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[instrumental music]
[horse trotting]
[Christmas music]
[vocalization]
[train chugging]
[train horn blaring]
Just breathe, Chuck. You've got this. We've got this!
- But-but, Debbie-- - No, trust me.
Once he hears the pitch for Operation Wish,
it'll be goodbye, HR, hello, workshop! Ah.
- Workshop? - Workshop.
Workshop, baby, let's go!
- Let's go! - All right, all right.
[Chuck] Being a human has never been harder.
Social media, super storms,
mac-and-cheese ice cream.
[Santa] Why, it can't be as bad as all that.
Look, Santa, it seems that the world is in dire need
of some Christmas magic.
Hm, now, that I understand.
Sir, I'm not gonna sugar-coat it,
there is a lot of grumps in this world.
We have a chart right here.
Oh, oh, no!
But we believe we may have a solution.
[Chuck] The concept is simple.
One human, three Christmas wishes
to bring back the joy of Christmas.
[chuckles] Christmas! Ha-ha.
We reviewed with legal and there are just a couple of provisos.
Yes, no super powers, no instant millionaire wishes, no.
Keep it small, keep it toy-sized.
Oh, I-I-I like that.
- That feels Christmasy. - [Debbie laughs]
Also, we can't use any obvious in-your-face magic
to grant wishes, right? That would give us away.
It has to feel organic, natural, coincidental, if you will.
Mm-hmm. Like Christmas kismet.
- You've got it. - You get it.
Only one question.
What's not to love?
- Oh. Oh, great! - Yeah, well, all right, great!
Well, thank you, Santa. Sir, you won't regret it.
How do we select the winner?
Oh, uh, legal advised that we choose at random.
So would you like to do the honors, sir?
Oh.
Oh-oh-oh.
Oh.
Like I said, it's a crisis.
[instrumental music]
[instrumental "Deck The Halls"]
[horn honking]
Well, fa-la la-la-la la-la-la to you, too, buddy!
- Unbelievable! - [horn honking]
Holiday traffic. Christmas is gonna be the death of me.
- What'd you say? - Mm? Nothing, nothing.
Just gonna put on some music.
[Chuck on radio] You're listening to WXMS,
bringing you Christmas 24/7.
Don't forget to enter our contest, Operation Wish.
One winner, three wishes, one Merry Christmas.
This ad is like glitter, man.
It's everywhere and there's no getting rid of it.
[horns honking]
[upbeat music]
[indistinct singing]
♪ You get to see old ♪
Aunt Erin, what's a cynical?
Not sure I understand the question.
My mom says last Christmas made you cynical,
and now you don't like it as much. What's a cynical?
Hey, your mom and I are gonna have a little bit of a chat
about something called oversharing.
No, love Christmas.
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
It's the hap-hap-happiest season of all,
pick a tiding of comfort and or joy, 'cause I'm feeling it.
My mom says sarcasm is a defense mechanism.
Well, your mom is, uh, well, she's a smart lady,
but I promise, I still love Christmas.
- Pinky promise? - [Jonah] Wait, wait.
[Jonah] Wait, does kneeling mean he's proposing?
I can also admit that Christmas last year
was kind of exhausting.
Okay. Oh, look, there they are.
[Erin gasps] Oh, my, get it, get it, get it, get it.
- You getting this? Go, go, go. - Yup, yup.
[camera clicking]
♪ Merry Christmas Merry Christmas ♪
♪ Santa Claus will soon be on his way ♪
♪ Merry Christmas Merry Christmas... ♪
What the Christmas? This is starting to feel personal.
- Aunt Erin! - Oh, hi, buddy.
[Maria] Hi, bug. How did it go?
I got some awesome shots.
I practiced the rule of thirds,
and Aunt Erin says you're gonna have a chat about oversharing.
- Oh, yeah. - Sorry.
Well, Auntie Erin, do you wanna go with us
to get some hot cocoa?
Oh, you know, I would love to,
but I've to go to the studio.
- Please. - Uh, sorry, buddy.
- Seriously? - [Erin] Yeah.
What is with the Scrooge routine this year?
- You've been such a ghost. - Okay, first of all...
I don't feel like you know who's who in that story.
And I have done all of the things Christmas, okay?
The-the shopping, the wrapping. We went to the pageant.
Yeah, but it's been like doing it all with
the Ghost Of Christmas Blah.
Is this, is this an Archie thing?
- What? No. - What's an Archie?
The photography guy who broke up with her
last Christmas. Remember?
He wore all black and talked a lot.
Olivia! Wow, she really picks up on everything.
- I'm so sorry. - It's okay.
Because you know what, guys?
This is not an Archie thing. And you know why?
Because auntie is not defined by her past relationships.
Got that, Olivia? Jonah?
Wonderful. This is not about a breakup.
It's about a breakthrough with my art,
which is why I have to go to the studio.
But I'm gonna see you tomorrow night at nana and pop-pop's.
We're gonna do some decorating, right?
I'm gonna see you and Taylor tonight at drinks.
And I'll, uh, you know, I'll-I'll
see you all at the town tree-lighting.
[Maria] All right, I'll expect you
at everything with jingle bells on.
[instrumental music]
♪ Out on the night ♪
♪ Go so slowly ♪
♪ About a few times ♪
♪ And it echoes in my... ♪
- [woman] Happy holidays, Erin. - See ya.
[humming]
[indistinct song]
[instrumental music]
[car lock beeps]
[instrumental music on car stereo]
[Chuck on radio] S-sign up now for Operation Wish,
and we'll do our holly jolliest
to turn that Christmas frown upside down.
You, yes, you, holiday traffic
eroding your goodwill toward men. Literally you.
[horn blaring]
[Debbie] Okay, being a little heavy-handed.
We don't wanna overwhelm her.
We have 12 days. We can't take any chances.
[clears throat]
Have you caught the humbug?
Well, we have the antidote. Operation Wish.
I can't prove it was intentional,
but the car came right at me.
When Christmas Attacks.
- Now, see, I'd watch that one. - Okay, I didn't say that.
And I also don't hate Christmas.
I just don't know how much more of it I can take.
Ho, ho, ho. How's everyone doing?
Oh, good. Thank you.
But I would be so excited if I had, like, a White Russian.
But don't let them do anything Christmassy to it.
Don't, like, crush up a candy cane and like, sprinkle it
on the rim. Do you guys wanna get an app? I'm starving.
What ghost are you? Past? Present?
You guys, for the record, I'm not a Scrooge.
There was a little trace of humbug there.
What do you have against Christmas?
- Um, nothing. Nothing. - Uh, this is my friend.
Travel. Is it the baking? Is it the gift-giving?
Oh, it's the gift-giving.
I'm so sorry. Who are you again?
Oh. I'm Sam Collins, Taylor's friend from law school.
Yeah, I, uh, I tried to say that.
Sam just moved here from Chicago,
where he was at a very fancy firm,
but he's going to be joining my practice here.
No, no, no, I'm just helping you out, part-time,
while I pause to enjoy life without fluorescent lighting.
I don't wanna talk about myself, I would much rather
crack the case of the Christmas Krampus.
Seems like you're putting a lot of effort where most people
would just slap a bow on a pair of socks for dad
and call it a day.
I-I-I'm a freelancer.
I don't have any kids. My folks are getting a little older.
So, yeah, you could say it's fallen to me to make sure
that none of our traditions fall through the cracks.
- You want my advice? - Sure.
Keep it simple. Give everyone the same thing.
No. No! You can't do that. Who does that?
[Taylor clears throat]
- You do that. - Objection. Relevance.
He makes them all himself.
Though, I've never actually seen it in person.
But, I mean, that's cheating, if I gave you guys my photography
every year, I would never hear the end of it.
- Wait. She's a photographer? - Hm.
You said it was drinks with friends.
Well, it is. Erin's a friend. My friend.
She just happened to become my sister-in-law.
And here I am, dressed like I'm teaching kids to paint on PBS
instead of going on a blind date.
- Sorry, what? - Oh-oh, this. This is a setup.
And we have been set up to fail.
[Maria] Erin, you set Taylor and I up,
and look how well that went. I'm just trying to return the favor.
And please know that I would not normally be this candid until
we were 21 dates in and with a adopted cat.
- Dog? - Better.
Hm. Guess it wasn't meant to be. Shame.
- Shame. - Shame. Heh-heh.
Well, uh, ahem, it was lovely chatting all things Christmas
with you, but I am suddenly exhausted.
And as I have told these two multiple times,
I'm just not really in a dating kind of headspace right now.
- So if you'll excuse me... - Erin, we're sorry.
- Just, why don't you stay? - [Taylor] Erin, come on.
- [Taylor] Come on. - Have a great night.
[instrumental music]
She's fun.
