(Music)
♪ That time of year has come again ♪
♪ I just wanna be with all my friends ♪
♪ Smilin' faces callin' out to me ♪
♪ A store downtown is where I'll be ♪
♪ I'm puttin' on my Christmas stockings ♪
♪ So find a nice dress to wear
♪ The lights are lookin' oh so pretty ♪
♪ 'Cause it's Christmas in the city ♪
♪ Baby I need you bad ♪
♪ Ah ♪
Because I can't quote him.
That was on deep background.
No, that's not ethical, Phil, and you know it.
I'm not gonna run a piece if it's...
...I gotta go. (phone clatters)
Why do you keep doing this to me, Jennifer?
You went over my head to the publisher?
I killed that City Hall story for a reason.
I'm still following up on leads.
It's dead.
Besides, it's the holidays,
I need upbeat human interest stories.
I really wanna write about something
I can sink my teeth into.
You're at the bottom of the food chain, young lady,
that's how it works.
I'm afraid it's back to copy editing for you.
Well, why don't you let me show you
what I can really do? Why you hired me.
You know the rules, three strikes.
You want a heartwarming Christmas story?
I can do that. Shoppers on Michigan Avenue,
Christmas at a soup kitchen,
lighting the tree at Daley Center, eh?
You can talk your way into almost anything,
but not this time.
Wait, I have an amazing idea.
You're gonna love it,
I mean, the readers are gonna go bonkers.
Um.
Christmas at Desmond's.
-And? -Desmond's is the last great family-owned department store
-in the city. -Where's the hook,
what are you gonna write about, shoplifting?
What better place to search for the true meaning of Christmas?
Better.
I'll get hired on as a seasonal holiday floater.
(chuckles) You working retail?
Showing up on time, taking orders from a supervisor,
you won't last a week.
I can, and I will.
Every day I'll work in a different department,
every day a new story.
But undercover, right?
That's a brilliant idea, why didn't I think of that?
You think you can get yourself hired?
Fenton, I am a Christmas person.
This is my favorite holiday.
And they're usually desperate for seasonal help.
Besides, I can be pretty persuasive when I need to be.
Exactly.
I came over here to reassign you, and now look at me.
Give me 500 words, we'll do a column every other day.
Don't let me down.
I won't, I promise. Thanks, Fenton.
How does she do that?
("Jingle Bells")
Keep up, please keep up.
So, you'll all be starting on Friday
which is the Desmond's Day Sale, the countdown to Christmas.
It rivals Black Friday.
We easily do twice the foot traffic here.
After you punch in, you will come and see me
for your daily floating assignment.
Punctuality is of the utmost importance.
We don't tolerate tardiness for any reason.
The customer is king.
Mr. Desmond Sr. opened these doors in 1904
with those very words for every new employee.
Could you please line up?
Our customers want to see your beautiful face, young lady.
Jennifer.
Welcome to Desmond's. (chuckles)
The training was like boot camp.
This Rose lady is a force of nature.
I can't wait to start writing about all of it.
It sounds like they take the holidays very seriously.
What do you say, pine cones and juniper berries?
Perfect.
Do you wanna use the ones I dusted with glitter?
-Oh. -You can never have too much glitter at Christmas.
-(timer dings) -There's glitter all over this house.
I had glitter in my cereal this morning, ladies.
Sorry, Dad.
Thanks for letting me work on these over here.
My apartment is just so small.
We love to have you come home and visit.
It's too quiet around here without you.
Hey Jen, I'm working on this new recipe.
I can't decide, royal piping or powdered sugar?
These look pretty great just like they are.
Mm, those are seriously delicious.
-Eh? -What's in these, allspice?
Cardamom. I wish you'd let me
teach you how to make them, Jen.
Oh, no. No no, I'm not going anywhere near baking.
That is your domain, Dad, you are the firehouse baker.
Any recipe that involves over three ingredients
is far too complicated for me.
(Dad chuckles)
Jennifer, did you tell your father
about your new undercover job?
What, so now you're a detective?
I thought you were a reporter.
I'm gonna be working at Desmond's for Christmas.
-I'm writing a column for the paper. -Oh.
I'm gonna tell 'em I'm a grad student at Loyola.
Ah. So, do you know how to work a cash register?
I'll learn. How hard could it be?
Oh no, I mean the old fashioned kind.
'Cause everything at Desmond's is stuck in the past.
Yeah, I heard that they might be going out of business.
What? Where do you get your news?
From the Jennifer Clark Mercury Newspaper,
which I read every morning with my coffee.
Sure, yes, Desmond's is having their problems
just like all the old-school businesses.
It's the same down at the paper.
Newspapers are never gonna go away,
and neither are places like Desmond's.
We are very proud of what you're doing, honey.
Thanks, Mom.
You like all the old fashioned stuff, don't you?
I do.
Old fashioned doesn't have to mean stale and musty.
Sometimes it's nostalgic, romantic, even.
People forget that.
Well, it sounds to me like
you have your work cut out for you.
I think you might be right.
-Cookie? -Ooh, thank you.
Freshly baked.
Do you think Dad's right,
that writing about Christmas at Desmond's
is like writing about a dinosaur?
Christmas never goes out of style.
True.
But it's not a big story like the corruption scandal
at the mayor's office.
That's what I really wanna be writing about.
Christmas touches people's hearts.
Don't judge your worth by the size of the story, Jen. Men do that.
Your readers will let you know, don't you worry.
Thanks, Mom.
You're welcome, sweetie. (clock chimes)
I have to be up at 4 a.m.
Rose expects me to be late,
she's like clairvoyant or something.
How am I gonna pull this off?
Espresso and lots of it.
A lot, a lot of it.
(lively jazz music)
STORE PA: Less than a minute to go
for the opening of the Desmond's Day Sale.
Places, everyone.
Doors open in five,
four, three, two, one.
(bell rings)
(patrons chattering)
Hello, welcome.
Hi, good morning. Happy holidays.
Can I help you?
Hi, ma'am, can I help you?
Hi, excuse me.
Can I help anyone? Sir?
Can I help anyone? Oh.
Whoa, are you okay?
I'm Manny.
Jennifer, thanks.
You never worked retail before, huh?
Is it that obvious?
I thought it was gonna be all smiling faces
and happy children.
How long have you been here?
Since I was 16, and it gets crazier every year.
You must be the only department store
elevator operator in Chicago.
Eh, there's not many of us left.
Please don't go anywhere anytime soon, Manny.
I think you might've saved my life today.
Fourth floor, business office.
JENNIFER: What do I do now?
Go find Rose, she'll get you a new assignment.
Just remember her bark is worse than her bite.
What does that mean?
Oh, if you need anything, just let me know.
Thanks.
Manny, wait!
(sighs) Keep up.
(groans) Merry Christmas, you didn't last a minute.
Are you with me? Come on.
We have an elf down at Santa's Village.
No, we don't need paramedics, just a sprained ankle.
See if Brian can fill in.
Yes, he has to wear the green tights.
("Jingle Bells")
JENNIFER: This looks like Jurassic Park.
Just dive in, dear.
Head first.
-Hi. -Hello.
Hi.
Merry Christmas.
Hi, does anyone need any help?
Sir, do you need some help? Oh, okay.
Hi. I'm here if anyone needs anything.
I'm sorry sir, the very last Tickle Me Tammies
flew off the shelves first thing this morning.
MAN: I called last night.
I checked the stockroom twice, there's nothing.
I'm so sorry.
This isn't the kind of service is expect at Desmond's.
How am I gonna tell my granddaughter
that the only toy on her wishlist is out of stock?
Go ahead, you call her, give her the bad news.
You ruin her Christmas.
Well, we have other toys that giggle.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
I have an idea. Give me two minutes,
I promise you, I will figure this out.
Two minutes, young lady.
Mom, hey, does your friend from church
still have that toy store over in Oak Park?
I found it, I found it.
You found it?
Yeah, at a toy store in Oak Park.
It's the last one they had.
I asked for them to gift wrap it for you
with a big bow for your granddaughter.
You put it on hold for me?
Yeah, isn't that wonderful?
It's like that movie, Miracle on 34th Street
where Kris Kringle does the right thing.
Sir?
Dad?
You're supposed to be golfing in Florida.
We didn't expect you back till Christmas Eve.
I'm leaving for Boca in the morning.
Golf can wait.
I've never missed a Desmond's Day Sale.
So what's the head count so far?
1,370, not as good as previous year, but--
Ah, with the all the money spent on media buys,
we should have at least over 2,000.
So you have a new employee down there, Jennifer something.
She tried to 34th Street me.
It's been a long time since any employee
tried to pull that on me.
It's a great Christmas movie, Dad.
Happy shopping.
You've been shopped.
What does that mean?
You're going to the principal's office.
10 minutes.
Going home so soon?
(sighs) I didn't even make it though my first day.
Oh, you strike me as someone who has nine lives.
(chuckles) I've used them all up.
It's bad enough you got the mystery shopper,
but that fact that it was my father
and you're not the first sales associate
to bring up the Miracle at 34th Street card.
This happens all the time.
In fact, every couple of years.
I will make a note to update the employee manual.
So, Mr. Desmond gave you
a score of 93 for greeting and enthusiasm,
100 for creative problem solving,
and a negative 20 for closing the sale.
What were you thinking?
I thought I was helping him.
By sending him to the competition?
I'm sorry, it's my first day on the job.
I will say my father's never given anyone
a score of 100 for anything.
Well, there's a silver lining.
Well, what should I have done?
-Use a crowbar. -Excuse me?
If the door won't open, then use a crowbar.
There's a gentleman stuck in the dressing room on three,
they can't get the door open.
Try the lock.
Is it the lock?
WD-40.
Yeah, my mom and I use it on everything,
it's a miracle worker.
Have you tried WD-40?
Look, Desmond's is an extraordinary place,
it's why I wanted to work here.
I remember coming here as a kid.
The Christmas season didn't even start
until your Winter Wonderland Festival.
We had lines around the block.
I remember the store windows, they were so beautiful.
All twinkling lights and Santas, it was pure magic.
Not like the postmodern horror show we're stuck with now.
Rose, I bring it up to my father all the time.
He thinks it's his contribution to the store's history.
And what a history you have.
To think, 100 years ago, your great grandfather
built an empire out of selling, I don't know,
cattle feed, and bib overalls, and Christmas candy.
It blows my mind.
How do you know so much about this store?
I didn't apply just anywhere.
I chose Desmond's.
And you've never worked in retail before?
But I'm a fast learner.
Please, let me show you what I can do.
Absolutely fantastic.
WD-40 did the trick.
Okay, great, um,
if you'll step outside for just a moment,
Rose and I will be right with you.
Of course.
Jack, don't even think about it.
She'll be in here every day with a new problem.
I'll keep an eye on her.
Look, I'll probably live to regret this,
but just give her a second chance.
What is this?
We like to call it the mountain.
This is the place where all the returned Christmas sweaters
come to rest.
But these are amazing.
Why would anyone wanna return them?
Well then, it's your job to give them new life.
But, where you going?
ROSE: Fold and stack, fold and stack,
repeat until you're done, good luck!
You won't forget about me, will you?
Rose?
(bell jingles)
-Hey. -Hey.
I heard you had quite the morning.
I ran into Dad. So what happened with the rookie?
I gave her a second chance.
No, Jack, employees aren't like family.
Sometimes they don't deserve a second chance.
I'd get rid of her now.
On her first day?
She's a seasonal hire, give her a break.
Besides, she has the kind of Christmas spirit
we used to have around here.
Oh, you're such a softie.
Yeah, somehow she talked me into not firing her.
It's amazing.
Look, I don't have a lot of time,
so let's just get inside and get this over with.
These financials are ready for your review.
Things are gonna turn around.
You are living in a fantasy land, Jack.
Retail is dead, rest in peace,
you are looking at its last gasp. (gasps)
Okay, that's not funny.
And if the family had put more money into the store
20 years ago, we wouldn't be in this predicament.
You have an Ivy League MBA,
you could work anywhere you want,
yet you choose to be captain of this sinking ship.
I love this ship.
And you used to, too.
Yeah, you're right.
Retail is in our blood.
But you and I are going to transform this asset
into something that can really grow.
Aren't you excited about that?
Come on.
(sighs) Okay.
You slayed the mountain.
Yep, just about done.
No rookie's ever pulled this off before.
Oh, well I work the firemen's clothing drive
every year with my dad.
So, what's my next assignment?
JEN VO: Christmas doesn't happen by itself at Desmond's.
There are magical employee elves
working behind the scenes, dozens of them.
If they do their job well, we don't notice.
And those magical elves are not just there for the customers.
They're also there for the employees.
They have your back every minute of the day.
When you're a new hire stumbling through your first shift,
hoping there's a safety net,
you're thinking, what did I get myself into?
But there's always someone watching out for you.
The decor may be hopelessly out of date,
and the building may need a remodel,
but Christmas at Desmond's is a Chicago institution
not to be missed.
("O Come All Ye Faithful")
(elevator dings)
Third floor, candy kitchen,
stationery and books, tea room.
Have a nice day, Manny.
ROSE: Well, aren't we industrious today?
Thanks.
I got inspired by some of the old photos
I saw in the office.
I love how they used to decorate the place, what happened?
Well, Mr. Desmond Sr. fell under the spell
of some visionary interior designer a few years ago.
One of my sales girls
almost gored herself on a shooting star.
We had to call in the paramedics.
Not very visionary if you ask me.
Well, I hope you don't mind me making some changes.
No, knock yourself out.
Where did you find all this stuff?
In one of the storage rooms.
You must really love the holidays.
I do.
My mom and I are actually master crafters.
We make holiday decorations out of everything.
One year, we made holiday centerpieces out of hubcaps.
-Hubcaps. -Mm.
You know, I notice that we're kinda short
on a lot of our inventory.
Well, there's been a disruption
in our ordering supply chain.
But it's Christmas, we can't have empty shelves.
The brass are working on it.
So, today you'll be demonstrating
our new gingerbread house building kit.
Oh Rose, no, I'm terrible at baking.
Please, just let me work on the decorations.
Everything you need is in this little box.
Testing one, two, three.
Just follow the instructions, no improvising.
You understand?
Follow the instructions.
When do I not follow the instructions?
Uh-huh.
So, you're just gonna finish piping with your icing,
and then, once you've completed that,
you're just going to press on the inside edge.
-On the inside-- Sorry. -(audience chuckles)
So you're just gonna press the side together.
(audience laughing) (Jennifer giggles nervously)
Right, and they should stay just like so.
(audience laughs)
Um, right, so, okay. Here we go.
Oh boy, sorry. Um...
Well, I'm not done,
I'm just... I'm just almost,
we'll get it, we'll get it.
Oh sir, I'm not quite done.
Um.
That was quite a performance.
-Mom. -(Mom giggles)
Aw, sweetie.
You didn't see that, did you?
MOM: Yes, I did. (chuckling)
Oh, sorry.
It's okay.
Well, you told us you were in housewares today,
your father suggested that I stop by
and see how you're doing.
He's at a Christmas luncheon at the firehouse, otherwise he'd be here.
That was a lot harder than I thought it was gonna be.
Well, what'd ya say we start over.
Yes, please.
And before Rose gets here, she's gonna kill me.
Okay, alright.
I mean, I don't even know how you do this.
Well, let's just start from the beginning.
Your father should be here.
He's the baker in the family.
Do you know he made 12 fruitcakes
for the firehouse luncheon?
I know he misses that place.
Oh, early retirement, it doesn't suit him.
No, it does not.
So, when I came in this morning,
I walked around the store a little bit.
Things have changed, huh?
And not for the better.
I saw this wreath in cosmetics
that looked more like a crown of thorns.
(Jennifer laughs)
But that shelf with the garlands over there is lovely.
It has a classic feel.
Well thank you very much, I did that this morning.
Ooh, you have the touch, my dear.
Like mother, like daughter.
I see Santa's brought in a helper today.
Oh Jack, this my mother, Maureen.
Mom, this is our store manager Jack Desmond.
-Hi Jack, nice to meet you. -And you.
Famous Desmond's.
Well, you're daughter's equally famous around here.
Or, should I say infamous?
Not every employee makes such a big splash on her first day.
Mm-hm.
I would love to stay and talk, but I gotta get going.
I'm trying to deal with that hit piece
in this morning's Mercury.
Hit piece?
I thought it was nicely written, heartfelt.
Well, this reporter clearly doesn't know
the first thing about retail.
I don't know about that.
The decor may be hopelessly out of date,
and the building may need a remodel. Hopelessly, really?
But you know, you even got a shout out, Jennifer.
I even saw an employee abandon her station in sheer terror.
I mean, what a condescending thing to say.
Well, you're certainly protective of your employees.
Well, they don't deserve this.
It's like this reporter's trying to show off
how smart they are.
Well, that's not how I read it.
I mean, it made me wanna come down and visit Desmond's
after all these years.
-Really? -Yeah.
And I think people are gonna feel the same way.
Who knows, maybe it's not a bad thing like you think it is.
Well, I'm gonna get to the bottom of it.
It's a betrayal, I'll tell you that much.
My sister thinks it's a former employee.
Maureen, it was lovely meeting you.
You are welcome here anytime.
-Lookin' good. -Mm-hm.
I thought your head was gonna explode.
Did you hear what he was saying?
Well, I like him, he has a certain old-world nobility
and he clearly likes you.
-Oh. (scoffs) -He said, "Lookin' good," before he left.
He was talking about the gingerbread house.
Ooh, says who?
Oh Mom, come on.
Well, goodbye, thanks for your help, Mom.
Congratulations.
Oh, the Tea Room. (gasps)
Any chance we can sneak inside?
Oh, are you kidding?
I'm already in enough trouble around here as it is.
Plus, they always keep it locked.
I remember having such lovely meals there
when I was a girl.
Well, maybe you can ask your new BFF
if he'll give you a personal tour.
Jack?
I might just do that.
Hey, Manny.
Ah, did we win the war today?
I had no idea how exhausting this is.
(groans) 'Tis the season.
It's not half as busy as it used to be.
Yeah, I keep hearing that.
Is the store doing okay?
All I know is whenever Jack's sister comes in
for a meeting, he goes home with a migraine.
Hm.
Did you happen to see the article today?
I got mentioned.
Rather, my elevator got mentioned.
Manny O'Quinn's gleaming brass and steel time machine
will transport you into the past
while safely delivering you to your future.
A time machine.
How about that?
JEN VO: In spite of all the holiday cheer,
there's a tension beneath the surface.
Everywhere you go in the store, you can feel it,
especially with the management team.
It's Christmas and everybody's happily doing their job,
but the big bosses are preoccupied.
I feel like they're worried about more
than just foot traffic and Christmas sales.
(Jennifer sighs)
There is something going on over there,
I just can't put my finger on it yet.
-Morning. -Morning.
(Jennifer sighs)
Didn't we just do this a few hours ago?
Feels like it, right?
Top of the morning.
Getting a late start today, sir?
JACK: I went for a long run at the lake.
It's 20 below zero with windchill.
I needed to clear my head.
Alright, in you go.
-Manny. -Rose.
Looks like she'll be getting her 10,000 steps in today.
You really are a newspaper guy, aren't you?
I love newspapers,
except when they write nasty stories about Desmond's.
I like getting all those different voices in one place.
Kind of a dying breed though, aren't they, sir?
I don't know, I think people
are rediscovering the joys of newspapers.
It's like classic cocktails or bow ties.
Everything old is new again. (elevator dings)
Fourth floor, business office.
Have a good day.
Bye.
Oh, I'm--
-Sorry. -Oh, no, no, it's fine, I hate that thing.
It's always in my way.
I like what you did with the decorations in housewares.
I think we could use your help.
Really? Thanks.
You know, I found a box of old decorations
down in the basement when I was folding sweaters.
I could ask Rose if she'd let me make some changes around here.
Yes, I love doing makeovers, that'd be amazing.
Rio, Jennifer, it's lookin' good.
Wait, the boss already knows your name?
Oh, uh, I've been in a lot of trouble.
-Jennifer. You're my kinda girl. -(Jennifer laughs)
So, what's the deal with Jack anyway?
He seems like a good guy.
Is he married, kids, girlfriend?
He was with some society chick from Kenilworth.
I don't know what happened to her.
He's too cute to be single, if you ask me.
Hey, should we just get rid of this thing?
Yes, yes, and that one, too.
JENNIFER: Oh, please.
Jennifer.
Cosmetics is lookin' sharp.
I like what you're doing with the place.
Thanks. Rose said it was okay.
Oh yeah, it's starting to look like the old days.
Even some of the customers are noticing.
You really seem to be getting into the swing of things here.
Yeah, I am.
The hours are crazy, though.
Yeah, 14 hour days during the holidays are brutal.
You work that much?
Ever since the beginning of the season.
You start to look at Christmas differently.
You know, everybody else is out shopping and partying,
but for those of us in retail.
Yeah, I never thought about it that way.
You lose that sense of joy that comes with the holidays.
Well, Christmas is my favorite time of year,
so I'm not sure that would happen for me.
Well, it does.
You know, I want you to know
that I appreciate all your hard work and initiative.
I mean, you give 150%.
I wish every employee was like that.
Well, thanks.
My parents taught me to go big or go home.
I'm gonna miss you when you go back to school.
Grad school, right.
Maybe you'll come back and visit us?
I'd like that.
Yeah.
What are you studying?
-Um, that's complicated. -(phone rings)
Oh, sorry, hang on.
Yeah?
Okay, okay, don't panic, I'll be right there.
Yes, I'll bring a mop.
Somebody fell in the reflecting pool.
Never a dull moment.
Listen, I gotta run, but we'll finish this up later?
-Yeah, sure. -Okay.
-Good luck. -Thanks.
ANNOUNCER: Chicago is bracing for winter storm Megan,
which is expected to bring sleet, snow,
and whiteout conditions.
If you are going to be driving today,
please be careful.
And now enjoy our special Christmas...
-Hey. -Hi.
You sure you don't mind me
leaving my car in your driveway?
I just don't wanna get snowed in at work.
Oh, spend the night if you need to.
It's gonna be terrible out there today.
-Mm-hm. -It sure is.
Hey, can I get your advice on something?
I just don't really know what to do.
I was with Jack yesterday,
and I came so close to telling him the truth.
Oh, that's a difficult situation.
Dad, it's impossible.
I hate lying to him,
and I'm starting to really like the guy.
Well, what would happen if you told him everything?
I wish I could, Mom,
but he'd probably never talk to me again,
he might fire me, and no one at the store
would ever treat me the same way.
So, you won't get the story you're hoping for.
Either way, I'm gonna lose.
You can only kick the can down the road for so long, Jen.
(sighs) Great.
This and a blizzard.
It's gonna be a red letter day.
(wind whistles)
(gentle orchestral music)
Jennifer, because of the storm,
we're already down staff, so I'm gonna need you
over at the candy cane making demo.
You're going to be working with extremely hot sugar.
Now, I know you're not great with baking.
-No, I love candy canes. -Oh.
It's not really baking, it's more like chemistry.
My mom and I make them every year.
Uh-huh, well just try not to burn down the store.
Come on.
And you'll just gently roll
the red and the white together,
form it into the shape of a candy cane,
and once you have it as you want it,
you just snip the end like so.
-And there you have it. -(audience applauds)
Thank you, Merry Christmas.
Here I was, all prepared to move you to gift wrapping.
Not to worry, I've got everything under control.
It's gettin' ugly outside.
Did you have any trouble getting in?
Oh no, I parked at my parents' place,
they live in the neighborhood.
I don't like my employees out in this mess.
You know Rose comes all the way from the south side?
You really care about the people here, don't you?
Yeah, I guess I do.
Listen, I'm gonna close early.
Would you like to stay late and give me a hand?
Sure.
You're really good at this.
Why do you sound so surprised?
It's actually a lot of fun, have you ever tried it?
I am a complete mess in the kitchen.
That's okay, anybody can make a candy cane.
Do you wanna give it a try?
Nah, I can't, I'd probably--
What, fail?
Well-- There's no wrong way.
Come on, give it a shot.
JACK: Okay.
Oh, you'll need some gloves.
-Here you go. -Safety first.
Safety first, always.
And don't worry, you are in good hands,
I've been doing this a very long time.
I trust you.
-All right. -Okay, so.
You're gonna take this, it's hot sugar, so be careful.
I'll be very careful.
Now, you wanna just gently roll.
-Okay. -Yep, and then twist.
Perfect.
-Just-- -Okay.
See, I've already messed it up.
That's okay, we have another one,
so you get another shot at it.
-Okay. -Alright, give this one a shot here.
Okay.
-Gently-- -Gently.
Twist, yes, just like that.
You're doing great.
Look, it's working.
It is, okay, so now you've got it like so.
JACK: Yeah.
You're gonna gently bend it slowly
into the shape of a candy cane.
-Slowly. I did it. -You did.
-(audience applauds) -(Jack laughs)
Thank you.
And you wanna just have it cool here.
-Yes. -You're a pro. Thank you.
-(Jennifer giggles) -Thank you.
Do you wanna try it again?
Of course, yes.
(piano music)
♪ Ba ba ba ba ♪
♪ I saw you coming down my chimney ♪
♪ I saw you place those present under my tree ♪
♪ Laid in my bed and didn't say a word ♪
Nice moves.
I've always wanted to do this,
but I never had the guts.
Father would kill me!
Well, that's why I love a snow day.
Everybody gets a hall pass.
♪ Won't you ride on down ♪
♪ Ride on, Santa, won't you ride on down ♪
♪ With your big bag by your side ♪
♪ Ba ba ba ba ♪
(Jennifer gasps)
I'd love to see inside.
We really shouldn't.
Maybe just a quick peek?
Promise not to tell anyone?
(keys jingling)
(gentle instrumental music)
JENNIFER: It's like a time warp.
Yeah, housekeeping comes in every once in a while
to polish the silver, dust,
keep everything looking fresh.
JENNIFER: Why?
I dunno. I guess it's my fantasy that someday,
we'll re-open it again.
Tea Room served it's last meal in 2008.
Well, don't give up hope.
My grandmother brought me here when I was a kid.
Even though the family name was over the door,
she insisted we take the bus and come to Desmond's
like any other shopper.
She wanted me to understand
that it didn't matter if you were rich or poor,
Desmond's was everyone's department store.
Sounds like an amazing woman.
Yeah, she was.
Came to the Tea Room every Saturday.
She'd make me wear a tie,
that's where I learned to tie a bow tie at six.
You know, bow ties can be notoriously nerdy,
but you pull it off.
-Well, thank you. -(Jennifer giggles)
During the Winter Wonderland Festival
you could get a complete meal for $1.
And on Christmas Eve,
they'd drop artificial snow from the ceiling.
So beautiful.
(gentle instrumental music)
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go on like that.
Jack, those are beautiful memories.
I dunno.
Maybe keeping all this isn't such a good idea.
Just keeps the sadness alive.
You know what,
I know something you'll get really excited about.
Come on.
♪ Brighten up the holidays ♪
♪ Ooh ooh ♪
♪ Brighten up the holiday ♪
♪ Wee ♪
♪ Brighten up the holidays ♪
Wow.
This is amazing.
It feels like we're in snow globe.
I wanted to show you this
because of all the decorating you've been doing.
It's great, so retro.
It's not retro, it's the real thing.
This is the last of the old window displays
that survived Dad's makeover.
You know, I come here sometimes when things are too much.
People on the street just think I'm part of the display.
(laughs) It's brilliant.
Thank you.
(midtempo jazz music)
This is one of my favorite Christmas songs.
No way, me too.
♪ Santa, Santa baby ♪
♪ Please won't you hurry up ♪
May I have this dance?
I thought you'd never ask.
♪ I'm waiting by the chimney ♪
♪ Hoping you got a little Christmas gift ♪
♪ That's gonna make me smile all night ♪
♪ Santa, Santa, Santa baby ♪
♪ So when I hear the sleigh bells ♪
♪ I wanna see you under the mistletoe ♪
♪ And I've got a feeling ♪
Hi, heard you and Mr. Desmond closed the store last night.
Nothing's secret around here, huh?
Yeah, we had a good time.
MANNY: Eh, he needs more of that.
I know there's a story there, Manny.
That's a longer elevator ride
than you and I have time for today.
(festive jazz music)
(phone buzzes)
JEN VO: Hi Jack, feeling like playing
some reindeer games?
Meet me at Corktown tonight at eight.
(lively piano music)
I'm so bad at this.
No, no, practice makes perfect.
You'll get there.
You probably need some of this.
Thanks, but I was having a Chardonnay.
Uh, see, the thing is, you're at the Corktown,
so you're gonna have to have some scotch.
Okay.
So what's the secret?
Alright, so my dad taught me everything I know.
Just stand back, and watch the master in action.
Thank you.
You make it look easy.
That's because it is. You overthink things.
-I do? -You do.
Here, gimme that.
Now, close your eyes, relax.
Now imagine the ring flying through space,
landing smack dab on that reindeer.
Now imagine the crowd going wild.
You're the man, Jack!
Okay, this is silly.
Hey, maybe you need a little silly in your life.
-(crowd cheers) -Oh!
Nailed it.
-Thank you, thank you. -See?
Okay, so tell me more about yourself, Jennifer.
I barely know anything about you beyond Desmond's.
Mm, there's not really that much to know.
I don't think so.
I don't even know what you're studying.
Well, what happens after grad school?
Can we not talk about school?
I get all uptight just thinking about it,
and I'm having such a nice time tonight.
Do you come here a lot?
Mm, mm-hm, yeah, my cousin owns the place.
Birthday parties, funerals, weddings,
graduations, they all end up here at the Corktown.
Wow, social events in my family are much more formal.
When Mia and I were kids,
we had a scheduled Christmas presents hour
between 9 and 10am, not a minute sooner.
-Didn't that drive you crazy? -Yes, absolutely.
Mia and I would be up at the crack of dawn,
but my father wouldn't let us unwrap a single present
-until 9am. -Wow.
It was total chaos at my house,
just wrapping paper flying everywhere.
Sounds like I should spend a little more time
with your family.
Can I walk you home?
I'd like to.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Ah, it feels so good to be away from the store,
even just for a few hours.
It's so intense this time of year,
and with these 'Christmas Nine to Five' articles
running in the paper.
Wait, there's something you need to know, Jack.
Something I've been wanting to tell you
ever since we first met.
What is it?
I didn't mean to lie, and I didn't mean to hurt anybody,
especially you, but I'm not a grad student.
I'm the author of 'Christmas Nine to Five'.
Wait a minute, what?
I sold my editor the idea of a reporter
embedded at Desmond's
in search of the true meaning of Christmas.
I never meant any harm.
So this was all a set up.
You used us, me, Rose, the staff--
JENNIFER: Jack, no.
It's even worse than I imagined.
How could you not tell me the truth?
I wanted to, but I thought it might affect the story.
I shared all sorts of personal things
about my family with you.
Is that gonna end up in tomorrow's paper?
No, of course not.
I was, I was really starting to like you.
I feel the same way,
and I don't want anything to jeopardize that.
Anything for a story, huh?
Jack, no.
Please don't go.
VO: The other day, I overheard one of the employees say--
Cashiers are human, too, we have feelings,
we just work here, we don't control the ordering,
we just ring up your sales,
please don't yell at us if there's a line.
How many times have I felt like that?
Finally, someone's giving us a voice.
I'm really liking this smokey eye on you.
RIO: Oh, okay, just remember
our customers are a bit more conservative,
so nothing too outrageous.
Okay, are you ready for the big reveal?
Yeah.
Honey, no, I can't go out in public like this.
It's the holidays,
I thought I'd kick it up a notch.
This is kicking it all the way to the moon.
Sweetie, maybe you should just work the register today.
(phone ringing)
Cosmetics, jewelry, and accessories.
Yes, she's right here.
I'll send her right up.
They wanna see you upstairs, ASAP.
(Manny humming melodically)
That is not a very Christmasy smile.
Fourth floor, Jack's office.
(groans) Come on, it can't be that bad.
At least you spelled my last name right.
How did you know?
It didn't take much, if you were paying attention.
Manny, you can't tell anybody.
What's said in this elevator stays in this elevator.
The spirit of Christmas is carried like a torch
by each and every one
of the hard-working Desmond's employees
who work tirelessly to make our holiday dreams come true.
Looks as if the author took a couple of my suggestions,
less about the author, more about the people.
Could you please just fire me and get it over with?
Well, I don't like that you lied to me,
I do appreciate getting a fair shake in the press.
That's all I ever wanted to do.
We could certainly use the positive publicity right now.
So maybe this isn't such a bad thing after all.
So then I'm not fired?
Not as of 11:45am, but the day's still young.
What about the staff, they don't know anything.
Let's keep it that way.
This doesn't go beyond this room.
You were right to point out
you'd get an entirely different story if they knew.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta get to a meeting.
I'm so sorry, Rose.
I don't like surprises.
I know, I know.
You know, Jack was so upset with me last night. What happened?
I marked up your column and had it waiting for him.
He was furious until he read it again with my notes.
I hope you know,
it was never my intention to hurt the store.
Your column is a love letter to Desmond's,
to an era of different values and expectations,
and we really need that right now.
I don't understand.
You will.
Against my better judgment,
I think you may be our Christmas angel in disguise.
But if you break his heart, I will never forgive you.
He's like a son to me.
-Rose, I would never-- -No more secrets.
Right.
(patrons chattering)
Jen, could you please run up to the office?
We're out of register tape.
-Sure. -Thank you.
MIA: Jack, Dad's not gonna budge.
The Wallerton offer's a good one.
Anyway, everything after Christmas
is about customers returning things
and using gift cards, it's not gonna help your bottom line.
I'm not giving up.
MIA: Dad's been briefed on all the offers,
Wallerton investments wants an answer by Christmas Eve.
We're making a mistake, and Wallerton can wait.
MIA: Jack the most valuable asset we have
is this building and the real estate that it's standing on.
Jack.
What are you doing here?
I just wanted to say, thanks for giving me
a second chance this morning.
Well, you should be thanking Rose.
Well, let's agree, no more secrets from here on out.
Fine, no more secrets.
What's Wallerton Investments?
Excuse me?
I wouldn't be a good reporter
if I wasn't doing my job.
You can't write about that, not a word.
Well, tell me what's going on.
If Mia gets her way, the store is closing down
right after Christmas. -What?
Wallerton made my father an offer for the building.
They wanna turn it into a parking lot or law office,
or who knows what.
My great grandfather is rolling over in his grave right now.
That's terrible.
I'm doing everything I can to stop it.
I managed to convince my dad to wait
and make final decision on Christmas Eve.
I really wish you hadn't found out about this.
But you can't let him shut down the store, Jack.
What can I do to help?
Nothing, this is bigger than you and me.
Promise me not a word to anyone.
I promise.
You know, I'm thinking about doing Thursday's column on the Tea Room.
Did you know they used to serve lunch there for a buck?
What else you got?
Well, Desmond's sales have really jumped since--
You have to make this worth my time, Jen.
No more puff pieces if you want the front page.
What's your voice?
I don't know.
I used to think it was tough young reporter
chasing leads at City Hall, speaking truth to power,
but since I started working at Desmond's,
I really loved writing about the people who worked there.
Their lives, the rhythm of their day--
That's not enough, I need more.
No, no, boring.
Does anybody really care about the long-simmering romance
between Manny the elevator operator and Rose?
I do.
How do you do that, anyway, reading upside down?
Years on the job.
Okay, what's this about Wallerton Investment Group?
There's been talk about the place being sold.
What?
But I can't write about it.
Wallerton has made an offer on the building.
The store manager is fighting it tooth and nail.
They have until the 24th.
You mean Chicago might be losing its last, great,
family-owned department store?
It's off the record, Fenton.
That's your Christmas angle, this is the story.
It's messy and complicated,
and I can't betray my source.
There are other ways to confirm it,
go to Wallerton directly.
Jennifer, this is what sells newspapers.
No, I can't, Fenton.
If you don't follow-up on this,
I'll give it to another reporter.
Victor Caldwell is thirsty for a juicy investigative piece
-like this. -No way.
You know that he will savage everybody
just in order to get the story.
Did you ever think you might be doing
the Desmond's family a favor?
If there's any hope of keeping the doors open,
what better than an outpouring of love
from their local newspaper?
Yeah, but I'll destroy every relationship I have over there.
But if you run with it, you might actually help them.
Be a real reporter, Jen.
Break time.
Thanks, Dad.
Wow, that is spiked, big time.
Of course it's spiked.
What kind of parent do you think I am?
(Jennifer laughs)
You know, when you called earlier,
I knew something was up.
I just couldn't be alone.
What am I gonna do?
The right thing.
You know it in your heart.
I don't. I really don't.
I mean, yeah, I might be able to do some good for Desmond's,
but is Fenton just pulling my chain for a story?
Well, can you sleep on it?
No, he'll just assign it out to someone else.
Well then, you be the one to write it.
You put yourself out there.
Own it, Jen, you do everything you can to help these people.
No matter the consequences.
JEN VO: They say that all good things
must come to an end,
so when I learned Desmond's was in danger of closing,
I couldn't imagine losing yet another tradition,
or worse yet, not seeing the faces
of all the people there who had become my friends,
faces I look forward to seeing every single morning,
people I counted on.
Losing Desmond's is more than losing a building.
It's like losing family.
Jennifer, have you seen this?
I can't believe it, how could they not tell us?
(elevator dings)
Jennifer, I get what you're doing,
but it's like Santa dropped a grenade down the chimney.
I gave this a great deal of thought, Manny.
I'm sure you did, but I want you to prepare yourself
because Jack and Mia have steam coming out of their ears.
Why didn't you say something to me?
What were you thinking?
This can help.
My editor called me this morning,
there were so many hits to the website,
the online edition crashed.
Oh great, now our dirty laundry's on display
for all the world to see.
This could be an opportunity
for the city to come out and support you.
Desmond's means the world to people.
Jack, did you leak this to her on purpose
to derail our deal?
Of course I didn't.
MIA: Just because she's your girlfriend--
-Uh, she's not my girlfriend. -Oh, I'm not his girlfriend.
Huh. I'm glad we cleared that up.
Anyway, now we can't fire her.
God knows that would be terrible PR,
that would look like we're trying to hide something.
If this jeopardizes my deal, there will be consequences.
Hey, I have a staff that's confused and angry.
They think I've betrayed them.
I wasn't going to make an announcement
till after I knew for sure, now I have to change everything.
I know, and I'm really sorry about that.
But maybe just do it now, you know, seize the day.
(scoffs) So what, you're gonna stand on a table
and wave a sign that says Save Desmond's?
If I have to, yes.
And I promise you, I won't be alone.
Jennifer, these employees don't have skin in the game.
They'll find somewhere else to work.
I disagree with you.
This place is like family to them.
I'm sure you all saw the article in the paper,
and yes, the reporting is generally accurate.
I wasn't at liberty to make any announcement,
which is why none of you knew it was going on
behind the scenes.
Just because we have an offer on the table
doesn't mean that we're gonna close.
And I had such high expectations for you.
JACK: ...We have until Christmas Eve.
It's still enough time to turn things around.
I thought you were floating somewhere else today.
I have one more day in cosmetics.
Sarah in lingerie heard a rumor that you're the reporter.
Rio, I can explain--
It's true? Why didn't you tell me?
I didn't mean to hurt anybody.
I thought we were friends.
We are.
Rio, I'm doing my best to make this work.
You're a reporter, Jennifer.
You just write about the world,
you don't actually have the power to change anything.
mpo piano music)
(Rose groans)
Oh, for heaven's sake.
Rose, are you okay?
I'm fine, I'm fine.
(both sigh)
Rose, you know we have to do something.
There's no "we" anymore, Manny.
Yes, your family put an end to that.
We were just kids, barely 20.
Your mother mocked me for being nothing more
than a timecard employee.
Well, my folks lost their garment business.
They lost everything, you know that.
I had to drop out of college.
The only reason I came to work here
was because my father knew Mr. Desmond.
Mm, we could've made it work, Rose.
What kind of future did we have?
We didn't have a dime between us.
Couples with far less
have made beautiful lives for themselves.
That's just water under the bridge.
Your mother made you call off the engagement, didn't she?
That was so long ago.
We can't change what happened.
Yeah, but we can change what's gonna happen, Rose.
Look, you and I know this place better than anyone.
Let's put our heads together and come up with a solution.
Come on, take a ride in my elevator,
we'll solve all the worlds ills, just like the old days.
Pie in the sky magical thinking.
That's why it never worked for us.
Well, you stopped dreaming, Rose.
I never did.
Mm.
You are the most stubborn woman I've ever known.
You can't keep doing this forever,
you're gonna need my help someday, Rose.
Rose!
Hey, Jack.
Your speech this morning was really moving.
I know that couldn't have been easy.
I think you and I should keep things
strictly professional from now on.
I wanted to help.
Can we please just talk about it?
I gotta go.
Well, look what the cat dragged in.
You'd think I was radioactive.
Jack won't look at me in the eye,
Rio acts like I'm dead to her, I had to eat lunch alone.
At least I'm still welcome in Manny's elevator.
Manny, Jack, Rio.
You talk about these people like they're your family.
Well, it kinda feels like they are, Mom.
When you spend that many hours of a day together,
you really get to know people.
They have every right to be angry with me.
Then it sounds to me like you need to write
about your new family.
Something that Jack said early on really stuck with me.
He said that my column needs to be more personal.
He may be on to something.
Doesn't your paper have an online edition?
Yeah, it's huge.
They want companion pieces
for everything in the print edition.
The ad revenue online is crazy.
Sounds like an opportunity to me.
I suppose I could write a daily diary,
more in-depth stories about the employees,
maybe even post some photographs?
A daily blog might even help bring in more customers.
And it might make you feel better.
You got an MBA for this?
Ha, never underestimate the value
-of an Ivy League education. -Mm.
I have some good news.
Because of all that hubbub in the newspaper
with your girlfriend...
She is not my girlfriend.
...we have a mystery bidder entering the fray.
Who is it?
Just some blind trust,
probably some wealth-management group
looking to pick up a broken business.
We're not a broken business.
Anyway, the mystery bidder's offer is lower,
but I'm hoping I can use it to leverage the Wallerton group.
Squeeze a little more cash outta them.
Never stop thinkin' of angles, do you?
This is our family's financial future, Jack.
Unlike you, I live in the real world, not Santa's Village.
(gentle instrumental music)
JEN VO: If you're lucky,
you'll get to meet store manager, Jack Desmond.
He's from a long line of retail giants,
and he may be the biggest.
He's the protector of our Christmas dreams.
He knows that if Desmond's closes,
a piece of our childhood will be gone forever.
Everywhere you go, someone is planning for your visit,
making sure that everything will be perfect,
ready to greet you with a smile
or help you with that wishlist
that's been keeping you awake at night.
And if you're exhausted from a long day of shopping,
there's even someone there to give your spirits a lift.
Coming to Desmond's is like coming home.
Looks like she's found her voice.
-Rio, Rio! -Whoa, one at a time, people.
What's the rush this morning?
I want you to do my makeup, Rio.
Jennifer says you're the best.
Jennifer?
Mm-hm, in her blog.
She says your contouring is the best she's ever seen.
Have a seat.
Are we running some kind of special sale?
Not that I know of.
What are you looking for today?
Just the contour?
-(elevator dings) -Whoa, good mornin', folks.
Come on in.
You'll all get the first class treatment now.
Okay, that's enough for now, sir.
We'll be right back for you.
Floor, please.
As I said, ladies and gentlemen, the Tea Room is closed.
Just one look? We heard all about it.
I'm sorry, I don't have a key.
WOMAN: Hey, isn't that Mr. Desmond?
Oh, well, thank you for coming today.
We read about the place online,
and we can't believe you're gonna tear this down.
I'm working very hard to prevent that from happening.
Having you all here really helps our cause.
I want my children to know what it's like
to shop in a place like this.
'Cause when it's gone, they'll never know,
except in the movies.
We've lost enough Christmas traditions.
Not this one, too.
I won't give up, I promise.
You're our hero, Mr. Desmond.
Save Desmond's, save Desmond's!
(group applauds)
me All Ye Faithful")
I didn't expect to see you here.
Are you back from a reindeer ring toss?
(chuckles) I got a message
that I forgot my trophy the other night.
I don't remember winning anything,
but in all fairness, I was a little foggy that night.
Who called you?
Some woman, the owner?
Mm-hm, the owner is Stanley, my cousin.
It think we might've been Maureened.
She asked me to come meet her for a drink
and then never showed up. (laughs)
I apologize, my mom thinks that live is one big rom-com.
Well, since I'm here, can I get a Chardonnay?
I mean a scotch, I'll have a scotch.
So listen, we haven't really had a private moment
for me to properly apologize to you.
-I am so sorry-- -Sorry?
We just had our best single-day sales ever
in the history of the store,
thanks to your Desmond's Christmas Diaries.
(laughs) Wow, that's amazing.
I am sorry, though, about how it all went down.
I wanted to tell you from the very beginning,
I hope you believe me.
I didn't like it, but it's boomeranged in our favor,
and for that, I have to thank you.
(glasses clink)
'Cause of all the publicity, I'm starting to get calls
from headhunters all over the country.
For what?
National retailers offering me jobs.
Macy's New York office has called me three times already.
But Jack, you can't move to New York, this is your home.
If Desmond's closes,
I don't wanna be around for the postmortem.
It's too painful to stay here,
I don't wanna see our building turned into a parking lot.
But you can't give up hope.
I have to be practical.
I'm gonna find a way to fix this.
It'll be a Christmas miracle.
(laughs) Those kind of happy endings
don't happen in real life.
Well, what about us?
I fell like there's something there,
and I think you do, too.
That night of the blizzard, it was so wonderful.
I feel the same way,
but it was a moment.
We can build a lifetime on moments like that.
We're on different roads, Jen.
We were lucky enough to cross paths once,
but that's not gonna happen again.
In six months, I probably won't even be living here,
you'll be onto some new assignment.
That's life.
(Jennifer sighs)
It doesn't have to be like that.
Ah, if I had a red carpet,
I'd roll it out for you this morning.
JENNIFER: Manny, please.
Have you seen our sales numbers?
You've brought Desmond's back to life.
You're giving me too much credit.
You know, even with all the crowds,
the one complaint I keep hearing
is that the customers really miss
the old fashioned Christmas decorations.
One year we had a giant inflatable Santa.
He was up on the roof, you could see him from outer space.
Yeah, it breaks my heart
that all that great stuff got thrown away.
Hm, do you have a couple minutes before you go on shift?
JENNIFER: Where are we going?
MANNY: You'll see.
(gentle instrumental music)
What is all this?
Over the years, every time they took something down
to throw it away, I'd just bring it down here.
Like Jack said, everything old is new again.
Manny, this is incredible.
I guess you could call me a pack rat.
Or an angel.
I kinda had a feeling you'd get this.
I could always tell a department where you'd floated
because the decorations were always so much better.
Oh well, you can thank my mom for that.
She taught me everything I know about Christmas.
What's this?
It's the Tea Room china.
I saved it from a dumpster.
In fact, I have all the Winter Wonderland decorations
from the Tea Room including that snow-making machine.
Does it still work?
I have no idea,
we used to stuff it with confetti and glitter.
Who knows about this?
No one, not even Jack.
When his father hired that crazy designer,
that guy was like a wrecking ball.
And what about Rose?
Are you kidding, I can't even get her
to take a ride in my elevator,
let alone a trip down here.
I have an idea.
Oh, we could get in a lotta trouble.
When has that ever stopped me before?
(Manny chuckles)
Wait, how did you do this?
I thought all this stuff was lost.
It's all here, everything that was part
of the Winter Wonderland Festival.
I don't understand, how's that possible?
Manny has been saving it all for years.
His secret Christmas treasure.
Somehow, he knew that these things had value.
He wasn't interested in what was in or out of style,
he knew that this was classic.
Everything is down in the basement, Jack.
All the antique decorations.
Come on in, have a seat.
This is almost what it looked like back in the day.
And it can again, the whole store.
We can re-open the Tea Room on Christmas Eve.
People remember Winter Wonderland,
they ask about it all the time.
Well, we wouldn't be able to do food service
on such short notice.
So we serve hot chocolate and candy from the candy shop.
The food part doesn't matter,
people just wanna get back in here and see the place.
It's full of memories for them.
Just wait until the word gets out.
It'll work?
People come here to get a look at the past.
Let's give 'em a whole lot more.
It's taking a big risk, Jennifer.
Yeah, but isn't it worth it?
Desmond's just needs a little dusting off
to get ready for its second century.
You really think we could pull it off?
We'll never know until we try.
As all of you know, Christmas is just around the corner,
and thanks to Manny's hard work,
we have an opportunity to transform Desmond's
into what it was
so that our shoppers can experience the store
as generations have before them.
Okay people, let's make this the best Christmas ever.
Okay, guys, we're gonna fan out,
grab as many great Christmas decorations as you can find.
This was all Manny?
(no audible dialogue)
instrumental music)
Hey.
You kept her.
Well, of course I did.
I never gave up hope.
Manny.
Here, let me put her up right now.
Okay.
She looks so beautiful up there.
She's come home, hasn't she?
You proposed to me under that angel.
And you said yes.
Where did we go wrong, Manny?
It's not too late, Rose.
Oh, who'd want an old lady like me?
An old man like me.
Come on, Rose.
Take a ride in my elevator.
Okay.
I have been looking all over for you.
It's like a madhouse around here.
Yeah, Jennifer had the idea
of bringing up all the old holiday decorations.
Oh, she's just full of endless ideas.
Wait till you see what we've done.
You really think all this
is somehow gonna change Dad's mind?
Day to day sales are through the roof.
It doesn't matter.
I have some really exciting news.
I wanna show you something first.
I received an email at my office,
and it's a game changer.
Close your eyes.
(scoffs) No, I'm not gonna close my eyes,
I'm not seven years old, Jack.
Come on, please?
Please?
Follow me.
(gentle instrumental music)
Remember the old Winter Wonderland?
-How did you-- -You can thank Jennifer.
(Mia laughs)
I was, I was this little when Grandma brought me here
for the first time.
I'd never seen anything so beautiful.
I remember following a waiter into the kitchen.
The let me sit on a stool while they made tea sandwiches.
Oh, I cried when it was time to go home,
I didn't wanna leave.
You don't have to.
We're gonna reopen the Tea Room.
Wait till Dad sees it.
Jack, this is spectacular,
but it doesn't solve any of our problems.
Don't get sidetracked by all the nostalgia.
But it's not just nostalgia.
You should hear what the customers are saying.
Jennifer's right.
You tell me how you're going to get crowds in here
in the middle of summer when it's 96 degrees
and our 40 year old air conditioning system breaks down
like it does every summer.
Which is why I've been trying to get Dad
to put more money into maintaining the building.
(groans) Can I have the room?
Just everybody out, please?
No, not you, Jennifer, I really want you to hear this.
Okay.
Wallerton has upped its offer.
That's what I was trying to tell you, by a lot.
I, uh, never thought we'd see numbers like this.
Dad's never gonna walk away from an offer like this,
and I haven't even gone back to the mystery bidder yet.
And we have you to thank for it, Jennifer,
I mean, you may be the best thing
that's happened to Desmond's in years.
(midtempo instrumental music)
Uh, best coffee in town.
Uhh, I know it.
Well?
It'll run in the paper tomorrow,
front page on Christmas Day.
Oh, we're so proud of you, honey.
Jack's father gets in at noon.
Ooh, fingers crossed. Mm-hm.
Thanks so much for your help, you guys.
I couldn't have gotten through this
without the both of you.
-We love you. -Love you, guys.
-You did good. -Yes.
-Thanks, Dad. -Congratulations.
Thanks, Mom.
JACK: Yeah, this looks incredible.
Oh, I'm so glad
VO: Places, please.
Doors are about to open.
In five, four, three, two, one.
(bell rings)
Hi, sir.
Hi, can I help you with anything?
Merry Christmas.
Hi, just let me know if I can help you
with anything at all.
Can you believe this?
-Incredible. -Amazing, right?
Hey Rio, can you help us out up here?
We need another hostess.
I'll get one of the floaters to cover for me.
I'm not the kind of person
who puts his career and his beliefs on the line like this.
Untill now.
So thank you, Jennifer.
You're welcome.
(patrons chatter)
-Dad. -Jack.
-Merry Christmas. -Merry Christmas, Jack.
Hi, sir.
I don't know if you remember me, but--
Of course I remember you.
I've been following your postings every day.
You probably think an old geezer like me
has no idea what a blog is,
but I still know a thing or two.
Thank you for all you've done for our store, Jennifer.
You're very welcome, sir.
The place looks wonderful,
and the crowds, what a delight.
Are we meeting in your office, Jack?
Actually, I have a little surprise for you, Dad.
Follow me.
ROSE: Mr. Desmond.
You're going to be just fine.
Thank you.
(gentle instrumental music)
This is, this is just amazing, son.
I remember when your mother and I
went to Europe to find those food carts.
Nobody in America made anything like them.
MIA: We fixed up the private dining area
for our meeting, Dad.
Just wonderful.
Merry Christmas, thank you for being here today.
I used to come here with my mother,
and I wanted my daughters to see it.
Winter Wonderland is better than I remembered.
Is it gonna snow?
I don't know, let's ask Jack.
I think that's up to Santa.
(chuckles) You've made this family proud, young man.
Thank you, Dad. After you.
DAD: I just can't believe it.
-Hey, how's it going? -It's so magical.
Oh, good, good, good, I'm glad.
Hey, could you grab us some more Earl Gray tea?
I think we're running low, thanks.
-Hi. -Hi.
I'll fill you in later.
Oh, I can't watch.
(sighs) What do you think?
I don't know.
Wait.
(group chattering)
Wait wait, that's good, he's smiling.
Come on, Mr. Desmond, just say yes.
This is good, I think we did it.
No, no, no, no, no.
I'm the mystery bidder.
What?
I'll explain everything, I promise.
Here, I was trying to help.
I am completely lost.
Who was I to think I could be the head of Desmond's,
I'm just an elevator operator.
No, Manny, don't say that.
You have to tell them.
I wouldn't know where to begin.
Mia makes me so nervous.
Manny, it's the 11th hour, if you can do something,
you can't wait any longer.
All the times you've helped me, let me help you now.
I don't know what to do, Jennifer.
I do, come with me.
Mr. Desmond, there's something you need to know.
Jennifer, what's going on?
I'm the mystery bidder.
(scoffs) Is this some sort of joke?
Let him explain, Mia.
I saved every penny I ever earned from here
from the day I started at age 16.
I remember when my father hired you.
You were barely old enough to shave.
Yeah, I started buying stocks at a young age, too.
First it was a little company called IBM,
and then it was Apple at $10 a share.
Manny, you never said anything.
It was my rainy day fund.
I always knew I'd need it someday,
and that day is today.
I wanna buy Desmond's, I know, I'm not part of the family,
but I feel like I am.
I like tradition, and this is one that I wanna see continue.
I'm sorry, Manny, but your offer is the lower one.
What I don't have in cash, I'll make up for in spirit.
I'll take care of this place.
I've been around here longer than just about anybody,
except for you, Mr. D.
I'm the right guy to ensure Desmond's future,
but I do have just two conditions.
One, that we resume doing Winter Wonderland,
and we keep the Tea Room open permanently.
And the second condition?
That we never install an automatic elevator
'cause that way there's always gonna be a job
for a human being.
I still have a few good years left.
As much as it pains me to say this, Dad,
and it pains me greatly.
Manny's right.
What Jack and Jennifer have done here, it's incredible.
We may not have Christmas 12 months a year,
but we can certainly celebrate
the spirit of the holiday every day.
What do you say, Mr. Desmond?
How can we turn down an offer like that?
Manny, welcome aboard.
Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please?
Our newest employee, Jennifer Clark,
has a very special announcement to make.
Now, hopefully you've been lucky enough
to read her column in The Mercury.
Well, I've been lucky enough to get to know her in person.
And I've never met anyone quite like her.
Jennifer?
Thanks, Jack.
I want everyone to know
that the real Christmas angel here today
is our very own Manny O'Quinn.
Without him, none of this would be possible.
And I hope you're enjoying your afternoon
in the Desmond's Tea Room because it is about to become
a year-round tradition again.
Desmond's isn't going anywhere, we're here to stay
for this Christmas and many more to come.
Merry Christmas everyone.
(group applauds, cheers)
Whoo, Jennifer!
You know, you're responsible for all this.
It was you.
You never gave up on me or Desmond's.
We both did it, Jack.
-Merry Christmas, Jennifer. -Merry Christmas, Jack.
(uplifting orchestral music)
(jazz music)