Prancer: A Christmas Tale (2022) Movie Script

1
(CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING)
Got a feeling
That Christmas day is near
And the spirit
Of Santa Claus is here
Such a wonderful time
When the snow is in town
It's a hell of a thrill
When the sleigh bells sound
What a wonderful time
Betcha more than a dime
The city bell's gonna chime
Christmas star's gonna shine
And old folks singing in rhyme
Merry Christmas
(VIDEO CONTINUES PLAYING)
TODD: (OVER VOICE NOTE)
Hey, love, just a quick
message to say hi.
I'm sure you're getting
excited for Christmas, yeah?
You better talk
to your mom, yeah?
Yeah, she knows the plans.
Coming! Look,
I gotta go, Gloria.
I'll see you when this
bloody tour's over,
darling. Bye.
Hey, Dad, just saying hi.
Again.
Can't wait to see you. Bye.
CLAIRE: Gloria!
You okay, honey?
You're really quiet tonight.
Gloria?
I'm sorry. I've
been sending Dad
voice messages.
He hasn't gotten back to me.
His last one was, like,
two weeks ago.
Well, you know what
he's like when he's
on tour, honey, come on.
Eat.
Yeah, but he's
always on tour.
At least this one's
over by Christmas.
What, Mom?
Well, your dad, he might
stay in Germany for a while
after his tour is over.
GLORIA: But he said
he'd come back to London...
(OVEN BEEPING)
...and that we would
have a proper Christmas.
CLAIRE: I said he might,
Gloria, okay?
Your dad, he... Ow!
He might stay in
Germany for a while.
Why?
(SIGHS) He didn't say.
Of course he didn't say.
Do you guys even talk anymore?
Of course we talk.
We talk all the time.
There is nothing
to worry about.
We're working it out.
We are.
Mm.
Hey, you barely
ate anything. Come on.
I'm not hungry, Mom.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(SIGHS SOFTLY)
(WIND WHISTLING)
(ENGINE STARTS)
The problem is down there.
Not up here.
WOMAN: But this is the wire.
(GROANS) I've checked
every single light.
WOMAN: No, no, no.
I have!
WOMAN: Now you stay up there
and you recheck those lights.
MAN:
Recheck the lights?
WOMAN: Yeah.
MAN: No way.
(HORN BLARES)
You watch where
you're going, idiot!
(GROANS SOFTLY)
MAN: Why am I always
the one up here anyway?
WOMAN: Come on!
Where's your Christmas spirit?
MAN: My Christmas spirit
is at home where
I'm not being yelled at.
(CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING
OVER STEREO)
MAN: Wally?
What's he doing here?
(WOMAN GROANS)
And this. (SNORTS)
(STU COUGHS)
IFFY: Now, now, Stu,
don't go dying on us.
You know better
than to tell me jokes
while I'm sipping coffee.
(MEN CHUCKLE)
This wiring is almost
as old as you, Stu.
Me?
(MEN LAUGH)
IFFY: Whoa! Look who's here!
STU: Turn the
Christmas music off.
Long time, no see, Bud.
STU: Hey, Bud.
(MUSIC STOPS)
WALLY: What? What you
looking at, old man?
I got as much right
to be here
as anybody else.
Sally, show him the sign.
(SNORTS)
That's for you,
specifically.
I'm sorry, Mr. McShane.
He just started...
Sally, it's fine.
Just ring it up.
I will pay.
All right.
Hey, that is assault!
You all saw that!
That is statutory assault!
Get outta here,
Finn Wally.
You'll regret this,
McShane!
You'll regret this!
IFFY: Way to go, Bud.
The store's closing
December 25th?
For good?
You know about this, Sally?
No.
How about you, Tevin?
No.
Explain yourself,
old man.
Store's been losing
money for years.
It's time
to close it down.
You can't do this.
Betty and Bud's
is an institution
in this town,
the heart
of the community.
In case you
haven't noticed,
Betty hasn't been around
for a couple of years.
IFFY: Yeah, I know that,
Bud. But there must be
something we can do...
There isn't.
Looks like you're gonna
have to get your free
coffee someplace else, Iffy.
Sally, Tevin, I'll
be in between now
and Christmas.
Help you close
the thing down.
MAN: They're still
not working.
I keep telling you.
WOMAN: What are you saying?
MAN: What I'm saying is
there are too many lights.
That's the problem.
Same problem last year.
Bunch of clowns.
MAN: We need to take
half of these down.
(BUD GROANS SOFTLY)
Well, Bet...
(VOICE BREAKS) It's done.
(HUFFING)
BUD: Where did he come from?
Damn heater.
Who put up
the reindeer display?
Huh?
Where'd you go?
(EXCLAIMS)
(GROANING SOFTLY)
CLAIRE: I am sorry
I am late, honey.
It has been a crazy day.
What happened this time?
So I finished
my project for work,
which is great.
That means we'll
have some money
this Christmas.
So we're no longer
on a limited budget.
Oh, no,
we're still on it.
But at least now
we have a little bit
of wiggle room.
But then I got
a call from back home.
Your granddad
had an accident.
He's in the hospital,
but he's gonna be okay.
Okay, well, that's good.
You know what's even better?
We're going
to the U.S. of A.
for Christmas.
(LAUGHS)
(SIGHS)
Oh.
I can't believe you, Gloria.
We're spending the holidays
with your American family,
and you're acting
like I grounded you
for Christmas break.
I'm sorry, but I'm not chuffed
about spending time
with people I don't
even remember.
(SIGHS)
Apart from Granddad.
I remember him.
He was scary.
I don't think he likes me.
Of course he likes you.
He can just be kind of
grumpy sometimes.
Well, what if Dad turns up
whilst we're in America?
He won't.
He's not coming back
to London for Christmas.
You said might.
CLAIRE: Well, he's not,
okay. It's definite.
He's spending more time
in Germany.
But why didn't he tell me?
Because he doesn't like to be
the bearer of bad news.
That always falls on me.
(SIGHS)
You could finish these
and send them to him though.
I don't even know
why I made those
stupid drawings.
It's not like I believe
in Santa anymore. (SIGHS)
Oh, honey, come here,
come here. (KISSES)
(CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING)
It looks a lot
Like Christmas to me
(SONG CONTINUES PLAYING
ON RADIO)
What? I'm making
a video of our trip.
I wanna send it to Dad.
Oh, that is a great idea,
honey.
Make sure you're getting
your granddad's shop.
I used to spend
so much time there.
And that is where
my first boyfriend,
Danny Baker, asked me out.
You can get back
to me on that.
(CHUCKLES)
It looks a lot like Christmas
From here
Maybe just because
I have you near
And, oh, there's not
A spot of snow
Not a drop of holly
Or mistletoe
There's a kind of magic
I can clearly see
And it looks a lot
Like Christmas to me
Claire. Oh,
it's been so long.
You look terrific.
Hey, Erica. So do you.
And who's this?
I don't recognize you,
Gloria. You've grown
so much. (CHUCKLES)
Your cousins were
so excited when they
heard you were coming.
They should be home
any minute.
Where do I put this?
Upstairs, honey.
(SIGHS)
She is so... cute.
Mm.
BUD: Bet?
CLAIRE: So, how's Dad?
A holy terror.
He's been sleeping
a lot since he got back
from the hospital.
I have been trying
to get him to eat something,
but he just yells at me.
That sounds like Dad.
You would not believe
the state of this house
when we got here.
It was... (EXHALES DEEPLY)
We had to go nuclear.
(DOOR OPENS)
TYLER: Aunt Claire.
Hi! Oh, my, you got so big,
look at you. (CHUCKLES)
Hey.
Hello, Claire.
Hi, Gerry.
Nice move.
Oh, don't you start.
Just 'cause Dad mumbled
something about a reindeer
causing his accident,
I'm not going to apologize
for putting up that display.
CLAIRE: Gloria,
come and say hi.
Hey, Gloria.
Hi.
