Saving Christmas Spirit (2022)
Posted: 12/23/22 07:34
This Christmas will be
the best Christmas
It's always the very best
time of the year
With hearts open
and love that is spoken
With every word
and good tidings of cheer
Why are you not at the party?
Half the Art History department
is completely sozzled.
I found something more
interesting than 20 people
grilling me
about my holiday plans.
Hey, why so "bah humbug"?
Christmas is only
two weeks away.
I miss one holiday party
and suddenly I'm Scrooge?
Just not feeling
the Christmas spirit.
You've missed every party
this year.
Because my evil department head's
been threatening my funding.
You're the Scrooge.
You're even British.
You know I don't like the rules
or the decisions.
Ugh, all these
pigs in a blanket.
More like wild boar
in a wolf sweater.
The holidays can be all coupley,
and Everett's far away,
but you'll see him soon.
We broke up last night.
The long-distance
thing wasn't working.
I never liked him.
Percy, you were best friends
when he worked here.
Well, I never liked him for you.
Lucy, you need someone
who's gonna be there for you.
He never was,
even when he lived here.
They found more
picture stones in Scotland?
Oh! Who b*at you to it?
Thompson from Oxford.
A sheepdog dug them up
in a field.
After a summer
of looking for relics,
I was outfoxed by a dog.
- Oh, well.
- Wait.
I heard they were doing
budget cuts.
Am I on the chopping block?
I'm not supposed
to say anything.
You're sort of...
chopping-block adjacent.
But I may have a way for you
to earn points with the dean.
Some journals were just donated
to a library
in the Scottish Highlands.
Can you go authenticate them
and bring them back?
I'd go, but I'd be chained
to my desk.
Working.
Ooh.
Rare books in Scotland? Go on.
If you find
anything notable in them,
you might just save your job.
I'd rather be leading a dig.
And if you ever find
any relics, you will.
I can be on a flight tomorrow.
Don't you want to take
the holidays off?
Hmm. Let's see.
Relive my break-up with cousins
I see once a year
or go to Scotland.
Tough call.
Scotland is so magical
around the holidays.
I went there with Steve
for our anniversary.
I know the perfect place
for you to stay.
Hello?
Hello!
Oh! Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. Lucy Stewart.
Checking in.
Thank you.
Ooh, you're a doctor.
Perhaps you can take a look
at the crick in my back.
I'm not that kind of doctor.
I'm an archeologist.
Even more exciting.
They've just found some ancient
stones over by Loch Tay.
I know.
Help yourself to our
Christmas shortbread.
Breakfast is served in the
dining room until 10:00 a.m.
Wow. Holiday calories
don't count, right?
Absolutely.
Oh, Finn, dear, could I ask you
to please take these
and pop them on all the doors
outside, please and thank you.
Sure thing, Aunt Edina.
- Lucy's from America, too.
- Oh, well, be warned.
She'll ask if you know
Tom Hanks.
I do not.
You're checking out the day
after Christmas.
Not rushing home to see
a boyfriend, are you?
No, just working
over the holidays.
Something startle you, dear?
- Your Christmas lights timer.
- Oh, goodness.
There's no timer.
No, no, no.
That's just my husband
wishing you a merry Christmas.
- Oh.
- Oh, he loved Christmas.
So he likes to come out
and welcome
all our holiday travelers.
Now, Kallin,
don't be scaring the guests.
And I bet you thought
it was only Scottish castles
that had their own ghosts, eh?
- That's the rumor.
- Aye.
Well, most of them would scare
the brakes right off of you.
Kallin here, he just wants
to join in the fun.
- Well, Merry Christmas, Kallin.
- I've put you in room five.
Great. Thank you.
Just one for the road.
Are you hungry, lass?
I'm afraid the kitchen's closed
until dinner,
but we've a lovely pub
just down the road.
Best haggis in town.
Tell Ewan I sent you.
Sounds great.
Why did you send Lucy
to the pub?
You have all those steak pies
leftover. Do you not like her?
Oh, quite the opposite, dear.
Need anything else, Aunt Edina?
I got to run and hit the gym.
Yes, I'd like you
to take Lucy's bags
up to her room, please.
I thought you did your
rugby practice this morning.
Well, our Christmas Eve
match is coming up.
And Coach Ferguson
is really counting on me.
- I'm sure you'll hammer it.
- Oh.
I think you meant nail it.
Thanks.
Oh, yes. Uh-huh.
Nail it.
Old household plumbing.
We won to Rome last night.
- Just.
- Just?
We just made it.
Here you go.
Can you taste the fig?
If I taste it, I've not had
enough to drink yet.
I'd order another round, but
Ewan wants me to settle my tab.
Aye, it's settled.
Merry Christmas, Angus.
Duncan, you are a saint
amongst men.
No.
- Another dram, laddie.
- Aye.
Now try mine.
And be honest.
Oh, It's like my tongue's
made out of bread.
It's just been slathered
in butter.
Aye, I'll have another wee dram.
Aye, tastes like it's made
by the fairies.
Excuse me.
Oh. Aye.
I'll start with
a glass of merlot.
You're surrounded
by the world's best whiskey,
and you want wine?
Do you pass the finest
restaurants in Paris
looking for fast food?
I've tried scotch before,
and it tasted like
nail-polish remover.
You must have had some
of that blended drivel
they serve in America.
I'll pour you a real drink.
Yeah.
Just in time for Christmas
and only available
at this pub, for now.
Christmas Spirit.
Clever,
but I'll stick with the wine.
And, um, whatever you can make
in five minutes.
You Americans never want
to relax and enjoy a meal.
Don't you worry.
Nessie will still not be there
if you're a few minutes later.
I'm not a tourist.
I'm here for work.
And that turkey sandwich
looks good. I'll take it to go.
Hey, Percy, it's me.
I've got the journals.
Of course,
someone was renovating
an old farmhouse and found them
under the floorboards.
I ripped out my kitchen and all
I found was a mummified lizard.
Anyway, they're authentic,
about 300 years old.
Don't work too hard.
Call me back.
- I'll grab a box for you.
- Thank you.
Merry Christmas. Or should I say
nollaig Chridheil?
Oh, careful. Let me help you.
Thank you.
Whoa!
Got to watch those embers.
Kallin's at it again.
He always loved a cozy fire.
Can't blame him.
My dad used to make a Yule log
even though he had
a gas fireplace.
Ah! This is a Cailleach log.
Well, at least it will be
once it's been carved.
Right. The Cailleach...
Goddess of winter.
She built the Scotland mountains
with rocks in her basket.
A real multi-tasker.
In Scotland, we carve a face
on the log,
and then we burn it
on Christmas Eve.
Supposed to make
the winters less harsh.
- Hmm.
- It was Kallin's favorite job.
He's carved it every year
since he passed.
I'm sorry.
You must think I'm mad.
Not at all, Edina.
I know what it's like
to lose people you love.
And Christmas makes it harder.
Every year, we ask our guests
to adopt a less-fortunate family
at Christmas.
Sometimes they need clothes.
Sometimes it's toys or food.
Christmas can be tough for so
many people for so many reasons.
Young Kallin.
You've got your work cut out
for you there.
Hey, I think
you dropped this downstairs.
Thanks, Finn.
Must have fallen out of
one of my old journals.
The Cailleach.
I was just talking about her.
Oh, yeah. That's the old lady
from the log.
Finn, dear! Guests!
- I'll see you later.
- See you later.
No way.
Do you know what time it is?
You won't believe
what I just found.
I know it's not a clock
that tells you what time
it is on the East Coast.
Listen, whoever wrote
these journals insists
there's a second
undiscovered shrine
to Beira, the winter queen...
The Cailleach.
Find that
and they'll never fire you.
- Where is it?
- Good question.
The author uses landmarks
that haven't been around
for hundreds of years.
We can have a team there
in spring.
I don't need a team.
If I'm chopping-block adjacent,
I need to find it now.
What are you after, lass?
I'm looking for a secret shrine
to the Cailleach.
But the directions are outdated
by a few hundred years.
Maybe a native could help me.
My son Duncan would be
an excellent tour guide.
He should be down
the Grog and Gruel.
Great.
Market's in a good place.
If it were me,
I'd seriously consider...
- I don't care.
- Just hear me out.
We want to expand.
And you have
the perfect location.
It was a no last year.
It was a no
the year before that.
And it was a no
when my father ran it.
You don't have much of a choice.
You focused all your production
into Christmas Spirit.
And you don't even have
a distributor.
Our clans have been feuding
for the last hundred years.
You don't want to help.
You want to end
my family's legacy.
Oh, that's ancient history.
I make decisions with my head,
not my heart.
And I make decisions
with my gut.
It's telling me that
this talk is over.
I'm looking for Duncan.
Isn't he a bartender?
Christ, no.
Duncan's here to watch the bar
if I have to step into
my office.
He means the loo.
Oh, the wine lady.
Your mom sent me.
I need help finding
an ancient shrine.
That should be
in your guidebook.
If only.
My guidebook is 300 years old
and written in Gaelic.
I'm an archeologist.
Oh. I love dinosaurs.
That's a paleontologist.
I search for ancient humans.
Are you the one that found
all that Pictish jewelry?
No. That was a gardener
from Perth.
I spend years
searching for relics,
and the Scots
find them planting turnips.
Guess it helps to be Scottish,
eh?
- I'm a quarter Scottish.
- Ah.
Not possible. You wouldn't
even try my whiskey.
- Can I get an ice cube?
- No.
Okay.
It's really good.
It's smooth.
Really? Okay.
I'll help you if you let me
show you around.
Not like a tourist,
but like a true Scot.
That's sweet, but, um, I leave
right after Christmas
and I only have time to work.
That's more fun.
Well, I'm sure you're busy
with your distillery.
I have to go.
But how can you enjoy
where you are
if you're always trying
to get somewhere else, lassie?
Got somewhere to be?
No. Uh, Caitrin's coming by.
We're studying
for tomorrow's math final.
It's on geometry theorems.
I've got a theorem
that neither of you two care
about that test tomorrow.
She just likes me as a friend.
Your cousin Duncan was exactly
the same at your age.
By the time he got 'round
to asking out
a girl that he fancied,
she already had herself
a boyfriend.
Hmm. Well, when I got here
in September,
I felt really alone.
And I met Caitrin.
She just made me feel like
I belonged.
Say I ask her out
and she says no.
It'll make the next semester
all weird.
Nonsense.
You've just got to tell Caitrin
how you feel about her.
And there is no better time
to do that than Christmas.
Well, I was thinking of making
her a gingerbread house.
Perfect.
But you're in Scotland, so it
should be a gingerbread castle.
- Hiya.
- Ah! Hello.
My friends had their
Christmas cookie exchange,
so saved some for you.
I'll make some tea.
Help you two "study."
Talked to my friends
at the party.
I think we have enough
for a girls' rugby team.
That's awesome.
Coach Ferguson is really cool.
Maybe we could start tryouts
in January.
Then by next year, we'll have
a Christmas Eve match
like the boys.
Oh, so this year
you'll just have to go
and cheer Finn on
at his match, then.
I always get tickets.
It's for charity.
Oh, no, dear.
Finn will get you the tickets.
That way it will be
an official date.
Lucy, join us for some tea.
- Sorry, I have to work.
- Oh, no.
If my aunt offers tea, it's
against Scottish law to say no.
Well, I wouldn't want
to get busted by the tea police.
- What are you working on?
- I'm not sure where to start
looking for the shrine
to the Cailleach.
I can't leave
any stone unturned.
I was there.
I took a picture of the stone
that Cait was named after.
The stones are the Cailleach
and her family.
One of them is named Nighean.
That means daughter.
My dad calls me that.
You're talking about the
Tigh na Cailleach in Fortingall.
That's already been discovered.
So you are leaving
some stones unturned.
Good point.
I should look into that.
Lucy's an archeologist
looking for the Druids.
The Picts.
They used to live in Scotland
from about
the fourth century
to the early Middle Ages.
My cousin is a fisherman.
He found one of those
Pictish stones in a loch.
Thought it was
a big paperweight.
Of course he did.
Are you off to Fortingall today?
You know, the roads
can be quite tricky.
Are you sure you don't want
Duncan to take you?
I've got my trusty
guide right here.
Whatever suits.
Oh.
Hi. I need roadside assistance.
Flat tire.
How long to get a tow truck
to the McAvoy Manor?
Six hours?
Yes, I'm quite aware
it's the holidays.
Thanks.
Duncan's at the distillery.
I'll let him know you're coming.
So we better have a walk.
So pop your bags down.
You can get them later.
Hey.
You can use a guide, after all.
It's probably not
the worst idea.
What a gorgeous place to work.
Aye. Fancy a quick tour,
or is it gonna take you away
from pilfering Scotland
for our riches?
I guess the shrine's been there
for thousands of years.
It can wait
for a few more minutes.
This place is certainly festive.
It's my mum's idea.
In Scotland, Christmas wasn't
a public holiday
for hundreds of years,
so our parents never made
a fuss about it.
- Was the mistletoe her idea?
- No.
My dad, he was almost as bad.
He added it to the trees,
all over the grounds.
So you have Christmas
all year 'round.
Aye.
Come on.
Let's get out of the rain.
This is the still room.
Whiskey comes from
the Gaelic word uisce beatha.
It means "water of life."
