Because I can't quote him.
That was on deep background.
No, that's not ethical, Phil,
and you know it.
I'm not gonna run a piece if it's...
I gotta go.
Why do you keep doing this to me,
Jennifer ?
You went over my head
to the publisher ?
I k*lled that City Hall story
for a reason.
I'm still following up on leads.
It's dead. Besides,
it's the holidays,
I need upbeat human interest stories.
I really wanna write about something
I can sink my teeth into.
You're at the bottom of the food chain,
young lady, that's how it works.
I'm afraid it's back to copy editing
for you.
Well, why don't you let me show you
what I can really do ?
- Why you hired me.
- You know the rules, three strikes.
You want a heart-warming
Christmas story ? I can do that,
shoppers on Michigan Avenue,
Christmas at a soup kitchen,
lighting the tree at Daley Center ?
You can talk your way into almost
anything, but not this time.
Wait, I have an amazing idea.
You're gonna love it, I mean,
the readers are gonna go bonkers.
- Christmas at Desmond's.
- And ?
Desmond's is the last great family-
owned department store in the city.
Where's the hook, what are you gonna
write about, shoplifting ?
What better place to search for
the true meaning of Christmas ?
Better.
I'll get hired on as a seasonal
holiday floater.
You working retail ?
Showing up on time, taking orders from
a supervisor, you won't last a week.
I can, and I will.
Every day I'll work in a different
department, every day a new story.
But undercover, right ?
That's a brilliant idea,
why didn't I think of that ?
You think you can get yourself hired ?
Fenton, I am a Christmas person.
This is my favorite holiday.
And they're usually desperate for
seasonal help.
Besides, I can be pretty persuasive
when I need to be.
Exactly. I came over here to reassign
you, and now look at me.
Give me 500 words, we'll do a column
every other day.
- Don't let me down.
- I won't, I promise. Thanks, Fenton.
How does she do that ?
Keep up, please keep up.
So, we'll all be starting on Friday
which is the Desmond's Day Sale,
the countdown to Christmas.
It rivals Black Friday. We easily do
twice the foot traffic here.
After you punch in,
you will come and see me
for your daily floating assignment.
Punctuality is of the utmost
importance.
We don't tolerate t*rd for
any reason.
The customer is king.
Mr. Desmond Sr. opened these doors
in 1904
with those very words
for every new employee.
Could you please line up ?
Our customers want to see your
beautiful face, young lady.
Jennifer.
Welcome to Desmond's.
The training was like boot camp.
This Rose lady is a force of nature.
I can't wait to start writing about
all of it.
It sounds like they take the holidays
very seriously.
What do you say,
pine cones and juniper berries ?
Perfect. Do you wanna use the ones
they dusted with glitter ?
You can never have too much glitter
at Christmas.
There's glitter all over this house.
I had glitter in my cereal
this morning, ladies.
Sorry, dad. Thanks for letting me work
on these over here.
My apartment is just so small.
We love to have you come home
and visit.
It's too quiet around here without you.
Hey Jen,
I'm working on this new recipe.
I can't decide, royal piping
or powdered sugar ?
These look pretty great
just like they are.
Those are seriously delicious.
- What's in these, allspice ?
- Cardamom.
I wish you'd let me teach you
how to make them, Jen.
Oh, no. No, no,
I'm not going anywhere near baking.
That is your domain, dad,
you are the firehouse baker.
Any recipe that involves over three
ingredients
is far too complicated for me.
Jennifer, did you tell your father
about your new undercover job ?
What, so now you're a detective ?
I thought you were a reporter.
I'm gonna be working at Desmond's
for Christmas.
I'm writing a column for the paper.
I'm gonna tell 'em I'm a grad student
at Loyola.
So, do you know how to work
a cash register ?
- I'll learn. How hard could it be ?
- No, I mean the old fashioned kind.
'Cause everything at Desmond's is stuck
in the past.
Yeah, I heard that they might be
going out of business.
What ? Where did you get your news ?
From the Jennifer Clark Mercury
Newspaper,
which I read every morning
with my coffee.
Sure, yes, Desmond's is having
their problems
like all the old-school businesses.
It's the same down at the paper.
Newspapers are never gonna go away
and neither are places like Desmond's.
We are very proud of what you're doing,
honey.
Thanks, mom.
You like all the old fashioned stuff,
don't you ?
I do. Old fashioned doesn't have to
mean stale and musty.
Sometimes it's nostalgic, romantic,
even. People forget that.
Well, it sounds to me like
you have your work cut out for you.
I think you might be right.
- Cookie ?
- Ooh, thank you.
Freshly baked.
Do you think dad's right, that
writing about Christmas at Desmond's is
like writing about a dinosaur ?
- Christmas never goes out of style.
- True.
But it's not a big story like
the corruption scandal
at the mayor's office.
That's what
I really wanna be writing about.
Christmas touches people's hearts.
Don't judge your worth by the size of
the story, Jen, men do that.
Your readers will let you know,
don't you worry.
- Thanks, mom.
- You're welcome, sweetie.
I have to be up at 4:00 a.m.
Rose expects me to be late, she's like
clairvoyant or something.
- How am I gonna pull this off ?
- Espresso and lots of it.
A lot, a lot of it.
Less than a minute to go until
we open for Desmond's Day Sale.
Places, everyone.
Doors open in five,
four, three, two, one.
Can I help you ?
Hello ! Welcome.
Hi, good morning.
Happy Holidays.
Can I help you ?
Hi, ma'am, can I help you ?
Hi, excuse me.
Sir ? Can I help you ?
Can I help you anyone, sir ?
Can I help you anyone ? Oh.
Whoa, are you okay ?
- I'm Manny.
- Jennifer, thanks.
- You never worked retail before, huh ?
- Is it that obvious ?
I thought it was gonna be all smiling
faces and happy children.
How long have you been here ?
Since I was 16,
and it gets crazier every year.
You must be the only department store
elevator operator in Chicago.
Eh, there's not many of us left.
Please don't go anywhere anytime soon,
Manny.
I think you might've saved
my life today.
- Fourth floor, business office.
- What do I do now ?
Go find Rose,
she'll get you a new assignment.
Just remember her bark
is worse than her bite.
What does that mean ?
Oh, if you need anything,
just let me know.
Thanks.
Manny, wait !
Keep up.
Merry Christmas,
you didn't last a minute.
Are you with me ?
Come on.
We have an elf down at Santa's Village.
No, we don't need paramedics,
just a sprained ankle.
See if Brian can fill in. Yes,
he has to wear the green tights.
- This looks like Jurassic Park.
- Just dive in, dear.
Head first.
Hi. Hello.
Hi. Merry Christmas.
Hi, does anyone need any help ?
Sir, do you need some help ? Oh, okay.
Hi, I'm here if anyone needs anything.
I'm sorry sir,
the very last Tickle Me Tammies
flew off the shelves this morning.
I called last night.
