERSH I'm just worried that if you close the door now, you're not gonna be able to get through it again later. BETH Wow. KATIE Oh, she's here. SEAN Who? KATIE My teacher. SEAN Your what? KATIE My violin teacher. The one you texted? SEAN Wait, your violin teacher? I didn't re... Katie Elizabeth Grant, what did you do? KATIE You said I could have a teacher. SEAN Who I would find. Look, we have to be careful. We can't just give our address out to anybody. KATIE She's a violin teacher, dad. KATIE Hey, hey, hey, hey, slow down! Okay, let me answer the door. SEAN Best friend from the music... BETH Sean Grant? KATIE And I'm Katie. Come on in. SEAN When I grabbed your number, I didn't realize... BETH I've been teaching students in town the past few months. Sheila let me put up my contact number. SEAN You've only been teaching for a few months? BETH Well, I live in New York City, I am a professional violinist, so I've been picking up students here to cover expenses-- SEAN Okay, I'm sorry, so you're only here for the holidays? BETH You study music at Bluffside, right? SEAN How did you know that? KATIE Yeah. BETH Johannah Hendricks was my mother. KATIE No way. BETH Way. You can call me Beth. Yeah. KATIE Beth. SEAN Well, in that case... welcome to our ranch. BETH This is your music room? KATIE Yup. It was my mom's favorite room in the whole house. SEAN Oh, the acoustics aren't the best because of the windows, but I figure it's better to practice with a view than, you know, in a sound- proofed studio. I hope this will be okay? BETH If you're used to a six-by-nine practice room where the view is a brick wall and you're lucky if you can move your bow or hear yourself over the tuba next door, this is, yeah, this is fine. SEAN You live next door to a tubist? BETH No, that-that's not what I said. SEAN That must be very annoying. BETH Yes, it is. His name is Greg and he's beginner-intermediate at best. SEAN Huh. Well, your mother was a great teacher. KATIE Yeah, and my dad hates music teachers. SEAN Katie... Why don't you go, uh, clean up the dishes? KATIE They're clear. SEAN Okay, then go do your homework. KATIE But I have a violin lesson. SEAN Give us a moment alone? KATIE He'll like you if you're like Ms. Hendricks. She was the best. BETH So you hate music teachers, huh? SEAN I don't hate music teachers. It's just that I don't believe that practicing scales over and over again is a substitute for musical talent. BETH That is true, but practice can make that talent shine through later. And you are looking for someone to teach her, yes? SEAN Yes. Yes, I am, because that is what she wants. Here. And you should know that Katie wired this whole thing up. I sent the first text, but I guess that Katie sent the follow-up texts. BETH All right, so, uh, you weren't the one who... SEAN That, that what? BETH I actually tried to turn down the job, because like I said, I'm leaving after the holidays, but you or Katie offered me double my rate to take the job, which is not necessary. SEAN Okay, then, well, double is fine. She is unbelievable. BETH And persistent. Which makes for a really great student and musician. SEAN Okay, well, if you teach Katie, there are a few rules. There are no photographs, there's no recording, there is nothing on social media... BETH Is there a fourth or... SEAN No. BETH I would never do any of those things. SEAN Well, you say that now, but someone comes sneaking around asking for a quote, offering you triple your salary. It's just important that Katie has a normal life here, especially after her... BETH Well, I would never do anything to jeopardize a young girl, especially one that lost her mom. I just want you to know that. SEAN Okay. Katie! You ready for your lesson with Ms. Hendricks? KATIE Yes, finally. SEAN Okay, well... I am changing the password on my cell phone. KATIE Cool story, dad. SEAN Okay. BETH Let's get started. SHEILA You're working for Sean Grant? Tell me, was he just as nice in private? BETH I literally can't say, Sheila. He just wants to protect his daughter. SHEILA Well, that's sweet. BETH I never thought I'd say it about someone like him, but raising, you know, a young daughter after losing your wife and being someone that everybody wants a piece of... It must just be... SHEILA Hm. Mm-hmm. BETH What? SHEILA Beth, am I sensing a connection? BETH Stop, I'm taking on one last student whose father is paying me very well, which will really help when I get back to expensive New York. SHEILA Okay. If you say so. BETH That's it. It's not that I wouldn't, he... SHEILA Keep going. This is getting interesting. LINDA Beth Hendricks? BETH Linda? I'll be right back. BETH Hi. LINDA Oh, hi. Oh. I haven't seen you since, since Youth Orchestra. BETH Yeah, I must've been 16 or so. LINDA And then they whisked you off to New