Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe (2009) Movie Script
1
On the corner
carolers are singin'
There's a touch
of magic in the air
From grown-up to minor
no one could be finer
Times are hard
but no one seems to care
Christmas Eve and all
the world is watching
Hut! Forward, hut!
Forward, left! Hut!
From rooftop to chimney
From Harlem to Bimini
They will find a way
into your heart
Christmas is the time
to say "I love you"
Share the joys of
laughter and good cheer
Christmas is the time
to say "I love you"
And a feeling that will
last all through the year
So when spirits
grow lighter
And hearts are
shining brighter
Then you know that
Christmas time is here
It's Christmas time
This is the time
It's Christmas time
It's Christmas time
This is the time
It's Christmas time...
- OK, what's next?
- These are for Webber Group.
- All right. This one.
- OK.
- Oh! I got it.
- Thank you.
- Now, Gadgetech.
- This one, but in Helvetica.
- Mm-hmm. Oh, I got it.
- Thank you.
OK.
- Here's your bagel.
- Mmm.
OK, now, Clarkford and Klein.
- They're exactly the same.
- I know you love having choices.
Oh, and the bartender called.
Would you prefer flaming rum
punch or egg nog martinis?
- Both. It's a holiday party.
- What holiday party?
- Morning.
- Tonight, the merger party.
For my clients
and the London guys.
Colin Nottingham and his group.
You have to be there.
Oh, I'd love to, babe,
but my tux
is at the dry cleaners.
You don't need a tux.
You just need to bring
that handsome mug of yours
- so I can show you off. It'll be fun, I promise.
- I'll be there.
- I got it.
- Oh. Thank you.
We have about 15 pages
from Legal for you to sign.
OK, we'll do it in the car.
- Oh...
- I got it.
I owe you one.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- I love you. See you later.
- I love you, too. Bye.
- Have fun at work!
- Don't I always?
Merry Christmas.
Wake up, make-up,
greet the brand-new day
- Hey. Oh! Sorry.
- That's all right.
Sorry, my bad.
And share the good
that comes your way
Hey. It looks like somebody
got some Christmas cards.
Great!
Nope.
Nada. Bupkis.
There we go.
There's a time for joy
and a time for love
And a time
to believe in
Oh! Hey, ma'am.
I have a package for you.
That's what my doorman's for.
- Hey! Watch where you're going, buddy!
- Yeah, you, too, pal.
Yeah.
Merry Christmas.
'Cause it's all up to you
Starting today
- Thank you.
- Where's Luke?
Don't know. Late. Colin and
the guys just showed up.
All right.
It is showtime.
Hello, everyone.
It's great to see
all of you here.
You know, if you'd
asked me five years ago
to make a list of all the
clients I wanted to get,
- well, you'd all be on that list.
- - Aww.
So I guess I don't really need to ask
Santa for anything this Christmas.
Except that we have another
record-breaking year like we just did,
and maybe a few surprises
waiting for you.
So, here's to all of you.
And Happy Holidays.
Colin!
So great to see you.
- Ms. Class.
- Mary.
- I told you 20 times call me Mary.
- Very well. Mary.
It is a pleasure to finally
meet you in person.
After how many hundreds of
e-mails and phone calls?
Mmm, yes. I do hope you'll find
time to visit us in London.
London. Beautiful city.
Nice, wide chimneys.
Chimneys?
Yes, I suppose so.
It's quite an impressive collection of
clients you've assembled for yourself, Mary.
For ourselves, Colin,
unless you and the board
are getting cold feet about
the merger all of a sudden.
Not at all. We couldn't be
more excited by the prospect.
- Hmm.
- Come on.
I'll introduce you
to the rest of the team.
- Oh. Thank you.
- You're welcome.
So you're ready to go worldwide?
I think so.
- Are we enjoying ourselves?
- Hey, Sandman.
It is a party, you know.
Feel free to mingle.
I'm OK, thanks.
Does Mary even know you're here?
She's busy. I don't
want to bother her...
Aren't you adorable?
Come on!
Well, no one can
have it both ways.
The future of any company is
defined by those crossroads,
moments where someone
needs to make a choice.
It's not always easy
picking the right path,
but that's where I come in.
Well, I think that we've made
an excellent choice ourselves.
- Thank you.
- Look who I found!
Luke! Hi, honey.
Everyone, this is Luke
Jessup, my boyfriend.
Hi. Nice to meet you.
A pleasure.
- Hi.
- This is Colin Nottingham
from the Whitmore Corporation.
It is very nice
to meet you, Colin.
Pleasure's mine. So, how long
have you been in marketing?
Oh. Luke doesn't work with me.
Oh, really? Let me guess.
Product integration.
- No.
- New business development, then.
No. More like,
uh... distribution.
I'm a mailman. Oh, I'm also a
small business owner as well.
Really? What kind of
business would that be?
Dogsledding.
Dogsledding, how charming.
Is there much call for that
sort of thing around here?
Well, with the right marketing
campaign, who knows, right?
Right, right. Marketing.
Yes.
Ahem. I'm gonna get
another drink, babe.
- OK.
- Nice to meet you all.
- Our pleasure.
- As well.
So, where were we?
All right, hepcats, we got a real
special treat for you tonight.
Playing their very first gig
here in the big city,
give a hot, hot welcome
for Cold Vision.
Here we go, guys.
Dashing
through the snow
- Oh, my God! - In a
one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields
we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
- Making spirits light
- Excuse me.
Oh, what fun it is to write
a sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells
- Dad!
- Mary.
It's ten days till Christmas.
- What are you doing here?
- What am I doing here? What are you doing here?
- Why aren't you at the North Pole?
- Mary.
Hold on a moment.
Are you telling me
that your father is...
- a jazz musician?
- Yeah, baby.
A-one, a-two,
a-one, two, three, four...
- Can you excuse us for a moment?
- Certainly.
I need to talk to you now.
- Have you lost your mind?!
- Of course not.
- Mr. C!
- Hey, Luke! What up?
"What up?"
What are you doing here?
- I'm jammin' with my band.
- Nice.
- Since when do you have a band?
- Going on three weeks.
This is our first big gig
in the lower 48.
Nick! You're being
paid to play.
- Skip?
- Skipper.
Hey!
- Did you just call him Nick?
- Yeah.
We're on a first name
basis, aren't we?
Uh, Mr. Nick? Mr. Santa.
Santa? Sir? Boss?
Did you bring
all the elves with you?
No, it's just me.
I manage the band.
- No, you don't. No.
- I book the gigs.
- I...
- Drive the bus.
To the gigs.
Uh, I hate to interrupt here
but you do realize
it's December, right?
- Don't you have a job to do?
- Not me, you.
You are supposed to be up at the North
Pole right now running Christmas.
Well, you think you might
have shared that with me
any time in the past,
oh, 11 months!
- Didn't you get my letter?
- No. What are you talking about?
- An actual letter?
- Yeah.
Dad, no one
writes letters anymore.
- I get letters all the time.
- That's because you're...
- Shh, shh.
- you.
Dad, please, just go.
For me?
- All right.
- Luke,
will you please take them
back to the apartment?
Really? And miss the
rest of this great party?
Yeah, I know you'll be
crying your eyes out. Thanks.
I'm sorry. It's gonna be
a late night tonight.
- Pizza?
- Now? Right on.
- Call me.
- Oh, my God.
Direct hit!
There you go.
You just go away, Luke!
You're gross!
You're never gonna
wait for me, Mary.
Hot cocoa for everyone!
Whoa, whoa! Shh!
Guys, guys, guys, keep it down.
Mary's still asleep.
Boys stink!
This is great.
I haven't seen this in years.
That's not very funny,
guys. That really hurt.
- Morning, boys.
- Hey, babe.
What time did you
get in last night?
- Very, very late.
- Why didn't you wake us up?
Well, y'all looked
so cozy and passed out.
All right, party's over.
Dad, when are you
gonna get back to work?
Uh, actually, Mary, I'm not.
I'm gonna take a little
time for myself.
Really? Well, you have time off.
January through November.
Ho, ho.
Maybe in the 1500s.
But nowadays I'm lucky if
I get one day in leap year,
so Santa's gonna make
a few changes.
Aren't you a little old to be
going through a midlife crisis?
It's not a midlife crisis. I'm
just trying to recapture my youth.
Right.
I'm gonna call Mom.
You'll get no help there.
Oh, you're in big trouble.
Good morning, Claus residence.
Uh... hi.
- Who's this?
- Why, this is Teri. Merry Christmas.
- And who might you be?
- This is Mary.
I'm looking for my mom.
I'm afraid she stepped away
for a moment.
- May I take a message?
- Yeah. Can you tell her that I called
- and that I have Dad.
- Mm-hmm.
Thanks so much.
Mmm.
All right. Listen.
I have so much to do today,
tons of meetings,
so I don't really
have time for this.
Listen, babe, go to work
- and I'll baby-sit for the day.
- Are you sure?
Are you kidding me? It'll
be just like old times.
Thank you.
All right, have fun.
And this is the mall.
Huh.
So this is what Christmas is
to all of you
city slickers, huh?
Hey, don't look at me.
I'm a Polaris boy at heart.
How are my dogs doing? Do you
ever get a chance to see them?
"A little bit of Christmas
in every bite."
Did we authorize this?
Uh, I don't know.
Remind me to call my lawyer.
I am your lawyer.
- Remind me to get a new lawyer.
- Ah!
Hey, look!
How'd they know we were coming?
Whoa, he's here.
- Hello.
- Hi, Santa.
Santa.
Huh?
OK, big smile.
Hey, mac, what gives?
I got an exclusive contract
on this place all of December.
The whole month?
Wow. Good for you.
Um, well, good luck with that.
Why don't we just get
out of here, guys, huh?
It seems a little steep to me.
Twenty-five bucks for a
snap of a sloppy wannabe.
Listen, buddy, if you know
what's good for you, beat it!
Well, if it's all about
the children, all right.
Merry Christmas.
Santa.
Hey!
Hey! What do you think you're doing, huh?
What do you think you're doing?
- Naughty.
- Naughty?
I'll show you naughty.
Hold still.
Almost finished.
Don't move.
All right, I'm gonna give you
guys one more chance, you got it?
God rest
ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas Day
To save us all
from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings
of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of
comfort and joy
Take five, gang.
- Thank goodness.
- Jail, Dad? Jail?
Well, you see...
- What happened?
- He started it, babe.
- Huh?
- Huh. Looks good.
Way to set an example.
You've gotta get me out of here.
The band is leaving for Chicago.
Left, Dad! Tour's over,
especially for you.
Snowballs! We were supposed
to open for Huey Lewis.
I don't want to hear it.
It's bad enough
you're ignoring Christmas
but now you're
messing up my life.
That's it. We're going
back to the North Pole.
Yeah, it's about time. You and
Luke should've left weeks ago.
Not me and Luke.
All of us.
- All of us are going back.
- Yeah!
- Not you guys.
- Ohh, man!
He hit that trail in one shot.
Come on, Flash.
OK, fellas, we'll see you later.
It's OK, sir.
I'll get the luggage.
Remember, Dad,
straight home, no detours.
- Bye!
- Bye!
- Bye, Mary!
- Hey, fellas!
Hey! Look at you!
Hi, puppies!
I haven't seen you...
Oh, yeah.
Hi.
OK, guys, I'll be back to
take you for a run later.
Oh!
Thank God you still have
your place.
I can't imagine
staying with my parents.
Oh, come on.
The workshop is fun.
Fun? Yes.
Private? No.
At last, home sweet home.
Come on, Flash.
Wow, this place hasn't changed
a bit since we were kids.
Why mess with perfection, babe.
I mean, think about it:
me, you, bearskin rug.
- Hot cocoa.
- Mmm.
Roaring fire.
Then...
that could work.
- Mm-hmm.
- Mmm.
Just don't get too comfortable.
We're not gonna be here that long.
- We're not?
- Nope. All right.
Phase one: get Dad up here. Phase
two: get him focused on Christmas.
Phase three: avert
the elven apocalypse.
- Phase four: Business class back to New York.
- "Elven apocalypse"?
