Snowbound for the Holidays (2026) Movie Script
1
Morning.
Oh, Gabby.
Looks great.
Oh, thanks, Trey.
Good thinking.
Oh, go on.
Have the flowers
been sent to Room 207
for the 50th
wedding anniversary?
Oh, I love that.
Thank you.
Oh.
Oh, I'm all right.
I've got this.
Just...
Oh.
I handpicked them myself.
- Do you like them?
- Yeah.
It's nice to see you both again.
Welcome back.
Note to self: consider
customized ornaments
for guests next year.
Sounds time-consuming
and expensive.
Thank you.
It's a bit sweet.
I thought it tasted great.
What if we decorated each
plate a little differently?
That would give our guests
a personalized experience
of the dishes we serve here.
Trust me, just
follow the recipe.
Our brand is consistent,
repeatable, and cost efficient.
- Thank you, chef.
- Thank you.
You know, all research suggests
that our guests are
more likely to come back
if we had personal touches.
Wouldn't that make
higher upfront costs
worth it in the end?
What's the damage?
- I'm sorry, darling.
- It's okay.
I was wondering if you
had a few moments to chat.
Of course.
I wanted to talk to you
about moving up in the company,
working more directly with you
as VP of operations.
Darling, you have so
many innovative ideas.
Thank you.
But the corporate
side of this industry,
it requires a specific
kind of instinct,
a certain toughness.
You don't think I can be tough?
Oh, darling.
I can be tough.
Wait, Mom!
I can be tough.
How does she look, Grandpa?
Looks absolutely perfect, Lilly.
Thank you.
You are welcome.
Good morning.
Morning, Trey.
Hey, Lilly.
Oh, yeah, that looks great.
Really nice.
Good job, kiddo.
Earth to Lilly.
Earth to my daughter.
Perfect.
Hello, Dad.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Listen, since it's you last
day school before the break,
can you come by after
and check guests in?
Your grandpa and I need
to set up the hills.
Sure, what's in it for me?
What's in it for you?
What's in it for me?
Wow.
The inner satisfaction
of doing your dear
old dad a good deed.
Okay.
Or how about the sequel to
the book I've been reading?
Wow!
We're negotiating now.
That'll be fun.
I'll tell you what,
Christmas is next week,
so I can get a message
to Santa Claus.
Lilly Sanderson at your service.
Your grandpa and
I appreciate it.
No problem.
I just think that
you're too sentimental,
and that's why you
end up doing far more
than you need to be doing.
I am not sentimental.
And since one is going above
and beyond for our guests
a bad thing?
It's not.
It's perfect for the
role you're in now,
but an executive can't
spend company money
on personalized ornaments.
It's just not wise
for the bottom line.
I'll tell you what,
we'll put a pin in it
and we will talk about
it in the new year.
Okay.
Oh, we have to go.
We'll miss our flight.
I cannot wait to get there.
Do a little resort
recon together.
See how they tackle guest
check-in at the beach.
Before you say anything,
of course, I planned
our whole itinerary.
I'm terribly sorry
to tell you this,
but I'm going to have to
join you a few days late.
What?
Why?
Well...
For starters, a pipe
burst this morning
at our newest East
Coast location,
and my old friend Sam called me
and he asked me to determine
the market value of
his family's property.
So I'm gonna have to
assess the damage,
and then fly to see Sam.
It's just, we've been
planning this trip
together for ages.
I am sorry to delay yet again.
What if I go in your place?
I will go assess the property
while you go to the East Coast
and meet with the
insurance company.
We divide and conquer
so we can get back to
our vacation sooner.
No, honey, I don't think so.
If I wanna be VP of operations,
this is exactly the kind of
thing I need to know how to do.
If after this you don't think
I have what it takes, fine.
You really are my daughter.
All I'm asking for
is an opportunity.
- All right
- Yes.
I appreciate your initiative.
So, where's this property?
Cabo, Miami, Paris?
It's a ski lodge.
In a quaint,
charming little mountain
town called Ridgeford Valley.
A ski lodge, did you say?
In a nutshell, Sam
and his son-in-law
own the lodge and the
land that it's on,
and they lease the ski hill
attached to the property.
But that lease is up for
renewal in a couple of days,
and they can't
afford to renew it.
So, since their
entire business model
depends on selling ski passes-
They won't be successful
unless they have
control of the hills.
Yeah, the only logical
choice is to sell.
And the good news is
they have an offer.
Hey, maybe you'll
get some skiing in.
You know that I hate the
cold and that I don't ski.
Well, who knows?
Maybe it's time to
embrace the snow.
Oh, honey, I have to get this.
Thank you.
And don't forget, dress warmly.
Joanne.
Search snowsuits near me.
So, this just came in?
Yeah.
Not interested,
but I will hand it to Asherton.
He's persistent.
He increased his offer, Trey.
So what?
You know he'll tear
this place down
to build one of his mega resorts
the second the ink dries.
I'm not taking this lightly.
The lodge has been in our
family for generations.
But the simple truth is,
we can't afford to lease
those hills anymore.
Well, do you think there's a
world in which Mayor Robinson
just renews the
current arrangement?
That kind of legacy
deal happens only once,
and it was my grandfather
who made that handshake
happen 100 years ago.
Asherton said that he'll
give us till Christmas Eve
to mull this over.
Look, I'm no fan
of the guy either,
but I think we
should consider it.
I'm ready to retire,
and you and Lilly
would be taken care of.
Sam, I'm just not ready
to give up on this place.
That's what my daughter
loved about you.
Your optimism gave her so much
strength when she was sick.
But some mountains are
too steep to climb, Trey.
We need to start making
some tough decisions
about the business.
I didn't hear that
last part, sorry.
Sojo lodge, outside
into your right.
Front desk.
Okay.
Front desk.
Gingerbread needs more firewood?
Mm-hmm.
All right, got it.
Thank you.
Hello.
Oh, hi.
Aren't you a bit warm?
Are you joking?
It is freezing out.
Even my bones feel cold.
I didn't know that was possible.
Hold on.
Give me one second.
Oh, it's very pretty.
What's your name?
Cassidy.
What's yours?
Lilly.
Like my favorite flower.
Here you go.
This should help.
It's our personalized hot cocoa,
and it has mini marshmallows.
What a fun and inexpensive
way to personalize check-in.
I love this.
Thank you.
Mm, yes.
You know if you put
the hot cocoa out here
and made it self-serve,
it would generate a lot more
foot traffic in the lobby.
And you could pre-make these
so that when guests arrive,
there was a mug waiting for
them with their name on it.
That's actually a
really good idea.
Are you checking in?
Aren't you a little young
to be working at the front desk?
It's okay.
I'm helping my dad
for a little bit.
I really wanna be
a ski instructor
like my mom was when I grew up.
I'm impressed.
You are officially more
charming at check-in
than most of the
adults I work with.
What's your last name?
Evergreen.
I see you're staying
with us for four nights.
Mm-hmm.
I didn't know people
still use that program.
It's my dad.
He's a little bit old school.
He still uses a flip phone.
A flip phone?
A flip phone.
No, I don't believe you.
But he's our IT guy,
so what he says goes.
Welcome to the Linden Lodge.
Thank you, Lilly.
You're welcome.
Oh, oh, oh, I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean to scare you.
I just wanted to come in here
and see if the lights
were flickering too.
No, no, I'm all right.
It's just, uh, the floor.
- I...
- Oh, you, you...
No, you don't need to.
Here, here.
Here, let me...
Uh, here, why don't you-
- Thank you.
- And I'll...
Uh...
You really don't need to.
Marshmallows, huh?
I should get to my room.
Would you tell me where that is?
Our Mistletoe cabin
is over that way.
It's a bit of a trek,
and our luggage sleigh
is currently broken.
It has been since the summer.
- Oh.
- Yeah. Well, the boss says
that snowmobiles are
expensive to repair
and he's working on it.
So...
Can I help you
with your baggage?
It looks heavy.
Oh.
I'm all right.
I will manage that myself.
Are you sure?
It's our mistletoe cabin.
It's really quite a trek.
Oh, no.
Honestly, it's
the least I can do
for making you spill your drink.
So, let me help.
All right.
I'll let you do your job.
Thank you.
And thank you, Lilly.
Ooh.
Just doing my job.
See you, bellhop.
Do you like working here?
Uh, well, you know, most days,
it doesn't actually
feel like work.
It's my home.
Wow.
Your boss is very lucky.
Employee loyalty
is hard to come by.
But he really should get
those snowmobiles fixed.
And these cabins could
use a fresh coat of paint.
I will be sure to let him know.
Oh, and that computer program
is practically as old as I am.
And in tech, that's like
a million years old.
Oh, well, if it makes
you feel any better,
you look pretty great
for a million years old.
And look, I know that system
isn't the flashest
thing on the market.
But I figure if it
ain't broke, why fix it?
Because it's an outdated system
and notoriously buggy
and crashes all the time.
Well, we haven't had any
problems with it here.
And with Christmas
Fest coming up,
it's probably not a good
time to change systems.
Okay.
- We're here.
- Yay.
- There you go.
- Thank you.
So, when does this
Christmas Fest start anyway?
The opening ceremony
is on December 23rd,
but the activities really
kick off on Christmas Eve.
Yeah, you're gonna love it.
Music, food, there's
lots of skiing.
There's even a fundraiser
if you're able to contribute
it's for the local food bank.
Wow, that sounds wonderful,
except for the skiing part.
But, unfortunately, I'm not
here for very long, so...
Oh, why, uh...
Why is that?
I am Caribbean
bound on the 24th.
Oh.
Christmas on the beach,
that's different.
You can't seriously tell me
that you prefer the cold.
I can, and I do, but I'm sorry.
I should uh...
I should get back.
Oh, wait, the tip.
Oh, you know what?
The old boss doesn't let
me accept tips, so...
Well, boss isn't here,
so nothing wrong with a
little Christmas bonus.
You know what?
- Enjoy your stay.
- Thank you.
And Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Thank you.
Aw, I love this.
- You made it?
- Hi.
Any first impressions?
Mm, it's definitely
got a rustic vibe,
but it's quite charming.
And have you met the
co-owners, Sam and Trey?
Oh, no, not yet,
but I met a very
opinionated bellhop so far.
Well, I'm glad
you're settling in.
So, listen, I found out who
wants to purchase the lodge.
- Oh, great.
- A man named Dave Asherton.
He's a real estate
tycoon from out west.
And last year, he opened
a resort next door.
So I'm guessing he wants to
acquire Linden Lodge to expand,
take full control
of the ski hills.
Right.
Okay, got it.
That makes sense.
Seems, however, that
Trey doesn't want sell.
And since he's an equal partner-
A sale won't happen unless
they're all on the same page.
Exactly.
So while you're there,
maybe you'll be able to find out
what's holding Trey back.
On it.
And when I successfully
figure that out,
we will talk about
a promotion for me?
I think we need to focus
on one thing at a time.
Make sure the contractor notes
we're opening in two weeks.
Listen, if you
need me out there,
it's very easy for
me to catch a flight
and come and take care of this.
No.
No, no, no, no.
I can handle this.
We will be meeting on a beach.
Oh!
Great.
How about a free lift ticket?
There he is.
All right.
Okay, I'm sure by now
you've all figured out
that our generator
is not working.
Are the snowmobiles gonna get
fixed before Christmas Fest?
And the ski shop's
gonna need electricity
for all these free lift tickets
you're handing out
like candy canes, Trey?
Yeah, okay.
I just got off the phone
with the power company
and they're sending
somebody down right now
to take a look at it.
Well, it's not just
this one outage.
I mean, the snow
grooming equipment
is also on its last legs.
Yeah, okay, Sam is looking
into the snow groomers.
As for the power,
I promise to have it fixed
by Christmas Fest, okay?
I know how important
that is to all of us.
You folks are family.
That's right.
And family sticks
together. Right?
Remember, this is the 100th
anniversary of Christmas Fest.
So let's all keep the faith
and we will make it
the best one yet.
We can start by
getting anything ready
that doesn't require power.
Right, right.
Yes, exactly,
helpful, constructive.
Thank you.
Gabby, do you have
the snowshoes lined up
for the Christmas Fest activity?
Not yet, but I will
make a phone call.
Thank you.
Thank you, team.
I so appreciate everybody's
hard work, okay?
We are days away from
Christmas Fest, so let's,
let's just keep the
positive vibes going.
Yeah.
All right.
Okay, you got it, boss.
- Got it.
- All right.
Thank you.
Their concerns are
justified, Trey.
Come on, Sam.
'Tis the season for
miracles, right?
Oh!
Hey.
Couldn't have timed that better.
We can't afford
any more hiccups.
So I contacted an old friend
who owns a small chain
of boutique hotels.
Her daughter is going to
assess the largest market value
to determine if Asherton's
offer is a fair one.
We need an expert opinion
for our situation here.
Final checklist
for Christmas Fest.
Wow.
This binder gets
bigger every year.
Thanks, kiddo.
Okay, we need a new generator.
Where'd I put Ralph's number?
You know, if you stored
all of that electronically,
you wouldn't have the problem
of not being able to
find Ralph's number.
Well, you just have a solution
for everything, don't you?
I'm so sorry about earlier.
I thought you were the
bellhop, and you're Trey.
I was just trying to help.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
It's just been
one of those days.
I should properly
introduce myself.
I'm Cassidy.
Ms. Evergreen? You must be Sam.
Oh.
Welcome to Linden Lodge.
I, I can't tell you how much
I appreciate you,
you helping us.
Your mom and I go way back.
It's so nice to meet you.
Wait, so you're...
The expert opinion?
Hello.
Maybe she can help us
with Christmas Fest.
I'm not so sure
that's a good idea.
Why not?
Well, I mean, aren't you leaving
before Christmas
Fest even starts?
Exactly.
I won't have a lot of time to
put an assessment together,
so I might as well dive
into all that you do here.
And it seems like Christmas Fest
drives a lot of your
holiday guest bookings.
Yeah, listen, I, uh...
I just think it'd be better
maybe if you observed from,
from a distance.