[cell phone chimes]
[instrumental music]
[Debbie] You know, I still can't believe she deleted it.
I told you, we were doing too much.
We're playing with fire here, I mean, we are literally
chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Chuck.
- Deborah. - It's Debbie.
Do you think that swiping and spam filters
are any match for magic? We're just getting started here.
Let her have her little silent night. We know her.
We know what she likes. You memorized her file.
Huh, people-pleaser, perfectionist.
A shocking disdain for peppermint,
which I will never understand.
Exactly. She's normal-ish.
We got this. Eyes on the prize.
Cheers, buddy. Ha-ha!
- [Taylor] Hey, Erin. It's me. - Hey, Taylor.
Hey, uh, Jonah's gopher gang gift is over there on the couch.
Wow, try saying that three times fast.
- Hi. - [Sam] Hey.
We were on our way to court. What'd you want me to do?
Leave him in the car with the window cracked?
And I also come bearing a little seasonal pick-me-up.
- Oh. - That is...
- Go ahead. A... - It's a peppermint mocha.
- Mm-hmm. Yeah. - Dude.
- I told you, no peppermint. - It's fine.
No, I asked if she'd like a mocha, and you said
"No peppermint."
I thought you meant, "No. Peppermint."
It's fine. Thank you.
Wait, yeah, hold on. Uh, these...
These are amazing.
Reminds me of Helene Binet.
- I love Helene Binet. - Mm.
Wait a second. You know Binet?
- Uh, my uncle's a photographer. - Huh.
Wow, it's kind of like Maria
and I knew you had some things in common.
- Oh, don't even try it. - Not off the hook yet.
- Don't. - And...
- I've gotta take this. - Your phone didn't ring.
Sam's got something to ask you.
- Ha. - Really?
You moved to Duluth to work with that brilliant legal mind?
Well, something like that. Ahem.
These-these are really stunning.
Are you planning any kind of show or anything?
It's my turn to interrogate. Why'd you leave Chicago?
I went to law school in Chicago because my dad recommended it.
I took a job at a law firm that my professor recommended.
And why do I feel like this is a distraction
because Taylor said I have something to ask?
Oh, uh, um, Sam, I just...
I know it's, uh, it's-it's a lot to explain.
I'm just not really an act.
Um, you seem like a really nice person.
- You j... I just... - Oh. No, no, no, no.
- Appreciate it. - No, no, no, no. My...
My family has some old undeveloped photos.
- I was wondering if-- - Oh, yes!
And I could develop them.
- Great. - I said that loud.
Uh, so should I just drop the film off today? Later?
Actually, today's kind of a disaster.
But, um, what about tomorrow?
I could swing by your place and get 'em.
I mean, not like... Just-just 'cause it's easier.
Because it's easier. Because it's easier.
Taylor will give you my information,
and you just text me on your way.
Cool.
[instrumental music]
- Bye, Erin. - [Erin] Bye.
[Taylor chuckles]
[instrumental music]
- Where's it gonna go? - Oh, careful.
- Yes! The final ornament! - [indistinct chatter]
- [Erin] Final ornament. - Oh, sorry I'm late.
- Hey, all right. - Oh, dad, please don't get up.
[Erin] Oh, my gosh. Keep icing your back.
Or you're gonna have a blue, blue Christmas.
But, honey, the tree is crooked.
- [Lou] The tree is my job. - Ah, ah, ah.
Have a cookie that Erin made with the kids.
Wow, you've been busy.
Mm, you don't know the half of it.
She fixed the lights outside,
baked cookies with the kids, did the tree.
Had a charming run-in with Sam over coffee.
- Yeah, what a coincidence. - Oh, you're welcome.
Okay, what about the list of things that happened today
make you think that I should be thanking you?
- Oh! Wow! - Ooh!
[Erin] Okay, I gotta go.
I'm gonna apply to some galleries, but I love you guys,
so I'm gonna grab some pizzelles on the way out.
Oh, sweetie, sorry, I haven't made those yet.
- I just got a little tired. - Oh.
It's fine. Totally fine.
I'm fine. I'm fine.
That's like three too many fines.
[instrumental music]
[laptop chimes]
[instrumental music]
[laptop chimes]
[sighs]
Delete.
Block.
[laptop chiming]
I've been hacked.
Man, the Christmas is hacking me.
To whom it may concern.
I officially
reject this contest.
Please stop contacting me.
[laptop chimes]
[Erin] "Would you mind giving us some feedback as to why?"
[instrumental music]
- [laptop chimes] - Oh!
"These wishes are wasted on me.
They should go to someone more festive."
That's exactly why we chose you.
Give us a chance, uh, start small.
If we let you down, we'll stop.
Okay, fine. Fine.
[sighs]
I wish for some
of my mother's
Christmas pizzelles.
[knocking on door]
- Mom! - Hi, sweetie.
Um, I'm sorry about earlier.
I know how hard Christmas was for you last year,
and you deserve a little pick-me-up.
H-how did you get here so fast?
Who contacted you?
You know, I worry about you cooped up in that dark room
with all those chemicals.
Anywho, I love you,
and I will see you tomorrow at the tree-lighting.
- Uh-huh. - [door opens]
- Hm. - [door shuts]
[instrumental music]
[instrumental "O Christmas Tree"]
[knocking on door]
Uh...
- Hi. - Hi.
- Come on in. - Sure.
- Wow! - Well, not a date, not a date.
I just thought maybe you could use a little Christmas
made by someone else. A relaxing Christmas.
A classy Christmas.
- Classy Christmas? Why? - Hm.
Oh, 'cause of the saxophone.
- Right? - Right.
Well, this is a lot of
very kind effort for a non-date.
Says the woman who puts forth so much effort at Christmas
that she's running on pine-scented fumes.
- [chuckles] Hm. - Film's in here.
Mm-hmm.
Aww...
- Did you make these? - Maybe.
I'd put you on the list, but somebody told me it is cheating
to give everyone the same thing.
- There you go. - Oh, thank you.
- I'll take good care of it. - [cell phone chimes]
Look, I must say, you are making
a much better case for Christmas than that radio contest.
Have you heard those ads? It's making me completely insane.
Of course, you've heard them. They're everywhere.
- They even emailed me recently. - Hm.
[Erin] Oh, hello. What is this?
Yeah, I did some pro bono work for them with my old firm.
Don't tell Taylor, but that's part of why
I'm reluctant to join his firm full-time.
And I'm hoping to do more of that kind of work soon.
- [cell phone chimes] - I think that's awesome.
You should tell him, though. Really.
- Maybe he could accommodate it. - Yeah.
[cell phone chimes]
Uh, sorry.
- [cell phone chimes] - Oh.
I swear, this contest is...
- [Sam] Everything okay? - Uh...
Yeah, uh, m-maybe. I hope so. It's fine. Everything is fine.
Um, I do have to go. I'm sorry.
But, um, please, let me make up for my second rude exit now
with some cookies when I drop this off?
- Deal. - Great.
[Erin] I don't think you guys really understand.
Archie just won the most prestigious
nature photography fellowship in the country!
He hates nature!
When that was my focus, he said that it was beneath me,
that I need to be focusing on doing more
gallery-quality work, like what he was doing.
And now it's my dream and it's suddenly not good enough? Ha!
Okay, h-hold on. I'm a little confused.
You said this was an emergency. Uh, we-we got a sitter.
It's mom and dad. It's fine.
Did he steal your spot at this fellowship or something?
No, he didn't. I didn't even wanna move.
And I'm doing the best work of my life out here this year.
But he wouldn't have even known about that fellowship
if it wasn't for me!
I get it. I get it. You just want a little credit.
- Yes. - But that's never gonna happen.
[Maria] Because that's who he is.
He is narcissist. The god of me, me, me.
No, but-but that's not all that he was, you guys.
He was fun. I mean, we all had fun, right?
He was so handsome and charming, uh...
You know what, I actually have a journal entry
that speaks to this. One moment.
[mouthing]
I'm so sorry. We have to go.
Uh, yeah, Jonah's not feeling good.
He-he's, uh, stepped on a tack or something.
- Mm-hmm. - We gotta check it out.
[laptop chimes]
[instrumental music]
Mm.
[laptop keys clacking]
"I just want a little credit. Is that too much to ask?"
No, baby girl. We've all been there. Okay.
Is there any way
we can be of some help?
[music continues]
"Not unless you can remind Archibald Vickers
that I'm the best thing that ever happened to him."
Archibald Vickers?
She's seriously hung up on a guy
that sounds like an old-timey robber baron?
He sounds lame and not attractive.
Uh, give me that. Give me that.
[laptop chimes]
Hm.
Uh, okay.
Mm...
[knocking on door]
[suspenseful music]
[knocking on door]
Babe, I had to come see you. Hold up!
