Speaker 1: Well, look who's here?
Speaker 2: I got your message nine am airstrip office. Don't wear loafers.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm liking this whole retro look you got going on.
I didn't know at Hardy made winter Coach.
Speaker 2: It was very cool in high school.
Speaker 1: Maybe tomorrow I'll get to see you in a velvet track. Sit.
Speaker 2: Are you done criticizing my teenage wardrobe? Because I think
you owe me an apology for what you lied about
your truck being broken?
Speaker 1: Why would I lie about that?
Speaker 2: That wasn't a denial?
Speaker 1: Does it really matter you?
Speaker 2: Or did you not trick me into going to the
Christmas cookie fundraiser so that missus Cole could guilt trip
me in front of the whole town?
Speaker 1: Okay, yes you caught me, But in my defense, I
thought it would be a victimless crime. How was I
supposed to know a Christmas cookie fundraiser would turn into
a straight up riot?
Speaker 2: Still waiting on that apology, I'm sorry. I forgive you here.
I brought you a peppermint mocha because I'm a nice guy.
Speaker 1: Oh, you went to the bakery this morning? Noel ratted
me out, didn't she?
Speaker 2: There are no secrets in Northern Pines he should know
that by.
Speaker 1: Now you'd be surprised.
Speaker 2: So what are we flying today?
Speaker 1: I think you should get trained up on this plane.
It's I know, according to your flight log, it's what
you had the most experienced flying in.
Speaker 2: Yeah, this is my plane. I waited tables for three years,
saving up for it.
Speaker 1: Do you two want to minute alone together?
Speaker 2: Shut up?
Speaker 1: Walter went out of his way to keep this plane
in good shape. The regular tune ups flew it twice
a week, never once use it for a job. I
always wondered about.
Speaker 2: That, And yet he never once visited Phoenix.
Speaker 1: We don't have to talk about him.
Speaker 2: Are we starting with ground school or are we actually
flying today?
Speaker 1: I think we should fly. You're clearly experienced, and we've
only got a few days before Christmas Eve. But one
thing at a time. First, we need to.
Speaker 2: Do a pre flight. Yeah, I remember all that stuff.
Check the fuel, check the oil, look for any loose rivids,
rust tears in the metals.
Speaker 1: Yes, but first we need to talk about the incident
that made you stop flying.
Speaker 2: Your boyfriend didn't tell you about it. He was there
along with the rest of the town.
Speaker 1: Not that it's done of your business, but Trevor's not
my boyfriend.
Speaker 2: Does p know that?
Speaker 1: Right now? We're talking about you, not Trevor.
Speaker 2: Okay, it's not much of a story. I got my
pilot's license the second I turned seventeen. My dad let
me do the Festival of Flight that year. I was
all set to fly, but something went wrong during the takeoff.
I ran out of runway and took out at least
ten spruces in the gazebo that used to be over there,
wrecked the plane, humiliated my family, ruined the forest legacy,
and according to Trevor, I tripled the cost of the
town's event insurance.
Speaker 1: I was wondering what happened to that gazebe Oh.
Speaker 2: Noel said, you've only been here five years. Be gazeeboat
was long gone before you got here.
Speaker 1: I've seen pictures, lots of gazebo pictures at the Historical Society.
Speaker 2: I didn't realize you were so interested in the town's history.
Speaker 1: It's kind of my life. So the night you crash,
was there a mechanical issue with the plane? Was it weather?
High winds, clouds, snow, That all makes a difference.
Speaker 2: No, nothing like that.
Speaker 1: What do you think went wrong?
Speaker 2: What you said, the adrenaline, the danger. It probably got
to me.
Speaker 1: How do you feel now? What do you mean we're
about to get into this plane? Does that bring anything
up for you? Are you scared? Upset? Angry?
Speaker 2: I agreed to flight lessons, not a therapy session.
Speaker 1: Men have feelings too, you know it's not just a
woman thing.
Speaker 2: Honestly, I feel fine.
Speaker 1: Then what are we waiting for? We'll start with taxiing
and see how that goes. I'll only take over if
you ask me to, or if I notice a safety issue.
