A Christmas Less Traveled

I'll be right back to take your order.

- Doing okay? - Mmhmm.

You're still good over here?

- Is the food good? - Mmhmm.

Hello, Dash or Dine. Sam speaking.

I'll be right back with your check.

If you ladies come early tomorrow,

I'll make sure I have those cinnamon rolls.

Hungry Wholesale canceled the order.

They said the card was declined

and if we want groceries by Christmas...

Oh, eggs! That reminds me.

Introducing Elf-Frittata. I need a tester.

Wow. That's amazing.

Right?

I woke up with a recipe scribbled next to my bed.

For some reason, those always turn out to be the best.

Hi, Emily.

Hi.

Hey, there.

- Your order is almost ready. - Thanks.

Let's see.

Two burgers, two fries, two side salads.

That'll be... on the house.

Desi...

My diner, my rules. Besides, it's almost Christmas.

Thank you.

I'll be right back.

Desi? What do I do about the card?

If we don't have eggs or milk or peppers,

there won't even be an Elf-Frittata and...

What is that?

Nothing to worry about. Here, use my card.

But this is your personal. I can't...

Sam... It's our busiest time of the year.

Buy whatever you need.

I hope you saved room for dessert.

And here is some of Polly's peppermint bark.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Desi.

On Dasher!

On Dancer! On Prancer, on Vixen.

Have you gone inside?

Not yet. I'm observing.

You flew to New York five days before Christmas

just to observe, Greyson...

Look, the timing has to be perfect.

Time, my friend,

is the very thing you're running out of.

You're listening to Delilah.

We're starting off tonight

by going straight to the phone lines.

I'm going to get through this time.

I can feel it.

Dial ...33-5452.

Oh, Desi... This was my moment.

Sorry, Joe, we're closing early for the Holiday Hop.

Your jackets, gentlemen.

I didn't want you to forget them this time.

I thought it was our job to look after you.

Oh, nobody needs to look after Desi.

She has her father's spunk.

You know, everybody needs somebody.

Speaking of, just got off the phone with your wife.

You didn't tell me when you ordered

that double helping of bacon that you were on a diet.

She phoned you?

Sure did.

Oh, Paulette, you ratted him out?

Of course she did.

Time to go, Joe.

Drive safely.

How do I look?

Like a woman who's about

to get a mistletoe kiss at the Holiday Hop.

It's not too much, is it?

Oh, you look beautiful, Sam.

You know, I can stay and help close

if you want to go, get ready.

No, not a chance.

I wasn't gonna make it tonight anyway.

Have enough fun for the both of us, okay?

Thanks, Desi.

You can do this. You can do this.

Well, that didn't go as planned.

Honey, there is a great big world out there

and you're missing it.

You should be going on dates.

Polly, we talk about this at least once a week.

I'm doing perfectly fine on my own.

And speaking of dates, uh, did I hear Bernie say

he's saving a dance for you tonight?

That man has been saving a dance for me since 2002.

He can wait an extra hour.

You know, your father used to do that.

Do what?

Clean the same spot five times

instead of talking about what's on his mind.

Yeah, and it was the cleanest auto shop in New York,

that's for sure.

Honey...

This diner is your heart and soul,

and we both know what it's going to take to keep it.

Now I believe in miracles, but we owe $12,000.

That doesn't just appear out of nowhere

even at Christmastime.

The first three years are statistically the hardest

for any restaurant.

So if I can make it one more year, I know I'll get ahead.

But we don't have a year.

The mortgage is due on the 26th.

Well, then maybe this is my sign to call it quits.

Have you thought any more about what we discussed?

Yes, and I can't do that.

Look, your father loved that truck.

Heaven's sake, I'm his sister.

And he wouldn't even let me get behind the wheel.

But he loved you more than anything.

Polly, I feel guilty enough.

I can't add selling the truck on top of it.

It would break his heart to see you give up on your dream.

You break a lot of folks hearts, actually.

Your father said goodbye to that truck a long time ago.

And now it's your turn.

Yeah. Okay, I'll list it for sale tonight.

That's my girl.

You can let it out, you know.

Oh, that lightbulb's been driving me crazy all week.

Hey, big bro.

The reindeer is taking flight.

What?

She's leaving.

You get cornier with age. So what's the plan now?

Well... hopefully just casually bump into her

at this Holiday Hopper thing.

The Holiday whater?

It's some Christmas dance they have here in town.

I'm assuming that's why they closed early.

I think that's a great idea.

Casually pepper her with questions while you waltz.

I've only got a few days left. What else do you suggest?

You know, most people would just forget about it

and enjoy the holidays.

Yeah, well, I'm not most people.

- Have a good night. - You too, sweetie.

Merry Christmas wherever you are

in the great state of New York.

Merry Christmas, Delilah.

I hope you can cozy up by a warm fire

and snuggle your loved ones a little tighter tonight.

But if you're like me and missing someone

extra special this Christmas, I hope this next song

hugs your heart like a warm blanket

with memories of Christmas past.

Yeah. Uh, right now's not really a good time.

Why are you whispering?

I'm at her house.

What are you doing at her house?

Okay. You remember that photo of her dad's autoshop

from that old newspaper article?

Yeah.

Well, there is a garage here,

and it's a sign on it that is exactly the same.

So?

So I'm going to go and check it out

and see if there's anything that actually helps us.

You know what would help us more?

You not getting arrested?

Oh come on, it's just an old garage.

On someone else's property.

Yeah, well, okay, that's a good point.

I'm sorry, Dad.

Just call me when you get to your motel.

Oh!

Have a good night.

She's running pretty good, I'd say.

Now, what do you want to call her?

I know.

What do you got Desi girl?

Red.

Old Red. I like the sound of that.

It will be a Christmas truck.

A Christmas truck, huh?

You're right.

We could even enter it in the Holiday Hop contest.

Get mom to decorate it.

We could make it like a new family tradition.

What do you think?

- Yeah. - Yeah.

All right.

And a Merry Christmas it is.

You're listening to Delilah.

I hope you are soaking in all the joy of this season.

I can't believe you're driving.

Oh, I can't believe you're letting me drive,

especially Old Red.

Well, you only turned 16 once.

Besides, she was always yours too.

I think mom might have loved Old Red more than any of us.

You just keep your eyes on the road, okay?