The elves have been
unsupervised for three weeks.
I'm surprised we can't
see the smoke from here.
Hey, come here. It sounds like
this is gonna take a while
- to get back on track.
- Mmm.
Then again, the elves have been
making toys for hundreds of years,
- what's ten more minutes?
- Exactly.
Maybe even 20.
Mom, I'm...
Ho, what happened here?
Oh, Mary!
Thank goodness you're home.
Oh, I'm so happy to see you too.
So what's with all the cookies?
I'm just trying to keep busy.
Baking calms the nerves.
Mom, if baking calmed your
nerves you'd be catatonic.
Well, it's been a rough
couple of weeks around here,
what with your father gone
and you being so late!
I'm not late! I only found
out Dad was gone two days ago.
What, you didn't get the letter?
Again with the letter.
I have a home phone,
office phone, cell phone, fax, e-mail...
I'm not that hard to get a hold of.
Well, he's old-fashioned.
I found him jamming with
a jazz quartet in SoHo.
He's not old-fashioned.
What's wrong with him?
Oh, nothing! Nothing at all.
Everything is perfectly normal.
He's just going through
some changes.
He's had the same haircut
for 600 years.
He doesn't change.
That's what I thought,
but ever since your
improvements around here, well,
he's had some free time
on his hands
and... that's when
the hobbies started.
It's nice to see him
having so much fun,
but I just wonder when things will
start to get back to normal around here.
Now. Things are gonna
get back to normal now.
I want the ducks in a row.
Excellent. A couple more.
Oh! Mary, you're here!
- You're here!
- All right, all right.
Lay it on me. Critical stuff first.
What's wrong this time?
Uh, nothing.
Santa's been away for a month
and you're telling me
there's no fractures,
- felonies or fatalities?
- Uh, no, no, and... no.
Huh! Impressive.
I guess I really whipped
things into shape around here.
Hmm.
Well...
Um... hi.
My stars, if it isn't
Mary Class.
What a thrill!
- Really?
- Why, of course!
The daughter
that saved Christmas.
You're a regular legend
around here.
Oh.
Gary, honey,
would you mind running
and grabbing me some of
that delightful egg nog?
- OK.
- That's the spirit, Gary. Go team!
So, who are you anyway?
Look at me.
There I go again, running off at the mouth.
Teri McMillan,
Polaris Postal Service.
Oh! You took over
for Luke.
I was in the Congo
delivering malaria vaccines
to a school for blind orphans.
But then I heard
about the opening here,
and when an opportunity
like that comes along,
you've gotta take it.
After all, this is where
the magic happens.
Well, shouldn't you be
making that magic happen
over at the post office?
Well, of course.
But with Santa being gone,
someone had to step in and...
You know how those elves are.
I had to keep an eye on things.
Well, thank you. Great.
Santa's back, and
I can take it from here.
I'm just gonna go call
a staff meeting
and I'm sure you know how to
get back to the post office.
All right, everyone!
Gather 'round.
Quick staff meeting.
Gary... is that egg nog?
- Easy. No. Down, boy.
- But I...
I am back. I'm gonna be
running things again
until we get Santa back at work.
So, everyone, just keep
doing what you're doing.
All right, everyone, let's
give a big hand for Mary Class.
Come on, guys, you can do better than that.
This is Mary!
Let's show her some of
that Christmas spirit.
Much better!
All right, everyone, now,
let's go...
make... some...
- Toys!
- That's what I'm talking about!
Oh!
See you later, Teri.
Whatever.
- Whoo-hoo!
- Whoo!
Hi, there!
Hey there, sweet cheeks.
Nicholas, where did you get
that ridiculous thing?
I figured it's time for a new ride.
What do you think?
Makes me look younger, right?
Sure! You don't look
a day over 800.
Ho, ho, ho.
Look out!
Whoa!
Be good.
- Whoa! Hey!
- Well, hello there.
Oh! You're the new gal.
Teri, right?
Luke Jessup? I can't
believe it's really you.
OK.
You're a regular
legend around here.
It's... It's an honor to
follow in your footsteps.
Really? I was...
I was just a mailman.
Oh!
Just a mailman, he says.
You were the mailman,
the Christmas mailman.
Getting to deliver
to the Big S is...
is every
mail carrier's dream job.
Well, it had its moments,
I have to admit.
Hey, let me help you with that.
Look at you, the old pro.
- I'm not imposing on you, am I?
- Oh, not at all.
It'll be like old times.
- Beg your pardon?
- - Hey, Luke, good to see you!
Being back on my old mail
route, seeing my friends.
It's nothing like
delivering in the city.
No appreciation whatsoever.
Hmm. Well, I know
I'd appreciate it
if you let me pick
your brain sometime.
I just have so many questions.
Sure. Anytime.
You know, it's really nice to find
someone who shares the same...
Passion.
I was gonna say interest,
but, um, passion works.
- OK. Ahem...
- Yes.
Off we go.
Sandy, you have to set up
some video conferences.
This merger is absolutely
vital to our bottom line.
And we have to make sure all the
clients are on board. Uh-huh.
Yeah, I know. Well, I'm
gonna be up here for a while.
All right.
I'll talk to you later.
Hey, honey. Keeping busy?
- Are you responsible for this?
- What?
The cockamamie
wrapping schedule.
- Doesn't make any sense.
- Hey, Nick. Hitting the links again?
"Nick"?
I shaved two points
off my handicap already.
I knew you'd like it. Just think
of 'em as 18 little chimneys.
All right, see you both later.
Dad. Wrapping schedule?
Would you explain
your new system to Mary?
- Your system?
- It's really quite simple.
No, it's not. We tried
something like that last year.
It didn't work then
and it won't work now.
Um, well, last year you
just switched the shifts.
This is new. Each elf is assigned
a specific size and shape.
That way everyone has the
right size paper every time.
No special measuring, no delays.
See?
Oh.
You just have to be
a little more flexible.
I knew that Teri would make
the perfect assistant for you.
- Assistant?
- Yeah.
She's a people person.
The elves love her.
- Oh, well...
- Dad!
I have an assistant. He's in New York,
where my job is, where my life is.
This is your job and your life.
When are you gonna quit goofing
off and get back to work?
Well... never.
What do you mean
you want to retire?
Mary, I have been
doing this for so long
I can't remember the time your mother
and I had a chance to go out for dinner,
- let alone take a vacation.
- You're Santa! What do you expect?
Christmas is really important.
People have to believe
in the spirit of giving.
And for a long time I believed that I
was the only one who could provide that.
- You are.
- I'm not.
And last year you proved that.
Everybody mistakes me
for the holiday.
They think I'm Christmas,
but I'm not.
I only work here.
Or I did.
You know...
it's really hard
for a father
to realize that his little
girl is all grown up.
There was a time
when I was younger
when I couldn't imagine giving
this job to anybody else.
Now I can't imagine giving
it to anybody else but you.
I'd be so proud.
What do you say?
Hey, Nick, um, about the
whole assistant thing...
Oh, right. Don't worry about that.
It's only temporary.
Oh, whew!
What a relief.
- I was afraid...
- No, see, Mary's gonna be up to speed in no time.
Then you can get back
to your old life.
I'm sure you have
better things to do
than hang around
a boring old workshop.
But I love it here! And you said
yourself we make a great team.
- I did?
- Yes!
Remember when I was
helping you make a list
of everything you
missed out on in life?
Yeah, well, Mary's here now and
Christmas is what she does best.
But I thought she had a whole
other job, a life back in the city?
It's in her blood. It's
what she was born to do.
As long as Mary's happy here
then she'll stay.
Teri, keep it running smoothly.
Oh, I'll make sure
it runs smoothly, all right.
- Smooth as a...
- Marble?
Oh!
What are we doing?
We're naming things
that are smooth.
- Icicles?
- Uh, bowling balls?
- Smoothies.
- Ooh, good one.
I'm leaving.
Porcupines...
that are bald.
Or sandpaper that's been worn.
- Oh, glass.
- That's eroded.
- Nails.
- That are filed.
Hah! Gravel...
Covered in marzipan!
All right, we don't have
a lot of time,
so how are your
departments doing?
Letters is super fun. There's
a new candy cane stamp,
- and if you lick everything you eat the rest of the day...
- On schedule or behind?
- We're almost done.
- Terrific.
Gary, the toys. How are the
teddy bears coming along?
Oh, we're trying to increase
cuddliness by ten percent.
Right now we're at
about, mmm, eight.
Fine. Skip, wrapping?
- Oh, I like wrapping.
- Who wants cookies?
Uh, we're having
a meeting right here.
Double butter for Dave,
cinnamon hearts for Lucy
and peppermint swirl for Skip.
Oh! Thanks, Teri.
You're the best. Aww.
Anything for you, Skip. So,
what's your meeting all about?
Well, it's for
department heads only.
And since you're not
a department head...
Oh, maybe Teri could be head of
the cookie-making department.
Yeah!
My mom is the head of the
cookie-making department.
She's been doing it
for hundreds of years.
Well, what about a cookie
delivery department?
Or a special cookie delivery department?
I'd vote for that.
There's no voting! There's no
special cookie delivery department.
What about a special department
for the special delivery
of special cookies?
All right, Teri, go,
and take these with you.
Thanks.
Skip, report.
Skip. Skip?
Skip! Skip.
Brother!
She's a keeper.
Our new global partnership will allow you
to expand your markets internationally.
You'll still get my personal
attention, of course.
I'll just have more resources
to bring your way.
- So what do you say?
- That sounds great. You can count us in.
Terrific. I'll have Sandy
send you the paperwork.
And we will talk to you soon.
Steady, steady...
Yeah, no more
video conferencing.
Hmm...
Hmm.
Um...
Uh, hmm...
Hmm. Uh...
Um...
No.
- Come on, Skip!
- Um, uh... Do you have any fives?
- Oh! I have one.
- Oh, yeah.
No. No, no, Skip.
It's poker, remember?
- Betting?
- All right.
I bet you don't have any 10s
because I have four of them!
Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!
Skip-ip, diddly-ip
All right, all right,
everybody, give me your cards.
Five card stud, deuces wild.
Bring it on.
Double the ante.
Ho, ho, ho! Here we go!
Hey, Mr. C,
what's going down?
My rosy red cheeks
in my rosy red chair.
- Dealer's choice, dear.
- Beautiful.
- Hi, everybody.
- Hi, Teri.
- Hope I'm not interrupting anything.
- - No, not at all.
- Just a friendly game here.
- Oh, you're playing cards.
- It looks like fun.
- Yeah, you should play.
- There's an empty seat right here...
- next to me.
Really?
You don't mind?
Well, uh, we were
waiting for Mary.
I just spoke with Mary. I don't
think she's gonna be able to make it.
She is working so hard,
bless her heart.
Oh, it is such a busy time.
It's hard to have fun and games
when Christmas is at stake.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yes.
Yeah, in her real life,
um, whatever that is,
something is going on
with someone named Colin...
I think.
Oh!
OK. The game is
Anchorage Anaconda.
Suicide kings are wild,
blood queen is dead.
Top the pot buys an extra card and
first one out refills the chip bowl.
Who's ready?
Hey-yo, hey-yo!
Who's ready? Come to mama,
come to mama!
Boy, that was fun, huh?
Hey, Teri.
Yeah, it sure was.
Sorry to put a stop
to your winning streak.
- Beginner's luck, I guess.
- Yeah.
Here, have a peanut butter cookie.
They are my favorite.
Oh, my. Mmm!
So how are things
at the workshop?
- I mean, December sure is a busy month.
- Oh, sure is.
You know, that's
when Christmas is.
Tell me, Skip...
are you happy?
- Oh, yeah.
- Really?
Yep.
I mean, are you really,
really happy?
Yeah. Not only
really, really happy,
I'm really happy
a lot. Yeah.
Yeah, I'm sensing some
hesitation in your voice.
Maybe we should have
a little chat...
get to the source
of your problems.
Oh, OK.
So, Skip, do the elves
get overtime?
Oh. Mary!
- Morning, Gary.
- Good morning.
There's something...
kind of a big problem.
Well, whatever it is,
I'm sure we can handle it.
