Original subtitles

Oh, no.

No, no, no, no, no.

- What's wrong? - I tore my costume.

I was adjusting my guitar and I ripped it.

I have to go on in, like, two minutes.

- Can I help? - How?

- I like your outfit. - Thanks.

I like yours too.

- Your shoes don't match. - It's a fashion choice.

- Is it OK? - It looks nice.

- Like you planned it. - Thanks.

- My name's Chastity. - I'm April.

Girls, what's going on back in here?

Ah...

- She was fixing my costume. - I see.

April, honey, I'm afraid you missed your cue.

Your group is finishing up.

Do you want to go on with me?

I'm going to sing "Deck the Halls."

- Really? - Is that OK?

You better get moving. You're up next.

- Come on, go. - Thank you, Miss Henrietta.

This Is the best night of the year.

I know. It's like magic.

Someday, I'm going to plan the whole thing.

- Me too. - We should do it together.

Deal.

♪ I was lost through summer ♪

- ♪ For a little woman ♪ - Whoo!

♪ Just in time you came along, yeah ♪

♪ And then this coldest winter, you bring a shining glimmer ♪

♪ Before I knew you, I knew I missed you, baby, ooh ♪

♪ And now the snow's falling ♪

♪ On this cold, dark town, yeah ♪

♪ And I know one thing, it's you ♪

♪ You're my angel, you're my shining star ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ And I need you and I want you when you twinkle ♪

♪ You're my Christmas angel, ooh ♪

♪ Christmas time is here ♪

Hm

Rise and shine sleepy heads, breakfast is served.

Oh

Hey, morning.

I thought you were going to sleep all day.

I planned to, but somebody kept yelling about breakfast.

Where were you guys last night?

I waited up for you.

Oh, we ran into Bobby and Gayle at dinner, and then they asked

us to go out dancing.

Oh, well, you could have sent me a text to let me know.

Oh, what?

Say that we weren't gonna make curfew?

Very funny. I put flax in your oatmeal.

Do you want me to cut up some more fruit for you?

You know, I'm gonna start with the caffeine.

Thank you.

- Ooh, uh, what is that? - Mushroom coffee.

- Mushroom coffee? - It's good for you.

- You'll get used to it. - Do I have to?

- Oh, man. - Hey.

Morning, Mom. How'd you sleep?

I'll let you know when I wake up.

Here, this will help.

It's mushroom coffee.

It's good for us.

- Where's the sugar? - I rearranged the cabinets.

Again?

So what do you two have on the agenda for the day?

Well, you know, one of the nice things about being

retired is that you don't need to have an agenda.

And what about you?

Any big plans? I don't know... uh

apartment hunting?

Why, are you trying to get rid of me?

No, no, no, darling, no.

I just figured, you know, you've been living

with your parents for three months, that you might be eager

to, uh, find your own place. Maybe a job.

You are trying to get rid of me.

We're just excited for you to start your next chapter.

Yeah, well, so am I.

As soon as I figure out what it is.

What does, uh, Isaac think?

I mean, he seems very supportive.

And he seems very smitten with you.

Yeah, he's great.

But we've only been together a couple months.

You know what, I'm just glad that you

have somebody to take you out every once in a while.

You know, you do tend to hide yourself away.

Like, you don't want people to know that you're here.

Well, for your information, I plan on going to a bunch of

- the Jolly Jubilee activities. - Should be one to remember.

It's Hen's last year in charge.

Wait. What?

It's Hen's last year running the Jubilee.

- She's retiring. - Who told you that?

Because if it was Gayle, it might not be like 100% true.

My sources on this are very good.

What did the Jubilee even look like without Hen?

You know what? Maybe I should swing by for a chat.

- See who's taking over for her. - I like that plan.

She might even have a lead on an apartment.

Ah-ha-ha.

You're a funny guy.

♪ Oh-oh ♪

♪ Hurry home and come 'round here ♪

♪ I really love this time of year making plans... ♪

April? What are you doing here?

I wanted to surprise you.

Oh, mission accomplished. Come here.

Oh.

You know, I thought to myself, I have not been home for

a proper visit in years.

And wouldn't it be cool if I kicked it around Sugar Heights

for a few weeks or months or whatever.

What happened?

Nothing.

What?

I'm going to spend some quality time with my mother

and suddenly something happened?

OK, fine. Something happened.

I kind of sort of lost my apartment.

- Kind of sort of? - I was working all of the time.

I was helping plan the Left Bank Carnival.

I was consulting on this really cool choral festival in.

Notre Dame.

I was putting together the Paris After Dark show.

But you weren't getting paid?

Sometimes. Sometimes I was getting paid.

And then other times, like, they just needed help.

What was I supposed to do, ask them for money?

Yeah, that's how businesses work.

You're just like your father was,

generous to the point of poverty.

Yeah, I also let the deadline to renew my work visa pass.

You what?

- I... I... I sent you reminders. - I know.

Mom, thank you.

It's just, like I said, I was really busy.

Don't worry.

I just need a little bit more time to get back on my feet,

and then I will be out of your hair.

This house will always be a place you can land.

- You know that. - Thank you.

You picked the right year to come back.

I hear it's Henrietta Baptiste's last Jolly Jubilee.

- For real? - Mm-hmm.

Gayle said she's set to retire after New Year's.

And you believed Gayle?

I heard it from other people, too.

If anybody deserves a break, it's Hen.

That woman works.

Now, let's see if we can fit all these bags in your room.

Hello?

♪ 'Tis the season to be jolly ♪

♪ Fa-la la-la-la la-la-la-la ♪

♪ Fa-la la-la-la la-la la-la ♪

Hello?

Oop, careful. That door is busted.

It won't unlock from the inside.

We're going to get it fixed

someday.

Thank you.

Is Hen available? I'm Chastity Butler.

- I called this morning. - Right, yes.

She is on the phone, but it should just be a few

- more minutes. - OK.

- You want to follow me? - Sure.

♪ Getting late to celebrate ♪

♪ Everybody is so excited to be here, it's been a long year ♪

Hiya! Is Hen around?

Oh, do you have an appointment?

Oh, I'd love one. Thank you.