Oh.
Are you sure?
Events like these are
kind of my specialty.
And I appreciate that,
but I am sure.
I need to find a new generator.
But if there's
anything we can do
to make her stay here more
comfortable, please let us know.
- Thank you.
- Come on, kiddo.
Seriously, dad, we could
use all of the help
that we can get.
Zip it.
- Sorry about that.
- That's okay.
That's not exactly
how I wanted everyone
to meet each other.
Trey's, uh...
He's a good guy, trust me.
Seems like I have my
work cut out for me.
That, you do.
You have any questions?
I'm at your service.
Thank you for the
warm welcome, Sam.
And thank you for coming.
My pleasure.
Just...
Okay.
Go this way.
No, it couldn't be.
Ms. Evergreen.
- Good Morning.
- Morning.
Oh, thank you.
So, about the snow groomers.
I phoned the city to see
if they could help us
get some new equipment,
but Mayor Robertson says
even though the city
owns the mountain,
the equipment is the
lessee's responsibility.
And we can't afford a new fleet.
Yeah.
Well, speaking of spending
money that we don't have,
I had to get a new generator.
We can't have unstable power,
especially during
Christmas Fest, so...
Does the electric company
know what caused the outage?
No, they said they're
looking into it,
but they advised us not to
use too much power at once.
But I told them we're
not doing anything
different than usual.
So, I don't know.
And yet another reason
to seriously consider
Asherton's offer.
Let's just see how these
next few days go first.
Trey, with all the
repairs that this place needs,
we can barely afford to
stay afloat as it is,
nevermind the added cost
of renewing the lease for the
hills, which we can't afford.
Look, I know you don't
wanna sell to Asherton,
but you gotta come
up with another plan.
I'm looking into it, okay?
Don't worry.
Can I get the usual?
Thank you.
Hi, morning.
Morning, Ms. Evergreen.
I, uh...
I trust you slept well.
You can called me Cassidy.
And, yes, actually I had one
of the best sleeps I've had
in a long time.
The beds are super comfy.
- Hm.
- What?
No, I just...
I went on a months-long saga
trying to find those perfect
beds for the hotel, so...
Seriously, I'm not
even kidding you,
I was gonna come ask you
where I could get one.
Yeah, it was like every
single thing I tried
was either too soft or too hard.
I mean, I must've
gone to every store
within a four-hour drive from
here to find the perfect beds.
That is pretty thorough.
You know, most people would
just pick it out of the catalog
and call it a day.
Yeah, just think that
the way you sleep
affects your entire day.
And so if I want people
to enjoy their stay here,
then I better know
exactly how it feels.
I completely agree.
- Really?
- Yeah.
I'm always trying to find ways
to give my guests a more
personal experience.
I kind of believe
it's the best part of
our industry, you know?
Seeing people's faces
and the look of joy
as you do something
extra special for them.
Yeah, that's, uh...
That's funny.
What is?
I, I didn't expect us
to have anything in
common, that's all.
What you, uh, got there?
Oh, this is the,
the Christmas Fest Bible.
So it basically
has all the details
of what's happening
where and when.
And it's a full
week of activities.
Our guests come year
after year to participate.
Looks like it could
use some organization?
Maybe I could assist?
You are not gonna
give up, are you?
Okay, you know what?
Look, if you want to add
a table of contents
or something,
knock yourself out.
Yes, thank you.
Come in, Trey, it's Gabby.
Yeah, go for Trey.
Another ski
binding has snapped again.
I have to get the
ski lessons started,
so can you please come fix it?
I will be right there.
Duty calls.
Yeah.
This isn't even in the binder.
It's okay.
Hey, Trey.
Did you happen to change
your usual schedule
for this year's festival?
Uh, yeah.
Well, you know, it kind
of had to go bigger.
It's the centennial
people, expecting more.
Oh, of course.
Great idea.
Only it kind of looks like
you've double
booked a few things.
For example, the carolers
are slotted at the same time
as the sleigh rides.
And, oh, here too.
- Ah, man.
- And here.
And also here.
One thing after the next.
Must have slipped through
the cracks, but...
Well, that's okay.
No worries.
This would all be easier to
manage if it was digitized.
So if it's okay with you, I
will just put this in a tablet
and we can work from the tablet.
Yeah, look, I dunno.
I'm really more of an analog
guy if you hadn't noticed.
You know, I noticed,
it's just you have a lot
going on, clearly, and...
Oh, okay.
Well, if I just
handle this one thing,
it would be one less thing
for you to think about.
Um, look, I don't know.
It's one thing for you
to help with the binder,
but now it kind of feels like
you're trying to take over
Christmas Fest, and I just...
I'm not trying to take
over Christmas Fest.
I'm Caribbean bound, remember?
It's hot there,
it's freezing here.
I'm just trying to
leave you with a tool
that would help you run
things more smoothly.
And I really, really
appreciate that.
I really do.
But, um, no thank you.
Listen, I heard you
talking to Sam earlier.
You don't wanna sell
to Asherton, do you?
That is the last thing I want.
Well, if you want Christmas Fest
to generate enough revenue
for you to be able
to refuse his offer,
you're gonna need more than
just community support.
You're gonna need new
tourists, new business,
and maybe this can
help with that.
I'm really great at this.
Fine, fine.
We'll try it your way, okay?
On your little tablet thing.
Anything to avoid
a sale to Asherton.
Thank you.
I'll get right to this.
Hi, I'm Lilly Sanderson.
I have these Christmas
lanterns for sale,
and you really should buy one
because it's for charity and...
And...
Hey, Lilly here.
Check out these really
cool Christmas lanterns.
What you working on?
Christmas lanterns.
Oh, I saw those in the binder.
I had no idea what they were.
I promised to sell 100 of
them before the festival.
Okay, and how many of you sold?
That's the bad part.
Two.
Yeah, my dad and my grandpa.
- Oh.
- Yeah.
Hmm, I see.
Yeah, I know, I'm just like...
I'm not very good at this
kind of stuff, you know?
Hey!
You gotta give
yourself some credit.
You know, sales is just
about being good with people,
which I know you're good at
'cause I saw you work
at the front desk.
Yeah, but, you know,
that feels different
because I don't have to
convince anybody to do anything.
They already booked their stay.
Come with me.
Where are we going?
You are gonna sell every
single one of these lanterns.
Trust me.
The key to getting people
interested in these lanterns
is to highlight what
makes them unique.
And it always helps to add
something to let them know
that you appreciate
their contribution.
So, like, the personal touch.
Ha, exactly.
That's what my dad always
says about the Linden Lodge.
"Give people the personal touch,
and they'll keep coming back."
Hmm.
All right, you
ready to get started?
Wait, what do I say?
Follow my lead.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Ma'am, do you have a moment?
Yes.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Oh, hi, Lilly.
Hi, Mrs. Johnson.
I'm helping out with some last
minute festival preparation
over at the Linden Lodge.
And Lilly here has
graciously volunteered
to sell lanterns for
the food bank this year.
And for a small donation
of $10, you get to...
To write your Christmas
wish on a little scroll
that's placed
inside the lanterns.
At the opening ceremony
of Christmas Fest,
we'll light them.
Your wish could even come true.
And if you buy five of them,
you will have a
personalized hot cocoa
waiting for you at
the Linden Lodge.
How could I turn that down?
Right.
I'll take five then.
Okay, coming right up.
Here you go.
Just fill them out and bring
them back to the lodge.
Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.
That was so easy.
Teamwork really does
make the dream work.
You got this.
Hey, there you are.
Hey, Dad.
Cassidy, we just helping
me sell the lanterns.
- Oh, yeah?
- It was all Lilly.
She's a natural.
I did get Ms. Johnson to buy
five of them in 30 seconds.
Really?
That's awesome, kiddo.
I'm gonna go in the cafe
and see if anyone
else wants any, okay?
Okay.
- Okay, bye.
- Bye.
So were you...
So were you...
I was going to go down
to the river's edge,
get a lay of the land
for the festival.
That's a great idea.
You know, I could even show
you a round if you can keep up.
I can keep up.
Okay.
That Lantern initiative
is a pretty smart way
to raise money for charity.
Oh, yeah.
Well, I can't really
take credit for it.
It's a Linden tradition
that spans 100 years-Wow.
And, you know, just
one of the things
that makes this
place so special.
It's not just a ski lodge,
it's an integral
part of the community
and the whole town's history.
Welcome to the epicenter
of Christmas Fest.
The opening lantern
ceremony happens right here.
What do you think?
It just, uh, seems to be missing
some Christmas spirit?
Well, that's just 'cause
I haven't had a chance to,
to decorate yet, you know?
And then the ornaments
and the decorations.
Uh-huh.
And where do you keep
said ornaments and such?
Yeah.
I was afraid you might ask that.
Come with me.
Oh, not so bad.
Oh, wow.
Oh!
Yeah.
What you were seeing before
you is a grand accumulation
of lights across generations
here at the Linden Lodge.
We call it the Great Ball.
And then the rest of the
ornaments are just there, so...
This could take a while.
I'll handle this.
On your own?
Yeah, I can do it.
You grab the other ornaments
and I'll untangle this.
All right.
Can't be that hard.
Where does it start?
Oh.
Oh!
Oh, no.
Oh!
Oh.
Wow, that was really quick.
I'm almost there.
Not as easy as it looks, huh?
I can still do this to myself.
Can you?
Because it looks like you
might need a little help.
Just start there maybe.
It's easier if you don't fight.
Well, it only took us hours.
Shall we go set these up?
You don't have a team
to do that for you?
Yeah, I do.
But ever since I
was a little kid,
my favorite part of the holidays
was setting up the lights
and watching them light up.
Besides, one of the best
parts of being your own boss
is getting to choose what
you do yourself, so...
Hmm.
That must be really nice.
Getting to call the
shots all by yourself.
Yeah.
Thank you.
You are welcome.
You know, for
whatever it's worth,
I do rely a lot on my team,
and Sam and I are
equal partners.
But I guess it is nice
to make my own decisions.
That's what I mean.
Yeah.
I wish I had that
kind of freedom.
I mean, I love my mom,
and it's been great
to learn from her.
It's just, I have so many
good ideas for the hotels,
and she doesn't consider them
or listen to me, or trust me.
But I am up for a
promotion, so that's good.
It all hinges on
how well I do here.
Ah.
Well, look, I don't
know you very well,
but if there's one thing I
can see, you have tenacity.
And so I'm sure you'll
be very successful.
All right.
Now it's looking
festive around here.
Phase one, complete.
Now all we have to do is
finalize the schedule.
Is there anything you don't do?
Ski.
Actually.
Oh, I'm, I'm sorry.
You came to a ski lodge, and
you don't know how to ski?
I tried once.
It wasn't pretty.
I broke my tailbone,
and I had to carry a donut
pillow with me for a whole month
in high school, okay?
It was humiliating.
Okay, but you, you
don't strike me
as somebody who gives
up very easily, so...
That's true.
You're right, I don't.
However, when it comes
to skiing, trust me,
I'm better sitting on a donut.
Sitting on a donut?
Yeah.
That's it.
What's it?
I've been thinking
about introducing
a new activity to the hill.
Uh-oh.
And suddenly I think
you might be the
perfect test subject.
Oh.
I don't think so.
I think I need to focus
on Christmas Fest prep,
stay on my lane.
No, no, no, no, no.
You don't understand, okay?
If this is as fun
as I think it'll be,
then we will add it to the
Christmas Fest schedule.
So, therefore, it is kinda
like Christmas Fest prep.
I see what you did there.
All right, sold.
I'm in.
What is it?
You'll find out tomorrow?
Bring your snow pants.
Meet me in the lobby.
My snow pants?
Yeah.
Snow pants.
Hey.
Hey.
You ready for some fun?
I sure am.
Do you keep these
displays up year round?
No, we actually just put
them up for the centennial.
I'd keep them up.
It makes the lobby
feel so personal,
like you're in someone's home.
Yeah.
Yeah, maybe.
Oh, we are burning
precious daylight.
Let's go.
I feel like the Stay
Puft marshmallow man.
Only I'm still somehow cold.
This is the way winter
is meant to be enjoyed.
Spoken like a true outdoorsman.
Yeah, well, I've lived
here my whole life.
I met Lilly's mom
on these hills.
They're very special to me.
I'm sorry for your loss.
That's okay.
I mean, honestly, I didn't
really know what I was gonna do
until Sam taught me the
ins and outs of the lodge.
Then the people that work
here kind of became my family.
All Dave Asherton cares
about are the tourists
and making profits.
I just hate to see this place
built on years of tradition
get bulldozed and become
another soulless resort.
You know, some property sales
have really specific conditions.
You could negotiate with him,
see if he would agree
to maintain the
integrity of Linden Lodge
and keep you and your staff on.
It's actually a
really good idea.
And truthfully, I
don't trust them,
but I could always ask.
Wait!
You want me to get in this?
Yeah.
You ready?
Okay, here.
If I may.
Just line that up there.
May I?
And sit.
Feel confident, feel relaxed.
Feel like you're doing the
next Christmas Fest activity.
Okay.
You don't have to
do anything at all.
You don't even have
to steer, all right?
You ready?
Could you just explain
to me just quickly...
No, no, no, no!
Trey, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no!
Oh, don't hit the tree.
Don't hit the tree!
I'm coming!
So?
Let's go again!
Oh, no, no, no!
We should definitely put
this on the schedule.
Maybe we'll get
you on skis next.
Oh, not unless my
life depends on it.
You know, you should sell
these at the ski shop.
Oh, no, no, no.
We only rent gear
at the ski shop.
So...
But think about
making them available
for purchase.
I'm sure it's easy to
customize the pattern too.
They can be one of a kind.
They'll sell like hotcakes.
Does your work
brain ever turn off?
Uh...
No, not really.
I didn't think so.
Mom.
Hello, darling.
Hello.
Trey, this is my dear
friend Joanne Evergreen.
It's a pleasure to meet
you, Mrs. Evergreen.
Lovely to meet you, Trey.
My daughter in a snow suit.