Sound good? Okay, go ahead and give it some power.
Watch that rudder you're veering to the right. There you
go right down the middle.
Speaker 2: It's starting to come back to me.
Speaker 1: I can tell nice turn. You look like you've been
flying for years. I feel good, really good.
Speaker 2: Do you want to.
Speaker 1: Try taking off?
Speaker 2: Why not?
Speaker 1: I'll jump in if you need me perfect setup, Go
ahead and ease it into the air. Do you want
me to take over and get her up?
Speaker 3: Calvin?
Speaker 1: You don't want want to get much closer to those trees.
Speaker 2: I can do this.
Speaker 1: Do you want me to take over? No, Galvin, buddy,
it's there or never. I'm taking over. You're okay, I'm
right here next to you. We're not gonna hit any
trees or gazebos today. I won't let that happen. Don't
be scared.
Speaker 2: I'm not scared.
Speaker 1: Tell that to your heart.
Speaker 2: There's no way you heard my heart over that airplane engine.
Speaker 1: It's nothing to be ashamed of. Lots of pilots are
afraid of getting in a rack. It comes down to
one of two things. You don't trust the plane or
you don't trust yourself. Which is it?
Speaker 2: Neither is it me?
Speaker 1: Because if you don't trust me enough to tell me
what you're feeling, this isn't gonna work.
Speaker 2: None of that scares me.
Speaker 1: This isn't about your accident, is it.
Speaker 2: I don't know. That's the problem. I don't know what
stops me. You're the pilot whisperer.
Speaker 1: I think you do know. But the bigger issue right
now is you don't trust me.
Speaker 2: You haven't exactly given me many reasons to trust you.
Speaker 1: Would it help if I shared something personal with you?
Speaker 2: It's worth a try.
Speaker 1: There's this place I fly to when I want to
be alone. It's where I feel safe, and it's the
most beautiful place I've ever seen. I can fly us
there you can sit back and enjoy the view. We
should get used to being up in the air anyway.
Do you want to go?
Speaker 2: Do I want to go to wolver remote undisclosed location
with a stranger who lied about her truck and pulled
a gun on me.
Speaker 1: I mean, I'll file a flight plan. You don't have
to make it sound so serial killery.
Speaker 2: That's what all serial killers say.
Speaker 1: I haven't murdered anyone in a very long time.
Speaker 2: Promise, all right, let's go.
Speaker 1: You're awfully quiet over there doing okay?
Speaker 2: Wow?
Speaker 1: Is that a good wow or a bad wow?
Speaker 2: It's just wow? I forgot what Alaska looks like from
all the way.
Speaker 1: Up here, a regular winter wonderland. Yeah, I'm gonna land now,
Are you still good?
Speaker 2: Is there a place to land out here?
Speaker 1: There is in the winter time? You see that lake
down there, it's frozen solid.
Speaker 2: Whose hunting cabin is that to the left of the lake?
Speaker 1: Mine? I don't use it for hunting anymore. I'm gonna
grab something from my cabin. I'll be right back.
Speaker 2: Is this place only accessible by plane?
Speaker 1: There's an old logging road off Evergreen Highway that I'll
get you here. But if there's any snow in the forecast.
Forget about it. It's impassable. You could try it on
a snow machine, but it would be a long, cold trip.
Speaker 2: It feels like we're the only people on the planet
I know.
Speaker 1: Isn't it great?
Speaker 2: What are you doing with that axe in that rope?
Speaker 1: You're gonna help me cut down a Christmas tree? Of course,
I still haven't gotten one this year. It won't take long, promise.
Speaker 2: Oh okay for a second.
Speaker 1: There, I know exactly what you thought, city boy. People
in Alaska use axes and ropes for activities other than murdering.
Speaker 2: I didn't actually think you were going to murder me.
Speaker 1: Good, because you were starting to hurt my feelings.
Speaker 2: Hey, what about that tree? It's a nice looking one.
Mm No, what's wrong with it?
Speaker 1: Nothing, It's just not the right one.
Speaker 2: Oh okay, how'd you find this place?
