Written and Directed By Christopher Del Gaudio
Original VTR Date: January 12, 2002 [Color]

Missy Vining opens her diary onto the morning of December 21, 2001, and flush before her is the first holiday season following the September 11th incident. Missy is the wife of firefighter Bobby Vining who had been part of the first unit rescue team. To date, he remains one of the missing - an inevitability she has brought herself to accept. His mother, Joanne, however, is viewing things from a different perspective. With great faith and rationale that survivors may still exist, she is preparing Bobby's favorite foods, finalizing the tree trimming, and searching the house for a little stuffed Santa Claus from Bobby's first Christmas that, ever after, held a post beneath the tree. In short, she is expecting him home for the holidays.

Missy and Bobby's sister, Peggy, resort to Victor Segovia, neighbor and fellow firefighter for whom Joanne has always held a quiet affection. She and Victor both lost their spouses prematurely; and perhaps, out of guilt, she never allowed their bond to become what it was meant to. Missy and Peggy hope that his words can reach her, but their attempts at reasoning elicit a confrontational response from Joanne, and she storms out of their Christmas Eve gathering.

At the stroke of midnight, she breaks down before a family picture, realizing that Santa Claus overlooked them this year. Bobby materializes, wearing a Santa's cap, not just to help his mother accept the fact of his passing, but to reinforce the concept of Santa Claus. "Once a year isn't enough to play Santa. We need him everyday. And we all have to play him." For on September 11th, he didn't just go to work, he played Santa, surrendering his own life to save the many others that are "home tonight." And this he learned from Joanne herself who had surrendered her own pain after the early death of their father to maintain a happy and hopeful childhood for Bobby and Peggy. He reiterates this separately to Missy. When she trembles as to what to tell their newborn daughter when she starts asking questions, Bobby's response is to "make her smile, make her laugh, and make her believe, even for a little while, that there is such a thing as Santa Claus." While the fact remains that he is gone, their love is "still here," and "that's what she has to know."

Victor returns on Christmas morning, apologizing. Joanne requests that he help her plan a memorial service for Bobby. Honored, he offers her a package that he found outside. It is the little stuffed Santa Claus that had been in absentia; realizing as she looks into Victor's eyes, that he had been "so close, she overlooked him." A gift from the son whom she gave life, who in death, gave her back the courage to go on with her life and the serenity to open her heart to new possibilities...

Missy concludes a New Year's journal entry with a thought that reflects and transcends 9/11: "There are no words to describe the loss of someone you love. But it is the legacy of smiles and laughter, good will and peace that we who remain must pass on; and the gentle reminder that through the ice and storm of winter, when snowflakes fall, there is such a thing as Santa Claus. Far beyond the North Pole, but closer than a dream. A Christmas wish for our time. And all time..."

CAST
(in order of appearance)

Missy Vining: SANDRA MURTHA
Joanne Vining: JOANNE ANTONUCCI
Peggy Vining: PAULINE MARTINO
VIctor Segovia: LUCAS RAMIREZ
Bobby Vining: JAMES DUGGAN