Never thought I'd see the day.
Yeah. You know,
it might be cold,
but she's really
warming up to the place.
What are you doing here?
Didn't you get my text?
I finished all my work,
so I wanted to join you.
And I'm so glad she did.
Well, let's get you
settled in then.
Trey, great progress today.
We will pick it
up again tomorrow.
Sounds good.
Let's, uh...
Sam, thank you so much
for the warm welcome.
Oh, it's great to
catch up again, Jo.
It's been too long.
Goodnight, Sam.
Goodnight Trey.
I've got this covered, mom.
I don't need training wheels.
I know that!
Well then, why are you here?
Can't a mother just
wanna spend some time
with her daughter?
So, what do you know so
far about Linden Lodge?
Well, I would say, on paper,
Sam and Trey should accept
any decent offer they get.
It sounds like you're
about to say "but."
But Trey thinks Asherton is
gonna ruin the Linden name
by building some cookie
cutter resort in its place.
Honestly, I can't blame Asherton
for wanting to make upgrades.
If too much changes
about this place,
Mom, Linden Lodge will
lose the very magic
that people come here to get.
I think that if this
year's Christmas Fest
were to generate enough revenue
so that they can renew
the lease on the hill,
they might have a chance.
These numbers are a little
ambitious, don't you think?
I know that it's unlikely,
but not impossible.
And I've been
implementing new ideas
to attract more tourists.
Well, I admire your
ingenuity, honey.
I just think if you're only
banking on Christmas Fest
saving the day, I just worry
you're gonna be disappointed.
Maybe you're right.
Mm, I love your cider, honey.
But I'm not ready
to give up yet.
That's you, isn't it?
Mm-hmm.
I knew it looked familiar.
Okay, mom, what's the story?
What story?
Just you and this place
why your picture
would be on the wall.
Linden Lodge holds a
lot of memories for me.
I spent 10 wonderful Christmases
here when I was younger,
but my family stopped visiting
the year after this
photo was taken.
I had no idea.
Did you keep in touch with Sam?
It was hard to.
No social media back then.
So Sam calls and you think,
what a wonderful opportunity
to take a walk down memory lane?
In a way.
Well, look who's
sentimental now.
I'm glad he called
because it's giving us
a perfect opportunity
to spend some
quality time together
and for you to test
your business instincts.
Kill two birds with one stone.
Right.
My business instincts.
Mm-hmm.
Well, we will need to
present your final assessment
tomorrow before the flight.
Oh, my goodness, our trip.
I was so focused
on Christmas Fest,
I forgot what day it was.
But, of course, tomorrow-
If I didn't know any better,
I'd say you were getting
personally invested
in this place.
We're leaving tomorrow.
We're working on our trip.
Caribbean bound.
Okay.
How about some breakfast?
Yes, breakfast sounds wonderful.
They used to make the
best eggs Benedict.
You know, Mom, I'm
gonna meet you there.
Just need to make
a quick detour.
Hi.
So how did the rest of
lantern sales go yesterday?
It's great.
I sold it to a bunch
of folks around town.
Are we almost at 100?
Getting there.
Nice job, Lilly.
Thank you.
Keep going.
You are gonna make it.
Hi, Dad.
Hey.
Morning.
Morning.
Hi.
Hi.
Morning.
I said that already.
I stayed up to
finalize the schedule,
and then I called all
the vendors this morning
to secure their
time slots, so...
It's not even 10 o'clock yet.
I also rearranged everything
so that all the
activities fit in here,
and I've emailed
you all the changes.
Email.
Could I get like
a printed maybe.
Oh, I'm way ahead of you.
I reorganized your
Christmas Fest binder.
To suit your analog needs.
Of course.
Wow.
Table of contents.
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
And I thought we could
use a little boost,
so I created a social media
page just for Christmas Fest,
you know, to widen our audience.
We already have over
1,000 followers.
Whoa!
That's, uh...
That's great.
I don't even have social
media myself, so that's, um,
that's great, I think.
What's wrong?
You know I appreciate
everything you've been doing.
Of course.
But you just, you kind of said
that you weren't gonna
take everything over.
And I have.
I'm sorry I get a
little ahead of myself
when I'm in planning mode and-
Just try to keep me in the loop.
That's all.
Yeah, I will.
Mr. Asherton.
So what do we owe the pleasure?
Pleasures all mine.
I just came over to say hi
to my favorite neighbors.
Great.
I'll give you two a minute.
Okay.
Oh, I saw one of your lanterns.
One, my guests bought one,
and I was wondering
if I could buy one.
Sure.
Is 50 too many?
50 is incredible.
You're gonna get a lot
of Christmas wishes
for such a generous donation.
Well, I only have one wish,
and that's that I could
steal your dad away
for a little chat
for just one minute.
Of course, yeah.
Lilly, why don't you
grab those wish scrolls
for Mr. Asherton, okay?
Okay.
You can take them next door
and they'll settle up with you.
Much appreciated.
Have you thought anymore
about our little deal?
Yeah.
Um, listen, if we
were open to selling,
"if," would you be
willing to keep things
exactly as they are here?
Meaning, no new
major renovations,
all of our staff stays
on, among other things.
Listen, Trey, I know you wanna
keep everything the same,
but my plan is to modernize.
And sometimes to
make something new,
you have to tear something down.
It's progress.
You have to learn to
embrace the future.
Okay.
Well, we are supposed to have
until Christmas Fest to decide.
And since that starts
tomorrow, you're a day early.
Okay.
Sure.
But I can't wait
forever for an answer.
What if taking Asherton's
deal is the only option?
It's not just about Asherton.
I mean, I don't wanna
sell this place to anyone.
I may not be a Linden by name,
but this is Lilly's home,
and I don't wanna uproot her.
I get it.
What if Christmas
Fest isn't enough?
Well, what is your
little tablet thingy say?
Sorry, you just...
You know, you're kind
of a big ideas person.
I was hoping you might have
some light bulb
moment or something.
I'm gonna think of something.
I always do.
See, my plan was
originally to buy the hill,
and then had two more ski lifts.
But every time we saved up
enough money to make an offer,
we always need to spend
it on something else.
Yeah, that's how
it always happens.
Yeah.
Well, listen, whatever happens,
I have been meaning to thank you
for everything that
you've done to help, okay?
It feels like you've kind
of gone above and beyond
what you came here to do.
Yeah, well, I have to
go above and beyond
if I'm serious about
that promotion, right?
Getting that would
mean everything to me.
Really?
Everything?
What's with the inflection?
I don't know.
I think it's important
to be ambitious
and to have goals, but...
But?
But if your whole life is work,
then how do you make
time for anything else?
Anything else?
Like what?
Well...
I don't know, like
hobbies and friendships,
and maybe a relationship?
I guess I haven't had much time
to think about those things.
Yeah.
And look, I'm not judging.
I, um...
I don't have much time myself,
but it's just that
every single day,
Lilly reminds me that there's
more to life than just work.
Trey, where you been?
I've been calling.
Gabby, hi.
What's up?
Well, we got a whole bunch of
outta towners here right now
for the Snowshoe
Christmas Tree Event.
What?
That event doesn't
start till tomorrow.
Yeah, well, apparently,
a post on our social media
says that it's today.
#WelcomeToThe21stCenturysir.
Oh, no.
I must have posted
the date wrong.
I'm usually so careful
with these things.
I don't know how I
mixed up the dates.
Don't worry.
Okay, look, we can't afford
to lose any new guests, right?
Gabby, are the supplies ready?
Oh, you bet they are.
Well then, we are
just gonna start
Christmas Fest early, huh?
Yeah, let's go!
Hey, guys, welcome.
Hey!
Hey, Dad.
We're not too late
to participate.
Oh, your timing
is perfect, okay?
We're about to start.
VIP table's over there for you.
You ready?
Yeah.
Okay, I'm going with grandpa.
Well, hey, hang on, kiddo.
You're gonna bail on me?
We always pair up.
Cassidy seems pretty free.
Oh, no, I'm not free.
I have a lot to do
before I leave tomorrow,
and I should probably make sure
I didn't mess up any more posts.
Come on.
It's a family tradition.
Yeah, it is pretty fun.
And, you know,
everybody deserves
a break from work
sometimes, don't you think?
All right, let's do this.
Yeah!
Okay.
Welcome, everyone.
Please come.
Grab a seat.
- Come on in guys
- Lovely to see you all.
Thank you so much
for joining today.
Welcome, and behold!
The very first snowshoe
decorated here at Linden Lodge.
You'll all have one hour
to design something festive
with the materials
in front of you.
Once all the snowshoes
are completed,
we're gonna place them
here on this stand,
like branches of
a Christmas tree.
And then it'll be here
for everyone to enjoy.
Are you ready?
On your mark, get set, create!
Whoo!
I have a confession to make.
I'm good at organizing,
not so good at crafting.
Like, really bad.
Okay, hey, if you haven't yet,
please bring your snowshoe over.
You see?
I told you I couldn't
have been it alone.
Despite our abstract work,
I thought we made
a pretty good team.
All right, so we just
stick it like so.
Wow.
Team work.
Here go, Lil.
Whoo!
Whoo!
Thank you.
Beautiful.
Nice.
So sweet.
Thank you.
Shall we?
That's so great.
Yeah.
Okay, here.
May I join you?
Of course.
Thank you for being
so understanding
about me mixing up the dates.
I still can't believe
that I did that.
How could I be upset with you?
You haven't stopped
working on Christmas Fest
since you arrived.
Besides, we got a
bunch of new bookings
from those participants today.
That's so great.
It really hasn't felt like work.
I guess this place
must be growing on me.
It's too bad you're
leaving tomorrow.
Can I ask you something?
Of course.
Why don't you stream music
like the rest of us
in the 21st century?
I don't know.
I guess the vintage
tech just sounds...
Old?
I was gonna say comforting.
Oh, comforting.
Yeah.
Especially when I'm
out on the hills.
If I have a big
decision to make,
all I need is this and my skis,
and the rest of the
world just fades away.
You wanna try?
Oh.
Not bad, right?
Not bad at all.
Dad?
Oh, hi.
Hi.
Hey, kiddo.
What's up?
Can you help me finish
preparing the
lanterns for tonight?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, of course.
Um...
I'll, uh...
I'll see you at the
ceremony tonight.
Yeah.
See you at the ceremony tonight.
Yeah.
Both of you.
Bye.
So, are you finally
ready to marry me?
Can you just gimme
a couple of more days?
Oh good.
You're both here.
I have considered everything.
And with all due respect, Sam,
you cannot let Asherton
buy Linden Lodge.
- What?
- You just can't.
Will you give us a moment?
Yeah.
Anyways.
And then I was telling them
about the personalized
hot chocolate thing,
and they bought 10
of them on the spot.
So I've moved the hot
chocolate into the lobby now.
Dad?
I'm sorry, sweetie.
What was that?
I was just telling you about
how I sold a ton of lanterns
to several guests at
David Asherton's lodge
over there, you know?
Cassidy was so right
about widening my net.
- Hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, I agree with you.
Yeah.
Well, you agree with what?
That Cassidy's super cool.
It makes sense
that you like her.
No, hey, hey, kiddo.
I don't, I don't...
I don't like her, okay.
What, what makes you say that?
Okay, first of all,
you are always smiling
when you're around her.
Second of all, what is this?
And third, if
literally anyone else
tried to make a social media
page for the Christmas Fest,
you just shut them
down then and there.
Okay, you know what?
Your dad's not
that out of touch.
- Is he?
- Then what is this?
Well, maybe I was wrong
about some things.
Not this.
Dad, it's okay.
And you're never gonna
know if she liked back
unless you ask.
So, you should totally ask.
Back to work.
If this was one
of our properties,
we would do everything
to stop it from getting
into the wrong hands,
and you know it!
Sometimes tough choices
need to be made,
and it's much harder when
you're emotionally invested.
Maybe it's good that
we're headed out tomorrow.
What if we changed our flight?
Yeah, what if we stayed
and saw this all
the way through?
I think you're
getting too close.
In my professional opinion,
we have to tell Trey and
Sam to take Asherton's deal.
Cassidy!
- What a crowd.
- Yeah.
Nice job promoting
this online, Cassidy.
Thanks.
Yeah, this is a better turnout
than we could have ever had.
- Really?
- Oh, yeah.
I mean, our community will
always come out and support,
but more and more,
the out-of-towners,
they just stay at
Asherton's resort.
Yeah, so I was really thinking
tonight would just be,
you know, the usual
locals and the mayor.
So this is a pleasant surprise.
I'm happy to hear it.
Yeah.
You know, I did wanna tell
you, we are so grateful
for all the help you've
given to the lodge.
You know, my parents,
they actually worked here
until they retired.
And now me, even my nephew
works here in the summertime.
Yeah.
I don't know where my family
would be without the Lindens.
I owe a lot to you.
And Trey.
Yeah.
I just hope that
everything works out.
Me too.
Hey, time to start.
- Come on.
- Okay, let's go.
Come on in, come on in.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I, Mayor Karen Robinson,
welcome to the opening
lantern lighting ceremony,
celebrating 100 years
of the Linden Lodge
Christmas Festival.
100 years ago,
my great-grandfather,
Barry Robinson,
leased the ski hills
to the Linden family.
And to celebrate,
Sam's grandfather hosted
the holiday festival
where the first holiday
lantern was lit.
Today, we honor both of
their generous spirits
by donating the profits
from these Christmas wish
lanterns to the local food bank.
Oh, I am...
I am so delighted to
introduce a young lady
who has sold 276 lanterns,
making this year's
donation the largest yet.
Please welcome to the
stage the amazing,
the incredible Lilly Sanderson.
Come on up.
Thank you, Mayor Robinson.
Before we light up the sky,
I'd like to say a quick thank
you to my dad and my grandpa
for always hosting
such an amazing event.
I'd also like to give
a special shout out
to Cassidy Evergreen for
teaching me how important it is
to make people feel appreciated,
make them feel special.
And what's more special
than celebrating our
community charity
and Christmas altogether.
May all of your Christmas
wishes come true.
