Rescuing Christmas (2023)

[bunniefuu]

Just breathe, Chuck.
You've got this. We've got this!

- But-but, Debbie--
- No, trust me.

Once he hears the pitch
for Operation Wish,

it'll be goodbye, HR,
hello, workshop! Ah.

- Workshop?
- Workshop.

Workshop, baby, let's go!

- Let's go!
- All right, all right.

Being a human
has never been harder.

Social media, super storms,

mac-and-cheese ice cream.

Why, it can't be
as bad as all that.

Look, Santa, it seems
that the world is in dire need

of some Christmas magic.

Hm, now, that I understand.

Sir, I'm not gonna
sugar-coat it,

there is a lot of grumps
in this world.

We have a chart right here.

Oh, oh, no!

But we believe
we may have a solution.

The concept is simple.

One human,
three Christmas wishes

to bring back
the joy of Christmas.

Christmas! Ha-ha.

We reviewed with legal and there
are just a couple of provisos.

Yes, no super powers, no
instant millionaire wishes, no.

Keep it small,
keep it toy-sized.

Oh, I-I-I like that.

That feels Christmasy.

Also, we can't use any obvious
in-your-face magic

to grant wishes, right?
That would give us away.

It has to feel organic, natural,
coincidental, if you will.

Mm-hmm. Like Christmas kismet.

- You've got it.
- You get it.

Only one question.

What's not to love?

- Oh. Oh, great!
- Yeah, well, all right, great!

Well, thank you, Santa.
Sir, you won't regret it.

How do we select the winner?

Oh, uh, legal advised
that we choose at random.

So would you like to do
the honors, sir?

Oh.

Oh-oh-oh.

Oh.

Like I said, it's a crisis.

Well, fa-la la-la-la la-la-la
to you, too, buddy!

Unbelievable!

Holiday traffic. Christmas
is gonna be the death of me.

- What'd you say?
- Mm? Nothing, nothing.

Just gonna put on some music.

You're listening to WXMS,

bringing you Christmas 24/7.

Don't forget to enter
our contest, Operation Wish.

One winner, three wishes,
one Merry Christmas.

This ad is like glitter, man.

It's everywhere and there's
no getting rid of it.

♪ You get to see old ♪

Aunt Erin, what's a cynical?

Not sure
I understand the question.

My mom says
last Christmas made you cynical,

and now you don't like it
as much. What's a cynical?

Hey, your mom and I are gonna
have a little bit of a chat

about something
called oversharing.

No, love Christmas.

It's the most wonderful time
of the year.

It's the hap-hap-happiest
season of all,

pick a tiding of comfort and
or joy, 'cause I'm feeling it.

My mom says
sarcasm is a defense mechanism.

Well, your mom is, uh,
well, she's a smart lady,

but I promise,
I still love Christmas.

- Pinky promise?
- Wait, wait.

Wait, does
kneeling mean he's proposing?

I can also admit
that Christmas last year

was kind of exhausting.

Okay. Oh, look, there they are.

Oh, my, get it,
get it, get it, get it.

- You getting this? Go, go, go.
- Yup, yup.

♪ Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas ♪

♪ Santa Claus
will soon be on his way ♪

♪ Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas... ♪

What the Christmas? This is
starting to feel personal.

- Aunt Erin!
- Oh, hi, buddy.

Hi, bug. How did it go?

I got some awesome shots.

I practiced the rule of thirds,

and Aunt Erin says you're gonna
have a chat about oversharing.

- Oh, yeah.
- Sorry.

Well, Auntie Erin,
do you wanna go with us

to get some hot cocoa?

Oh, you know, I would love to,

but I've to go to the studio.

- Please.
- Uh, sorry, buddy.

- Seriously?
- Yeah.

What is with
the Scrooge routine this year?

- You've been such a ghost.
- Okay, first of all...

I don't feel like you know
who's who in that story.

And I have done all of
the things Christmas, okay?

The-the shopping, the wrapping.
We went to the pageant.

Yeah, but it's been like
doing it all with

the Ghost Of Christmas Blah.

Is this,
is this an Archie thing?

- What? No.
- What's an Archie?

The photography guy
who broke up with her

last Christmas. Remember?

He wore all black
and talked a lot.

Olivia! Wow, she really picks up
on everything.

- I'm so sorry.
- It's okay.

Because you know what, guys?

This is not an Archie thing.
And you know why?

Because auntie is not defined
by her past relationships.

Got that, Olivia? Jonah?

Wonderful.
This is not about a breakup.

It's about a breakthrough
with my art,

which is why
I have to go to the studio.

But I'm gonna see you tomorrow
night at nana and pop-pop's.

We're gonna do
some decorating, right?

I'm gonna see you and Taylor
tonight at drinks.

And I'll, uh, you know,
I'll-I'll

see you all
at the town tree-lighting.

All right,
I'll expect you

at everything
with jingle bells on.

♪ Out on the night ♪

♪ Go so slowly ♪

♪ About a few times ♪

♪ And it echoes in my... ♪

- Happy holidays, Erin.
- See ya.

S-sign up now
for Operation Wish,

and we'll do our holly jolliest

to turn that Christmas frown
upside down.

You, yes, you, holiday traffic

eroding your goodwill
toward men. Literally you.

Okay,
being a little heavy-handed.

We don't wanna overwhelm her.

We have 12 days.
We can't take any chances.

Have you caught the humbug?

Well, we have the antidote.
Operation Wish.

I can't prove
it was intentional,

but the car came right at me.

When Christmas Attacks.

- Now, see, I'd watch that one.
- Okay, I didn't say that.

And I also don't hate Christmas.

I just don't know
how much more of it I can take.

h*, h*, h*.
How's everyone doing?

Oh, good. Thank you.

But I would be so excited
if I had, like, a White Russian.

But don't let them
do anything Christmassy to it.

Don't, like, crush up a
candy cane and like, sprinkle it

on the rim. Do you guys wanna
get an app? I'm starving.

What ghost are you?
Past? Present?

You guys, for the record,
I'm not a Scrooge.

There was a little trace
of humbug there.

What do you have
against Christmas?

- Um, nothing. Nothing.
- Uh, this is my friend.

Travel. Is it the baking?
Is it the gift-giving?

Oh, it's the gift-giving.

I'm so sorry. Who are you again?

Oh. I'm Sam Collins,
Taylor's friend from law school.

Yeah, I, uh,
I tried to say that.

Sam just moved here
from Chicago,

where he was
at a very fancy firm,

but he's going to be joining
my practice here.

No, no, no, I'm just
helping you out, part-time,

while I pause to enjoy life
without fluorescent lighting.

I don't wanna talk about myself,
I would much rather

crack the case
of the Christmas Krampus.

Seems like you're putting a lot
of effort where most people

would just slap a bow
on a pair of socks for dad

and call it a day.

I-I-I'm a freelancer.

I don't have any kids. My folks
are getting a little older.

So, yeah, you could say
it's fallen to me to make sure

that none of our traditions
fall through the cracks.

- You want my advice?
- Sure.

Keep it simple.
Give everyone the same thing.

No. No! You can't do that.
Who does that?

- You do that.
- Objection. Relevance.

He makes them all himself.

Though, I've never actually
seen it in person.

But, I mean, that's cheating, if
I gave you guys my photography

every year, I would never hear
the end of it.

- Wait. She's a photographer?
- Hm.

You said
it was drinks with friends.

Well, it is.
Erin's a friend. My friend.

She just happened to become
my sister-in-law.

And here I am, dressed like I'm
teaching kids to paint on PBS

instead of going
on a blind date.

- Sorry, what?
- Oh-oh, this. This is a setup.

And we have been set up to fail.

Erin,
you set Taylor and I up,

and look how well that went. I'm
just trying to return the favor.

And please know that I would not
normally be this candid until

we were 21 dates in
and with a adopted cat.

- Dog?
- Better.

Hm. Guess it wasn't
meant to be. Shame.

- Shame.
- Shame. Heh-heh.

Well, uh, ahem, it was lovely
chatting all things Christmas

with you,
but I am suddenly exhausted.

And as I have told
these two multiple times,

I'm just not really in a dating
kind of headspace right now.

- So if you'll excuse me...
- Erin, we're sorry.

- Just, why don't you stay?
- Erin, come on.