- This cannot be happening. - [Archie] Wow!
Okay, maybe I deserve that.
I've been lost without you.
- [knocking on door] - It's just a dream.
- Last Christmas was miserable. - It's just a weird dream.
[Archie] Work is miserable.
And I know this is out of the blue, but I bought
a plane ticket yesterday, and I said, "You know what?"
Did you just say you bought a plane ticket yesterday
and not, like, five seconds ago?
Babe, are you okay?
Yeah. I'm fine.
I was just over there, and I was wishing.
- And then you were here. - W-wish?
Uh, there's no magic here, babe.
This is just me realizing how foolish I was when I let you go.
And I hope it's not too late.
Please.
Can we chat?
Uh...
[instrumental music]
It's Christmas.
Sure. Yeah.
[Archie] Babe, do you have any snacks?
I get the hype.
Wassail, baby? Ha!
[instrumental music]
[Archie] So the gel makes it too wet, the mousse too crunchy,
and, like, the wax makes it too dry.
Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Yeah.
I can't believe we sat up all night talking,
and I'm not even tired. So what's new with you?
- Hi. Free sample? - Well, actually--
They got a sprinkle of Christmas magic.
- Mn-mn. - Merry Christmas to me.
Um...
Thank you. Cool.
So the fellowship are asking for a fresh buy-in, right?
Like, artist statement, a proposal, something like that.
So I call these guys, I say, "Hey, yo, I'm a photographer.
I'm not a writer." Right? Can-can you believe that?
You know, like, they're asking for this, uh...
I mean, I could, I could take a look at it if you want.
- Yeah? Oh, my God, yes. Yes. - Yeah.
You, I mean, you've always been better at this stuff anyway.
- Thanks. - What would I do without you?
- I don't mind. - Yeah.
[Archie] Yes, just scroll-scroll down to the bottom.
[indistinct reading]
- Let's tweak that. - Hey.
Maybe we can, uh, do my
Christmas shopping after this?
I was, I was gonna go this weekend,
but then I decided to come see you.
Uh, have you done, um, any of your Christmas shopping?
[laughs] What can I say?
Been lost without you.
So, this is why you bailed on our wrapping session.
Oh, Maria. Maria's boyfriend.
Uh, Taylor. Husband.
Oh, husband.
Good to see you guys. Ha-ha.
Uh, actually, Erin and I
were about to go and do some Christmas shopping.
Oh, she doesn't need to go shopping. She...
Oh, right. His shopping.
[Maria] You're upending our plans to do the shopping
he should have done already.
[laughs] Isn't she the best?
- Mm, peppermint? Seriously? - Yeah. Yeah, it's--
- You dated her for three years. - Okay, uh, Erin.
Why don't we get you another cup of coffee?
- I'm gonna get another coffee. - Sure.
Uh, uh, baby, can you grab me a biscotti, please?
How did that happen?
I don't know.
One minute I was just at home minding my own business,
wishing that he would remember that I am the best thing
that has ever happened to him, and then the next minute
he was there. He was just there.
Well, be careful what you wish for.
[instrumental music]
[sighs]
So then I said, you couldn't even
vin-de-pay me to drink that stuff.
- Ah. That's, that's hilarious. - Can you believe that?
Hey, uh, we're gonna be really late for this tree-lighting.
Could you please help me find the keys?
Yeah, yeah. Sure.
[grunts]
Babe, is this what you've been working on?
Yeah, but, um, do you mind if I show you later?
We just really gotta get ready to go.
- Oh... - Oh, my God. This is stunning.
Babe, this has to be your best work ever.
[cell phone chimes]
Oh, my gosh. It's Maria. She's gonna be so mad if we are late.
Uh, could you please just help me look just a little bit?
- Yeah, yeah. - Okay.
[Archie] Man, you are doing this right.
Out here, unplugged, just immersed.
[grunts]
While I'm doing this stupid fellowship.
It's not stupid. That fellowship is a lot of people's dream job.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that. But you know what?
Honestly, it's like totally beneath me.
This, this is what
I need to be doing. I'm so glad I came here.
Do... You know I do my best work when I'm around you?
- Ha! - Hey, babe.
You got any more of these cookies?
[dramatic music]
You ate all the pizzelles?
[Archie] Uh, uh, y-yeah.
But-but there's more, right?
- [music continues] - Babe?
- [indistinct chatter] - Time to go.
Relax, relax. Just re... J...
Look, it's not you. It's me.
I'm just not really ready to be in a relationship right now.
I love you, but I'm not in love with you.
Well, no, no, no, no. You can't do this.
Not now. It's Christmas!
It was Christmas last year!
[instrumental music]
What am I supposed to do? It's cold!
Back to our regular programming.
[chuckling]
- Whoa. - Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
To the last wish.
- Here we go. Mm-hmm. - Ah.
- Mm... - Mm-hmm, good, that's... Mm-hmm.
♪ The snow is falling down but be warm inside ♪
This isn't Christmas. It's Groundhog's Day.
- It's tinsel. - [man] Oh, jeez.
- [grunts] - Sorry, lady.
[cell phone ringing]
♪ Christmas Valentine ♪
[Maria] Hey, where are you? Are you coming?
I don't like to praise him.
I'm not coming!
Ugh!
- [door opens] - [instrumental music]
Okay.
Do you want to know
what I really wish
with all of my heart?
"I wish..." Huh, huh...
"That Christmas would disappear."
- What? - Oh, no, wait a second.
[Debbie] Oh, no! Oh, no!
- [clamoring] - Reset, reset!
- This isn't working. - Channel 13.
- [clamoring] - What is that gonna do?
- [clamoring] - Hello, Santa, hello!
- [clamoring] - Dammit! Go, dammit!
[automated message] All elves report to the emergency shelter
immediately. This is not a drill.
Repeat, this is not a drill.
Christmas is disappearing? Oh-oh, no.
How could this be happening? Oh...
[automated message] North Pole Counsel now arriving.
Our question exactly, counsel, you assured us there were
provisions in place to prevent this kind of disaster.
This naughty is not on us. I'm not going down for this!
While Erin's wish may have negative implications for us,
she believed her wish was inherently positive.
The only legal recourse is for Erin to take her wish back
and believe it with all her heart.
So she can just wish Christmas in and out of existence
based on personal preference?
It's time for the full monty.
Elves tap-dancing. Reindeer singing.
- Snowmen singing as well. - [NP Counsel] Uh-uh-uh.
Unfortunately, any obvious use of magic
could lead to the exposure of our world.
And that would have drastic consequences
for the magic-space-time continuum.
Okay, but how drastic are we talking?
I mean, we are already at a nine here, counsel.
The universe would, legally speaking, go kablouie.
Okay, that's a ten. Yeah.
[NP Counsel] But you have options.
As we established for the wish program,
uh, you can use subtler magic behind the scenes
to influence her spirits.
Now, now, now, here's where it gets tricky.
You ever hear of Floobers Day?
[chuckles]
Mosquito Appreciation Day. Mm-hmm, didn't think so.
There is a long history of holidays disappearing
when magic backfires.
"If the date of the holiday passes
without reversing the spell,
the holiday is erased."
- Forever! - [whimpering]
So you have until midnight Christmas Eve.
So a week?
- A week to work some magic? - Behind-the-scenes magic.
Right, right, right, right, right, right, because
if-if, uh, anybody sees the magic
or-or hears about the magic, the universe will go kablouie.
And that's on us. That'll be our fault.
Right? What are you doing?
Reaching out to an old fairy contact.
I hated working teeth, but a job's a job.
Puck, it's Chuck. Call me.
Hey, Santa, what do you think?
- Santa? - [beeping]
[automated message] Santa's sleigh departing.
Destination Duluth.
[Debbie] Santa!
[instrumental music]
[sighs]
[bones cracking]
[sighs]
[instrumental music]
[dramatic music]
[Erin] Where's my tree?
I've been Grinched.
Okay, no.
It's not possible.
[suspenseful music]
[Erin] Am I the Grinch?
I made Christmas disappear?
[Erin] Mom, this is not funny. You're starting to scare me.
I am sorry, sweetie, but I just have never heard of Christmas.
- Christmas, yes. - Was that it? No, I...
Just because it doesn't ring a bell
doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
You know about all kinds of things that I don't...
Like, um, how to make a PDF. Mm?
Let me get you something to drink.
How about a nice herbal tea?
Do you have any cocoa?
- What's cocoa? - What do you mean?
- What do you mean you don't-- - I'm just kidding.
- It's not funny. It's not funny. - It is a little funny.
- It's so funny. - Oh, my God!
This has got to be a prank.
This is a prank. It's just...
Aunt Erin!
Hi, guys.
Nana said you could use a hug.
Yeah, yeah. Auntie is kind of having a bad day.
