That Christmas (2024) | Transcript

That Christmas (2024)
Genre: Animation, Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Director: Simon Otto
Writers: Richard Curtis, Peter Souter, Rebecca Cobb
Stars: Bill Nighy, Brian Cox, Guz Khan

Synopsis: In the quaint town of Wellington-on-Sea, the worst snowstorm in history derails everyone’s plans for the holiday season, including Santa’s. What follows is an unforgettable Christmas filled with surprises, challenges, and heartwarming moments that bring the townsfolk together in unexpected ways.

* * *

[wind whistling]

[determined music playing]

[grunts]

[thunderclap]

[beeping]

[tinkling]

[man gasps]

[strains]

[grunts]

[faint clanking]

[groans]

Come on, come on.

[thunderclap]

[triumphant music playing]

[magical tinkling]

[reindeer panting]

There! Head for that lighthouse, noble reindeer.

Evening, Sants!

[Santa] Thanks, Bill!

Whoa!

[Santa grunts]

[Santa chuckles]

We made it! The last town in England.

Nearly home.

[gasps] Oh, no. I thought getting here was the hard part, but it turns out we’ve got a town full of problems, and it’s going to take a big man with a big beard to solve them.

Hmm!

[Santa] Yes, that handsome fellow in the red onesie is me, Santa Claus.

And tonight has been a blizzard of bother.

Down to one reindeer and the worst storm in history.

But that wasn’t going to stop me.

Hup!

Christmas in Wellington-on-Sea sure needed a giant sackful of fixing.

[grunts] Ooh!

[moans]

[grunting]

[grunts, moans]

You’re about to hear the tale of one of the most challenging nights of my long career.

Looking back,

I think it all started going wrong with the school Christmas play, December 22nd, 4:00 p.m.

[intriguing music playing]

[horn beeping]

[Santa] Wrap up warm and get ready for That Christmas.

And here are our unfortunate heroes.

[overlapping chatter]

There’s the new kid in town, Danny.

Trying hard not to be seen.

Well, except by the love of his life, Anxious Sam.

Oh. Have you seen my sister? She’s supposed to play Joseph.

Uh… no.

And finally, our local rebel, Bernadette.

Okay, kids. Time to unleash your brilliance on the world.

A free-spirited force of nature and director of the show.

Perfect. Gorgeous.

Three minutes to curtain. Do not disappoint me.

Oh, Charlie. Where are you?

Don’t worry, Sam, she’ll show up. We’ve got loads of time.

If she doesn’t, you can do her part. Here, start warming up.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

You wrote it. You know the lines and you’re identical twins.

So, from a DNA perspective, you’re basically interchangeable.

No. Wait, Bernadette. In fact, Charlie and I are actually very different.

Year Threes.

Bernie, I…

Two minutes to curtain.

[all] Yes, Ms. Trapper.

Psst. Psst!

[gasps] Danny!

[whispering] Where’s Dad?

[kid] Hey, new boy.

What are you supposed to be?

Yeah, what are you?

I’m a chickpea.

Then why do you look like a big potato?

[camera clicks]

Uh, well…

Thirty seconds to go.

Okay. This is getting a bit serious now.

Has anyone seen Charlie?

Anyone?

[door creaks open]

[sighs] Thanks for joining us, Charlie. Show time.

Let’s light this candle.

Charlie, where have you been?

I decided my character has a beard.

Is that dog’s hair?

Might be.

Trust me, sis, it’s gonna be a triumph.

[nervous laugh]

Samantha. Bernadette.

You’re on. God help us all.

Absolutely love school plays.

Said nobody, ever.

Start the Kissmass play!

[applause, cheering]

Woohoo!

Children in costumes they can barely see out of

and a steep drop, [humorless chuckle] what could possibly go wrong?

Jesus…

Oh, God.

…was a cool dude.

A beard, long hair, into woodwork.

A hipster, basically.

He wouldn’t have wanted us to do the same boring Christmas story year after year, right, parents?

Uh…

Huh?

Exactly.

He’d want a strictly vegetarian, multi-cultural fun fest with lots of pop songs and stuff about climate change, written by our resident genius, Sam.

[whispering] Over to you.

Uh, yes.

[feebly] I thought it might be a good idea to change things…

Oh, uh… [whispering] Great speech, Sam. [louder] Right.

Strap in, shape up and gird those loins for The Three Wise Women! [whoops]

Hit it, Mrs. Beccles.

Off we go, Sam. Yeah!

[playing “Wannabe” by Spice Girls on piano]

[whispering] Harry.

Curtain up.

[audience] Oh!

After a very long journey on foot because obviously we don’t approve of flying,

we’ve at last arrived in Bethlehem.

Finally.

We must find somewhere to stay because my wife Mary is pregnant…

[fabric tears]

Oh no!

[both gasp]

[audience gasps]

[stammers]

Oh…

[sighs]

…with a large watermelon.

Charlie!

Quality improv.

[singing to “Happy Birthday” by Stevie Wonder]

♪ Happy birthday, Jesus Happy birthday, Jesus ♪

♪ Happy birthday Happy birthday, Jesus ♪

There, follow that star!

[cackling]

Whoo! Whoa! Yeouch!

[yelps]

[snoring]

We used to be shepherds but now we’re organic vegetable farmers.

We’ve come to see Jesus with our flock of broccoli, sweetcorn, aubergines…

Hi, Mum.

…and a chickpea.

And a chickpea!

[gasps] Chickpea.

[gasps]

[scattered applause]

…who looks a bit like a potato.

[kids giggling]

♪ Papa don’t preach I’ve been losing sleep ♪

♪ But I’ve made up my mind I’m keeping my baby ♪

Oh dear.

♪ She’s going to keep her baby. ♪

Oh, no… [cries out]

Oh!

[horrified gasping]

[star] Oops.

[delighted giggle]

[chuckles]

[applause]

[Charlie] Nice one, Teddy.

Silence!

Change quietly then join your parents.

[all] Yes, Ms. Trapper.

Tomorrow, sanity will return and we will celebrate term’s end with quadruple algebra and a lice inspection.

[kids groaning]

[gasps] Huh.

Now, move!

[chorus of kids] Bye!

[overlapping chatter]

Well done, new kid. Nice potato.

Uh… I…

Bye, Teddy.

Oh, never mind.

Move up, move up.

Hey guys, did you like the show?

I absolutely loved it.

Sweet. All of it?

Well…

I wasn’t completely sure about all the story changes, Bernie.

Oh.

Yeah, and some of the dialogue was a bit… modern.

That was the whole point. What about the jokes?

I don’t think Jesus and jokes go together, dear.

So, let’s get this clear.

You liked everything except the story, dialogue and the jokes?

That only leaves the title.

Oh, yes. Hated the title.

Ugh.

Clearly the Christmas revolution is going to have to wait, Evie.

Oh. Steady on, Basil.

Come on, keep up, tortoises.

Charlie was so late. I’ve never been more terrified.

Yes, you have. You’re frightened of everything.

Am not.

Climate change, bee extinction, bees full stop. Thursdays.

Me doing something naughty and getting caught.

Me doing something naughty and not getting caught.

Clowns. Safety pins. Unsafe pins.

[deep breath] Did I miss anything?

Infinity. There’s just so much of it.

I rest my case!

[Charlie whoops]

Watch out, there’s a big…

[all] Charlie!

[Santa] It’s a very lovely town, Wellington.

One of my favorites in all of England.