How's jolly old England,
Gloria?
(SNICKERS)
Come on, jump in.
Be quick.
It's cold.
CLAIRE: I know.
(MOANS SOFTLY)
There you go.
Oh, yeah, Granddad called
me Bet when I went into
his room earlier.
What were you doing
in Granddad's room?
Well, I didn't know
which room was which.
But why would Granddad
call me Grandma?
I just don't think
he's feeling himself
right now, honey.
Is that why there's no
Christmas decorations?
No. That's because my mom
always did the decorations,
and since she's been gone,
I don't think he's been
feeling very Christmassy.
That's sad.
CLAIRE: Yeah.
Wait, though.
I think I have... I remember.
GLORIA: Okay. Why is it
so cold in here?
Because Dad likes it cold,
especially at nighttimes.
We used to call this place
the igloo growing up.
GLORIA: I see why
you call it the igloo.
I feel like an ice block.
Here you go.
Hmm.
I love you, honey.
I love you more.
Not possible. Good night
It is possible.
(KISSING) Good night.
Good night. (EXCLAIMS SOFTLY)
GERALD: We need to talk,
about Dad...
CLAIRE: Do this
in the morning, Gerry?
GERALD: Look, he's not well.
CLAIRE: There's nothing
wrong with him.
GERALD: How would you know?
You're never here.
CLAIRE: Oh. Okay. This again.
GERALD: Do you know
how difficult it is...
CLAIRE:
This is his home, Gerald.
He needs to stay in his home.
GERALD: All right. Well,
so are you going to be here?
It's true and you know it,
Claire.
You've been home, what?
Twice in ten years?
You moved to England.
You wiped your hands
of this family.
Gerald, come on.
That's enough.
Claire just got here.
All I said was, I think
it's time that Dad moved
to the retirement village
and she jumps all over me.
Like she's worried
about Dad all of a sudden.
Of course
I'm worried about Dad.
That is really offensive.
We've been here,
Claire. Come in from
California every year.
We've seen how Dad's slipped.
He lives in squalor.
He forgets to take
his medication.
So your first thought
was to send him off
to a retirement village?
He would hate that.
GERALD: Did Erica tell you
about all the unpaid bills
we found when we got here?
They were going to turn off
the gas, the electricity.
Imagine if we hadn't
been here to sort that out.
Dad would have frozen
to death. I'm telling you,
he's not all there.
Look, let's just see
how the week
goes with Dad.
Before we leave
if we think it's necessary,
we can discuss
getting some kind
of help for him.
See? I like Erica's plan
way better.
Fine. But if one
more thing happens
with Dad, just one,
he's off to the retirement
home. End of discussion.
CLAIRE:
That's the spirit, Gerry.
(CLINKING SOFTLY)
(CREAKING)
(THUDDING)
Mom?
(THUDDING CONTINUES)
Who are you?
Oh, I'm Gloria.
Did you hear something
on the roof?
What are you doing here?
Reindeer don't live
around here.
I ran off the road
because of you.
I got a concussion,
you know.
Feels like there's
a jackhammer
inside my head.
(GRUNTS SOFTLY)
BUD: Do you understand
what I'm saying?
Because I'm talking to you.
And I assume
that you do because
you do these other things.
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What's that deer doing?
(GRUNTING SOFTLY)
She's talking back to me.
(CHUCKLES)
Was that a reindeer?
Was that a reindeer?
Do you own it? Wait,
what was its name?
What you mean by,
"it was talking to you"?
Like, what you mean by
"ran you off the road"?
Who are you again?
Gloria, your granddaughter.
Ah. Right. It's the accent's
throwing me off.
You were a lot smaller
when I saw you last.
(CHUCKLES) Duh.
Because I was like four.
Don't go telling anyone about
that deer. You understand?
Why?
Okay, okay. Jeez.
I won't tell anyone
about the deer. I promise.
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Ah. Dad, you're up.
That's fairly
obvious, isn't it?
Come on, Tyler.
That's too much.
Yeah, I'll take one.
You want something
to eat?
I'm sitting at the dining
room table, Gerald,
a table covered
with plates of food.
Yes, I would like
something to eat.
Okay.
Have you said hi to your
daughter, Claire,
who came all the way
from London to see you?
Hi, Dad.
BUD: Hello, Claire.
CLAIRE:
You remember Gloria?
Yeah, we bumped
into each other last night.
CLAIRE: You did? When?
Oh. We heard a bang
on the roof. It was
nothing. Don't worry.
Um, nobody else heard it?
Maybe it was Krampus.
Here we go. Haley's
favorite Christmas movie.
Well, because
if it was him,
some of us aren't getting
out of here alive.
I think that's enough
about Krampus, Haley.
GERALD: Erica, I think
the eggs are burning.
Hey, where's all
my stuff at?
You mean the mess
in the living room
and the kitchen?
I had a system.
But, Dad, I think
the most important thing
is, how are you feeling?
Fine.
(CELL PHONE RINGS)
Um, no, I'm sorry.
I got to take this.
So, Dad, we're heading
into town for some last-minute
Christmas shopping.
Claire said she'd
look after you.
That's not necessary.
I'm not an invalid.
Actually, Dad, you kind
of are. You just got out
of the hospital.
So, Gloria can stay.
Gloria's ten. You need
an adult with you.
I'm just going to sit here
and watch TV. What's to do?
Well, if that's all he does,
then I'm fine with staying.
There you go. Mm.
(COFFEE SPILLS)
(GROANS)
That's okay, Dad.
I'll take care of it.
No, I'll do it.
I can do it.
Erica, Please.
Leave it be!
Dad.
Uh, keys. Car keys.
Where's the keys?
ERICA: On the counter.
GERALD: Thanks.
Hey.
Hi.
You sure you're okay
with staying here
with Granddad?
Yeah.
I mean, you remember
what I said. He's not...
(SIGHS)
He's not quite himself
right now. You understand
that, right?
Yeah, I know.
It'll be all right.
I promise.
Okay, but you call me
if you need anything.
Yes.
Yes?
Yes.
Yes?
Yes.
Okay. I love you.
I love you too.
Bye.
GERALD: Whose is this?
That's mine.
Give it to me.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
Um, where do you think
you're going?
None of your beeswax.
You stay here in the nice,
warm house.
This is your idea of warm?
Smart-ass. I got a smart-ass
for a granddaughter.
You stay.
What am I to you? A dog?
Woof, woof, bark, bark.
Are we actually leaving?
Hold on!
I thought I told you
to stay at the house.
GLORIA: Well, I didn't want
to stay at the house.
BUD: (CHUCKLES)
You're like a gnat.
Just keep buzzing around.
GLORIA: What's wrong with you?
Why are you acting like this?
I don't like
people who hover.
I thought you'd be
less of a nuisance
than your mother.
But now I'm starting
to rethink that one.
Well, I'm rethinking
agreeing to stay with you.
I'd rather have been
alone this Christmas.
Well, I'd rather be
back in England.
(CHUCKLES)
Well, good.
Now that we've
straightened that out.
Reindeer tracks.
GLORIA: Why are you so excited
about the reindeer anyways?
Because he's an anomaly.
What's that mean?
BUD: That means reindeer
don't live anywhere
around these parts.
Don't live anywhere
in the entire United States
for that matter.
So then why...
Why is this one here?
Yeah.
That's what I mean
to find out.
Look at that.
He circled right back
around to my place.
(SCOFFS) I'll be danged.
Hey, where are you going?
BUD: There he is.
What's he looking for?
Are you getting this?
GLORIA: (WHISPERS) Yeah.
Where's he going now?
He's heading
towards my workshop.
(REINDEER GRUNTS)
Wait.
Granddad, I don't think
we should go in here.
How old are you anyway?
Seven, eight?
I'm ten!
Yeah, well, I've got over
seven decades on you,
which means that
I get to tell you what
to do, not vice versa.
(HUFFING)
Granddad, don't.
You don't know
where that deer's been.