- Come on.
- Have a great night.

She's fun.

You know, I still
can't believe she deleted it.

I told you,
we were doing too much.

We're playing with fire here,
I mean, we are literally

chestnuts roasting
on an open fire, Chuck.

- Deborah.
- It's Debbie.

Do you think that
swiping and spam filters

are any match for magic?
We're just getting started here.

Let her have her little
silent night. We know her.

We know what she likes.
You memorized her file.

Huh, people-pleaser, perfectionist.

A shocking disdain
for peppermint,

which I will never understand.

Exactly. She's normal-ish.

We got this. Eyes on the prize.

Cheers, buddy. Ha-ha!

- Hey, Erin. It's me.
- Hey, Taylor.

Hey, uh, Jonah's gopher g*ng
gift is over there on the couch.

Wow, try saying that
three times fast.

- Hi.
- Hey.

We were on our way to court.
What'd you want me to do?

Leave him in the car
with the window cracked?

And I also come bearing
a little seasonal pick-me-up.

- Oh.
- That is...

- Go ahead. A...
- It's a peppermint mocha.

- Mm-hmm. Yeah.
- Dude.

- I told you, no peppermint.
- It's fine.

No, I asked if she'd like
a mocha, and you said

"No peppermint."

I thought you meant,
"No. Peppermint."

It's fine. Thank you.

Wait, yeah, hold on.
Uh, these...

These are amazing.

Reminds me of Helene Binet.

- I love Helene Binet.
- Mm.

Wait a second. You know Binet?

- Uh, my uncle's a photographer.
- Huh.

Wow, it's kind of like Maria

and I knew
you had some things in common.

- Oh, don't even try it.
- Not off the hook yet.

- Don't.
- And...

- I've gotta take this.
- Your phone didn't ring.

Sam's got something to ask you.

- Ha.
- Really?

You moved to Duluth to work
with that brilliant legal mind?

Well, something like that. Ahem.

These-these are really stunning.

Are you planning
any kind of show or anything?

It's my turn to interrogate.
Why'd you leave Chicago?

I went to law school in Chicago
because my dad recommended it.

I took a job at a law firm
that my professor recommended.

And why do I feel like
this is a distraction

because Taylor said
I have something to ask?

Oh, uh, um, Sam, I just...

I know it's, uh,
it's-it's a lot to explain.

I'm just not really an act.

Um, you seem like
a really nice person.

- You j... I just...
- Oh. No, no, no, no.

- Appreciate it.
- No, no, no, no. My...

My family
has some old undeveloped photos.

- I was wondering if--
- Oh, yes!

And I could develop them.

- Great.
- I said that loud.

Uh, so should I just drop
the film off today? Later?

Actually,
today's kind of a disaster.

But, um, what about tomorrow?

I could swing by your place
and get 'em.

I mean, not like...
Just-just 'cause it's easier.

Because it's easier.
Because it's easier.

Taylor will give you
my information,

and you just text me
on your way.

Cool.

- Bye, Erin.
- Bye.

- Where's it gonna go?
- Oh, careful.

Yes! The final ornament!

- Final ornament.
- Oh, sorry I'm late.

- Hey, all right.
- Oh, dad, please don't get up.

Oh, my gosh.
Keep icing your back.

Or you're gonna have
a blue, blue Christmas.

But, honey, the tree is crooked.

- The tree is my job.
- Ah, ah, ah.

Have a cookie that Erin made
with the kids.

Wow, you've been busy.

Mm, you don't know
the half of it.

She fixed the lights outside,

baked cookies with the kids,
did the tree.

Had a charming run-in with Sam
over coffee.

- Yeah, what a coincidence.
- Oh, you're welcome.

Okay, what about the list
of things that happened today

make you think
that I should be thanking you?

- Oh! Wow!
- Ooh!

Okay, I gotta go.

I'm gonna apply to some
galleries, but I love you guys,

so I'm gonna grab some
pizzelles on the way out.

Oh, sweetie, sorry,
I haven't made those yet.

- I just got a little tired.
- Oh.

It's fine. Totally fine.

I'm fine. I'm fine.

That's like
three too many fines.

Delete.

Block.

I've been hacked.

Man, the Christmas
is hacking me.

To whom it may concern.

I officially

reject this contest.

Please stop contacting me.

"Would you mind giving us
some feedback as to why?"

Oh!

"These wishes are wasted on me.

They should go
to someone more festive."

That's exactly why we chose you.

Give us a chance,
uh, start small.

If we let you down, we'll stop.

Okay, fine. Fine.

I wish for some

of my mother's

Christmas pizzelles.

- Mom!
- Hi, sweetie.

Um, I'm sorry about earlier.

I know how hard Christmas was
for you last year,

and you deserve
a little pick-me-up.

H-how did you get here so fast?

Who contacted you?

You know, I worry about you
cooped up in that dark room

with all those chemicals.

Anywho, I love you,

and I will see you tomorrow
at the tree-lighting.

Uh-huh.

Hm.

Uh...

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Come on in.
- Sure.

- Wow!
- Well, not a date, not a date.

I just thought maybe
you could use a little Christmas

made by someone else.
A relaxing Christmas.

A classy Christmas.

- Classy Christmas? Why?
- Hm.

Oh, 'cause of the saxophone.

- Right?
- Right.

Well, this is a lot of

very kind effort for a non-date.

Says the woman who puts forth
so much effort at Christmas

that she's running
on pine-scented fumes.

- Hm.
- Film's in here.

Mm-hmm.

Aww...

- Did you make these?
- Maybe.

I'd put you on the list, but
somebody told me it is cheating

to give everyone the same thing.

- There you go.
- Oh, thank you.

I'll take good care of it.

Look, I must say, you are making

a much better case for Christmas
than that radio contest.

Have you heard those ads? It's
making me completely insane.

Of course, you've heard them.
They're everywhere.

- They even emailed me recently.
- Hm.

Oh, hello. What is this?

Yeah, I did some pro bono work
for them with my old firm.

Don't tell Taylor,
but that's part of why

I'm reluctant
to join his firm full-time.

And I'm hoping to do
more of that kind of work soon.

I think that's awesome.

You should tell him, though.
Really.

- Maybe he could accommodate it.
- Yeah.

Uh, sorry.

Oh.

I swear, this contest is...

- Everything okay?
- Uh...

Yeah, uh, m-maybe. I hope so.
It's fine. Everything is fine.

Um, I do have to go. I'm sorry.

But, um, please, let me make up
for my second rude exit now

with some cookies
when I drop this off?

- Deal.
- Great.

I don't think
you guys really understand.

Archie just won
the most prestigious

nature photography fellowship
in the country!

He hates nature!

When that was my focus,
he said that it was beneath me,

that I need to be focusing
on doing more

gallery-quality work,
like what he was doing.

And now it's my dream and it's
suddenly not good enough? Ha!

Okay, h-hold on.
I'm a little confused.

You said this was an emergency.
Uh, we-we got a sitter.

It's mom and dad. It's fine.

Did he steal your spot
at this fellowship or something?

No, he didn't.
I didn't even wanna move.

And I'm doing the best work
of my life out here this year.

But he wouldn't have even known
about that fellowship

if it wasn't for me!

I get it. I get it.
You just want a little credit.

- Yes.
- But that's never gonna happen.

Because
that's who he is.

He is narcissist.
The god of me, me, me.

No, but-but that's not
all that he was, you guys.

He was fun.
I mean, we all had fun, right?

He was so handsome
and charming, uh...

You know what,
I actually have a journal entry

that speaks to this. One moment.

I'm so sorry. We have to go.

Uh, yeah,
Jonah's not feeling good.

He-he's, uh, stepped on a tack
or something.

- Mm-hmm.
- We gotta check it out.

Mm.

"I just want a little credit.
Is that too much to ask?"

No, baby girl.
We've all been there. Okay.

Is there any way

we can be of some help?

"Not unless you can remind
Archibald Vickers

that I'm the best thing
that ever happened to him."

Archibald Vickers?

She's seriously hung up on a guy

that sounds like
an old-timey robber baron?

He sounds lame
and not attractive.

Uh, give me that. Give me that.

Hm.

Uh, okay.

Mm...

Babe, I had to come see you.
Hold up!

- This cannot be happening.
- Wow!

