Christmas in Homestead

• Pool Table for a Moment
• Caroling
• Tree Lighting Ceremony
• Bake Christmas Cookies
• Snowman
• Horse-Drawn Carriage
• Hot Chocolate
• Ice Skating
• Has a Christmas wish but if they tell what it is it won't come true
• Snowball Fight
• Snows
• Almost kiss about 25 minutes before end of movie

Director

• Steven R. Monroe

Producers

• Sydell Albert
• Griff Furst
• Stephen Furst
• Isaiah LaBorde
• Brad Southwick
• A. Troy Thomas

Cast

• Jeff Branson
• Taylor Cole
• David de Vries
• Rhoda Griffis
• Sylvia Jefferies
• Judd Lormand
• Michael Nardelli
• Aaron Quick Nelson
• Katrina Norman
• Kimberly D Norton
• Michael Rady
• Brooklyn Rae Silzer
• Brandhyze Stanley

REPORTERS"Yeah, there she is! Over here!" Hey guys good to see you as always. "Jessica! We just saw Vince Hawkins arrive. What's it like doing another film with your ex-boyfriend?" Ex-boyfriend, keyword ex! It's gonna be a great film. Bye guys." Jessica! One more! Roll down the window, one more please. Jess, come on, one more, one more, one more! Let's see! Let's see! Come on! Jessica, what can you tell us about Vince? Is he inside there? The proposal rumors true? One more! One more! Come on over the shoulder, please! Jess, oh you look stunning, stunning. Stunning, Jessica.

JESSICA'S PUBLICIST ROSALIE"Hey, Jess! What do you think?" Rosalie, what is that? "It's a Christmas tree." Yes it's beautiful. Why is it in my house? "Because it's almost Christmas and everyone needs a tree." We're spending the next 10 days in Iowa shooting a Christmas movie. I'm gonna see plenty of these trees. "OK, well, your co-star awaits you for the meeting... and Barbara just texted, she's two minutes away." A director that runs late, great.

MATTYou and Mom are going where? A river cruise in Europe? What about Christmas? Jeez, what are we gonna tell Sophie and Zoe, Dad? MATT'S SISTER ZOE: "Tell me and Sophie what?" Mom and Dad are skipping Christmas to go on a river cruise. ZOE: "Cool! Give it to me." All right, here's Zoe. ZOE: "Dad... yeah, we're very happy. Yes, even Matt is happy too! Aren't you big brother?" I'm not... ow! Ow, stop! Yes, I'm very happy Dad! ZOE: "See? No Dad stop worrying about the Lodge. It's why you left the business to us so you and Mom can go gallivanting around the globe!"

MATTHey Soph, Sophie... Hi. What are you watching? "The Asterlight Chronicles, Part Three: The Fires of Smeed!" That's the one about the dragon? "Dad, it's not really about dragons. It's about this girl, Helena Asterlight, who saves the world!" Who's that? "That's Jessica McEllis! She's like the most famous, prettiest actress in the world. And, she's gonna be staying here, in our lodge! Isn't that cool?" Yeah, it's cool. Could you turn this off for me, though? I gotta talk to you. "Dad!" Daughter! Thank you. So, Grandma and Grandpa aren't coming for Christmas this year. "But they're going to miss..." I know, Christmas morning, presents in our PJs, everything. "No! They're gonna miss Jessica!

ACTOR VINCE"That's a nice tree upstairs. Who's is it?" What do you mean whose is it? It's mine. "Yeah right, since when do you get a tree?" Since I felt like it. "Oh, Okay. Who needs a tree when they're going to Fiji again for Christmas with..." With my best girlfriend? Vince, you and I broke up. Jill's going in your place this year. "Ouch. Good for Jill though. So does that mean we have to keep things strictly professional on location?" This is my first time producing a movie. My first big thing after the Asterlight series and I can't have anything messing that up. "Classic Jessica." What does that mean? "It means you have every detail planned or always..." No I don't! "You do so!" Oh, excuse me, Mr. Play everything by ear! "You know if this were a movie this is where we would kiss?" Do you see a camera? "I do, bam, just a little peck on the cheek as a truce. It would be great PR for the movie." Vince! "That is going to be great on Instagram." That's not funny. I'm not kidding. Delete that right now. "Oh come on." Now. "OK, okay, I'm deleting..."