York. How's it been? Oh, must be a different rhythm to Charleston. BETH Yeah, not so much a rhythm as a slog, but... LINDA Why, was the fellowship program no good? BETH No, no, the-the program was great. Rigorous training, bimonthly showcases and just really, really good players. Since then it's been auditions for orchestras and teaching, playing parties, hotel events... LINDA Wait, you wouldn't happen to be free this Saturday night, would you? BETH Why? You having a last-minute wedding, are you? LINDA Actually, I'm in a quartet. I know it's crazy, but we have a Christmas concert and our first violin is pregnant and her doctor's put her on bedrest. We haven't been able to find a sub. How's your Here We Come A-Wassailing? BETH It'll be ready by Saturday. LINDA Fantastic! Listen, put your number in and I will text you the details and charts. BETH Thank you, Linda. LINDA Oh! This is gonna be great! See you soon! BETH Yes, good to see you. BETH SHEILA What just happened? BETH I got another job. SHEILA What? SEAN TIM Wanna take a break? BETH I should probably keep practicing. TIM I just wanna show you something. Just take a minute. TIM Hm? HERSH Don't stop. Working on something there? SEAN Yeah, I was just dusting it off. HERSH Okay. Well, gotta start somewhere. SEAN Wasn't anything. HERSH Ah, it wasn't anything yet. Uh, Katie keeps asking about her Hanukkah presents. HERSH I'm, uh, I'm teaching her how to make latkes. You, uh, you gonna keep writing or you wanna... SEAN No. I'll be in in a minute. HERSH All right. I'll get your apron ready. TIM Look. It's the angel tree-topper mom and I made. TIM Let's get it on the tree. Your mother saved every single one that she was given. So many of them... It's almost too hard to put 'em all on the tree. BETH Does it feel like Christmas yet, dad? TIM I think we have one more tree to visit. HERSH Get a good handful. All right, in the cloth. That's good, then you squeeze all the water out. Squeeze. There's more than you think. KATIE Yeah. HERSH My bubbe taught me this recipe when I was your age. That's good, that's good. KATIE Okay. HERSH Put the potatoes in the bowl. Yeah, uh, we gotta let the starch settle. All right, and then we'll pop one of these in. KATIE Yes! Can I do the frying? SEAN Ah... I should probably check my insurance policy first, right? HERSH Come on, we're in West Virginia. Kid's gotta learn how to fry at some point. SEAN Be careful. HERSH All right. Here you go. Okay, careful, careful, careful. SEAN Oh! Yeah. HERSH Oh! Nice! Bull's-eye! TIM Oh, it's gonna be great seeing you perform again. It's been too long. BETH Mm. I'm sorry for not coming home more often. Being here, it's grounding. TIM Well, you came back over the years. BETH I know, but never for this long, and just... I'm sorry that it took this trip for me to realize how one-track my life is. I do love violin. I mean, this is what I'm made for. It's just... sometimes I wonder if it's enough. The Angel Tree! TIM Mm-hmm. TIM What do you say? One for you, one for me and one for mom? BETH Yeah. TIM Huh... TIM And next stop, hot cider. BETH Oh. Yes, please. KATIE Oh, man, I love Hanukkah! I'm gonna fry everything from now on. HERSH What's not to love about it, huh? Lights, miracles, delicious food, giving to charity... KATIE And presents. HERSH SEAN The kid is a broken record. Okay, go on. I'll clean up. HERSH Let's go. HERSH Don't you usually have a tree there? KATIE Ask dad. It gets later every year. Are these for me? Do I get drums, too? HERSH I got you five of them. Three cymbals. One for each night of Hanukkah. KATIE Dad's gonna be so mad. HERSH Oh, is he ever! Let's open them all tonight. KATIE So I heard you were talking to him about singing. HERSH Yeah. Yeah, I'm working on him, I promise ya. KATIE Can you work on getting me a tree, too? And maybe my mom's old decorations? Sometimes I don't even know why we brought them here from Nashville. SEAN Hey, so where's my present? HERSH Your present. I got you a kazoo. SEAN Oh. A kazoo? You shouldn't have. HERSH Hm. Well, it came free with the kit. BETH How's it going with the fundraiser? MS LIM I made a list of instruments and I sent it off. To Sheila last night. BETH I heard. She said she spoke to the distributor, and they're all set. MS LIM No. The decorations. I-I completely forgot. I told Pat I was gonna swing by and grab the garlands and the holly and I, ah... BETH Oh, I can do it. MS LIM Are you sure? BETH Yeah. MS LIM I-I don't wanna put you out. BETH No, it's no problem. MS LIM Thank you, Beth. BETH Yeah. BETH Hi, mom. RUTHIE Ooh! Well, technically, you're on point. But I need you to feel the song! Just dig a little deeper! And please, pay attention to the cutoffs. SEAN I thought you sounded great. RUTHIE Pay no attention to that man. He knows nothing about