Not only did I get a few more blog ideas from seeing the film, I also remembered it didn't have its own timeline yet. Today, I rectify that!
December 23
6:00 p.m.
Later that day, Rita, Shane and Norman are frantically packing the final gift for the Dear Santa Project as the clock ticks down on the weeks-long campaign. Congratulated along with the many other colleagues and volunteers by one Jordan Marley, he takes a particular interest in the trio as they clean up, even asking Shane to save him a dance later at the Postal Ball. Elsewhere, Oliver is hand-delivering a package to the son of whom he will later discover is a nurse at Denver Mercy.
Back in the DLO, Shane, Rita and Norman chit-chat before the ladies take their leave to prepare for the Postal Ball, leaving Norman and a returned Oliver alone.
At the Postal Ball, Jordan makes good on his invitation to dance, much to Oliver's chagrin. After a little fuming he finally decides to cut in, though it won't be the last he sees of Jordan, as he later joins them for dinner, revealing he has a special last-minute assignment for them.
After returning to the DLO, the four, plus their guest, begin dissecting the letter, finally determining that the young sender, Hannah, has sent the letter to God asking for Him to help her sick mother get better so she can see Hannah be a shepherd in her church's nativity pageant. They eventually trace the letter to Denver Mercy Hospital.
All the while, Shane's sour attitude towards the letter sends up a flag for Oliver, who can't quite get a handle on its source. |
Jordan pulls Oliver aside, claiming he has something he needs to discuss. Back at the DLO, it is revealed that Jordan has another letter to God that he specifically charges Oliver with the responsibility to deliver.
December 24
11:00 a.m.
Waiting for Shane to arrive at the Mailbox Grille, Oliver consults Rita about his letter's partial address, giving him what he believes is his first clue to finding the recipient. Once Shane arrives they assign pageants roles and production assignments, agreeing to meet back up in the DLO at 4pm. |
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The time visible on his pocket watch as he leaves the Mailbox Grille one wonders why it took Oliver so long to start out on his journey. But it isn't long before he witnesses an attempted theft of a woman's wallet from her purse, in which he intervenes. The woman, he discovers, is his childhood Sunday school teacher, whom he helps to the Mailbox Grille and assists in creating centerpieces for her event, all the while reflecting on Oliver as a child and a miraculous encounter he had one Christmas.
As Oliver heads back out on his journey he runs into Rita, Norman and "Bear-thazzar," still preparing for the pageant, as well as someone to whom he delivered a letter several months prior. The man asks Oliver for help, further delaying delivery of his important letter.
Back at the DLO, Shane and Jordan hit a hurdle in constructing their set, an offhand comment about Oliver knowing what to leads to Shane's discovery of Oliver's current whereabouts and prompts her to reveal why she has been so upset by Hannah's letter to God, which stems from her father leaving just before the holiday. Snapping back to the tasks at hand, Shane goes to rehearse with Hannah. While there, Hannah's mom, Amy, experiences a serious health incident, and Shane attempts to comfort the little girl.
4:00 p.m.
Arrived at the DLO, letter undelivered, Oliver finds himself alone. Making a call to Shane he hears about Amy's health crisis and immediately makes his way to the hospital. They discuss with Hannah's father postponing the pageant, but he insists the show go on. The next scene finds Oliver alone in the hospital's chapel, soon joined by Jordan. The encounter reminds Oliver of some important truths, and leaves him truly being "touched by an angel." |
After tracking her down, Oliver ends up delivering a healing message to Shane, the impact of which renders her ready to assume her full role as an angel in their pageant---halo and all.
5:00 p.m.
With the most important thing remembered, the pageant commences without a hitch. Later that evening, Shane, Norman and Rita depart for their holiday plans, but not before sharing a few sweet moments among each pair.
Alone, Oliver makes his way home, eventually taking a cab back to a mysteriously decorated DLO, that tree from the shore miraculously there for him to decorate, too. Before long, Shane, Rita and Norman return to spend the holiday with him.
Norman soon discovers that he finally has a stocking of his own, while Shane spies the necklace she traded hanging on the tree, recovered by Oliver. Their first holiday as a family, they spend their Christmas Eve dancing the night away. |