(CONTINUES HUFFING)
(REINDEER GRUNTS)
BUD: That guy's
looking for food.
Grab that bucket
and go get some chestnuts.
Are you sure
you're gonna be okay
in here with him?
Questions, questions,
always questions.
Now get, before
I lose my temper.
Hey, look what I...
Granddad, guess what?
I found this in the snow
where that guy was
snooping around.
BUD: Did you want me
to see that?
(HUFFS)
Okay.
All right. Here we go.
Now stay away from me, please?
BUD: It's not here.
Gerald must have thrown away
the rest of the broken parts.
Come on, let's go.
Where?
You'll see.
But, look, what about him?
BUD: Don't worry about him.
He'll be fine.
GLORIA: I can't believe
you brought me here, Granddad.
Let's just go, okay?
It really stinks out here.
Of course it stinks.
It's a dump.
Are you gonna help?
It'll go a lot faster
if you do.
Come on,
get your hands dirty.
First of all, ew.
And second of all,
why can't you just
make a new reindeer?
Yes! Found the ass-end.
(CHUCKLES)
Look what else I found.
What is it?
It's a sign
from the store
right next to me.
Stacey's Antiques.
She went under
about six months ago.
Wait. Hold on. She died?
No, no, her store did.
(CHUCKLES)
Guess my sign
will be out here,
too, pretty soon.
Wait. Hold on. Hold on.
(EXCLAIMS)
Attagirl, Gloria.
We'll be out of here
in no time.
Good, because it's
really grotty down here.
"Grotty"? What is that?
Some kind of English
swear word?
(GIGGLES)
Oh, yeah, Granddad.
One of the worst.
Oh. Oh.
(REINDEER GRUNTS)
Hey, get outta here!
(REINDEER GRUNTING)
GLORIA: Jeez!
Well, you scared Prancer off.
Oh. So he's Prancer
now, is he?
Do you think
he's coming back?
I don't know.
Hey, um...
Uh...
Gloria.
Yeah, you're doing
a really great job
there, you know that?
Yeah. You're a good
artist, Gloria. Just
like your grandma.
She didn't paint
this, did she?
Sure did. I made them.
She painted them.
So now I see why you
dragged me to the dump.
Yep, had to be this deer.
Come on,
let's finish this up,
get him back up there
with the rest of them.
What is going on out there?
Hey, Dad!
GERALD: What the...
Oh, you've gotta
be kidding me.
(SNICKERS)
GERALD: Dad?
BUD: Thank you.
GERALD: Dad,
what are you doing?
Get down, Dad. Come on.
Let me do that.
I put them up
in the first place.
Get down from there, Dad.
Let me do that.
I'm already up here.
(PANTING) What's with you?
Why are you even trying
to fix that blooming thing?
Bet would've wanted me
to fix this guy.
She surely did love
these reindeer.
You knew that, Gerald.
But you still threw it away.
HALEY: This morning Granddad
was all grumpy ass.
Now look at him.
He's acting like a kid.
It's not a bad
version of him.
(BOTH SNICKER)
What...
It's on.
Whoa!
Okay?
No, no, no.
GERALD: Careful.
Okay.
It's okay.
Oh, my God!
BUD: I got it.
There. Okay, hold the ladder.
GERALD: I got you.
BUD: Thanks.
GERALD: Careful.
BUD: Yep.
I cannot believe you
let your granddad drive
to the garbage dump.
I mean,
what were you thinking?
Ow! Mom, that really hurts!
Yeah, well, I'm trying
to get the paint out, okay?
And you smell
really bad, Gloria.
Then maybe I could just
sleep on the sofa like
you make Dad do sometimes.
Uh, Mom, you okay?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine, honey.
I'm just... I'm really tired.
Jet lagged, you know.
Yeah, Mom?
Mm-hmm.
Are you and Dad talking
about when he's gonna
come back home?
Yeah.
Yeah, we're talking, honey.
We are.
TODD: (OVER VOICE NOTE)
Hi, love. Just a quick
message to say hi.
I'm sure you're getting
excited for Christmas, yeah?
Uh, you better talk
to your mom. Yeah?
Um, yeah, she knows the plans.
MAN: Hey, Todd, mate.
Gotta go!
TODD: Coming!
I gotta go, Gloria.
I'll see you when this
bloody tour's over,
darling. Bye.
(MOANS SOFTLY)
BUD: First time
I saw that deer
was in the cemetery
when I was visiting Bet.
And then he flew
right over my truck.
That was the cause
of my accident.
He must have just jumped.
Nope. He never came back down.
I looked through all
my windows, checked out
the rearview mirror, nada.
Pass me the turpentine,
will you?
Gloria, what do you think
we heard the other night
on the roof?
I don't know. Some sort of
possum. Tree branch.
There was nothing up there
on the roof when I shone
my light up there.
So, what? You're saying
a reindeer landed
on your roof.
(CHUCKLES) Come on,
Granddad. I mean...
You think I'm crazy?
Yes! I think
you've lost the plot.
Oh. Oh. No, no, no, no.
I mean, I mean, I just don't
believe in Santa anymore.
So that's why
it doesn't make sense to me.
Um, wait. Why are you
telling me this?
You asked, for one thing.
More important, you and I
are in this together.
It was only the two of us who
heard that noise on the roof.
Yeah, so... About that.
Um, I heard Uncle Gerald
talking to my mom.
Uh...
He thinks you should go live
in a retirement home.
Right. If Gerald finds out
about that deer,
that's grist for his
retirement home push.
No. He won't find out
about the deer.
We're in this together,
just like you said.
This is our secret.
Okay. Our secret.
(PLAYING SCALES ON PIANO)
GERALD: We're back finally.
Forgotten how slippy
those roads get.
Justin time.
We need those sprinkles.
GERALD: Yeah, coming right up.
Hey, Claire.
Yeah?
You will never guess
who I just bumped into
on Main Street.
Finn Wally.
Oh, God, what a creep.
Is he still here?
Yeah, well, regardless,
he told me he just recently
came into some money.
An inheritance I think.
And he was asking
about the house up here.
He was wondering, you know,
since the hardware
store's closing...
Wait. Are you saying
Finn Wally wants
to buy this house?
Stop it. Play something else,
will you, Tyler?
It's always scales, scales,
scales. It drives me crazy.
(SIGHS) Why don't you go up
to your room, Haley?
Or you can help out here
in the kitchen.
I'm gonna go to my room
and call one of my friends.
Mm-hmm.
HALEY: Stop it, Tyler!
TYLER: Okay, okay.
Yeah. Well, anyway, uh,
it's the land Finn's after.
It's good hunting land.
He said he'd make
a really good offer.
I can't believe you're
even considering this.
Dad hates that asshole.
You should, too.
(SIGHS)
Who's this Finn Wally?
He's a hunter.
That's what he does
for a living and he...
Trespassed on Dad's land.
I mean, this was years ago.
Gerry was what, like ten?
So he went out into the woods.
Finn Wally wanted
to shoot a deer.
He missed
and he almost hit Gerry.
My God.
You never told me this.
Because there was nothing
to tell. wasn't hurt.
Yeah, but you could have been.
I mean, Dad went ballistic
on Wally, okay.
He said, "If I ever find you
here on my land again..."
(SCOFFS) And now,
Wally wants to buy the land?
It would be wrong
if I didn't pass on
the information.
We need to face
facts here, people.
Nothing Dad has done
this week has changed
my mind about his situation.
We need to have a serious
conversation about what
we're gonna do about him.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
You all don't want
me driving, so...
Gloria and me are gonna
need a ride to the store
tomorrow morning.
I got to take care
of some things
before the store closes.
Well, I can help
with that, Dad.
No, no, no. It's okay.
I got it covered.
CLAIRE: And try to behave
yourself, you two, okay?
GLORIA: We will.
I'm excited to see this.
Granddad?
This is bloody brilliant,
Granddad.
Is that supposed
to be a compliment?
Well, what does it
sound like?