Oh, her schedule's pretty full.

Oh, well, I don't mind waiting.

These look really good. Thank you.

- So, how's the Jubilee going? - Good.

I mean, it's the first day, so...

You know, I think every town should have a celebration

that's two weeks long for Christmas.

It's just the best time of the year.

- Am I right? - Yeah.

Hmm.

- Oh... - Yeah.

It's you.

It's me.

What are you doing here? You go first.

No, you. No, you.

Didn't know you were coming home.

Yeah, no, it's just for Christmas.

And I came home early because I wanted to see Hen

before things got busy with the Jubilee.

How's New York?

Couldn't be better.

Yeah, my parents are always begging for me to come

and visit, so just here for Christmas, too.

I saw the thing you did for Fashion Week and that carnival

you guys did in Bryant Park. Yeah, it looked amazing.

Yeah.

And you're still loving Paris?

I cannot imagine living anywhere else.

You know, it really just feels like home.

Well, that's great.

Yeah.

Ah!

As I live and breathe, April Simmons

and Chastity Butler, the dynamic duo of Sugar Heights.

Oh, it's so nice to see you both.

- It's so great to see you. - Oh, it's so good to be seen.

Oh, wait, I got this for you.

Oh, wow.

It's very big. Thank you.

- And I made an appointment. - Oh.

Well, both of you, come on in.

Oh, um, sorry.

You go. Go ahead.

Chastity, I'd heard that you were in town,

but I didn't realize that April is here, too.

Yeah, me neither.

Yeah, we just bumped into each other.

It was such a fun surprise.

Well, Hen, I heard that you're retiring.

- It's not true, is it? - Yes, I'm afraid it is.

- No. - Seriously?

Well, Sugar Heights is growing so fast, like the rest of

Houston, so I was thinking it's time for some new ideas,

- fresh voices. - Are you selling H-Town Events?

Well, I've had a few offers from some national companies,

but I'd rather pass it on to someone local that knows

- the meaning of this place. - Oh, I hear that.

That makes complete sense.

Well, so far, nobody's stepped up and shown me

they have what it takes.

Well, I know.

Chastity has so many great things going on in New York.

Really? I thought you were back home.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I've been going back and forth

for the last few months,

you know, just helping my folks out.

But if you could use an extra pair of hands, I would be happy

- to stick around. - I don't know.

What about all of those amazing opportunities in New York?

No.

I was just telling my mom, I really need to get back

to my roots.

So, I could definitely be available.

You were just saying how you can't imagine yourself

- living anywhere but Paris. - Yeah.

Or Sugar Heights.

- Oh, OK... gotcha. - Well, actually, I could use some help.

One of the producers I had in line to help with the Jubilee,

she just dropped out, and she was supposed to

- run point on the Spectacular, too. - Oh, that's awful.

- Oh, no. - Mm-hmm. You know...

I bet if the two of you team up, you could do some pretty

nice work together, like back in the old days.

- Yeah, that's one idea. - That could be something.

And we do have a lot of experience.

A lot of history.

- But the thing is... - We don't really work together.

And we really haven't for a while now.

Oh, is that so?

Well, I prefer a plan going in.

And I prefer to keep the fun and the spontaneity

in my events.

That's why you're always running out of napkins.

That's why you're usually smothering half the fun out

of everything with your seating charts.

It's called being a professional.

- What about happy accidents? - Accidents aren't happy.

- That's why they're called accidents. - Oh.

OK, well, I get the picture.

Thing is, whoever ends up sitting in this chair,

they are going to have to realize how important it is to

be a part of Sugar Heights, especially

during the holidays.

So, here's what we're gonna do... there's room on

the Jubilee schedule for two more events.

Each of you will take one, and then you'll show us that

you know how to bring the community together.

And then on Friday, at the last Jubilee committee meeting,

we shall decide who will produce

the Christmas Eve Spectacular.

- Like a competition? - No, like an audition.

Can you handle that?

♪ It's Christmas, gotta plan ♪

♪ Come give me your hand ♪

♪ I'm gonna prove it thinking of you ♪

♪ So don't you let that overthinking head of yours ♪

♪ Think any of that... ♪

April?

April, hello.

Taking a little power nap there, huh?

Sorry, jet lag.

We usually charge people for sleeping in the cafe,

but I'm willing to make an exception.

That is very generous of you.

I hope I don't get you in trouble with your boss.

Yeah, me too. The guy's kind of a pain.

- He watches us like a hawk. - Is that right?

You don't

you don't recognize me, do you?

- Should I? - Caleb Ward.

I was a year behind you in Jefferson.

We were in a service club together for like three years.

I played ball, won a couple of state championships.

Go, Hornets, no?

Sorry.

Ouch.

I mean, how do you remember me?

Are you kidding me? You were famous.

I mean, it was a big deal when you moved to France.

Some kids go out of state, you went out of the country.

It was... very cool.

Well, I'm glad I made an impression.

You certainly did.

Now I recognize you. You had this flirty thing.

What? A flirty thing?

Yeah.

And you dated, like, most of the cheer squad and, like,

half the dance team.

Oh, don't forget about the debate club.

- Those girls were feisty. - There it is.

Good to know some things never change.

OK. Well, what can I get you?

We got a nice batch of holiday sticky buns.

No, just the caffeine hit for me to go.

- I need to stay sharp. - Oh, yeah?

Oh, you got plans?

Did you know Henrietta Baptiste is retiring?

I heard the rumors.

Gayle Sussman was in here talking about it,

like, a week ago.

Well, since I was a kid, I have dreamed of planning

the Jubilee and producing the Christmas Eve Spectacular.

And now, I have exactly one week to prove that I'm the best

one for the job.

Well, I think that you'd be perfect.

You and your friend, uh, what was her name?

Jenna? Cheryl?

- Chastity. - Yes, Chastity.

You guys threw some of the best parties.

That winter formal that you guys put on for my freshman year

straight up changed my life.

Wow! Really?

- Sorry. - So cold.

Uh, OK.

Well, how can I make it up to you?

Well, you can come to the caroling karaoke tonight.

We're kicking off the Jolly Jubilee right here at 7.

OK, deal.

Unless I fall asleep on the walk home.