Let's light up the sky!
Yay!
I'm so proud of you.
I've never seen anything more
beautiful in my entire life.
I have.
Ready?
Make a wish.
Good night, Sam.
Thanks for a wonderful time.
I should go pack for tomorrow.
I will stop by the front desk
to say goodbye in
the morning, okay?
Yeah, all right.
Okay.
Hey, good morning.
Morning.
You sleep well?
Not great.
The beds are so comfy, and
I was still awake all night.
Oh, how come?
Just couldn't relax, I guess?
But I know how to
make it better.
Could I have one more cup
of hot cocoa before I go?
I thought you'd never ask.
Cause, ta-da!
Huh?
Turns out, you do have some
pretty good ideas after all.
Ever since we put it out here,
it's forced more guests to
come here and socialize.
And I may have ordered some
snow tubes to sell at the store.
I can't tell you how
happy that makes me.
Wow thank you for
such a great stay.
I mean, I should
be thanking you.
Seriously, everything
you've done for us,
even if this is the
last Christmas Fest,
this one I'll never forget.
Listen, I know my mom wants
you to sell to Asherton today,
but wait as long as possible.
Just see what happens
with the festival
and don't agree to anything
until you absolutely have to.
Well, I appreciate
your candor, as always.
I wish I could stay
to see things through with
the festival, of course.
But I can't.
I didn't even
finish that, sorry.
Thank you.
I hope everything
works out for you.
Your family's great,
and you deserve it.
Still heavy.
Why did the power go out?
Didn't you get a new generator?
I did.
I, I, I don't know.
Well, we have to fix it.
Oh, thank goodness.
It was just a blip.
No, no.
No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no.
What, what, what is it?
The whole
check-in system crashed.
- It won't come back on.
- Oh, no!
This can't be
happening right now.
All the guests are
gonna arrive any minute.
It's okay.
I'll help you smooth it out.
No, I never should have
trusted this old tech.
I should have actually
listened to you.
Ah, that doesn't
matter right now.
Cassidy, what about your flight?
No, I'll reschedule.
It's no big deal.
My mom will understand.
Cassidy, I can't
ask you to do that.
Well, I can't leave
you in crisis, so...
Well, listen, you deserve
a break from work, okay?
To do something for
yourself, for a change.
Well, what if I'm not
staying because of work?
What if I'm staying
because I want to?
Are you sure?
I have never been
so sure of anything.
I don't know what to say,
except for thank you, again.
Oh.
What tells me you're
the type of person
who keeps a printed back up?
You know me too well already.
Hi, good morning, good morning.
Welcome to Linden Lodge.
Merry Christmas to you.
Enjoy.
I can't believe
you stayed to help.
I can't believe you have
a credit card machine
from the '80s.
Excuse me, that thing has
not failed me yet, okay?
I think that's what you said
about your check-in program.
Touche.
I will be upgrading
that system stat.
I'm so glad we got
to do this together.
And then we got to give each
and every guest the
attention they deserve.
I mean, that's what makes
this place so special.
That's what makes it different.
And that's...
That's what I'm gonna miss.
- Oh.
- Hey!
Do you think maybe since you
missed your flight anyway,
you'll be sticking around
for the activity tonight?
Oh, yes, sure.
My mom already texted.
She's rescheduled our flights.
I'm just gonna go next
door for a quick bit.
- To the Asherton?
- Yes.
In the biz, we call
it resort recon.
I'll explain later.
- Mom.
- Hi, honey.
Hi.
I know you said I
shouldn't get too personal,
but I actually think that's
exactly what we need to do
to save this place.
What if Evergreen
purchased Linden Lodge?
I just put it together.
This is your solution?
If Trey and Sam
can get on board,
I think this is our best option.
- This is a surprise.
- I know.
It's just...
I couldn't quite place
what felt off about
the Asherton deal,
so I went next door
to see for myself.
Mom, I found Asherton
pulling out all the stops,
trying to sway the mayor
to sell him the ski hill.
I'm impressed.
When do you wanna
propose it to them?
Now?
Now would be the right time.
Trey.
Asherton's expecting an answer.
Sam.
Christmas Fest is going to
be our saving grace, okay?
It's shaping up to
be our biggest ever.
I know you believe that, son,
but I looked at the numbers.
And even with the whole
town supporting us
and you bringing in new
tourists, it's not enough.
Anyone who have eyes on Trey?
I just saw him in the tea shop.
We have to think
about what's best for Lilly.
Sam, we have had every
single problem thrown at us,
and we keep knocking 'em
outta the park, okay?
This is gonna be our grand slam.
Trey, you're not hearing me.
We got...
Oh, sorry, am I interrupting?
- No, no, not at all.
- Okay.
- Hi.
- Oh, there they are,
my favorite people.
Today's the day, Sam.
Welcome.
Um...
How about some hot
chocolate, huh?
Well, I'm cold and thirsty.
After you, sir.
Listen, I had an idea, I
wanna share it with you.
Can we talk in a minute?
We're gonna go reject
Asherton's offer.
Oh.
Uh, Trey.
Wait, wait, wait.
- Huh, oh, fellas.
- Trey!
- Do we have a deal?
- Trey!
Uh, we're actually still
gonna be a firm no, Dave.
Listen, Linden Lodge
and the ski hill
have been tied together
for generations, okay?
They're as important together
as air is to the trees
and snow is to the mountain.
Trey.
Think about Lilly.
Mayor Robinson just cut
the land tax subsidy.
If you can't cover the
increase, the city sells.
And I happen to be
first in line to buy.
So it's better to
agree now, Trey.
You can't do that.
Oh, well, right on time.
What do you mean right on time?
They just flipped the switch
on the Asherton
Resort Holiday Fest.
I'm sorry, you started
your own festival?
And that's why our
power's been unstable,
because you've been
maxing out the grid.
Well, I'm no electrician,
but we do have to
pull a lot of power
for what we have planned.
Snowmobile, sleigh rides
through the mountains,
a five star gala
with celebrity chefs
and luxurious accommodations.
A super-sized Christmas fest.
Your tradition will live on.
This is a low blow,
Dave, even for you.
Trey, come on.
You know Lilly
learned to ski here.
This is not personal,
it's business.
We have company.
Mayor Robinson.
Karen, what are you doing here?
Well, Mrs. Evergreen found me
and asked me to come by
to discuss a proposal.
She did?
An acquisition proposal.
That Evergreen Hotels
purchase the ski hill
and Linden Lodge.
Well, this is an interesting
change of events.
Since when?
Since today.
Well, what about my offer?
Well, I'm willing to
consider all offers, Dave.
I wanna do what's best
for Ridgeford Valley.
I'm sorry, this is,
uh, this is news to me.
I just need a moment.
Trey.
I'm sorry, did I misunderstand?
I thought Sam and Trey
were already on board.
I just hadn't had the
chance to brief them yet.
And I know your time
is very valuable,
so if we could just
have a few more minutes.
Uh. Mayor, may I, uh...
May I offer you some hot cocoa?
Well, you know I
can't resist that.
Dave, let me top you off, huh?
All right.
Thank you.
Go.
Trey, wait.
This isn't how I wanted
to pitch this to you,
but I drafted up a proposal.
Have you even listened to me?
Or are you just worried
about getting your promotion?
What?
Of course not.
No, this has nothing to do
with me getting promoted.
This is about me
trying to help you.
How?
By making these huge plans
that affect my business
and my family without
even consulting me?
I know it looks bad.
It looks like I steamrolled you,
but I was running out of time,
- so I just-
- Let me be clear.
I do not wanna sell this place.
Especially not to someone
who's not gonna
keep me in the loop.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I got some very big
decisions to make.
Trey.
Well, shame to waste all
this wonderful good weather.
So, what do you say?
I have some time, and
I would love to ski.
Let's go enjoy this powder.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
I can see where she
gets her drive from.
Will you excuse me
for a moment, Sam?
Yeah.
Darling, are you okay?
This place and these
people, I just...
It feels like...
Home?
And I've ruined it.
It's over.
You haven't ruined anything,
and it's far from over.
Your offer is good.
You just have to get
Trey to see that.
Dad, what are you doing?
Grandpa told me about
Cassidy's pitch.
Why don't you just work
with the Evergreens?
Look, I didn't want this
either, okay, kiddo?
But me and Cassidy are
very different people.
It'll never work.
I'm just saying she obviously
cares about you, about us.
It's just...
It's not that simple.
Yes, it is.
So what do you wanna do?
For the first time,
I have no idea.
You know, all I ever
wanted until today
was for you to trust me
with the Evergreen name.
Oh, darling, I do trust you.
Why do you think I trusted
you to come here in my place?
We have different approaches,
but you've reminded
me that this business
isn't all about money.
It's the people.
And that's your
greatest strength.
And you're right.
This place is special.
It is.
What you've done
here has proven to me
that you've got
what it takes to be
Evergreen's new vice
president of operations.
What?
Congratulations, darling.
But first, you have to take care
of some of your
unfinished business.
I don't know what to say.
Say you'll go talk to Trey.
Trey wants nothing to do with
an Evergreen acquisition.
I'm not talking about the deal.
Tell him how you feel.
How I feel?
Don't be coy.
It's clear as day
that the two of you
have feelings for each other.
I really like him.
I'm just not sure we'll
be able to salvage
whatever it is we had.
Cass, I've never known
you to be a quitter.
Go get him.
Lilly?
I need your help.
Please help me stop them.
- Stop who?
- My dad.
He's on the ski hill
and he is seriously thinking
about selling to the Grinch.
What?
Yeah.
You know what time is?
What?
Time to teach me how to ski.
- Come on, mama.
- Okay, let's go, let's go.
- Let's go, let's go, let's go.
- There's no time.
Well, looks like the mayor's
gonna take another run.
Gives us a little time.
You know, Trey, it
doesn't take a genius
to figure out that
your lodge is bankrupt
without these hills.
You know, Dave, If we're
in such a bad place,
why make this deal right now?
Why not wait it out like
the rest of the vultures?
I don't like to waste time.
I think you should take another
look at the numbers, Trey.
I'll think about it on my own.
It's a great deal.
Okay.
Toe.
Okay, toe.
Heel.
Ah!
Woo-hoo!
Yeah.
Bend your knees.
Keep your core tight.
And you wanna feel your balance
right in front of your heel.
Yeah, looks good.
You got this.
Thank you, Lilly.
You are gonna make a
great ski instructor.
Thank you.
But like you said,
teamwork makes the dream work.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
That's it.
It's been right in front
of me this whole time.
Lilly, you're a genius.
Mom, I have a different solution
to bring Sam and Trey.
Care to share?
Kind of running outta time here.
You're gonna have to trust me.
I trust you.
Here goes nothing.
Oh.
Oh.
Can't watch.
Go honey.
- Ooh.
- Go, Cassidy!
Go!
You got this.
- Okay.
- Whoo!
You look like a pro!
Go!
Woo-hoo!
That's my girl.
Careful.
Where are you, Trey?
Come on, Cass.
Balance in front of the heel.
You got this.
I got this.
Oh!
A little brisk.
Heels back.
This isn't so bad.
I'm doing it.
Is that him?
Trey!
Trey!
Hey, Trey!
Trey!
Hey, it's me.
Trey!
Ugh!
Oh.
Trey, stop!
Pull over!
Wait, bend the knees,
tighten your core, heels back.
No, I don't know how to stop!
I don't know how to stop!
I never learned how to stop!
Help!
Trey!
No, no, no, no, no!
Watch out!
What just happened?
I'm so sorry.
I hadn't learned
how to stop yet.
Are you...
- Oh, goodness.
- We're you skiing?
Are you okay?
Where's Asherton?
You haven't agreed to
anything yet, have you?
No.
No, he's waiting for
me in the courtyard.
Oh, good.
Trey, please give
me one last chance
to tell you my new idea.
Come on.
- We'll see.
- We'll see.
Oh.
Ah.
Mayor Robinson, Mr.
Asherton, Sam, Trey,
thank you all for coming
together to hear us out.
My mom and I have a brand new
presentation to offer you.
Lilly mentioned something
about teamwork today,
and that got me thinking,
Evergreen Hotels
doesn't wanna purchase
Linden Lodge outright.
We want to partner with you.
The Linden family would retain
control of the day-to-day,
and the Evergreen family would
provide the necessary capital
to purchase the hill
and upgrade the lodge.
It would help you get new
tourists to increase revenue.
And I fell in love
with this place,
and I wanna do whatever it takes
to preserve what
makes it special.
Trey, if you don't
want this, that's okay.
I care more about you
than I do any offer.
Mayor Robinson, come on.
You're not taking this
seriously, are you?
Yes, I am.
And actually, I would
like to hear more.
This is ridiculous.
All right.
What?
Yeah.
Oh.
I'll be right there.
Well, the power's on the
fritz over at our place.
They're completely in the dark.
And I guess I have to go.
But I'll be back.
This isn't over yet.
The heart your
family showed today
has reassured me that they,
they belong in your care.
Wait, are you sure about this?
I mean, we've had more
than a few hiccups
- along the way, and-
- I think that's a good thing.
No one should do everything
alone all the time, right?
Well, you know, maybe a little
change wouldn't be so bad.
We have a deal then.
My great grandfather taught me
that family is the bedrock
of a strong community.
And working with our family
strengthens it even more.
So we'll all celebrate
here at Christmas Fest,
where it's meant to stay.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I am gonna go back
and hit the slopes.
Oh, this day is glorious.
Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas, Mayor.
- Have fun.
- I will.
I knew those lanterns
were a good idea.
All of my wishes came true.
Wait, what'd you wish for?
Well, for us to keep the lodge
and for Cassidy to stay
for all of Christmas Fest.
You are staying right?
I think I'm staying.
This is 'cause for celebration.
First round of cider is on me.
We'll catch up with you.
Bye!
Can we chat?
I still can't believe you
actually skied after me.
I seem to remember you
saying that would only happen
if your life depended on it.
Yeah.
In a way, it did.
My love life, anyway.
Speaking of which, before
we dive into everything,
there is one thing I
would mean to say to you.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Trey.