I checked the stockroom twice,
there's nothing. I'm so sorry.
This isn't the kind of service
is expect at Desmond's.
How am I gonna tell my granddaughter
that the only toy on her wishlist is
out of stock ?
Go ahead, you call her, give her
the bad news. You ruin her Christmas.
Well, we have other toys that giggle.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
I have an idea. Give me two minutes,
I promise you, I will figure this out.
Two minutes, young lady.
Mom, hey,
does your friend from church still have
that toy store open in Oak Park ?
I found it, I found it.
- You found it ?
- Yeah, at a toy store in Oak Park.
It's the last one they had. I asked for
them to gift wrap it for you
with a big bow for your granddaughter.
- You put it on hold for me ?
- Yeah, isn't that wonderful ?
It's like that movie,
Miracle on 34th Street
where Kris Kringle
does the right thing.
Sir ?
Dad ? You're supposed to be golfing
in Florida,
we didn't expect you back
till Christmas Eve.
I'm leaving for Boca in the morning.
Golf can wait.
I've never missed a Desmond's Day Sale.
- So what's the head count so far ?
- One thousand three hundred seventy.
Ah, with the all the money spent on
media buys,
we should have at least over 2000.
So you have a new employee
down there, Jennifer something.
She tried to 34th Street me.
It's been a long time since any
employee tried to pull that on me.
It's a great Christmas movie, dad.
Happy shopping.
- You've been shopped.
- What does that mean ?
You're going to the principal's office.
Ten minutes.
Going home so soon ?
I didn't even make it through
my first day.
Oh, you strike me as someone
who has nine lives.
I'd use them all up.
Bad enough you got the mystery shopper,
but the act that it was my father
and you're not the first to bring up
the Miracle on 34th Street card.
This happens all the time, Jack.
Every couple of years it does.
I will make a note to update
the employee manual.
So, Mr. Desmond gave you a score of 93
for greeting enthusiasm,
100 for creative problem solving,
and a negative 20 for closing the sale.
- What were you thinking ?
- I thought I was helping him.
By sending him to the competition ?
I'm sorry,
it's my first day on the job.
I will say my father's never given
anyone a score of 100 for anything.
Well, there's a silver lining.
Well, what should I have done ?
- Use a crowbar.
- Excuse me ?
If the door won't open,
then use a crowbar.
There's a gentleman stuck
in the dressing room on three.
- Try the lock.
- Is it the lock ?
WD-40. Yeah, my mom and I use it on
everything, it's a miracle worker.
Have you tried WD-40 ?
Look, Desmond's is an extraordinary
place, it's why I wanted to work here.
I remember coming here as a kid.
The Christmas season didn't even start
until your Winter Wonderland Festival.
We had lines around the block.
I remember the store windows,
they were so beautiful.
All twinkling lights and Santas,
it was pure magic.
Not like the postmodern horror show
we're stuck with now.
Rose, I bring it up to my father
all the time.
He thinks it's his contribution
to the store's history.
And what a history you have.
To think, 100 years ago,
your great grandfather built an empire
out of selling, I don't know,
cattle feed, and bib overalls, and
Christmas candy. It blows my mind.
How do you know so much
about this store ?
I didn't apply just anywhere.
I chose Desmond's.
And you never worked in retail before ?
But I'm a fast learner.
Please, let me show you what I can do.
Absolutely fantastic.
WD-40 did the trick.
Okay, great,
if you'll step outside for a moment,
Rose and I will be right with you.
Of course.
Jack, don't even think about it.
She'll be in here every day
with a new problem.
I'll keep an eye on her.
I'll probably live to regret this,
but just give her a second chance.
- What is this ?
- We like to call it the mountain.
This is where all the returned
Christmas sweaters come to rest.
But these are amazing.
Why would anyone wanna return them ?
Well then,
it's your job to give them new life.
But, where you going ?
Fold and stack, fold and stack, repeat
until you're done, good luck !
You won't forget about me, will you ?
Rose ?
Hey.
I heard you had quite the morning.
I ran into dad,
so what happened with the rookie ?
I gave her a second chance.
No, Jack, employees aren't like family.
Sometimes they don't deserve a second
chance. I'd get rid of her now.
On her first day ? She's a seasonal
hire, give her a break.
Besides, she has the kind of Christmas
spirit we used to have around here.
Oh, you're such a softie.
Somehow she talked me into
not firing her. It's amazing.
I don't have a lot of time, so let's
just get inside and get this over with.
These financials are ready
for your review.
- Things are gonna turn around.
- You are living in a fantasy land.
Retail is dead, rest in peace,
you are looking at its last gasp.
Okay, that's not funny.
And if the family had put more money
into the store 20 years ago,
we wouldn't be in this predicament.
You have an Ivy League MBA,
you could work anywhere you want,
yet you choose to be captain
of this sinking ship.
I love this ship.
And you used to, too.
Yeah, you're right.
Retail is in our blood.
But you and I are going to transform
this asset into something
that can really grow.
Aren't you excited about that ?
Come on.
Okay.
- You slayed the mountain.
- Yep, just about done.
No rookie's ever pulled this off
before.
Oh, well, I work the firemen's clothing
drive every year with my dad.
So, what's my next assignment ?
Christmas doesn't happen by itself
at Desmond's.
There are magical employee elves
working behind the scenes,
dozens of them. If they do their job
well, we don't notice.
And those magical elves are not just
there for the customers,
they're also there for the employees.
They have your back every minute
of the day.
When you're a new hire stumbling
through your first shift
hoping there's a safety net you're
thinking, what did I get myself into ?
But there's always someone watching out
for you.
The decor may be hopelessly
out of date,
and the building may need a remodel,
but Christmas at Desmond's is
a Chicago institution not to be missed.
Third floor, candy kitchen,
stationery and books, tea room.
Have a nice day, Manny.
- Well, aren't we industrious today ?
- Thanks.
I got inspired by some of the old
photos I saw in the office.
I love how they used to decorate
the place, what happened ?
Well, Mr. Desmond Sr. fell under
the spell of some
visionary interior designer
a few years ago.
One of my sales girls almost gored
herself on a sh**ting star.
We had to call in the paramedics.
Not very visionary if you ask me.
Well, I hope you don't mind me
making some changes.
No, knock yourself out.
- Where did you find all this stuff ?
- In one of the storage rooms.
- You must really love the holidays.
- I do.
My mom and I are actually
master crafters.
We make holiday decorations out of
everything.
One year, we made holiday centerpieces
out of hubcaps.
Hubcaps.
You know, I notice that we're kinda
short on a lot of our inventory.
Well, there's been a disruption
in our ordering supply chain.
But it's Christmas,
we can't have empty shelves.
The brass are working on it.
So, today you'll be demonstrating our
new gingerbread house building kit.
Oh, Rose, no, I'm terrible at baking.
Please, just let me work
on the decorations.
Everything you need is
in this little box.
Testing one, two, three.
Just follow the instructions,
no improvising. You understand ?
