[calming music]
Downloaded from YTS.MX
♪ ♪
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
Let there be Christmas.
♪ ♪
You mind, just right up there?
The second shelf's not low.
♪ ♪
Oh, my.
♪ ♪
That's great, Patty. It's--
Thank you, Belle.
It's beautiful just like you.
- Thank you. - Thank you. Gosh.
Thanks.
♪ ♪
I'm sorry Mrs. Guthrie, did I hear you correctly?
You wanna add a petting zoo to your Christmas party?
One moment. Mom.
What's a petting zoo?
It's two weeks before Christmas.
Where am I gonna find a reindeer?
If anyone can, Emily, it's you.
♪ ♪
Okay, Mrs. Guthrie, I'll get on that.
Can you hang on a minute?
Strauss and Strauss Event Planning,
I'll be right with you.
♪ ♪
Emily, Ed Mancini's office,
they wanna know if you're available
for a meeting this afternoon.
♪ ♪
He only uses the big Beverly Hills firms.
Are they looking to book a Christmas event for next year?
Next week.
They just fired their event planner.
♪ ♪
It's far more than a Christmas party.
My senior staff will be there, but I've also invited
prospective investors, influencers,
top political figures.
So is this a fundraiser?
[chuckles] I don't do charity events.
The east portion of the mall
will be roped off for the event.
I've hired a professional lighting designer.
I want a six course dinner.
It's gonna be an evening they'll never forget.
Well, your office sent over the particulars.
It looks like most everything is arranged.
Caterers, rentals, entertainment.
I fired the caterer this morning,
so you'll need to attend to that.
Okay. Caterer. Got it.
And if I can ask, sir, what happened
to your last event planner?
We didn't see eye to eye on Christmas.
My mantra when it comes to the holidays is go big
or ho, ho, ho, go home.
Got it.
And how did you find me?
A good friend recommended you,
so I expect nothing but the best.
One last thing.
Santa. - There's always a Santa.
Not just any Santa.
I pride myself on having the best Santas
at all my signature properties.
Didn't your last planner line one up?
He was too ordinary.
I want magic. I want fireworks.
I want Kris Kringle from "Miracle on 34th Street."
Oh, finding a Santa like that at this late date is--
Not just any Santa, young lady.
The best of the best. The real thing.
Don't disappoint me, Emily.
Got it.
Oh.
♪ ♪
[soft cheerful music]
Belle, these just came back from the printer.
Ah. Aiden.
- Hey. - What do you think?
The lady knows what she's doing.
You just earned yourself a raise.
Hey, thank you.
♪ ♪
Santa Bootcamp.
The finest Santa school in America.
♪ ♪
Yeah. Let's see.
Someone's been to the farmers market.
Only the best for Belle.
I didn't know poblano chilies were still in season.
Oh, they're actually, they're not poblano,
they're Anaheim chili peppers.
No, I don't think so.
I work with a lot of caterers, and we use them all the time.
Ask the chef when you get inside.
Oh, me question the chef?
No. No. I would never do that.
I know. They're the worst.
It's not like they're performing brain surgery.
They're cutting up zucchini.
See, if I said that to the chef,
I'd get a rolling pin thrown at my head.
Good luck in the class, though.
Oh, no. I'm--I'm not a student.
- I gotta go, sorry. - I'm not--I'm not a student.
I see that you signed up for the total Christmas
Mrs. Claus package.
Well, you're gonna love it.
I mean, it changed my life. - Excuse me.
It'll change yours.
Excuse me. Hi.
I'm Emily Strauss of Strauss and Strauss Event planning.
I've been leaving messages.
Oh, yes. You'll have to wait in line.
You can't rush Santa's work.
- I'm not here for bootcamp. - Hmm?
What can I do for you, sweetheart?
Hi, I'm Emily Strauss.
Hi, I heard Strauss and Strauss event planning,
but you know, I don't think you're on the list here.
No, you're not. - No, no.
I just need some help finding a Santa.
I have an event coming up, and I need a recommendation.
Well, you have come to the right place.
I knew you'd be able to help me.
People keep mistaking me for a student.
Really?
All I need is a referral, and I'll be on my way.
Maybe you can put me in touch with someone in charge.
Well--
And by the way, I love your tracksuit.
It's so festive. And I love that shade of red.
It's so Christmassy.
So who should I talk to?
You know, I'm not gonna be much help to you, dear.
I mean, I'm just a little senior citizen
who's giving them some help.
I'm sorry.
[horn honks]
[playful music]
♪ ♪
Oops.
[soft cheery music]
♪ ♪
Orientation's about to begin. Everybody to the ballroom.
Oh, um, miss--
♪ ♪
[all chanting "Belle"]
[chanting stops]
Thank you.
When a child gives Santa a wish list,
that will create a moment that will exist forever
in that person's life.
And that's what this program is all about.
Good morning.
I am Belle, and welcome to Santa Bootcamp.
[cheers and applause]
Do you remember when you were a kid, how exciting it was
when you were going to open your first Christmas gift
on Christmas morning.
The elation that you felt, how ecstatic you felt,
and more important, the joy that you exuded?
Well, that's what we at Bootcamp
want to help you rediscover.
And you will understand why it's so important
to become an ambassador for Santa.
Patty? - Oh, I don't need one.
I'm not a student.
Here you go. Here you go. Here you go.
Each masterclass will be given by one of our experts
in the Santa field, followed by a group exercise.
After you complete all of your academic work,
you will have five days to finish your final assignment.
Now, you can do 'em alone or in a group.
Graduation will take place next Friday evening.
Now, why waste another minute
when Santa's work is to be done?
Belle needs volunteers.
Yes. Okay. You and you.
And oh, this handsome guy up in front.
You can stop waving.
Just get up here. I need you.
And yes, you, deer in the headlights girl.
I'm not a student, Belle. Remember?
I'm Emily Strauss. I'm here for the--
Blah, blah, blah.
Get up here, missy.
Come on. Come on.
We are going to do some role playing exercises.
Sit down. Thank you.
Okay, well, first I want everyone
to introduce themselves and tell us why you're here.
Go ahead.
Hi, I'm Caroline.
I am the new HR manager at a Desmond's department store.
I'm in charge of hiring all the seasonal help for next year,
so I wanted to learn more about their jobs.
Oh, that is great.
Have you ever thought about what it's like
to be inside a polyester
unventilated candy cane suit for eight hours?
No.
You're about to find out.
Thank you. Thank you.
Hello, I'm Gino.
I'm an aeronautical engineer at JPL,
and I'm doing this for my grandson Carlo.
He saw your flyer and thought it was cool.
So if it's cool for him, then it's cool for me.
Well, I will do my best to up your game.
Thank you. - Thank you.
Yes, sir.
People always say I look like Santa,
so why not make a living at it?
I'm Ben.
Right on, Ben.
Thank you.
Yes.
I'm Emily, Strauss and Strauss Event Planning.
I was recently hired by Ed Mancini of Mancini Malls
to produce their corporate Christmas party.
[snoring]
But Mr. Mancini fired his last event planner,
and so here I am to fi--
Oh, oh. Is she done?
