Christmas Getaway

• Drink from Empty Coffee Cups
• Snows
• Car Problem? It's the Alternator
• Go to Christmas Tree Farm
• Ice Skating
• Decorate Christmas Tree
• Angel on Top of Christmas Tree
• Candy Cane
• Snowman
• Eggnog
• Makes Gingerbread House
• Put up Christmas Lights
• Almost kiss about 25 minutes before end of movie but get interrupted
• Stockings
• Caroling
• No Exes Involved

Director

• Mel Damski

Producers

• Harvey Kahn
• Kelley Feldsott Reynolds

Cast

• Michelle Choi-Lee
• Keith MacKechnie
• Kiefer O'Reilly
• Dan Payne
• philip-prajou
• Bridget Regan
• Teryl Rothery
• Alvin Sanders
• xsarah-smyth
• Travis Van Winkle

EMORYIt's called risgrynsgrot... which is basically Christmas rice porridge. But the best part? Based on Swedish Christmas tradition, whoever finds the almond will be married within a year. All right, good luck!

EMORYI love sharing all the different holiday traditions that I've experienced. You know my editor thinks that I should write them all down and publish them in a book. "Yeah that's a good idea. You always have the most interesting stories." Perk of being a travel writer. That and global entry will get me past the airport lines.

EMORY'S BOYFRIEND"Listen, my parents called yesterday and they want me in Boston for Christmas and I want to be with them. It's Christmas Em, and being with my family is an important tradition for me and I would love to have you there." You know I'm more transient than traditional. "Yeah, I know. I mean, people probably always tell you that one day you'll settle down, but I don't know that you will. At least, not with a regular guy like me."

EMORYSo, we broke up! Which doesn't seem to surprise you. "You can't fake chemistry, especially when half of the couple is rarely in town." That's because someone who I'm pointing at right now keeps sending me out on assignments. "Would you like me to stop?" No, I love it. "I do know that, though I don't know how you do it." Experience. I grew up living out of my suitcase. I guess I'm used to it. "And as your editor, I love that about you. As your friend..." Say it. "I want you to get that almond." That would require me to stay in one place for an extended period of time. "One day you're going to find someone who will make you want to do exactly that. I did. Speaking of, you're welcome to join Keith and me for Christmas. The kids will be over the moon to have Auntie Emory there." Aww, I love them, but I was thinking about renting a cabin up in the mountains and relaxing before someone sends me on my next assignment. "You're going to be alone? On Christmas?" It's not the first time I'll be okay!

SCHOOL MOM ALICE"You can't get that tie off fast enough." Reminds me I spent all day in court. "Oh please you spend 90% of your time in jeans." One of the perks of leaving the corporate counsel world behind. "Oh, maybe I should give it a try"

SCHOOL KID"So you stay at a hotel for Christmas?" Uh-huh, my Nana comes over, we open presents, and then we go to a hotel for brunch. What do you and your Mom do? "We go to Pine Grove. It's my favorite place for Christmas, like, ever. Have you ever gone?" No." You've got to. There's sledding, ice-skating, and we get to chop down our own tree." Really? "Yeah, it's so much fun!

SCOTTKaty! "Dad! Do you have to go back to work?" Nope, I'm done for the holidays, and I figured we could do some Christmas shopping today.

ALICE"What are you guys doing for Christmas?" Uh, we'll probably just go to brunch with my Mom. "That sounds fun." Yeah, it's fun right? "Some year you guys should try and get out to the mountains. It really brings out that Christmas spirit." Yeah, maybe someday.

VERONICA"So, about your trip to the cabin in the mountains. How much relaxation do you actually need?" Are you about to give me an assignment right before my vacation? "Here's the deal. Phil Laskert was supposed to give me an article to publish online for Christmas Day, but he apparently is stuck on an ice floe in the Antarctic." Again? "So I'm in a bit of a pickle." Hey, did I ever tell you about the German tradition of the Christmas pickle? "And that's why you're going to write me a 2,000 word article on an old-fashioned American Christmas." An old-fashioned American Christmas? That's both broad and vague. "Think of it as an opportunity to sit back and reflect on all the Christmas traditions you missed growing up and I'm going to need it on the 23rd.

