MD10483433

"KAREN KINGSBURY'S THE BRIDGE 2"

KAREN KINGSBURY’S
The Bridge Part 2

MOLLY
It's coming down.

RYAN
Tell me what it's like.
MOLLY (V/O OVER PHONE)
It makes everything…

…feel like...

RYAN (V/O OVER PHONE)

Like what?

MOLLY
Like a blank slate…

…new and promising.

RYAN
Maybe that's what new years are for.

RYAN (CONT’D)
Do you ever make any resolutions?

MOLLY
I try, but I'm not good at keeping them.

RYAN
Molly--

MOLLY (V/O OVER PHONE OVERLAPS)

Ryan, I'm--

MOLLY (CONT’D)
Sorry, you first.
RYAN
No, you.

MOLLY (V/O OVER PHONE)

Was it that house I was living in?

Or where I come from? Or-or was it just me?

MOLLY (CONT’D)
Tell me the truth.

RYAN
It wasn't any of those things.

MOLLY
So it was just Kristen? Because…

MOLLY (CONT’D V/O OVER PHONE)

…I really want to understand what happened last night.

MOLLY (CONT’D)
It doesn't make sense, if, um--

RYAN (V/O CONT’D)

You're the most...

…important--

PRESTON
Knock, knock.

MOLLY
Preston.

RYAN
Oh.

You have company.

MOLLY
No. No, no, no, no, no. Can you just give me a minute?
MOLLY (CONT’D O/S)
Please?

RYAN (V/O OVER PHONE)

No, it'-it’s fine. We were done.

MOLLY
No, no, finish what you were saying, please.

RYAN
It was the most important... study help I've ever gotten…

…and I'm really grateful for it. That's-- that’s all I was going to say. Merry
Christmas, Molly, and-- and good luck with... with everything.

MOLLY
Yeah, you too.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
7 Years Later

MOLLY (V/O)
We're going to want to get the legal department on that radio station deal.
And then…

…after lunch I need to see Roger about that app development.

WADE
There's my killer. Always catapulting us into the future.

MOLLY
Well, somebody has to.
WYATT NASH

WADE
Ha ha.

MOLLY
Hi, Dad.

WADE
So, how was your business trip to Chicago?
MOLLY
Cold. How was New Orleans?

WADE
Humid.

MOLLY
You wanna switch next time?

WADE
You bet.

WADE (CONT’D O/S)

You free for dinner tomorrow?

MOLLY
Uh, tomorrow, why? Who needs me tomorrow?

WADE
I do. I thought we should start talking…

…about your 25th birthday, taking over as CEO.

It's time to start drawing up the papers. Oh, I can, uh, get Preston roped
in, too.

Our newly-appointed CFO…

…should be there.

MOLLY
Sure.

WADE (O/S)
Make it a real celebration. And maybe…

…part of a bigger announcement?

MOLLY (O/S)
No…

…Dad...
WADE (O/S)
Come on.

Turn 25, hitch yourself to a real go-getter…

…take over the company, and get your trust all in one.

Can you set us up for steaks at…

…McCann's tomorrow with Preston? And tell publicity…

…I'm coming down.

You okay?

MOLLY
Yeah. Yeah, sure. Red meat. Publicity. Turning 25.

WADE
Yeah, who'd have thought?

Based on the Novel “The Bridge” by

KAREN KINGSBURY

JEANETTE (O/S)
There he is!

Home for the holidays! Oh…

…I missed you.

RYAN
I missed you, too.

JEANETTE (OVERLAPS)
Oh, no, I got this.

CAB DRIVER
You have a real nice mom.
JEANETTE (CONT’D)
…he knows. Don't you know?

RYAN
Yes, I know.

JEANETTE
Your room, and your desk. But I kinda re-purposed it.

RYAN (O/S)
And Italy…

…your favorite.

JEANETTE
Yeah. George Jones and Johnny Cash are in the closet.

You're not mad, are you?

RYAN (O/S)
Mom…

…of course, you should have.

But I might be done with the road for…

…a little while, and I was thinking I could crash here?

JEANETTE
Really? I can make it work. I can work at the dining-room table. Are
you…

…serious?

RYAN
I'm still looking at possibilities, but I thought I might, you know, stick
around after the holidays this year, if that's okay.

JEANETTE (O/S)
Of course…
…it's okay. Oh...

Oh, I really should have checked with you first. But you know what…

…we'll get you unpacked, and we'll get you sorted-- Oh!

What did you pack?

RYAN
Books. That's what I did on the tour buses.

JEANETTE (O/S)
Ever…

…hear of an e-Reader?

RYAN (O/S)
Real books…

…with actual paper? I like the way they feel.

You know what? I might swing by The Bridge this afternoon…

…and pick up a new one.

JEANETTE (CONT’D)
You didn't hear.

CHARLIE
Hey, Eloise!

ELOISE
Happy holidays, Charlie. I can't wait for the re-opening.

CHARLIE
Oh, very soon. Thank you.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)
Hey, Bert!

BERT
Hi, Charlie.
CHARLIE
Okay.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)
Luther! What’s…

…the good news?

LUTHER
Show him.

CHARLIE (O/S)
No…

…way. You finally did it.

SHAUNA
All thanks to you introducing us in the cookbook section.

SHAUNA (CONT’D O/S)

How are…

…the repairs coming?

CHARLIE
Well, we're nearly there.

JENNY
My favorite people!

JENNY (CONT’D)
Do you have a date for the…

…re-opening yet?
CHARLIE (O/S)
Oh, Miss Big-shot…

…Law Firm Partner. Ah, any day now. In the meantime, Luther just got
the lease for his restaurant. So you just camp out there until we're ready
for our big day. Merry Christmas!

LUTHER, JENNY & SHAUNA

Merry Christmas, Charlie.

THREE MONTHS AGO

CHARLIE
Hey, we need to put in more orders for that new…

…bestseller. They went fast.

DONNA
I know.

I can't believe everyone actually came out in this weather.

Days like this…

…I wonder why we ever…

…started a business made out of paper.

Oh, Charlie!

I think I've got another leak! Do we have any more buckets?

CHARLIE
Sure, yeah, maybe I can steal one from the cafe.

Donna!

DONNA (O/S)
Charlie!
CHARLIE (O/S)
Donna!

DONNA (O/S)
Charlie! Water's coming in the roof!

There's a huge hole! It's coming in quick! Let's call 9-1-1.

DONNA
There you are.
You didn't bring your scarf.

I, uh... heard from the insurance company.

Fred's insurance on the building…

…only covers structural damage.

CHARLIE
What about our renter's insurance?

DONNA
The bare minimum. Far from enough.

CHARLIE
We need to repaint, buy furniture...

…most of all... books.

DONNA
It's their final decision.

CHARLIE
Hey, do you remember Ray Curts? He was a teller at Winston Hills Bank.
Well, now he's a-- he’s a loan officer. I ran into him.

DONNA
Uh, Charlie, that-that's not our bank.

CHARLIE
But he was talking about how much this place meant to him.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)
I-I'm meeting with him tomorrow. I've got a great feeling about it.

DONNA (O/S)
Charlie...

…we're late on our lease, we-- we can barely pay our bills.

CHARLIE
What are you saying?
DONNA
We've had so many wonderful years here, but we-- we need to be
honest about what's going on.

CHARLIE
I know what's going on.

CHARLIE (CONT’D O/S)

This is still…

…our dream. We just... we need to have faith a little longer. And there's
always room for hope.

God wouldn't have brought us this far to give up on us now. Christmas is

coming.

Good things... happen at Christmas.

You'll see.

All right, my love?

RYAN (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

Within 10 years…

…I'd like to play at that club, have my music there…

…be considered in company with part of everybody else…

…that's been there.