Well, whenever I hear
the word "bloody" it's usually
not such a good thing.
This here is
Curmudgeon Corner.
It was your grandma
who came up with that idea,
to have the place for
the old timers to hang out.
Is that what they call
coffin dodgers?
BUD: Never you mind.
I wasn't so hot
about the idea at first,
giving up valuable floor space
to a bunch of freeloaders.
But your grandma,
she put her foot down,
and as usual,
she was right. (CHUCKLES)
Curmudgeon Corner
turned out to be a big
plus for this place.
I don't remember
much about Grandma.
BUD: Well, now,
that's a shame.
Your grandma was just
about the sweetest person
you could ever want to meet.
That's not to say she didn't
have a temper. (CHUCKLES)
She could be fierce if you
crossed her, but always
generous to a fault,
and as kind
as the day is long.
Yup.
It was two years ago, just
before Christmas that she...
So, not my favorite holiday.
You miss her.
Yeah.
You have her eyes,
you know that?
Do I?
We don't look alike.
Without a doubt.
I look at you and...
(LOUD THUD)
GLORIA: Uh...
What was that?
BUD: Let's go find out.
GLORIA: Do you think
someone tried to break in?
BUD: If they did, they can
have anything they want.
GLORIA: Granddad.
What?
Huh! What are you doing here?
I thought you'd be
long gone by now.
(DOOR OPENS)
Hello.
BUD: Uh...
You stay here,
I'll go deal with Sally.
No, no, no,
Granddad, don't.
Just be nice to him.
(PRANCER HUFFING)
GLORIA: No, Granddad, don't!
Please! Please! No!
Granddad! Granddad!
Hey.
(GRUNTING SOFTLY)
BUD: Hey, Sally.
Oh. Mr. McShane, thank God.
I thought maybe someone
had tried to break in.
(THUDDING)
GLORIA: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
(SHUSHING)
That's my, uh, granddaughter.
(SOFTLY) Hey, hey!
Oh, my God! Calm down.
She wanted to come in
to work with me today, so...
It's okay. (SHUSHING)
Stop. Stop. Stop.
No. Don't, don't. No!
(PRANCER GRUNTING)
She's, um, rearranging
some stuff.
Oh.
BUD: On the shelves.
(PRANCER CONTINUES GRUNTING)
Ugh! Prancer!
Okay, you're probably fine.
I'll come help you. It's okay,
okay. I'm going to help.
All right? So...
(GRUNTS)
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Okay. All right.
Hey, hey! No, no, no!
(HUFFING SOFTLY)
Uh, Sally, could you
look under the counter
for my keys?
Your keys?
You dropped your keys?
I dropped my keys
either there or...
You lost them again?
I can't see anything
down here.
I know. They're...
Are you sure?
How about a little
further over?
Maybe that's it.
Um...
No, I don't think
they're here. I can't
see them anywhere.
Uh, I was going for something.
SALLY: Well, no.
Not down here.
Nothing?
Mr. McShane, I don't
see any keys anywhere.
Oh. Oh! Uh...
I'm sorry, I had them
all along. (CHUCKLES)
GLORIA: Oh, you're back.
Look at this mess.
(SIGHS)
No way!
Granddad as Santa.
(CHUCKLES) Oh.
Wait, but hold on...
So you're telling me
you created all this mess,
almost got caught,
just to show me this?
(DOOR OPENS)
Whoa!
Oh, hi, I'm Gloria.
I'm Mr. McShane's
granddaughter.
Hey, Tevin. Why are you
coming in the back way?
Uh, I have to get
a delivery together
for, um, Mrs. Bradley.
Right. I'll tell you what,
I'll take care of it.
Um, listen, it might be
better if nobody knows
about the deer.
I'm planning a surprise
for Christmas.
Oh, yeah, yeah, okay.
BUD: Could you go out there
and get the fire started?
Uh, yeah, sure.
(PRANCER GRUNTING SOFTLY)
Can I have the list?
Oh, and your car keys?
Oh, uh, nice
meeting you, Gloria.
Yeah. See ya, dude.
(SPEAKS INCOHERENTLY)
(GRUNTS SOFTLY)
GLORIA: Where is he going?
So what are we
gonna do?
Nothing.
What do you mean, nothing?
Tevin will keep
Prancer a secret.
The more important
question is,
how did that deer
get inside of my
locked store?
There's got to be some
logical explanation.
Oh, yeah. One of them
being Prancer is magical.
Prancer is not magical,
and I don't believe in him.
Smart, yes. Magical, no.
I think he's here
for a reason.
He could have left if he'd
wanted to, but he didn't.
So he decided to stay,
gonna wreck your life,
and then you end up
in a retirement home.
You watch, that deer's
got something on his mind.
Too bad he can't talk
like Mister Ed.
Then he could tell us
what he was thinking.
(CHUCKLES)
Wait, who is Mister Ed?
What?
Am I meant to know Mister Ed?
Of course you are.
Don't you go to school?
Yeah, but we don't
learn about Mister Ed.
Well, then there's
something wrong
with your school.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
I had to get one more delivery
before your store closed.
I was so disappointed
to hear about that.
Yeah, well,
we had a good run,
but it's time.
I have such fond memories
of shopping at your store.
Betty, she was always
such a hoot.
Yeah, she surely
could make people laugh.
Unlike yours truly.
Oh, you're not so bad.
You might think you are,
but your bark was always
worse than your bite.
All done.
I think you deserve a hot
chocolate for that, Gloria.
Oh, yes, please.
BUD: No, we've got
to get on back to the store.
Oh. Coffee for you
maybe, Thomas?
BUD: Um, thanks. But no.
Come on, Gloria,
let's skedaddle.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
She's nice.
I think she thinks
you're nice too.
Oh, stop it, Gloria.
What's that supposed to mean?
Granddad, I saw the way
she looked at you.
She likes you.
Get in the car, Gloria.
Nancy and I have known
each other a long time,
going all the way
back to high school.
Nancy? Ooh!
What is wrong with you?
We're friends.
We've always been
nothing but friends.
Whatever you say...
Thomas.
Hey, your son tell you
about my offer?
I want to buy your
house, old man.
Figured with the store
closing you'd be off
to some old age home.
Oh, grot you!
Come on, Gloria.
"Grot" me?
Come on. Some nice
old age home.
Um, Granddad, um...
"Grot you"?
Yeah, I didn't want
to say the other
thing in front of you.
Oh, no, no, no.
(WALLY YELLING INDISTINCTLY)
I didn't mean "grot"
as like a swear word.
I meant it being,
like, dirty or gross.
Yeah. Well, that
stupid idiot doesn't
know that, does he?
True.
But I've still got so many
questions. Who is that guy?
MAN: Hey, Gloria.
Mine will have
two sugars, please.
Just like Betty's back.
(CHUCKLES)
Save me one
of those cookies.
(MEN LAUGHING)
No, no, no.
You've had,
like, 50 today.
No, I know that one.
(CUSTOMERS LAUGHING)
Gloria, unlike hanging
around this guy,
it's been a pleasure.
Yeah, I really
enjoyed it. Yeah.
See you, guys.
See you later.
GLORIA: Oh, and Tevin.
Don't spoil our surprise.
I'll think about it.
No, no, no, no.
You think about it.
Hey, honey. How did it go?
Really, really good.
Yeah. I enjoyed it.
Dad?
Good, yeah. I'm tired.
But good.
(CREAKING)
(WIND WHISTLING)
(THUDDING)
Prancer! What are you doing?
Why are you here?
Why are you in our kitchen?
And why are you in our house?
(PRANCER GRUNTS SOFTLY)
(SHUSHING)
What are you doing?
If this is some sort of
midnight snack, you
should not have fruit.
Stop that.
Why are you so loud
when you chew apples?
Excuse me. Where do you
think you're going?
Please.
What?
What... What...
What do you want from me?
You want me to follow you?
What?
No way. This is
bonkers, Prancer.