MATTWhat was that? "Be happy for Mom and Dad." I'm happy for them. Ow! Would you stop pinching me? I am, I'm very happy for them, I am. "You're just not good with change." That's not true at all. "Is this about the movie?" No. "Melanie? I know this was her favorite time of year." I'm fine with change, as long as something needs changing. Oh, come on, we gotta get going. The mayor can't be late for his own town hall meeting.

JESSICAHow are your kids gonna handle you going on location? "Oh, that's gonna be my husband's problem. It'll be Lord of the Flies for sure. But my problem is going to be 10 days of outdoor shoots in December in Iowa." Right. "Wait, the travel memo says you're arriving tomorrow." Yeah, my character grew up in the area. I just want to get a feel for the place. VINCE: "I don't need to get a feel for the place. I'm playing an inn keeper, it's not rocket science. I know because I played a rocket scientist who saved the world... I did!"

MATTSo, who else is in this movie? "Vince Hawkins, the action star. Dad, you should know this. "I should, I can't keep up with all this stuff. I'm busy raising a daughter, running a lodge, being mayor. "They're staying at our lodge. You should know everything about them!" I don't know everything about any of our other guests. "Dad, if you embarrass me in front of the movie stars..." ZOE: "Don't worry Soph, I'll make sure he doesn't do anything dumb." So are there are there any dragons in this movie that they're shooting here? "I just can't."

BARBARA"We'll need to be done by the 23rd. I think my family's gonna notice if I'm not home on Christmas Eve." ROSALIE: "Hey what about Christmas with your folks Jessica?" JESSICA: Rosalie, I'm taking Jill to Fiji. She just broke up with her boyfriend. ROSALIE: "All right, I'm just asking. I'm sure your folks would love to see you." JESSICA: And I'd love to see them too, but I bring too much drama with me. I already told them I can't come. Hey, um, are we good with the town? Someone said the mayor was unhappy. ROSALIE: "Yeah, they have these Christmas events, and he doesn't want us in the way." BARBARA: "But that's why we want to film in this town." JESSICA: Yeah, I would think they would be excited. Think of the publicity. Right?

MATTWe don't want that publicity. We don't want... PETE: "Mr. Mayor..." Pete, I've known you since I was born. Please call me Matt. PETE: "Mr. Mayor, this issue has already been decided by the town council." I just have to, the lighting of the tree, the snowman competition the sleigh rides, these are our traditions. It's our job to protect these. Okay what's more important? Hollywood coming in here and taking over the whole town and movie stars and... or our family? SOPHIE: "I want the movie stars." PETE: "Meeting adjourned! Let's go light the tree!"

JESSICAWhat if I messed up? What if I'm always just the pretty girl who did the Asterlight movies? "Hey! You are more than just the pretty girl. You are Jessica McEllis, Slayer of Dragons. Slay this one!"

JESSICAWow! Look at all the Christmas stuff. Wow, the crew has done a great job with the set decoration. "Jess, the crew doesn't get here until tomorrow." Wait, so all of this... "Yeah." The town did all of this? "They really like Christmas." Oh, hey! Gavin, pull over. "What are you doing?" It's a bakery. I want to get something for the crew. "Ooh, cupcakes!"

MATTMerry Christmas, Pauline. "Morning Matt. Are you here for your pies?" Yes ma'am. It isn't Christmas without Pauline's famous pumpkin pie. "You are so sweet. I've got them in the back, but I've got a little something extra for Sophie." Don't you do that. Stop that. You spoil her. You help yourself to some coffee behind the counter OK?" Thank you.