Okay, now you.

MOLLY (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

Why? Hey, stop it.

Stop it. Come on, cut it out.

RYAN (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

Right, you've got to say stuff out loud, right now.

MOLLY (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

It's your video.

RYAN (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

Yeah, but you'll be in my life in 10 years, so...

…what do you think?

MOLLY (V/O OVER COMPUTER CONT’D)
Uh...
RYAN (V/O OVER COMPUTER CONT’D)
What? Say it.

Say it right now.

MOLLY (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

I don't think I want to run my dad's company, and... I'm not even sure I
want to stay in Seattle.

RYAN (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

Molly…

MOLLY (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

I can't believe I just said…
…that.

MOLLY
Preston, hi.

PRESTON
Peking duck for me, long-life noodles for you.

MOLLY
Thanks.

PRESTON
Hi.
MOLLY
Hi.

RAY (V/O)
The last day of every school year…
…my mom waltzed me into The Bridge to pick out my summer reading.
At first, I thought I'd hate it, but I fell in love. I have a son now, six
months old. We read to him every night.
CHARLIE
Nothing better in the world.

RAY
So... I worked the numbers a million different ways.

Bookstores are hard right now.

I tried explaining how unique The Bridge is, and that you and Mrs. B.
have made it work for so many years, and…

…it was just bad luck with your roof…

…but I was told it's too big a risk.

I am so sorry. We can't offer you a loan right now.

Charlie...

I would've called, but I wanted to tell you in person.

Your store means so much to the community.

You're like family.

CHARLIE
Well, I'm... I'm sure you did everything you could.

If you wouldn't mind, you know…

…not mentioning this to anyone, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

DONNA (O/S)
Hi. You didn't answer your phone.

How did it go?

Oh…

…Charlie.

CHARLIE
We still have options.

DONNA
No.

DONNA (CONT’D)
Fred heard from the insurance company, too, and without our back
payments, or a promise of catching up, he wants to put the building up
for sale January 1st.

He wants to offer it to us first, of course, but--

CHARLIE
In two weeks? There's no way that we--

DONNA
I know.

Now, listen, Charlie.

DONNA (CONT’D)
I heard about a new job opening at Pricemart. You're a good salesman--
CHARLIE (O/S)
I’m a…

…bookseller, Donna. All right? I sell books.

DONNA
I know, but if we don't stay open--

CHARLIE (O/S OVERLAPS)

We have to! So…

…what, are you saying you're giving up?

DONNA (O/S)
I don't want to--
CHARLIE
Yeah, but you are.

DONNA
What else are we going to do, Charlie?
If we don't talk practically about this, it won't just be our store, it will be
our house, too.

Now, I love this place just as much as you do…

…but it's been months, Charlie, and we are facing---

CHARLIE
Look, if we... So…

…if we just... give up...

…what did it all add up to?

DONNA
It doesn't change who you are.

CHARLIE
Maybe Christmas isn't coming after all.

DONNA
Don't say that, Charlie.

CHARLIE
I'll meet you back at home, okay?

DONNA
No. Let me drive, Charlie. Okay? Come with me. Leave your car here.
We can pick it up in the morning.

CHARLIE (OVERLAPS)
I just-- Look, I just need a minute.

DONNA
Hello?

What? Wait, what... What are you talking about?

When? No... No, no, no.

DR. MATS
Charlie's in a level 3 coma.
That means he's unresponsive to eye, verbal, and motor testing.

He's on a respirator because he can't breathe on his own.

DONNA
What are his chances of coming out?

DR. MATS (O/S)

Well…

…if the swelling from his injury resolves quickly, it's a matter of days.

DONNA
What... what do I do?

DR. MATS (O/S)

Talk to him, tell…

…him what's waiting for him. And…

…no one knows for sure, but people believe it makes a difference.

And there is a chapel down the hall if you're interested.

Praying never hurt.

Anyway, I'll circle back in a few hours.

EDNA
Dr. Mats is an excellent doctor.

Charlie's in good hands.

DONNA
Um... I-I...

…I need to call some people, so--

EDNA (O/S)
I'll do it.

Give me your phone. You stay by his side.

Everyone on this floor knows what you and Charlie mean to me.

DONNA
Last time I even tried to pray... Charlie's the one with the faith.

EDNA
We'll find it together, then. I'm here, okay?

Molly Callens? I hope I have the right number. It’s Edna Largo from
Franklin, Tennessee. We met years ago. I thought you’d want to know.

Charlie Bartons has been in a terrible car accident, and when I saw your
name on Donna's phone, I thought you…

…would want to know. If you want more information, my--

WADE
Ready? Honey? You okay?

MOLLY
Um, I’m--

WADE
Headache again?

MOLLY
Uh, d-dizzy. I think I have to cancel, if that’s okay.

WADE
Yeah, sure. I’ll drive you home.

MOLLY
You don’t have to do that. It’s okay.

WADE
Mol, if you’re dizzy, I’m driving you home.

MOLLY
Yeah, okay. Okay.

WADE
I gotcha.
MOLLY
It’s okay.

EDNA (V/O OVER PHONE)

Charlie Bartons has been in a terrible car accident, and when I saw your
name on Donna's phone, I thought you would want to know. If you want
more information, my number…

…is--

RONNIE
I'm so sorry.

You don't know any more?

MOLLY
There was a mention in the Franklin paper, "Bookstore owner in an
accident." He… skidded on ice, then he hit a pole.

RONNIE
So you looked it up?

MOLLY
I haven't seen them in years.

I never went back to Franklin

I left it all behind.

RONNIE (O/S)
No one…

…in this room thinks you left anything behind.

Did you watch that video?

MOLLY
Okay.

Please...

...stop me from doing something I'll regret.

RONNIE
Why would I do that?

MOLLY
Because it's a place I lived for three months. Why should I go back?

RONNIE
Honey, you don't just miss Charlie or The Bridge. You miss the girl you
were there…

…or else why would you be watching the video…

…this many Christmases later?

MOLLY
Why do you know everything?

RONNIE (O/S)
We both know if you don't go to Franklin, in three months…

…you'll be CEO, engaged to Preston, and never look back.

It's now or never, right?

MICKEY (V/O)
Well, that is not young Ryan Kelly.

RYAN
How you doin'?

MICKEY
Man, you sure grew up a lot since you used to try to sneak in here
underage to hear the music.

RYAN (O/S)
Ah…

…not that often.

MICKEY
Every weekend.
Come on. I see you've been playing backup gigs around the country.
Good on you. When you heading out?

RYAN
Actually…

…I was thinking about sticking around here, trying to find some new
work in town.

MICKEY
Ooh... yeah.

RYAN
That bad, huh?

MICKEY (O/S)
It's the new technology.

Makes for fewer gigs, and those go to locals who stuck around.

You know what? I just lost my back-up guy for Amateur Night.

Tuesdays and Thursdays? If you're serious, it's yours.

Good way to connect with the regulars.

Start tonight if you like. Only two hours.

RYAN
Sounds great, I'll take it.

I gotta get out of my mom's house as soon as possible.

MICKEY
Welcome to Lucky.

RYAN (O/S)
Thanks.

KRISTEN (O/S)
Ryan Kelly!

RYAN
Kristen?

KRISTEN
Ooh!

Oh, I didn't know you were back! What are you doing here?

RYAN
Me? What are you doing here?

KRISTEN
I'm gainfully employed.

RYAN
Me too.

Starting Tuesday and Thursday nights.

KRISTEN
Amateur night. You're gonna be so much better than the last guy.

So does this mean you're staying?

Everything okay? They fire you?

RYAN
No, nothing like that. I took a break from the last leg.

