Original subtitles

This is Erika.

O-Okay, thank you.

Sharon, hi. What a nice surprise.

Hello, Erika.

You didn't do that.

What? No, me? No, no, no, I...

I'm far too busy to do something like decorate a Christmas tree.

Attagirl.

Uh, so what can I do for my favorite boss today?

Actually, I came to ask about your Christmas wish.

My Christmas wish?

Your professional Christmas wish.

Oh, well, if that's the case,

then is executive vice president too much to ask?

Well, as luck may have it,

I happen to have some leverage with the big red guy.

All you have to do is help me out...

with my Christmas wish.

Ta-da!

Oh.

An In-Flight Magazine?

Are you buying a plane?

Mm-hmm.

The airline?

"Experience an old-fashioned Alaskan Christmas

at the Garland Inn."

Garland?

Apparently, it's this adorable little town

that's all about Christmas.

Yeah. I, uh...

The inn has its own observatory.

You're into astrology, right?

Yeah, uh, astronomy is a hobby of mine.

Every year, the owner invites the kids

to track Santa's sleigh ride through a telescope.

Oh, wow. That's, uh, that's really something.

Even has its own blog.

Talk about genius marketing.

Uh, sure. No offense, but why do you want to invest

in a boutique inn in the middle of nowhere?

That's exactly the point.

With our new Caribbean resort,

we already have our summer vacations covered.

I want something to cater to our winter vacations,

so I'd love if you could have this wrapped up by Christmas.

You can do that, right?

Is this even for sale?

Well, it will be,

after my future executive vice president

works her Christmas magic.

After all, Sharon Farris gets...

What Sharon Farris wants.

Yes! That's the spirit.

I'll have my assistant arrange your travel.

Uh, my travel?

You didn't have any holiday plans, did you?

Well, I was gonna go visit my parents and go stargazing, but...

- So you're free. - Mm-hmm.

I find it's best if we deliver these deals in person.

Plus, I have a small list of things I want you to check out

to assess the property.

Yeah, it's small.

So we're good?

Uh, uh, yeah, yep.

You can count on me.

Attagirl. Bye for now.

Bye.

Ugh.

Bah humbug.

If you're calling to cancel dinner tonight,

I can't hear you.

I'm calling to make sure you save me

some of that apple and pear thing on the menu. The, um...

The pear and apple galette with walnut streusel?

Mm-hmm, with ice cream.

With all of the ice cream.

Uh-oh, what's wrong?

My incredibly demanding and entitled boss

just asked me to go buy her an inn.

And?

The inn is in Alaska.

Garland, Alaska.

Andy.

Andy.

Welcome to the world-famous Garland Inn,

Mr. and Mrs... Larson.

- Oh, please, it's just Alana. - And Oscar.

Ah. I am Andy.

This is even nicer than the brochure.

Oh, just you wait.

We like to call this the great room,

a place to sit, enjoy the fire, read a book, take in the view.

We serve mulled wine and eggnog every night at five.

And if you're hungry,

Hattie's Diner is just steps away

- in the center of town. - Oh.

The building has been completely restored.

Some of our guests prefer to spend their evenings out here.

- A fire pit. - Ah, how cozy.

Yeah, well, it is Alaska.

We often have fires going around here,

but if you turn this way,

you will see my true pride and joy,

the Garland Observatory.

You know, if you get lucky, you may just catch a glimpse

of one of Santa's pre-Christmas runs.

It just so happens that Garland runs smack in the middle

of his flight path.

We love that blog.

You know, she's read every entry to our granddaughter.

Oh, and that bit about Rudolph

having a direct line to the National Weather Service?

How did you even come up with that?

Well, what can I say?

That's Garland for you.

Okay, okay.

What?

Andy?

Oh. Hey, Dad.

Son, I have a meeting.

Can you... you need to move the camera.

Now all I can see is your chin.

- Oh. - Yeah.

There he is.

What's up, kiddo?

I know it's your busy season,

so I don't want to keep you,

but I wanted to let my main investor know

that we got our first official guests of the Christmas season.

And here I was just talking to the mayor

about how tourism's been slow.

So how many reservations are there?

Well, uh, you know, we just opened up the bookings.

- Uh-huh. - But I did get a great write-up

in Venture Airlines' In-Flight Magazine.

