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[TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICKING]
[CARRIAGE RETURN BELL DINGS,
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HO, HO, HO.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THANK YOU.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THANK YOU.
[IMPATIENTLY] EXCUSE ME.
EXCUSE--
EXCUSE YOU!
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THANK YOU.
EXCUSE ME.
THANK YOU.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
YOU'RE SO KIND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I DON'T THINK SO.
[CONDESCENDING CHUCKLE]
IT'S CAROL. GET ME KENDRA.
[]
NO, I DON'T NEED TO CHECK
WITH CAROL ON THIS, ED.
I'M THE SENIOR EDITOR,
SECOND IN COMMAND
AT SPRINGWOOD,
AND THIS IS MY CALL,
SO YOU'D BETTER START LISTENING.
[WHISPERS]
CAROL'S ON THE PHONE FOR YOU.
THAT'S MY FINAL OFFER, ED.
LET ME KNOW. [CLICK]
THIS IS KENDRA.
IT'S ME.
CAROL? WHERE ARE YOU?
WAIT,
ARE YOU ON FOOT?
TRAFFIC WAS AWFUL,
AND SITTING
IN THE CAR SERVICE
WAS JUST EATING THE DAY AWAY.
I HATE THE HOLIDAYS.
ARE YOU OKAY?
I KNOW HOW
TO WALK, KENDRA.
LISTEN, MY CALL TO BERLIN
FELL THROUGH.
I WANT TO PUSH
THE 11:00 MEETING UP.
UH... SURE.
WHAT TIME WERE YOU THINKING?
NOW. HAVE EVERYONE READY.
[DIAL TONE HUMS]
OKAY, UH...
FOLKS, MAY I HAVE
YOUR ATTENTION,
PLEASE?
QUICKLY, EVERYONE,
STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
IT'S IMPORTANT.
OKAY, PEOPLE,
TWO QUICK THINGS.
ONE, FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO REQUESTED
CHRISTMAS OFF TOMORROW...
CAROL HAS DENIED
YOUR REQUESTS.
AND TWO, THE 11:00 MEETING
HAS BEEN PUSHED UP.
DON'T WORRY,
WE'LL BE READY!
IT'S NOW.
OH, GOD HELP US.
[GROUP PROTESTING, PANICKING]
OKAY, GREAT.
[AGITATED MURMURING]
WHICH OF THESE SUBTITLES
SHOULD WE GO WITH?
"LOSE WEIGHT FASTER"
OR "GET SLIMMER QUICKER?"
OH, THEY'RE BOTH BAD.
- THEY ARE?
- YEAH.
OH, GOD,
CAROL WANTS A NEW SUBTITLE.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
UH... IMPROVISE.
IMPROVISE...
OH, KENDRA.
- DO YOU HAVE JUST--
- NO, TANYA.
- I REALLY WOULD JUST--
- NO, TANYA.
OH, OKAY, THANK YOU.
SHH. QUIET!
SHE'S COMING.
[HIGH-HEELED FOOTSTEPS
MARCHING CLOSER]
[GASPING IN FRIGHT]
LOOK ALIVE,
PEOPLE.
COME ON, GO, GO, GO, GO!
OH, YOUR HAIR...
LET'S GO. OKAY.
BREATHE, BREATHE.
LET'S GO.
GOOD MORNING,
MS. HUFFLER.
WE'LL SEE.
UM, OKAY, UM...
CHRISTMAS NUMBERS
ARE GOOD,
BUT MAINLY DUE TO A SURGE
IN ONLINE SHOPPING.
AND WHAT ABOUT RETAIL?
THE BIG THREE AREN'T MOVING
AS MANY VOLUMES
AS WE HAD HOPED.
TELL THEM IF WE DON' GET BETTER PLACEMENT,
WE'LL PULL OUR STOCK.
[CHUCKLES IN DISBELIEF]
UH, REALLY?
[CHUCKLES MOCKINGLY]
YES.
NEXT.
UM, THE PRINCESS DOESN'T LIKE
HER NEW GHOST WRITER.
PRINCESS POP
OR PRINCESS ROYALTY?
PRINCESS ROYALTY.
WELL, THEN,
GET HER A NEW WRITER.
BUT THIS IS
THE FOURTH ONE.
THEN FIND HER A FIFTH.
FRED, LET'S HEAR I FOR THE "THE 59-SECOND WORKOUT."
[CLEARS THROAT]
WELL, UM...
YOU-- YOU SEE, UH...
UH...
WELL, UM...
FRED?
UM...
DIDN'T YOU TELL ME,
"FITNESS THE FAST WAY?"
- GREAT.
- YEAH--
THEN WE CAN FOLLOW IT UP
WITH THE FAST "ER"
AND FAST "EST."
HELL, WE CAN BUNDLE I WITH E-BOOKS--
"FRY YOUR LIFE AWAY,"
AND THEN YOU GOT SOMETHING.
FAT AND FITNESS
AT THE SAME TIME? LOVE IT.
ANYTHING ELSE?
NO.
LOVELY.
CAROL, IF-- IF I COULD JUST--
TANYA,
I DON'T THINK THAT'S--
MS. HUFFLER,
IT JUST TAKES A MINUTE.
THAT'S ALL I--
YOU'VE GOT 10 SECONDS.
- OH, UH, OKAY--
- 10, NINE, EIGHT--
OKAY, HERE IT IS.
PAM JACOBS HAS SUBMITTED
THE BEST DEBUT NOVEL
I'VE READ IN YEARS, AND...
I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE AN OFFER.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
BUT YOU'RE
THE CLASSICS EDITOR, RIGHT?
YES.
THAT'S STRANGE.
I WASN'T AWARE THA DEAD AUTHORS MADE SUBMISSIONS.
IS IT A LONG-LOS MASTERPIECE?
[STAMMERING] UM, NO--
I MEAN, NOT YET, BUT--
SO, IT'S A NEW BOOK?
YES--
THEN THE LOGICAL
QUESTION WOULD BE,
WHY IS SOMEONE IN CLASSICS
PITCHING ME A NEW BOOK?
BECAUSE...
IT'S A SEMINAL WORK.
IT'S... IT'S A ONE-OF-A-KIND.
IT'S A TRUE VOICE.
AND IF--
IF YOU DON'T GIVE IT A CHANCE...
YOU'LL BE MAKING
A... HUGE MISTAKE.
REALLY?
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME.
THIS BOOK IS THE REASON
THAT WE'RE ALL HERE
DOING WHAT IT IS WE DO.
IT'S WHAT LITERATURE
IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE
SHOULD BE READING, AND, WELL...
IT'S WHA WE SHOULD BE PUBLISHING.
YOU REALLY MEAN IT, DON'T YOU?
I DO.
YOU'RE FIRED.
WHAT?
YOU BROKE THE FIRST RULE
IN PUBLISHING.
IT'S NOT ABOU WHAT BOOKS SHOULD BE READ.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT BOOKS
CAN BE SOLD.
[STAMMERING IN INDIGNATION]
WH...
CAROL HUFFIER, YOU KNOW...
YOU ARE A HEARTLESS TYRANT,
AND-- AND
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW
A GOOD BOOK
IF IT BIT YOU
ON THE... BUTT!
BEAUTIFUL CHOICE
OF WORDS, NO LESS.
YOU WILL GE WHAT'S COMING TO YOU.
I ALREADY HAVE.
LONG LIVE THE NOVEL!
NOT A GREAT EXIT LINE.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
- SHH!
- SORRY.
ANY MORE PITCHES TODAY?
I DIDN'T THINK SO.
WAS THAT REALLY
NECESSARY, CAROL?
SHE'S A SINGLE MOTHER
WITH TWO KIDS.
I DIDN'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE.
SHE LOVES THE BOOK.
SHE WAS JUST FIGHTING
FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN.
[SIGHS]
I MEANT ABOUT HAVING KIDS.
WELL...
UH, WAIT, KENDRA?
"TALK TO KENDRA."
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO
TALK TO YOU ABOUT?
TODAY WAS THE DAY
YOU WERE GOING TO...
MAKE YOUR DECISION.
DECISION?
ABOUT WHAT?
THE TRANSFER?
TO LONDON?
MY BOYFRIEND, ZAC,
HAS A TWO-YEAR CONTRAC IN LONDON,
AND I REQUESTED A TRANSFER.
WHEN?
A YEAR AGO,
THE DAY HE WON HIS BID.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THIS, CAROL--
AH, AH, RIGHT, RIGHT,
NO, I-- I REMEMBER,
AND, UH...
I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LOT.
I JUST DON'T THINK
IT'S THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW I WANT TO GET INTO
FOREIGN RIGHTS.
IT'S THE PERFECT FIT.
WHAT, YOU DON'T YOU THINK
I CAN DO IT?
WELL, IF I DID, YOU WOULD.
LISTEN, KENDRA,
YOU'RE MY SENIOR EDITOR,
MY RIGHT-HAND WOMAN.
EVERYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN
ABOUT PUBLISHING
YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN
RIGHT HERE.
EVER SINCE EVE
PASSED AWAY,
I'VE MANAGED TO TURN
THIS PLACE AROUND,
AND NOW I'M COUNTING ON YOU
TO SUPPORT ME.
LISTEN.
LET ME GIVE YOU
A LITTLE PIECE OF ADVICE--
NEVER PLAN YOUR LIFE
AROUND A MAN.
THEY'D NEVER GIVE YOU
THE SAME COURTESY.
[DOOR SLAMS]
GLORIA, IT'S WORK.
SOMEONE HAS TO
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.
BUT MS. HUFFLER,
IT'S CHRISTMAS.
TRUST ME,
MY MOTHER OF ALL PEOPLE
WOULD UNDERSTAND.
SHE WORKED EVERY HOLIDAY
WHEN I WAS A KID.
BUT IT WOULD JUST MEAN
SO MUCH TO HER.
YOU MISSED LAST YEAR,
AND I JUST THINK--
GLORIA--
[SIGHS]
AND THERE MIGHT NOT BE THA MANY MORE CHRISTMASES LEFT.
GLORIA!
PLEASE, JUST STICK
TO YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION,
AND KEEP AN EYE
ON MY MOTHER, NOT ME.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
YES, MA'AM.
GOOD.
SO, GOODBYE, GLORIA.
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
MS. HUFFLER.
[SIGHS IN DISAPPOINTMENT]
THIS IS MY
FAVORITE MOVIE,
"SCROOGE."
I WATCH IT EVERY YEAR.
AND SO DO I.