A seaside world of bicycles, bumpy bridges, bad driving…

Into the hairpin…

…sparkly streets

and a boatload of wonderful Christmas traditions

organized by my old pal,

Lighthouse Bill.

Looking good, chaps!

Everyone very keen on Christmas…

Evening, McNutts!

…and I mean everyone.

[Mr. McNutt laughs]

[Mrs. McNutt] Ah, at last.

Okay, neighbors, abandon chariot.

I’m never setting foot in this wretched sardine can again.

Shh, Harry.

Thanks, Driver McNutt.

My pleasure, kids.

Last school run tomorrow

then after my delightful sister’s wedding,

the Barn Family Christmas bonanza begins.

Best Christmas ever!

[kids] See you tomorrow! Bye!

Same Christmas, always.

Hi, Mum.

Mum?

[Mum] Hi Danny, fab chickpea acting!

Sorry I had to leave.

How’d it go?

Well, it would have been better if Dad had turned up.

And if the most beautiful and cleverest girl on Earth

hadn’t totally ignored me.

It was a disaster.

[Mum] Ah, that’s nice.

My shift ends at midnight. Dinner’s in the oven…

Overcooked brown slop. You’re welcome!

Thanks, Mum.

[Mum] Love you, little slug.

And one day she will too.

[gentle music playing]

Last one to the top is a rotten egg.

Charlie, be careful.

[Charlie] I’m not racing.

I just want to be in bed by nine.

You can’t catch me! Boo!

I win again.

Is there nothing I’m not good at?

Yes.

Being good.

[Charlie groans]

Don’t you think you should tidy those things up before Santa comes?

Oh, found it.

Wow.

Those are new.

Yep.

Just dropping a hint for Santa.

I like those shiny guitars too.

In fact, it’s top of my wish list.

Those are not “shiny guitars”.

They are Single Cone National Resonators.

And there you go.

“Santa, gimme or else…”

Or else what?

Or else I’ll catch him in a sack and I’ll shave off his beard.

You can’t blackmail Santa, Charlie.

Oh, don’t stress, Samski.

The fat present dispenser gets me.

[gasps] Oh, look.

It really is snowing now.

[gasps]

Wow, so pretty.

Yeah. Pretty big fun in store.

[sighs] With you, Charlie, big fun always means big trouble.

[gasps] Oh, no.

What?

Don’t tell me that was Buddy’s hair in your beard?

Come on! You’re all wet and cold.

Maybe.

Seriously. If you do one more naughty thing,

Santa won’t leave you any presents at all

and then it’ll be the worst Christmas ever.

[Santa] Right. So you get the picture.

Christmas was knocking on Wellington’s front door.

And everything was about to get a lot more complicated.

Blimey.

[Santa] Snow can be a very mixed blessing.

Wow.

Snow day?

[notification dings]

School’s closed!

Yeah!

Death to Trapper’s terrible test! Ow!

Nice.

Ugh. Not happening.

Morning, darling.

Don’t say it.

Absolutely love snow day!

And you said it.

Snow day!

Let the snowball fight-ageddon begin.

Yay!

Holy-flipping-moly!

[notifications chiming]

[adult] What am I gonna do?

[kid] Snow day!

[excited chatter]

[kids cheering] Snow day!

[beeping]

[buzzing]

[drowsy groaning]

[flinching gasps]

[indistinct chatter on television]

Oh, my gosh, did you…? Wow.

Ooh.

Late, late, late. Good morning! I can’t believe I’m so late!

Good luck at school today, Danno. And don’t you be late!

I won’t.

[yelps, gasps]

Wow. Look at that.

That’s some serious snow.

[ringing]

Thanks for the tea and toast, eh.

You’re welcome. You were late last night. Hot date?

Yes, with a 78-year-old on a bed pan.

Speaking of hot dates,

how’s the Sam Romance Campaign going?

There’s no campaign, Mum. It’s been six months.

I’m still the invisible new boy. Except to Terrifying Ms. Trapper I’m not.

Well, if love was easy

your father wouldn’t have run off with his 25-year-old dental nurse.

Mum. Don’t be like that when he comes back, okay?

I just want a fun Christmas. Like we used to have.

I know, sweetheart. But you know what?

It’s only a matter of time before you sweep Sam off her feet

and blaze off into the sunset on your monster truck.

Plenty of holes in that plan.

Not a big girl sweeper-upper and total lack of truck.

Well, insignificant details.

I’m shy, she’s anxious. It’s hopeless.

Whew.

Everyone, come on out!

Wait for me!

[laughing]

[shutter clicks]

Coming!

[whoops]

Yeouch! [laughs]

[kids laughing and clamoring]

[both giggling]

Look what an angel I am.

[panting]

[snow crunching softly]

[gasps]

Wow. Snow day.

[giggles]

Not so fast, Williams.

Hello, Ms. Trapper.

Hello, Williams.

There’s no one here.

Indeed.

I’d better go then.

Unless you don’t.

Sorry?

I assume you’re here because your mother went to work early

and didn’t receive the message.

So, you are free to catch up on your studies.

Well… Maybe.

Let me remind you of your current scholastic status.

Chemistry, 15th out of 16.

Maths, 16th out of 16.

Want me to continue?

Not really.

Very wise. Inside please, Master Williams.

[kids laughing]

I’m going to get you!

This means war!

Teddy, duck!

Oof.

Oh!

Right in the pie-hole.

Revenge!

Throw me, Bernie!

[chuckles]

Are we at all worried about leaving poor Bernie with all our little monsters

when we go to the wedding tomorrow?

A bit, but… No.

She’s pretty much an adult now and she can be very responsible.

[gasps]

Parent attack!

Sometimes.

Ha!

Mm. I have my doubts.

She will get distracted by Netflix

and let the little ones start fires… [slurps]

Indoors.

Oh.

So, 2x squared minus 5y plus 7y is…

…Henry VIII’s fifth wife who was executed because she…

…mixed acid with alkaline and then…

…defined space-time singularities in her native Sanskrit.

Williams?

[snoring]

Williams!

Were you sleeping, Williams?

Uh, concentrating, Miss.

With your eyes closed?

Well, that’s my most intense kind of concentration.

[Ms. Trapper sighs]

[bell rings]

Take ten minutes outside.

Maybe the extreme cold will cryogenically reanimate your brain.

[intriguing music playing]

Charlie, what are you doing?

Shh… Here she comes. You’re going to love this.

You stupid dog. Just wait until I get you inside.

Now watch.

You’re a stubborn old fusspot. I don’t know why I put up with you.

[figurine chuckling]

[Buddy whines]

Where are my keys?

[figurine continues chuckling]

My feet are freezin’!

[bell jangles]

Ugh… Oh! No!

Well done. Buddy never gets a treat.

Wait for it.

Leave that alone, you wretched dog! Oh!

[muffled] Help, I’ve been murdered!

Yes! Bullseye! Yes, yes!

[laughs]

[woman] Charlotte Beccles!

[gasps]

[soft grunting]

Hmm?

[grunts]

[exhales]

If you had been concentrating on your physics lessons, Williams,

you would know that if an object of greater mass

is placed upon one of less great mass, you get mush.

You need to make the lower snowball larger than the upper one.

Simple Newtonian mechanics.

It was bigger.

But then a bit fell off.

Nonsense.

Do I have to teach you children everything?

Watch and learn.

[gasps]

[Ms. Trapper grunting softly]

And one. [sharp exhale]

Oof.

[grunts]

Two.

[grunts]

Three.