Speaker 1: I don't know if I should tell you.
Speaker 2: Just tell me.
Speaker 1: I had to do an emergency landing on that lake.
Speaker 2: That's comforting. It was a.
Speaker 1: Total freak thing. I was on a job in my
fuel gauge froze, but I didn't know it. It looked
like I had gas when I did.
Speaker 2: You ran out of gas while in the air.
Speaker 1: Yeah, but how beautiful is this place? Silver lining?
Speaker 2: I can't believe Trevor's okay with you being a bush pilot.
I wouldn't want my girlfriend risking your life flying around
the back country for a few days.
Speaker 1: Pay wow, do you hear yourself when you talk?
Speaker 2: I'm being honest.
Speaker 1: You're being condescending.
Speaker 2: You think you're the one taking all the risk, but
that risk is felt exponentially by everyone who has ever
loved you.
Speaker 1: So I'm supposed to not do what I love most
in the world because of the feelings of other people.
Speaker 2: You want to know how many hours I spent staring
at the airstrip wondering when my dad was coming home.
Danny would wake up in the night thinking she heard
Dad's airplane. If you want to be a bush pilot forever, fine,
But if you ever decide to have a family or
a relationship, I'd rethink your career.
Speaker 1: Cue for your concern, But I don't remember asking you
for your permission.
Speaker 2: Thomas, who's Thomas? What you called me Thomas for the
second time?
Speaker 1: Oh? I meant Calvin, but.
Speaker 2: You said Thomas. Who is he?
Speaker 1: He's nobody?
Speaker 2: No, he's definitely somebody Thomas Forrester.
Speaker 1: He's your great great grandfather. Do you ever take a
great look?
Speaker 2: If you don't want to tell me, that's fine, just
say so. It's none of my business if you're seeing
someone on the side. Trevor's a big boy.
Speaker 1: Can you stop talking about Trevor for five seconds. Trevor
and I are not a couple, and if we were,
I wouldn't be seeing anyone on the side. What kind
of person do you think I am.
Speaker 2: I don't know. That's the point. We're basically strangers. Don't
get me wrong. I trust you to fly a plane.
It's obviously your good pilot, but you are one big
question Mark Bush. Pilots are all the same. You keep
people at arm's length, just like my dad. I bet
that's why you two got along so well. You probably
never talked about anything important.
Speaker 1: This was a dumb idea. I'll take you home.
Speaker 2: Hey, hey, come back. I shouldn't have said all that.
Speaker 1: Just because you didn't get along with Walter doesn't mean
you have to take it out on me.
Speaker 2: I know, I'm sorry. That was way out a line.
It's okay, let's find you a tree. We don't have
to what in particular are we looking for any special criteria.
Not really, Come on, tell me you were really excited
about this a minute ago.
Speaker 1: My one and only rule is that it's got to
fit in the.
Speaker 2: Plane, So three feet or less.
Speaker 1: Oh at least four feet. Last year I fit a
seven foot tree in there. Granted I've never forwn a
tree with a person in the co pilot seat, but
we'll make it work.
Speaker 2: You come here every year to cut down a tree alone.
Speaker 1: And that's so bizarre to you, because why, I'm a woman.
I need a man to help me with a tree.
Speaker 2: He needs to stop right now. I get it. You
don't need anyone to take care of you. You've made
that clear. I have a lot of respect for women.
My sister's a big reason our company's doing so well.
Speaker 1: I guess I have been kind of defensive. The last
guy I dated was sort of traditional. You know, women
shouldn't work, women need to cook, and so we thought
about that a lot.
Speaker 2: When what's the last time you dated the nineteen fifties?
Speaker 1: It's been a while.
Speaker 2: What I meant was, what's the point of having Christmas
traditions if you don't do them with people you love?
Speaker 1: Maybe that's why I dragged you out here.
Speaker 2: I'm glad you did. I'm not trying to pick fights
with you. I think I'm taking my dad's death a
lot harder than I thought I would.
Speaker 1: I understand.
Speaker 2: What about that tree? No, what's wrong with it? It's bushy, nice,
straight trunk. It's perfect.