YOU SHALL BEHOLD VISIONS
OF A CHRISTMAS PAST,
A CHRISTMAS PRESENT,
AND A CHRISTMAS YET TO COME!
EXPECT THE FIRS WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT.
[]
[JAZZY VERSION] OH, DASHING
THROUGH THE SNOW
IN A ONE-HORSE OPEN SLEIGH
OVER THE FIELDS WE GO
LAUGHING ALL THE WAY...
REMEMBER WHEN EVE
RAN THINGS?
WE GOT TWO WEEKS OFF
FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
ISN'T WORKING
ON CHRISTMAS ILLEGAL?
YEAH.
SOMEWHERE
IT'S GOT TO BE.
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO?
REVOLT.
NO, I'M SERIOUS!
WHAT IF THE WHOLE OFFICE
STAYED HOME?
WHAT WOULD SHE DO,
FIRE ALL OF US?
YES.
SHE'D HAVE NOTHING.
WE'RE THE BACKBONE
OF SPRINGWOOD.
I MEAN, WE'RE THE ONES
WITH THE POWER.
WE SHOULD ORGANIZE
OUR FORCES,
GET TOGETHER, AND REBEL
AGAINST CAROL HUFFLER
AND PUT AN END
TO HER TYRANNICAL RULE.
COME ON,
WHO'S WITH ME?
SHE'S HERE.
YOU LOOK SPECTACULAR
TONIGHT, MS. HUFFLER.
I HATE HER.
[WENDY]: WAY TO
GIVE IT TO HER, FRED.
[QUIETLY] POWER
TO THE PEOPLE.
AMEN, SISTER.
CHEERS.
[WENDY]:
YOU TOLD HER.
[CHUCKLING QUIETLY]
I LOVED YOUR LAST BOOK.
WHAT WAS THE GENESIS FOR THAT?
AND HOW MUCH INPU DID YOUR WRITING PARTNER
HAVE IN THIS ONE?
KENDRA!
THERE YOU ARE.
OH, HI, CAROL.
WOW, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU.
YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL,
TOO, BABY.
CAROL, YOU
REMEMBER ZAC,
DON'T YOU?
I, UM...
ONE MORE TIME?
MY BOYFRIEND?
THE ONE WHO'S
GOING TO LONDON
FOR TWO YEARS?
OH, RIGHT,
THAT ONE.
THE FOOD'S TERRIBLE.
HAVE A WONDERFUL TRIP.
UH, OKAY, THANKS FOR THAT.
CAN I GET YOU
ANYTHING TO DRINK?
WATER.
NOT TOO MUCH ICE.
GOTCHA. WATER.
CAROL,
HOW ARE YOU?
YOU HAVEN'T RETURNED
ANY OF MY CALLS.
I'M COMING WITH YOU.
HELLO, PAM.
SO I HEARD YOU FIRED TANYA
FOR PITCHING MY WRITER.
IT'S NOTHING
PERSONAL.
OH, I BELIEVE THAT.
HOW COULD IT EVER
BE PERSONAL WITH YOU?
THERE'S A HUNDRED OTHER
PUBLISHERS HERE TONIGHT, PAM.
WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO ONE
WHO WANTS TO LISTEN?
BECAUSE I'M NO FOOL.
YOU HAVE
THE LARGEST MARKET SHARE,
AND I WANT YOU
TO MEET THE AUTHOR.
OH, BEN!
YOU BROUGHT HIM
HERE TONIGHT?
BEN WOODLEY!
WHAT DID YOU
JUST SAY?
COME HERE.
NOT ONLY IS HE BRILLIANT,
HE'S CUTE,
A MARKETING SLAM DUNK.
BENJAMIN WOODLEY,
CAROL HUFFLER,
PRESIDENT OF
SPRINGWOOD PUBLISHING.
HI, CAROL.
BEN.
HOW ARE YOU?
I'M GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?
OKAY.
WAIT A MINUTE, HOLD THE PHONE.
YOU TWO
ALREADY KNOW EACH OTHER?
YEAH, WE DO.
YEAH. WE DO.
OH.
[AWKWARD CHUCKLE]
WHO KNEW, RIGHT?
WELL, YOU DON'T NEED ME HERE
TO MESS THIS UP.
- EXCUSE ME.
- PAM!
[SIGHS AWKWARDLY]
SO, UM...
FUNNY SEEING YOU HERE.
OH, I'M NOT AN IDIOT, BEN.
I KNOW YOU PLANNED
THIS LITTLE SURPRISE.
WHAT ARE YOU-- WHAT?
THIS AMBUSH
SO I'D BUY YOUR BOOK.
NO, NO. HANG-- HANG ON.
I SPECIFICALLY ASKED PAM
NOT TO SEND YOU MY BOOK.
WHAT? THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
YOU'D BE A FOOL
NOT TO SEND IT TO ME.
[STAMMERS]
UH, EXCUSE ME?
I THOUGHT YOU JUST SAID
THAT YOU...
UH, I'M CONFUSED.
AM I STILL
NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU?
IS THAT WHA YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY?
YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME?
[SCOFFS]
LOOK, CAROL, I DON'T CARE IF
YOU READ MY BOOK OR NOT, OKAY?
OBVIOUSLY.
I MEAN...
LOOK, I WOULD LOVE
FOR YOU TO READ MY BOOK, OKAY,
BUT I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO,
NOT AFTER
WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.
THAT'S ALL I MEANT.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
THE LAST 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
STARTING THE DAY YOU LEFT?
I LIKE TO THINK OF I AS THE DAY YOU STAYED.
I HAD A JOB, BEN, REMEMBER?
SOMEBODY HAD TO KEEP
THE LIGHTS ON.
THAT'S RIGHT. RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I NEVER ASKED YOU
TO TAKE CARE OF ME.
BUT I DID,
BECAUSE THE WAY I REMEMBER IT,
YOU COULDN' TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
I TURNED OUT JUST FINE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL, THEN, YOU'RE WELCOME.
HOW'S OUR REUNION
COMING ALONG?
IT'S OVER.
THIS WHOLE
HEARTLESS THING
IS JUST A PHASE
WITH HER, RIGHT?
YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME.
[CHATTING QUIETLY]
WHAT'S HAPPENING
OVER THERE?
[FRED]: OH, MY...
THIS IS GOOD.
MM...
SHE'S HAVING
A BAD DAY.
- OH, MY GOODNESS.
- TELL ME ABOUT IT.
DID YOU SEE THOSE SHOES?
[SNEERING LAUGHTER]
CHEERS.
[SIGHS]
YOU OKAY?
I'M FINE.
YOU DON'T SEEM
FINE.
THANKS. VERY NICE.
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD
USE A LITTLE HUG.
YOU KNOW WHAT,
I'M NOT BIG ON HUGGING STRANGERS
IN BATHROOMS.
WHO SAID ANYTHING
ABOUT STRANGERS?
NOW, TURN AROUND
AND GIVE YOUR OLD BUDDY
A LITTLE SQUEEZE.
[GASPING IN TERROR]
EVE?
EVE MAILER?
IN THE FLESH.
WELL, MAYBE NOT IN THE FLESH,
BUT YEAH, IT'S ME.
WHAT-- WAIT, WAIT,
WHAT'S GOING ON?
IT'S OKAY.
NO, IT'S NOT OKAY.
YOU'RE DEAD!
MAYBE, BUT YOU'RE RUDE.
NO, I'M HALLUCINATING.
IT'S FINE.
THEY DID SAY
THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
SOME TROUBLE WITH THIS.
THEY? WHO ARE THEY?
MY BOSSES.
BOSSES?
THE SPIRITUAL ENTITIES
WHO OVERSEE
THE BALANCE OF THINGS.
WE CALL THEM
"THE BOARD OF CORRECTORS."
WHAT?
IT-- IT'S FUNNIER
IF YOU'RE DEAD.
OH, SOMEBODY MUST HAVE
PUT SOMETHING IN MY DRINK.
YOU'RE NOT REAL.
NONE OF THIS
IS REAL.
WHAT THE...
[BEATBOX POUNDING]
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHERE AM I?
YOU GONNA THROW UP?
SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY THROW UP.
WHY IS IT DAYTIME?
WELL,
A BETTER QUESTION MIGHT BE,
WHY IS IT 1985?
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
NO...
IT CAN'T BE.
OH, MAN...
YOU'RE GONNA VOMIT,
AREN'T YOU?
I AM GETTING THE HECK
AWAY FROM YOU.
AND DON'T YOU FOLLOW ME.
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!
YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE LAMPPOS ON YOUR FACE.
[GASPING IN PANIC]
LOOK, LOOK,
YOU ARE FREAKING OUT,
AND THAT IS TOTALLY NORMAL.
YOU NEED TO STOP
TALKING TO ME.
I KNOW THIS IS HARD
FOR YOU TO WRAP
YOUR BRAIN AROUND,
BUT IF YOU'LL JUS GIVE YOURSELF OVER
TO THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE--
WHOLE EXPERIENCE?
YOU MEAN THE FAC THAT I'M DREAMING?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW, THAT'S IT.
I'M DREAMING.
THIS IS NOT A DREAM.
YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S A NIGHTMARE.
COME TO THINK OF IT,
MAYBE IF I STOP TALKING TO YOU,
IT'LL ALL GO AWAY.
LOOK, CAROL,
YOUR LIFE IS OFF COURSE,
AND I'M HERE TO HELP YOU
GET IT BACK ON--
[HUMMING LOUDLY IN DENIAL]
LISTEN TO ME...
CAROL HUFFLER!
I'VE ONLY GOT ONE NIGH TO MAKE THIS WORK,
SO YOU'VE GOT TO WISE UP
AND REALIZE IT'S TIME FOR YOU
TO MAKE A CHANGE.
LOOK, THIS COULD BE
THE BEGINNING
OF A WHOLE NEW LIFE FOR YOU,
BUT ONLY IF YOU WANT IT.
IN THE END,
THE CHOICE IS YOURS,
AND YOURS ALONE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
MAYBE I'M IN A COMA.
[MAN, OVER P.A.]:
JUST A REMINDER, SHOPPERS,
WE HAVE A SPECIAL ON LEGWARMERS
ON THE THIRD FLOOR--
BUY TWO, GET ONE FREE.
WHAT THE...?
IS THIS...?
I HAVEN'T THOUGH ABOUT THIS PLACE SINCE...
1985?
IT MUST BE AN OLD MEMORY
FROM MY SUBCONSCIOUS.