It's been in my family's life
for generations.
They built the distillery
on our land in the 1820s,
but my family's
been making whiskey
for a long time before that.
My university was built
in the 1800s.
It's funny, what's old for us
is new for Scotland.
Aye, true.
Our home's 500 years old.
My father bought it from my mum
for a Christmas present.
Took him forever to wrap it up,
though.
But I'm joking.
He did leave a bow
over the door.
Come on.
So, we age the whiskey
in these casks.
My dad and I started making
Christmas Spirit 15 years ago.
I never thought
that he wouldn't be around
to see how it came out,
or I'd be talking
to our competitors
about selling the business.
That's what your meeting
was about.
Mm.
It's getting harder to compete
with the larger companies.
I love the artistry
of crafting whiskey,
but the competition takes
all the joy out of it.
If Christmas Spirit does well,
it'll get us out of the red.
It's better than
that nasty wine.
Whoa. Can I use that
as a marketing campaign?
"Christmas Spirit...
It's better than nasty wine."
What I meant was, if I liked it,
Scotch fans will love it.
Doesn't taste like burning.
You should really
get into marketing.
What is that thingamajig?
It's just a radar.
It allows me to see
what's underground
so I know where to dig.
- And you're looking for...?
- Rocks, jewelry,
anything the Picts could have
used to carve their symbols.
If I find the one they used
for the Cailleach,
it might be a clue
to the second shrine.
Speaking of carvings, your mom
told me that your dad's ghost
carves the Cailleach log
every year.
I carve it.
My dad was a great woodworker
when he was alive,
but I don't think
ghosts have much dexterity.
Lots of throwing things.
Not so great for whittling.
So she really believes
that your dad's ghost
just hangs out for the holidays?
My mum believes in everything.
That kelpies drag
people into rivers,
fairies still live underground,
and if you don't
do your homework,
the wulver will get you.
And the Loch Ness monster?
Och, it's made up for tourists.
And you believe
all that stuff, too?
Not the kelpies
and the fairies, but...
I do feel my father's presence
around the holidays.
There are ghosts
all over Scotland.
At least ours doesn't scream
like a banshee at 4:00 a.m.
I wish I could feel my parents'
presence over the holidays.
Without them, Christmas
doesn't really mean much.
This could take a while.
If you have to go,
I can find my way back.
Oh. No, no, no.
You're not getting out
of our deal that easy.
You have the signatures.
You have the players.
It's a no-brainer.
It's Christmas, right?
He can't say no.
Hey, um, what are you doing
Christmas Eve?
Is this still about
the girls' team?
I have a petition
with 100 signatures.
If we start tryouts in January,
we can make the spring season.
- No.
- No, they won't be ready or...?
No, we don't have the money.
We can only afford
one rugby team.
Well, Coach, why can't she
play on our team?
She's obviously good enough.
I played on a coed team
in primary school.
It's different when
you're little.
Girls can't play
against boys at rugby.
It's too rough.
I play against my brothers,
and my dad was a pro.
He trained me.
I know who your father is,
Caitrin.
There's nothing I can do.
Now I have to tell
my friends they can't play.
Why did you want
to know about Christmas Eve?
I was wondering how Scottish
Christmas Eve traditions
were different
than American ones.
I've got to get to class.
Coach. Why are you against
girls playing sports?
My school has a coed
tackle rugby team.
It's not how we do things
at Craig Hill.
Just because something's a
tradition doesn't make it right.
Are you mad about something,
McAvoy?
Go work it out on the pitch.
Don't bother me with it.
You're not having
much luck, are you?
The fairies must have taken
all my relics.
You make fun now,
but if you stay here
long enough, you'll come around.
I'm a scientist.
I study folklore, but I don't
believe any of it's real.
Go back to being
a scientist tomorrow.
For now, you finally get
to enjoy being a tourist.
I've been to Scotland
so many times,
and I have never seen a beach.
This is so stunning.
The ocean always helps me
to forget about
the pressure of the holidays.
Back home, I can't go anywhere
without seeing
Christmas trees or Santas.
Well, that's what you get for
stealing all our traditions.
Christmas trees,
holly, the Yule log.
Oh, you mean the traditions
the Scots
"borrowed" from the Celts
and the Druids?
Okay, okay, you have a point.
But I do blame your ancestors
for mistletoe.
Well, then we share the blame.
You said you were part Scottish.
Ever look into clan Stewart?
My Scottish grandmother d*ed
before I was born,
so I don't have
any personal connection.
Our house had an ocean view,
so every Christmas,
we'd have it outside
so my mom could watch the waves.
What was that?
Just a piece of barley
from the distillery, I think.
Oh, good.
I wouldn't want you
flicking fairies.
They hate that, you know.
I thought we could stay
and watch the sunset.
I'm sure it's beautiful.
But I should go back.
I have pages of Gaelic
to translate
before we leave tomorrow.
Are you ready?
Oh.
Now, remember, soft hands.
If your fingers are rigid,
you'll drop it, okay?
- All right.
- Here, try again.
You got this.
Right, you ready?
Yes, sir.
Here we go.
Yes! Yes, that's it.
Great work. Brilliant stuff.
Come on, bring it in.
Yes, sir.
Let's go.
Thanks for helping me practice.
Coach Ferguson is being extra
tough on me.
This Christmas Eve match
is everything.
Are you antlers or Santa hats?
We always played the Christmas
Eve match in holiday gear.
I don't want
to look like a dork.
Caitrin's gonna be there.
Oh!
As your date.
Uh, Aunt Edina
went and asked her for me,
so it's kind of a gray area.
That sounds about right.
I want to
ask her to the ceilidh.
Brilliant. Brilliant.
My mum's making it
really special for you,
since she can't get home
for Christmas.
Whose home?
Now I have to choose
between spending Christmas
with my mom or my dad.
That's why I did
my junior year abroad.
Look, I know your family's
had a rough year, but...
But Christmas is a time
to put all that aside
and... and be together.
Your parents may be apart,
but...
But they still love you.
Why did my dad leave?
I miss how things were.
This Christmas,
my mom's on a cruise.
My dad's with his new family.
It's never gonna feel
like Christmas.
Things never stay the same,
Finn.
But sometimes change
can be good.
You can make new traditions.
You don't understand.
Your parents
were married forever.
Yeah.
And now my dad's gone.
Look, when he was alive, I got
nothing but unsolicited advice.
And now I need him, it's nothing
but flickering lights.
And unfortunately,
it's not Morse code.
What would he say about Caitrin?
There's an old
Scottish saying...
"What's for you
will not go by you."
That means, what's meant
to happen will happen.
Smells good.
Oh!
Your father would be so proud.
It smells delicious.
Thank you so much
for the dinner invite, Edina.
No guest in my house is going
to be ordering a takeaway pizza.
I'll just go and get
the first course.
- You look... lovely.
- Thanks.
It helps when I don't
have dirt in my hair.
Och, no. My thistle.
That was my favorite ornament.
Kallin isn't usually
destructive.
There must be
something bothering him.
It's just gravity. There's an
explanation for everything.
Doesn't usually involve a ghost.
But sometimes it does.
Finn, dustpan and brush, please.
- Coming.
- Oh, look at that.
The Cailleach log
tried to break its fall.
What's that doing over here?
I'm sure I left that
in the living room.
You'd think if Beira could
create mountains and lochs,
she could save my thistle.
That'd be worth
building a shrine to.
That's it. If Beira created
some kind of mountain or loch,
that would be the perfect place
for a shrine.
Oh, yeah. In school,
we learned that she was
the guardian of Ben Cruachan.
It overflowed, and that's how
Loch Awe was created.
Finn, you might be on
to something.
The journal said that
the shrine was located
near uisce...
Gaelic for "water."
I have to go.
The bottler's refusing to bottle
Christmas Spirit
without payment in advance.
We don't have
that kind of money.
Why would they do that to us?
I'm sure income
will put pressure on him.
If you can't make it tomorrow,
I understand.
No. Unlike these people,
I keep my promises.
Sorry Loch Awe was a bust.
I did find that old can,
but I doubt
the Picts invented diet soda.
So, you're about to see
Loch Shiel.
It's the site of
a great battle where the Celts
fought off the Norse invaders.
So it's history's
a wee bit more modern
than what you're looking for.
- When was the battle?
- The year 1120.
This is like
a Scottish Christmas card.
How do you usually
spend Christmas?
Well, I was planning on
visiting my now ex-boyfriend.
He moved across the country,
and it didn't work out.
Well, he'd have to be a rocket.
Crazy.
I'm still friends with my ex.
She's married to Ewan now.
- Ewan?
- Aye.
As in your best friend, Ewan?
There's no guy code in Scotland?
I wasn't ready to get married,
so she broke up with me.
Ewan always liked her,
and I gave him my blessing.
That was mature of you.
Colleen was a great girl,
but it just wasn't the kind of
love that my parents had.
We're not far
from Castle Tioram.
That was built
in the 12th century.
- Does it have a ghost, too?
- No. Just an evil frog.
And Loch Shiel here has a
monster called the Shielagh.
Is that another one
of your mom's stories?
No.
But I suspect she made up the
part about it eating children
that don't clean their rooms.
She's the most adorable person
I've ever met.
My mom was very practical.
What happened to your parents?
I mean, you don't
have to talk about it if...
It's okay.
Car accident
when I was in college.
There's so many things I wish
I'd asked them.
I don't have centuries
of family history like you do.
Well, maybe that's why
you're drawn to archeology.
A way to connect with your past.
Maybe.
I know it's why I work
so hard to accomplish anything.
Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
The Loch Shiel monster could
come out right now
and eat us like a Christmas ham.
That was a little iffy.
My dad always tells us
to make a fist with your foot,
like you're punching the ball.
Okay.
It's so unfair.
You know more about rugby than
most of the guys on my team.
Hopefully, when I go to uni,
they'll have a girls' team,
if I make the cut.
Oh, trust me,
I've seen your brothers.
If you keep up with them,
you'll be the MVP.
Finn, your father called.
He's been trying
to get hold of you.
Oh, my phone's out of juice.
I'll call him later.
Anyway, never mind that.
I'm looking for some
taste testers.
I've made a Christmas pudding
for the ceilidh,
and I think I've put
too much honey in it.
- You're having a ceilidh?
- Uh-huh. Christmas Eve.
Finn's invited you already,
hasn't he?
No, but I participated
in some kind of poll.
I'd love to go.
I'm trying to persuade our
American guest to come, too,
help take Duncan's mind
off the distillery.
Our Christmas Eve match
always raises money
to give back to the community.
Uhhuh.
Last year, it was for repairs
to Gavin McLean's fishing boat.
You know, Duncan's been so cool,
helping me with rugby drills.
What if the money went to him?
Brilliant!
Edina, every Christmas,
your family does so much
to help everyone in town.
Duncan will never
accept charity.
And even if he did, you'd
have to get the school to agree.
Well, Coach Ferguson told me
how he was going through
a rough time,
and Duncan gave him a job
at the distillery.
You know, I'm gonna call him
right now and ask.
I thought you said...
Oh, never mind.
I found some
archeological survey maps
to find the Cailleach.
There might be something there.
It means Hill of the Cailleach.
Not a bad place to put a shrine.
Hey, a Christmas
whiskey tasting.
Your luck's changing.
The lady will try your 12-year
double wood, please.
They paired it
with salted chocolate
to bring out the whiskey's
honey flavor.
Slinte.
- Ah!
- Wow!
Yeah.
Don't worry.
You're still my favorite.
I mean, uh, your scotch.
Your scotch is... is
my favorite.
Hey, you think our ghost is bad?
His distillery
has a headless horseman.
Oh!
This is Scotland.
Magic and legends
make life more fun.
Would you rather your Christmas
presents delivered by Santa
and his reindeer
or your mum and dad
staying up all night
wrapping them?
I just don't believe anything
I can't see.
What about love?
You can't see it.
You can't prove it exists.
You just have to believe in it.
There's a scientific basis
to it.
Brain chemicals.
Pheromones.
Stop! Stop.
Robert Burns did not write poems
about brain chemistry.
He wouldn't have known
about it in his time.
This song's a belter.
Here.
May I have this dance?
Of course.
I don't know
what I'm doing, but...
I'll show you.
Walk and follow. Here we go.
One, two, three, hoy!
Yes, good.
Hoy! See?
You got it.
I can't do this
impossibly hard dance.
You'll get the hang of it.
It's just like square dancing.
I'm not from the square-dancing
part of America.
And from what I know of it,
it's really different.
I should let you go to work.
You haven't been
returning my calls.
Word is you're
behind on your bills.
And you need the sales
a Christmas Spirit
to pay them off
by the end of the year.
I can get those orders bottled
and delivered tomorrow.
I'll worry about my own debts.
Thank you.
Shouldn't you at least
hear him out?
Running from your problems
won't fix anything.
You're one to talk.
Are you sure
there's a second shrine?
What's your proof?
This anonymous journal writer?
I want to believe it's there.
And I want to believe
I have six-pack abs.
It doesn't make it so.
Hold on.
Hiya. I got your message.
I can take you to
Beinn na Caillich tomorrow,
but, uh, we have to leave early.
Sounds good. I'll see
you downstairs in the morning.
Talk about a Christmas miracle.
Don't start.
Duncan's the B&B owner's son.
He's been driving me around
to all the sites.
