INT. VIOLA?S HOUSE ? DEREK?S OLD ROOM
Meredith sits on the bed in her pajamas, smoothing on lotion very methodically. Derek stands in the doorway a moment and watches her, a small smile on his face. He enters the room completely and closes the door.
�������������� ��������� DEREK
I really am sorry about everything. I had no idea.
�������������� MEREDITH
A little head?s up would have been nice.
Meredith scoots to the head of the bed and leans back, looking up at Derek.
������������������������ DEREK
��������� I?m glad you?re here with me.
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� Me, too.
Derek climbs onto the bed next to Meredith while Meredith slips under the covers. Derek reaches over and turns off the lights.
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� Do you think tomorrow will be better?
������������������������ DEREK
��������� I hope so Mer. I hope so.
INT. VIOLA?S HOUSE ? KITCHEN
Meredith sits at the kitchen table a medical book out, cup of coffee sitting next to her. She wears her pajamas, her hair pulled up into a messy bun. Madeline enters the house.
������������������������ MADELINE
��������� Hello?
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� I?m the only one up so far.
������������������������ MADELINE
Good. Listen, things will get better around here. Really.
�������������� MEREDITH
I hope so. I made coffee if you want some.
�������������� MADELINE
At least you?re trying to get on Mom?s good side.
�������������� MEREDITH
I?m doing the best I can.
�������������� MADELINE
I know. Really.It?ll get better. If Derek likes you as much as I think he does, it?s for a good reason. It?s just going to take everyone some time to see that. Derek isn?t really helping the situation with his lack of communication.
The doorbell rings. Madeline runs to get it and comes back to the kitchen with Ripley, Izzy and Christina.
������������������������ RIPLEY
��������� Hey Tiger.Things gotten better around here?
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� Not yet.
������������������������ IZZY
So, plans for today?
������������������������ MADELINE
��������� Christmas brunch.Presents.Dinner.
��������� �������������� CHRISTINA
��������� So we should leave and come back?
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� No. Stay.
������������������������ MADELINE
��������� Where else have you got to go?
������������������������ RILPEY
She?s got a good point. I mean we could hang at the hotel. But that would be kinda boring. Things really don?t seem boring here.
�������������� MEREDITH
Is there a piano around here?
�������������� IZZY
Aren?t you tired of carols yet?
�������������� RIPLEY
It?s tradition.
�������������� CHRISTINA
I?mjewish.
�������������� RIPLEY
Don?t sing.
�������������� MADELINE
Don?t tell mom. She loves Christmas. Doesn?t take well to those who don?t celebrate it. There?s a piano in the family room. Come on.
Madeline leads the group into the family room where there is a baby grand.
������������������������ RIPLEY
��������� You?ve got to be kidding me. Who plays?
������������������������ MADELINE
Who doesn?t? Mom made all of us to take lessons.
�������������� MEREDITH
Even Derek?
�������������� MADELINE
Especially Derek. Hated every minute of it, but he was the most talented out of all of us, much to his chagrin.
Ripley sits down at the piano and begins plunking out jingle bells with her right hand, then moving it down a half step when she adds her left, then making it sound minor. Madeline starts laughing as Derek walks down the steps and follows the sound of the piano playing and laughing.
������������������������ DEREK
��������� Another party.
������������������������ RIPLEY
��������� You finally decided to get your lazy butt up.
������������������������ DEREK
Hey, I don?t get many days off. Thank you very much.
Derek walks over behind Meredith and pulls her back against his chest while she looks up at him with a big smile on her face.
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� So, Maddy says you play?
������������������������ DEREK
��������� Not happily.
������������������������ RIPLEY
��������� He?s just scared that I?ll show him up.
Ripley did a few power chords to emphasize her point.
������������������������ IZZY
��������� That sounds like a challenge.
������������������������ MADELINE
Good choice, Ripley. He can?t back down from a challenge.
�������������� DEREK
Does EVERYTHING have to be a competition?
�������������� MEREDITH
Asks the NEURO surgeon.
�������������� DEREK
I haven?t played since I left New York.
�������������� RIPLEY
Awww? Do you want me to play a sad song for you?
Ripley taps out a sad melody before ending with a mocking nanananananaaaaaa.
������������������������ IZZY
��������� I think she just mocked.
������������������������ DEREK
Thank you, Dr. Stevens, for pointing out the obvious.
Derek sits down at the piano next to Ripley, then begins playing a lavish version of ?Christmas Time Is here? with lots of ornamentation. Ripley listens for a moment before moving down an octave and joining in, getting a disgruntled look from Derek. Derek does a quick key change and changes the song to ?Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow?. Ripley smiles devilishly before harmonizing with Derek?s song. Derek?s mom slowly walks down the stairs to see the little competition going on between Derek and Ripley. Derek does another key change and changes to the song ?Winter Wonderland?. Ripley immediately begins adding a jazzy feeling to the song along with a few extra harmonies for good measure. Derek finally gives up and taps out the melody for ?Jingle Bells?. Ripley bursts into laughter, then begins playing the same melody an octave lower, but down a half step making the two parts sound horrendous before changing her key and adding some chords. The two end their song together. The others laugh and Viola begins to clap, gaining all of their attention. Ripley whips around to see Viola standing at the bottom of the stairs.
���� ������������������� RIPLEY
Mrs. Sheppard! Sorry about all the noise.Mer and I just-
�������������� VIOLA
It?s okay darling. I?m just glad someone is playing that old piano. I haven?t heard any of the kids play in ages. I?m surprised Derek still remembers how to play. And please. Call me Viola.
�������������� RIPLEY���
Right.Viola. This is such a beautiful piano. It?s amazing.