HAPPENS ALL THE TIME
IN DREAMS.
REALLY?
I TALKED TO GLORIA
ABOUT MY MOTHER EARLIER,
I MUST HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP
THINKING ABOUT HER,
AND HERE WE ARE.
ALL RIGHT, THEN,
LET'S SEE HOW THIS
GRABS YOU, THEN.
MOM?
MOM!
SHE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
YOU'RE A SPECTATOR
THIS TIME.
[TALKING SOFTLY]
IS THAT...
ME?
WELL, IT'S NOT ELVIS.
SHE WAS A HARD
WORKER, WASN'T SHE?
SHE ALWAYS USED TO SAY,
"WORK TO LIVE,
DON'T LIVE TO WORK,"
BUT SHE NEVER HAD
A DAY OFF.
EXCUSE ME, MISS HUFFLER?
YOUR SHIFT IS OVER.
YOU CAN PUNCH OUT NOW.
OH, IS IT TIME ALREADY?
HERE'S YOUR FINAL CHECK,
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
UM, SIR? EXCUSE ME...
DO YOU REMEMBER
LAST WEEK
WHEN I ASKED ABOU ANY FULL-TIME POSITIONS
OPENING UP?
I'M SORRY, BUT THE JOB
WAS TEMPORARY.
WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, BUT IT'S JUST,
I REALLY LOVE
WORKING HERE,
AND I'LL WORK
IN ANY DEPARTMENT.
I'M SORRY.
COME ON, HONEY.
LET'S GO.
DON'T WANT TO BE LATE.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
SHE PICKED UP SHIFTS
WAITING TABLES
AT A DINER.
HOW DOES THA MAKE YOU FEEL?
[DISDAINFULLY]
HOW DOES THAT MAKE ME FEEL?
ANNOYED.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST A SILLY,
SAPPY, IRRELEVANT DREAM,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THIS WHOLE THING
IS INSANE.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY
I'M STILL TALKING TO YOU.
WE'RE NOT DONE YET, CAROL.
YEAH, WELL, I AM,
SO YOU CAN DO
WHATEVER THE HECK YOU WANT,
BUT I'M OUT OF HERE.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
ABOUT 15 YEARS.
OKAY, I'LL GIVE YOU THIS,
THIS IS THE REALEST DREAM
THAT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED.
HOW MANY TIMES
DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU,
THIS IS NOT--
OH, NEVER MIND, I GIVE UP.
WAIT A SECOND.
IS THIS...
JIM'S BOOKSTORE?
HEY, IT'S YOUR DREAM.
YOU TELL ME.
I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOU THIS PLACE IN YEARS.
WHY AM I THINKING ABOUT THIS?
YOU USED TO LOVE
COMING HERE.
IS THAT ME?
I LOOKED GOOD.
THIS PLACE WAS
YOUR SANCTUARY.
I MEAN, WHEN WAS
THE LAST TIME
THAT YOU GOT LOS IN A REALLY GOOD BOOK?
YOU KNOW, I GOT TO
HAND IT TO MYSELF,
EVEN IN MY DREAMS,
YOU'RE STILL
THE SAME OLD EVE.
OH, WHAT'S THA SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
IT WAS ALWAYS ABOU "GETTING LOST"
IN THE PAGES OF GREAT NOVELS,
OR GOING
ON LITERARY ADVENTURES.
YOU WERE ALWAYS
SUCH A SENTIMENTALIST.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO, CAROL.
WE PROVIDE THE WORLD
WITH THESE GREAT STORIES.
THAT IS WHAT PUBLISHING
IS ABOUT.
NO, IT'S NOT, EVE.
IT'S ABOUT MONEY.
THAT'S WHA YOU NEVER GOT.
IT'S ABOU MOVING PRODUCT,
AND THAT'S HOW I TURNED
YOUR QUAINT LITTLE SHOP
INTO
THE GLOBAL PUBLISHING EMPIRE
THAT YOU SEE TODAY.
BIGGER DOESN'T ALWAYS
MEAN BETTER.
REALLY?
GIVE ME ONE EXAMPLE
WHERE THAT'S THE CASE.
JUST ONE?
UH, TUMORS,
HOLES IN THE ROOF,
BUDGETS, COCKROACHES--
OKAY, FINE.
YOU LACKED VISION, EVE.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
I CREATED A FAMILY
AND PEOPLE WHO CARED
ABOUT EACH OTHER
AND THE COMPANY THEY WORKED FOR.
THAT'S VISION.
YOU NEVER COMPETED.
YOU NEVER PUSHED THEM
TO BECOME ANYTHING MORE
THAN THEIR AVERAGE SELVES.
WE WERE HAPPY!
HAPPY? HOW CAN YOU BE HAPPY
WHEN YOUR COMPANY'S
ON THE BRINK OF FAILURE?
WE HAD INTEGRITY.
FINE, YOU DIED
WITH INTEGRITY.
AND A MOUNTAIN OF DEB THAT I'VE TURNED INTO
A MOUNTAIN OF PROFIT.
BEST THING
YOU EVER DID, EVE...
WAS HIRE ME.
[SCOFFS]
I KEEP HOPING.
SO WE'RE JUS GOING TO SIT HERE
AND WATCH ME READ
ALL DAY?
IF THIS IS YOUR SHOW,
HOW ABOUT SHOWING ME SOMETHING?
THIS WAS THE FIRST DAY
YOU CAME HERE.
SO WHAT?
YOU DON'T REMEMBER
WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY?
NO...
WHAT COULD BE SO IMPORTAN OTHER THAN...
PICKING UP A GOOD BOOK OR...
[ENTRY BELL JINGLES]
HEY, MAN.
IT'S THE FIRST DAY I MET BEN.
HEY.
LISTEN, YEAH,
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HOW'S IT GOING?
YEAH, I PICKED UP THIS
OLD COLLECTION OF TWAIN
PROFESSOR AT DePAUL.
WOW.
YEAH, IT'S ALL
BOXED UP IN THE BACK
IF YOU WAN TO TAKE A LOOK.
- OKAY, YEAH.
- YEAH? WICKED.
- OKAY. THANKS, JIM.
- CHEERS.
WOW...
IS HE EVER CUTE.
HE'S AVERAGE.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHA YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HE WAS MY BOYFRIEND.
YES. YES, HE SURE WAS.
HE'S THE ONLY PERSON
YOU EVER LOVED.
HE TAUGHT YOU
THE MEANING OF THE WORD.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
HE TAUGHT ME
THAT IT WAS JUST A WORD.
YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?
HI.
HI.
YOU SEE THAT?
NOW, THAT'S MAGIC.
MAGIC?
IT'S A CRUSH.
A CHEMICAL REACTION
IN THE BRAIN.
THE PERFECT STORM
OF LUST, YOUTH,
AND INEXPERIENCE
COMING
CRASHING TOGETHER.
WHAT DO YOU WAN FROM ME, I'M HUMAN.
REALLY?
'CAUSE I WAS STARTING
TO WONDER.
GOOD BOOK.
OH.
IT CHANGED MY LIFE, ACTUALLY.
UM... ME TOO.
REALLY?
BUT I HAVEN' READ IT IN YEARS.
WELL...
WHO ELSE DO YOU LIKE READING,
IF YOU DON'T MIND MY ASKING?
UH...
HUGO, DICKENS,
DOSTOYEVSKI...
[TOGETHER]: TOLSTOY.
[BOTH LAUGH]
AM I THAT OBVIOUS?
NO, NO.
NO, I JUST, UH...
WELL, YOU JUST LISTED
ALL OF THE GREATEST WRITERS
EVER.
HEY, IF YOU LIKE THOSE GUYS,
HAVE YOU READ THIS?
GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ,
"ONE HUNDRED YEARS
OF SOLITUDE?"
NO.
IT'S...
I MEAN, TALK ABOUT ROMANTIC.
IT'S MYSTICAL,
KIND OF A HISTORY OF...
A HISTORY OF...
LIFE?
I DON'T KNOW--
[SHUDDERS IN DISGUST] UGH.
SERIOUSLY?
"A HISTORY OF LIFE?"
THAT'S THE CORNIEST THING
I'VE EVER HEARD.
DO YOU SEE THIS, HUH?
I MEAN, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU HAD THAT LOOK IN YOUR EYES?
THE LOOK OF A NAIVE GIRL?
IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
AND WHAT ABOUT HIM, HUH?
CHECK OUT HOW MUCH LIFE
HE HAS INSIDE HIMSELF.
HE'S TRULY INSPIRED!
IS THAT WHAT YOU SEE?
BECAUSE
I SEE A DREAMER
WHO WILL NEVER BE
WILLIAM FAULKNER.
THIS IS A BOY WHO BELIEVES
IN WHAT HE LOVES.
AND THAT'S A GIRL
WHO LOVES
WHO SHE BELIEVES IN.
[SCOFFS]
SORRY.
NOT BUYIN' IT.
AGAIN?
COULD YOU WARN ME
NEXT TIME
YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT?
NO.
WAIT A MINUTE.
I KNOW THIS PLACE.
THIS WAS...
OUR FIRST APARTMENT,
AND IT HAS
A HUNDRED STAIRS.
WELL, YOU WANTED PRE-WAR,
AND THAT MEANS
NO ELEVATOR.
I MEANT WORLD WAR II,
NOT CIVIL WAR.
SERIOUSLY?
THERE WAS NOTHING
ON THE GROUND FLOOR?
NOPE.
BESIDES, THEN WE
WOULDN'T HAVE OUR VIEW.
WELL...
WELCOME HOME.
SAME TO YOU.
WHAT'S THAT?
REMEMBER?
I DON'T KNOW,
MAYBE THE LAST TENANTS
LEFT IT BEHIND.
[CHUCKLING]
WHAT IS THIS?
DID YOU, UM...
WHAT DID YOU DO?
IT'S A HOUSEWARMING GIFT.
WOW...
REMIND ME, IS THA HOW YOU SPELL "CRUSH"?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOW NOTHING THAT'S STOPPING YOU
FROM WRITING THAT NOVEL.
[]
[LAUGHS]
LOOK HOW GENEROUS
YOU WERE.
AND WHEN YOU GAVE BEN A GIF THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE,
YOU ENCOURAGED HIM
TO PURSUE HIS DREAM.
OH, RIGHT.
THE GLORIOUS DREAM
OF BECOMING A POOR,
UNRECOGNIZED GENIUS.
HEY, LOOK, HE WANTED
TO BE A WRITER.