Okay, maybe I deserve that.

I've been lost without you.

It's just a dream.

- Last Christmas was miserable.
- It's just a weird dream.

Work is miserable.

And I know this is
out of the blue, but I bought

a plane ticket yesterday,
and I said, "You know what?"

Did you just say you bought
a plane ticket yesterday

and not, like, five seconds ago?

Babe, are you okay?

Yeah. I'm fine.

I was just over there,
and I was wishing.

- And then you were here.
- W-wish?

Uh, there's no magic here, babe.

This is just me realizing how
foolish I was when I let you go.

And I hope it's not too late.

Please.

Can we chat?

Uh...

It's Christmas.

Sure. Yeah.

Babe, do you have any snacks?

I get the hype.

Wassail, baby? Ha!

So the gel makes it
too wet, the mousse too crunchy,

and, like, the wax makes it
too dry.

Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Yeah.

I can't believe
we sat up all night talking,

and I'm not even tired.
So what's new with you?

- Hi. Free sample?
- Well, actually--

They got a sprinkle
of Christmas magic.

- Mn-mn.
- Merry Christmas to me.

Um...

Thank you. Cool.

So the fellowship are asking
for a fresh buy-in, right?

Like, artist statement,
a proposal, something like that.

So I call these guys, I say,
"Hey, yo, I'm a photographer.

I'm not a writer." Right?
Can-can you believe that?

You know, like,
they're asking for this, uh...

I mean, I could, I could
take a look at it if you want.

- Yeah? Oh, my God, yes. Yes.
- Yeah.

You, I mean, you've always been
better at this stuff anyway.

- Thanks.
- What would I do without you?

- I don't mind.
- Yeah.

Yes, just scroll-scroll
down to the bottom.

- Let's tweak that.
- Hey.

Maybe we can, uh, do my

Christmas shopping after this?

I was, I was gonna go
this weekend,

but then I decided
to come see you.

Uh, have you done, um,
any of your Christmas shopping?

What can I say?

Been lost without you.

So, this is why you bailed
on our wrapping session.

Oh, Maria. Maria's boyfriend.

Uh, Taylor. Husband.

Oh, husband.

Good to see you guys. Ha-ha.

Uh, actually, Erin and I

were about to go and do
some Christmas shopping.

Oh, she doesn't need to go
shopping. She...

Oh, right. His shopping.

You're upending
our plans to do the shopping

he should have done already.

Isn't she the best?

- Mm, peppermint? Seriously?
- Yeah. Yeah, it's--

- You dated her for three years.
- Okay, uh, Erin.

Why don't we get you
another cup of coffee?

- I'm gonna get another coffee.
- Sure.

Uh, uh, baby, can you grab me
a biscotti, please?

How did that happen?

I don't know.

One minute I was just at home
minding my own business,

wishing that he would remember
that I am the best thing

that has ever happened to him,
and then the next minute

he was there. He was just there.

Well, be careful
what you wish for.

So then I said,
you couldn't even

vin-de-pay me
to drink that stuff.

- Ah. That's, that's hilarious.
- Can you believe that?

Hey, uh, we're gonna be really
late for this tree-lighting.

Could you please help me
find the keys?

Yeah, yeah. Sure.

Babe, is this what
you've been working on?

Yeah, but, um, do you mind
if I show you later?

We just really gotta
get ready to go.

- Oh...
- Oh, my God. This is stunning.

Babe, this has to be
your best work ever.

Oh, my gosh. It's Maria. She's
gonna be so mad if we are late.

Uh, could you please just help
me look just a little bit?

- Yeah, yeah.
- Okay.

Man, you are doing this right.

Out here, unplugged,
just immersed.

While I'm doing
this stupid fellowship.

It's not stupid. That fellowship
is a lot of people's dream job.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that.
But you know what?

Honestly, it's like
totally beneath me.

This, this is what

I need to be doing.
I'm so glad I came here.

Do... You know I do my best work
when I'm around you?

- Ha!
- Hey, babe.

You got any more
of these cookies?

You ate all the pizzelles?

Uh, uh, y-yeah.

But-but there's more, right?

Babe?

Time to go.

Relax, relax. Just re... J...

Look, it's not you. It's me.

I'm just not really ready to be
in a relationship right now.

I love you,
but I'm not in love with you.

Well, no, no, no, no.
You can't do this.

Not now. It's Christmas!

It was Christmas last year!

What am I supposed to do?
It's cold!

Back to our regular programming.

- Whoa.
- Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

To the last wish.

- Here we go. Mm-hmm.
- Ah.

- Mm...
- Mm-hmm, good, that's... Mm-hmm.

♪ The snow is falling down
but be warm inside ♪

This isn't Christmas.
It's Groundhog's Day.

- It's tinsel.
- Oh, jeez.

Sorry, lady.

♪ Christmas Valentine ♪

Hey, where are you?
Are you coming?

I don't like to praise him.

I'm not coming!

Ugh!

Okay.

Do you want to know

what I really wish

with all of my heart?

"I wish..." Huh, huh...

"That Christmas
would disappear."

- What?
- Oh, no, wait a second.

Oh, no! Oh, no!

Reset, reset!

- This isn't working.
- Channel 13.

What is that gonna do?

Hello, Santa, hello!

Dammit! Go, dammit!

All elves
report to the emergency shelter

immediately.
This is not a drill.

Repeat, this is not a drill.

Christmas is disappearing?
Oh-oh, no.

How could this
be happening? Oh...

North Pole
Counsel now arriving.

Our question exactly, counsel,
you assured us there were

provisions in place to prevent
this kind of disaster.

This naughty is not on us.
I'm not going down for this!

While Erin's wish may have
negative implications for us,

she believed her wish
was inherently positive.

The only legal recourse is
for Erin to take her wish back

and believe it
with all her heart.

So she can just wish Christmas
in and out of existence

based on personal preference?

It's time for the full monty.

Elves tap-dancing.
Reindeer singing.

- Snowmen singing as well.
- Uh-uh-uh.

Unfortunately,
any obvious use of magic

could lead to the exposure
of our world.

And that would have
drastic consequences

for the magic-space-time
continuum.

Okay, but how drastic
are we talking?

I mean, we are already
at a nine here, counsel.

The universe would,
legally speaking, go kablouie.

Okay, that's a ten. Yeah.

But you have options.

As we established
for the wish program,

uh, you can use subtler magic
behind the scenes

to influence her spirits.

Now, now, now,
here's where it gets tricky.

You ever hear of Floobers Day?

Mosquito Appreciation Day.
Mm-hmm, didn't think so.

There is a long history
of holidays disappearing

when magic backfires.

"If the date of the holiday
passes

without reversing the spell,

the holiday is erased."

Forever!

So you have until midnight
Christmas Eve.

So a week?

- A week to work some magic?
- Behind-the-scenes magic.

Right, right, right,
right, right, right, because

if-if, uh, anybody
sees the magic

or-or hears about the magic, the
universe will go kablouie.

And that's on us.
That'll be our fault.

Right? What are you doing?

Reaching out
to an old fairy contact.

I hated working teeth,
but a job's a job.

Puck, it's Chuck. Call me.

Hey, Santa, what do you think?

Santa?

Santa's sleigh departing.

Destination Duluth.

Santa!

Where's my tree?

I've been Grinched.

Okay, no.

It's not possible.

Am I the Grinch?

I made Christmas disappear?

Mom, this is not funny.
You're starting to scare me.

I am sorry, sweetie, but I just
have never heard of Christmas.

- Christmas, yes.
- Was that it? No, I...

Just because
it doesn't ring a bell

doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

You know about all kinds
of things that I don't...

Like, um,
how to make a PDF. Mm?

Let me get you
something to drink.

How about a nice herbal tea?

Do you have any cocoa?

- What's cocoa?
- What do you mean?

- What do you mean you don't--
- I'm just kidding.

- It's not funny. It's not funny.
- It is a little funny.

- It's so funny.
- Oh, my God!

This has got to be a prank.

This is a prank. It's just...

Aunt Erin!

Hi, guys.

Nana said you could use a hug.

Yeah, yeah. Auntie is
kind of having a bad day.

I did a very silly thing.

I made a wish
that Christmas would disappear.

- Ah.
- What's that?

Very funny, but I do think
that you could

get in trouble
for pranking your aunt.