music. GIRL I love you, Sean! BOY Hey, Sean! RUTHIE I love you, Sean! SEAN Hey. RUTHIE Hi, dear. SEAN Uh, maybe I'm just out of ideas. RUTHIE No. That's a choice you made. SEAN Truth? RUTHIE I wouldn't be sitting here for anything less. SEAN Okay, Hersh says it's like, it's like I've run away. But, no. No, this place is good for Katie, being close to you. I thought, maybe because this is Allison's hometown, I might find... inspiration. RUTHIE Sean. Honey, how can you say that? You have been holed up out there in that ranch of yours for almost three years now, like some cursed prince. You don't go anywhere, you don't talk to anybody, you don't do anything. No wonder you're feeling uninspired. RUTHIE Allison wasn't your inspiration because you found her. You had to love her. You can't just be here, you got to live here. SEAN Well, what if what I write now isn't any good? What if she'd hate it? RUTHIE What if you're using Allison as some sort of an excuse not to do the thing that you were born to do? What would she think about that? SEAN She wouldn't stand for it. RUTHIE You got that right. And it's okay to miss her. It's okay to be angry that she was taken away too soon. Hm. You want my advice, live your life. Get out there, explore, discover something. Or else... what was the point of coming here? Hm? RUTHIE All right. Everything is in the storage unit. What you're gonna hang them on? SEAN Well... I'm about to get a tree, if you want to join? RUTHIE No, I'm on my way down to the rec center. They post a lot of volunteer jobs this time of the year. SEAN You're serious about more work? RUTHIE Yeah. Gives me purpose. I gotta keep it moving. SEAN Thank you. RUTHIE You're welcome. Have a good time. SEAN Mm-hmm. SEAN Hey! BETH Hi! SEAN Oh, fancy seeing you here. BETH Yeah. SEAN That is a lot of garland. BETH Oh, it's, um, for the recital. I may have gone a little overboard. SEAN I'll take that for you. BETH Thank you. What about you? SEAN I'm here to get a tree. It's supposed to be a surprise for Katie. BETH Oh? SEAN Do you mind giving me a hand? BETH Yeah. Of course. BETH Must have been a big change for you two, moving from Nashville? SEAN Yeah, I mean, I grew up in Nashville, met Allison there, thought I'd spend my whole life there. The ranch was actually Allison's idea. She thought it'd be good for us to have a place to retreat. I also think it was a way for, uh, Katie to be close to her mom. BETH Yeah. SEAN Um, Katie's grandmother is, uh, Ruthie. She runs Bethel Grace Choir. BETH Ruthie Sampson? SEAN Yeah, yeah, it's actually how I met your mother and why I put Katie in the Bluffside School. Have you ever met her? BETH No. But Ruthie and my mom started a youth program about ten years ago when I was in New York. My mom would send me links of Ruthie's choir. They were amazing. SEAN So you like gospel music. BETH Of course I do! SEAN It's just country music that you're weird about. BETH I grew up playing classical violin. SEAN Okay, which means that you are a fiddler. BETH No. Fiddling's not what I do. SEAN You haven't heard of any of the greats? Roy Acuff? Johnny Gimble? Texas Shorty? BETH Okay, those aren't real names. SEAN You know what? BETH Don't tell me you have Johnny, Roy and Texas on your phone. SEAN Mm-hmm. Here. BETH Wow. Okay. SEAN I'll, uh, I'll text you a playlist. BETH Sure. M-maybe you would like to hear some of my music? You and Katie? SEAN Your music? BETH Yeah, I have a Christmas concert tomorrow night at The Charleston Atrium. I'm with a string quartet. And Katie could hear how the professionals do it, and you could see what classical music is all about. I mean, if you, if you want. SEAN Oh, you know, Katie and I, we-we, uh, we don't get out-- BETH Yeah, I, I shouldn't have. SEAN But you know what? That's all the more reason we should. I'd love to, and I know Katie would, too. BETH Okay, great. LINDA Butterflies? BETH More like a flock of birds. WOMAN Wait. Is that... SEAN Okay, pal. MAN Sean Grant... SEAN Hi. KATIE This is, like, professional. TIM Sean? And this must be the talented Katie. I'm, uh, Tim, Beth's dad. SEAN Tim. We were sorry to hear about Johannah. She's one of a kind. And I, uh, know how hard it can be this time of year. If there's anything we can do for you... TIM Oh, very kind. Thank you. SEAN Whoo! All right! Whoo! LINDA Oh, that was... Beth, are you all right? BETH Sorry. I haven't played liked that in a long time. Years maybe. LINDA You played beautifully. BETH Thank you. Thank you. It felt effortless. LINDA Have you ever considered... Oh. BETH What? LINDA Look, the second chair of the first violins is coming available in the Chamber Orchestra. Auditions come around once a decade. I could put your name in. I can reserve you a spot if you want. SEAN There you go. Oh, hey. BETH Aww. Thanks. This