Interstitial
Int. Apartment Hallway - Night
James and Annie walk slowly down the hall side by side.
ANNIE
Thanks for decorating cookies with me.
You know, I had thought about taking
baking lessons while I was in town.
JAMES
You had?
ANNIE
Yeah. I didn’t sign up for anything
because I didn’t think I’d have time.
But you’ve helped me cross something
off my Christmas wish list and made
my holiday a bit better.
JAMES
It’s the least I could do for everything you’ve done. Even if you started off by
making my life a lot harder, I’m glad you did.
ANNIE
You are?
JAMES
(stepping closer to Annie)
I think I’ve been looking down for so
long, I’ve forgotten that life is going
on around me. Then I look up, and you’re there. It’s been three years since I’ve looked up, and life has passed me by...
Annie and James stop outside Jenna’s apartment door.
JAMES (CONT’D)
And I can’t keep letting it do that.
So, thank you.
ANNIE
Sometimes we all need a reminder
about what’s most important in life.
JAMES
Including yourself?
ANNIE
I think I needed a reminder that not
everyone is in a place where they can
enjoy Christmas, and to offer compassion
to those people instead of passing
judgment. I’m sorry for being so
brutal with you. I didn’t understand.
JAMES
It’s okay. We’ve got off on the
wrong foot, a couple times actually,
but you haven’t given up on me.
ANNIE
Of course. I wouldn’t do that.
JAMES
Why not? Everyone else has.
ANNIE
That’s not true. You have people in
your corner who care about you.
They look out for you.
JAMES
(confused)
I do?
ANNIE
Yeah. Everyone wants what’s best for
you. And this is the first step. I know Christmas can be a hard time, but it’s
good to see you putting in an effort.
Already since I’ve been here I can
see the Christmas magic working
on you.
JAMES
You can?
ANNIE
Yeah. You seem lighter. Brighter. More
carefree. I even caught you smiling once.
James smiles.
ANNIE
See? There it is.
JAMES
I’m not sure if that’s from the Christmas
spirit.
Annie and James lean toward each other again, but James recognizes what’s happening and steps back.
JAMES
I’ll see you in the morning for your
coffee. Sweet dreams.