- You did the hair flip.
- I did not.
Your lips say no,
but your flips say yes.
You live to t*rture me.
I'm freezing and you just
changed your background
to a beach.
Yes.
A background.
Are you on an actual beach?
You said you'd be chained
to your desk.
There's a desk in our villa.
I'll call you
when I find the shrine.
As your friend, I...
I wish you luck.
As your department head,
I have to say it's risky.
We have an emergency budget
call tomorrow,
and Lucy,
I have a former colleague
at the Scottish Museum
in Chicago.
I sent your CV for
the Assistant Curator position.
You know, just in case.
Thanks, Percy,
but I don't need a plan "B."
We'll find the shrine.
"We"?
Ha!
You and your Highland fling.
Oops! You froze.
So we're for Beinn na Caillich.
More like Find no Cailleach.
Haystack one, needle zero.
There just has to be
some kind of sign
that the site still exists.
I know that it does.
I thought you didn't believe
in things you couldn't prove.
Here.
You have to stop looking
with your brain
and listen to that instinct.
I wouldn't have the slightest
idea how to do that.
Maybe you just need some magic.
Your mom said
to beware of the selkies.
And those are...?
Seals that shape-shift
into humans and cause
all sorts of trouble.
Do they shape-shift
into tourists?
'Cause those people
with the selfie sticks
almost totally knocked me
into the water.
That would make them
"selkie sticks."
I really thought I'd find
something here.
Beira used a loch for her wash.
You'd think that'd make it
shrine-worthy.
Yeah, laundry, eh?
At least she kept busy
while she was freezing
my ancestors to death.
Oh, careful.
Ouch.
Look at this design.
If this is authentic,
this is Pictish.
It has nothing to do
with Beira or the shrine,
but it's something.
It's a Christmas present
from Scotland.
The fairies might be
warming up to you.
I'm sure my mum mentioned
the Christmas Eve ceilidh.
She'd really like it
if you joined us.
Sure, I'd love to.
I'd hate to disappoint your mom.
Find your target!
And get your hands to the ball!
Break.
High-five.
Well done, McAvoy.
- k*lled it out there.
- Yeah. Good practice.
Whew!
If they don't let you play,
they should let you coach.
Your drills make Ferguson's look
like an egg toss at summer camp.
At least he hasn't asked me
to be a cheerleader.
I suppose that's progress.
My dad talked my brother
out of pummeling him,
so that's progress, too.
I'm very frightened
to meet your family.
Not as scared as you are
to meet your dad's family.
I'm not afraid.
I just don't want to.
He really wants me to do
a video call
with them on Christmas.
You're going to have to meet
your new brother
and sister eventually.
I know. I just don't want
to do it on my favorite holiday.
What better day to do it?
Christmas is about family.
I can't get used to
calling them that.
You can call them unicorns
or cucumbers or whatever.
It doesn't change the fact
that they're your family.
My mum left
when I was five years old.
I still call her on Christmas.
I see you started
practice without me.
Caitrin's got some great drills.
She's helping me get in shape
for Christmas Eve match.
Yeah. Now, you have got to
be on top form.
There's a college recruiter
on holiday here from America.
He's coming to see the match.
That's awesome.
I told him great things
about you, Finn.
So all you gotta do is wipe
the floor with St. Austin's.
I got this.
Have you decided
who's getting the charity money?
Christmas Eve is four days away.
I'll ask around,
see what needs sorting in town.
- Can I make a suggestion?
- Do anything you like, Finn.
- Ah, the wanderers return.
- Aye.
Nice of you
to put your dad's up.
Och, I didn't.
Well, then he clearly
wants a gift.
What do you get a ghost
who has everything?
Eh, don't be making fun.
Lucy, would you like
a cup of tea?
Oh, no, thanks.
I have to research something
I found at the fairy pools.
She found a rock.
It's more exciting
than it sounds.
Duncan, you should
walk Lucy up to her room
in case your father's feisty.
Oh, I'm fine.
Friendly ghost. Right?
Not like the one
at Sanquhar Castle.
He'd be rattling
his chains at you.
- Maybe just to my door.
- Aye.
Does it always rain that much?
Oh, that's just a wee drizzle.
You haven't seen nothing yet.
Och.
Explains the noise.
Everything all right?
Aye. It's just Dad at it again.
"Nae man can tether
time nor tide."
My dad was against me
putting up the quotes.
He was mad I studied poetry
instead of business.
Still holds a grudge.
Probably why he broke my
thistle ornament.
Allegedly.
I think the quotes add
to the charm.
This one's perfect for me.
It's about time
not waiting for anyone.
Is that what you think it means?
Okay, Mr. Poetry Major.
Tell me the right answer.
It means that us poor humans
have no power over
forces of nature.
Like time.
Or like love.
Uh, I should...
I should go.
Right. Good night.
Um, are we hitting
another site tomorrow?
I still have to figure out
where to look next.
So I think I'm just gonna go
to the Christmas market
and, uh, finish the rest
of the journals.
Ah.
That American proverb.
"When the going gets tough,
the tough go shopping."
I figured I'd hear your offer.
Even if you are taking advantage
of our bottling situation.
Stop seeing this
as something personal.
I'm taking advantage
of an opportunity.
After corporations like yours
are putting all us
independents out of business.
Because you refuse to
streamline your operations.
- You mean fire people?
- And cut costs.
You mean use cheap ingredients?
I'm not selling to someone
whose whiskey tastes like...
Like nail-polish remover.
I'm not here to argue.
I'm here to negotiate.
If you sign,
we can get Christmas Spirit
out before Christmas Day.
My family's been making whiskey
on this land for centuries,
even before the distillery,
back when our clans
were at w*r with each other.
We're not taking your land.
That's yours.
We just want to build on it.
And you keep the McAvoy name.
Sorry.
We own the business.
We own the name.
What was that?
Your answer.
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Good tidings we bring...
Boo!
Getting some Christmas
shopping done?
Yes. What do you think?
Finn is all about his
Scottish heritage,
and the boy doesn't
even have a kilt.
- It's perfect.
- Are you shopping for Duncan?
He's a bit old for those.
No. These are
the adoptive family toys.
Ah. The McAvoys want everyone
to have a good Christmas.
It doesn't even have to be
the holidays.
I think they've helped everyone
in town in some ways.
I should get something
for Duncan.
He's been so nice
showing me around.
He's not doing it to be nice.
I mean, he's very nice, but he's
doing it because he likes you.
- Did he say something?
- Doesn't have to.
I've grown up with boys.
I know when they like someone.
I know Finn likes me,
even though
he's too chicken to say it.
That's because he's young.
Duncan would tell me
if he had feelings.
My dad liked a woman
at the bank.
And he'd go there every day
to withdraw 5.
Finally ran out of money,
so he had to ask her out.
Doesn't matter anyway.
I'm leaving after Christmas,
and long-distance relationships
don't work.
Not when you're older.
Why not?
Distance doesn't matter if both
people want to make it work.
One of you will decide
that nothing is more important
than being
with the other person.
Edina loves local artists,
though she'll make a fuss
if you try to give her a gift.
Elspeth Stewart from Glencoe.
I think that was my grandmother.
I knew she was an artist,
but I thought
it was just a hobby.
Oh, Finn,
I love the smell of gingerbread.
It's Christmas, isn't it?
Watch out now.
These little sweetie peas,
they're getting everywhere.
- Thank you.
- Your dad called again.
Wants to fly you home
for Christmas.
Please tell him no.
You need me here to help
you out with the guests.
I don't approve of your father
leaving your mum,
but he's a good person,
he's just not perfect.
When I was little,
I thought he was.
It's okay to be angry with him.
It means you love him.
If you didn't care, there'd
be nothing to be mad about.
So, what are we doing
for castle windows?
Sweetie glass.
But we need to get
some more icing sugar.
I'll be back in a sec.
Hey. That's going to be
a spectacular castle.
I'm making it for Caitrin.
I think I'd better officially
ask her out before
Aunt Edina does it for me.
Aye.
If you want to tell her
how you feel,
uh, gifts are fine,
but actions mean more.
You need to make
a-a grand gesture.
- Like what?
- Oh, just...
show her that what matters
to her is important to you.
Finn, don't be listening
to a man
who can't take his own advice.
Go get the mail.
I already did.
Oh, sorry.
I've seen the way you and Lucy
look at each other.
You know she'll be leaving soon,
unless you give
a reason to stay.
I've got bigger problems.
Ian came by.
We can only distribute
Christmas Spirit if I sell.
Otherwise, all the work I did
with Dad will be for nothing.
This is supposed
to be a surprise,
but Finn's charity match
is raising money for you.
- What?
- It'll pay the bottlers.
- I'm not taking charity.
- It's not exactly charity.
It's literally called
a charity match, Mum.
Coach Ferguson, the school,
the whole community...
They want to help you.
It would be an insult
to turn them down.
I can't. It's not who I am.
You don't fight for anything,
Duncan.
Not the distillery and not Lucy.
Is that really who you are?
So, that pebble I found has
a deer symbol on it.
Lucy, unless it had a map
to the second shrine on it,
then you, like Charlie Brown,
got a rock for Christmas.
- That was Halloween.
- I'm a few martinis in.
But that's not why I called.
I spoke to the dean.
He won't be coming back
in January.
I'm sorry.
I'm fired?
Even if I find the shrine?
Lucy, there is no shrine.
But I spoke to my friend Ada
at the Scottish Museum.
Your credentials are perfect
for the Assistant Curator
position.
She wants to set up a
video call to interview you.
I'd rather be leading a dig.
Thanks, Percy.
After f*ring my best friend,
it's the least I could do.
I need a good deed.
I can't be held responsible
for ruining Christmas,
even though yours
is already terrible.
Actually, my Christmas
is turning out to be sort of...
merry-ish.
Oh.
I thought you were working.
I lost my job.
Och. Lucy. Here.
I'm so sorry.
Hey, but you can't give up now.
You're so close
to finding the shrine.
If this is about
Christmas miracles,
you're talking
to the wrong person.
I hear you made a miracle
happen for the McIntyres.
Their kids will have an amazing
Christmas because of you.
Now I just need a miracle
to get Christmas Spirit
out by Christmas Eve.
Finn wanted me to take
the school's rugby money.
Then you can pay the bottler.
That's great news.
- I turned him down.
- That's crazy.
I know. I had a straight sh*t
there and it still didn't go in.
I meant turning down the money.
You and your mom have made
Finn feel at home here.
He wants to help you.
I don't need charity.
Oh, then don't lecture me
about giving up
when your pride is
about to cost you your business.
Okay, then let's have
a wee wager.
If you make the next sh*t,
I'll take the money.
- What!
- Whoo!
Okay, that's that.
You're clearly a pool shark.
Am not.
I've never played pool before.
Impossible. Not even in bars?
I don't have time
to hang out in bars.
So don't ask me
to play darts either.
How about I teach you
how to play? Hmm?
Oh, come on.
It'll take your mind off things.
I don't know. What if I sh**t
a ball through the window?
Now, you're playing pool,
not pole vaulting.
Knock, knock.
And you thought we didn't offer
room service.
I just had my job interview
with the museum.
I think they're going
with someone else,
but otherwise it went great.
Did you change the quote?
No, that was in storage.
It used to be
on my dad's office door.
I keep getting signs about deer,
and now there's literally
a sign about deer.
Well, that might have something
to do with the reindeer
that just showed up
in our front lawn.
Reindeer, as in
Dancer and Prancer?
Christmas Eve is in two days,
so they're a bit busy.
Reindeer haven't visited us
since my dad passed away.
They used to come
every Christmas.
What says Christmas more
than reindeer?
If we get our traditions
from Scotland,
maybe that's why
they pull Santa's sleigh.
Rather than rabbits
or brown hares?
It's faster than a reindeer.
Or pterodactyls,
who can actually fly.
Except they're extinct.
That's your sticking point?
Flying reindeer and Santa exists
in your world,
but not pterodactyls,
who are actually real?
I thought you weren't
a dinosaur expert, eh?
Pterodactyls aren't dinosaurs.
They're pterosaurs.
Lucy, meet Ghillie.
He used to come here alone,
then he started bringing
his whole family.
Ghillie knows how
to accessorize.
My mum made that
out of a family heirloom
so Ghillie would feel like
he was a McAvoy.
My dad used to tell me
about Ghillie
filling in for Santa's reindeer
when one of them
was under the weather.
There, now I have a
festive photo to post
so everyone will think
I'm having an amazing Christmas.
Oh, I think he wants you
to get in on the photo.
Okay, Ghillie, I don't want
to get on the business end
of those antlers.
You'll fool all your friends.
They'll never know you're having
a terrible holiday.
I might not be hating it.
Watch out for Lulu.
She's a bit of a pickpocket.
Even reindeer understand
there's no place
like home for Christmas.
Well, if you think this is good,
you should try some of
Aunt Edina's famous carrot cake.
Come on, boys. Let's have it!
Yeah! Great contact!
And again! Up off the deck!
Where's your boots?
I'm not playing Christmas Eve.
It's not right
if the girls don't have a team.
If you don't play in this
match, you're off the team.
And what about
the college recruiter?
Come on, faster!
And you!
Come on, hit him!
Finn!
Why aren't you playing
in the match?
Because if you don't play,
I don't play.