You're gonna end up
on Santa's naughty list.

Who is Santa?

You don't know who Santa is?

Nope.

I can fix this.

I can fix this.

- Erin.
- Hi.

Hi. Uh, how's the boyfriend?

Oh, ex-boyfriend.
Is Taylor here?

That was fast. What happened?

He ate all my cookies.
You understand.

Is Taylor here?

Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Come on in.

So you believe that
a radio station erased this...

Christmas.
It's called Christmas.

From everyone's memory.

I understand that it does sound
a little out there,

but, I mean... Taylor, come on,
you gotta remember.

You're saying, every year

our family gets together,
exchanges random gifts

and wears sweaters with an old
bearded guy's face on them?

Yes, exactly.

But you're the only one that
remembers this, uh, Christmas?

What? Sam.

Well, it's not
completely unfamiliar.

There are elements of Germanic
culture, uh, Victorian England.

You said this Santa guy
went by another name?

Yes. Uh, jolly old Saint Nick.
Kris Kringle.

H-how many aliases
does this guy have?

There was a Saint Nicholas known
for his secret gift-giving.

- Yes, that's the one.
- Maybe...

There's a pollutant or

a mass event affecting memory?

Right.

You can't possibly believe her.

- Of course not.
- Hey!

But I also don't believe
that Mr. Johnson

deserves to get
the lakehouse in the divorce,

but that doesn't stop me
from arguing for it.

All right, okay,
all right. This has been fun.

But we do have the Internet.

Clearly you photoshopped that.

Honestly,
w-where would I find the time?

Where would everyone find the
time to collectively prank you?

I don't know.

Wait. This. This will help.

Listen, my advice?

Take the day.
Take the whole day.

Go play with Olivia
and Jonah. They'd love that.

- This doesn't make sense. Uh...
- Erin.

- What? What do you mean relax?
- Relax.

The radio station's
taken this entirely too f...

Oh, my gosh, do you guys realize

how mad
people are gonna be at me?

Okay, you want my advice,
avoid any contact,

written or otherwise,
with the radio station,

and we will figure this out.

Right. Right.
That's what I will do.

That's a good plan.
Thank you, Sam.

Right. So then
Santa comes down the chimney.

Jonah, that's your cue.

- h*-h*-h*.
- Perfect.

Our house
doesn't have a chimney.

That's totally fine,
because Santa has a magical key

for all of the houses
that do not have one.

And then he gets the presents

and he puts them right here,
under the tree.

But before he goes--

- He has cookies and milk.
- Exactly.

And then brings the tomatoes
to the reindeer.

Right. Well, what?
Actually, no. Sorry.

We're using tomatoes,
but actually

reindeer prefer carrots.

Why?

- We don't know.
- Kids, lunch.

Hi, nana.
We're learning about Santa.

He is awesome.

Lou?

Did you tell my children
that a man in a red suit

was going to break into
our house and reverse-rob us?

I didn't say it
exactly like that.

And that this man has spies

that watch them
all year round to see

if they're being
naughty or nice? Erin, naughty?

So when you say it,
it doesn't sound great.

And if they're bad,
he'll give them

pantyhose stuffed with rocks?

Coal.
It's coal in their stockings.

But if they're good,
he'll give them

anything they want. Anything.

- Erin, they're kids.
- Exactly.

- They deserve a little magic.
- Look.

I love that you involve the kids
in your projects.

And I don't know what kind of
weirdo performance art this is,

but you've gotta run this stuff
by me first, okay?

Because it's all fun and games
to play the cool aunt.

But you're not the one
they'll be crying to when

there's no dragon
that fits in my pocket.

But also, he can be invisible

and breathes candy
instead of fire.

- I will talk to them.
- Thank you.

Santa can't create mythical
creatures from scratch.

Everyone knows that.

Welcome back to KQDS,

Duluth's finest station
for all your favorite games.

It's cold
and it's snowy out there,

so cuddle up to a fire
and listen

to the sweet, sultry voice
of Harmony Grace.

Hi.

I'm Erin Smithson,
winner of Operation Wish.

Okay. Congratulations.

Mm. Thank you. Listen.

Was it nice
having a little bit of a break

from all of the
fa-la-la-la-la-ing? Yes, it was.

But you guys are messing with
my friends and with my family.

Yeah, I'm just the intern
for the late show.

Right. I get it.
You're just doing your job.

You know, cog in the wheel.
But this has gone way too far.

And I need you
to call off the contest.

- I don't know what that is.
- Operation Wish!

One person, three wishes.
One Merry Christmas.

Okay, there's no one named
Merry Christmas here.

It's a contest.
This station's contest.

- Okay, don't yell.
- I am not...

- I'm not, I'm not yelling.
- Wow.

It's cool. It's totally cool.
Just bring back Christmas.

- Yeah.
- Hey, uh, Donna.

There's someone here saying that
we kidnapped a Merry Christmas?

Hey, Donna, I'm not leaving
until you call off the wish.

- We didn't give you any wishes.
- Oh, yeah? Well, then who did?

- Who did?
- Oh, if you don't leave...

We're gonna have to call
security for trespassing.

Trespassing?
I am not trespassing.

You, sir, are the one who is
trespassing on people's minds!

You erased Christmas. They
should throw you all in jail.

Erin Smithson,
your lawyer's here.

You're free to go.

So how was your night?

Well, the radio station's
not gonna

press charges, so no harm done.

Yeah, except for the part
where everyone in my life

thinks I'm Looney Tunes.

Including me, including you.

Yeah, yeah, I was thinking
about changing my name,

growing a mustache
and fleeing north.

But then I remembered
that you still have

a very delicate
family heirloom of mine.

- Yeah? Oh, the film.
- Yeah.

Sam, if you take me
to the studio,

I will develop it for you
right now.

- E-Erin, I was joking.
- No, seriously, please.

After all you've done,
it is the very least I can do.

Let's go.

Okay.

- Wait, you'd flee north?
- Yeah, yeah.

The beaches are south.
You go south to vacation.

You go north to be incognito.
Everybody knows that.

I can't tell if we're fitting in
or standing out.

Yeah, me neither.

From now on
you're doing reindeer duty.

I'm not going near Comet again.
He knows what he did.

Could we have
a manager on register three?

- Register three.
- Still haven't found her yet?

Have you seen this elf
sit on a shelf?

Do I look like I talk to birds?

No, okay? I don't do
Christmas spy work.

You find her,
and I'll make a plan.

You couldn't plan your way out

of a half-eaten
gingerbread house.

- Oh, God.
- And-and what makes you think...

- That you're in charge?
- h*-h*-h*!

These colors,
so vivid in the daytime.

Technically,
that guy's in charge.

Good day. Love that hair.

- Beautiful! h*-h*-h*...
- Let's look at the facts.

She had a bad breakup
last Christmas.

She goes full humbug this year.

She wishes
her ex-boyfriend back.

And she goes over like
a hot toddy on the 4th of July.

Wrong solution,
but may be the right problem.

See, what puts the win
in winter?

The sleigh and sleigh bells,
the-the mas in Christmas.

Oh, oh, processed sugar.

No! Romance!

Look, she's not down
on Christmas because of love.

She feels disconnected from
the true meaning of Christmas.

Ah-ha, the joy of community.
The sense of true presence.

Oh, so close, big guy.

No, I was thinking
the other kind of presents.

That sweet jingle-jangle
of shiny metal stuff.

Spectacle! Magic! Production!

Hey, sorry. Ha.

All right,
I have some questions.

- Hm.
- So you wished away Christmas.

And within a day, against the
brilliant advice of your lawyer,

you risked jail
to bring it back.

Like, the wish was impulsive
and selfish.

I'm gonna reverse it.

The wish was a victimless crime.

- Nobody remembers it.
- But, Sam, I remember.

I remember, Jonah was so small,

I'm the one who taught him
to hang ornaments on the tree.

The sparkly indoor tree
with lights on it.

Yes, and Olivia, I remember
the way her face would light up

when you got her
what she wanted for Christmas.

And the way they were
always surprised

to find an orange
in the toe of their stocking.

Which you said was fairly
common. Food in footwear.

- Yes, yes, it was.
- Hm.

It will be again, it has to be,

because I cannot,
in good conscience,

deprive my niece and nephew
of something so magical.