YOU CAN'T FAULT HIM FOR THAT.
I FAULT HIM
FOR NOT BEING REALISTIC.
WE WERE BUILDING
A LIFE TOGETHER,
AND HE WOULD'VE BEEN CONTEN LIVING LIKE A PAUPER
IN SOME BOHEMIAN FANTASY.
IT'S HARDLY A FANTASY
TO BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAM.
WITHOUT MONEY,
THERE'S NO POINT TO DREAMING,
IS THERE?
HEY, WHEN DID YOU LOSE
YOUR SOUL,
CAROL?
GOODBYE, EVE.
WHERE ARE YOU
GOING?
AWAY FROM YOU.
AND THIS TIME,
DON'T FOLLOW ME.
OKAY, I WON'T.
LOOK WHO'S HERE.
[SLAMS DOOR]
WHAT HAPPENED,
FORGET YOUR KEYS?
WOW,
HAVE I MISSED YOU.
YOU KNOW WHAT? STOP IT!
I HAVE HAD--
YOU KNOW,
THERE'S ONE CONSTAN IN EVERY GOOD STORY.
THERE'S A BEGINNING
AND A MIDDLE
AND AN END.
ALL I'M SAYING IS
THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM
AT SPRINGWOOD
FOR MORE PROFITABLE BOOKS.
WE CAN STILL HAVE
GREAT LITERATURE
AND SELL MORE COMMERCIAL BOOKS
THAT HAVE A BROADER APPEAL.
WE CAN MAKE THE COMPANY
MORE COMPETITIVE
INSTEAD OF SITTING
ON THE SIDELINES.
AND WHAT DOES EVE SAY?
THE SAME THING
SHE ALWAYS SAYS,
IT'LL RUIN
OUR REPUTATION,
AND WE'LL LOSE THE AUTHORS
WE ALREADY HAVE.
- WELL, SHE'S GOT A POINT.
- YEAH, WELL, SO DO I.
AND I'M GOING TO
TAKE THAT POIN TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NEXT WEEK,
WITH OR WITHOUT HER SUPPORT.
WHAT?
WELL, I MEAN...
EVE'S DONE
SO MUCH FOR YOU,
AND SO NOW YOU'RE JUS GOING TO PUSH HER ASIDE?
SPRINGWOOD CAN BARELY
KEEP ITS DOORS OPEN
BECAUSE EVE'S GO HER HEAD IN THE CLOUDS.
THE COMPANY NEEDS
A NEW DIRECTION,
AND I HAVE A PLAN.
WOW.
IT'S BUSINESS, BEN.
YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.
REALLY?
YEAH, SERIOUSLY,
YOU SIT THERE IN JUDGMENT,
BUT IT'S NOT LIKE
YOU'RE THAT...
WHAT?
NOTHING.
NO, SERIOUSLY, I WANT TO KNOW.
WHAT?
[SIGHS]
IT'S NOT LIKE
YOU'RE THAT AMBITIOUS,
BEN.
WRITING A NOVEL
ISN'T AMBITIOUS?
NO.
WRITING A NOVEL ISN'T.
GETTING ON
THE BEST-SELLER LIST IS.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK
I SHOULD BE DOING?
I THINK ALL AUTHORS
SHOULD BE DOING THAT.
OTHERWISE YOU'RE JUS WALLOWING IN MEDIOCRITY.
SO, IN YOUR MIND,
RECOGNITION IS WHAT DEFINES
A GOOD WRITER?
NO, SUCCESS
DEFINES A GOOD WRITER.
IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR LIGHTS ON,
YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB.
YOU KNOW, I...
I KNOW THAT YOU HAD A ROUGH TIME
AS A KID, CAROL--
YOUR MOM WORKING
ALL THE TIME
AND STILL NOT BEING ABLE
TO SCRAPE TWO NICKELS TOGETHER.
YOU DON'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT IT--
NO, LISTEN.
BUT YOU MADE A CHOICE,
TO NEVER HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT MONEY.
I UNDERSTAND.
I MADE THE SAME CHOICE,
BUT THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN US IS
THAT I DON'T NEED MONEY
TO FEEL SECURE.
I DON'T NEED MONEY
TO FEEL... HAPPY.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN US.
YOU'VE CHANGED.
IT'S CALLED GROWING UP, BEN.
CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT,
BUT I MISS WHO YOU WERE.
I MISS THE GIRL
WHO USED TO LOVE
READING BOOKS,
WHO DIDN'T CARE SO MUCH
ABOUT PROMOTIONS
AND BOTTOM LINES.
I MISS THE GIRL
WHO GAVE ME
THAT TYPEWRITER.
I'M STARTING TO REGRE THAT I EVER DID.
GOODBYE, CAROL.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT.
WHAT?
ABOUT REGRETTING
GIVING HIM THE REMINGTON.
REALLY?
WELL, THE TRUTH IS,
IF I'D NEVER GIVEN HIM
THE TYPEWRITER,
WE MIGHT STILL BE TOGETHER,
AND MAYBE
I MIGHT NOT HAVE BECOME
THE WOMAN THAT I AM TODAY.
OH, YOU MEAN THE LONELY WOMAN
WITH NO FRIENDS
AND A HOCKEY PUCK FOR A HEART?
GOODBYE, EVE.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
TO DO WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE
A LONG TIME AGO.
END THIS.
OH, COME ON.
DO WE REALLY HAVE TO
GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN, CAROL?
YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T JUS WALK AWAY.
I'M NOT WALKING THIS TIME, EVE.
CAN'T DIE IN A DREAM, SO...
SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.
CAROL!
IT'S BEEN...
WELL, IT'S BEEN.
WAIT!
[SCREAMS, CRASHES]
[CAT MEOWS, CAN ROLLS]
IT WAS A DREAM.
[]
EVE MAILER.
NOW, THERE
WAS A CLASSY LADY.
HEAR! HEAR!
TWO WEEKS OFF
FOR THE HOLIDAYS...
A NICE LITTLE BONUS
IN OUR STOCKING EVERY YEAR.
AND SHE HAD
IMPECCABLE TASTE.
MM, IT'S TRUE.
SHE COULD PICK A BEST-SELLER
OUT OF THE SLUSH PILE.
NO, I WAS TALKING
ABOUT HER WARDROBE.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN EYE
FOR THAT SORT OF THING.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
CAROL HUFFLER
IS GOING TO BE OUR BOSS FOREVER.
NO, NOT IF WE ORGANIZE
AND STAND UP TO
THAT STALIN IN STILETTOS.
PLEASE STOP WITH
THE REBELLION TALK, FRED.
I'M TRYING
TO ENJOY MY DRINK.
LOOK,
WE WORK WITH THE AUTHORS,
NEGOTIATE THE DEALS,
EDIT THE BOOKS,
GET THEM ON THE SHELVES,
AND THEN WHO GETS
ALL THE CREDIT?
[TOGETHER] CAROL.
EXACTLY.
I MEAN, WHAT'S SO SPECIAL
ABOUT HER?
WHY DO WE EVEN NEED HER?
TO SIGN OUR PAYCHECKS.
WELL, WHAT IF WE SIGNED
OUR OWN PAYCHECKS?
FORGERY IS
A FELONY, FRED.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FORGERY!
I'M TALKING ABOU STARTING OUR OWN COMPANY.
DO YOU NEED
TO LIE DOWN?
LOOK, THE AUTHORS HAVE
A RELATIONSHIP WITH US,
NOT THE COMPANY.
THEY DON'T LIKE CAROL
ANY MORE THAN WE DO,
SO WHY DON'T WE JUS CALL THEM UP AND ASK,
AND THEN WE CAN BE THE
MASTERS OF OUR OWN FATE.
AND RUIN CAROL
IN THE PROCESS.
HMM.
WHAT WOULD WE CALL IT?
REVOLUTION PUBLISHING.
VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
NOW WHAT?
WE SHOUT IT FROM
THE MOUNTAIN TOPS.
LET'S JUS MAKE SOME CALLS.
THAT WORKS.
OKAY, COOL.
HEY, J.K.
HI, ANGELINA?
[SIGHING IN RELIEF]
HELLO!
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
OH, COME ON, NOW,
DON'T FREAK OUT, PLEASE--
DON'T FREAK OUT?
ARE YOU KIDDING?
I'M BEING HAUNTED
BY MY DEAD EX-BOSS,
AND YOU'RE TELLING ME
NOT TO FREAK OUT?
YES, BUT THE THING IS--
PLEASE!
I CAN'T DO THIS.
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.
OH, COME ON,
THE NIGHT IS STILL YOUNG.
WAIT A SECOND.
I KNOW THIS STORY.
YES? YOU DO?
YEAH...
IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE,
AND YOU'VE COME
TO WARN ME
THAT I AM SQUANDERING
MY LIFE.
OH, WHAT'S IT CALLED, UM...
MIRACLE ON 34th STREET?
NO.
IT'S A
WONDERFUL LIFE?
NO!
NOT STAR WARS?
NO.
"A CHRISTMAS CAROL"
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
OH, WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT,
EXCEPT IN THIS CASE,
"CAROL'S CHRISTMAS."
YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?
I FLIPPED IT.
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT.
PEOPLE LIKE ME
HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE
TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE YOU
FOR GENERATIONS.
CHUCK WAS JUST THE FIRST GUY
TO WRITE ABOUT IT.
DID YOU JUST SAY CHUCK?
AS IN DICKENS?
INCREDIBLY SWEET GUY,
OBVIOUSLY AWESOME WRITER.
BUT HE JUST-- HE HAD A TENDENCY
TO EMBELLISH A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW, LIKE,
THREE GHOSTS INSTEAD OF ONE,
AND THEN TURKEY,
INSTEAD OF JUS A SLAB OF MUTTON.
YOU KNOW,
LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT,
BUT THEY DO ADD UP.
OKAY, WELL, FINE,
BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I ALWAYS SAW SCROOGE
AS THE VICTIM IN THAT STORY.
MM-HMM.
HE WAS JUST A MODEST,
RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSMAN
WHO WAS BULLIED INTO BECOMING
A SENTIMENTAL SPENDTHRIFT.
WELL, TAKE HEART, CAROL,
BECAUSE YOU'RE HEADED
FOR A LONELY EXISTENCE
AND AN ETERNITY OF REGRE IF YOU DON'T CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES.
LET'S GO.
WHOA, AREN'T WE
A LITTLE EAGER BEAVER NOW.