Four.

[giggles]

Five. Six.

Seven.

And that is how you make a snowman.

[soft chuckle] Oh.

Were you paying attention, Williams?

Uhm, yes.

Then make him a wife.

Uh…

[grunts]

[gasps, chuckles]

Not bad.

[gasps]

Oh.

Oh, for goodness sake. Now, time for physics.

Yes, Miss.

Or you could do more practical physics

and build this gentleman and his slightly wonky wife

somewhere to live.

What do you think, Williams?

She just happened to be standing under the wrong tree at the wrong time.

It was a tragic mistake.

Was it a mistake?

Well… quite a lucky tragic mistake.

Charlie. [gasps]

Right. I think that’s quite enough snow day for you two.

Let’s just have an hour of reading, shall we?

[groans]

[flatulence]

Oh!

[fart]

Oh!

[toot]

[exasperated sigh]

I… [sighs]

[muffled giggle]

[clears throat]

♪ He’s making a list He’s checking it twice ♪

♪ He’s gonna find out Who’s naughty or nice ♪

Very subtle, Mum.

♪ Santa Claus is coming ♪

♪ To town ♪

[piano continues]

[gasps]

She is so doomed.

Come on, Evie.

Kids, mince pies on the table!

Bernie, piggy-back.

Oh, mince pies!

Abandon ship!

If only we could run the world,

it would be so much more fun. Don’t you think, Evie?

Yes! Much more fun!

Wait for me guys, wait!

[clang]

Yeouch! Come on!

[grunting softly]

[gentle music playing]

[sighs] Voilà! Simple Newton mechanics.

Well, yes, I-I think that’s satisfactory.

You’ve turned out to be not so much of a dullard as you seem.

[bell rings]

And that is the bell.

Pack up and home, Williams.

Oh. Already. Okay.

That was the most fun I’ve had at school ever!

Can I just ask?

Where did you get so good at snow?

No. You may not. Off you go.

[sighs]

[Santa] Ah, poor Danny.

It’s hard making new friends sometimes, isn’t it?

[distant kid] Wait for me, guys.

I always think that Christmas is a bit like an emotional magnifying glass.

If you feel loved and happy, Christmas will make you feel

even happier and more loved.

But if you feel alone and unloved, the magnifier gets to work

and makes all those bad things bigger and worse.

And the last thing anyone needs is a blizzard making things even trickier.

[snoring softly]

See, I told you the storm would be over by the time we leave.

Look, it’s clearing up.

Tragically.

Right, Bernadette, you’re in charge.

Great. More whooping it up, people.

After you’ve done all the things on the Christmas Eve to do list.

Okay.

So it’s going to be exactly the same as always?

Of course. All the traditions.

Turkey lunch, lovely old Christmas film, lovely Christmas walk.

Absolutely love the tradition of traditional traditions.

[chuckles] Everyone does.

But do they? Completely sure about that?

Well yes, I think we are.

When did you start wanting to change Christmas, Bernie?

When I stopped being six, Mum.

Okay, well, be that as it may, just get the jobs done. That’s your job.

Get the job done, Bernie.

Then wonderful Christmas begins

the moment we’re back.

[whoops]

Oh.

Oh, sorry. I thought… I thought we were all going to whoop.

Oh, no. I never whoop.

[all overlapping] Bye-bye.

Bye, kids!

Bye, Dad!

Have a nice night!

Well, at least we have eight parent-free hours.

Yes! Eight kid-free hours!

Absolutely love kids.

But it’s nice to get away from them sometimes.

Huh?

[Mr. McNutt] Whoa.

Aww.

Nice try, Eve McQueen, my little escape artist.

Bye-bye.

Bye.

Bye again…

Okay, fellow inmates,

the prison sentence starts with a long list.

[groaning]

Yeouch.

[Mr. McNutt] Absolutely love ferries.

It’s like a boat giving a car a piggy back.

You love paperclips.

Oh, yeah, I really love paperclips.

The Rolls Royce of holding things together.

Is it just me or are those very dark clouds on the horizon?

Hmm.

[dramatic chord plays]

[reporter] In breaking news,

if you thought the snow was over, you were wrong.

Here comes The Big Blizzard Two.

The sequel is heading south

and it’s definitely getting worse! [screams]

[Mrs. Beccles] Oh yes, I suppose so. Okay, yes.

I know.

All right, well good luck. And thank you, Angie.

Right, we have a major situation.

What? What is it?

The snow has cut off the town

and the butcher didn’t get his Christmas delivery,

and that means Farmer Yirrell is the only one with fresh turkeys so…

No. Yirrell is the worst. He’s a truly terrible turkey torturer.

And he used to call me names at school.

Nevertheless, we can’t have Christmas without a turkey.

Why not? They deserve to live.

Because without turkeys, it just wouldn’t be Christmas.

[Sam] Can’t we celebrate without a turkey? We can make an aubergine or…

[Mr. Beccles] Charlie! Charlie, my lovely girl.

It’s time to go.

[crowd chattering]

Oh.

Come on. Get a wiggle on.

Oh, shame.

What?

Ho-ho! Well, well, well, here they come.

Here they darn well come.

Time to turn meat into money.

Easy now, there’s turkeys for everyone.

Someone should do something about this hellhole.

They really should.

Just as a matter of interest, Mr. Yirrell, what are you charging?

Oh, you know me, Specky-Beccles. [wicked chuckle]

Only double the normal price.

[both] Double?

For the small ones, yeah.

Triple for the chunkadunks,

on account of the recent fluctuation in market conditions.

[Mr. Beccles] Is that legal?

Thing is, we need the turkey.

Cash payments only. I will be donating…

[whistling]

…all of the profits to myself.

[deep breath]

[gasps]

[Yirrell] Don’t call me that.

Charlie.

[Yirrell] Do you have enough change?

[chuckles]

Come to mama.

[Yirrell] Places, please. No fighting, folks,

or I’ll get out me cattle prod.

[straining]

[Yirrell cackles]

Yes!

[gasps] Oh, no.

Oh, Charlie, what are you doing?

[turkeys gobbling]

[grunting]

Let us view the merchandise, shall we?

[Sam] Mr. Yirrell, uh…

Huh?

I don’t want to delay you, but are those t-turkeys free range?

Well, yes, they’re free to range all around their… cage. Yeah.

And, um… corn fed?

Eh?

Well, no, not all corn fed more… mud fed.

Move. Move you daft blobs. Move.

[frustrated grunt]

Right, no more questions from the irritating child.

Behind this door are proper birds…

Come on. Come on. Come on.

No!

Back off. Back off. Back off.

[frantic gobbling]

Ladies and gentlemen, juicy and jolly, Yirrell’s finest.

It’s turkey time!

Eh? Whoa!

[squawking]

[woman] Ooh, grab one!

[all yelling]

Gotcha! Oof!

[grunts]

[sobs]

Why do bad things always happen to good people?

[mischievous whistling]

Charlie, you’ve ruined Christmas lunch for everyone.

Except the turkeys. I imagine this rather made their day.

Well, yes, nice for the turkeys,

but Santa’s now definitely not coming to you.

And can’t you see that spoils everything for me as well

because… because it spoils it for you.

[Mrs. Williams sighs]

And there we go.

A Christmas custard for when Dad gets here.

Wow. White slop.

Exactly. With extra slop on top.

Now look, love, I really have to run.

I know it’s Christmas Eve but you and your Dad will have so much fun together.

He’ll be here in an hour.