JESSICAOh hi. Can I get like a hundred cupcakes? "Oh I'm sorry, I don't" Chocolate, vanilla, red velvet. Do they have red velvet in Iowa? "You must be with the movie." Yes, yes, do you want an autograph? "Um, no thanks." Oh come on don't be shy. There you go. Don't go selling that on eBay! "Why would I sell this?" So, the cupcakes, can they be ready on Monday? That would be amazing. I'll pay extra. "Look you have to talk to..." I'll send someone back for them. That would be great. Thanks! Bye!

JESSICAWhatcha watching? "Asterlight: Dragon Wars." Huh, is it any good? "It's not the best one. "It's not? The Dark Forest is better. But my all-time favorite is Whoa! Oh man! Oh man! Oh wow, oh man!" Hi, I'm Jessica. What's your name? "Sophie Larson! I've seen all your movies. Well, not all of them. Dad wouldn't let me see The Heavy Heart because of the kissing, but I've seen the Asterlight movies 1 billion times." A billion? Wow, that's a lot. "I can't believe it's really you!" I can't believe it sometimes either!

JESSICASo, are you staying here? "No, I live here, on the other side of the lodge." Do your parents own the lodge? "My Dad and Aunt do."

MATT"Hi there. How are you?" SOPHIE: "Dad! Look, it's Jessica McEllis!" Oh! Okay. The whole autograph thing makes a little more sense now. SOPHIE: "Wait, you got her autograph? Where is it? I want to see it." JESSICA: So you don't work at the bakery? "No, no, I was just there picking up some pies for the Lodge." That you own. Got it. Sorry. "No, it's okay, I didn't know who you were either, so we're even. I'm Matt, and that's my sister Zoe. This is my daughter Sophie right here.

MATT"Welcome to the Homestead Lodge." Thank you, it's really beautiful. "Thank you, I appreciate that. We take a lot of pride in it. Um, Zoe has your keys and if you guys need anything else, don't hesitate to ask okay?" Oh, actually, could you help me maybe get in contact with the town's mayor? I hear he's a bit of a stick in the mud... and doesn't want us Hollywood types ruining Christmas. SOPHIE: "Dad is the mayor." You're the... "Stick in the mud, yeah, hi." Well, wow I'm so sorry.

MATTDo you think Jessica and Vince Hawkins are gonna get back together again? "No, why?" Oh nothing, it was just something I heard one of the photographers say. You know, they just, she can't come in here and just take over the town. I don't care how famous she is. "Being famous can't be easy." Right, no, you're right. The mansions, the private jets, it's gotta get tiring. It's gotta get really tiring." What about the constant spotlight, people climb trees to get pictures of her." They climb... "Mm-hmm. I'm just saying that underneath all that movie star stuff is a person." You're right. You're right. I'm not gonna let it bother me.

MATTTonight is the snowman competition and we are going to win this year. "Because it doesn't look like a snow blob every year." A what? A snow blob? "It's like, the body like, meh." If the body moved like that I think we'd win actually.

JESSICADo you think the kiss scene works? "What do you mean?" I mean, it's like, it only happens because she's nostalgic for the kind of Christmas she had as a kid. "Well, when you get to it, try something new. Improvise." Yeah, I don't improvise.

BARBARA"We have a problem. We've got a camera down." How long to get it fixed? "About an hour. But we're supposed to be done at 7:00." So we shoot with one, and it'll just take longer. "OK, but then that's gonna delay the snowman building competition." Oh, well, then no. We can't, we can't do it. Not after the Santa and the Christmas tree." Jessica, if we cut now. I don't know where we're gonna, I don't know where we're gonna make up the time. We are already pushing to get to the 23rd." ROSALIE: "Yeah, you're gonna go over budget." Don't worry about the budget. I'll take care of the budget. We'll figure something okay? I promised them no more surprises. "OK, you're the producer." Great.