is what we do. Good to hear it with professional players, huh? SEAN It is. BETH Wasn't too stuffy for you? SEAN You were fantastic. A natural with that group. And, I must admit, it is good to hear that kind of music in West Virginia. BETH Oh. TIM Here's our star. You all set? BETH Yes. KATIE I can't wait for our next lesson, Beth. Bye. BETH Bye! SEAN Bye! TIM Buh-bye! You were amazing. I'm so proud of you. BETH Thanks for being here. BETH Relax your face. Try not to tilt your head. Violin parallel to the ground, and again. KATIE I'm sorry, all the things you're saying are just getting jumbled in my head. BETH That's okay. Take a breath. You'll get there. KATIE Your mom used to make us close our eyes when we got stuck. BETH I like that. Let's try that. BETH That was outstanding. You deserve a break. Why'd you pick the violin? KATIE Uh, well, the fiddle made me wanna dance, and my mom said if I'm gonna learn an instrument, I need to master technique, so no one can question me later. BETH Mm, wise words. Do you love it? KATIE I put it down for a while, but I picked it back up for my mom. And now I really love it, so... BETH Yeah. Well, you're already so good. KATIE Thanks. Uh, the other day when I saw you playing, it made me really happy because when I see the videos of all the famous violinists, none of them look like me. And then I thought I chose the wrong instrument because... BETH I used to feel the same way. But then I realized that it's okay to choose your own path. So if violin or drums or any other instrument ignites something in you, pinky promise me you'll follow it. KATIE I promise. KATIE My dad and I don't talk about stuff like this or about my mom. But my grandma helps me remember her. Like, all the fun stuff we used to do for Christmas. My mom made the best Christmases. BETH What would she do? KATIE She used to make things like ornaments, decorations, cookies. My dad forgets the fun stuff, like... He surprised me with a tree, but we haven't decorated it yet. BETH How about, if after our next lesson, we ditch these candy canes and we make you an angel tree-topper instead, hm? You can make one that looks like your mom. KATIE That'd be fun. BETH Okay, good. Oh. Does your dad know how lucky he is to have you? KATIE I think he does. BETH Let's get back at it. SEAN Hello! KATIE Hey, dad. Are those our ornaments? SEAN Uh-huh. And I thought we could order pizza while we decorate the tree. How does that sound? KATIE Sounds good. Can Beth help, too? SEAN Yeah, we can use an extra set of hands, if she's game. KATIE All he listens to is country. BETH It turns out you're a snob, too. KATIE Ooh! Burn, dad! SEAN I love the string quartet. It's just that classical music, i-it's, well, it's stuffy. BETH Classical composers were the original rebels and rulebreakers of their time. SEAN Okay, but there's just, there's so many rules. KATIE Well, you follow rules in your music, right? Same instruments for every song... KATIE Guitar, bass, drums, fiddle. BETH Same themes, same length for radio. SEAN Okay, okay, but when I play, I play it from my heart. I-I-I play because it moves me. You know, I'm not following rules and... The music, i-i-it can inspire me, i-it can be anything. BETH Yeah, I'm sure Beethoven would agree with that. SEAN I was thinking about getting some classical music for Katie for her Christmas gifts. BETH Yeah, I can recommend some downloads. SEAN You know, I was actually thinking albums. Something vintage, vinyl. Uh, you know, m-maybe you could meet me at the, uh, Major Key Music Shop? I mean, Katie's getting serious about this classical music thing, I-I-I wanna know what I'm talkin' about. BETH Sure. Sounds fun. SEAN Okay. Ruthie! Uh, R-Ruthie! Uh, this is Katie's violin teacher. KATIE Ruthie, hi. RUTHIE Beth. Johannah's daughter. BETH Yeah. RUTHIE I was so sorry about your mother's passing. Her service was beautiful. BETH Well, it's very nice to finally meet you. Thank you for dinner. And I'll see you tomorrow. SEAN Yup. BETH Merry Christmas, Ruthie. Good luck with the choir. RUTHIE Thank you. And Merry Christmas to you. Come by any time. See you tomorrow. Mm. Sounds like more than a violin teacher to me. BETH Oh, I love The Nutcracker. Maybe I should do a piece from this. This was my favorite, this was the very first concert that my mom took me to. SEAN The Nutcracker? That was the first concert you ever went to? BETH Yes, my parents were season-ticket holders to the Orchestra. My dream was to play with them. That's why I joined the Youth Orchestra. I was one of those audition kids always trying to get the scholarship. I was actually given a fellowship to New York's, uh, Rostand, you know, the feeder school for New York's-- SEAN Oh, yeah, yeah. I know what that is, it's a big deal. BETH Oh, yeah, well, they