Speaker 1: Thomas.
Speaker 2: No, I'm Calvin Forrester.
Speaker 3: I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I got that. Who are you?
Speaker 1: I'm Abby? Where are you staying?
Speaker 2: I was going to stay here at the cabin.
Speaker 3: Oh, you can't go in there?
Speaker 2: Why not?
Speaker 3: What I mean is you can't go in there without
first stopping by Claire's Bakery and getting yourself a slice
of pecon pie. You must be hungry.
Speaker 2: No, I'm good.
Speaker 3: You should check out the Christmas tree on Main Street.
Speaker 1: It's all little right now.
Speaker 2: I appreciate everything you've done for my family, but i'll
handle things from here. I'm going to go inside now.
You can go home wherever that is.
Speaker 3: Can wait?
Speaker 2: Is there some reason you don't want me to go
in here?
Speaker 4: It's messy, terribly messy, horrendously messy, dishes piled high in
the sink, blaundry.
Speaker 2: Everything, sir, whoever you are, Abby, Abby, whatever's in there,
I'm sure I can handle it.
Speaker 4: Calvin, if you insist on coming in, I can't stop you.
Speaker 1: I'm not yelling.
Speaker 4: It's just the acoustics in the cabin, which we are
now entering right now.
Speaker 2: Oh, thank goodness, looks just like I remember.
Speaker 3: I should get going.
Speaker 5: Yeah, sure, are you okay?
Speaker 2: He's gone, I know that, but it still smells like him,
like coffee and lether. This is gonna sound crazy, but
it's almost as if I can feel him here.
Speaker 3: Do you want me to put another law on the stove?
What the wood fire stove? It's going to be cold tonight.
Speaker 6: Sure.
Speaker 2: There are so many things I wish i'd said to him.
I loved him. I wonder if he knew that.
Speaker 3: I'm sure he does did.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you this.
Speaker 3: Sometimes it's good to say things out loud.
Speaker 2: Thanks. It was nice meeting you sort.
Speaker 1: Of likewise, and you never know.
Speaker 4: Maybe wherever Walter is he can hear you.
Speaker 2: Walter Walter, I heard you are not so subtle warning
and I tailed it out of there.
Speaker 4: Yeah about that Calvin's in town. I almost took his
head off with a WHOA?
Speaker 1: Did you do all this?
Speaker 2: I promised i'd put up the Christmas decorations.
Speaker 3: It looks perfect too.
Speaker 4: I know it's none of my business, but Calvin seems
pretty upset.
Speaker 3: He wanted you to know that he loved you.
Speaker 7: He said that, Yeah, he used those words.
Speaker 1: Yes, Well, I'll be darned. I should have died years ago.
Speaker 4: You forester men need to work on communicating your emotions
too late. Now, well, we have to find you somewhere
to live until Calvin leaves town.
Speaker 2: I'll stay in the hangar. I spend most of my
time in here.
Speaker 4: Anyway, that's too risky. Your Cavin is right down the airstrip.
Speaker 1: Calvin's terrified of aeroplanes.
Speaker 2: He won't step foot here, has it since the day
he swore offline?
Speaker 1: You're sure I know my boy? Do you? Because he's
not a boy anymore. When was the last time you
saw him?
Speaker 2: It doesn't matter. People don't change, Yes, they.
Speaker 1: Do all the time. Vampires not so much.
Speaker 6: I won't miss that.
Speaker 1: Yeah, you will trust me?
Speaker 8: Hey missus Cole, Hey Abby more coffee?
Speaker 1: Yes please?
Speaker 9: Oh if you're twisting my arm?
Speaker 1: How did your finals go?
Speaker 6: No?
Speaker 1: Oh? Great?
Speaker 10: And now I'm on Christmas break until January. Aunt Claire
let me pick up a few day shifts this week.
Speaker 8: She's been picking on.
Speaker 10: Stop to get ready for the Christmas cookie fundraiser at
my high school tonight.
Speaker 4: If she needs any help, you tell her to call me.
Speaker 8: Yeah sure, But anyway, what's he like? Tell me everything?
Speaker 10: I want details, details about what Calvin Forrester.
Speaker 8: I heard he's staying in Walter's cavin.
Speaker 9: He was always such a good boy. Someone ought to
tell Trevor.
Speaker 1: Trevor knows Calvin.
Speaker 10: Aunt Claire made it sound like they hated each other,
something about a football game or a.
Speaker 9: Girl or whatever. I'm looking forward to seeing Calvin again,
if only it were under better circumstances.
Speaker 8: I still can't believe Walter's gone.