Yeah. I'm not
gonna follow you.
I am not gonna follow you.
Oh.
(PRANCER GRUNTING SOFTLY)
GLORIA: Prancer.
Prancer, where are you?
Goldang it.
GLORIA: Prancer,
this is not funny.
This was a bad idea.
You wanted me to follow you,
and I'm freezing out here.
Where are you?
This isn't funny anymore.
(OWL HOOTING)
Okay, I'm not getting eaten.
I'm out of here.
(CHITTERING)
GLORIA: Prancer!
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
Ugh.
(YELLS)
BUD: Gloria.
GERALD: Oh, Dad.
Why listen to Gerald?
This wouldn't happen
in a retirement home.
What do I know, huh?
What do I know?
(ANIMALS HOWLING IN DISTANCE)
(PRANCER GRUNTING IN DISTANCE)
(CONTINUES GRUNTING)
Where have you been?
So now you've finally arrived.
(GIGGLING) Stop it! Stop it!
What are you even doing?
Oh, Dad.
(CHUCKLING)
BUD: Gloria.
What's going on?
Why didn't you wake me?
Oh, Prancer came
to the house. He wanted
to show me something.
So you came out here
in the woods all by yourself
to see what it was?
Well...
(GLORIA AND BUD
TALKING IN DISTANCE)
GERALD: Get a load
of this, Claire.
GLORIA: No wonder
the house is freezing.
BUD: What are you trying
to tell us, Prancer?
(GRUNTING SOFTLY)
Come on, Granddad.
Oh! What's going on
with you?
I tripped, fell.
I'm all right. Come on.
No, no. Come on.
Let's go back to the house.
Get some ice on it.
But Prancer?
BUD: We won't be able
to follow you tonight,
Prancer. Sorry.
Going to have to come
back tomorrow.
See you.
(ANIMAL HOWLS IN DISTANCE)
(GASPS)
(PRANCER GRUNTS)
(EXCLAIMS)
No, not the phone.
Oh.
(PRANCER HUFFS)
GERALD: She'll be down
in a second.
(BOTH SLURP)
You sure you don't want
some hot cocoa, son?
Looks like you need
warming up.
What is going on?
Sit, please.
Just now, I found these
two in the woods
conversing with a reindeer.
Reindeer? What are you
talking about?
The animal attacked me
and did this to my phone.
The animal did not
attack you, Ger.
CLAIRE: Dad?
Do you want to explain
what's going on?
Gloria?
Fine. Give us the silent
treatment.
But just so you know,
first thing tomorrow
I'm calling Finn Wally.
No, you're not, son.
Who is Finn Wally?
He's the jerk we ran into
outside of the store.
GERALD: Deer are not
aggressive like that, Dad.
You know that, right?
There's something
wrong with it.
I mean, you've heard the
reports. Bubonic plague.
That's what some
of the animals in the
woods are carrying.
I heard it on the news
this morning.
That deer does not
have bubonic plague.
How do you know?
Because it's not
the 14th century, Gerry.
Look, Gerald,
if you call Finn Wally,
the two of us are going
to have a really big problem.
I'm tired.
I'm going to go to bed.
This is all really strange.
I mean, I can't even...
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
Let's just deal with it
tomorrow, when we've
all had some sleep.
GERALD: Fine with me.
You... You're grounded.
Oh, great! I'm off
to child prison again.
(WIND WHISTLING)
Oh, my gosh! Guys, wake up!
It snowed last night!
Tyler, wake up!
GERALD: Psychotic deer...
...middle of the night...
What is he up to?
HALEY: Is he actually
talking to himself?
GERALD: Dad has gone crazy.
(GRUNTS AND EXCLAIMS)
(LAUGHING)
HALEY: Oh, Mom, help him up.
Need a hand, Dad?
(SIGHS)
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
(CHUCKLES) What are you
doing up here?
How come you're
not downstairs?
Oh. Mom grounded me.
What for?
Did you crack?
What?
After I left, they gave
you the third degree.
So did you crack?
Did you tell them everything?
Oh, no, no, no. Of course not.
Ah! Attagirl. Way to go.
(CHUCKLES)
Oh, did Gerald call that git,
Finn Walrus? Oh, no, no,
no, Finn Wally?
BUD: Wally doesn't
have a phone.
Gerald's going to drive
over to his place after
he digs out his car.
I wanted to have it
out with him,
but evidently we're not
speaking at the moment.
So what should we do?
We can try and
protect Prancer?
I think that deer
can probably
take care of himself.
What's more important
is that the two of us
get our ducks in a row.
And I got my duck.
Whoa, you've got a pet duck?
BUD: No, no, no.
I mean, I think I know
why Prancer is here.
He wants me to keep
the store open.
That's why he was there
yesterday, to tell me that.
And?
Ah, I'm not sure,
but I think maybe there's
some kind of connection
between Prancer and Bet.
Why?
BUD: I don't know exactly.
Uh, not everything
in life has a logical
explanation, Gloria.
Some things you just feel.
Yeah, I understand.
BUD: Hmm.
But why did you close
the store in the first place?
Well, when me and Bet ran
the store together, we were...
We were like this.
We were magic.
After she passed,
I just gradually lost
interest in everything.
I stopped paying
the mortgage. The bank
finally forced my hand.
What can you do about that?
Um, I don't know, really.
Something will turn up.
In the meantime,
I'm going to go downstairs
and have a word
with your mother and see
if I can't spring you.
(CHUCKLES) Okay.
ERICA: Oh, my God!
(LAUGHING)
GERALD: That's not funny.
ERICA: Pretty funny.
GERALD: Could've hurt myself.
ERICA: I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
(FAMILY CONTINUES LAUGHING)
I know I used to ground you
when you were a kid.
But you did some really
stupid stuff back then.
Stupider than sneaking out
in the middle of the night
to talk to a reindeer?
(SIGHS)
CLAIRE: Kids, huh?
They sure do change you,
don't they, Dad?
Mm-hmm.
Gloria made me grow up.
I had to.
Hey.
Hey, what's going on?
I'm... I'm a mess
right now, Dad.
Uh-huh. And?
And you don't want
to hear about it.
Come on, Claire. It's me.
You're my daughter.
Everything you warned me
about Todd, it came true.
Everything.
There, I said it.
You can say,
"I told you so."
Okay. I told you so.
Yeah.
You two guys splitting up?
Oh, he moved out months ago.
Gloria thinks we're still
gonna get back together,
but that is...
That's not going to happen.
I'm so worried about her dad.
Because he was never
a good father.
But Gloria, she really,
really loves him and...
And she can't understand
why he doesn't want
to see her more
when he comes to London
and it's breaking her heart.
I'm sure it is.
Look, Claire. Um...
This is not the most
exciting town in the world...
(CHUCKLES)
...and it certainly
isn't London,
but it's still your home.
(SNIFFLES)
And you're always welcome.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Gloria can come down at noon.
Sentence served?
Sentence served.
(ENGINE POWERS DOWN)
WALLY: So is he going to sell?
GERALD:
I'm not here about that.
I got a job for you.
WALLY: What kind of a job?
What do you think?
Two hundred bucks a day.
All right.
Plus expenses.
Expenses?
Ammunition, food,
butane gas if I have
to camp out overnight.
I stay out until
I get the job done,
McShane.
All right. All right,
you're hired.
What am I hunting?
GERALD: Reindeer.
Reindeer?
GERALD: That's what I said.
I get to keep the antlers.
Kids!
GERALD: It's done.
Finn says I'm doing
the right thing.
Animals are territorial.
That reindeer will keep
coming back
if I hadn't hired him
to take care of it.
I think it's odd, Ger.
You wanting to hire a man
who almost shot you?
Well, Finn's the best
in the area.
And he agrees the reindeer
might be diseased.
Look, if I've got to be
the bad guy to protect
everyone, so be it.
Is that the only reason
you're doing this,
to protect everyone?
What's that supposed to mean?