JESSICAHello... "Hey." What's wrong? "Nothing, everything is great. Michael and I got back together. So I just want to let you know that." So, you're not going to Fiji with me. "No, I'm going to Florida with Michael to his parents' house. Please be happy for me." Babe, yeah, of course I'm happy for you. "I promise, I'll make it up to you." Um, hey, Jill? They're calling me back to set. I got it, I gotta go. Okay, love you bye.

MATT"Hi, I..." Hey! "Oh I'm so sorry. I don't want to, I don't wanna bother you. "No, no, no! Please come in. Have a seat. "Are you OK?" Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm fine, how can I help you? "I, um, wow, sorry, I'm sorry, this is a nice trailer though. Uh, I just wanted to thank you. Your publicist told me that you had gone out of your way to take care of us, with the snowman thing." Please, it's nothing. "I mean, I know all of our Christmas traditions probably seem a little silly to you, I mean, to anyone who's not from here." I don't think they're silly. In fact, I wish I had some. "Oh, hey." I'm sorry, I don't usually cry in front of strangers. This is... "I've done much worse in front of strangers." Like what? "Karaoke." Karaoke? Really? "Yeah, I was, it was pretty soon after my wife passed away, and I was in Chicago, it was a travel industry thing, anyway, there was a small karaoke bar there right and I started to feel very strongly about singing a Celine Dion song." Come on, really? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. This is all true. Fortunately, no videos have surfaced on the Internet yet so I think I got away clean. But now, you know about it. You are the only one who knows about it." Well, your secret is safe with me. Thank you. Yours, too, with me. Your, crying secret.

MATT"Anyway, thank you again for helping us out. You have some very, very grateful snowman out there." Good luck with the competition. "I think we're gonna need it, that's what I'm told anyway." Hey, uh, I just want to say thank you for talking to me. Made me feel a lot better. "Anyway, so, good night... Do you want to go with us? I mean, it's just me and Sophie and my sister were building a snowman." Uh, sure, yeah, give me a minute to change? "Yeah."

SOPHIE: We are in so much trouble. JESSICA: No, we're good, we got this. Let's just work on the body. MATT: No, that's the head. ZOE: Okay, time check time check. MATT: We got 20 minutes. SOPHIE: What? We're in so much trouble. JESSICA: Wow, this would be so much easier if it was an actor. Then we could just cover up all his flaws with hair and makeup and wardrobe... let's go!

JESSICAPut that trophy somewhere safe Sophie. "I'll be right up guys. I think she's going to sleep with that thing tonight." Tonight? You know when I won my Golden Globe I slept with it for a week. "You won a Golden Globe?" Wow, you really don't know who I am, do you? "No I do. No, no, no, no, I do. You, you were in that movie with the dragons and the other movie with the dragons." Dragons. Mm-hmm. Who could forget that one? "You're right. I don't know who you are." I'm Jessica McEllis. "Matt Larson. Nice to meet you. Jinx! That's what Sophie always says anyway I don't know. I'm not really sure what it means."

SOPHIE"What's Christmas like in Hollywood?" Well, warmer than this. MATT: "Oh, here. There you go." Thank you! "Do you spend it with movie stars?" Christmas? Sometimes. Yeah, there's usually a party going on somewhere. MATT: "Not this year?" No. No, I could spend it with my family, but I tend to mess up the holidays for them. I feel like they should be able to enjoy them without the burden of paparazzi or fans. "You can spend it with us." MATT: "Soph!" "It's a lot of fun. We have the festival of lights on Christmas Eve and then I go to bed early so I can get up and then we can open presents by the tree." Wow, that does sound like fun. MATT: "Sophie, I think Jessica has better things to do then spend her Christmas here in Homestead." "What's better than Christmas in Homestead? Look at it. It's like, perfect." Yes, it is!

JESSICASo what was Christmas like when you were growing up here? "Loud, it was loud. No, there was always people everywhere. Family, always singing and eating lots of food and opening presents, it was just always crazy." Yeah, that's the kind of Christmas I would like to have. For sure. SOPHIE: "So, why don't you?"