Is it January? [audience chuckles]
I'm not here to discover the joy of Christmas, Belle.
I have enough of that in my life already.
Wow.
Do you have a pet?
No.
Do you have a special someone?
Not right now.
Well, that just leaves a house plant.
[audience chuckles]
I'm just here to find my perfect Santa.
Oh, I just happen to have a dean's list of perfect Santas
that I have mentored.
That's all I need.
- Mm-hmm. - Perfect. Thank you so much.
Why don't we just chat after class and I'll--
Well, ah, no, no, no, no.
Did you really think it was going to be that easy?
You have to finish your coursework,
then I will decide if I want to share my list with you.
Thank you.
All right, students.
Let's find our sense of joy.
Relax. Close your eyes.
Feel the spirit of Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Emily, close your eyes.
Thank you. It's Christmas Eve.
You are wrapping presents.
[gasps] We're running out of time.
And action.
Only a few hundred more to go, honey.
[stilted] Oh, Santa, what should we do?
Uh, no, no, no. Emily, he's your husband.
Show us the joy in your relationship.
[stilted] We can get it done together, babe.
Okay, um, you're phoning it in.
You have to dig deeper.
You just show us all of the colors in Mrs. Claus.
I don't understand my character.
The chemistry isn't right.
Maybe we need to find a different Santa.
You're right.
Um, Aiden, would you come down here?
What? No. Belle, I gotta prep lunch.
- I--what? - I have to prep lunch.
No, I'm sorry, honey, I can't hear you.
Come down here and tell me. Come on, honey.
- No, no, Belle. - Sorry about that.
Okay, everybody, let's welcome Aiden Browns.
He's our Santa Bootcamp chef.
[applause]
Holy mackerel.
You're even cuter close up.
Okay, let's sit you down next to our little Emily.
Have you two met?
- How could I forget-- - Not really.
Uh-huh. Okay.
Mrs. Claus, tell us something about your hubby.
Action.
You never disappoint the kids,
even if it means staying up all night wrapping presents.
And Mr. Claus, what is it about Mrs. Claus
that still keeps your heart fluttering?
- [sighs] - And action.
Do you remember our first date?
First date?
It was a picnic. The North Pole?
[soft romantic music]
Wrapped ourselves in wool blankets
and watched the Northern Lights.
♪ ♪
I made hot chocolate over an open fire, but it froze,
so we turned it into ice cream.
And on the way home in the sleigh,
you fell asleep on my shoulder.
♪ ♪
That's the moment that I knew...
♪ ♪
You were the one.
♪ ♪
And scene.
You are a very romantic young man.
Is there someone special in your life?
My eight-burner Wolf range.
Hey, no, no, no. Hang on here.
Belle, I have a mirepoix to make.
Hey, listen, I want--
I want to tell you something,
and I want you to hear this too.
You are a natural.
You have Santa potential coming out of the wazoo.
Matter of fact, I want you participating
in all the classes.
Thank you, and I really am flattered,
but my groove is in the kitchen.
Well, then consider yourself on scholarship.
Patty.
Hire a sous chef for Aiden.
Absolutely.
- No, Belle, I-- - You can do both.
That's an order.
Okay.
Okay, let's do that again.
[whistle trills]
Left right, North Pole, South Pole.
Give me a ho, ho, ho.
all: Ho, ho, ho.
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen!
all: Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen!
Show off.
Checking out your candidates.
Ugh, Ben looks the part.
Aiden's way too hot for Santa.
Oh, my money's on Gino.
I think he's gonna be the star of the class.
His eyes lit up when he talks about his grandson, oh!
[whistle trills] - Pick up the pace!
Left, right. No, hello.
- I need a minute. - Oh, no. There's no time.
[phone ringing] You need to get back out there.
I wouldn't do that.
It's work. I'm sure it's fine.
At your own risk.
I'm not even supposed to be here.
This is all a big misunderstanding.
♪ ♪
Mr. Mancini.
Yes, I'll get you some more names,
but everybody's booked.
No, I don't have your Santa yet, but--
If you expect Belle to find your dream Santa,
you are gonna have to work a lot harder.
Patty, I think we got off on the wrong foot.
The only foot I wanna hear
is right marching with left to the beat.
Christmas is serious business.
Do you wanna flunk out?
Let me hear a ho, ho, ho.
♪ ♪
Ho, ho, ho.
Go.
March. March.
♪ ♪
Busted.
This is not how I imagined my day.
My feet are killing me,
Patty just hung up on my most important client,
and this bag of toys weighs a ton.
Whatever makes you stronger. [whistle trills]
No chit chat or Belle will put you in detention together.
- Together? - Detention?
Three more laps and then we'll stop for water.
And then we're gonna meet Belle at the stables.
[whistle trills]
♪ ♪
- Hello. - Ah!
[both laugh]
Hi.
So how's your new class going?
It's promising, yeah.
There's a couple of problem students, but you know.
But you love a challenge.
Especially when I win. Oh, boy.
It is so good to have you back on the road
with me for a change.
I thought I drove you crazy.
Well, you do, but we barely get to see
each other this time of year.
Well, that's because you're usually out doing classes
and I'm up at the factory.
Yeah.
But you know, being together here
just makes me feel like a newlywed all over again.
[sentimental music]
Hey, remember our first date?
My whole life changed that day.
♪ ♪
Mm. - Thank you.
Okay. I'll see you after class.
Well, I'll be waiting.
Okay.
Back to my students.
You love your works in progress.
- I do. [chuckles] - Mm-hmm.
I really do.
♪ ♪
I have never seen a reindeer in person before.
You'll all be given a chance to feed her.
I thought Santa's reindeer were guys.
Female reindeer are better equipped
for cold weather travel.
Besides, the male shed their antlers in early December.
How on Earth did you know that?
I produced an event for the LA Zoo last Christmas.
Well.
Hey there, beautiful.
How about a little snack?
Come on. It's okay.
You've gotta be hungry. Just a little nibble.
Please.
Come here.
[soft romantic music]
♪ ♪
All righty.
♪ ♪
[chuckles]
♪ ♪
You are about to become the ambassador
for all things Christmas.
The embodiment of peace on Earth,
goodwill to all men.
Welcome to the Art of Being Santa.
My name is Chris.
[applause]
So let's start out by finding your inner Santa.
♪ ♪
[laughing] Ho, ho, ho!
Come over here, little lady, and say hello.
Hi, Santa. My name is Mia.
Ah, I remember those freckles from last year.
Did you bring your wish list, Mia?
Of course, Santa.
Dear, Santa. Here's my wish list.
I want two puppies.
A puzzle, some movies.
A giraffe. - Okay.
I'm not done yet.
A unicorn that poops rainbows.
[gasps] And a toaster that makes hot dogs
inside of Pop-Tarts.
What an imagination! [laughs]
And Santa,
can you make me prettier than my best friend, Ashley?
Oh, Mia, you're already beautiful.
Oh, but she has blonde hair.
Ah, well, I'll make you a deal.
I'll work on your wish list, but you work on being Mia.
Although I happen to think you're perfect
just the way you are.
