Once Upon a Main Street (2020) Movie Script

SINGER: When the air turns cold
And the fireplace starts to glow
SINGERS: It must be Christmas,
it must be Christmas
SINGER: Twinkle lights on the trees
And kissing under mistletoe
-SINGERS: The love it gives us
-SINGER: Oh
SINGERS: It must be Christmas
SINGER: I hear the carolers sing
While we dance in the falling snow
-SINGERS: Falling snow
-Ah! (laughs)
Cute.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, I want to remember this moment
for the rest of my life. Let me see.
I'm sure one of these will do.
Oh, my gosh.
Can you believe
I'm gonna own this building?
They got back to you really fast.
Well, I put in an aggressive offer.
I didn't want to lose it.
I mean, it's perfect.
I mean, this location is perfect.
It's so great.
(sighs)
(whispering) Close your eyes for a sec.
(inhales deeply)
Take in that feeling.
-Your excitement?
-No, that Christmas feeling,
when you feel like a kid again
and you're happy for no particular reason
and just the sight of bows
and shiny wrapping paper makes you smile.
Oh, yeah, that is a great feeling.
And we only get it for, like,
five weeks out of the year,
but not anymore.
Your year-round Christmas shop
will take care of that.
I know. I'm so happy.
Oh, you're gonna do great.
I'm so proud of you.
Congratulations!
I have to run to work,
but I'll see you tonight?
All right. Bye.
-SINGER: Wrapping presents with a bow
-Whoo!
SINGER: Building snowmen
Oh, I'm so happy, I could dance!
Try not to hurt anyone
with all that enthusiasm.
SINGER: Ice-skating with you
hand in hand
-In a sea of shining stars
-Merry Christmas!
-SINGERS: The love it gives us
-SINGER: Ooh
-SINGERS: It must be Christmas
-SINGER: Yeah
Kids tucked in their beds
As the reindeer start to fly
SINGERS: Fly across the sky
SINGER: So much joy in the air
(humming "Jingle Bells")
(curious music playing)
(cell phone ringtone playing
over speakers)
Hello.
WOMAN: Hey there.
Did you know that Christmas
is just around the corner?
-(scoffs)
-WOMAN: It's that time of ye--
Are you kidding me?
(Vic scoffs)
Hey. That's my spot.
What? You were nowhere near this spot.
I just switched to reverse.
Yeah, well, next time, switch faster.
Hey, I've got an appointment
to get to, lady.
And I have the post office
to get to, buddy.
Whatever. Have a nice day.
I am having a nice day.
Weirdo. Whoa!
(glass shatters)
Ow.
VIC: Hey, you okay?
(sighs) Fine, thanks.
-Uh-oh.
-(glass clattering)
Unless you bought somebody
glass jingle bells,
this pretty little gift
isn't so pretty anymore.
You're enjoying this, aren't you?
No.
Maybe a little.
There is something called
instant karma, you know.
You were nowhere near the spot.
Now, if you don't mind,
I have to get another one of these.
Maybe a little bubble wrap next time?
Whatever.
Merry Christmas.
Instant karma. What a clown.
-Oh!
-(gasps)
Oh, my goodness.
Maybe there is such a thing
as instant karma.
Ah!
(laughs)
(jazzy piano music playing)
-Hey.
-Hey.
-What's all this?
-Contractor information.
I'm comparing reviews and star ratings.
(laughs)
-Excited much?
-Yes.
I cannot wait to get started.
You know, we can work on the interior now
and then the exterior when it warms up.
Wait, did you close since I saw you today?
No, but that's just a formality.
Oh, thank you so much for getting this.
I know it was my turn.
But you could not wait
to get started on renovations.
Do you have a target opening date?
Well, I turn 35 this January,
and I promised myself
I'd have my own business before then.
I'm just--I'm ready.
I'm ready to do my own thing.
To doing your own thing. Hear, hear?
-Cheers.
-Cheers.
(cell phone pings)
Something bad?
I'm not--I'm not sure.
The realtor wants me to stop
by his office first thing in the morning.
-You said he'd be in touch.
-Yeah, but it's the wording.
He says "an urgent matter."
Why wouldn't he just call me?
Hmm.
People tend to send emails
when they want to avoid
getting into something over the phone,
usually bad news.
Mm, although I'm sure
that's not the case here.
He's just probably done for the day
and wants to pick up again tomorrow.
I'm sure there's nothing wrong.
Yeah.
Sure. What could possibly be wrong?
What? No way!
Miss Lewis, please calm down.
You think I should be calm?
You don't tell someone
they have the winning bid on a property
and then call them the next day to say,
"Oops, you might not
have the property anymore."
Well, there was another offer.
Well, I doubt the other offer
was as solid as mine.
Who is this person?
What are you doing here?
What am I doing here?
What are you doing here?
Oh, you--you two know each other?
Yeah, in a "she tried
to run me down" kind of way.
Okay, such an exaggeration.
For the record, your jacket looked better
with a slush design.
Okay. Mr. Woodward,
you said there was something
urgent with my building?
-Yes, you see--
-I'm sorry.
I can stop you right there, Mr. Woodward.
You can pump your brakes with
the whole "my building" thing.
What's she talking about?
I offered full asking, all cash.
I'd like to see you try to beat that.
Wow, all cash, that is tough to beat.
I had to get a loan.
That's just too bad.
But I did offer over asking.
Wait, what? Over asking?
Who does that? Who does that?
Someone who knows there's another bid
and wants to compete.
MR. WOODWARD:
I'm sorry, but my duty is to the seller.
I have to get him the best deal possible.
He has your offers,
and I just need him to decide
which one he wants.
On the bright side,
it's a lovely building.
You both have excellent taste.
(bright music playing)
PAIGE: Over asking? That's a slick move.
It sure is.
You should have seen this guy.
He's so annoying.
Mm, how do you feel about your chances?
It's a tough call.
It all depends on the seller.
If they need the money,
then all cash is the way to go,
but if they're not pressed,
then over asking sounds better.
What do you know about the seller?
Nothing.
Okay, I'm checking the address,
and the building was a music store
up until three years ago.
Really?
Owned by a man named Elder Dubois.
Elder Dubois?
Sounds like he was born
to write novels or something.
Okay, there's only one Elder Dubois
in the state of Nevada,
and he lives in Castle Creek.
That's, like, an hour from here.
So?
So I'm not losing my Christmas store
to whatever ridiculous thing
this clown has planned for the building.
It's coming down really hard out there.
It's not that bad,
and if I leave right now,
I can be home by dinnertime.
PAIGE: Sounds risky.
Maybe wait till morning.
It's my Christmas store.
I need to find Elder Dubois
and convince him to sell to me.
Road snack.
Love you.
-PAIGE: Bye.
-AMELIA: Bye.
(exciting music playing)
Okay, Amelia,
this isn't the smartest thing
you've done all year.
Oh, thank goodness.
No rooms?
Up until an hour ago,
we had plenty of rooms,
but everybody's pulling off the road
because of the inclement weather.
Well, is there another motel
or maybe a hotel nearby?
Oh, I'm sorry,
not for about 30 miles or so.
Perfect.
