♪ I'm not ready for Christmas
♪ Don't need a gift list
♪ Don't give a spit
♪ How many shopping days are left ♪
♪ This holiday season
♪ Give me one reason
♪ I should believe this ever
♪ Gotta change it
HOLLY: Hey, I'm gonna be a little bit late
coming into the office today,
I'm looking everywhere for a taxi,
and they don't seem to be out this morning
for some weird reason.
I have to pick up my car from the mechanic on the way in,
so we have to bump the 9:00 with Ben Cameron.
Are you sure? We've already canceled on him once this week.
Oh, send him one of those holiday cookie baskets.
Tell him I had to get on a flight to Dallas
to put out a fire. That oughta do the trick.
Okay, sure, but you'd better hurry up and get in
for your 10:00 conference call.
Oh, I should be able to make that.
Call the mechanic and tell him to have my car ready to drive
the instant I get there.
Okay, bye.
- Thank you very much. - Thanks.
MAN: Taxi!
Taxi!
Oh! Hi. Are you trying to get this?
Um, kind of, but if you're in a rush.
Oh, I am in a very big rush, actually.
Yeah, my sister is actually in the hospital,
so I gotta get there lickety-split.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Yeah, no, it's actually a good thing.
She's having a baby, but her husband is gone,
so I have to be there for moral support.
Yeah, of course, it's all yours.
Yeah? That's very nice of you. Thank you.
- Boy or girl? - I'm sorry?
Your sister. Is she having a boy or girl?
The baby? Yeah, the baby, it's a little girl.
- Yeah, Anna. - That's a beautiful name.
That's very sweet of you to say, yes.
Well, I should let you go.
Don't wanna keep your sister waiting.
That's a very good point, yes, thank you.
- Congratulations, auntie! - Oh.
♪ I'm not ready for Christmas
♪ Don't need a gift list
♪ Give me your stockings and I'll stuff 'em for ya ♪
♪ I'm not ready for sleigh bells ♪
♪ Two months of carols
♪ Leaving all the way from California ♪
♪ I'm not baking, no
♪ Or dressing up the dog
♪ You can keep your yule log
♪ I'm still burning up
Oh, Miss Nolan!
How are you enjoying your new parking space?
Not as much as you are going to enjoy
your Christmas Day basketball tickets.
My grandson would be so excited.
Well, he is lucky to have such an amazing grandpa.
You get those basketball tickets
for old Brouhard at the front desk yet?
I'm trying, but Christmas games are tough.
- How's my day looking? - Tight.
And don't forget you have a 3:00 Christmas tree lighting
at your niece's school.
Oh, Anna.
Hopefully you can make the office Christmas party later?
Well, if I'm still standing by then.
Oh, and forget about your lunch break.
Mr. O'Connell just scheduled a staff meeting at 1:00
to talk about some huge client that he's trying to land.
It's Graydon DuPois.
The fashion designer?
Yup.
[laughs] Good girl.
Anything else?
No, that'll do it.
Hey, on second thought, there is something.
Come on in. Close the door.
MR. O'CONNELL: I can't emphasize enough
how important this new account would be
if we can land it.
And that's why I want to make sure
that I get the best possible person from our team
to run point on the pitch.
And I've narrowed it down to the two biggest movers this year,
Holly and Ted.
Thank you so much, Mr. O'Connell.
That's a real honor.
Thank you. So who's the potential client?
- [phone ringing] - Oh, excuse me one second.
I'm sorry.
Hello?
Oh, what a delight, Mr. DuPois.
To what do I owe the privilege?
Um, tomorrow, the symphony?
Wow. I didn't even know they were still in session.
7:00. That would be delightful.
Do you need me to call you again?
No, I'm good, Mr. DuPoi-- Oh, Graydon.
I don't know why I keep doing that.
Silly me.
Bye.
Whew. I am so sorry about that. What did I miss?
[bell ringing]
Hey, you guys, I'm so, so sorry.
I got a call from an angry client on my way over.
I had to stop by there and smooth things over.
I'm so sorry I missed your tree-lighting ceremony.
- It's okay, Aunt Holly. - It's really not okay.
But I promise you I will be at your next one.
I have a holiday music show tomorrow night,
if you want to come to that.
I'm singing a solo: "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
Oh, I love that song!
So will you be there?
I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Yes, I will be there.
Yes! I love you, Aunt Holly.
I love you too, Anna.
Hey, kiddo, can you give us a minute?
Mm-hmm.
Tree lighting and pizza, how hard could that be?
Well, it was in the middle of my work day.
Kind of hard to get away at 3:00 in the afternoon.
If it had been 4:30, it would've been no problem.
Your work can't be
a get-out-of-jail-free card anymore.
You make a promise, especially to Anna,
you gotta follow through.
Hopefully 'cause you want to.
All right.
♪
♪ Oh, Saint Nick's got a new bag of tricks ♪
- Hello. - Hey, there you are.
I didn't think you were gonna make it.
Oh, yeah, of course.
I just hit a little traffic on my way in.
What did I miss?
No one's dancing on a table yet, so...
Oh, there's Mr. Shea.
So, Ted, did your wife come?
No. She had a conflict.
I figured you'd bring Graydon DuPois as your date,
since you two are so close.
You may have fooled O'Connell,
but given your track record with the truth,
I'm pretty confident that you and iconic fashion designers
don't run in the same circle.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
DuPois and I go way back.
We met at Fashion Week in Miami a couple of years ago,
and now he calls me whenever he comes through Denver.
Look, Holly,
you're smart, and you're good at your job,
but I am too.
So there's no way I could have actually won this account
because I earned it?
No. That's just the point. You could.
But now we'll never know.
- What was that about? - Oh, nothing.
I definitely need a drink though. Are you all set?
- Oh, no, thank you, I'm good. - Okay.
♪
Thank you.
- Here. - Thank you.
Hey, it's you.
Oh! Taxi cab guy.
Exactly. So why aren't you with your sister at the hospital?
Oh, my sister.
I mean, she just had a baby, so she needs some sleep.
But everything went okay with the birth and all?
Oh, absolutely. It was perfect.
Beautiful, healthy baby girl.
Anna.
Really good memory.
Well, I'm good with names, I guess.
Drew.
- Holly. - Okay, Holly.
Well, it looks like we got another minute or two to kill,
so what exactly do you do?
I'm in advertising.
Cool. You like it?
I love it, actually.
My job, basically,
is to sell people what they want the truth to be,
and I'm very, very good at that.
How about you?
Wait, don't tell me.
Um, head of a charity?
Grade school music teacher.
- No, seriously? - Mm-hmm.
That's really sweet.
Good sweet or condescending sweet?
Good sweet.
[laughing]
So has advertising always been your dream job?
Let me put it this way.
If things go well,
I might actually get to work with Graydon DuPois soon.
- The fashion guy. - Mm-hmm.
Handsome, rich, trend-setting.
Who knows? I may end up becoming the next Mrs. DuPois,
running his company alongside him.
[laughing]
I'm just kidding.
Cheers.
Would you maybe like to get together again sometime?
Oh, I'm not really looking for anything right now.
My job doesn't leave me much time for dating
this time of year.
Okay, great, so how about January?
It was nice meeting you, Drew.
It was nice meeting you too, Holly.
Yes?
Oh, please, come in, sit.
Wow. I love what you've done in here.
Great Christmas vibe.
I overheard your call yesterday
at the meeting with Graydon DuPois.
Oh!
Oh, he would fire his own mom.
It's not like he would show me any preferential treatment.
While your personal relationship certainly doesn't hurt,
it was more of a tie-breaker.
Tie-breaker?
Ted's done a lot of great work for us,
but I'm gonna give you a go at landing the DuPois account.
And if it goes well,
then a partnership's yours too.
Wow.
Um, I don't know what to say.
[laughs]
Sure you do.
Thank you, sir.
I will knock this out of the park.
All right.
Hey, sweetie, getting excited for your big show tonight?
So excited!
Me too. I can't wait.
Remember, Aunt Holly, you promised you'll make it.
Yeah, I'll be there.
ROSE: Please just make this one, okay?
Thank you.
[knocking]
I don't mean to intrude, even though I am.
- [laughing] - Where are my manners?
My friends and enemies call me Graydon DuPois.
I know who you are. It's so nice to meet you.
I'm Holly.
I just wanted to congratulate you
on being chosen to try and land the campaign.
And now that I've met you, to ask you to join me
for an early dinner.
I like Domini's.
6:30 tonight?
That sounds incredible.
Is there any chance that we could do that
tomorrow night instead?
Well, if you plan to be in Miami then.
No. Tonight at 6:30, Domini's, sounds perfect.
Wunderbar.
[laughing]
See you then.
Okay.
We're gonna save this seat for your Aunt Holly, okay?
Everything okay, Anna?
It's my aunt. She promised to be here.
Well, if she misses this, it's her loss
because you're gonna be absolutely amazing tonight.
Ladies and gentlemen, will you please take your seats?
We are about to begin tonight's Christmas recital.
HOLLY: So what you're saying is,
if you can't be number one, why bother?
In my line of work, Holly, you either lead from the front
or you get buried.
Of course. I completely understand that,
which is why my job is to figure out
what it is that's gonna attract the consumer to your brand
above all others.
Yeah, innovative design.
Right, but that's your job.
Hmm. Reasonable pricing.
True, but if customers mainly want inexpensive clothing,
they're gonna just buy cheap knock-offs
or go to discount outlets,
so that's not really the angle you're looking for.
Well, then an emphasis on quality.
We never use synthetics.
Our fabrics are of the highest grade
and contrary to industry norm,
strictly made in America.
And as a Brit, I'm proud of that fact.
- That's it. - What?
That's it. "Made in the USA."
[scoffs]
You imagine that'll sell clothes?
Oh, absolutely,
given the patriotic mood in this country right now.
Yes, "Made in the USA:
"It's not just a slogan, it's the right thing to do."
You're serious?
Dead serious.
Well, in that case, I'm afraid we are done with this wine.
- Garçon? Young man? - Yes, sir.
Bring us some of your finest champagne.
- With pleasure, sir. - Thank you.
I like it.
Wait, you do?
Of course I want to sleep on it,
but, uh, you're on to something.
Well, thank you very much, Mr. DuPois.
Graydon.
[piano playing "O Christmas Tree"]
[phone vibrating]
HOLLY: And that's pretty much my story.
Oh, one minor detail: Is there a Mr. Holly Nolan?
Oh, no. I'm married to my work.
Oh, I should have known that about you.
Since we're such old friends,
or at least, I gather, that's what your boss thinks.
He does? That's so strange.
Where would he have gotten an idea like that?
Don't kid a kidder, Miss Nolan.
Your secret's safe with me.
Or at least safe-ish.
[laughing]
Well, all right then.
[laughs]
DREW: And our next holiday treat
will be sung by fourth-grader Anna Geller.
Anna?
[applause]
♪
♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas ♪
♪ And a Happy New Year
♪ Good tidings we bring
♪ To you and your kin
♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas ♪
♪ And a Happy New Year
♪ We wish you a Merry Christmas ♪
♪ And a Happy
♪ New Year
Mommy, can I have some money to give to Santa?
Uh, yeah, sweetie.
Here you go.
Ah!
I'm glad you caught me.
I just got back from feeding my reindeer.
They need to eat at exactly 8:00 on the dot every night.
Finicky little critters.
I'm just glad you're here now.
Well, thank you, Anna. That's very sweet of you.
Now, what is it you most want for Christmas?
[chuckles]
Hmm?
I wish my aunt would tell the truth about everything,
like when she promises to be somewhere.
Ah.
Did she promise to be at your show but not make it?
- Yeah. - [growls]
She's not a bad person,
but my mom thinks she tells too many fibs.
If she would just tell the truth,
then I wouldn't get my hopes up all the time.
Hmm, well...
I'll see what I can do, sweetheart.
Thank you, Santa. I can't wait till my wish comes true.
- Good night. - Good night.
Hey, kiddo, what'd you wish for?
Is it Channing Tatum? I'd like Channing Tatum.
[giggling]
Excuse me, is my niece Anna still in--
Oh. [chuckles]
You're the aunt who missed the concert.
So you're sister's newborn is actually a fourth grader.
Well... [chuckles]
It's okay. I get it.
If it means anything,
I did really have a nice time with you.