Morning.
Oh, Gabby.
Looks great.
Oh, thanks, Trey.
Good thinking.
Oh, go on.
Have the flowers
been sent to Room 207
for the 50th
wedding anniversary?
Oh, I love that.
Thank you.
Oh.
Oh, I'm all right.
I've got this.
Just...
Oh.
I handpicked them myself.
- Do you like them?
- Yeah.
It's nice to see you both again.
Welcome back.
Note to self: consider
customized ornaments
for guests next year.
Sounds time-consuming
and expensive.
Thank you.
It's a bit sweet.
I thought it tasted great.
What if we decorated each
plate a little differently?
That would give our guests
a personalized experience
of the dishes we serve here.
Trust me, just
follow the recipe.
Our brand is consistent,
repeatable, and cost efficient.
- Thank you, chef.
- Thank you.
You know, all research suggests
that our guests are
more likely to come back
if we had personal touches.
Wouldn't that make
higher upfront costs
worth it in the end?
What's the damage?
- I'm sorry, darling.
- It's okay.
I was wondering if you
had a few moments to chat.
Of course.
I wanted to talk to you
about moving up in the company,
working more directly with you
as VP of operations.
Darling, you have so
many innovative ideas.
Thank you.
But the corporate
side of this industry,
it requires a specific
kind of instinct,
a certain toughness.
You don't think I can be tough?
Oh, darling.
I can be tough.
Wait, Mom!
I can be tough.
How does she look, Grandpa?
Looks absolutely perfect, Lilly.
Thank you.
You are welcome.
Good morning.
Morning, Trey.
Hey, Lilly.
Oh, yeah, that looks great.
Really nice.
Good job, kiddo.
Earth to Lilly.
Earth to my daughter.
Perfect.
Hello, Dad.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Listen, since it's you last
day school before the break,
can you come by after
and check guests in?
Your grandpa and I need
to set up the hills.
Sure, what's in it for me?
What's in it for you?
What's in it for me?
Wow.
The inner satisfaction
of doing your dear
old dad a good deed.
Okay.
Or how about the sequel to
the book I've been reading?
Wow!
We're negotiating now.
That'll be fun.
I'll tell you what,
Christmas is next week,
so I can get a message
to Santa Claus.
Lilly Sanderson at your service.
Your grandpa and
I appreciate it.
No problem.
I just think that
you're too sentimental,
and that's why you
end up doing far more
than you need to be doing.
I am not sentimental.
And since one is going above
and beyond for our guests
a bad thing?
It's not.
It's perfect for the
role you're in now,
but an executive can't
spend company money
on personalized ornaments.
It's just not wise
for the bottom line.
I'll tell you what,
we'll put a pin in it
and we will talk about
it in the new year.
Okay.
Oh, we have to go.
We'll miss our flight.
I cannot wait to get there.
Do a little resort
recon together.
See how they tackle guest
check-in at the beach.
Before you say anything,
of course, I planned
our whole itinerary.
I'm terribly sorry
to tell you this,
but I'm going to have to
join you a few days late.
What?
Why?
Well...
For starters, a pipe
burst this morning
at our newest East
Coast location,
and my old friend Sam called me
and he asked me to determine
the market value of
his family's property.
So I'm gonna have to
assess the damage,
and then fly to see Sam.
It's just, we've been
planning this trip
together for ages.
I am sorry to delay yet again.
What if I go in your place?
I will go assess the property
while you go to the East Coast
and meet with the
insurance company.
We divide and conquer
so we can get back to
our vacation sooner.
No, honey, I don't think so.
If I wanna be VP of operations,
this is exactly the kind of
thing I need to know how to do.
If after this you don't think
I have what it takes, fine.
You really are my daughter.
All I'm asking for
is an opportunity.
- All right
- Yes.
I appreciate your initiative.
So, where's this property?
Cabo, Miami, Paris?
It's a ski lodge.
In a quaint,
charming little mountain
town called Ridgeford Valley.
A ski lodge, did you say?
In a nutshell, Sam
and his son-in-law
own the lodge and the
land that it's on,
and they lease the ski hill
attached to the property.
But that lease is up for
renewal in a couple of days,
and they can't
afford to renew it.
So, since their
entire business model
depends on selling ski passes-
They won't be successful
unless they have
control of the hills.
Yeah, the only logical
choice is to sell.
And the good news is
they have an offer.
Hey, maybe you'll
get some skiing in.
You know that I hate the
cold and that I don't ski.
Well, who knows?
Maybe it's time to
embrace the snow.
Oh, honey, I have to get this.
Thank you.
And don't forget, dress warmly.
Joanne.
Search snowsuits near me.
So, this just came in?
Yeah.
Not interested,
but I will hand it to Asherton.
He's persistent.
He increased his offer, Trey.
So what?
You know he'll tear
this place down
to build one of his mega resorts
the second the ink dries.
I'm not taking this lightly.
The lodge has been in our
family for generations.
But the simple truth is,
we can't afford to lease
those hills anymore.
Well, do you think there's a
world in which Mayor Robinson
just renews the
current arrangement?
That kind of legacy
deal happens only once,
and it was my grandfather
who made that handshake
happen 100 years ago.
Asherton said that he'll
give us till Christmas Eve
to mull this over.
Look, I'm no fan
of the guy either,
but I think we
should consider it.
I'm ready to retire,
and you and Lilly
would be taken care of.
Sam, I'm just not ready
to give up on this place.
That's what my daughter
loved about you.
Your optimism gave her so much
strength when she was sick.
But some mountains are
too steep to climb, Trey.
We need to start making
some tough decisions
about the business.
I didn't hear that
last part, sorry.
Sojo lodge, outside
into your right.
Front desk.
Okay.
Front desk.
Gingerbread needs more firewood?
Mm-hmm.
All right, got it.
Thank you.
Hello.
Oh, hi.
Aren't you a bit warm?
Are you joking?
It is freezing out.
Even my bones feel cold.
I didn't know that was possible.
Hold on.
Give me one second.
Oh, it's very pretty.
What's your name?
Cassidy.
What's yours?
Lilly.
Like my favorite flower.
Here you go.
This should help.
It's our personalized hot cocoa,
and it has mini marshmallows.
What a fun and inexpensive
way to personalize check-in.
I love this.
Thank you.
Mm, yes.
You know if you put
the hot cocoa out here
and made it self-serve,
it would generate a lot more
foot traffic in the lobby.
And you could pre-make these
so that when guests arrive,
there was a mug waiting for
them with their name on it.
That's actually a
really good idea.
Are you checking in?
Aren't you a little young
to be working at the front desk?
It's okay.
I'm helping my dad
for a little bit.
I really wanna be
a ski instructor
like my mom was when I grew up.
I'm impressed.
You are officially more
charming at check-in
than most of the
adults I work with.
What's your last name?
Evergreen.
I see you're staying
with us for four nights.
Mm-hmm.
I didn't know people
still use that program.
It's my dad.
He's a little bit old school.
He still uses a flip phone.
A flip phone?
A flip phone.
No, I don't believe you.
But he's our IT guy,
so what he says goes.
Welcome to the Linden Lodge.
Thank you, Lilly.
You're welcome.
Oh, oh, oh, I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean to scare you.
I just wanted to come in here
and see if the lights
were flickering too.
No, no, I'm all right.
It's just, uh, the floor.
- I...
- Oh, you, you...
No, you don't need to.
Here, here.
Here, let me...
Uh, here, why don't you-
- Thank you.
- And I'll...
Uh...
You really don't need to.
Marshmallows, huh?
I should get to my room.
Would you tell me where that is?
Our Mistletoe cabin
is over that way.
It's a bit of a trek,
and our luggage sleigh
is currently broken.
It has been since the summer.
- Oh.
- Yeah. Well, the boss says
that snowmobiles are
expensive to repair
and he's working on it.
So...
Can I help you
with your baggage?
It looks heavy.
Oh.
I'm all right.
I will manage that myself.
Are you sure?
It's our mistletoe cabin.
It's really quite a trek.
Oh, no.
Honestly, it's
the least I can do
for making you spill your drink.
So, let me help.
All right.
I'll let you do your job.
Thank you.
And thank you, Lilly.
Ooh.
Just doing my job.
See you, bellhop.
Do you like working here?
Uh, well, you know, most days,
it doesn't actually
feel like work.
It's my home.
Wow.
Your boss is very lucky.
Employee loyalty
is hard to come by.
But he really should get
those snowmobiles fixed.
And these cabins could
use a fresh coat of paint.
I will be sure to let him know.
Oh, and that computer program
is practically as old as I am.
And in tech, that's like
a million years old.
Oh, well, if it makes
you feel any better,
you look pretty great
for a million years old.
And look, I know that system
isn't the flashest
thing on the market.
But I figure if it
ain't broke, why fix it?
Because it's an outdated system
and notoriously buggy
and crashes all the time.
Well, we haven't had any
problems with it here.
And with Christmas
Fest coming up,
it's probably not a good
time to change systems.
Okay.
- We're here.
- Yay.
- There you go.
- Thank you.
So, when does this
Christmas Fest start anyway?
The opening ceremony
is on December 23rd,
but the activities really
kick off on Christmas Eve.
Yeah, you're gonna love it.
Music, food, there's
lots of skiing.
There's even a fundraiser
if you're able to contribute
it's for the local food bank.
Wow, that sounds wonderful,
except for the skiing part.
But, unfortunately, I'm not
here for very long, so...
Oh, why, uh...
Why is that?
I am Caribbean
bound on the 24th.
Oh.
Christmas on the beach,
that's different.
You can't seriously tell me
that you prefer the cold.
I can, and I do, but I'm sorry.
I should uh...
I should get back.
Oh, wait, the tip.
Oh, you know what?
The old boss doesn't let
me accept tips, so...
Well, boss isn't here,
so nothing wrong with a
little Christmas bonus.
You know what?
- Enjoy your stay.
- Thank you.
And Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
Thank you.
Aw, I love this.
- You made it?
- Hi.
Any first impressions?
Mm, it's definitely
got a rustic vibe,
but it's quite charming.
And have you met the
co-owners, Sam and Trey?
Oh, no, not yet,
but I met a very
opinionated bellhop so far.
Well, I'm glad
you're settling in.
So, listen, I found out who
wants to purchase the lodge.
- Oh, great.
- A man named Dave Asherton.
He's a real estate
tycoon from out west.
And last year, he opened
a resort next door.
So I'm guessing he wants to
acquire Linden Lodge to expand,
take full control
of the ski hills.
Right.
Okay, got it.
That makes sense.
Seems, however, that
Trey doesn't want sell.
And since he's an equal partner-
A sale won't happen unless
they're all on the same page.
Exactly.
So while you're there,
maybe you'll be able to find out
what's holding Trey back.
On it.
And when I successfully
figure that out,
we will talk about
a promotion for me?
I think we need to focus
on one thing at a time.
Make sure the contractor notes
we're opening in two weeks.
Listen, if you
need me out there,
it's very easy for
me to catch a flight
and come and take care of this.
No.
No, no, no, no.
I can handle this.
We will be meeting on a beach.
Oh!
Great.
How about a free lift ticket?
There he is.
All right.
Okay, I'm sure by now
you've all figured out
that our generator
is not working.
Are the snowmobiles gonna get
fixed before Christmas Fest?
And the ski shop's
gonna need electricity
for all these free lift tickets
you're handing out
like candy canes, Trey?
Yeah, okay.
I just got off the phone
with the power company
and they're sending
somebody down right now
to take a look at it.
Well, it's not just
this one outage.
I mean, the snow
grooming equipment
is also on its last legs.
Yeah, okay, Sam is looking
into the snow groomers.
As for the power,
I promise to have it fixed
by Christmas Fest, okay?
I know how important
that is to all of us.
You folks are family.
That's right.
And family sticks
together. Right?
Remember, this is the 100th
anniversary of Christmas Fest.
So let's all keep the faith
and we will make it
the best one yet.
We can start by
getting anything ready
that doesn't require power.
Right, right.
Yes, exactly,
helpful, constructive.
Thank you.
Gabby, do you have
the snowshoes lined up
for the Christmas Fest activity?
Not yet, but I will
make a phone call.
Thank you.
Thank you, team.
I so appreciate everybody's
hard work, okay?
We are days away from
Christmas Fest, so let's,
let's just keep the
positive vibes going.
Yeah.
All right.
Okay, you got it, boss.
- Got it.
- All right.
Thank you.
Their concerns are
justified, Trey.
Come on, Sam.
'Tis the season for
miracles, right?
Oh!
Hey.
Couldn't have timed that better.
We can't afford
any more hiccups.
So I contacted an old friend
who owns a small chain
of boutique hotels.
Her daughter is going to
assess the largest market value
to determine if Asherton's
offer is a fair one.
We need an expert opinion
for our situation here.
Final checklist
for Christmas Fest.
Wow.
This binder gets
bigger every year.
Thanks, kiddo.
Okay, we need a new generator.
Where'd I put Ralph's number?
You know, if you stored
all of that electronically,
you wouldn't have the problem
of not being able to
find Ralph's number.
Well, you just have a solution
for everything, don't you?
I'm so sorry about earlier.
I thought you were the
bellhop, and you're Trey.
I was just trying to help.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
It's just been
one of those days.
I should properly
introduce myself.
I'm Cassidy.
Ms. Evergreen? You must be Sam.
Oh.
Welcome to Linden Lodge.
I, I can't tell you how much
I appreciate you,
you helping us.
Your mom and I go way back.
It's so nice to meet you.
Wait, so you're...
The expert opinion?
Hello.
Maybe she can help us
with Christmas Fest.
I'm not so sure
that's a good idea.
Why not?
Well, I mean, aren't you leaving
before Christmas
Fest even starts?
Exactly.
I won't have a lot of time to
put an assessment together,
so I might as well dive
into all that you do here.
And it seems like Christmas Fest
drives a lot of your
holiday guest bookings.
Yeah, listen, I, uh...
I just think it'd be better
maybe if you observed from,
from a distance.
Oh.