- What's this?
- It's our contract.
Contract?
What contract?
Contract, see?
Gary, what is he talking about?
Oh, it's the deal we signed with
Santa when we first got started.
What does that have to do with me?
Take it up with Santa.
And since he's quitting,
we get to regurgitate.
- Uh, renegotiate.
- Oh! Renegotiate.
And we've got to change
some things in the contract.
- That's what renegotiate means, Skip.
- OK!
Then, just that.
Wait.
You... You had me.
That was very funny.
All right, I'm gonna
get back to work.
OK... Oh!
Oh, yeah, right.
You need to take us seriously.
No contract, no toys.
- Dad, are you in here?
- Yeah, but I'm a little busy right now.
- Have you seen this?
- Yeah. Scrolls.
We've had them around
for many years.
- It's the elves' contract.
- Oh, that old thing?
Good for them.
They still have it.
Good for them? Bad for us.
Dad, have you even read it?
- Read it? I wrote it.
- It's a complete mess!
Half of it
doesn't even make sense
and the other half
is in Old English.
At the time we just
called it English.
Well, I can't use this.
I have to start from scratch.
Honey, they're elves.
All you have to do is give
them a couple of cookies,
point them towards
something shiny,
and they'll forget all about it.
- You have to learn how to negotiate.
- I know how to negotiate.
- I have an MBA from Wharton.
- Then it shouldn't be a problem.
It isn't my problem,
it's your problem.
They're your elves, you should
be the one handling this.
Not anymore, I'm retired.
Honey, if this is getting
to be too much to handle,
why don't you ask
Teri to help you?
Ouch!
- Hi!
- Hi, Gary.
- Hello, Mary.
- All right, let's get down to business.
You have your list of demands?
Number one: we want a 20
percent raise across the board.
- Oh! Oh, yeah!
- You don't get paid.
Twenty percent of nothing
is still nothing.
Uh, number two:
we want to get paid.
What do you need
money for anyway?
Number three:
we want our own store
where we can spend our money.
OK, can we just get past the money
part and hear the rest of your demands?
- Um, OK. Uh, a credit union.
- What?
Monopoly, Monopoly money.
Ah! Cookies.
You get cookies,
all the cookies you want.
Yeah, but we want
cookies with sprinkles.
- Yeah! Absolutely!
- Good point.
The cookies have sprinkles.
- On top and bottom?
- Ooh, that sounds good!
Oh, and we want those hats
with the cups, for cocoa.
Trampolines at the work
station, and jet packs,
and everybody gets their own chipmunk.
Hey, little guy.
Enough!
No. Nope.
Never gonna happen.
Not a chance in hell.
Nada. Never.
Huh.
One break every six hours.
Take it or leave it.
That went well.
- Gary.
- Huh?
- We're storming out.
- Me too?
- Yeah.
- OK.
- Bye!
- Bye, Gary!
What?
Mary? I'm sorry.
- Did I catch you at a bad time?
- Colin!
No, no, no, of course not.
I'm so glad to hear from you.
I just wanted to check in and see how
your client-retention efforts are coming.
Well, I'm... They are
coming along fine.
I just have a few hands to
hold through the merger.
Good. It's vital you're able to
meet the numbers we discussed
if I'm going to be able to convince
the board to vote for the merger.
Well, I will not let you down.
- Go away!
- Oh, why didn't you say so?
Mary, this thing
could still fall apart.
I'm afraid nothing's
guaranteed at this point.
We are all relying on you.
- How is she doing?
- I think she's in trouble with her boss.
Oh? Kind of like how you're
in trouble with the elves?
- What?!
- You know, how they all hate you
because you're siding with
Mary instead of your friends.
- Hate me?
- Oh, don't worry about it.
Three hundred years from now,
who's gonna remember
who betrayed who, right?
You mean, all of them?
Well, I haven't heard back
from Hillard Corp.,
- but I know they love me.
- The board is looking for signatures, not love.
Got it? Can you give me a
time estimate on any of this?
Hello? Mary?
Hello?
Are you there?
Hey, Luke!
Hey! There you are.
- I've been looking for you.
- Hey, baby.
- I've been crazed.
- Everything all right?
Yeah, of course,
everything's fine.
What's with the, uh, mail bag?
You moonlighting now?
No. Teri's letting
me help out a bit.
Teri, huh?
Uh... yeah.
You know, I'd be careful
around her if I were you.
What's that supposed to mean?
I don't know. She just
seems naughty to me.
Oh, come on!
Teri's great.
Well, I... You know me.
I just like being a little
part of Christmas, is all.
That makes one of us.
I just can't wait
to go back home.
- Right?
- Yeah, right.
- It's just...
- Luke, we can't stay here.
My life, my business,
everything is in the city.
Yeah, I know.
This isn't a good time.
You have a lot of work
to do, and...
we can talk
about this later.
What else can go wrong?
- What do we want?
- Cookies!
- When do we want 'em?
- Now!
Hey, hey, hey! Ho, ho, ho!
Mary Class has got to go!
Hey, hey, hey! Ho, ho, ho!
Mary Class has got to go!
- What do we want?
- Cookies!
- When do we want 'em?
- Now!
- What do we want?
- What?
- And what do we want?
- Cookies!
- When do we want 'em?
- Now!
You have cookies!
They're inside.
What the hell is going on here?
It's a picket line. It's sort
of like Follow the Leader.
Yeah, I know what it is.
Are you serious?
You're going on strike
at Christmas?
You didn't really
give us much choice.
"Us?" Gary, we're supposed
to be on the same team.
I can't just abandon my fellow elves.
They look up to me.
It's true.
He's the tallest.
OK? Right there.
This is ridiculous!
All right, listen. Everyone,
put down your signs
and go back to work.
Uh-uh, uh-uh!
We didn't say "Gary says."
Hey, hey, hey!
Ho, ho, ho!
They can't go back to work
until we talk about
the list of demands.
- No.
- Yes.
No! I can't deal with this.
You guys are on strike,
my dad's on vacation.
I'm just gonna have to do
everything myself!
Ooh!
No "ifs," no "buts"!
We want candy, we want nuts!
No "ifs," no "buts"!
We want candy, we want nuts!
All right, how hard can this be?
Oh!
- Howdy, Luke.
- Oh, hey, Teri.
What you looking for?
Mary's been going
through some stuff,
and I figured
I'd make her some coffee.
I can't find the cookies,
though.
Well, you know how hungry
those elves are.
- I know.
- Maybe we could whip up a batch ourselves.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
I'm not very good
in the kitchen.
Come on, Luke, let's dive in.
Um...
I'm so happy
hanging around you
I'm so happy
now that I found you
Bring me home
some mistletoe
Some cheer and snow
And let's make
a Merry Christmas
Let's make
a Merry Christmas
A Merry Christmas
A Merry Christmas
Ho, ho, ho!
There we go.
- Mary Class.
- Mary, where have you been?
Sorry, I haven't been in touch.
I've been in crisis mode up here.
If it is crisis mode up here,
it's Armageddon down here.
We've lost Gadgetech and
Patterson Pharmaceuticals.
Lost them? I thought my meeting
with them wasn't until next week.
This is next week. It's
hard to convince a company
you're gonna give them
hands-on attention
when you reschedule a conference
call for the third time.
Where does that leave us now?
At this point, you, me, and about
seven clients. Not exactly merger bait.
I'm almost at the office. If you've got
any tricks up your sleeve, now's the time.
All right, I'm on it.
- See you next time.
- Later, Nick.
Later, brother.
- Everybody having fun?
- Yeah, you bet!
Dad! Where have you been?
The elves have gone nuts!
I was with my drum circle,
- getting in touch with the sacred masculine.
- The sacred what?
All right, I have been more than
patient, but enough is enough!
My life is falling apart
because you bailed on Christmas.
You've had plenty of time to
explore this other side of you.
- What other side? This is all me.
- No, it's not you!
The last month has been
crazy time in Santa Town.
I need you to just stop it
and just fix Christmas.
Wait, wait...
- What's going on?
- What have you two been up to?
Teri and I,
we were in the kitchen...
I made you some cookies.
Mary, I know this is
difficult to understand,
but when I started out
I had no one to help me.
You're going to have to learn
how to walk on your own two feet
if you're going to replace me.
You're not listening.
I don't want to replace you.
I don't want
to be Santa Claus!
- So you're really going?
- If I don't leave right away,
my business and everything I've
worked my whole life for will be gone.
And Christmas?
Leaving is the only thing
that's going to snap
my father back to reality.
Where's your luggage?
Look, Mary...
up here I have a life.
It's not much in the
grand scheme of things
but it's my life.
I have my friends and my
dogsledding business and my house.
- Back in New York all I have is...
- Me?
Mary, I love you,
and I want to be with you.
Here.
I can't give up what I
love, what I love to do.
I know.
So, no matter where we are,
someone's gonna be unhappy.
We can work this out, right?
I don't know.
I don't know, Luke.
I know you always say that
things work out at Christmas.
But that's just one day
out of the year.
I'll see you later.
Honey, I'm home.
Such as it is.
I know, buddy.
I miss her, too.
Whoa!
We hang the stockings,
trim the tree
And stoke the fire's coal
As it begins to snow
Come December,
family members
Start to wander home
To the places
where they're from
There's peace in hearts
at Christmastime
When all year long
it's so hard to find
Where there's peace in
hearts at Christmastime
When all year long
it's so hard to find
Though it's never
far behind
When it's Christmastime
Am I interrupting?
Teri. What are you
doing here?
Well, I... I couldn't
find you anywhere
and... these brownies
just came out of the oven.
I, uh... I just needed
to get some air.
Well, I hope you have
room for a brownie.
- No, I'm not really hungry.
- Oh, go on, Luke.
You look like you could use it.
All right.
Wow!
- Wow!
- You see, Luke?
There is no problem in life
that can't be solved with
a plate full of brownies.
Mmm. That'd be nice.
It is lovely here, isn't it?
Like nowhere else in the world.
What's it like in that
big city of yours?
Crowded. Noisy.
And the traffic is terrible.
Must be nice for you
to get away from it all.
It's not all that bad.
You know, Luke...
maybe you shouldn't try
forcing things with Mary.
She... She has her life,
and you can have yours too.
Maybe everything you need is...
is already here.
Right in front of you.
Really?
You need someone who
appreciates you for you, Luke.
Someone who shares
your interests...
who will always
be there for you.
You're so right, Teri.
Mary's gone.
She went back to the city.
- Mary's gone?
- Uh-huh.
Teri?
Whoo-hoo!
Whoo-hoo!
Mary, I don't want to step on
your toes, but I have an idea...
Mary?
Uh, where's Mary?
I can't believe she
let me down like this.
Let you down? Nicholas,
did you ever stop to consider
that Mary might be right?
While you've been wasting time,
she's been here
sacrificing, doing your job
to keep Christmas going.
But I've been going
through some things.
How many times
have I heard that?
I remember when you just had
to have that Viking longboat.
It came with its own Vikings.
Yeah! And it took me a decade to
get the stains out of the carpet.
Oh, Nicholas,
I just wish you'd stop this
foolishness and get back to work
before the children
pay the price.
Half the work and twice the pay.
We want cocoa every day!
Half the work
and twice the pay...
Good news, elves.
It's all over!
Time to go back to work!
- What about the strike?
- The strike is over, Skip.
Congratulations!
You won.
But what did Mary say?
Good question, Gary.
Anyone else have
any other questions?
No? OK. Back to work.
But... But what about Mary?
All right. Who wants to sit
around asking questions?
Not me! No.
Not here. Nah-uh.
And who wants to make
some... toys!
Yeah! Oh, yeah!
That's what I'm talking about.
Now let's get cracking because we
have a lot of catching up to do.
But first...
give yourselves
a hand.
Teri, can I talk to Mary?
I'm afraid Mary has left
to pursue other interests.
Oh!
Santa baby, slip a sable
under the tree
For me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, so hurry down
the chimney tonight
Santa baby
A '54 convertible, too
Coming.
Colin, what are you
doing here? Come on in.
- Thank you.
- I thought we were meeting tomorrow.
We are, but I've been chatting
up the board members informally.
They're all terribly impressed with
how you've turned this thing around.
So the meeting tomorrow will
just be a formality, really.
Congratulations.
Colin, that's fantastic!
I hope I'm not imposing, but
I couldn't wait to tell you.
Where's that charming boyfriend of yours?
What was it, Bo?
- Luke.
- Luke, right. Sorry.
Yeah, he's not in the,
uh, picture, I think.
Oh? I'm sorry
to hear that.
Well, perhaps these
will cheer you up.
- What's all this?
- The merger papers.
- But...
- I had them ready weeks ago.
I knew you could do it.
Santa, honey
Now all that's needed is your
Jane Hancock, shall we say.
To a platinum mine
Santa, honey, so hurry down
the chimney tonight
Problem?
No, no, I just...
I worked towards this moment
my whole career.
So, now that it's finally here,
it just...
Well, it seems, um...
Wonderful?
Something like that.
And hurry down
the chimney tonight
And with a stroke of the quill,
Whitmore-Class is born.
Will you join me in a toast?
Uh, sure!
- With some decorations
bought at Tiffany's - Ta-da!
- Thank you.
- My pleasure.
To Mary Class.
May all of her Christmas
wishes come true.
Thank you.
Now, I hope I'm not
being presumptuous,
but I've made reservations
tonight at Gianelli's...
- if you're available.
- With the whole team?
No. I thought it might
just be the two of us.
That would be nice.
Lovely.
Dave, faster, faster.
Uh... too squeaky.
- Lucy...
- Mm-hmm?
- What color is this?
- Pink.
- Oh. And this one?
- Blue.
Right. And you don't see
a problem here?
Nope.
See, the ribbons in the hair
must match, please. Fix them, OK?
Fix them all.
Skip. Skip!
- Skip!
- Yeah, boss?
Don't sneak up on me.
- I'm back!
- Santa!
Nick!
Santa, I missed you!
Hey, Nick! Nice to see you!
- Hi.
- Are you just stopping by for a visit?
No, not a visit. Mary's
gone back to New York.
Yeah, so I have heard, which
is why I have taken control.
No need for you to worry.
I think I hear the golf course
calling your name.
Well, I appreciate the help
but I've got it from here.
The big man is back.
Gary? Where's my Gary?
There you are.
Gary, situation report.
Uh, we are right at the end.
It's Christmas Eve tomorrow.
We're almost done. I'm just
putting on the finishing touches.
All right, that means the toys
are done, but that's only half.
The rest is the deliveries,
and that's the magic.
That's what makes
Christmas happen.
But you weren't even here
when we made the toys.
Does that mean I'm not
allowed to deliver them?
No, but...
- But I was going to do that.
- Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho!
But you let Mary deliver
the toys last year.
Teri, you've been a good assistant
and I appreciate the help,
but I am Santa Claus.
And Mary is my daughter.
That's who we are.
Just as you are the mail carrier,
and that's what you should be doing.
You do it so well.
Santa Claus, pardon me,
but may I borrow you
for just a moment?
In the other room, alone?
All right.
I'll be right back.
We wish you
a Teri Christmas
We wish you
a Teri Christmas
We wish you a Teri Christmas
and a Happy New Year
Oh, thanks for a great night.
I had a lovely time.
I'm just glad we can put it
on your expense account.
Well, with the merger, my expense
account is your expense account.
Crap! I hadn't
thought about that.
- Is it too late to get out of it?
- I'm afraid so.
Well, I'm gonna call
my lawyer in the morning.
Is something wrong?
Sharing letterhead is gonna be
a big enough adjustment already.
I just... can't handle
anything else right now.
I understand.
Thank you.
- See you Monday?
- Absolutely.
Oh, and have a merry Christmas.
That's what they all say.
- I beg your pardon?
- Never mind. Good night.
Good night.
This is a big one.
Look!
Wow!
Higher, higher!
Teri!
Teri, can I have a cookie?
Oh, I'm sorry. Um, Santa said I
should be the only one eating cookies.
- But usually...
- You question the will of Santa?
- No!
- Back to work.
Oh! Looks like somebody's
getting an extra chunk of potato.
I hope you don't mind.
Now, I don't want
any complaints, OK?
I put in basil because
I happen to like basil,
and I don't see you doing any
of the cooking around here.
Dig in.
You know, it's really nice
having someone to eat with.
Mary!
Wow! You're back.
OK, we'll have plenty
of time for that later.
Listen, we need to get to the workshop.
I think my dad's in trouble.
- I'll explain later.
- All right, let's go.
All right, you can have mine.
See ya!
OK, everyone. Tonight
is the big night.
Let's get these last
few toys on the sleigh
and get ready
to make Santa proud!
Skip? Ahem. Skip!
Skip... Where were you?
- Did you finish hanging my portrait?
- I was just...
It doesn't matter. Look, I really
need you to get on this thing...
All right, jig's up.
Mary, you're back.
- Oh, joy.
- Yeah, I'm back.
Phoebe!
She's an elf!
You're an elf.
You figured it out.
Good for you.
Well, guess I don't need
these anymore.
Or these.
- And what about the outfit?
- My uniform?
Oh, no, no.
I think I'll keep it.
After all, Santa
did put me in charge.
Right, everyone?
- He did no such thing.
- Um... Skip?
Oh, yeah. Santa went away. He
said that Teri's in charge.
He said that Teri
is the new Santa.
He gave Teri the suit and
the sleigh and the workshop.
- Went away where?
- I don't know.
Oh, who knows? Probably in one
of his crazy flights of fancy.
- Yeah.
- That kind of thing runs in the family.
Gary, can you tell me
what really happened?
Santa went away,
he said Teri's in charge.
He said Teri's the new Santa, he gave
Teri the suit, sleigh and the workshop.
Santa told you
Teri is in charge?
- Well, no.
- Wait a second.
Did anyone actually hear
Santa say Teri was in charge?
No.
- So who told you?
- Teri.
And it didn't occur to anyone
that maybe she was lying?
But if Teri's lying,
why would Santa put her
in charge?
She said her name was Teri,
but it's really Phoebe.
She said she was a mailman,
but she's really an elf.
You're a liar!
I bet Santa never even said
you could have all the cookies!
I bet Santa didn't
put you in charge at all!
Well, well, well.
Looks like we got ourselves
a little rebellion.
- You know what I have to say to that?
- What?
Free cookies!
- What is this doing here?
- Well, it's a present.
We do deliver them, you know.
It's a little big,
don't you think?
"Do not open until
after Christmas."
Huh?
Mom! Dad!
Mr. and Mrs. C,
are you all right?
Oh, thank goodness!
- Teri is naughty.
- Yeah, we got that.
And her name isn't Teri,
it's Phoebe.
And I bet you 50 bucks that's
why I didn't get your letter.
Of course. How could I
have missed that?
- It was the hair.
- And the glasses.
No, it was me.
I was so much
into my own nonsense,
- now look what happened.
- There, there, dear.
I know what you're gonna say:
"Nicholas, don't blame yourself."
No, I wasn't gonna say that.
- You weren't?
- Mmm-mm.
Uh, guys, the sleigh's gone.
- Oh, no!
- All right, we gotta go after her.
- Luke, we'll need the dogsled.
- I'm on it, babe.
- I'll drive. Come on, Dad!
- You're the boss.
No, you get the sled,
I'll catch up.
I have something to do.
Come on, Gary, I have an idea.
Christmas is mine!
All mine!
What?
Whoa! Whoa!
They won't fly for you! You
don't have the Christmas spirit.
- There's no escape.
- Oh!
Nice try, old man,
but you can't cut me off!
Whoa!
No!
Whoa!
Dad!
- Are you OK?
- What the heck was that?
Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
I made a few special
modifications to the sleigh.
Yeah!
Whoa!
Whoa!
- Toys are gone.
- What did you expect?
Oh, no.
Teri lives here? Dad, wasn't
this your fishing shack?
- Can somebody say "creepy"?
- Ya think?
I am really gonna have
to call my lawyer.
- That's far enough.
- Phoebe!
What are you doing?
- Oh, no!
- I'll do it, I swear.
- What has gotten into you?
- Me?
What about you?
Christmas is the most
important job in the world,
and I am the only one
that wants to do it.
You two couldn't wait
to call it quits.
But somehow that
makes me the bad guy.
So you decided
to steal Christmas?
I'm not stealing it,
I'm saving it...
from you two.
I deserve this, Mary.
After all those years
of loyal service,
Christmas is mine!
Phoebe, you're one of the
best elves I ever had.
Elves? Who wants
to be an elf?
No one out there
even knows who we are,
but everyone
can name the reindeer
and all they do
is pull the sleigh!
Yeah, through the sky.
- Not helping.
- Sorry.
Well, this is one elf
no one's gonna forget.
If I can't run Christmas...
no one will.
- No!
- Go ahead!
- What?!
- What did you say?
Doesn't matter.
You can steal Christmas,
you can destroy it,
you can even save it.
We all have dreams, Phoebe.
But what good is getting
everything you always wanted
unless you have someone
to share it with?
Come on.
I know you can do it.
So this is it?
All I have to do is...
is hand this over and...
everything goes back
to the way it was?
Of course.
Phoebe, it's
the right thing to do.
- No!
- No!
Oh!
- Oh, my God!
- What have I done?
You destroyed Christmas!
So what are we gonna do now?
- Wait!
- Skip?
I...
- The toys...
- It's too late.
- She dropped the whole bag in the ocean.
- What bag?
The bag of toys
from the sleigh, Skip.
- The peanut butter cookie bag?
- - What?!
The peanut butter cookies! I put a
big bag of 'em in the sleigh for Teri!
Or...
Or... Phoebe.
You said they were
your favorite.
And, you know, since the kids don't
usually put out peanut butter cookies,
I figured it would be
a nice treat.
You...
You did that for me?
Well...
It is Christmas.
Skip! So the elves
saved Christmas!
Looks like it.
Well, I better look
at their contract again.
It seems I've been a bit hard
on the little buggers.
Wait a second, Mr. C. How are you gonna
pull this off if you're so far behind?
There's no way only one Santa can
deliver all those presents in time.
But two can.
Two can!
Two can!
Yeah, yeah. Two can.
- Help me unhitch the reindeer, OK?
- I'm on it!
Yes, yes!
Phoebe...
we can use a hand.
Very clever, Mary.
I guess I owe you one.
Oh, come on, Dad.
It's two you owe me.
I have to say this.
I'm sorry.
You have your own life.
I shouldn't have forced you
to lead mine.
Don't worry about it, Dad.
It's a mistake
we all make sometimes.
You don't have to follow
in my footsteps
for me to be proud of you.
You're the best Christmas present
a father ever could ask for.
Wow.
Thanks, Dad.
Are you guys sure
this is gonna work?
It's Christmas.
It always does.
Right.
Are you ready?
Whenever you need me, Dad.
On, Dasher!
On, Cupid!
Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Bye, Luke!
Oh, hey, you guys want a lift?
- I think we'll walk.
- All right.
Merry Christmas.
Hike-hike!
Hyah! Hike!
Hike-hike!
Come on, hike!
And you have four new client
meetings scheduled for next week,
plus new Webber Group proposals
to finish up. Busy, busy.
Wouldn't have it any other way.
Good evening, Whitmore-Class.
Sandy speaking.
Um, I'm afraid she's gone for the weekend.
Can I have her return?
OK, thank you.
Oh, and you have a conference
call with Colin Monday morning.
You know, maybe I'll just
swing by their offices.
- In London?
- Sandy!
Haven't you ever been to London?
Nice, wide chimneys.
See you Monday.
On, Dasher!
Whoops!
- I'm going home
- Bye.
For the holidays
Home for the holidays
- It's so long...
- Hi, babe!
Hi!
I hope you don't mind, but I
invited a few people for dinner.
At last!
I'm starving to death.
- Nicholas, it's been 15 minutes.
- A hungry 15 minutes.
Do you realize that you're more
beautiful than you were 800 years ago?
Ooh, Nicky.
- What took you so long?
- Traffic was a nightmare.
Since I've been away
Going home
for the holidays
Going home
For the holidays
On the corner
carolers are singin'
There's a touch
of magic in the air
From grown-up to minor
no one could be finer
Times are hard
but no one seems to care
Christmas Eve and all
the world is watching
Hut! Forward, hut!
Forward, left! Hut!
From rooftop to chimney
From Harlem to Bimini
They will find a way
into your heart
Christmas is the time
to say "I love you"
Share the joys of
laughter and good cheer
Christmas is the time
to say "I love you"
And a feeling that will
last all through the year
So when spirits
grow lighter
And hearts are
shining brighter
Then you know that
Christmas time is here
It's Christmas time
This is the time
It's Christmas time
It's Christmas time
This is the time
It's Christmas time...
- OK, what's next?
- These are for Webber Group.
- All right. This one.
- OK.
- Oh! I got it.
- Thank you.
- Now, Gadgetech.
- This one, but in Helvetica.
- Mm-hmm. Oh, I got it.
- Thank you.
OK.
- Here's your bagel.
- Mmm.
OK, now, Clarkford and Klein.
- They're exactly the same.
- I know you love having choices.
Oh, and the bartender called.
Would you prefer flaming rum
punch or egg nog martinis?
- Both. It's a holiday party.
- What holiday party?
- Morning.
- Tonight, the merger party.
For my clients
and the London guys.
Colin Nottingham and his group.
You have to be there.
Oh, I'd love to, babe,
but my tux
is at the dry cleaners.
You don't need a tux.
You just need to bring
that handsome mug of yours
- so I can show you off. It'll be fun, I promise.
- I'll be there.
- I got it.
- Oh. Thank you.
We have about 15 pages
from Legal for you to sign.
OK, we'll do it in the car.
- Oh...
- I got it.
I owe you one.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- I love you. See you later.
- I love you, too. Bye.
- Have fun at work!
- Don't I always?
Merry Christmas.
Wake up, make-up,
greet the brand-new day
- Hey. Oh! Sorry.
- That's all right.
Sorry, my bad.
And share the good
that comes your way
Hey. It looks like somebody
got some Christmas cards.
Great!
Nope.
Nada. Bupkis.
There we go.
There's a time for joy
and a time for love
And a time
to believe in
Oh! Hey, ma'am.
I have a package for you.
That's what my doorman's for.
- Hey! Watch where you're going, buddy!
- Yeah, you, too, pal.
Yeah.
Merry Christmas.
'Cause it's all up to you
Starting today
- Thank you.
- Where's Luke?
Don't know. Late. Colin and
the guys just showed up.
All right.
It is showtime.
Hello, everyone.
It's great to see
all of you here.
You know, if you'd
asked me five years ago
to make a list of all the
clients I wanted to get,
- well, you'd all be on that list.
- - Aww.
So I guess I don't really need to ask
Santa for anything this Christmas.
Except that we have another
record-breaking year like we just did,
and maybe a few surprises
waiting for you.
So, here's to all of you.
And Happy Holidays.
Colin!
So great to see you.
- Ms. Class.
- Mary.
- I told you 20 times call me Mary.
- Very well. Mary.
It is a pleasure to finally
meet you in person.
After how many hundreds of
e-mails and phone calls?
Mmm, yes. I do hope you'll find
time to visit us in London.
London. Beautiful city.
Nice, wide chimneys.
Chimneys?
Yes, I suppose so.
It's quite an impressive collection of
clients you've assembled for yourself, Mary.
For ourselves, Colin,
unless you and the board
are getting cold feet about
the merger all of a sudden.
Not at all. We couldn't be
more excited by the prospect.
- Hmm.
- Come on.
I'll introduce you
to the rest of the team.
- Oh. Thank you.
- You're welcome.
So you're ready to go worldwide?
I think so.
- Are we enjoying ourselves?
- Hey, Sandman.
It is a party, you know.
Feel free to mingle.
I'm OK, thanks.
Does Mary even know you're here?
She's busy. I don't
want to bother her...
Aren't you adorable?
Come on!
Well, no one can
have it both ways.
The future of any company is
defined by those crossroads,
moments where someone
needs to make a choice.
It's not always easy
picking the right path,
but that's where I come in.
Well, I think that we've made
an excellent choice ourselves.
- Thank you.
- Look who I found!
Luke! Hi, honey.
Everyone, this is Luke
Jessup, my boyfriend.
Hi. Nice to meet you.
A pleasure.
- Hi.
- This is Colin Nottingham
from the Whitmore Corporation.
It is very nice
to meet you, Colin.
Pleasure's mine. So, how long
have you been in marketing?
Oh. Luke doesn't work with me.
Oh, really? Let me guess.
Product integration.
- No.
- New business development, then.
No. More like,
uh... distribution.
I'm a mailman. Oh, I'm also a
small business owner as well.
Really? What kind of
business would that be?
Dogsledding.
Dogsledding, how charming.
Is there much call for that
sort of thing around here?
Well, with the right marketing
campaign, who knows, right?
Right, right. Marketing.
Yes.
Ahem. I'm gonna get
another drink, babe.
- OK.
- Nice to meet you all.
- Our pleasure.
- As well.
So, where were we?
All right, hepcats, we got a real
special treat for you tonight.
Playing their very first gig
here in the big city,
give a hot, hot welcome
for Cold Vision.
Here we go, guys.
Dashing
through the snow
- Oh, my God! - In a
one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields
we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
- Making spirits light
- Excuse me.
Oh, what fun it is to write
a sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells
- Dad!
- Mary.
It's ten days till Christmas.
- What are you doing here?
- What am I doing here? What are you doing here?
- Why aren't you at the North Pole?
- Mary.
Hold on a moment.
Are you telling me
that your father is...
- a jazz musician?
- Yeah, baby.
A-one, a-two,
a-one, two, three, four...
- Can you excuse us for a moment?
- Certainly.
I need to talk to you now.
- Have you lost your mind?!
- Of course not.
- Mr. C!
- Hey, Luke! What up?
"What up?"
What are you doing here?
- I'm jammin' with my band.
- Nice.
- Since when do you have a band?
- Going on three weeks.
This is our first big gig
in the lower 48.
Nick! You're being
paid to play.
- Skip?
- Skipper.
Hey!
- Did you just call him Nick?
- Yeah.
We're on a first name
basis, aren't we?
Uh, Mr. Nick? Mr. Santa.
Santa? Sir? Boss?
Did you bring
all the elves with you?
No, it's just me.
I manage the band.
- No, you don't. No.
- I book the gigs.
- I...
- Drive the bus.
To the gigs.
Uh, I hate to interrupt here
but you do realize
it's December, right?
- Don't you have a job to do?
- Not me, you.
You are supposed to be up at the North
Pole right now running Christmas.
Well, you think you might
have shared that with me
any time in the past,
oh, 11 months!
- Didn't you get my letter?
- No. What are you talking about?
- An actual letter?
- Yeah.
Dad, no one
writes letters anymore.
- I get letters all the time.
- That's because you're...
- Shh, shh.
- you.
Dad, please, just go.
For me?
- All right.
- Luke,
will you please take them
back to the apartment?
Really? And miss the
rest of this great party?
Yeah, I know you'll be
crying your eyes out. Thanks.
I'm sorry. It's gonna be
a late night tonight.
- Pizza?
- Now? Right on.
- Call me.
- Oh, my God.
Direct hit!
There you go.
You just go away, Luke!
You're gross!
You're never gonna
wait for me, Mary.
Hot cocoa for everyone!
Whoa, whoa! Shh!
Guys, guys, guys, keep it down.
Mary's still asleep.
Boys stink!
This is great.
I haven't seen this in years.
That's not very funny,
guys. That really hurt.
- Morning, boys.
- Hey, babe.
What time did you
get in last night?
- Very, very late.
- Why didn't you wake us up?
Well, y'all looked
so cozy and passed out.
All right, party's over.
Dad, when are you
gonna get back to work?
Uh, actually, Mary, I'm not.
I'm gonna take a little
time for myself.
Really? Well, you have time off.
January through November.
Ho, ho.
Maybe in the 1500s.
But nowadays I'm lucky if
I get one day in leap year,
so Santa's gonna make
a few changes.
Aren't you a little old to be
going through a midlife crisis?
It's not a midlife crisis. I'm
just trying to recapture my youth.
Right.
I'm gonna call Mom.
You'll get no help there.
Oh, you're in big trouble.
Good morning, Claus residence.
Uh... hi.
- Who's this?
- Why, this is Teri. Merry Christmas.
- And who might you be?
- This is Mary.
I'm looking for my mom.
I'm afraid she stepped away
for a moment.
- May I take a message?
- Yeah. Can you tell her that I called
- and that I have Dad.
- Mm-hmm.
Thanks so much.
Mmm.
All right. Listen.
I have so much to do today,
tons of meetings,
so I don't really
have time for this.
Listen, babe, go to work
- and I'll baby-sit for the day.
- Are you sure?
Are you kidding me? It'll
be just like old times.
Thank you.
All right, have fun.
And this is the mall.
Huh.
So this is what Christmas is
to all of you
city slickers, huh?
Hey, don't look at me.
I'm a Polaris boy at heart.
How are my dogs doing? Do you
ever get a chance to see them?
"A little bit of Christmas
in every bite."
Did we authorize this?
Uh, I don't know.
Remind me to call my lawyer.
I am your lawyer.
- Remind me to get a new lawyer.
- Ah!
Hey, look!
How'd they know we were coming?
Whoa, he's here.
- Hello.
- Hi, Santa.
Santa.
Huh?
OK, big smile.
Hey, mac, what gives?
I got an exclusive contract
on this place all of December.
The whole month?
Wow. Good for you.
Um, well, good luck with that.
Why don't we just get
out of here, guys, huh?
It seems a little steep to me.
Twenty-five bucks for a
snap of a sloppy wannabe.
Listen, buddy, if you know
what's good for you, beat it!
Well, if it's all about
the children, all right.
Merry Christmas.
Santa.
Hey!
Hey! What do you think you're doing, huh?
What do you think you're doing?
- Naughty.
- Naughty?
I'll show you naughty.
Hold still.
Almost finished.
Don't move.
All right, I'm gonna give you
guys one more chance, you got it?
God rest
ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas Day
To save us all
from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings
of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of
comfort and joy
Take five, gang.
- Thank goodness.
- Jail, Dad? Jail?
Well, you see...
- What happened?
- He started it, babe.
- Huh?
- Huh. Looks good.
Way to set an example.
You've gotta get me out of here.
The band is leaving for Chicago.
Left, Dad! Tour's over,
especially for you.
Snowballs! We were supposed
to open for Huey Lewis.
I don't want to hear it.
It's bad enough
you're ignoring Christmas
but now you're
messing up my life.
That's it. We're going
back to the North Pole.
Yeah, it's about time. You and
Luke should've left weeks ago.
Not me and Luke.
All of us.
- All of us are going back.
- Yeah!
- Not you guys.
- Ohh, man!
He hit that trail in one shot.
Come on, Flash.
OK, fellas, we'll see you later.
It's OK, sir.
I'll get the luggage.
Remember, Dad,
straight home, no detours.
- Bye!
- Bye!
- Bye, Mary!
- Hey, fellas!
Hey! Look at you!
Hi, puppies!
I haven't seen you...
Oh, yeah.
Hi.
OK, guys, I'll be back to
take you for a run later.
Oh!
Thank God you still have
your place.
I can't imagine
staying with my parents.
Oh, come on.
The workshop is fun.
Fun? Yes.
Private? No.
At last, home sweet home.
Come on, Flash.
Wow, this place hasn't changed
a bit since we were kids.
Why mess with perfection, babe.
I mean, think about it:
me, you, bearskin rug.
- Hot cocoa.
- Mmm.
Roaring fire.
Then...
that could work.
- Mm-hmm.
- Mmm.
Just don't get too comfortable.
We're not gonna be here that long.
- We're not?
- Nope. All right.
Phase one: get Dad up here. Phase
two: get him focused on Christmas.
Phase three: avert
the elven apocalypse.
- Phase four: Business class back to New York.
- "Elven apocalypse"?
The elves have been
unsupervised for three weeks.
I'm surprised we can't
see the smoke from here.
Hey, come here. It sounds like
this is gonna take a while
- to get back on track.
- Mmm.
Then again, the elves have been
making toys for hundreds of years,
- what's ten more minutes?
- Exactly.
Maybe even 20.
Mom, I'm...
Ho, what happened here?
Oh, Mary!
Thank goodness you're home.
Oh, I'm so happy to see you too.
So what's with all the cookies?
I'm just trying to keep busy.
Baking calms the nerves.
Mom, if baking calmed your
nerves you'd be catatonic.
Well, it's been a rough
couple of weeks around here,
what with your father gone
and you being so late!
I'm not late! I only found
out Dad was gone two days ago.
What, you didn't get the letter?
Again with the letter.
I have a home phone,
office phone, cell phone, fax, e-mail...
I'm not that hard to get a hold of.
Well, he's old-fashioned.
I found him jamming with
a jazz quartet in SoHo.
He's not old-fashioned.
What's wrong with him?
Oh, nothing! Nothing at all.
Everything is perfectly normal.
He's just going through
some changes.
He's had the same haircut
for 600 years.
He doesn't change.
That's what I thought,
but ever since your
improvements around here, well,
he's had some free time
on his hands
and... that's when
the hobbies started.
It's nice to see him
having so much fun,
but I just wonder when things will
start to get back to normal around here.
Now. Things are gonna
get back to normal now.
I want the ducks in a row.
Excellent. A couple more.
Oh! Mary, you're here!
- You're here!
- All right, all right.
Lay it on me. Critical stuff first.
What's wrong this time?
Uh, nothing.
Santa's been away for a month
and you're telling me
there's no fractures,
- felonies or fatalities?
- Uh, no, no, and... no.
Huh! Impressive.
I guess I really whipped
things into shape around here.
Hmm.
Well...
Um... hi.
My stars, if it isn't
Mary Class.
What a thrill!
- Really?
- Why, of course!
The daughter
that saved Christmas.
You're a regular legend
around here.
Oh.
Gary, honey,
would you mind running
and grabbing me some of
that delightful egg nog?
- OK.
- That's the spirit, Gary. Go team!
So, who are you anyway?
Look at me.
There I go again, running off at the mouth.
Teri McMillan,
Polaris Postal Service.
Oh! You took over
for Luke.
I was in the Congo
delivering malaria vaccines
to a school for blind orphans.
But then I heard
about the opening here,
and when an opportunity
like that comes along,
you've gotta take it.
After all, this is where
the magic happens.
Well, shouldn't you be
making that magic happen
over at the post office?
Well, of course.
But with Santa being gone,
someone had to step in and...
You know how those elves are.
I had to keep an eye on things.
Well, thank you. Great.
Santa's back, and
I can take it from here.
I'm just gonna go call
a staff meeting
and I'm sure you know how to
get back to the post office.
All right, everyone!
Gather 'round.
Quick staff meeting.
Gary... is that egg nog?
- Easy. No. Down, boy.
- But I...
I am back. I'm gonna be
running things again
until we get Santa back at work.
So, everyone, just keep
doing what you're doing.
All right, everyone, let's
give a big hand for Mary Class.
Come on, guys, you can do better than that.
This is Mary!
Let's show her some of
that Christmas spirit.
Much better!
All right, everyone, now,
let's go...
make... some...
- Toys!
- That's what I'm talking about!
Oh!
See you later, Teri.
Whatever.
- Whoo-hoo!
- Whoo!
Hi, there!
Hey there, sweet cheeks.
Nicholas, where did you get
that ridiculous thing?
I figured it's time for a new ride.
What do you think?
Makes me look younger, right?
Sure! You don't look
a day over 800.
Ho, ho, ho.
Look out!
Whoa!
Be good.
- Whoa! Hey!
- Well, hello there.
Oh! You're the new gal.
Teri, right?
Luke Jessup? I can't
believe it's really you.
OK.
You're a regular
legend around here.
It's... It's an honor to
follow in your footsteps.
Really? I was...
I was just a mailman.
Oh!
Just a mailman, he says.
You were the mailman,
the Christmas mailman.
Getting to deliver
to the Big S is...
is every
mail carrier's dream job.
Well, it had its moments,
I have to admit.
Hey, let me help you with that.
Look at you, the old pro.
- I'm not imposing on you, am I?
- Oh, not at all.
It'll be like old times.
- Beg your pardon?
- - Hey, Luke, good to see you!
Being back on my old mail
route, seeing my friends.
It's nothing like
delivering in the city.
No appreciation whatsoever.
Hmm. Well, I know
I'd appreciate it
if you let me pick
your brain sometime.
I just have so many questions.
Sure. Anytime.
You know, it's really nice to find
someone who shares the same...
Passion.
I was gonna say interest,
but, um, passion works.
- OK. Ahem...
- Yes.
Off we go.
Sandy, you have to set up
some video conferences.
This merger is absolutely
vital to our bottom line.
And we have to make sure all the
clients are on board. Uh-huh.
Yeah, I know. Well, I'm
gonna be up here for a while.
All right.
I'll talk to you later.
Hey, honey. Keeping busy?
- Are you responsible for this?
- What?
The cockamamie
wrapping schedule.
- Doesn't make any sense.
- Hey, Nick. Hitting the links again?
"Nick"?
I shaved two points
off my handicap already.
I knew you'd like it. Just think
of 'em as 18 little chimneys.
All right, see you both later.
Dad. Wrapping schedule?
Would you explain
your new system to Mary?
- Your system?
- It's really quite simple.
No, it's not. We tried
something like that last year.
It didn't work then
and it won't work now.
Um, well, last year you
just switched the shifts.
This is new. Each elf is assigned
a specific size and shape.
That way everyone has the
right size paper every time.
No special measuring, no delays.
See?
Oh.
You just have to be
a little more flexible.
I knew that Teri would make
the perfect assistant for you.
- Assistant?
- Yeah.
She's a people person.
The elves love her.
- Oh, well...
- Dad!
I have an assistant. He's in New York,
where my job is, where my life is.
This is your job and your life.
When are you gonna quit goofing
off and get back to work?
Well... never.
What do you mean
you want to retire?
Mary, I have been
doing this for so long
I can't remember the time your mother
and I had a chance to go out for dinner,
- let alone take a vacation.
- You're Santa! What do you expect?
Christmas is really important.
People have to believe
in the spirit of giving.
And for a long time I believed that I
was the only one who could provide that.
- You are.
- I'm not.
And last year you proved that.
Everybody mistakes me
for the holiday.
They think I'm Christmas,
but I'm not.
I only work here.
Or I did.
You know...
it's really hard
for a father
to realize that his little
girl is all grown up.
There was a time
when I was younger
when I couldn't imagine giving
this job to anybody else.
Now I can't imagine giving
it to anybody else but you.
I'd be so proud.
What do you say?
Hey, Nick, um, about the
whole assistant thing...
Oh, right. Don't worry about that.
It's only temporary.
Oh, whew!
What a relief.
- I was afraid...
- No, see, Mary's gonna be up to speed in no time.
Then you can get back
to your old life.
I'm sure you have
better things to do
than hang around
a boring old workshop.
But I love it here! And you said
yourself we make a great team.
- I did?
- Yes!
Remember when I was
helping you make a list
of everything you
missed out on in life?
Yeah, well, Mary's here now and
Christmas is what she does best.
But I thought she had a whole
other job, a life back in the city?
It's in her blood. It's
what she was born to do.
As long as Mary's happy here
then she'll stay.
Teri, keep it running smoothly.
Oh, I'll make sure
it runs smoothly, all right.
- Smooth as a...
- Marble?
Oh!
What are we doing?
We're naming things
that are smooth.
- Icicles?
- Uh, bowling balls?
- Smoothies.
- Ooh, good one.
I'm leaving.
Porcupines...
that are bald.
Or sandpaper that's been worn.
- Oh, glass.
- That's eroded.
- Nails.
- That are filed.
Hah! Gravel...
Covered in marzipan!
All right, we don't have
a lot of time,
so how are your
departments doing?
Letters is super fun. There's
a new candy cane stamp,
- and if you lick everything you eat the rest of the day...
- On schedule or behind?
- We're almost done.
- Terrific.
Gary, the toys. How are the
teddy bears coming along?
Oh, we're trying to increase
cuddliness by ten percent.
Right now we're at
about, mmm, eight.
Fine. Skip, wrapping?
- Oh, I like wrapping.
- Who wants cookies?
Uh, we're having
a meeting right here.
Double butter for Dave,
cinnamon hearts for Lucy
and peppermint swirl for Skip.
Oh! Thanks, Teri.
You're the best. Aww.
Anything for you, Skip. So,
what's your meeting all about?
Well, it's for
department heads only.
And since you're not
a department head...
Oh, maybe Teri could be head of
the cookie-making department.
Yeah!
My mom is the head of the
cookie-making department.
She's been doing it
for hundreds of years.
Well, what about a cookie
delivery department?
Or a special cookie delivery department?
I'd vote for that.
There's no voting! There's no
special cookie delivery department.
What about a special department
for the special delivery
of special cookies?
All right, Teri, go,
and take these with you.
Thanks.
Skip, report.
Skip. Skip?
Skip! Skip.
Brother!
She's a keeper.
Our new global partnership will allow you
to expand your markets internationally.
You'll still get my personal
attention, of course.
I'll just have more resources
to bring your way.
- So what do you say?
- That sounds great. You can count us in.
Terrific. I'll have Sandy
send you the paperwork.
And we will talk to you soon.
Steady, steady...
Yeah, no more
video conferencing.
Hmm...
Hmm.
Um...
Uh, hmm...
Hmm. Uh...
Um...
No.
- Come on, Skip!
- Um, uh... Do you have any fives?
- Oh! I have one.
- Oh, yeah.
No. No, no, Skip.
It's poker, remember?
- Betting?
- All right.
I bet you don't have any 10s
because I have four of them!
Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!
Skip-ip, diddly-ip
All right, all right,
everybody, give me your cards.
Five card stud, deuces wild.
Bring it on.
Double the ante.
Ho, ho, ho! Here we go!
Hey, Mr. C,
what's going down?
My rosy red cheeks
in my rosy red chair.
- Dealer's choice, dear.
- Beautiful.
- Hi, everybody.
- Hi, Teri.
- Hope I'm not interrupting anything.
- - No, not at all.
- Just a friendly game here.
- Oh, you're playing cards.
- It looks like fun.
- Yeah, you should play.
- There's an empty seat right here...
- next to me.
Really?
You don't mind?
Well, uh, we were
waiting for Mary.
I just spoke with Mary. I don't
think she's gonna be able to make it.
She is working so hard,
bless her heart.
Oh, it is such a busy time.
It's hard to have fun and games
when Christmas is at stake.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yes.
Yeah, in her real life,
um, whatever that is,
something is going on
with someone named Colin...
I think.
Oh!
OK. The game is
Anchorage Anaconda.
Suicide kings are wild,
blood queen is dead.
Top the pot buys an extra card and
first one out refills the chip bowl.
Who's ready?
Hey-yo, hey-yo!
Who's ready? Come to mama,
come to mama!
Boy, that was fun, huh?
Hey, Teri.
Yeah, it sure was.
Sorry to put a stop
to your winning streak.
- Beginner's luck, I guess.
- Yeah.
Here, have a peanut butter cookie.
They are my favorite.
Oh, my. Mmm!
So how are things
at the workshop?
- I mean, December sure is a busy month.
- Oh, sure is.
You know, that's
when Christmas is.
Tell me, Skip...
are you happy?
- Oh, yeah.
- Really?
Yep.
I mean, are you really,
really happy?
Yeah. Not only
really, really happy,
I'm really happy
a lot. Yeah.
Yeah, I'm sensing some
hesitation in your voice.
Maybe we should have
a little chat...
get to the source
of your problems.
Oh, OK.
So, Skip, do the elves
get overtime?
Oh. Mary!
- Morning, Gary.
- Good morning.
There's something...
kind of a big problem.
Well, whatever it is,
I'm sure we can handle it.
- What's this?