JESSICAAre you going to skate? "Who, me? No, no." Come on! You have too. "No, no, no! Know your limits, that's what I always say. I'm surprised you haven't heard me say that. I always say it. Uh, no, I asked Santa Claus for coordination, we'll see. He's very busy. What did you ask Santa for?" I don't know, I haven't really thought about it. I'm pretty lucky, I have everything I need. "It's not about what you need, it's about what you wish for. It's about..." Family? "Yeah, yeah, family."

SOPHIE"So, this is my room." Wow! This is cool. Look at that Asterlight poster. I look so strong in that picture! "You are strong." Well, I play a strong character. "What's the difference?" Well, a strong character makes a movie great, strong people make the world great. "When I grow up I want to be strong... and famous!" Famous for what? "Just for being me." Well, luckily that's why they created the Internet!

SOPHIE"So where are you going to spend Christmas this year?" At home, in Los Angeles. "Why?" Because that's where I live. "That's not what you said." What do you mean? In Asterlight: The Dragon's Lair you said home isn't where you live. It's where you love. It was my Mom's favorite one too." It was? "Uh-huh. She went to heaven when I was little so I don't really remember but Aunt Zoe told me that she really liked your movies... and now I do too." You know just because somebody isn't around doesn't mean they aren't thinking about you. "Really?" Sure. Look at Santa Claus. He only comes around once a year. The rest of the time he's thinking about you and keeping track of whether you're naughty or nice. "I'm nice." Of course you are... and he knows that too so when he comes for Christmas, he can bring you the perfect gift." Okay, that's cool." Do you know what you want for Christmas? "I think so." What? "I can't tell you. Christmas wishes are just between you and Santa." Got it. You're absolutely right. Well, whatever it is, I'm sure you're gonna get it.

VINCE"Jessica. I'm not acting." Your, I'm sorry you're not what? "In our scenes. When my character says that it's stirring up all these old feelings and how much she means to him, and when he says, I love you, I'm not acting." Oh, Vince. "Listen, listen, I know that we said we'd keep things strictly professional on location but, no, just give me one more chance. One more chance" Vince, I can't. "Why, why not? What, because of Mayor Matty?

ZOEPie! Yes please. "Here, it's all you. I'm done." You all right? "It's nothing. It's, just, it's dumb. I'm dumb." Well, most big brothers are. What specifically are you being dumb about? "Jessica." Jessica? You and Jessica? "You surprised?" Not as much as you might think. "I just thought I felt something between us. That was the first time since Melanie died and it's crazy, I mean it's crazy. Right? It's crazy... and Vince is here. I can't compete with Vince. I just can't. But even if Vince wasn't here, I don't know how, she would ever, yeah, so what do I do?" Be careful. "What do you mean? "People like her, they don't call them stars for nothing. They have a gravitational pull. It's easy to get caught up in that, but you have to deal with everything else in their orbit. "That's kind of a weird metaphor." Excuse me, that is a great metaphor! Stars! Movie Stars! Come on! "No, I get it, I get it. Here, I need more pie.

JESSICAWow, it is so beautiful here. I could get used to this. "Really?" Sure. It's nice being out of the spotlight for a change. "I'm sorry. You have a movie crew, paparazzi, security guard following you around all day every day. It's, it's the spotlight." Okay, all right, fair enough. But none of that's here now. "What about Vince?" What about him? "He still loves you." Yeah, and I love him. But I'm not in love with him anymore. "You sure? Because he's pretty stiff competition. I got nothing on that." No, it's not even close.

JESSICA"I'm sorry, we shouldn't." Yeah, no, no, I understand. "Look, you're leaving in a couple days." Right. What if I don't? "Don't what? Don't leave?" Maybe I should take Sophie up on her offer and stay for Christmas? See that festival of lights you mentioned. "Christmas ends. Even here in Homestead it does. So what then? Look, I know that you don't think that the spotlight is here, but it is. It was meant for you. It just wasn't meant for me." Yeah.