I did a very silly thing.
I made a wish that Christmas would disappear.
[laughs]
- Ah. - What's that?
Very funny, but I do think that you could
get in trouble for pranking your aunt.
You're gonna end up on Santa's naughty list.
Who is Santa?
[instrumental music]
You don't know who Santa is?
Nope.
[dramatic music]
I can fix this.
[tapping on phone]
- Erin. - Hi.
Hi. Uh, how's the boyfriend?
Oh, ex-boyfriend. Is Taylor here?
That was fast. What happened?
He ate all my cookies. You understand.
Is Taylor here?
Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Come on in.
[instrumental music]
So you believe that a radio station erased this...
Christmas. It's called Christmas.
From everyone's memory.
I understand that it does sound a little out there,
but, I mean... Taylor, come on, you gotta remember.
You're saying, every year
our family gets together, exchanges random gifts
and wears sweaters with an old bearded guy's face on them?
- Yes, exactly. - [laughs]
But you're the only one that remembers this, uh, Christmas?
What? Sam.
Well, it's not completely unfamiliar.
There are elements of Germanic culture, uh, Victorian England.
You said this Santa guy went by another name?
Yes. Uh, jolly old Saint Nick. Kris Kringle.
H-how many aliases does this guy have?
There was a Saint Nicholas known for his secret gift-giving.
- Yes, that's the one. - Maybe...
There's a pollutant or
a mass event affecting memory?
Right.
You can't possibly believe her.
- Of course not. - Hey!
But I also don't believe that Mr. Johnson
deserves to get the lakehouse in the divorce,
but that doesn't stop me from arguing for it.
[chuckles] All right, okay, all right. This has been fun.
But we do have the Internet.
[instrumental music]
[dramatic music]
Clearly you photoshopped that.
Honestly, w-where would I find the time?
Where would everyone find the time to collectively prank you?
I don't know.
Wait. This. This will help.
Listen, my advice?
Take the day. Take the whole day.
[Taylor] Go play with Olivia and Jonah. They'd love that.
- This doesn't make sense. Uh... - Erin.
- What? What do you mean relax? - Relax.
The radio station's taken this entirely too f...
[gasps] Oh, my gosh, do you guys realize
how mad people are gonna be at me?
Okay, you want my advice, avoid any contact,
written or otherwise, with the radio station,
and we will figure this out.
Right. Right. That's what I will do.
That's a good plan. Thank you, Sam.
Right. So then Santa comes down the chimney.
Jonah, that's your cue.
- Ho-ho-ho. - Perfect.
Our house doesn't have a chimney.
That's totally fine, because Santa has a magical key
for all of the houses that do not have one.
And then he gets the presents
and he puts them right here, under the tree.
But before he goes--
- He has cookies and milk. - Exactly.
And then brings the tomatoes to the reindeer.
Right. Well, what? Actually, no. Sorry.
We're using tomatoes, but actually
reindeer prefer carrots.
Why?
- We don't know. - Kids, lunch.
Hi, nana. We're learning about Santa.
He is awesome.
Lou?
Did you tell my children that a man in a red suit
was going to break into our house and reverse-rob us?
I didn't say it exactly like that.
And that this man has spies
that watch them all year round to see
if they're being naughty or nice? Erin, naughty?
So when you say it, it doesn't sound great.
And if they're bad, he'll give them
pantyhose stuffed with rocks?
Coal. It's coal in their stockings.
But if they're good, he'll give them
anything they want. Anything.
- Erin, they're kids. - Exactly.
- They deserve a little magic. - Look.
I love that you involve the kids in your projects.
And I don't know what kind of weirdo performance art this is,
but you've gotta run this stuff by me first, okay?
Because it's all fun and games to play the cool aunt.
But you're not the one they'll be crying to when
there's no dragon that fits in my pocket.
But also, he can be invisible
and breathes candy instead of fire.
- I will talk to them. - Thank you.
Santa can't create mythical creatures from scratch.
Everyone knows that.
[door opens, shuts]
[man on radio] Welcome back to KQDS,
Duluth's finest station for all your favorite games.
It's cold and it's snowy out there,
so cuddle up to a fire and listen
to the sweet, sultry voice of Harmony Grace.
[door shuts]
Hi.
I'm Erin Smithson, winner of Operation Wish.
Okay. Congratulations.
Mm. Thank you. Listen.
Was it nice having a little bit of a break
from all of the fa-la-la-la-la-ing? Yes, it was.
But you guys are messing with my friends and with my family.
Yeah, I'm just the intern for the late show.
Right. I get it. You're just doing your job.
You know, cog in the wheel. But this has gone way too far.
And I need you to call off the contest.
- I don't know what that is. - Operation Wish!
One person, three wishes. One Merry Christmas.
Okay, there's no one named Merry Christmas here.
It's a contest. This station's contest.
- Okay, don't yell. - I am not...
- I'm not, I'm not yelling. - Wow.
It's cool. It's totally cool. Just bring back Christmas.
- [Donna] Yeah. - Hey, uh, Donna.
There's someone here saying that we kidnapped a Merry Christmas?
Hey, Donna, I'm not leaving until you call off the wish.
- We didn't give you any wishes. - Oh, yeah? Well, then who did?
- Who did? - Oh, if you don't leave...
We're gonna have to call security for trespassing.
Trespassing? I am not trespassing.
You, sir, are the one who is trespassing on people's minds!
You erased Christmas. They should throw you all in jail.
- [door shuts] - [instrumental music]
[siren blaring]
[officer] Erin Smithson, your lawyer's here.
You're free to go.
So how was your night?
Well, the radio station's not gonna
press charges, so no harm done.
Yeah, except for the part where everyone in my life
thinks I'm Looney Tunes.
Including me, including you.
Yeah, yeah, I was thinking about changing my name,
growing a mustache and fleeing north.
But then I remembered that you still have
a very delicate family heirloom of mine.
- Yeah? Oh, the film. - Yeah.
Sam, if you take me to the studio,
I will develop it for you right now.
- E-Erin, I was joking. - No, seriously, please.
After all you've done, it is the very least I can do.
Let's go.
Okay.
- Wait, you'd flee north? - Yeah, yeah.
The beaches are south. You go south to vacation.
You go north to be incognito. Everybody knows that.
[instrumental music]
I can't tell if we're fitting in or standing out.
Yeah, me neither.
From now on you're doing reindeer duty.
I'm not going near Comet again. He knows what he did.
[woman on PA] Could we have a manager on register three?
- Register three. - Still haven't found her yet?
Have you seen this elf sit on a shelf?
Do I look like I talk to birds?
No, okay? I don't do Christmas spy work.
You find her, and I'll make a plan.
You couldn't plan your way out
of a half-eaten gingerbread house.
- Oh, God. - And-and what makes you think...
- That you're in charge? - Ho-ho-ho!
These colors, so vivid in the daytime.
[laughs]
Technically, that guy's in charge.
Good day. Love that hair.
- Beautiful! Ho-ho-ho... - Let's look at the facts.
[Chuck] She had a bad breakup last Christmas.
She goes full humbug this year.
She wishes her ex-boyfriend back.
And she goes over like a hot toddy on the 4th of July.
Wrong solution, but may be the right problem.
[Chuck] See, what puts the win in winter?
The sleigh and sleigh bells, the-the mas in Christmas.
Oh, oh, processed sugar.
- No! Romance! - [horn honking]
[Debbie] Look, she's not down on Christmas because of love.
She feels disconnected from the true meaning of Christmas.
Ah-ha, the joy of community. The sense of true presence.
Oh, so close, big guy.
No, I was thinking the other kind of presents.
That sweet jingle-jangle of shiny metal stuff.
[chuckles]
Spectacle! Magic! Production!
[whimpers]
Hey, sorry. Ha.
[Sam] All right, I have some questions.
- Hm. - So you wished away Christmas.
And within a day, against the brilliant advice of your lawyer,
you risked jail to bring it back.
Like, the wish was impulsive and selfish.
I'm gonna reverse it.
The wish was a victimless crime.
- Nobody remembers it. - But, Sam, I remember.
I remember, Jonah was so small,
I'm the one who taught him to hang ornaments on the tree.
The sparkly indoor tree with lights on it.
Yes, and Olivia, I remember the way her face would light up
when you got her what she wanted for Christmas.
And the way they were always surprised
to find an orange in the toe of their stocking.
Which you said was fairly common. Food in footwear.
- Yes, yes, it was. - Hm.
It will be again, it has to be,
because I cannot, in good conscience,
deprive my niece and nephew of something so magical.
Oh, sounds really nice.
Wish my family had something like that.
- Hm. Maybe they did. - No. No, no.
They were divorced. They worked a lot.
Even in your magical reality, they wouldn't have been
the sit-by-the-sparkly- indoor-tree type.
