Director

• Alex Zamm

Producers

• Alexandre Coscas
• Eric Jarboe
• Brad Krevoy

Cast

• Lacey Chabert
• Diana Dumitrescu
• Simon Dutton
• Katherine Flynn
• Stephen Hagan
• Kate Loustau
• Mitchell Mullen
• Katrina Nare
• Mihai Niculescu
• Jane Seymour ⭐

EMILYMay I help you? "Your Christmas decorations Ma'am. "Oh, I think you have the wrong apartment, I ordered Chinese food. "Really? At 9 AM?" Yeah, don't you eat Chinese food with your pancakes? "What type of pancakes? Blueberry? Chocolate Chip? Banana?" No, no, no. None of that nonsense. Just original homemade buttermilk pancakes. "Ohh! I think I'm in love with you." Well, you might as well just come in then.

LEO"Emily Taylor and pancakes. What else is there? Except maybe Bacon?" You ate all the bacon. "When?" Yesterday. Three BLTs! "Oh yeah those were great. "Oh, wait we have to toast to our first Christmas together. "The first of many!"

COWORKER TONI"Okay, what exactly did he say?" Is that he needed to tell me something. "What in a public place? People break up with people in public places. Where?" Chez Louis. "Ahh, that's good! People propose at Chez Louis. I know three people that got engaged there." Look I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. "Are we?" Okay you know what? If he breaks up with me, then you can hold the Kleenex and if he proposes, then you can be my bridesmaid.

LEO"Hey, thanks for coming." Of course. Wow this is so formal. It's kind of unlike you. "Emily I'm not quite sure how to say this." Okay, now you're making me nervous. "There's been a change of plans. I can't stay here for Christmas." Is everything OK? "Yes and no. It's kind of a family thing. "Oh, I understand. "No you don't, um, I should've told you this as soon as we met, but we got along so well and you liked me for me and then we fell in love with each other and then time started flying by and it kept getting harder and harder to tell you." Oh, no, you're already married. "What?" Are you married? "No, no... I'm, a Prince." Wait what? "I'm Prince Leopold of Cordinia." Hahaha, I'm sorry. Wait, what's, where, what's Cordinia? "It's a small sovereign state near the south of France." So you're not Leo James. "No, no, no, no, no I am. Just with a few more names: It's Leopold James William Henry Quincy Archibald Devlin the Fourth."

EMILYSo what was this? I mean us? It was pretend? "No, no, no. It's quite the opposite. I feel that my entire life before you was pretend." But it's like I don't even know you. "I'm still the same person." No, no, you're not. Leo, the Leo I know, wears jeans and watches reruns and eats pancakes..." I eat pancakes in Cordinia!

LEO"Look, I am so sorry. You don't know how much I wanted to tell you, but I had a ridiculous promise with my mother. The only way she would let me study abroad with no bodyguards or handlers is if I kept my identity a secret. Then I met you and everything changed. Can you ever forgive me?" Maybe one of you, I haven't met the other one. "Well come home with me for Christmas and you'll see. I promise that Leo James and Prince Leopold they're the same person. Please." And you promise you're not married? "I swear on the royal crest.

BUTLER"Your tea, Your Majesty." You are pouring from the wrong side. "You might ease up on them. Will and Olivia are new. They'll get it right." Well, alert me when they do and we'll commemorate with an oil painting! What happened to the previous footman? The same thing that happened to the previous three: You.

THE QUEENThe tea is tepid!

EMILY'S FATHERLeo, I don't know whether to shake hands or bow. "Oh come here." Leo, you don't mind do you, sign this photo for the shop wall? "Anything for the shop wall!" Oh, this is going right next to Sylvester Stallone's brother! "Wow, that means a lot."

EMILY'S FATHER"Now you have a good time. What's the matter?" I don't know, what if he doesn't like me? How do I know if he's gonna like me? "Who couldn't like you? You just be yourself. Be proud of who you are, because I am. You're my princess." I love you. "I love you. Have a good time."

THE QUEENLeopold! You're here at last... and wearing someone else's clothes. Were you robbed? "Good to see you too, Mother." Is it? Because if it was, you would've come home more often.

EMILYI brought you a gift from Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. "Oh, how thoughtful and unexpected. A cracked bell. "Oh, it's the Liberty Bell. "And a bald man with glasses." Benjamin Franklin. "I find it fascinating that you're Mr. Franklin has been credited with discovering electricity when in fact, it was discovered 150 years prior by William Gilbert, an Englishman." LEO: "Only you could find fault in Benjamin Franklin mother."

TRIVIA:William Gilbert is called the father of electricity, he discovered static electricity. Electrical current and actual applications of it came much later. Benjamin Franklin developed the electrical theory of positive and negative charge that led to using it for stuff.

EMILYOh, I think I have a sweater just like this only it's not as nice. "This is Wheaties. Mother is very attached to her dogs." THE QUEEN: "Well they're very loyal and they don't leave home."

