(Winter Wonderland playing)
♪ Sleigh bells ring are you listening? ♪
♪ In the lane snow is glistening ♪
♪ A beautiful sight we're happy tonight ♪
♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪
♪ Gone away is the bluebird ♪
♪ Here to stay is a new bird ♪
♪ He sings a love song ♪
♪ As we go along ♪
♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪
♪ In the meadow we can build a snowman ♪
♪ And pretend that he is Parson Brown ♪
♪ He'll say, are you married? ♪
♪ We'll say, no man... ♪
‐Jess. ‐Yeah?
I thought we discussed this.
Yeah, I know, we did,
but then I talked with myself some more
and I realized it's just so relevant, you know,
like, why can't a woman be Santa Claus?
A female Santa cookie is deviating from design.
Yeah, but, I mean, Sherry,
how can we burn down the patriarchy if we don't‐‐
It's just cookies, okay.
You can shatter the glass ceiling
on your lunch break.
♪♪
‐(cell phone rings) ‐Yes?
I got off work early.
Can I come be with you before my date tonight?
Oh my god, were you fired?
Sherry and I had a mutual parting of ways.
Jess, did you do that thing where you project
a feminist agenda onto inanimate objects?
Do I do that?
When you worked at that pottery place,
you told that guy that his bowl was body‐shaming you.
Hey, listen, it was a gravy boat,
and it had zero curves.
Ugh, but that's why I loved that bakery job.
So many stolen baked goods to taste test.
So much better than when you were a tutor
and always brought home algebra worksheets.
Okay, we both know those helped you
with your taxes.
Wait.
What smells amazing?
A new tea I wanted you to taste test.
Oh, is this from Meridians?
No, not work related.
Just kinda like for my own personal collection.
Okay.
Wait, it‐‐ it smells like me.
Mm‐hmm!
You guessed it. It's a you tea.
‐Hmm. ‐I infused it with saffron
‐just kinda like your‐‐ ‐My over‐priced conditioner
that you hate because of all of its parabens!
‐Mm‐hmm. (chuckles) ‐Wow!
Now I can finally drink something that reminds me of me.
‐You know. ‐Every girl's dream.
Hmm. Is it nice?
Being so good at the thing you know you want to do?
‐You'll find your thing, Jess. ‐Hmm.
I can't help that nothing meets my expectations
Well,
when your expectations are extremely high
and require perfection, you can.
So simple.
Ooh, maybe you can try on your date tonight.
Oh yeah, well,
he uses emojis in his bio, so I have
medium hopes at best.
But, you know,
at least I'm putting myself out there.
Is that a jab?
Yeah, it's a love jab.
But anyway, uh, can you help me pick an outfit?
I brought seven options.
♪♪
‐(phone rings) ‐Wha...
Hey, Kara, you can't call me right now!
Especially not with your whole face.
You said that he was in the bathroom.
Not like, indefinitely.
Kara: Okay, just leave me on the bar, like a coaster.
Like a coaster?
When have you ever seen me use a coaster?
Oh, I forgot to ask.
Um, is this ski mask just too intense
for the Big Bear Mountain trip?
Oh!
Hmm.
‐Oh no. ‐Uh. Oh no.
Oh no‐‐
I didn't mean for you to see me this way.
Were you calling for a date rescue?
‐A what? ‐Okay.
I find on‐site friend‐spies
to be a lot more effective.
Yes, absolutely.
You see that lady?
I see that baby.
That's my friend Kara.
So, careful.
Mm‐hmm. Okay, good. Yeah, good, great.
Because then I won't mess with her,
that baby, as I had definitely been planning to do.
Oh man, that is so like you,
always going to bars and messing with babies.
This is Kara, your friend
with the on‐call energy healer, right?
Uh, yeah, wait, how did you know that?
Earlier when you were talking about your best friend Kara
‐with a on‐call energy healer... ‐Right.
‐...and I was just going with‐‐ ‐Yes, of course, I'm sorry.
I'm on, like, five first dates right now,
so I keep forgetting who I'm telling what to.
That happens. Not to me but, uh‐‐
‐Well... ‐I'm proud of you.
Thanks.
Minimum is two team members.
Jess: Oh.
Trivia night.
‐Did you know that? ‐Look at that.
Wow. Uh, no.
Is that a deal‐breaker? Dealmaker?
Mmm. Sorry, I'm having a hard time hearing you
over the fact that we are absolutely doing this.
♪ Don't fight you know it's right ♪
♪ Just stay a little longer ♪
♪ Don't play 'cause honestly ♪
♪ It's no secret that I want ya ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ I'm addicted to you ♪
♪ And you know it's true ♪
♪ I'm addicted to you ♪
♪ No matter what I do ♪
♪ It's got me good ♪
♪ I'm addicted to you ♪
Jess: So, you just hate the joy of Christmas?
Ben: Exactly.
But I do love a good solid Christmas movie though.
‐You do? ‐And, um...
I heard that It's a Wonderful Life
will be playing at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
on the 21st.
Kinda morbid.
Yeah, true, but, you know,
it also makes sense
based on what the movie's about.
Is it about cemeteries?
You‐‐
‐You haven't seen it? ‐No.
Why? It's so good.
‐It's so good. ‐No, I haven't seen it.
It's so good!
It‐‐ I mean, like, not, not to, like, oversell it.
But it kinda, you know, like, you know, I mean,
will change your life if you...
‐Change my life. ‐...you watch it.
Uh...
But...
you know, it would also make, like, a great date.
That's presumptuous.
Is it?
(chuckles)
Well, uh, this is me. So...
Same.
(chuckles)
No, like, uh, we parked...
‐Oh! ‐...next to each other.
That's cute.
Super cute.
‐So, I'll‐‐ ‐So...
I'll text you.
‐You what? ‐What?
‐What did you say? ‐That I...
I didn't say‐‐ I just said I'll text you.
‐I'll text you. ‐Oh.
You'll‐‐ Right.
That makes more sense. I thought you said
I'll kiss you.
‐And I was like... ‐No. Oh yeah, no.
...that would be a weird way to do that.
Yeah, no, that would be a weird‐‐
‐Yeah, if‐‐ if I said that. ‐Yeah.
That'd be a strange way to do it.
Strange, you know, like weirdest.
The weirdest, um...
♪♪
‐Yeah. ‐Okay.
‐Cool.
Um...
So, uh, uh... Uh, just...
kiss me when you get home.
What?
Oh. No, yes, I get it.
I'll, um, I'll kiss you when I get home.
Yeah.
I'll do better on my joke next time.
That's good.
Jess (on phone): And we happened to be parked
like, right next to each other
which might just be a coincidence
but is more likely
‐the Universe! ‐The Universe!
I feel really good about this, Kara.
See, maybe you can expect
a lot from having no expectations.
(Jess laughs)
You know, I'm already, like, fantasizing
about New Year's with him,
‐which is just‐‐ ‐Gross.
I know.
Maybe I should end my dating embargo.
Jess: Yeah, yeah, maybe you can call that girl Tammy
as a little baby step.
Mm, she was a good cuddle. But I barely know her.
Yes, well, the idea is that you get to know her,
and then she's, you know, somebody you know.
So do it! We gotta do more things, Kara.
Okay, what is that?
Please tell me you're not at home
on a Saturday night, printing.
What could possibly be so important?
Nothing. Well, just, I'm printing my coupons.
It's nothing. We are talking about you.
‐(Jess' phone beeps) ‐(Jess gasps)
‐What? ‐He texted.