Follow the instructions.
When do I not follow the instructions ?
So, you're just gonna finish piping
with your icing,
and then,
once you've completed that,
you're just
going to press on the inside edge.
Sorry.
So you're just gonna,
you're gonna press the side together.
Right,
and they should stay just like so.
Right, so, here we go.
Oh, boy, sorry.
Well, I'm not done,
I'm just almost,
we'll get it, we'll get it.
Oh, sir, I'm not quite done.
That was quite a performance.
- Mom.
- Aw, sweetie.
- You didn't see that, did you ?
- Yes, I did.
- Oh, sorry.
- It's okay.
Well, you told us you were
in housewares today,
your father suggested that I stop by
and see how you're doing.
He's at a Christmas luncheon at the
firehouse, otherwise he'd be here.
That was a lot harder than I thought
it was gonna be.
Well, what'd ya say we start over.
Yes, please. And before Rose gets here,
she's gonna k*ll me.
I mean,
I don't even know how you do this.
Well, let's just start
from the beginning.
Your father should be here.
He's the baker in the family.
Do you know that he made twelve
fruitcakes for the firehouse luncheon ?
I know he misses that place.
Oh, early retirement,
it doesn't suit him.
No, it does not.
So, when I came in this morning, I
walked around the store a little bit.
Things have changed, huh ?
And not for the better.
I saw this wreath in cosmetics that
looked more like a crown of thorns.
But that shelf with the garlands over
there is lovely. It has a classic feel.
Well, thank you very much,
I did that this morning.
- You have the touch, my dear.
- Like mother, like daughter.
I see Santa's brought in
a helper today.
Jack, this my mother, Maureen. Mom,
this is our store manager Jack Desmond.
- Hi Jack, nice to meet you.
- And you.
Famous Desmond's.
Well, you're daughter's equally famous
around here.
Or, should I say infamous ?
Not every employee makes
such a big splash on her first day.
I would love to stay and talk,
but I gotta get going.
I'm trying to deal with that hit piece
in this morning's Mercury.
Hit piece ? I thought it was nicely
written, heartfelt.
Well, this reporter clearly doesn't
know the first thing about retail.
"The decor may be hopelessly out of
date,
and the building may need a remodel."
Hopelessly, really ?
But you know, you even got a shout
out, Jennifer.
"I even saw an employee abandon her
station in sheer terror."
I mean,
what a condescending thing to say.
Well, you're certainly protective of
your employees.
Well, they don't deserve this.
I think this reporter's trying to show
off how smart they are.
Well, that's not how I read it. I mean,
it made me wanna come down an visit
Desmond's after all these years.
- Really ?
- Yeah.
And I think people are gonna feel
the same way.
Who knows, maybe it's not a bad thing
like you think it is.
Well, I'm gonna get to the bottom
of it.
It's a betrayal,
I'll tell you that much.
My sister thinks
it's a former employee.
Maureen, it was lovely meeting you.
You are welcome here anytime.
Lookin' good.
- Thought your head was gonna explode.
- Did you hear what he was saying ?
I like him, he has a certain old-world
nobility and he clearly likes you.
He said, Lookin' good, before he left.
He was talking about
the gingerbread house.
- Ooh, says who ?
- Oh, mom, come on.
Oh, the Tea Room.
- Any chance we can sneak inside ?
- Oh, are you kidding ?
I'm already in
enough trouble around here as it is.
Plus, they always keep it locked.
I remember having such lovely meals
there when I was a girl.
Well, maybe you can ask your new BFF
if he'll give you a personal tour.
Jack ? I might just do that.
- Hey, Manny.
- Ah, did we win the w*r today ?
I had no idea how exhausting this is.
'Tis the season.
It's not half as busy as it used to be.
Yeah, I keep hearing that.
Is the store doing okay ?
All I know is whenever Jack's sister
comes in for a meeting,
he goes home with a migraine.
Did you happen to see the article
today ?
I got mentioned.
Rather, my elevator got mentioned.
"Manny O'Quinn's gleaming brass
and steel time machine
will transport you into the past while
safely delivering you to your future."
A time machine. How about that ?
In spite of all the holiday cheer,
there's a tension just beneath
the surface.
Everywhere you go in the store,
you can feel it,
especially with the management team.
It's Christmas and everybody's happily
doing their job,
but the big bosses are preoccupied.
I feel like they're worried about more
than foot traffic and Christmas sales.
There is something going on over there,
I just can't put my finger on it yet.
- Morning.
- Morning.
Didn't we just do this a few hours
ago ?
Feels like it, right ?
Top of the morning.
Getting a late start today, sir ?
I went for a long run at the lake.
- It's below zero with windchill.
- I needed to clear my head.
All right, in you go.
- Manny.
- Rose.
Looks like she'll be getting her,
10,000 steps in today.
You really are a newspaper guy,
aren't you ?
Yeah, I love newspapers,
except when they write nasty stories
about Desmond's.
I like getting all those
different voices in one place.
Kind of a dying breed though,
aren't they, sir ?
I don't know, I think people are
rediscovering the joys of newspapers.
It's like classic c*ck
or bow ties.
Everything old is new again.
Fourth floor, business office.
Have a good day.
Bye.
Oh, I'm...
Sorry.
Oh, no, no, it's fine, I hate that
thing. It's always in my way.
I like what you did with
the decorations in housewares.
- I think we could use your help.
- Really ? Thanks.
I found a box of old decorations in the
basement when I was folding sweaters.
I could ask Rose if she'd let me make
some changes around here.
Yes, I love doing makeovers,
that'd be amazing.
Rio, Jennifer, it's lookin' good.
Wait,
the boss already knows your name ?
- I've been in a lot of trouble.
- Jennifer. You're my kinda girl.
So, what's the deal with Jack anyway ?
He seems like a good guy,
is he married, kids, girlfriend ?
He was with some society chick
from Kenilworth.
I don't know happened to her. He's too
cute to be single, if you ask me.
Hey, should we just get rid of this
thing ?
- Yes, yes, and that one, too.
- Oh, please.
Jennifer.
Cosmetics is lookin' sharp. I like what
you're doing with the place.
Thanks. Rose said it was okay.
Oh, yeah, it's starting to look like
the old days.
Even some of the customers
are noticing.
You really seem to be getting into
the swing of things here.
Yeah, I am.
The hours are crazy, though.
Yeah, 14 hour days during the holidays
are brutal.
- You work that much ?
- Since the beginning of the season.
You start to look at Christmas
differently.
You know, everybody else is out
shopping and partying,
but for those of us in retail.
Yeah,
I never thought about it that way.
You lose that sense of joy
that comes with the holidays.
Christmas is my favorite time of year,
so I'm not sure that would happen
for me.
Well, it does.
You know, I...
I want you to know that I appreciate
all your hard work and initiative.
I mean, you give 150%.
I wish every employee was like that.
Well, thanks. My parents taught me
to go big or go home.