WELL, SINCE I'M BEING FORCED
TO TAKE YOUR LITTLE
MAGIC CARPET RIDE WITH YOU,
I MIGHT AS WELL
GET IT OVER WITH.
SO...
LET'S NOT WASTE
ANY MORE TIME, SHALL WE?
WHAT YEAR ARE WE HEADED TO?
THIS ONE.
JUST SECONDS AWAY.
[CAROL SCREAMS]
[SCREAM ECHOES]
[SCREAMING]
OOF!
[GRUNTING]
ARE YOU HAVING FUN?
A TOTAL BLAST.
SWEET OF YOU TO ASK, THOUGH.
WHERE ARE WE?
HERE, FOLLOW ME.
I GOT SOMETHING
TO SHOW YOU.
OH, GOSH.
WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS?
WHERE ARE WE?
HAVEN'T YOU EVER BEEN
TO TANYA'S HOUSE?
I DIDN'T KNOW
TANYA HAD KIDS.
THEY'RE PRECIOUS, NO?
"PRECIOUS,"
FROM THE LATIN "PRETIOSUS"
MEANING "EXPENSIVE."
IT'S ALSO THE LATIN ROO FOR "PRICE,"
AS IN "PRICELESS."
OF COURSE
YOU'RE SHOWING ME THIS.
KEEP WATCHING.
[CHILD]: WHAT ARE THOSE FOR?
WELL, SANTA'S REINDEER
NEED A SNACK, TOO, RIGHT?
CAN YOU READ THAT?
"DEAR SANTA, MAKE IT GOOD."
[GASPS IN SHOCK]
KIDDING!
[TANYA AND KIDS LAUGH]
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
YOU NEVER KNOW WHA TIME SANTA'S COMING,
SO IT'S TIME
FOR BED.
OKAY?
GIVE ME A HUG.
I LOVE YOU GUYS.
OKAY, OFF YOU GO.
SO WHERE'S DADDY?
DIED IN A CAR ACCIDEN TWO YEARS AGO.
SHE'S ALONE NOW.
HOW WAS I
SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT?
EVERYONE
IN THE OFFICE KNEW,
BUT DON'T WORRY.
KENDRA COVERED FOR YOU.
SHE SENT FLOWERS.
WHAT'S SHE DOING?
SHE HAS TO RETURN
THEIR PRESENTS
TO SAVE MONEY.
LOOK, SHE SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER
THAN TO PITCH ME A NEW BOOK.
SHE WAS JUST TRYING
TO DO HER JOB.
THAT'S NOT HER JOB!
SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN HAPPY
WITH THE ONE
SHE ALREADY HAD,
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
WHO WORKS FOR ME.
WHOA, WAIT, BACK IT UP.
BACK IT UP.
YOU THINK THAT EVERYONE
THAT WORKS FOR YOU IS HAPPY?
WHY WOULDN'T THEY BE?
[LAUGHS]
I-- WAIT.
I JUST--
I HAVE TO CAPTURE THIS LOOK
OF TOTAL CLUELESSNESS.
HANG ON A SECOND HERE.
ALL RIGHT, SAY CHEESE.
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
[MUSIC AND LAUGHTER]
WHAT? WHAT'S THIS?
[ALL CHEERING] YES!
WAY TO GO, GIRLS!
SEE?
THEY'RE HAVING FUN.
THEY'RE GETTING THERE.
[CELL PHONES RINGING]
SHH, SHH, SHH!
THIS IS FRED.
UH-HUH.
THE ENTIRE STAFF OF
THE CHICAGO GUARDIAN, IN!
[CHEERING IN TRIUMPH]
OH YES!
- ANOTHER ONE SCORED!
- ANOTHER ROUND!
IN? IN FOR WHAT?
THEY'RE PLANNING A LITTLE
CHRISTMAS SURPRISE.
YOU KNOW, I NEVER
THOUGHT I'D SAY THIS,
BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
THE LOOK ON CAROL'S FACE
WHEN SHE COMES IN
TOMORROW.
I HOPE
SHE GETS A WRINKLE.
YES.
RIGHT WHERE
EVERYONE CAN SEE IT!
RIGHT HERE.
VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHEN I TOLD THE PRINCESS
WE WERE STARTING
OUR OWN PUBLISHING COMPANY,
SHE SAID,
"DO ME A FAVOR
AND STICK I TO CAROL FOR ME."
[LAUGHING]
THEIR OWN PUBLISHING COMPANY?
NO, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE?
OH, SO FUNNY.
IS THIS A COUP?
I MEAN, I WON' STAND FOR THIS.
STAND FOR IT?
YOU'D BETTER MAKE SURE
YOU CAN SURVIVE IT FIRST.
I WANT YOU
TO TAKE ME HOME RIGHT NOW.
AH, CAN'T DO IT.
I DEMAND IT!
OH, YOU DEMAND IT.
STILL, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
HEADS UP!
[CORK POPS, CAROL SHRIEKS]
THANKS FOR COMING WITH ME.
ALWAYS.
[SIGHING]
OKAY, SO WHERE
ARE WE NOW?
OH, WE'RE TRYING TO SEE
IF ANYONE'S
STILL LEFT IN YOUR CORNER.
I WONDER WHY CAROL
DISAPPEARED FROM THE PARTY.
SERIOUSLY?
WE'RE HAVING
A PERFECTLY NICE TIME,
AND YOU HAVE TO BRING UP
THE MOTHER OF SATAN.
SHE'S JUST--
I'M WORRIED ABOUT HER,
THAT'S ALL.
WHY?
IT'S NOT LIKE
SHE CARES ABOUT YOU.
WHAT MAKES YOU SAY THAT?
UH, WELL, LET'S SEE.
UM, SHE TREATS YOU
LIKE DIRT,
SHE DIDN'T GIVE YOU
THE TRANSFER,
AND, WORST OF ALL,
SHE'S MET THE MAN YOU LOVE
MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES
AND SHE CAN' REMEMBER MY NAME!
SHE'S NO THAT BAD, ZAC.
SHE'S JUS LOOKING OUT FOR ME.
LOOKING OUT FOR YOU?
YEAH.
[SIGHS IN DISBELIEF]
LOOK, KENDRA,
I'M THE ONE WHO'S
LOOKING OUT FOR YOU, OKAY?
I JUST THINK THA YOU SHOULD QUIT YOUR JOB
AND COME TO LONDON.
AND DO WHAT?
WRITE.
YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO,
AND NOW IS
THE PERFECT TIME.
I DIDN'T KNOW KENDRA
WANTED TO BE A WRITER.
THERE'S A LO YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT KENDRA,
INCLUDING HOW MUCH INFLUENCE
YOU HAVE OVER HER.
[KENDRA]:
ZAC, DON'T YOU SEE
THAT I'M IN THE SAME PLACE
CAROL WAS
WHEN SHE WAS MY AGE?
[ZAC]: BUT CAROL
NEVER WANTED TO BE
SOMETHING ELSE, KENDRA.
IT'S DIFFERENT.
WELL...
THINGS CHANGE, ZAC.
I HAVE A FUTURE
AT THE COMPANY NOW.
FINE.
WHAT ABOUT OUR FUTURE?
I DON'T KNOW.
AMAZING HOW HISTORY
REPEATS ITSELF.
YEAH, BUT THE BIG
DIFFERENCE IS,
UNLIKE YOU,
I DON'T PLAN ON GETTING HI BY A BUS ANYTIME SOON.
I DIDN'T PLAN
ON GETTING HIT BY A BUS.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR KENDRA'S DECISION,
OR ANYONE ELSE'S,
FOR THAT MATTER.
YOU KNOW,
LIFE IS ABOUT CHOICES,
AND KENDRA'S
GOING TO RUIN HER LIFE,
IRONICALLY ENOUGH,
WAITING AROUND
TO BECOME YOU.
WELL, THEN, KENDRA
SHOULD CHOOSE TO DO
WHATEVER IT IS
THAT SHE WANTS.
OR YOU COULD CHOOSE
TO GIVE HER THE TRANSFER
AND LET HER BE WITH ZAC!
WHY SHOULD I?
OH, GOD, LET'S SEE.
OH, BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN
INCREDIBLY LOYAL TO YOU.
TO MAKE HER HAPPY.
OH, HAPPY. HAPPY!
HAPPY. WHY?
WHY SHOULD I TRY?
I TRIED TO MAKE BEN HAPPY,
AND LOOK
WHERE IT GOT ME.
WHY SHOULD I BOTHER
MAKING ANYONE HAPPY?
LET ME SHOW YOU.
I'M...
I'M SCARED.
[BIG THUMP]
I CAN'T SEE--
HANG ON, HANG ON,
I GOT IT.
WHERE ARE WE?
- OW! THAT'S MY FOOT!
- SORRY, SORRY.
SORRY, SORRY
ABOUT THE CLOSET.
I WAS NEVER
THAT GOOD OF A DRIVER.
ARE WE BACK
IN THE PAST?
NO, IT'S STILL YOUR ROOM,
JUST THE WAY
YOU LEFT IT.
SHE... SHE HASN'T CHANGED
A THING.
YOUR MOM LIKED IT THIS WAY.
WAIT.
CHECK THIS OUT.
SHE REMEMBERED HOW IMPORTAN IT WAS TO YOU.
SHE KEPT THEM ALL.
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER
WHEN YOU FIRST CAME IN
FOR YOUR INTERVIEW,
AND YOU WENT ON AND ON AND ON
ABOUT ALL THESE BOOKS
THAT YOU LOVED.
WELL...
HERE THEY ALL ARE.
I HAD NO IDEA
SHE STILL HAD THEM.
THEY'RE SORT OF
PIECES OF YOU, RIGHT?
[DISHES CLATTERING]
[MOM]: GLORIA, YOU CAN
AT LEAST LET ME HELP.
[GLORIA]: NO. YOU JUST STOP
ARGUING WITH ME.
YOU KNOW, I CAN MANAGE
ALL THIS STUFF ON MY OWN.
WELL, MAYBE YOU CAN,
BUT MAYBE I CAN'T.
[CHUCKLING]
THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE,
HASN'T IT?
NOW, I'VE GO EVERYTHING WE NEED
FOR DINNER
TOMORROW NIGHT.
GLORIA, IT'S
CHRISTMAS TOMORROW.
YOU'VE GOT TO GO HOME
AND BE WITH YOUR FAMILY.
HUSH, NOW.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
THEY'RE ALL OUT OF TOWN,
AND BESIDES...
YOU ARE FAMILY.
I REALLY MISS HER, GLORIA.