I won't make it 30 feet
in those conditions.
MATT: Yeah, it's too bad too.
You just lost the last room
a few minutes ago.
Oh, and there's the guy that got the room.
We keep running into each other.
Looks like.
Oh, you two know each other?
Well, that's great.
We know of each other.
There's a difference.
This key, it's not working.
Oh, uh, sorry about that.
You know, I was just thinking
how fortuitous it would be
if you two knew each other,
since you got our last room.
No room at the inn? Huh.
Well, there is room,
in your room, that is.
You see, you have one of the few rooms
with a double bed.
-No way.
-No, sir, uh-uh.
It's not safe for you
to drive anywhere else.
Well, I'd rather sleep in my car.
MATT: It would be an icebox,
and you can't sleep
with the motor running.
Carbon monoxide is better
than sleeping next to him.
You'd just have to share
a room for one night.
Now, this is a matter of life and death.
Well, I'm open to it if he is...
(scoffs)
But only if I can pay half the bill.
-Fine, whatever.
-MATT: Excellent.
I'm sure you won't regret this.
(instrumental "Jingle Bells" playing)
Oh, yeah, well, uh,
I didn't bring a toothbrush
or a change of clothes
because I didn't expect
to check in anywhere.
Same here.
I'm just gonna make myself comfy.
Yeah, this should work.
Well, the good thing
about such a small room
is, it won't take too long to heat up.
It is freezing.
Hey, not too high. I run a little warm.
-Is 70 good for you?
-Yeah, that should be fine.
Hey, let's see what's on TV.
-(crowd cheering over TV)
-VIC: All right, okay, that'll work.
Boom, nice! Good one.
Oh, come on.
You're not one of those guys
that thinks fake wrestling
is real, are you?
-No.
-Well, then why would you--
Because it's entertainment,
and that's all it's meant to be.
If you say so.
(chair squeaking)
Are you serious with that squeaky chair?
It's not my fault it's noisy.
Well, you're welcome to sit on a nice,
quiet bed that you're paying half for.
Boom, nice.
(crowd jeering over TV)
Well, maybe we can at least
put a pillow in between us or something.
Trust me, it's not necessary.
(laughs)
(crowd cheering over TV)
(crowd jeering over TV)
You want?
I'm good, thanks.
Oh, come on.
That is such a fake punch.
Why is he holding his jaw like
the punch actually connected?
(laughs)
Really?
Not even trying to sell the yell.
I mean, where do they find these people?
Okay, all right,
I'm just gonna turn this off.
You want it?
Well, I'm just saying that's, like,
the worst acting I've ever seen.
Well, it's not s--you know what?
I'm just gonna go to bed.
Okay, make myself comfy here.
Well, if you're not gonna put
a pillow in between us,
at least you can maybe
sleep on top of the covers?
What are you doing?
The bed's just not comfortable.
So you're gonna sleep
in the squeaky chair all night?
It only squeaks when I move,
and I'm a very still sleeper, okay?
Relax, grumpy. Good night.
(chair thumping, squeaking)
Are you kidding me?
(soft music playing)
AMELIA: Jolly old Saint Nicholas,
lean your ear this way
Don't you tell a single soul
Blue-blah, blue-blah, blay
She doesn't even know the words.
AMELIA: Now we doo-doo-doo
Hey, I gotta get in there.
AMELIA: Tell a single soul
tell me if you can
-Jolly old Saint Nicholas
-Unbelievable.
-Finally.
-Excuse me.
No excuse.
I'm paying for half this room.
(water running)
Hey, I talked to Matt at the front desk,
and he said there's a diner next door
where we can get breakfast.
You're welcome?
VIC: The water is freezing in here!
Oh, it was fine a minute ago.
Hey, you got room?
We have a bit of a wait right now.
Water pipe leak last night, so--
Oh, well, maybe with her. How about that?
-Do you know her?
-Yeah, I do, yeah.
Hi. Excuse me.
I hate to interrupt your breakfast,
but we're really short on tables,
and this gentleman says that he knows you.
He wants to know if it's okay to join you.
-Sure, it's okay.
-Yeah, okay. Thank you.
-Thanks.
-Go ahead.
Can I just get a bagel and coffee?
-Oh, sure, yeah.
-Thanks.
Thanks for that. They said it was gonna be
a long wait because
of the shortage of seats.
Oh, it's the least I could do,
and for the record, we're even now.
I don't owe you anything.
I never said otherwise.
LINDA: Here you go, sweetie.
-Thank you.
-LINDA: You're very welcome.
That was fast.
Can you pass the jam?
If it's not too much to ask.
Thanks for that.
(instrumental "We Wish You
a Merry Christmas" playing)
I can feel you watching me.
AMELIA: I'm sorry.
I don't mean to be weird.
I'm just wondering, what's the hurry?
What--what makes you think
that I'm in a hurry?
Well, you bum-rushed
the shower this morning,
your unwillingness to wait for a seat,
the way you are destroying that bagel,
you just seem like a guy
who's got somewhere to be.
Mm, well, my aunt,
she's gonna be outside of Castle Creek.
She's coming to town for a day
or two 'cause of Christmas.
-Castle Creek, huh?
-Yup, outside of Castle Creek.
What about you? What's your emergency?
Who said there's an emergency?
Well, who drives a sports car
in weather like this?
Uh, it's my only car,
and it wasn't like this when I set out.
Set out to?
Hey, I don't mean to pry.
You know, if it's a big secret--
AMELIA: It's not a secret.
I was setting out to, um,
uh, um, check on a friend
because she's so sick,
and no one can check on her
at the moment but me.
Mm.
So you decided just to chow down
some pancakes first?
Well, I spoke to him, and--
Her. You said "her."
Yeah, I just said that, "I spoke to her."
-Mm-hmm.
-And she was fine this morning,
so I didn't wanna drive
on an empty stomach,
so I ordered pancakes.
(laughs)
Blood sugar levels, lightheadedness.
Oh, yeah, of course.
Why are you grinning? It's a real thing.
VIC: Whoa, I know.
Oh, that's why I can't skip any meals.
Yeah.
You know, I checked the roads,
and they haven't cleared 'em yet,
so we're gonna be here for a while,
so we might as well get comfortable.
(cell phone blips)
VIC: Oh.
Hey, I gotta take this outside real quick.
You know, can you, um--
can you order me another bagel?
'Cause...(slurps)
I don't wanna get
those low blood sugar levels.
Can you tell Linda I need one? Thanks.
Here, just keep the change.
LINDA: Oh, sure.
Your guys' food is almost out, yeah.
How are you making out?
Oh, it was great.
Thank you, Linda.
I'll just take the check.
-LINDA: Oh, okay.
-Oh, and the gentleman asked
if he can get
one more bagel to scarf down.
Really? I just saw him.
Uh, he paid his bill.
I think he left through the back door.
(tense music playing)
-Thank you.
-LINDA: Thank you.
Oh, good morning, Miss Lewis.
Are you ready to check out too?
"Too"? Did he check out already?
-Uh, about ten minutes ago.
-(gasps) That little sneak.
Be careful who you're nice to, Matt.
People will take advantage
of your kindness.