I'm gonna miss you
when you go back to school.
Grad school, right.
Maybe you'll come back and visit us ?
- I'd like that.
- Yeah.
- What are you studying ?
- Um, that's complicated.
Oh, sorry, hang on.
Yeah ? Okay, okay,
don't panic, I'll be right there.
Yes, I'll bring a mop.
Somebody fell in the reflecting pool.
Never a dull moment.
Listen, I gotta run,
but we'll finish this up later ?
- Yeah, sure.
- Okay.
- Good luck.
- Thanks.
Chicago is bracing for
winter storm Megan
which is expected to bring sleet,
snow, and whiteout conditions.
If you are going to be driving today,
please be careful.
- Hey.
- Hi.
You sure you don't mind me leaving
my car in your driveway ?
I just don't wanna get snowed in
at work.
Spend the night if you need to.
It's gonna be terrible out there today.
It sure is.
Hey, can I get your advice
on something ?
I just don't really know what to do.
I was with Jack yesterday, and I came
so close to telling him the truth.
Oh, that's a difficult situation.
Dad, it's impossible.
I hate lying to him, and I'm starting
to really like the guy.
Well, what would happen
if you told him everything ?
I wish I could, mom, but he'd probably
never talk to me again,
he might fire me, and no one at the
store would ever treat me the same way.
So, you won't get the story
you're hoping for.
Either way, I'm gonna lose.
You can only kick the can down the road
for so long, Jen.
Great. This and a blizzard.
It's gonna be a red letter day.
Jennifer, because of the storm,
we're already down staff,
so I'm gonna need you over at the
candy cane making demo.
You're going to be working
with extremely hot sugar.
- I know you're not great with baking.
- No, no, I love candy canes.
It's not really baking,
it's more like chemistry.
My mom and I make them every year.
Uh-huh, well, just try not to burn down
the store.
Come on.
And you'll just gently roll
the red and the white together,
form it into the shape of a candy cane,
and once you have it as you want it,
you just snip the end like so.
And there you have it.
Thank you, Merry Christmas.
Here I was, all prepared to move you
to gift wrapping.
Not to worry,
I've got everything under control.
It's gettin' ugly outside.
Did you have any trouble getting in ?
Oh, no, I parked at my parents' place,
they live in the neighborhood.
I don't like my employees
out in this mess.
You know Rose comes all the way
from the south side ?
You really care about the people here,
don't you ?
Yeah, I guess I do.
Listen, I'm gonna close early.
Would you like to stay late
and give me a hand ?
Sure.
- You're really good at this.
- Why do you sound so surprised ?
It's actually a lot of fun,
have you ever tried it ?
I am a complete mess in the kitchen.
That's okay, anybody can make a candy
cane. Do you wanna give it a try ?
Nah, I can't, I'd probably...
What, fail ? There's no wrong way.
Come on, give it a shot.
Okay.
- Oh, you'll need some gloves.
- Yes.
- Safety first.
- Safety first, always.
And don't worry, you are in good hands,
I've been doing this a very long time.
I trust you. All right.
So. You're gonna take this,
it's hot sugar, so be careful.
I'll be very careful.
Now, you wanna just gently roll.
Yep, and then twist. Perfect. Just...
Okay. See, I've already messed it up.
That's okay, we have another one,
so you get another shot at it.
- Alright, give this one a shot here.
- Okay.
- Gently...
- Gently.
Twist, yes, just like that.
- You're doing great.
- Look, it's working.
It is, okay,
so now you've got it like so.
You're gonna gently bend it slowly into
the shape of a candy cane.
- I did it.
- You did.
- Thank you.
- And you wanna just have it cool here.
- You're a pro.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Do you wanna try again ?
Of course, yes.
Nice moves.
I always wanted to do this, but I never
had the guts. My father would k*ll me !
Well, that's why I love a snow day.
Everybody gets a hall pass.
- I'd love to see inside.
- We really shouldn't.
Maybe just a quick peek ?
Promise not to tell anyone ?
It's like a time warp.
Housekeeping comes in every once
in a while to polish the silver, dust,
keep everything looking fresh.
- Why ?
- I don't know.
I guess it's my fantasy that someday,
we'll re-open it again.
Tea Room served it's last meal in 2008.
Well, don't give up hope.
My grandmother brought me here
when I was a kid.
Even though the family name
was over the door,
she insisted we take the bus and come
to Desmond's like any other shopper.
She wanted me to understand that it
didn't matter if you were rich or poor,
Desmond's
was everyone's department store.
- She sounds like an amazing woman.
- Yeah, she was.
Came to the Tea Room every Saturday.
She'd make me wear a tie, that's where
I learned to tie a bow tie at six.
You know, bow ties can be notoriously
nerdy, but you pull it off.
Well, thank you.
During the Winter Wonderland Festival
you could get a complete meal for $1.
And on Christmas Eve, they'd drop
artificial snow from the ceiling.
So beautiful.
I'm sorry,
I didn't mean to go on like that.
Jack, those are beautiful memories.
I don't know. Maybe keeping all this
isn't such a good idea.
Just keeps the sadness alive.
You know what, I know something you'll
get really excited about.
Come on.
Wow. This is amazing.
It feels like we're in snow globe.
I wanted to show you this because of
all the decorating you've been doing.
It's great, so retro.
It's not retro, it's the real thing.
This is the last of the old window
displays that survived dad's makeover.
You know, I come here sometimes when
things are too much.
People on the street just think
I'm part of the display.
- It's brilliant.
- Thank you.
This is one of my favorite
Christmas songs.
No way, me too.
- May I have this dance ?
- I thought you'd never ask.
Hi, heard you and Mr. Desmond
closed the store last night.
Nothing's secret around here, huh ?
Yeah, we had a good time.
Eh, he needs more of that.
I know there's a story there, Manny.
That's a longer elevator ride
than you and I have time for today.
Hi Jack, feeling like playing
some reindeer games ?
Meet me at Corktown tonight at eight.
- I'm so bad at this.
- No, no, practice makes perfect.
You'll get there. Here,
you probably need some of this.
Thanks, but I was having a Chardonnay.
Uh, see, the thing is,
you're at the Corktown,
so you're gonna
have to have some Scotch.
Okay. So what's the secret ?
All right, so my dad taught me
everything I know.
Just stand back,
and watch the master in action.
- Thank you.
- You make it look easy.
That's because it is.
You overthink things.
- I do ?
- You do. Here, gimme that.
All right now, close your eyes, relax.
Now imagine
the ring flying through space,
landing smack dab on that reindeer.
Now imagine the crowd going wild.
- You're the man, Jack !
- Okay, this is silly.
Hey, maybe you need a little silly
in your life.
- Nailed it.
- Thank you, thank you.
See ?
Okay, so tell me more about yourself,
Jennifer.
I barely know anything about you
beyond Desmond's.
- There's really not that much to know.
- I don't think so.
I don't even know what you're studying.