It doesn't.
Why does such a pretty lady look so down?
I'm not really one to share deeply personal things
with strangers with white beards and red suits.
Well, I'm not just any stranger with a white beard,
and this isn't just any red suit.
Okay, well, I missed my niece's concert tonight.
I couldn't get away from work.
Hmm. You're sure you couldn't get away?
It's been nice chatting with you.
Holly, I'm gonna make sure Anna gets what she wants
for Christmas.
Anna told you what happened tonight, didn't she?
Mm-hmm.
Well, for whatever it's worth, I am gonna be better with her.
I promise.
Oh, I know you are.
- [coin clatters] - Thank you kindly.
[bell ringing]
[wind whooshing]
[bell ringing continues]
[wind decreases]
Oh, Miss Nolan! [chuckles]
I told my grandson about those basketball tickets.
I have never seen him so excited!
I don't have those tickets. I just keep telling you I do
because I don't wanna lose that primo parking spot out front.
[sighs]
Whoa! Someone's in a hurry to get to work.
And somebody is in a hurry to stick his nose
where it doesn't belong.
TED: The stress of stealing the DuPois account
must be getting to you.
Let me know if you need any help.
Me asking you for help would be like admitting
that you deserve this account as much, if not more, than I do,
which you totally do.
[ding]
[typing]
Hey, is everything okay?
You've been totally holed up in here all day.
Is that a yes or a no?
That's a ye-- no, no.
You know what? I am not okay.
I am about as far from okay as you can possibly get.
Is there anything I can do to help?
Do you have a doctorate in psychiatry
that I don't know about?
- Uh-uh. - Then no.
So I know you told me last week that we're way too busy
to let me take a break before Christmas,
but my grandma is super sick,
and I just really want to spend some time with her.
I would only need like two days.
That's no problem. You can take a couple of days off
because the truth is we don't really need you anyway
because you mostly just do fluffy stuff.
I am so sorry, Jordan.
I totally meant that.
Wow. Okay.
Thank you?
[bell ringing]
Hello, Anna.
[coins clatter]
Thank you, Anna.
- You're welcome, Santa. - [horn honks]
Anna?
I can walk home with my friends.
I know you're really mad at me right now,
and I don't blame you.
I'm really, really sorry.
Okay, are you gonna stay mad at me like this forever?
'Cause you're gonna be a teenager soon,
then you'll be mad at everything,
and I'll have no chance.
That depends on how many times you're going to lie to me.
Hey, Anna.
All I wanted was to have you at my show.
It was a really big deal to me.
Well, I was with a client,
and it was more important to me than your show.
[Holly coughs]
[clears throat]
Um, oh, goodness. [clears throat]
I, uh...
I...
Okay listen, I know you don't like me very much right now,
but I know what you do like.
HOLLY: Thank you very much.
I swear, you are the only person I know
that orders triple frosting.
I mean, aren't you afraid that there won't be any left
for all the other kids,
like for their birthday parties and stuff?
No, and stop being funny.
It makes it hard to stay mad at you.
You should be mad at me,
which is true, but I mostly just said it
to deflect and make you feel guilty for being angry at me,
so everything would be cool between us again.
What's up with you today? You're acting weird.
I-I feel weird today.
Weird how?
Since last night,
I just keep saying things I don't mean to say.
Things you don't want to say?
Well, things that are true, that are in my head,
but they just come out before I can stop them.
But if they are true, then why shouldn't you say them?
Well, I don't know how to put this,
but, okay, adults sometimes
just have to bend the truth a little bit to function.
You mean like telling a fib?
Yeah, technically, I guess you could call it that.
So you used to tell fibs,
but since last night, you can't do it anymore?
Yeah. That sounds crazy, right?
Remember when you promised to take me to the movies,
but you had to cancel it because of a business trip to Boston?
Mm-hmm, although, actually I was just getting my nails done
because I had a meeting the next day
that I thought I had to look absolutely perfect for.
Um, wow, that's-- I just did it again.
That's exactly what I'm talking about.
I want you to take me ice skating Saturday.
Pick me up at 11:00.
Anna...
Are you free then?
Uh... uh-huh.
No fibbing?
No, I... Honest.
It's a promise then. Awesome.
Yeah, I must have at least 30 items here,
but I've convinced myself that my time is more important
than following your rules.
Late to concerts,
but right on time to clog up the express lane.
Oh, uh, yeah, I'm just trying to sneak through
an entire cart full of things at a checkout
that's only equipped to handle a couple.
Well, you get an A for candor.
Which is flattering, coming from you
'cause you're a teacher.
Oh, you're still really bothered by the whole taxi thing,
aren't you?
And you not showing up to your niece's show.
I'm seeing a pattern here.
Yeah, I completely understand
and, to be honest, if I were in your shoes,
I would probably be doing the same thing you're doing,
looking away, pretending you can't hear anything I'm saying
and pretending I'm not standing here
and just basically ignoring me.
You're something, you know that?
Yeah, I do know that.
Okay, I had a really good time with you the other night,
and the truth is I just work really hard at my job,
and I'm in the process of trying to make partner,
and I don't give very much priority to dating.
But if you would be willing,
I'd really love to take you out for a coffee or something.
I suppose I could use your help with something tonight.
You know, just so you can make it up to me.
Oh, I should pay her.
Yeah.
HOLLY: You need to be more decisive.
Just pick one.
DREW: Holly, you can't rush perfection.
Oh, come on, you are making this way too hard.
Seriously, all you have to do is visualize
what your perfect tree looks like,
and then it will appear.
This is not something you can just use a checklist for.
You have to feel it.
VeryZenzen.
Sorry. We're almost done.
A beautiful, young couple in love?
There's no hurry.
Um, we are just friends.
I am helping him pick out a tree.
Whatever you say.
We are just friends,
but actually I'm hoping to change that
because I think he's really handsome.
I can see that.
Are you ladies talking about me?
- HOLLY: Yes! - WOMAN: No!
Oh, this is a fine vintage.
Agreed. Smooth and full-bodied.
[laughing]
So why do I get the feeling you've done this before?
We had an artificial tree as kids,
so I can appreciate the real thing.
So I come here every year to pick out the perfect one.
[chuckles]
My parents, my sister, and I
always used to come pick out a tree
on a lot almost exactly like this one.
Your folks live around here?
[sighs]
Is that a bad topic?
No, no, they passed away when I was 13.
Car accident.
- Holly, I'm so sorry. - That's okay.
My sister, though, she did a remarkable job
of raising me almost all by herself.
You guys must be really close.
We were. We're not as close as I'd like right now.
So since this is obviously a two-person job, I have to ask.
Did you have someone else originally lined up
to help you with this tonight?
I mean, before you had asked me?
You totally don't have to go there if you don't want to,
but I'm more curious than you could possibly believe
beneath this facade of mild indifference.
[laughing]
Well, I was two weeks from proposing
when I found out my last girlfriend
was seeing her German coworker the whole time.
Gunther.
Yeah, they're now living in Munich together.
It's a little jarring when you find out
your whole relationship is based on a lie you never saw coming.
Wow. That's really awful.
I'm so sorry.
But not sorry enough to wish you were still with her
'cause I don't. I'm glad you're not with her.
Thanks, I think.
It's better to not be in a relationship
than to be with someone who doesn't actually love you.
Yeah, you're right.
[car doors closing]
I had a really fun night.
So I'd really like to do this again, soon,
because I think you're really cute and funny.
I...
Wow. I don't know why... [chuckles]
That just came leaking out.
No, I'm glad it just leaked out
because I feel exactly the same way about you.
Well, good then.
- Good night. - Bye.
[car door opens]
[engine starts]
ANNA: Hi, Aunt Holly.
Excited for skating this weekend?
ROSE: Don't miss it, kid sister,
or I'll give you a major swirly.
Just like old times.
ANNA: We love you!
ROSE: Yeah, what she said.
- For the most part. - Mom!
[exhales]
[chuckles]
Oh, Anna, such a cute little kid.
I am so glad you're still here.
Good evening, Holly. Nice to see you.
Is there something special you want for Christmas?
Um, control over my life again would be a nice start.
Now, I've been told I'm a pretty good listener.
[chuckles]
Nah. You'll never believe me.
The guy who delivers toys
to several billion children in one evening
[laughs] won't believe you?
Ho ho ho ho!
Well, it's just...
been a lot of weird things happening in my life right now.
A lot of changes.
Really strange changes, actually.
Well, we all go through times
that turn us a little upside-down.
I mean, look at me.
Toy technology moves forward every year at warp speed,
and I have to try and stay ahead of it.
But it's how we deal with these moments,
these truly challenging times that count.
They can even make us better than they were before.
It's just been a lot to deal with.
Hmm. Before all this happened to you,
were you happy?
Yes...
and no.
Uh-huh.
Well, then give it a little more time,
see how it plays out.
Maybe they'll end up being something really good,
these changes of yours.
That's very generous of you.
My pleasure.
Before we even discuss the Graydon DuPois Collection,
I'd like to get your thoughts about my new city bag,
which we intend to market as a "Made in the USA" answer
to Louis Vuitton.
All right, so let's pass it around the room
and have each of you describe it.
It's an intriguing fusion of form and function.
Clean, chic, practical.
Classic, yet cutting edge.
Uh, timeless and handsome.
Well, I want one.
I'd-- I'd rather not.
But your bosses bragged to me about your keen eye for detail.
Let's hear it.
Oh.
It's a bag, and you can put things in it.
That aspect did not escape us on the design end.
Anything else?
I could probably find a more stylish and useful one
at the first street vendor that I walk to.
GRAYDON: Go on.
And when I first saw it,
I thought of my 82-year-old grandmother,
but then she probably wouldn't want it either.
You and me outside right now.
Would you excuse us just for a minute?
We'll be right back.
What was that?
I have no idea. I'm so sorry.
You probably cost me a $20 million deal.
I'm gonna be under some serious pressure
to fire you immediately.
[chuckles] Oh, Mr. DuPois,
I want to apologize for Ms. Nolan's behavior.
I assure you I'm relieving her of her duties on the campaign,
and I will personally be leading it.
Well, that's a shame because I just made up my mind.
The campaign is yours.
The kind of honesty and straight shooting
just displayed by Ms. Nolan,
Holly,
is exactly what my company needs.
What your boss doesn't know is that that bag
actually was just bought from the street vendor
before I came up here.
I needed to know that someone had the guts to tell me.
Oh, I'll be needing your best mockups
for both print and TV within three days.
Our unique Christmas Eve show could well turn out to be
the biggest event of your career to date.
Let's go to work.
♪ I'm not ready for Christmas
♪ Don't need a gift list
♪ Don't give a spit
♪ How many shopping days are left ♪
♪ This holiday season
♪ Give me one reason
♪ I should believe this ever
♪ Gotta change it
♪ Why should I be merry
♪ When every January
♪ I come back so very brokenhearted ♪
♪ I'm not ready for Christmas
♪ I think I'll skip this one
♪ And, Santa, I will see you next year ♪
[ding]
Miss Nolan, there you are.
It seems someone must have finally called the police
to have you towed from that illegal spot out front.
I tried to call your office, but no one answered.
A shame.
[sighs]
Come help me with this, Mom.
Oh, okay, okay. Turn around.
So listen, sweetheart, you know that your Aunt Holly
might not make it 'cause sometimes
things come up for her, right?
She promised me, so she'll be here.
I wish I could bottle your outlook,
you sweet little thing.
I'm not a sweet little thing.
- You are my sweet little thing. - [horn honks]
- That's her! - Hey, come here, come here.
Okay.
- Bye, Mom! - Okay.
- Hi, sweetheart. - Hey, Aunt Holly.
- Hop on back. - Okay.
[engine starts]
HOLLY: Oh, this is gonna be so much fun!
Although I kind of wish I had my own skates.
These smell a little bit like the corned beef and cabbage
your grandma used to make on St. Patrick's day
when I was little.
Eww! You really need to put new skates
on your Christmas list this year,
so we can do this more often.
Consider it done.
Stinky skates or not, I love this place.
I had my eighth birthday party here.
Only one kid broke a bone that day.
Oh, that's really encouraging. Thank you.
- [giggling] - Whoo!
- Okay, let's move this way. - This way?
No, don't do that.
Oh!
Oh, don't push me! Oh, my goodness, don't do that!
I'm stuck! [laughs]
Whoo!
When did this whole superstar skating thing happen?
Mom took me a few times since we went last.
Well, you were just awesome.
And you kind of stink.
[laughing]
But in a cool way.
Thank you very much, I think.
So how are things going at home?
I miss my dad a lot.
It's weird. The longer he's gone,
the less I remember the bad things.
- Do you know where he is now? - In Texas.
Mom says he got engaged last month
to some big-haired Dallas girl.
Really?
She didn't tell you?
Your mom and I love each other very much,
but I don't always make as much time
to spend with her as I should.
She says you're totally self-absorbed, whatever that is.
That's when you only think about yourself.
And I guess she's kind of right.
There's something that I need to tell you.
Yeah? What is it?
I...
I want to skate some more.
Okay, go ahead.
Um, this is Grandma?
She's looking kind of fit.
Holly, what are you doing here?
I was gonna ask you the same thing.
Give me a minute.
So you lied to me?
I'm so sorry and embarrassed.
I'll do anything to make it up to you.
Well, how am I supposed to trust you again?
Was there something you wanted to say?
Okay, look, no intended disrespect,
but I've sort of watched you bend the truth a lot,
and I just thought that it'd be okay if I did it sometimes too.
Am I in trouble?
No. Let's just call it even.
Okay, cool.
Thanks.
Who was that?
Oh, just someone from work.
I'm having a great time with you today, Aunt Holly.
I'm having so much fun with you too.
Do you promise you'll do this with me again?
Yes, I promise.
Do you want to go skate some more?
Do I have to?
- Yes! Come on! - Okay.
[screaming]
Here are your keys, ma'am.
Oh, thank you very much.
And I have something for you.
Uh...
I don't have anything, actually.
I don't know why I'm doing this thing with my hands,
where I'm patting myself down as if I have money
because I don't have any money to tip you,
and I won't be able to tip you
because I was gonna go to the ATM earlier,
and then I got stuck in traffic, and I had, um...
Well, it's the thought that counts.
Mm-hmm.
Do you see what I'm talking about?
That's exactly what I mean.
I have no idea why I said all that stuff.
I can't even stop myself.
Happy Holidays to you too.
Well, well, well, look who's here again.
Yeah, well, I was just driving back home,
and this was sort of on my way,
so I figured I'd stop and give you another donation.
Well, thank you, Holly.
And how are things with you and your niece?
Wow. You have a really good memory.
Ah, it's part of the job.
Long lists, separating naughty and nice,
that kind of thing. [chuckles]
Sure, well, yeah,
things are better between me and Anna.
Well, that's good to hear.
Well, with everything going so well,
is there anything else you'd like to talk about?
Yes, yes.
Um, okay, this is kind of hard to explain,
but for the last few days,
I keep having these really strange urges to tell the truth.
And I don't mean just in a normal way.
I mean about everything, like all the time.
You're an expert at telling the truth, right?
So what do you think? Can you help?
Well, I don't know how much I can do for you,
but I can offer you one very good piece of advice.
Yes, anything, thank you.
Keep living your life...
just as you are now.
You might like what you end up finding.
Thank you.
Now, you've actually just given me a really good idea.
HOLLY: So it suddenly dawned on me
that you'd be the perfect person with your musical expertise
to lead our Christmas caroling in the old neighborhood.
I'm more than happy to do it.
It's going to be so awesome tonight.
I have to admit,
I've been kind of trying to get out of it for a while.
They keep asking me to volunteer,
but the truth is, I'm just using tonight
as an excuse to spend more time with you.
[laughs] Wow!
That's putting your cards on the table.
Are we all gonna sing together?
Yes, we are, Anna.
Now, I know your credentials,
but your aunt's are a little more shaky, from what I hear.
I don't know what my wonderful niece has been telling you,
but I can carry a tu...
[clears throat]
I am a terrible singer.
- Happy? - [laughing]
So is everyone ready?
Not really.
Come on, Aunt Holly, you'll be great.
♪ [hums]
♪ Deck the halls with boughs of holly ♪
♪ Fa la la la la La la la la ♪
♪ 'Tis the season to be jolly ♪
[off-key] ♪ Fa la la la la
♪ La la la la
♪ Troll the ancient yuletide carol ♪
HOLLY OFF-KEY: ♪ Fa la la la la
♪ La la la la
That was wonderful.
And so sweet to see you trying so hard.
Bless your heart.
Thank you, sir.
No, I was talking to her.
Thanks, I think.
Very...
unique.
MAN: Yes.
WOMAN: Be sure to come back next year, okay?
We will. And Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas to you. - Merry Christmas.
Great job, everyone.
I felt good about that.
- You should. You were great. - Yeah?
ANNA: Definitely.
HOLLY: Okay, here's your stop.
ANNA: Best night ever.
DREW: I tend to agree.
[sighs]
Mr. Vincent is really sweet. Be nice to him.
I will.
- Bye. - Bye.
Bye, Mr. Vincent.
Good night, Anna! You were awesome!
Night, Rose!
Thank you.
Well, thank you for coming out with us tonight.
Anna had a great time.
What about her aunt?
No, I had a great time too.
What?
Nothing.
What were you just about to say?
I've just never met anyone quite like you.
In fact, I'm pretty sure nobody has met anyone quite like you.
[laughs]
Well, uh, thank you.
I am glad to hear you say that because I really like you.
A lot.
I'm sorry. I don't know why I keep doing that.
No, it's okay. I'm glad you said that
because I feel the exact same way about you.
So there's a great new piano bar in my neighborhood.
Would you like to maybe go Sunday night?
Yeah, Sunday night would be great.
Great. Uh, pick you up at 7:00?
It's a date.
Good night.
By the way, I also would have been okay
with you kissing me good night.
[knocking]
Hi.
It's so unlike you to just drop by and see me
in the Republic of Suburbia.
Well, I missed you.
It's been a while since you and I got to just sit down and talk.
Is that sentimentality I hear?
Mm-hmm.
I thought you seemed happier lately.
There might be another reason
why I'm a little happier lately too.
It's Anna's music teacher, isn't it?
Maybe.
Well, I hope so because he is super cute.
He's also incredibly nice.
I didn't think your work left much time for relationships.
Well, maybe it does now.
What? What's wrong?
What do you really want?
What are you talking about?
Well, you're following through with Anna,
coming here to see me,
talking boy talk for the first time in years.
Gotta be a reason.
I told you. I'm trying to make up for lost time.
I mean, with Anna, but with you too.
And that is so nice.
But what's different now?
I can no longer tell lies.
- What? - Mm-hmm.
[laughs] You're kidding. Since when?
You have been the best liar I've known.
This is gonna sound bizarre,
but ever since I missed Anna's concert that other night,
I walked outside,
I talked to this Santa Claus that was standing there
and, I don't know, a cold wind blew,
there was a full moon, and everything changed.
Maybe you should be talking to someone
a little more qualified than me.
- I'm not crazy. - [laughs]
All right, let me test out your theory.
Okay.
Last summer,
when you said you had a business trip in Toronto,
when I asked if you could watch Anna over my reunion weekend...
I was wine country, trying to win a new account.
Okay, um...
New Year's Eve, two years ago.
[soft gasp] Oh.
Did you really forget to put my name on the guest list
at that VIP ball downtown?
No, I had to use that spot for a potential new client,
and I tried to text you, but it was too late, so...
[sighs]
Okay, um...
Last one.
Has Anna ever come before your job?
No.
But I want to change that now.
With all my heart.
HOLLY: No. No way is it better.
DREW: Seriously? I thought you were more old school?
I am old school, but what could be more old-school awesome
than Jimmy Stewart and a kindly angel?
Scrooge! Ebenezer Scrooge, that's who.
You are sorely mistaken.
Well, we'll have to continue this tomorrow night at dinner.
I've got to get some sleep.
Okay. I'll prove you wrong then.
I'm really looking forward to it.
Plus, we haven't kissed yet,
so there should be some really fun tension on tap.
Please tell me you had hung up before I said that.
DREW: I hung up before you said that.
See you tomorrow.
Good night, Drew.
Good night, Holly.
[sighs]
Some really great tension on tap?
Who are you, Holly?
[phone rings]
You're calling me back because you missed me already, right?
GRAYDON: No, but I am intrigued.
Oh, hello! I'm so sorry. I thought you were someone else.
I gathered as much.
In my defense, it is a little weird
to get a call after 9:00 from a client,
even a really rich one.
Look, I know it is a bit spur of the moment,
but I need to see where the collection campaign is at
tomorrow in Aspen.
Tomorrow? Aspen?
Yeah, well, this is where I am, and so we should meet here.
I may need you for 24, 36 hours.
Well, I have plans tomorrow,
really important plans tomorrow night.
I'm glad you agree.
You were just emailed a plane ticket
and all of the details.
You fly out at 6 a.m.
Graydon, I--
Unless the next thing out of your mouth is "thank you,"
this conversation is about to go south.
- Thank you? - Good choice.
See you in the morning.
[sighs]
♪ Well, the snow outside keeps comin' down ♪
♪ It's covering the trees
GRAYDON: Well, I reckon you were being far too modest
about your talent on the slopes.
It's been a long time since I went skiing,
but that was fun.
It's like riding a bike, isn't it?
[laughs]
I think we should capture this moment for posterity
- with a dreaded selfie. - Okay.
♪ Won't you spend Christmas here with me ♪
Thank you again so much for having me.
This is a beautiful place.
Perfect place, for work and play.
[laughing]
People ask me all the time,
how did I manage to build up my brand in 10 short years.
And I nearly always say,
"Well, if I tell you, you'll put me out of work."
Funny, I've said almost the same exact thing
to many of my coworkers.
Coworkers?
How quaint that must be to have peers.
Well, coworkers or no,
I think I stack up pretty well against you.
Oh? Well, that's a pretty high bar,
since you'd need my rare mix of business sense, talent,
personal charm, and charisma.
Don't forget untethered arrogance, tone-deafness,
and slightly thinning hairline.
[laughing]
Feisty. I like you. So what's your poison?
Oh, I'm not really that--
You know, I would absolutely love a drink, if you have it.
I'm just feeling extraordinarily stressed.
[phone chimes]
Well, relax because that's what we do here.
But do show me what you've got,
since you're gonna be up on the stage with me there.
Salut.
- Cheers. - Cheers.
Okay, um, well,
the team and I were working on a couple of concepts,
but this is the one I feel is the strongest.
This is likely to play well with a suburban demographic
that's looking for a touch of city cool,
but will probably feel out of touch,
where they're even slightly alienated
by the typical big-name label.
Spot on.
I don't think I've met anyone quite like you
in this game before.
Classy, beautiful,
refined, killer instinct.
I am so very sorry,
but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to leave.
I promised someone that I would be somewhere with them tonight,
and I have to keep that promise.
Tonight? We've got work to do.
And I promise you I will finish it all on Monday,
but there's somewhere I have to be
with someone I care a lot about.
I can't imagine anyone in your place
having the nerve to jump ship right now.
You're not mad?
I'm not used to no. [chuckles]
But I believe you, when you say you'll finish this by tomorrow.
However...
if you fail to do so, I'll find someone who can.
I know that you will, and you have my word.
♪ [piano]
Well, this is a great place.
Yeah. I was hoping you might enjoy the music.
I do very much. It's-- It was a good call.
So how was your day?
It was really good.
I spent the whole day in Aspen with Graydon DuPois.
I didn't know you and your team were gonna be up there today.
Pretty quick trip.
It wasn't my team. It was just me and him.
Just the two of us all day long.
We actually went skiing, in fact.
It was fun.
He took a cute selfie of us.
Let me show it to you.
That's interesting.
I'm gonna take that back.
Yeah.
I was hoping you weren't gonna find out,
but I find it impossible to keep any secrets that big,
so yeah.
I can understand. Stranger things have happened
than marrying him and running his company, right?
Mm, no, I said that so long ago, Drew.
I was kidding, mostly.
Actually, that's not true.
I was half telling the truth. I meant it.
You meant it?
I mean, he's rich,
he's handsome, he's very talented.
There are worse people an ad exec could befriend.
He wanted me to spend the night.
To work. Just to work.
Um, but I came back because I told him
it was very important to me to keep these plans with you,
and I said there was someone special
that I wanted to spend time with today, and that's true.
There's nobody I'd rather be sitting here with than you.
You know I can't lie.
So I actually have some news myself.
Oh, good. What is it?
The head band director at Northwestern
suddenly decided to retire.
Oh, Northwestern?
The Northwestern in Chicago?
Yep. They need someone to start right after New Year's,
and they offered the job to me.
That's, um-- That is really exciting.
And what I mean by that is that's really impressive
and not that I want you to take the job
because I really, really, really don't want you to take the job.
Are you gonna say yes?
They offered to double my salary,
and it's a cool city.
Kind of tough to turn down, don't you think?
Um...
[car doors closing]
HOLLY: Oh.
Let me guess.
Graydon DuPois?
[car door closes] [engine starts]
Why do yours look all weird?
They're not weird. They're unique.
Hmm. They look like gross blobs.
[scoffs] They're arty.
I get arty this time of year.
Okay.
[doorbell rings]
I'll get it.
Well, he hasn't accepted the job yet.
No, but he'd be crazy not to.
Does he believe you about DuPois?
I think so, but the thing is,
I know he had a really bad experience
with his last girlfriend not being honest with him.
Probably doesn't help matters that I told him every detail
of my wonderful day in Aspen with DuPois.
And then he saw the flowers.
It's gotta be hard on him.
Oh, also I told Drew, when I first met him,
that I could envision myself as Mrs. DuPois.
- Oops. - Yep.
It's so strange too.
Now that I can't lie anymore,
not only am I honest about everything,
but it's like I have no filter whatsoever.
Everything just comes blurting out.
Like with Drew, I keep telling him
about the feelings I have for him,
and it's way too soon.
I think I might be scaring him off.
I feel like this is all my fault.
Hey, I thought I sent you to bed.
What do you mean, your fault?
How could it be your fault?
You said you can't lie anymore.
I know it sounds a little weird,
but, yeah, that's more or less what's going on.
Why do you look like that?
Anna, what's going on?
Cut her some slack.
She just heard you say that you magically can't lie anymore,
and you just think that sounds crazy, right?
It just sounds crazy, doesn't it?
Right?
I asked Santa to make you tell the truth
all the time, Aunt Holly.
What?
It's what I most wanted in the world,
have you be honest with me, to keep your promises,
so I could spend more time with you.
HOLLY: I don't understand what happened!
I mean, I took your advice.
I just kept living my life just like you said.
Thank you.
Everything was going so well.
I was seeing this great new guy, and my job was going great,
and I was reconnecting with my sister and my niece,
and now, all of a sudden, everything just feels...
not real.
Not real how?
Well, I don't know if I'm just rocking this new account
because the client has a crush on me
or because I'm actually good at it.
And then the awesome new guy I'm seeing
thinks there's actually something romantic happening
between me and that same client, which there isn't.
And things are weird with you and your sister and your niece
because Anna asked for a wish for me to stop you from lying.
How...
Please fix this.
Sometimes assembly is required on the presents you get, Holly,
especially the good ones.
But I don't know how to make this right.
Holly, all these wonderful things started happening
when you started telling the truth, right?
Well, yeah.
Well, then I think
the solution is pretty easy.
[knocking]
- Hey. - Hi.
Come on in.
You're a hard guy to get ahold of.
Yeah, sorry, I've just been really busy.
What's going on?
I decided to take the job at Northwestern.
Been thinking about it quite a bit
and it just seems like the right thing to do.
Just like that, you're leaving?
You can't just leave like that.
I love you.
Don't, please don't.
Is that really all you have to say?
They're just words.
They're not just words because I mean them.
Look, I'm going to Chicago for a semester
to see if I like it.
You can come and visit.
If things between us are meant to be,
then we'll work it out.
This is when we're supposed to figure out
if things between us are meant to be
because I've just told you how I feel about you,
and now I'm standing here
waiting to hear if you feel the same way about me.
So do you?
Yeah, of course.
You know how I feel about you.
But you need space to see if you care more about Graydon.
I don't need any space.
Please don't go.
Holly, I have to. I made a promise.
I promised I would be there on Christmas Eve
for the retirement party of my predecessor,
to pass the baton.
I'm sorry.
I'll call you from there, okay?
No, it's not okay.
It's about as far from okay as anything could be.
Didn't we already do this once before?
I told you, I have a change I need to make with Santa.
This is silly. I don't even think he's still gonna be there.
[door closes]
- Hello, Anna. - I'm so glad you're here.
I need to take back what I asked you for before.
I made a huge mistake.
You don't like your aunt telling the truth?
No, I do. I did.
But things have just gotten too crazy.
A lot of bad stuff has happened,
and I need to replace that wish with a new wish
that involves someone else.
Can I do that?
[sighs]
[knocking]
Here she is, preparing for her big show.
Who'd you lose the bet to?
Oh, uh, Doreen made this. Ever since she left nursing,
there have been a few hobbies that leave collateral damage.
[laughing]
Anyway, I approved the final spots and print ads
for the DuPois account.
This is some of your best work ever.
Tomorrow night's gonna be incredible for us.
And after that,
I'm gonna approve you for partnership.
You were right not to have any faith in me.
I didn't really have any faith in myself.
I didn't actually know DuPois before I landed the account.
That phone call you overheard?
I completely made that up so that you'd give me the account.
[door closes]
I lied too, Holly.
I was actually leaning toward Ted before the call.
I mean, he's a decent guy,
and he's done some good work for us
for a really long time.
I never told you this before, but that DuPois account
and the partnership you're about to get,
probably should've been his.
Then give it to him.
You've done such a good job on the DuPois project.
It's not that clear cut.
I don't care. Ted deserves it.
What about the DuPois show tomorrow?
I'll still do it, and it's still gonna be great,
and then once it's over,
you can make whatever decision you feel is right,
regarding my future here.
And if you decide to let me go,
I'll completely understand.
♪
♪ ["Joy to the World"]
Wow. This is so fancy.
Yeah. There are our seats.
Okay.
You look a little nervous.
I feel like all my internal organs
are fused into one big ball of anxiety.
Jordan, would you please get Holly a seltzer?
- Sure. - No, that's okay.
I can do it. I could use the walk.