Already? what did he say?
You know, I can't talk and text and drive.
I'll call you tomorrow.
‐Wait. ‐What?
You didn't explain the baby in the bar.
Oh! Baby of the owner's sister,
and a really mean drunk.
Okay, bye!
Okay bye!
(phone beeps)
♪♪
♪ I'm dreaming ♪
♪ Of a white Christmas ♪
♪ Just like the ones I used to know ♪
♪ Where the treetops glisten ♪
♪ And children listen ♪
♪ To hear sleigh bells in the snow ♪
♪ I'm dreaming ♪
♪ Of a white Christmas ♪
♪ With every Christmas card I write ♪
♪ May your days be merry... ♪
Are you the parents of Jess Porter?
We have some news about your daughter.
♪ And may all your Christmases be white ♪
I've had Jess' eulogy written for a while.
I know that sounds weird,
but...
Jess had mine written too.
We wrote them together
years ago.
The power was out,
the Santa Ana winds I think, and, um...
we took that as our cue to get
very deep and profound.
Um,
and Jess got on some long speech about
life and death and, and how we should eulogize each other,
then and there, together.
But...
(sniffs)
...this isn't
the Santa Ana eulogy.
'Cause, um...
nothing about this
is obvious...
or fair...
or okay.
(sniffs)
We were supposed to be 100.
(people laughing, chattering)
Ugh. Son of a...
Automated Voice: I'm sorry, I didn't‐‐
Cancel existing reser‐‐
Please select one of the following options.
Cancel reservation.
I'm sorry, I didn't get that.
I need to cancel my reservation because my friend is dead.
And she was supposed to show me snow for the first time,
but now she can't 'cause she's dead!
So I need to cancel.
(exhales)
(sighs)
(humming)
(both humming)
(both screaming)
You‐‐ You're alive?
What? Ar‐are you really seeing me?
Um, I think so.
‐Oh. ‐Are you‐‐
Are you really you?
Uh...
yeah, I think I'm me.
(both screaming)
‐Sorry. ‐Mm!
Are you‐‐ Did that hurt?
What? No, no.
No, it didn't hurt. It's just‐‐
I'm just kind of freaking out right now, you know.
Yeah.
Huh? Didn't feel like anything.
Didn't feel like anything 'cause I'm dead.
But I'm seeing you?
Hmm? Yeah.
I know.
But, see,
I know I died.
Right, and I know you died
'cause I was literally at your funeral.
So...
I'm not alive.
At least not in the way you were before.
Then what am I, Kara?
And why am I still here?
So, we see if my parents can see me.
And if they can, we ask them all the questions,
because adults know things.
Except these are my parents here,
who have an annoying amount of faith in me,
and every question I ask, they just ask it back.
Like when you asked if Hogwarts was real.
And they were like, "Honey, what do you think?"
And then I applied there for college.
No, you didn't.
I did.
‐Kara honey, hi. ‐Mom, hi.
‐Kara: Hi, Deb. ‐Deb: So good to see you.
Kara: To be clear, just me, right?
Alex, Kara's here!
Come on in, come on.
Come on in.
Mae: So the last thing you said was,
"You're kinda great?"
Okay, I appreciate the little sister concern, Mae,
but it doesn't matter,
I mean, things like this happen all the time.
People meet, they have a great date.
And then it ends. Poof. No accountability.
‐Maybe she's dead. ‐Definitely.
My motto is dead until proven shitty.
That being said, if you like her,
why not just text her once more?
You're making this more complicated than it is.
Ben, you are not gonna get into LACMA with sketches
of me doing chores in the apartment.
Okay. So first of all, you don't "get into" LACMA.
Second of all, I'm just messing around
for this Christmas Eve art show that I'm doing.
‐Christmas Eve art show you're doing? ‐Yeah.
"From Selfie to Soulful. What does Christmas Look Like
Without Any Filters?"
Uh, fix your face.
Look, I know, it's gimmicky, but it's my first real show,
so, you know, get on board.
I'm on board.
You're the one defending and critiquing it at the same time.
Ca‐can I say anything without you psychoanalyzing it?
I'm literally getting my masters in psychology.
Yeah, yeah, I know, I just, I just figured
you might lay off the unsolicited shrinking
since, you know, Ruby broke up with you for it.
(scoffs) Well, well, now who's psychoanalyzing?
(mimicking) Well, well, well, now who's psychoanalyzing?
‐You're not the only psychologist in the family. ‐(Mae laughs)
You know, I wanted to see how you guys were doing?
We're...
We're okay.
Hey, hey, Dad. Dad.
Kara: Um, you don't, like, feel
Jess, like,
like she's with you, like,
maybe, like, she's sitting here or maybe‐‐
Yeah, sometimes.
Feel me now. Feel me now.
‐(cell phone beeps) ‐(chuckling)
Especially when that happens.
We haven't had the heart to turn her phone off yet.
Oh my god! Oh my god, my phone.
I've never been this long without it in my life!
Or death. (chuckles)
I probably have so many push notifications.
Our favorite kind of notification!
I'm sorry, what?
Oh, um, sorry, my stomach is‐‐
I just don't feel...
Must, must have growled or something.
Kara, a‐are, are you okay?
‐Kara: Yeah, um... ‐We should.
I think, I would feel better if I could go up
to Jess' room, alone for a minute.
So, I am the only one who can see you.
Yeah, well.
I mean, I don't know.
I guess it's all your, uh, your energy healing.
‐Hmm. ‐Like, think of all the dates
you didn't go on because you were busy
opening your third eye.
Way to take one for the team, Kar.
I can't tell if you are complimenting me or jabbing me.
It's a grateful‐jab. Speaking of.
I need your flesh hands.
‐Why? ‐My phone.
Oh, thank god.
‐Okay. ‐Okay.
Ooh!
‐You got so many things. ‐Oh my goodness.
Look at all these people finally writing on my wall.
‐I know, right? ‐So popular.
‐All it took was dying. ‐(phone chimes)
(gasps) Oh my gosh,
that guy Ben just texted you again.
‐Oh. ‐Jess, that's a triple text.
Oh! Triple text!
Josephine Baker!
He sent me Josephine.
I know.
Too bad he'll think you ghosted him.
Mm, yeah, you're right.
Ugh. I mean, I'm not a person who ghosts people.
‐Yeah. ‐I mean,
if anything, I, like, I ghost things.
Like, remember my soup cafe idea called‐‐
Ladle.
And then my paper shop idea called‐‐
Paper.
Yeah, I, I,
I guess I did kinda suck at follow‐through, huh?
There's just so much I didn't get to do, or‐‐
or eat or see.
There's the big one, which we can't really do
anything about now.
‐Madam President. Ugh! ‐Madam President. Ugh!
Oh, a woman in the Oval was literally the only thing
that I knew for sure I, like, wanted
and needed and dreamed of.
Well, you know what? Let's focus on the business
that we can fix.
Yeah, like things that I wanted to do
but I just never got around to.
Because maybe that's why I'm still here.
And first, there's something we need to take back to the bakery.
♪ Little bit of naughty, little bit of nice ♪
She stole it from your desk.
She was bitter...
and also loved Cher.
♪ ... good enough for me ♪
♪ Think about them goodies...♪
Kara: You have to learn to ride a bike.
♪ Stay up all night ♪
‐I can't. ‐You can.
No, I mean, like, I literally‐‐
I can't grab onto the handles or, like, pedal the pedals.
Then how are you sitting on it?
Your tangibility is so confusing.
Okay, I'll just steer you.