Oh, thanks, Santa.
And scene.
Lesson one.
Listen with your heart, not your head.
What do these children really want?
What are they asking for?
Oh, what other kinds of questions do you get asked?
Well, how about we play a lightning round
of most frequently asked Santa questions?
How old are you, Santa?
Oh, so old I've stopped counting.
How long have you and Mrs. Claus been married?
So long I've stopped counting.
I'm Jewish. Can you still come to my house?
Of course! Santa is for everyone.
Why don't we sing the dreidel song together?
Oh, Santa, why do you have
the same wrapping paper as my mom?
Well... [laughs]
As it happens, we ran out of it at the North Pole.
It's been crazy this year with so many good children
that I had to borrow a little from your mom.
How do you deliver presents
all over the world in one night?
Google Maps.
How much money do you get paid, Santa?
Aha.
Well, I get paid with love.
♪ ♪
All right, students, now it's your turn.
Who wants to go first?
Emily.
What's on your wish list, honey?
I would like cheesy french fries,
any kind of sea monster, and a kitten.
A kitten?
How am I supposed to answer that?
Let's show her how it's done. [clears throat]
Oh, Santa.
You are so handsome.
Well, Santa likes to stay fit.
[audience chuckles]
Which is why Mrs. Claus gave him a treadmill for Christmas.
He really wanted a motorcycle,
but she gave him a treadmill instead.
So what's on your wish list, young lady?
I would like a Siamese kitten with blue eyes.
Well, it gets awfully cold in Santa's sleigh
on Christmas Eve for a kitten,
which is why I don't bring any animals with me.
I think this is more of a discussion between you,
your mom, and your dad.
And that's how you handle the pet question,
which comes up all the time.
Emily, let's try again.
No.
No, I've got an idea.
Forget about the role play.
Just be you for a moment.
What did you wish for when you were ten years old?
There was only one thing I wished for every year,
but I never got it.
And what was that?
A white Christmas.
I wanted it to snow on Christmas morning
like it did in the movies.
I wanted to run outside and build a snowman
and make snow angels and catch snowflakes on my tongue.
There aren't a lot of things that are magical in life,
but a white Christmas is.
Unfortunately, I grew up here in LA,
and no matter how much I wished for it, it never happened.
Well, how did that make you feel?
Like there was a part of Christmas
that was missing for me.
[sentimental music]
Still is.
Like, there's magic out there, I just...
♪ ♪
Don't know how to find it.
Well, I hope that you never gave up wishing.
♪ ♪
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go on like that.
You okay?
I'm not good at this touchy feely stuff.
I told Belle I'm just here to get her help
with the Mancini project.
I'm not here to find my inner Santa.
I think you just did.
Look, Belle has a stronger will than both of us put together.
So why don't you just resign yourself to be in here?
Might even be fun.
[scoffs] Why does everyone keep saying that?
Fun is a spa vacation.
Fun is ten hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Fun is binge-watching my favorite TV shows.
[chuckles] And most of those things you do alone.
Even better. I can do them my way.
I liked what you said about the snow.
I grew up in Memphis, and it didn't snow very often,
but when it did, it was the best day of the year.
It was just a silly story.
I should have never said anything.
I didn't think it was silly at all.
It got me thinking.
Even though we're adults, we still want all the things
we wished for as kids and we never got.
Cheese fries and a sea monster?
I'm still holding out for the toaster
that makes a hot dog inside of Pop-Tart.
That was brave, Emily.
It's not easy to be honest in front of strangers.
I wouldn't have the guts.
♪ ♪
All right, class.
We are going to a very special place for our next session.
Come on.
[bell jingling]
Welcome to Belle's Hall of Christmas.
It's our signature library that we take
to every Santa Bootcamp.
This library has circled the globe
as many times as Belle and Chris have.
"A Christmas Carol," first edition, 1843.
We have many out of print books,
rare manuscripts, and holiday cookbooks
that you can't find anywhere.
Anything you need to know about Christmas, we have right here.
I'll bet she knew Charles Dickens.
She tells people she was his muse.
For the rest of the week, if you have any research needs,
you can come here.
But for today, we only have one hour to explore the library.
Please wear gloves.
Thank you.
I just found the first published recipe
of steamed Christmas pudding.
This place is a national treasure.
Belle is a national treasure.
By the way, how did you two meet?
Just kept running into her at the farmers market.
Almost like she was following me.
She--she would say, uh,
"You don't squeeze a melon like that, young man.
"Are you wearing enough sunscreen?
"Do you have a girlfriend?
'Cause if I were a few years younger..."
There might actually be a heart of gold
beneath all that bluster.
What are you looking for?
Ideas for the Mancini event.
Look at this Victorian dinner feast.
It must have taken days to prepare.
Can you imagine? Everything by hand?
My last restaurant was more like a laboratory.
Where did you work?
Knife's Edge.
No way. That place is famous.
Oh, yeah. Yeah. The home of molecular cuisine.
We weren't chefs. We were food alchemists.
I love to cook.
I live to cook, but dinner in a test tube for $400?
No, thank you.
I had a business lunch there last year.
The main course was served on 12-inch steel needles.
Yeah. I probably made your meal.
Why did you leave?
I always dreamed of working at a Michelin star restaurant,
and Knife's Edge was supposed to be a stepping stone,
but that just all turned out to be smoke and mirrors.
Yeah, I mean, those 12-inch needles, they--
you're basically eating kebabs and being charged a fortune.
What are you gonna do now?
I have no idea.
I mean, when Belle found out I quit,
she offered me this job, and-- and it's perfect
while I try to figure out my next move,
but I just kind of lost my mojo.
♪ ♪
[bell jingling]
Do you think we can just hide out
in here for a little while?
And risk detention?
No way.
You're a bad influence, Emily Strauss.
[chuckles]
[soft romantic music]
I have to admit, this place is starting to grow on me.
Don't get all soft on me.
It's just that Christmas is my busiest holiday.
I don't really get to enjoy it until January.
You ever feel like you're celebrating
other people's Christmases?
Exactly.
Finally, someone who understands--
the cobbler walking around with holes in her shoes.
I used to spend hours at the restaurant cooking
the perfect Christmas feast for a party of eight,
only to go home and have frozen pizza for one.
I have a grilled cheese truck
that parks outside my office every night.
They know me by name.
♪ ♪
Congratulations, everybody.
You've just completed your first day of class.
Now, I want you here bright and early
tomorrow morning for hair and makeup.
Okay.
Emily, you're first up.
Why me?
Because if anyone ever needed a holiday makeover,
it's you, dear.
It's gonna be fine.
Be gorgeous.
Heart of gold, huh?
♪ ♪
[lively festive music]
Transformation!
That's the topic for today's masterclass.
There is nothing in this world so awful
as Mrs. Claus in a fright wig or Santa with a bad beard.
Wow. I don't even look like myself.
That's what I ordered, dear.
Erase every vestige of Emily Strauss.
You didn't really say that.
[whispering] I did.
[whispering] She did.
Aiden.
Oh, God. Aiden.
It's--take that--
- Ow, ow, ow! Ow. - Okay. Okay.