I KNOW YOU DO, DEAR.
I JUST WISH SHE WOULD
DROP BY TOMORROW, THAT'S ALL.
I KNOW.
BUT I UNDERSTAND.
SHE IS SO VERY BUSY.
SHE HAS SO MANY
BIG THINGS GOING ON
AND PEOPLE TO SEE, AND...
I JUST MISS HER.
[CRYING SOFTLY]
OOH,
I ALMOST FORGOT!
THIS CAME FOR YOU TODAY
WHILE YOU WERE OUT.
WHAT?
FROM...
IS IT FROM CAROL?
I'M SO SORRY
I FORGOT.
KENDRA.
AGAIN.
YOU SEE A PATTERN
EMERGING AT ALL?
SHE'S ALWAYS
LOOKING OUT FOR YOU.
OH...
OH, THAT'S...
OH...
I REMEMBER THAT CHRISTMAS.
YOU TWO LOOK SO HAPPY TOGETHER.
YEAH. YEAH.
YOU MISS HER,
DON'T YOU?
OF COURSE I DO.
THEN WHY DON'T YOU
GO SEE HER MORE OFTEN?
IT'S JUST BECAUSE--
IT COULDN'T BE
BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE HER,
IT REMINDS YOU
OF THE TOUGH TIMES
YOU HAD
WHEN YOU WERE A KID?
LOOK, I JUST--
I'M A BUSY WOMAN,
AND I...
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE TIME
FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE.
WAIT A SECOND,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY
THAT I DON'T LOVE
MY OWN MOTHER?
OF COURSE NOT--
BECAUSE I PAY FOR THIS HOUSE,
FOR THE GROCERY BILLS,
FOR GLORIA'S SALARY.
- EVERYTHING!
- YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT YOU ALSO
HAVE TO GIVE HER TIME.
TIME IS EXPENSIVE.
ACTUALLY, NO,
TIME DOESN'T HAVE A PRICE.
YOU CAN'T BUY IT,
AND ONCE IT'S GONE,
IT'S GONE FOR GOOD.
OH, HERE WE GO,
THE REQUISITE LECTURE
ABOUT HOW TIME
SLIPS THROUGH YOUR FINGERS.
EVERY MOMEN I DON'T SPEND WORKING
IS MONEY LOST.
REMEMBER
WHAT YOUR MOTHER SAID?
"DON'T LIVE TO WORK.
YOU WORK TO LIVE."
ALL SHE EVER DID WAS WORK!
YEAH, BUT SHE DIDN' HAVE A CHOICE.
YOU DO.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
GIVE THAT BACK.
THAT'S MY BOOK!
WAIT.
YOU DID IT AGAIN.
WHERE ARE WE?
WE ARE A SUSAN JOHNSON'S HOUSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS.
[PLAYFUL GROWLING,
THUMPING]
GUESS WHO
CAN'T SHAKE ME.
TOP ROPE! [GRUNTING]
I GOT YOU!
BEN?
WAIT. HE'S MARRIED
WITH KIDS?
HE IS NOT MARRIED,
YOU IDIOT.
WELL, THEN,
EXPLAIN THIS.
OH, YEAH?
LAY OFF YOUR UNCLE, BOYS,
HE'S AN OLD MAN NOW.
AW, NOT THE CHICKEN WING!
GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH
AND GET IN BED.
AW, FIVE MORE MINUTES.
NO. NOW, PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
HEY, WHERE'S MY HUG?
GOOD NIGHT.
- GOOD NIGHT, UNCLE BEN.
- GOOD NIGHT.
I'LL BE UP IN A MINUTE
TO TUCK YOU IN.
- GOOD NIGHT!
- GOOD NIGHT.
PHEW!
[SHE CHUCKLES]
FINE.
OR IT'S HIS SISTER.
LET'S MOVE ON.
THEY LOVE
HAVING YOU AROUND.
SO DOES BILL.
HE GETS TO WAKE UP WITHOU BLACK AND BLUE MARKS
ALL OVER HIS BODY.
THEY'RE GOOD KIDS.
I ENVY YOU GUYS.
I MEAN, WHAT GOOD IS CHRISTMAS
WITHOUT KIDS, HUH?
WELL, TRADE IN
THE BACHELOR LIFESTYLE
AND HAVE SOME, THEN.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE AN AUNT.
GOT TO FIND THE GIRL FIRST.
AND YOU GOT TO GET OVER
THE OLD ONE
BEFORE YOU CAN
DO THAT.
COME ON, BEN.
I'M THE BIG SISTER.
I KNOW EVERYTHING.
OF COURSE YOU DO.
I SAW HOW NERVOUS YOU WERE
EARLIER TONIGH BEFORE THE PARTY, OKAY?
JUST THE THOUGHT OF SEEING CAROL
HAD YOU ALL WORKED UP.
OH, COME ON.
YOU CAN'T LIE
TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
REALLY?
WELL, THEN, TELL ME THIS.
DID YOU SEE HER?
OKAY, YOU WANT TO KNOW?
FINE.
YES, I SAW HER,
AND IT DIDN'T GO SO GREAT.
I MEAN, WE SAID HELLO,
AND BEFORE I KNEW IT,
WE WERE FIGHTING AGAIN.
RIGHT BACK WHERE WE LEFT OFF.
WAIT, YOU GUYS DON' SEE EACH OTHER
FOR WHAT, 10 YEARS,
AND THE FIRST THING YOU DO
IS HAVE AN ARGUMENT?
WHY?
WHY? BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
LOOK, YOU KNOW,
IT'S...
IT'S FINE, OKAY?
SERIOUSLY.
IT JUST PROVES THA I WAS RIGHT TO WALK AWAY
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
DON'T.
YOU STILL CARE
ABOUT HER.
- HANG ON--
- BEN...
DON'T GET ME WRONG.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET HURT,
BUT THE FACT IS
YOU GUYS WERE JUST KIDS
WHEN YOU BROKE UP,
AND YOU DIDN'T TRY THAT HARD
TO STAY TOGETHER.
AND IF YOU'RE STILL FIGHTING
AFTER ALL THIS TIME,
THERE'S FEELINGS THERE,
AND IF YOU'RE STILL
IN LOVE WITH HER,
YOU'VE GO TO TELL HER.
NO.
THE WOMAN I SAW
TONIGH IS NOT THE WOMAN
I FELL IN LOVE WITH,
NOT ANYMORE.
SEE, NOW,
I DID NOT KNOW
THAT HE WAS GOING
TO SAY THAT,
AND I'M NOT SURE
THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY
HOW HE REALLY FEELS.
CAROL?
[ANGRILY]
WHY WOULD YOU SHOW ME THAT?
WHERE DID YOU GO?
OH, IS THAT IT?
IS THAT WHA I'M SUPPOSED TO LEARN?
HMM?
YOU SHOW ME THAT I'M NOT ALONE,
TELL ME I DON'T CARE
ABOUT MY MOTHER,
AND THEN YOU SHOW ME THA BEN DOESN'T LOVE ME ANYMORE.
SHOW YOURSELF, YOU COWARD.
ANSWER ME.
PLEASE.
[LETS OUT A SHAKY BREATH]
OKAY,
WHAT'S IN STORE, EVE MAILER?
LET'S SEE HERE.
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST,
THAT'S OVER.
THEN WE'VE GO A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
A TON OF FUN.
SO, WHAT'S NEXT?
OKAY, HERE WE GO...
AH, CHRISTMAS FUTURE.
"IN THE ORIGINAL DICKENS STORY
AND SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS,
"THE APPARITION
APPEARS TO THE PROTAGONIS "AS THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS
"OR THE GRIM REAPER,
"MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS...
DEATH"?
[STAIR CREAKS, CAROL GASPS]
EVE?
WERE YOU SCARED?
TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH.
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT NEED
SOME TIME TO COOL OFF.
IT WAS BETTER IN REHEARSALS,
BUT YOU GET THE GENERAL IDEA.
SO, THE FUTURE?
LISTEN, I DON'T WANT TO RUIN I OR ANYTHING, BUT...
I KNOW I DIE IN THE END.
REALLY?
YEAH, EVERYONE DOES.
YOU CAN'T REALLY
GET AROUND THAT ONE, CAN YOU?
YOU MIGHT JUS FIND YOURSELF SURPRISED.
THIS DOESN'T LOOK
VERY FUTURISTIC.
OH, YOU'RE COMING UP ON 40
PRETTY QUICK, LITTLE LADY.
THIS IS BASICALLY
NEXT WEEK FOR YOU.
I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT.
WHERE ARE WE?
IT'S CHRISTMAS MORNING,
AND THIS IS YOUR FAMILY.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
THESE ARE ALL MINE?
YEAH, YOU AND BEN
HAD THREE KIDS, AND...
ONE, TWO,
THREE GRANDKIDS SO FAR.
[SON]: YOU'RE
SPOILING THEM AGAIN.
WE'RE THE GRANDPARENTS.
IT'S IN OUR
JOB DESCRIPTION.
HOLD ON.
SO...
THIS IS MY FAMILY,
AND THAT...
THAT'S ME?
AND THAT'S BEN.
PRETTY BEAUTIFUL
VISION OF THE FUTURE, NO?
OH, MY GOD...
I THINK YOUR PRESEN IS THEIR FAVORITE ONE.
SWEET, ISN'T IT?
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[BOTH CAROLS TOGETHER]:
NOT TOO SHABBY.
YEAH, NO TOO SHABBY AT ALL.
[TEARING PAPER]
OKAY, SO WHY THREE KIDS?
I MEAN, DO I LIVE
ON A FARM NOW, OR WHAT?
GRANDMA, LOOK!
LOOK AT THIS.
WHERE DID YOU GET THIS, EMMA?
SANTA BROUGHT ME
THE DOLL I WANTED!
SANTA BROUGHT THIS TO YOU?
AS IN SANTA CLAUS
WHO DELIVERS PRESENTS
TO ALL THE LITTLE GIRLS AND BOYS
WHO WERE GOOD LAST YEAR?
THEN YOU MUST HAVE BEEN
A VERY GOOD GIRL.
DOES SHE HAVE
A NAME?
I LIKE "KATIE."
SO DO I, SWEETHEART.
AWW.
SHOW YOUR MOMMY.
WHAT HAVE YOU
GOT THERE?
HEY, CAN I
TELL YOU SOMETHING?
THANK YOU.
FOR WHAT?
FOR GIVING ME
ANOTHER SHOT.
AND WITHOUT MISTLETOE, FOLKS!