Hey, thanks, bro. You can take a break now.

Cool. Here you go.

- What do I owe you? - It's on the house.

What about your boss?

Don't worry. I got you.

You're the boss.

See you tonight.

And then what happened?

And then she was like, "I'd hate to see you give up

on all these opportunities in New York."

Can you believe that?

Why didn't you tell her you moved back?

What? I can't do that.

Things are going so well for her in Paris.

How would it look if she knew that I had to come

crawling home?

I thought you two were best friends.

We were. Until she betrayed me.

We had a whole plan.

We were gonna move to New York, go to design school,

start our own business, and then maybe

move back here together.

And then a month before school starts, she tells me that

she's moving to Paris. And we've barely spoken since.

And now she comes waltzing back in here trying to take this

job, a job that I need to get myself back on track

doing what I love.

You do have something she doesn't.

Organizational skills?

A supportive boyfriend who is ready to do whatever it takes

to make this happen for you.

- Boyfriend? - Yeah.

I know it's only been a couple months, but...

I've never met anyone like you.

You're so decisive.

You put your mind to something and then you just do it.

It's inspiring.

Well, boyfriend it is.

Cool.

So, where do we start?

Well, the Jolly Jubilee kicks off tonight

with Caroling Karaoke at the Corner Cafe.

And it's going to be crawling with Jubilee committee members,

so that's where we'll make our first move.

I knew you'd have a plan.

♪ Deck the halls with boughs of holly ♪

♪ Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ 'Tis the season to be jolly ♪

♪ Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪

- You're awake. - Barely.

Well, you... you look good.

I mean, I don't look like I haven't slept

in, like, over a decade, but it's fine.

- Yes. - ♪ Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪

♪ Heedless of the wind and weather ♪

- ♪ Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪ - You OK?

Yeah, yeah, no, I'm fine.

We just used to sing that song together, that's all.

You want to go next?

No, you are going next. Hold on, I'll be right back.

I got you.

You forgot the bridge.

You know, the one we wrote together in middle school?

- Oh, did I? - It sounded great.

Thanks.

- I'm Isaac. - Oh.

- Chastity's boyfriend. - Oh, it's nice to meet you.

- I'm April. - I've heard a lot about you.

Uh, how do you like Houston?

It's very different from New York, right?

Oh, yeah, it's, um

- it's... - New York is

uh, taller. That's for sure.

Mm-hmm.

But Chas talks about this place all the time.

Especially at Christmas.

So I just really wanted to see it for myself.

Well, um

how long have you two been dating?

- A year. - Two months.

Well, we've known each other for a year, but we've been

dating for just a couple months.

Awesome. Well, welcome to Sugar Heights.

And it looks like you have everything all figured out.

Well, you know me.

- I always got a plan. - Hmm.

Let's my cue. OK.

OK.

- What? - I don't know.

- New York? - I panicked.

- What were you thinking? - I was trying to be decisive.

Is everyone feeling merry and bright?

Let's do this.

♪ Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh ♪

♪ Over the fields we go, laughing all the way ♪

♪ Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits bright ♪

♪ What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight ♪

♪ Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way ♪

♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh ♪

♪ Hey ♪

No, no, no.

♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪

♪ Jingle all the way ♪

♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride ♪

♪ In a one-horse ♪

♪ Open sleigh ♪

♪ Merry Christmas, everyone ♪

Bonjour, mademoiselle.

Bonjour, monsieur.

And, uh, you lost me.

- You want a pick-me-up? - Definitely.

OK.

So these flyers must have gone up early this morning.

Yeah, Chastity brought them before we even opened, so...

Huh. Of course she did.

I still cannot believe she pulled the plug

on me last night.

So much for a friendly competition.

I'm sure there's an explanation for that.

I mean, you guys are tight, right?

Eh, used to be.

You don't want to hear about it.

Try me. I'm a good listener.

She never forgave me for not moving to New York with her.

And do you want to know what she said when I told her?

That I'd never make it without her.

Hmm, that must have hurt.

Hmm, ancient history.

You really don't like talking about yourself, do you?

It's fine. Her life is perfect.

Good for her.

Well, accident or sabotage, I thought you handled yourself

really well last night.

You were fearless up there, rolling with the punches.

Oh, man.

You really do know how to make a good cup of coffee.

- I know. - Hmm.

So, are you going to this cookie decorating thing?

Come on, I'll go with you.

All right, look, you can complain about it

the whole time if you want.

Plus, it'll give you a chance to size up the competition.

We can leave whenever you want.

What do you say?

Fine.

- But only for research purposes. - And the cookies.

I mean, the cookies will be amazing.

- Same for the company. - Oh, come on.

You can do better than that.

OK, I'll work on it.

89, 90, 91, 92.

Smells good.

Oh!

OK.

OK.

OK, 93, 94, 95, 96.

OK, perfect. Right on schedule.

How's that icing coming along?

Did you know New York City has over 500 miles of shoreline?

I didn't.

You know, no one's going to quiz you on New York City facts.

You've been working so hard for this.

I just want to do my part.

Ooh, something smells great in here.

- It's your recipe. - Ah, no wonder then.

- Mm, tastes even better. - Uh-oh.

- Dad. - What?

- You're throwing off our count. - Oh, I'm sorry.

Don't put it back.

Are you OK?

I just want everything to be perfect.

And it's gonna be.

You have everything all worked out.

What?

Darling, nothing's ever really perfect.

Are you kidding me?

All my favorite Christmas memories are perfect.

Like that time that you surprised us

and took us all out to Ping's Palace for Christmas Eve dinner.

Let us order all the ice cream we wanted.

That was because the oven broke, and we had to throw

- the roast out. - Oh.

Well, what about the time that Aunt Lana showed up out of

the blue Christmas morning? That was magical.

Her washing machine failed and flooded her basement.

You see, darling, it's the imperfections that

make your memories so special.

That's where the joy comes from.

Well, it seemed perfect to me.

And now I need you to make up for eating that cookie.

We're low on sugar.

Wait, are you sending me to the store?

I am.

You're afraid I'm gonna eat all these cookies?

- 100%. - I can go.

Now, you have three jobs already.

Off you go.

