JOE AND PAULINA'S HOUSE/DAY

REMY sits on the floor, wrapping gifts. PAULINA comes into the room with an armful of wrapping paper and ribbon, setting it on the floor next to Remy.

PAULINA
This is the last of them. If Dante doesn't wake up spoiled rotten tomorrow morning, I'll be shocked.

REMY
(smiling)
I can't wait to see his face. It's going to be fun to watch him dig into his gifts.

PAULINA
And the same goes for you. Since this is our first REAL Christmas together as a family, I can't wait to see you open your gifts and spend Christmas here with us.

REMY
I hope you didn't go overboard on me, Paulina. I have everything I need now.

PAULINA
Sweetie...I don't want to bring up a difficult subject...but you don't have Nick. Do you regret ending it with him?

REMY
I don't know, Paulina. I mean...I love Nick and I miss him...but unless he can accept that I am my own person and I can choose my own friends...I can't stay with someone like that.

PAULINA
But you realize he's only got your best interests at heart, don't you?

REMY
He says he does, but I'm an adult. He treated me like a wayward child who needed guidance.

PAULINA
Have you talked to Tito lately?

REMY
Not since the baby was born.

PAULINA
He must be having a hard time right now.

REMY
(shrugging)
Probably. But he'll deal with it. He always deals with everything. I think this is just something I never expected from him.

PAULINA
Rem...I'm the last one to show sympathy for Tito....but since he's your friend, I have a feeling that this is one time you might want to spend a little extra effort helping him out. I know how he feels, I know what he's going through.

REMY
I feel sorry for him...but I don't know what I can do. He has Hayley.

PAULINA
Hayley has Lorna, whom I suspect is a much better support for her than Tito is. I'm guessing Tito has no one right now.

REMY
It's just a weird thought to know that he has a child...he's a father...and he did all of this without me. I don't know, maybe it's stupid after everything he put the two of us through in the last year, but Tito and I used to be inseparable. We always knew everything about each other.

PAULINA
Well, honey, I think whatever you do is your decision. But in the meantime, these presents aren't going to wrap themselves.

Giggling, they reach for more gifts.

CUT TO:

LUCKY LADY/EVENING

ETTA MAE is cleaning up at the Lucky Lady when KC saunters in. She goes over to where her mother is wiping off a table.

KC
Need any help?

ETTA MAE
Nope, just about done. There's some coffee left if you want some.

Smiling, KC nods and grabs a cup. Soon after, KC sits at an empty table and Etta Mae joins her.

KC
Mmm, this is just what I needed.

She shivers.

KC (cont'd)
It is definitely chilly out there. It's beginning to feel like Christmastime.

Just then, KC sees Etta Mae's face fall and mentally cringes.

KC
Oh, mama. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to...

ETTA MAE
Hush, KC. It's okay. Though I won't lie and say that this will be a very Merry Christmas.

In a rare gesture, Etta Mae pats her daughter's hand.

ETTA MAE (cont'd)
Toni always did love the holidays. (A hint of sadness and wistfulness seeps in) She was so excited that she was going to be able to share them with Chris from now on. But now...

KC's eyes mirror her mother's sadness.

KC
It's hard. Toni always used to stick snow down the back of my neck and we'd get into major snowball fights. Remember, Mama? (Etta Mae nods) But not this year...not anymore... (KC is quiet for a moment, trying to restore her faltering composure) And now, with Judi, Keith, and Daniel not going to be able to make it home...damn these storms.

KC looks at Etta Mae.

KC (trying to sound brave)
But you and I, Mama, we're survivors. We'll be okay. We're stuck with each other!

Despite her own misery, Etta Mae manages a watery grin and mock-sternly tells her daughter...

ETTA MAE
And don't you ever forget it!

CUT TO:

SEATTLE COFFEE SHOP/EVENING

An emotional ALLI hangs up the pay phone and leans her head against it, obviously missing Amanda. Just then, SEAN walks up behind her.

SEAN
Alli, you okay?

Alli looks over her shoulder at Sean. She crosses her arms, trying to keep warm.

ALLI
I don't know. You know, I thought that Mom didn't want me around, screwing up her life. But now, since I called her...

Sean is just a tad alarmed.

SEAN
You didn't tell her where we are, did you?

Alli sighs.

ALLI
I didn't say ANYTHING. I just couldn't talk. I just listened. I just wish... (Alli shakes her head.) Never mind, it's freezing. C'mon, let's see if we can find something to eat.

SEAN
Alli, we're getting low on cash. Are you sure you don't wanna...

Whatever Sean was going to say is cut off by Alli, who, even though she really does want to go home, tries to maintain her bravado.

ALLI
I'm fine. All Christmas is is a bunch of presents and singing some lame songs, anyway.

SEAN (quietly)
But they're your family.

As Sean walks away, we see Alli bite her lip and look lonely as we

FADE OUT