Speaker 1: Me neither.
Speaker 9: The worst part is that we had to cancel the
Christmas Festival of Flight. It breaks my heart. An absolute tragedy.
Speaker 3: Really, that's the worst part about Walter being dead.
Speaker 9: Outsiders will never fully understand how important that festival is
to Northern Pine.
Speaker 8: Oh, come on, missus Cole. Abby's lived here five years.
She's one of us.
Speaker 9: Now, did Calvin tell you how long you'd be staying
in Northern Pines?
Speaker 1: No?
Speaker 3: I only saw him for like ten minutes last night.
Speaker 10: Does he look like his picture on the cover of
Entrepreneur magazine total snack?
Speaker 1: Well, he's almost twice your age. You not me.
Speaker 8: According to the Internet, he's single.
Speaker 1: Just saying no, thank you, I don't date.
Speaker 10: Then, why are you going to the Christmas banquet with
doctor Evans.
Speaker 1: Oh why does everyone know everything in this town?
Speaker 8: Missus Cole posted it on TikTok.
Speaker 9: What you two are very cute together. He's been sweet
on you for years.
Speaker 6: Uugh.
Speaker 8: Table five's food is up.
Speaker 1: I gotta go.
Speaker 3: I should go too.
Speaker 8: You're coming to the fundraiser tonight, right, wouldn't miss it?
Speaker 9: Abby? Do me a favor and make sure Calvin goes
to that fundraiser tonight.
Speaker 3: You want to ask him?
Speaker 9: You'll be at the airstrip anyway, won't you working?
Speaker 1: Not socializing?
Speaker 9: But you're very persuasive when you want to be.
Speaker 1: Why do you want him there so badly?
Speaker 9: I have a little surprise planned for him.
Speaker 3: A little surprise. I hope it's a good surprise.
Speaker 2: Hey, Dannie, you're calling late?
Speaker 6: Yeah, it's eleven pm here. I finally made it to
New York, but the meeting got pushed another day.
Speaker 2: Are they getting cold feet?
Speaker 6: Who knows? Regardless, I'll be up there as soon as
I can. What's all that noise?
Speaker 2: There was a rusty toolbox connecting with my forehead in
the hangar, no the shed behind Dad's Kevin. I'm going
through his things and grandpas things basically everything our families
owned sends. I don't know the beginning of.
Speaker 6: Time, anything of moms.
Speaker 2: A few things, clothes, pictures.
Speaker 6: Promise you'll wait for me before you start throwing stuff out.
Speaker 2: Feeling sentimental?
Speaker 6: Last night I slept on a bench next to the
Starbucks kiosk in Terminal four. I'm not feeling much of
anything right now.
Speaker 2: Did you get a gingerbread latte?
Speaker 6: Duh three venties? It was a long night. What about you?
How are you feeling?
Speaker 2: I don't know. I ain't how I left things with Dad.
I was awful to him, and now I can't ever
fix things.
Speaker 6: No, don't do that. No spiraling allowed.
Speaker 2: I'm not spiraling.
Speaker 6: Yes, you are spiraling. I can hear it in your voice.
Speaker 2: I'm okay, Danny. Really, I'll be up there.
Speaker 6: In a few days and we can dig through pictures
and ball our eyes out together.
Speaker 2: Sounds like a solid Friday night.
Speaker 6: I want to hear something that will cheer you up.
Speaker 2: You're gonna tell me anyway.
Speaker 6: Do you remember our babysitter, missus Cole.
Speaker 2: Yes?
Speaker 6: While I was being held hostage at O'Hare, I found
wait for it, Missus Cole's TikTok and I cannot stop watching.
She posted this video where she walks down Main Street
and bushing people asking who they're going to the Christmas
banquet with.
Speaker 2: You have way too much time on your hands.
Speaker 6: Oh, you're telling me I went right down the social
media rabbit hole. Also sidebar, Trevor Evans not super high.
Speaker 2: You should maybe stop caffeinating.
Speaker 6: If I stop caffeinating, I'm going to start thinking about Dad.
Speaker 2: I get it. Do whatever you need to do.
Speaker 6: I should go. I'll call you after the meeting.
Speaker 2: Sounds good. Hey, Calvin, could you stop doing that? What
lurking around in the dark.
Speaker 1: I wasn't lurking. I was looking for you.
Speaker 2: Well you found me, Calvin.
Speaker 1: You're bleeding on your forehead.
Speaker 2: I knocked over some boxes cleaning out the show.
Speaker 1: You need to put a band aid on that. There's
a first aid kit in the hanger.