TRIVIA:It's called an Ice Floe not an Ice Flow.
An ice floe is a sheet of ice that's floating.

VERONICA"As an incentive and because I'm also awesome, I booked you a cabin in Pine Grove. My treat!" This is bribery. "Yes, yes, it is!"

SCOTTI know that look. What's up? "I was just thinking that maybe we could do something different this Christmas." Like different how? "Like not a hotel for brunch." Hey, hey, hey. What's going on? "We had an assignment in class today. We could write about anything. I started thinking about Christmas." Oh yeah? "No, I mean, like the ones we used to have with Mom. We'd go up into the mountains, and have snow, and everything smelled like Christmas trees." You remember that? "It's fuzzy but yeah."

SCOTTThat was your Mom's favorite. I suppose you have someplace in mind?

SCOTT'S MOM"Pine Grove?" Apparently her best friend from school has been talking about it nonstop. She even made this bucket list of things to do to make it the best Christmas and most of them involve snow. "Oh Scott, this is so adorable. I don't think we actually spent a Christmas in a cabin in the woods." Or we could just stay here you know? I mean the important thing is that we're together. "Yeah but that's not what Katy asked for, and she asks for so little. Tell you what. Why don't I get this as a Christmas present for you and Katy?" Mom! "No, I insist. I'm going to find the most charming cabin in Pine Grove for both of you to stay in."

SCOTTI'm not letting you be alone for Christmas. If you don't go, we don't go. "Scott!" Mom! KATY: "Please Nana!" "Now, how am I supposed to resist that?" You're not! "Oh, of course I'll go."

EMORYHi Dad! "Hey there, Pumpkin!" How's Hong Kong? Well, we just got here a little while ago. Not too late for you to join us." You'll be in meetings the entire time, and Mom will be on the phone dealing with her charities. "Boy it's as if you've met us before." Once or twice. "Mom says hi." Hi Mom! No, I'll wait till we can take a real vacation together, maybe in the spring? "All right, done. We'll look forward to that.

EMORY'S DAD"So, what are you doing for Christmas huh? Are you going to be jetting off to some far corner of the globe?" Actually, I've rented a cabin up in Pine Grove. "Pine Grove? Haven't been there since you were little." I've been to Pine Grove? "You have. We went there together for Christmas one year. You were maybe four or five I think? I don't know, it was before I started the company." I don't remember that. "I do. Might've been the last old-fashioned Christmas we had together." We had an old-fashioned Christmas? "We did. Once upon a time."

EMORYIt's like I stepped into another world made entirely of Christmas. "Did I mention the guy that I rented the cabin from also runs the candy store?" Uh, you didn't but somehow it makes perfect sense. "Maybe it'll be good for your writing. Have you figured out your angle on the article yet?" Uh, nope. "Well, don't overthink it. Just experience it. It'll come." Well, that's just it. I haven't experienced it. I mean not the way that people think of it here. Italy, Brazil, Tibet? Sure, but snowman and Santa? I got nothing.

SCOTT"Ow my knee! What the!" You have 10 seconds to get out of here. "What just happened?" Seriously, I know Krav Maga and I'm not afraid to use it. KATY: "There's a sledding hill out there! Whoa!" "It's okay honey, it's okay." You broke in with a kid? KATY: "We didn't break in! We used a key!" "We're renting this place." This is my place!

KATYSo we're all going to stay here! "No!"

HAL"Oh dear. I am truly, truly sorry. I don't know how... Skip, put the licorice on the top shelf... this happened."

EMORYIt's a mystery! "The important thing here is that we have a place for Miss Blake to stay." Oh, you're just going to assume that I'm the one that's going to give up the cabin? "I have a kid." Seriously? You don't even hesitate to play the kid card? "My Mom comes in tomorrow." Yeah, well your confirmation says that you booked just two days ago, which means I booked first. "There are three bedrooms in this house, which is too big for one person, I rest my case." Are you an attorney? "I am." That makes me want to stay put even more. "What do you do?" Travel writer. "Perfect. I'm sure you're accustomed to accommodation inconveniences." Yep, so I can tell you from experience that you're going to have no trouble finding someplace else.