You just seem so angry
at your father.
I'm not angry.
I'm just concerned.
I mean, come on, Erica.
He's out in the middle
of the night talking
to a reindeer.
You know, that's like...
He needs care.
He needs to be in a place
where he's taken care of.
(CROW CAWING)
Oh. There you are.
How come you're not
out there sledding
with everyone else?
I told them they
shouldn't go sledding.
Not with that deer.
(CHUCKLES) Painted yourself
into a corner, did you?
Oh, come on, Ger,
don't be like that.
Come on, have a seat.
I want to talk to you
about something.
I... I could really
use your help.
GERALD: And what do you
need my help with?
I need you to go down
to the store and have
a look at the books.
Bring them home
if you have to.
Why?
Because you're
the accountant.
I need you to help me
figure out a way
to keep the store open.
But Dad... No.
Closing the store
is absolutely
the right thing to do.
Why?
So you can ship me off
to Pine Grove, where
everybody's all happy.
I'm not going there, Ger.
I really love this house.
And it would kill me
having to be put in a place
like that and you know it.
So please, help me
with the store.
Dad, you're not really feeling
like yourself right now.
You know that, right?
All this stuff with the deer.
(SIGHS)
This is the first time
you've ever asked
my help with something,
you know that?
BUD: No. Really?
That's not right.
It is.
Well, uh...
I mean, you know,
you left home
at a very young age.
You met Erica,
made a life for yourself,
and a very good life
and I'm proud of you.
I'm talking about
when I was a kid.
A kid?
(CHUCKLES) Jeez.
I just always assumed
that you wanted to go off
and do your own thing
with your friends.
Yeah, well...
Amazing how often parents
and kids don't know what
the other one's thinking.
I would have loved it
if you'd have asked
for my help around here
or in the workshop.
Look, Ger. I'm, uh...
I'm really sorry, okay?
I know I can be
closed off sometimes.
I just go into my own world,
and I don't want to let
anyone else in.
But, right now, at this
very moment, I am
asking for your help.
I need to keep
the store open, Ger.
As long as I possibly can.
GERALD: Okay, Dad.
I'll go get the books.
But don't get your hopes up. Oh...
HALEY: It was so much easier
when I was sliding on my butt!
(ALL LAUGHING)
CLAIRE: Give me your hand.
Come on!
ERICA: Kids, you got
to stay on your feet.
Stay on your feet!
HALEY: That was so cool.
Get to the fire swiftly.
I am freezing.
Yeah, it's very cold.
That was amazing.
GLORIA:
That was my first time.
HALEY: Really? You're amazing
for a first timer.
Cool, retro games.
Come on.
Come on.
(ALL CHEERING)
So done.
Go on, get outta here!
Walk of shame, brother.
Sorry.
I'm out here!
I'm done, too. You guys
can divvy up my stake.
Oh, no, Granddad, stay.
You just want to take me
to the cleaners.
Yeah.
Very funny.
I'm gonna go up and see
how Gerald is doing,
and them I'm gonna
hit the sack.
GLORIA: Okay, so it's
my turn to roll.
Yeah.
Hey, Dad?
BUD: Hmm?
Are you feeling okay?
Yeah, sure. Of course I am.
This is great, huh?
All of us here together.
Feels like... home.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
GLORIA: Okay, so whose turn?
'Cause they landed
on my property.
You stop trying
to take my cash.
BUD: Everybody okay with this?
GLORIA: (HESITATES) Yeah.
Yeah.
Good. Night.
CLAIRE: Good night.
(PLAYING SCALES)
Oh, no.
He's not...
I'm gonna go to bed.
Okay, good night.
Good night.
(SNORING SOFTLY)
(PRANCER GRUNTING IN DISTANCE)
(ENGINE RUNNING)
(PRANCER CONTINUES GRUNTING)
Hmm?
BUD: You know what time it is?
(ENGINE RUNNING)
God damn it.
Granddad, what's going on?
What's going on is that
deer needs to stop showing up
in the middle of the night.
It's exhausting.
Okay, then why
are you out here?
This snowmobile was running
when I came out here.
Prancer did this.
(ENGINE POWERS DOWN)
(CHUCKLES) Come on, Granddad!
Last night, he wanted you
to follow him.
I told him to come back
tomorrow, so he did.
And he started
the snowmobile.
Go back in the house,
then. I'll tell you
what's happening.
No, I'm not going back
in the house.
If you're going out
to look for Prancer,
I should be with you.
You got hurt last night
following Prancer.
What do you think your
mother would say to me
if I told her I was
taking you back out
there again tonight?
I don't care. Prancer wants me
to follow him, not you.
So you jump on
the snowmobile and go find
out what he wants, yourself.
(ENGINE RUNNING)
Hold on tight, you hear?
Both hands.
GLORIA: Granddad, I can't
see him anywhere.
Granddad, over there!
(BELLOWS)
You holding on tight?
Yep!
Okay.
Let's do it.
GLORIA: Faster, faster!
Over there!
(GASPS)
(SIGHS) Erica!
They're at it again!
Whoo-hoo!
Hold on.
(PRANCER BELLOWS)
(CHUCKLING)
GERALD: I knew
I heard something.
ERICA: What's going on?
GERALD: Dad and Gloria
have gone out
on the snowmobile.
I'm going to go find them.
In the middle of the night?
I'll check Gloria's phone.
I'll come too.
No, you are not.
Well, I can't believe
Gloria gets to go
on a midnight ride
on the show mobile
with Granddad.
(DOOR CLOSES)
Ugh!
Bed. Good night!
(GRUNTING)
Hey, Prancer, watch out!
(PRANCER BELLOWING)
(HORN HONKING)
(EXCLAIMS)
Hey, you almost
ran him over.
Sorry I missed him.
Damn you, McShane!
(GRUNTING)
Prancer, the car!
(PRANCER BELLOWS)
Uh, Granddad, why did
he bring us here?
I don't know.
Hold on. Are you seeing
what I'm seeing?
I sure am.
It's a party, Granddad.
Get closer, Granddad, closer!
(ENGINE REVS)
Hold on! Gloria!
(GROANS)
Gloria!
Gloria.
Gloria.
Oh, no.
Oh, no. No.
No. Please, God. No.
Granddad, I filmed it.
I filmed it.
Where's my phone?
No, no. Don't move.
Don't move, please.
Granddad, we've got
to show it to Gerald.
Don't move.
Now they're gonna believe you.
All right. I'll go look.
Okay.
No, no. Stay down.
What'd I tell you?
It's okay, Granddad.
I'm just a little shook up.
Well, listen to me.
GLORIA: Mom.
Gloria.
You've really gone
off the deep end
this time, Dad, huh?
Are you hurt? Are you sure?
No, but we saw a reindeer.
She was... She was leaning
out of the...
No, no. You are the last
person I want to see
right now, Dad.
What were you
thinking, Dad, huh?
Putting her on the back.
Why were you...
The reindeer followed us.
(SHUSHES)
Are we still with this deer?
Come on.
I didn't believe him
until just now.
Believe him about what?
That deer is magical.
And why is nobody
listening to me?
It's on the phone.
CLAIRE: You know what?
I have heard enough
about the reindeer, Gloria.
In the car.
But, Granddad, you know...
(MUFFLED)
GERALD: Get in the car, Dad.
GLORIA: (CRYING)
It's on the phone.
GERALD: Come on, Dad.
(INDISTINCT)
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
GLORIA: Granddad.
BUD: Hmm?
What time is it?
Early, but shouldn't
we be going to the store?
People will think
it's closing after Christmas.
It is.
GLORIA: What?
What are you talking about?
The store is closing
after Christmas.
You all are leaving,
and I'm probably headed
off to Pine Grove.
Oh, come on, Granddad,
snap out of it.
That's rubbish.
That's just it.
I have snapped out of it.
Must've been out of my mind
these last few days.
Hopefully it's only
temporary insanity.
You're not insane, Granddad.