All right. Oh, boy.

- Hmm. - Wow.

Sorry. This looks great.

You're right. It looks great.

She thinks of everything. Flow, signage, decorations.

But listen.

Do you hear that?

- No. - Exactly.

- There's no laughter or conversation. - Mm.

Are we decorating cookies

or are we giving them a funeral?

Definitely library vibes.

And I've got a system in to make sure that everyone moves

through as efficiently as possible.

So you start at a cookie station and then you make

your way clockwise through icing.

So you start with white and then green, then red,

before decorating.

And then I've got these Rudolph goodie bags so everyone can

take their cookies home that they make.

And that's three to five minutes per station.

And we will be right on schedule.

Seems very

organized.

Thanks.

Oh, hang on. Isaac.

More here. Yeah, thank you.

It seems you've thought of everything.

I hope so.

Well, as long as the people are having fun.

Yes. OK.

Instructions.

Yeah, very specific, too.

Hmm.

It's a white snowman, huh?

Kind of boring, right?

Have you ever seen a green snowman?

For real?

One second, hold on.

Can I borrow these? Great, thanks.

You don't really need this, right?

See? This is cool, huh?

- Ooh. - Stripes. I like it, I like it.

It's like he's wearing a sweater.

Good stuff.

You guys want some colors, too?

Yeah? Oh, I have an idea.

How about some sprinkles? Sprinkles! Ah!

Oh, here, try this. How about an abstract one?

Whee! Whee!

Sprinkles! Sprinkles!

Nice.

- What are you doing? - Oh!

You want a sandwich? I made a triple-decker.

No, I don't.

That's meant for the other table.

OK, well, we were just trying to make pink by mixing

red with white.

May I speak with you for a moment?

Sure.

Keep going, OK?

I'll be right back.

Hopefully.

What's up?

Are you trying to ruin my party?

I'm trying to bring it to life.

People were getting bored, and now they're being creative.

OK, well, this is my event, not yours.

Chastity, I am just trying to help.

When I need your help, I'll ask for it.

- Will you? - What is that supposed to mean?

You know what it means, Chastity.

Honestly, I don't know why you get so freaked out.

Hey, guys, I don't think this is a good idea.

Guys, I think you should put the table down.

No, no, no, look out, look out!

No, no, no!

You guys.

- Oh, mm. - Ah.

All right.

It's just a mess. Clean it up.

Candy on the floor. Good.

It's OK. Awesome.

I'm sorry.

- I'll help pick it up. - You've done enough.

- What about all your supplies? - I brought extras.

Of course you did.

- Who needs more sprinkles? - Me!

Me, me, me, me!

Mom.

Mom.

- Mom! - I'm right here, hun.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just can't find my skates.

I'm amazed you can find your feet.

It is not that bad.

I'm worried you're going to drown.

Can we please not do this right now?

- I need to find my skates. - Have you looked in the garage?

Yes, Mom. I looked in the garage.

I looked in the...

Did you find them?

Oh, I was wondering where that was buried.

Come on. Sit down.

Let's take a look.

Oh, look at you two. Such memories.

My goodness.

Do you remember that?

You and Chastity threw a birthday party for.

Mrs. Fletch and had everybody dress up like her.

Oh.

She never forgave us.

You two

oh, you two girls were such a great team.

Mm-hmm. Oh, wow.

Your dad's 50th birthday party.

You set up a crepe stand and got everybody to

wear berets.

And then Dad walked around the entire night doing that

- ridiculous French accent. - Oui, oui.

Ah.

- Aw. - Aw.

Great Nana's celebration of life.

I don't think Pastor Smith ever anticipated that

his church basement would serve as a speakeasy for

- a 1920s-style flapper party. - He went with it, though.

Chastity didn't give him much of a choice.

Oh, that was a magical night.

That's the night your dad and your Uncle Bill began

speaking again.

I'm glad they had a chance to patch things up before

your dad passed away.

You changed lives.

You and Chastity.

Hmm, hmm.

- Here they are. - Huh.

You're finding all kinds of things in here today,

aren't you?

♪ Deck the halls with boughs of holly ♪

♪ Fa-la la-la-la la-la la-la ♪

♪ 'Tis the season to be jolly ♪

- ♪ Fa-la la-la-la ♪ - Oh, man.

♪ Don we now our gay... ♪

Hen, you have done it again.

Oh, this is one of my favorite nights.

Is there anything that I can do to help?

In fact, there is.

We are a little short-staffed over at the hot chocolate stand.

Maybe you could lend a hand.

Oh, yeah. I'm on it.

OK.

Hen sent me over here.

Me too.

The square looks gorgeous.

Hen knows what she's doing.

What?

Do you remember our junior prom?

Yeah.

Oh, man. The lights?

We wanted a thousand string lights in the gym.

What were we thinking?

I told you we should have checked that circuit breaker.

We blew power to a quarter of the city.

Oh, my God.

And that look on Principal Joe's face.

Oh, we were in so much trouble!

Yeah, it was worth it, though.

I mean, once we got enough generators.

Yeah.

I can't believe they let us plan prom again the next year!

Yeah, Hen convinced him.

That's right. She did.

I guess we owe her a lot, huh?

- Yeah. - Merry Christmas.

Thanks. Merry Christmas.

What?

Hmm? Nothing.

It's just, you know, you don't have to, like,

count out every marshmallow.

Just want to be sure we have enough.

Yeah, but I'm not measuring every cup that I pour.

Maybe you should.

You know I like to be spontaneous.

Is that what you were doing yesterday?

Being spontaneous?

You almost derailed my entire event.

- I was trying to make it fun. - Fun?

Yeah. Have you ever heard of it?

You tried to sabotage me.

You want to talk about sabotage?

You mean like when you pulled the plug on me at karaoke?

That was an accident.

I thought you didn't do accidents.

I usually leave that to you.

You know, I do not know how we worked together

- as long as we did. - Eight, seven...

- Well, luckily, we'll never have to do that again. - ...six, five,

- four, three, two, one. - Whoo!

I can't believe she chose ice skating.

She did that on purpose. She knows I can barely skate.

Why do you even have skates?

April bought them for me in high school.