I mean, it's less of a travel magazine

and more of a handout that you get

with your little bag of pretzels,

but hey, every little bit helps, right?

You'll never get anywhere unless you take those little steps.

That's what I always say.

Dad, do you think Mom doesn't know

that you eat cookies all day?

Why do you think all she keeps in the house is reindeer food?

If I have to eat any more celery and carrots...

Hey, Cousin Andy! How's it going?

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin.

Get it?

Looking as festive as ever, joy.

Everyone's already assembled in the conference room,

and you have a call waiting on line four.

Something about real estate.

Listen to our managing director over here.

She runs a real tight ship.

You mean a tight sleigh, don't you, Frank?

Want me to have him call you back or...

Put him through and make him make it quick.

- Bye! - Son, I'd better fly.

Dad, try and eat some of the celery.

I was thinking on the way over here,

maybe I'm overreacting.

You know how Sharon gets.

She's gonna get bored

and decide to throw her money at something else soon.

You remember last summer,

when she just had to buy an amusement park?

Or... maybe it's fate.

Right.

Think about it. It's Christmas,

you're single,

and your boss just happens to fly you

to your ex-boyfriend's hometown.

I just really want the promotion.

The ex-boyfriend,

who, in my humble opinion as your best friend,

set the bar so high that it made you

the pickiest single lady in Seattle.

Please!

You're not the least bit curious?

One, I am not the pickiest, all right?

I just happened to be fine...

well, mostly fine... being on my own.

And secondly, last I heard, Andy was dating that doctor.

So no, I don't care.

Well, I may or may not have done some online reconnaissance.

- Steph! - And apparently,

that doctor lives in San Francisco now,

heads up some sort of surgery at a hospital there.

Well, maybe they're long distance.

Although Andy wouldn't consider long distance with me

when he moved back to Alaska.

Oh, yeah. You definitely don't care.

What if it's Andy?

Oh, Erika, I miss you!

Ha ha.

Hello. Erika McNicholl's phone.

And just for that, the rest of this is mine.

Hello! Claire Cullen calling.

I'm the executive assistant of Frank Holliday

of Holliday Shipping.

Isn't that his father's company?

Shh...

Uh, hi, Claire!

To what do I owe the pleasure?

Well, Mr. Holliday has been speaking with your employer,

and he wanted me to let you know that he is very interested

in hearing your proposal.

Wait. Mr. Holliday owns the inn?

No. Mr. Holliday is just an investor.

The inn is actually owned by his son Andy.

Andy.

Yes.

But as Mr. Holliday has a significant financial stake,

he is open to hearing whatever offer your firm wants to make.

Hello? Are you still there?

Uh...

Please hold on a moment.

I can't do this.

You said it yourself.

You want the promotion.

Yeah, but you heard what she said:

Andy owns the inn.

I thought you didn't care.

I don't.

Then it shouldn't matter.

You're right.

Unless you do care,

in which case, it matters a lot.

Yes, I'm back.

Okay, so shall I tell Mr. Holliday you're coming?

Yes.

Great! It's all settled then.

I will get you accommodations at the inn.

Wait. At the inn?

And please don't hesitate to call me

if you have any other questions about your travel.

You are not throwing away a promotion

because you're scared to see an ex-boyfriend.

She'll be there with bells on.

Jake, we're gonna need another galette over here.

Maybe two.

There's plenty more where that came from.

- Thank you.

Oh, excuse me. Duty calls.

- Garland Inn. - What's up, son?

Oh, hey, Dad. What's up?

Claire just got off the phone

with a real estate investment firm.

Real estate investment?

You're not thinking of closing up shop, are you?

Goodness, no. They're interested in the inn.

My inn?

It's some Seattle big shot

who thinks it'd be a good investment.

I think it's a good investment.

Even though you never have any guests?

Sometimes I wonder how you can even afford the mortgage.

Let me worry about that, okay, Dad?

Look, son, you've done a really great job with that place.

So great, in fact, that some big-city moneybag

has come out of the woodwork to snatch it up.

And I don't suppose Claire told Mr. Moneybags

that the inn wasn't for sale?

Andrew, you're not thinking big picture.

This way we can count our profits,

and you can finally start training

to take over the family business.

You do intend to take over for me, don't you?

I do... someday.

It's just... It would be nice

to have accomplished something on my own first.