Yeah, you got it!
(Kara laughs)
♪ Wrap, wrap, wrap it up ♪
Oh my god! I did it! I stood up.
Yeah!
This class is so fun!
I don't know why I never finished it.
You do know you're supposed to do that in the water, right?
Yes! Yes.
Aww.
‐(indistinct) ‐(gasps)
‐Yeah! ‐Oh! Yeah.
(indistinct)
Are you tired?
That was a lot of unfinished business.
Hmm.
Well, I can't tell if I'm tired or just...
you know, dead.
What if this is like a 24‐hour layover for you?
Like, to wherever you're going,
and then if we fall asleep, then you disappear?
Hmm.
Just in case, I should smell you.
You should what?
What? (giggles)
Your saffron conditioner,
it's my favorite, and I'll miss it the most.
‐All right. ‐(sniffs deeply)
You smell like nothing!
No.
(sniffs deeply)
Oh! Vanilla.
I can smell you. I didn't even realize I could smell!
‐That's not fair. ‐That's not fair?
I see your point.
Hmm.
So, maybe this is goodbye, then?
Yeah, but...
for, like, ever?
So maybe bye forever.
Maybe bye forever.
♪♪
(birds squawking)
(screaming, laughing)
It wasn't just a 24‐hour layover!
Why am I still here?
Why are any of us still here?
Now I'm jumping alone!
Wait, though. Like, really. Why am I still here?
‐Who cares? ‐Well, I‐‐
You know, being a ghost yesterday
was, like, fun and exotic,
but today...
(sighs)
I'm just already feeling antsy.
Jess! This is so like you.
Something's all shiny and new and then you're like...
Over it. I know.
But what would this even be?
Just an eternity of hanging around?
Like, the same thing every day?
I mean, honestly, that sounds kind of great.
Uh, yeah. 'Cause you love that kind of monotonous stability.
‐Whoa! Jab? ‐Yes, it's a jab!
Aah! Too harsh.
‐Yeah. ‐It's just‐‐
What does it say about me if I can't even die right?
Like, I'm failing at the one thing
literally everyone does.
No.
You're not gonna fail at this.
We just need an expert.
How special is this?
Oh!
Maya. Cancel all of my appointments today,
except for Anne...
(mouthing) ...Hathaway.
Very needy.
So, Jess is here.
Oh, actually, Chrissy, she's‐‐
Oh yes, of course, of course.
Jess, welcome.
And just to be clear, for my notes,
you're seeing her with your two main eyes, right,
not your third eye?
‐Mm‐hmm. ‐Chrissy: Oh, good for you.
She's actually, she's stuck.
Oh yes. Like she was when she was alive?
What? You told her that?
I told her we both were.
She's my energy healer, Jess. We talk, okay?
So, we tried looking up different types of ghosts,
but we just got so overwhelmed.
Ugh! It's overwhelming.
I mean, is she a Tibetan Hungry Ghost,
is she an Undulating Cloud of Blackness?
Ooh! That feels like me.
Whatever she is, what Jess really needs is to ascend.
Okay, um...
is that like going towards the light?
Jess, is there a light you've been avoiding?
‐Nah. I wish. ‐Chrissy: When a ghost ascends,
they leave this life behind.
They graduate to another realm.
It's really the only "to‐do" after you die:
live, die, ascend.
Okay. Then why hasn't Jess ascended?
Mm. It's likely what you said, she's... stuck.
She needs to unstick.
Wow. Okay, that's very clear.
Okay. Do you have any insight into what might be keeping her stuck?
(clears throat)
Often the only thing impeding a ghost from ascending is...
love. But Big Love. Big Love!
Like either starting it, finishing it,
or finding it for the first time.
I didn't want to do another Tommy Bahama breathable linen for Dad,
but the man wants what he wants.
Why are these shirts so limp?
‐And why are you so mopey? ‐I'm not.
That looks great.
You know what you're doing?
You, in your head, are imagining that Jess is happy.
And that's dangerous.
I did that with Ruby and by the end of my post‐breakup fantasy,
she was running NASA.
I can prove Jess' life isn't better than yours.
You don't even know her name.
Yeah, yeah.
(keyboard clacking)
Is this her?
‐Oh my god. ‐What?
She's married?
Building a canal abroad? Just had brunch?
She's dead.
‐What? ‐Her Facebook page is a memorial page.
Oh my god.
Umm...
Okay, what would help you right now? A drink?
Right? We should just go drink.
Okay so, Big Love and then ascension.
Totally. Totally.
My only this is, with Big Love, you know,
I don't think I ever had it.
Really?
You didn't like Deshaun?
Like, wasn't he nice?
Yeah, but also, you know...
too nice and also not nice enough.
Oh my god. Okay, you know what? Our brains are too cluttered.
Let's do an energy cleanse!
Okay. Just because you don't self‐care
doesn't mean I can't for both of us.
Okay.
Right. (clears throat)
‐We're gonna start at the heart... ‐Mm‐hmm.
...and then we're gonna go up
to the crown and then release.
‐(Mae gasps) ‐Oh my god!
I'm so sorry!
‐I was doing... ‐It's okay.
...an energy demo on my, uh, myself, and‐‐
Can I buy you another beer?
No, no, no. It was the bottom bit of a cup of beer.
Plus, my brother and I still have a whole half pitcher, so...
Kara: Wow, a whole pitcher with your brother?
Mae: I know, it's very "I'm single!" of me.
No! It's great.
‐No, it's not. ‐(both laugh)
Oh, you kept it.
‐Our first date pencil. ‐Wait, Jess?
Hmm?
Oh my god!
Wh‐‐ Hold on.
‐Are you serious right now? ‐You can see me?
Jess, if you didn't want to hear from me again,
you didn't have to create a fake Facebook memorial page.
Oh, no. It's not fake! I did die!
Oh, right. Okay. Whatever you say.
Whatever who says?
Kara, he can see me!
‐Who are you? ‐Ben/Jess: Ben!
Oh my god, you're Ben!
So cute in person!
‐Jess: I know. ‐Uh, yeah,
this is my brother Ben.
‐Wait, who are you? ‐I'm Kara.
‐And I'm Mae! ‐My best friend, Kara.
‐Baby from the bar, Kara? ‐What baby?
‐And he can see me. ‐You can see her?
Of course I can see her, she's right there!
Who is right where?
(Ben sighs)
You really don't see her?
Do I really not see a person who is unequivocally not there?
No. I don't.
This is insane. This is insane.
All right, I know, it doesn't make any sense.
‐I believe you. ‐You do!
I believe that you just got some big news about a girl
you maybe cared about more than you thought you did,
and your grief is causing...
Like, remember with Mom?
Not everything is about Mom.
I know that.
But this might be.
Chrissy was right about love. About Big Love! He's it!
Maybe we were going to fall in love, in Big Love‐‐
But then you died before you could finish!
Which means we need to finish our love story! And to do that...
You need to keep dating and then fall in more love
and then, ascension.
‐Mommy issues. ‐What?
Oh, I just think this might have something to do
with Ben's issues with our mom.
I mean, I can see Jess.
Do I have issues with your mom, too?
(chuckles) No, actually.
I think a cute girl from the Farmers' Market
and my brother are having a simultaneous delusion.
So you think I'm cute?
(chuckles)
Look, Ben, I mean, you can see me.
Y‐You kept the pencil. That has to mean something.
So...
here I am.
I'm just a ghost
standing in front of an alive guy,
asking him to go on a second date.
You're dead.
You're dead!