I should have left
his low blood sugar self in that diner.
Who even knows if that's true?
Yeah, sorry, I'd like to check out,
and quickly, please.
He probably lied about
the roads not being cleared
just so he can get a head start.
People are not nice, Matt.
They are not nice.
(lively music playing)
I almost forgot. Merry Christmas, Matt.
(lively music playing)
-PAIGE: This is ridiculous.
-You got that right.
What a conniving little liar he is.
All right, I'm pulling up. (gasps)
I knew it. He's here.
PAIGE: (gasps) Are you serious?
-AMELIA: I gotta go.
-PAIGE: Okay, bye.
(bright music playing)
-Hi.
-Hi.
I guess your aunt's a little closer
to Castle Creek than you realized?
Like, right smack in the middle of it?
I take it your friend is feeling better.
Good for him. Or was it her?
-You're not cute, you know.
-And you're a terrible liar.
What? What are you even talking about?
You have a tell.
You bite your lower lip when you're lying.
Okay, that's ridiculous
'cause I do have a friend,
and she does live close by,
and she did just get over the flu.
Okay, so is that why you snuck
out of the diner?
VIC: I didn't sneak out of anywhere.
I made a strategic exit.
Don't hate the player. Hate the game.
Ugh, how long have you been
waiting to say that?
Hey--oh! Oh!
-Oh, are you all right?
-I'm fine.
-You're sure?
-I'm fine, thank you.
Hi, I'm Amelia Lewis.
-Hello.
-Hey, I'm Victor Manning.
My friends call me Vic.
-Hello.
-Are you Elder Dubois?
I am. What is this about?
I think it's safe to say
that we're both here for the same reason.
(cups clink)
-Okay, here we go.
-Thank you.
-You bet.
-Appreciate that.
All right.
Where were we?
(clears throat) Excuse me.
Oh, okay.
(sighs)
I wanted to discuss the sale
of your building in White Oak.
Now, I realize that you have two offers
that may appeal to you
for different reasons,
but I thought if I told you
what I intended
for the property,
it might help you decide.
And what is that?
I want to open
a year-round Christmas store.
-Is that right?
-AMELIA: Yes.
I've done my research,
and year-round Christmas stores
do very well.
I mean, who doesn't love Christmas?
Present company excluded.
Oh, no, no, please, don't misunderstand.
I love Christmas. I really do.
The homeowners' association
decorates the outside
of all the houses here, and it's nice.
It's really very nice.
But I, uh, recently lost my wife,
and, uh, just not in the mood
to decorate inside.
-I'm so sorry.
-So sorry.
ELDER DUBOIS: Yeah.
It's okay, but thank you.
And you, young man,
what are your plans for the building?
My plan is to open
a gourmet chocolate shop.
It's the perfect location,
and who doesn't love a good truffle, huh?
Pretty good chocolatier, are you, son?
VIC: I've been cooking since I was a kid,
but yeah, chocolate's
definitely my specialty.
Well, I hope you both understand
that I'm not going to make
a decision right away.
I have an awful lot on my mind right now.
Are--are you okay?
I'm not gonna burden you with my problems.
VIC: Hey, we're the ones
who barged in on you.
Feel free to vent.
It'll make you feel better.
Okay.
I just came back from a breakfast meeting
of the Main Street Merchants Association.
Now, every year,
we have a decorating contest--
a battle, actually,
between the Main Streets of our town
here in Castle Creek
and our neighboring town of Crystal.
-Well, that sounds like fun.
-Well, yes,
it's supposed to be,
but a lot of people forget the fun,
and they let their egos get in the way,
which is probably why
we've lost this contest
for the last five years running,
and my Tina and I,
we'd cochair the event every year.
I don't wanna let anybody down this year,
but I am just not in the mood.
(sighs)
I can help you.
I couldn't ask you to do that.
AMELIA: Are you kidding?
Christmas is my life.
My parents are traveling,
and I won't see them
till after the New Year,
and my roommate is flying home
to see her family,
so basically, I'm free.
I'll get a room in town.
I would love to help you.
-It's a lot of work.
-I don't mind work.
Neither do I. I wanna help too.
-That's really not necessary.
-It'll be my pleasure.
My parents are in Seattle for Christmas,
so I have all the time in the world
to help bring a victory home
for your Main Street.
Really, Vic, Elder and I are just fine.
ELDER DUBOIS: Actually, Elder would prefer
to bow out of this altogether,
but I would feel better about it
if I knew that one person
wasn't being stuck with all the work.
Sounds like a plan.
I'll get a room in town too.
Are you both sure about this?
BOTH: I am.
(soft music playing)
All right, then. Let's do it.
But you both don't have
to get rooms in town.
I mean, I'm all alone
in this big old house.
You can stay here with me, and who knows?
It might turn out to be a lot of fun
for the both of you.
I have a feeling
you'll make a very good team.
So what do you say?
Teamwork?
Absolutely. Here you go.
ALL: To teamwork.
(chuckles)
(cheerful music playing)
AMELIA: Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens, two--
Hey! Watch the door, will ya?
Oh, what, did you race home and get back
so you get the bigger room?
Gotta do what you gotta do.
Excuse me a sec.
VIC: Enjoy the room.
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
(knock at door)
-Come in?
-Thank you.
What are you whining about?
This is a cozy room
and the perfect place
for you to sit and plot.
Nobody's whining,
and what do you mean, "plot"?
"I wanna help out too.
It would be my pleasure."
You would have never thought of that
had I not volunteered it first.
You don't know that.
Pardon me while I try not to laugh at you
pretending to know anything
about decorating Main Street.
Don't expect me to do
all the heavy lifting either.
You don't know anything about my talents,
and the only thing
I need from you is to leave
so I can finish unpacking.
Thank you.
(gasps, scoffs)
Rude.
(laughs)
What in the world are you doing?
Getting some decorating ideas
for this house.
Mm.
Elder told us to make ourselves
at home while he was out,
not give it a makeover.
This house is crying for Christmas cheer.
What part of he didn't want to decorate
for his first Christmas
without his wife did you miss?
No, he said he wasn't
in the mood to decorate.
There's a difference.
Don't think I don't know
what you're doing.
I just told you what I'm doing.
You really here to spread
some holiday cheer,
Miss Christmas?
Or are you auditioning for a building?
Are you always this cynical?
Yes. Yes, I am, with certain people.
-Yeah?
-Mm-hmm.
All right, well, you can sit there
with your suspicious thoughts
while I transform this room
into a magical realm of Christmas cheer.
(bright music playing)
Wow.
That almost sounded like a compliment.
I have no problem
giving credit where it's due.
And I have no problem saying thank you.
(laughs)
That is the ugliest Christmas
sweater I have ever seen.
My late Nana Betty gave it to me.
Oh.
Well, it is a lovely ugly sweater.
Mission accomplished?
Speaking of missions, what do you think?
I really hope Elder likes
what I did with this room.
I think he's gonna love it.
Mm-hmm.
SINGER: Looks just like a snowman
And a train that slowly
circles round the tree
What's all this?
I just thought I'd get a jump
on dinner, that's all.
Is that right? Now who's being sneaky?