I bet with more presents than Santa. See ya.

Oh. Don’t forget the shopping list.

Huh?

[Mrs. Williams] You could get a little gift for your dad

at the Beccles shop.

Where Sam Beccles lives…

Huh. [chuckles]

It’s getting worse, careful down there.

Don’t bother rolling it up, just get it down.

Whoa!

[rueful sigh] So long, Singalong.

Happy Christmas. Uh…

No. Happy X-mas Eve, Sammo.

Merry Christmas, Sam. [gasps]

[Mr. Beccles] Sam? Come on, love.

Thank you.

Oh. Hi, Danny.

Uh… Yes. Danny… That’s right.

Hi, Sam. Fancy seeing you here. [nervous chuckle]

I live here.

Uh… Yes. Right. Of course.

[softly] I knew that.

[gasps] Um…

Just doing some last minute shopping.

Uh…

Or would be, if you weren’t shutting.

Sorry.

Nobody’s out because of the…

Blizzard?

I was going to say “rapidly evolving climate change disaster.”

Yes. Climat-astrophe. [chuckles]

[chuckles]

Um…

It’s just my dad’s coming, and I was going to buy his favorite thing.

Wine gums.

Oh. I like them too. I-In fact…

Here.

Oh, wow. Great. Thank you.

Orange. His favorite color.

Except green. And yellow…

It needs a bit of a clean. Sorry.

Wine gums are much better without fluff, on the whole.

[giggles] Yeah. Flufflessness. Always good.

[both chuckle shyly]

Would you like to come in and warm up for a minute,

out of the climat-astrophe?

Oh, yes!

No. Best get home.

Oh.

Don’t want to miss the big moment when my dad arrives.

Oh, okay. Exciting.

Bye then, Danny.

Merry Christmas… I hope, for you.

[breathlessly] Goodbye… Sam.

[groans] Why did I say no?

[muffled] I am the feeblest human alive.

Everything okay in there?

Uh. Yes. All good. Thanks.

[knocking]

Oh, Charlie, please.

[giggles]

[wedding guests] ♪ Boom-shaka-laka ♪

[“Boom Shak-a-lak” playing]

[shouting] Can’t we go now?

One last boogie!

You’re right. We’d better get back to the kids.

[all laughing]

[all gasp]

We have to get to that ferry, now.

[wipers squeaking]

It should be here somewhere.

[all crying out]

[creaking]

[relieved panting]

[Mrs. McNutt] Oh, no.

Oh, no!

[Mrs. Mulji] Oh, yes.

Don’t panic.

My app thingy says there’s a bridge to Sherringham

at the other end of the island.

We’ll take the scenic route.

Absolutely love bridges.

They’re like roads that hover.

[intriguing music playing]

[nervous gobble]

[gulp]

[panicked gobbling]

Clever birdies.

And where do you think you’re going, Houdini?

Come on. Lots to do. They’ll be back soon.

[determined music playing]

[Mr. McNutt] Come on. You’ve got this.

If you feel yourself losing traction, steer into the skid.

No, don’t steer off the bridge, we’ll drown!

I can’t look.

Come on, old girl. You can do it.

[Mrs. McNutt] Ooh!

[laughs] What did I tell you?

Plain sailing from here.

Watch out! Look!

[all yelp]

Brace, brace, brace.

Stop, stop, stop.

[grunts]

Ooh!

[Mrs. Forrest] Stop!

[Mrs. McNutt] Okay.

Were those…

…turkeys?

Turkeys?

Well, we appear to be facing the wrong direction.

Nothing a three-point turn can’t fix.

Careful, careful or you’ll go over the…

…edge.

Quick. Reverse.

Oh, it’s not working. Give it some welly.

I’m trying!

[Mrs. McNutt] You can do it!

I’ve got it! Everyone lean back.

Oh, yes. Good idea, Harry. Just a little bit more.

Yes!

Hurray!

[all yelling]

[crash]

No, Teddy. Not over there.

[ringing]

Phone!

[grunts]

[Scarlett] Who is it? Is it Mum?

Hi, Bernadette.

Hi, guys. What’s up?

So, um, there’s been a tiny hiccup,

and it looks like we may not make it back tonight.

You won’t be home for Christmas?

What? They won’t be home for Christmas?

It’s a possibility.

Mum, what happened to your hair?

Uh, yes, it’s nothing.

[blinkers clicking softly]

Uh, so, Bernadette,

you’ll all have to stay together in the barn, okay?

Right, but what about our Christmas stockings?

Save some phone power to call for help.

You’ll have to improvise.

Lock all the doors and stay together.

Nobody goes outside until we’re back. Okay?

Really?

Teddy, lock the door.

Yes, boss.

[sighs] We’ll be fine. I think we’ll be fine…

Just remember to keep an eye on Evie,

and I’m sure we’ll be back by morning.

Or not, if we don’t call the emergency services.

[beeping]

Huh?

But…?

Wait, what?

No parents?

Seriously?

I’m very, very sad now.

[panting] All right, click and release.

Here, let me help.

No, now your arm is on my…

Ow. No. Ooh.

Uh…

Is everyone okay?

Okay?

Gentle, gentle. Aah!

[gasps]

[angrily] Uh, I said “gentle,” Harry.

Oh, it can’t be that bad.

Oh, it’s… it’s… It’s that bad.

Uh, maybe we could walk home?

Only if you want to lose your toes,

your fingers, and other soft bits to certain frostbite.

No. We must stay in the van.

I can’t believe we won’t be there for Santa and the stockings.

Oh, you shouldn’t worry about that.

Shouldn’t I?

No, you should worry about freezing to death out here

and never seeing another Christmas of any kind.

Righto.

[laughs]

That won’t happen. Beyoncé’s engine will keep the heat on.

[engine sputters, dies]

[chuckles feebly]

Ugh,

Oh no.

You secretly named this ridiculous old van after Beyoncé?

No, no. I mean, not that Beyoncé.

Huh?

[electrical hum]

[Mr. Forrest] Right, God hates me. And that’s official.

[phone buzzing]

Dad!

Hi Danny, I’m so sorry, all the roads are blocked.

Oh. There’s so much snow.

Oh, the snow.

Yeah, it’s really bad out there.

Right.

I’ll try to make it there for the New Years.

Yes.

You won’t be too sad, will you?

No.

We’ll make up for it next year, okay? It will be great.

Next year.

I’m sure Santa will…

Yes.

Merry Christmas, kiddo, love you.

Merry Christmas.

[“Under the Tree” by Ed Sheeran playing]

♪ I’m alone this December It’s the last light of the day ♪

♪ Oh, I can’t help but wonder If you feel the same ♪

♪ Oh I guess I’ll surrender To the tears and the pain ♪

♪ And the cold we are under Will remain ♪

♪ You were the hearth light ♪

♪ My fire that died ♪

♪ Waiting for morning sunrise ♪

Oh.

♪ There is nothing under the tree That I wished for ♪

♪ I want you to come back to me ♪

♪ And be like before ♪

♪ Have I lost you? And nothing will ever fill the hole ♪

♪ My heart will be here under the tree… ♪

Do you think Santa will ever find us?

Huh?

[both] Huh?

[hesitating] Of course he will.

Hey, what does pink bird want Father Christmas to bring?

Just Mummy and Daddy.

Oh…

I know, Evie. I know.

[Mrs. McNutt] Night, everyone.

[Mr. McNutt] Night, night.

[Mrs. Forrest] Night.

[Mr. Forrest] Night night.

[Mrs. Mulji] Goodnight.

Whose foot is this, by the way?

[Mr. McNutt] Oh, uh, that’s mine.

Well, please move it.

[Mrs. Forrest yelps] Not to there!

As predicted, the worst Christmas ever.

♪ There is nothing under the tree… ♪

[phone buzzing]

♪ I want you to come back to me… ♪

Ugh, I told you to leave sooner.

I can’t believe Dad.

I’m sure he tried.

At least we have each other. We’ll make a great day of it.

[sighs]

Will Santa even come at all if you’re sleeping in my bed?

Of course he will, darling. Of course he will.

Do you know what?

If I’d been able to choose between Father Christmas and my actual dad,

I’d probably have chosen Dad.

♪ My heart will be here under the tree ♪

♪ Just letting you know ♪

[song ends]

[Santa] Oh, dear. What a mess.

Remember when I said that this Christmas needed a sackful of fixing?

Well, this is where I came in.

[wondrous music playing]

[Santa laughing triumphantly]

[Santa] Hup! Hup!

[panting]

[alert beeping]

[reindeer gasps]

Fly on, Dasher, most noble of reindeer.

[panting] Uh, I don’t know if you’ve noticed,

but there’s a tiny bit of a blizzard going on here.

Nonsense! It’s just a light breeze.

Whoa!

Whoa!

Hey! Can’t we just turn back? We’ve done all the good countries already.

No! We can’t let a teeny bit of blizzard ruin Christmas.

There! Head for that lighthouse!

Okay, I’m going! [echoing]

[both yelling]

Oh, we’re going to die!

[Dasher screams]

Whoa!

[laughing]

Whoa! Thanks, Bill!

Evening, Sants!

[chuckles] Whoa!

Uh… [screams]

Whoa! Elf on the shelf!

[Santa yells]

[slow motion sleigh bells jingling]

[sound speeding up] Whoa!

Whoa! Ah! Whoa!

[panicked yelling]

[Santa laughing]

[Dasher yelps]

Whoa! Ah!

[shudders]

Ha ha! We made it. Nearly home.

[alarms sounding]

[gasps] Oh, no.

I thought getting here was the hard part

but it turns out we’ve got a town full of problems.

[Dasher] You can say that again.

All my mates are down with the red nose flu

and my sparkly hooves are in agony.

Problem number one…

[straining]

…Danny Williams.

[grunts] Here goes.

If you take a tumble, I’m putting you in a home.

Have I ever taken a tumble?

[chuckles]

[yelps]

Um…

Let’s skip past this part, shall we?

[straining] Whoa!

[grunting]

Oh!

[grunts] Ugh.

[chair creaks]

Hmm. “A bit sad and lonely.”

“Makes tea and toastie every morning for his Mum.”

[gasps] But now his dad hasn’t turned up.

Terrible. Terrible.

Something extra special needed here.

Hmm.

[magical tinkling]

[wind whistling]

[grunting]

[thud]

Perfect.

[shivering]

Hey, sweet antlers.

[creak]

Uh, what about you and me go flying together?

I’ll take that as a “no” then.

Problem number two. [grunts]

Five kids all in one barn and no parents. Oh!

Interesting challenge.

Sants, you won’t get all those sacks down the chimney in one go.

I’ve been doing this a long time, my grumpy friend.

Hup! [grunts]

Hup!

Oh!

[growling]

[straining]

[groans]

One word.

One word from you and I will get myself a self-driving sleigh.

[mimics zip]

[grunts] Hup!

Told you.

And that’s two words.

[grunting]

Right. Stockings. Stockings?

[chuckles]

Very imaginative. Hmm.

Super Santa creativity required here.

[humming]

[clatter]

Yes. Very good.

Clever.

[chuckles] Perfect.

Over to you now, mighty Bernadette.

[alarm whooping faintly]

Now, problem number three, the hardest of the lot,

a pair of twins, one’s been very good, but the other is…

The evil twin. There’s always an evil twin.

No, not evil, but she’s definitely been very naughty.

What to do?

Ah, just flip a coin.

We’ve still got Finland, Sweden

and that other one with all the lederhosen to do.

Don’t rush me. This really matters.

Where would we be if everyone was naughty all the time?

[snoring softly]

[creak]

[snorting]

[snoring continues]

[mutters softly]

“Refused to tidy her room.”

“Shaved a dog to make a beard” and… [gasps] good lord,

“Released all of Farmer Yirrell’s turkeys.”

[snoring]

[rapping on window]

Oh, get on with it, boss.

My unmentionables are turning into snowballs out here.

[sighs] Alas, alas, but it must be done.

[Santa] For all the talk of who’s naughty and who’s nice,

it’s actually incredibly rare for me

to follow through with an empty stocking on actual Christmas night.

Oh, dear, that’s a dreadful thing to do.

Right, where to next? Jamaica? Barbados?

No. Iceland.

[shudders]

Hip, hip.

Farewell, Wellington-on-Sea!

[thrumming]

[gentle thudding]

[gasps]

[extended gasp]

I knew it would be okay.

[gasps, giggles]

[jangling]

Yes, yes, yes, yes! [squeals]

Charlie Beccles, rock star supreme.

[gasps]

Oh, no.

He got the wrong twin.

[exhales]

[creak]

Ahh…

[alarm sounding]

Oh, no, what does that mean? Did you forget Finland again?

[gasps] No, it’s wonderful news.

Sorry pal, it’s going to be a long night.

Long night?

It’s already been one endless,

tear off your own antlers and eat them long night.

Well, it’s about to get longer. And marvelous!

[sighs] So where are we going, big man?

Back to Wellington-on-Sea.

The naughty twin turns out not to be naughty after all.

Oh! This is my first Code Red for fifty years!

Code Red? Nice.

Let’s dust off one of these old beauties.

Right, time is tight. [chuckles triumphantly]

Let’s blow a hole in the sky, baby.

All righty then.

I’ve got a little bit more left in the tank. Check this.

Whoa!

I love this job!

[triumphant music playing]

[Sam gasps, squeals]

Oh, my goodness!

Charlie, Charlie! Look.

Santa came. Oh, gosh, look!

Yeah, you got the guitar!

But why aren’t you opening yours?

Well, I wasn’t so lucky. [soft chuckle]

What do you mean?

I guess I was too naughty after all. I should have been less…

Charlie, it’s bursting!

What? [gasps]

[twins screaming]

[both gasp]

Oh, no, Sam’s having a panic attack.

Brace yourself.

[rapid footsteps approaching]

She got a full stocking!

I got a full stocking.

[twins squealing and laughing]

Oh, my gosh. Sam!

[relieved laughter] I was ready to call an ambulance.

Look at this one! [gasps]

What is happening? Chocolate!

Oh, yes.

This is amazing!

Oh!

[laughs]

No way. Drumsticks!

Oh, there’s something left in Charlie’s.

Is there?

I thought I felt something.

Um… uh…

I don’t think so.

Mum, it’s just what I’ve always wanted.

Oh, yes, isn’t it?

[Santa] Officially nice.

You did find something.

No. I-It was nothing.

Oh, okay.

Mum, listen to what I learnt at school.

Thank you.

[Santa] You’re very welcome.

[Mrs. Beccles laughs] Good old Santa.

[strumming guitar]

Merry Christmas, little slug.

[smooches]

[groans]

[sleepy grunt]

[gasps, delighted laugh] Yes!

[gasps]

[Santa] Look outside.

[gasps]

Flipping heck.

[grunts] Huh?

Mummy? Daddy?

Oh, no, they’re not back.

Gosh.

Gosh.

[thud]

Oof! Oh, gosh.

Christmas is ruined.

Or it’s not.

Look in your stockings. Santa came.

What?

Really?

And he’s left some very interesting things.

A blaster gun? Weird.

A power washer? Double weird.

A karaoke machine?

Hmm…

Whippedy cream!

Bit weird.

[Eve] What’s that?

[Scarlett] I don’t get it.

[Teddy] Well, duh.

Everyone, it’s Christmas morning and our parents are nowhere to be seen,

which could be a problem, true, but it seems to me

Santa’s gifts are asking a very intriguing question.

Do we always love everything about the Christmas arrangements?

Hmm…

Um…

Christmas lunch with all the trimmings?

Ugh.

[all] Sprouts.

[gags]

Nope.

Washing up after lunch?

Finished.

[parent] Uh…

[frustrated growl]

Nuh-uh.

How about the big walk?

[laughter]

[slurring] I don’t seem to be able to walk straight.

No!

Yes!

I mean, no.

And then the lovely old Christmas film.

[“Silent Night” playing]

[inaudible]

I hate the lovely old Christmas film.

Exactly as I thought. Do we think we could do a lot better?

Definitely.

Um, yes.

Right, so, big moment, kids. Big moment.

One of those moments that defines who we are.

Do we have a vision for the future

that is better and brighter and always more fun?

[all] Yes!

Children of Wellington-on-Sea, get ready.

It’s time

for our Christmas!

[cheering]

Yes!

[Santa] This is why I love my job. Quite proud of that one.

Whoa!

Mum! Mum.

Mum?

[shushes]

Oh, come on, Jan.

Danny’s dad has just let him down

and I can’t miss Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Yes, I kn…

I know she’s very sick.

Okay… Okay.

Okay.

I’ll do it.

[groans] Damn it.

Not today too.

Nobody else can get through

and I’m the only one in trudging distance of the hospital.

There must be someone.

Someone who didn’t just get divorced.

Look, do you know Bill, the lighthouse keeper?

Uh-uh.

Well, his Mum might be dying.

And that’s not fun.

She likes me and she doesn’t like many people.

It’s not nice to die with someone you don’t like holding your hand.

Okay, I get it.

Mrs. Lighthouse and her not nice death

is more important than you and me and Christmas.

Oh, love, of course it isn’t.

But it’s my job.

Look, I’ll ring around, I’ll find someone to look after you until I get back.

Don’t bother. I’m fine on my own. I’m used to it.

I’ll make it up to you, I promise.

Just you and me is just fine.

We’ll have a really special dinner when I get home. Okay?

What? Extra big portion of red slop?

I’d better go and get ready.

[Santa] Oh, dear.

The problem is, no matter how well I do my job,

life is complicated.

And when my big night is over, it all starts up again.

And it’s up to you lot to sort things out yourselves.

[straining]

[Mrs. McNutt] You’re doing great, honey!

Keep up, Harry! You can do it too!

I am keeping up, darling.

Ooh! Oh…

Nearly there!

[yodels]

Uh… [cries out]

No, no.

Shoes off.

Please! Ow!

[both yelling]

[all gasp]

Watch out!

I’m on you! I’m riding…

Stop, stop.

[Mr. McNutt groans]

[all yelp]

[all screaming]

[all panting]

Who could have predicted this calamity?

Oh, that’s right, me.

Oh, no. The poor kids.

Oh, how will they cope without us?

Are you ready?

Yes.

Children of the barn, Christmas lunch our way!

Pizza!

[“Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson playing]

[Eve giggles]

♪ Snow is falling As the carolers sing ♪

♪ You’re all that I need ♪

[belches]

♪ Underneath the tree… ♪

Do it.

Whippedy cream!

[song continues]

[all laughing]

For you. Finished!

Christmas, 27% better.

Let’s go!

Awesome!

Scarlett, time for your gift.

[gasps]

Wow…

[chuckles mischievously]

Eat sprouts, suckers!

[whoops]

Yay!

[dastardly laugh]

Take that! And that. [giggles]

And bam!

Christmas, 48% better.

Mm-hmm.

Now, washing up.

Over to you, Tedwardo.

[mischievous chuckle]

Behold the magic of the power washer!

Now, Evie!

Yaah!

[Nisha] Go, Teddy, blast them!

[yells out]

[all grunting]

[Teddy] Whoa. Amazing.

Christmas, 73% better.

Almost there, just one last thing needed. Follow me, guys!

Yay!

♪ You’re here, where you should be Snow is falling as the carolers sing ♪

♪ It just wasn’t the same… ♪

[percussive vocalizing]

Rock on, Samski! [giggling] ♪ Alone on Christmas Day ♪

[smash]

[gasps]

Oops.

Charlie!

How did a girl so naughty get a full stocking?

That is a good question.

[Santa] So, while Sam is sorting out her mystery,

poor Danny is wondering why he is the only person alone

on Christmas Day.

Or is he?

[pensive music playing]

[sharp exhale]

[shrill ring]

[groans]

Carol singers.

Beware the wrath of my furled umbrella.

Williams.

[nervous chuckle] Um…

Hello, Ms. Trapper, I wondered if you’d like some company?

What about your mother?

Working. And we had a bit of a fight.

A-And your father?

He didn’t come.

My mum and I are going to have dinner later

but I wondered if you’d like some Christmas sort-of-cake?

Because we’re both sort of alone.

Well…

Um…

it’s a kind offer but I’m afraid I’m very busy.

Right. Sorry to disturb.

Life’s not always easy, is it, Williams?

Not always.

But I suspect, at the moment, it’s hardest for your mother.

[thoughtful hum]

Mum, I just want…

[groans]

Nope.

Hmm…

[groans]

An intervention called for, I think.

Hmm.

Let’s see. Straight and… right.

Whenever I get gloomy with the state

of the world…

[sigh]

…I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General…

And that’s quite enough of that.

Huh?

Over to you, Nisha.

Let’s party!

Oh, yeah!

Yay!

♪ If you want to run away with me I know a galaxy ♪

♪ Where the music don’t stop for life ♪

[singing “Nessun Dorma”]

Belt it out, Teddy!

♪ Boom-shaka-laka It’s a brand new style ♪

Incoming! [whoops]

[all laughing, clamoring]

Best Christmas ever!

Christmas, 100% better.

But what about the walk, Bernie?

Hmm…

♪ Happy birthday, Jesus Happy birthday, Jesus ♪

I must remember to put in my journal:

“Pray for reincarnation in a tropical country.”

Ooh! Good time for presents, don’t you think?

What?

Presents?

[grunting]

Oh.

Merry Christmas, my love.

[chuckles] What’s this?

Oh, just in case we got stuck.

Couldn’t have you waking up without a gift.

And I noticed the screen on your old one was a little bit cracked.

What? It’s a phone? Is it charged?

It certainly is. Yep. Synced and ready to go.

So we could have called the kids last night?

Uh… Yeah, but then it wouldn’t have been a surprise, would it?

[sighs]

Surprise!

Well, it was nicely wrapped at least, wasn’t it?

[whispering] The man is a moron and there’s no getting around it.

The kids aren’t answering. Something’s wrong.

Can we please call emergency services now?

[automated voice] You are 520 in the queue.

Please hold.

[gasps] Everyone must be snowed in.

We’ll be here for days.

Right, try Trapper. She’ll have a number for school emergencies.

[both shudder]

Ms. Trapper is scary.

Mm, but the school is outstanding.

You are such children.

Be careful, Harry.

Hello, is that Ms. Trapper?

Yes, what do you want? I’m very busy indeed.

Oh, yes. Sorry.

Sorry to disturb. Gosh. [nervous laughter]

Oh, yes, i-it’s Harry Forrest here, Scarlett and Teddy’s dad.

Harry, what did she say?

Yes. Yes, I did maths with you, that’s right, yes. That’s the one.

18th out of 18, yes.

[whispering] Hopeless Harry, yes.

Yes, but I wonder if you might be able to help.

We’re a little bit stuck.

Well, as I said, I’m very busy but if you really are desperate…

Yes! We’re desperate.

Very well, I may have one thought.

Faster, Williams.

[Yirrell] I hate turkeys.

I hate their beaks, feathers… [gasps]

Ms. Trapper.

Hello, Yirrell.

I need you to rescue some villagers who are stuck in the snow.

W-Why should I?

Because I tell you to.

[gulps]

Happy to help, Miss.

Good. Now snap to it, you infamous oik.

[giggles]

Yes, Miss. Thank you, Miss. Will do, Miss.

Sometimes, it’s very helpful to be a terrifying old trout.

[engine sputtering to life]

Yes, that’ll do.

Here are the coordinates of the McNutt van.

Go and rescue them. Chop chop.

Yes, Ms. Trapper. [whimpers]

Right, Williams, time to get to work.

But I don’t think it’s fair that I have to work on Christmas Day.

Precisely. Nobody should have to work on Christmas Day.

Including your mother.

Now, take a look at this.

But we’ll never get it done in time.

Of course we will, Master Williams.

It’s time for Project Homecoming.

[Charlie whistling]

I can’t believe you tidied up my side of the room.

It’s unhealthy being this clean.

[continues whistling]

Charlie Beccles’ Operation Happy Sam.

Tactics and Plans?

Operation Help Buddy.

Operation Nisha’s Melon Drop.

Operation Match Making? To Do?

[gasps] Gosh.

[clattering]

She’s doing it all for me?

[Charlie whistling]

What? How did that get there?

[in ghoulish voice] I’ve got my slimy eye on you.

[laughs]

What? What?

Sam, you’re being weird.

Hmm. Whatever.

[whistling]

[gasps]

[Santa] Clever girl, that Sam.

I hoped she’d figure it out in the end.

[grunting]

[loud buzzing]

[Ms. Trapper] Hurry, Williams. Hurry!

[loud buzzing continues]

[shivering] Absolutely love chivalry.

[women shivering]

[bang]

What?

[Mr. McNutt] Thank God. Someone’s here.

[Mrs. Forrest] Oh, the emergency services.

We’re saved.

Help! Over here!

Hello! We’re over here! Hello!

[Mr. McNutt] Yes! Hallelujah.

We are so glad to see you.

I hear you lot are in a bit of a pickle.

Is that Yirrell?

What?

Hello there, Hopeless Harry,

I’ve come to rescue you.

For a small fee, of course.

Small fee?

Oh, no.

[all yelling]

We’re going down!

It’s sinking!

[yelling]

Oh, God.

Yep.

Somewhat anticlimactic.

Now, where to?

Home!

Everyone ready?

Um…

And walk!

Do we have to?

Hup, two, three, four.

Great.

Hup, two, three, four.

And… home, two, three, four.

Nice.

Plot twist.

What a legend.

What? Uh…

But I…

[Teddy laughs] That was brilliant!

Bernie is a creative genius.

So much fun!

But we didn’t even get to the lovely beach huts.

Next year, little one.

Right! Time for the epic Christmas hide-and-seek!

Winner gets the last bag of fun size Mars bars!

My specialty! [whoops]

Let’s go!

Quick!

Thirty,

29, 28…

[shushes]

27, 26…

Sorry, taken.

25…

Somewhere else, Evie.

24, 23…

[sighs]

22…

Huh.

21, 20…

[gasps]

19,

18, 17…

[gobbling]

16,

15…

[giggles]

14, 13…

[humming]

12…

[gasps]

[gentle music playing]

[gasps] What?

[soft gasp]

Oh…

Mum, you’re here.

Look what we made.

[amazed gasp]

[chuckles]

[chuckles]

Oh, Danny.

[chuckles]

I don’t know what to say.

Then don’t say anything.

Just step inside, Nurse Williams,

and enjoy a very special Christmas dinner with your most excellent son.

[sighs]

Will you join us?

Uh, maybe next year.

I-I’ve got some catching up to do with my own family.

Ms. Trapper, are you sure?

Merry Christmas, Williams.

It’s time to celebrate the wins and live with the losses.

[chuckles softly]

[gasps]

[laughs]

Come here.

We’re going to be so fine.

I think so too.

Your throne, madam.

[chuckles]

[both yelp]

[both laughing]

[laughter continues, muffled]

[somber music playing]

Oh…

Merry Christmas, Jamie.

First to the little girls’ room.

Whew.

Oh! Absolutely love you, Beyoncé, old girl.

[crunch]

[Mrs. McNutt] We’re home!

[gasps]

What on Earth has happened here?

Oh, no! We’ve been burgled!

You’re home!

You’re back!

[laughs]

Oh, Nisha beta, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.

[crying] I’ll never leave you alone at Christmas again.

Mummy!

I love you, sweetie.

And clearly you managed to have some fun.

Yeah. Bernie was fantastic.

We had a disco!

She is my absolute hero.

Aw…

Well, there’s nothing quite as good as a traditional Christmas, is there?

There certainly isn’t.

[giggling]

Wait a minute. Where’s Evie?

Yeah. Where is that little pumpkin?

Evie!

Evie! Come out!

Why is the door unlocked?

Eve!

Evie!

Eve.

[wind whistling]

Oh, no.

When was the last time someone saw Evie?

[gasps]

Evie!

Evie!

Evie!

Evie!

We were just playing hide-and-seek.

I don’t know what happened. I’m so sorry.

It’s okay. We just need to find her.

She’s not in the house.

Oh, my gosh.

Get Ms. Trapper onto the school WhatsApp.

Kids, DM your friends.

We need all the help we can get.

[voice breaking] Find my Evie. Please.

She’ll turn up. I’m 100% certain.

It’s all my fault. It was asking too much of Bernie.

[sobs]

Bernie!

Evie!

Bernie, wait! Please.

Evie!

Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.

We’ll find her.

Stick together!

Be careful!

[kids all calling for Eve]

Danny, we need you and we need your monster-quad monstrosity.

Eve McNutt is missing.

[determined music playing]

[notifications pinging]

[overlapping chatter]

[church bells ringing]

Let’s go.

Evie.

Evie! Come to Charlie!

I’ve got lots of sweets!

[shushes] Charlie.

Come on, Charlie.

Please be serious, this is no time for naughtiness.

Good.

She’s here.

Don’t worry.

Right, spread out, form a line, two meters apart.

Mustn’t miss a spot!

[Mrs. McNutt] Hurry!

[Ms. Trapper] Maintain your distance and hold the line.

Eve! Evie.

Evie-Weevie. Ice cream over here!

Charlie, now is not the time.

Charlie.

Stop it.

No, you stop it.

Charlie’s not being naughty. She’s searching.

Helping people Charlie-style, with… with imagination.

Well, I’m sure Dad just…

Why did Santa leave her a full stocking?

Because he knows that Charlie isn’t naughty. She’s nice.

Oh, and she actually darned well does something about it all.

Does she?

Do I?

Yes, you do. And it’s because she loves me so much.

Why did Charlie step on Nisha’s dress in the play?

Because Nisha’s mean to me all the time and calls me the…

“Boring twin.”

Exactly. Why did Charlie drop the snow avalanche on Mrs. Horton?

Pardon?

Because I love her dog, Buddy

and she’s absolutely horrible to him.

Is that right, Charlie?

Well, motivation is a complex thing.

And when she let Farmer Yirrell’s turkeys out…

Charlie, you did not.

Charlie Beccles…

Yes, she did.

And she did it because at Christmas the poor, lovely turkeys have to die

because we have to eat them on a day when there’s far too much food anyhow.

Well, yes…

So my ambition next year is to be more like Charlie. Not less.

Now, can we please just find little Evie

and move on from this whole negative pigeonholing extravaganza.

Evie!

Oi, Sam! Wait for me!

Evie!

Evie! Evie!

Need a lift?

That is, only if it’s convenient.

I mean, maybe?

If that suits?

Oh. Uh…

Thank you for standing up for me.

[Mr. Beccles] Evie, come on, where are you?

You’re the best sister ever.

Now, just get on the bike with Romeo, Juliet.

Beccles twins to the rescue!

Yee-haw!

Evie! Evie!

Evie!

[all calling for Evie]

It’s no use.

We’ll never find her when it’s this dark.

But we must keep going.

I can’t see anything.

That’s it.

That is it. Hold tight.

[all panting]

[overlapping] Mr. Bill! Please!

Help! Hello! Mr. Bill?

[Bill] I’m coming.

[Danny] Oh, he’s coming.

[Bill] Coming.

[Charlie] Yes!

Hold your horses.

Mr. Bill!

Evie McNutt is missing.

And it’s super dark.

Kids?

And you’ve got a super light.

Oh, well, co…

Come in.

Come on, Mr. Bill.

Use this.

Thank you.

Sorry about the mess.

Come on, Gertrude. Time to sparkle.

[mechanics grinding]

[kids calling for Evie]

Huh?

[Teddy] Go that way.

There’s Bernie.

Evie!

Evie!

Follow her, Mr. Bill.

[strains]

Come on, Mr. Bill. Hurry.

[straining]

[wind whistling]

There’s something in the snow.

Where?

Further left, further left!

[mechanism grinding]

Look. There!

We’ve got to go help her.

Let’s go!

Evie! Evie!

Evie!

[panting]

[frantic panting]

Pink bird.

Evie!

[whimpering]

Oh, God.

[sobbing]

Oh, Evie.

Evie!

[sobs]

[Charlie] There she is.

Bernie!

Bernie! Are you okay?

[sobbing] Evie? Where is she?

We’ll keep looking. We’ll find her.

[Bernie] It’s all my fault.

[Sam] She’s out there, I know.

Look over there!

[gasps]

[gasps] Look where he’s pointing the light.

There’s something moving.

Evie!

Evie!

[panting]

[fox whines]

[gasps]

[barks]

[sobbing breaths]

Evie!

[distant gobbling]

[gasps] The beach huts.

[surprised gobbling]

Bernie, all the big birdies! Look!

[relieved gasping]

[giggles]

Evie.

[gasps] Evie.

Mummy!

Oh, Evie, my darling.

[all chuckling]

We found her! We found her at the beach huts!

They found her!

She’s safe.

She’s here.

They’ve got her! They found her!

Did I win hide-and-seek?

[chuckling]

Yes, darling.

[voice breaking] You very much won.

Come here, you life-saving feathery superhero.

Oh! Ooh! Ow!

[gobbling]

Absolutely love turkeys.

[all laugh]

I’m so sorry I lost her.

I’m so stupid.

I forgot the only thing that matters.

No. No.

The only thing that matters is that you found her.

And you gave the kids an amazing Christmas, Bernadette.

I’m so proud of you.

Eve family sandwich!

[Bernadette chuckles]

Mmm.

Aw. Isn’t that wonderful?

Yes, [contented grunt] it really is.

[laugh]

Danny Williams.

Yes?

Was the lighthouse light really your idea?

Uh…

Thank you.

You’re welcome.

Ladies and gentlemen,

this is Danny, the best person in Wellington-on-Sea.

That’s your cue. Go for it.

Uh…

Um…

Sam, I was wondering, maybe we could get together for some…

f-for some wine gums sometime?

Um… Wrong twin, chickpea.

Over here. But yes, that’d be great.

[all laughing]

[turkey gobbles]

[laughter fades]

[Santa] And that was That Christmas.

One that will live long in the memory down Wellington way and prove that the best Christmases aren’t really about presents and that splendid fellow called Santa.

They’re about being with the people you love. In the place you love.

And a time for local heroes.

Like the one whose caring soul gave my friend Bill one last Christmas with his Mum.

But one more wrinkle remained.

The traditional crazy Boxing Day sea swim.

This year, for the very first time, obviously, no one was going to show up.

Well, except for one fearless, skinny old sea dog, of course.

Even if it meant doing it on his own, he’d never miss it.

Come on, guys! Come on!

Hi, Bill.

Hello.

Happy Christmas, Bill.

Are you braving it?

[Santa] Well, what do you know?

I thought Wellington-on-Sea was just an ordinary town

I’d drop in on once a year.

But I was very wrong.

It turns out it’s a rather remarkable community.

Where the only gift they ever really needed was each other.

Here you go, little monster. No more escaping, Evie.

[Santa] And a real community is for life.

Not just for Christmas.

[Mr. Beccles] I love it.

There you go, my love.

Such a nice young man.

[both giggle]

Come on, Danny. Let’s do it.

Yeah!

[laughs]

Oh, it’s flipping cold.

[laughing]

Whoa!

Mission accomplished.

[both yell]

[squeals]

It’s amazing!

[both laughing]

[“Christmas Lights” by Coldplay playing]

[laughs] Come on, follow me.

Last one in is a loser.

That’ll be you then!

Oof.

[Mrs. Forrest] Kids, wait!

I’m not so sure, to be honest.

[whoops]

Come on, big chicken.

Please… Ooh!

[all whooping]

Mummy, hold this.

Whoo!

Happy hypothermia.

[shuddering]

Oh!

[laughs]

[all chattering]

Ms. Trapper, thanks for looking out for my Danny.

Merry Christmas.

Yes. It has been, hasn’t it?

And now I believe it’s time for a swim.

Chocks away!

I think you’re right. Let’s show them how it’s done!

[laughs]

[whoops]

Look at me, I’m Christmas-Eve!

[whoops]

[sighs]

Absolutely love a happy ending.

[whoops]

[whooping]

♪ Oh Christmas lights Light up the street ♪

♪ Down where the sea and city meet ♪

♪ May all your troubles soon be gone ♪

♪ Oh, Christmas lights keep shining on ♪

♪ Those Christmas lights Light up the street ♪

♪ Maybe they’ll bring her back to me ♪

♪ And then all my troubles will be gone ♪

♪ Oh, Christmas lights keep shining on ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, Christmas lights Light up the street ♪

♪ Light up the fireworks in me ♪

♪ May all your troubles soon be gone ♪

♪ Those Christmas lights keep shining on ♪

Happy Christmas to all.

And to all a good night.

Wh-Who are you talking to?

Are you talking to yourself again, Sants?

[chuckles]