Well, they're sending someone from their office

to evaluate the property.

Let them make an offer.

It's at least you can do as a responsible businessman.

Okay, uh, I will consider it.

You know, there's a nice corner office over here...

With my name on it. I know, I know.

Frank, you're late for the inventory meeting. Come on!

Gotta run! Talk to you later!

Okay. Bye, Dad.

Bye, son.

More nog?

Thank for flying Glacier Airlines

at Anchorage International Airport.

connecting flights to Juno, Ketchikan, and Fairbanks

are at gates 2, 5, and 3 respectively.

Welcome to Alaska.

So...

- Martin, right? - Yeah.

About how long is the drive?

It's just about two hours.

Oh. Not exactly tourist-friendly is it?

Well, it used to be easier.

Unfortunately, the town pilot sold his plane

a couple years back.

Wow.

It's so beautiful.

Everyone really goes all out here for Christmas, huh?

Oh, of course. In fact, around these parts,

people will start putting up their decorations

right after Labor Day.

Huh. You don't say.

Does Holliday Shipping

still bulk up their workforce this time of year?

Well, it is Frank's busiest season.

Mm-hmm.

You seem to know quite a lot about this place.

Oh, well, it's just some research I did online.

One question I couldn't find an answer to, though,

was what exactly they ship.

I mean, it seems that Frank is doing pretty well for him...

excuse me... Mr. Holliday is doing pretty well for himself.

Yeah, a little of this, a little of that.

But mostly he just ships whatever the elves make.

Ah, I get it. The elves. Cute.

Is that why you guys like Christmas so much around here?

Well, that's Garland for you.

All right, thank you.

My pleasure.

- Erika McNicholl. - Claire Cullen.

On behalf of Mr. Holliday,

I'd like to welcome you to Garland, Alaska.

Oh, thank you.

I trust you had a good ride in?

Oh, it was great.

Martin gave me the grand tour.

Let me know if you need anything.

Thank you.

"Taxi and printer."

Yep. Garland Star.

One of the first community papers in the county.

You know, a lot of us Garlanders wear two hats.

Speaking of, I hope you brought one or two for yourself.

Jack Frost will be nipping at your nose in these parts.

And maybe a pair of practical boots.

First of all, these are very expensive boots.

But secondly, it won't really matter

because I don't plan on staying very long.

- That's what they all say. - What's that?

Now, if you find yourself getting hungry,

I recommend you go see Hattie over at the diner.

She makes the finest figgy pudding you've ever tasted.

Ah, let me guess. She'll bring it out here.

Where else would she bring it?

Well, yeah, I meant like the...

you know, never mind.

- Good to see you, Erika. - Okay.

- I'll just grab these. - Great. Thank you.

Okay.

Okay. You could do this.

He's just an old friend.

Okay.

Here we are.

- Oh, you got that. - Yeah.

- Okay, come on in. - All right.

- Isn't it nice? - Oh, yeah, beautiful.

He's around here somewhere.

Oh, when in Rome.

Be right out!

Oh, sorry. I just...

Um, I was just getting some, uh...

Oh, uh, some more Christmas decorations.

I was hoping to get them up before you got here.

Okay, I'm sorry. Would you mind?

- I... - Andy...

My dad said you came all the way from Seattle.

Andy, I'd like you to meet, um...

Erika?

Andy.

Um, you're Mr. Moneybags?

Uh, well you're probably referring to my boss,

and she would probably prefer "Ms. Moneybags."

Long time no see, huh?

- Yeah. - Hi.

Uh, you two know each other?

We do. And my!

I must say the years have been kind.

Well, I could say the same for you.

Uh, who would have thought my city-dwelling architect

would blossom into a small-town mountain man.

Not that, like, that you're mine, you know,

or that you're a mountain man or...

You know, I don't know why I said that.

Well, I must say you're the last person I expected to see

in Garland, Alaska.

Well, that makes two of us.

Uh, however my boss...

Ms. Moneybags.

Indeed. Is very interested in acquiring the inn

as an investment property.

Well, does she know, you know, that you and I...

- No. - Oh, okay.

Well, then it's fate.

Why does everyone keep calling it that?

What else would you call it?

A coincidence?

Yeah, I think "fate" has a little bit better ring to it.

Whatever you want to call it.