HAL"I'm terribly sorry, but there are no other cabins. Pine Grove is booked solid at Christmas months in advance. The only reason Cedar Bluff was available was because of a last-minute cancellation." Okay, what about someplace else? "I called around as soon as you told me what happened. There's nothing. I am so terribly sorry."

SCOTT"Hey are you sure you don't want to sleep upstairs in the extra bedroom?" Oh, no. Your Mom's coming tomorrow. This way the room will be nice and fresh for her. Besides, I like sleeping next to a fire. Next to the net of a catamaran in the Caribbean, I'd say it's my favorite place to sleep. "The net of a catamaran?" Don't knock it. Once you fall asleep with Orion coming over the ocean horizon, you realize you just fulfilled a dream you never knew you had. "All right I'm starting to get a sense of who you are. You're adventurous." I am. "Rarely in one place for too long." All my life. "Army brat?" Sort of, minus the Army. My parents worked in international finance. I grew up traveling my whole life... and tomorrow I'm hitting the road again. "Thanks again for letting us stay." No, thank you. "Sleep well." Good night.

EMORYWhy do you have a saw? "Well, cutting down a tree with my bare hands is ineffective." Ha ha, don't quit your day job counselor. KATY: "Were getting our Christmas tree!" "There is a tree farm near town where you can cut down your own Christmas tree." KATY: "And I've wanted to do this my whole life." Ha! That long huh? KATY: "Have you ever cut down a Christmas tree?" I have to say, in my whole life, I have not. Is it fun? "Well we're about to find out." KATY: "It's our new tradition." Isn't that an oxymoron? "So, we've never done it before, but the tradition is old." Right! Old-fashioned. Which I saw on your list in there. I took a little peek. It's very thorough. "Very long as well, so we're going to get going." Right, um, so, here's the deal. I have to write an article about an old-fashioned, American Christmas, and, uh... I haven't been in the states for Christmas in, well, forever. So. "What are you trying to say?" Could I, tag along? Just to observe. "You want to observe our Christmas?" Just to get some inspiration? I think your list is exactly what I need. KATY: "Christmas is for sharing." See? Right there. That's what I'm talking about. "Yeah, fine, observe." Great! Thank you.

EMORYYou know, I think Alice thought it was a good looking tree too, amongst other things. I'm just saying, she's very pretty and, very interested in you. "She is a parent at Katy's school." See how much you guys have in common? "It's not like that." Okay. "The thing is, I haven't really dated in a long time. My wife passed away when Katy was six." Oh, I'm so sorry. I just assumed "But Katy told me that Christmas in the mountains was the one thing she could remember about her Mom." Now I see. "And so she came up with this list" And that's why you're here. "That's why we're here.

KATY"Nana's going to love this tree." All right, what do we have on that list?" "Building a Gingerbread House." EMORY: Oh! I saw that there's a gingerbread house contest in town. "Dad, we have to do it!" "Oh, we have to? It's a requirement?" "Yes! It's number four." "All right, what else do we have to look forward to." "Baking cookies, hanging lights around the cabin. Also, ice skating." "Oh good, I saw a rink on the way in." "Do you ice skate?" EMORY: Um, I've watched a lot of ice-skating when I lived in Finland. "It's not really the same thing." You think?

SCOTT"Date is just a figure of speech." One often associated with going on a date. "Yeah, but it's, I mean, it's not a date." Right. Little pro tip from a woman's POV... she thinks it's a date!

VERONICA"So, what are you doing now? Following them around and taking notes?" No, I'm participating in parts of Katy's Christmas list. I told you, I cut down the tree... and I'm very proud. "Is it helping? With the article?" You know, it is actually. I had a mostly productive morning. "That's encouraging." You know and it's been fun! "Really?" Yeah, I mean bruises from the ice-skating aside. Plus, it was very entertaining watching Scott try to pretend this whole Alice Nutcracker thing isn't a date when it so obviously is.