This is the biggest game
of the year.
And everyone thought
you were gonna win it for us.
My friends think
I put you up to it.
Moira uninvited me
from her Hogmanay party.
I'll talk to them
so they don't blame you.
I don't need you
to fight for me.
Cat...
Oh, son, I've been making
cranachan for the ceilidh.
Let me know if I've used
too much of your whiskey.
Okay.
Mmm.
That's perfect.
Oh, excellent.
Lucy, are you
joining us for dinner?
Sounds like a good day
to stay in.
I'll just go and get some more,
um, porridge oats.
I'll be right back.
Finn,
I thought we were supposed
to practice some drills today.
I decided not to play
Christmas Eve, and now
Cat's not talking to me.
You told me to do something big.
I didn't tell you to drop out.
You could be jeopardizing
your whole future.
It's silly for you to make a
big sacrifice for a relationship
that probably won't work.
You're so young.
My parents met
when they were in high school.
That was a different time.
When you meet the right person,
time doesn't matter.
When it's meant to be,
things just work out.
No, they don't.
If you invest in a relationship,
that's only going to end,
you'll just get
your heart broken.
Well, if it's truly love,
it won't end. It's forever.
My plan backfired anyway.
I just wanted to show her
how much I care.
Then don't play games.
Say you have feelings and you
want to see where it goes.
But what if she doesn't feel
the same way?
Just tell her and let her
make up her mind.
I'm sure she'd rather have
an honest conversation
than a misguided gesture.
I should probably go help
Aunt Edina with the...
whatever.
It's called rumbledethumps.
- No, seriously.
- Seriously.
It's potatoes,
cabbage and onions. Try it.
- Mmm.
- Huh? Huh?
Nothing like comfort food
on a stormy night.
Does this happen often?
For a 500-year-old building,
not as often as you'd think.
Here.
Since you're staying
for the ceilidh,
maybe you can stay for Hogmanay.
I have to get back
and set up interviews.
So you're just gonna give up
on the shrine?
I thought your grandmother's
art was a sign.
I did, too.
I came here to get away.
I couldn't make my job work,
I couldn't make
my relationship work,
and now I can't
even find the shrine.
If I believed in signs,
they would be telling me
to rethink my life.
What if all these things
happened for a reason, hmm?
To lead you here.
To me.
Kallin showed me
how to work the generator.
- He can talk?
- When he was alive, silly.
I can also fix the loo.
Maybe I should give Beira's
shrine one last chance.
The journals kept mentioning
uisce... water.
Wait, what about Jura?
There's a legend that Beira
used the whirlpool
to wash her plaid,
and the force of the water
turned it white,
and that's how we get snow.
I know that's not
how we get snow.
Forget deer. I think she was
the goddess of laundry.
- What? Wait, you're leaving?
- I have to do some research.
Good night.
You two looked awfully chummy.
What's going on?
Almost something.
But maybe she's right.
It's...
It's not practical.
Oh, when is love ever practical?
Love is magical.
Especially at Christmas.
She is worth fighting for.
Go and tell her.
I was planning to,
at the ceilidh.
Why are you always
putting things off?
Go and tell her now.
Where was this pep talk when
I was breaking up with Colleen?
Oh, Colleen wasn't
right for you.
She wanted to be taken care of
like a fairy princess.
Lucy is a warrior.
The first Noel
The angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
In fields as they lay
In fields as they
lay keeping their sheep
Beira had great taste
in launderettes.
Mine had a family of raccoons
in the dryer.
So you didn't find
what you were looking for?
Maybe I did.
See, um...
there's something
I have to tell you.
Sorry. I, um...
I should get this.
One second.
Yeah.
Hello.
Oh.
Great.
Yeah, that sounds good.
Thanks.
And to the Earth,
it gave great light
There's an inn nearby that has
a lovely Christmas lunch.
I, uh... I ended up getting
that museum job after all.
What?
I have to fly out tomorrow.
Wait, what?
Tomorrow's Christmas Eve.
You'll miss the ceilidh.
I'd love to stay,
but, um, I have too much to do.
I have to pack up my office
and pack up my apartment.
Sure.
Why have a difficult discussion
when you can just leave?
What discussion?
You said you wanted the guy
to confess his feelings, right?
There's something between us.
Maybe you just don't feel
the same way.
I do.
I have feelings for you,
but I can't be in love
and be alone.
I want someone
I'm gonna see all the time.
We can see each other
in the holidays. Meet somewhere.
That's not a relationship.
That's a travel buddy.
Look, I have a job in America.
And I'd never ask you
to give up the distillery.
This won't work, will it?
Hi, Uncle Kallin.
Not that I believe
in ghosts, but...
the game's today.
I wanted to help Caitrin, but...
now Coach Ferguson is mad at me,
and my team is mad at me.
Caitrin's really mad at me.
I'm sure that recruiter's
mad at me, too.
I'm embarrassed.
I don't even know
if I can show up.
What do you think I should do?
Whoa.
- Who are we?
- Craig Hill!
- Who are we?
- Craig Hill!
- And who are they?
- St. Austin's!
Wrong! They're nobody.
They've always been nobody
and always will be...
Coach.
I just wanted to say, um...
- You here to play?
- Yes, sir.
Come on. Come on, boys!
That's the recruiter over there.
Uh, I was gonna tell you
I was playing,
but I didn't think
you wanted to talk to me.
I always want to talk to you.
Sorry I got mad.
What you did was the nicest
thing anyone's ever done for me.
Now go bash some heads!
Did I get him to play?
Keep up, boys!
Come on!
Two injuries.
They're gonna have to forfeit.
It's a good thing the school
gave you the charity money
this morning.
And the Christmas Spirit's
on its way to the buyers.
We've got two down, Finn.
What are we gonna do?
You lost your scrum-half.
That's my position.
I'm the fastest
and smallest out of both teams.
If you put me in,
you won't need to forfeit.
I've seen her play.
We lose like cowards
or fight like Scots.
Okay, McAvoy.
It's never too late
to start a new tradition.
You got to promise me one thing.
If you get hurt, don't send your
brothers after me.
My flight doesn't leave
until later tonight,
so I thought I'd come
and root for...
- Craig Hill.
- Craig Hill!
Yeah!
No, no, no, no, no.
Penalty.
- What?
- What's that?
Caitrin!
I told you we shouldn't
let girls play.
Come on! Yes!
Yeah!
- That was great.
- Thank you.
I appreciate you.
Thanks, sir.
Now, every year, our
Christmas Eve match raises money
for a worthy cause as part
of the Highland Council
Charity Fund.
This year, our proceeds
went to one
of our favorite rugby legends,
Duncan McAvoy!
Whoo!
Now, many of you may know
that his father started
the Adopt-a-Family program.
Well, now he needs our help.
Duncan, you can always count
on your team.
Thank you, Coach.
But I'll have to
give it all back.
Once Christmas Spirit
is a success,
I'll donate the money back
to the school with interest
on one condition.
That it will be used to
establish a girls' rugby team
at Craig Hill.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
This should be the part
where you make a big speech
to Lucy asking her to stay.
Is this what you meant
by grand gesture?
I guess it's now or never, eh?
Oh, or in a minute.
Hey, Mal.
Hey, did you fill
all the Christmas Spirit orders?
Wait. What?
I'll talk to you later,
all right?
I got you a little something
for Christmas.
Are you okay?
Last night's storm.
It broke a river pump.
We... We can't make any more
whiskey without that water.
And I've used the charity money
to pay the bottler.
- I'm so sorry.
- Yeah.
Is there anything I can do?
No need for you to worry.
You're going home.
It's not exactly the same
as the one that your dad
had absolutely nothing
to do with breaking.
Yeah.
It's better.
Comes from you.
I should go back and pack.
Aye.
I'll try to come say
goodbye before I leave.
Yeah.
I was worried about our deal
when I heard you got
Christmas Spirit out.
Sorry about the pump.
Are you?
Believe it or not,
I don't wish you ill.
Just one favor. Can you save
my original buildings?
There's a lot of
my family history in there.
Sorry, Duncan.
We have a bigger operation.
We'll have to tear them down
to build on the land.
At least someone gets
what they want for Christmas.
I wanted time off for my family.
But the boss wants
construction to start
straight after New Year,
so I'll be working.
Merry Christmas.
Oh, that's one of mine.
Well, that's a shame.
Sorry, Duncan.
I don't know what
I'm going to do. I've...
I've lost Lucy
and the distillery in one day.
Without your business,
what's keeping you here?
Be with her.
Finn, Caitrin's here.
Merry Christmas.
It's a McAvoy tartan.
I love it.
I haven't had time to wrap
my gift for you, but it's...
It's ruined.
It's beautiful.
I can't believe you put this
much thought
into my Christmas present.
I just got yours at the market.
But it's a mess.
No, it's just not
a castle anymore.
It's sort of like
a gingerbread skate park.
Maybe it's not traditional.
It's something new.
And it came from your heart.
Would you come to the ceilidh
with me tonight, as my date?
Took you long enough.
Of course.
Thanks for everything.
I'm sorry you didn't
find your shrine.
Maybe it doesn't
exist after all.
You sure you can't stay?
At least wait
till Duncan gets back.
My cab's already here,
and it's better this way.
Merry Christmas.
Make sure you give Santa's
sleigh a wave from the plane.
Did Lucy leave yet?
A few minutes ago.
You just missed her.
Where's the car?
Aunt Edina took it to get
some more reindeer cookies.
Traveling on Christmas Eve?
Yeah. Best time to fly.
A hairy cow.
It's better than sitting
in traffic, I guess.
Just a minute.
She's not gonna move.
I'll be back in a minute.
Percy'll never believe this.
I have to get a photo.
What?
Ghillie?
Lucy!
This me fighting for you.
Without the distillery,
I can start over.
I can come to Vermont with you.
- I'm moving to Chicago.
- Or Chicago.
They're about the same, right?
My American geography
is not the best.
But wherever you go,
I'll be with you.
You just have to...
Believe in us. And I do now.
But I think I might
be losing my mind
because this just fell
from Santa's sleigh.
Ghillie must be
filling in tonight.
I know you think I'm mad.
Then we both are.
You were right.
A little bit of magic
makes the world a better place.
Tell me about this.
When we built the new
distillery after the old one
was damaged by the storm,
my grandfather found it
in the soil.
He gave it to my grandmother.
So uisce in the journals
didn't mean water.
It meant whiskey.
The whiskey my family made
on our land.
We have to get to
the McAvoy distillery now.
I've got something.
Here. Watch.
Right, Donald,
that's the last one.
I'll see you for drinks later.
Aye.
Oh, whoa, whoa.
Hey, wait, whoa, whoa, whoa.
What are you doing?
Don't be making a mess
for my construction crew.
Hey, this isn't your concern.
Look, I'll have to
call the police.
You own the business,
but I own the land.
Worry about that later.
Just dig.
Right.
The silver's here!
These would be the gifts
for the Queen of Winter.
An ancient Christmas present.
There's a whole trove
of artifacts under here.
You're gonna have to tell
your construction crew
it's gonna be a few years.
- What are you talking about?
- No company can build on land
when artifacts
are being excavated.
Don't be so sure.
A contract...
is a contract.
Get off my land.
- I have the law on my side.
- Really?
When ancient Scots met
under the mistletoe tree,
they had to make a truce
until the next day.
- You know your Scottish history.
- It's kind of my thing.
Duncan, you still have
a business in trouble
and a lot of repairs.
I'll worry about that
another day.
It's Christmas Eve, and we've
got a ceilidh to get to.
And I have a job to turn down.
Merry Christmas.
So, now you're a fan
of the mistletoe, eh?
Christmas traditions
have their advantages.
Especially when
you need to make a truce.
Or other things.
Think we'll end up
at the same school?
I hope so.
But if we don't,
we'll make it work.
Do you want
to stop by my house tomorrow
for our family rugby game?
It's our family tradition.
Sure, after I call my dad
and meet his... mynew family.
Did you know my new
little sister plays rugby?
I'm excited for you. It's like
you have three families.
Your original, your dad's,
and your Scottish family.
We're gonna do Christmas
in July.
Could be weird or fun.
Maybe new traditions
aren't all bad.
At least yours won't end
with broken bones.
Don't worry. Told my brothers
to go easy on you.
I'll bring my helmet.
Finn, your dancing?
You asking?
What's this about you
staying in Scotland?
Someone has to supervise
the excavation.
And under Scottish law,
there's a reward for artifacts
found on your land.
Christmas Spirit can go
all over Scotland.
Maybe the world.
Well done, son.
Well, that's the Cailleach log
for this year.
"Lang may yer lum reek."
That just means "health and
wealth to everybody."
Come on, let's dance.
Come on.
When did you have time
to carve that?
I didn't.
My dad would've loved
to try some.
He worked so hard to create it.
Here's to legacies.
It's not what you accomplish.
It's about the people
who remember you.
Merry Christmas, Kallin.
Can you feel the glow?
Candles burning low
It's the light of Christmas
It's the light of Christmas
Can you hear them sing?
All the gifts they bring
In the light of Christmas
In the light of Christmas
All the lights around the world
All together while we turn
Can you smell the pie?
