[THOMAS]
"Angels in the Snow", a work in progress

I hunkered down and got back to work... trying desperately to avoid any... distraction

[ALVIN]
Merry Christmas, Tom! I hope this card finds you locked in your office writing: otherwise, I simply won't excuse your not coming home! When are we gonna see a new book from you? Customers keep hounding me - I tell them, "Don't rush him, it's a process!" So... how's the process?

Miss you! Love, Al

[THOMAS]
(struggling to write)
"Every Christmas Eve
We'd make angels in the snow
Just like every other kid has done..."

"We'd strеtch out our arms and legs..."

"Then we'd wavе them to and fro..."

"In a..."

"In a... something..."

"In a halo of the late December sun..."
[ALVIN]
Merry Christmas, Tom! How can you bear another Christmas without me! Where's your new book? Why aren't you writing?

Why aren't you writing me?

Love, Al

[THOMAS]
"Proudly, we'd create
Our two angels in the snow
With..."

"With..."

"With reverential robes
And perfect wings..."

"We'd spend hours in the yard..."

[ALVIN]
Merry Christmas, Tom!

[THOMAS]
"All those Christmases ago..."

[ALVIN]
Another Christmas, another card!
[THOMAS]
"And when at last they were complete
We felt like kings..."

[ALVIN]
I wish you'd write!

[THOMAS]
"Then, as the sun disappeared..."

[ALVIN]
Love, Al

[ALVIN]
"And when at last they were complete
We felt like kings...

"Then, as the sun disappeared...

As the sun disappeared, we would-"

[ALVIN]
MERRY CHRISTMAS, TOM, FROM THE KELBY'S-

[THOMAS]
"THEN!
As the sun disappeared-"
[ALVIN]
PLEASE, WRITE!!

"AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
AS THE SUN

I JUST NEED SOMETHING DOWN ON THIS PAPER

STILL, NOTHING THERE
NOTHING THERE

Who's story is this?!

[ALVIN]
WE ARE GATHERED-

[THOMAS]
WE ARE GATHERED TO HONOR THE LIFE-

[BOTH]
-OF ALVIN KELBY!!!

[THOMAS]
NOTHING THERE!!!

[ALVIN]
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW, TOM

[THOMAS]
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW, TOM

(THOMAS frantically searches through the shelves and the discarded pages strewn about the place, releasing fragments of memory as he does so.)

WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW

The world must keep moving and changing so fast!

[ALVIN]
It's rare that you notice a moment
The moment it's hurrying by

[THOMAS]
The trick is in keeping the past in the past!

[ALVIN]
If a stupid, squashable bug can have that kind of power, what about us?!

[THOMAS]
Wouldn't you like to be more
Than just that weird Kelby kid??

[ALVIN]
I knew my mother's robe, but somehow I'd forgotten her!

[THOMAS]
Words have no power to change
What is destined to die!

[ALVIN]
"May I drop down dead in my tracks and rot!"

[THOMAS]
I guess what I'm trying to say, now that we have a minute
Is, Lately you're asking for more than I'm able to give

[ALVIN]
Look up from your page, Tom!

[THOMAS]
He turned into someone I'm not sure I know

[ALVIN]
Money and prizes are fine consolation

[THOMAS]
Some friendships continue, and some you outgrow!

[ALVIN]
(desperately)
You're amazing, Tom!!

[THOMAS]
AT BIRTHDAYS AND CHRISTMAS
A TOKEN HELLO

[ALVIN]
I'M GONNA MISS YOU

[THOMAS]
TIL THE LAST TIME
WE SAY

[ALVIN]
GOODBYE, TOM

[THOMAS]
HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY!
I LEFT HIM HERE ALONE!!