Santa Claus is not Father Time.
- No, this is good. - You are looking ancient.
- Oh. - No, I'm sorry. Okay.
Emily, can you help him here?
Um, he is distractingly handsome.
We have to tone it down, okay?
Sorry.
Distractingly.
I'm not distracted.
Is anybody here distracted?
Oh, not me.
Me neither.
[chuckles]
Are you done? Can I look yet?
I'm just getting started.
Well, how long is this gonna take?
Forever if you keep interrupting me.
Wow. I see my father.
Let me keep working, and we'll see
if I can find your grandfather in here.
My grandfather.
Tell me about him.
Taught me everything I know about cooking.
We used to barbecue every weekend.
Memphis ribs, roasted corn.
When I was seven, he convinced me to enter
my first cooking competition.
What did you make?
Grandpa told me I could only use what was in the pantry
or out in the garden, so I invented a barbecue sauce
using a bottle of Dr. Pepper, ketchup,
and a hot chili I found in the yard.
[both chuckle]
I won first prize, though.
[sentimental music]
Then I feel honored to turn you into him.
♪ ♪
That's him.
♪ ♪
That's me.
Emily, this is amazing. You did it.
♪ ♪
I really miss him.
♪ ♪
I can tell.
♪ ♪
Wardrobe time.
Whoo-hoo.
Here you go. Okay.
Oh, Emily, look what I picked out for you.
Really?
Oh, well. The ears may be redundant.
It's your call, sweetie.
And oh, yeah, Ben,
how do you feel about being a green velvety Santa?
[dramatic festive music]
♪ ♪
[children screaming]
♪ ♪
[children laughing]
They're gonna help you
with your first practical assignment.
Kids, I want you to meet Mrs. Claus, Santa,
and all their helpers.
[all screaming and cheering]
♪ ♪
[laughs] This is so much fun.
Oh, my goodness. Can you do it?
- Oh, here you go. You. - Yay!
I just don't like it.
No, try this again. 'Cause I don't like it.
Lady, is there something wrong with you?
Three piggies lived very happily in this big house.
♪ ♪
Our dog might bark when you come over, Santa.
Don't worry. He's super friendly.
That's okay.
I love dogs, Jack.
I'll leave the presents under the Christmas tree as usual.
We don't have a Christmas tree this year.
Well, why not?
My dad said they're not too excited
for Christmas this year.
Well, it sounds like your folks
could use some Christmas spirit.
It's okay.
They're busy with work and stuff.
Who needs a Christmas tree anyway?
We all do.
Hey, I got an idea. Come here.
Which one do you like?
They're all pretty, but the big one is the best.
Yeah. And you deserve the best.
But it's your Christmas tree.
Well, we have three, and you have none.
And they all belong to that nice lady right over there.
Which one, the scary troll or the beautiful grandmother?
[both chuckle]
Well, the beautiful grandmother, of course.
Hey, Belle, can we get that tree delivered
over to Jack's house in time for Christmas?
Whatever you say, Santa.
Awesome. I love you, Santa.
He's got a big heart.
Yeah.
You know, people think that Christmas
is all about gifts and parties.
It's really about the joy you give.
And Aiden's very good at that.
[heartwarming music]
He's really good at that.
♪ ♪
[bell jingling]
Great job, people.
Well, Santa calisthenics are next.
Come on! Break's over! Let's move!
♪ ♪
[yelps]
Hey, help.
♪ ♪
Ugh.
Every year these new toys get more complicated.
I need a PhD just to repair them.
[laughs] Sorry.
How's your day going?
Well, Aiden took your masterclass to heart.
Ah. And Emily?
Emily has more potential than anybody else in that group.
She just doesn't know it yet.
Well, I'm glad you squeezed in these extra LA dates.
Me too.
I'll drink to that.
- Mm. - Mm.
There was this little boy today, Jack.
Just about broke my heart.
Well, not everybody in this city
is feeling like Christmas.
I know, I know that people are working so hard,
they're kind of forgetting about the spirit of the season.
It's just--it breaks my heart.
Well, they're lucky to have you,
but not as lucky as I am.
Oh, thank you.
I have an idea. - Hmm?
So...
[up-tempo festive music playing]
May I have this dance?
Well, I thought you'd never ask.
♪ ♪
Oh, that's so nice.
Whoops. You're leading again.
Yeah, I can't help that.
Yeah, well, you'd think I'd know by now.
- Yeah. You'd think. - Oh.
♪ ♪
Oh.
It's my kind of dance.
Mm.
♪ ♪
Oh, hey.
Still here?
Yeah.
Everybody's gone home.
I'm working on the Mancini event.
This place is a treasure trove.
I'm having a million ideas.
Yeah, and Belle said she had some obscure eggnog recipe
I wanted to check out.
Hey, look what I found.
I've had snow on the brain since we did
that class with Chris.
Then I stumbled across this like it was waiting for me.
The last time it snowed in LA was 1949.
"After three days of snowfall
"and record-breaking cold temperatures,
"parts of Los Angeles reported over a foot of snow.
"The Rose Bowl in Pasadena was turned into what looked like
a giant dish full of whipped cream."
[both laugh] - Whipped cream.
Yeah.
Can you imagine that?
Like something out of a fairy tale.
That is exactly what the world needs.
More fairy tales.
You made a fairy tale come true for Jack today.
I was impressed.
- Thanks. - Sorry.
Wait, did you have dinner?
I'll get a grilled cheese on the way home.
[soft romantic music]
♪ ♪
Oh, there it is.
♪ Jingle all the way ♪
♪ Oh, what fun ♪
Okay, let's see what we have.
We have milk, we have eggs, we have goat cheese.
A piece of toast would be fine.
A piece of toast?
I'm a chef from Le Cordon Bleu.
Why are you being so nice to me?
Not being nice.
I just, you know, I kind of feel bad
'cause Jack called you a troll and I thought,
"Hey, she at least deserves a nice meal, huh?"
How about we make a salad?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ms. Strauss.
This is my domain, okay?
Chef's table. - Sorry.
Living alone, I'm used to making all the decisions.
Okay, Why don't we have you sit over here?
Let me do my thing.
Event planner takes the night off, okay?
Okay. Okay.
Let somebody give you something for a change.
I'm not used to that.
I can tell.
Okay, so what do you crave
after a long day in green tights?
Something simple.
Comfort food.
Okay, how about we do a late night
goat cheese omelet with extra crisp bacon, some dill?
And on the side, we will do hash brown potatoes
with an Anaheim chili pepper.
Sounds heavenly.
Oh, it's gonna be.
First step, juggle.
Le Cordon Bleu, huh?
All right, smart aleck.
Why don't you be my sous chef?
I'd be honored.
I'll get you a bowl.
Have you ever whisked before?
Uh, no.
- You need a whisk. - Okay.
♪ Jingle bells ♪
♪ Jingle all the way ♪
So I've heard of the Vegan Chef and the Naked Chef,
but not the Singing Chef.
Just doing what I love.
♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪
♪ Jingle all the way ♪
Hey, like this.
- Do I sing while I...? - Yeah.