usually pick a couple of kids to join as apprentices in the orchestra. I was not chosen. But I never gave up. SEAN Did you wanna stay in New York? BETH Well... The chances of getting a job are higher if you're there because all the regional orchestras, they audition in New York. SEAN Yeah, sure, but, um, that's not what I asked. BETH The Chamber Orchestra is like the Supreme Court. Someone has to die for a seat to open up. SEAN Well, except, now it has. What if you get it? BETH I don't know, it's only these past few months I've been able to see Charleston through new eyes. SEAN That's a good title. Through New Eyes. BETH Oh, it's yours if you're writing. Are you writing? SEAN Well, trying to. BETH It might be hard for you to see, but you influence a lot of people. You're really lucky. Wish I could do that. SEAN Well, you do do that, with Katie. I mean, you have an influence on her. After she saw you perform with the quartet, she, she couldn't stop talking about you. I think seeing you made something click. Made it seem possible for her. BETH Yeah, yeah, she told me that, but I didn't think of it as influence so much as understanding. SEAN Well, maybe those are the same things. SHEILA Success! Three other stores are confirmed for a donation to the silent auction, the office supplies, dress shop and hardware store. BETH Amazing. SEAN For the recital? SHEILA Yes! Everyone's getting into the Christmas spirit. How do I like it? BETH All right, well, maybe we should find Katie's gift. We have procrastinated long enough. SEAN Yeah. BETH So, what do you think you're gonna get? BETH Hey, dad, I'm back. Do you wanna see what I got for our Angel Tree recipients? TIM Sure. BETH What's wrong? TIM I was working the numbers, and we're definitely gonna need more than just the school neighborhood to turn out if we're gonna buy the instruments that Hayley gave us on that list. You think we, uh, overpromised? BETH Anything we raise is gonna be a win. Don't worry, you'll get used to it. This will be an annual event, after all. TIM Yeah. Whose idea was that again? BETH That was yours. TIM Yeah. You're right, we got this. BETH Got this. So the, um, reindeer, huh? TIM Yeah. Cute, huh? KATIE Ludwig. SEAN Boom. Ludwig. I know this. Ludwig Van somethin'. It's Van... Ludwig Van Damme. Hey, speaking of classical music, how do you like Beth? KATIE I love her. She's so smart and nice. SEAN You love her? KATIE Yeah. Well, we were talking about mom, and she's gonna bring over some crafts later, it's gonna be so cool. SEAN You, uh... You were talking about mom? KATIE Yeah. What's the big deal? Beth and I have a lot in common. Like, she lost her mom, too, and, and Christmas makes us both a little sad. SEAN Christmas makes you sad? KATIE A little. SEAN Katie, you know, you can talk to me about these things. KATIE You're not mad, are you? SEAN Katie cat. Just don't be so quick to let people in, okay? KATIE Okay. BETH Hello! Katie told me to meet you guys down here. Whoa! This place is cool. So big and open. Hi! KATIE Hi, Beth. SEAN Why don't you go wash up? KATIE Okay. BETH I was thinking, on our break Katie and I would make angel tree- toppers as a treat, and-- SEAN I don't think that's such a good idea. I think you and I need to have a talk. BETH Okay. BETH I don't understand why you're so upset. Is it something I did? SEAN Talking about Allison in Katie's lesson. BETH Okay, well, students and teachers often bond over things besides notes and bow positions. SEAN That is not my experience. BETH Maybe not your teachers, but-- SEAN Look, my career makes it hard for me to give my child a normal life. Especially now, on my own. When you started, I asked you, I told you to respect our privacy. BETH Yeah, well, it's, it was an innocent conversation. I haven't said anything about you or Katie to anyone. She's just a 11-year-old who misses her mom and she found someone who understands. SEAN I understand. BETH Maybe she has a hard time talking to you about it. Sean, I think you're a really incredible father and you know what's right for your daughter. So I don't wanna be anywhere that I'm not welcome. I think I should take a step back from the lessons. SEAN Okay. BETH And, um, just for the record, I thought we were getting somewhere. SEAN Beth. BETH Would you tell Katie I'm sorry? I really enjoyed playing with her. KATIE I need my lesson. SEAN I know, but just not today. KATIE When? SEAN We'll... We'll pick it up in a bit. KATIE But Beth knows stuff. Beth plays with me. Beth talks to me. SHEILA Katie, I... SEAN Okay. KATIE Sometimes I feel like I'm closer to mom than I am to you, which makes me sad because you're the one who's here. SEAN Sometimes because your mom's not here, I get scared of sayin' or doin' the wrong thing. And your grandma thinks that I could do a better