She thought it would get me to the rink with her more often.

Aha!

Found 'em.

What's this?

God, I thought we had donated that.

Ah... this is the guitar I used to play as a kid

April and I used to make up these songs for our events.

I'd figure out a chord progression and she'd freestyle

lyrics until we came up with something we both liked.

Sounds fun.

It was, actually. It really was.

You should show her. I'm sure she'd love to see it.

Nah, I don't think she'd be interested.

Plus, this competition's not going to win itself, you know?

And you're positive it's a competition, right?

I mean, you're sure only one of you can win?

Absolutely.

And it's going to be me.

What you got? What's that?

I stopped off at the Sweet Palace this morning,

and Trixie hooked me up with this new flavor she's been

wanting to try.

It's the Hot Cinnamon Christmas Crunch.

- She said, they've got a little kick to them. - I like a kick.

And then I had her decorate them with these little

Fleur-de-lis in the middle for a little French flair.

Very cool.

Yeah.

No pre-planned games, no designated times to eat,

no schedules, just people expressing themselves,

following their holiday bliss,

- unless nobody shows up. - Hey, look at me.

It's going to be great. You're going to crush it.

- How do you know? - Because you're good at this.

You brighten every room that you walk into.

And you're impossible to resist.

- I see what you're doing. - What do you mean?

- I see all of this. - What?

No. I mean...

You're trying to distract me, so I am not nervous.

And I appreciate it. But...

I need to focus.

Somebody's here.

Hi! Hello!

♪ It's Merry Christmas time ♪

Welcome. Welcome.

Come on in. Hello! Welcome.

It is so good to see you. I love your hat.

Hello. Come on in.

It's great to see you.

- Welcome. - Hi.

Thanks.

- Looks great in here. - Just hoping for a good time.

- You brought your skates. - Oh, yeah.

They were just in the box in my parents' garage.

- April, my love. - Gayle, you're here.

Come on in, girl.

I was expecting it to be half decorated and falling apart

at the seams the way you talk about her.

Well, she's got game, for sure.

She's got great ideas.

She can talk people into doing almost anything.

But it's the planning that gets her.

You don't give an inch, do you?

Just wait and see.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Is everybody having a good time?

Thank you so much for coming.

I just have a couple of things that I want to say,

and then I will let everybody get back to skating.

First of all, I want to thank Henrietta Baptiste for throwing

an incredible Jolly Jubilee this year.

Let's give it up for Hen.

Thank you.

As many of you know, I've been living in Paris for a while now,

but let me tell you, there is no place like.

Sugar Heights.

When I think of Sugar Heights, I think of community

and family and friends.

And growing up, I had no idea no greater friend

than Chastity Butler.

Chastity

all I want for Christmas is for you to come

out here and skate with me. What do you say?

No.

Oh, come on. Come on.

Don't be shy.

No.

Come on.

Chastity. Oh, my goodness.

Get in, get in... ooh!

What are you doing?

I just thought of it, OK?

Hen saw us fighting, and we need to save face.

- Just follow my lead, OK? - Mm-hmm.

Ooh! Damn.

Chas, Chas, where are you going?

We're not done. You can't abandon me out here.

Oh, abandon you. Yeah, that's a good one.

OK, what is that supposed to mean?

It means you're the one who runs away whenever things

get tough, except you expect everybody else to follow

you wherever your whims may take you.

Oh, I don't expect anything from you.

As soon as somebody's not on your to-do list,

it's like we don't exist.

April, where are the rest of your cups?

What?

The cupcakes, they're very spicy, and people need

something to wash them down with.

- You're out of cups. - Oh, OK, um...

You do have extra cups, don't you?

Yeah, I mean...

I...

Don't worry, I got this.

Isaac?

What do you mean?

- I brought some cups. - Oh, you brought cups?

Just in case.

Yep, OK, yeah, they're just there on the table.

Well, thank you for saving the day.

Anytime.

Got more cups.

Hey... what? No breakfast this morning?

Oh, yeah, sorry. Let me get something for you.

I'm just kidding. Sit down.

What are you working on? Design for the Spectacular?

I am looking into accounting classes.

I'm sorry, what?

I thought you saved the day yesterday.

Ah.

OK, let's start from the beginning.

I have been trying to stay on track my whole life.

I have worked hard. I have paid my dues.

I have played by the rules. And I just feel like...

I am right back where I started.

So I...

Maybe I'm just not good enough.

Mm.

I'm gonna tell you something, and you're not gonna

believe me.

You'll say that because I'm your dad, I'm being biased.

But I've lived a long time, and I've seen a lot of things.

And you, Chastity Marie Butler

are the most

incredible, compassionate, and driven person

I've ever known.

You dream big, you always have.

And that's a risk.

But you see things that others can't see.

You anticipate, you facilitate,

and you make things happen. And not everybody can do that.

- Thanks, Dad. - I'm not done.

Do you remember when you were seven and the only thing

you wanted for Christmas was one of those

rise-and-shine dolls?

Of course. Yeah, I was...

It would fall asleep and then wake up and cry all on its own.

Yeah, it was the hottest thing that year.

And nobody had them.

I know, because your mother sent me all over the city to

find one for you.

And then you finally did.

No.

Well, I came up empty.

So I started calling everybody I knew.

Friends and relatives and relatives of friends.

And it wasn't until your mother's old roommate,

Loretta, found one in Chicago and mailed it to us

that we got one for you.

You see, darling, sometimes we can't make

our big dreams come true on our own.

We need each other and friends.

Now, if you decide

that your big dream is to be a CPA,

I will happily have you do my taxes.

At a family discount, obviously.

But if this is really about a setback and not knowing

how to move forward,

then let's tackle that problem instead.

When'd you get so wise?

I guess I've always been this wise.

You were just too young to notice.

Hey

how about I make you some breakfast?

That is, if I can find anything in my own dang kitchen.

Hello? Is anybody here?

Ah!

That's right.

I need eight dozen party poppers.

I need a case each of the red and the green streamers.

I have a slot between 6:30 and 7:45.

That is far too late.

And I want an ice sculpture shaped like Rudolph.

And the nose better light up, too.

So as I was saying...

Getting pretty comfortable there.