Oh, sounds really nice.

Wish my family
had something like that.

- Hm. Maybe they did.
- No. No, no.

They were divorced.
They worked a lot.

Even in your magical reality,
they wouldn't have been

the sit-by-the-sparkly-
indoor-tree type.

But they...

they were.

You keep
telling yourself that.

I'm not telling you. I'm...

I'm showing you.

- Ah, you're messing with me.
- I'm not, Sam.

I didn't do anything. I swear!

O-okay,
maybe it was my birthday.

Oh, Sam, that's a Christmas
tree. T-there's ornaments on it.

There's no birthday tree.
Come on.

Is it just me or...

These chemicals, they're, uh,
make you...

Oh, dear. Yeah, don't breathe
that. That's bad for you.

Okay. Okay, hold on, that way.

- This way? Okay.
- That... Come on. Yeah.

- You got it.
- All right.

Okay, clearly,

whoever's behind
this supposed wish thing

is not at the radio station.

- No. I don't know.
- So who's doing this?

I have no idea what is going on.

Okay, okay. Let's just start
with what we know.

You've been emailing your wish
to somebody.

Let's send them
a cease and desist.

- Good idea.
- Second question.

Your brother-in-law's a lawyer.
So why'd you call me?

Because you're a better lawyer.

Flattery will get you
everywhere.

Seriously, why me?

Look, it's clear
that neither you or Taylor

remember or believe in Christmas
at all.

But you, Sam,

you were willing
to at least make a case for it.

It's becoming increasingly clear
that no one will believe me.

But there is a chance
that they will believe you.

We need evidence, Erin.

Belief follows evidence.

We show 'em the pictures!

Uh, th...

The-the pictures don't mean

anything to anyone
except for me.

You said these traditions
are fun.

- Right?
- People think so.

Let's give the people
what they don't know they want.

No, I mean, I'm not capable of

pulling off
some mass Christmas event.

You don't have to.
We start small.

You said
Christmas is all about family.

Let's get your parents
to do the traditions with us.

It might jog their memory.

All I heard you say was that
you wanna meet my parents, so...

Kidding.

Your face.

Think of it
as not just photography,

but as performance art.

As an exploration
of ancient forgotten holidays

as recreated by the...

Modern families and communities.

Yeah.

Well, I have to
say, I'm relieved.

Wait, you, you are?

Ah, your father and I
were so worried about you

the other day.
You were acting so strange.

- Oh, right.
- Well, that's just part of it.

- Really committing to the act.
- Right.

So we think that there are
strength in numbers.

Oh, I love it, you know
that we will support your work

in any way we can always.
So what can we do?

Now, I'm not much of an actor,
but--

- Oh, no acting. No way.
- No?

But would you be willing
to take my credit card

and go get these things
from the craft store

and the hardware store,
and let me decorate your house?

So you want your mother and I

to go to our two favorite places

and spend your money?

Mm-hmm.

- Let's go.
- Oh!

Hey, what are you two
going to do?

Let's go over this again.

All right,
we are chopping down a tree.

- Chopping it down.
- Chopping it down.

And not digging it up
for some reason.

Nope, because remember,
we are not replanting it.

- It's going in the house.
- Right, right.

Because it is going
in the house.

Mm-hmm.

And we're okay with the fact
that even in water,

it will die in three weeks tops.

We accept this.

Okay, so afterwards we mulch it

or is there
some post-Christmas tradition

of a fire pit and burning
of grievances or something?

Hm, nope. We cut it down.

We bring it inside,
we put lights on it,

we stare at it
for about three weeks,

and then we throw it
on the curb.

- On the curb?
- On the curb.

Um, why do we do this again?

Because it's festive.

- Festive.
- Festive.

This guy's got curb
written all over him.

- There we go.
- All right.

All right, Charlie Brown.

Christmas!

So at the stroke of midnight,
we have you dressed

as the Ghost Of Christmas Past,
to remind her--

Okay, she is literally
the only person

on Planet Earth who knows who
Scrooge is, you Snickerdoodle.

Well, what if
she's already out there

trying to take back her wish?

What, what if she just needs
our help?

Sure, big fella. That...

That's an idea.

Do we put food on trees
to attract birds and squirrels?

- Are there Christmas squirrels?
- Uh, no, mom.

There are no
Christmas squirrels.

There are a shocking number
of birds, though.

Huh, just seems like
this whole holiday

is about
bringing the outdoors inside.

No, it's a holiday
about food in weird places.

Food on the tree.

Food in pantyhose.

- Is that sanitary?
- It's not pantyhose, dad.

- It's, it's stockings.
- I told you she meant socks!

- Well, we got you both, so...
- Okay.

- Thank you. Um, what, uh...
- Mm-hmm.

Oh, they didn't have
anything called twinkle lights,

but they had these little
fantastic things. Huh?

And I bought you a strobe light.

- Oh...
- Don't worry, sweetie.

- I know what you meant.
- Okay.

And there's your garlands.

Yeah? You want it? Right there.

Oh, and the piece de resistance.

- Oh, ha-ha.
- Huh?

And... Ha-ha-ha...

- Uh?
- It says right here.

Ornaments,
like brightly-colored ba*ls.

You know, the thing
I find most interesting

about this project is,
since nobody really knows

what the Christmas was like,
there's no basis of comparison.

Therefore, we have a lot of room
to be creative.

Now, Sam, I love that attitude.

Okay. Uh...

Guys, I kinda asked
for a reindeer.

There's no such thing
as a Christmas fox.

Till now, right?

What in the world!

Mom, she did it.

- Is this Christmas?
- This is our Christmas.

What do you think, you guys?
Check it out.

Come on. Christmas.

♪ Work senora
work it all the time ♪

- Wow. Tennis ball.
- Wow.

Yeah. I guess so.

- It's not bad.
- It's not good.

But it's not bad.

♪ Jump in the line
rock your body in time ♪

♪ Okay I believe you ♪

♪ Jump in the line
rock your body in time ♪

♪ Okay I believe you ♪

♪ Jump in the line
rock your body in time ♪

So everything else
was erased, but how were

the photos of your family
have even made up here?

It doesn't make any sense.

Maybe who's ever doing this

planted it as a clue.

Or maybe you're starting
to believe.

Maybe.

So she wished Christmas away
and now she's decorating?

Well, I wouldn't call this
decorating, but...

- And Sam's here, and she seems--
- Oh, I'll say it.

She's glowing like
Rudolph's schnoz in a hailstorm.

It's so cute!

Okay, new plan.
We're gonna do both plans.

I'll add a little
je ne se kwassail

to her attempt
to bring back Christmas--

And I'll, with the,
with the mistletoe

and-and-and put the merry at...

I've run out of Christmas puns.

I'll help them fall in love.
Oh, yes.

- Yeah. Okay.
- So we divide and conquer.

- Conquer! Okay.
- Yeah.

Yes. No, yeah.

♪ Drown me amore ♪

♪ How long has it been? ♪

♪ Oh my love
how my heart skips a beat ♪

People really ate
this much sugar?

Yes, the ancient peoples
who celebrated

this holiday
were a sugar-loving culture.

Funniest thing.

That's the third person
to ask about the lights.

Oh. Yeah, that is great news.

As long as you're happy,
I'm happy.

Sam.

Could I, uh, get help with

something in the kitchen?

I don't wanna eat this
because it looks so pretty.

Yeah. Marshmallows
are not good for arms.

Did you hear my dad? People
are asking about the lights.

I don't know why, but I just
think that this is working.

Yeah. I can't stop thinking
about the photos.

You were swirling them around
and I said,

I wish that I had
something like that,

and there it was.

That means that you're right
about Christmas existing,

and I don't even wanna think

about the metaphysical
implications of--

Just breathe. Okay? Look.

All that matters is that we are
making people really happy.

And that is tough to do
in subzero temperatures.

You're right.

I can't think of anything
I'd rather be doing.

I should probably...

- Yeah.
- Yeah. Right. Um...

Sprinkles.

A tiny dance arena. Oh.

She was this ballerina doll
that spun.

Oh, Lou?

Roy Roger's action figure,
with the horse, of course.

- Of course.
- Erin?

I wanted, uh, that talking bear.
What was his...