ROSALIE"Are you falling for this guy?" It doesn't matter if I am or not. He's not falling for me. "How do you know that." I offered to stay. "Stay? Here? Like forever?" No! Not, I just, I thought for Christmas. It was stupid. "Look, Jess, I get it. You're stressed about the movie and Vince and suddenly you have this warm and fuzzy Christmas story come to life with the beautiful family sleigh rides and..." You're worried about my career. "No, I'm worried about my friend. Give it all up and go live on a mountain and raise goats. I don't care as long as you're happy. But the story about the famous actress finding true love at Christmas in a small town? That's the plot of a movie, not real life." So what am I supposed to do? Go back to LA? Go back to Vince? "No! Oh, no. Because if you do that, then I'll go give it up and raise goats." Ahh, I really do like him.

MATTWhat am I going to do? What's the town going to think! I mean, what are Mom and Dad going to think! "Of you kissing a movie star? Gosh, they're probably already having it made into Christmas cards." Stop, stop. This is what you warned me about. The stars gravitational pull. "I thought you didn't like that metaphor. " Oh, it's really making sense now.

MATTI don't like change remember? "Matt you know I always found the Christmas presents before you had wrapped them?" What? No you didn't. "Really? Because that cute watch you got me under the tree over there Begs to differ." Are you kidding me. "The point is you and I like to know what's coming next. I get it. But the difference is you always want it to be the same thing, over and over. What if you had to open up the same Christmas present every year?"

VINCE"I didn't realize how much of a drag this ending is." Yeah, well we're not making a romantic comedy where everyone lives happily ever after. "Oh, Oh that's true." Yeah. "Maybe they do though. Right? Maybe after the movie, maybe they both realize how dumb they are and they wind up together." How very sentimental of you. "Yeah, yeah. I guess even I have my moments, right?"

VINCE"Speaking of, you haven't said a word about my Christmas present yet." What do you mean? "You haven't seen it?" No! "You haven't seen it." Oh boy! What! Why did you do this? "I had Ian Carter help me sell that photo to the tabloids along with the story that we're dating again." Why? "Because everybody wants to know who J-Mac is dating... and now that bunch of photographers is following me around and not Matt... and we're headed back to LA in the morning. A huge part of me wishes that this could actually be true. But just because I don't make you happy doesn't mean I don't want you to be happy." Vince I don't know what to say. "Dinner? Hey, how about Merry Christmas?" Merry Christmas Vince. "Merry Christmas Jess."

MATTHey you can't be looking at this stuff. "Why not?" It's grown-up stuff. "It's not like it's real. Jessica doesn't love Vince." And you know that how? "Can you keep a secret?" Of course I can. What's up? "It's what I asked Santa for, for you to fall in love." With Jessica. "No. Santa must have just figured that part out on his own. But, you love her right? "It's not that simple. "Shouldn't it be?"

MATT"Hey Jessica! Jessica!" Hey. "Stay." What? "Stay here, for Christmas. Look, we've been making this much harder than it has to be. I've been making it much harder than it has to be. I was just so worried about keeping things the same and I couldn't see that things could be much better if they changed." Matt hi. "Look, I know it's tricky with your career and with Vince, I don't know how it's gonna, we'll figure it out. I mean, we have to try. Jessica, I'm falling in love with you. I am. Choose me, choose us. Stay."

JESSICABut maybe that is enough. Wow I forgot what it was like to be loved. What it's like to feel like I was a part of something. Part of a community. Part of a family. I spend so much time keeping people out that I forgot what it was like to let people in. This is when we're supposed to be with the people we love. That's what Christmas is really about. Ask me again. There's only one thing I want for Christmas and that's for you to ask me again. Don't plan, don't think just act. Ask me to stay.

JESSICAAsk me again. "Stay." Yes! Yes!