VERONICA"That doesn't bother you does it?" What? No. I mean sure he's a nice guy. I'll be it pretty goofy at times but you know he should date whoever he wants. "And you're sure that's not you?" I'm sure. Anyway I'm leaving just as soon as his mother gets here. "What's keeping you there now?" Oh, well, I promised Katy that I'd help her decorate the tree, once her grandma gets here which is the quintessential Christmas experience right? "Especially with a cute kid and her handsome single father." I never said he was handsome. "Is he?" Only in the most conventional sense of the word. "Meaning obvious to those who have eyes." Correct. "So, he's handsome." Correct. "And you like him. I believe the word you're searching for is is correct.

EMORYVeronica, if you could see this woman, he doesn't realize he's going on a date with, I mean, she's perfection. "Nice dodge, and no one's perfect." Alice is close. She's pretty, and nice, and has her own cute kid, I mean, she's exactly what a guy like Scott would want." But do they have chemistry? Because like I said, you can't fake chemistry.

KATY"Did you see the Christmas tree?" "It's beautiful." "Emory cut it down." "Did she now." "She travels a lot. She's had Christmases all around the world, but she hasn't had a Christmas in America for a long time." EMORY: Yeah, so long that I can't even remember the last time I celebrated here. "Well then I'm so glad our family could share it with you."

SCOTT'S MOM"I am going to talk Scott into making a roast for Christmas dinner." Ooh, that sounds amazing, but I'm out of here just as soon as my car is fixed. HAL: "And when the bridge is repaired." The bridge? HAL: "It's out! That's why I brought Marilyn up the back way, by ATV." Seriously? HAL: "They should have it fixed first thing in the morning. KATY: "That means you get to stay here longer!"

EMORYWhat do you guys think about putting some of these on the Christmas tree? "Candy canes!" One of my first Christmas memories was one of our neighbors in Berlin, their tree was just covered in them. It was so festive. SCOTT: "So you do have a Christmas tradition after all." I guess so. Hadn't thought of it like that. KATY: "I love that idea." SCOTT: All right, we've got to make sure we get them all on the tree." All of them? Where's the fun in that?

EMORYI haven't wrapped this many presents since I spent a semester with the Marcoux family in Belgium, all eleven of them. "Oh my! And what about your parents. Do they celebrate?" Yeah, they do just from you know wherever we are in the world which isn't usually the states. "When Scott was growing up, Christmas was our favorite time of year. I would cook for days. We would roast chestnuts, and I would make sure the house was thoroughly decorated of course. We haven't done that in years, not sense..." That must've been so hard. "Yeah it was. Scott just seems a little lost ever since. No that's not the right word, it's more, protective... of Katy, and himself." Well, that's understandable. "But it's not sustainable. He used to be so much more free. I just want him to get back to that, be a bit more open." Well, maybe he'll meet someone.

EMORYThe garage called and they're going to bring my car by here tomorrow afternoon. SCOTT: "So you're leaving? KATY: "No! But, she's going to be alone!" Wouldn't be my first time. SCOTT'S MOM: "Stay. I mean, you're clearly having fun." The company has made it wonderful. SCOTT'S MOM: "Then keep the company." KATY: "Dad?" SCOTT: "It's up to Emory." As long as I get my article done I don't suppose it could hurt. KATY: "Yes!" SCOTT: "Great."

SCOTT"How goes the article?" Slowly, but at least it's going. What about you? You got some work waiting for you when you get home? "Plenty when all is said and done." Corporate law? "Good guess. But wrong. Uh, good guess once. "Oh, so you once did corporate law. "Once. I worked every single minute I could and far more than I should." What happened? "Lisa. You know she always begged me to work fewer hours, and I never listened and after she was gone, everything shifted."

