This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Estelle Parsons: Hi, I'm Estelle Parsons. You're listening to Around the Sun. This is Season 3, Episode 1. Advent. You'll miss them foremost on Saturdays and Sundays. Only change persists.

[0:29] Kyle: God. Hey, I can't really talk right now.

[0:31] Spike: Kyle? I'm sorry, who's this? This is Andrew's brother, Spike.

[0:46] Kyle: Oh, hi, Spike. Sorry we won't be able to get to see you and Bebe this Christmas, but we were sure to send up some Florida sunshine.

[0:52] Spike: Yeah, well, I'm just calling to let you know that Bebe died.

[0:57] Kyle: What? Bebe died.

[1:05] Spike: She did? Yeah, but go to Florida as if nothing happened. We can tell Andrew about it in January. Don't upset his day. He's got enough on his plate. Thank you, Kyle. Have a blessed day.

[1:20] Kyle: So what happened again?

[1:22] Spike: Well, I was getting my mother's breakfast together and It's a Wonderful Life was on in the background.

[1:24] Kyle: Oh, I just love that movie. Original Black and White or Rich Technicolor?

[1:29] Spike: Original Black and White, I guess.

[1:36] Kyle: You don't remember?

[1:37] Spike: I've never seen it.

[1:39] Kyle: You've never seen It's a Wonderful Life? Still haven't. Bebe died just as the thing was ending.

[1:43] Kyle: Oh, you should finish it sometime. It's a classic.

[1:46] Spike: I'm told. And what do you want us to do with the body?

[1:52] Kyle: Oh, well, can you check back in a few hours? My sister Paula will know what to do.

[1:59] Spike: Hours? Yeah, I have a previous engagement. I can't leave until you have a plan.

[2:06] Kyle: Why not?

[2:07] Spike: Well, she's fine here. It's very quiet on this mountain. Trust me. No one comes up here. Ever.

[2:14] Kyle: Even so. But I've been postponing this trip for as long as she's been sick.

[2:24] Spike: Hey, It's a Wonderful Life is starting up again. I'll give you until Donna Reeve's entrance to tell me what you want to do here. Just let me know how it ends.

[2:39] Kyle: Hello? What happened? Andrew? What happened?

[2:45] Spike: We were watching It's a Wonderful Life and then boom.

[2:45] Spike: No, Bebe just died.

[2:46] Kyle: Boom? Boom what? The bank rush?

[2:54] Kyle: Oh, God. But don't bother coming up.

[2:56] Spike: Oh, I'm coming. You and Kyle already have plans.

[3:00] Spike: I'm coming, Spike. It's my mother.

[3:04] Kyle: Well, I'm leaving. Paula should be here soon though. So I don't know. Call back when she's here. She'll know what to do.

[3:09] Spike: Did you even tell Paula yet?

[3:10] Kyle: No, I didn't tell Paula yet. There's a lot going on up here and I'm the only one around as usual.

[3:16] Spike: Well, you're supposed to have a plan, Spike. That's your job.

[3:20] Kyle: Excuse me. I have a plan. Like all rugged individualists, I'm going on a pilgrimage to find myself on the Niagara Bird Trail. My bus leaves at 4 p.m. I need to go. Just make sure there's food in the house for all of us.

[3:27] Kyle: OK? Fine. And Spike?

[3:30] Spike: What?

[3:33] Kyle: It wouldn't kill you to get a Christmas tree either.

[3:40] Spike: It wouldn't kill you to go get... You go get a Christmas tree.

[3:44] Max: Happy Holidays from the Warming Hut. This is Max.

[3:49] Spike: Hey, Max, this is Spike from a little farther down the mountain.

[3:55] Max: What can I do for you, Spike?

[4:00] Spike: Well, remember that backpack you helped me stock with all the non-perishables?

[4:05] Max: Of course, for your bird walk. Is everything OK? Did you find yourself yet?