Speaker 1: I'll know it when I see it, all right, whoa easy?
It's icy here? Are you okay?
Speaker 2: You caught me?
Speaker 1: Yeah, you slipped.
Speaker 2: I've got at least one hundred pounds in you, and
you caught me like it was.
Speaker 1: Nice adrenaline or something.
Speaker 2: You're beautiful, Oh, thank you? So beautiful? Did I even
exist before this moment? You are everything that I never
knew I wanted in this life. What is it possible
to love someone too much? Because I feel like I
love you more than my body can contain.
Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, Calvin stopped. Do not kiss me. No,
I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to drop you. You
were saying really intense stuff, and I can't let you
kiss me, not like that.
Speaker 2: No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I don't
know what came over me.
Speaker 1: It's not your fault, trust me. It's my fault. Oh
my fault.
Speaker 2: I promised I wasn't trying to be creepy. I'm not
that guy.
Speaker 1: I'm telling you it's me. I do this thing that
makes people want to kiss me, and sometimes I don't
even realize I'm doing it.
Speaker 2: You do a thing that makes people want to kiss
you must be a real curse.
Speaker 1: That came out wrong?
Speaker 2: Are we okay? I promise that won't ever happen again.
Speaker 1: You don't have to make any promises.
Speaker 2: I don't want you to feel uncomfortable around me.
Speaker 1: It's fine. We got swept up in the moment. Hey, Calvin,
look behind you. Turn around slowly.
Speaker 2: Haven't seen one of those in a while?
Speaker 1: A reindeer.
Speaker 2: When they're wild, they're called caribou.
Speaker 1: But when it's Christmas time they're called reindeer.
Speaker 2: I'm not going to argue with a woman holding an axe.
Speaker 1: And look what he's standing right next to a tree.
Not a tree, the tree that's the one. It's the
perfect Christmas tree.
Speaker 2: Saved by the boo.
Speaker 4: I'd take it. Things didn't go well with the flight lesson.
Speaker 1: It started out okay.
Speaker 4: I saw his take off. For a minute there, I
thought he was going to pull it off.
Speaker 1: I know it was a bummer. I really don't want
to have to use my vampire voice on him to
make him fly.
Speaker 4: If I were you, i'd start with that first thing tomorrow,
nothing less than mine control. We'll get that boy flying again.
Speaker 1: Something happened to him and he won't talk to me
about it.
Speaker 4: I'm sure you've heard about his accident during the Festival
of Flight a few years back.
Speaker 1: I get the sense that it's something else. Do you
have any idea what it could be.
Speaker 4: I think you're making something out of nothing. Just do
the mind control and call it a day.
Speaker 1: Do you think we're too closed off like emotionally? Huh,
Calvin said. The reason you and me get along so
well is because we don't talk about anything important.
Speaker 4: We talk about airplanes.
Speaker 1: Airplanes are important, and we talk about the weather.
Speaker 4: That's very important. I know, right, what else is there
to talk about?
Speaker 1: Calvin and I almost kissed today.
Speaker 4: Oh no, no, no, no, no way. I don't do
relationship advice. Ask your girlfriends about that.
Speaker 1: I'm not asking for advice. I know what I should
do or rather not do. I'm only bringing this up
because you need to know about this thing called vampire glamour.
Speaker 4: Vampire glamour.
Speaker 1: It's when you're a vampire and you have feelings for someone,
sometimes you can I know.
Speaker 4: All about the birds and the bees, Abby, he trust me.
I was married, got two kids.
Speaker 1: Ew, No, that's not at all what I'm talking about.
Speaker 4: And what are you trying to tell me?
Speaker 1: As a vampire you can like make people want you
want you like in a romantic way. Oh, this is
so much more awkward than I thought it would be.
Speaker 4: You're saying you did that to my boy on accident.
I doubt he minded.
Speaker 1: Walter consent, it's a thing. Besides, it wasn't real. Could
have been, it wasn't. He was saying all kinds of weird,
lovey dovey things.
Speaker 4: Listen, if you and Calvin want to kiss each other,
you're grown adults and I don't need to hear about it. Ever.