But they...
they were.
[Sam] You keep telling yourself that.
I'm not telling you. I'm...
[instrumental music]
[Erin chuckles] I'm showing you.
- Ah, you're messing with me. - I'm not, Sam.
I didn't do anything. I swear!
O-okay, maybe it was my birthday.
Oh, Sam, that's a Christmas tree. T-there's ornaments on it.
There's no birthday tree. Come on.
Is it just me or...
These chemicals, they're, uh, make you...
Oh, dear. Yeah, don't breathe that. That's bad for you.
Okay. Okay, hold on, that way.
- This way? Okay. - That... Come on. Yeah.
- You got it. - All right.
Okay, clearly,
whoever's behind this supposed wish thing
is not at the radio station.
- No. I don't know. - So who's doing this?
I have no idea what is going on.
Okay, okay. Let's just start with what we know.
You've been emailing your wish to somebody.
Let's send them a cease and desist.
- Good idea. - Second question.
Your brother-in-law's a lawyer. So why'd you call me?
Because you're a better lawyer.
Flattery will get you everywhere.
Seriously, why me?
Look, it's clear that neither you or Taylor
remember or believe in Christmas at all.
But you, Sam,
you were willing to at least make a case for it.
It's becoming increasingly clear that no one will believe me.
But there is a chance that they will believe you.
We need evidence, Erin.
Belief follows evidence.
- We show 'em the pictures! - [baby bawling]
- [woman shushing] - Uh, th...
The-the pictures don't mean
anything to anyone except for me.
You said these traditions are fun.
- Right? - People think so.
Let's give the people what they don't know they want.
No, I mean, I'm not capable of
pulling off some mass Christmas event.
You don't have to. We start small.
You said Christmas is all about family.
Let's get your parents to do the traditions with us.
It might jog their memory.
[instrumental music]
All I heard you say was that you wanna meet my parents, so...
[Erin] Kidding.
[chuckles] Your face.
[Erin] Think of it as not just photography,
but as performance art.
As an exploration of ancient forgotten holidays
as recreated by the...
Modern families and communities.
[Erin] Yeah.
Well, I have to say, I'm relieved.
Wait, you, you are?
Ah, your father and I were so worried about you
the other day. You were acting so strange.
- Oh, right. - Well, that's just part of it.
- Really committing to the act. - Right.
So we think that there are strength in numbers.
Oh, I love it, you know that we will support your work
in any way we can always. So what can we do?
Now, I'm not much of an actor, but--
- Oh, no acting. No way. - No?
But would you be willing to take my credit card
and go get these things from the craft store
and the hardware store, and let me decorate your house?
So you want your mother and I
to go to our two favorite places
and spend your money?
Mm-hmm.
- Let's go. - Oh!
[instrumental music]
Hey, what are you two going to do?
[instrumental music]
[Erin] Let's go over this again.
All right, we are chopping down a tree.
- Chopping it down. - Chopping it down.
And not digging it up for some reason.
Nope, because remember, we are not replanting it.
- It's going in the house. - Right, right.
Because it is going in the house.
Mm-hmm.
And we're okay with the fact that even in water,
it will die in three weeks tops.
We accept this.
Okay, so afterwards we mulch it
or is there some post-Christmas tradition
of a fire pit and burning of grievances or something?
Hm, nope. We cut it down.
We bring it inside, we put lights on it,
we stare at it for about three weeks,
and then we throw it on the curb.
- On the curb? - On the curb.
Um, why do we do this again?
Because it's festive.
- Festive. - Festive.
[inhales] This guy's got curb written all over him.
- There we go. - All right.
- All right, Charlie Brown. - [Sam grunts]
[saw whirring]
Christmas!
[instrumental music]
So at the stroke of midnight, we have you dressed
as the Ghost Of Christmas Past, to remind her--
[Debbie] Okay, she is literally the only person
on Planet Earth who knows who Scrooge is, you Snickerdoodle.
[laughs] Well, what if she's already out there
trying to take back her wish?
What, what if she just needs our help?
Sure, big fella. That...
That's an idea.
Do we put food on trees to attract birds and squirrels?
- Are there Christmas squirrels? - Uh, no, mom.
There are no Christmas squirrels.
There are a shocking number of birds, though.
Huh, just seems like this whole holiday
is about bringing the outdoors inside.
No, it's a holiday about food in weird places.
- [Diana chuckles] - Food on the tree.
Food in pantyhose.
- Is that sanitary? - It's not pantyhose, dad.
- It's, it's stockings. - I told you she meant socks!
- Well, we got you both, so... - Okay.
- Thank you. Um, what, uh... - Mm-hmm.
[Diana] Oh, they didn't have anything called twinkle lights,
but they had these little fantastic things. Huh?
And I bought you a strobe light.
- [Diana] Oh... - [Lou] Don't worry, sweetie.
- I know what you meant. - Okay.
And there's your garlands.
Yeah? You want it? Right there.
Oh, and the piece de resistance.
- Oh, ha-ha. - Huh?
And... Ha-ha-ha...
- Uh? - It says right here.
Ornaments, like brightly-colored balls.
[Sam] You know, the thing I find most interesting
about this project is, since nobody really knows
what the Christmas was like, there's no basis of comparison.
Therefore, we have a lot of room to be creative.
Now, Sam, I love that attitude.
Okay. Uh...
Guys, I kinda asked for a reindeer.
There's no such thing as a Christmas fox.
Till now, right?
[blowing]
[Harry Belafonte singing "Jump In the Line"]
What in the world!
Mom, she did it.
- Is this Christmas? - This is our Christmas.
What do you think, you guys? Check it out.
Come on. Christmas.
♪ Work senora work it all the time ♪
- Wow. Tennis ball. - Wow.
Yeah. I guess so.
- It's not bad. - It's not good.
But it's not bad.
♪ Jump in the line rock your body in time ♪
♪ Okay I believe you ♪
♪ Jump in the line rock your body in time ♪
♪ Okay I believe you ♪
♪ Jump in the line rock your body in time ♪
[Erin] So everything else was erased, but how were
the photos of your family have even made up here?
It doesn't make any sense.
Maybe who's ever doing this
planted it as a clue.
Or maybe you're starting to believe.
Maybe.
So she wished Christmas away and now she's decorating?
Well, I wouldn't call this decorating, but...
- And Sam's here, and she seems-- - Oh, I'll say it.
She's glowing like Rudolph's schnoz in a hailstorm.
It's so cute!
Okay, new plan. We're gonna do both plans.
I'll add a little je ne se kwassail
to her attempt to bring back Christmas--
And I'll, with the, with the mistletoe
and-and-and put the merry at...
I've run out of Christmas puns.
I'll help them fall in love. Oh, yes.
- Yeah. Okay. - So we divide and conquer.
- Conquer! Okay. - Yeah.
Yes. No, yeah.
[instrumental music]
♪ Drown me amore ♪
♪ How long has it been? ♪
♪ Oh my love how my heart skips a beat ♪
People really ate this much sugar?
Yes, the ancient peoples who celebrated
this holiday were a sugar-loving culture.
- [door shuts] - Funniest thing.
That's the third person to ask about the lights.
Oh. Yeah, that is great news.
As long as you're happy, I'm happy.
- [Diana chuckles] - Sam.
Could I, uh, get help with
something in the kitchen?
I don't wanna eat this because it looks so pretty.
Yeah. Marshmallows are not good for arms.
Did you hear my dad? People are asking about the lights.
I don't know why, but I just think that this is working.
Yeah. I can't stop thinking about the photos.
You were swirling them around and I said,
I wish that I had something like that,
and there it was.
That means that you're right about Christmas existing,
and I don't even wanna think
about the metaphysical implications of--
Just breathe. Okay? Look.
All that matters is that we are making people really happy.
And that is tough to do in subzero temperatures.
You're right.
I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing.
I should probably...
- Yeah. - Yeah. Right. Um...
Sprinkles.
[Diana] A tiny dance arena. Oh.
She was this ballerina doll that spun.
Oh, Lou?
Roy Roger's action figure, with the horse, of course.
- Of course. - Erin?
I wanted, uh, that talking bear. What was his...
Uh, no, but I couldn't get it because Maria and I
shared a room. Remember?
Oh, so it could talk to me
in the night? Uh, no, thanks.
[Taylor] Dashin' your sister's dreams like that?
Hot Wheels for me. All day.
That tracks. Sam, what about you?
Oh, no, no, I just want another sugar cookie
and to hear more about this terrifying AI bear.
He was cute. Why are you deflecting?
Okay, uh, when I was Jonah and Olivia's age,
I would've asked for this.
Aww...
You get all the cookies for that answer.
- All, all of them. - Thank you.
He's buttering you up.
Careful, I think this is part of Taylor's
grand scheme to make you stay.