Speaker 2: Let me be just a name.
Speaker 4: No, you have to clean it up right now. I
got a wet nap in my backpack somewhere.
Speaker 2: Honestly, it's not a big deal.
Speaker 1: Here, take it.
Speaker 2: Okay.
Speaker 3: You're not good with blood, huh something like that?
Speaker 2: So why were you looking for me?
Speaker 1: My truck won't start.
Speaker 4: Could you give me a lift to the Christmas cookie fundraiser.
It's at the high school. I promised i'd be there.
Speaker 2: They still do that.
Speaker 1: This town loves their traditions, Yes they do well.
Speaker 2: I'm sorry about your truck, but I can't help you.
Speaker 1: Why not?
Speaker 2: I don't feel up for it tonight.
Speaker 1: Please? No, pretty, please?
Speaker 5: No?
Speaker 3: Okay, I really didn't want to have to do this, but.
Speaker 1: You will say yes.
Speaker 2: You're really hard to say no to.
Speaker 6: I know.
Speaker 2: So you're a bush pilot.
Speaker 4: Yep, I've been working jobs out of Walter's airstrip ever
since I moved to town.
Speaker 2: No offense, but you don't look like a bush.
Speaker 1: Pilot because I'm a woman.
Speaker 2: No, because of you know how you look, how I look?
You know what I'm trying to say.
Speaker 1: No, nope, not really.
Speaker 2: You're pretty okay, that's all I need.
Speaker 3: Oh you're not what I expected either.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I know you pulled a gun on me.
Speaker 1: You looked like a tourist.
Speaker 4: I mean, who wears loafers in Alaska this time of
year or like ever?
Speaker 2: I didn't exactly have time to shop, and why are
you holding tourists at gunpoint?
Speaker 4: I was protecting Walter, I mean his cabin. I was
protecting Walter's cabin.
Speaker 2: You certainly were.
Speaker 1: Take it right up there. The high school's on the left.
Speaker 2: I remember, well, I can't believe I'm going to this.
The whole town will be there.
Speaker 1: What are you so worried about?
Speaker 2: You wouldn't understand.
Speaker 1: Everything is going to be fine, I promise yes.
Speaker 7: Thank you everyone for attending the Christmas cookie fundraiser. Special
thanks to Claire at the Northern Pines Bankery for donating
all the delicious goods you see around you.
Speaker 2: Oh why is Trevor up there?
Speaker 3: He's head of the town council.
Speaker 2: Of course he is.
Speaker 7: Before we begin the evening's festivities, missus Cole is asked
to say a few words.
Speaker 9: Thank you, doctor Ravans. As curator of the Northern Pines
Historical Society, I refuse to let the Christmas Festival of
Flight die along with Walter.
Speaker 7: It is unfortunate, but given the circumstances, it's for the best.
Speaker 9: No, Doctor Ravens, I don't think it is. The Christmas
Festival of Flight is what keeps folks going during these
long winters. It brings in tourists, reporters and photographers from
all over. The revenue generated from those few days keeps
local shops in business all year long.
Speaker 7: What exactly are you proposing that we.
Speaker 9: Hold the Festival of Flight just like we do every year.
Speaker 1: It is, after.
Speaker 9: All, the one hundred year anniversary. Walter can't do it,
but that doesn't mean someone else can't take his place.
Speaker 7: That seems a bit molbid, don't you think, especially considering
the nature of mister Forest's accident.
Speaker 9: Quite the opposite, It would honor Walter Forrest what everything
his family has done for Northern Pines. We all know
the story many years.
Speaker 7: Ago, missus Cole, I hardly think this is the time to.
Speaker 9: As I was saying many years ago, when Northern Pines
was nothing but a group of rag tag homesteaders, tragedy struck.
Our ancestors needed food, water, and medical supplies. It was
Christmas Eve, the blizzard was fierce. Thomas Forrester, a brave
young bush pilot, risked his life to fly to Northern Pines,
bringing the supplies this town so desperately needed. Every Christmas
Eve since then, a member of the Forester family has
made that historic flight to commemorate that heroic event. Now
it's time for the next generation to step up. Walter's
son Calvin is back in Northern Pines. Calvin, can you
give us a wave?
Speaker 2: This saysn't.
Speaker 1: What is she doing?
Speaker 9: Everyone? Look at Calvin. He's standing by the door there. Calvin,
will you make your old babysitter's day and fly in
the festival this Christmas Eve?
Speaker 2: I uh, I.
Speaker 3: Excuse us? Everyone?