Uh, no, but I couldn't get it
because Maria and I

shared a room. Remember?

Oh, so it could talk to me

in the night? Uh, no, thanks.

Dashin' your
sister's dreams like that?

Hot Wheels for me. All day.

That tracks.
Sam, what about you?

Oh, no, no, I just want
another sugar cookie

and to hear more
about this terrifying AI bear.

He was cute.
Why are you deflecting?

Okay, uh, when I was
Jonah and Olivia's age,

I would've asked for this.

Aww...

You get all the cookies
for that answer.

- All, all of them.
- Thank you.

He's buttering you up.

Careful, I think
this is part of Taylor's

grand scheme to make you stay.

Oh, right, because
this was all Taylor's idea.

What is it?

Excuse me, sir. Can I help you?

That's so kind of you.

But I wouldn't dream
of imposing.

Sir, you can't make
your own drink.

- It's a health code violation.
- Oh, my apologies.

Almost...

- Almost finished.
- I'm-I'm sorry.

You're gonna pay for that, right?

Are people punished for
consuming sweets in this town?

- Maybe I can help?
- Oh, Mayor Hara.

- Thank you.
- Uh, yeah.

Hello, Mr., uh...

- Nick.
- Nick!

- Mm-hmm.
- What brings you to Duluth?

Well, actually,
I-I'm on vacation

first time in, uh, centuries.

Oh, it feels like that
sometimes, doesn't it?

Wait, I'm sorry.

Did you say you chose Duluth
for a vacation in December?

- Why, certainly.
- Do you mind if I ask why?

We are always looking
for new ways

to attract more people
to our beautiful city.

Well, it's always nice
to soak up the warm weather.

Plus, it's such a creative town.

I just passed this house
that was decorated for a,

I believe it's called Christmas.

Uh, light display,
uh, the ribbons...

It was delightful.

They covered their house
in lights? Why?

Well, I'm no expert,
but it's my understanding

that it's to spread
a little light in the world

at its darkest time of the year.

Huh. That's...

You know,
we could use some of that. Yeah.

I wanna run this
by the city council.

- Do you know who made it?
- Why, yes.

Yes, I do.

Mm.

It's like if someone
left a gingerbread house

in a hot car.

Phew! Ha.

I mean,
you don't understand. I...

I can barely pull off one house,
let alone a citywide event.

Oh, but you wouldn't be
doing it alone.

You provide the vision
and we'll put together

a committee of volunteers
to make it come to life.

- Uh, sure.
- Please.

I think
people could really use this.

Ah. This isn't what
it normally is, though.

- It's much more grand. It's--
- Oh!

Wow!

You-you really undersold this.

How did you do this?

How did I do this?

Uh, hi, can I help you?

Oh, heh-heh.
Hey there, neighbor.

I couldn't help admiring
your decorations.

Big crafter here. Huge.

Would love to do something
like this to my place.

What's the occasion?

Well, uh, hm, I'm an artist

and I'm trying to resurrect

an old forgotten holiday
called Christmas.

- Oh, wow. Christmas!
- Yeah.

Sounds pretty incredible
if you ask me.

- It's really something.
- Okay.

Well, do you have any more
fun details you could share wi--

I'm wondering if there is some
big, uh, communal tradition.

Uh, you know, there was
a tradition where the villagers

would gather around
a very large pine tree

and they would sing songs
about, um,

well, mostly food and-and snow,
and just engage in revelry

until the, the lights
of the tree would come on.

- Oh, that's odd.
- Like I said, weird holiday.

Oh, well, I'll bet
if we decorated the tree

as beautifully as this house,
it could be so festive.

You just show me examples
and I'll bring it to life.

- I craft a lot.
- We could modernize it.

Bring in some local vendors,
do a small market.

Oh, sorry, you probably

don't wanna commercialize
this holiday.

It's not unheard of.

But this Christmas Eve, you see,

it's-it's only three days away.

I mean, I-I just don't know
where I would get

the-the lights,
the ribbons, the garlands--

Uh, I'll get them! I got
connections. I craft a lot.

We can secure a tree,
the lights,

permits, anything you need.

Yeah, yeah, uh,
you sketch the designs

and I'll, uh, show people
how to make 'em.

- I craft a lot.
- A lot. Yes. Got it.

I don't know who would give up
that much

of their time, though,
to do something like this.

Nick, the bearded man
who told me

about this house,
do you know him?

No. I, I don't think I do.

Nick said it was
a lovely thing to spread light

during the darkest time
of the year.

Oh, that's...

You'd be surprised how many
citizens

would come out to help.

We could use a little Creestmas.

- Christmas. It's Christmas.
- Christmas.

Yeah. Why don't we bring back
Christmas, right?

You know what? Let's do it.

Ah! Okay.

Merry Christmas is something
I assume you might say.

Sam.

Sam?

Oh, hey. Sorry, I let myself in.

I'm just kind of spinning out,
you know?

Oh, these are for you.

So get this, my mom told
all of the volunteers

that the primary decorations
should resemble

sports equipment.
So that's kind of a disaster.

And, uh, the only one
who gets it is Debbie.

And she's great, but she's
a lot, you know what I mean?

It's all just a lot.
Christmas is...

It's-it's very strong,
but it's, it's wrong.

Do you know what I mean, Sam?

Mm-hmm.

- Uh, Sam?
- Mr. Johnson.

I'm gonna have to call you back.

- Yup.
- Oh!

Ah, I'm sorry.

He's getting the lakehouse.
He'll be fine.

But will you be fine?

I-I mean, I, I think so.

There are dozens of volunteers
showing up to my parents' house

tomorrow to get ready for this
tree-lighting later at night.

I don't understand it. Like,
why is it spreading this fast?

Why would so many people
sign up?

You're asking why, but I think
you should be asking why not.

You promised
crafts and c*ck.

Places charge
for that kind of fun.

I feel like you're kind
of starting to like Christmas.

What?

Christmas is fine, I guess.

- Fine?
- Mm-hmm.

Says the guy who spent

the whole last week with me
trying

to resurrect it and is now
doing it on his own.

I have not been spending
the week with you for Christmas.

I am in it
for the baked goods.

Oh, thank you.

Mm.

You did good, Sam.

You did real good.

Christmas is delicious.

- Welcome.
- Thank you.

Hi.

All right. This is gonna be fun.
I promise.

♪ Ain't no way back
out of the race ♪

♪ You gotta hustle ♪

♪ Ain't no shortcut
to any place ♪

Mom, here you go, try.

Nope. Not drinking eggs.

It's eggnog.
Milk, sugar, egg cream.

- Just try it.
- Okay.

- Oh, that's good.
- Told you.

That's good. Mm. Mm.

That is, uh...
That's the spirit.

So many colors.

♪ Ain't no time... ♪

Seriously? Does this inspire
feelings of joy, Gladys?

Hey Debbie. So, so appreciate
your commitment to the vision.

You know what,
it's big stripes alternating

with little stripes.
That is a candy cane.

I just don't get
what's so hard to understand.

Right, let's try
to remember that

these people are all volunteers

and the goal, first and
foremost, is to have fun.

Okay, excuse me a minute. Ahem.

To be clear, after all this
goes up in flames,

you were in charge of spectacle.

I don't get it, it's like
Christmas disappeared

and replaced all their brain
cells with a lump of coal!

No matter how hard
I try to explain, we get this.

What is this?
You've gotta let me fix it.

I can make it so pretty.

- Just one thing--
- Oh, sure.

After you almost blew our cover

with that Rockefeller Center
display outside.

Am I the only one who takes
the word kablouie seriously?

We have to be discreet.

Now watch... and learn.

If this works, if I can bring
Christmas back for good,

I'm spending next year
in Hawaii.

You can't skip Christmas.

It'll just have to do
without me.

I don't know
if people can do that.

People, huh?

Nope. Yeah, um...

What is that?

Oh, that's, uh, called
mistletoe.

There's this funny old tradition

where if you get caught
standing under it, they, um...

What happens?

Uh, uh...
Hey, who put this here?

- Who is that? It's funny.
- What does mistletoe do?

We should get back to work.

Well, Erin,
what does mistletoe do?

It's not important.

Okay, bye, kids.
Safe home, okay?

Careful. Um, just, just...

I thought
tonight was a huge success.