job about lettin' you know how I feel. KATIE It's okay, dad, you're the one who told me no one's perfect. So when you make a mistake, you can try again. I'll tell you. SEAN Thank you. KATIE Allen key. SEAN Allen key. RUTHIE So what's your favorite class? KATIE Music. Definitely music. RUTHIE Of course. Music. KATIE Hey, Ms Lim, this is the guitar my dad signed to donate to the auction. MS LIM Wow! Thank you. This is great! RUTHIE Mm-hmm. MS LIM Thank you, Katie. KATIE Hi. RUTHIE Buh-bye. KATIE Bye, grandma. MS LIM Ruthie, you are a lifesaver. I'm so happy to have you onboard volunteering. RUTHIE Oh, it's my pleasure. I've been looking for something new to sink my teeth into. You know, help me get my groove back. So how have things been for you lately? MS LIM Well, I mean, with the recital and donations and teaching, I just hope they find a replacement for Johannah soon. RUTHIE Okay. So what would you like me to do? MS LIM I need 30 copies of today's sheet music. LINDA Oh, here she is. Ready? KATIE Dad? BETH I couldn't really get a read on them and I felt a little nervous and in my head-- LINDA Beth. BETH I-I'll talk to you when I get home. LINDA I was gonna call you tonight, but, um, we've decided to hold a second audition for you and another player. BETH So, when I come back... LINDA Bring along the player who was at the quartet. You know, the one who played with heart, with, with joy. BETH Thank you, Linda. SEAN Katie. KATIE Hey. Can we put her on the tree? SEAN Did you make this? KATIE Yeah. SEAN Really? SEAN How does that look? KATIE Looks pretty good. SEAN Okay. SEAN Oh. SEAN Beautiful. KATIE Yeah. MS LIM Welcome to the Christmas fair. I am a music teacher at Bluffside Elementary and we are having our big holiday recital on the 22nd. We're gonna start an instrument fund in honor of Ms. Johannah Hendricks, the music teacher and champion who we lost this year. MS LIM And to give you a little preview of the recital, I'll now have my fifth graders join me on stage. KATIE I'm real nervous about the recital. We can always just stay home and have our own little concert, just the two of us. SEAN You know somethin'? I used to have terrible stage fright. KATIE You're making that up. SEAN No, it's true. KATIE But you did all those shows and all that touring. SEAN Yeah, and I was terrified every time. KATIE Seriously? SEAN Mm-hmm. KATIE Then how'd you do it? SEAN Well, when your mom and I first started dating... I invited her backstage before one of my shows, I gave her the whole VIP treatment. But right before I went on, I admitted to her... that I was nervous. And she said something that I think of before every concert. You know what that was? KATIE What? SEAN Stop it. You love this. And when you remember that, your fears fade, because when you love something, there's nothing to be scared about. And when in doubt, you can look out in the audience and know that I will always be there cheering you on. KATIE Okay. Deal. SEAN Okay. Deal. KATIE Beth! BETH Hi. KATIE Ms Lim wants me to play next to last in the recital, so right before you. Can you come over tomorrow so I can practice? SEAN We'd love to have you back. Pick up where you left off? BETH Is, uh, that what everyone wants? SEAN Listen, I want to apologize for the other day. I'm sorry. BETH Your privacy. I crossed a line. SEAN No, you didn't. I overreacted. TIM Katie, excited about the big show? KATIE Um, mostly nervous, but I'm gonna try and play with joy, like Ms. Hendricks always said. Can I introduce you to my friend? She's plays the drums in the recital. BETH Yes, please. TIM Can I see one of those? SEAN Yeah. TIM Does it ever get easier? SEAN Yes. And no. SEAN But mostly yes. BETH Sean, hi. SEAN Before you say anything else, I owe you a better apology. BETH We spoke. It's water under the bridge. SEAN I want you to know that I do trust you. See, I've been workin' on this song, and when I finished it, the first person I wanted to share it with was... was you. Let me in? BETH Yeah. BETH Wow. It's really good. SEAN Thank you. BETH Wow, I love it. It's just, the bridge isn't quite as strong as the rest of the song yet. I think, um, the turnaround isn't doing what you want it to, musically. SEAN You're offering me criticism? BETH No! No, no, no, no, Sean, I love it. I love it, I just think that the bridge could be better. SEAN I think I needed that. The truth is, um, Allison was my, my harshest critic. BETH My mother was so blunt. I just loved her for that. SEAN Oh, I didn't even ask you, uh... How'd your audition go? BETH It was, it was good. They didn't exactly give it to me in the room. So there's a second audition. SEAN Mm. I have a bit of time before I pick up Katie. Can I take you somewhere? BETH Sure. Yeah. SEAN You know, my folks, they never understood my music, or