Feel the glow
coming from the fire
It's the light of Christmas
It's the light of Christmas
It's the light of Christmas
Oh
All the lights around the world
All together while we turn
All the lights around the world
All together while we turn
the best Christmas
It's always the very best
time of the year
With hearts open
and love that is spoken
With every word
and good tidings of cheer
Why are you not at the party?
Half the Art History department
is completely sozzled.
I found something more
interesting than 20 people
grilling me
about my holiday plans.
Hey, why so "bah humbug"?
Christmas is only
two weeks away.
I miss one holiday party
and suddenly I'm Scrooge?
Just not feeling
the Christmas spirit.
You've missed every party
this year.
Because my evil department head's
been threatening my funding.
You're the Scrooge.
You're even British.
You know I don't like the rules
or the decisions.
Ugh, all these
pigs in a blanket.
More like wild boar
in a wolf sweater.
The holidays can be all coupley,
and Everett's far away,
but you'll see him soon.
We broke up last night.
The long-distance
thing wasn't working.
I never liked him.
Percy, you were best friends
when he worked here.
Well, I never liked him for you.
Lucy, you need someone
who's gonna be there for you.
He never was,
even when he lived here.
They found more
picture stones in Scotland?
Oh! Who b*at you to it?
Thompson from Oxford.
A sheepdog dug them up
in a field.
After a summer
of looking for relics,
I was outfoxed by a dog.
- Oh, well.
- Wait.
I heard they were doing
budget cuts.
Am I on the chopping block?
I'm not supposed
to say anything.
You're sort of...
chopping-block adjacent.
But I may have a way for you
to earn points with the dean.
Some journals were just donated
to a library
in the Scottish Highlands.
Can you go authenticate them
and bring them back?
I'd go, but I'd be chained
to my desk.
Working.
Ooh.
Rare books in Scotland? Go on.
If you find
anything notable in them,
you might just save your job.
I'd rather be leading a dig.
And if you ever find
any relics, you will.
I can be on a flight tomorrow.
Don't you want to take
the holidays off?
Hmm. Let's see.
Relive my break-up with cousins
I see once a year
or go to Scotland.
Tough call.
Scotland is so magical
around the holidays.
I went there with Steve
for our anniversary.
I know the perfect place
for you to stay.
Hello?
Hello!
Oh! Good afternoon.
Good afternoon. Lucy Stewart.
Checking in.
Thank you.
Ooh, you're a doctor.
Perhaps you can take a look
at the crick in my back.
I'm not that kind of doctor.
I'm an archeologist.
Even more exciting.
They've just found some ancient
stones over by Loch Tay.
I know.
Help yourself to our
Christmas shortbread.
Breakfast is served in the
dining room until 10:00 a.m.
Wow. Holiday calories
don't count, right?
Absolutely.
Oh, Finn, dear, could I ask you
to please take these
and pop them on all the doors
outside, please and thank you.
Sure thing, Aunt Edina.
- Lucy's from America, too.
- Oh, well, be warned.
She'll ask if you know
Tom Hanks.
I do not.
You're checking out the day
after Christmas.
Not rushing home to see
a boyfriend, are you?
No, just working
over the holidays.
Something startle you, dear?
- Your Christmas lights timer.
- Oh, goodness.
There's no timer.
No, no, no.
That's just my husband
wishing you a merry Christmas.
- Oh.
- Oh, he loved Christmas.
So he likes to come out
and welcome
all our holiday travelers.
Now, Kallin,
don't be scaring the guests.
And I bet you thought
it was only Scottish castles
that had their own ghosts, eh?
- That's the rumor.
- Aye.
Well, most of them would scare
the brakes right off of you.
Kallin here, he just wants
to join in the fun.
- Well, Merry Christmas, Kallin.
- I've put you in room five.
Great. Thank you.
Just one for the road.
Are you hungry, lass?
I'm afraid the kitchen's closed
until dinner,
but we've a lovely pub
just down the road.
Best haggis in town.
Tell Ewan I sent you.
Sounds great.
Why did you send Lucy
to the pub?
You have all those steak pies
leftover. Do you not like her?
Oh, quite the opposite, dear.
Need anything else, Aunt Edina?
I got to run and hit the gym.
Yes, I'd like you
to take Lucy's bags
up to her room, please.
I thought you did your
rugby practice this morning.
Well, our Christmas Eve
match is coming up.
And Coach Ferguson
is really counting on me.
- I'm sure you'll hammer it.
- Oh.
I think you meant nail it.
Thanks.
Oh, yes. Uh-huh.
Nail it.
Old household plumbing.
We won to Rome last night.
- Just.
- Just?
We just made it.
Here you go.
Can you taste the fig?
If I taste it, I've not had
enough to drink yet.
I'd order another round, but
Ewan wants me to settle my tab.
Aye, it's settled.
Merry Christmas, Angus.
Duncan, you are a saint
amongst men.
No.
- Another dram, laddie.
- Aye.
Now try mine.
And be honest.
Oh, It's like my tongue's
made out of bread.
It's just been slathered
in butter.
Aye, I'll have another wee dram.
Aye, tastes like it's made
by the fairies.
Excuse me.
Oh. Aye.
I'll start with
a glass of merlot.
You're surrounded
by the world's best whiskey,
and you want wine?
Do you pass the finest
restaurants in Paris
looking for fast food?
I've tried scotch before,
and it tasted like
nail-polish remover.
You must have had some
of that blended drivel
they serve in America.
I'll pour you a real drink.
Yeah.
Just in time for Christmas
and only available
at this pub, for now.
Christmas Spirit.
Clever,
but I'll stick with the wine.
And, um, whatever you can make
in five minutes.
You Americans never want
to relax and enjoy a meal.
Don't you worry.
Nessie will still not be there
if you're a few minutes later.
I'm not a tourist.
I'm here for work.
And that turkey sandwich
looks good. I'll take it to go.
Hey, Percy, it's me.
I've got the journals.
Of course,
someone was renovating
an old farmhouse and found them
under the floorboards.
I ripped out my kitchen and all
I found was a mummified lizard.
Anyway, they're authentic,
about 300 years old.
Don't work too hard.
Call me back.
- I'll grab a box for you.
- Thank you.
Merry Christmas. Or should I say
nollaig Chridheil?
Oh, careful. Let me help you.
Thank you.
Whoa!
Got to watch those embers.
Kallin's at it again.
He always loved a cozy fire.
Can't blame him.
My dad used to make a Yule log
even though he had
a gas fireplace.
Ah! This is a Cailleach log.
Well, at least it will be
once it's been carved.
Right. The Cailleach...
Goddess of winter.
She built the Scotland mountains
with rocks in her basket.
A real multi-tasker.
In Scotland, we carve a face
on the log,
and then we burn it
on Christmas Eve.
Supposed to make
the winters less harsh.
- Hmm.
- It was Kallin's favorite job.
He's carved it every year
since he passed.
I'm sorry.
You must think I'm mad.
Not at all, Edina.
I know what it's like
to lose people you love.
And Christmas makes it harder.
Every year, we ask our guests
to adopt a less-fortunate family
at Christmas.
Sometimes they need clothes.
Sometimes it's toys or food.
Christmas can be tough for so
many people for so many reasons.
Young Kallin.
You've got your work cut out
for you there.
Hey, I think
you dropped this downstairs.
Thanks, Finn.
Must have fallen out of
one of my old journals.
The Cailleach.
I was just talking about her.
Oh, yeah. That's the old lady
from the log.
Finn, dear! Guests!
- I'll see you later.
- See you later.
No way.
Do you know what time it is?
You won't believe
what I just found.
I know it's not a clock
that tells you what time
it is on the East Coast.
Listen, whoever wrote
these journals insists
there's a second
undiscovered shrine
to Beira, the winter queen...
The Cailleach.
Find that
and they'll never fire you.
- Where is it?
- Good question.
The author uses landmarks
that haven't been around
for hundreds of years.
We can have a team there
in spring.
I don't need a team.
If I'm chopping-block adjacent,
I need to find it now.
What are you after, lass?
I'm looking for a secret shrine
to the Cailleach.
But the directions are outdated
by a few hundred years.
Maybe a native could help me.
My son Duncan would be
an excellent tour guide.
He should be down
the Grog and Gruel.
Great.
Market's in a good place.
If it were me,
I'd seriously consider...
- I don't care.
- Just hear me out.
We want to expand.
And you have
the perfect location.
It was a no last year.
It was a no
the year before that.
And it was a no
when my father ran it.
You don't have much of a choice.
You focused all your production
into Christmas Spirit.
And you don't even have
a distributor.
Our clans have been feuding
for the last hundred years.
You don't want to help.
You want to end
my family's legacy.
Oh, that's ancient history.
I make decisions with my head,
not my heart.
And I make decisions
with my gut.
It's telling me that
this talk is over.
I'm looking for Duncan.
Isn't he a bartender?
Christ, no.
Duncan's here to watch the bar
if I have to step into
my office.
He means the loo.
Oh, the wine lady.
Your mom sent me.
I need help finding
an ancient shrine.
That should be
in your guidebook.
If only.
My guidebook is 300 years old
and written in Gaelic.
I'm an archeologist.
Oh. I love dinosaurs.
That's a paleontologist.
I search for ancient humans.
Are you the one that found
all that Pictish jewelry?
No. That was a gardener
from Perth.
I spend years
searching for relics,
and the Scots
find them planting turnips.
Guess it helps to be Scottish,
eh?
- I'm a quarter Scottish.
- Ah.
Not possible. You wouldn't
even try my whiskey.
- Can I get an ice cube?
- No.
Okay.
It's really good.
It's smooth.
Really? Okay.
I'll help you if you let me
show you around.
Not like a tourist,
but like a true Scot.
That's sweet, but, um, I leave
right after Christmas
and I only have time to work.
That's more fun.
Well, I'm sure you're busy
with your distillery.
I have to go.
But how can you enjoy
where you are
if you're always trying
to get somewhere else, lassie?
Got somewhere to be?
No. Uh, Caitrin's coming by.
We're studying
for tomorrow's math final.
It's on geometry theorems.
I've got a theorem
that neither of you two care
about that test tomorrow.
She just likes me as a friend.
Your cousin Duncan was exactly
the same at your age.
By the time he got 'round
to asking out
a girl that he fancied,
she already had herself
a boyfriend.
Hmm. Well, when I got here
in September,
I felt really alone.
And I met Caitrin.
She just made me feel like
I belonged.
Say I ask her out
and she says no.
It'll make the next semester
all weird.
Nonsense.
You've just got to tell Caitrin
how you feel about her.
And there is no better time
to do that than Christmas.
Well, I was thinking of making
her a gingerbread house.
Perfect.
But you're in Scotland, so it
should be a gingerbread castle.
- Hiya.
- Ah! Hello.
My friends had their
Christmas cookie exchange,
so saved some for you.
I'll make some tea.
Help you two "study."
Talked to my friends
at the party.
I think we have enough
for a girls' rugby team.
That's awesome.
Coach Ferguson is really cool.
Maybe we could start tryouts
in January.
Then by next year, we'll have
a Christmas Eve match
like the boys.
Oh, so this year
you'll just have to go
and cheer Finn on
at his match, then.
I always get tickets.
It's for charity.
Oh, no, dear.
Finn will get you the tickets.
That way it will be
an official date.
Lucy, join us for some tea.
- Sorry, I have to work.
- Oh, no.
If my aunt offers tea, it's
against Scottish law to say no.
Well, I wouldn't want
to get busted by the tea police.
- What are you working on?
- I'm not sure where to start
looking for the shrine
to the Cailleach.
I can't leave
any stone unturned.
I was there.
I took a picture of the stone
that Cait was named after.
The stones are the Cailleach
and her family.
One of them is named Nighean.
That means daughter.
My dad calls me that.
You're talking about the
Tigh na Cailleach in Fortingall.
That's already been discovered.
So you are leaving
some stones unturned.
Good point.
I should look into that.
Lucy's an archeologist
looking for the Druids.
The Picts.
They used to live in Scotland
from about
the fourth century
to the early Middle Ages.
My cousin is a fisherman.
He found one of those
Pictish stones in a loch.
Thought it was
a big paperweight.
Of course he did.
Are you off to Fortingall today?
You know, the roads
can be quite tricky.
Are you sure you don't want
Duncan to take you?
I've got my trusty
guide right here.
Whatever suits.
Oh.
Hi. I need roadside assistance.
Flat tire.
How long to get a tow truck
to the McAvoy Manor?
Six hours?
Yes, I'm quite aware
it's the holidays.
Thanks.
Duncan's at the distillery.
I'll let him know you're coming.
So we better have a walk.
So pop your bags down.
You can get them later.
Hey.
You can use a guide, after all.
It's probably not
the worst idea.
What a gorgeous place to work.
Aye. Fancy a quick tour,
or is it gonna take you away
from pilfering Scotland
for our riches?
I guess the shrine's been there
for thousands of years.
It can wait
for a few more minutes.
This place is certainly festive.
It's my mum's idea.
In Scotland, Christmas wasn't
a public holiday
for hundreds of years,
so our parents never made
a fuss about it.
- Was the mistletoe her idea?
- No.
My dad, he was almost as bad.
He added it to the trees,
all over the grounds.
So you have Christmas
all year 'round.
Aye.
Come on.
Let's get out of the rain.
This is the still room.
Whiskey comes from
the Gaelic word uisce beatha.
It means "water of life."
It's been in my family's life
for generations.