Well, what happens after grad school ?
Can we not talk about school ? I get
all uptight just thinking about it,
and I'm having such a nice time
tonight.
- Do you come here a lot ?
- Yeah, my cousin owns the place.
Birthday parties, funerals, weddings,
graduations,
they all end up here at the Corktown.
Wow, social events in my family
are much more formal.
When Mia and I were kids, we had a
scheduled Christmas presents hour
between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.,
not a minute sooner.
- Didn't that drive you crazy ?
- Yes, absolutely.
Mia and I would be up a the crack of
dawn,
but my father wouldn't let us unwrap
a single present until 9:00 a.m.
Wow. It was total chaos at my house,
just wrapping paper flying everywhere.
Sounds like I should spend a little
more time with your family.
Can I walk you home ?
I'd like to.
Yeah.
Ah, it feels so good to be away from
the store, even just for a few hours.
It's so intense this time of year,
and with these 'Christmas Nine to Five'
articles running in the paper.
Wait, there's something you need
to know, Jack.
Something I've been wanting to tell you
ever since we first met.
What is it ?
I didn't mean to lie, and I didn't mean
to hurt anybody, especially you,
but I'm not a grad student.
I'm the author of
Christmas Nine to Five.
Wait a minute, what ?
I sold my editor the idea of a reporter
embedded at Desmond's
in search of the true meaning of
Christmas. I never meant any harm.
So this was all set up.
- You used us, me, Rose, the staff...
- Jack, no.
It's even worse than I imagined.
How could you not tell me the truth ?
I wanted to, but I thought
it might affect the story.
I shared all sorts of personal things
about my family with you.
Is that gonna end up
in tomorrow's paper ?
- No, of course not.
- I was really starting to like you.
I feel the same way, and I don't want
anything to jeopardize that.
Anything for a story, huh ?
Jack, no. Please don't go.
The other day, I overheard one of the
employees say...
"Cashiers are human, we have feelings,
we just work here,"
we don't control the ordering,
we just ring up your sales,
please don't yell at us
if there's a line.
How many times have I felt like that ?
Finally, someone's giving us a voice.
I'm really liking this smokey eye
on you.
Oh, okay, just remember our customers
are a bit more conservative,
so nothing too outrageous.
Okay, are you ready
for the big reveal ?
Honey, no, I can't go out
in public like this.
It's the holidays,
I thought I'd kick it up a notch.
This is kicking it all the way
to the moon.
Sweetie, maybe you should just work
the register today.
Cosmetics, jewelry, and accessories.
Yes, she's right here.
I'll send her right up.
They wanna see you upstairs, ASAP.
That is not a very Christmassy smile.
Fourth floor, Jack's office.
Come on, it can't be that bad. At least
you spelled my last name right.
How did you know ?
It didn't take much,
if you were paying attention.
Manny, you can't tell anybody.
What's said in this elevator
stays in this elevator.
"The spirit of Christmas is carried
like a torch
by each and every one of the
hard-working Desmond's employees
who work tirelessly to make
our holiday dreams come true."
Looks as if the author took a couple of
my suggestions,
less about the author,
more about the people.
Could you please just fire me
and get it over with ?
Well, I don't like that you lied to me,
I do appreciate getting a fair shake
in the press.
That's all I ever wanted to do.
We could certainly use
the positive publicity right now.
So maybe this isn't such a bad thing
after all.
So then I'm not fired ?
Not as of 11:45 a.m.,
but the day's still young.
What about the staff ?
They don't know anything.
Let's keep it that way.
This doesn't go beyond this room.
You were right, you'd get an entirely
different story if they knew.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta get
to a meeting.
I'm so sorry, Rose.
- I don't like surprises.
- I know, I know.
Jack was so upset with me last night.
What happened ?
I marked up your column
and had it waiting for him.
He was furious until he read it again
with my notes.
I hope you know, it was never
my intention to hurt the store.
Your column is a love letter to
Desmond's,
to an era of different values
and expectations,
and we really need that right now.
- I don't understand.
- You will.
Against my better judgment, I think you
may be our Christmas angel in disguise.
But if you break his heart, I will
never forgive you.
- He's like a son to me.
- Rose, I would never...
- No more secrets.
- Right.
Jen, could you please run up to the
office ? We're out of register tape.
- Sure.
- Thank you. Hi !
Jack, dad's not gonna budge.
The Wallerton offer is a good one.
Anyway, everything after Christmas is
about customers returning things
and using gift cards, it's not gonna
help your bottom line.
- I'm not giving up.
- Dad's been briefed on all the offers.
Wallerton investments wants an answer
by Christmas Eve.
We're making a mistake,
and Wallerton can wait.
Jack, the most valuable asset we have
is this building and the real estate
that it's standing on.
- Jack.
- What are you doing here ?
I just wanted to say, thanks for giving
me a second chance this morning.
Well, you should be thanking Rose.
Well, let's agree,
no more secrets from here on out.
Fine, no more secrets.
- What's Wallerton Investments ?
- Excuse me ?
I wouldn't be a good reporter
if I wasn't doing my job.
You can't write about that, not a word.
Well, tell me what's going on.
If Mia gets her way, the store is
closing down right after Christmas.
What ?
Wallerton made my father an offer for
the building.
They wanna turn it into a parking lot
or law office, or who knows what.
My great grandfather is rolling over
in his grave right now.
- That's terrible.
- I'm doing everything I can.
I convinced my dad to wait and make
final decision on Christmas Eve.
I really wish you hadn't found out
about this.
But you can't let him shut down the
store, Jack. What can I do to help ?
Nothing, this is bigger
than you and me.
Promise me not a word to anyone.
I promise.
You know, I'm thinking about doing
Thursday's column on the Tea Room.
Did you know they used to serve lunch
there for a buck ?
What else you got ?
Well, Desmond's sales have really
jumped since...
You have to make this worth my time,
Jen.
No more puff pieces if you want
the front page. What's your voice ?
I don't know. I used to think it was
tough young reporter
chasing leads at City Hall,
speaking truth to power,
but since I started working at
Desmond's,
I really loved writing about the people
who worked there.
- Their lives, the rhythm of their day.
- That's not enough, I need more.
No, no, boring.
Does anybody really care about
the long-simmering romance
between Manny the elevator operator
and Rose ?
I do. How do you do that, anyway,
reading upside down ?
Years on the job. Okay, what's this
about Wallerton Investment Group ?
There's been talk about the place
being sold.
- What ?
- But I can't write about it.
Wallerton has made an offer
on the building.
The store manager is fighting it tooth
and nail. They have until the 24th.
Chicago might be losing its last,
great, family-owned department store ?
It's off the record, Fenton.
That's your Christmas angle,
this is the story.
It's messy and complicated,
and I can't betray my source.
There are other ways to confirm it,
go to Wallerton directly.
Jennifer, this is what sells
newspapers.
No, I can't, Fenton.
If you don't follow-up on this,
I'll give it to another reporter.