Okay. both: ♪ Jingle bells ♪
- It really does-- - ♪ Jingle all the way ♪
Wait, I'll bounce while I do it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
♪ Jingle all the way ♪
♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪
♪ In a one-horse open sleigh ♪
♪ ♪
All right, class.
It's important that everybody
warm up before your shift, okay?
Staying in character and costume
can be very hard on your bodies.
So here we go. Up.
I see you've removed all the velvet ropes
from the master plan.
I think they're sending the wrong idea, sir.
The party is for VIPs.
I don't want random shoppers just wandering in.
How's your Santa search coming?
I'm getting closer.
Have you had a chance to look at the sketches
I sent over for the new Victorian table settings?
[whispering] Hurry up. Patty's coming.
The Victorian is for musty old ladies.
I wanna see more pizazz.
But it's such an elegant event.
You've got a hundred people coming
at $1,000 per plate for dinner.
Let's give them something they've never seen before.
Um, Mr. Mancini, I am about to go into a meeting
about your dream Santa.
Let me call you back.
I'm so sorry. I couldn't help overhearing.
He's spending $1,000 a plate?
That's insane.
I could feed a couple of thousand people
for that price.
It's all about impressing his clients and business partners.
Aiden, have you ever done any catering?
I mean, when I got outta culinary school,
I was a banquet director at the Surfside.
You might be able to help me with something.
All right. We're headed to lunch now.
No stragglers, you're gonna need your carbs.
We have a big afternoon planned.
Belle, do you have a minute?
Sure.
I would like to ask your advice
for the Mancini Village party.
Oh, let me see it.
Okay.
The guests will enter through an allée
of 15-foot-tall candy canes
and continue through a forest
of animatronic Christmas scenes.
What's wrong?
Boy, that's a lot of glitz.
All that glitters is, you know?
Go big or go home. That's Mancini's mantra.
Oh, well, I say go home.
- You don't like it? - No.
Where's the heart?
Do you have any idea what this job
could mean for my career?
Emily, you are so much better than this.
What have you learned here at Bootcamp?
If you think that that passes for holiday cheer,
then you're gonna have to work a lot harder than this,
because this does not cut it.
Otherwise, you might as well just go home.
[delicate festive music]
♪ ♪
The worst words for any parent on Christmas morning?
Batteries not included. [laughter]
Every year, there's a new must-have Christmas toy.
But at the end of the day, the ones that last
are the classics.
The Christmas toys that won't end up
in the dustbin of history.
And nothing says classic like a nutcracker.
So let's see how you are all doing.
♪ ♪
I think you have that on upside down.
I've been thinking maybe the client is wrong.
Do I really wanna focus all my energy on a hundred people
or is there an opportunity to do something bigger?
♪ ♪
What do you mean?
I don't know yet.
I'm just playing around with some ideas.
♪ ♪
Students, hold up your nutcrackers.
You'll get the hang of it.
But in the meantime, I need you all to get ready
for our first field trip.
You are about to put your new toy skills to good use.
- Where are we going? - You'll see.
Now, Belle is waiting for us at wardrobe,
and she has curated an outfit for each of you
based on your skill level.
[soft festive music]
♪ ♪
Uh, I can't find anything.
It's there. Just look.
[gasps] Found it.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
But my name is on it.
I know, I know. I know, but you know what?
I'm so sorry.
Somebody made a mistake and, you know,
you're not ready for this.
Belle, no, I am ready. I--
Emily, let me find something for you.
And something--you know,
there's beautiful things in here.
I will find something that will knock you silly.
Look, I'll be an amazing Mrs. Claus.
I've got what it takes. Just gimme a chance.
I won't disappoint you.
Belle, we need to get her into makeup.
You know, I just know that there is
a Grinch suit here somewhere.
I don't wanna be a Grinch.
The bus is waiting.
Oh.
Yeah. - Yeah.
Okay.
♪ ♪
Mm. Mm.
Don't let this come back with a speck of dirt on it.
Mm.
♪ ♪
Mm. Mm.
I'll be super careful. I promise.
Thank you, Belle. - Mm-hmm.
♪ ♪
Belle, what was that all about?
You put her name on that costume days ago.
♪ ♪
[whispering indistinctly]
If Emily isn't here in 30 seconds, you leave.
No, no, no, I'll go look for her.
'Cause I know she doesn't wanna miss this.
[heartwarming music]
♪ ♪
Transformation.
♪ ♪
You forgot your gloves.
Well, get on the bus, missy.
This group is late.
It's late because of you. Get up there.
Come on.
No stains.
♪ ♪
[horn honks]
♪ ♪
So we're closing off the east end of the mall
for a Santa's village and a live band.
And there'll be a professional photo booth.
It's gonna be some party.
Okay. Assignments.
Aiden, you're at the front door.
Ben and Gino, you're gonna be in aisle nine and ten.
Caroline, I need you to shadow the store manager.
Emily, you're gonna be floating.
Everybody else, come with me.
It's showtime.
♪ ♪
Oh, come on, you guys. You're gonna be fine.
I remember my first field assignment.
You just have to let the spirit of Christmas guide you.
Come on. Santa Bootcamp. Come on, team.
all: Santa Bootcamp.
[cheery music]
♪ ♪
Oh, you better come see this.
Oh, here, you guys, take this.
I'll be right back, okay?
Oh, what's going on? What?
♪ ♪
[heartwarming music]
♪ ♪
[speaking indistinctly]
[gentle music]
♪ ♪
Let me call you back.
Personal call?
You're gonna get busted, young man.
Belle is not here.
Patty is.
[whispering] She's an informant.
I had to take it, it was actually
some really exciting news.
What's up?
Buddy of mine from culinary school
owns a two-star Michelin restaurant.
They need a new chef de cuisine,
and he recommended me.
Aiden, that's amazing.
This is the kind of place
I've always dreamed of working at.
Well, what did you say?
I said I had to think about it.
What's there to think about?
Well, it's complicated.
[bell jingling]
Santa's bus is headed back to the North Pole.
All aboard. Come on.
♪ ♪
Come on. Let's go. Let's go.
♪ ♪
Belle, you need a driver.
I'll put it on my wish list.
And speaking of wish lists, I heard about Charlotte.
How did you know?
Oh, I know everything.
How'd you learn to sign like that?
My mom.
I've been doing it since I was a kid.
Well, you were very good with that little girl.
Oh, thanks.
You mean I finally did something right?
Oh, come on, please. No big heads.
Like you just discovered a new planet or something.
And just get that dress back into wardrobe
before you spill something on it.
♪ ♪
Headed home?
Oh, actually, I'm headed to get a Christmas tree.
I wasn't gonna get one this year,
but after the last couple days...
Have you ever been to the trainyards downtown?
Best trees in the city.
They auction them.
It's kind of magical with the lights and all.
Never been to an auction.
Maybe you can show me the ropes.
I'd love to.
But I have a call with Mancini at 8:00.
Come on. We worked our butts off today.
It's time to play a little hooky.
It does sound fun.
Okay, but I have to be back to my office by 8:00.
All right.
Your chariot awaits.
What's all this?