- It's our contract.
Contract?
What contract?
Contract, see?
Gary, what is he talking about?
Oh, it's the deal we signed with
Santa when we first got started.
What does that have to do with me?
Take it up with Santa.
And since he's quitting,
we get to regurgitate.
- Uh, renegotiate.
- Oh! Renegotiate.
And we've got to change
some things in the contract.
- That's what renegotiate means, Skip.
- OK!
Then, just that.
Wait.
You... You had me.
That was very funny.
All right, I'm gonna
get back to work.
OK... Oh!
Oh, yeah, right.
You need to take us seriously.
No contract, no toys.
- Dad, are you in here?
- Yeah, but I'm a little busy right now.
- Have you seen this?
- Yeah. Scrolls.
We've had them around
for many years.
- It's the elves' contract.
- Oh, that old thing?
Good for them.
They still have it.
Good for them? Bad for us.
Dad, have you even read it?
- Read it? I wrote it.
- It's a complete mess!
Half of it
doesn't even make sense
and the other half
is in Old English.
At the time we just
called it English.
Well, I can't use this.
I have to start from scratch.
Honey, they're elves.
All you have to do is give
them a couple of cookies,
point them towards
something shiny,
and they'll forget all about it.
- You have to learn how to negotiate.
- I know how to negotiate.
- I have an MBA from Wharton.
- Then it shouldn't be a problem.
It isn't my problem,
it's your problem.
They're your elves, you should
be the one handling this.
Not anymore, I'm retired.
Honey, if this is getting
to be too much to handle,
why don't you ask
Teri to help you?
Ouch!
- Hi!
- Hi, Gary.
- Hello, Mary.
- All right, let's get down to business.
You have your list of demands?
Number one: we want a 20
percent raise across the board.
- Oh! Oh, yeah!
- You don't get paid.
Twenty percent of nothing
is still nothing.
Uh, number two:
we want to get paid.
What do you need
money for anyway?
Number three:
we want our own store
where we can spend our money.
OK, can we just get past the money
part and hear the rest of your demands?
- Um, OK. Uh, a credit union.
- What?
Monopoly, Monopoly money.
Ah! Cookies.
You get cookies,
all the cookies you want.
Yeah, but we want
cookies with sprinkles.
- Yeah! Absolutely!
- Good point.
The cookies have sprinkles.
- On top and bottom?
- Ooh, that sounds good!
Oh, and we want those hats
with the cups, for cocoa.
Trampolines at the work
station, and jet packs,
and everybody gets their own chipmunk.
Hey, little guy.
Enough!
No. Nope.
Never gonna happen.
Not a chance in hell.
Nada. Never.
Huh.
One break every six hours.
Take it or leave it.
That went well.
- Gary.
- Huh?
- We're storming out.
- Me too?
- Yeah.
- OK.
- Bye!
- Bye, Gary!
What?
Mary? I'm sorry.
- Did I catch you at a bad time?
- Colin!
No, no, no, of course not.
I'm so glad to hear from you.
I just wanted to check in and see how
your client-retention efforts are coming.
Well, I'm... They are
coming along fine.
I just have a few hands to
hold through the merger.
Good. It's vital you're able to
meet the numbers we discussed
if I'm going to be able to convince
the board to vote for the merger.
Well, I will not let you down.
- Go away!
- Oh, why didn't you say so?
Mary, this thing
could still fall apart.
I'm afraid nothing's
guaranteed at this point.
We are all relying on you.
- How is she doing?
- I think she's in trouble with her boss.
Oh? Kind of like how you're
in trouble with the elves?
- What?!
- You know, how they all hate you
because you're siding with
Mary instead of your friends.
- Hate me?
- Oh, don't worry about it.
Three hundred years from now,
who's gonna remember
who betrayed who, right?
You mean, all of them?
Well, I haven't heard back
from Hillard Corp.,
- but I know they love me.
- The board is looking for signatures, not love.
Got it? Can you give me a
time estimate on any of this?
Hello? Mary?
Hello?
Are you there?
Hey, Luke!
Hey! There you are.
- I've been looking for you.
- Hey, baby.
- I've been crazed.
- Everything all right?
Yeah, of course,
everything's fine.
What's with the, uh, mail bag?
You moonlighting now?
No. Teri's letting
me help out a bit.
Teri, huh?
Uh... yeah.
You know, I'd be careful
around her if I were you.
What's that supposed to mean?
I don't know. She just
seems naughty to me.
Oh, come on!
Teri's great.
Well, I... You know me.
I just like being a little
part of Christmas, is all.
That makes one of us.
I just can't wait
to go back home.
- Right?
- Yeah, right.
- It's just...
- Luke, we can't stay here.
My life, my business,
everything is in the city.
Yeah, I know.
This isn't a good time.
You have a lot of work
to do, and...
we can talk
about this later.
What else can go wrong?
- What do we want?
- Cookies!
- When do we want 'em?
- Now!
Hey, hey, hey! Ho, ho, ho!
Mary Class has got to go!
Hey, hey, hey! Ho, ho, ho!
Mary Class has got to go!
- What do we want?
- Cookies!
- When do we want 'em?
- Now!
- What do we want?
- What?
- And what do we want?
- Cookies!
- When do we want 'em?
- Now!
You have cookies!
They're inside.
What the hell is going on here?
It's a picket line. It's sort
of like Follow the Leader.
Yeah, I know what it is.
Are you serious?
You're going on strike
at Christmas?
You didn't really
give us much choice.
"Us?" Gary, we're supposed
to be on the same team.
I can't just abandon my fellow elves.
They look up to me.
It's true.
He's the tallest.
OK? Right there.
This is ridiculous!
All right, listen. Everyone,
put down your signs
and go back to work.
Uh-uh, uh-uh!
We didn't say "Gary says."
Hey, hey, hey!
Ho, ho, ho!
They can't go back to work
until we talk about
the list of demands.
- No.
- Yes.
No! I can't deal with this.
You guys are on strike,
my dad's on vacation.
I'm just gonna have to do
everything myself!
Ooh!
No "ifs," no "buts"!
We want candy, we want nuts!
No "ifs," no "buts"!
We want candy, we want nuts!
All right, how hard can this be?
Oh!
- Howdy, Luke.
- Oh, hey, Teri.
What you looking for?
Mary's been going
through some stuff,
and I figured
I'd make her some coffee.
I can't find the cookies,
though.
Well, you know how hungry
those elves are.
- I know.
- Maybe we could whip up a batch ourselves.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
I'm not very good
in the kitchen.
Come on, Luke, let's dive in.
Um...
I'm so happy
hanging around you
I'm so happy
now that I found you
Bring me home
some mistletoe
Some cheer and snow
And let's make
a Merry Christmas
Let's make
a Merry Christmas
A Merry Christmas
A Merry Christmas
Ho, ho, ho!
There we go.
- Mary Class.
- Mary, where have you been?
Sorry, I haven't been in touch.
I've been in crisis mode up here.
If it is crisis mode up here,
it's Armageddon down here.
We've lost Gadgetech and
Patterson Pharmaceuticals.
Lost them? I thought my meeting
with them wasn't until next week.
This is next week. It's
hard to convince a company
you're gonna give them
hands-on attention
when you reschedule a conference
call for the third time.
Where does that leave us now?
At this point, you, me, and about
seven clients. Not exactly merger bait.
I'm almost at the office. If you've got
any tricks up your sleeve, now's the time.
All right, I'm on it.
- See you next time.
- Later, Nick.
Later, brother.
- Everybody having fun?
- Yeah, you bet!
Dad! Where have you been?
The elves have gone nuts!
I was with my drum circle,
- getting in touch with the sacred masculine.
- The sacred what?
All right, I have been more than
patient, but enough is enough!
My life is falling apart
because you bailed on Christmas.
You've had plenty of time to
explore this other side of you.
- What other side? This is all me.
- No, it's not you!
The last month has been
crazy time in Santa Town.
I need you to just stop it
and just fix Christmas.
Wait, wait...
- What's going on?
- What have you two been up to?
Teri and I,
we were in the kitchen...
I made you some cookies.
Mary, I know this is
difficult to understand,
but when I started out
I had no one to help me.
You're going to have to learn
how to walk on your own two feet
if you're going to replace me.
You're not listening.
I don't want to replace you.
I don't want
to be Santa Claus!
- So you're really going?
- If I don't leave right away,
my business and everything I've
worked my whole life for will be gone.
And Christmas?
Leaving is the only thing
that's going to snap
my father back to reality.
Where's your luggage?
Look, Mary...
up here I have a life.
It's not much in the
grand scheme of things
but it's my life.
I have my friends and my
dogsledding business and my house.
- Back in New York all I have is...
- Me?
Mary, I love you,
and I want to be with you.
Here.
I can't give up what I
love, what I love to do.
I know.
So, no matter where we are,
someone's gonna be unhappy.
We can work this out, right?
I don't know.
I don't know, Luke.
I know you always say that
things work out at Christmas.
But that's just one day
out of the year.
I'll see you later.
Honey, I'm home.
Such as it is.
I know, buddy.
I miss her, too.
Whoa!
We hang the stockings,
trim the tree
And stoke the fire's coal
As it begins to snow
Come December,
family members
Start to wander home
To the places
where they're from
There's peace in hearts
at Christmastime
When all year long
it's so hard to find
Where there's peace in
hearts at Christmastime
When all year long
it's so hard to find
Though it's never
far behind
When it's Christmastime
Am I interrupting?
Teri. What are you
doing here?
Well, I... I couldn't
find you anywhere
and... these brownies
just came out of the oven.
I, uh... I just needed
to get some air.
Well, I hope you have
room for a brownie.
- No, I'm not really hungry.
- Oh, go on, Luke.
You look like you could use it.
All right.
Wow!
- Wow!
- You see, Luke?
There is no problem in life
that can't be solved with
a plate full of brownies.
Mmm. That'd be nice.
It is lovely here, isn't it?
Like nowhere else in the world.
What's it like in that
big city of yours?
Crowded. Noisy.
And the traffic is terrible.
Must be nice for you
to get away from it all.
It's not all that bad.
You know, Luke...
maybe you shouldn't try
forcing things with Mary.
She... She has her life,
and you can have yours too.
Maybe everything you need is...
is already here.
Right in front of you.
Really?
You need someone who
appreciates you for you, Luke.
Someone who shares
your interests...
who will always
be there for you.
You're so right, Teri.
Mary's gone.
She went back to the city.
- Mary's gone?
- Uh-huh.
Teri?
Whoo-hoo!
Whoo-hoo!
Mary, I don't want to step on
your toes, but I have an idea...
Mary?
Uh, where's Mary?
I can't believe she
let me down like this.
Let you down? Nicholas,
did you ever stop to consider
that Mary might be right?
While you've been wasting time,
she's been here
sacrificing, doing your job
to keep Christmas going.
But I've been going
through some things.
How many times
have I heard that?
I remember when you just had
to have that Viking longboat.
It came with its own Vikings.
Yeah! And it took me a decade to
get the stains out of the carpet.
Oh, Nicholas,
I just wish you'd stop this
foolishness and get back to work
before the children
pay the price.
Half the work and twice the pay.
We want cocoa every day!
Half the work
and twice the pay...
Good news, elves.
It's all over!
Time to go back to work!
- What about the strike?
- The strike is over, Skip.
Congratulations!
You won.
But what did Mary say?
Good question, Gary.
Anyone else have
any other questions?
No? OK. Back to work.
But... But what about Mary?
All right. Who wants to sit
around asking questions?
Not me! No.
Not here. Nah-uh.
And who wants to make
some... toys!
Yeah! Oh, yeah!
That's what I'm talking about.
Now let's get cracking because we
have a lot of catching up to do.
But first...
give yourselves
a hand.
Teri, can I talk to Mary?
I'm afraid Mary has left
to pursue other interests.
Oh!
Santa baby, slip a sable
under the tree
For me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, so hurry down
the chimney tonight
Santa baby
A '54 convertible, too
Coming.
Colin, what are you
doing here? Come on in.
- Thank you.
- I thought we were meeting tomorrow.
We are, but I've been chatting
up the board members informally.