Now who's being a cynic?
I have to admit I was surprised
at the whole chocolatier thing.
I for sure thought
you were gonna open, like,
a wilderness hunting shop or something.
What's that supposed to mean?
You just look like a
hunter-gatherer type is all.
-No offense.
-Oh, none taken.
You know, I thought you were
gonna open a shoe boutique
or something like that.
Shoes? Is that what you think of me?
What's wrong with shoes?
Nothing, but you had a tone.
I know a slight when I hear one.
I see you, mister.
I see you.
(metallic clang) Ow. I'm okay!
(objects clattering)
Need a hand in there?
No, thank you.
I'm fine.
(objects clanging)
You know, if the year-round
Christmas store doesn't work out,
you can always get in demolition.
We're not amused!
Oh, look at you working hard.
I bet you're hoping that Elder
likes your Christmas decorations
more than he loves
my chocolate gingerbread cake.
You know, there is
such a thing as a mixer.
Oh, no, no, no, I only mix by hand.
It's the personal touch
that's gonna separate
my chocolate shop from the rest.
Oh, let me know where you set up shop.
(laughs)
I think that's a little uneven.
You can actually help me
instead of just watching me
with your beady eyes and criticizing me.
I do not have beady little eyes.
You're right.
They're not beady,
but I still feel them boring
into the back of my head.
Wish I could help you with that ladder,
but my hands are full
mixing up this Christmas magic.
(laughs)
Well, if you think
whatever Christmas magic
in that bowl is gonna impress
Elder more than my decorations,
you got another thing coming, buddy.
(laughs)
-Ow!
-Oh!
-(groans)
-I'm so sor--ah!
-(grunts)
-(both laugh)
-Your nose.
-Oh.
-You okay?
-Well, hi, guys.
I'm glad to see you two are getting along.
You, uh, think we could
clean this up before dinner?
(bright music playing)
Oh, your decorations are spectacular,
yeah, and I'm sure that
that was going to be spectacular too.
(bright music playing)
(both laugh)
(instrumental music playing)
Oh, my, that was delicious.
Well, I'm glad you liked it, Elder.
It's good.
You know, you'd better eat up.
You're gonna need
your strength for tomorrow.
I went back to the Main Street
Association to tell them
that I was handing over
all the chairman duties
of the contest to you two.
How'd they take that?
About as well as you could expect.
They balked at the idea
of handing it over to strangers,
but I explained to them
that an unbiased party
that wouldn't play favorites
was exactly what they needed.
Well, favorites,
aren't they all on the same team?
Well, you would think so,
yes, but every year,
it's just the same old thing
over and over again.
Each merchant wants to be
the focus of the contest.
I just hope you're ready
for all the personalities.
(clicks tongue)
We'll whip them into shape.
(snorts) Well, good luck with that.
But I'll tell you
what I'm ready for right now--
some of that gingerbread chocolate cake.
It smells really good.
Hey, I will make some
hot chocolate to serve with it.
Oh, don't bother.
Oh, it's not a bother.
I'll just mix it and serve.
Actually, I shaved some
chocolate for the hot cocoa.
It's way better than the mix,
a lot more work
but totally worth it.
It's what I'm gonna serve at my shop.
You know, why don't you two go
just head into the living room,
and I'll bring out the cocoa and the cake?
I could get really used to this.
Hmm.
(instrumental music playing)
(sighs)
Well, you have certainly
brought the spirit of Christmas
into my home.
Tina would love what you've done.
I have not seen this in years, not years.
You see, we would rotate the decorations
from year to year
so it would always be different.
That's why I had so many
boxes to choose from.
I came across a big box
that belonged to a Marjorie,
and by came across,
I'd accidentally knocked it over,
but don't worry; I didn't break anything.
Are you okay? Did I bring up something--
No, no, no, it's okay. It's okay.
You did a lovely thing here, just lovely.
-Here we go.
-Oh, my.
Yeah, here.
I'll tell you, if your cake tastes
as good as it smells, young man,
your shop is gonna do
a lot better than just okay.
Well, thank you, sir.
And a candy cane in the cocoa,
that's a nice touch.
Well, a hint of mint never hurts.
And your magic touch, young lady,
is gonna make your shop a thing to behold.
That's very kind, Elder.
Let's see.
Fantastic.
Mmm!
(uplifting music playing)
AMELIA: How's the nose this morning?
Oh, still a little sore,
but at least it's not broken.
Thanks for asking.
Well, that's good.
Just making sure you don't have any excuse
not to pull your chairpeople duties.
For a second, I thought
I recognized compassion.
Yeah, that too.
Hello!
Morning, folks.
-Good morning.
-Morning.
Looking for anything in particular today?
-You, actually.
-Oh?
Yeah, Elder Dubois said
that we might be stopping by.
Oh, yes. Oh, of course.
Um, Amelia and Vic, nice to meet you.
Likewise, we just thought
we'd introduce ourselves
to the individual merchants
before we set up a group meeting.
Yeah, put together a game plan
for the Battle of the Main Streets.
You have any ideas this year?
It's the same every year:
Winter Wonderland.
We decorate the front of our shops.
One shop is chosen to host the judges,
and we contribute to the host
store to make it extra special.
Hmm. So just same every year?
It's just easiest that way.
Elder said there might be
some challenging personalities?
Understatement.
Oh, I tease,
but, uh, let me know what the others say.
Rowena Marston of the Pottery House
is never shy with her opinion.
Make sure you give her a call.
-Thank you.
-Okay, thank you.
You're very welcome. Come on by soon.
You bet. We'll be back.
That wasn't weird.
Sounds like that Rowena
at the Pottery House is trouble.
What do you think we got ourselves into?
Let's check it out.
So what were you gonna do
if this didn't work out?
Eggnog and unlimited Christmas movies?
Alone?
Some might say you got
a great personality,
and I think you'd want to spend
Christmas with someone special.
So some might say I have
a great personality?
Great-ish...
when you're not slamming doors
in people's faces.
You know, too personal.
Sorry.
It's fine. Look, I was seeing someone,
and we ended it a couple months ago.
-Just wasn't working out.
-Hmm.
Why are you free for the holidays?
Guys who know their way
around a kitchen like you
are usually in high demand.
Maybe, but it's impossible
when you work two full-time jobs.
Plus, I already took off time
in hopes of closing on the building.
Two full-time jobs?
-How long you been doing that?
-A while.
I invest everything back
in the chocolate business.
That is some serious
dedication to a dream.
I admire that.
Well, you gotta do what you gotta do.
(cheerful music playing)
Hello.
Anyone here?
ROWENA: Back here!
(cheerful music playing)
Hi, Rowena.
My name's Amelia, and this is Vic.
So you're who Elder thinks
should be running the show?
-Yes.
-Yep.
Why?
Well, for starters,
Amelia is a whiz at decorating.
And Vic knows how to cook up competition
better than anyone else I know.
Hmm, color me impressed. Not really.
So you know we've lost
five years in a row, right?
And you know if we won,
we wouldn't win anything
but a little trophy and bragging rights
on a local TV show, right?
I mean, it's not like
it's Jimmy Fallon or anything.
-What is?
-True, true.