Oh, just working on a special menu.
For your new job?
Oh, no, no.
That is not a done deal.
I still have to do a formal interview.
Cook for the owners.
I'm sure you'll slay them.
Thank you for the vote of confidence.
No, it's, uh, it's for my own place.
If I ever get the guts.
Your own restaurant?
Nothing fancy or pretentious.
I want every dish to tell a story
like the fried chicken my grandfather made
in the cast-iron skillet his grandfather gave him.
I like the sound of that.
[both chuckle]
[cheery music]
♪ ♪
I remember coming here with my father
when he was still with us.
I must have been about four.
Well, you must know all the tricks of the trade.
What kind of tree do you want?
Pine? Doug fir?
I like the blue spruce the best.
♪ ♪
Ooh.
Should have known you would have champagne taste.
I like this one.
Douglas fir.
It's kind of fluffy.
I like fluffy.
Fluffy is Christmas.
We will find you the best tree.
Okay.
Cocoa?
Okay.
♪ ♪
Two, please.
♪ ♪
You're really good at this.
Belle would be impressed.
Belle paid me a compliment today.
Patty told her about the toy shop.
♪ ♪
You were pretty amazing.
Thank you.
Kids speak the unvarnished truth, don't they?
Yeah.
I felt so bad about the Mancini party.
It's like he's excluding Christmas.
All that time and money spent on a hundred VIPs
who will never appreciate it.
That is what I hated about my old restaurant job.
So your new restaurant won't be anything like Knife's Edge?
No.
Who names a restaurant Knife's Edge?
I just--I want a simple place that serves comfort food.
Down home cooking.
That's a really good idea.
I could call it Down Home.
I'll plan the opening.
- Really? - Yeah.
You'd do that for me?
I'm happy to see anyone's dreams come true.
Especially for someone who deserves it.
♪ I can't wait for Christmas ♪
Ladies and gentlemen, I have a beautiful noble fir
all the way from Spokane, Washington,
standing at a proud 6 feet tall,
fresh as the day is long. Do I have a bidder?
- Now, that's a good one. - You think?
I got 50. Do I got 55? Is there 55 out there?
Jump in. It'll be gone in a flash.
Yeah, 65. Do I have 70?
It's a beautiful tree, folks.
- Aiden? - I'm not sure.
Going, going, gone.
God, that happened so fast.
You snooze, you lose.
Looks like I have another noble fir.
This one is a beauty. - That's the one.
One of a kind. Bidding's gonna start at 70.
I've got 70, 75?
- Aiden, you're gonna lose it. - I've got 75.
Do I have 80? - 80.
I have 80. Sold!
No.
He calls the bids, Aiden.
Sorry. I'm sorry. I got nervous. I'm sorry.
85. No?
Going once. Going twice.
Going three times to the handsome gentlemen
and his beautiful wife for $80.
Oh, well, Mrs. Claus, it looks like we just
bought ourselves a Christmas tree.
♪ ♪
Thanks for bringing me back to get my car.
♪ I can't wait for Christmas ♪
Sure you don't want to come home and help me decorate it?
I'd love to, but I have that work call.
- Right. - Rain check?
Sure.
Does that mean I have to wait a whole year
when I buy my next Christmas tree?
Something sooner, I promise.
I'm gonna hold you to that, Emily Claus.
[romantic music]
♪ ♪
[heartfelt music]
♪ ♪
Think about the PR opportunities.
You'll look like a rock star.
The halo effect will last until Valentine's Day
when we do this all over again.
All over again?
You're the one who said, "Go big or go home."
Look, you started out with nothing but dreams,
Mr. Mancini.
I read an article where you said,
"I wouldn't be here today
without standing on the shoulders of my community."
I did say that, yes.
Including the community is an intriguing concept.
But why the sudden change of heart?
You didn't say any of this when I hired you.
If there's one thing I've learned the last few days,
it's when you give joy at Christmas,
you get it back tenfold.
So let's make some magic together.
I'm not promising anything, but send me the proposal.
It had better be nothing less than brilliant.
Don't worry, sir. It will be.
♪ ♪
- Hey. - Hey.
Did you get the tree up?
I really could have used your help,
but I didn't have many decorations.
But I did have all these copper cookie cutters
I used for ornaments.
Belle would give you an A-plus.
[yawns] Sorry.
- Burning the midnight oil? - Yes.
And Mancini got back to me first thing this morning.
That man must never sleep.
He liked my proposal.
Hey, congratulations.
Thanks.
I have a job for you before your big Michelin gig.
I need a caterer for the event.
Be careful.
She's a terror behind the wheel.
I wanna show you something. Hop on.
- Can we walk? - Absolutely not.
Come on.
Come on!
Hey, you won't believe this,
but the owner was actually gonna try to throw this away
the day we arrived.
- No. - Yeah.
- This thing is a beauty. - What do you think?
Just needs a little TLC.
Yeah.
I thought you'd like to use it.
Belle, how did you know I like to grill?
Oh, come on.
All you Southern boys have a love affair with...
[in Southern accent] Barbecue.
Well, I'm gonna have fun with this.
I know you will. I gotta go.
And hey, don't be late for class.
[tires squealing]
Barbecue.
What a great idea.
Think how far we can stretch our budget.
Our budget? What are you talking about?
I want you to do the Mancini party.
What? Wait a minute.
I'm not staffed up.
I mean, this guy doesn't know me.
There's no way. - But he trusts me.
I've seen you work, Aiden. You can do anything.
You'd have a week to prepare.
Final projects are due next week.
This could be ours.
Maybe I could get some of the bootcamp students to help out.
You think they'd do that?
I won't know if I don't ask.
♪ ♪
Hey, how you doing?
Do you help out with the Mancini?
Great. Thank you so much.
Everybody's joining in on the fun.
Yeah, and so see, we're all gonna just meet at the mall.
And then you don't have to have a degree.
You could just... [indistinct]
[laughter]
♪ ♪
I have a feeling you're gonna show up as Santa.
Left, right, North Pole, South Pole.
Gimme a ho, ho, ho.
all: Ho, ho, ho.
Yeah, I'm practicing.
♪ ♪
Hey, thought I might find you here.
- I'm trying to find a dessert. - Oh.
Mancini wants a croquembouche,
but it's way too over the top.
Yeah.
And no way to feed a crowd.
So what says Christmas to you?
Well, my grandmother was from Germany,
and she used to make a Dresdner Christstollen.
She promised to teach me how to make it,
but we never got around to it.
A lot of people don't like fruitcake.
Because they haven't tried mine yet.
- Chocolate and chilies. - Oh, yeah.
It's American melting pot.
Christstollen for our generation.
Watch and learn.
Wanna knead into a disc.
Fold it. Turn it.
Start again.
Wanna try?
No, yeast and I don't mix.
Come on. You can do it.
Give a shot.
- It's so warm. - Yeah.
But I don't wanna hurt it.
Oh, it's very resilient.
Just show it who's the boss.
- I'm the boss. - There you go.
Okay. Okay. Maybe not so vigorous.
We don't--we don't wanna deflate it.
Maybe you should do it.
Come on. We'll do it together.