I was just trying it out.

Ah!

Ugh!

"Getting pretty comfortable there."

What is your problem?

Nothing.

Why would I have a problem with you sitting in Hen's seat

- like you've been anointed? - OK, you know what?

Wait!

Wait! We're locked in!

No kidding.

I don't like small spaces.

They make me really sweaty.

- Is the room spinning? - OK, relax.

We can just call someone and they'll let us out.

What?

- What? - My phone is in my car.

It's charging in the console.

Oh, my God, why didn't you stop me?

Someone's gonna notice the door is closed.

- It's fine. - How can you be so calm?

Maybe you need to sit down.

Maybe you should just sit down.

Hello! Is anybody out there.

Yeah, that'll do it.

Why are you even here? Why do you even want this job?

Look, you don't understand, OK?

- I need this job. - I need this job, too.

OK, not as much as I do.

You don't even live in this country anymore.

- Yes, I do! - What are you talking about?

You were right, OK?

I couldn't do it alone. And I lost my jobs.

I lost my cute little apartment on the Seine, and I let my work

visas expire, and I had to move back home.

And if I do not get this job, I am going to be stuck

answering phones at my mom's insurance agency for the rest

of my life. Just let me have it.

You think you're the only one at the end of her rope.

I spent the morning looking into accounting classes.

Because I got downsized in September and I have not been

able to find a job.

So I've been living here

in Sugar Heights for the last three months

in my parents' house.

So this job is the only thing standing between me

- and complete failure. - Wow.

- You lied to me. - You lied too.

You lied longer.

You lied first, and what does it even matter?

We don't even talk anymore.

And whose fault is that, Chastity?

You're the one who wouldn't answer any of my calls

- or my emails for over a year. - Because I was mad!

I was hurt!

What terrible thing did I do to you to make you run away

- from me? - I was just trying to...

Is everything OK in here?

- Never better. - Just great.

OK...

So I was thinking, maybe we split Christmas

between our families. What do you think?

Mine sleep in.

So maybe we spend the morning with yours and visit mine

in the afternoon?

Chas? You with me?

Oh, the Jubilee Committee is meeting right now.

Hen's about to make her final recommendation.

Oh, I'm just glad it's over.

For your sake.

Now we can move forward with our lives.

So, Christmas?

I can't believe April lied. I mean, who does that?

Well, you weren't exactly up front with her either.

Whose side are you on?

Chas, look around. It's Christmas.

We can either wallow in the past or embrace

where we are.

Here, together.

Oh, there's still time.

You know, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I gotta go.

So, I thought we'd go over to Aunt Bethany's

for Christmas dinner.

She wants you to bring those cheese rolls you make.

I haven't made those in forever.

She asks about them every year.

She's never satisfied when I make them.

Stop looking at that phone. You hear when you hear.

So, Aunt Bethany's.

You in or you out?

I'm in.

Hi. Is, um, is April here?

April, someone's here for you.

Caleb?

Yeah, found this at the cafe. Pearl said it was yours.

Uh, it is.

- You're on my way home, so. - Thanks.

And, you know, since I was stopping by, I thought that

you might want to try our dessert special

from tonight, Christmas peach cobbler.

- And it's still warm. - That was very thoughtful of you.

- Smells amazing. - Yeah.

Listen, I know you had a hard week, so I hope this helps.

Hen always has me make those for her committee meetings,

so...

But anyway, you ladies have a lovely night.

- Thank you. - All right.

Bye.

- Ooh, so. - So.

So that's Caleb.

- He's cute. - He's just a friend.

How can you be so perceptive and so blind at the same time?

I've got friends, honey. That man's into you.

He flirts with everyone, OK? He's always been like that.

It doesn't mean anything.

What? Say it.

Your dad was always better at getting you to really open up.

Sometimes, I feel like ever since he died,

you've tried to push the rest

of us away so you won't get hurt.

It's not true.

You didn't even tell me you were coming back

from Paris to stay.

I just wish you'd let us care about you.

That's all. Let us in.

- The committee meeting tonight. - Honey.

- I have to go. - April, wait.

Hold on.

Mm, yes.

We like Caleb.

Chastity.

What are you doing here?

I told you I would give you a call.

I know, I'm sorry.

Yes, but I am still in the board meeting right now.

I apologize. I just...

I didn't know what else to do.

I've been dreaming about producing The Spectacular since

I was a kid.

I've kind of organized my entire life around getting

the chance to do it.

I know I can bring The Spectacular to life in

new ways through good planning,

careful scheduling, and preparation.

There's nothing that I have dreamt of more than producing

this night. Nothing.

Oh, please, like you're the only one!

And I cannot believe that you would sneak in here and try

to steal this away from me.

Well, I can't steal it if it's not yours.

I wouldn't put it past you to try.

- Ladies... - If all you want is a Spectacular that is polished

and hits every mark, Chastity is the way to go.

But if you want something that's fun

and filled with surprises, that's me, OK?

I think Hen probably wants someone that she can actually

count on. You know, to be there.

Oh, my God, please. Let it go.

It was 15 years ago.

I didn't go to college with you, OK?

Move on.

You knew for months that you weren't going,

and you never told me.

Chastity, my dad died six months before.

My world had been turned upside down, and all you could do was

go on and on about New York this and New York that.

It was because you wouldn't really talk to me.

You kept saying that everything was fine, so I thought

the best thing I could do was to make all the arrangements

- so you wouldn't have to. - Enough!

Listen to yourselves.

Does that sound like the holidays to you?

You two are, without a doubt, the most talented young

event producers I've ever worked with.

But in all this focus on how much it would mean for you to

produce the show this year,

do you know the one thing neither one of you mentioned?

Us.

The community.

The holidays aren't just about throwing a good party,

having the right number of napkins.

It's a time to build connections with the people

that you love.

It is a time to bring people together,

not to fuss and tear each other apart.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe either one of you

have what it takes

to do that job

at Christmas or any other time of the year.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a show to produce.

I'm guessing things didn't go your way last night.

Mm, holiday spirit is alive and well and everything is

coming up mistletoe.

April...

Oh, do you have any more of those sticky buns back there?