Um, your father's office has indicated

they would be very receptive to an offer, so...

what about you?

What about me?

Would you be receptive...

to an offer?

- Oh! - Most certainly.

I asked him.

- Okay. - Yeah.

Well, I told my dad that I'd hear you out,

but honestly, I put my heart and soul into this place.

I sold my plane to help finance it, so...

But be honest. What do you think?

Oh, it's, it's cozy...

and, uh, very quiet.

Well, that's because it's constantly

underperforming the capacity...

What she's trying to say

is that it picks up closer to Christmas.

Okay, uh, well, look,

Andy, if my boss wants something bad enough,

I can guarantee she'll make it worth your while.

I see.

Sharon Farris gets what Sharon Farris wants.

- Sharon Farris is your boss? - You know her?

I've read a couple business magazines. Wow.

Erika McNicholl, you've done really well for yourself.

And I'll be doing even better

if we can come to an agreement on the inn.

Ah, I see someone's been dangling carrots.

Well, you know the routine.

I know reindeer food.

He is, of course, joking.

Well, look, just hear me out, okay?

Consider the offer. That's all I ask all.

All right, well, before I hand over the keys

to everything I've been building for the last five years,

can I at least show you to your room?

Please.

Well, that is a very festive sweater.

Yeah. My cousin joy makes them. She works for my dad,

and she says that knitting calms her nerves,

and since this is the busy season...

- Okay. - Yes. Yeah, here we are.

- Here we are. - Thank you.

Yeah.

Okay.

Wow.

Well, this is it.

You made this, didn't you?

Yeah, and the barn doors into the bathroom

and the side tables.

Hmm.

Slacker.

Um, you're probably gonna want to keep the thermostat up high

'cause it gets chilly in here, and speaking of which,

you did bring real boots, right?

What is it about my boots?

Relax. I'm good.

Of course. Well, uh, I guess if that's it...

Uh, Andy?

Be honest.

Are you performing below capacity?

It's gonna be fine.

I promise.

- Have a good night. - Thanks.

Hey.

Hey, lady. Guess you made it safely.

It's like you knew I was freaking out

with your crazy best friend's sixth sense.

You found Andy.

And how's he look?

I'm not dignifying that with a response.

Ooh! So he looks good.

And now I'm staying at his inn

while trying to sell it out from underneath him.

I mean, tell me, am I really supposed to build my career

off of my ex-boyfriend's professional failing?

I'm more of a glass-half-full kind of gal.

Oh, you should see this place, though.

I mean, it is beautiful.

You can see him in every detail.

But you know, of course,

he can't possibly make it what it could be or should be,

the way that Sharon could,

not with all her money and connections.

Then tell him that.

He doesn't want to sell.

Listen, I know I've made a lot of jokes

about you seeing Andy again

and taking a vacation,

but honestly, you've been in a rut lately.

Are you saying that 80-hour work weeks

and a limited personal life are a bad way to live?

I'm suggesting just be open.

- Open? - To whatever comes your way.

To the quietness of a small town,

to one Christmas where you're actually not working.

Well, two out of three ain't bad.

Yeah, you know what? You're right.

You're absolutely right. I'm already here.

Might as well make the best of it.

Now you're talking.

You know what I'm gonna do?

I am gonna order some room service,

I'm gonna get a good night's sleep,

and then I will start fresh again tomorrow.

In Alaska.

With Andy Holliday.

That's my girl.

Thank you, my friend.

- Bye. - Bye.

Right. Oh, room service.

Let's see.

Menu.

Hmm.

Okay, then.

Oh!

- Oh!

Sor... Uh, sorry.

- Hi. - Hi.

I was actually just about to head out

and get some food and maybe some coffee.

I'm dying for a cappuccino.

Oh, yeah, there isn't a coffee shop for like 30 miles.

- Oh. - But if it's food you want,

Hattie's Diner is right around the corner.

Oh, well, good to know.

Yeah. I was gonna grab a bite.

If you want to join, we could, uh...

We could catch up.

Sure, yeah, it'd be nice.

Anyway, this is it.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

Oh, well, hello, stranger!

Welcome to Garland.

Oh, Hattie, I presume?

Guilty.

Is that a Joy original?

Of course.

You were right. Joy is quite prolific.

Hattie, this is my friend Erika.

Hi. Erika McNicholl. Nice to meet you.