Victor Caldwell is thirsty for a juicy
investigative piece like this.
No way.
You know that he will savage everybody
just in order to get the story.
Did you ever think you might be doing
the Desmond's family a favor ?
If there's any hope of keeping
the doors open,
what better than an outpouring of love
from their local newspaper ?
Yeah, but I'll destroy every
relationship I have over there.
But if you run with it,
you might help them.
Be a real reporter, Jen.
Break time.
Thanks, dad.
- Wow, that is spiked, big time.
- Of course it's spiked.
What kind of parent do you think I am ?
You know, when you called earlier,
I knew something was up.
I just couldn't be alone.
What am I gonna do ?
The right thing.
You know it in your heart.
I don't. I really don't.
I mean, yeah, I might be able to do
some good for Desmond's,
but is Fenton just pulling my chain
for a story ?
Well, can you sleep on it ?
No, he'll just assign it out
to someone else.
Well then, you be the one to write it.
You put yourself out there.
Own it, Jen, you do everything you can
to help these people.
No matter the consequences.
They say that all good things must come
to an end,
so when I learned Desmond's was
in danger of closing,
I couldn't imagine losing yet another
tradition, or worse yet,
not seeing the faces of all the people
there who had become my friends,
faces I look forward to seeing
every single morning,
people I counted on.
Losing Desmond's is more than losing
a building. It's like losing family.
Jennifer, have you seen this ?
I can't believe it,
how could they not tell us ?
Jennifer, I get what you're doing,
but it's like Santa dropped a grenade
down the chimney.
I gave this a great deal of thought,
Manny.
I'm sure you did,
but I want you to prepare yourself
because Jack and Mia have steam
coming out of their ears.
- Why didn't you say something to me ?
- What were you thinking ?
This can help.
My editor called me this morning,
there were so many hits to the website,
the online edition crashed.
Oh, great, now our dirty laundry's on
display for all the world to see.
This could be an opportunity for
the city to come out and support you.
Desmond's means the world to people.
Jack, did you leak this to her on
purpose to derail our deal ?
- Of course I didn't.
- Just because she's your girlfriend...
- Uh, she's not my girlfriend.
- Oh, I'm not his girlfriend.
I'm glad we cleared that up.
Anyway, now we can't fire her,
god knows that would be terrible PR,
that would look like we're trying to
hide something.
If this jeopardizes my deal,
there will be consequences.
Hey, I have a staff that's confused and
angry. They think I've betrayed them.
I wasn't going to make announcement
till after I knew for sure,
now I have to change everything.
I know,
and I'm really sorry about that.
But maybe just do it now, you know,
seize the day.
You're gonna stand on a table and wave
a sign that says Save Desmond's ?
If I have to, yes.
And I promise you, I won't be alone.
Jennifer, these employees don't have
skin in the game.
They'll find somewhere else to work.
I disagree with you.
This place is like family to them.
I'm sure you all saw the article
in the paper,
and yes, the reporting is generally
accurate.
I wasn't at liberty to make any
announcement,
which is why none of you knew
it was going on behind the scenes.
We have an offer on the table, but it
doesn't mean that we're gonna close.
And I had such high expectations
for you.
We have until Christmas Eve. It's still
enough time to turn things around.
I thought you were floating somewhere
else today.
I have one more day in cosmetics.
Sarah in lingerie heard a rumor
that you're the reporter.
- Rio, I can explain...
- It's true ? Why didn't you tell me ?
- I didn't mean to hurt anybody.
- I thought we were friends.
We are. Rio,
I'm doing my best to make this work.
You're a reporter, Jennifer.
You just write about the world.
You don't actually have the power
to change anything.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
- Rose, are you okay ?
- I'm fine, I'm fine.
Rose,
you know we have to do something.
There's no we anymore, Manny.
Yes, your family put an end to that.
We were just kids, barely twenty.
Your mother mocked me for being
nothing more than a timecard employee.
My folks lost their garment business.
They lost everything, you know that.
I had to drop out of college.
The only reason I came to work here was
because my father knew Mr. Desmond.
We could've made it work, Rose.
What kind of future did we have ?
We didn't have a dime between us.
Couples with far less have made
beautiful lives for themselves.
That's just water under the bridge.
Your mother made you call off
the engagement, didn't she ?
That was so long ago.
We can't change what happened.
Yeah, but we can change what's gonna
happen, Rose.
Look, you and I know this place better
than anyone.
Let's put our heads together
and come up with a solution.
Come on, take a ride in my elevator,
we'll solve all the worlds ills,
just like the old days.
Pie in the sky, magical thinking.
That's why it never worked for us.
Well, you stopped dreaming, Rose.
I never did.
You are the most stubborn woman
I've ever known.
You can't keep doing this forever,
you're gonna need my help someday.
Rose !
Hey, Jack. Your speech this morning
was really moving.
I know that couldn't have been easy.
I think you and I should keep things
strictly professional from now on.
I wanted to help.
Can we please just talk about it ?
I gotta go.
- Well, look what the cat dragged in.
- You'd think I was radioactive.
Jack won't look at me in the eye,
Rio acts like I'm dead to her,
I had to eat lunch alone. At least
I'm still welcome in Manny's elevator.
Manny, Jack, Rio. You talk about these
people like they're your family.
Well, it kinda feels like they are,
mom.
When you spend
that many hours of a day together,
you really get to know people. They
have every right to be angry with me.
Then it sounds to me like you need to
write about your new family.
Something that Jack said early on
really stuck with me.
He said that my column needs to be
more personal.
He may be on to something. Doesn't
your paper have an online edition ?
Yeah, it's huge.
They want companion pieces for
everything in the print edition.
- The ad revenue online is crazy.
- Sounds like an opportunity to me.
I suppose I could write a daily diary,
more in-depth stories
about the employees,
maybe even post some photographs ?
A daily blog might even help bring in
more customers.
And it might make you feel better.
You got an MBA for this ?
Never underestimate the value of
an ivy league education.
I have some good news.
Because of all that hubbub
in the newspaper with your girlfriend.
She is not my girlfriend.
We have a mystery bidder entering
the fray.
- Who is it ?
- Just some blind trust.
Probably some wealth-management group
looking to pick up a broken business.
We're not a broken business.
Anyway,
the mystery bidder's offer is lower,
but I'm hoping I can use it to leverage
the Wallerton group.
- Squeeze more cash outta them.
- Never stop thinkin' of angles.
This is our family's financial future,
Jack.
Unlike you, I live in the real world,
not Santa's Village.
If you're lucky, you'll get to meet
store manager, Jack Desmond.
He's from a long line of retail giants,
and he may be the biggest.
He's the protector of our
Christmas dreams.
He knows that if Desmond's closes,
a piece of our childhood will be gone
forever.
Everywhere you go,
someone is planning for your visit
making sure everything will be perfect,
ready to greet you with a smile
or help you with a that wishlist
that's been keeping you awake at night.