‐Um, Mae can't see you. ‐Yep.
Nobody else can.
I can't say yes to something that's not...
Uh, you're not here.
All right, let's go.
It was‐‐ it was nice to meet you.
Bye.
♪♪
(groaning)
Well, that's not really what I meant by meditating.
It's the only sound that will come out.
‐Kara? ‐Hmm?
Should we maybe, like, try, you know, calling him?
No.
Or, like, maybe you can find his address.
‐That way, we can‐‐ ‐Haunt him?
I think maybe he didn't understand what I was...
you know, asking him.
(sighs) Here's what I think.
I think your Big Love would meet you half‐way.
And if Ben can't wrap his head around you dying,
coming back, and wanting to date, then he sucks.
And honestly, it kinda makes me hate him.
Like, "almost considering a Voodoo Doll" hate him.
We're gonna find it, okay?
Yeah.
And get you ascended.
Or ascend you.
(chuckling) Yeah.
‐Mm‐hmm. ‐You know what I mean.
Thanks, Kara.
Well, I need to go to work, but...
Hey, just in case, 'cause kind of‐‐
No idea what's going on?
Yeah.
‐Maybe bye‐‐ ‐Maybe bye forever.
Okay, Connie, I'm adding crushed guarana for caffeine,
so you can meet that deadline, but I also want to add turmeric,
which is an anti‐anxiety, so you don't go insane.
‐It's about balance. ‐You're a miracle, Kara.
Have a good one.
Earl's gonna be so amped to see you.
His eczema is out of control.
Oh. Poor Earl.
‐He's such an itchy man. ‐(Kane chuckles)
Okay. So, no pressure, but...
I still haven't received your application
for the Global Tea Program Apprenticeship.
Morocco would be so beautiful for you, Kara.
The tea culture there is so essential:
the ceremony, the mastery, the science, and‐‐
I know you lost your friend, but imagine the healing.
Imagine how essential it could be.
So essential.
(boy fussing)
(babbling, screaming)
Woman: Ben?
Hi, I'm Jane.
Yeah. Hi.
Nice to meet you.
Umm, yeah, I hope it's cool that we are, like... inside.
Oh yeah, inside's great. Or outside, too.
Either, or. Whatever you want!
♪ Before bitter before sweet ♪
(inhales deeply)
♪ Before you drifted off to sleep ♪
♪ There is a part where the two ends meet... ♪
One. Two. Nope.
No. Exercise is still dumb.
♪ No one wants to talk about between ♪
Oh my god, I am so bored!
TV Host: And up next, we have a timeless classic.
It's a Wonderful Life.
Starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.
The movie that will change my life.
(door opens)
Uh, hey, Kara. Hi.
Well, your hair's down. You can touch your hair?
Yeah. I guess I can touch, like, whatever's, you know, me.
Um. Hey, question.
Um, what day is it?
Mm, the 21st, why?
We have to go to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Now? I literally just got home,
and I been working all day, and it's almost night time.
‐Please. ‐Why?
‐Well‐‐ ‐Oh.
'Cause cemetery means dead people,
dead people mean ghosts who can help us with ascension.
‐Obviously. ‐Yeah!
(people chattering)
It's a bit busy for a Wednesday, no?
Yeah.
Unless.
Oh my god! I'm so sorry.
Okay, he's not a ghost.
Uh, I'm just gonna find out what's happening.
Okay.
Hey, sir.
Is this a seance or...
Man: It's our Holiday Movie Series.
Tonight is It's a Wonderful Life.
Okay. Thank you.
So I guess this is just a bunch of people
trying to see a movie at a cemetery.
(chuckles)
You know what? Uh, let's just...
Let's just go, Kar.
♪♪
Great.
Hi.
You remembered.
Yeah, I did.
And you're really here.
Mm‐hmm. I really, really am.
I don't know why you couldn't just tell me why we were coming here.
I‐‐ Because you just gave me a whole speech
on how he sucks and how he isn't worth it!
Yeah, but you can't just legislate when and how I get to be there for you.
Yes, I‐‐ Sorry.
Anyway! Um, I'm a terrible third wheel
so, Jess, I can come get you in a couple hours?
I can, I can take Jess home.
You know, and then that way, you have the night off.
Okay, yeah!
Okay, so per your text, here is a date‐kit,
so you can pretend to be on a date with a ghost,
because clearly enabling is what I do best.
Thanks, Mae.
Night, Jess.
Mae: Oh.
Oh! Cute Farmer's Market Girl.
Yeah. Oh! Please, just call me Cute.
(both laugh)
Um, I'm actually about to leave.
Oh!
Well, are you still gonna do that?
I don't know. I mean, I kinda feel like a walk now.
You around?
(indistinct chatter)
He'll be fine. Let's do it.
You know, when you mentioned a walk,
I never could have imagined something as enchanting as this.
(chuckles) Well, I'm full of surprises
and the world's tiniest bladder.
Does anyone have hand sanitizer?
Oh yeah. I do, actually.
Um, hold this.
‐Oh yeah. ‐Thank you.
That.
What's this? It says you can go to Morocco for three months.
Oh yeah. It's just a tea internship thing.
You can just toss that.
But isn't tea what you're focusing on right now?
Yeah, but, you know,
my best friend is stuck between two realms,
so right now is kinda getting pushed to later.
Wouldn't she want you to go?
She doesn't know.
We try to have big exciting things happening
at the same time so no one feels left out,
you know.
And right now, she just doesn't have anything, so...
She's... dead.
Exactly.
Oh, um...
I, I have it.
‐I have it for you. ‐Woman: Thank you.
...that shoot out of your fingers and your toes
and the ends of your hair.
‐Am I talking too much? ‐Yes!
(laughter)
Man: Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?
James Stewart: How's that?
Man: Why don't you kiss her
instead of talking her to death?
Want me to kiss her, huh?
Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people.
Can I ask you something?
Hmm?
What's it like?
Uh...
I don't know, it feels the same.
Almost normal even. Except...
like, okay, so I can sit next to you, but I can't touch you.
And...
I don't know, it's like I'm almost a person.
Can I ask you a question?
‐No. ‐(deep voice) Please.
(chuckles)
Yeah.
What changed your mind? About...
you know, about all of this?
I mean...
if I'm being really honest,
I was just on a kind of bad date.
(gasps) Oh no!
‐Yeah. ‐What, what was bad?
I mean, it‐‐ I mean, it wasn't terrible.
It just...
She just...
(stammers)
(laughs)
‐What? ‐No, I can't say that.
Say it.
Come on. Say it! Say it!
‐Okay, all right, all right. ‐Say it!
She just, she just wasn't you.
Yeah, you're right. That was pretty lame.
‐You know... ‐Bet you regret that.
I just let out my heart, and you just stomped on it.
‐Yeah. ‐Um...
(both laugh)
That's interesting.
What?
You can still blush.
(giggles)
What are you doing tomorrow?
♪♪
Oh, I wanted to ask you:
do you think this whole
"ghost relationship as a method for grieving"
would make an interesting paper
for my Abnormal Psychology class?
I could interview you, I could interview Kara.
Oh, or, I don't know, maybe you could just
ask her out like a normal person,
instead of trying to turn her into
some sort of psychological study.
You're the guy dating a dead person.
Okay, I know you don't see her, but she's there.
The same way Kara is.
Well, not exactly the same way.
I'm just saying, you should try it.
Dating a ghost?
No.
Dating without a textbook for once.
Hey, Ben?
I'm here if you need me.
You know that, right?