Here.
First the flour.
There you go. Sprinkle it.
There you go.
Get your hands in there.
Feel the texture.
Supple but firm.
You start to feel a gentle give.
You're getting close.
[soft romantic music]
Um, is it getting hot in here?
- Yeah, maybe it's the oven. - Right. Right.
The oven.
Um, I gotta go cool down.
♪ ♪
You all right, Emily?
I'm fine. Everything's fine.
♪ ♪
What about the kid who complains about
the ugly Christmas sweater he got from his aunt Gladys?
There are no ugly Christmas sweaters.
That's just a myth perpetuated by the media.
One person's ugly sweater is another person's work of art.
Not every gift has to be a diamond ring from Tiffany's.
Yeah. I'm still waiting for mine.
[audience laughs]
Anyway, if you take a look at Belle's hand,
what do you notice?
No jewelry.
When we got married, that's 10,000 years ago or so,
we agreed that we didn't need wedding bands.
What about our final projects?
Oh, okay.
Well, your final projects are due next Friday.
You can do them at home or on the job.
I have noticed that a lot of you
have been joining Emily at the Christmas celebration
for Mancini Village,
and I just think that is wonderful.
Oh.
Belle will be giving out an MVP award at the graduation,
so do your best.
Okay, guys, it's time to break for lunch.
Let's go.
Oh, yes.
So hungry.
- Belle. Belle. - Hmm? Hmm?
Um, the past few days, I've noticed
how good you and Chris are together.
Well, it should be. We've been at it an eternity.
I haven't had much success in the romance department.
Yeah. Well, it doesn't surprise me.
Why?
[sighs] Lack of imagination.
Seriously. How do you two make it work?
Why this sudden an interest?
I've been spending a lot of time around Aiden.
Really? I had no idea.
[both laugh]
When did you last have a beau?
- A beau? - Mm-hmm.
Uh, it's been a while.
Unfortunately, I don't get to date much because of work.
- Mm-hmm. - I'm kind of out of practice.
Mm-hmm.
The truth is, Belle, I'm scared.
I don't wanna mess this up.
Oh, Emily, dear, listen.
Do you remember when you told us about your childhood?
What I really remember is that you lit up
like a Christmas tree when you talked about
wanting a white Christmas.
I don't get the connection.
You spoke from your heart.
You have to stop worrying about things, Emily.
You've got to just go for it.
Otherwise...
Aiden may not be there when you are finally ready.
♪ ♪
There you go.
♪ ♪
Aiden.
Hey, you better get one of these enchiladas
'cause they're a hot item today.
And my Anaheim chili salsa is a hit.
What are you doing after class tonight?
Uh, nothing. Do you wanna go over the menu
for the Mancini event?
Actually, I'd like an entire evening
without having to talk about work
or Santa Bootcamp or anything else.
I'll be by around 8:00. Bring a coat.
It's like a date?
- No. - Oh.
Way better than a date.
[soft suggestive music]
♪ ♪
[soft romantic music]
♪ ♪
What's with the cloak and dagger routine?
Are we going out to the Moors?
I have a surprise for you.
♪ ♪
Wow.
It's an Emily Strauss event.
Where'd you find the time?
First rule of event planning.
Make everything invisible.
That smells amazing. When did you even cook?
You're blowing my mind.
Second rule, delegate.
Moo shu?
Thank you.
In addition to dinner, I also ordered up
a sky full of stars.
♪ ♪
Won't we be flying past Ursa Major in our sleigh
on Christmas Eve?
According to Google Maps,
we'll take a left past Aquarius on our way to LA.
Hope there's not too much traffic.
Mm. It's gonna be a busy night.
♪ ♪
Thank you for offering to help me this next week.
I can't wait.
I haven't done down home cooking in so long, it's--
it's making me feel alive again.
Belle has a way of doing that.
No, not Belle.
You.
You did this, Emily.
It's all Belle.
Between the barbs, the insults,
the unsolicited fashion advice,
there's an extraordinary little lady in that red tracksuit.
♪ ♪
She seems to know what we're all longing for.
♪ ♪
What are you longing for?
♪ ♪
You have to think about it?
I already know.
♪ ♪
Did you see that?
Right on time.
Strauss and Strauss hits another home run.
♪ ♪
Make a wish.
♪ ♪
Hey, I see you have everything under control.
Thanks for letting us borrow these decorations, Belle.
I have never ever had a class pull together
like this on a final project.
Listen, I have a-- I have a favor to ask.
Graduation is scheduled for Friday night,
but since your class, almost all of your class
is working your event,
how would you feel if we had the ceremony
at Mancini Village?
I don't see why not. I'll talk to Mr. Mancini.
And what about my Santa?
It's gonna be Aiden, isn't it?
Don't worry.
I will have your Santa there for you.
But who is it?
There's something else I've been meaning to ask you.
Did you put Aiden and me together
on the first day of class on purpose?
Why would I do that?
Why do you do anything?
I see potential in people, Emily.
Potential sometimes that they don't even see in themselves.
There's nothing magical about it.
It's simply what a good teacher does.
It's like you're some sort of guardian angel.
Angel? Oh, no.
I'm just a sassy old lady with an opinion
who runs a Santa camp.
End of story.
♪ ♪
I wonder if...
♪ ♪
No, impossible.
♪ ♪
The crews are setting up at the entrance and Lot F.
I'll be waiting for a shipment of garland
at the west mall entrance.
[static crackles] Copy that.
How are you boys doing?
Great.
We got enough Christmas lights here,
they'll see us from Mars.
Let me know if you need anything.
Could you get us some heaters?
It's freezing out here.
I'll work on it.
The weather has really taken a turn.
Sure has.
Aiden, this is my mom.
So nice to meet you, Ms. Strauss.
I'm looking forward to your cooking tomorrow night.
Oh, thank you.
Emily and I worked on the menu together.
She is a force of nature.
Don't I know it. [phone ringing]
- Mom! - Excuse me.
I have to grab this.
[soft romantic music]
♪ ♪
[static crackles] - Okay, got it.
♪ ♪
Mom's on her way.
Sorry, that was my buddy Phil from culinary school.
I mean, I'm getting the full-court press
from this restaurant.
Owner wants me to meet him next week.
That's fantastic.
What's the place called?
Maybe I've been there.
The Parker.
In New York?
Wow. This is a big deal.
Like I said, it's-- it's complicated.
I mean, uh...
New York?
I was kind of hoping--
I know, I know, but this is--
it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Of course, it is. You should go.
You should take it.
What about us?
I know we just met and all, but I was--
3,000 miles?
I've done the long distance thing before.
It doesn't work.
The past few days has been so amazing.
Listen, this job is important to you, Aiden.
Our timing is just wrong.
Besides, we barely know each other, right? [chuckles]
Look, I gotta get back to work.
So much going on and all.
Look, Emily, Emily, I'm sorry.
Nothing to be sorry about.
We've gotta focus on Friday night.
Friday night is all that matters.
[melancholic music]
♪ ♪
[static crackles]
The flower delivery came in short?
It's okay.
I'll handle it.
I'll call the flower market.