Oh, right, because this was all Taylor's idea.
[Sam chuckles]
[Santa whistling]
[indistinct chatter]
[instrumental music]
[Santa whistling]
[man] What is it?
Excuse me, sir. Can I help you?
[laughs] That's so kind of you.
But I wouldn't dream of imposing.
Sir, you can't make your own drink.
- It's a health code violation. - Oh, my apologies.
[chuckles] Almost...
- Almost finished. - I'm-I'm sorry.
You're gonna pay for that, right?
Are people punished for consuming sweets in this town?
- Maybe I can help? - Oh, Mayor Hara.
- Thank you. - Uh, yeah.
Hello, Mr., uh...
- Nick. - Nick!
- Mm-hmm. - What brings you to Duluth?
Well, actually, I-I'm on vacation
first time in, uh, centuries.
Oh, it feels like that sometimes, doesn't it?
- [both laughing] - Wait, I'm sorry.
Did you say you chose Duluth for a vacation in December?
- Why, certainly. - Do you mind if I ask why?
We are always looking for new ways
to attract more people to our beautiful city.
[laughs] Well, it's always nice to soak up the warm weather.
Plus, it's such a creative town.
I just passed this house that was decorated for a,
I believe it's called Christmas.
Uh, light display, uh, the ribbons...
[laughing] It was delightful.
They covered their house in lights? Why?
Well, I'm no expert, but it's my understanding
that it's to spread a little light in the world
at its darkest time of the year.
Huh. That's...
You know, we could use some of that. Yeah.
I wanna run this by the city council.
- Do you know who made it? - Why, yes.
Yes, I do.
[laughs]
Mm.
[instrumental music]
[sighs] It's like if someone left a gingerbread house
in a hot car.
- [instrumental music] - Phew! Ha.
[Erin] I mean, you don't understand. I...
I can barely pull off one house, let alone a citywide event.
Oh, but you wouldn't be doing it alone.
You provide the vision and we'll put together
a committee of volunteers to make it come to life.
- Uh, sure. - Please.
I think people could really use this.
Ah. This isn't what it normally is, though.
- It's much more grand. It's-- - Oh!
[laughs] Wow!
You-you really undersold this.
How did you do this?
[instrumental music]
How did I do this?
[sneezes]
Uh, hi, can I help you?
Oh, heh-heh. Hey there, neighbor.
I couldn't help admiring your decorations.
Big crafter here. Huge.
Would love to do something like this to my place.
[laughs] What's the occasion?
Well, uh, hm, I'm an artist
and I'm trying to resurrect
an old forgotten holiday called Christmas.
- Oh, wow. Christmas! - Yeah.
Sounds pretty incredible if you ask me.
- It's really something. - [laughs] Okay.
Well, do you have any more fun details you could share wi--
I'm wondering if there is some big, uh, communal tradition.
Uh, you know, there was a tradition where the villagers
would gather around a very large pine tree
and they would sing songs about, um,
well, mostly food and-and snow, and just engage in revelry
until the, the lights of the tree would come on.
- Oh, that's odd. - Like I said, weird holiday.
Oh, well, I'll bet if we decorated the tree
as beautifully as this house, it could be so festive.
You just show me examples and I'll bring it to life.
- I craft a lot. - We could modernize it.
Bring in some local vendors, do a small market.
Oh, sorry, you probably
don't wanna commercialize this holiday.
It's not unheard of.
But this Christmas Eve, you see,
it's-it's only three days away.
I mean, I-I just don't know where I would get
the-the lights, the ribbons, the garlands--
Uh, I'll get them! I got connections. I craft a lot.
We can secure a tree, the lights,
permits, anything you need.
Yeah, yeah, uh, you sketch the designs
and I'll, uh, show people how to make 'em.
- [laughs] I craft a lot. - A lot. Yes. Got it.
I don't know who would give up that much
of their time, though, to do something like this.
Nick, the bearded man who told me
about this house, do you know him?
No. I, I don't think I do.
Nick said it was a lovely thing to spread light
during the darkest time of the year.
Oh, that's...
You'd be surprised how many citizens
would come out to help.
We could use a little Creestmas.
- Christmas. It's Christmas. - Christmas.
Yeah. Why don't we bring back Christmas, right?
[instrumental music]
You know what? Let's do it.
Ah! Okay.
Merry Christmas is something I assume you might say.
[instrumental music]
- [Erin] Sam. - [knocking on door]
- [door opens] - Sam?
Oh, hey. Sorry, I let myself in.
I'm just kind of spinning out, you know?
Oh, these are for you.
So get this, my mom told all of the volunteers
that the primary decorations should resemble
sports equipment. So that's kind of a disaster.
And, uh, the only one who gets it is Debbie.
And she's great, but she's a lot, you know what I mean?
It's all just a lot. Christmas is...
It's-it's very strong, but it's, it's wrong.
Do you know what I mean, Sam?
Mm-hmm.
- [Johnson] Uh, Sam? - Mr. Johnson.
I'm gonna have to call you back.
- [Johnson] Yup. - Oh!
Ah, I'm sorry.
He's getting the lakehouse. He'll be fine.
But will you be fine?
I-I mean, I, I think so.
There are dozens of volunteers showing up to my parents' house
tomorrow to get ready for this tree-lighting later at night.
I don't understand it. Like, why is it spreading this fast?
Why would so many people sign up?
You're asking why, but I think you should be asking why not.
You promised crafts and cocktails.
Places charge for that kind of fun.
[instrumental music]
[Erin] I feel like you're kind of starting to like Christmas.
What?
Christmas is fine, I guess.
- Fine? - Mm-hmm.
Says the guy who spent
the whole last week with me trying
to resurrect it and is now doing it on his own.
I have not been spending the week with you for Christmas.
I am in it for the baked goods.
Oh, thank you.
Mm.
You did good, Sam.
You did real good.
Christmas is delicious.
[upbeat music]
- Welcome. - Thank you.
Hi.
All right. This is gonna be fun. I promise.
♪ Ain't no way back out of the race ♪
♪ You gotta hustle ♪
♪ Ain't no shortcut to any place ♪
Mom, here you go, try.
Nope. Not drinking eggs.
It's eggnog. Milk, sugar, egg cream.
- Just try it. - Okay.
- Oh, that's good. - Told you.
That's good. Mm. Mm.
[indistinct song]
That is, uh... That's the spirit.
So many colors.
♪ Ain't no time... ♪
Seriously? Does this inspire feelings of joy, Gladys?
Hey Debbie. So, so appreciate your commitment to the vision.
You know what, it's big stripes alternating
with little stripes. That is a candy cane.
I just don't get what's so hard to understand.
Right, let's try to remember that
these people are all volunteers
and the goal, first and foremost, is to have fun.
[Debbie giggles]
Okay, excuse me a minute. Ahem.
[song continues]
To be clear, after all this goes up in flames,
you were in charge of spectacle.
I don't get it, it's like Christmas disappeared
and replaced all their brain cells with a lump of coal!
No matter how hard I try to explain, we get this.
What is this? You've gotta let me fix it.
I can make it so pretty.
- Just one thing-- - Oh, sure.
After you almost blew our cover
with that Rockefeller Center display outside.
Am I the only one who takes the word kablouie seriously?
We have to be discreet.
Now watch... and learn.
[grunting]
If this works, if I can bring Christmas back for good,
I'm spending next year in Hawaii.
You can't skip Christmas.
It'll just have to do without me.
I don't know if people can do that.
- [Sam chuckles] - People, huh?
Nope. Yeah, um...
[tinkling]
[Sam] What is that?
Oh, that's, uh, called mistletoe.
There's this funny old tradition
where if you get caught standing under it, they, um...
What happens?
Uh, uh... Hey, who put this here?
- Who is that? It's funny. - What does mistletoe do?
We should get back to work.
Well, Erin, what does mistletoe do?
[Erin] It's not important.
[indistinct chatter]
Okay, bye, kids. Safe home, okay?
Careful. Um, just, just...
[indistinct chatter]
I thought tonight was a huge success.
Why do you look like someone put peppermint in your cocoa?
I didn't. Just mine. I like it.
I don't know, just, the more I see people having fun,
the guiltier I feel that I wished it all away.
Mm. Okay. Let's think about this.
Did you ever put it in writing
that you want your wish reversed?
I know we sent a cease and desist, but--
All I got back was the weirdest
out-of-office reply I've ever seen.
You know, sometimes verbal agreements can be binding.
Have you just formally said it out loud?
What do you mean? I just shout it out?
- Yeah. Mm-hmm. - To the universe?
Like...
I wish that Christmas would come back!
I mean, yeah. Right.
- [wind howling] - [electricity crackling]
[dog barking in distance]
- Oh. - [Lou] Oh. Hey, guys.