- OK, all right, you know. - Wait, what?

What does that mean?

You don't wanna talk about what you're feeling,

and I get that, all right, it's scary.

But if you keep holding people at arm's length, you're just

gonna miss out and I...

I can handle whatever it is that you're feeling, OK?

I'm not sure I can handle... it.

I bet you can.

I got so desperate

to prove myself that I forgot about what really matters.

I messed it all up.

Again.

This has been your dream for, like, ever, right?

So no wonder why you got a little carried away.

My dad would say that I got caught in my own loop.

He was the last person that I really felt like

I could talk to.

You must miss him.

Yeah.

I guess I'm just worried that he

might be disappointed in me.

Look, I didn't know the guy, so I might be wrong.

But based on the kid he raised,

I think he would be very proud of how much you care.

I cannot believe I went in there like that.

I don't know what came over me.

Maybe I should go back and apologize again.

What do you think?

I think maybe you should just let it go.

Maybe I should just offer to help this year, because.

Hen's been saying that this job is getting too big for one person.

So if I just went in and I volunteered,

maybe then she'll see what I'm capable of.

I'm going to take off.

Um, OK.

Then I'll see you at Hurley's at 7.

I don't think so.

Isn't that the plan?

Listen, Chas, you're funny and smart and a lot cooler

than you think you are.

And that drive you have, that way of picking your goal

and throwing everything you have into getting it

it's intoxicating.

Thanks?

At first, I felt like I was the thing you were after,

and then I thought maybe you needed me to show you that

- I could be decisive, too. - Are you breaking up with me?

You have another unresolved relationship that I think needs

to be the priority right now.

You mean April?

There's nothing unresolved there.

She's literally all you talk about.

But I like you.

I like you, too.

Believe me.

But I want to be someone's partner,

not just another item on their agenda.

Someday, you are gonna put on one of these Spectaculars,

because you have set your mind to it.

And when you do...

I'd really love to see it.

Bye, Chas.

- Hey. - Sorry.

Hang on a second.

Someone's at the door, I think it might be Isaac.

I'm, um...

I'm sorry. No, I'm sorry.

No, I'm sorry!

You go first.

I should have told you that I was applying to school

in Paris. It was just

it was a really weird time.

No, no, no, I'm the one that should be apologizing.

I should have been more sensitive to what you were

- going through. - You were trying to be.

I... I didn't make it easy for you.

I should have let you in.

No, I should have given you the time and the space that

you needed instead of trying to program everything.

You are the best friend I have ever had.

You're the best friend that I've ever had.

And I've really missed you.

Me, too.

You have no idea.

Come in, come in, come in.

Yeah.

Come in.

OK, look

- what I found. - Oh!

My God, you kept it!

Girl, of course I kept this.

- You keep everything. - I keep everything.

I love that we documented all this.

OK, do you remember

Mr. Johnson's retirement party

- sophomore year? - He was so mean.

Yeah, we almost didn't invite him to his own party.

- Oh. - Mm.

My parents' 20th wedding anniversary.

That cruise ship theme was a classic.

I know. So good.

Remember how we had their friends act out moments

from their relationship

like it was a dinner show on a cruise?

Oh, that's right.

And then Lauren's dad fell off the stage onto

the dessert table.

Oh, you know, my mom told me that this party rekindled

something between her and my dad.

Yeah, like, they found each other again through

their friends and this community they had created.

We were a really good team.

The best.

So.

If you had actually gotten to produce

the Spectacular this year,

what were you thinking about for a theme?

I know you had a plan.

Guilty.

You know, I was thinking that we could do it in honor of Hen.

I mean, not directly, of course.

She would hate to be the center of attention.

But, like, I don't know.

What if we were to blow up pictures from some of

the highlights from the last 25 years of Spectaculars?

And people could write, like, their hopes

and their wishes for Sugar Heights on ornaments,

and we could hang them on the tree.

And then end the night with dancing.

I mean, obviously.

So.

What do we do now?

Do what we do best.

Make a plan, and then improvise.

Yeah.

Oh, nice, yes.

OK, do you have the presentation?

Yes, I have everything we need.

- OK, documents. - Are we going inside now?

OK. Come on.

- OK, OK. - OK.

- Hen, may we join you? - It won't take long.

Um, we are so sorry

for disrupting the meeting last night.

- Uh, completely unacceptable. - Yeah, we're mortified.

I don't know what we were thinking.

- Well, we weren't thinking right. - Right.

We are now.

We lost sight of why we wanted to produce events in

the first place.

Events can't be just about one person.

- They're about all of us. - Events make communities.

This is what Christmas is all about.

It's about forgiveness.

And finding your way back to your best friend.

And your best self.

And we would really love a chance to show you what

we can make happen.

If you would just give us one more shot at doing

the Spectacular together,

I promise we would not let you down.

Oh, we actually spent the morning just

jotting down some notes. You know, none of this is

set in stone, but we were really thinking that

this event could be something that we can use to

celebrate Sugar Heights.

We really tried to think through what the community

needs right now, you know, a sense of belonging,

a celebration of our history,

and hope for the future.

And we know that we don't deserve another chance,

but we really think that we could make

something special.

Well, it took you long enough.

You two were meant to be a team from the moment you met.

You know, I was starting to worry that you two wouldn't

- figure it out in time. - Did you set us up?

Wait, this was a plan?

Well, I just nudged you a little.

But the two of you had to get there, and I am glad that

you finally did.

Now, here is a list of the vendors on standby

for the Spectacular.

We have the history of attendance along with

the specifications of the venue and all of the paperwork

- that you might need. - Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Yes, Christmas Eve is exactly one week away.

The clock is ticking. Sugar Heights needs an event

that is for the ages.

Well, we'll make you proud.

It's going to be a spectacular Spectacular.

Well, go on, then. Get to work.

- Thank you. - Get to work.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh.

Ooh. Yes.

♪ La-la-la la-la-la ah-ah-ah ah-ah-ah ♪

♪ La-la-la la-la-la ah-ah-ah ♪

That one. Great choice.

♪ La-la-la la-la-la ah-ah-ah ♪

That's right. We need 50.

Five zero. Exactly.

On Christmas Eve.