Yeah, girl.
Okay, and then this would be, like, you know, if he teases me.
And I like it but I don't want him
to know that I like it.
So I'd be like.
‐Yeah, that's good. ‐Wha...
You weren't even looking.
I mean, it's just, like, if you go on this date
and we're right about Big Love, then you might never come back.
What? Yeah. I mean, I know, but...
(knocking on door)
Ah! Wait, he's here.
And I feel like, I feel weird.
Oh, no, no, no. Don't feel weird.
Okay, um, we're good, we're good, we're good.
‐Okay. So you're gonna go on this date. ‐Okay.
We're gonna "Maybe Bye Forever," just in case,
and then you're gonna fall in love
‐and then you're gonna ascend. ‐Okay, look,
I'm not gonna fall in love. It's the second date.
I mean, I wouldn't be too sure.
Okay, well...
Just in case,
the Maybe Bye Forever?
That's why we say it.
That's why we mean it.
Together: Maybe bye forever.
(whispers) Alright.
(both laughing)
Yeah, I, I just figured it'd be good
to have some things to smell.
Jess: Oh stop.
You're so sweet.
These smell great.
Man: Sir?
Did‐‐ did you want to buy that?
‐Uh... ‐Well‐‐
It's, it's cool. I‐‐
No, that's great. Yeah. Let's do it.
Well, I mean, it's just that lilies kind of remind me of‐‐
Oh, um, I'm sorry.
No, don't be sorry.
Like a bad prom date or something?
Uh, no. Just my funeral.
‐Oh! ‐From that time I died.
‐Yeah. Uh, sorry. ‐No, it's‐‐
‐Do you want us‐‐ ‐Should we,
‐should we bail for something better? ‐Yeah.
Yeah, bail for something. Yeah.
And then my husband tells me that my in‐laws are now staying
through New Year's
and I immediately have a neck spasm.
Okay. Well, I‐‐ I want you to let this cool.
When you get home, I want you to sit down, breathe in...
(inhales)
...breathe out... (exhales)
...and when you feel still, sip.
You'll be spasm‐less by Christmas.
‐You angel. ‐(laughs)
Have a great Christmas!
You too.
Mae: Wow!
Did you just drug that lady?
She kind of just needed permission to slow down.
I mean, most people do,
and just a hot cup of tea does that.
Oh, I'm, I'm the girl who,
oh, is being haunted by a ghost, so...
Yeah. You probably just think I'm nuts.
You know, normally I'd agree.
But since I just staked out
three different Meridian Markets looking for you,
I am not one to talk.
You did?
Yeah.
Why?
(chuckles)
Not sure.
My brother is off with your mutual ghost today,
and it just got me thinking
about how not easy your life probably is right now.
Yeah.
Not really.
Hmm.
Well, first,
it sounds like you owe yourself some of that slow‐down tea.
(chuckles)
And second,
since "Jess" is with Ben today,
you're free, right?
I mean...
‐technically. ‐Great.
I live for technicalities.
(chuckles)
Just so I can emotionally prepare,
did you bring me here to rob this museum?
'Cause I'll do it. For you.
‐I'll do it. ‐When items aren't on display,
the museum, they store them down here.
It's off‐limits to the general public.
Oh!
So, how are we here?
They forgot to deactivate my intern badge
from the summer of 2016,
‐so... ‐Oh!
No, do‐don't touch that.
Right. Ghost. Yup.
Well, but on principle, no touching.
‐Touch it. Touch. ‐No.
This is one of my favorites.
This is... So, you see how it looks from a distance.
It just kind of looks like normal paint.
‐Uh‐huh. ‐It's pastel.
‐What? ‐Yeah. I mean...
In my opinion, pastel's underused,
so people should use it more.
I agree.
Um...
this is definitely
one of my least favorites.
But people stand in line for hours to see it.
So, here you are.
‐Wow. ‐Art.
(both laugh)
This one over here is...
Kara: I didn't realize LA even had ice skating.
‐(Mae chuckles) ‐Kara: It's such an oxymoron.
The Midwesterner in me can't do Christmas
without at least the suggestion of winter.
You know, I've actually never even seen snow.
Jess and I were supposed to go to Big Bear Mountain,
um... and I‐‐
Sorry, I don't mean to keep talking about her
reminding you how crazy I am.
‐You're not crazy. ‐I'm not?
When I was seven, Ben was twelve...
our Mom died.
For the first eight months after, I ate cereal
for, like, every meal.
I was obsessed.
It was the last thing that she gave me,
and I thought if I just ate enough,
maybe she'd come back,
like I could breakfast her back to life.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that
grief is a ridiculous,
personal, unyielding thing.
And I'm not gonna get in the way of someone else's cereal.
‐(Kara sniffs) ‐(cell phone rings)
Hey, Kane, everything okay?
What?
Okay.
That's‐‐ I didn't‐‐
Okay!
Yeah. Okay. Bye.
‐That was so weird. ‐Hmm.
My manager just said that I, um,
I got into the Morocco Tea‐Off,
which I guess is some final step to the Morocco program,
but I never even applied.
So...
So don't hand me an application
in a cemetery bathroom line
if you don't want me to secretly submit it.
Ben: This is...
a chair.
Wow.
I sat in it when I was an intern
and, and it, obviously, it broke,
because it's like 300 years old.
Mmm.
Oh no.
Oh god, I'm now a guy,
like, telling you about how he sat in a chair and broke it
in his mid‐20s, which‐‐
So are you, like, super bored? Do you, do you hate this?
You hate it.
I don't hate it.
I love it.
It's perfect.
Then why does your face look like that?
Just ignore my face.
My face doesn't know what it's talking about.
Mmm. I don't want to ignore your face,
is the thing.
I just, I‐‐
I don't know, I wanna know about...
all the museum chairs you broke in your 20s.
It's only this one.
I mean that there is a lot more to know about you.
And for you to... know about me.
And, uh...
I don't know.
I'm feeling like what people feel,
you know,
when they...
fall for people, which means that Chrissy was right,
which is just, like, completely insane.
I, I thought she had no idea what she was talking about,
‐but she‐‐ ‐So now I'm...
super confused.
‐Right. ‐Mm‐hmm.
Well, uh...
so, Kara and I went to see her energy healer, Chrissy,
and Chrissy said that I'm stuck between worlds
because, you know, Big Love is, uh,
it's making me unable to ascend,
and then, I just,
I‐‐ Listen.
I'm not the kind of girl who falls in love on a second date.
I'm not crazy.
But this just, it feels really different,
and it feels really good.
And it also feels really terrible
because it's making me not want to ascend at all,
and I should have told you sooner
and maybe also...
your face is doing a thing,
and I probably shouldn't have said anything.
‐So you're using me to ascend. ‐No.
Yes.
A little bit. I‐‐
Now that I'm hearing it out loud, it does kind of sound like that.
Um... do you wanna just go?
Just don't.
Don't ascend.
I mean, I can't just not.
Mmm.
And besides, you know,
the more time we spend together,
the more we're gonna fall for each other and...
That's presumptuous.
Is it, though?
All right.
Fine.
Then... let's make this the best ascension of all time.
(Jess chuckles)
Ben: Basically, we want to take
our relationship
to the, to the next level.
Ben, I think maybe just be super clear.
Is she talking right now? What's she saying?
Yeah. We wanna...
Jess and I, we want to be...
‐intimate. ‐Oh!
Yeah.
‐Oh. ‐Uh, is that something
you think maybe you could, like,
‐help us with? ‐(Chrissy chuckles)
Yes! Of course. Don't be silly.
Yes! Of course. I mean, it's like‐‐ You know, I have to, like,
there's, like, some work that has to be done to try and connect, like,
the dots and stuff, you know.
Let me just... (clears throat)
Oh, wait.
Yes. Yes!
Teachings say "inter‐dimensional tangibility is possible..."
No, no. One moment, one moment, one moment,
"When the...
"When the couple aligns their desires
"with...
the Winter Solstice."
That is when the walls between the two worlds are the thinnest.
‐Ah. ‐So when's that?
‐Wh‐‐ Uh, when's that? ‐When's that?
Oh, just, uh, one moment, one moment, let me just...
Whoa, that's, that's now, actually!
Christmas time. That's festive!
Says "The partners must tell their truths
without filter of the hearts."
Oh.
‐That's it? ‐Chrissy: That is it.
‐That'll work? ‐Oh yeah.
Only if it doesn't will it not.
Jess: Wow. You're, like, setting the scene.
And you have a bed in your studio?
Crazy.
You, uh,
you do this a lot?
Uh, no, I, I sleep here enough that
that it makes sense to have...
I mean, I, I don't ever do this.
‐Um‐‐ ‐I mean, no‐‐
I mean...
like, I do this...
I don't...
I've done it.
Oh, well, good for you.
Yeah. Yeah.
(both laugh)
Oh wow! This is ridiculous!
So ridiculous.
Um...
Okay, so if we were gonna do
what Chrissy said to do,
what would we...
do?
Uh, well, she said that we should
tell our total truths.
‐Whatever that means. ‐What do you think it means?
I don't know. Um...
I guess I'm just terrified that I don't really have one.
I've never really been very good at knowing
what my truth was.
I'm scared, too.
Because, I mean, the closer we get,
the more gone you are, and...
I mean, I've never felt like this about anybody, and...
and I don't, don't think I ever will again.
Wait.
I just did that. Did you feel that?
Yeah.
Can you feel that?
Yeah.
Try something else.
♪♪
(seagulls squawking)
♪♪
Jess?
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
♪ Let your heart be light ♪
She ascended, Kara.
♪ From now on ♪
♪ Our troubles will be out of sight... ♪
Okay.
When I woke up,
she was gone.
I think what Ben is trying to say is that,
he's finally starting to process Jess' death,
right, Ben?
♪ From now on... ♪
I just kind of, you know...
thought I would be there.
You were there
for everything else.
(voice breaking) Everything else wasn't enough.
♪ As in olden days ♪
♪ Happy golden days... ♪
(laughing)
♪ Faithful friends... ♪
Are you laughing?
♪ Gather near to us ♪
Sorry.
(sniffs)
It's like, okay, what now? You know?
What do you do when your ghost best friend ascends?
I can't just, like, la‐la‐la, go to work.
You know? Like...
Well, what would Jess want you to do
if the situations were reversed?
‐She'd cry, obviously. ‐Which you've done.
I mean...
She did always love when I made her Pizza‐in‐a‐Pot
‐and... ‐Pizza in a what?
It's like this dish with red sauce and cheese
and bread and pasta
and just all mixed into a pot.
‐Huh? ‐So... pasta?
Yeah.
‐Okay. ‐Uh, yeah. I mean...
‐But like‐‐ ‐...I think we can manage that.
Jess: So, clearly, Ben wasn't my Big Love,
and Kara is moving on.
I guess it's up to me.
Uh, so...
hi, Jess.
Good to see you. You look great.
I just... I want to forgive you...
us...
me for...
for just constantly judging myself on...
how well I was doing life...
For all of it.
I think I...
I think I actually did do...
some good stuff...
somewhere in there...
even if I didn't always finish everything.
I see that now, and I love myself for it.
And maybe...
maybe that's exactly the kind of love that I need
to ascend.
And so...
(exhales) ...I love you, Jess.
I said...
I love you, Jess!
Hi, honey.
‐Mama. ‐Hey, pumpkin.
Hi.
Hey, guys...
I don't know what I'm doing.
I know you always said that I could figure anything out, but...
You know, that my answer was the right answer but...
She liked these.
But...
well, there is a right answer.
There is a way to ascend, and I don't,
I don't know what it is,
and I need your help, and I can't even get you to see me!
I miss her.
(chuckles)
Alex: You know what I miss most about her?
What?
I miss the way she chewed.
(laughs)
Alex.
God, she just chewed like a monster!
‐Wha... What? ‐Alex: I know.
She could make a stick of gum sound like a chicken wing.
I did not do that.
That was just Jess being Jess.
Has everyone been talking about this?
‐All over the place, passionate... ‐Yeah.
Deb: You realize we created this just...
curious, complicated little being and...
Alex: All you want to do is watch her grow.
‐Right? ‐Mm‐hmm.
Hey, I‐‐
I'll keep growing.
I will.
Even if it's not, you know...
like the way we thought it was gonna be
and even if it's not...
here, I'm...
I'm gonna keep growing.
(gasps)
You remember what Kara said about...
about feeling her presence?
I feel her. I feel her right now.
‐Me too. ‐Oh!
‐Alex. Me too. ‐Deb: Yeah.
Oh, I feel her.
How is Kara, by the way?
‐Deb: Oh yeah. ‐Alex: Do we know?
I forgot to tell you. She, um...
she might be doing this tea program through Meridian
that's, um, three months in Morocco!
‐Alex: Oh wow! ‐Uh, wait, what?
‐Wow. Do you know what? ‐She's doing what?
I think that'd be good for her, to get away.
‐You know. ‐Deb: Yeah.
‐Yeah. ‐Wait.
‐I was glad she called. ‐Wait.
Not just because of the opportunity,
but, you know, she...
‐she wanted us to know. ‐Mm‐hmm.
‐Yeah. ‐But why wouldn't she want me to know?
Kara: You guys have everything?
‐Mae: Yeah. ‐Yeah.
All right.
‐Thanks. ‐Jess?
How could you not tell me about Morocco?
I thought you said she ascended!
I thought she did!
Kara: How long have you been standing outside my door?
Gonna take a shot in the dark here
and say Jess is back.
You were gone when I woke up. I thought‐‐
Wait, did you ghost me?
What? No.
I didn't ghost you.
I mean, well, yes. Yeah, technically.
But it's just because when I woke up,
you were, you were all cute,
and it was like someone hit the reset button
and I couldn't touch you anymore.
And I told myself not to get upset.
Like, okay. All right. Maybe I didn't ascend,
but maybe that means we could just date...
forever.
And I thought I'd go and get us some croissants and coffee,
cause, you know, that's adorable, right?
That's adorable, except I couldn't,
'cause I can't do anything 'cause I'm dead.
And it was all a little bit too much
and so yes, I left.
I'm sorry. But right now, I need to talk to you.
(Ben scoffs)
‐Kara: Mae. ‐Oh. Right.
‐Guess we're leaving. ‐Sorry.
So, uh, how long have you been planning to go to Morocco?
‐It's not even for sure. ‐Fine.
Thinking about planning to go.
I don't know, a month, maybe!
(laughs)
Okay. You know what, Kara, for someone who is so open
and honest and one with herself,
you are a pretty top‐notch liar.
Are you kidding me right now?
I didn't lie to you,
I just didn't want you to feel bad about yourself!
'Cause you never have anything going on
that you actually care about.
And I felt like you'd resent it,
because you just need me to be just as stuck as you are.
Uh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize I was keeping you
from everything you wanted in life. My bad!
Yeah. Your bad.
You know what? You're always jabbing at me
as like, as like a way to‐‐
‐To, like, what, Kara? ‐Hold me back.
To hold you back?
Okay. All right.
Well, you know what I think, actually?
I think that you love that I have nothing going on.
I think that you love that I have no idea what I'm doing.
Because I think it makes you feel
completely better about yourself,
but you know what?
At least I try new things, you know.
Maybe they don't last that long,
but at least I'm not gonna spend my entire life
brewing the exact same cup of tea.
(scoffs)
You won't spend your whole life doing anything, Jess!
You died.
You left.
You wanted us to take baby steps and do stuff?
Well, guess what, now, you can't.
I'm the one still here,
and I have to do it without you.
Well, I'm not gonna feel bad for you
that you're still alive, Kara!
Great. No problem.
Then I'm done feeling bad that you're dead.
Great.
I‐‐
Ca‐can you please open the door for me? Please.
(Chrissy chanting indistinctly)
(door opens, closes)
You were wrong.
Kara, I'm right in the middle of a light orb double bypass.
You said to trust myself.
You said to believe in myself.
But I don't know what the hell I'm doing, Chrissy,
because you don't know what you're talking about!
Uh...
You told me that this was gonna be
the biggest year of my life,
and it has been the worst.
You were wrong.
About Big Love, about ascension,
about all of it.
But I‐‐ I do truly hope your light is replenished, ma'am.
Please don't put this on my Yelp review.
(door slams)
(sniffs)
(sighs)
(chuckles)
Well?
This one's good.
Minty and watery.
Oh my god, I'm not gonna win a trip to Morocco
or get my tea blend sold in stores next year
with minty and watery.
Wait, they'll sell your tea next year in actual Meridians?
Yeah. As part of their Holiday roll‐out
which is why they're judging the teas
at this year's Christmas Eve party.
It's like a whole thing.
‐Let me try this one. ‐No, I‐‐
I didn't even mean to brew that one.
‐But you did. ‐Okay, but I must've been
on auto‐pilot or something here.
Kara. That is so good!
‐(sighs) ‐No, really.
I'm not even a tea person, which I probably should have told you sooner,
but that tastes, I don't know,
it's just perfect, like I want more immediately.
Well, I'm not gonna use it, okay, Mae?
It will literally win you the entire‐‐
I don't want to win with it!
It's Jess' saffron tea that I made for her,
because of her, and I‐‐ I don't want anything to do with it.
Kara, I really think that you should‐‐
Let's just go with the watery mint.
‐But the watery mint's not gonna‐‐ ‐Win?
Cool. Great.
I didn't want to do this stupid competition anyway,
and, and that's why I didn't apply
in the first place and probably why someone
should have respected that.
Let's just forget about it.
That's bullshit.
What?
You think this is about Jess?
This is about you.
This is about you using Jess' death
as an excuse to not do anything.
Great, therapy time.
Actually, yeah.
You think Jess is stuck?
Well, guess what, she's not the only one.
You're so preoccupied with a ghost,
you're barely here, Kara.
And as someone who wants you here,
it sucks to see that,
and it sucks to be around it.
But doesn't it suck for you, too?
(carolers singing Silent Night)
Is there a presence there?
Hello?
Fill me with your presence.
Make yourself known to me.
Oh my god. Look, honey.
I have been saying your name for ten minutes,
and I don't know how much more known I can make myself‐‐
Ugh!
There's no presence, there's no ghost.
I'm just one big fat fraud.
But, Chrissy, I, I am here,
and I need to be not here.
And I can't keep sleeping in Bed, Bath, & Beyond!
‐(cell phone beeping) ‐I can't‐‐
Go for Chrissy.
Ugh! Saul.
No, I'm fine. I...
One of my other clients is a little stuck.
I mean, her best friend is stuck and...
Yes, exactly!
Kara is, is so loyal.
Almost to a fault.
Yeah, that's true.
Wait. Wait!
(gasps)
Is that snow?
Huh, snow?
Chrissy: Oh!
We were supposed to see the snow together.
Chrissy: It is snow!
Oh my god! Oh my god!
Chrissy, you're a genius! You were right!
About Big Love. About, about all of it.
But I was just wrong about who it was.
I, I got to go.
Oh! Well, that's not snow.
That's just canyon fire ash. Ooh!
What's up, Jess?
I need your help.
Uh, it‐it's for Kara, and‐‐
Jess, you ghosted me.
Yeah, I‐I know. I know, but‐‐
You can't just waltz in and out of people's lives like it's nothing.
Well,
to be fair, I've barely been in your life,
so to be out isn't necessarily...
Well, I‐‐ I guess I just thought that you'd get over me.
Yeah, well...
maybe that's not a bad idea.
Hey, you know I wasn't even looking forward
to our first date.
Your emoji usage alone was quite concerning.
And, uh, then I met you.
And you were...
you, and...
I just liked you...
so much...
(sighs)
...and I thought, like, wow, okay, I mean...
this must be why people...
stick with things, this feeling.
And then I died.
Because...
I don't know, maybe the Universe was mad at me.
♪♪
The Universe wasn't mad at you, Jess.
But, I mean, really though, it...
it wasn't your fault.
I looked at my phone, you know.
This one's on me.
Yeah, it's too bad because
I'll probably never open up to a girl
the way I did with you,
constantly afraid she'll die.
Or worse, god,
die and not ascend.
Oh, hey, I‐‐
What happened with us should make you...
You can and you should open up to people!
‐I was just kidding. ‐Right.
Well, let's jump on Tinder.
Start swiping. Time is of the essence.
Well, I mean,
before I meet anybody new, I've got to...
finish my third piece for the show tomorrow
and by finish, I mean start at all
‐and then finish. ‐Mm‐hmm.
Well, that's actually why I'm here.
Um...
I think we can help each other.
I'm honestly impressed with myself.
(Jess giggles)
Ben: Good morning.
I think I was stupid.
Uh, sorry, Mae, but Jess is‐‐
I Ruby‐ed, Kara.
She didn't want to submit for Morocco,
and I full on analyzed her
and told her she was using Jess' death
as an excuse to stay completely paralyzed
and not brew her tea for the competition.
But who am I to decide that for her?
Ugh. God. Controlling Mae isn't cute.
It just isn't, and I need to just stop.
Man, I'm sorry, Mae. But maybe‐‐
Hey, Ben, I have an idea!
I think it might help us with Kara and also Mae.
Um, so, could you tell her. Just‐‐
‐Maybe what? Keep talking. ‐Sorry.
Jess is here. She is saying, uh, we're working on something
that we need your help with,
but it would also help you with Kara, too.
"Jess is here?"
You know, I'm sick of your little air quotes, all right!
What is happening?
Ben: I wanna guess how many fingers.
‐Ben, come on. ‐Ben: No.
Um, I, I can't see anything.
Jess will tell me how many fingers you're holding up,
and then I'll tell you, and then you'll believe us!
Oh, she's doing, like, a strangly thing.
Stop doing the little strangly thing.
That's not nice.
You're not slick. You know I do that.
Oh.
Jesus.
Four fingers. Oh, and a leg up.
Four fingers and a leg up.
Cool?
What the hell.
‐How can I help you guys? ‐Jess: Oh‐‐
She looked right at me. What are the odds?
I owe you an apology.
‐You don't have to do that. ‐I want to.
Your life is yours, Kara.
I was excited for you, yes,
but it's more important that you're excited for you.