Speaker 1: Calvin is a grown adult and I'm a two hundred
year old vampire, so I'd say it's a little more
complicated than that. And then there's Trevor and we had
a moment in his car and I told him I liked.
Speaker 4: Him, And Abby, what are you doing? Haven't you heard
the saying don't bite the hand that feeds you. We've
only got one doctor in this town giving out blood,
and you've got this no biting run.
Speaker 1: I don't know what I'm doing, going a century without
letting anyone in, and now it's happening all at once.
Speaker 4: I can't believe I'm saying this. Do you want my advice?
Speaker 1: Yes?
Speaker 4: You know how I learned to fix airplanes. First, I
broke a lot of airplanes. It's only when you've got
something broken that you can learn to fix it.
Speaker 1: Is this a metaphor?
Speaker 4: Or never stop breaking things? You just fix it and
move on?
Speaker 1: So am I the broken airplane in this scenario? Or
am I the mechanic?
Speaker 4: Every now and then you end up with an airplane
that you wrecked so badly there's no fixing it. Those
planes you use for parts to fix other planes.
Speaker 1: Is Calvin the airplane you broke and couldn't fix?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I suppose he is.
Speaker 1: I don't understand what happened with you too. The man
he says you are is not at all the man
I know you, to be sure. You're a little rough
around the edges, But you were my first friend when
I moved to Northern Pines. You gave me a job,
and I love hanging out with you in the hangar
and working on planes, drinking bad coffee. You've always been
there for me.
Speaker 4: You reminded me a lot of my son. I suppose
I wanted to be better for you.
Speaker 1: That's the secret to becoming a vampire. Love the vampire
blood you drank before you crash my plane, my blood.
It only worked because there was enough of a connection
between us. You really took a gamble on that.
Speaker 4: I don't gamble. I know what family feels like. We
don't have to sit around singing Kumbaya to know it.
Speaker 1: What about the other part. The vampire has to be
there the moment the person dies.
Speaker 4: No doubt in my mind you'd be there.
Speaker 1: Are you ever going to tell me how you knew
how to become a vampire? A hunch you're so full
of it.
Speaker 4: I'll tell you when you're older, maybe on your three
hundredth birthday.
Speaker 1: I wish Calvin knew you like I know you.
Speaker 4: He's my one and only regret. But he made me
a better man. If he knew me now, I believe
things would be different.
Speaker 1: Maybe you'll get the chance.
Speaker 4: It would take a miracle.
Speaker 1: Well, it is Christmas.
Speaker 3: Knock knock. Who do we have here? Calvin Forster. I
see you. He if you aviation medical?
Speaker 1: No?
Speaker 2: Oh, no, absolutely not. I'm here to see doctor Evans.
Speaker 3: I am doctor Evans.
Speaker 2: Oh your dad is doctor Evans. My dad is retired.
Speaker 3: I took over his practice a few years back.
Speaker 2: You've got to be kidding me. Let me put it
to you this way.
Speaker 3: I'm the only doctor for miles and it's three days
before Christmas. If you want your pilot's license for nude,
I've got to examine you.
Speaker 2: This is so weird.
Speaker 3: It's only weird if you make it weird.
Speaker 2: Let's just get the sofa WI first.
Speaker 3: I'll need you to remove your pants. What just kidding,
It's not that kind of exam.
Speaker 2: That's not funny.
Speaker 3: Normally that gets a laugh bedside manner and all that.
Speaker 2: I'll find that very hard to believe.
Speaker 3: Hold out your wrist. I'll check your pulse. Okay, Oh dear,
what one hundred and twenty five beats per minute a
bit high for a resting heart rate.
Speaker 2: Are you under a lot of stress? That wasn't until
you walked.
Speaker 3: In, Calvin. I can't clear a fly unless you relax.
Do you need a minute? No, this is going to
be a bit cold. What the stethoscope. I need to
listen to your lungs. Apologies, but it has to be
under the shirt.
Speaker 2: You better clear me to fly after this?
Speaker 3: Big breath in for me, and another and another and one.