And I'm sorry
I didn't believe you.
And that's why Prancer
took us to town last night.
To show us those lights.
So I'd believe like you.
I do now. I really do.
Gloria, forget about
that deer. Okay?
And the store.
No, I am not going
to forget about
the deer and the store.
You're the one who
dragged me into this.
We almost finished...
Your mother was right,
you know.
You could've been hurt
real bad last night.
But I wasn't.
No. But you could have been.
You're not listening to me.
You listen to me!
It's over. You understand?
Over.
But what about...
I don't want to hear another
word about that deer.
(SOBBING)
(WHISPERS)
Hey, guys, are you awake?
(LOUDLY) Hello!
Oh, my gosh! Gloria.
What's going on?
Mom and Dad aren't
telling me and
Tyler anything.
Okay, I'll tell you.
I'll tell you everything.
But you've just
got to help me
with something first.
Yes, of course.
Tell me everything.
GLORIA: Okay, so
there's this reindeer,
like an actual one.
And it flew over
Granddad's truck.
And then, last night...
Showtime.
(CROWS CAWING)
GERALD: Dad's not coming out
of his room, then, huh?
Nope.
We knocked on his door
and he said he just
wanted to be alone, so...
(PHONE RINGS)
Hello?
SALLY: Hi, this is Sally.
Can I speak to Mr. McShane?
He can't come to the phone
right now, Sally. Can I help?
Oh. Um, it's about this video.
Some people who've seen it
are calling the store.
They're asking about this deer
and the Christmas lights.
I'm not sure
what to tell them.
Uh, video? I don't know
anything about a video.
Well, I just thought maybe
Mr. McShane had something
to do with it.
I don't think so, but I can
check it out and find out.
Is that okay?
SALLY: Okay.
Okay. Bye.
(PHONE RINGS)
Hello.
IFFY: Claire. Iffy.
What's with this video, man?
This is fantastic news.
Iffy, I don't know
anything about a video.
Okay? Goodbye.
IFFY: What about...
(CALL DISCONNECTS)
What's going on, Claire?
I have no idea.
GLORIA: Enjoy.
(CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYS
OVER VIDEO)
Hey, guys, we've got
a very important
announcement to make.
Betty and Bud's
Hardware Store is not closing.
I repeal, we are not closing.
GLORIA: And you can help.
Come to the store today
and meet the real Prancer!
What the...
Is that a deer?
Yeah.
HALEY: And we need loads
and loads of lights, so bring
all the lights you've got
'cause we're going to
make Betty and Bud's
Hardware Store...
The most happiest,
brightest place
in the whole world!
So come today
so we can see you there.
And we're gonna
have carol singing
with Tyler on the piano!
TYLER: Oh, no, you didn't.
And if you don't come today,
you're gonna miss out
on some real Christmas magic.
See you guys there!
BOTH: Tyler!
Why shouldn't we have
made the video?
GERALD: At the very least,
you should've talked
to me before you did it.
You'd have said no, Dad.
Maybe I would.
Maybe I'm afraid...
HALEY: Did you even
watch the video?
Can you believe what
that deer did to the lights
on the main street?
Haley?
Come on. That's done
with some sort of
special effect.
I knew you would say that.
ERICA: Haley!
No, you're either part
of the problem or
part of the solution.
Which is it going
to be for you?
GERALD: Why are you
singling me out?
Gloria said you hired
a hunter to kill the deer.
BUD: It's suffocating
up there.
Can't hardly breathe,
it's so damn hot.
That right there,
that's why we
made the video.
Granddad,
I made you something.
It's okay, you can
read it later.
Hurry up! Come on.
TYLER: Okay.
It's not that heavy.
Got them?
Got 'em.
He goes in there.
Okay, let's see here.
(ENGINE STARTS)
Are you going to get us
all killed?
No. Never drove
in the winter before, though.
(EXCLAIMS)
Haley.
It's okay.
(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)
It's okay.
Okay, let's do this again.
What's wrong?
What's wrong?
The kids have just
taken off in Claire's car.
Hold on, Ger.
I'll go after them.
But why?
Because you're way
too upset.
Know what you can do?
Go stop Finn Wally
from going after Prancer!
Prancer? You're calling
him Prancer now?
You don't actually think
that deer caused those
lights to turn on, do you?
Want to know what
I think, honey?
A little magic can
take you a long way.
(CHUCKLES)
(DOOR CLOSES)
What's that?
Uh, this is a book
Gloria made.
I found it on Dad's desk.
It's all about what
those two have been
up to this week.
Let me see that.
Haley, look out,
that's a car!
HALEY: (SCREAMS)
Oh, my God!
(BRAKES SQUEAL)
(HORN BLARING)
Oh, my God!
What was that?
I have no clue, Tyler!
That was the wrong
side of the road!
What? It's not my fault!
CLAIRE: This is your mother.
You call me back right now.
Do you hear me?
Man. Nobody is answering me.
Gloria, Erica.
Erica's probably
still driving.
(SIGHS)
What's wrong?
I'm the bad guy in this story.
Yeah.
Damn.
WALLY: Good night forever,
Mr. Reindeer.
Finn Wally always
gets his man.
(PRANCER BELLOWS IN DISTANCE)
Oh, my gosh, it has 100 views.
There's going to be
so many people.
You're a terrible filmmaker.
Great. Nobody's here.
IFFY: Gloria.
Great news about the video
and that deer.
Iffy.
Who are you?
Iffy Natter.
Oh, I'm Haley,
Iffy Natter.
Are you going
to help us put the
Christmas lights out?
Yeah.
Well, if enough people
turn up, that is.
IFFY: Well, people
in Bright ridge,
hopefully, yeah.
TEVIN: I think I saw
some Christmas
lights around... Yeah.
Here.
(LAUGHS)
Nice one, Tevin.
Well, let's get started.
That's for the back.
WOMAN: Get inside, it's cold.
Where is the deer?
WOMAN: Okay,
come on, let's go.
BOY: The video said
there was going
to be a reindeer.
GLORIA: We found some more.
STU: There's plenty of lights.
It's nice. Look.
No, Stu, come on.
We haven't even started.
We need the whole
place to be covered
with Christmas lights.
Here come more troops.
HALEY:
Hey, they brought lights.
They're okay, Claire.
I'll call you back
when we've had words.
(ERICA CLEARS THROAT)
MAN 1: Hello.
MAN 2: Good morning.
WOMAN 1: Hi, Iffy. Guys,
how's it going?
WOMAN 2: Merry Christmas.
Thank you.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
GLORIA: Tevin, we can't
have tangled lights.
Come on, back to work.
Listen, Dad.
All want is for you
to feel the way you did
when Mom was still with us.
You were happy back then.
I've always been good
with numbers, you know,
practical things.
Flights of fancy, though,
it's kind of
the deep end for me.
But look,
I finished checking
the store's books
like you wanted me to.
There's a decent amount
of debt there.
And it'll be a challenge
to sort it all out.
I want to help you.
With the store.
I got a few ideas that might
help turn things around,
and I just wanted you
to know that.
And as far as the retirement
home goes, well, Claire
and I have been talking,
and we're gonna work something
out so you can stay here,
and you'll be safe.
'Cause that's the most
important thing.
That you're safe.
I love you, Dad.
Okay, uh, I better go.
There's a hunter out there
I need to, you know...
Before he does
any damage I'll regret
for the rest of my life.
You should watch
the video on there.
The kids made it for you.
(SIGHS)
(ENGINE SPUTTERING)
Sure about this, Ger?
I mean, do you even remember
how to ride one of these?
Well, we're about
to find out.
(ENGINE SPUTTERS)
Hmm.
(ENGINE RUNNING)
Wish me luck.
Whoa! It's fast.
(CONTINUES EXCLAIMING)
(YELLS) I got this!
Good luck.
(GIGGLES)
(PIANO TUNING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
When are you ever going
to play that thing?
Where's Mom and Haley?
Oh. They're out helping out
with the lights.