Thought I'd try to get something going around here, you know? Stick
around for more than just…

…the holidays. What about you? What happened…

…with your degree? Why are you waitressing?

KRISTEN
Well, I guess getting married…

…and divorced in the span of two years leaves you with a lot to think
about.

I guess I'm just doing the same thing you are, trying…
…to figure out what comes next. I'm staying in my parents' guest room.

RYAN
My mom turned my room into her office.

KRISTEN
Drinks after you play tonight?

RYAN (O/S)
Yeah.

Yeah, you bet. I'm gonna go grab my guitar, though, and stop by The
Bridge…

…and see if they need anything.

KRISTEN
Oh. You haven't heard.
RYAN (O/S)
About the flood?

RYAN (CONT’D)
Yeah, my mom told me. They're rebuilding…

…or so I thought.

What?

KRISTEN
Um... Charlie was in a car accident.

He's in the ICU in a coma. Ryan, I'm so sorry. I figured you heard.

DONNA
You know, people are leaving voicemails like crazy.
Jenny said she would be happy to sue the pole.

The weather forecast doesn't call for snow this week, but we're hoping
for Christmas. I brought some of your favorite decorations, too.

I... You're the talker, Charlie, not me. All I can say is... come back to me.
Please.
Ryan……Kelly.

You didn't have to come, but I'm so glad you did.

RYAN
The Bridge, you and Charlie... what can I do?

DONNA
Nothing.

We're just... waiting now.

RYAN
This was probably…

I brought some books.

I thought…

…I might help you restock, or you could read to him-- Or I could.

I actually don't have that much going on right now--

DONNA
Wait a minute…

…not much going on? In your emails, you mentioned all that work you
were doing on the road.

RYAN
I'm back now.

DONNA
Well, that's good. It is good, isn't it?

RYAN
How about I grab you a coffee?

Yell at a nurse?

Buy you lunch?

DONNA
Oh. You know…

…there is one thing. I don't know if Charlie remembered to lock up

before he left.

RYAN
Just give me your keys, I'll stop by tonight, and I'll bring you back some
dinner, too.

DONNA
Well, I think Edna has that handled, but... I do think I want to head down
to the cafeteria and get something very bad for me.

Besides, I could…

…use the walk.

RYAN
Charlie's a fighter. Have faith…

…you'll see. Come on.

MOLLY

Hi.

Little House in the Big Woods. You guessed it my first day in The Bridge.

Somehow you knew how badly I wanted a family like that.

You made such a difference, you and Donna and The Bridge. I came to
tell you that.
I wish I'd said it sooner. I wish I'd sent a note, or something, but... I
guess I just came to say thank you.

RYAN
Molly?

MOLLY
Ryan.

RYAN
What are you doing?
MOLLY
Charlie.

RYAN (O/S)
Oh…

…of course.

MOLLY
Yeah, Edna-- Edna called, and--

RYAN
Edna?

MOLLY (O/S)
Yeah, she thought…

…that I might-- even though it's been--

MOLLY & RYAN (O/S)
Seven…

…years.

MOLLY
Yeah. She was right.

I don't know what I thought I could do, but just if there was anything...

RYAN
Yeah, I was running an errand for Donna, and I got all the way to my
truck and realized I forgot my--

MOLLY (OVERLAPS)
Oscar?

Oscar the Truck?

RYAN (O/S)
Yeah.

Yeah, I haven't driven him much in the last few years, though.
MOLLY
Oh, new-- new truck?
RYAN (O/S)
No…

…no, I, you know, I've been on the road, playing music.

MOLLY
Oh. Great. Right, I remember you saying you were-- you were going on
tour.

RYAN
Yeah.

MOLLY (O/S)
How’s, uh…

…how's Kristen with you being away?

Your wife? Do you guys have kids yet?

RYAN (O/S)
Uh…

…no, we-- we-- we never married.

She married a guy that she met in Virginia at school.

And I never got married, so...

RYAN
But you're engaged.

To, uh...

Preston?

RYAN (CONT’D O/S)

And-- and…
…the company? Your dad's...
MOLLY (O/S)
Yup…

…in three months, I'm taking over as CEO.

RYAN
On your 25th birthday.

Looks like it all worked out, just like your dad wanted, huh?

Well?

Okay.

MOLLY
Uh, Ryan, wait. Are-- are you...

Do--

RYAN
Yeah?

MOLLY (O/S)
Sorry, uh…

…if you're doing anything to help Charlie and Donna, I would really like
to be a part of it, if I could. It's why I came.

RYAN
Sure. Yeah, yeah, I'll let you know.

MOLLY (O/S)
Okay.

RYAN
Bye, Molly.

MOLLY
Bye.
RONNIE (V/O OVER PHONE)
I thought Ryan not being married would be a good thing.

MOLLY
Well, not if he never married and he never called.

RONNIE (V/O OVER PHONE)

You never called him.

MOLLY
Because he was going back to her. They were gonna be together
forever.

RONNIE
You okay? \

MOLLY (V/O OVER PHONE)

Yes. I mean, it’s…

…just, it’s-- I'm sad.

RONNIE (V/O OVER PHONE)
At least you're feeling.

That's more than you've done in a while.

MOLLY (V/O OVER PHONE)

I guess I just thought that…

…if I came back here, things would be clearer. That I would know about
my future, what I'm supposed to do, but...

RONNIE (V/O OVER PHONE)

You do know. You're just too chicken to say it out loud.

Are you coming home?

MOLLY (V/O OVER PHONE)

Not until I make up for being horrible…

…and do what I came here to do, which is help the Bartons.

That's what this trip is about now.

RONNIE
You could do worse.

MOLLY
You're a good friend, you know that.

RONNIE
Best friend.

I'm sorry about this.

Call when you need to, okay?

MOLLY
Okay. Bye.

EDNA (V/O)
Talk to me. You've been quiet all night.

DONNA
I told him to give up…

…at the bookstore, right before the accident.

What state must he have been in when he got behind that wheel?

EDNA (O/S)
Don't do that. People say things.

He knows how much you love him.

DONNA
So much I told him to give up his dream?

EDNA
He's coming back. That's what you tell him, what he's got to come back
to.

DONNA
See, that's the thing…
…our insurance appeal was denied.

There's no money for the repairs--

EDNA
What? Why didn't you say anything?

DONNA
Because he thought we'd overcome it.

Fred's putting the building up for sale January 1st.

EDNA
Donna...

DONNA
I'm so scared... I'm scared that's why he's not rallying.

EDNA (O/S)
No. Stop. There are so many people that are pulling for you, so many
people…

…that know Charlie would never give up. You need to let him know
you're one of them.

EDNA
Donna said…

…you'd be here tonight.

The Bridge is in trouble.

Donna and Charlie are in trouble.

Their lives are gonna go up in smoke unless somebody does something

fast.

Are you willing to help?

RYAN
Yeah.

It's terrible. I had no…

…idea.

EDNA
No one does. That's the thing. He was too proud to say anything, and
now...

RYAN
What do we do?

EDNA (O/S)
I don’t…

…know. But I thought, if we can rally enough people who care as much
as we do...

RYAN
We might be able to figure it out.

We're gonna have to.

MOLLY
Hi.

I'm not sure if you remember, but…

…um--

DONNA
Molly Callens.

MOLLY
Yeah.

I-I, um, I really don't mean to barge in…

…but I was-- I was hoping maybe you would have some-- some time...

DONNA
The storm hit everyone…

…pretty hard. I mean, people were cleaning up for weeks. You know, if it
wasn't for the condition of our roof…
…we might be like everyone else. You know what…

…I want to hear about you. What are you doing in town?

MOLLY
Um, actually, I came to see you and Charlie.