All right, well,
you wanna do it, go get cracking.
-It's time we won again.
-Excellent.
Okay, well, we were gonna meet
at the Coffee Corner later,
and we'd love for you to join us.
We'll see.
Okay. Thanks.
Great place.
Close the door on your way out.
Okay.
(cheerful music playing)
AMELIA: Thanks for letting us
use your caf
for the committee meeting, Chandra.
We did say 6:30, right?
Yep, yeah. Don't take it personal, guys.
The, uh, last meeting didn't
exactly inspire confidence.
The merchants aren't expecting
anything different.
Well, let's see if we can
change your minds, huh?
Come on.
Well, thank you all for showing up.
We're excited to share some ideas with you
and, you know, get you home
as soon as possible.
Has the meeting started yet?
Well, we were just about to, Rowena.
Oh, jeez.
(chair scraping)
(sighs)
All righty, then.
As you guys know,
Elder has asked me and Vic
to step in as cochairs
of the Battle of Main Streets contest.
And we know each year,
one of your stores is highlighted
as part of the Winter Wonderland theme.
It's my turn this year. Is it?
Um, well, Vic and I
were thinking that maybe--
ROWENA: Were you?
About how to play up my pottery shop?
(snorts) You might have consulted me
before you started thinking.
Uh, I think what Amelia was trying to say
is that maybe this year,
we shake things up.
-Huh?
-ROWENA: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I have waited five years for my turn
in the contest spotlight,
so if your "big idea"
involves anything other than that,
I suggest you return to the drawing board.
Seriously, Rowena?
-Why don't you just let them speak?
-I'm letting them speak.
It's not always about you.
-You need to stop this right now.
-I'm perfectly calm.
-This is ridiculous.
-Okay, guys.
What are you talking about?
-Why is everyone ganging up on me?
-Guys?
-Guys!
-What are you talking about?
-This is ridiculous.
-Hey, um,
can we just cool down?
Just--let's be calm.
Cool down? Cool down?
I'm very cool. I'm very calm,
Miss Contest Helper Person.
You be cool and calm.
-Truly?
-ROWENA: I'm not--I did not--
-but why is everyone standing up--
-Amelia? Hey.
We're settling our disagreements
among ourselves.
-Look what you just did.
-I didn't do that.
-You just insulted them.
-I didn't do that.
She's gonna be such a baby,
she's gonna leave before--
-They're volunteering.
-Well, there's no--
Hey, Amelia.
So when the going gets tough,
the tough walk out?
I'm not quitting, just for the night.
I'm gonna let them chill out,
and we can try again tomorrow.
First sign of trouble,
and you just head for the hills?
Nice.
That's not fair.
We're not gonna accomplish
anything tonight
with them fighting like that.
You know what's not fair
is that you made a promise to Elder
for your own selfish reasons.
(defeated music playing)
(scoffs)
You don't know me well enough
to say something like that.
You entitled, spoiled types
are all the same.
(defeated music playing)
You ever do anything for anyone
just out of pure goodness?
You ever stick your neck out for someone
when there wasn't something in it for you?
(defeated music playing)
You know what? I got it.
I'll do it myself.
(defeated music playing)
(cheerful music playing)
Snowman looks great.
You also did a really good job
on Elder's tree.
Hey, uh, I guess I owe you an apology.
You guess?
Okay, I do. I'm sorry.
I thought what I suspected
was proven to be true,
and I spoke too soon.
AMELIA: What you suspected...
that I am spoiled and entitled?
Tell you something. I'm neither of those.
I know.
And where do you come off
with that, anyways?
Well, there was the parking lot
-and then the race to the room--
-So I'm determined.
It's nothing to be ashamed of.
(laughs)
How'd the rest of the meeting
go after I left last night?
-Terrible.
-Mm-hmm.
VIC: You were right.
Nothing was gonna get
accomplished after the blowup,
but we made a promise to Elder,
and I just think that
if you could find a way to forgive me,
we could work together
to save this contest.
(soft music playing)
All right, so I'm gonna go inside
and brainstorm or something,
if you wanna come.
Really great snowman.
(soft music playing)
(laughs)
-Apology accepted.
-Okay.
All right, that's how you want to play it?
Be nice. I said apology accepted.
Oh, no, two can play this game.
D--be nice!
Be nice! Oh!
Amelia!
Hey, are you okay?
(spitting)
You okay?
I guess I deserved that.
(warm music playing)
Here you go.
Thanks. I didn't say so last night,
but this is the best chocolate
gingerbread cake ever.
Thank you. That means a lot.
What are we looking at?
Mm, before Elder left
for errands this morning,
him and I talked about the contest.
It's been a tradition
with the local TV station for years,
so I went on their website
to see why Castle Creek
has been losing to Crystal for so many.
-And?
-See for yourself.
There's cohesion in Crystal.
Just look at their colors
from year to year.
Red and green, silver and gold,
red and gold.
-They're all on the same page.
-Mm-hmm.
And I bet they don't have a Rowena.
(laughs) She's gonna be a hurdle.
How do we get everybody, including Rowena,
to agree on something
that involves everyone equally,
something other than
Winter Wonderland for a change?
Something better.
Hey, let's road-trip to Crystal.
(bright music playing)
You in?
(bright music playing)
(cheerful music playing)
VIC: Wow!
They obviously went
with a silver theme this year.
Why do I feel like we're cheating?
Oh, it's just a fun contest.
I'd be surprised if someone
from Crystal wasn't coming over
to Castle Creek
to check out the competition.
I mean, I was hoping
they were gonna get a little
cocky this year and not bring it,
but they--oh, my goodness,
look at those silver bows.
They're on every tree. There's ornaments.
There's silver garland.
They have silver candy cane trees
in every doorway.
It's beautiful.
Okay, come on. We'll be fine.
I love how into Christmas you are.
I mean, most people
are so jaded this time of year.
I can't help it.
I mean, the bows, the glitter,
the carols--all of it.
But it's more than that. It's a feeling.
I was an only child growing up,
and my parents were really busy
growing their own company,
so Christmas was the only time of year
where they'd actually slow down
and we could spend real time together.
What I remember most about the holidays
is that I never felt alone.
An angel plush toy.
(sighs)
I got one for Christmas
when I was a little girl.
(soft music playing)
I loved her. She was my good-luck charm.
I took her everywhere.
I was devastated when I lost her. Hmm.
(bright music playing)
What?
(chuckles)
Your Christmas cheer, it's contagious.
(chuckles)
You wanna grab a bite?
Sure.
I mean, how pretty are these?
Even the dog has a Santa hat.
(soft music playing)
Mmm.
That is good chocolate cheesecake.
I'm actually impressed.
So how long have you enjoyed baking?
Ever since I was a kid.
Yeah, my big brother was closer to my dad.
My little sister was closer to my mom,
so I got a little squeezed out.
Got you, middle child syndrome.
Yeah, but I got to spend
a lot of time with my nana,
and baking was her thing,
so it became our thing,
especially anything chocolate.
That's so sweet, no pun intended.
(laughs)
Yeah, I'm gonna name some of my desserts
after my nana,
like Betty's brownie cookies.
Mmm.