Why do you look like someone
put peppermint in your cocoa?

I didn't. Just mine. I like it.

I don't know, just, the more
I see people having fun,

the guiltier I feel
that I wished it all away.

Mm. Okay.
Let's think about this.

Did you ever put it in writing

that you want your wish
reversed?

I know we sent
a cease and desist, but--

All I got back was the weirdest

out-of-office reply
I've ever seen.

You know, sometimes verbal
agreements can be binding.

Have you just
formally said it out loud?

What do you mean?
I just shout it out?

- Yeah. Mm-hmm.
- To the universe?

Like...

I wish that Christmas
would come back!

I mean, yeah. Right.

- Oh.
- Oh. Hey, guys.

I didn't see you there.

I'm just switching
the extension cord out.

Wow.

Get some sleep.

Maybe in the morning
we'll game plan

for our meeting with Debbie.

- Debbie.
- Yeah.

- She is a lot. Heh.
- Yeah.

- Seriously?
- Oh, God!

What?
I did exactly what you asked.

Nothing more.
Definitely nothing less.

It's a little bit more.
But you have to get out of here.

You can't stand them up
for dinner

if you're standing here
for dinner.

Besides, it's my time to shine.

- You're on Santa watch.
- What?

Are we sure keeping Santa out
of the mix is still a good idea?

I don't see a scenario where
the two of them cross paths

where it doesn't end up with,
"Oh, magic is real?

Time, space, kablouie!"

Wow! Okay, yup, uh, that's...
You're right. I'm gonna go.

Showtime.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Did you? It wasn't me.
- Did you? I did not.

- You--
- Here you are.

- Oh, no, that's not, uh--
- Set menu.

Enjoy your dinner
and, uh, save room for dessert.

Oh.

Is romance like a big thing
at Christmas?

Oh, yeah, there used to be

entire TV stations
devoted to it.

Because
if we weren't expecting Debbie,

I might suspect
that this was a date.

Debbie actually called.

She can't actually
make it, so...

I didn't do this.

If you wanna go on a date,
you can just ask me on a date.

I didn't do this, we just have

some very Christmassy business
to attend to.

Doesn't mean we can't enjoy
the ambiance, right?

Exactly. We can just engage
in a little small talk.

- Not date small talk.
- Nope.

Just regular
run-of-the-mill stuff.

- Like, how was your day?
- Really good.

I actually made
a big decision today.

Oh, here we go. We're doing it.

- Mm-hmm.
- Uh, what was it?

I am taking Taylor up
on his offer.

Well, that's amazing.
I-I'm so glad.

That is fantastic news.

- You think so?
- Yeah.

What, uh, made you decide
to stay?

I-I don't know,
working with you this week,

seeing all the people that
came out together to help...

That's what I've been
looking for, community.

Plus, I really like it here.

I'm really glad.

And if I'm being honest,
you inspired it.

Thank you.

- Mm.
- Um...

Hey, I looked
that stuff up today.

- Oh.
- Yeah.

- And didn't find very much.
- Right.

You wouldn't have 'cause,
you know, it's Christmas things.

You know, then there was this
one thing from ancient Greece

where people standing
under the mistletoe

would kiss
at the end of a wedding.

Huh! What an interesting,
totally unrelated cultural fact.

Really?

Really.

Did, did you hear that?

- I think he's in the kitchen.
- Erin.

What's coming from the kitchen?

It was delightful!

We hit a curve that almost sent

the sleigh careening,
then Rudolph--

You know what? I can't wait
to hear all about it.

Why don't you come
tell me in this closet?

Erin, you can't go
into the kitchen.

- Going in the kitchen!
- Hey.

Uh, who's ready for dessert?

Right, we-we got, uh, uh,

cookies, uh, candy canes,

uh, sugar plums,
whatever those are.

Hi. I-I'm Erin Smithson.

- Ha-ha.
- And kablouie.

Hi, Erin. I'm Nick.

Nick! Uh, of course,
of course your name is Nick.

Um, Nick, this is
gonna sound like a little bit

of an odd request, but, well,
I'm an artist in the area

and I'm doing a very specific
installation, you see?

And in it
there is a crucial character.

Oh, yeah. He looks
just like the Santa guy.

Right? Isn't it uncanny?

A-anyway, this,
this character of Santa, well,

he is a, uh, mythical,
bearded being, a-and the project

would absolutely
not be the same without him.

And you would be
absolutely perfect.

- He's not much of an actor.
- Oh, he wouldn't have to act.

We'd explain the whole thing.
You just be yourself.

- Be yourself.
- Oh, oh. Of course.

Who wouldn't want
to spread a little joy?

Oh, a-amazing. Amazing.

Thank you.
Thank you so much, Nick.

We're gonna need you down here.

The usual.

Perfect. A work of art.

Poof! Ha-ha!

What? I made some friends.

So if I follow, Erin does not
believe he's the real Santa.

And now she's cast
this stranger, Nick,

to play the character of Santa,
whom she believes is mythical.

You've hit it
on the glowing nose.

Oh, then we have no problem.

Oh, I'm sorry.

What about
the magic-space-time continuum?

No kablouie or...

It's a legal loophole,

like founding your business
in Delaware.

As long as she believes
she's creating

his Santa performance,
we should be okay.

Great. Thank you so much.

No problem. But a bit of advice.

Don't have a meeting
for something

that should have been a email.

Especially in a place like this.

And you call this a cocoa?

♪ My heart is falling down... ♪

♪ Each night I'm crying ♪

Mm, thank you. You can bring it,
like, down by the blue thing.

Thank you.

♪ Is falling ♪

- Wonderful.
- Wow!

Oh. You scared me.

- Oh, my gosh--
- Aunt Erin!

- Hi! Hey!
- Aww...

So glad you guys are here.

I don't know
where I'm gonna keep 'em yet,

but that's what I really want.

A dragon that breathes candy.

That's a wonderful idea!
I'll get my elves right on it.

Thanks, Santa.

How about you, Olivia?

What would you like
for Christmas?

Uh, uh, maybe you'd like
some answers.

Most houses don't have a
chimney. How do you visit those?

My elves made me a magical key

that lets me get in
to any house in the world!

How do you make
the reindeer fly?

Well, you see, reindeer
aren't so different from people.

All it takes
is a little encouragement,

and you have to be very sure to
call each of them by their name.

On Dasher! On Dancer!
On Prancer! On Vixen!

Oh, and you mustn't
forget Vixen.

Or he'll be very upset.

Sam, this is not making
any sense.

How does he have
the exact Santa suit?

And he knows the names
of the reindeer.

I mean, uh, that's from a song.
How does he know the song?

Honestly, I think
there's only one explanation.

Spreading Christmas is working.

The more it spreads,
the more the wish reverses.

Right. Like, with your photo.

- Oh, yeah.
- You know what?

I think you were
on to something the other day.

I need to make a, uh,
a grand verbal agreement.

Yes, yes, harness the power
of all this belief

in-in a public formal statement.

Right. What about at the town
tree-lighting tonight?

- Maximize impact. Yeah.
- You have to try, right?

I already have
a camera.

I just wanted to see if
you were real.

- But you seem real to me.
- Oh-oh-oh.

- Told you.
- In-in any case...

What would you like
for Christmas?

No, I'm okay. Thank you.

But can I ask for something
for someone else?

Of course.

I'd like to get my Aunt Erin

a fancy vacation.
She is stressed.

Really.

She's always making sure
everything is fun

for me and Jonah
and mom and Taylor.

Like, teaching us about Santa
or baking cookies.

I wish somebody would bake her
cookies or make things magic.

Can you do that for grownups?

Ah. I think
that's a wonderful wish.

♪ Celebrate good times
come on ♪

♪ Celebrate good times
come on ♪

Welcome to Duluth's first ever
Christmas celebration!

Uh, I'd like to introduce
our Christmas hero, Santa Claus.

h*-h*-h*!

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Okay. Thank you.

Um... Heh-heh...

"He lives at the North Pole

and flies on nine tiny moose."

Yeah.

- Reindeer.
- Oh, sorry.

Reindeer. I like that.

Um, "Delivering toys
to children all over the world."

Wow.

And now at this time, I would
like to invite on to the stage

the creative mind
behind this evening's event,

Erin Smithson.