me, for that matter. Ruthie practically adopted me. You know, she's like the teacher-- BETH Teacher you never had? RUTHIE Oh, wonderful! All right, take a break, get ready for the next song. SEAN Come on. RUTHIE Well! It's about time you brought her by. Where's Katie? SEAN Well, actually... I've gotta pick up Katie from a playdate. Uh, can I give you a ride home? BETH No, no, it's okay, I'll walk. I wanna watch some more and visit with Ruthie. SEAN You're sure? Okay. BETH Yeah. SEAN Bye. RUTHIE Bye-bye. BETH You really have a way with the kids, wow. RUTHIE I think it's all those years as a school administrator paying off. Which is why I'm actually thinking about your mom's old job. BETH You are? RUTHIE Mm-hmm. BETH Ruthie, that's amazing! The kids are really lucky to have you. RUTHIE And I could say the same thing about Sean. BETH It's professional. RUTHIE Mm-hmm. Love may be blind, but I'm not. MAN We're happy to have you back. So the Russian Dance again? BETH Actually, I'll be playing Felix Mendelssohn's Hark The Herald Angels Sing. MAN Whenever you're ready. SEAN You really like it? Because, Hersh, I think I got more brewing. Yeah, I might be able to lick this album. Yeah, just get back in the studio with the crew. Okay. BETH Thank you. LINDA Beth, wait. LINDA We both thought your performance was heartfelt and moving. And, well, we'd like to offer you the position. If you want it. BETH Thank you. I've just, um... I didn't realize how happy that would make me. LINDA Well, we need you to start right away because you'll be featured in our Christmas concert. December 22nd. BETH Uh, that's the same night as the Bluffside recital. LINDA I'm so sorry, but we need you. It's the most important concert of the year. Proceeds fund the entire season. BETH Of course. BETH I'm supposed to be there for the kids and Katie, you and mom. TIM Look, Beth, you dropped your whole life to come back. You spent months at your mother's side. Some kids would come for the ceremony and miss all the hard parts. You did the hard part. You can miss the recital. BETH There's just one more person I have to tell. KATIE Bye, then. GIRL Hey, wait up. SEAN Hi. Oh. KATIE Thank you. Is everything okay? SEAN Yeah, um, I got some news to tell ya. KATIE Okay. SEAN Well, Uncle Hersh wants me to record some of my new ideas. KATIE Cool. SEAN Yeah. The thing is, uh, he wants me to record them in Nashville. KATIE Wait, like, leave West Virginia? For how long? SEAN Well, you know, it takes some time to record an album. But we'll be back all the time to see grandma-- KATIE I don't even have friends in Nashville. SEAN I know, I know you have friends here, it's just... You know, when the music... But I guess it's probably gonna be hard to get time in the studio before Christmas anyway, so... Seatbelts on. KATIE So you're not coming to my recital? BETH I just can't if I'm gonna take this job. I'm so sorry. KATIE It's okay. I'm happy for you. BETH You can say it. KATIE I'm just nervous playing without you there. Especially since it's my last one at Bluffside and... BETH What are you talking about? KATIE Dad and I are moving to Nashville because of his music. BETH Your father knows what's best for you both, so... We're just gonna make it the best recital ever. Hm? Ready? Bow up. Back straight and breathe. SEAN Your, uh, last session and your last student, huh? BETH I guess that's true, I hadn't thought of it like that. Katie said you're, uh, moving back to Nashville. SEAN She told you? BETH Yeah. SEAN Yeah, it's-it's to record. I, um... I don't have a studio here. It's probably time for me to come out of hibernation. Uh, we'll be back, but... BETH Nashville will be home? SEAN Yeah. Let me. BETH Thanks. SEAN Listen, I, I wanna thank you for everything you brought Katie. It was more than I thought she needed. BETH Music is the great connector. SEAN And your honesty. That, uh, used be something that I looked for in my music. I forgot... I forgot how important it is in parenting, too. You're a good teacher. Not just for Katie. Or, uh... BETH Me, too. What you said about technique getting in the way of the joy of playing, you were right. That's the reason I got the job. So, thank you, I got a lot, too. SEAN Good luck with the orchestra. BETH Good luck in Nashville. SEAN Thank you. BETH Remember you've got one more fan here in Charleston. BETH Are these, um, they just for display? SHEILA No. We had a surprise angel donor come to my shop today. Paid in full. BETH Wait, what? SHEILA Let's just say, I too have been asked to keep things under wraps and literally can't say who the angel donor is. BETH Sheila. SHEILA Oh. BETH Is it Sean? SHEILA It's totally Sean! It was his way of saying thank you to the school, your mom, you. He told me he's going back to Nashville. BETH Yeah. SHEILA