DONNA
Really? After all this time?

MOLLY
I-- I never forgot Franklin, or my time at The Bridge. I mean... I know it
was short, but... it was very important to me.

DONNA
So, Molly, is your life good?

Are you doing what you want to do?

Who's that?

Well, look who I found.

MOLLY
Hi.

RYAN
Hey. They're from The Bridge. I was just bringing them for Donna.

Oh, and your keys.

DONNA (O/S)
Thanks.

Do you want some tea? I can make some more tea.

RYAN
Oh, no, actually, I've got to get to Lucky.

DONNA (OVERLAPS)
I--
I don't mind. I’ll-- I'll make you some tea.

MOLLY
Lucky?

RYAN
Oh, yeah, yeah, I just got back to town, and, uh... It's... it's not really
important.

MOLLY
Sure it is. You're playing at Lucky. I'm happy for you.

RYAN
Yeah. Well, I should probably get going.

MOLLY (O/S)
Okay, see you.

RYAN
Hey.

Can I ask you a question?

MOLLY
Sure.

RYAN
We need to help The Bridge and Charlie, and I just thought, this needs a
wider audience, so…

…would you know how to get the word out?

MOLLY
Yeah. 100%. Where do I sign up?

So…

…you're playing Lucky.

RYAN
It's really not what you think.

MOLLY (O/S)
Oh…

…come on. Today, it's back-up for someone else, and tomorrow, you're-

MOLLY & RYAN (O/S)

…setting the world on…

…fire.

RYAN
You still believe it?

MOLLY
I never doubted your talent, or that you'd end up where you want to be.

You, um... gotta go?

RYAN
Uh, yeah, I do, but, uh, could I get--

MOLLY (O/S)
You want my number…
…for The Bridge stuff--

RYAN (O/S)
Yeah. Is it the same?

MOLLY (O/S)
Yeah.

RYAN
I got it.

PRESTON (O/S)
There she is.

MOLLY
Preston.

PRESTON
Your dad had a two-day conference…

…in Nashville and he sent me in his place.

Wasn't that thoughtful?

MOLLY
Super.

PRESTON (O/S)
I figured…

…it'd give us a minute away from Seattle…

…and you've talked about this place enough.

Why'd you come here anyway?

MOLLY (O/S)
I’m still, uh…

…pushing that radio station deal through, so...

PRESTON
Yeah.

So...

…we could do dinner?

Or…

…be part of the conference.

MOLLY
I'm gonna take some time to myself. Actually, I'm beat. I'm gonna turn in.

PRESTON
Oh, yeah. Sure.

Sure.

MOLLY
Good night.

PRESTON (O/S)
Good night.

WADE
If you're asking if I sent Preston down there after you left without telling
me where you were going…

…and after you went back to a town you said you were never going back
to, then yes…

…I did. I'm your father, Molly, and I'm concerned for you.

MOLLY
What, that whole speech is emotional blackmail.

WADE (V/O OVER PHONE)

Molly, what are you really doing in Franklin?

Tell the truth.

MOLLY (V/O OVER PHONE)

I'm-- I'm tired, Dad. I'll call you tomorrow.

Good night.

WADE (V/O OVER PHONE)

Molly, wait--

LONNIE
It's so awful.

Should I just...?

MOLLY (O/S)
I’m…

…seeing Donna later, do you want me to…

…take it to her?

LONNIE
Would you?

MOLLY
Yeah.

LONNIE
I mean…

…I don't know them that well, but...

MOLLY
Sure.

LONNIE
Thanks. Oh…

….uh, Lonnie.
MOLLY
Molly.

LONNIE (O/S)
Please…

…give Donna my best.

See you.

MOLLY
Bye.

DONNA
I still remember when Lonnie first moved here to work in the music
business.

MOLLY
You remember everybody.

DONNA
Charlie's the one with the real memory.

He'd be so touched to see how kind everyone is being.

MOLLY
Maybe he does. Hey, how did you and Charlie meet anyway?

DONNA
Fighting over a book.

At the…

…opposite kind of bookstore from The Bridge.

MOLLY
Who won?

DONNA
Me.

MOLLY
Right.

DONNA
But he leveraged it into a date, so he says he won.

MOLLY
Did you know that Charlie was the one right away?

DONNA
I could see his heart from that first minute. He had me from go.

I…

…still feel that way when I see him.

Every day.

I think that anyone who ever gets to feel that way is very lucky.

Don't you agree?

MOLLY
Yup.

MOLLY
Hi.

RYAN
Molly.
MOLLY
I think I know how to save The Bridge.

Can I come in?

RYAN
Yeah, yeah, come on.

MOLLY
The store is a testament to Donna and Charlie's love, both of-- of books,
and of each other, and-- and they use that love to connect people and
help them become who they're meant to be. You know?

And I don't know, maybe it's 'cause I was 18 and I didn't know any better,
but last night, I was looking at the website, and it-- it helped me
remember that magic…

…that allowed customers to find those stories…

…and-- and the people that were meant to change their lives. And I just
feel like if we could get that out there…

…that people could rally around that, and-- and they would want to save
it, too, do you know what I mean?

RYAN
So, social media, then?

MOLLY
Exactly.

RYAN (O/S)
And you've seen the website.

MOLLY
It's prehistoric. They're not on Twitter…

…or Instagram, or…

…even Facebook, I think.

What?
RYAN (O/S)
I'm just-- I’m just picturing…

…Charlie on Facebook.

MOLLY (O/S)
Yeah.

RYAN (O/S)
Maybe we can access an…

…old database for a mailing list? And then Donna could help with the
customer files.

I could go by the hospital, and--

MOLLY
I could come with you. If that's okay.

RYAN
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we always did work well together.

MOLLY
Yeah, we did.

DONNA
A Twitter account?

RYAN (O/S)
We'll create it.

Or Molly will, because I have no idea what I'm talking about.

MOLLY
But we can post updates on the store and Charlie. How is he doing?

DONNA (O/S)
Well, the…

…doctor says he's a little more responsive every day.

MOLLY
That's great. We just want him to have something promising to come
home to.

DONNA (O/S)
Charlie…

…would like the way you keep saying "we".

We always…

…knew things would change, but Charlie always insisted that people
would still want to hold a book in their hands, you know?

Turn down the pages…

…pass them down. That’s why…

…we kept hosting events. “It's about the people,” he'd always say,
keeping the community together.

RYAN
"Community."

That's it. I've got an idea. It's a little old school…

…but... do you wanna come with me?

MOLLY
Sure.

RYAN
Come on.

All the Main Street businesses benefit from each other. We figured
maybe the local shops could help get the word out. Tell people about it,
put it in a promotion or donate.

ELOISE
Charlie and Donna are the sweetest, most wonderful people, but…

…we were hit by the storm, too, and I…

…really don't have anything to offer--

RYAN
Thanks. If anything changes…

MOLLY
Can I ask? A lot of the flowers that people brought to put outside The
Bridge…

…they came from your shop, didn't they?

ELOISE
Yeah.

MOLLY
Do you think you could put aside a portion of the sales for Charlie's
recovery?

ELOISE
That I could do.

MOLLY
That's great.

Thank you.

BERT
It wouldn't amount to much, even if I did donate a piece.

RYAN
I bet Charlie and Donna have bought a lot of stuff here over the years.
Committed customers, 20 years?

BERT
You some sort of businessman now?

RYAN
Not even close. Maybe you can't donate money, but do you have books?

The store needs to be restocked.

JENNY
Wait, The Bridge needs books? Charlie said they were reopening in
about a week.
RYAN
Yeah, that's what he's been telling people.

LONNIE
The Bridge needs help?

LONNIE (CONT’D O/S)

I'll lend a hand.

