Brick: Hey, Dad, I've been working on the family Christmas letter, and I want to run it by you.
Mike: Uh, not a good time, Brick. I just drove all the way to Jasper and then to Bedford 'cause they put a tree on hold for me, which apparently means "sell it to whoever walks in and asks for one."
Brick: You know, if you can make that a bit more interesting, I think I can squeeze it in this baby. Here's what I got so far. "Dear friends, merry Christmas 2014. What a year. Mom doesn't wear pants anymore. She's got an unsightly bruise on her hip that's been there since July. She says if it doesn't go away in a week, she'll go to the doctor. Finances weigh heavy on our minds. The sink fell through the counter last month, and now we wash dishes in the shower. Axl's football career appears to be over, as he dropped the ball... both literally and figuratively." I'm very proud of that part.
Mike: Yeah.
Brick: "Mom and Dad stay up late worried about Sue doing something with Darrin called 'losing it.'"
Mike: Whoa! Brick, you can't say any of that stuff.
Brick: Why not? It's all true.
Mike: Yeah, well, that's exactly why. Christmas letters are just for the good things that happened in the last year.
Brick: Oh. Well, that's gonna be a lot harder. And shorter.
Mike: [chuckles] Yeah.

Frankie: Well, at least someone has a passion for the holiday. The kids are just so blah.
Mike: So, we start later in the day. Who cares?
Frankie: Don't you get it? Now that they're not little anymore, the magic is gone. Remember when they used to wake us up at 5:00 a.m. and jump on our bed?
Mike: I remember you cursing into your pillow.
Frankie: "Damn it" isn't a real curse.
Mike: You didn't say "damn it." You said...
Frankie: The point is, once you made me get up, I just loved how they couldn't wait to open their presents. And now all they want are gift cards.
Mike: I remember you cursing about having to go out and shop...
Frankie: The holidays are stressful! That doesn't mean you don't like 'em!

Brick: Hey, Mom. Can I interest you in a decorative crock-pot cozy? Now you can leave your crock-pot out where everyone can see and save yourself unwanted embarrassment. It's for the women's club. These glasses are the prize for being their top seller.
Frankie: Let me guess. You're using the cozy money to pay off the peppermint-bark people.
Brick: Exactly.
Frankie: Brick, you're running a Ponzi scheme.
Brick: A Ponzi-what, now?
Frankie: You're using money you don't have to pay off the debt you had before, and now you got to go into even more debt to pay off this debt. It's an endless cycle. You're never gonna catch up.
Brick: Isn't that what you guys do with your credit cards?
Frankie: Well, yeah, but we're gonna die before they catch us.

Axl: So, it's like this kid's born, and he starts to grow up, and he wants to be just like his dad.
Brick: And they have a cat?
Axl: I'm not exactly sure where the cat comes in or the cradle, but, basically this kid just wants to hang out with his dad all the time, but his dad's too busy with work. And then at the end of the song, the dad's like really old. All he wants to do is spend time with his kid, but now the kid's busy with his own family, and, uh... he just can't find the time.
Brick: What happens? Does he get to spend time with his son?
Axl: The song doesn't say, but... [inhales deeply] the kid's pretty busy, so... [voice breaking] I'm assuming the dad eventually dies. [sniffles] [rubs eyes] Pine needles.
Brick: I'm calling Dad at work.

Mike: But, uh, your mom knows she's only got you for a few more years, and, well, it's not just your mom. It's me, too. Time goes fast, you know, the whole "Cat's In The Cradle" thing. That's why I wanted to have Christmas with just the family. Well, that, and your grandparents are nuts.
Axl: Yeah. [chuckles] Hey, what's "Cat's In The Cradle"?
Mike: Well, it's a song from the '70s. You've heard it.
Axl: Uh, no.
Mike: "My child arrived just the other day, came into the world in the usual way." "There were planes to catch and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away." Anyway, the kid goes off to college and... gets married, you know, starts a family, and the dad starts to slow down, and... "I've long since retired. My son's moved away. I called him up just the other day. Said, 'I'd like to see you if you don't mind.' He said, 'I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time. See, my new job's a hassle, and the kids have the flu, but it's sure nice talking to you, Dad. It was sure...'" [exhales] Anyway... it was a pretty famous song. Have fun at the bonfire.
Axl: Yep. I will.