[HOLLY]

When I was small I thought that all adults had handbooks that would tell them all they needed to know

A recipe for birthday cakes

A remedy when your heart breaks

A guide to help avoid mistakes

Then I got old and no one told me what a dumpster fire growing up would turn out to be

My cakes are always semi-stale

My breakups hit the Richter scale

I majored in mistakes at Yale

I never check the directory

I'm often losing my way

But I've got a forward trajectory

No time for yesterday

A clean slate

A clear plate

No more running when times get tough

A fresh start

Open heart

And a chance to prove you are enough

Face your fear and choose to claim it

See the picture then re-frame it

No longer just standing by

I'm ready to try

While all my peers have used their years to be productive with their reproductive feats on display

I've got a cookbook just for chicken wings

A violin with broken strings

And five golden rings

But every mistake is a lesson learned

A chance to start over new

This seasoned traveler has now returned

I know what I have to do

Embrace

This old place

Coming home is not a defeat

Be strong

You belong

Though reception might feel bittersweet.

Take a breath and count to ten

Pick yourself back up again

Kiss apprehension goodbye

I'm ready to try

[CHARLIE]

Nicky, come on. We're booked solid and short-staffed as it is. No, I understand. You too.

[HOLLY]

Hey, stranger.

[CHARLIE]

Where were you this time?

[HOLLY]

Seattle.

[CHARLIE]

And how is the Emerald City?

[HOLLY]

It was...

[CHARLIE]

Was?

[HOLLY]

There's no place like home.

[CHARLIE]

So things didn't work out with hunky Hat Historian?

[HOLLY]

Turns out, he wasn't very cap-tivating.

[CHARLIE]

Wow. How'd he take the news? … You didn't letter and leave, did you?

[HOLLY]

My fear of conflict is crippling.

[CHARLIE]

No kidding.

[HOLLY]

But I'm back now. For good!

[CHARLIE]

We'll see.

[HOLLY]

Where's your holiday spirit?!

[CHARLIE]

That cute smirk

It won't work

It's the same thing every year

You say

You will stay

Then you turn around and disappear

[HOLLY] [CHARLIE]

Take a chance, you won't be sorry I don't believe it

Help me write a different story I can't conceive it

Time to simply You'll never

To clip my wings and leave the sky Clip your wings and leave the sky

I'm ready

I'm ready

To try