JENNY
I'm sure a lot of people feel that way.

MOLLY (O/S)
Well…

…is there somewhere we could gather up, or…

JENNY
We need it to go viral, fast.

MOLLY
Which means tapping into people's emotions, what they love.

LUTHER
The story of a singular bookstore, a beloved owner in trouble, everyone
can relate to that.

RYAN (O/S)
Yeah, everybody has a…

…favorite book or bookstore.

MOLLY (O/S)
And if we can…

…drive them to The Bridge's website to share those feelings and those
favorites...

RYAN
With links to donate, and support The Bridge and Charlie's recovery...

MOLLY (O/S)
It’s…

…everything that Charlie was all about…

…bringing people together over their love of books.

I'm gonna call my marketing department, and see if they give us some
help with this.

Shoot, I need a signal. You guys keep talking.

JENNY
She's some go-getter.

MOLLY
Wow, it's so weird to be in here. You talked about this place so often.

RYAN
Does it meet your expectations?

MOLLY
Yeah, I mean, it…

…definitely looks like somewhere somebody would go to be discovered.

Hey, has it been okay for you?

You said you were on the road.

RYAN
Yeah.

I've been making a decent living, and working with some great, great
people, so...

I just kind of hoped…

…I'd be somewhere else by now, I guess.

MOLLY
Yeah.

RYAN
What?
MOLLY
Oh, nothing, I-- I just thought that following my path might take me
somewhere different, too. Maybe someplace more rewarding.

It has its rewards, but I don't know, some…

…days, it just feels kind of...

Maybe when you're 18…

…you have all these big ideas, and then reality sets in, and...

RYAN
Do you really believe that?

MOLLY
No.

Being here, and helping people who need it…

…it just feels so much more like what I thought... it would, than being
part of a big company. I just feel like I could do so much good.

Are you still writing songs?

RYAN
Yeah, I just, uh... started again recently.

MOLLY
Really?

RYAN
Yeah.

MOLLY (O/S)
That's great--

MICKEY
Hey, Ry, you're up.

RYAN
Great. Um, hey, do you want to stick around, watch the set, and then…
…we can catch up more after?

MOLLY
Sure. I'd love to hear you play.

RYAN
Great.

MICKEY (O/S)
You a fan?

MOLLY
I'm an old fan.

MICKEY
Yeah.

MOLLY (CONT’D)
Molly. Hi.

MICKEY (O/S)
Molly, nice to meet you. Uh, so…

…yeah, um, we're right in the middle of a shift change here, so if you
could settle up from before…

…then I'll have a new waitress who will…

=
…be right here.

MOLLY
Kristen?

KRISTEN
Molly!

MOLLY
Hi!
KRISTEN (O/S)
Wow…
…what are you doing in Franklin?

MOLLY
I-- Well, The Bridge--
KRISTEN
Oh…

…sure--
MOLLY
And…

…Charlie, so... it's just...

I thought…

…you were in Virginia. Married…

…Ryan said?
KRISTEN
Uh, yeah, that didn't work out so well.

MOLLY
I'm sorry.

KRISTEN
It's all good. I'm here.

MOLLY
Here? At Lucky?

KRISTEN (O/S)
Yeah.

MOLLY (O/S)
Right.

Wow.

KRISTEN (O/S)
Oh…
…wow, you're engaged.

MOLLY
Yeah, sure. Yeah.

MOLLY (O/S)
You know, I just remembered. Could you tell Ryan that…

…I forgot about a business call I have to make to Seattle? 'Cause I-- I

work-- I work in Seattle. Actually, I... Well, live in Seattle. My life is, um...
primarily, uh...

KRISTEN
In Seattle.

MOLLY
Yeah. So... Uh, I gotta go, but if you can just tell him, that'd be great.

KRISTEN
Yeah.

MOLLY
Thanks, Kristen.

PRESTON
There you are.

MOLLY
Hi.

PRESTON
I, uh, tried calling, but...

You okay?

MOLLY
Yeah. Yeah, how was the conference?

PRESTON
It was great. Great...

Listen, I was just about to go for a workout, but…

…do you want to take a walk?

MOLLY
Sure.

PRESTON (O/S)
Great.

PRESTON
I love this time of year. It makes me... I don't know…

MOLLY
Yeah?

PRESTON
…a little bold.

Molly... I think you know how I've felt about…

…you for a long time now.

It's crazy that all these years later, I'm doing exactly what I want to do…

…with exactly the people I want to do it with. There's only one more
thing that would…

…make me even happier. Marry me.

I didn't expect to be doing this in my workout clothes, and the ring is in

my room, but the moment felt right…

…and--

MOLLY (SIMULTANEOUS)
Oh, Preston…

PRESTON
"Oh, Preston... yes?"

MOLLY
I'm sorry. I-- I love you...
PRESTON
No.

MOLLY (O/S)
I don't... I don’t…

…feel...

PRESTON
Yes, you do, Molly.

We've been together for...

But I waited…
…and if you didn't...?

What have we been doing?

MOLLY (O/S)
I…

…should have said something earlier, I…

…just...

It's being back in Franklin, I...

PRESTON
What is it with this place?

Everything you love is in Seattle. Your father, your friends, your work…

…me.

There's a whole life waiting for you.

MOLLY (O/S)
It's not a life that I chose.

Being back here, I realize that I-- I can't commit…

…to a job, let alone a…

…marriage, before I figure out what I'm supposed to be like on my own.

I'm sorry.

You've always known what you were…

…meant for, and all I'm asking for is a chance to do that, too. Can you
understand that?

Preston?

RYAN (V/O)
And the stupid…

…thing is, ever since she's got to town, I've felt different.

Like I have direction again.

I…
…know how to move forward. And songs? They’ve…

…they’ve been flying out of me. Good ones.

MICKEY
I have been waiting a long time for this.

Ryan Kelly performing his own music.

Sign.

RYAN
Oh, wow, I've... I've got to go right now. Thanks so much for the talk,
Mickey.

MOLLY
Hi, Dad.

WADE
Didn't you get my messages?

MOLLY
Uh, no, sorry, I-- I couldn't.

WADE
You turned Preston down?

MOLLY
What, he called you?

WADE (V/O OVER PHONE)

No, I called him to ask about the conference.

He was beside himself. I asked him what happened, and he told me.

What are you doing?

MOLLY
I'm trying to figure that out.

WADE
Then come home. Get away from that place.

MOLLY
No.

WADE
No?

MOLLY (V/O OVER PHONE)

No, I have to see this through. The-- the…

…bookstore, and Charlie and Donna--

WADE (V/O OVER PHONE)

You ran away from that place after your heart was broken.

I picked you up, I dusted you off. If you think I'm interested in helping you
through that again, you're wrong.

MOLLY
Look, I've put my entire life in your hands, and they're safe hands, but
isn't turning 25 time for me to take control? Shouldn't I follow my dreams
like mom wanted me to?

WADE
But what are your dreams?
Tell me.

What is it you really want to do?

MOLLY
Uh...

WADE
Honey, if you don't answer, I am coming down there.

RYAN
Charlie's getting off the ventilator.

WADE
Wait, who is that?

MOLLY
Um... Dad, I-I have to call you back.

DR. MATS
Okay, Charlie. We're gonna let you breathe on your own for a few
minutes. Now…

…it might be a little uncomfortable at first…

…because you'll be exercising muscles you haven't used in a few days.

Edna here is gonna take your vitals, and if there's any distress…

…we're gonna give you back all the oxygen you need, okay?

EDNA
Hey, you need to breathe, too, all right?

Talk to him. Tell him what's happening.

DONNA
You're doing great, Charlie.

You’re…
…breathing! Good.

MOLLY
Keep it up, Charlie.

We're all here.

DONNA (O/S)
Keep going, my love.

EDNA
Okay. That's all right.

We'll do a little more each day--

DR. MATS (O/S)

Yeah, and if he keeps this up, and…

…the swelling continues to go down, we're really looking at a matter of

days.

In the meantime, keep up the sensory stimulation. Talk to him, play

music…

…anything that connects him back to his life.

RYAN
"Teachers told my parents I'd never learn to read. Because of you and
The Bridge, I teach English to special needs kids…

…now."

EDNA (O/S)
Hear that, Charlie?

MOLLY (O/S)
"You gave me my first book for free when I was eight.

I traded it for another until I had my first job and could buy books on my
own."

RYAN (O/S)
"My sponsor turned me on to The Bridge. Charlie…

…you helped me find the books I needed to heal."

MOLLY (O/S)
"We got information about adoption…

…at The Bridge. Thanks to you, we have a baby girl." There's a picture.
Look.

DONNA (O/S)
You know, Charlie and I…

…weren't able to have kids. He said we'll just make The Bridge our
family.

Charlie...

…sweetheart... look at what you've made.

Come on, open…

…your eyes... see what's surrounding you.

So much is waiting.

Christmas is waiting.

RYAN
That's not all.

This…

…is $500.

MOLLY
Oh, my gosh.

MOLLY
Hey, you knew about The Bridge before me. What's your story? How’d it
find you?

RYAN
Guitar lessons. I wanted them so badly, my mom bribed me. If I read a
book a week, she'd pay for them.
Then I found out later, between guitar lessons and the books, it
stretched our budget so far that she was selling magazines at night on
the phone after I went to bed.

MOLLY
Wow, your mom is something else.

RYAN
Yeah, she's a good blackmailer.

What do you say, do you want to grab a drink or something?

MOLLY
Uh, actually, I was gonna go back to the B&B and work on…

…the website. But my…

RYAN (OVERLAPS)
Of course. Yeah, of course.

MOLLY (CONT’D)
…company forbids me from doing that. It does not, however, forbid me
from teaching somebody else to do that.

RYAN
Wait, you're not talking about...?

Technology?

MOLLY
Nope…

…come on.

RYAN
Oh…

MOLLY
Oscar the Truck, here we come. Come on.

MOLLY (O/S)
So, click up here.
RYAN (O/S)
Mm-hmm.

MOLLY (O/S)
On the logo, yeah.

Up here on the left. Yeah, no, you're good, and then, uh, drag it down.
Then you can click off, you don't need it. And then just…

…over there, it will let you type.

MOLLY (O/S)
Yup, perfect, go ahead.

Go for it.

Here, let's dress it up a bit. Yeah, yeah, yeah, see?

RYAN
Nice.

MOLLY
Magical. Uh…

…and then we should probably put a counter down on the right-

…hand side, yeah.

Do we still have that picture of Charlie and Donna?

Uh, and then…

…we're almost done, if you just want to...

Yup, and then, last key here.

We're live.

MOLLY (CONT’D)
You did it.

RYAN
You did it. I just typed very badly.
MOLLY
Okay, so... the next thing we should probably do is--

RYAN (O/S)
Uh, have mercy. It's 3:00 a.m.

I'm starving. How are you not starving?

RYAN
All right, I think we're good.

MOLLY
Yeah? Okay.

Ready?

RYAN
Yup. Nice.

MOLLY (O/S)
There you go.

RYAN
There we go.

MOLLY (O/S)
Is that enough?

RYAN
It's perfect. Now, for my favorite part.

MOLLY
Mm, it smells good.

RYAN (O/S)
It's gonna be... taste even better.

MOLLY
Okay, this is... this is gonna sound crazy, but... they're really lucky…

…aren't they? Charlie and Donna?

I mean, not-- not what's happening right now, but... the fact that they
spent their lives creating something that matters. They've inspired so
many people.

RYAN
I think they're lucky because... they have each other.

MOLLY
Yeah.

Donna said it was love at first sight fighting over a book.

Should we put that on there?

RYAN
Maybe. And then maybe other people could talk about their own first
moments, their own love at first sight.

What do you think?

MOLLY
Um, I think that...

I think it's snowing.

RYAN
What in the world is all this?

LUTHER
Deliveries keep coming.

RYAN
We could load them in the back of my truck.

LONNIE
We're gonna need a fleet of trucks.

DONNA (O/S)
I don't understand, where are all these coming from?

RYAN
Ohio…
…Texas, California.

JENNY
This one's from Canada.

DONNA
Why didn't you leave them at the store?

MOLLY (O/S)
Well…

…no, they should be here for when--

…Charlie wakes…

RYAN & MOLLY (O/S)

…up.

EDNA (O/S)
5,400.

DONNA
Dollars?

EDNA (O/S)
That’s just…

…from the envelopes. But the website is up to $14,043…

…in just two days.

LONNIE (O/S)
No, that total's wrong.

It's actually $19,043.

My record company heard about The…

…Bridge, and we're donating $5,000.

DONNA
What?
MOLLY (O/S)
You have a record…

…company?

LONNIE
Yeah, I'm a record exec.

MOLLY
Oh, well, you-you've met Ryan Kelly, musician extraordinaire, right?

RYAN
Mol...

MOLLY (O/S)
What?

Charlie put people together all the time. It's only fitting that this should
happen in his room. Right, Donna?

DONNA
Right. Oh, great.

She's here for the ventilator.

Charlie's been breathing on his own since yesterday.

RYAN
All right, Charlie!

SHAUNA (V/O)
$19,000…

…plus $5,400--

JENNY
Is amazing!

SHAUNA
…but still only a tenth of the down payment on a commercial property.
We still need a savior, a knight riding up on a horse.

RYAN
The landlord doesn't realize how much The Bridge's customer base has
grown, or the thousands of followers we have on Facebook and Twitter.
Has anybody talked to him?

SHAUNA
I nominate Molly.

MOLLY
Oh. Yeah, sure. I just need his information. Oh, also Jenny is in charge
of organizing the Christmas carols for tomorrow, so everybody talk to her,
okay?

Let's go. Phew!

LONNIE
Hey, man, I didn't realize you were that Ryan Kelly till Molly said so. You
got a sec?

RYAN
Yeah.

MOLLY (O/S)

Mr. Fellows, I--

FRED (O/S)
Fred.

MOLLY
Fred. I'm a businesswoman, I…

…completely understand your issues, but The Bridge is such--

FRED (OVERLAPS)
You have no idea how much I've loved The Bridge. My wife died
suddenly eight years ago and left me with three boys.

I took them to The Bridge for books, to get a break…

…find books on how to raise them. But my eldest is about to go to

college. If they can't rebuild...

…that's my income, too.

MOLLY
But the money keeps coming in--

FRED (O/S)
Is it enough?

MOLLY
For repairs?

FRED
For the down payment.

MOLLY
Sir, they're booksellers. You know they may never have that kind of
money.

FRED
It's my biggest hope that they come up with it, but without a guarantee...
It's a very nice thing…

…that you're doing, but I can't wait.

I am so sorry.

MOLLY
Okay. I understand. Thanks for your time.

JEANETTE
You wanted to stay.

RYAN
I know, I just... I'm playing backup at amateur night four hours a week.
That's the only thing out there. Do you know how many musicians would
kill for this gig?

JEANETTE
I know how many have your gifts. Zero. And you'd give it up to wind up...

…exactly where you are in a year, again?

You were moving forward. What's the issue?

RYAN
What if what I've got is as far as I'm going to get?

JEANETTE
How will you know if you keep running away?

Honey, all I want is for you to be…

…happy, but I taught you to grab life with both hands.

RYAN
"Go to Italy."

JEANETTE (O/S)
Yes. No matter how long it takes to get there. Ryan…

…show people who you are. Or does this have something to do with
Molly?

We both know that’s why…

…you went on the road in the first place.

But with her or without her…

…it's time for you to decide, are you going to step up, or not?

EDNA
I'm on break.

DONNA
You don't have to keep bringing me things.

But thank you.

EDNA
How are you holding up?

DONNA
Well... you went through it with Tom.

EDNA
I didn't go through this.

DONNA
You know I didn't mean that, I'm-- I’m sorry--

EDNA (O/S)
No…

…I meant, I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through.

I wouldn't be where I am today if…

…it wasn't for you and Charlie.

DONNA
You had faith. Might have made it easier for you.

EDNA
I've been thinking. Maybe for you, crossing that line to faith feels like
betraying something.

Something in you hasn't forgiven, or forgotten.

But this isn't about you. It's about Charlie. And if you can open up, and
ask for things for him...

DONNA
Someone will listen?

EDNA
Someone's always listening.

And prayer…

…and faith aren't necessarily found in houses of worship. They're in your

heart.

And you've always had that faith in Charlie. Maybe, if you wanted…

…you could access it that way.

DONNA
Thank you.
RYAN
You came.

MOLLY
To your debut at Lucky? Are you kidding?

RYAN (O/S)
Well, it’s…

…Amateur Night, so don't expect too much.

MOLLY
Okay, first of all, you are not an amateur, and I've already heard your
music, so...

How do you feel?

RYAN
I'm petrified, yeah.

I play backup, so…

…it's--

MICKEY
Not anymore.

You're up.

RYAN
Oh, boy.

Hey, Mol...

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve.

MICKEY (O/S)
Hey, everyone!

Let's have a big…

…Lucky welcome…
…for Ryan Kelly

RYAN
So, I'm Ryan Kelly...

RYAN
Thanks. It's, uh, good to see you guys, too. So, you probably all…

…heard about The Bridge bookstore, and its owner, Charlie Bartons,
who was in an accident last week.

Ever since, I've been writing songs about a bookseller and his patrons…

…each one with a story to tell.

But this was the first one I wrote. It's about lost love.

RYAN (SINGS)
Been out chasing the stars And playing this guitar

But every…
…highway seemed to circle back home

And lonely got hard

While I was searching for something

In the end it was you all along

Girl, it was…
…just you and me

And a handful of dreams

But life had something else in mind

You turned on the lights

And the path was so clear

But that…
…was once upon a time
So many…
…lessons learned

So many…
…twists and turns

Sometimes, it's hard to have faith

DONNA
I'd walk on hot coals for Charlie, I'd jump out of an airplane... beg for
mercy. So please... I'm following his lead here. Please... answer my
prayer.

RYAN (SINGS)
Once upon a time...

MICKEY (O/S)
Ryan Kelly, everyone!

Local boy. Ryan Kelly!

EDNA (O/S)
Donna...

Come quick. Charlie moved his hand.

MOLLY
Ryan... That was incredible.

RYAN
I've been bottling it up.

MOLLY (O/S)
You are…

…a songwriter. You're amazing, you know that?

RYAN
Nothing's changed, because... music just flows out of me when I'm
around you.

MOLLY
What?
RYAN
Are you happy, Molly? Has your 10-year…

…plan worked out?

You probably don't remember that video we made--

MOLLY (O/S)
Actually…

…I watch it every December.

RYAN
I know you're following the life plan that you had, I just have to ask...
you're not wearing your ring…

…did something change, or...

MOLLY
Ryan, listen, if I tell you something--

MICKEY (O/S)
Hey, did you hear…

…that crowd? Did you hear that crowd?

RYAN
Yeah, yeah, it was, uh...

MICKEY
You can come back here anytime. I mean, if that Pacific Rim tour doesn't
keep you away from us.

Great set. Great set...

MOLLY
You're going back on the road?

RYAN (O/S)
No…

…no. No, I’m not.

MOLLY (O/S)
No, it's okay. Ryan, it's okay.

I'm happy for you.

RYAN
What were you about to say?

MOLLY
I've got to get out of here after this, um...

…to pack, and I'm going back to Seattle tomorrow. It's Christmas Eve.

RYAN
To your fiancé. Right.

MOLLY
Bye, Ryan.

WADE
You hung up on me.

MOLLY
Yeah.

WADE (O/S)
Molly...

I told you I'd come down.

MOLLY (O/S)
What do you want? You want me home?

I'm flying home tomorrow. It's Christmas Eve.

WADE
You don't talk to me like that.

MOLLY
No, I don't. I do everything I'm told. I hop to, that's the kind of girl I am.

WADE
What's come over you?

MOLLY
Except now. I quit.

WADE
You-- you quit?

MOLLY
I quit Callens Media. I don't want to be CEO anymore.

Good night, Dad.

Thanks for coming.

WADE
Have you been drinking?

MOLLY
I'm completely clear. I'm just, I'm done.

I can't follow the plan anymore.

WADE
What is going on with you?

MOLLY
Tonight, I went to this bar, called Lucky, and Ryan--

WADE
Ryan?

MOLLY
He followed through.

He played his own music in this bar…

…that he always-- Would you just…

WADE (SIMULTANEOUS)
This is about Ryan?

MOLLY (CONT’D)
…listen?

MOLLY (CONT’D)
He followed his heart, and... he was ridiculously amazing, a-and the look
on his face was just... He... By doing this, he became the person that he
was meant to be.

WADE
Wait, you're giving everything up because of him?

MOLLY
Look, I'm not with him, okay? He doesn't…

…want me, and it's about more than that. It's about what he inspired in
me. It's about who I'm supposed to be.

I really need you to understand this.

Dad, I've always done everything you wanted. I-- I learned the business.

I transferred from Belmont to Stanford after my first…

…semester--

WADE
That was your choice.

MOLLY (O/S)
Dad, please--

WADE (OVERLAPS)
You said you had nothing left after that boy broke your heart.

He knew that you were better off with Preston, or he wouldn't have done
it.
MOLLY
Dad-- Wait, how could he...

WADE (O/S)
Ryan knew that you belonged with Preston…

…and that is why he broke it off.

MOLLY
How would he have known?

I never…

…talked to him about Preston. The only way he would have known
would have been if...

That Christmas Eve...

What did you do?

WADE
I protected you.

MOLLY
You called him? W-What did you say?

WADE
I said you had a life in Seattle, and he wasn't part of it.

MOLLY
Why? So I could come back and-- and run a corporation and marry a
man that I don't love? You did this!

WADE
So you would have the right life!

MOLLY
How would you know what that is when you never let me find out?

He probably thought I never loved him at all.

WADE
Molly...

MOLLY (O/S)
No…

…no, no, no. We are so done. You are going to install Preston as CEO,
and-- and hand over my inheritance to me, or I swear I will leave Seattle
for good.
WADE
I couldn't change the inheritance even if I wanted to.

And if you don't take over as CEO, you're never going to see that money.
I get…

…that you wanted to save this bookstore, or whatever lark it is that

you're on…

…but you're never…

…going to be this store's White Knight.

MOLLY
Yes, I will. Watch me.

WADE
Molly--

MOLLY
You said you did all this for me. You did this for yourself. You-- you
ruined my life, for you.

FRED
Molly.

MOLLY (O/S)
Hi.

I know it's late, but I have a proposition for you.

MOLLY (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

I don't think I want to run my dad's company, and I'm not even sure I
want to stay in Seattle.

RYAN (V/O OVER COMPUTER)

Molly...

WADE
Hi.

Can I come in?

I thought about everything you said to me, and I tried to answer for
myself what was true.