I'll be right there.
♪ ♪
♪ Frost grows outside the window ♪
♪ First kiss under the mistletoe ♪
♪ Oh-oh, oh-oh ♪
[Backstreet Boys' "It's Christmas Time Again"]
♪ Bells chime inside a steeple ♪
♪ Open the doors, see the people sing ♪
♪ Oh-oh, oh-oh ♪
♪ ♪
♪ And when the snow is falling ♪
♪ Down, down, down ♪
♪ You'll know that Santa's back in ♪
♪ Town, town, town ♪
Look at this one.
♪ That's when it's Christmas time again ♪
♪ La da, la da-da-da-da ♪
Belle said you needed the best of the best.
Where do you want me?
Chris, you look amazing.
You were born to do this.
Where's Belle?
Oh, just touching up her makeup.
Transformation.
By the way, this place looks amazing, young lady.
Thank you.
Emily, can I see you in catering?
I'll show you where to go.
They're predicting rain.
That's all we need. - I heard.
Hopefully, it'll hold off until later tonight.
Hey, can you take those to the table?
Thank you.
Look, there's something I need to tell you.
If it's about swapping out the appetizers,
it's fine.
It's about The Parker.
I'm so excited for you.
I went home and I tried to sleep on it,
which means that I was up all night.
And then I came in this morning to set up with my crew
and I thought, "What am I doing?
"I just met the most incredible woman
"who makes me want to be a better version of myself.
"I'm doing exactly the kind of cooking I love.
Why do I need a Michelin star? I already have one."
I'm staying right here, Emily.
Let's give this a chance.
[romantic music]
Are you sure?
Yes. Yes.
♪ ♪
[static crackles]
Um, sorry.
It's--Caroline needs me up front.
No, go. We'll finish this later.
I'll be right back.
Don't change your mind.
Okay.
♪ ♪
[heartwarming festive music]
♪ ♪
- Oh, what's going on? - You've got to see this.
♪ ♪
Well, this old lady still knows how to make an entrance.
Wouldn't you say so? - Yes.
- Of course. - Thank you. Thank you.
Transformation.
Thank you. Hey.
I pulled this out of dry dock just for you, kiddo.
Wait until I tell you about Aiden.
He turned down The Parker?
How did you know?
Well, I--oh, Ed Mancini.
I haven't seen him for ages.
Gotta say hello.
Excuse me. Hey!
You know, I had questions about...
Edward, this is quite a shindig.
Thanks to Emily.
I appreciate your recommending her, Belle.
Absolutely.
Isn't she fabulous?
Mm.
I heard that you're going to open a restaurant,
a new restaurant here at the Village.
How did you know?
I haven't even told my board yet.
Now, listen to me.
You know that young chef of Emily's?
Well, The Parker made him an offer,
and I could be wrong,
but I'm guessing that if you sweeten the deal,
he might wanna stay here in LA.
And, uh, just mention down home to him.
Okay?
And I gotta go to my students.
Merry Christmas. Bye.
Merry Christmas, Belle.
Oh, am I? Enjoying seeing you.
Joyed to see what a wonderful Christmas you're gonna have,
all right?
Okay.
Yes, young lady. Hello, hello.
Do you like books too?
♪ There's a cheer everywhere ♪
♪ For the time's drawing close ♪
♪ When loved ones and friends gather round ♪
♪ It's a feeling of joy in every girl, every boy ♪
I'm gonna tell you a little story
about the three little pigs.
Carlo! [laughs]
I'm so happy to see you.
♪ The most magical time of year ♪
♪ See the lights, how they glow ♪
♪ On trees as it snows ♪
♪ As shoppers fill up every street ♪
Good evening, everybody.
I am Belle, Executive Director of Santa Bootcamp.
And before we go on, I do wanna thank Ed Mancini
for allowing us to hold
our graduation ceremony here today.
[cheers and applause]
Our students have worked long and hard
helping with the festivities today
as part of their final project.
So I wanna hear a huge round of applause for our students
from Los Angeles Santa Bootcamp.
[cheers and applause]
Now then, in every class,
there is always a special student
who exemplifies the values of all things Christmas.
It gives me enormous pleasure,
and I'm so proud to bestow
the MVP Award to...
[heartfelt music]
Emily Strauss.
[cheers and applause]
Come over here, girl.
Speech. Absolutely.
all: [chanting] Speech, speech, speech!
She has never lacked for words.
Go do it.
When I started at bootcamp, I didn't know
how to connect with a child.
I didn't know how to put on a Mrs. Claus wig.
I thought that Christmas was a reason
to put in more hours at the office.
And then I met Belle
and everything changed.
When people talk about Christmas,
they say it's the most wonderful
time of the year for a reason.
It's the time when you open your heart
to everything and everyone.
I learned you can't give to others
what you can't give yourself.
So I gave myself the best Christmas present possible.
Merry Christmas.
Well done, my love. Ho, ho.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
One, two, three.
all: Bootcamp!
Congratulations.
- Whoo-hoo! - Salud!
Wow.
Belle, can I get you a glass?
Oh, no, no. Thank you.
Chris and I have a very busy evening.
Come on, the celebration is just getting started.
I know, but, ah, you know,
these last days before Christmas
just keep us on our feet.
Emily, can I have a word with you?
- Sure. - Okay, great.
Are you sure you can't stick around, Belle?
When am I gonna see you again?
No, no, no.
I stay in touch with all my graduates.
How can I ever thank you for everything you've done?
Oh, no, no, no.
You did this all on your own.
And I'm just so proud of you that...
♪ ♪
You know how to sign?
Is there anything you can't do?
[chuckles]
Goodbye, you handsome lug.
Better take good care of her.
Oh, I will.
Okay.
♪ ♪
What did she say?
She said she had something special for me.
What is it?
I don't know.
♪ ♪
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Belle. Thank you.
Enjoy your white Christmas.
♪ ♪
Something I've wanted to do from the first day we met.
What's that?
[sweeping romantic music]
♪ ♪
Merry Christmas, Emily.
Merry Christmas, Aiden.
♪ ♪
[all gasping]
♪ ♪
- Merry Christmas. - Ho, ho, ho!
♪ ♪
[upbeat festive music]
♪ Give me that cheer, give me all that cheer ♪
♪ ♪
♪ See the snow, it's gently falling ♪
♪ Children playing, joyous calling ♪
♪ Everybody knows that soon it's Christmas ♪
♪ Streets are full and decorated ♪
♪ People shout, exhilarated ♪
♪ Everybody knows that soon it's Christmas ♪
♪ Trees are all lit up around the town ♪
♪ And everywhere you look ♪
♪ You see lights are twinkling ♪
♪ Not a single face can wear a frown ♪
♪ Oh, we know Santa will soon be here ♪
♪ So give me that cheer, give me all that cheer ♪
singers: ♪ Give me that cheer, give me all that cheer ♪
♪ Listen to the fire crackling ♪
♪ While they're singing, present wrapping ♪
♪ Filling up each stocking with good cheer ♪
♪ 'Cause everyone knows ♪
♪ Mm, it's Christmas ♪
♪ ♪