In this 1995 TV-movie, Richard Thomas plays Richard, a workaholic dad who couldn't be tactful to save his life. Annette O'Toole plays his wife, Keri, a woman who has been trying for ages to get Richard to stop being so obsessed with his work and to pay attention to more important things -- such as their daughter, Jenna. They live in a small apartment; Keri is the manager, but she does not like this job. Richard co-owns a ski shop.
One day, Keri hears about an old lady named Mary Parkin who needs live-in companions -- ideally, a young couple. Keri sees this as a great opportunity. She could now get income from assisting the old lady, and they would be able to live in a big house instead of their cramped apartment. Richard is reluctant to do this, and has no respect for Mary. He thinks she's old and weird and cranky. He's very impatient and doesn't take the time to try to understand her.
Mary gives Richard and Keri the job, namely because she has a soft spot for children, and she likes little Jenna. (We later learn that Mary once had a daughter.) Keri and Jenna learn to like Mary pretty quickly, but for Richard, it isn't easy.
After moving into Mary's house, Richard begins to have strange dreams. In them, he sees a little angel beckoning to him, and he hears music. One night, he traces the music upstairs to Mary's attic, and discovers a "Christmas Box," a music box with nativity designs on the top. Why does this music box mysteriously play? Is something or someone trying to give Richard a message? Richard isn't sure if he's nuts or if the angel's trying to teach him something, but he's convinced something strange (or perhaps miraculous) is happening to him.
Mary asks Richard what the first gift of Christmas was. Richard is put off by this question, and it takes him quite a while to come up with the answer Mary is looking for -- "a child." Mary lost her own little girl years ago, and if Richard continues to let his career consume him, he's going to blink and miss Jenna's childhood. Richard learns to appreciate the people in his life before its too late, and he becomes a better, more caring person thanks to Mary's influence.
A prequel to this film aired in 1996 -- Timepiece, a movie that depicts the younger years of Mary and her husband and daughter.