And if you're exhausted from a long day
of shopping,
there's even someone there to give
your spirits a lift.
Coming to Desmond's
is like coming home.
Looks like she's found her voice.
Rio, Rio !
Whoa, one at a time, people.
What's the rush this morning ?
I want you to do my makeup, Rio.
Jennifer says you're the best.
- Jennifer ?
- In her blog.
She says your contouring
is the best she's ever seen.
Have a seat.
Are we running some kind of special
sale ?
Not that I know of.
What are you looking for today ?
Just the contour ?
Whoa, good mornin', folks. Come on in.
You'll all get the first class
treatment now.
Okay, that's enough for now, sir. We'll
be right back for you. Floor, please.
As I said, ladies and gentlemen,
the Tea Room is closed.
- Just one look. We heard all about it.
- I'm sorry, I don't have the key.
Hey, isn't that Mr. Desmond ?
- Well, thank you for coming today.
- We read about the place online.
We can't believe you're gonna tear
this down.
I'm working very hard to prevent that
from happening.
Having you all here really helps
our cause.
I want my children to know what it's
like to shop in a place like this.
'Cause when it's gone, they'll never
know, except in the movies.
We've lost enough Christmas traditions.
Not this one, too.
I won't give up, I promise.
You're our hero, Mr. Desmond.
Save Desmond's, save Desmond's !
I didn't expect to see you here.
Are you back from a reindeer
ring toss ?
I got a message that I forgot my trophy
the other night.
I don't remember winning anything,
but in all fairness,
I was a little foggy that night.
- Who called you ?
- Some woman, the owner ?
The owner is Stanley, my cousin.
I think we might've been Maureened.
She asked me to come meet her
for a drink and then never showed up.
I apologize, my mom thinks that life
is one big rom-com.
Well, since I'm here,
can I get a Chardonnay ?
I mean a Scotch, I'll have a Scotch.
So listen, we haven't really had
a private moment
for me to properly apologize to you.
- I am so sorry...
- Sorry ?
We just had our best single-day sales
ever in the history of the store,
thanks to your
"Desmond's Christmas Diaries."
Wow, that's amazing.
I am sorry,
though, about how it all went down.
I wanted to tell you from the very
beginning, I hope you believe me.
I didn't like it, but
it's boomeranged in our favor,
and for that, I have to thank you.
'Cause of all the publicity,
I'm starting to get calls from
headhunters all over the country.
- For what ?
- National retailers offering me jobs.
Macy's New York office has called me
three times already.
But Jack, you can't move to New York,
this is your home.
If Desmond's closes, I don't wanna be
around for the postmortem.
It's too painful to stay here,
I don't wanna see our building turned
into a parking lot.
- But you can't give up hope.
- I have to be practical.
I'm gonna find a way to fix this.
It'll be a Christmas miracle.
Those kind of happy endings
don't happen in real life.
Well, what about us ? I feel like
there's something there,
and I think you do, too.
That night of
the blizzard, it was so wonderful.
I feel the same way,
but it was a moment.
We can build a lifetime
on moments like that.
We're on different roads, Jen. We were
lucky enough to cross paths once,
but that's not gonna happen again.
In six months, I probably won't even be
living here,
you'll be onto some new assignment.
That's life.
It doesn't have to be like that.
Ah, if I had a red carpet,
I'd roll it out for you this morning.
Manny, please.
Have you seen our sales numbers ?
You've brought Desmond's back to life.
You're giving me too much credit.
You know, even with all the crowds,
the one complaint I keep hearing is
that the customers really miss the old
fashioned Christmas decorations.
One year we had
a giant inflatable Santa.
He was up on the roof,
you could see him from outer space.
Yeah, it breaks my heart that all that
great stuff got thrown away.
Do you have a couple minutes before
you go on shift ?
- Where are going ?
- You'll see.
What is all this ?
Over the years, every time they took
something down to throw it away,
I'd just bring it down here. Like Jack
said, everything old is new again.
- Manny, this is incredible.
- I guess you could call me a pack rat.
- Or an angel.
- I kinda had a feeling you'd get this.
I could always tell a department where
you'd floated
because the decorations were always
so much better.
Oh, well,
you can thank my mom for that.
She taught me everything I know about
Christmas.
- What's this ?
- It's the Tea Room China.
I saved it from a dumpster. In fact,
I have all the Winter Wonderland
decorations from the Tea Room
including that snow-making machine.
Does it still work ?
I have no idea, we used to stuff
it with confetti and glitter.
- Who knows about this ?
- No one, not even Jack.
When his father hired that crazy
designer, he was like a wrecking ball.
And what about Rose ?
Are you kidding, I can't even get her
to take a ride in my elevator,
let alone a trip down here.
I have an idea.
- We could get in a lotta trouble.
-When has that ever stopped me before ?
Wait, how did you do this ?
I thought all this stuff was lost.
It's all here, everything that was part
of The Winter Wonderland Festival.
I don't understand,
how's that possible ?
Manny has been saving it all for years.
His secret Christmas treasure.
Somehow,
he knew that these things had value.
He wasn't interested in what was in
or out of style,
he knew that this was classic.
Everything is down in the basement,
Jack. All the antique decorations.
Come on in, have a seat.
This is almost what it looked like
back in the day.
And it can again, the whole store.
We can re-open the Tea Room on
Christmas Eve.
People remember Winter Wonderland,
they ask about it all the time.
Well, we wouldn't be able to do
food service on such short notice.
So we serve hot chocolate and candy
from the candy shop.
The food part doesn't matter,
people just wanna get back in here
and see the place.
It's full of memories for them.
Just wait until the word gets out.
It'll work ?
People come here to get a look at the
past. Let's give 'em a whole lot more.
- It's taking a big risk, Jennifer.
- Yeah, but isn't it worth it ?
Desmond's needs a little dusting off
to get ready for its second century.
- You think we could pull it off ?
- We'll never know until we try.
As all of you know,
Christmas is just around the corner,
and thanks to Manny's hard work,
we have an opportunity to transform
Desmond's into what it was
so that our shoppers can experience the
store as generations have before them.
Okay people, let's make this
the best Christmas ever.
Okay, guys, we're gonna fan out,
grab as many great Christmas
decorations that you can find.
This was all Manny ?
Hey. You kept her.
Well, of course I did.
I never gave up hope.
Manny.
Here, let me put her up right now.
Okay.
She looks so beautiful up there.
She's come home, hasn't she ?
You proposed to me under that angel.
And you said yes.
Where did we go wrong, Manny ?
It's not too late, Rose.
- Oh, who'd want an old lady like me ?
- An old man like me.
Come on, Rose.
Take a ride in my elevator.
Okay.
I have been looking all over for you.
It's like a madhouse around here.
Yeah, Jennifer had the idea of bringing
up all the old holiday decorations.
- Oh, she's just full of endless ideas.
- Wait till you see what we've done.
You really think all this is somehow
gonna change dad's mind ?