SO THAT'S IT?
A HAPPY ENDING?
WELL, YOU WERE RIGHT,
BECAUSE I AM SURPRISED.
OH, THIS,
THIS ISN'T YOUR FUTURE.
YOU'RE TEASING ME?
THIS IS JUST ONE
OF MANY POSSIBLE FUTURES.
THIS IS BASICALLY
WHAT'S BEHIND DOOR NUMBER ONE.
AND I'M GUESSING
WHAT'S BEHIND DOOR NUMBER TWO
ISN'T GOING TO BE
SUCH A PARTY.
OH, NOT AT ALL.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[RAIN PATTERING]
WHAT NOW?
TURN AROUND.
THIS WAY.
UGH.
NO DATE?
WELL, I'D TELL YOU,
BUT THEN I'D
HAVE TO KILL YOU.
HEY, IT'S JUST ANOTHER DOOR.
WELL, LIKE I SAID,
EVERYONE DIES.
TRUE,
BUT EVERYONE DOESN'T NECESSARILY
DIE ALONE.
IT'S ALREADY OVER?
NO ONE CAME?
OH, SOMEONE DID.
SHE JUST GOT HERE LATE.
HOW ABOUT THAT...
I DIDN'T GET YOU FLOWERS
BECAUSE I KNOW
YOU HATE THEM, SO...
SHE'S THE NEW PRESIDEN AND, IN HONOR
OF YOUR MEMORY,
SHE DEEMED TODAY
A WORK DAY.
SHE THOUGHT YOU'D APPROVE.
I WOULD HAVE.
BUT I THINK YOU KNOW
THAT NO ONE
WOULD HAVE COME ANYWAY.
SHE LOOKS
DIFFERENT.
SHE LOOKS...
SAD?
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
THIS IS KENDRA.
NO, NOW WORKS. I'M JUS WALKING OUT OF A MEETING.
TELL ME...
THEN DUMP HIM.
HE'S COSTING US MONEY
AND WE NEED TO
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.
I'M IN CHARGE,
AND IT'S MY CALL.
A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK,
HUH?
SO THE COMPANY SURVIVED?
THERE WAS NO REVOLT?
OH, NO, THERE WAS A REVOLT,
AND PEOPLE HAD A TOUGH TIME
FOR A WHILE, BUT...
I WON.
YEAH, YOU FIRED
EVERYONE BUT KENDRA,
AND YOU ESTABLISHED
YOUR REPUTATION
AS A WOMAN TO BE FEARED.
AND IN THE END...
I'M ALONE.
IS THERE
A DOOR NUMBER THREE?
THAT'S ENTIRELY
UP TO YOU.
EVE?
EVE, WAIT.
EVE!
I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
I WANT TO CHANGE!
PLEASE.
HELP ME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW
TO DO IT!
[]
FOR THE "SORRIES"
OH, THE "SORRIES" OF YOUR SOUL
THEY ARE YOUR WORRIES
ARE YOUR WORRIES
OF MY HOUSEHOLD
I HEAR THE WIND A-HOWLING
AT MY SWINGING DOOR
BUT AT YOUR HOUSE
THE WEATHER'S PLEASANT
NOTHING MORE
I AM BEHIND
I AM BEHIND
NEVER MIND
I WILL NOT PINE
FOR I AM MINE...
HI. I--
I DON'T NEED A NUMBER.
COULD YOU TELL ME
WHAT DAY IT IS?
WELL, THEN,
MERRY CHRISTMAS, GOOD SIR!
OH, SORRY.
HAPPY HANUKKAH.
YOU DECIDED
YOU WOULD EDUCATE ME
WHILE CONVERSING
OVER A NICE SPOT OF TEA
I AM BEHIND
I AM BEHIND
WELL, NEVER MIND
I WILL NOT PINE
FOR I AM MINE...
NICE ONE, EVE.
[LAUGHS]
THAT'S FUNNY.
I AM BEHIND
NEVER MIND
I WILL NOT PINE
FOR I AM MINE
I AM BEHIND
I AM BEHIND
NEVER MIND
I WILL NOT PINE
FOR I AM MINE
HI.
IT'S GRACE, RIGHT?
HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME?
UH... I, UM...
I'M YOUR MOMMY'S BOSS AT WORK.
WE WORK TOGETHER.
ARE YOU THE LADY
WHO FIRED HER?
UM, WELL, I, UM--
[KNOCKING INSISTENTLY]
[KNOCKING]
[GASPS IN SHOCK]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
MERRY CHRISTMAS, TANYA.
OH!
THESE ARE FOR
YOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN,
AND THERE'S A LITTLE SOMETHING
IN THERE FOR YOU, TOO.
[KNOCKING PERSISTENTLY]
IT'S CHRISTMAS MORNING.
IS NOTHING SACRED?
I READ BEN'S MANUSCRIPT,
AND YOU WERE RIGHT.
IT'S...
IT'S AMAZING.
I CAME HERE TO TELL YOU THAT,
AND ALSO TO TELL YOU THAT...
I'M SORRY.
ARE YOU DRUNK?
YOU HAVE
EVERY REASON, TANYA,
TO BE ANGRY WITH ME,
BUT I AM SERIOUS
ABOUT THIS BOOK.
I WANT TO
PUBLISH IT IMMEDIATELY,
AND DO YOU WAN TO KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE
IT DESERVES TO BE READ.
SO? PUBLISH IT.
WHAT DO I CARE?
BECAUSE I WAS WRONG,
AND I WANT TO TRY
AND MAKE AMENDS.
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
I WANT YOU
TO COME BACK TO WORK.
[SCOFFING]
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
OKAY, LISTEN TO ME.
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING,
AND I FELT LIKE A NEW WOMAN,
LIKE THIS BURDEN
HAD BEEN LIFTED
OFF OF MY SHOULDERS,
AND YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY?
NEW MATTRESS?
BECAUSE I WILL NEVER, EVER,
HAVE TO WORK FOR YOU AGAIN.
WAIT, WAIT!
JUST...
GET OFF MY DOOR.
NO, WILL YOU--
I WILL CALL THE COPS!
JUST LISTEN TO ME!
FINE.
YOU'VE GOT 10 SECONDS.
ALL RIGHT, OKAY, 10 SECONDS.
NINE, EIGHT...
OKAY, OKAY!
[DEEP BREATH] HERE I GO.
TANYA, I WANT YOU TO BE
THE EDITOR FOR THIS BOOK,
AND I WANT YOU TO HELP ME
REBUILD SPRINGWOOD
INTO THE COMPANY
THAT EVE LEFT BEHIND.
I NEED YOU TO MAKE US BETTER.
I WANT A RAISE.
NO PROBLEM.
AND TWO WEEKS' VACATION.
YOU GOT IT.
AND FULL BENEFITS
FOR THE WHOLE OFFICE.
WOW.
OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, UM...
WE HAVE A REALLY BIG
OVERHEAD ALREADY, AND--
OH, HEY! WAIT.
DUT, DUT, DUT...
LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
IS IT A DEAL?
[GIGGLES IN DISBELIEF]
[]
LADIES, LET'S DO THIS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, GUYS.
KENDRA.
EVERYTHING OKAY?
NEVER BETTER.
WE SHOULD TELL HER.
SHE'LL FIND OU SOON ENOUGH.
TELL ME WHAT?
UH, WE'RE FORMING
A NEW--
WENDY!
SHE SHOULD KNOW.
SHE'S ONE OF US.
OKAY,
WHAT'S GOING ON, GUYS?
WE'RE REVOLTING.
WAIT, THAT DIDN' SOUND RIGHT.
UH, WE'RE REBELLING.
AGAINST?
UH, CAROL?
WE'RE FORMING A NEW COMPANY,
AND TAKING ALL OF
SPRINGWOOD'S BUSINESS WITH US.
EXCUSE ME?
THE ONLY QUESTION
YOU NEED TO ASK, KENDRA--
ARE YOU WITH US
OR AGAINST US?
UH, HOLD ON
A SEC, GUYS--
TIME FOR TALK'S OVER, KENDRA!
TIME FOR ACTION!
BUT--
VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
[OTHER TWO CHANT]:
VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
CAROL HUFFLER,
YOUR ERA OF TYRANNY IS...
SHE'S NOT HERE.
WEIRD.
[SIGH]
HUH?
WHAT...?
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE.
OH, MY GOODNESS, IS HE OKAY?
OH, YEAH, HE'S FINE.
IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
HE'LL JUST BE A MINUTE.
WAKE UP.
OKAY, COME ON.
WAKE UP.
HEY, SWEETIE.
I DON'T WANNA GO TO SCHOOL.
WAKE UP!
NOW, I KNOW
YOU'RE ALL
A LITTLE CONFUSED,
SO I'M GOING TO CU RIGHT TO THE CHASE,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO KEEP YOU
ANY LONGER THAN NECESSARY.
YOU'RE FREAKING US OUT.
BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU
THE CAROL HUFFLER
THAT YOU'VE COME TO KNOW...
AND HATE...
IS A THING OF THE PAST.
I'M TURNING OVER
A NEW LEAF.
I'M GOING TO BE
A BETTER PERSON.
I REALIZE THAT I'M GOING TO
HAVE TO EARN YOUR TRUST,
BUT I'M HOPING THA THIS CAN BE THE FIRST STEP.
PASS THE REST OF
THESE OUT. THANK YOU.
WHAT'S THIS?
SOMETHING THAT'S LONG OVERDUE.
IT'S A BONUS!
NOPE,
IT'S PROFIT SHARING,
BECAUSE FROM
THIS POINT ON,
YOU'RE ALL
BOARD MEMBERS.
IT'S A NEW DAY.
EVE MAILER FOUNDED THIS COMPANY
ON ONE SIMPLE CONCEPT,
THE LOVE OF GOOD BOOKS.
AND YOU ALL
ENTERED PUBLISHING
FOR THE SAME REASON.
SO IT'S TIME
THAT WE GO BACK TO OUR ROOTS.
SPRINGWOOD, FROM NOW ON,
WILL NOT ONLY PUBLISH
BOOKS THAT SELL,
BUT BOOKS THAT SHOULD BE READ.
[ALL SIGHING IN DELIGHT]
I PRESEN THE FOLLOWING MOTION
TO THE BOARD.
TWO WEEKS OF CHRISTMAS VACATION,
PAID,
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY "AYE."
[EVERYONE]: AYE!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
WE WON, FRED.
WE WON!