How 'bout Nana's
New York chocolate cheesecake?
Exactly. (laughs)
(cheerful music playing)
Hey, let's make a deal.
Whatever we do with the contest
from here on out
is to help Elder and nothing else...
no tricks, no shenanigans.
No tricks, no shenanigans,
and let Elder decide
who he wants to sell the building to
without influence from us.
-Deal?
-Deal.
(laughs)
(bright music playing)
(cheerful music playing)
Oh!
-(claps hands)
-Whoa!
Looks like a bomb went off in here.
Uh, I was trying to surprise you guys
with an egg casserole,
but those recipes are way more difficult
than they lead you to believe.
Eating is a lot easier when I order in.
Well, I think we can salvage this.
Hey, how we doing on eggs?
Um...a couple may have escaped me.
Okay, so an egg casserole
is out of the question.
What about, uh--in the mood for pancakes?
-Always.
-All right.
Hey, can you check those cabinets
for red and green food coloring?
Okay.
Red and green. What's this for?
We're not just making pancakes.
We are making Nana's
famous Christmas ornament pancakes.
Your nana sounded pretty amazing.
Oh, she was.
She used to tell me stories
of when she was a kid,
all the Christmases she would celebrate.
We would talk over hot cocoa
with freshly shaved chocolate
and candy canes dipped in it.
She taught me every trick I know.
Did she do anything
with her cooking abilities?
Well, she always wanted to open a bakery,
but Grandpa was old-fashioned.
He squashed the idea.
When I open my shop, it'll be like...
she gets to be a part of it
in a special way.
Your love for your nana,
wanting to honor her,
it's a beautiful thing.
Beautiful?
You got, um...
(tender music playing)
Um--uh, sorry about the mess,
and I'll replace your eggs.
I kind of--I messed up
trying to make something,
but don't worry; I'll bring you coffee,
and Vic will make some pancakes.
(whimsical music playing)
That kitchen was spotless this morning.
-(both laugh)
-Oh, my gosh.
I feel like I was busted.
-Don't forget the coffee.
-Oh, coffee, okay.
(instrumental music playing)
-Here you go.
-Thank you.
You know, you are gonna make one heck
of a year-round Christmas store owner.
Thanks. I appreciate that.
You know, I wasn't sure
if I should include that ornament,
but it's just so pretty.
-I hope I didn't--
-Oh, no, no, no, it's fine.
It's just fine.
You all look so happy in that photo.
That picture was taken
the day my daughter, Marjorie,
graduated from college.
We were so proud of her.
Is she okay?
Oh, she's fine. She's fine.
Except she's got her mother's temperament
and her father's pride.
We got in a bit
of an argument a while back
about a young man she was seeing.
Turned out, I was right,
but she remained angry
that I interfered in her personal life.
-But you said you were right.
-Well, I was, I was,
but a big old "I told you so"
from a meddling father
doesn't help matters much.
Well, I'm so sorry.
Well, she did come
to her mother's funeral,
and we had a civil conversation.
I was kinda hoping we could
put our past behind us,
but, uh, I haven't heard from her since.
But we all have our stories, don't we,
our family histories?
And I'm not gonna bore you
with any more of mine, okay?
Oh, no, no,
I think family histories
are the opposite of boring.
-I mean, it's what ties us together.
-Hmm.
(soft music playing)
Maybe she'll get in the holiday spirit
and reach out this year.
-Or maybe you should--
-Oh, no, no, no.
Best leave sleeping dogs lie, trust me.
I'm, uh--I'm gonna take a walk.
See ya.
(soft music playing)
Family history.
(gasps)
That's it. That's how we win the contest.
VIC: Hey, everyone.
Thank you so much for coming in.
We know it's a couple days
before Christmas,
so we'll keep it short.
AMELIA: Now, I realize the first meeting
didn't go so well,
so I think that we have come up
with a solution
that will make everybody happy.
ROWENA: I just want my fair turn.
That's the only thing
that's gonna make me happy.
BILLY: Why don't we hear them out
before starting in on one another?
AMELIA: Thank you.
So Vic and I have done some research
on the history of this town,
and it sparked an idea.
Oh, jeez.
Yes, Rowena?
ROWENA: My ancestors founded this town.
VIC: And that's great.
It's what we want to celebrate.
BILLY: Wait, what do you mean,
"celebrate"?
AMELIA: Well, every year,
you use the Winter Wonderland theme
because it gives each of you
an opportunity
to spotlight your businesses.
VIC: Yeah, but what if this year,
we could spotlight
all the businesses in the same theme?
ROWENA: No, no, it's my turn.
Wait, hear us out.
Let Castle Creek's history tell a story.
Each of your businesses
represents a chapter.
Then we walk the judges
through the chapters,
celebrating Main Street's past.
That sounds like a great idea.
-I like--yeah, I like that.
-I mean, Winter Wonderland
hasn't exactly been working for us.
So we're just gonna pretend
that this keeps
with our tradition, Billy?
VIC: Maybe this year, we buck tradition.
AMELIA: Now, we know that you were
really looking forward
to your shop being
the focus of the competition,
and we think that
there's a way we can do that.
Your shop will be the first
and the last chapters.
The story will end where it began.
VIC: As a descendant
from the founding family
of Castle Creek, we think it's only right,
not to mention we want you
to escort the judges.
ROWENA: So the cameras would begin
and end at my shop?
And I would be with the judges
for the whole entire time?
I guess that seems fitting.
I guess I could sacrifice
my turn for the good of the town.
-Yes!
-Yes!
-Oh, my God.
-(light applause)
-Hey, now we're talking, huh?
-Good job.
All right, guys,
I know it's a lot of work,
but we can do it.
And we just need you all to decide
what chapters you're gonna be, okay?
And Amelia and I are here to help.
Sounds like we have a lot of work to do
and not a lot of time to do it.
Count me in.
I'll help anyone who needs it.
Good for you. That's the spirit.
All right, thank you.
Looks like we're gonna be busy!
(laughs)
Hey, um, I got you something.
Not a big deal, but I figured
if you ever needed luck,
now would be the time.
Thank you. (gasps)
(gentle music playing)
This is so sweet of you.
BILLY: Hey, Vic!
I need your opinion on something.
(laughs)
You bet, Billy.
(dramatic music playing)
SINGER: Let's celebrate Christmas
SINGER: Christmas
SINGER: It's the best time of the year
Share your gifts and cheer
Everyone, let's celebrate
-'Cause it's Christmas
-SINGER: Christmas
SINGER: The snow is falling down
Santa's coming to town
Everyone, let's celebrate
Let's celebrate the good times
It's the best time of the year
The family's all around
Spreading the holiday cheer
Presents all around
We're gonna go big.
SINGER: And the lights are on the tree
It's the perfect kind of situation
On this Christmas Eve
-It'll be cold
-SINGER: It'll be cold
-It'll be cold
-SINGER: Cold outside
Outside, outside
-And the lights
-SINGER: The lights, the lights
SINGER: Are all so bright
SINGER: So bright, so bright
SINGER: Let's celebrate Christmas
SINGER: Christmas
SINGER: It's the best time of the year
Share your gifts and cheer
Everyone, let's celebrate
-'Cause it's Christmas
-SINGER: Christmas
SINGER: The snow is falling down
Hey, Billy, it looks good.