They're all terribly impressed with
how you've turned this thing around.
So the meeting tomorrow will
just be a formality, really.
Congratulations.
Colin, that's fantastic!
I hope I'm not imposing, but
I couldn't wait to tell you.
Where's that charming boyfriend of yours?
What was it, Bo?
- Luke.
- Luke, right. Sorry.
Yeah, he's not in the,
uh, picture, I think.
Oh? I'm sorry
to hear that.
Well, perhaps these
will cheer you up.
- What's all this?
- The merger papers.
- But...
- I had them ready weeks ago.
I knew you could do it.
Santa, honey
Now all that's needed is your
Jane Hancock, shall we say.
To a platinum mine
Santa, honey, so hurry down
the chimney tonight
Problem?
No, no, I just...
I worked towards this moment
my whole career.
So, now that it's finally here,
it just...
Well, it seems, um...
Wonderful?
Something like that.
And hurry down
the chimney tonight
And with a stroke of the quill,
Whitmore-Class is born.
Will you join me in a toast?
Uh, sure!
- With some decorations
bought at Tiffany's - Ta-da!
- Thank you.
- My pleasure.
To Mary Class.
May all of her Christmas
wishes come true.
Thank you.
Now, I hope I'm not
being presumptuous,
but I've made reservations
tonight at Gianelli's...
- if you're available.
- With the whole team?
No. I thought it might
just be the two of us.
That would be nice.
Lovely.
Dave, faster, faster.
Uh... too squeaky.
- Lucy...
- Mm-hmm?
- What color is this?
- Pink.
- Oh. And this one?
- Blue.
Right. And you don't see
a problem here?
Nope.
See, the ribbons in the hair
must match, please. Fix them, OK?
Fix them all.
Skip. Skip!
- Skip!
- Yeah, boss?
Don't sneak up on me.
- I'm back!
- Santa!
Nick!
Santa, I missed you!
Hey, Nick! Nice to see you!
- Hi.
- Are you just stopping by for a visit?
No, not a visit. Mary's
gone back to New York.
Yeah, so I have heard, which
is why I have taken control.
No need for you to worry.
I think I hear the golf course
calling your name.
Well, I appreciate the help
but I've got it from here.
The big man is back.
Gary? Where's my Gary?
There you are.
Gary, situation report.
Uh, we are right at the end.
It's Christmas Eve tomorrow.
We're almost done. I'm just
putting on the finishing touches.
All right, that means the toys
are done, but that's only half.
The rest is the deliveries,
and that's the magic.
That's what makes
Christmas happen.
But you weren't even here
when we made the toys.
Does that mean I'm not
allowed to deliver them?
No, but...
- But I was going to do that.
- Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho!
But you let Mary deliver
the toys last year.
Teri, you've been a good assistant
and I appreciate the help,
but I am Santa Claus.
And Mary is my daughter.
That's who we are.
Just as you are the mail carrier,
and that's what you should be doing.
You do it so well.
Santa Claus, pardon me,
but may I borrow you
for just a moment?
In the other room, alone?
All right.
I'll be right back.
We wish you
a Teri Christmas
We wish you
a Teri Christmas
We wish you a Teri Christmas
and a Happy New Year
Oh, thanks for a great night.
I had a lovely time.
I'm just glad we can put it
on your expense account.
Well, with the merger, my expense
account is your expense account.
Crap! I hadn't
thought about that.
- Is it too late to get out of it?
- I'm afraid so.
Well, I'm gonna call
my lawyer in the morning.
Is something wrong?
Sharing letterhead is gonna be
a big enough adjustment already.
I just... can't handle
anything else right now.
I understand.
Thank you.
- See you Monday?
- Absolutely.
Oh, and have a merry Christmas.
That's what they all say.
- I beg your pardon?
- Never mind. Good night.
Good night.
This is a big one.
Look!
Wow!
Higher, higher!
Teri!
Teri, can I have a cookie?
Oh, I'm sorry. Um, Santa said I
should be the only one eating cookies.
- But usually...
- You question the will of Santa?
- No!
- Back to work.
Oh! Looks like somebody's
getting an extra chunk of potato.
I hope you don't mind.
Now, I don't want
any complaints, OK?
I put in basil because
I happen to like basil,
and I don't see you doing any
of the cooking around here.
Dig in.
You know, it's really nice
having someone to eat with.
Mary!
Wow! You're back.
OK, we'll have plenty
of time for that later.
Listen, we need to get to the workshop.
I think my dad's in trouble.
- I'll explain later.
- All right, let's go.
All right, you can have mine.
See ya!
OK, everyone. Tonight
is the big night.
Let's get these last
few toys on the sleigh
and get ready
to make Santa proud!
Skip? Ahem. Skip!
Skip... Where were you?
- Did you finish hanging my portrait?
- I was just...
It doesn't matter. Look, I really
need you to get on this thing...
All right, jig's up.
Mary, you're back.
- Oh, joy.
- Yeah, I'm back.
Phoebe!
She's an elf!
You're an elf.
You figured it out.
Good for you.
Well, guess I don't need
these anymore.
Or these.
- And what about the outfit?
- My uniform?
Oh, no, no.
I think I'll keep it.
After all, Santa
did put me in charge.
Right, everyone?
- He did no such thing.
- Um... Skip?
Oh, yeah. Santa went away. He
said that Teri's in charge.
He said that Teri
is the new Santa.
He gave Teri the suit and
the sleigh and the workshop.
- Went away where?
- I don't know.
Oh, who knows? Probably in one
of his crazy flights of fancy.
- Yeah.
- That kind of thing runs in the family.
Gary, can you tell me
what really happened?
Santa went away,
he said Teri's in charge.
He said Teri's the new Santa, he gave
Teri the suit, sleigh and the workshop.
Santa told you
Teri is in charge?
- Well, no.
- Wait a second.
Did anyone actually hear
Santa say Teri was in charge?
No.
- So who told you?
- Teri.
And it didn't occur to anyone
that maybe she was lying?
But if Teri's lying,
why would Santa put her
in charge?
She said her name was Teri,
but it's really Phoebe.
She said she was a mailman,
but she's really an elf.
You're a liar!
I bet Santa never even said
you could have all the cookies!
I bet Santa didn't
put you in charge at all!
Well, well, well.
Looks like we got ourselves
a little rebellion.
- You know what I have to say to that?
- What?
Free cookies!
- What is this doing here?
- Well, it's a present.
We do deliver them, you know.
It's a little big,
don't you think?
"Do not open until
after Christmas."
Huh?
Mom! Dad!
Mr. and Mrs. C,
are you all right?
Oh, thank goodness!
- Teri is naughty.
- Yeah, we got that.
And her name isn't Teri,
it's Phoebe.
And I bet you 50 bucks that's
why I didn't get your letter.
Of course. How could I
have missed that?
- It was the hair.
- And the glasses.
No, it was me.
I was so much
into my own nonsense,
- now look what happened.
- There, there, dear.
I know what you're gonna say:
"Nicholas, don't blame yourself."
No, I wasn't gonna say that.
- You weren't?
- Mmm-mm.
Uh, guys, the sleigh's gone.
- Oh, no!
- All right, we gotta go after her.
- Luke, we'll need the dogsled.
- I'm on it, babe.
- I'll drive. Come on, Dad!
- You're the boss.
No, you get the sled,
I'll catch up.
I have something to do.
Come on, Gary, I have an idea.
Christmas is mine!
All mine!
What?
Whoa! Whoa!
They won't fly for you! You
don't have the Christmas spirit.
- There's no escape.
- Oh!
Nice try, old man,
but you can't cut me off!
Whoa!
No!
Whoa!
Dad!
- Are you OK?
- What the heck was that?
Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
I made a few special
modifications to the sleigh.
Yeah!
Whoa!
Whoa!
- Toys are gone.
- What did you expect?
Oh, no.
Teri lives here? Dad, wasn't
this your fishing shack?
- Can somebody say "creepy"?
- Ya think?
I am really gonna have
to call my lawyer.
- That's far enough.
- Phoebe!
What are you doing?
- Oh, no!
- I'll do it, I swear.
- What has gotten into you?
- Me?
What about you?
Christmas is the most
important job in the world,
and I am the only one
that wants to do it.
You two couldn't wait
to call it quits.
But somehow that
makes me the bad guy.
So you decided
to steal Christmas?
I'm not stealing it,
I'm saving it...
from you two.
I deserve this, Mary.
After all those years
of loyal service,
Christmas is mine!
Phoebe, you're one of the
best elves I ever had.
Elves? Who wants
to be an elf?
No one out there
even knows who we are,
but everyone
can name the reindeer
and all they do
is pull the sleigh!
Yeah, through the sky.
- Not helping.
- Sorry.
Well, this is one elf
no one's gonna forget.
If I can't run Christmas...
no one will.
- No!
- Go ahead!
- What?!
- What did you say?
Doesn't matter.
You can steal Christmas,
you can destroy it,
you can even save it.
We all have dreams, Phoebe.
But what good is getting
everything you always wanted
unless you have someone
to share it with?
Come on.
I know you can do it.
So this is it?
All I have to do is...
is hand this over and...
everything goes back
to the way it was?
Of course.
Phoebe, it's
the right thing to do.
- No!
- No!
Oh!
- Oh, my God!
- What have I done?
You destroyed Christmas!
So what are we gonna do now?
- Wait!
- Skip?
I...
- The toys...
- It's too late.
- She dropped the whole bag in the ocean.
- What bag?
The bag of toys
from the sleigh, Skip.
- The peanut butter cookie bag?
- - What?!
The peanut butter cookies! I put a
big bag of 'em in the sleigh for Teri!
Or...
Or... Phoebe.
You said they were
your favorite.
And, you know, since the kids don't
usually put out peanut butter cookies,
I figured it would be
a nice treat.
You...
You did that for me?
Well...
It is Christmas.
Skip! So the elves
saved Christmas!
Looks like it.
Well, I better look
at their contract again.
It seems I've been a bit hard
on the little buggers.
Wait a second, Mr. C. How are you gonna
pull this off if you're so far behind?
There's no way only one Santa can
deliver all those presents in time.
But two can.
Two can!
Two can!
Yeah, yeah. Two can.
- Help me unhitch the reindeer, OK?
- I'm on it!
Yes, yes!
Phoebe...
we can use a hand.
Very clever, Mary.
I guess I owe you one.
Oh, come on, Dad.
It's two you owe me.
I have to say this.
I'm sorry.
You have your own life.
I shouldn't have forced you
to lead mine.
Don't worry about it, Dad.
It's a mistake
we all make sometimes.
You don't have to follow
in my footsteps
for me to be proud of you.
You're the best Christmas present
a father ever could ask for.
Wow.
Thanks, Dad.
Are you guys sure
this is gonna work?
It's Christmas.
It always does.
Right.
Are you ready?
Whenever you need me, Dad.
On, Dasher!
On, Cupid!
Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Bye, Luke!
Oh, hey, you guys want a lift?
- I think we'll walk.
- All right.
Merry Christmas.
Hike-hike!
Hyah! Hike!
Hike-hike!
Come on, hike!
And you have four new client
meetings scheduled for next week,
plus new Webber Group proposals
to finish up. Busy, busy.
Wouldn't have it any other way.
Good evening, Whitmore-Class.
Sandy speaking.
Um, I'm afraid she's gone for the weekend.
Can I have her return?
OK, thank you.
Oh, and you have a conference
call with Colin Monday morning.
You know, maybe I'll just
swing by their offices.
- In London?
- Sandy!
Haven't you ever been to London?
Nice, wide chimneys.
See you Monday.
On, Dasher!
Whoops!
- I'm going home
- Bye.
For the holidays
Home for the holidays
- It's so long...
- Hi, babe!
Hi!
I hope you don't mind, but I
invited a few people for dinner.
At last!
I'm starving to death.
- Nicholas, it's been 15 minutes.
- A hungry 15 minutes.
Do you realize that you're more
beautiful than you were 800 years ago?
Ooh, Nicky.
- What took you so long?
- Traffic was a nightmare.
Since I've been away
Going home
for the holidays
Going home
For the holidays