I wanted to make your life the best it possibly could be--

MOLLY
Dad--

WADE (O/S)
Please...

…let me finish.

But I went about it the wrong way. The thing with Ryan…

…I never should have done that.

You're entitled to make your own decisions…

…and your own mistakes. I took that away from you, and I'm sorry. But
don't resign.

I don't want you away from me, and I don't want you angry with me.
You're my daughter.

I love you. So, tell me how to fix this.

MOLLY
I found something, being here. It was a piece of me I was never going to
find in Seattle…

…because I was away from you.

WADE
Okay.

MOLLY (O/S)
When I came home that Christmas, I was mourning that, as well as Ryan.

You know what else I figured out being here? I'm really good at
connecting the dots to make good things happen for people. So…

…what if I stay with the company--

WADE
Yes!

MOLLY (O/S)
Not…

…as CEO. I want to head up the Callens Foundation.

WADE
But there is no Callens Foundation.

MOLLY (O/S)
There should be. We should be…

…balancing out the hard business we do by reaching out to others,

forming a foundation. I want to do that.

I think I would be amazing at it, and-- and it would make my life feel
complete.

So... what do you say?

WADE
Hey.

I look forward to you coming home.

MOLLY
I have a couple things to wrap up first.

WADE
Okay.

MOLLY (O/S)
Okay.

WADE
Love you.

MOLLY
Bye. Love you, too.
WADE (O/S)
Thanks.

RYAN (O/S)
Charlie’s…

…going to love this.

MOLLY
Hey.

JENNY (O/S)
There you are.

This is going to be incredible. Come on.

MOLLY
I'm going to meet you guys in there.

JENNY (O/S)
Okay.

RYAN
Come on, guys.

MOLLY
Hey.

DONNA (OVERLAP)
You hear that, Charlie? It must be some church group caroling for the
holidays. You love carols, Charlie. Come on, open your eyes.

DONNA (OVERLAPS)
Come on, Charlie.

DONNA
You're not gonna believe this.

Charlie has been moving all morning…

…and this whole time, he's been squeezing my hand.

Charlie?
Charlie, are you there?

Charlie?

It's me.

It's me.

It's me.

CHARLIE
Donna.

DONNA
Yes!

Yes! Yes...

EDNA (O/S)
I'll go get Dr. Mats.

DONNA (O/S)
Okay, Charlie…

…you had a car accident…

…and... and--and you-you've been out of it now for-for over a week, and
all these people…

…they've been helping…

…and praying, Charlie…

…for you.

DR. MATS
Hi, Charlie.

I'm Dr. Mats. We've been working together the last…

…week. Looks like you've got some fans here.

CHARLIE
Yeah.

DR. MATS
How you feeling, Charlie?

CHARLIE
Like a kid at Christmas.

RYAN
We've got some presents for you if you want. Is that okay?

DR. MATS (O/S)

Yeah, I think it's all right.

RYAN (O/S)
They're all yours.

DONNA
They're all books, Charlie.

People sent them to The…

…Bridge when they heard what happened.

CHARLIE
Am I... Am I dreaming?

DONNA (O/S)
No. Ryan…

…and Molly, and everyone…

…insisted on bringing them here so they'd be here when you woke up.

And people sent money, Charlie, from everywhere.

Thousands and thousands of dollars.

JENNY (O/S)
It's marked…

…urgent.
DONNA
What?

CHARLIE
What's this?

DONNA
An anonymous source purchased The Bridge?

GROUP (O/S)
What?

SHAUNA (O/S)
We still have…

…a week.

DONNA (O/S)
No, wait a minute…

…there's a letter. "Dear Charlie.

“It came to my attention you and The Bridge have fallen on hard times.

“The time I spent at The Bridge was the best of my life.

“So I bought the building.

“And because I once saw you sell a book to a single mother for a penny,
from now on…

…and for as long as you want to run The Bridge…

…that will be your annual lease.

One penny."

Charlie... "Because the truth is…

…I would do anything for you, sir. Anything that was right."

We don't have to close. We can reopen The Bridge.

And we have all the…

…books, and the money we need to repair it.

Christmas came.

Your family came.

You were right. God's not done with us yet.

RYAN
Airport.

RYAN
Molly.

MOLLY (O/S)
I couldn't do it.

I couldn't get on a plane, and-and... leave Franklin.

RYAN (O/S)
What is it?

Molly...

MOLLY
I'm not engaged.

I was never engaged.

I lied, and I wore my mother's engagement ring…

…because I thought you'd be happily married to Kristen…

…and I just couldn't stand...

I’m sorry for misleading you.

RYAN
But you're not engaged?
What about the…

…ring that you--

MOLLY
I sold it…

…to put a down payment on the building for Donna and Charlie.

That... Christmas Eve... Eve... my dad called you, didn't he?

What did he say?

RYAN (O/S)
He said a lot of things. He played a recording, a conversation…

…that you had with Preston that night we were together. You said that
you loved him and were going to Seattle--

MOLLY
No, no, it's not...

Preston was calling from my dad's office. My dad records all of his
phone calls. I…

…I was actually telling Preston that I…

…just love him as a friend. and I guess my dad wanted me back so

badly, that he cut that part out.

RYAN
But you... had those feelings.

MOLLY
I never stopped having those feelings.

But you wanted Kristen. You said forever.

RYAN (O/S)
I just…

…did that so you could live the life that you wanted.
MOLLY
The life I wanted is here.

From the minute…

…I got here and I met you, I never wanted to leave.

RYAN
All that time?

You meant it?

You couldn't leave Franklin?

MOLLY
I quit.

I'm not gonna be CEO.

RYAN
When?

MOLLY
Last night.

We're forming a foundation that I'm going to lead, using Callens Media.

What?

RYAN
A brand-new foundation could be run from anywhere, right?

MOLLY
But you're going back on the road, aren't you?

RYAN
Actually, there's... this girl...

...who reminded me who I was, and who I wanted to be, and I wrote
her…

…so many songs that a music executive signed me to a publishing deal.

He thinks we have enough for a whole album.

MOLLY
Ryan!

RYAN
I'm staying in Franklin, and I'm gonna write songs.

MOLLY
You're three years early.

The 10-year plan. You wanted to write songs for a living.

RYAN
And you wanted to…

…make a difference in the world.

MOLLY
So we made it three years early because of you.

RYAN
Because of you.

ONE YEAR LATER

CHARLIE
Oh, my. Hi.

Oh, thank you.

Hi. Hi.

MOLLY
Hi.

CHARLIE
Hi. Hi!

CHARLIE
Doc...

DONNA (O/S)
Luther...
CHARLIE (O/S)
Luther!

LUTHER
Hey.

CHARLIE
Aw, Edna.
EDNA
Good…

…to have you back, Charlie.

CHARLIE
Thank you.

MOLLY
You came.

WADE
I wanted to see what the fuss was about.

CHARLIE (O/S)
All right, everybody.

Together with me…

…as we've been this entire time. Do it with me on three.

One...

EVERYONE
Two!

Three!

CHARLIE
Thanks, Ryan.

I want to invite you all inside to the new Bridge. Come, with us.

You're gonna love this! Merry Christmas!

WADE
I brought you something.

MOLLY
Dad!

Dad...

"Following Her Dreams," huh?

Thanks, Dad.

WADE
I love you.

MOLLY
I love you, too.

RYAN
Come on inside, see what your daughter did.

WADE
You two go ahead. I'll catch up.

MOLLY
Hi.

That was…

…really good.

RYAN
I know.

Oh, it's really coming down.

You got some in your…

…hair.

LUTHER
Hey.
CHARLIE
You'll like this, but I know a better one for you. You're gonna love it.

RYAN
Come on.