Erika, it's good to see you again.

Oh, it's Martin, the taxi-driving publisher.

Well, now, that's catchy. I might have to borrow that one.

Wait a second. The person coming to look into buying the inn

is Erika McNicholl from Seattle.

Hattie, um...

Remember what I said about small-town life?

- That's Garland for you. - That's Garland for you.

- Come, let's get you kids fed. - All right.

Erika, lucky for you,

you have come to the new-and-improved Hattie's.

Oh, well, still no espresso, though, right?

No but we do have non-fat milk,

and both the pink and blue sugars,

and now we're open for three squares a day.

Instead of the 12 days of Christmas.

now we've got the 12 nights of Christmas dinners.

Oh, speaking of...

- Hmm. - Yeah.

What is it?

Well, it's my soon-to-be-famous yam and fruitcake casserole.

Yam and fruitcake?

Needs more peppermint?

It needs more... something.

You know, I hear all of you city people eat is salads

and, what's that called, pressured juices.

Juice is not a meal.

Now let's get you kids fed proper.

Okay, so now look at how modern we are.

You can skim it or whatever they call it.

- Scan it. - Yes

he helped me with the code thingy.

- The OC. - QC.

- QR. - That's right.

He was so patient helping me

with all this high-tech hullabaloo.

Who could ever be impatient with you, Hattie?

Well, we're taking Garland into the future.

Oh, well, I don't care where we are,

as long as I can order some, uh...

cocoa cornbread stuffing.

Oh, that's really good.

Coming right up.

I like her already.

So that was actually really delicious.

Yeah. Hattie basically feeds the whole town.

Well, that's convenient for you,

otherwise your operation would have to provide room service.

We know your cooking's not exactly...

Well, it's not exactly cocoa cornbread stuffing,

but I'm not that bad, okay?

I've never seen anyone make blackened scrambled eggs before.

And let's not forget your famous boxed macaroni and cheese.

What's wrong with my mac and cheese?

You do know that you're supposed to add the cheese powder

after you boil and drain the macaroni, right?

Hey, can you make a rocking chair out of old wood flooring?

Okay, okay, that's fair.

I guess everyone has their talents.

And that's exactly what I tell my dad

every time he brings up me taking over for him.

Seems like the business is running pretty well,

although I'm surprised they have such a successful shipping hub

all the way up here.

Yeah, well, uh...

that's Garland for you.

Why did you decide to come back?

I'm sorry. That wasn't a fair question.

But it's not like you don't deserve an answer.

I'm sure you had your reasons.

To be honest, um...

I'm not exactly sure.

I just, uh, thought we were happy in Seattle.

I was. We were.

Really?

Whew!

Well, I'm kinda beat from all the travel today,

so I think I'm gonna call it a day.

Of course, yeah.

You're not gonna come inside?

Not just yet. I have somewhere to go, so...

Oh, okay.

Well, uh...

I'm gonna head in then,

so it was good to see you again, Andy.

You too.

- I'll see you tomorrow. - Okay.

- Bye. - Bye.

And so, Erika McNicholl, huh?

What? I'm on a group text with Hattie.

Mom, come on, it's not like she came up here to see me.

Her boss wants to make an offer on the inn,

and Dad being Dad invited her up.

That's all.

You know how excited your father is to have you on board.

He'd never say this to you,

but it hurts his feelings that you don't want to work with him.

He takes it personally.

Mom, it's not that I don't want to work with him ever.

It's just... I just got the inn up and running,

and my blog is building followers slowly.

And besides, don't you think it'd be tough

to settle down and build a life

when you're running a business like that?

It's just that I love you both so much.

I want you to be happy, you and your father.

But speaking of settling down,

you have to tell me about Erika.

Mom!

Your first love shows up in Garland after all these years?

Like I said, she came for work, not to see me.

She's got a big job in Seattle

that she's even more invested in now than when we...

When I left.

What we had, it's in the past.

You sure about that?

Uh, in-room dining.

No.

Coffee shop nearby?

Not for 30 miles.

Sharon, hi.

Yeah, I was just busy here, working on your valuation.

Nice. How's it going?

Getting any good information?

Oh, well, you know, I'm not sure what your expectations are,

but this is a very small town,

so I think the value is gonna be more,

shall we say, uh, sentimental.