♪ Oh, Santa baby, I can... ♪

What are you doing?

Well, it looks great in here.

Well, we've got a great team.

So what can I do? Don't say nothing.

Put me to work.

OK.

You could hang these snowflakes above the doorway,

I was thinking.

So they, like, flutter in the breeze when it opens.

Flutter, OK. Genius.

- I'm on it. - Thanks.

OK, drinks are confirmed.

I ordered 10% extra just in case.

Perfect.

I was thinking

do you remember when Han used to joke about making it snow

in Texas?

Well, I wonder if you, uh...

- Hey, Caleb. - What are you doing?

Huh? Yep.

Do you want to have dinner with April the day

after Christmas? Maybe 8 o'clock at Alejandro's?

- I'd love that. - Great.

It's a date.

There.

Now you have a plan. You can improvise the rest.

♪ Nothing else to do ♪

♪ No, nothing else to do it could get ♪

♪ Ninety-nine friends called up ♪

♪ Only one showed ♪

Hey, it's Isaac. Leave a message.

Hey Isaac, it's me.

Um...

I just wanted to say that

you were right

about a lot of things, um.

So I appreciate you giving it to me straight.

And I also wanted you to know that April and I are producing

the Spectacular together,

like right now.

So.

Thanks for the nudge in that direction.

Uh, OK, bye.

OK, what's next?

Let's see.

I think it's working.

People are looking at photos and telling stories.

It was a great plan.

I also never would have thought to just let people loose at

the ornament station, but Gayle seems to be having

- a great time. - Ho, ho, ho!

Merry Christmas!

Oh, OK. Looking good, Santa.

Yeah, yeah.

I thought I could wear this out on our date.

Oh, yes. Please, do that.

No, regular clothes will be just fine.

Thank you very much.

You sure? Because people are saying that they

dig the beard.

Hmm.

Well, the beard is cute, but not as cute

as what's underneath it.

Is that so?

You know it is.

Well, what I want to know is have you been naughty or nice

- this year? - Hmm.

You're just going to have to find out.

- Merry Christmas to me! - You better believe it.

What? I got game.

Hey!

Honey, this place looks incredible.

Well, thanks to you guys.

I really do appreciate all your help this week.

Hey, listen, just seeing you and April back together

again, it just makes me so happy.

You know, I'm just sorry that Isaac isn't here to see you.

Yeah, well, it didn't work out, but you know what?

It's OK.

Oh, hey, I got you guys something for Christmas.

Oh, you don't have to get us anything.

Wait a minute, baby.

The girl got us something for Christmas.

She got us something for Christmas.

What is it?

- I'm moving out. - What?

I signed a lease.

I will be out of your hair by January 1st.

Oh, honey. Congratulations.

What?

It's time, Dad.

What are we going to do without you?

You'll figure something out.

But, baby, we have so much fun together.

And we still can. I'll be 10 minutes away.

Come and rearrange your cupboards anytime.

All right, if you're sure.

- We're proud of you. - Thank you.

Oh, my goodness.

- Look at you. - Yeah.

- Oh, hold on. - OK.

- Dance with me, darling. - Always.

So what do you think?

I think that I have the most impressive daughter

in the world. This looks amazing.

Thank you, Mom.

And thank you for always having my back.

You were right.

And look,

I let people in.

Your father, your father would be proud, too.

So, saw Santa on my way in.

Do you think there'll be more of that Christmas cobbler

in our future?

I think there's a definite possibility.

- Well, OK then. - Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

You two have pulled off something very special

here tonight.

We could not have done it without you.

Well, you could have, but Lord knows how long

that would have taken.

We should sit down next week and talk about the future of.

H-Town Events.

I think I am leaving this community in some very

capable hands.

- Unless you think otherwise. - Oh, no, no, no.

- That would be awesome. - We would love to.

You're the whole reason that we want to do this in

- the first place. - We basically wanted to be you.

I hope that doesn't sound weird.

I'll take it as a compliment.

And let you two ladies get back to the show.

- Merry Christmas. - You too.

Merry Christmas.

- I mean. - I know.

- I can't. - Exactly.

I'm so glad we're doing this together.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

Whoo!

It is Christmas Eve, y'all.

We wrote you guys a little song about this very special

time of year and about this very special place that

- we call home. - We hope you enjoy it.

Merry Christmas.

♪ A Christmas with no snow, when we met at a show ♪

♪ We had a moment that changed us forever ♪

♪ One of us was so scared, feeling so unprepared ♪

♪ And the music brought us together ♪

♪ I'm bravest when with you ♪

♪ Merry, festive, and so true ♪

♪ And thank God that we'll always have Christmas ♪

♪ You're like Rudolph's red nose guiding Santa's sleigh ♪

♪ You're like the holiday chorus with the song to play ♪

♪ You're like whiskey and cider with the perfect spice ♪

♪ We go together be it naughty and nice ♪

♪ You're the finishing touch, the star on my tree ♪

♪ So grateful to Christmas 'cause it brought you to me ♪

♪ Thank you Christmas thank you Christmas ♪

♪ Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you Christmas ♪

♪ Great to sit next to the fire ♪

♪ Christmas lights so cozy and bright ♪

♪ We'll sing tunes together ♪

♪ And carol through the night ♪

♪ You're like Rudolph's red nose guiding Santa's sleigh ♪

♪ You're like a holiday chorus with a song to play ♪

♪ You're like a whiskey and cider with the perfect spice ♪

♪ We go together be it naughty or nice ♪

♪ You're the finishing touch the star on my tree ♪

♪ So grateful to Christmas 'cause it brought you to me ♪

♪ Thank you Christmas, thank you Christmas ♪

♪ Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you ♪

♪ Christmas ♪

♪ You're like Rudolph's red nose guiding Santa's sleigh ♪

♪ You're like a holiday chorus with a song to play ♪

♪ You're like a whiskey and cider with the perfect spice ♪

♪ We go together be it naughty or nice ♪

♪ You're the finishing touch the star on my tree ♪

♪ So grateful to Christmas 'cause it brought you to me ♪

♪ Thank you Christmas, thank you Christmas ♪

♪ Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you ♪

♪ Christmas ♪