SCOTT"All right, so what can we do to make the most amazing gingerbread house ever?" KATY: "An ice rink in the backyard!" SCOTT'S MOM: "Yes! I'll make blue frosting." SCOTT: "Perfect. I think we need a fallen ice skater on the ice too just for authenticity." EMORY: That's mean. Haha SCOTT: "Okay, what else?" EMORY: We need pine trees. We can use pretzel sticks with dyed green Rice Crispies, or popcorn for the leaves. If all else fails, we can just use an overturned sugar cone with green gum drops. SCOTT: "How do you know all this?" We lived next to a bakery when I lived in London. You'll find I'm a wealth of trivial information like that. SCOTT: "As I'm learning." KATY: "What about the roof?" SCOTT'S MOM: "Oh I know, why don't we use graham crackers? Or brown frosting, or we could even use some almonds, you know, as shingles." EMORY: Not almonds. SCOTT'S MOM: "Why?" EMORY: It's a long story. Are you familiar with Swedish Christmas porridge? Let's just say I'm recently single because of it. SCOTT: "Interesting." SCOTT'S MOM: "We could use white frosting and put snow all around it. What do you think?" EMORY: Perfect I love it. Snow everywhere. SCOTT'S MOM: "Everywhere."

SCOTT"You want to hear a crazy idea about what would make me very happy right now?" What? "Going home, making tea, working on our gingerbread house." Okay, so it's not just me because I have been thinking about using a chocolate bar for a front door all night! "Gingerbread nerd." I just think you're jealous that you didn't think of it first. "Guilty. All right, I'll get the girls." I'll get the coats!

SCOTTI'm so proud of you sweetheart. "We did it together." Yeah, but without your suggestion, we'd still be in San Francisco instead of snuggling trophies. "Can we come here next year?" You bet. "Can we invite Emory?" Ah, yeah I doubt that's going to happen, sweetheart. "Why? She's been a part of everything and a big part of why this is so much fun." It's true. She is an unexpected plus, but you know she has her own life, a very full life, which I'm sure will take her someplace else next year. "We can still ask her." Get some rest.

SCOTT"Where's Orion?" Um, right there. "As pretty as that is, this isn't a catamaran in the Caribbean. I would advise sleeping indoors tonight. It is cold." Yeah, I noticed. Fortunately I have a fireplace I get to snuggle up next to and get some more writing done. "Oh, you finally figured it out?" Yes. The hard part now is keeping it under 2000 words. "That's good news isn't it?" Yeah, it is. For the article, and for this book idea that I've been flirting with for the last couple of years. "Oh well, now I'm intrigued." You can read it when it's done.

SCOTT"How does it feel? To get it going again." Good! You know, which isn't always the case with writing, well, it hasn't been for me lately. "Really? I thought you loved it?" I do. But lately I've been thinking about, you know, taking a break from so much traveling and just focusing on the book. "That's funny. Recently, I've been thinking the exact opposite. How now Katy's getting older and how she can appreciate going out and seeing the world. She's so curious. "That's important you know. It's how we grow. "Yeah, I feel like I forgot how to be curious, you know? I forgot how to be open. I feel like I've been locked up. A lot. When Katy suggested we come here, my first instinct was to say no, and that never used to be me." Well, I'm glad you said yes. "Yeah?" Yeah. I wouldn't have met you otherwise.

EMORY'S DAD"Emory? Is everything OK?" Everything's fine. I just finished my article and I just wanted to say hello. "Well in that case congratulations and hello. How is Pine Grove?" Oh, it's just beautiful. Oh, and remember how I emailed you about the whole cabin mixup? Well, I actually ended up staying with the family and we've been going around doing as many old-fashioned Christmas traditions and things we can think of and it's just been Magic." Christmas magic?" Yeah! Christmas magic! And it, um, it got me thinking. "Yeah what about?" Traditions. Why don't we have any Christmas traditions? "But we do." We do? "Sure. For both your Mom and me, the most important tradition was that we're always together for Christmas. No matter where in the world we were, it was always the three of us, side-by-side." Yeah, the three musketeers. "Exactly" but we aren't anymore. "Well we always invite you to join us, but you've got your own life to lead now Emory... and I'm proud of you for that." Dad? "Yeah, what is it sweetie?" Can we make sure the three of us are together next Christmas? Maybe come up here to Pine Grove? "I'd like that. I think that's a great idea.

SCOTT"Very important s'mores question - the marshmallow: Do you scorch, slow roast, or, please say no, leave it uncooked?" Okay don't think I'm weird, but I've never actually had a s'more. "Say what? Wow. All right well that is soon to be rectified." Good. "And by the way, the answer is slow roast." Ah, slow roast. Filed away.