Speaker 2: More for good measure. Are you enjoying this?
Speaker 3: All good doctors enjoy their work.
Speaker 2: Are we done?
Speaker 3: I have to take your blood pressure? Huh? Do you
have a history of high blood pressure? We well, it's
high right now? Too high?
Speaker 2: So what do we do?
Speaker 3: We wait five minutes and try again.
Speaker 2: You're just going to sit here with me?
Speaker 3: Yeah, you're my last appointment of the day. Everyone's gone.
I could either sit in here or wait in the hall.
It's no big deal. I've had to do this with
Walter a few times.
Speaker 2: What if it's still high in five minutes.
Speaker 3: Then I'll probably wait another five minutes and try again.
Despite what you might think, I want you to fly
in the festival. It means a lot to this town.
Speaker 2: I know how much it means to everyone.
Speaker 3: How'd the flight lesson go today?
Speaker 2: Abby didn't tell you about it? No, she didn't mention
anything that happened during it.
Speaker 3: Did something happen at the flight lesson?
Speaker 2: Okay? I have to ask, what's the deal with you too?
Speaker 3: What do you mean are you together? Why?
Speaker 2: If you two are a thing, I'll back off.
Speaker 3: You'll back off. H flight lessons must be going very well.
Speaker 2: Why won't you answer the question.
Speaker 3: Abby and I aren't together, but I'm her friend and
I don't want to see her get hurt.
Speaker 2: I won't hurt her. Sure, I think we can take
my blood pressure now.
Speaker 3: Miss Coal? What are you doing out here? I just
closed up the office, But if you need an appointment.
Speaker 5: I wanted to ask if Calvin is cleared to fly.
I heard he was here earlier today.
Speaker 3: Oh, I'm sorry. I can't give out that information doctor
patient confidentiality. You wouldn't want me to do anything illegal, now,
would you.
Speaker 5: It's only illegal if you get caught.
Speaker 3: I'm sure Calvin would be happy to tell you whatever
you want to know.
Speaker 5: I stopped by the earstrip for that very reason. But
Abby and Calvin were gone.
Speaker 3: Why did you give him a call?
Speaker 1: Now?
Speaker 3: If there's nothing else?
Speaker 5: Have you noticed any unusual injuries lately?
Speaker 3: I'm not sure what you're asking.
Speaker 5: Punctures on the neck or wrist, patients with unexplained memory loss.
Speaker 3: What's this about?
Speaker 5: I was going through the archives at the Historical Society,
and I couldn't help but notice the striking reason between
Calvin and Thomas.
Speaker 2: Well, they are related.
Speaker 5: Then I stumbled across some pages from Thomas Forrester's journal.
Walter was gracious enough to let me make copies. A
while back.
Speaker 3: Thomas Forrester kept a journal.
Speaker 5: He certainly did, very detailed, and the things he wrote
about would make your skin crawl. We've all heard the
local legends of creatures that survived off the blood of humans.
According to his journal, Thomas believed he had met one
of these monsters, a vampire.
Speaker 3: People were a lot more superstitious back then. They didn't
have access to the science we have today.
Speaker 5: If anyone comes in with a mysterious injury, will you
let me know?
Speaker 3: First of all, no, once again, it is illegal for
me to disclose any information about my patients. And second
of all, this is nonsense. Vampires aren't real, missus Cole.
You can't possibly think.
Speaker 5: That I'll find out one way or another. Nothing stays
secret for long, not in Northern Pines.
Speaker 3: Good night, missus Cole.
Speaker 5: I look forward to seeing you and your date Abigail
at the Christmas banquet tomorrow.
Speaker 1: That's what I said that.
Speaker 3: Was definitely not what you said.
Speaker 6: Thank you so much for spending your Christmas with us,
filled with laughter, love, and a little bit of magic.
We hope you enjoyed our Christmas Tale as much as
we loved bringing it to life. For a special treat,
head over to January Daphne dot com to claim your
free bonus audio drama short.
Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this episode.
Speaker 6: Please take a moment to leave a review. Your kind
words help us grow and share more enchanting tales with listeners.
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