-Thanks.
-Maybe a little tighter.
-All right.
-Yeah.
There we go, right.
-Hey.
-Hey.
-What do you think?
-Looking good.
Hey, I wanna show you something.
-Wow.
-Right?
(sighs)
This belonged to Charles the postman.
His great-grandfather used
to deliver mail in this
whenever it snowed really bad.
Oh.
I think a sleigh ride for the judges
would be a nice touch.
It would be a nice touch.
Where do you wanna go, North Pole?
I think I'm fine right here.
Look at you.
You're glowing.
You really are Miss Christmas.
I can see how much you love this.
I do.
I love...
all of it.
(poignant music playing)
We should go.
We should.
BILLY: Hey, guys?
There you are.
Wanna do a quick
run-through down Main Street
before everyone calls it a night?
You bet, Billy.
All right, see you there.
(both snicker)
-See you there, Billy.
-Oh, wow.
Oh, Billy.
(bells jingling)
PAIGE: Okay, what do you mean,
you almost kissed him?
I know, I did say he was
a monster and everything,
but once I actually got to know him,
he's kinda like a big teddy bear.
PAIGE: Didn't you also say
that he's super competitive?
Well, yes.
Well, did you forget
that he's your competition
for that building?
Of course not.
PAIGE: Well, how do you know
he's not pretending
to like you just to lull you
into vulnerability?
You don't trust my judgment, do you?
I know you're smart.
We just need to be sure you act like it.
Don't forget what's on the line.
That site is perfect for your store,
and you need that to happen.
Don't let this guy charm it away from you.
-That is so not happening.
-PAIGE: Good.
Okay, well, I gotta run,
so, uh, I'll see you.
Call me. Bye.
Okay, bye.
(soft music playing)
-VIC: Morning.
-Morning.
I made more of my famous pancakes.
-Thanks, but I'm not hungry.
-Not hungry? You okay?
Yeah, fine.
Just anxious, you know, for the contest.
I wanna do good for Elder.
Well, I'm just glad things
aren't weird between us.
It's not weird.
Just nervous is all.
Don't worry. Everything's gonna be great.
Hey, I'm gonna heat up the Jeep.
I thought the three of us
would drive over together.
Have a pancake.
You'll regret it if you don't.
(emotional music playing)
-Good morning, Elder.
-Good morning.
It's gonna be my first Christmas
without either one of them.
I thought tomorrow
was gonna be a gloomy day...
but you and Vic changed all that.
And I hope you're not upset
that I haven't made a decision
on the building yet.
It's mostly because I'm enjoying
having you around so much,
I'm dragging my feet on who to sell it to.
I don't wanna see you both take off.
Well, you're not gonna
be alone at Christmas,
and make up your mind about
the building on your own time.
I'll respect whatever decision you make.
-That's what Vic said.
-Did he?
I apologized to him too.
(sighs) Thanks again.
(tender music playing)
(bright music playing)
-ELDER: Chandra.
-Elder!
It's so good to see you.
-Oh, my gosh.
-Merry Christmas.
Are you treating my friends well?
CHANDRA: We love them.
They're in good hands.
She's telling the truth. (chuckles)
Come on. It's cold out here.
-Let's go to my caf.
-Ooh, good idea, good idea.
-You good?
-Oh, yeah.
-I'm good. I'll be right inside.
-Okay.
Hey, it's Amelia again.
Can you please call me
as soon as you get this?
Thanks.
So it was Vic's idea
to hang the photos in an arc
to tell the story of the caf,
starting with my grandmother's
grand opening,
all the way until when I took over.
I love it. That's a great idea.
So where are we at with the contest?
We sent Rowena to meet
the judges in Crystal.
They're on their way back
in horse-drawn sleigh.
Oh.
It was Amelia's brilliant idea.
Oh, well, it was a great team effort.
Hey, everybody, they're here.
-(horse neighs)
-ALL: Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey
Rowena's taking them into her shop.
You think somebody should head over there?
Well, she's talking about herself.
She doesn't need any help with that.
(laughter)
I'm gonna check with the other merchants.
I'm excited to see what they're doing.
CHANDRA: You know, that's a good idea.
I gotta go work on my store.
Hey.
You good?
Oh, yeah...just stuff.
Okay.
Let's go.
ROWENA: And although my family undertook
every trade imaginable,
pottery-making was the one
that stuck over the decades.
Everything here is so amazing.
Well, thank you.
I like to think that I elevated
pottery-making to an art form.
And you said this building has belonged
to your family all these decades?
Oh, yes, indeedy, it certainly has.
I can't wait to see what's in store
on the rest of Castle Creek's Main Street.
Yeah, so far, we're off to an entertaining
and informative start.
(softly) Okay.
You really surprised us this year.
Yeah, I didn't see this coming.
I mean, I really am looking forward
-to the rest of the story.
-Right?
-Oh, I'm glad.
-Why don't we finish the walk,
and then we'll come back
and shoot some more footage
-of the store for the broadcast?
-All right, whatever you want.
-Alejandro...
-Don't touch that, please.
No, don't touch that.
That's very valuable.
Sorry. Shall we?
-Yeah, let's do it.
-Okay.
Well, I'm--I'm coming with you.
-I'll get my coat.
-FAYE: Okay.
You're where?
(gasps) I see you.
That's me in the tan coat. Okay.
Hey, Amelia.
Did you know that Billy's grandfather
illustrated children's books?
Yeah, uh, Vic had told me about that.
All these years, I never knew that.
Is--is something the matter?
Is something wrong?
Elder, I did something,
and I truly hope you're okay with it.
"Did something"? Did what?
(sighs)
(emotional music playing)
You left your phone charging
in the living room last night,
and I got her number from it.
I was really hoping
that this could happen at your house.
But I was afraid I'd lose
my nerve if I waited too long.
Amelia told me you'd be here.
Elder, please don't be mad.
I'm so sorry, Dad.
No, no, no, no, I'm sorry.
-I've been foolish.
-(sniffles)
I didn't even stop to think
that this would be your first
Christmas without Mom.
Amelia told me
that you were giving me space,
but I don't need space.
I need you.
No, no, we were both foolish,
but that's not important.
You're here right now.
That's all that matters.
Oh.
Oh.
I told Amelia
that you had your mother's stubbornness
and your father's pride.
(laughs)
True. And now I have you back.
Oh, my...
Hey, let's go see Chandra.
She'll be thrilled that you're back.
(sniffling)
Amelia, you're a rock star.
It's the best gift ever.
Thank you. Thank you.
(dramatic music playing)
(sighs)
Amelia.
What's wrong? Why are you crying?
They're happy tears. (laughs)
Well, did we win or something
and nobody told me?
No.
That's why I have happy tears.
Who's with Elder?
It's his daughter.
Well, isn't that the one
he was fighting with?
Not anymore.
I called her, and I told her
that Elder was so upset about their fight
and that he wanted to make up.
It's amazing what happens
when people put aside their pride.
You called her? When?
Last night, and now they both
can have a truly happy Christmas.
(soft dramatic music playing)
Well, I'm happy for them. I really am.
Happy for you too.
What does that mean?
"No shenanigans," isn't that what we said?
I'm such a fool.
I thought I had you figured out.
You go and make a call
like that without me.
-Vic, wait, I...
-Congratulations, Amelia.
I'm sure this'll get you
your building you've always wanted.
(dramatic music playing)
Wait, Vic, hold up. You're wrong.
Okay.
So you didn't pull a sneaky move
to get on Elder's good side?
Sneaky?
No, it wasn't sneaky. It was risky.
What?
Elder told me not to get involved.
He said to just let sleeping dogs lie.
But I saw how sad he was,
so I thought I had to try.
Yeah, to stack the deck in your favor.
No.
It's because of what you said to me
after the first meeting
with the merchants.
I said a lot of things.
What are you talking about?
You said I never do anything
for anyone out of pure goodness.
I never stick my neck out for anyone
unless there's something in it for me.
And?
Well, that stuck with me,
even after you apologized.
It's not that I haven't wanted
to do those things.
I've never had a chance, not like this.
So this had nothing to do
with Elder's building?
Nothing.
This could have gone sideways
really fast, but I like Elder,
so I was willing to take a risk
if it meant
that him and his daughter could make up.
(sniffles)
You know what?
Just believe what you want about me.
Amelia.
Hey, um...
what you did today
was a really good thing.
My cynical, competitive nature just--
it just got the best of me,
had me jump to a conclusion.
The wrong conclusion.
VIC: I know, and I believe you.
You didn't bite your lower lip.
I'm so sorry.
Apology accepted,
and this time, without a snowball
to the back of the head.
(laughs) Well, I appreciate that.
I just wish you could have seen
Elder and Marjorie's faces.
They were so happy.
Whatever happens tonight,
they got a big win because of you.
(hooves clomping, bells jingling)
Speaking of winning,
look at Rowena with the judges.
ALL: Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way
Looks like they're going
into Gary's coin shop.
Should we crash?
And interrupt Rowena when she's in charge?
That might be the worst idea
you've had all day.
All right, let's go in the Coffee Corner
till they're done with the rounds.
(laughs)
What a wonderful day this has been,
very surprising in many respects.
Yeah, with the Battle of the Main Streets,
we're always treated
to beautiful decorations,
but this year, Castle Creek
has taken it a step further
and shared the beauty
of its history with us.
FAYE: Not only were we able to enjoy
beautiful holiday decorations.
We were able to get a glimpse
into Castle Creek's soul.
And while we absolutely loved Crystal's
Silver Linings Christmas this year,
Alejandro and I both agree
that Castle Creek's
Once Upon a Main Street
is this year's winner.
(cheers and applause)
Congratulations. Oh! Oh!
I can't wait to see what you have
in store for us next year.
-Oh.
-Merry Christmas.
We did it, gang! Yay!
Oh...
and I'd like to thank
my ancestors and the town
and especially the contest helper people.
You're beautiful.
Thank you. Thank you.
Well-earned.
Okay, coffee and dessert
at my place, on me.
-Whoo-hoo!
-Come on!
Let's go!
Can you believe we won?
I mean, I can't even believe it.
-It's so exciting.
-Are you done?
Yes, I am. Thanks, honey.
Nice work. First time we win.
You guys good? Yeah?
(upbeat music playing)
You on server duty too?
Well, anything to help Chandra out,
and at least people
are leaving tips on the tables
for their desserts.
Well, it's a great bunch of folks here.
Hey, even Rowena's in a good mood.
I guess you can say victory
brings out the best in her.
-Yeah.
-Hey, I'm really glad
that we could all work together
to bring home a win.
Yeah, hey, I really enjoyed
working with you.
No matter what Elder decides
about the building,
I hope we get to spend more time together.
I'd like that.
Maybe you could even sell
your chocolate gingerbread cake
at my store, wherever that may be.
Hey, let's make a deal.
Whatever Elder decides, no hard feelings?
It's a deal.
I gotta get these to the kitchen.
(upbeat music playing)
-Thank you so much.
-So glad you came.
Thank you for coming.
It's a big night, huh?
Okay, let's--
Amelia, you don't have to do that.
It's no worries. I'm happy to help.
I just love how all these photos
tell the story of your caf.
CHANDRA: Mm.
I see you still go
really heavy on Christmas,
not that there's anything wrong with that.
Well, these weren't all taken
at Christmas.
Once upon a time, this used to be
a year-round Christmas store.
Are you kidding?
That's exactly what I'm gonna open
where I live, in White Oak.
Well, well, will you look at that?
Let me show you something.
(upbeat rock music playing)
It's like Christmas exploded in here.
I love it.
My grandmother loved Christmas,
but running the store
and the caf was too much for me.
I'm really just happy selling
and serving coffee.
I know at some point,
I'm going to need to sell all of this
or put it in storage,
but, you know,
there's a certain comfort in knowing
that a part of my grandma is back here.
No, I get it.
Christmas store-slash-caf, it's inspired.
(gasps) And inspiring.
You and your grandmother are wonderful.
Sorry, I forgot--thank you.
(bright music playing)
Hey, I'm so sorry to interrupt you guys.
Can I please have a minute?
Well, sure, sure.
Can I call Vic over?
-Of course.
-Okay.
Oh, yeah, pardon me, Rowena.
What's up?
I think I have a solution
for our building problem.
We share the building.
-Share?
-Yes.
The building is big--
big enough for you to have
a kitchen to make
all your chocolate specialties
and enough room
for all the goods I'll be selling--
a year-round Christmas
store-slash-chocolate shop.
It makes perfect sense.
It'll cut the investment
for both of you in half.
Exactly!
And haven't we just witnessed
what can happen when people
are willing to compromise?
ELDER: It does make business sense,
and I've seen you two work together.
I know it'll be a success.
(uplifting music playing)
What do you say, son?
It does make perfect sense.
(chuckles) Oh, my goodness.
This is great.
Thank you.
ELDER: No, no, thank you.
(laughs)
What a day this has been.
I'm so excited to work
on our new business together.
You know, I'm already
in touch with a contractor.
I guess she's in
for some new instructions.
Oh, you're always one step ahead.
Working with you is gonna be an adventure.
Yeah, I can't wait to see
what our new chapter holds.
(laughs softly)
(chipper music playing)
SINGER: Wishes come true
The same time every year
AMELIA: Nana's New York cheesecake?
-Check.
-Betty's brownie cookies?
VIC: Check. Nutcracker ornaments?
Check.
Plush angel toys?
They are all ready to go.
I can't believe this day is finally here.
(gasps) Thank you.
It has been a long time coming.
Mmm. (chuckles)
Your nana would be so proud of you.
And she would love to see you
swimming in one
of the Christmas sweaters she made.
You finally get to have
Christmas year-round
like you've always wanted.
-You ready?
-Oh, yeah.
Wait, for good luck...
although I feel like I have
all the luck in the world.
SINGER: We'll hold
Those memories close
Of the look in their eyes
Of joy and surprise
When the morning finally arrives
Wishes come true
The same time every year