You two are from that video.
(CHUCKLES)
(GASPS)
Where's the deer?
When's it gonna be here?
Oh, the deer.
Oh, Prancer's coming,
don't worry.
It's coming.
The reindeer's coming.
You don't really think
the deer's going
to come, do you?
Oh, I do hope he does.
(PIANO TUNING)
(HUFFS)
(GUN COCKS)
(GRUNTING SOFTLY)
What the...
(SNOWMOBILE APPROACHING)
Not this time. This time
you are going down.
Finn! Stop!
WALLY: Get out
of the way, McShane!
Put the rifle away!
WALLY: The deer is mine!
Finn, your contract's
canceled.
Do you hear me?
WALLY: Nobody's gonna stop me!
Oh! Typical!
Thought we fixed this.
(ENGINE SPUTTERS)
(GRUNTS)
Deck the halls
With boughs of holly
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la
Um, Iffy, what's going on?
I called these guys
in case we have a problem.
What sort of problem?
So many lights are
being put up, we could
overload the circuit.
We might have to take
some of them down.
No, we're not
taking any down,
and we need them all.
I know you want
all the lights, Gloria,
but the infrastructure's
shot here in Bright ridge.
What does that even mean?
We turn on all the
lights on Main Street
at the same time,
the whole town could go dark.
Ugh!
Dad?
What are you doing?
O Christmas tree
O Christmas tree
Thy leaves are so unchanging
O Christmas tree
O Christmas tree
Merry Christmas. Bye.
Bright ridge people,
they're the best in
the whole wide world.
That's my 10th
spring pre-order.
Whoa!
I know.
Gold, yes?
WOMAN: Yes, please.
(PLAYING JINGLE BELLS)
(SINGING)
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse
open sleigh, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Hear that, Gloria?
Music.
What's wrong?
Well, what do you
think, Haley?
None of the lights
are working.
Prancer's nowhere
to be seen
and nothing is going
according to my plans.
But the store is jammed.
So what?
If only...
If what?
If Granddad was here.
We did all of this for him.
All these people
are here for him.
I've got videos.
He'll see what went down.
Just doesn't feel the same.
MAN: This is the last fuse.
WOMAN: If this doesn't
work, I'll blow my fuse.
I'm trying here, I'm trying.
WOMAN: Please, fix it!
You fix it.
Damn box!
(ALL GASP)
Oh, my God.
(ALL CHEERING)
(ALL GROAN)
Oh, my gosh.
WOMAN: What happened?
CHILD: What's going on?
(CAR DOOR OPENS)
(GASPS)
Granddad, you came.
I had to.
I had to thank you
for that beautiful book.
Your grandma would have
loved that book, too.
(PEOPLE GASPING)
Look, a reindeer.
(HUFFING)
BUD: Hey, there.
Remind you of somebody
you know?
You finally came.
No animal ever got
the better of Finn Wally.
No animal is about
to now, neither.
(GRUNTS)
GERALD: Finn, are you crazy?
Put the riffle away!
(PEOPLE EXCLAIM)
WALLY: Just get off! Get off!
I'm finishing the job, whether
you like it or not, McShane.
BUD: Hey.
Santa?
(PEOPLE CHEERING)
(POLICE SIREN WAILING)
WALLY: You've done it now,
old man. You've done it now.
OFFICER: You're under
arrest, Wally.
I'm under arrest?
What about these two?
You have the right
to remain silent.
I know my rights!
You have the right
to an attorney.
Who I will call
as soon as I can...
What you do not
have the right to do
is hunt in the
middle of town...
You don't have to read
me my rights every time
I'm arrested.
OFFICER: ...and endanger
citizens you idiot!
(PEOPLE CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
That was awesome, Dad.
Aw, thanks, honey.
That was nothing.
If your grandfather hadn't...
No. You're the one
that stopped Wally
from shooting.
I only threw one punch.
I think it's time
to celebrate.
ALL: Yes!
ERICA: You need
a hot chocolate.
You're right. I think I do.
Come on.
(SINGING)
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Good tidings we bring
Well, look at you.
Should I call you
Thomas or Santa?
You can call me
whatever you like.
How about some
hot cider, Nancy?
In a minute.
I want to say hi
to some people.
Then I want you
to tell me all
about this deer.
It's a deal.
What's that supposed to mean?
We're just having
a conversation.
Hey, come.
There is something
I want to talk
to you about.
You know, I'm sorry,
right,
about everything
I've done this past week.
Oh, honey.
No, no, no. I know.
Okay. I know why
you did all those things.
And I know that
it's kind of been really
tough for us lately.
It was mostly
because of Dad.
I read the text.
You did?
Oh.
You know that Germany's
not too far away, right?
And that he can still be
part of your life.
Yeah, but he hasn't been
for a while now.
Um, I don't think
he's coming back.
Oh, I'm so sorry, honey.
I'm so sorry.
I should have talked to you
about this sooner.
But you know what?
I've been thinking.
Hey.
Your granddad, he's going
to need some extra
help, right?
We thought maybe
we could get him
a nurse, but...
And then I suggested
that maybe you
and I stay here.
I thought you'd
never say that.
Oh, we can stay
for a while, Gloria.
Or maybe for...
Ever, maybe?
I love it here. I love
the people, I love
the town, I love the woods.
Bright ridge already
feels like home.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Well, do you wanna
go tell Granddad?
Yep.
Oh.
Everybody seemed
to clear out pretty fast.
Yeah, well, your
star attraction left.
Oh, Granddad, I've
got something really
important to tell you.
Shoot.
Okay, so me and Mom
want to stay here
with you, maybe?
What do you mean, stay?
You know what I mean.
Live here with you.
Uh, well, I don't...
I mean...
No, no, no.
I get what you mean.
You don't want us here.
No, no, no. Of course I do.
It would be, uh...
It would be fantastic.
But, um, don't you think
it would get kind of
boring living here?
Granddad, more exciting things
have happened in Bright ridge
in less than a week
than in ten years in London.
Oh.
And either way,
I love you.
I don't want to be
anywhere else.
I love you, too.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Um, all right. But if you're
going to be living with me,
we have to set up some ground
rules. You understand?
Okay. Good idea.
Can't be such slob.
You can't be buzzing
around me all the time.
I need my space.
Okay, then you can't be
such a grump.
Ah, yeah,
you have to, um...
You have to, um...
Whoa.
BUD: Oh.
(GLORIA GASPS)
BUD: Bloody brilliant.
GLORIA: Uh...
(BUD CHUCKLES)
BUD: I think it's
rubbing off on me.
(GLORIA GIGGLES)
I'm gonna go tell
everybody, okay?
GLORIA: Once upon a time,
there was a couple
named Bud and Betty.
They owned a hardware store
in the heart of town.
But one Christmas,
Betty wasn't there anymore,
and Bud forgot
how to feel Christmassy.
That was until Prancer,
the magical reindeer, appeared
and Bud saw him fly.
Like, actually fly.
Prancer showed Bud
that he needed to let
some light back
into his life again
and reminded him Betty's
always with him when his
family and friends are too.
(CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING)
Got a feeling that
Christmas day is near
And the spirit of
Santa Claus is here
Such a wonderful time
When the snow is in town
It's a hell of a thrill
When the sleigh bells sound
It's the time of the year
For fleeting glances
When the guy in the stall
Says "Merry Christmas"
What a glorious night
Singing O Tannenbaum
To be cozy and warm
When the snow is falling down
It's a wonderful time
Betcha more than a dime
The city bell's gonna chime
The Christmas star's
Gonna shine
And old folks singing in rhyme
Merry Christmas
It's the time of the year
For fleeting glances
When the guy in the stall
Says "Merry Christmas"
What a glorious night
Singing O Tannenbaum
When you're cozy and warm
And the snow is falling down
What a wonderful time
Betcha more than a dime
The city bell's gonna chime
Christmas star's gonna shine
And old folks singing in rhyme
Merry Christmas