Day to day sales are through the roof.
It doesn't matter.
I have some really exciting news.
I wanna show you something first.
I received and email at my office,
and it's a game changer.
Close your eyes.
No, I'm not gonna close my eyes,
I'm not seven years old, Jack.
Come on, please ? Please ?
Follow me.
Remember the old Winter Wonderland ?
- How did you...
- You can thank Jennifer.
I was this little when Grandma
brought me here for the first time.
I'd never seen anything so beautiful.
I remember following a waiter
into the kitchen.
They let me sit on a stool while
they made tea sandwiches.
Oh, I cried when it was time to go
home, I didn't wanna leave.
You don't have to.
We're gonna reopen the Tea Room.
Wait till dad sees it.
Jack, this is spectacular,
but it doesn't solve any of our
problems.
Don't get sidetracked by
all the nostalgia.
But it's not just nostalgia. You should
hear what the customers are saying.
Jennifer's right.
You tell me how you're going to get
crowds in here in the middle of summer
when it's 96 degrees, our 40-year old
air conditioning system breaks down
like it does every summer.
Which is why I've been trying to get
dad to put more money
into maintaining the building.
Can I have the room ?
Just everybody out, please ?
No, not you, Jennifer,
I really want you to hear this.
Wallerton has upped its offer,
that's what I was trying to tell you,
by a lot.
I never thought
we'd see numbers like this.
Dad's never gonna walk away
from an offer like this,
and I haven't even gone back
to the mystery bidder yet.
And we have you to thank for it,
Jennifer.
You may be the best thing that's
happened to Desmond's in years.
- Uh, best coffee in town.
- I know it.
Well ?
It'll run in the paper tomorrow,
front page on Christmas Day.
Oh, we're so proud of you, honey.
- Jack's father gets in at noon.
- Ooh, fingers crossed.
Thanks so much for your help, you guys.
I couldn't have gotten through this
without the both of you.
- We love you.
- Love you, guys.
- You did good.
- Thanks, dad.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks, mom.
- Yeah, this looks incredible.
- Oh, I'm so glad.
- Places, please.
- This is...
Doors about to open.
In five, four, three, two, one.
Hi, sir.
Hi, can I help you with
anything ? Merry Christmas.
Hi, just let me know if I can help you
with anything at all.
Can you believe this ? Incredible.
Amazing, right ? Rio, can you help us
out up here ? We need another hostess.
I'll get one of the floaters
to cover for me.
I'm not the kind of person who puts his
career on the line like this.
Until now.
- So thank you, Jennifer.
- You're welcome.
- Dad.
- Jack.
- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas, Jack.
- I don't know if you remember me...
- Of course I remember you.
I've been
following your postings every day.
You probably think an old geezer like
me has no idea what a blog is,
but I still know a thing or two.
Thank you for all you've done
for our store, Jennifer.
You're very welcome, sir.
The place looks wonderful,
and the crowds, what a delight.
Are we meeting in your office, Jack ?
Actually,
I have a little surprise for you, dad.
Follow me.
Mr. Desmond.
- You're going to be just fine.
- Thank you.
This is, this is just amazing, son.
I remember when your mother and I went
to Europe to find those food carts.
Nobody in America made anything
like them.
We fixed up the private dining area
for our meeting, dad.
Just wonderful.
Merry Christmas,
thank you for being here today.
I used to come here with my mother,
and I wanted my daughters to see it.
Winter Wonderland is better than
I remember it. Is it gonna snow ?
- I don't know, let's ask Jack.
- I think that's up to Santa.
You've made this family proud,
young man.
Thank you, dad. After you.
I just can't believe it.
- Hey, how's it going ?
- It's so magical.
Oh, good, good, good, I'm glad.
Could you grab us some more Earl Grey
tea ? I think we're running low.
- Hi.
- Hi.
I'll fill you in later.
Oh, I can't watch.
- What do you think ?
- I don't know. Wait.
Wait, wait, that's good, he's smiling.
Come on, Mr. Desmond, just say yes.
This is good, I think we did it.
No, no, no, no, no.
- I'm the mystery bidder.
- What ?
I'll explain everything, I promise.
- Here, I was trying to help.
- I am completely lost.
Who was I to think I could be the head
of Desmond's,
I'm just an elevator operator.
No, Manny, don't say that.
You have to tell them.
I wouldn't know where to begin.
Mia makes me so nervous.
Manny, it's the 11th hour,
if you can do something, you can't wait
any longer.
All the times you've helped me,
let me help you now.
- I don't know what to do, Jennifer.
- I do, come with me.
Mr. Desmond,
there's something you need to know.
Jennifer, what's going on ?
I'm the mystery bidder.
- Is this some sort of joke ?
- Let him explain, Mia.
I saved every penny I ever earned from
here from the day I started at age 16.
I remember when my father hired you.
You were barely old enough to shave.
Yeah, I started buying stocks
at a young age, too.
First it was a little company called
IBM,
and then it was Apple at 10$ a share.
Manny, you never said anything.
It was my rainy day fund. I always knew
I'd need it someday,
and that day is today.
I wanna buy Desmond's. I know,
I'm not part of the family,
but I feel like I am.
I like tradition, and this is one that
I wanna see continue.
I'm sorry, Manny,
but your offer is the lower one.
What I don't have in cash,
I'll make up for in spirit.
I'll take care of this place.
I've been around here longer than just
about anybody, except for you, Mr. D.
I'm the right guy to ensure Desmond's
future,
but I do have just two conditions.
One, that we resume doing
Winter Wonderland,
and we keep the Tea Room open
permanently.
And the second condition ?
That we never install an automatic
elevator 'cause
that way there's always gonna be
a job for a human being.
I still have a few good years left.
As much as it pains me to say this,
dad, and it pains me greatly.
Manny's right. What Jack and Jennifer
have done here,
it's incredible.
We may not have Christmas
12 months a year,
but we can certainly celebrate
the spirit of the holiday every day.
What do you say, Mr. Desmond ?
How can we turn down
an offer like that ?
Manny, welcome aboard.
Ladies and gentlemen,
can I have your attention, please ?
Our newest employee, Jennifer Clark,
has a very special announcement
to make.
Now, hopefully you've been lucky enough
to read her column in The Mercury.
Well, I've been lucky enough to get to
know her in person.
And I've never met anyone quite
like her.
- Jennifer ?
- Thanks, Jack.
I want everyone to know that the real
Christmas angel here today
is our very own Manny O'Quinn.
Without him,
none of this would be possible.
And I hope you're enjoying your
afternoon in the Desmond's Tea Room
because it is about to become
a year-round tradition again.
Desmond's isn't going anywhere,
we're here to stay for this Christmas
and many more to come.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Woo, Jennifer !
You know, you're responsible for all
this. It was you.
- You never gave up on me or Desmond's.
- We both did it, Jack.
- Merry Christmas, Jennifer.
- Merry Christmas, Jack.
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