Are you sure?
Events like these are
kind of my specialty.
And I appreciate that,
but I am sure.
I need to find a new generator.
But if there's
anything we can do
to make her stay here more
comfortable, please let us know.
- Thank you.
- Come on, kiddo.
Seriously, dad, we could
use all of the help
that we can get.
Zip it.
- Sorry about that.
- That's okay.
That's not exactly
how I wanted everyone
to meet each other.
Trey's, uh...
He's a good guy, trust me.
Seems like I have my
work cut out for me.
That, you do.
You have any questions?
I'm at your service.
Thank you for the
warm welcome, Sam.
And thank you for coming.
My pleasure.
Just...
Okay.
Go this way.
No, it couldn't be.
Ms. Evergreen.
- Good Morning.
- Morning.
Oh, thank you.
So, about the snow groomers.
I phoned the city to see
if they could help us
get some new equipment,
but Mayor Robertson says
even though the city
owns the mountain,
the equipment is the
lessee's responsibility.
And we can't afford a new fleet.
Yeah.
Well, speaking of spending
money that we don't have,
I had to get a new generator.
We can't have unstable power,
especially during
Christmas Fest, so...
Does the electric company
know what caused the outage?
No, they said they're
looking into it,
but they advised us not to
use too much power at once.
But I told them we're
not doing anything
different than usual.
So, I don't know.
And yet another reason
to seriously consider
Asherton's offer.
Let's just see how these
next few days go first.
Trey, with all the
repairs that this place needs,
we can barely afford to
stay afloat as it is,
nevermind the added cost
of renewing the lease for the
hills, which we can't afford.
Look, I know you don't
wanna sell to Asherton,
but you gotta come
up with another plan.
I'm looking into it, okay?
Don't worry.
Can I get the usual?
Thank you.
Hi, morning.
Morning, Ms. Evergreen.
I, uh...
I trust you slept well.
You can called me Cassidy.
And, yes, actually I had one
of the best sleeps I've had
in a long time.
The beds are super comfy.
- Hm.
- What?
No, I just...
I went on a months-long saga
trying to find those perfect
beds for the hotel, so...
Seriously, I'm not
even kidding you,
I was gonna come ask you
where I could get one.
Yeah, it was like every
single thing I tried
was either too soft or too hard.
I mean, I must've
gone to every store
within a four-hour drive from
here to find the perfect beds.
That is pretty thorough.
You know, most people would
just pick it out of the catalog
and call it a day.
Yeah, just think that
the way you sleep
affects your entire day.
And so if I want people
to enjoy their stay here,
then I better know
exactly how it feels.
I completely agree.
- Really?
- Yeah.
I'm always trying to find ways
to give my guests a more
personal experience.
I kind of believe
it's the best part of
our industry, you know?
Seeing people's faces
and the look of joy
as you do something
extra special for them.
Yeah, that's, uh...
That's funny.
What is?
I, I didn't expect us
to have anything in
common, that's all.
What you, uh, got there?
Oh, this is the,
the Christmas Fest Bible.
So it basically
has all the details
of what's happening
where and when.
And it's a full
week of activities.
Our guests come year
after year to participate.
Looks like it could
use some organization?
Maybe I could assist?
You are not gonna
give up, are you?
Okay, you know what?
Look, if you want to add
a table of contents
or something,
knock yourself out.
Yes, thank you.
Come in, Trey, it's Gabby.
Yeah, go for Trey.
Another ski
binding has snapped again.
I have to get the
ski lessons started,
so can you please come fix it?
I will be right there.
Duty calls.
Yeah.
This isn't even in the binder.
It's okay.
Hey, Trey.
Did you happen to change
your usual schedule
for this year's festival?
Uh, yeah.
Well, you know, it kind
of had to go bigger.
It's the centennial
people, expecting more.
Oh, of course.
Great idea.
Only it kind of looks like
you've double
booked a few things.
For example, the carolers
are slotted at the same time
as the sleigh rides.
And, oh, here too.
- Ah, man.
- And here.
And also here.
One thing after the next.
Must have slipped through
the cracks, but...
Well, that's okay.
No worries.
This would all be easier to
manage if it was digitized.
So if it's okay with you, I
will just put this in a tablet
and we can work from the tablet.
Yeah, look, I dunno.
I'm really more of an analog
guy if you hadn't noticed.
You know, I noticed,
it's just you have a lot
going on, clearly, and...
Oh, okay.
Well, if I just
handle this one thing,
it would be one less thing
for you to think about.
Um, look, I don't know.
It's one thing for you
to help with the binder,
but now it kind of feels like
you're trying to take over
Christmas Fest, and I just...
I'm not trying to take
over Christmas Fest.
I'm Caribbean bound, remember?
It's hot there,
it's freezing here.
I'm just trying to
leave you with a tool
that would help you run
things more smoothly.
And I really, really
appreciate that.
I really do.
But, um, no thank you.
Listen, I heard you
talking to Sam earlier.
You don't wanna sell
to Asherton, do you?
That is the last thing I want.
Well, if you want Christmas Fest
to generate enough revenue
for you to be able
to refuse his offer,
you're gonna need more than
just community support.
You're gonna need new
tourists, new business,
and maybe this can
help with that.
I'm really great at this.
Fine, fine.
We'll try it your way, okay?
On your little tablet thing.
Anything to avoid
a sale to Asherton.
Thank you.
I'll get right to this.
Hi, I'm Lilly Sanderson.
I have these Christmas
lanterns for sale,
and you really should buy one
because it's for charity and...
And...
Hey, Lilly here.
Check out these really
cool Christmas lanterns.
What you working on?
Christmas lanterns.
Oh, I saw those in the binder.
I had no idea what they were.
I promised to sell 100 of
them before the festival.
Okay, and how many of you sold?
That's the bad part.
Two.
Yeah, my dad and my grandpa.
- Oh.
- Yeah.
Hmm, I see.
Yeah, I know, I'm just like...
I'm not very good at this
kind of stuff, you know?
Hey!
You gotta give
yourself some credit.
You know, sales is just
about being good with people,
which I know you're good at
'cause I saw you work
at the front desk.
Yeah, but, you know,
that feels different
because I don't have to
convince anybody to do anything.
They already booked their stay.
Come with me.
Where are we going?
You are gonna sell every
single one of these lanterns.
Trust me.
The key to getting people
interested in these lanterns
is to highlight what
makes them unique.
And it always helps to add
something to let them know
that you appreciate
their contribution.
So, like, the personal touch.
Ha, exactly.
That's what my dad always
says about the Linden Lodge.
"Give people the personal touch,
and they'll keep coming back."
Hmm.
All right, you
ready to get started?
Wait, what do I say?
Follow my lead.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Ma'am, do you have a moment?
Yes.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Oh, hi, Lilly.
Hi, Mrs. Johnson.
I'm helping out with some last
minute festival preparation
over at the Linden Lodge.
And Lilly here has
graciously volunteered
to sell lanterns for
the food bank this year.
And for a small donation
of $10, you get to...
To write your Christmas
wish on a little scroll
that's placed
inside the lanterns.
At the opening ceremony
of Christmas Fest,
we'll light them.
Your wish could even come true.
And if you buy five of them,
you will have a
personalized hot cocoa
waiting for you at
the Linden Lodge.
How could I turn that down?
Right.
I'll take five then.
Okay, coming right up.
Here you go.
Just fill them out and bring
them back to the lodge.
Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.
That was so easy.
Teamwork really does
make the dream work.
You got this.
Hey, there you are.
Hey, Dad.
Cassidy, we just helping
me sell the lanterns.
- Oh, yeah?
- It was all Lilly.
She's a natural.
I did get Ms. Johnson to buy
five of them in 30 seconds.
Really?
That's awesome, kiddo.
I'm gonna go in the cafe
and see if anyone
else wants any, okay?
Okay.
- Okay, bye.
- Bye.
So were you...
So were you...
I was going to go down
to the river's edge,
get a lay of the land
for the festival.
That's a great idea.
You know, I could even show
you a round if you can keep up.
I can keep up.
Okay.
That Lantern initiative
is a pretty smart way
to raise money for charity.
Oh, yeah.
Well, I can't really
take credit for it.
It's a Linden tradition
that spans 100 years-Wow.
And, you know, just
one of the things
that makes this
place so special.
It's not just a ski lodge,
it's an integral
part of the community
and the whole town's history.
Welcome to the epicenter
of Christmas Fest.
The opening lantern
ceremony happens right here.
What do you think?
It just, uh, seems to be missing
some Christmas spirit?
Well, that's just 'cause
I haven't had a chance to,
to decorate yet, you know?
And then the ornaments
and the decorations.
Uh-huh.
And where do you keep
said ornaments and such?
Yeah.
I was afraid you might ask that.
Come with me.
Oh, not so bad.
Oh, wow.
Oh!
Yeah.
What you were seeing before
you is a grand accumulation
of lights across generations
here at the Linden Lodge.
We call it the Great Ball.
And then the rest of the
ornaments are just there, so...
This could take a while.
I'll handle this.
On your own?
Yeah, I can do it.
You grab the other ornaments
and I'll untangle this.
All right.
Can't be that hard.
Where does it start?
Oh.
Oh!
Oh, no.
Oh!
Oh.
Wow, that was really quick.
I'm almost there.
Not as easy as it looks, huh?
I can still do this to myself.
Can you?
Because it looks like you
might need a little help.
Just start there maybe.
It's easier if you don't fight.
Well, it only took us hours.
Shall we go set these up?
You don't have a team
to do that for you?
Yeah, I do.
But ever since I
was a little kid,
my favorite part of the holidays
was setting up the lights
and watching them light up.
Besides, one of the best
parts of being your own boss
is getting to choose what
you do yourself, so...
Hmm.
That must be really nice.
Getting to call the
shots all by yourself.
Yeah.
Thank you.
You are welcome.
You know, for
whatever it's worth,
I do rely a lot on my team,
and Sam and I are
equal partners.
But I guess it is nice
to make my own decisions.
That's what I mean.
Yeah.
I wish I had that
kind of freedom.
I mean, I love my mom,
and it's been great
to learn from her.
It's just, I have so many
good ideas for the hotels,
and she doesn't consider them
or listen to me, or trust me.
But I am up for a
promotion, so that's good.
It all hinges on
how well I do here.
Ah.
Well, look, I don't
know you very well,
but if there's one thing I
can see, you have tenacity.
And so I'm sure you'll
be very successful.
All right.
Now it's looking
festive around here.
Phase one, complete.
Now all we have to do is
finalize the schedule.
Is there anything you don't do?
Ski.
Actually.
Oh, I'm, I'm sorry.
You came to a ski lodge, and
you don't know how to ski?
I tried once.
It wasn't pretty.
I broke my tailbone,
and I had to carry a donut
pillow with me for a whole month
in high school, okay?
It was humiliating.
Okay, but you, you
don't strike me
as somebody who gives
up very easily, so...
That's true.
You're right, I don't.
However, when it comes
to skiing, trust me,
I'm better sitting on a donut.
Sitting on a donut?
Yeah.
That's it.
What's it?
I've been thinking
about introducing
a new activity to the hill.
Uh-oh.
And suddenly I think
you might be the
perfect test subject.
Oh.
I don't think so.
I think I need to focus
on Christmas Fest prep,
stay on my lane.
No, no, no, no, no.
You don't understand, okay?
If this is as fun
as I think it'll be,
then we will add it to the
Christmas Fest schedule.
So, therefore, it is kinda
like Christmas Fest prep.
I see what you did there.
All right, sold.
I'm in.
What is it?
You'll find out tomorrow?
Bring your snow pants.
Meet me in the lobby.
My snow pants?
Yeah.
Snow pants.
Hey.
Hey.
You ready for some fun?
I sure am.
Do you keep these
displays up year round?
No, we actually just put
them up for the centennial.
I'd keep them up.
It makes the lobby
feel so personal,
like you're in someone's home.
Yeah.
Yeah, maybe.
Oh, we are burning
precious daylight.
Let's go.
I feel like the Stay
Puft marshmallow man.
Only I'm still somehow cold.
This is the way winter
is meant to be enjoyed.
Spoken like a true outdoorsman.
Yeah, well, I've lived
here my whole life.
I met Lilly's mom
on these hills.
They're very special to me.
I'm sorry for your loss.
That's okay.
I mean, honestly, I didn't
really know what I was gonna do
until Sam taught me the
ins and outs of the lodge.
Then the people that work
here kind of became my family.
All Dave Asherton cares
about are the tourists
and making profits.
I just hate to see this place
built on years of tradition
get bulldozed and become
another soulless resort.
You know, some property sales
have really specific conditions.
You could negotiate with him,
see if he would agree
to maintain the
integrity of Linden Lodge
and keep you and your staff on.
It's actually a
really good idea.
And truthfully, I
don't trust them,
but I could always ask.
Wait!
You want me to get in this?
Yeah.
You ready?
Okay, here.
If I may.
Just line that up there.
May I?
And sit.
Feel confident, feel relaxed.
Feel like you're doing the
next Christmas Fest activity.
Okay.
You don't have to
do anything at all.
You don't even have
to steer, all right?
You ready?
Could you just explain
to me just quickly...
No, no, no, no!
Trey, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no!
Oh, don't hit the tree.
Don't hit the tree!
I'm coming!
So?
Let's go again!
Oh, no, no, no!
We should definitely put
this on the schedule.
Maybe we'll get
you on skis next.
Oh, not unless my
life depends on it.
You know, you should sell
these at the ski shop.
Oh, no, no, no.
We only rent gear
at the ski shop.
So...
But think about
making them available
for purchase.
I'm sure it's easy to
customize the pattern too.
They can be one of a kind.
They'll sell like hotcakes.
Does your work
brain ever turn off?
Uh...
No, not really.
I didn't think so.
Mom.
Hello, darling.
Hello.
Trey, this is my dear
friend Joanne Evergreen.
It's a pleasure to meet
you, Mrs. Evergreen.
Lovely to meet you, Trey.
My daughter in a snow suit.
Never thought I'd see the day.