I over‐stepped and over‐analyzed, and...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, too.
I know you were just trying to help,
and I'm usually the helper, so it was hard for me.
Anyway, I like that you over‐analyze.
‐You do? ‐Yeah.
It's hard to avoid your own shit
when a girl you like is putting your face in it.
(Kara giggles)
What a nice, kind of gross thing to say.
Come with me to Ben's show.
Kara: Thank you.
Aww, such manners. (giggles)
‐Oh, they're here. Go. Go. ‐Hey, Kara.
Kara, hi.
Hi. So, um...
I think I figured it out!
Kara.
Wait. Hello?
Oh my god.
She can't see me!
I can see you, I just don't want to talk to you right now.
Oh.
Is that Jess?
‐Hi, Mae. ‐You can hear her?
No, not technically but...
But you live for technicalities.
Never too late to change a little.
Hey, Kara. Can we please talk‐‐
Kara: Mm‐mmm.
Good evening, all! We are ready to begin.
Benjamin, would you like to start?
(applause)
So, uh, yeah, when I heard about the theme for the show,
I started thinking about this idea of filtering
and how obsessed
we all are with, like, presenting
this perfect version of ourselves.
And I liked what the show was asking:
like, what happens when we remove the filters,
and just let ourselves be ourselves?
I wanted this Christmas to, to showcase just that:
those soulful, honest, holiday moments,
whether they're perfect or not.
That might mean...
being...
‐angry. ‐(laughter)
Or, uh, it might mean being,
you know, super sad.
Kara, I‐‐
‐Ben: Um... ‐Shh!
‐(clears throat) ‐Ben: But you know, sometimes,
sometimes, we get lucky,
and our most honest moments
happen to be our most perfect ones.
Thank you.
(audience applauding)
♪♪
It's an Apology Portrait.
We were supposed to have...
the most amazing trip to Big Bear,
and I was supposed to be with you
the first time you saw snow.
But that couldn't happen.
We were supposed to have, like...
a million more firsts, and lasts together,
and all of it, uh‐‐
But we don't get any of that, anymore.
Jess, don't.
It's you, Kar.
I mean, I died thinking
that I still needed to find my soul mate,
still needing that Big Love that people always talk about.
But...
(chuckles)
I already had it.
I have it.
It's my best friend.
It's you.
And I think I, I think I...
maybe I always knew it deep down.
I think I did, too.
Really?
But I was scared.
You know, because that meant...
that you were gonna leave
for real,
forever.
And...
And I'm still scared, but...
But... our baby steps are going different ways.
And we need to take them on our own.
Mm‐hmm.
(sniffles)
Kara, you have to go to Morocco.
(exhales)
I know, I‐‐
I mean, next year, I guess but...
I didn't send in my submission,
and they pick the winner tonight, so...
Oh, well, you know, I...
I actually just got, uh, Ben and Mae
to take your saffron‐Jess tea to Kane earlier.
Jess, we literally just talked about
how we have to take our own baby steps!
Oh. Yeah.
Right. Well‐‐
I don't know, maybe we just think of this
as, like, as our last...
"together step."
And this time, it's not me holding you back, you know.
This time,
I'm just a ghost...
standing in front of her best friend...
asking her to fly.
(Kara chuckles)
(both laugh)
You want to come in with me?
No. This is all you.
Right.
Okay. Here I go.
Hey, uh, Kara, wait!
Hug me.
Yeah, right.
No, no, really! I...
I think we might be able to, because of what Chrissy said
about the thin walls and telling our truths
and I don't know, cause it's Christmas Eve.
Okay.
Oh! Actually, that reminds me!
Um, will you tell Chrissy that when she was outside her office,
on the phone with a client, and she felt a presence,
that it was me and she's not a big fat fraud?
Chrissy does phone sessions?
Yes. Will you tell her?
(chuckles)
I will.
Okay.
(Jess gasps)
(both laugh)
Woman: Kara Shafer, you're up.
(people chattering)
‐Hey. Hey. ‐Kara!
Oh! You're just in time.
The judges are about to taste your tea.
This saffron component is remarkable.
Do we have a winner?
Congratulations, young lady.
‐Oh my god. Really? ‐(crowd applauding)
Way to go, Kara!
Oh my god.
♪♪
Merry Christmas, Kara.
Merry Christmas, Jessie.
(sniffs)
♪♪
♪ Falling down ♪
♪ The snow is falling down ♪
(inaudible dialogue)
♪ Coming out ♪
♪ Life is coming out... ♪
You know, New Year New Me, as they say.
They do say that, don't they?
‐Yeah. ‐Mae: You sure we can't drive you?
It would be very easy to immediately unload that car.
No. Airport commutes destroy relationships,
‐and I won't have it. ‐Not true.
Fine.
Bring me back a souvenir.
‐I will. ‐You can give it to me
on our Welcome Back Kara Date.
Aww! The official first date.
How exciting and stuff!
I know, right? (chuckles)
Okay. Here I go.
Talk to lots of strangers.
Kara: I will!
♪ Bells are ringing loud ♪
♪ But I'm so cold ♪
‐Jess: And he sent it back how many times? ‐Ten times.
What? Okay.
Ascended Steve Jobs sounds super particular.
‐I mean, a martini's a martini. ‐Right?
‐Right. ‐Ben: Jess?
Oh no!
‐Oh no! ‐Ben: Oh no!
Hi, what are you doing here?
Um, cardiac embolism.
‐Oh! ‐Yeah.
‐I'm super dead. ‐Damn!
‐Bam. ‐Damn, that's crazy.
So what is that, like,
is it like, a broken heart?
Probably that's what that is.
Not a broken heart. Not a broken heart.
‐Okay. ‐Broken.
But still sad and untimely.
Yes. Right. Tragic.
Ugh, I'm sorry. And poor Mae!
Well, I think since her whole experience with you,
she's been thinking about all of this very differently.
You know, all this.
‐Mm. ‐Trivia night.
Oh. (chuckles)
‐Should we? ‐Oh yeah.
‐I‐‐ ‐Oh, no, wait.
I'm sorry. I'm having a hard time hearing you
over the fact that we're absolutely doing this.
I, I would love to, but...
I actually have plans.
No, yeah, uh...
Yeah. Right. Of course you do.
I, uh, shouldn't have assumed.
Oh, no, no, no! Assume me.
Assume me. I love it.
I just, I just have something that I gotta go do.
But it's Trivia Night every night here, like, forever.
So, um, you know...
next game?
Yeah. Yeah, next game.
Okay.
♪ Finally made it home ♪
Bye.
♪ Yeah, I'm back where my heart belongs ♪
It's her Visiting Day.
She never misses it.
♪ Gifts are wrapped underneath the tree ♪
♪ Fire cracks, sippin' something sweet ♪
♪ It's been forever ♪
♪ Here comes the snowfall ♪
♪ Gather together ♪
♪ Sing all the old songs... ♪
The frothy top is sugar.
Moroccan caramelization.
And this...
‐is on the house. ‐A woman Santa cookie.
Love it.
Happy opening week.
Thank you.
Hey, boss.
I was gonna take off.
Yeah, go. It's Christmas.
Okay. Are you sure you'll be good on your own?
Go. I'll be fine. I'll be fine. Go.
Merry Christmas.
♪ Gather together ♪
♪ Sing all the old songs ♪
I got this.
♪ Toss in the home town ♪
Yeah, you do.
♪ No matter what we're going through ♪
♪ I just wanna celebrate with you ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ I just wanna celebrate with you ♪
♪♪