I didn't see you there.
I'm just switching the extension cord out.
[instrumental music]
Wow.
Get some sleep.
Maybe in the morning we'll game plan
for our meeting with Debbie.
- Debbie. - Yeah.
- She is a lot. Heh. - Yeah.
[instrumental music]
[no audio]
- [Chuck] Seriously? - Oh, God!
What? I did exactly what you asked.
Nothing more. Definitely nothing less.
It's a little bit more. But you have to get out of here.
You can't stand them up for dinner
if you're standing here for dinner.
Besides, it's my time to shine.
- You're on Santa watch. - What?
Are we sure keeping Santa out of the mix is still a good idea?
I don't see a scenario where the two of them cross paths
where it doesn't end up with, "Oh, magic is real?
Time, space, kablouie!"
Wow! Okay, yup, uh, that's... You're right. I'm gonna go.
[instrumental music]
[Chuck] Showtime.
[instrumental music]
- Hi. - [Sam] Hi.
- Did you? It wasn't me. - Did you? I did not.
- You-- - [Chuck] Here you are.
- Oh, no, that's not, uh-- - [Chuck] Set menu.
Enjoy your dinner and, uh, save room for dessert.
Oh.
Is romance like a big thing at Christmas?
Oh, yeah, there used to be
entire TV stations devoted to it.
Because if we weren't expecting Debbie,
I might suspect that this was a date.
[laughs] Debbie actually called.
She can't actually make it, so...
- [instrumental music] - I didn't do this.
If you wanna go on a date, you can just ask me on a date.
I didn't do this, we just have
some very Christmassy business to attend to.
Doesn't mean we can't enjoy the ambiance, right?
Exactly. We can just engage in a little small talk.
- Not date small talk. - Nope.
Just regular run-of-the-mill stuff.
- Like, how was your day? - Really good.
I actually made a big decision today.
Oh, here we go. We're doing it.
- [Sam] Mm-hmm. - Uh, what was it?
I am taking Taylor up on his offer.
Well, that's amazing. I-I'm so glad.
- [music continues] - That is fantastic news.
- You think so? - Yeah.
What, uh, made you decide to stay?
I-I don't know, working with you this week,
seeing all the people that came out together to help...
[Sam] That's what I've been looking for, community.
Plus, I really like it here.
I'm really glad.
And if I'm being honest, you inspired it.
[music continues]
Thank you.
- Mm. - [Erin] Um...
Hey, I looked that stuff up today.
- Oh. - Yeah.
- And didn't find very much. - Right.
You wouldn't have 'cause, you know, it's Christmas things.
You know, then there was this one thing from ancient Greece
where people standing under the mistletoe
would kiss at the end of a wedding.
Huh! What an interesting, totally unrelated cultural fact.
Really?
Really.
[Santa laughs]
Did, did you hear that?
- I think he's in the kitchen. - Erin.
What's coming from the kitchen?
[Santa] It was delightful!
We hit a curve that almost sent
the sleigh careening, then Rudolph--
You know what? I can't wait to hear all about it.
Why don't you come tell me in this closet?
[Sam] Erin, you can't go into the kitchen.
- [Erin] Going in the kitchen! - Hey.
Uh, who's ready for dessert?
Right, we-we got, uh, uh,
cookies, uh, candy canes,
uh, sugar plums, whatever those are.
Hi. I-I'm Erin Smithson.
- Ha-ha. - And kablouie.
Hi, Erin. I'm Nick.
Nick! Uh, of course, of course your name is Nick.
[chuckles] Um, Nick, this is gonna sound like a little bit
of an odd request, but, well, I'm an artist in the area
and I'm doing a very specific installation, you see?
And in it there is a crucial character.
[gasps] Oh, yeah. He looks just like the Santa guy.
Right? Isn't it uncanny?
A-anyway, this, this character of Santa, well,
he is a, uh, mythical, bearded being, a-and the project
would absolutely not be the same without him.
And you would be absolutely perfect.
- He's not much of an actor. - Oh, he wouldn't have to act.
We'd explain the whole thing. You just be yourself.
- Be yourself. - Oh, oh. Of course.
[Santa] Who wouldn't want to spread a little joy?
[Erin] Oh, a-amazing. Amazing.
Thank you. Thank you so much, Nick.
[Santa laughs]
We're gonna need you down here.
[instrumental music]
The usual.
Perfect. A work of art.
Poof! Ha-ha!
What? I made some friends.
So if I follow, Erin does not believe he's the real Santa.
And now she's cast this stranger, Nick,
to play the character of Santa, whom she believes is mythical.
You've hit it on the glowing nose.
Oh, then we have no problem.
Oh, I'm sorry.
What about the magic-space-time continuum?
No kablouie or...
It's a legal loophole,
like founding your business in Delaware.
As long as she believes she's creating
his Santa performance, we should be okay.
Great. Thank you so much.
No problem. But a bit of advice.
Don't have a meeting for something
that should have been a email.
Especially in a place like this.
[coughs]
And you call this a cocoa?
[upbeat music]
♪ My heart is falling down... ♪
[indistinct chatter]
♪ Each night I'm crying ♪
Mm, thank you. You can bring it, like, down by the blue thing.
Thank you.
♪ Is falling ♪
- Wonderful. - Wow!
- [indistinct chatter] - Oh. You scared me.
- Oh, my gosh-- - Aunt Erin!
- Hi! Hey! - Aww...
So glad you guys are here.
[Jonah] I don't know where I'm gonna keep 'em yet,
but that's what I really want.
[Santa chuckles] A dragon that breathes candy.
That's a wonderful idea! I'll get my elves right on it.
- [Santa chuckles] - [Jonah] Thanks, Santa.
[laughs] How about you, Olivia?
What would you like for Christmas?
Uh, uh, maybe you'd like some answers.
Most houses don't have a chimney. How do you visit those?
My elves made me a magical key
that lets me get in to any house in the world!
[Olivia] How do you make the reindeer fly?
Well, you see, reindeer aren't so different from people.
All it takes is a little encouragement,
and you have to be very sure to call each of them by their name.
On Dasher! On Dancer! On Prancer! On Vixen!
[Santa] Oh, and you mustn't forget Vixen.
[chuckles] Or he'll be very upset.
Sam, this is not making any sense.
How does he have the exact Santa suit?
[Erin] And he knows the names of the reindeer.
I mean, uh, that's from a song. How does he know the song?
Honestly, I think there's only one explanation.
Spreading Christmas is working.
The more it spreads, the more the wish reverses.
Right. Like, with your photo.
- Oh, yeah. - [Erin] You know what?
[Erin] I think you were on to something the other day.
I need to make a, uh, a grand verbal agreement.
Yes, yes, harness the power of all this belief
in-in a public formal statement.
Right. What about at the town tree-lighting tonight?
- Maximize impact. Yeah. - You have to try, right?
[Olivia] I already have a camera.
I just wanted to see if you were real.
- But you seem real to me. - Oh-oh-oh.
- Told you. - In-in any case...
What would you like for Christmas?
No, I'm okay. Thank you.
But can I ask for something for someone else?
Of course.
I'd like to get my Aunt Erin
a fancy vacation. She is stressed.
- [Santa laughs] - [Olivia] Really.
She's always making sure everything is fun
for me and Jonah and mom and Taylor.
Like, teaching us about Santa or baking cookies.
I wish somebody would bake her cookies or make things magic.
Can you do that for grownups?
Ah. I think that's a wonderful wish.
[instrumental music]
[Kool & The Gang singing "Celebration"]
- [indistinct chatter] - [laughter]
♪ Celebrate good times come on ♪
Welcome to Duluth's first ever Christmas celebration!
[crowd cheering]
Uh, I'd like to introduce our Christmas hero, Santa Claus.
[crowd cheering]
Ho-ho-ho!
[crowd laughing]
Merry Christmas.
[crowd] Merry Christmas!
[laughs] Okay. Thank you.
Um... Heh-heh...
"He lives at the North Pole
and flies on nine tiny moose."
- [Hara chuckles] - [man] Yeah.
- Reindeer. - Oh, sorry.
Reindeer. I like that.
Um, "Delivering toys to children all over the world."
- [crowd cheering] - [Hara] Wow.
And now at this time, I would like to invite on to the stage
the creative mind behind this evening's event,
Erin Smithson.
[crowd cheering]
Well, thank you, Mayor Hara. Thank you, Santa Claus.
Wow. I never thought I would say that.
[laughs]
[sighs] It is, uh...
Well, it's incredibly special
to see all of you out here tonight.
And I wanna say thank you to all of the volunteers
who helped to bring back this wonderfully unique holiday.
As you can see, Christmas has got a lot going on.