Yeah. You know,
it might be cold,
but she's really
warming up to the place.
What are you doing here?
Didn't you get my text?
I finished all my work,
so I wanted to join you.
And I'm so glad she did.
Well, let's get you
settled in then.
Trey, great progress today.
We will pick it
up again tomorrow.
Sounds good.
Let's, uh...
Sam, thank you so much
for the warm welcome.
Oh, it's great to
catch up again, Jo.
It's been too long.
Goodnight, Sam.
Goodnight Trey.
I've got this covered, mom.
I don't need training wheels.
I know that!
Well then, why are you here?
Can't a mother just
wanna spend some time
with her daughter?
So, what do you know so
far about Linden Lodge?
Well, I would say, on paper,
Sam and Trey should accept
any decent offer they get.
It sounds like you're
about to say "but."
But Trey thinks Asherton is
gonna ruin the Linden name
by building some cookie
cutter resort in its place.
Honestly, I can't blame Asherton
for wanting to make upgrades.
If too much changes
about this place,
Mom, Linden Lodge will
lose the very magic
that people come here to get.
I think that if this
year's Christmas Fest
were to generate enough revenue
so that they can renew
the lease on the hill,
they might have a chance.
These numbers are a little
ambitious, don't you think?
I know that it's unlikely,
but not impossible.
And I've been
implementing new ideas
to attract more tourists.
Well, I admire your
ingenuity, honey.
I just think if you're only
banking on Christmas Fest
saving the day, I just worry
you're gonna be disappointed.
Maybe you're right.
Mm, I love your cider, honey.
But I'm not ready
to give up yet.
That's you, isn't it?
Mm-hmm.
I knew it looked familiar.
Okay, mom, what's the story?
What story?
Just you and this place
why your picture
would be on the wall.
Linden Lodge holds a
lot of memories for me.
I spent 10 wonderful Christmases
here when I was younger,
but my family stopped visiting
the year after this
photo was taken.
I had no idea.
Did you keep in touch with Sam?
It was hard to.
No social media back then.
So Sam calls and you think,
what a wonderful opportunity
to take a walk down memory lane?
In a way.
Well, look who's
sentimental now.
I'm glad he called
because it's giving us
a perfect opportunity
to spend some
quality time together
and for you to test
your business instincts.
Kill two birds with one stone.
Right.
My business instincts.
Mm-hmm.
Well, we will need to
present your final assessment
tomorrow before the flight.
Oh, my goodness, our trip.
I was so focused
on Christmas Fest,
I forgot what day it was.
But, of course, tomorrow-
If I didn't know any better,
I'd say you were getting
personally invested
in this place.
We're leaving tomorrow.
We're working on our trip.
Caribbean bound.
Okay.
How about some breakfast?
Yes, breakfast sounds wonderful.
They used to make the
best eggs Benedict.
You know, Mom, I'm
gonna meet you there.
Just need to make
a quick detour.
Hi.
So how did the rest of
lantern sales go yesterday?
It's great.
I sold it to a bunch
of folks around town.
Are we almost at 100?
Getting there.
Nice job, Lilly.
Thank you.
Keep going.
You are gonna make it.
Hi, Dad.
Hey.
Morning.
Morning.
Hi.
Hi.
Morning.
I said that already.
I stayed up to
finalize the schedule,
and then I called all
the vendors this morning
to secure their
time slots, so...
It's not even 10 o'clock yet.
I also rearranged everything
so that all the
activities fit in here,
and I've emailed
you all the changes.
Email.
Could I get like
a printed maybe.
Oh, I'm way ahead of you.
I reorganized your
Christmas Fest binder.
To suit your analog needs.
Of course.
Wow.
Table of contents.
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
And I thought we could
use a little boost,
so I created a social media
page just for Christmas Fest,
you know, to widen our audience.
We already have over
1,000 followers.
Whoa!
That's, uh...
That's great.
I don't even have social
media myself, so that's, um,
that's great, I think.
What's wrong?
You know I appreciate
everything you've been doing.
Of course.
But you just, you kind of said
that you weren't gonna
take everything over.
And I have.
I'm sorry I get a
little ahead of myself
when I'm in planning mode and-
Just try to keep me in the loop.
That's all.
Yeah, I will.
Mr. Asherton.
So what do we owe the pleasure?
Pleasures all mine.
I just came over to say hi
to my favorite neighbors.
Great.
I'll give you two a minute.
Okay.
Oh, I saw one of your lanterns.
One, my guests bought one,
and I was wondering
if I could buy one.
Sure.
Is 50 too many?
50 is incredible.
You're gonna get a lot
of Christmas wishes
for such a generous donation.
Well, I only have one wish,
and that's that I could
steal your dad away
for a little chat
for just one minute.
Of course, yeah.
Lilly, why don't you
grab those wish scrolls
for Mr. Asherton, okay?
Okay.
You can take them next door
and they'll settle up with you.
Much appreciated.
Have you thought anymore
about our little deal?
Yeah.
Um, listen, if we
were open to selling,
"if," would you be
willing to keep things
exactly as they are here?
Meaning, no new
major renovations,
all of our staff stays
on, among other things.
Listen, Trey, I know you wanna
keep everything the same,
but my plan is to modernize.
And sometimes to
make something new,
you have to tear something down.
It's progress.
You have to learn to
embrace the future.
Okay.
Well, we are supposed to have
until Christmas Fest to decide.
And since that starts
tomorrow, you're a day early.
Okay.
Sure.
But I can't wait
forever for an answer.
What if taking Asherton's
deal is the only option?
It's not just about Asherton.
I mean, I don't wanna
sell this place to anyone.
I may not be a Linden by name,
but this is Lilly's home,
and I don't wanna uproot her.
I get it.
What if Christmas
Fest isn't enough?
Well, what is your
little tablet thingy say?
Sorry, you just...
You know, you're kind
of a big ideas person.
I was hoping you might have
some light bulb
moment or something.
I'm gonna think of something.
I always do.
See, my plan was
originally to buy the hill,
and then had two more ski lifts.
But every time we saved up
enough money to make an offer,
we always need to spend
it on something else.
Yeah, that's how
it always happens.
Yeah.
Well, listen, whatever happens,
I have been meaning to thank you
for everything that
you've done to help, okay?
It feels like you've kind
of gone above and beyond
what you came here to do.
Yeah, well, I have to
go above and beyond
if I'm serious about
that promotion, right?
Getting that would
mean everything to me.
Really?
Everything?
What's with the inflection?
I don't know.
I think it's important
to be ambitious
and to have goals, but...
But?
But if your whole life is work,
then how do you make
time for anything else?
Anything else?
Like what?
Well...
I don't know, like
hobbies and friendships,
and maybe a relationship?
I guess I haven't had much time
to think about those things.
Yeah.
And look, I'm not judging.
I, um...
I don't have much time myself,
but it's just that
every single day,
Lilly reminds me that there's
more to life than just work.
Trey, where you been?
I've been calling.
Gabby, hi.
What's up?
Well, we got a whole bunch of
outta towners here right now
for the Snowshoe
Christmas Tree Event.
What?
That event doesn't
start till tomorrow.
Yeah, well, apparently,
a post on our social media
says that it's today.
#WelcomeToThe21stCenturysir.
Oh, no.
I must have posted
the date wrong.
I'm usually so careful
with these things.
I don't know how I
mixed up the dates.
Don't worry.
Okay, look, we can't afford
to lose any new guests, right?
Gabby, are the supplies ready?
Oh, you bet they are.
Well then, we are
just gonna start
Christmas Fest early, huh?
Yeah, let's go!
Hey, guys, welcome.
Hey!
Hey, Dad.
We're not too late
to participate.
Oh, your timing
is perfect, okay?
We're about to start.
VIP table's over there for you.
You ready?
Yeah.
Okay, I'm going with grandpa.
Well, hey, hang on, kiddo.
You're gonna bail on me?
We always pair up.
Cassidy seems pretty free.
Oh, no, I'm not free.
I have a lot to do
before I leave tomorrow,
and I should probably make sure
I didn't mess up any more posts.
Come on.
It's a family tradition.
Yeah, it is pretty fun.
And, you know,
everybody deserves
a break from work
sometimes, don't you think?
All right, let's do this.
Yeah!
Okay.
Welcome, everyone.
Please come.
Grab a seat.
- Come on in guys
- Lovely to see you all.
Thank you so much
for joining today.
Welcome, and behold!
The very first snowshoe
decorated here at Linden Lodge.
You'll all have one hour
to design something festive
with the materials
in front of you.
Once all the snowshoes
are completed,
we're gonna place them
here on this stand,
like branches of
a Christmas tree.
And then it'll be here
for everyone to enjoy.
Are you ready?
On your mark, get set, create!
Whoo!
I have a confession to make.
I'm good at organizing,
not so good at crafting.
Like, really bad.
Okay, hey, if you haven't yet,
please bring your snowshoe over.
You see?
I told you I couldn't
have been it alone.
Despite our abstract work,
I thought we made
a pretty good team.
All right, so we just
stick it like so.
Wow.
Team work.
Here go, Lil.
Whoo!
Whoo!
Thank you.
Beautiful.
Nice.
So sweet.
Thank you.
Shall we?
That's so great.
Yeah.
Okay, here.
May I join you?
Of course.
Thank you for being
so understanding
about me mixing up the dates.
I still can't believe
that I did that.
How could I be upset with you?
You haven't stopped
working on Christmas Fest
since you arrived.
Besides, we got a
bunch of new bookings
from those participants today.
That's so great.
It really hasn't felt like work.
I guess this place
must be growing on me.
It's too bad you're
leaving tomorrow.
Can I ask you something?
Of course.
Why don't you stream music
like the rest of us
in the 21st century?
I don't know.
I guess the vintage
tech just sounds...
Old?
I was gonna say comforting.
Oh, comforting.
Yeah.
Especially when I'm
out on the hills.
If I have a big
decision to make,
all I need is this and my skis,
and the rest of the
world just fades away.
You wanna try?
Oh.
Not bad, right?
Not bad at all.
Dad?
Oh, hi.
Hi.
Hey, kiddo.
What's up?
Can you help me finish
preparing the
lanterns for tonight?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, of course.
Um...
I'll, uh...
I'll see you at the
ceremony tonight.
Yeah.
See you at the ceremony tonight.
Yeah.
Both of you.
Bye.
So, are you finally
ready to marry me?
Can you just gimme
a couple of more days?
Oh good.
You're both here.
I have considered everything.
And with all due respect, Sam,
you cannot let Asherton
buy Linden Lodge.
- What?
- You just can't.
Will you give us a moment?
Yeah.
Anyways.
And then I was telling them
about the personalized
hot chocolate thing,
and they bought 10
of them on the spot.
So I've moved the hot
chocolate into the lobby now.
Dad?
I'm sorry, sweetie.
What was that?
I was just telling you about
how I sold a ton of lanterns
to several guests at
David Asherton's lodge
over there, you know?
Cassidy was so right
about widening my net.
- Hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, I agree with you.
Yeah.
Well, you agree with what?
That Cassidy's super cool.
It makes sense
that you like her.
No, hey, hey, kiddo.
I don't, I don't...
I don't like her, okay.
What, what makes you say that?
Okay, first of all,
you are always smiling
when you're around her.
Second of all, what is this?
And third, if
literally anyone else
tried to make a social media
page for the Christmas Fest,
you just shut them
down then and there.
Okay, you know what?
Your dad's not
that out of touch.
- Is he?
- Then what is this?
Well, maybe I was wrong
about some things.
Not this.
Dad, it's okay.
And you're never gonna
know if she liked back
unless you ask.
So, you should totally ask.
Back to work.
If this was one
of our properties,
we would do everything
to stop it from getting
into the wrong hands,
and you know it!
Sometimes tough choices
need to be made,
and it's much harder when
you're emotionally invested.
Maybe it's good that
we're headed out tomorrow.
What if we changed our flight?
Yeah, what if we stayed
and saw this all
the way through?
I think you're
getting too close.
In my professional opinion,
we have to tell Trey and
Sam to take Asherton's deal.
Cassidy!
- What a crowd.
- Yeah.
Nice job promoting
this online, Cassidy.
Thanks.
Yeah, this is a better turnout
than we could have ever had.
- Really?
- Oh, yeah.
I mean, our community will
always come out and support,
but more and more,
the out-of-towners,
they just stay at
Asherton's resort.
Yeah, so I was really thinking
tonight would just be,
you know, the usual
locals and the mayor.
So this is a pleasant surprise.
I'm happy to hear it.
Yeah.
You know, I did wanna tell
you, we are so grateful
for all the help you've
given to the lodge.
You know, my parents,
they actually worked here
until they retired.
And now me, even my nephew
works here in the summertime.
Yeah.
I don't know where my family
would be without the Lindens.
I owe a lot to you.
And Trey.
Yeah.
I just hope that
everything works out.
Me too.
Hey, time to start.
- Come on.
- Okay, let's go.
Come on in, come on in.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I, Mayor Karen Robinson,
welcome to the opening
lantern lighting ceremony,
celebrating 100 years
of the Linden Lodge
Christmas Festival.
100 years ago,
my great-grandfather,
Barry Robinson,
leased the ski hills
to the Linden family.
And to celebrate,
Sam's grandfather hosted
the holiday festival
where the first holiday
lantern was lit.
Today, we honor both of
their generous spirits
by donating the profits
from these Christmas wish
lanterns to the local food bank.
Oh, I am...
I am so delighted to
introduce a young lady
who has sold 276 lanterns,
making this year's
donation the largest yet.
Please welcome to the
stage the amazing,
the incredible Lilly Sanderson.
Come on up.
Thank you, Mayor Robinson.
Before we light up the sky,
I'd like to say a quick thank
you to my dad and my grandpa
for always hosting
such an amazing event.
I'd also like to give
a special shout out
to Cassidy Evergreen for
teaching me how important it is
to make people feel appreciated,
make them feel special.
And what's more special
than celebrating our
community charity
and Christmas altogether.
May all of your Christmas
wishes come true.
Let's light up the sky!