Perfect. That's just what people are looking for these days.

Are they ready to sell?

It hasn't even been 24 hours.

Oh, you know what they say: Rome was built in a day.

- Um-hmm, yeah. - Besides...

that Frank guy seemed keen to sell.

Well, although he is the primary investor,

the inn is actually owned by his son Andy...

uh, Andrew...

and he's gonna take some convincing.

And you're the perfect person to convince him.

Uh, you know, Sharon,

you should know there are some extenuating circumstances.

Yes, there is.

You see, I mentioned your acquisition to the board.

Wait. My acquisition?

And they were very excited about it.

If we do this right,

we could be the next Hilton or Marriott,

and you, Erika, as the next VP of Farris Lodging Group,

could head it all up.

What do you say?

Uh, I...

I guess I would say that sounds great.

Attagirl.

And don't let this Arthur guy...

Andy... Uh, Andrew.

stand in your way.

Listen, I am late for a conference call

on that new project in Dubai.

I look forward to a very detailed report from you.

Bye.

Farris Lodging Group?

Well, good morning! I'm Ed.

Oh, hi, I'm Erika. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Gosh, everybody is so friendly around here.

Oh, well, that's Garland for you.

So, uh, how are things with the inn?

Excuse me?

You're the real estate tycoon

coming up here to kick the proverbial tires.

Wow. News travels fast.

Well, that's Garland...

Ah, don't say it.

Andy sure has done a good job

fixing up the old inn, hasn't he?

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Previous owners didn't have

the energy or the funds really,

so Andy swooped in and restored it to its original glory.

- Yeah, sounds like Andy. - Yeah.

I'm sure he'll be a bit heartsick having to give it up.

Hmm. What makes you think he'd give it up?

Well, someday he's gonna have to run the family business.

Huh. Yeah.

Well, in any case, I hope you find what you're looking for,

and if what you're looking for just happens to be groceries,

sporting goods, and the finest selection of premium outerwear

in the greater metropolitan Garland area,

you know where to come.

Oh, and I also do light plumbing.

Of course, right. Two hats.

What was that?

Oh, never mind.

- Nice to meet you. - You too.

Okay.

Soft scrambled with a side of hash browns.

- Thank you. - Oh, before I forget,

new item I'm working on for the menu.

Ooh! Wouldn't happen to be a cappuccino, would it?

Even better. Pork belly.

Oh.

Hmm?

Braised in eggnog.

Mm.

Yum.

Mm-hmm. So, Erika, how are you liking Garland so far?

Uh, well, I haven't seen too much of it yet,

but what I've seen is really nice.

And especially the inn.

Andy's done a lovely job with it, hasn't he?

Yeah. So why does his dad want to sell it?

Oh, you know, the usual family drama.

Frank wants Andy to take over the family business.

Andy doesn't.

Oh, right, right, the family business.

Right.

Shipping whatever Santa's elves make.

Don't worry. Martin told me everything.

Oh.

But seriously, what does he really do?

Um... Oh!

Martin, good morning.

We were just talking about you.

- Oh, about me? - Mm-hmm.

And how you told Erika all about Mr. Holliday and his elves.

Uh...

Did anyone ever tell you

you take this whole Christmas thing a little too far?

Ah! Miss Mayor, good morning. The usual?

Ah, good morning, and you betcha.

Hi.

You're not one of my constituents.

No. Erika McNicholl.

Oh, the real estate developer.

Well, more of an investor, really.

And actually, it's my boss.

I just hope whoever buys the inn

maintains that homey, welcoming feel that Andy's created.

Well, we certainly will.

The last thing we need is some big hotel chain

ruining the character of this town.

Oh, I couldn't agree more.

But it does seem as though Garland could use

a boost to its tourism.

Am I wrong?

Oh, I don't know.

We like things quiet around here, don't we, Hattie?

And I understand, but just consider for a moment.

What if we were able to brand Garland as a destination?

I mean, think about the impact that would have on your economy.

Guests would wander down here to Hattie's, have some lunch,

go to the general store, purchase some souvenirs.

You know, you might even attract a real coffee shop.

Again, it's just something to think about.

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you again.

Anytime. Always enjoy meeting a new face.

- Yes. - Thank you.

All right, you might have been right about the boots.

Ooh. Three smiley faces.

That's gotta be good, right?