[laughter]
And Christmas, well, not always quite like this,
has always been a wonderful mishmash
of cultures and traditions, meant to bring light
at the very darkest time of the year.
- [instrumental music] - Hm.
So I hope that you all agree with me when I say
I wish that Christmas would come back for good!
[crowd cheering]
She did it, right? She did it!
I wish that Christmas would come back.
[crowd cheering]
♪ Come on ♪
♪ Celebrate good times come on ♪
♪ There's a party going on right here a celebration ♪
[grunts] Uh, how about everybody come on up
and take a closer look at this Christmas maypole?
[chuckles] And say hi to Santa out on the way.
[Hara] Have fun, everybody.
♪ Come on now ♪ ♪ Celebration ♪
♪ Let's all celebrate and have a good time ♪
Looks like now is the time for doomsday panicking!
Teeth wasn't so bad.
Steady year-round work.
- [Santa laughing] - [scoffs]
Look at this guy, Chuck, making with the holly jolly.
'Tis the season to panic, and our boss is laughing
like a bowlful of jelly.
Whoa-ho-ho.
What's with all the doom and gloom?
What do you mean, sir?
She rescinded her wish and nothing happened.
I didn't suppose it would.
Sure, she wished it.
But she wished it for everyone else.
In order for her to mean it with her whole heart,
she has to remember what Christmas means to her.
Just her.
Well, that's insight.
That would've been helpful any second before now!
[Debbie bawling]
- Oh, ah... - Ah, look, look, look, look.
- We can't fix this. - I know.
- But he can. - How?
He's Santa.
Right, Santa?
Santa?
- Why does he keep doing that? - I don't...
[instrumental music]
Sorry it didn't work.
It's fine.
I mean, people find new reasons
to get together and make new memories
and probably even invent new holidays.
So you're just gonna give up?
I mean, what do you expect me to do?
Keep trying to resurrect a holiday that I wished away?
I mean, I wanted a break from Christmas.
Now it's, it's all I think about.
You wanted a break, not to smash it to pieces.
Yeah, but it's like you said, it's a victimless crime.
No one's gonna remember.
You're discouraged. This isn't you.
You see beauty and meaning where other people miss it.
In your art, in the everyday,
in all of this.
You're not someone who gives up because things get hard.
And I don't know how it was before,
but this week, your family had zero expectations.
They jumped at the chance to help you
because they like being with you.
You didn't have to make Christmas happen for us.
We didn't even know it existed.
They just like you.
I like you.
So whatever story you're telling yourself,
it's not true.
Doesn't have to be this way unless you want it to.
[instrumental music]
[wind gushing]
Hi, Nick.
Oh, E-Erin. Hello.
Ha, beautiful, isn't it?
Mm.
Everything okay?
Can I tell you something without you judging me?
[laughs] Judging isn't in my nature,
as long as you're nice.
[instrumental music]
[Chuck] Not much time left.
Here.
Good stuff from up north.
[chuckles] Thanks, buddy.
To humans.
May we never see them again.
[Santa] And no matter how hard you wished
for it to come back, it didn't work?
Oh, it's like, what more do you want
from me, universe, you know?
[Santa laughs]
- Such a shame. - Yeah.
If it's true that Christmas disappeared...
I thought it was a lovely idea.
What do you think you'll miss most?
[wind gushing]
[Erin] Gosh, let me think. Um...
Well, my family did always love this tree-lighting,
and I always had to go to the pageant.
[chuckles] No, dear.
What would just you miss?
- [sighs] - [instrumental music]
Like, just that feeling of anticipation, you know,
and the way it made everybody
just this much nicer to each other.
Probably sounds silly.
Not at all. What else?
Gingerbread. Oh, my gosh.
The way that smell can just fill up an entire house.
[chuckles]
And my mom and I would paint ornaments together every year.
We're not great at it, so we'd always have to put the bad ones
around at the back of the tree.
[Santa laughs]
And the music, I mean, when else can you sing songs
with your friends and your family?
- Ooh. Not enough if you ask me. - Right?
- [Santa chuckles] - And Jonah. My gosh.
[chuckles] His cute little Christmas morning bedhead. Oh.
And Olivia, the smile on that kid's face when I gave her
a camera last year, that was one of the proudest
and just happiest moments of my life, you know?
You'll make new memories.
Find new things that have meaning.
But it's not gonna be the same.
And none of it's gonna be the same.
I had it.
I had the real Christmas and I did not appreciate it.
It's like I was, I was just sleepwalking. And for what?
I just, just wish I could take it all back, you know?
I just wish I had Christmas back.
[wind howling]
[Erin] What?
Nick, I...
Nick?
Nick!
[instrumental music]
[cell phone chimes]
Ah. Ah.
[music continues]
There you are, your family cleared out to get
the kids to bed, to get ready for Santa.
Ready to go?
Uh...
You wanna stay longer?
Not to ruin surprises, but the date I planned
is absolutely Christmas-free, in case you need a break from--
No, I don't need a break from Christmas.
Did you say date?
I know you said you're not dating,
but spending this week with you,
developing photos and decorating,
getting to know you...
It's nice not to do Christmas alone.
And I totally get it if things haven't changed for you, but I--
[instrumental music]
[mumbles]
- Never mind. - Mm.
♪ Christmas is here again ♪
♪ Everybody's home for Christmas ♪
[Erin] Let's get started on some of these presents.
No, Erin, come sit down, relax. Enjoy.
[Lou] Papa Elf will do it. I'll hand 'em out.
You know, would you mind if I did three quick ones?
- Oh, sure. - Of course, you got it.
- Sam, of course. Go ahead. - Yeah. Okay. All right.
Here you go, Lou and Diana. Merry Christmas.
- Thank you for having me. - [Lou] Thank you.
- Maria. - Thank you so much.
- [Diana] Oh! - What is--
- What's this gonna be? - Oh, this is beautiful.
Oh, thank you so much, Sam. That's...
- You made this? - [Taylor] Did you make this?
- Uh-huh, yeah. - [Lou] That's fantastic.
- Oh... - [indistinct chatter]
Don't tell me. Reindeer.
[Sam chuckles]
[Erin] Oh.
So growing up,
these were my favorite ornaments,
and I thought that, you know...
It's perfect, Sam. I love it.
Really?
Really.
[instrumental music]
♪ Christmas is here again ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ Everybody's home for Christmas ♪
- Merry Christmas. - Merry Christmas.
It goes without saying that Operation Wish...
is too great a liability.
The program has been terminated.
Trust me, we completely understand.
But w-while we're on the subject of termination--
Why would you want to put that in their heads? Why--
[Chuck] I can't handle the pressure, if they're going
to candy-can us, I need to know.
Well, seeing as the program will
no longer exist,
management has agreed
they have no choice
but to promote you to research and development.
- [instrumental music] - [NP Counsel] Toyland.
- Oh! - What?
Far, far away from humans.
[squealing, mumbling]
[Debbie] Thank you so much. You won't regret this.
[chuckling]
[music continues]
[fire crackling]
♪ Like home ♪
[instrumental music]
♪ It feels like Christmas angels ♪
[wind howling]
[instrumental music]
[whooshing]
[music continues]
[Santa] Oh, pizzelles.
[whooshing]
[instrumental music]
♪ It feels like home ♪
Mm.
♪ It feels like ♪
♪ Christmas angels ♪
♪ Spreading all the ♪
[Sam] Who's it from?
I think it's from Santa.
[chuckles] Seriously, ahem, who's it from?
An old friend.
[upbeat music]
♪ It's that time of year again ♪
♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ It has inspired a dream ♪
♪ My heart full of dream ♪
♪ I can hear the sleigh bells ring ♪
♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ I get to see my man ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm his biggest fan ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ The snow is falling down all around me oh ♪
♪ There's magic in the air ♪
♪ I can't wait to see my boy ♪
♪ This Christmas ♪
♪ Like I did the year before oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ He's been gone away since last December ♪
♪ But it's just made me want him more ♪
♪ And now the year has passed us by ♪
♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ The thought of seeing your face ♪
♪ It makes my poor heart race ♪
♪ I wrote to Santa for one thing ♪
♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Under the mistletoe ♪
♪ That's where I long to go oh ♪
♪ The snow is falling down all around me oh ♪
♪ There's magic in the air ♪
♪ I can't wait to see my boy this Christmas ♪
♪ No I can't wait ♪ ♪ Like I did the year before ♪
♪ Like I did the year before ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ He's been gone away since last December ♪
♪ But it's just made me want him more ♪
♪ More and more ♪
♪ I can't wait to see my boy this Christmas ♪
♪ I can't wait I can't wait I can't wait ♪
♪ Like I did the year before ♪ ♪ Like I did the year before ♪
♪ He's been gone away since last December ♪
[indistinct singing]
♪ But it's just made me want him more ♪