GRAYDON: What they don't know won't hurt them.
Am I right?
"Made in the USA." Hah!
Made in good old Malaysia, more like it.
Critical. It'll put us back in the black
six months ahead of current projections.
Your job is to ensure that we keep a lid on it.
Thank you.
You okay? You look a little green.
I just overheard Mr. Made-in-the-USA saying
that his entire collection is actually secretly made
in Malaysia.
- What? - Yeah, I know.
- Are you sure? - Yeah, I'm absolutely sure.
I just heard him.
So how are we gonna play this?
Canceling the show would be a good start.
Wait, hold on here, Holly.
Let's think rationally here for a minute.
This is rational. He's lying, and we cannot be part of this.
- Holly, shh! - What? Don't "Holly" me.
Well, are we ready to do this?
We sure are.
GRAYDON: Outstanding. Come on then.
GRAYDON: Ladies and gentlemen,
I give you the Graydon DuPois Made in the USA Collection.
♪ ["Deck the Halls"]
GRAYDON: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays,
and in the spirit of the season,
the gifts the guys are carrying
are all bound for local charities
for those less fortunate.
Thank you, gentlemen.
[applause]
On a personal note, I wanna tell you how proud I am
of this new phenomenon in men's wear,
and the fact that it's manufactured right here
in the good old US of A
makes it that much more special, doesn't it?
[applause]
I'd be remiss if I didn't introduce
the architect of the Made in America campaign.
From the Hartman-Hill agency, the fabulous Holly Nolan.
[applause]
I've been creating ad campaigns
for as far back as I can remember.
Projecting an image
so that whatever I'm selling sells.
It's almost become like a game.
You say whatever you need to say to get by,
no matter what the situation.
Living your life like that,
you start to wonder what parts are real
after a while.
Maybe some people start to wonder whether you're real.
Living my life that way,
I realized that I was missing out
on some of the very best parts of life.
And I decided recently
that I'm not gonna do that anymore.
So today...
I have finally decided to do the right thing.
[clears throat]
This is part of a lie that I cannot be a part of--
Thank you for sharing. A big hand for Miss Nolan.
No, I'm not finished. Here's the thing.
The Graydon DuPois Collection
is, in fact, not made in the USA.
My boss Berkley O'Connell and I
discovered this a few moments ago,
and I can say with a very clear conscience
that I want nothing further to do
with a liar like Graydon DuPois
and neither should any of you.
Kid's got a great sense of humor.
Thank you again, everybody,
and Happy, Happy Holidays.
I hope that was worth it to you, Holly,
because I am gonna sue you and your boss
for more money than the DuPois Collection
would have made me over the next ten years.
And then I'll start getting nasty.
Well, good luck with that
because I happen to be a firm believer
in that time-tested American axiom:
"Truth is the best defense."
Holly, you disobeyed a direct order.
I know. It would have been so much easier
to just stay quiet about DuPois,
but I can't do that anymore.
That's just not who I am.
You certainly didn't do it the easy way,
and you probably cost me a lot of money in the process.
Then why aren't you yelling at me?
I can't yell at somebody who did the right thing.
The thing I should have done.
I'm sorry for putting all that on you.
And that partnership is yours if you want it.
[gasps]
Um, I don't know what to say.
"Thank you" works. "Merry Christmas" as well.
Thank you!
And Merry Christmas.
I just need a little bit of time off though, I think,
to think about everything and sort some stuff out.
I understand. You take as much time as you need.
Just know that you're always welcome back here.
Okay, that was way cool.
[laughing]
You used to be my hero for the wrong reasons,
but now you are for the right one.
I'm so proud of you.
That took incredible guts.
That was so cool how you told that mean DuPois guy
that he was a liar.
[laughs]
Ah, thanks, you guys.
But it's not like I had any choice
but to tell the truth, right?
Right?
Santa had already taken away the truth-telling wish.
That was all you today, Aunt Holly.
Anna, thank you so much for everything.
Why are you thanking me?
Because I finally feel like myself again.
We're gonna see you tomorrow for Christmas at our house, right?
Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Can he come too?
Who?
What are you doing here?
It was the weirdest thing.
Just as I was about to board my flight,
a freak snowstorm came through.
Yeah, they said it was like a once-in-a-hundred-years storm
that nobody saw coming.
What?
The snowstorm was my second wish from Santa.
It came true.
And as I was sipping on my $7 coffee, waiting to board,
I remembered that you said you loved me,
and I realized that you meant it.
Did you realize anything else?
Yeah.
I realized that I love you too.
[sighs]
Miss Nolan, what are you doing here?
Who is it, Grandpa?
Run along, Damon. I'll be back in soon.
Merry Christmas, ma'am.
Merry Christmas.
What can I do for you this fine Christmas morning?
Well, I'm sorry to bother you so early,
but the basketball game starts in a couple of hours.
I wanted to make sure you and your grandson
had enough time to get there.
Why did you do this?
Well, a promise is a promise, right?
Thank you, Miss Nolan.
You are so welcome. Merry Christmas, Mr. Brouhard.
MR. BROUHARD: Damon, we're going to the game!
DAMON: Really? That's gonna be awesome!
MR. BROUHARD: Yahoo!
Oh, look who's back.
[laughing]
HOLLY: Hi.
DREW: Well, that didn't take very long.
- Where were you? - Oh, just keeping a promise.
Hi, Aunt Holly. There's one more present for you.
It's from me.
Thank you so much!
What could it be?
Let's see.
[gasps]
Oh, wow.
Do you like them?
I love them. Thank you so much.
I also want to thank you
for that truth wish that you made with Santa.
'Cause as difficult as it was for me at times,
it was actually exactly what I needed.
You're not even a little bit mad about that?
Mm-mm, not even a little tiny bit.
[whispers] Oh, I also wanna thank you
for that last-minute snowstorm that you wished into existence.
It happened just in the nick of time.
[laughs]
HOLLY: We're not talking about you.
- Don't worry. - No.
Be careful. Santa's always watching.
Rose, thank you so much for having me over for Christmas.
It's been absolutely amazing.
Now, is that the truth?
It's the truth.
Are you and my Aunt Holly gonna get married?
Anna!
What?
Well, we'll see.
Gross!
Not at the dinner table!
Gross.