LEO"Emily's a clothes designer. She made the dress she's wearing." "Oh, and what label do you design for?" EMILY: Well none yet, but I just finished a line of dresses and jackets and hoodies that I have really high hopes for. "Hoodies? Well, the world awaits!"

LEO"Sorry, that was excruciating." Nah, I'll live. It's just a flesh wound. "And now you know where the term royal pain comes from." Hahaha, how did you grow up to be so normal? "Well she wasn't always like this. Since father died, I'm all she really has left." And her kingdom. "Yeah, but she can control them."

EMILYToni, hi! "Where are you at this very moment?" The gold room. "There's a gold room?" Yes, and 117 rooms in other colors. Toni, it is an honest to goodness real life castle. "So how's Leo's mom?" Well remember how I always said I missed out on having a mother? Yeah, I might've changed my mind on that. Oh, I gotta go. I love you guys bye.

LEOYou going incognito? "It's just easier." You're like a rock star. "Yeah just with no discernible talent." You waltz, you fence, you make pancakes.

LEOAh, this one looks like it's still growing." Aww, my Dad and I have this Christmas tradition where we would try and find the scrawniest tree, the one that needed to be loved the most. "I never thought of it that way." Well, it was just his way of making the tree special instead of telling me it was all we could afford. "That's nice."

KID"Would you like to buy a tree?" Can we? "Of course!" "I'm Poppy." Well, hello Poppy. That's a pretty name. This is Leo and I'm Emily. Do you go to school at Saint Francis? "Yes, and I live there too." "Saint Francis is an orphanage." Oh, I see. "I'm only there until I find a permanent family." Well, I'm sure you're gonna find the perfect one and hopefully very soon. "Yep! I'm not too picky. "I grew up without a Mom. I know how hard that can be. "So you're half an orphan?" Well, I suppose I am. "But you turned out okay right?" "She did indeed." And you will too. You know what? My best friend Toni gave me this friendship bracelet and I would like to give it to you. "Thank you! You too prince Leopold." LEO: "Haha so much for incognito! Uh, would it be possible to buy all the trees so that we can donate them back to the town?" "Wow! Thank you! Sister Agnes! Sister Agnes, look!"

MAID OLIVIA"Emily, can I help you?" If only. "I take it you met the Duchess." No. She's a Duchess? "The Duchess of Warren." Great. The unmarried Duchess of Warren? "I'm afraid so."

OLIVIA"You know, she's pretty, but you are beautiful." Thank you, Olivia you're the best.

THE QUEEN"Shall I make the introductions? The Baron and Baroness of Newberry, you do know the Duchess Natasha, and the Count and Countess of Exeter, the Count and Countess of Surrey, and the Count and Countess of Devon." EMILY: I've lost count! LEO: "Just nod and smile that's what I do."

THE QUEEN"Tell us Emily, how do you occupy your time in America?" LEO: "Oh, Emily comes from a long line of tailors. She works at her father's shop." EMILY: Yes, it's actually where Leo and I met. He came in for a missing button, and I needled him into asking me out...

EMILYMmm. This soup is delicious. THE QUEEN: "That is the finger bowl"

THE QUEENI thought I told you to get rid of this. "No, you told me to put it someplace special." And by someplace special, I meant in the charity bin. "I must have misunderstood." Highly doubt that. You like her don't you? "She has a certain way." Could you be more noncommittal? "There are others I like less." Hmph... and who would that be besides me at this moment? "That list would occupy most of the day I'm afraid."

THE QUEENDo you remember my mother's lectures about choosing the right partner? "As if it were yesterday." I wanted to run away just like Leopold but she wouldn't let me. This throne is far greater than any one person's wishes. It's a thousand years of history. "History is past." But if we turn our backs on it, what then? In a few years, the only Kings and Queens will be found in a deck of cards.

SERVANT OLIVIAA strawberry and a kiwi run into each other at the supermarket and the strawberry said: Look I'm in the shape of a heart! And then the kiwi said: Would you please change the subject?

DUTCHESS NATASHAWhere's Emily? "Perhaps she couldn't fit into the dress." Fitting in does seem to be a problem for her.

THE QUEEN"What is this?" "Your Majesty we didn't expect you." "So it appears." I was just making them a little American cuisine. "And what might that be? McDonald's? Kentucky Fried Chicken? It appears that it is more important for you to take care of your stomachs, then attend to your jobs and take care of our guests. You two, you are fired." BUTLER: "It's Christmas Eve your Majesty." Please don't punish them. This is completely my fault. "They know their places. Perhaps the problem here is you don't know yours. You're still under the illusion that you belong with Leopold. But he belongs with a royal not a commoner. The throne is more than just a bench covered with velvet. It is so much more. You have no idea of what it takes to be a royal."

EMILYI'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. "You didn't know." No, but I should have I... "Don't worry miss." Miss? "You are a guest of the prince, and I am the maid."

THE QUEENI believe Miss Taylor will be heading home for the holidays. "Is this really what you want?" What I want doesn't matter. It's the way things are. You of all people know that. "And you of all people can change the way things are. I would've thought you've seen enough broken hearts in this castle.