Speaker 7: Everyone please settle down.
Speaker 2: Why arena janitor's closet?
Speaker 4: I had to get you out of there. You need
to breathe. I think you're having a panic attack. How
do you know that your heart's beating like crazy?
Speaker 2: You can hear my heart, good ears. This is why
I hate this town. All this Forester family pride is insane. Hey,
do something.
Speaker 1: Else of it to stop. We'll figure this out.
Speaker 2: I can't fly in the festival.
Speaker 1: Why not?
Speaker 4: I'm pretty sure I've seen your flight log in the hangar.
You have your pilot's license. You flew all over.
Speaker 2: Alaska because I don't fly anymore.
Speaker 4: Yeah, but the festival. A flight route is cake. I've
seen Walter do it the last five years. You take
off at the airstrip, you do a wide loop over downtown,
and you land and smile for the cameras.
Speaker 1: What's the problem.
Speaker 2: The problem is I can't fly. I literally can't fly.
When I sit down in the cockpit, something happens to me.
I choke, I freeze up. I can't do it. Trust me.
I've had this same conversation with my dad a million times.
I can't fly, not even if it means saving Christmas
or whatever. Missus Cole said.
Speaker 4: Did something happen something that made you stop flying?
Speaker 2: I don't want to talk about it. I should never
have come here. I should have let Danny handle this.
She doesn't have her pilot's license. No one would be
guilt tripping her to take over the Forester family tradition.
Speaker 3: I'm sorry you weren't going to go to this, and
then I made you.
Speaker 2: He didn't make me.
Speaker 3: Let's just say I didn't give you much of a choice.
Speaker 2: It's just embarrassing. I'm usually very good under pressure. It's
this town. Being back here makes me feel like I'm
seventeen all over again. And missus Cole, missus.
Speaker 1: Cole can be kind of intent.
Speaker 2: Yeah, seriously, what if I helped you.
Speaker 4: I'm a certified fight instructor. I've been teaching students fly
for years.
Speaker 2: Part of I can't fly. Don't you understand.
Speaker 4: You're not the first pilot to get a mental block
against flying. All the adrenaline, the uncertainty, the danger. It
gets to you.
Speaker 3: Even experienced pilots get nervous sometimes not my dad, him too.
Speaker 1: Everyone. This is completely normal.
Speaker 2: I've tried to get over it. Nothing's worked.
Speaker 1: You've never flown with me.
Speaker 2: You actually think you can get me ready to do
the festival flight by Christmas? Eve?
Speaker 1: Absolutely, I'm a great teacher.
Speaker 2: You think you can help me fly?
Speaker 1: Do you want me to?
Speaker 2: Yes? For my dad, for this town. I hate letting
everyone down.
Speaker 1: Then I'll get you flying. You have my word.
Speaker 2: I don't know why, but I believe you.
Speaker 1: You can trust me, Calvin.
Speaker 2: Why are you doing this for me?
Speaker 3: Because I don't know? It's Christmas and I'm a sentimental fool.
Speaker 2: Thank you. I guess I should go back out there.
Speaker 1: I think you need another minute.
Speaker 2: Why is my heart still pounding like a little drummer?
Speaker 6: Boy?
Speaker 2: It doesn't help that you're standing so close to me.
Speaker 1: It's a closet, there's not a lot of room.
Speaker 2: I didn't say I didn't like it.
Speaker 7: Abby. There you are. I've been looking all over for you.
What are you doing in a closet with Calvin Forster.
Speaker 1: He needed a minute. Everyone was ganging.
Speaker 7: Up on him, ganging up on him. I've got a
room full of outraged people who think I'm the bad
guy for not allowing the town's golden boy to fly
on the festival.
Speaker 2: How about you drop the attitude. Man, It's not Abbey's fault.
Speaker 7: I know it's not Abby's fault. It's your fault. Over
a decade later, and you still can't take responsibility for
your Actually.
Speaker 2: Give me a break, dude. Is this about regionals? Because
that was a bad.
Speaker 7: This is not about regionals. But since you brought it up,
that fumble was all you made.
Speaker 4: Stop all of you. You two were acting like a
couple of teenagers.
Speaker 7: You're right, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me.
Speaker 2: Yeah, me too. Sorry.
Speaker 4: One's gonna fly in the festival. I'm gonna do some
flight lessons with him.
Speaker 7: Sweetie, I know you want to help, but there is
absolutely no way Calvin can fly in the festival. He's
not the pilot. Walter is was Trevor.
Speaker 1: That's harsh.