VERONICA"Hey." Help. I'm spinning. "Scott? But you almost kissed." Yeah, but we didn't. Now he's talking to perfect Alice and they look happy and perfect with their laughing and their touching arms and their perfectly suited lives. "Oh, I do not miss this part." I just keep thinking about what William said how no regular guy would want to date me because I travel too much. "That's not how I remember you telling it." Especially a regular guy with a kid. "OK look. Focus. Communication is key. Go to Scott and tell him exactly how you're feeling, and see if he feels the same way." What? Are you crazy? No one does that! "Fine. Then kiss him. You'll find out one way or the other." Okay, so uh, rapture or mortification, these are my options? "Welcome to love."

SCOTT'S MOM"You and Emery, however." I thought I would never feel this again. "You do!" Yeah! Mom, you don't think being drawn to someone else is a betrayal? "No. No I don't. I think it's the most natural thing in the world if it's the right person. Is she?" Oh, she might be. "Then don't wait Scott. Never ever postpone the chance for joy if you get it, all right? Promise me." I promise, but that goes for you too. Okay you've spent a lot of your time taking care of me and Katy.

VERONICA"OK calm down." I am calm. Crushed, embarrassed, and heart sick, but calm. "Why are you embarrassed?" Because it's always embarrassing when you put yourself out there for another person. "But you didn't. Not really." That's not true. "No, you did the whole subtextual I like you do you like me thing with your eyes but you never actually put yourself out there by telling him how you feel, or kissing him." And it turns out that's a good thing because I now have a tiny sliver of dignity onto which I'm now clinging thank you.

EMAIL:To Emory,
Thank you for helping me make the best Christmas. Katy.

EMORYYou we're right. "Emory? I can barely hear you." I said you were right. I never really put myself out there. I never told him how I felt. I just bolted. "Honey I think you're saying really important things especially the part about me being right, but the reception is awful." Veronica? Veronica, can you hear me? I'm on a road just outside of Pine Grove. "Emory? Emory!"

SCOTT"You've really gotta think about getting a new car." You think? "Come on." How did you know? "Your friend called Hal and Hal called me... and I came looking." Well thank you. "We're not in the clear yet. I mean this visibility is dangerous. I almost turned back." Why didn't you? "I care about you. You know, until we can see clearly again we're gonna have to wait this out here. So it looks like your stuck with me a little longer." I'm sorry about all this. I know it isn't exactly part of your Christmas plans. "I just I don't know why you left." I told you my editor gave me a new assignment. "Hey come on Emory. Something happened! Just be honest with me. Tell me, why did you leave?" I was trying to make it easier for you. "Easier?" I heard you talking to Marilyn about me. How we're not suited for each other. So I decided to get out of Dodge so to speak. "I said that about Alice. Whom, let the record show, I have zero romantic interest in." But she's perfect. "Not for me."

SCOTT"You know, I happen to notice that your car is facing north instead of south." I was headed back to the cabin. I got the email from Katy, with the photos... "I saw it too." I tried to convince myself that what I was feeling, wasn't true. But then she captured it. "Yeah. She did. Let me be perfectly clear with you. You captured all of my attention from the moment you threatened me with Krav Maga." That's what you get for crashing my vacation. "You crashed mine." Scott, I've never felt this way about anyone before. "It feels right." So we're in this together? "All the way."

KATY"Emory! You came back!" Well rumor has it the best Christmas ever is happening here so how could I miss that? "You couldn't." Nope. Wouldn't miss it for the world.

EMORYIt's called risgrynsgrot! HAL: "Is this the Swedish tradition with the almond?" You know it? HAL: "I travel a lot with my mother. In fact, you'll meet her Marilyn, she's coming on the April cruise! SCOTT'S MOM MARILYN: "Oh." SCOTT: "Wait, you're going?" SCOTT'S MOM MARILYN: "I am... Ok, now what exactly is this tradition all about? HAL: "Whoever finds the almond will be married within a year."

SCOTT"Well, what do you say?" I like this tradition. "Me too."

KATYBest Christmas Ever!

THOUGHT:At the end Emory says she wouldn't miss this Christmas for the world. Which was literal.

THOUGHT:They never baked Christmas cookies which was on the list.