They built the distillery
on our land in the 1820s,
but my family's
been making whiskey
for a long time before that.
My university was built
in the 1800s.
It's funny, what's old for us
is new for Scotland.
Aye, true.
Our home's 500 years old.
My father bought it from my mum
for a Christmas present.
Took him forever to wrap it up,
though.
But I'm joking.
He did leave a bow
over the door.
Come on.
So, we age the whiskey
in these casks.
My dad and I started making
Christmas Spirit 15 years ago.
I never thought
that he wouldn't be around
to see how it came out,
or I'd be talking
to our competitors
about selling the business.
That's what your meeting
was about.
Mm.
It's getting harder to compete
with the larger companies.
I love the artistry
of crafting whiskey,
but the competition takes
all the joy out of it.
If Christmas Spirit does well,
it'll get us out of the red.
It's better than
that nasty wine.
Whoa. Can I use that
as a marketing campaign?
"Christmas Spirit...
It's better than nasty wine."
What I meant was, if I liked it,
Scotch fans will love it.
Doesn't taste like burning.
You should really
get into marketing.
What is that thingamajig?
It's just a radar.
It allows me to see
what's underground
so I know where to dig.
- And you're looking for...?
- Rocks, jewelry,
anything the Picts could have
used to carve their symbols.
If I find the one they used
for the Cailleach,
it might be a clue
to the second shrine.
Speaking of carvings, your mom
told me that your dad's ghost
carves the Cailleach log
every year.
I carve it.
My dad was a great woodworker
when he was alive,
but I don't think
ghosts have much dexterity.
Lots of throwing things.
Not so great for whittling.
So she really believes
that your dad's ghost
just hangs out for the holidays?
My mum believes in everything.
That kelpies drag
people into rivers,
fairies still live underground,
and if you don't
do your homework,
the wulver will get you.
And the Loch Ness monster?
Och, it's made up for tourists.
And you believe
all that stuff, too?
Not the kelpies
and the fairies, but...
I do feel my father's presence
around the holidays.
There are ghosts
all over Scotland.
At least ours doesn't scream
like a banshee at 4:00 a.m.
I wish I could feel my parents'
presence over the holidays.
Without them, Christmas
doesn't really mean much.
This could take a while.
If you have to go,
I can find my way back.
Oh. No, no, no.
You're not getting out
of our deal that easy.
You have the signatures.
You have the players.
It's a no-brainer.
It's Christmas, right?
He can't say no.
Hey, um, what are you doing
Christmas Eve?
Is this still about
the girls' team?
I have a petition
with 100 signatures.
If we start tryouts in January,
we can make the spring season.
- No.
- No, they won't be ready or...?
No, we don't have the money.
We can only afford
one rugby team.
Well, Coach, why can't she
play on our team?
She's obviously good enough.
I played on a coed team
in primary school.
It's different when
you're little.
Girls can't play
against boys at rugby.
It's too rough.
I play against my brothers,
and my dad was a pro.
He trained me.
I know who your father is,
Caitrin.
There's nothing I can do.
Now I have to tell
my friends they can't play.
Why did you want
to know about Christmas Eve?
I was wondering how Scottish
Christmas Eve traditions
were different
than American ones.
I've got to get to class.
Coach. Why are you against
girls playing sports?
My school has a coed
tackle rugby team.
It's not how we do things
at Craig Hill.
Just because something's a
tradition doesn't make it right.
Are you mad about something,
McAvoy?
Go work it out on the pitch.
Don't bother me with it.
You're not having
much luck, are you?
The fairies must have taken
all my relics.
You make fun now,
but if you stay here
long enough, you'll come around.
I'm a scientist.
I study folklore, but I don't
believe any of it's real.
Go back to being
a scientist tomorrow.
For now, you finally get
to enjoy being a tourist.
I've been to Scotland
so many times,
and I have never seen a beach.
This is so stunning.
The ocean always helps me
to forget about
the pressure of the holidays.
Back home, I can't go anywhere
without seeing
Christmas trees or Santas.
Well, that's what you get for
stealing all our traditions.
Christmas trees,
holly, the Yule log.
Oh, you mean the traditions
the Scots
"borrowed" from the Celts
and the Druids?
Okay, okay, you have a point.
But I do blame your ancestors
for mistletoe.
Well, then we share the blame.
You said you were part Scottish.
Ever look into clan Stewart?
My Scottish grandmother d*ed
before I was born,
so I don't have
any personal connection.
Our house had an ocean view,
so every Christmas,
we'd have it outside
so my mom could watch the waves.
What was that?
Just a piece of barley
from the distillery, I think.
Oh, good.
I wouldn't want you
flicking fairies.
They hate that, you know.
I thought we could stay
and watch the sunset.
I'm sure it's beautiful.
But I should go back.
I have pages of Gaelic
to translate
before we leave tomorrow.
Are you ready?
Oh.
Now, remember, soft hands.
If your fingers are rigid,
you'll drop it, okay?
- All right.
- Here, try again.
You got this.
Right, you ready?
Yes, sir.
Here we go.
Yes! Yes, that's it.
Great work. Brilliant stuff.
Come on, bring it in.
Yes, sir.
Let's go.
Thanks for helping me practice.
Coach Ferguson is being extra
tough on me.
This Christmas Eve match
is everything.
Are you antlers or Santa hats?
We always played the Christmas
Eve match in holiday gear.
I don't want
to look like a dork.
Caitrin's gonna be there.
Oh!
As your date.
Uh, Aunt Edina
went and asked her for me,
so it's kind of a gray area.
That sounds about right.
I want to
ask her to the ceilidh.
Brilliant. Brilliant.
My mum's making it
really special for you,
since she can't get home
for Christmas.
Whose home?
Now I have to choose
between spending Christmas
with my mom or my dad.
That's why I did
my junior year abroad.
Look, I know your family's
had a rough year, but...
But Christmas is a time
to put all that aside
and... and be together.
Your parents may be apart,
but...
But they still love you.
Why did my dad leave?
I miss how things were.
This Christmas,
my mom's on a cruise.
My dad's with his new family.
It's never gonna feel
like Christmas.
Things never stay the same,
Finn.
But sometimes change
can be good.
You can make new traditions.
You don't understand.
Your parents
were married forever.
Yeah.
And now my dad's gone.
Look, when he was alive, I got
nothing but unsolicited advice.
And now I need him, it's nothing
but flickering lights.
And unfortunately,
it's not Morse code.
What would he say about Caitrin?
There's an old
Scottish saying...
"What's for you
will not go by you."
That means, what's meant
to happen will happen.
Smells good.
Oh!
Your father would be so proud.
It smells delicious.
Thank you so much
for the dinner invite, Edina.
No guest in my house is going
to be ordering a takeaway pizza.
I'll just go and get
the first course.
- You look... lovely.
- Thanks.
It helps when I don't
have dirt in my hair.
Och, no. My thistle.
That was my favorite ornament.
Kallin isn't usually
destructive.
There must be
something bothering him.
It's just gravity. There's an
explanation for everything.
Doesn't usually involve a ghost.
But sometimes it does.
Finn, dustpan and brush, please.
- Coming.
- Oh, look at that.
The Cailleach log
tried to break its fall.
What's that doing over here?
I'm sure I left that
in the living room.
You'd think if Beira could
create mountains and lochs,
she could save my thistle.
That'd be worth
building a shrine to.
That's it. If Beira created
some kind of mountain or loch,
that would be the perfect place
for a shrine.
Oh, yeah. In school,
we learned that she was
the guardian of Ben Cruachan.
It overflowed, and that's how
Loch Awe was created.
Finn, you might be on
to something.
The journal said that
the shrine was located
near uisce...
Gaelic for "water."
I have to go.
The bottler's refusing to bottle
Christmas Spirit
without payment in advance.
We don't have
that kind of money.
Why would they do that to us?
I'm sure income
will put pressure on him.
If you can't make it tomorrow,
I understand.
No. Unlike these people,
I keep my promises.
Sorry Loch Awe was a bust.
I did find that old can,
but I doubt
the Picts invented diet soda.
So, you're about to see
Loch Shiel.
It's the site of
a great battle where the Celts
fought off the Norse invaders.
So it's history's
a wee bit more modern
than what you're looking for.
- When was the battle?
- The year 1120.
This is like
a Scottish Christmas card.
How do you usually
spend Christmas?
Well, I was planning on
visiting my now ex-boyfriend.
He moved across the country,
and it didn't work out.
Well, he'd have to be a rocket.
Crazy.
I'm still friends with my ex.
She's married to Ewan now.
- Ewan?
- Aye.
As in your best friend, Ewan?
There's no guy code in Scotland?
I wasn't ready to get married,
so she broke up with me.
Ewan always liked her,
and I gave him my blessing.
That was mature of you.
Colleen was a great girl,
but it just wasn't the kind of
love that my parents had.
We're not far
from Castle Tioram.
That was built
in the 12th century.
- Does it have a ghost, too?
- No. Just an evil frog.
And Loch Shiel here has a
monster called the Shielagh.
Is that another one
of your mom's stories?
No.
But I suspect she made up the
part about it eating children
that don't clean their rooms.
She's the most adorable person
I've ever met.
My mom was very practical.
What happened to your parents?
I mean, you don't
have to talk about it if...
It's okay.
Car accident
when I was in college.
There's so many things I wish
I'd asked them.
I don't have centuries
of family history like you do.
Well, maybe that's why
you're drawn to archeology.
A way to connect with your past.
Maybe.
I know it's why I work
so hard to accomplish anything.
Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
The Loch Shiel monster could
come out right now
and eat us like a Christmas ham.
That was a little iffy.
My dad always tells us
to make a fist with your foot,
like you're punching the ball.
Okay.
It's so unfair.
You know more about rugby than
most of the guys on my team.
Hopefully, when I go to uni,
they'll have a girls' team,
if I make the cut.
Oh, trust me,
I've seen your brothers.
If you keep up with them,
you'll be the MVP.
Finn, your father called.
He's been trying
to get hold of you.
Oh, my phone's out of juice.
I'll call him later.
Anyway, never mind that.
I'm looking for some
taste testers.
I've made a Christmas pudding
for the ceilidh,
and I think I've put
too much honey in it.
- You're having a ceilidh?
- Uh-huh. Christmas Eve.
Finn's invited you already,
hasn't he?
No, but I participated
in some kind of poll.
I'd love to go.
I'm trying to persuade our
American guest to come, too,
help take Duncan's mind
off the distillery.
Our Christmas Eve match
always raises money
to give back to the community.
Uhhuh.
Last year, it was for repairs
to Gavin McLean's fishing boat.
You know, Duncan's been so cool,
helping me with rugby drills.
What if the money went to him?
Brilliant!
Edina, every Christmas,
your family does so much
to help everyone in town.
Duncan will never
accept charity.
And even if he did, you'd
have to get the school to agree.
Well, Coach Ferguson told me
how he was going through
a rough time,
and Duncan gave him a job
at the distillery.
You know, I'm gonna call him
right now and ask.
I thought you said...
Oh, never mind.
I found some
archeological survey maps
to find the Cailleach.
There might be something there.
It means Hill of the Cailleach.
Not a bad place to put a shrine.
Hey, a Christmas
whiskey tasting.
Your luck's changing.
The lady will try your 12-year
double wood, please.
They paired it
with salted chocolate
to bring out the whiskey's
honey flavor.
Slinte.
- Ah!
- Wow!
Yeah.
Don't worry.
You're still my favorite.
I mean, uh, your scotch.
Your scotch is... is
my favorite.
Hey, you think our ghost is bad?
His distillery
has a headless horseman.
Oh!
This is Scotland.
Magic and legends
make life more fun.
Would you rather your Christmas
presents delivered by Santa
and his reindeer
or your mum and dad
staying up all night
wrapping them?
I just don't believe anything
I can't see.
What about love?
You can't see it.
You can't prove it exists.
You just have to believe in it.
There's a scientific basis
to it.
Brain chemicals.
Pheromones.
Stop! Stop.
Robert Burns did not write poems
about brain chemistry.
He wouldn't have known
about it in his time.
This song's a belter.
Here.
May I have this dance?
Of course.
I don't know
what I'm doing, but...
I'll show you.
Walk and follow. Here we go.
One, two, three, hoy!
Yes, good.
Hoy! See?
You got it.
I can't do this
impossibly hard dance.
You'll get the hang of it.
It's just like square dancing.
I'm not from the square-dancing
part of America.
And from what I know of it,
it's really different.
I should let you go to work.
You haven't been
returning my calls.
Word is you're
behind on your bills.
And you need the sales
a Christmas Spirit
to pay them off
by the end of the year.
I can get those orders bottled
and delivered tomorrow.
I'll worry about my own debts.
Thank you.
Shouldn't you at least
hear him out?
Running from your problems
won't fix anything.
You're one to talk.
Are you sure
there's a second shrine?
What's your proof?
This anonymous journal writer?
I want to believe it's there.
And I want to believe
I have six-pack abs.
It doesn't make it so.
Hold on.
Hiya. I got your message.
I can take you to
Beinn na Caillich tomorrow,
but, uh, we have to leave early.
Sounds good. I'll see
you downstairs in the morning.
Talk about a Christmas miracle.
Don't start.
Duncan's the B&B owner's son.
He's been driving me around
to all the sites.
- You did the hair flip.
- I did not.
Your lips say no,
but your flips say yes.
You live to t*rture me.
I'm freezing and you just
changed your background
to a beach.
Yes.
A background.
Are you on an actual beach?
You said you'd be chained
to your desk.
There's a desk in our villa.
I'll call you
when I find the shrine.
As your friend, I...
I wish you luck.
As your department head,
I have to say it's risky.
We have an emergency budget
call tomorrow,
and Lucy,
I have a former colleague
at the Scottish Museum
in Chicago.
I sent your CV for
the Assistant Curator position.
You know, just in case.
Thanks, Percy,
but I don't need a plan "B."
We'll find the shrine.
"We"?
Ha!
You and your Highland fling.
Oops! You froze.
So we're for Beinn na Caillich.
More like Find no Cailleach.
Haystack one, needle zero.
There just has to be
some kind of sign
that the site still exists.
I know that it does.
I thought you didn't believe
in things you couldn't prove.
Here.
You have to stop looking
with your brain
and listen to that instinct.
I wouldn't have the slightest
idea how to do that.
Maybe you just need some magic.
Your mom said
to beware of the selkies.
And those are...?
Seals that shape-shift
into humans and cause
all sorts of trouble.
Do they shape-shift
into tourists?
'Cause those people
with the selfie sticks
almost totally knocked me
into the water.
That would make them
"selkie sticks."
I really thought I'd find
something here.
Beira used a loch for her wash.
You'd think that'd make it
shrine-worthy.
Yeah, laundry, eh?
At least she kept busy
while she was freezing
my ancestors to death.
Oh, careful.
Ouch.
Look at this design.
If this is authentic,
this is Pictish.
It has nothing to do
with Beira or the shrine,
but it's something.
It's a Christmas present
from Scotland.
The fairies might be
warming up to you.
I'm sure my mum mentioned
the Christmas Eve ceilidh.
She'd really like it
if you joined us.
Sure, I'd love to.
I'd hate to disappoint your mom.
Find your target!
And get your hands to the ball!
Break.
High-five.
Well done, McAvoy.
- k*lled it out there.
- Yeah. Good practice.
Whew!
If they don't let you play,
they should let you coach.
Your drills make Ferguson's look
like an egg toss at summer camp.
At least he hasn't asked me
to be a cheerleader.
I suppose that's progress.
My dad talked my brother
out of pummeling him,
so that's progress, too.
I'm very frightened
to meet your family.
Not as scared as you are
to meet your dad's family.
I'm not afraid.
I just don't want to.
He really wants me to do
a video call
with them on Christmas.
You're going to have to meet
your new brother
and sister eventually.
I know. I just don't want
to do it on my favorite holiday.
What better day to do it?
Christmas is about family.
I can't get used to
calling them that.
You can call them unicorns
or cucumbers or whatever.
It doesn't change the fact
that they're your family.
My mum left
when I was five years old.
I still call her on Christmas.
I see you started
practice without me.
Caitrin's got some great drills.
She's helping me get in shape
for Christmas Eve match.
Yeah. Now, you have got to
be on top form.
There's a college recruiter
on holiday here from America.
He's coming to see the match.
That's awesome.
I told him great things
about you, Finn.
So all you gotta do is wipe
the floor with St. Austin's.
I got this.
Have you decided
who's getting the charity money?
Christmas Eve is four days away.
I'll ask around,
see what needs sorting in town.
- Can I make a suggestion?
- Do anything you like, Finn.
- Ah, the wanderers return.
- Aye.
Nice of you
to put your dad's up.
Och, I didn't.
Well, then he clearly
wants a gift.
What do you get a ghost
who has everything?
Eh, don't be making fun.
Lucy, would you like
a cup of tea?
Oh, no, thanks.
I have to research something
I found at the fairy pools.
She found a rock.
It's more exciting
than it sounds.
Duncan, you should
walk Lucy up to her room
in case your father's feisty.
Oh, I'm fine.
Friendly ghost. Right?
Not like the one
at Sanquhar Castle.
He'd be rattling
his chains at you.
- Maybe just to my door.
- Aye.
Does it always rain that much?
Oh, that's just a wee drizzle.
You haven't seen nothing yet.
Och.
Explains the noise.
Everything all right?
Aye. It's just Dad at it again.
"Nae man can tether
time nor tide."
My dad was against me
putting up the quotes.
He was mad I studied poetry
instead of business.
Still holds a grudge.
Probably why he broke my
thistle ornament.
Allegedly.
I think the quotes add
to the charm.
This one's perfect for me.
It's about time
not waiting for anyone.
Is that what you think it means?
Okay, Mr. Poetry Major.
Tell me the right answer.
It means that us poor humans
have no power over
forces of nature.
Like time.
Or like love.
Uh, I should...
I should go.
Right. Good night.
Um, are we hitting
another site tomorrow?
I still have to figure out
where to look next.
So I think I'm just gonna go
to the Christmas market
and, uh, finish the rest
of the journals.
Ah.
That American proverb.
"When the going gets tough,
the tough go shopping."
I figured I'd hear your offer.
Even if you are taking advantage
of our bottling situation.
Stop seeing this
as something personal.
I'm taking advantage
of an opportunity.
After corporations like yours
are putting all us
independents out of business.
Because you refuse to
streamline your operations.
- You mean fire people?
- And cut costs.
You mean use cheap ingredients?
I'm not selling to someone
whose whiskey tastes like...
Like nail-polish remover.
I'm not here to argue.
I'm here to negotiate.
If you sign,
we can get Christmas Spirit
out before Christmas Day.
My family's been making whiskey
on this land for centuries,
even before the distillery,
back when our clans
were at w*r with each other.
We're not taking your land.
That's yours.
We just want to build on it.
And you keep the McAvoy name.
Sorry.
We own the business.
We own the name.
What was that?
Your answer.
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Good tidings we bring...
Boo!
Getting some Christmas
shopping done?
Yes. What do you think?
Finn is all about his
Scottish heritage,
and the boy doesn't
even have a kilt.
- It's perfect.
- Are you shopping for Duncan?
He's a bit old for those.
No. These are
the adoptive family toys.
Ah. The McAvoys want everyone
to have a good Christmas.
It doesn't even have to be
the holidays.
I think they've helped everyone
in town in some ways.
I should get something
for Duncan.
He's been so nice
showing me around.
He's not doing it to be nice.
I mean, he's very nice, but he's
doing it because he likes you.
- Did he say something?
- Doesn't have to.
I've grown up with boys.
I know when they like someone.
I know Finn likes me,
even though
he's too chicken to say it.
That's because he's young.
Duncan would tell me
if he had feelings.
My dad liked a woman
at the bank.
And he'd go there every day
to withdraw 5.
Finally ran out of money,
so he had to ask her out.
Doesn't matter anyway.
I'm leaving after Christmas,
and long-distance relationships
don't work.
Not when you're older.
Why not?
Distance doesn't matter if both
people want to make it work.
One of you will decide
that nothing is more important
than being
with the other person.
Edina loves local artists,
though she'll make a fuss
if you try to give her a gift.
Elspeth Stewart from Glencoe.
I think that was my grandmother.
I knew she was an artist,
but I thought
it was just a hobby.
Oh, Finn,
I love the smell of gingerbread.
It's Christmas, isn't it?
Watch out now.
These little sweetie peas,
they're getting everywhere.
- Thank you.
- Your dad called again.
Wants to fly you home
for Christmas.
Please tell him no.
You need me here to help
you out with the guests.
I don't approve of your father
leaving your mum,
but he's a good person,
he's just not perfect.
When I was little,
I thought he was.
It's okay to be angry with him.
It means you love him.
If you didn't care, there'd
be nothing to be mad about.
So, what are we doing
for castle windows?
Sweetie glass.
But we need to get
some more icing sugar.
I'll be back in a sec.
Hey. That's going to be
a spectacular castle.
I'm making it for Caitrin.
I think I'd better officially
ask her out before
Aunt Edina does it for me.
Aye.
If you want to tell her
how you feel,
uh, gifts are fine,
but actions mean more.
You need to make
a-a grand gesture.
- Like what?
- Oh, just...
show her that what matters
to her is important to you.
Finn, don't be listening
to a man
who can't take his own advice.
Go get the mail.
I already did.
Oh, sorry.
I've seen the way you and Lucy
look at each other.
You know she'll be leaving soon,
unless you give
a reason to stay.
I've got bigger problems.
Ian came by.
We can only distribute
Christmas Spirit if I sell.
Otherwise, all the work I did
with Dad will be for nothing.
This is supposed
to be a surprise,
but Finn's charity match
is raising money for you.
- What?
- It'll pay the bottlers.
- I'm not taking charity.
- It's not exactly charity.
It's literally called
a charity match, Mum.
Coach Ferguson, the school,
the whole community...
They want to help you.
It would be an insult
to turn them down.
I can't. It's not who I am.
You don't fight for anything,
Duncan.
Not the distillery and not Lucy.
Is that really who you are?
So, that pebble I found has
a deer symbol on it.
Lucy, unless it had a map
to the second shrine on it,
then you, like Charlie Brown,
got a rock for Christmas.
- That was Halloween.
- I'm a few martinis in.
But that's not why I called.
I spoke to the dean.
He won't be coming back
in January.
I'm sorry.
I'm fired?
Even if I find the shrine?
Lucy, there is no shrine.
But I spoke to my friend Ada
at the Scottish Museum.
Your credentials are perfect
for the Assistant Curator
position.
She wants to set up a
video call to interview you.
I'd rather be leading a dig.
Thanks, Percy.
After f*ring my best friend,
it's the least I could do.
I need a good deed.
I can't be held responsible
for ruining Christmas,
even though yours
is already terrible.
Actually, my Christmas
is turning out to be sort of...
merry-ish.
Oh.
I thought you were working.
I lost my job.
Och. Lucy. Here.
I'm so sorry.
Hey, but you can't give up now.
You're so close
to finding the shrine.
If this is about
Christmas miracles,
you're talking
to the wrong person.
I hear you made a miracle
happen for the McIntyres.
Their kids will have an amazing
Christmas because of you.
Now I just need a miracle
to get Christmas Spirit
out by Christmas Eve.
Finn wanted me to take
the school's rugby money.
Then you can pay the bottler.
That's great news.
- I turned him down.
- That's crazy.
I know. I had a straight sh*t
there and it still didn't go in.
I meant turning down the money.
You and your mom have made
Finn feel at home here.
He wants to help you.
I don't need charity.
Oh, then don't lecture me
about giving up
when your pride is
about to cost you your business.
Okay, then let's have
a wee wager.
If you make the next sh*t,
I'll take the money.
- What!
- Whoo!
Okay, that's that.
You're clearly a pool shark.
Am not.
I've never played pool before.
Impossible. Not even in bars?
I don't have time
to hang out in bars.
So don't ask me
to play darts either.
How about I teach you
how to play? Hmm?
Oh, come on.
It'll take your mind off things.
I don't know. What if I sh**t
a ball through the window?
Now, you're playing pool,
not pole vaulting.
Knock, knock.
And you thought we didn't offer
room service.
I just had my job interview
with the museum.
I think they're going
with someone else,
but otherwise it went great.
Did you change the quote?
No, that was in storage.
It used to be
on my dad's office door.
I keep getting signs about deer,
and now there's literally
a sign about deer.
Well, that might have something
to do with the reindeer
that just showed up
in our front lawn.
Reindeer, as in
Dancer and Prancer?
Christmas Eve is in two days,
so they're a bit busy.
Reindeer haven't visited us
since my dad passed away.
They used to come
every Christmas.
What says Christmas more
than reindeer?
If we get our traditions
from Scotland,
maybe that's why
they pull Santa's sleigh.
Rather than rabbits
or brown hares?
It's faster than a reindeer.
Or pterodactyls,
who can actually fly.
Except they're extinct.
That's your sticking point?
Flying reindeer and Santa exists
in your world,
but not pterodactyls,
who are actually real?
I thought you weren't
a dinosaur expert, eh?
Pterodactyls aren't dinosaurs.
They're pterosaurs.
Lucy, meet Ghillie.
He used to come here alone,
then he started bringing
his whole family.
Ghillie knows how
to accessorize.
My mum made that
out of a family heirloom
so Ghillie would feel like
he was a McAvoy.
My dad used to tell me
about Ghillie
filling in for Santa's reindeer
when one of them
was under the weather.
There, now I have a
festive photo to post
so everyone will think
I'm having an amazing Christmas.
Oh, I think he wants you
to get in on the photo.
Okay, Ghillie, I don't want
to get on the business end
of those antlers.
You'll fool all your friends.
They'll never know you're having
a terrible holiday.
I might not be hating it.
Watch out for Lulu.
She's a bit of a pickpocket.
Even reindeer understand
there's no place
like home for Christmas.
Well, if you think this is good,
you should try some of
Aunt Edina's famous carrot cake.
Come on, boys. Let's have it!
Yeah! Great contact!
And again! Up off the deck!
Where's your boots?
I'm not playing Christmas Eve.
It's not right
if the girls don't have a team.
If you don't play in this
match, you're off the team.
And what about
the college recruiter?
Come on, faster!
And you!
Come on, hit him!
Finn!
Why aren't you playing
in the match?
Because if you don't play,
I don't play.
This is the biggest game
of the year.