Speaker 7: I'm simply stating the facts. Calvin, Do you honestly think
you can safely handle a plane with over one hundred
people watching, not to mention whatever media happens to be
in town.
Speaker 2: A forester has to fly the plane. My dad's gone.
What other option do we have?
Speaker 7: Fine? Do you want to tell the angry mob? Or
should I?
Speaker 2: You can do the honors. I'm gonna go.
Speaker 1: Thanks for the ride. You said your truck was broken, Yeah,
probably a spark plug.
Speaker 7: Oh okay, that Christmas cookie fundraiser got off to a
rocky start. But I think it turned out okay, don't you?
Speaker 1: Yes? But why were you acting so weird?
Speaker 7: Was I acting weird?
Speaker 1: The whole macho thing? You put your arm around me,
You called me sweetie. You've never called me sweety.
Speaker 7: I don't know. I wasn't expecting Calvin to be there.
He's so infuriating, and I found you two in a closet,
and I thought maybe something was going on.
Speaker 1: Trevor Evans, are you jealous?
Speaker 7: No, Little I saw the way you looked at him.
Speaker 4: I didn't look at him any particular way. I barely
know him.
Speaker 7: Can you be honest with me. We've been friends for
a while. I know you. You weren't looking at him
like you barely knew him.
Speaker 1: He looks like someone I used to know a long
time ago.
Speaker 7: That's all someone you cared about.
Speaker 1: You could say that.
Speaker 7: It's Thomas Forrester, isn't it.
Speaker 1: How could you possibly know that?
Speaker 7: When I first learned about you, I did some research.
I saw photos of you from one hundred years ago,
they displayed at the Historical Society. You recognized me only
because I was looking for you. You wow, your hair differently,
dressed differently, But it's you with Thomas Forrester.
Speaker 1: We spent a lot of time together back then.
Speaker 7: You were both pilots.
Speaker 4: Yeah, and Calvin looks so much like him, doesn't he.
It's uncanny. I thought he was Thomas for a second.
Speaker 1: It was dark.
Speaker 4: He was standing outside Walter's cabin. He told me he
lived there a long time ago.
Speaker 7: He did live there a long time ago, if you
consider ten years a long time. He moved out after
high school.
Speaker 4: I thought he meant like a hundred years. I thought,
I don't know what I thought. It caught me off guard.
Speaker 7: Calvin Forrester has the face of the man you loved.
Speaker 1: I never said I loved Thomas.
Speaker 7: Did you love him?
Speaker 1: Yes?
Speaker 7: That'll be hard to compete with.
Speaker 1: There isn't no competition, isn't there where is all this
coming from. I thought you were fine with being friends.
Speaker 7: I'm not. Seeing you with Calvin made me realize that
I want more.
Speaker 1: I can't give you what you want?
Speaker 7: Why not?
Speaker 1: You know why?
Speaker 7: Because you're a vampire. I know exactly who you are
and I'm still here. Doesn't that count for something.
Speaker 4: I'm a monster, Trevor, A legit, bloodsucking horror movie monster.
I go around pretending I'm not, but don't be fooled.
If I go even a day without blood, if I
were starving and weak, you'd see the real me. And
let's just say, you wouldn't be so eager to go
to the Christmas banquet with me.
Speaker 7: You're not a monster, That's what Thomas thought. Fine, maybe
I don't know everything about you, but tell me the truth.
Do you have feelings for me? This copy all one sided.
Speaker 4: Yes, I have feelings for you, but I'm not going
to act on them.
Speaker 7: Don't I have a saying it?
Speaker 1: No?
Speaker 7: Why not?
Speaker 1: Because one today you'll be gone and I'll still.
Speaker 7: Be here, and that bothers you.
Speaker 4: I've been down this road before. It only ends one way.
Speaker 7: But you do feel something for me?
Speaker 1: Yeah? What are you doing?
Speaker 7: Giving you a hug. Why because we're friends? Because I
want to? Can I give you a hug without you
overthinking everything? Come here? Maybe I won't always be around,
but I'm here tonight. Can that be good enough for now?
Speaker 11: Thank you so much for spending your Christmas with us,
filled with laughter, love, and a little.
Speaker 9: Bit of magic.
Speaker 11: We hope you enjoyed our Christmas Tale as much as
we love bringing.
Speaker 9: It to life.
Speaker 11: For a special treat, head over to January Daphne dot
com to claim your free bonus audio drama sorts. If
you enjoyed this episode, please.
Speaker 9: Take a moment to leave a review.
Speaker 11: Your kind words help us grow and share more enchanting
tales with listeners like you.