There.

What should I wish for, Oscar?

- What more do you need? - Stop!

Hey there! You guys out-of-towners?

Thought I was the only one.

Hi. I'm Alana, and this is Oscar.

We're staying at the inn.

Oh, me too. Erika.

- Hi. - Hi.

Hi.

Andy send you over here, too, for the magic mailbox?

Magic mailbox?

Yeah. See, whatever you put inside

goes directly to Santa.

Uh-huh.

I like to err on the side of faith, myself.

Doesn't cost you anything to believe.

And I personally would love to live in a world

with a little magic in it, wouldn't you?

Yeah.

Well, bye.

- Bye. - Nice to meet you.

Oh.

Thank you, Joy.

- Whew! - Oh, there she is.

Hey.

Oh, man, it is getting cold out there.

Oh, here.

Oh, no, no.

I wouldn't dream of taking this lovely gift away from you.

I have five of these at home.

- Then thank you. - Yeah.

Ah, much better.

You know, if you need warmer clothes or, say, uh...

boots...

Ha ha.

You could always go to the general store.

They have the finest selection of outerwear in the...

Greater metropolitan Garland area.

That's right. You met Ed.

I did.

Oh, you know, they have these amazing jeans

that are lined with sweat pant material.

Oh. That sounds, uh, horrible.

Yeah, well, let's see who's laughing

when they dig a frozen Erika-cicle out of the snow.

True.

Well, it's been kind of a long morning, so...

Yeah.

Just head back to my room for a little bit.

Sure.

- I'll see you later. - Yeah.

Nice scarf.

Thank you!

"Per your previous email,

here are some pictures of Garland and the inn."

Industrial oven? Check.

Four burners? Check.

Industrial fridge? Got one of those.

Small sink.

Oh, hey. So you're still wearing that scarf, huh?

Okay, I got a little chilly.

Bet some jeans lined with sweat pant material

seems pretty good right about now, wouldn't you say?

I would say...

that's Garland for you.

You're learning. Took me years.

It's a little premature to be measuring the drapes, isn't it?

Oh, this?

It's just some info that Sharon wanted for the valuation.

And you know, what Sharon Farris wants...

Sharon Farris gets. So I've heard.

- Are you hungry? - Starving.

Yeah. Apologies in advance.

Between my Mom's house and Hattie's,

there's next to nothing, so...

What are you talking about?

You've got plenty of food here.

Andy, I am not gonna let you eat cereal for dinner

like a kid in a college dorm.

- Tell me you have a can opener. - Oh, yes.

Perfect.

Here. Try that.

Well, what do you think?

Well, it's not blackened scrambled eggs,

but it'll have to do.

Seriously, when did you become so skilled in the kitchen?

Well, you remember Stephanie?

Sure.

She finally opened her own restaurant.

Oh, yeah? Any good?

Oh, it's amazing.

Learned quite a few things from her over the years.

Well, good for her.

But seriously, you really seem like you know what you're doing.

Well, I learned there's only so much takeout

or frozen food you can eat after a while,

even if you are just cooking for one.

And are you?

Cooking for one.

Oh. I am.

What about you?

Heard through the grapevine that you were dating

some doctor in town or something.

- Yeah. Lauren. - Oh.

Is that her name?

Still is, I assume. We're not in touch.

A big fellowship came her way in the year that she was here,

and she had to admit

she couldn't commit long term to Garland.

At least that's what I like to tell myself.

I like to think I'm a decent boyfriend.

Ah...

you're a pretty good boyfriend.

- So... - So...

Do you need to answer that?

No, it's okay.

Finish telling me about, uh...

Is it work? 'Cause we haven't really discussed...

Erika, if you need to work, call 'em back.

Well, that's the problem 'cause I can't call her back

because I don't have an answer to her question.

Oh, which is...

Are you gonna sell the inn?

Oh, that's right.

I almost forgot that's why you're here.

Yeah. And have you and your dad talked about it?

Oh, yeah, of course, yeah.

I don't mean has it come up.

I mean have you guys really discussed it.

We're not, uh, great at that,

me and my dad, so...

Well, I know we're just starting to run the numbers,

but I also know Sharon pretty well,

and you could walk away from this with a lot of money.

Hmm.

Uh, ballpark?

That's some ballpark.