�������������� VIOLA
Well, thank you sweetheart. You two must play Christmas Carols for everyone later tonight.
�������������� DEREK
Mom?
�������������� VIOLA
Derek, I just heard you playing. Don?t you dare even pretend you can?t play.
�������������� DEREK
Yes, mom.
�������������� VIOLA
Now, come on. Let?s have some breakfast.
Ripley?s cell phone begins to go off. She lifts her phone out of her pants pocket and opens it to look at the screen. George?s number flashes across the screen. Ripley sighs and presses end. She shuts her phone and slips it back into her pocket. Everyone walks towards the kitchen.
������������������������ MEREDITH
You?re going to have to talk to George eventually.
������������������������ RIPLEY
Protocol.Dating protocol. He skipped ahead several months. Several months.
�������������� DEREK
What?s going on?
�������������� MEREDITH
George gave her lacy underwear for Christmas.
�������������� RIPLEY
There is a dating protocol.
Everyone sits around the breakfast table and begin to pass around cereal boxes, apples, bananas, bagels and whatnot.
�������������� MADELINE
She?s right. He jumped the dating protocol. What did you get him?
�������������� RIPLEY
A CD.
�������������� DEREK
Seems like an even trade to me.
�������������� RIPLEY
Am I being stupid? Don?t answer that. I?m being stupid. It?s just a stupid pair of underwear. He got two presents. One for himself.
�������������� DEREK
Have you told him about the dating protocol?
�������������� RIPLEY
Yes. When he gave them to me. Okay. Let?s stop talking about my underwear it?s beginning to creep me out.
�������������� MEREDITH
Agreed.
������������������������ DEREK
��������� So what are the plans today, mom?
������������������������ VIOLA
Christmas dinner and presents tonight. At 6. You guys are free until then, but you must be here at 6.
�������������� MADELINE
It?s Christmas. What else would we find to do?
As if on cue, Madeline?s beeper goes off. She lifts it to look at the caller.
������������������������ MADELINE
��������� Hospital.
������������������������ VIOLA
��������� Maddy?
������������������������ MADELINE
��������� Mom, it?s the hospital. I have to answer.
Madeline gets up and pulls her cell phone out of her pocket. Madeline walks out of the room. Chatter begins around the room when Madeline rushes back in.
������������������������ MADELINE
Derek, one of my patients needs a craniotomy. You up for it?
�������������� DEREK
Do you have to ask? Who wants to scrub in?
Christina?s, Meredith?s, and Izzy?s hands shoot up in the air.
������������������������ MADELINE
They can all come. They can at least watch from the gallery if they don?t scrub in.
�������������� CHRISTINA
This is the BEST CHRISTMAS ever.
Everyone gets up and rushes to get jackets except for Viola and Ripley, who look around at the empty table.
������������������������ RIPLEY
��������� And then there were two.
INT. SHEPPARD HOUSE ? LIVING ROOM
The whole family is spread out in the room talking and laughing. Ripley talks to Carrie while sitting on an overstuffed chair. Derek, Meredith, Izzy and Christina enter the room.
������������������������ VIOLA
��������� Finally.
������������������������ DEREK
It turned out to be more complex than what we anticipated.
�������������� MADELINE
But Derek was amazing and brilliant as always and pulled it off.
�������������� DEREK (to Meredith)
Did you hear that? Amazing and brilliant.From my sister.
�������������� MEREDITH
I heard.
�������������� MADELINE
Brain surgeons and their need to have their egos stroked?
�������������� MEREDITH
You?re telling me.
EXT. SHEPPARD?S HOUSE ? BALCONY
Derek stands leaning against the balcony looking over the small backyard, a mug filled with steaming hot cocoa in his hands. Viola slides the sliding glass door open, then closed behind her.
������������������������ VIOLA
��������� Derek.
������������������������ DEREK
��������� Mom.
������������������������ VIOLA
��������� Do you love her?
Derek gets a far away look in his eyes and the corners of his mouth quirk up.
������������������������ DEREK
��������� Yeah. Yeah mom. I do.
������������������������ VIOLA
��������� More than Addy?
������������������������ DEREK
��������� More than Addy.Meredith?She?s?
������������������������ VIOLA
You don?t have to explain. I can see it in your eyes. Just be sure with this one, ok?
�������������� DEREK
Yes mom.
Derek smiles and gives his mom a hug. They hear the sliding glass door slide open and Meredith stands looking unsure.
������������������������ VIOLA
Don?t spend too much time out here you too. We?re going to be opening presents soon.
Viola passes Meredith and smiles before opening and the sliding glass door, then closing it behind her.
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� Hey.
Meredith walks over next to Derek and places both hands on the balcony. Derek smiles and puts an arm around Meredith.
������������������������ DEREK
��������� Hey. I?m glad you came.
Derek pulls Meredith close to him.
������������������������ MEREDITH
��������� Me, too. You have an amazing family.
������������������������ DEREK
��������� They are amazing.
Derek kisses Meredith?s temple and smiles.
������������������������ MEREDITH(V.O.)
Yes. The tie that keeps family together means different things to different people. Family can be the people you run to when it seems the world is against you. (shows Christina fumbling with a ribbon on a present, a sad smile on her face.)The people who are there for you while you pick your life up from shattered pieces. (showsIzzy.) Or the people that you really want to be with, no matter how mad you are at them. (Shows Ripley pull her cell phone out of her pocket and George?s name flashing across the screen. Ripley looks at it a moment before standing up and answering it and leaving the room.) It?s the people that are there for you at the end of the day and can brighten your day just by being there. (shows Meredith and Derek.)
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