[EMPLOYEES WHISPERING]
AND I PRESEN ANOTHER MOTION.
THAT CAROL HUFFLER
REMAIN THE PRESIDEN OF SPRINGWOOD
PUBLISHING.
AYE!
[CLEARING THROAT OFFICIALLY]
ALL IN FAVOR?
AYE!
[EVERYONE]: AYE.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
WE DID IT!
I PROMISE
I WON'T LET YOU DOWN.
NOW, THERE'S A TON OF FOOD,
EGG NOG,
COME ON IN AND JOIN.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
[CHUCKLING AND CHATTING]
A LO OF GOOD FOOD.
STILL A LITTLE HYPOGLYCEMIC...
- MERRY CHRISTMAS.
- THANKS.
OH, LOOK AT ALL THIS FOOD.
[]
[SIGHING]
IF YOU'RE ON MEDICATIONS,
YOU NEED TO KEEP TAKING THEM
BECAUSE IF YOU SNAP OUT OF THIS
AND BREAK THEIR HEARTS,
THAT WOULD JUST BE CRUEL.
KENDRA, I'VE NEVER
FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE,
AND DON'T WORRY,
I'M NOT GOING TO
DISAPPOINT THEM.
THIS IS GOING TO
WORK OUT FOR EVERYONE,
SO YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHAT?
I'M LETTING YOU GO.
WAIT, YOU'RE FIRING ME?
NO, NOT FIRED.
OFFICIALLY,
A ONE-YEAR SABBATICAL,
PAID.
I WANT YOU TO GO TO EUROPE
AND START WRITING.
WHAT?
WAIT, HOW DID YOU--
IT'S NOT IMPORTANT HOW I KNOW.
WHAT'S IMPORTAN IS THAT YOU DO IT.
I THOUGHT I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO
PLAN MY LIFE AROUND A MAN.
YOU'RE PLANNING A LIFE
WITH YOUR MAN.
IT'S DIFFERENT.
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH FOR ME,
KENDRA, OVER THE YEARS--
IT'S MY JOB.
NO, GETTING MY MOTHER
A CHRISTMAS PRESEN BECAUSE YOU KNEW I'D FORGET,
THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR EVERYTHING.
I JUST-- I WANT TO MAKE SURE
YOU DON'T WIND UP
ANYTHING LIKE ME,
BECAUSE I'D NEVER BE ABLE
TO FORGIVE MYSELF.
I'M SO SORRY.
IT'S OKAY.
IT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME...
WAIT. WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
[SIGHS]
TO SEE IF I CAN FIX
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IN MY LIFE.
[LETS OUT A BREATH]
IT WAS SO NICE OF THEM
TO HAVE US OVER.
YES, IT WAS.
WHAT?
WHAT IS ALL THIS?
ARE WE
IN THE RIGHT HOUSE?
HI, MOM.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
HI, SWEETHEART.
I'M SO SORRY, MOM.
IT'S OKAY.
IT'S FINE.
YOU'RE HOME NOW.
AND GLORIA,
I'M SORRY I WAS SO AWFUL
BEFORE.
REALLY?
WHICH TIME?
[ALL CHUCKLING]
YOU'RE A PART OF THIS FAMILY,
AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING
SUCH GOOD CARE OF MY MOTHER.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
NOW, YOU TWO
GET CAUGHT UP.
I'M GONNA GE MY KITCHEN HUMMING.
THE DECORATIONS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
I'M GLAD YOU KEPT THEM ALL.
WELL, I ALWAYS HOPED
I'D GIVE THEM TO YOU ONE DAY.
WOULD YOU... LIKE SOME TEA?
I'D LOVE THAT.
I LOVED YOUR PRESENT.
YEAH, ABOUT THAT--
NO, NO, I LOVED IT.
MOM, I KNOW HOW HARD
YOU HAD TO WORK
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
HONEY, IT MUST HAVE BEEN
HARD FOR YOU, TOO,
BEING DRAGGED AROUND
FROM JOB TO JOB.
BUT YOU ALWAYS MADE SURE
I HAD A GREAT BOOK TO READ.
NOW, WITHOUT MY BOOKS,
I WOULDN'T HAVE
MY WONDERFUL LIFE.
I OFTEN WONDER
WHAT YOU MUST HAVE THOUGH ABOUT ME BACK THEN.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
A DEVOTED MOTHER
WHO LOVED ME VERY MUCH.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I DIDN'T.
AND IF I'VE NEVER
SAID IT BEFORE,
THANK YOU.
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN
AROUND MUCH LATELY.
THAT'S OKAY, HONEY.
YOU'VE BEEN BUSY.
WORK TO LIVE, MOM,
NOT LIVE TO WORK.
THOSE WERE YOUR WORDS.
WISE WORDS.
FROM A WISE WOMAN.
I...
I HAD THE STRANGEST DREAM
ABOUT YOU LAST NIGHT.
YOU DID?
YEAH.
IT-- IT WAS YOU,
BUT YOU WERE OLDER.
YOU WERE ABOUT MY AGE.
IT WAS CHRISTMAS, AND...
YOU HAD YOUR FAMILY
ALL AROUND YOU.
ADORING CHILDREN
LOOKING UP.
THERE WAS A MAN.
HE WAS...
IT WAS BEN.
DO YOU REMEMBER BEN?
THAT BOY
YOU USED TO DATE?
HE WAS SO CUTE.
YOU TWO SEEMED SO HAPPY.
WE WERE.
AND THEN...
HE LEANED OVER
AND WHISPERED SOMETHING
IN YOUR EAR,
AND...
WHAT WAS IT HE SAID?
IT WAS, UH...
[]
HE THANKED ME FOR GIVING HIM
ANOTHER CHANCE.
RIGHT.
WELL, THEN, MAYBE YOU SHOULD.
I THINK IT'S TOO LATE, MOM.
NO, HONEY.
IT'S NEVER TO LATE.
MEN NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY WAN UNTIL YOU TELL THEM.
[CHUCKLES]
[]
[SIGHS UNEASILY]
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BE BACK.
WISH ME LUCK.
OKAY.
I LOVE YOU, MOM.
I LOVE YOU TOO.
WHERE'D CAROL GO?
UM...
TO GET HER MAN.
[RINGS DOORBELL]
[SIGHS NERVOUSLY]
HI, SUSAN,
IT... IT'S ME, CAROL HUFFLER.
YEAH.
I REMEMBER YOU.
UM... WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
WELL, I...
THOUGHT BEN WAS HERE.
HE'S NOT.
OH.
HE LEF THIS MORNING.
REALLY?
I-- I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT--
HE ALWAYS
SPENDS CHRISTMAS ALONE.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
WELL, HE DIDN'T ALWAYS DO IT.
HE...
STARTED WHEN YOU GUYS...
WELL, YOU KNOW.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE HE WENT?
HE MIGHT BE GONE THROUGH
TO THE NEW YEAR OR LONGER.
I COULDN'T SAY.
WELL...
THANKS.
IS THAT...?
YEAH.
HE, UM...
HE LEFT IT BEHIND.
SAID HE DIDN' WANT IT ANYMORE, AND...
HE TOLD ME TO SELL IT.
MAY I?
OH, SURE.
CAN I GET YOU
ANYTHING?
NO.
THANKS. I'M FINE.
LISTEN,
I KNOW YOU AND BEN HAVE HAD
YOUR PROBLEMS IN THE PAST,
BUT IF I HEAR FROM HIM,
SHALL I TELL HIM
YOU DROPPED BY?
NO, IT'S OKAY.
HE'S BETTER OFF NOT KNOWING.
I'LL JUST LET MYSELF OUT,
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.
TAKE YOUR TIME.
THANKS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
CAROL? UH...
I THOUGHT YOU LEFT.
WELL, I DID, BUT I, UH...
I CAME BACK.
WHAT FOR?
SOME THINGS YOU CAN'T JUS WALK AWAY FROM.
BEN, I...
I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING--
- WAIT, UH, CAROL--
- LET ME TALK.
LISTEN TO ME.
I... YOU WERE RIGHT.
I DID CHANGE.
I...
TURNED INTO SOMEONE
THAT I'M NOT PROUD OF,
AND I DON' WANT TO BE HER ANYMORE.
[SIGHING] LISTEN--
NO, I NEED TO BE
A BETTER PERSON, BEN.
DON'T YOU SEE THAT?
AND I'M ASKING YOU
TO HELP ME GET THERE.
I KNOW WHO I WAS
AND WHERE I CAME FROM,
AND NOW I KNOW
WHERE I WANT TO GO.
OH, CAROL...
BUT I CAN' DO IT ALONE
ANYMORE, BEN.
WE'RE NOT MEANT TO BE ALONE.
I KNOW THAT NOW.
I PUSHED YOU AWAY
WHEN YOU NEEDED ME THE MOST,
AND FOR THAT, I'M SO SORRY.
I KNOW NOW
SHARING LIFE IS WHA MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING,
AND I WANT TO SHARE
MY LIFE WITH YOU.
[LETS OUT A BREATH]
I, UH, I THOUGHT YOU SAID
YOU COULDN'T WALK AWAY.
WELL, I MEAN FROM THE TYPEWRITER.
WHAT?
YEAH.
IN THAT CONDITION,
IT'S WAY TOO VALUABLE
JUST TO SELL IT.
YOU SON-OF-A...
I REALLY,
REALLY LIKED YOUR SPEECH.
[LAUGHING] YOU'RE MEAN.
NO, I LEARNED FROM THE BEST.
I READ YOUR MANUSCRIPT.
YEAH?
WHAT DID YOU THINK?
WELL, I THINK THAT, UM,
YOU NEED A COMPANY THAT CAN TAKE
REALLY GOOD CARE OF YOU.
YOU THINK
I NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF?
WE ALL DO.
[]
AT THIS SPECIAL TIME
OF YEAR
I'M SO VERY GLAD
YOU'RE HERE
MERRY CHRISTMAS
MERRY CHRISTMAS
A FIELD OF FRESHLY
FALLEN SNOW
AND WE'VE GO NOWHERE ELSE TO GO
MERRY CHRISTMAS
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU...
THE BEST CHRISTMAS
IN A VERY LONG TIME.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
AND SONGS SUNG BY A CHOIR
IT'S SNOWING
AND IT'S BLOWING
SO LET'S STAY HERE
BY THE FIRE
MISTLETOE AND A FESTIVE TREE
THERE'S NO PLACE
THAT I'D RATHER BE
MERRY CHRISTMAS
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU...
[]
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY.
MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU