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It's gonna work this time.

This time
it is going to work.

Oh Grandma,
please help this work.

There we go.

Rise and shine.

Or at the very least rise.

Please?

Okay.

Fasten your sleigh-belts

for a very special
Christmas with moi Special,

featuring local holiday treats,

and an extra special Christmas
recipe of my very own!

Coming at you
this Christmas Eve

from lovely Vernon Falls!

But don't be scared.

I've been told that whenever
Vernon falls,

he gets right back up again.

Oh, please!

Why'd you do that?

I knew that mention in
O Magazine's Christmas edition

was gonna bite us!

I can't do it, Becky, okay?

Everybody wants
Grandma's Lebkuchen,

the Enchanted Christmas Cake.

I can't even get
one single one right.

I mean, who wouldn't want
a magical Christmas cake

that makes people
fall in love?

We could all use
a little of that.

What attempt number is this?

Um, 27, I think.
- Okay, well,

it's bound to happen soon.

It's process of elimination.

Okay, well I am in
the slow and painful process

of eliminating
my grandmother's legacy,

along with my sanity.

- Gwen?
- Yeah?

Oprah put us in the top five
bakeries in the country.

Oprah Winfrey!

Yes.
Thank you for clarifying.

I thought you meant
Oprah Jablonsky,

my elementary school
bus driver.

This is serious publicity.
Think about it.

Nobody's gonna get
a Christmas cake

if I dunno how to bake!

Okay, you were baking
beside Joyce for years.

Yeah but I wasn't
watching the baking.

I was watching her.

Her passion for it,
her love for it.

I mean, you can stand
in the glow all you want,

and still not learn how to shine
on your own. You know?

Did you--
did you read that somewhere?

Doesn't make it less true.

Well, did you call
that producer back yet?

Dante's producer? No.

He's just gonna take what's
ours, make it his own,

and debase her legacy.

Plus, I can't exactly
share baking tips

when I don't know
how to bake it.

But you do know how to bake.
You just need to figure out

how to make
the Enchanted Christmas Cake.

- Yeah.
- Lemme see the recipe.

Fine.

Here.

I'm missing one ingredient.

Okay. I mean,
how many ingredients

can start
with the letters "ma"?

- A lot.
- How many have you tried?

Oof. Let's see. Um--

Margarine, mascarpone,
macadamia nuts,

maraschino cherries,

mayonnaise.
- Ew.

Yeah, it was gross.

Um, mangoes, margarita mix,
marsala, marshmallows--

Mambo No. 5?

Matzo, mashed potatoes--
I'm telling you, it's useless.

What does this "1,5" mean?

Did Joyce have 15 different
types of Lebkuchen recipes?

I have no idea. Maybe.

Maybe it's the date when
she came up with the recipe.

Hmm.

- The oven!
- The oven.

It just can't get
any worse. Dammit!

-
- No, no-no-no-no.

Ugh.

- Well, I guess we can cross--
- Malt vinegar off the list?

Yeah.

Promo looked great, Dante.

Your cue card reading
has gotten very... natural.

Can you tell me again why we're
doing this Christmas special

in, um...

Vernon Falls?

Why don't we just go back
to Vegas like last year?

I had a blast there.
I won six grand

at the blackjack table.

Yeah but then you lost it all
when you bet Celine Dion

you could beat her
in an arm wrestle.

Who knew that woman
would have arms of steel?

Listen. This nostalgia
for a false past sells.

Plus, you're gonna be able
to do the segment

on that Christmas cake
Oprah sent you last year.

Oh, yeah, that cake was amazing.
Hold on.

That does not go over there.
It goes over there.

Over there. Go. Go, go.

Go. Over there.

You know that I tried
to get that cake

as part of my holiday
frozen food line,

but we got no response!

Well, you're gonna get
another chance to convince them.

And the network's hoping
this'll help with the ratings.

What's wrong with my ratings?

Nothing, nothing.

It's just the normal cycle
of ups and downs,

but it'll be fine.

Listen, you're gonna be there
when I check into the hotel

in Victor Falls, right?

Vernon Falls, yes.

Of course I'll be here.

But it's not a--
it's not a hotel, per se.

It's more of an inn.

You'll like it though.
It's very-- it's very quaint.

No, "quaint" is code
for "rustic",

and you know I don't do rustic!

Same reason I don't do
themed restaurants.

I didn't mean to say quaint.
Forget I said quaint.

I meant to say that it's very,
um, authentic.

You like authentic,
don't you?

I'm doing the eyebrow thing.

Okay, fine.

I will find you a place to stay
that's more you.

Thank you. With a hot tub.

Okay. Listen,
we just have to make sure

that this Oprah cake
is part of the show!

Got it. That's my job.
I'll do it.

We have seven days
till Christmas.

See you tomorrow.

Hello?

Guy and his hot tubs.

Always a hot tub.

Ah.

Hey.
- Hey.

Have a look.

Oh. Is that marmalade?

Uh-huh.

Wow. It is so sweet.

It's like one of those
punch concoctions

that you get
at a homecoming dance.

- Ugh.
- In high school, yeah.

Try some?
- No. I think I'm good.

Look, the good news is

you are just one ingredient away
from a total masterpiece.

Okay.

It's like your grandparents'
story, it's so romantic.

Yes. Okay.

It's Christmas time. A young
actor travels across Bavaria

with his theatre company.

The night before his big
performance in his lead role

of Romeo & Juliet, the handsome
actor tragically falls ill!

Knowing the show must go on,

the town innkeeper sets out

to make his century-old
family recipe, the Lebkuchen,

known today as the Enchanted
Christmas Cake.

This legendary cake has magical
restorative healing properties

but the innkeeper was missing
one key ingredient.

Oh. And so, he sends out his
granddaughter to look for it

in all the markets of the town,

but she can't find it.

Dejected, she sits down
on a bench in the falling snow

and then an old beggar woman
appears.

She sits next to her
on the bench,

grabs her hand,
squeezes it gently and says--

"Just when you're not
looking for it,

"that's when you find it"?

Then she pulls out of her
coat pocket the missing herb.

The young girl was so excited,
she ran back to the inn.

The young actor, he eats the
cake and instantly feels better!

And from then on, they spent
the entire Christmas together,

falling in love.

Then they were destined
to have a granddaughter

that couldn't bake
to save her life.

Buzzkill!

Joyce probably had a backup
recipe somewhere, right?

Preferably laminated.

I did make her this jewelry box
when I was little

and she used to put all her
important things in it.

Her treasures, she would say.

I can ask Grandpa and see
if he knows where it is.

It's a lead.
It's something.

What are you waiting for?
Go!

- Oh!
- Wha-- wha--

Whoa, whoa. Whoa-ho.

- Good catch. Thank you.
- Thank you.

Um, it's pretty lucky 'cause
usually I'm kind of klutzy.

You've got very nice cupcakes.

That didn't sound right.
I'm sorry. Anyway, I sorry.

It's okay, you're welcome
to come by the bakery anytime.

I'll be there,

along with my cupcakes.

Wait. You're the baker?

What gave me away?

No.

It's just that, uh,
I was expecting someone older.

Someone named, um--

Joyce.
- Joyce.

Um, she was my grandmother.
She passed away.

- Oh, I'm sorry.
- That's all right.

Wait, does that make you Gwen,
her granddaughter?

Yes.

Uh, Gavin. Gavin Wright.

You're the producer?

Yes, I am. Yes, I am.

Well, I apologize for not
returning your phone call.

It's okay.
It was about 12 calls,

but who's counting?

Well, I'm just really not
interested. Thank you, though.

Oh, wait. Just-- just one
final time, you're sure?

I would love to chat,
but I'm really late.

And just be careful out there.

You might run into the butcher
and the candlestick maker.

Yeah, right, okay.

- Okay.
- See ya.

- Bye.
- Uh, hey, Dan. What's up?

- Oh, Gavin!

Okay, listen.
I've been doing some research

on that Liverchicken lady.
Uh, Joyce something-or-other?

It's Lebkuchen.

Yeah, those Germans
have to have a funny word

for everything, don't they?

Yeah, well,
it is a different language.

Whatever.
Okay, listen to this.

"Local Grandma Bakes
Enchanted Cakes". Huh?

Come on,
that is ratings gold.

People go for this
pithy Christmas stuff.

She passed.

No, the road to success
is paved with passes.

Passed away, Dan.

And I just ran into her
granddaughter, literally.

It's likely a no.

Everybody has their price.
Huh?

Imagine the editorial value
of this.

If we empower our viewers

to make their own love
at Christmas.

Hmm?

Well, we'll have to think of
a different way of wording it,

but I get what you mean.
- You wrote that down?

Yes, yes, I wrote it down.

Okay, good.
Now listen to me.

We really need this.

I think the network
is onto my, um--

My fake, uh--

Fake? There's nothing
fake about you, Dante.

You're the most authentic person
I've ever met in my entire life.

Thank you.

That means a lot.

Listen, we need
this enchanted cake, okay?

Or we're cooked.

Yeah, okay. I got it.

Hello?

The man never says "bye".

-
- Hey, Mom.

Honey, how are you doing?

Holding on. Somewhere
between Bundt and Jell-O?

But I'm holding up.

Oh, darling.

I know this is tough on you.

Your first Christmas
without your grandmother.

Ooh, ooh,
it's hard on me too.

Yeah, but you're at a spa
in Boca Raton

and I am here
running her bakery.

Maybe you should just
close up the bakery

and come join me!

I am getting
a kite-surfing lesson

this afternoon
with a Hotstralian.

I'm sorry, what?

Hotstralian, 'cause he's--

Ah, hot and Australian.
I get it.

Like one of those
Hemstrich boys?

Hemsworth, Mom.

And I can't exactly leave
Grandpa alone at Christmas,

so I'm here.

He likes being alone!
People get on his nerves.

Hi, Daddy!
How are ya doing?

I'm good.

Those TV people
booked a lot of rooms.

Keeps me busy,
takes my mind off things.

Well, I really
have to skedaddle.

Merry Christmas,
I love you both!

Muah, muah, muah!

Don't look at me.
I tried to be a good father.

Well, that's
just Mom being Mom, right?

I guess everybody deals with
these things in their own way.

Yes, that's true.

I busy myself with work, your
mom needs to escape, and you--

well, you bake.
- Yeah.

Are you sure you can fill
all those Lebkuchen orders?

Less than a week
till Christmas.

Absolutely!

A lot of people in town
think those cakes

will bring them romance
at this time of year.

Ha! Sure worked for Joyce and I.

We were the original R and J.

Well, not the original. They
poisoned themselves to death.

Right.

Heh. Speaking of love lives,
how's yours going?

Oh you know,

it's just a it on hold with the
whole bakery and everything, so.

Sounds like you could use a
little enchanted cake yourself.

You might be right.

Oh, but I actually
came to ask you

do you know where
Grandma's jewelry box is?

The one I made her
in sixth grade?

Maybe at your mother's house?

She kept some things,
you know, sentimental value.

You've got a key
to her place, right?

I do, yes. At the bakery.
Anyway, I brought you cupcakes

for your guests, for yourself,
and I have got to go.

Okay. Have a good one!

- Thank you.
- Love you!

What do you mean,
the Lebkuchen aren't ready?

- I'm sorry, George.
- I am desperate.

The Vernon Falls Community
Players' Christmas Pantomime

is in a few days
and as artistic director,

I promised the cast
that I would get some Lebkuchen

for, you know, luck!

How about a Yuletide pie?

Oh, pie is fine
but everybody knows

the Lebkuchen
is supposed to bring love,

and I want the audiences
to love our performances.

I mean, technically

it's supposed to inspire
romantic love.

Uh, technically I'll take
whatever I can get.

Hey, what play
are you putting on this year?

Oh, it's a delightful
musical mash-up.

Uh, Scrooge,
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,

and The Nutcracker. We're
calling it Scroogedolphcracker.

- George.
- Ah! Gwendolyn!

Well, you are gonna need
all the love you can get.

We will have the Lebkuchen
ready by Sunday.

Sunday is our final
dress rehearsal.

I understand that but we're
really backed up right now

and I'll throw in an extra.

Fine. It will have to do.

Thank you.

- Oh! New scarf.
- Yes, it is.

- Very alluring.
- Thank you.

Mm-hm.

Maybe I should just pack it all
in now and go join Mom in Boca.

Yeah! You should do that. Just
give up, throw in the towel,

and while you're at it,
go back to Duncan.

I'm not that desperate.
-

Hey, hey-hey-hey.
Forget about Mistletoe Muffins.

Stud muffin approaching
twelve o'clock.

That's him.

That's the producer.
- That's the TV producer?

Yes.

Okay, you know he's not
wearing a wedding ring, right?

How can you see that
from here?

Do you have hawk's eyes
or something?

Yeah, hawk's eyes for hot guys.

Oh my God, okay. Shh.
Hi.

Yep. Hi! You found me.

I did, yes.
Uh, because you're the baker

and this is the bakery.

It was a process
of elimination thing.

Also you said I could come by
anytime, so here I am.

I did say that, didn't it?

Yeah.
- Uh, Gavin, this is Beck--

Oh, you know what?
I forgot my dry cleaning

so I just gotta go pick that up.
Okay, bye!

Bye. Huh.

Uh, look, I don't wanna
keep bothering you or anything,

but I'm just wondering
if you'd give me

three minutes of your time?

That's it.

Three minutes.

Okay.
Uh, well, as you know,

I'm the producer
of Dining With Dante

and we would love to have you
and your Lebkuchen on our show.

Points for pronunciation.

Thanks.

I'm guessing it comes
from the German "Liebe"

which is "love" and "kuchen"
which is "cake", right?

Wow. That's really good.

Yeah. I have a penchant for
food trivia. It's kinda dorky.

No, it's not.

Thank you.

But I don't wanna spend my time,
my three minutes,

talking about myself,
so let me keep going here.

Um, you know, being on
a nationally televised show

would do wonders for the bakery,
your customers.

My grandmother would never
let a secret family recipe

fall into the hands
of a fraud like Dante.

Sorry.

It's okay.

You're not entirely wrong.

Listen, it's just that my
grandmother loved to bake

for the joy of it,
not so much for the profit.

Right, right. But, but it is
a love cake, right?

And uh, I mean who doesn't
wanna share their love?

I try to share my love with
as many people as possible.

Wow, that did not sound
the way I meant it to sound.

I'm sorry.

Hold on a second.

Oh, I'm sorry. One sec, this--

Hey, Bug.

Look, you are going to love
Vernon Falls at Christmas.

It's gorgeous here!

And I promise, you know,

on the 26th you can go
back to your friends.

Antigua?

Of course your mother and Jeff
are going to Antigua.

Listen, Bug, I'm just kind
of in the middle of something.

Can I call you back?

Okay. I love you.

Bye.

Sorry 'bout that.

- Was that your kid?
- Yeah, yeah.

She's 13 and a half
going on 35.

So, are you sure I can't
convince you to be on the show?

It's a lot of fun.

Listen, I think that
you're a really nice guy

and I'd love to help you but
I have a lot going on right now.

Maybe you wanna check out
Vernon's Pastries?

It's just two streets down,
or the Christmas Market.

They have a lot of great
local stuff there.

- Okay. Oh, um--
- Mm-hm?

One more question. I get that
you don't wanna be in the show.

That's fine.
It's disappointing but fine.

Um, why don't you be my fixer?

Your fixer?

Um, what exactly
would I be fixing?

Well, it's like a scout.
A location scout.

Someone just to show me around

and help me make this Christmas
special all the more special.

Um, I will have to
think about it.

Okay, good.
I'll take that as a maybe.

A more than a maybe.

Anyway, sorry. Where's the, uh--

You said Vernon, the--

It's just straight out to Bay
Street and then to the left.

- Patisserie, okay.
- Yeah. Mm-hm.

Thank you.

Wait, maybe that TV show
can help you!

Were you listening
the whole time?

Or, maybe he's
your missing ingredient.

I'm gonna be right back.

Gavin.

Hey, what is it
that you need fixed?

Uh, a hot tub.

Not like a plumber, um--

I just need somewhere
for Dante to stay.

- With a hot tub.
- Yeah.

Uh, fixed!
I know just the place.

Great. When can we see it?

Uh, do you wanna go
take a look at it?

Sure. In this?

Don't worry, she's roadworthy.

Well, this is my mom's house.

She rents it out
for the holidays if she can.

Thus the over-the-top
Christmas decorations.

And the real estate agent.

Yeah, I didn't know
he was gonna be here.

Well, if this is a bad time
we can come back later.

No, it's fine.

Really, we're good.
- Okay.

Great.

Whoa.

Yeah, as you can see, my
mother's taste's a bit much.

No, this is, uh--

This is perfect.

Oh, yeah.
Dante will love this.

You think it's still available?

- I hope so.
- Hi!

- Hi, Duncan.
- Hey, Gwen!

It's so great to see you!
Wow, a long time.

Right.

How's the bakery?

It's fine! What's with
the antlers, Duncan?

Oh. 'Tis the season.

Real estate's
a very competitive market.

You've gotta find ways
to stand out.

Plus, what's wrong with
a little Christmas spirit, huh?

You can spare me the TED talk.

We just wanna know
if the place is available?

We need it for Dante.

Oh!

Hope you don't go crazy
with the fireplace.

Dante's Inferno? Burn?

Oh, I'm-- I'm not Dante.

My name is Gavin Wright.

I'm the producer of
Dining With Dante, the show?

Oh, of course! Yes,
the news is all over town.

Well, welcome to Vernon Falls!

Thank you.

Estelle's house
is the perfect place

for a man of his stature.

I mean,
it's worth every penny!

Oh, uh,
I will be handling this.

It is my mom's place,
after all.

Mom's house, my commish.

Yeah, but weren't you just
speaking about,

you know, Christmas spirit?

And you're still
gonna get your "commish".

Gwen, huh?

Feisty as ever, huh?

Oh, listen. It was very nice
meeting you, Mr. Wright.

- Yes.
- Best of luck to your show.

- Thank you.
- All right.

Gwen.

Uh--

I'm not an empath or anything

but there seemed to be
a little bit of awkwardness

between you two.

Well, I've known him
since high school.

We dated a few years back.
It didn't end well.

Yeah, no kidding.

Uh, so did you say
there was a hot tub?

Right.
Uh, it is out back.

Why don't you go take a look?

I just need to get something
from upstairs.

- Sure. Out back there?
- Yes.

- Okay, yeah.
- Good.

Come on.

Hi. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Oh, it's okay.

This is your sister.

No, it's my mother, actually.

Oh.

That sounded
like a cheesy line.

I didn't mean it
to be like that.

It's just,
she looks really young.

Well, she did have me
when she was really young.

I mean, we are really close
because of that.

We are also
incredibly different.

How so?

Well, take Christmas
for example.

She loves the spectacle,

she likes to be on the go
all the time,

and I like the opposite.

I like to see people slow down,
and connect with each other.

But you run
a Christmas bakery.

Doesn't that make the holidays
very busy for you?

I didn't say
it was slow for me.

I just-- I like to see it
in other people.

Oh, yeah.

So, do you think the place
is gonna work?

- Oh, this is-- this is perfect.
- Great.

I mean, Dante's gonna love it.
He's gonna love this kitchen.

Oh, yeah. You know, it's funny.
My mom doesn't bake or cook.

She doesn't use it at all.
Unless you count frozen pizzas.

That counts, ish.

Where is she now?

Oh, she's at a spa
in Boca Raton. It's--

it's her way of dealing
with the first Christmas

without my grandmother,
actually. I don't blame her.

Oh.

Gavin, I have a
proposition for you.

Uh, if I help you
with what you need,

maybe you could do
the same for me.

You have my curiosity piqued.

Dante's an expert, right?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

I was hoping
that I could pick his brain.

I'm just experimenting a little
bit with some of my cakes.

Why fix what's not broken?

Let's just call it
Enchanted Christmas Cake 2.0?

I just-- I think
that some of his insights

could be helpful to me, so.

This could be the show.

The show?

Yeah, a segment of the show.

You and Dante
baking cakes together.

It's perfect.
We could shoot it right here!

I don't think I'm up
for being in the show,

or a segment of the show.

I don't quite know what that
means. It's not really me.

Come on, it's easy.

No.

- You sure?
- Yeah.

So you just wanna talk to him,
that's it?

That's it. That's it.

And if you could make
that happen and happen soon,

then he can stay here,
he can shoot here,

he can land a sleigh on the roof
for all I care. It's just--

as long as I'm not involved
in any way.

Reindeer on the roof
is interesting.

But don't mention it to him
'cause he'll make me do it.

Things like that
have happened before.

Right.

So, you'll talk to him for me?

Well, how can I say no?

I mean, you found me
this great house.

Of course, yeah, sure.

Great.

I will make sure that Duncan
has all of the details

and um, yeah. It'll be fine.

Great. And I'll talk to Dante

about what we discussed
and I'll give you a call.

Sounds good.

- Thanks for the ride.
- Mm-hm.

Yes?

Do you think you'd--

you would like
to have dinner sometime?

Sure. Sometime.

- Okay. See ya.
- Bye.

♪ We wish you
a merry Christmas ♪

♪ We wish you a
merry Christmas ♪

Someone is in a good mood!
Did you figure out the recipe?

Uh, no. But I did find this.

There's a number one and five
on the back.

There's also
a number one and five

on the back
of the Lebkuchen recipe.

Okay. So maybe it's the date
they met or wedding anniversary?

Or maybe it's nothing at all.
I don't know.

So, then why are you
in such a good mood?

Well, in exchange for allowing

to stay and shoot
at my mother's place,

Gavin has arranged a meeting
between the two of us

so that I can pick his brain

and maybe find
that missing ingredient.

Now tell me,
about the producer.

What about him?

He may have asked me to dinner.
-

There it is.
- What? It's just dinner.

We're helping each other out,
professionally.

Okay, hot shot.

Keep playing cool
but, uh, I'm onto you.

So, she's modifying her recipe

and she wants me to help her.

Oh, this is gonna be
easier than I thought.

Okay, but she's not gonna give
you the recipe for the show.

She doesn't have to.

I'll figure it out.

I'll make my own lovemunchkin.

The cake
is called "Lebkuchen"

and that recipe
belongs to her.

I'll change it up a bit.
It'll be mine.

Before you steal someone's
intellectual property,

just let me talk to her, see if
I can bring her around, okay?

She seems
like a nice person.

And she's had
a bit of rough go with it

with the passing
of her grandmother.

Okay?
I'll see you tomorrow.

Hello?

What did I say about not
answering the phone

when you're in the bathroom?

I'm cocooning, Gavin!

Mr. Dante, don't you think
we just went a little too far

with the Christmas decorations?

Less is more, right?

No.

Less is less.

More is more!

I want a cornucopia
of Christmas!

I want a festive festoon,
a Yule-tidal wave!

Come on, keep it up!

Oh, thank you.

Dante, this is Gwen.
She bakes, uh--

Enchanted cakes, I know.
Enchantée.

Wow, I thought my mom went nuts
with the Christmas decorations

but you guys have brought this
to a whole new level.

Well, this is what makes
our Christmas special special.

Come, sit down, please!

Thank you.

Mi casa es su casa.

Actually it's my mother's, but
I'm glad that you feel at home.

Well, we're paying for it now,
so mi casa.

Anyway, Gavin tells me that
you're changing the recipe.

Actually, I was hoping
that you could help me out.

Um, since you are
a master and all.

Well, flattery
will get you everywhere.

Okay! Lemme see your recipe

and I will tell you
what I would do to improve it.

Well, I'd rather not.

I was hoping that you could
just give me your two cents

on some sweet ingredients-
maybe an obscure sugar or spice

native to Germany
that you know of?

Well, I can't exactly help you

unless I know exactly
what you're working with.

I mean, I could name dozens

of obscure German
sugars and spices--

the "schlieffenblan",
for example.

But it's not about
the individual ingredients.

It's about how they all meld
together and transform

in that magical alchemical thing
that we all call baking.

Listen, I--
I don't mean to offend you,

but this is something
that is very special

between my grandmother
and I, so,

I'd like to keep it
to myself, please.

Wasted my time, Gavin.
You wasted my time.

I'm sorry, he's like a child.
He throws tantrums.

I never know
what I'm gonna get

from moment to moment.

That's fine. I'll handle it.

Can I ask you something?

Why do you need his help?

You've baked the cake before.
Why can't you just do it again?

Well, I haven't baked it.
My grandmother baked it

and now she's not here anymore
so it's, you know,

a little difficult.
- Oh.

Right. And she's--
- Yeah.

Right.

Well--

Maybe you just need
to take your mind off of it?

I mean, why don't we--
why don't we do something?

Why don't you take me around

and show me some Christmas
or something?

I mean, look, he's gonna be
choosing his wardrobe

for the next two and a half
hours, so I have some time.

Doesn't he just wear white?

Well, yes,
but you'd be surprised

how many different shades
of white there are.

It's like a paint store.

Christmas, huh?

Yeah!

Maybe you're right.

I need a Christmas tree
for the bakery, and you owe me.

I do owe you, definitely.

And Christmas trees are heavy
and hard to carry around.

Look at me.

People say I put the "man"
in "manual labor".

You want me to carry
a Christmas tree?

I can do that for you.
- Really?

- Absolutely, let's go.
- Wow, okay.

So, what's your story,
Gwen Miller?

Small town girl,
always dreamed of being a baker?

Pretty much.

My mom wasn't really
the maternal type,

so my gram raised me.

You know how at Christmas
when kids look forward

to everything that Santa's
gonna bring them?

- Yes.
- Not me.

All I cared about was baking
Christmas cakes with Grandma.

And now with her gone
I feel like the recipe's lost,

you know?

Over one ingredient?

Can't you just improvise?

Uh, yeah, believe me,
I've tried. It's just--

You know what
the worst part is?

It feels as though I'm
forgetting a part of her,

or us. It kills me.

Yeah, it's just a cake, though.
I mean, you still--

you still have your memories.

Oh, no. See,
Gram would disagree with that.

A cake isn't just a cake.
It's-- it's life.

That's what she said.

You put love in,
you get love out.

Huh. So, she taught you
everything.

No. Actually, when I was 19, I
went to Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

- What? Get outta here!
- Yeah.

I mean, I didn't stay.
Well, she needed me here,

And she would never
say anything but I could--

I just knew it was overwhelming
for her, so.

I just-- I had to come home,
you know?

For her.

Oh. That's nice.

And that's it.

- This?
- That's the tree. Yeah!

Just looks like a tree to me.

No, no, no.
Um, let me explain something.

This is a spruce.
- Oh.

Okay? You see those over there?
Those are firs.

Spruce, fir.

Yeah, I--

It's a little
less fragrant, but--

The point is, okay,

most people love the smell
of a Christmas tree

but there is nothing on Earth

more beautiful
than the smell of baked goods.

- Agreed.
- Right?

- So, this one?
- Yes, please.

- Shall I?
- Yep.

♪ O, little town of Bethlehem

If you could do anything
in the world, what would it be?

Anything in the world?
Uh-- Heh.

Well...
there's this documentary

in Europe that I wanna do,
but it's--

I would never have the time

because Dante keeps me busy.

What's the subject matter?

You really wanna know?

I really wanna know.

Okay. Well,

I wanna do this doc
about the history of food.

Because it's just
so fascinating that we--

we eat all these things
all the time

and we just kinda take them
for granted,

but they all have
such rich history.

Wow, I feel like, uh,
a real food geek.

Hit me with a factoid.

- Factoid, uh--
- Mm-hm.

Okay. Well,
pasta, for example...

not originally Italian.

- No!
- Yes.

Marco Polo brought it back
from China.

They should have called him
Marco Yolo.

You didn't-- you didn't
just say "Marco Yolo", did you?

- I sure did.
- Wow.

- It was pretty good.
- Thank you.

It was pretty good.

You know, that is
very Gen Z humor of you.

- Oh.
- Michelle is gonna love you.

That's a good thing.

What about you?

What would you do
if you could do anything?

Well,
I'm pretty much doing it.

I would really love to finish
my course at the Cordon Bleu

but otherwise, I'm good.

So, are we both food geeks?

Two food geeks, I like it.

What do you think?
We're done?

I think we're ready
to light it up.

Oh, yes. Can't wait.

Moment of truth. Here we go.

- Amazing.
- It's so great, isn't it?

Beautiful.

Well, if you don't have

any more decorating chores
for me this evening,

then maybe I should--

You are finished.

Well then,
I should probably go.

Can I call you a cab?

No. No, I'm-- gonna walk.

Right.

- Get some fresh air.
- Mm-hm.

Uh, but I was thinking--

we should have that dinner.

You know, sometime.

Somewhere.
Maybe.

Sometime, somewhere. Maybe.

- Deal.
- Deal.

Thank you
for sharing this with me.

Well, thank you for helping.
- Good night.

Good night.
- Good night.

One and five.

Hi, G.

Hey. Uh, Grandpa,
I just wondered,

did you and Grandma
get married on January 5th

or May 1st, by any chance?

Uh, nope. Our wedding
anniversary is July 26th.

Okay. Um, how about
the first day you met?

Christmas Eve, 1957.

Okay. Thank you.

Are you okay?
- Yeah, yeah. I'm fine.

Okay, well talk soon.

Okay, I will do the segment.

Only if I can talk
about the history of the cake

and the bakery.

Absolutely. Absolutely, deal.
Yeah, that's fine.

Okay.

Great!

Um, can I buy you
a cup of coffee?

- Um--
- I'm kidding, it's free.

We can just have it.
- Yeah, okay.

I mean, of course
I read about it in O,

but to hear you say it on the
show is gonna be really special.

I mean,
it's an incredible love story.

Yeah, I know. Every Christmas
we would sit around

and we'd have the Lebkuchen,
we'd toast egg nog.

It's not gonna be the same
this year.

Yeah. Yeah, I get it.

Last few Christmases have
been really tough on Michelle.

Just bouncing back
between me and my ex.

Do you and your ex
get along, at least?

Uh...ish.

We're both just
really different people.

We got married young
'cause that's what you did,

and we gave it our best shot.

You know,
lately I've been thinking

about how so many people

get stuck in this rut

when they're going through
the motions of living life

without actually
giving much thought

to what it's really about.

You really believe that?

Yeah, kind of.

I mean, look at me.

I'm producing
this Christmas special

with this narcissistic chef

who's only interested
in promoting his own brand.

I mean, that's not Christmas.
It's not special.

Well, at least you get to spend
some time with your daughter.

Right? That's what Christmas
is about anyway.

Speaking of.

Hey, she's here.
- Who?

Michelle.
I had Dennis, our driver,

pick her up
at the train station.

Come meet her.
- Um--

- Come on!
- Okay.

- Dad! Merry Christmas!
- Hey, Bug!

Merry Christmas!
How was the trip?

Good. I managed to watch most
of It's a Wonderful Life.

Cool. That's kind of
our favorite movie.

- Oh.
- I'm sorry.

- That's okay.
- Uh, Michelle, this is Gwen.

Gwen, Michelle.
- Nice to meet you.

You too!

Gwen owns the local bakery
and she's gonna be on the show.

Cool.

How's the id?

The id is fine.

The id is-- fine.

That's what we call Dante.
Not to his fine.

Oh.

Not that he would get the
reference anyway if we did.

But, uh, he's kind of
a walking, breathing id.

I'm all superego, of course.

He's just an insecure guy,
that's all.

There is a reason
for that though.

You know, who needs therapy

when your daughter's
got Freud down pat?

- Absolutely.
- It's convenient.

Is there anything fun
to do in this town?

We do have
the Christmas Market.

It's a lot of fun, it's
happening tonight, maybe--

maybe we could all go together.

Yeah.

That sounds cool. It's a date.

It's a date.

But you gotta stay here
for a couple hours with me

'cause Dad's gotta work.

- Really?
- Yes.

If you wanna go to college,
then I have to work.

Hey, why don't you come
to the bakery with me?

We could make a creation
all your own.

That sounds way more fun.

Okay, well I will have Dennis
take you over to the bakery

after you drop your stuff off
at the hotel.

Uh, be right back.
- Sure.

- Dennis! One sec.
- Yeah.

Really nice to meet you!
You too!

So what's the house specialty?

- Don't ask.
- Why?

- It's called Lebkuchen.
- Leb-what?

Enchanted Christmas Cake.

Oh, we are definitely
making that.

Believe me, I wish I could.

But you said
it was your specialty.

Well, it's supposed to be.

I'm just struggling a little bit
with the ingredients.

You see, you've got
the basic ingredients,

but my grandmother's recipe
is way sweeter.

You want the flavors
to work together

but still maintain
their unique quality.

Does that make sense?

It's like when I was going out
with Joey Lafferty.

I was so into him. I sort of
forgot what I liked to do.

It was very co-dep.

- Co-dep?
- Co-dependent.

Wow. I had no idea
what that was at your age.

Kids are smarter these days.

Apparently!

So, you're missing an ingredient
for the Christmas cake.

I am. I only have four days
to figure it out.

And the only thing
I know about it

is that it begins with an "MA".

Have you tried maple syrup?

Actually, no.
That is a good idea.

Let's do this.

Ah. And--

Really?

Oh, it smells so good!

Well, the proof
is in the pudding,

or the Lebkuchen.

- There you go.
- Thank you.

- Ready?
- Yes.

- Mm.
- Mm!

It's amazing!
- It's pretty good.

I'm not gonna lie.
But it's not hers.

So what? Maybe people
will like this better.

Or maybe they won't.

Maple syrup!
Why didn't we think of that?

I know!

Hi! I'm Becky, Gwen's best
friend and smartest advisor.

Well, second smartest now.

You must be--

This is Gavin's daughter
Michelle.

Nice to meet you.

Sorry I couldn't solve
your ingredient problem.

That's okay.

At least it gives us one more
to cross off the list, right?

- This version is really good!
Mm-hm.

- It could be a backup at least!
- I think so, maybe.

We're all going
to the market tonight.

Oh, I am so in.

Okay.
Well, thank you, ladies.

Pleasure.

Hi.

Moonlight on the Seine.

What?

Ain't got nothin' on you.

Thank you.

But I really
can't take credit.

It's all about
these ladies here.

I picked the dress.

And the lipstick's mine.

And it will be back to ponytail
and foundation tomorrow, so.

Okay.

- Shall we?
- We shall.

Well, they're getting along
like a house on fire.

You said Michelle
is 13 going on 30.

Well, Becky is 30 going on 13.

Right.

So, what's the latest
with the Lebkuchen?

Michelle and I made one today,
actually.

I didn't find
the missing ingredient

but I can't lie,
it was pretty good.

You know, maybe you don't need
this missing ingredient,

you know?

Maybe people will like yours
for what it is.

No way.
Thank you, but no way.

All right.

It's a little slow tonight,
isn't it?

For a small town,
it's a really late crowd.

No, really.

When bridge and shuffleboard end
at the seniors' center,

the septuagenarians will be
out here dancing until dawn.

Okay, come on.

I'm serious!
The old folks,

they are gonna party
like it's 1929, trust me.

- Really?
- Mm-hm.

Should we give it a shot?

- What, dance?
- Yeah.

Well, there's
barely anybody out there.

Good! Fewer witnesses
to my terrible dancing.

What do you say?

- Yeah--
- Um, I'll take that.

Oh, yeah. Thank you!
Thanks.

- Your jacket.
- Thank you.

- Go on!
- Okay.

Give you this too.
We'll be back.

Okay.

They're pretty good
together, huh?

Yep.

How do you feel
about your dad and Gwen?

I just want him to be happy.

Oh, that's Gwen's grandma.

Baker of the famous
Christmas cake?

Mm-hm.

If only that photo
could talk,

we would finally know how
to replicate that recipe.

R and J?

Her grandparents' initials.

Could also mean Romeo and
Juliet, like a double entendre.

Especially since
that's exactly how they write it

in Shakespeare's plays.

Do you want my opinion
on this whole thing?

Yeah.

I think you gotta
follow your gut.

You just gotta do you.
- Hmm.

Did Michelle teach you
that expression?

Uh, yes. Yes, she did.

She's, uh, slowly
trying to make me cool.

Hmm.
is that working out for you?

It's not working.
It's not working out.

But I'm serious.

That special something
you're looking for,

you've got it.

Believe me.

Really?

Yeah, really.

Oh my God,
you've gotta see this!

Right now, Becky?

Yes, right now. Look at this!

Yes, it's the photograph
of my grandparents.

Yeah, but "R and J".

Those are their initials,
Ron and Joyce.

Or Romeo and Juliet, you know,
the whole reason that they met.

Yeah, and?

Those numbers, one five?

They probably mean
act one, scene five.

We studied Romeo and Juliet
in drama class this year.

Okay, well what does it say
in act one, scene five

of Romeo and Juliet?

I can't remember.

Can we Google it or something?
- I've been trying,

but the reception in this entire
town is terrible.

Wait a minute,
I think I know

who might be able
to answer this.

I have to go.
- Oh, yeah.

Absolutely, go ahead.
- Okay.

Oh, wait! Wait, wait, wait.

Or, or--
and just hear me out--

Gavin,
why don't you go with her?

You know, Michelle and I can
stay here, have fun, hang out.

Right, Michelle?
- Absolutely.

You should go, Dad.

- Really?
- I'll be fine.

- Okay.
- Okay, yeah.

- Yeah, let's go.
- Sure. All right, well--

Thank you!

- You guys are-- you're fine.
- Of course.

- Yeah, okay.
- Okay. Well, bye.

- Get outta here.
- Bye!

Go, bye!

This calls for some gingerbread
cookies, wouldn't you say?

Word.

Oh, of course.

Come on.

He is always here.

- Okay, I see him.
- There he is, there he is.

- He looks mad.
- Okay. He's always mad.

Hey!

We're in the middle
of a dress rehearsal.

Right. Do you have the complete
works of William Shakespeare?

Of course I do.

What self-respecting
artistic director

doesn't have the complete works
of William Shakespeare?

Good, I need it. Now.

Now? But I--

I know. Just for a quick second,
I promise!

Wait.

Thank you!

- He seems busy.
- I know. Okay.

This might be it though.

I have a good feeling
about this.

- Two words.
- Yes?

Enchanted cakes.

Absolutely!

You will have them.
They're gonna be delicious!

Thank you!

Okay.

William Shakespeare,
William Shakespeare.

Romeo and Juliet.

Act one, scene five.

"Away with the joint-stools,
remove the court-cupboard,

"look to the plate.

"Good thou, save me a piece of
marchpane." Marchpane.

That's it.

What's it, marchpane?
I've never heard of it.

- No, marzipan.
- Marzipan!

Yes. It originated in Persia
but the German's perfected it.

How could I
have forgotten this?

We need to go
to the bakery.

- "We"?
- Yes, we.

We are gonna bake some cakes.

Okay!

Marzipan.

Who would've thought of it?

It's-- it's so obscure
yet so simple.

I know, and the clue
is hidden in the very play

that brought my grandparents
together. It's amazing.

I kinda feel privileged.

Why?

Well, I have
inside information

into a secret family recipe.

That is true.

Hey, I'm-- I'm kidding.

I'm not gonna say anything.

I promise!
- I'm not worried.

- Are you sure?
- Yeah.

'Cause you seem
a little bit worried.

- I'm fine. Really.
- You also--

What?

You also have something here.
It's sugar or something

on your cheek here.
- It's a baking hazard.

You know what? Why don't we
put a little bit more here--

- Oh, thank you.
- And now it's just

sorta even.

And then it's perfectly...

- Balanced?
- Symmetrical, balanced, yeah.

- Um, we should--
- Get baking.

Yes, baking.

A lot of cakes to bake.
- Okay.

And I'm just getting
the hang of it.

Okay. All right, so we're gonna
load up another pan here.

Okay, yeah.

Morning!
- Hey.

An all-nighter, huh?

Yep. And you...

need to taste this.

You did it!

Gwen did it.

We did it.

I helped, but you did it.

And thank you
for watching Michelle.

That was really nice.

Oh, my pleasure.
She is a super cool girl.

And we definitely didn't
stay up all night

watching Christmas movies

and eating way too many
gingerbread cookies.

Excellent.

Uh, well, you know, I should,
um-- I should get going

'cause I gotta change
and all kinds of stuff.

So, thank you

for a lovely evening.

Thank you for helping me.

Any time.
- Okay.

- Well, bye.
- Bye.

And, bye. Bye.

Bye, Gavin.

What?

Well, look who spent the night
with a hot TV producer.

Spent the night baking.

Mm-hm, and you found
the mystery ingredient

so you are just on a roll.

Yes, Christmas is saved.
We have cookies for all.

Okay, for someone
who just had an amazing night,

why aren't you in a better mood?
What's up?

Do I still need to do
the TV segment?

Dante's show?
You wanna bail?

They said you didn't have to
reveal the secret ingredient,

just the history, right?

I know, but I don't want
people to think

that I'm taking credit
for what she built.

I think you're scared.

Scared of what?

Love.

I'm gonna go put this inventory
in the front window.

You know I don't do ellipses.

I find my own pauses.

All right? This whole thing's
gonna have to be redone.

Hey!

Hi.

How ya feelin'?

Tired. But good! You?

Same. But, um,
I'm really excited.

I think this is
gonna be fantastic.

Uh, did you want a coffee
or a cappuccino or something?

No, I'm fine.

Oh, sorry. This is the network.
One second.

Okay.

Hey. Yep.

There's my baby girl!

Mother!

- What are you doing here?
- Well, a little birdy

told me you were gonna be
on television

and I wouldn't miss that
for the world!

So I just hopped on
the very next flight.

This is so exciting!

A television show shooting
in my own home!

Ah! And that--

that Dante is quite something,
isn't he?

Uh--

- Yes, he is something.
- So manly.

And yet,
with soft and sad eyes.

Mom, don't do this again,

please!
- Yes, okay, sweetheart.

Listen, just let me know

if you need someone
to appear on your segment.

I went into a trailer

and I had the
hair and makeup people

get me camera ready
just in case.

Of course you did.
You look great.

Thank you!

And-- and, do you like
your hair like this?

What?

And, action on rehearsal.

As seen in O Magazine's
Christmas edition

and ranked one of the top five
bakeries in America,

let's give a big, warm welcome
to Gwen Miller,

owner and master baker
extraordinaire

from Vernon Falls'
very own Enchanted Bakery.

Welcome, Gwen!
- Ah, thank you.

Thank you. I can't take credit,
though. You know, um...

I owe everything to my
grandmother, Joyce Engels.

She, uh-- the bakery
was her pride and joy.

Fascinating.

Can you please tell us
some more about her?

And perhaps tell us about
the bakery's signature dish--

--the Lebkuchen.

I hear that there's a fable.

Well, it's not really a fable.
It's a true story.

Even better!

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Oh, okay. Um--

Once, a long time ago,
there was an actor

who travelled all over Bavaria
with his company--

Story, story, story, story,
we cut to a commercial.

Gavin, can I have
a sidebar please?

- I'm sorry, what--
- Don't worry,

everybody screws up
their first time.

- Screws up? I--

Well, I didn't finish my story.

Oh my God.

Gavin, Gavin, Gavin.
She is absolutely wooden.

Wooden?

Yeah. That whole story
about the actor in Bolivia,

it's just so dry!
- It's Bavaria.

And you didn't even give her

a chance to tell it.
She's gonna be fine!

Yeah. Oh, you're so naive.

You're so sweet!
Listen. This is television.

It needs to be exciting!
That is not gonna cut it.

No, we are gonna have to
good cop bad cop this thing.

Definitely Turner and Hooch.

- Hooch was the dog.
- Exactly.

Because you're loyal, see? And
you keep chasing your own tail.

- Oh.
- Hooch.

Or we could Big Lebowski it.

I don't know what
we're talking about, Dante.

Doesn't matter,
those are details.

Listen, the important thing
to remember

is we need to protect
this time slot.

Listen.

We're gonna have to

get that secret ingredient
out of her.

No. No, no, we don't, okay?

That's not what
this show is about.

Okay, Hooch.

I don't know what you've got
up your sleeve but please,

be nice to this girl.
All right? I like her.

I don't wanna
bad cop anything.

Oh, you like her!
Oh, I get it, okay.

Don't worry,
I will play it nice.

What, what,
why'd you just wink at me?

I didn't.

You just did it again!

I got something in my eye.

You--

Okay, so here's the thing.

I like him,
he seems like a nice guy, but--

But what?

Okay.

No reason, but I just don't
wanna go through the same thing

that I did with--
- Don't even say his name.

Ugh. Besides,
this time has to be different

because now you have the power
of the Lebkuchen behind you.

You really believe
in all that magic?

Of course I do.
That's what makes it real.

It's like-- does Lebkuchen
really make people fall in love

or is it just the placebo effect
like Dr. Oz talks about?

It doesn't matter,
as long as it works.

Wow, I had never thought of it
quite like that.

It's like permission to have
your cake and eat it too.

Pun intended.

And so, the actor
was my grandfather

and the innkeeper's daughter
was my grandmother.

That's a beautiful story.

Oh, boy. At first
I thought it was those onions

I was cutting earlier.
No, no.

It was definitely that story.

Beautiful. Just beautiful.
- Thank you.

Okay. Now, when people ask you

if your Christmas cake is really
magical, what do you tell them?

Oh. Well...

it is if you believe it is.

Perfect. Hmm?

Okay, now we have
the basic ingredients here

for a basic Lebkuchen,
but you tell me,

what is the special twist
that you put in yours

to make yours stand out
from all the rest?

Oh. Um, interesting question.

I think it will depend
on the chef.

You know, because love
is a very personal thing

and I would never assume
to tell someone else

where to find it. They have to
find it on their own.

Humble! Hmm? Is she not
Christmas personified, people?

Oh, that's beautiful.

Okay, but don't
leave us hanging.

Tell us, what is
that secret ingredient

that makes
Enchanted Bakery's Lebkuchen

better than all the rest?
Simply the best.

Hmm. Well, um--

Who's ready for some
Christmas cake? I know I am!

When we come back,

we're gonna have that special
secret ingredient revealed

but first we're gonna go

to downtown
Main Street Vernon Falls.

Back in a flash-- of your pan.

And that's a cut!

I know what it is.

I'm sorry?

I know what it is.

- How? Who told you?
- Someone close to you.

I'm sorry but we need
to save our show.

I bet you do.

Hey. What are you doin'?

Well-- okay, look.

I can do this next segment

where I reveal
the secret ingredient

with or without you.

It's your choice.

Without me.

Gwen, hold--

Gwen, wait--

What the hell
are you doin', man?

Hey, don't talk to me like that
in front of the crew.

Oh, please.
You know, you are a child.

I know you are, but what am I?

- How could you have known?
- Well, I should have.

Gwen, wait.
I didn't tell him, I swear.

Yeah, well who did?
- I don't know,

but you've gotta believe me.
- Well, I don't believe you!

Okay. Um--

I'm trying to understand it,
okay?

You've got your daughter
to think about,

you have to save the show, I--
I get it.

That has nothing to do
with anything.

Don't-- don't worry about it.
Just--

take care of yourself.

Merry Christmas?

Come on.

Welcome back!

Who wants to find out what
that secret ingredient is?

Huh?

I knew you would!

All right!
Let's have a drum roll, please.

Marmalade!

One quarter cup of marmalade.

- I know, it's unexpected--
- What?

- Are you okay, Dad?
-

- What happened there?
- What?

Uh-- I don't know.

I don't know.
But that's not it.

- What's not it?
- What? Um, marmalade.

Marmalade is not
the secret ingredient.

...which is French

for "things in place".

Went to voicemail.

So what are you waiting for?
Go get her!

I still cannot believe

that I betrayed
my grandmother that way.

Are you kidding?
You didn't betray her.

In fact, you did the opposite.
Gavin betrayed you.

I don't know.

It's still because of me

that her recipe is gonna be
out there in the world.

Not your fault.

Again, Gavin.

Why would he do that to you?

His show's in trouble.

If this Christmas special
doesn't go well,

it's the last nail
in the coffin, right?

So, what, so that makes it okay

for him to just throw you
under the bus like that?

No, of course it doesn't
make it okay, but I'm really...

I'm trying to understand it.

It's my mother. I just--
I cannot do that right now.

I wish this show had never come
to Vernon Falls.

I better go get
the rest of the ingredients for

the next batch of cakes. Um--
- Yeah.

Are you gonna be okay
by yourself?

Yeah, of course.

Thank you. I'm fine. Really.

Oh, come on!

Hi, Mom. I can't talk right now.

Oh honey, I am so sorry.

It's fine!
Honestly, I'm fine.

I just-- you know,
I'm busy, I'm baking.

No, no, no. I am so sorry
about what I said to Dante!

Why? What did you say to Dante?

Well, he asked me
what the secret ingredient was.

I told him marmalade.

I'm sorry, marmalade?
Why would you say marmalade?

Oh honey, you know
I'm a sucker for lost souls

with puppy dog eyes who
overcompensate by being jerks!

Mother, please.

Oh, sweetheart, I just said

the first thing
that came into my head

and I didn't know he was gonna
use it for his--

I can't talk to you right now.

Come on, Gavin.
Come on, come on, come on.

Pick up, please?

Okay. All right.

I'll do this another way.

Pardon me. Excuse me.

Excuse me! Excuse me!

Sorry.

- I'm sorry.
- I'm sorry.

My mom just called.
She told me

that she's the one
that told Dante.

I'm sorry that I doubted you,
I-- This is all my fault.

I should've never put you
in that position.

You know that he's gonna run
with that recipe

even though it's wrong.

Yeah.

Please tell me
that using marmalade

instead of marzipan is gonna
completely ruin that cake.

Marmalade is gonna
completely ruin the cake.

Oh my God, are you cold?

Yeah, I didn't wear a coat
or anything.

- Let's go to the bakery.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay.

Okay.

- Oof.
- Oh, it's cold.

Yeah.

Um, Gavin?

What?

How many people will be watching
that Christmas special?

Probably close to a million.
Why?

So that means in two days
a million people

will think that the Enchanted
Bakery's signature dish

is made with marmalade.
- Yeah.

Making it taste terrible

and ruining
your grandmother's legacy.

And if we give Dante marzipan,

then who needs the bakery
at all?

You know,
I'm just gonna talk to him

and I'm gonna make him see.
That's it.

No, wait. I think I know
what might fix it.

Okay.

So the marmalade was a lie.

Go ahead. I'm listening.

You don't reveal any recipe

with or without marmalade,

and I will allow you
to produce the cake

for your frozen dessert line.

Dante's Christmas Cakes,

in every grocery store.

That's what you wanted
all along, right?

You never actually cared
about the recipe.

No, but I do care now.
And so should you.

If I release that recipe
with the marmalade,

it's gonna be
a lot worse for you

than it is for me,
lemme tell ya.

You know how they say there is
no such thing as bad publicity?

Well, there is.

I'll have my lawyers
draw something up.

That cake really is magic.

Robe!

That's not my arm.
What is wrong with you?

Look,
there's gotta be a better way.

No, you know what?
It's all right.

At least Gran's recipe
is staying a secret.

And more people are going
to enjoy it this way.

It won't have
that personal touch, but--

all good things
must come to an end.

Why do I think you're not
talking about Christmas cake?

Listen, your life
is in the city.

I'm glad to have met you,
but this is gonna end.

We're gonna end. It's just--

It doesn't have to.

Look, I'm sorry that I screwed
this whole thing up, I--

You didn't. It's fine.

Just-- why don't you spend
some time with your daughter,

all right?
She would love that.

I'm going to, uh, take a drive,
clear my head.

- Ah, thank you.
- You're welcome.

"Dear Joyce.

"I can't thank you enough
for the recipe

"for your enchanted
Christmas cake.

"You have managed to give me
a most wonderful memory

"of my dear Harold.

"Now I can make my own magic,
thanks to you."

Hey, the Lebkuchen's
boxed up on the counter--

Whoa, whoa!
What's the urgency?

- I'm going to Waterville, Ohio.
- Why?

I'm going to see Judy Reeves.
Gram sent her the recipe.

Okay, wait, wait, wait.
You could try calling.

I tried.

I tried Google, I tried 411.
Nothing.

Nothing except the address
on the envelope.

I'll be right back.

Gwen, this is crazy.

I need to know
what Gram wanted, okay?

I still don't get it.

Why did she offer up the recipe
at all when the id asked her?

She was worried about me.

What?

She didn't wanna give up
her grandmother's recipe

but she also didn't want you
to lose your job.

She told me she liked you
but that's more than like.

I mean, who does that?

Mich, she doesn't wanna
see me anymore.

At least, not in that way.

Dad, she was fighting
for you.

Don't you wanna fight
for her?

May I help you?

Hello, are you Judy Reeves?

Do I know you?

You knew my grandmother,
Joyce Engels?

Well, I wondered if I could ask
you a few questions about her.

- Well, come on in, dear!
- Thank you.

I only met her once.

It was a decade ago,
and my late husband Harold and I

were passing through
Vernon Falls.

And we happened upon

her Enchanted Bakery there.

She gave us
the most wonderful cake.

The Lebkuchen.

That's it.

Oh, we became friends
over the years,

exchanging letters, and then,

well, about seven months ago she
asked me if I wanted the recipe.

I never knew that would be
the last time

I'd ever hear from her.

So, she just gave it to you,
just like that?

Well, she knew there was no way
at my age for me to--

--come back to Vernon Falls.

She also knew
how I love to bake.

So, she just sent it along.

Oh, she was a special lady,
Joyce.

She was.

I guess she knew her time
was almost up.

I just-- I don't understand it,
you know?

She spent so long
keeping it a secret.

Why would she--

Why would she do that?

- Don't you know?
- No.

Well, she did it for you, dear!

For me?

Well, let me read you
her letter.

"Dear Judy,

"like all grandmothers, I want
what's best for my Gwennie.

"I've always encouraged her
to go out into the world

"but she always comes back.

"That may change when I'm gone,
and that's okay.

"I just want her to follow
her heart and be happy.

"This way I know my Lebkuchen

"will live on through you

"and so many others who fed my
heart and soul all these years.

"Enjoy the cake, my friend.
The saying's true, you know.

"Love can set you free.

"And so can a cake."

"Love, Joyce."

Wow.

It's-- it's like
dear Joyce's story.

When you're not looking for it--

--that's when you find it.

Oh, thank you for this.

Merry Christmas.

And you too, dear.

She did it for me.

She didn't want me to think that
I had to carry on her legacy

at the bakery
so she just did it herself.

So, if she gave the recipe away,

are you gonna let Dante sell it?

I really don't want to.

But I--

I also don't wanna
hurt Gavin anymore, so,

I'm just trying
to figure it out.

You played her.

Oh come on, she's an adult.

She just let her feelings
get in the way.

I'm finished
doing things for you.

Okay.

Look, can you sign these, 'cause
my wrist is getting crampy.

You're not hearing me!

I quit.

Well, you can't quit!

You can't just--

You can't quit
because I'm firing you!

You're fired by me!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Why don't you have
some Christmas cake?

You could definitely
use some.

Her too.

It's great to have you
staying with us.

All right, enjoy your stay.

- Hey, Grandpa?
- Yeah?

- Is Gavin here?
- Uh, yeah.

Him and his daughter
are up in their room. Why?

Okay, um, Grandma
gave the recipe away.

She just gave it away
to people.

Yeah. I knew that.

How did I not know that?

She used to write letters
at night.

I used to post them
from the inn.

It makes sense
you wouldn't know.

Okay,
well I need your advice.

It feels like I can either
help Gavin save his job

or honor Grandma's legacy.

I-- I don't--
I don't know what to do.

If I learned one thing
from Joyce, it's this--

follow your heart,

and it will lead you
where you have to go.

Thank you. I needed that.

Okay. Love you.
- Love you!

Off I go.

We're still doing our
Christmas Eve tradition, right?

Absolutely.
Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Okay.

- Hey.
- Hi.

She gave it away.

Who? Uh, Joyce did?

Yeah, she wanted people
to have it.

Here's the thing.

I don't want to give Dante
the license for it,

but I also don't want you
to lose your job,

and I just--
- No, no, no. I quit.

What?

I quit.

Really? Why?

You got into this whole mess
with the recipe

because you cared about me,
and it--

made me realize
what's important in life.

- Mm-hm.
- You know?

- Right.
- Like Michelle.

Of course!

And-- and you.

I don't need Dante.

I need you.

Oh.

Yes!

Oh! Hi, Michelle.

Uh, wow. Um...

What are we gonna do
about the special?

I have an idea.

Trust me. It'll work.
- Okay. Great.

Yoo-hoo, Dante!
Mind if I come in?

Well, it is my house anyway.

I brought us a special little
somethin' somethin'!

You lied to me.

Oh, yeah, I did.

But it was for my daughter!

Come on.
And you know what?

I understand
what's happening to you.

Because I too have been--
off, off!

I too have been
in the same position,

trying to be
something I'm not.

What are you talking about?

I've always dreamed

of being a famous
TV celebrity chef,

and that's what I am.

Really?

Because I've been doing
a lot of research on you.

Not that I've been
cyber stalking you.

Well, in the beginning I was.

And after
a very deep internet dive,

I discovered a young boy

who grew up
working as a busboy

in an Italian restaurant.

His father's restaurant.

- The Macaroni Mill.
- Mm-hm.

And it had red and white
checked cloths,

and on every table
was a jar of powdered parmesan.

And all-you-could-eat
garlic bread.

Mm.

It was so...tacky.

And cliché.

And I loved it.

I was so happy there.

I thought I'd work
in my father's restaurant

for the rest of my life.

Then of course I thought
I was better than all of that.

And look at me now.

I'm a second rate
Gordon Ramsay.

But you know, you're right.

This isn't me!

How did you know?

Um,

I've been telling myself
pretty lies all my life.

Because it's so much easier
than facing the ugly truth.

Huh. But it's not.

Those lies are like a prison.

The truth? That's freedom.

And my truth is...

I'm not a celebrity chef
at heart!

This stresses me out!

I...am a themed restaurateur.

And it's about time
I started being myself.

Hmm.

- Mmm.
- Mm!

Can I show you something?

Mm. Mm-hm!

Okay.

- Promise you won't laugh?
- Mm-hm.

Okay.

Your head!

Oh.

- It is so virile!
-

And-- and-- and regal!

Really?

Oh!

Ever been to Boca Raton?

You had me at "virile".

Mm-hm!

Jill's the editor
for Oprah's online magazine.

I'm just on hold.

Hi! Jill.
This is Gwen Miller,

from the-- yes.

Um, remember when
you wanted to publish

the recipe
for Lebkuchen online?

Does the offer still stand?

Great, thank you.

Thank you.
Okay, I'll be touch.

Done!

Amazing!

Uh, Dan, your, uh, hair?

It was fake, Gavin.

It's me!

Like this life
that I've been living.

That wonderful women
in there,

she helped me learn
the error of my ways.

And from now on,
I'm not livin' that lie.

No, I'm gonna be
true to myself.

I guess that's what
this whole experience

with the Christmas cake
has taught me.

I'm so sorry, Gwen.

For all the pain that
I've caused you and your family.

Really, the last thing
I would ever want

is to discredit your
grandmother's legacy.

I hope that you
can forgive me.

Of course.

Thank you.

Gavin,
you are a great producer.

And I have been so lucky
to have you

keep my sorry career afloat
all these years,

even as I kept you
from living your passion.

But I'm gonna step aside
and let you do that now,

because that's what
we should all do.

We should all
follow our hearts!

Yeah?

Gavin, you go.
You make that documentary.

I'm gonna go to Boca Raton
to put the--

the "catcha"
back in "focaccia".

That doesn't mean anything.

But I'll work on it.

All right, come on,
my little tiramisu!

Come on.

Oh!

Okay.

Okay. All right, buddy.

Okay. Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.
- Bye.

- Merry Christmas.
- Well, that was weird.

Mother,
how did you do that?

Well, I tore a page
out of your book

and spoke to him
from my heart.

Wow.

People really listen
when you do that.

They do.

Ugh, I felt so bad
that I was trying to fix things

and once again,
I made them worse.

It's fine! Your heart
was in the right place.

Plus, you did make up for it
in the end, didn't you?

So. The recipe's
gonna be out there.

Wow. A gift to the world.

Yeah. It's what
Grandma would've wanted.

Thank you.

So, um, what are you
gonna do now?

Well, um,
my suite at the resort

is paid for the next week,
so, why not?

And what about your
Hotstralian kite-surfer?

Okay. Well,

I think I prefer
the Hunktalian chef.

Of course you do.

Merry Christmas, baby.

Merry Christmas, mom.

Come on, my little
gelato, before you melt!

My mother, everybody.

That was...unexpected.

Yes.

Bye!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas.

Bye-bye!

Enjoy.

Wow. Wow.

♪ O, Christmas tree,
o, Christmas tree ♪

Now, we can't have
Christmas Eve

without having
our very, very special egg nog

for the young ladies.

- Very special egg nog.
- Thank you.

Merry Christmas.
For you, my darling.

Thank you.

And Gavin.

Thank you very much.

And I'd like to thank you
also for having myself

and my daughter
at your Christmas tradition.

It's very nice.

I don't think
this was a coincidence.

It's just like the story.

So romantic.

But I think we're missing
something to complete it.

We are not missing anything.

Grandma's Lebkuchen.

Whoa!

Ooh! Lovely.

Grandpa,
the honors, as usual.

I think this year
we should have a new tradition.

Gavin, why don't you and Gwen
cut the cake?

Really?

Yeah.

Oh, this is quite an honor.
Thank you very much.

I would like to do a toast.

- Absolutely.
- Okay.

To my grandmother,
Joyce Engels

for her unwavering belief

in better angels, in love,

and that we can all find our way
at Christmas and beyond.

- To Joyce.
- To Joyce.

To Joyce.

So, what's next for you, Gavin?

Uh, well...

um, I'm actually
gonna go to Europe.

I'm gonna do a documentary
in Paris for a couple months.

Wow, really?

- And I'm gonna go with him.
- Really?

Yes. I'm going to finish
my studies at the Patisserie

in the Cordon Bleu.

Joyce would be so proud.

Thank you, Grandpa.

- Merry Christmas, everyone.

Merry Christmas.

- Hear, hear.
- It's so good!

It's the marzipan.

It's you.