[4:11] Spike: Not yet. I'm leaving at 4. But Max, I need to expand the order to include some last-minute Christmas catering for some dopey unexpected guests.

[4:17] Max: Sure, Spike. What do you need?

[4:22] Spike: Well, I'm thinking, like, I don't know, two dozen beef jerkies, two dozen veggie sticks, a case of refried beans, maybe, and a case of canned pork. How's that?

[4:27] Max: You said this was for Christmas?

[4:29] Spike: Yes. You can leave it under my name. But someone else will pick it up. I'm off to find myself before they suck me in.

[4:33] Max: Are you sure that's what you want? I mean, canned pork for Christmas?

[4:39] Spike: I'm sure, Max. Merry, merry.

[4:40] Max: Merry Christmas.

[4:42] Spike: Bye, humbug.

[4:44] Kyle: It's original black and white!

[4:47] Spike: Huh? It's the Wonderful Life! You were watching the one in original black and white.

[4:52] Kyle: Oh. Just in case you ever want to fix it someday. Thank you.

[4:59] Grace: Yeah, hi. The number you have dialed is no longer in service. Konnichiwa, Spike.

[5:07] Spike: Konnichiwa. It's Grace. Why is everyone yelling? Do you know what time it is over here, Spike?

[5:12] Spike: In Tokyo, not a clue.

[5:16] Grace: 3 a.m.? Do you know what that means?

[5:20] Spike: Still no clue.

[5:22] Grace: It's the eve of Christmas Eve. You know how much I love Christmas, so I wanted to call and wish you and Mommy a happy eve.

[5:31] Spike: Okay, Grace, that's very, very nice, but I have an overdue reservation to go and find myself, so happy eve to you, too.

[5:38] Grace: I miss Christmas on the mountain, Spike. I miss Santa.

[5:44] Spike: Not the time, Grace. I have another call, but you need to call Paula in the morning, or Andrew. They have some very important news for you.

[5:49] Grace: Okay, Spike. Happy eve!

[5:51] Spike: Whatever. What does this one want now?

[5:53] Paula: Hello? Well?

[5:56] Spike: Well what?

[5:58] Paula: Well, were you gonna tell me that our mother died, or just everyone else?

[6:06] Spike: Oh, hi, Spike. How are you?

[6:08] Paula: I'm well, Paula. How are you? Joycey and I are on our way up.

[6:12] Spike: And I'm on my way out to find myself on the Niagara Bird Trail. We're at a rest stop. Joyce is in the bathroom. I can't talk long. She doesn't know yet, so I have to be quick.

[6:18] Paula: And what do you mean you're on your way out? Where's Phoebe?

[6:22] Spike: She's with the ambulance lady, still watching It's a Wonderful Life.

[6:27] Paula: What do you mean she's still watching It's a Wonderful Life? They're playing it on repeat.

[6:33] Spike: But she's still dead, isn't she?

[6:35] Paula: I think so. You want that I should ask her?

[6:40] Spike: Spike, listen to me. Move her to a funeral parlor. Send her to the crematorium so we can scatter her ashes on top of the mountain or something.

[6:45] Paula: Don't rush me! She died, Spike! Step up! Do you really need us to spell everything out for you?

[6:53] Spike: Listen, I thought you were coming up here so I could go out and find myself.

[6:58] Paula: Listen, I don't want Joycey knowing that Phoebe died until after the mother-daughter scape.

[7:04] Spike: You're still doing that?

[7:06] Paula: I am going to have one more happy moment with Joycey, and you are going to put Phoebe on ice until all of us get into town.

[7:11] Spike: But my bus leaves at 4 p.m.

[7:13] Paula: You're 40 years old, Spike! If you haven't found yourself, you're not going to find yourself at the Niagara Bird Trail! Now get to work!

[7:20] Spike: So have you decided what you're going to want to do with the body, or should we eat things out until George takes over the building alone?

[7:27] Paula: Oh, I don't know what to think anymore. Everything was coming into focus, and then Phoebe had to die.