Yay!
I'm so proud of you.
I've never seen anything more
beautiful in my entire life.
I have.
Ready?
Make a wish.
Good night, Sam.
Thanks for a wonderful time.
I should go pack for tomorrow.
I will stop by the front desk
to say goodbye in
the morning, okay?
Yeah, all right.
Okay.
Hey, good morning.
Morning.
You sleep well?
Not great.
The beds are so comfy, and
I was still awake all night.
Oh, how come?
Just couldn't relax, I guess?
But I know how to
make it better.
Could I have one more cup
of hot cocoa before I go?
I thought you'd never ask.
Cause, ta-da!
Huh?
Turns out, you do have some
pretty good ideas after all.
Ever since we put it out here,
it's forced more guests to
come here and socialize.
And I may have ordered some
snow tubes to sell at the store.
I can't tell you how
happy that makes me.
Wow thank you for
such a great stay.
I mean, I should
be thanking you.
Seriously, everything
you've done for us,
even if this is the
last Christmas Fest,
this one I'll never forget.
Listen, I know my mom wants
you to sell to Asherton today,
but wait as long as possible.
Just see what happens
with the festival
and don't agree to anything
until you absolutely have to.
Well, I appreciate
your candor, as always.
I wish I could stay
to see things through with
the festival, of course.
But I can't.
I didn't even
finish that, sorry.
Thank you.
I hope everything
works out for you.
Your family's great,
and you deserve it.
Still heavy.
Why did the power go out?
Didn't you get a new generator?
I did.
I, I, I don't know.
Well, we have to fix it.
Oh, thank goodness.
It was just a blip.
No, no.
No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no.
What, what, what is it?
The whole
check-in system crashed.
- It won't come back on.
- Oh, no!
This can't be
happening right now.
All the guests are
gonna arrive any minute.
It's okay.
I'll help you smooth it out.
No, I never should have
trusted this old tech.
I should have actually
listened to you.
Ah, that doesn't
matter right now.
Cassidy, what about your flight?
No, I'll reschedule.
It's no big deal.
My mom will understand.
Cassidy, I can't
ask you to do that.
Well, I can't leave
you in crisis, so...
Well, listen, you deserve
a break from work, okay?
To do something for
yourself, for a change.
Well, what if I'm not
staying because of work?
What if I'm staying
because I want to?
Are you sure?
I have never been
so sure of anything.
I don't know what to say,
except for thank you, again.
Oh.
What tells me you're
the type of person
who keeps a printed back up?
You know me too well already.
Hi, good morning, good morning.
Welcome to Linden Lodge.
Merry Christmas to you.
Enjoy.
I can't believe
you stayed to help.
I can't believe you have
a credit card machine
from the '80s.
Excuse me, that thing has
not failed me yet, okay?
I think that's what you said
about your check-in program.
Touche.
I will be upgrading
that system stat.
I'm so glad we got
to do this together.
And then we got to give each
and every guest the
attention they deserve.
I mean, that's what makes
this place so special.
That's what makes it different.
And that's...
That's what I'm gonna miss.
- Oh.
- Hey!
Do you think maybe since you
missed your flight anyway,
you'll be sticking around
for the activity tonight?
Oh, yes, sure.
My mom already texted.
She's rescheduled our flights.
I'm just gonna go next
door for a quick bit.
- To the Asherton?
- Yes.
In the biz, we call
it resort recon.
I'll explain later.
- Mom.
- Hi, honey.
Hi.
I know you said I
shouldn't get too personal,
but I actually think that's
exactly what we need to do
to save this place.
What if Evergreen
purchased Linden Lodge?
I just put it together.
This is your solution?
If Trey and Sam
can get on board,
I think this is our best option.
- This is a surprise.
- I know.
It's just...
I couldn't quite place
what felt off about
the Asherton deal,
so I went next door
to see for myself.
Mom, I found Asherton
pulling out all the stops,
trying to sway the mayor
to sell him the ski hill.
I'm impressed.
When do you wanna
propose it to them?
Now?
Now would be the right time.
Trey.
Asherton's expecting an answer.
Sam.
Christmas Fest is going to
be our saving grace, okay?
It's shaping up to
be our biggest ever.
I know you believe that, son,
but I looked at the numbers.
And even with the whole
town supporting us
and you bringing in new
tourists, it's not enough.
Anyone who have eyes on Trey?
I just saw him in the tea shop.
We have to think
about what's best for Lilly.
Sam, we have had every
single problem thrown at us,
and we keep knocking 'em
outta the park, okay?
This is gonna be our grand slam.
Trey, you're not hearing me.
We got...
Oh, sorry, am I interrupting?
- No, no, not at all.
- Okay.
- Hi.
- Oh, there they are,
my favorite people.
Today's the day, Sam.
Welcome.
Um...
How about some hot
chocolate, huh?
Well, I'm cold and thirsty.
After you, sir.
Listen, I had an idea, I
wanna share it with you.
Can we talk in a minute?
We're gonna go reject
Asherton's offer.
Oh.
Uh, Trey.
Wait, wait, wait.
- Huh, oh, fellas.
- Trey!
- Do we have a deal?
- Trey!
Uh, we're actually still
gonna be a firm no, Dave.
Listen, Linden Lodge
and the ski hill
have been tied together
for generations, okay?
They're as important together
as air is to the trees
and snow is to the mountain.
Trey.
Think about Lilly.
Mayor Robinson just cut
the land tax subsidy.
If you can't cover the
increase, the city sells.
And I happen to be
first in line to buy.
So it's better to
agree now, Trey.
You can't do that.
Oh, well, right on time.
What do you mean right on time?
They just flipped the switch
on the Asherton
Resort Holiday Fest.
I'm sorry, you started
your own festival?
And that's why our
power's been unstable,
because you've been
maxing out the grid.
Well, I'm no electrician,
but we do have to
pull a lot of power
for what we have planned.
Snowmobile, sleigh rides
through the mountains,
a five star gala
with celebrity chefs
and luxurious accommodations.
A super-sized Christmas fest.
Your tradition will live on.
This is a low blow,
Dave, even for you.
Trey, come on.
You know Lilly
learned to ski here.
This is not personal,
it's business.
We have company.
Mayor Robinson.
Karen, what are you doing here?
Well, Mrs. Evergreen found me
and asked me to come by
to discuss a proposal.
She did?
An acquisition proposal.
That Evergreen Hotels
purchase the ski hill
and Linden Lodge.
Well, this is an interesting
change of events.
Since when?
Since today.
Well, what about my offer?
Well, I'm willing to
consider all offers, Dave.
I wanna do what's best
for Ridgeford Valley.
I'm sorry, this is,
uh, this is news to me.
I just need a moment.
Trey.
I'm sorry, did I misunderstand?
I thought Sam and Trey
were already on board.
I just hadn't had the
chance to brief them yet.
And I know your time
is very valuable,
so if we could just
have a few more minutes.
Uh. Mayor, may I, uh...
May I offer you some hot cocoa?
Well, you know I
can't resist that.
Dave, let me top you off, huh?
All right.
Thank you.
Go.
Trey, wait.
This isn't how I wanted
to pitch this to you,
but I drafted up a proposal.
Have you even listened to me?
Or are you just worried
about getting your promotion?
What?
Of course not.
No, this has nothing to do
with me getting promoted.
This is about me
trying to help you.
How?
By making these huge plans
that affect my business
and my family without
even consulting me?
I know it looks bad.
It looks like I steamrolled you,
but I was running out of time,
- so I just-
- Let me be clear.
I do not wanna sell this place.
Especially not to someone
who's not gonna
keep me in the loop.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I got some very big
decisions to make.
Trey.
Well, shame to waste all
this wonderful good weather.
So, what do you say?
I have some time, and
I would love to ski.
Let's go enjoy this powder.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
I can see where she
gets her drive from.
Will you excuse me
for a moment, Sam?
Yeah.
Darling, are you okay?
This place and these
people, I just...
It feels like...
Home?
And I've ruined it.
It's over.
You haven't ruined anything,
and it's far from over.
Your offer is good.
You just have to get
Trey to see that.
Dad, what are you doing?
Grandpa told me about
Cassidy's pitch.
Why don't you just work
with the Evergreens?
Look, I didn't want this
either, okay, kiddo?
But me and Cassidy are
very different people.
It'll never work.
I'm just saying she obviously
cares about you, about us.
It's just...
It's not that simple.
Yes, it is.
So what do you wanna do?
For the first time,
I have no idea.
You know, all I ever
wanted until today
was for you to trust me
with the Evergreen name.
Oh, darling, I do trust you.
Why do you think I trusted
you to come here in my place?
We have different approaches,
but you've reminded
me that this business
isn't all about money.
It's the people.
And that's your
greatest strength.
And you're right.
This place is special.
It is.
What you've done
here has proven to me
that you've got
what it takes to be
Evergreen's new vice
president of operations.
What?
Congratulations, darling.
But first, you have to take care
of some of your
unfinished business.
I don't know what to say.
Say you'll go talk to Trey.
Trey wants nothing to do with
an Evergreen acquisition.
I'm not talking about the deal.
Tell him how you feel.
How I feel?
Don't be coy.
It's clear as day
that the two of you
have feelings for each other.
I really like him.
I'm just not sure we'll
be able to salvage
whatever it is we had.
Cass, I've never known
you to be a quitter.
Go get him.
Lilly?
I need your help.
Please help me stop them.
- Stop who?
- My dad.
He's on the ski hill
and he is seriously thinking
about selling to the Grinch.
What?
Yeah.
You know what time is?
What?
Time to teach me how to ski.
- Come on, mama.
- Okay, let's go, let's go.
- Let's go, let's go, let's go.
- There's no time.
Well, looks like the mayor's
gonna take another run.
Gives us a little time.
You know, Trey, it
doesn't take a genius
to figure out that
your lodge is bankrupt
without these hills.
You know, Dave, If we're
in such a bad place,
why make this deal right now?
Why not wait it out like
the rest of the vultures?
I don't like to waste time.
I think you should take another
look at the numbers, Trey.
I'll think about it on my own.
It's a great deal.
Okay.
Toe.
Okay, toe.
Heel.
Ah!
Woo-hoo!
Yeah.
Bend your knees.
Keep your core tight.
And you wanna feel your balance
right in front of your heel.
Yeah, looks good.
You got this.
Thank you, Lilly.
You are gonna make a
great ski instructor.
Thank you.
But like you said,
teamwork makes the dream work.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
That's it.
It's been right in front
of me this whole time.
Lilly, you're a genius.
Mom, I have a different solution
to bring Sam and Trey.
Care to share?
Kind of running outta time here.
You're gonna have to trust me.
I trust you.
Here goes nothing.
Oh.
Oh.
Can't watch.
Go honey.
- Ooh.
- Go, Cassidy!
Go!
You got this.
- Okay.
- Whoo!
You look like a pro!
Go!
Woo-hoo!
That's my girl.
Careful.
Where are you, Trey?
Come on, Cass.
Balance in front of the heel.
You got this.
I got this.
Oh!
A little brisk.
Heels back.
This isn't so bad.
I'm doing it.
Is that him?
Trey!
Trey!
Hey, Trey!
Trey!
Hey, it's me.
Trey!
Ugh!
Oh.
Trey, stop!
Pull over!
Wait, bend the knees,
tighten your core, heels back.
No, I don't know how to stop!
I don't know how to stop!
I never learned how to stop!
Help!
Trey!
No, no, no, no, no!
Watch out!
What just happened?
I'm so sorry.
I hadn't learned
how to stop yet.
Are you...
- Oh, goodness.
- We're you skiing?
Are you okay?
Where's Asherton?
You haven't agreed to
anything yet, have you?
No.
No, he's waiting for
me in the courtyard.
Oh, good.
Trey, please give
me one last chance
to tell you my new idea.
Come on.
- We'll see.
- We'll see.
Oh.
Ah.
Mayor Robinson, Mr.
Asherton, Sam, Trey,
thank you all for coming
together to hear us out.
My mom and I have a brand new
presentation to offer you.
Lilly mentioned something
about teamwork today,
and that got me thinking,
Evergreen Hotels
doesn't wanna purchase
Linden Lodge outright.
We want to partner with you.
The Linden family would retain
control of the day-to-day,
and the Evergreen family would
provide the necessary capital
to purchase the hill
and upgrade the lodge.
It would help you get new
tourists to increase revenue.
And I fell in love
with this place,
and I wanna do whatever it takes
to preserve what
makes it special.
Trey, if you don't
want this, that's okay.
I care more about you
than I do any offer.
Mayor Robinson, come on.
You're not taking this
seriously, are you?
Yes, I am.
And actually, I would
like to hear more.
This is ridiculous.
All right.
What?
Yeah.
Oh.
I'll be right there.
Well, the power's on the
fritz over at our place.
They're completely in the dark.
And I guess I have to go.
But I'll be back.
This isn't over yet.
The heart your
family showed today
has reassured me that they,
they belong in your care.
Wait, are you sure about this?
I mean, we've had more
than a few hiccups
- along the way, and-
- I think that's a good thing.
No one should do everything
alone all the time, right?
Well, you know, maybe a little
change wouldn't be so bad.
We have a deal then.
My great grandfather taught me
that family is the bedrock
of a strong community.
And working with our family
strengthens it even more.
So we'll all celebrate
here at Christmas Fest,
where it's meant to stay.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I am gonna go back
and hit the slopes.
Oh, this day is glorious.
Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas, Mayor.
- Have fun.
- I will.
I knew those lanterns
were a good idea.
All of my wishes came true.
Wait, what'd you wish for?
Well, for us to keep the lodge
and for Cassidy to stay
for all of Christmas Fest.
You are staying right?
I think I'm staying.
This is 'cause for celebration.
First round of cider is on me.
We'll catch up with you.
Bye!
Can we chat?
I still can't believe you
actually skied after me.
I seem to remember you
saying that would only happen
if your life depended on it.
Yeah.
In a way, it did.
My love life, anyway.
Speaking of which, before
we dive into everything,
there is one thing I
would mean to say to you.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Trey.