LEO"Emily, I've been looking all over for you. What's wrong?" I think I've had my fill of the royal treatment. "If this is about Natasha, you know, she means nothing to me." Except for the fact that she's perfect for you, Leo. "No she's not. She's perfect for my Mother." I got the staff fired. "What?" I got them fired." Look, she would fire the whole of Parliament if it meant you would leave. But I'll fix everything. I promise.

LEO"There's um, something I've wanted to ask you all night. In fact, pretty much since we met. Now this isn't exactly how I planned it but... this ring has been in our family for centuries... and now it belongs on you. Marry me." I would love nothing more if it were just Leo and Emily, but it isn't just us anymore. Leo, your Mom was right. I don't belong here. Not upstairs or downstairs. I'm not a princess and I'm never gonna be. "That's not true." Yes, and we were so happy at home but here I just feel like I have to be someone that I'm not... and the truth is I don't want to be anyone else. I'm not ashamed of my people. I'm proud of them... and I can't lose who I am to fit into a place that I don't belong. "You belong with me OK? Wherever that is. We can go back to Philly. I'll renounce my title." You can't. "If I have to choose between being Prince Leopold and being with you, I choose you. Every time." I can't let you do that. I can't let you give up everything that your family has built for you. Your future is here. It's not with me.

LEO"You don't have to do this Emily." This will always, always be the best year of my life. "I love you." And I love you. "Surely that's enough." In my world maybe but not in yours.

THE QUEENLeopold. "Well done, mother she's gone. Merry Christmas."

BUTLER"Another successful ball. You must be pleased." Do I look pleased? "I was being polite." That girl has affected everyone here. "And then some." And yet she's managed to stay true to herself, which is more than I can say about me. "I'd like to disagree, but I can't." You've known me a long time Victor. "Some may say too long." I fear I've made a terrible mistake. "I don't believe I've ever heard you say that." And you never will again. I hope it's not too late. "It's never too late when love is involved."

NATASHALeo, you look positively miserable. Come let's go for a ride together. That always cheers you up. "No thanks." That's not like you. "And what am I like?" You're, I don't know, who you've always been. "I'm a Prince, and you're a Duchess. But those are just titles. It's not who we are. I want to be more than a title to someone... and you should too." Time heals all wounds. I don't suppose there's a chance for us after a suitable grace period? "Seriously?" I thought not. You know I did get a New Year's invite from the Count of York, who I hear has quite a good looking son.

THE QUEENDid you know that Ben Franklin invented the lightning rod? And the swim fins I'm told. Have a seat Leopold. Please. Before I met your father, I fell in love with a commoner. He couldn't have been more unsuitable. But I didn't care. We understood each other... and he called me Izzy. To my parents horror we wanted to marry. Sometimes I wish we had, but then I wouldn't have you. You are my greatest accomplishment. Your father was a good man, and we were happy in our own way, but we never laughed together. We never had what you and Emily have together. "And what happened to him, the commoner?" He did what he was supposed to do, as did I. He went into service and I became the Queen. Leo, I want so much for you but more than anything I want you to be happy.

THE QUEENWhat? What are these two doing here? "I rehired them. In fact, I gave them each a promotion." OLIVIA: "Your toast and marmalade Your Majesty." Quince? "Yes ma'am." SERVANT: "Your tea, Your Majesty." BUTLER: "Well done." Well, I think an oil painting is in order!

THE QUEENVictor, I'd like you to make a royal announcement. Prince Leopold is in love. Not with a Duchess, but with a clothes designer... and I give them my blessing. "I love you, Mum." And I love you too, Leo. Victor, fuel up the jet. BUTLER: "I've already taken the liberty." "I'll pack a bag." BUTLER: "As it happens, you're already packed."

THE QUEENIt's been a long time since he called me, Mum. "And there you were afraid of losing him." I can't remember a better holiday. "I remember one. A long time ago." So do I. "Will there be anything else Your Majesty?" Just one more thing, Victor. Call me Izzy.

EMILYLeo. What are you doing here? "I asked you in the castle and you said no, so I thought I'd give it a shot here in the place we first met. We do come from different worlds, but that doesn't matter because we found each other... and the only titles I care about are you and I as husband and wife. So I'm asking you again this time as Leo from Philly and Leopold from Cordinia. Emily Taylor will you marry me?" You have no idea how much I want to say yes. But Leo, your Mother would never...

THE QUEEN"Say yes, Emily!" EMILY: Your Majesty. "I am so sorry Emily. I just hope you can forgive me. I was so wrong about you. I've been wrong about a few things. BUTLER: "Just a few?" I have a dress that needs alteration. I've saved it for the woman that would marry my son and I truly hope that it will be you. As your Ben Franklin would say: I think you could bring some much needed electricity into the realm."

LEO"So, you need me to ask you a third time?" EMILY'S FATHER: "Do you mind? I forgot to press the record button the last time." EMILY: Dad! THE QUEEN: "I would like to hear it, Leopold!" "All right. Emily Taylor, will you..." EMILY: Yes! Yes!

TRIVIA:There is no real life country called Cordinia.