And everyone thought
you were gonna win it for us.
My friends think
I put you up to it.
Moira uninvited me
from her Hogmanay party.
I'll talk to them
so they don't blame you.
I don't need you
to fight for me.
Cat...
Oh, son, I've been making
cranachan for the ceilidh.
Let me know if I've used
too much of your whiskey.
Okay.
Mmm.
That's perfect.
Oh, excellent.
Lucy, are you
joining us for dinner?
Sounds like a good day
to stay in.
I'll just go and get some more,
um, porridge oats.
I'll be right back.
Finn,
I thought we were supposed
to practice some drills today.
I decided not to play
Christmas Eve, and now
Cat's not talking to me.
You told me to do something big.
I didn't tell you to drop out.
You could be jeopardizing
your whole future.
It's silly for you to make a
big sacrifice for a relationship
that probably won't work.
You're so young.
My parents met
when they were in high school.
That was a different time.
When you meet the right person,
time doesn't matter.
When it's meant to be,
things just work out.
No, they don't.
If you invest in a relationship,
that's only going to end,
you'll just get
your heart broken.
Well, if it's truly love,
it won't end. It's forever.
My plan backfired anyway.
I just wanted to show her
how much I care.
Then don't play games.
Say you have feelings and you
want to see where it goes.
But what if she doesn't feel
the same way?
Just tell her and let her
make up her mind.
I'm sure she'd rather have
an honest conversation
than a misguided gesture.
I should probably go help
Aunt Edina with the...
whatever.
It's called rumbledethumps.
- No, seriously.
- Seriously.
It's potatoes,
cabbage and onions. Try it.
- Mmm.
- Huh? Huh?
Nothing like comfort food
on a stormy night.
Does this happen often?
For a 500-year-old building,
not as often as you'd think.
Here.
Since you're staying
for the ceilidh,
maybe you can stay for Hogmanay.
I have to get back
and set up interviews.
So you're just gonna give up
on the shrine?
I thought your grandmother's
art was a sign.
I did, too.
I came here to get away.
I couldn't make my job work,
I couldn't make
my relationship work,
and now I can't
even find the shrine.
If I believed in signs,
they would be telling me
to rethink my life.
What if all these things
happened for a reason, hmm?
To lead you here.
To me.
Kallin showed me
how to work the generator.
- He can talk?
- When he was alive, silly.
I can also fix the loo.
Maybe I should give Beira's
shrine one last chance.
The journals kept mentioning
uisce... water.
Wait, what about Jura?
There's a legend that Beira
used the whirlpool
to wash her plaid,
and the force of the water
turned it white,
and that's how we get snow.
I know that's not
how we get snow.
Forget deer. I think she was
the goddess of laundry.
- What? Wait, you're leaving?
- I have to do some research.
Good night.
You two looked awfully chummy.
What's going on?
Almost something.
But maybe she's right.
It's...
It's not practical.
Oh, when is love ever practical?
Love is magical.
Especially at Christmas.
She is worth fighting for.
Go and tell her.
I was planning to,
at the ceilidh.
Why are you always
putting things off?
Go and tell her now.
Where was this pep talk when
I was breaking up with Colleen?
Oh, Colleen wasn't
right for you.
She wanted to be taken care of
like a fairy princess.
Lucy is a warrior.
The first Noel
The angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
In fields as they lay
In fields as they
lay keeping their sheep
Beira had great taste
in launderettes.
Mine had a family of raccoons
in the dryer.
So you didn't find
what you were looking for?
Maybe I did.
See, um...
there's something
I have to tell you.
Sorry. I, um...
I should get this.
One second.
Yeah.
Hello.
Oh.
Great.
Yeah, that sounds good.
Thanks.
And to the Earth,
it gave great light
There's an inn nearby that has
a lovely Christmas lunch.
I, uh... I ended up getting
that museum job after all.
What?
I have to fly out tomorrow.
Wait, what?
Tomorrow's Christmas Eve.
You'll miss the ceilidh.
I'd love to stay,
but, um, I have too much to do.
I have to pack up my office
and pack up my apartment.
Sure.
Why have a difficult discussion
when you can just leave?
What discussion?
You said you wanted the guy
to confess his feelings, right?
There's something between us.
Maybe you just don't feel
the same way.
I do.
I have feelings for you,
but I can't be in love
and be alone.
I want someone
I'm gonna see all the time.
We can see each other
in the holidays. Meet somewhere.
That's not a relationship.
That's a travel buddy.
Look, I have a job in America.
And I'd never ask you
to give up the distillery.
This won't work, will it?
Hi, Uncle Kallin.
Not that I believe
in ghosts, but...
the game's today.
I wanted to help Caitrin, but...
now Coach Ferguson is mad at me,
and my team is mad at me.
Caitrin's really mad at me.
I'm sure that recruiter's
mad at me, too.
I'm embarrassed.
I don't even know
if I can show up.
What do you think I should do?
Whoa.
- Who are we?
- Craig Hill!
- Who are we?
- Craig Hill!
- And who are they?
- St. Austin's!
Wrong! They're nobody.
They've always been nobody
and always will be...
Coach.
I just wanted to say, um...
- You here to play?
- Yes, sir.
Come on. Come on, boys!
That's the recruiter over there.
Uh, I was gonna tell you
I was playing,
but I didn't think
you wanted to talk to me.
I always want to talk to you.
Sorry I got mad.
What you did was the nicest
thing anyone's ever done for me.
Now go bash some heads!
Did I get him to play?
Keep up, boys!
Come on!
Two injuries.
They're gonna have to forfeit.
It's a good thing the school
gave you the charity money
this morning.
And the Christmas Spirit's
on its way to the buyers.
We've got two down, Finn.
What are we gonna do?
You lost your scrum-half.
That's my position.
I'm the fastest
and smallest out of both teams.
If you put me in,
you won't need to forfeit.
I've seen her play.
We lose like cowards
or fight like Scots.
Okay, McAvoy.
It's never too late
to start a new tradition.
You got to promise me one thing.
If you get hurt, don't send your
brothers after me.
My flight doesn't leave
until later tonight,
so I thought I'd come
and root for...
- Craig Hill.
- Craig Hill!
Yeah!
No, no, no, no, no.
Penalty.
- What?
- What's that?
Caitrin!
I told you we shouldn't
let girls play.
Come on! Yes!
Yeah!
- That was great.
- Thank you.
I appreciate you.
Thanks, sir.
Now, every year, our
Christmas Eve match raises money
for a worthy cause as part
of the Highland Council
Charity Fund.
This year, our proceeds
went to one
of our favorite rugby legends,
Duncan McAvoy!
Whoo!
Now, many of you may know
that his father started
the Adopt-a-Family program.
Well, now he needs our help.
Duncan, you can always count
on your team.
Thank you, Coach.
But I'll have to
give it all back.
Once Christmas Spirit
is a success,
I'll donate the money back
to the school with interest
on one condition.
That it will be used to
establish a girls' rugby team
at Craig Hill.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
This should be the part
where you make a big speech
to Lucy asking her to stay.
Is this what you meant
by grand gesture?
I guess it's now or never, eh?
Oh, or in a minute.
Hey, Mal.
Hey, did you fill
all the Christmas Spirit orders?
Wait. What?
I'll talk to you later,
all right?
I got you a little something
for Christmas.
Are you okay?
Last night's storm.
It broke a river pump.
We... We can't make any more
whiskey without that water.
And I've used the charity money
to pay the bottler.
- I'm so sorry.
- Yeah.
Is there anything I can do?
No need for you to worry.
You're going home.
It's not exactly the same
as the one that your dad
had absolutely nothing
to do with breaking.
Yeah.
It's better.
Comes from you.
I should go back and pack.
Aye.
I'll try to come say
goodbye before I leave.
Yeah.
I was worried about our deal
when I heard you got
Christmas Spirit out.
Sorry about the pump.
Are you?
Believe it or not,
I don't wish you ill.
Just one favor. Can you save
my original buildings?
There's a lot of
my family history in there.
Sorry, Duncan.
We have a bigger operation.
We'll have to tear them down
to build on the land.
At least someone gets
what they want for Christmas.
I wanted time off for my family.
But the boss wants
construction to start
straight after New Year,
so I'll be working.
Merry Christmas.
Oh, that's one of mine.
Well, that's a shame.
Sorry, Duncan.
I don't know what
I'm going to do. I've...
I've lost Lucy
and the distillery in one day.
Without your business,
what's keeping you here?
Be with her.
Finn, Caitrin's here.
Merry Christmas.
It's a McAvoy tartan.
I love it.
I haven't had time to wrap
my gift for you, but it's...
It's ruined.
It's beautiful.
I can't believe you put this
much thought
into my Christmas present.
I just got yours at the market.
But it's a mess.
No, it's just not
a castle anymore.
It's sort of like
a gingerbread skate park.
Maybe it's not traditional.
It's something new.
And it came from your heart.
Would you come to the ceilidh
with me tonight, as my date?
Took you long enough.
Of course.
Thanks for everything.
I'm sorry you didn't
find your shrine.
Maybe it doesn't
exist after all.
You sure you can't stay?
At least wait
till Duncan gets back.
My cab's already here,
and it's better this way.
Merry Christmas.
Make sure you give Santa's
sleigh a wave from the plane.
Did Lucy leave yet?
A few minutes ago.
You just missed her.
Where's the car?
Aunt Edina took it to get
some more reindeer cookies.
Traveling on Christmas Eve?
Yeah. Best time to fly.
A hairy cow.
It's better than sitting
in traffic, I guess.
Just a minute.
She's not gonna move.
I'll be back in a minute.
Percy'll never believe this.
I have to get a photo.
What?
Ghillie?
Lucy!
This me fighting for you.
Without the distillery,
I can start over.
I can come to Vermont with you.
- I'm moving to Chicago.
- Or Chicago.
They're about the same, right?
My American geography
is not the best.
But wherever you go,
I'll be with you.
You just have to...
Believe in us. And I do now.
But I think I might
be losing my mind
because this just fell
from Santa's sleigh.
Ghillie must be
filling in tonight.
I know you think I'm mad.
Then we both are.
You were right.
A little bit of magic
makes the world a better place.
Tell me about this.
When we built the new
distillery after the old one
was damaged by the storm,
my grandfather found it
in the soil.
He gave it to my grandmother.
So uisce in the journals
didn't mean water.
It meant whiskey.
The whiskey my family made
on our land.
We have to get to
the McAvoy distillery now.
I've got something.
Here. Watch.
Right, Donald,
that's the last one.
I'll see you for drinks later.
Aye.
Oh, whoa, whoa.
Hey, wait, whoa, whoa, whoa.
What are you doing?
Don't be making a mess
for my construction crew.
Hey, this isn't your concern.
Look, I'll have to
call the police.
You own the business,
but I own the land.
Worry about that later.
Just dig.
Right.
The silver's here!
These would be the gifts
for the Queen of Winter.
An ancient Christmas present.
There's a whole trove
of artifacts under here.
You're gonna have to tell
your construction crew
it's gonna be a few years.
- What are you talking about?
- No company can build on land
when artifacts
are being excavated.
Don't be so sure.
A contract...
is a contract.
Get off my land.
- I have the law on my side.
- Really?
When ancient Scots met
under the mistletoe tree,
they had to make a truce
until the next day.
- You know your Scottish history.
- It's kind of my thing.
Duncan, you still have
a business in trouble
and a lot of repairs.
I'll worry about that
another day.
It's Christmas Eve, and we've
got a ceilidh to get to.
And I have a job to turn down.
Merry Christmas.
So, now you're a fan
of the mistletoe, eh?
Christmas traditions
have their advantages.
Especially when
you need to make a truce.
Or other things.
Think we'll end up
at the same school?
I hope so.
But if we don't,
we'll make it work.
Do you want
to stop by my house tomorrow
for our family rugby game?
It's our family tradition.
Sure, after I call my dad
and meet his... mynew family.
Did you know my new
little sister plays rugby?
I'm excited for you. It's like
you have three families.
Your original, your dad's,
and your Scottish family.
We're gonna do Christmas
in July.
Could be weird or fun.
Maybe new traditions
aren't all bad.
At least yours won't end
with broken bones.
Don't worry. Told my brothers
to go easy on you.
I'll bring my helmet.
Finn, your dancing?
You asking?
What's this about you
staying in Scotland?
Someone has to supervise
the excavation.
And under Scottish law,
there's a reward for artifacts
found on your land.
Christmas Spirit can go
all over Scotland.
Maybe the world.
Well done, son.
Well, that's the Cailleach log
for this year.
"Lang may yer lum reek."
That just means "health and
wealth to everybody."
Come on, let's dance.
Come on.
When did you have time
to carve that?
I didn't.
My dad would've loved
to try some.
He worked so hard to create it.
Here's to legacies.
It's not what you accomplish.
It's about the people
who remember you.
Merry Christmas, Kallin.
Can you feel the glow?
Candles burning low
It's the light of Christmas
It's the light of Christmas
Can you hear them sing?
All the gifts they bring
In the light of Christmas
In the light of Christmas
All the lights around the world
All together while we turn
Can you smell the pie?
Feel the glow
coming from the fire
It's the light of Christmas
It's the light of Christmas
It's the light of Christmas
Oh
All the lights around the world
All together while we turn
All the lights around the world
All together while we turn