You go get in your fancy dress and you go wallop that crowd. Next time this whole crew's coming to see you at Concert Hall since you're here to stay. BETH I love you. LINDA What's this? BETH My first concert for the Youth Orchestra, I was petrified, so my mom got me this music box as an early Christmas gift, just to remind me there's angels everywhere that have my back. LINDA That's lovely. BETH Linda, would it be terrible if I missed the reception? LINDA Why, do you not wanna be introduced as a new member of the ensemble? BETH No, I do, I do, but if I take off right after the concert, I might be able to make it to my mom's recital before it ends. LINDA How about the two of us sneak out right after our bows? MS LIM Merry Christmas! I hope you're all having a great night. We are so excited to announce the new head of the Bluffside music department... Ms. Ruthie Sampson. SEAN Yeah. RUTHIE Oh, thank you, thank you. Look at you. You look as good as I feel. And thank you very much for that warm welcome. Thank you also for continuing to support our wonderful students. RUTHIE I cannot tell you how proud and happy I am to be taking over this wonderful music program... founded by my friend Johannah Hendricks. Johannah was a special person and there's a lot that I could say about her, but no one could say it better than her husband. So, please, welcome Tim. RUTHIE Hi! TIM I thought a lot about what I wanted to say about Johannah, and, uh, yeah, goes without saying, she was much better at public speaking. What Johannah wanted most was for everyone to find the music in their lives. Uh, she challenged every student to find their voice, their music. TIM She worked every day to make sure that students could chase after their dreams right here in Charleston and beyond. For her it was always about the people. That's you. Johannah knew that she was not only creating musicians, she was creating a community. That was her gift to us. Now, how about some of that music, shall we? LINDA Let's go. MS LIM And to close our recital tonight, violinist Katie Grant. Yay! HERSH Nervous? SEAN Yeah. KATIE Hey, come on. WOMAN So sweet. SHEILA Whoa! SEAN I'm kinda nervous. KATIE Stop it. You love this. SHEILA Hey! RUTHIE Merry Christmas. MAN Merry Christmas. RUTHIE Tonight was a blast. BETH That was a special moment. RUTHIE It really was. BETH Yeah. SEAN Here you go. BETH Thank you. TIM With all the donations we raised tonight and because of our angel donor, we raised enough for this year's instruments and two more years. RUTHIE Yes! BETH I know what you did. SEAN Oh, I have no idea what you're talking about. KATIE Grandma, that's the angel tree-topper we made. It looks like mom. RUTHIE Aw, it's beautiful! BETH It really did come out beautifully. SEAN Well, thank you for bringing the supplies over. HERSH Hey, Sean, when are you gonna get Katie on the drums? KATIE Oh, I start lessons next week. HERSH That long? Come on! Get Beth on the fiddle, you guys got yourself an all-star band, huh? Refill. BETH I think my fiddling technique is gonna need a little more work. TIM Now it feels like Christmas. KATIE To Christmas. SEAN To music. RUTHIE To music teachers. HERSH And to agents. SEAN How many cookies is that? KATIE Number three. SEAN Number three? Okay. Well, then, there's probably room for one more. Katie cat... You were fantastic tonight. KATIE Thanks. SEAN This music thing, is it something you wanna stick with? KATIE I think so. SEAN I'm so proud of you. BETH Oh, uh, sorry. KATIE No, I was just, um, getting out more cookies. BETH Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Thanks. SEAN Hey, you just can't have one. SEAN I think you made a friend for life. BETH Mm. She's an amazing girl. SEAN She feels the same way about you. SEAN In fact, um, Katie and I were wondering if you and your dad would like to join us for Christmas dinner. BETH Really? Yeah, that sounds lovely. Sort of a farewell dinner? SEAN Well, it turns out, we're not going to Nashville. BETH What? What, what about recording? SEAN I decided to turn the barn into a music studio. That's why Hersh is here. We're gonna figure out the plans. Katie and I love it here, and... Well, we'd miss too much. BETH You know, I didn't think that this Christmas would have any joy in it. You changed that for me. You, Ruthie and Katie. Thank you. SEAN You changed ours right back. BETH So, Christmas dinner, hm? SEAN Yeah, and I was wonderin', in the New Year, if maybe you and I could go hear some live music one night? BETH Are you asking me on a date? SEAN Am I really that rusty? BETH Maybe if you practiced, you wouldn't be. SEAN Beth Hendricks, would you go on a date with me? BETH That's music to my ears. WOMAN You keep me warm, honey... when snow is falling. So come on, wake up, baby... it's Christmas morning.