Well, thank you, Mayor Hara.
Thank you, Santa Claus.

Wow. I never thought
I would say that.

It is, uh...

Well, it's incredibly special

to see all of you
out here tonight.

And I wanna say thank you
to all of the volunteers

who helped to bring back this
wonderfully unique holiday.

As you can see, Christmas
has got a lot going on.

And Christmas, well, not always
quite like this,

has always been
a wonderful mishmash

of cultures and traditions,
meant to bring light

at the very darkest time
of the year.

Hm.

So I hope that you all
agree with me when I say

I wish that Christmas
would come back for good!

She did it, right? She did it!

I wish that
Christmas would come back.

♪ Come on ♪

♪ Celebrate good times
come on ♪

♪ There's a party going on
right here a celebration ♪

Uh, how about
everybody come on up

and take a closer look
at this Christmas maypole?

And say hi
to Santa out on the way.

Have fun, everybody.

♪ Come on now ♪
♪ Celebration ♪

♪ Let's all celebrate
and have a good time ♪

Looks like now is the time
for doomsday panicking!

Teeth wasn't so bad.

Steady year-round work.

Look at this guy, Chuck,
making with the holly jolly.

'Tis the season to panic,
and our boss is laughing

like a bowlful of jelly.

Whoa-h*-h*.

What's with
all the doom and gloom?

What do you mean, sir?

She rescinded her wish
and nothing happened.

I didn't suppose it would.

Sure, she wished it.

But she wished it
for everyone else.

In order for her to mean it
with her whole heart,

she has to remember
what Christmas means to her.

Just her.

Well, that's insight.

That would've been helpful
any second before now!

- Oh, ah...
- Ah, look, look, look, look.

- We can't fix this.
- I know.

- But he can.
- How?

He's Santa.

Right, Santa?

Santa?

- Why does he keep doing that?
- I don't...

Sorry it didn't work.

It's fine.

I mean, people find new reasons

to get together
and make new memories

and probably even invent
new holidays.

So you're just gonna give up?

I mean,
what do you expect me to do?

Keep trying to resurrect
a holiday that I wished away?

I mean,
I wanted a break from Christmas.

Now it's,
it's all I think about.

You wanted a break,
not to smash it to pieces.

Yeah, but it's like you said,
it's a victimless crime.

No one's gonna remember.

You're discouraged.
This isn't you.

You see beauty and meaning
where other people miss it.

In your art, in the everyday,

in all of this.

You're not someone who gives up
because things get hard.

And I don't know
how it was before,

but this week, your family
had zero expectations.

They jumped at the chance
to help you

because they like
being with you.

You didn't have to make
Christmas happen for us.

We didn't even know it existed.

They just like you.

I like you.

So whatever story
you're telling yourself,

it's not true.

Doesn't have to be this way
unless you want it to.

Hi, Nick.

Oh, E-Erin. Hello.

Ha, beautiful, isn't it?

Mm.

Everything okay?

Can I tell you something
without you judging me?

Judging isn't in my nature,

as long as you're nice.

Not much time left.

Here.

Good stuff from up north.

Thanks, buddy.

To humans.

May we never see them again.

And no matter
how hard you wished

for it to come back,
it didn't work?

Oh, it's like,
what more do you want

from me, universe, you know?

- Such a shame.
- Yeah.

If it's true
that Christmas disappeared...

I thought it was a lovely idea.

What do you think
you'll miss most?

Gosh, let me think. Um...

Well, my family did always love
this tree-lighting,

and I always had to go
to the pageant.

No, dear.

What would just you miss?

Like, just that feeling
of anticipation, you know,

and the way it made everybody

just this much nicer
to each other.

Probably sounds silly.

Not at all. What else?

Gingerbread. Oh, my gosh.

The way that smell can just
fill up an entire house.

And my mom and I would paint
ornaments together every year.

We're not great at it, so we'd
always have to put the bad ones

around at the back of the tree.

And the music, I mean,
when else can you sing songs

with your friends
and your family?

- Ooh. Not enough if you ask me.
- Right?

And Jonah. My gosh.

His cute little
Christmas morning bedhead. Oh.

And Olivia, the smile on
that kid's face when I gave her

a camera last year,
that was one of the proudest

and just happiest moments
of my life, you know?

You'll make new memories.

Find new things
that have meaning.

But it's not gonna be the same.

And none of it's
gonna be the same.

I had it.

I had the real Christmas
and I did not appreciate it.

It's like I was, I was just
sleepwalking. And for what?

I just, just wish I could
take it all back, you know?

I just wish I had
Christmas back.

What?

Nick, I...

Nick?

Nick!

Ah. Ah.

There you are,
your family cleared out to get

the kids to bed,
to get ready for Santa.

Ready to go?

Uh...

You wanna stay longer?

Not to ruin surprises,
but the date I planned

is absolutely Christmas-free,
in case you need a break from--

No, I don't need a break
from Christmas.

Did you say date?

I know you said
you're not dating,

but spending this week with you,

developing photos
and decorating,

getting to know you...

It's nice
not to do Christmas alone.

And I totally get it if things
haven't changed for you, but I--

- Never mind.
- Mm.

♪ Christmas is here again ♪

♪ Everybody's home
for Christmas ♪

Let's get started
on some of these presents.

No, Erin, come sit down,
relax. Enjoy.

Papa Elf will do it.
I'll hand 'em out.

You know, would you mind
if I did three quick ones?

- Oh, sure.
- Of course, you got it.

- Sam, of course. Go ahead.
- Yeah. Okay. All right.

Here you go, Lou and Diana.
Merry Christmas.

- Thank you for having me.
- Thank you.

- Maria.
- Thank you so much.

- Oh!
- What is--

- What's this gonna be?
- Oh, this is beautiful.

Oh, thank you so much, Sam.
That's...

- You made this?
- Did you make this?

- Uh-huh, yeah.
- That's fantastic.

Oh...

Don't tell me. Reindeer.

Oh.

So growing up,

these were
my favorite ornaments,

and I thought that, you know...

It's perfect, Sam. I love it.

Really?

Really.

♪ Christmas is here again ♪

♪ Christmas is here again ♪

♪ Christmas is here again ♪
♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Everybody's home
for Christmas ♪

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.

It goes without saying
that Operation Wish...

is too great a liability.

The program has been terminated.

Trust me,
we completely understand.

But w-while we're on the subject
of termination--

Why would you want to put that
in their heads? Why--

I can't handle
the pressure, if they're going

to candy-can us, I need to know.

Well, seeing as the program will

no longer exist,

management has agreed

they have no choice

but to promote you
to research and development.

Toyland.

- Oh!
- What?

Far, far away from humans.

Thank you so much.
You won't regret this.

♪ Like home ♪

♪ It feels like
Christmas angels ♪

Oh, pizzelles.

♪ It feels like home ♪

Mm.

♪ It feels like ♪

♪ Christmas angels ♪

♪ Spreading all the ♪

Who's it from?

I think it's from Santa.

Seriously, ahem, who's it from?

An old friend.

♪ It's that time
of year again ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ It has inspired a dream ♪

♪ My heart full of dream ♪

♪ I can hear
the sleigh bells ring ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ I get to see my man ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm his biggest fan ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ The snow is falling down
all around me oh ♪

♪ There's magic in the air ♪

♪ I can't wait to see my boy ♪

♪ This Christmas ♪

♪ Like I did the year before
oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ He's been gone away
since last December ♪

♪ But it's just made me
want him more ♪

♪ And now the year
has passed us by ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ The thought
of seeing your face ♪

♪ It makes my poor heart race ♪

♪ I wrote to Santa
for one thing ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Under the mistletoe ♪

♪ That's where
I long to go oh ♪

♪ The snow is falling down
all around me oh ♪

♪ There's magic in the air ♪

♪ I can't wait to see my boy
this Christmas ♪

♪ No I can't wait ♪
♪ Like I did the year before ♪

♪ Like I did the year before ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ He's been gone away
since last December ♪

♪ But it's just made me
want him more ♪

♪ More and more ♪

♪ I can't wait to see my boy
this Christmas ♪

♪ I can't wait I can't wait
I can't wait ♪

♪ Like I did the year before ♪
♪ Like I did the year before ♪

♪ He's been gone away
since last December ♪

♪ But it's just made me
want him more ♪