Yeah, and once I finish my research,

it'll likely be more.

But, Andy, if you want me to back off,

just say the word, okay?

I can't promise Sharon won't send somebody in my place,

but at least it won't be...

complicated.

Right.

Hold on.

It's Andy.

- Thanks, Joy. - Mm-hmm.

What's up, son?

Well, um...

Erika gave me a figure.

Oh? And?

And I think it would be irresponsible of me

not to think about it.

Son, are you sure?

Just give me a couple days.

Okay? It's, uh... It's a lot to consider.

Andy, just make sure you really think about it, okay?

'Cause you've put a lot of work into this place.

Wait, is that Erika?

Hi, Mr. Holliday.

It's so nice to finally meet you after all these years.

It really is.

You know, now I see why people

are always joking about Frank and his elves.

Wait. Who's always joking?

Erika, we've heard so much about you.

Oh, hi, Joy. Yeah, I have to tell you,

your knitting skills are top-notch.

Well, looks like someone's got a sweater coming her way.

Hey, I hate to cut this short,

but Frank and I have been burning the pine-scented candle

at both ends these days.

We have a hall to deck, spirits to make bright.

Right, right, of course, at the shipping company.

Okay, then. Bye-bye, talk later!

Bye, kids.

- Bye. - Bye, guys.

Finally, the prodigal son will come on board.

And interestingly, spending more time with Erika, huh?

Maybe more than one good thing could come from this.

Maybe spirits will be even brighter this season.

So you finally got to meet my dad.

Yes, and the infamous Cousin Joy.

Oh, yeah, yeah. She moved back to Garland about 10 years ago.

She started working for my dad, like half the town.

She is, as she says, his right-hand cousin.

Oh, well, then Garland's a good place for her.

It is.

You know what else it's a good place for?

Hmm?

Come on, follow me.

I wanna show you something.

So this is the observatory.

You built this?

Well, I didn't build the silo, but I did the conversion

and installed the telescope.

Wow. It is spectacular.

Yeah, I had a hard time

forgetting about you when I moved back,

and so I found myself learning more about stars

and thinking, "Hey, at least we still share this."

Go big or go home, right?

Oh, wow.

I must say the views in Seattle have nothing on this.

Oh, wait, is that...

That bright one right there, is that...

is that Neptune?

Let me see.

Yeah.

Pretty special.

Especially 'cause it's the only planet the solar system

you can't see with the naked eye.

Oh. It's also the coldest planet in the solar system.

It's down to negative 360 degrees Fahrenheit.

Makes Alaska feel downright balmy.

Oh, wow.

- Ooh! - Easy! You all right?

Sorry about that. It's pretty cozy in here.

Yeah, it is, but I kinda like it.

Me too.

Okay, seriously, do you have some kind of kiss radar?

I mean, what magic is this?

I knew you two would rekindle things.

One kiss does not a rekindling make.

It's just... I-I don't know.

The spark for a rekindling.

Whether Sharon buys the inn or not,

I'm leaving soon.

Nothing has changed between Andy and I.

I still live in Seattle, and he lives here.

Maybe it was just...

closure.

Mm-hmm.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means love knows no boundaries, Erika.

And that includes state lines.

Hmm. Yeah.

More notes for the boss?

I can go inside, if you'd rather be alone.

Oh, no, no, if you'd rather be alone, I can go inside.

No, no, not at all.

Oh, thank you for the boots.

Oh, yeah, I couldn't let you go back to Seattle

missing some toes.

Besides, uh...

I should apologize.

For what?

I shouldn't have kissed you.

Well, you weren't the only one there.

But I don't think we should let it happen again.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Is that 'cause I was only a pretty good boyfriend?

Andy, in all honesty, you were a wonderful boyfriend.

And yet, it always felt like you were hiding something,

you know, like there was a wall between us.

Things unsaid.

I couldn't quite explain it, but I could feel it.

Is that why you wouldn't consider long distance

when I moved?

My life was always in Seattle,

and yours is here...

in Garland.

You know, you don't have to sell.

Actually, I do.

What do you mean?

Erika, I don't know how to say this, but...

I'm broke.

What?

If I don't make some money, 6 and soon,

I'm gonna lose this place.

You told Claire things always pick up just before Christmas.

I just said that so my dad wouldn't think I was a failure.

Andy, you're not a failure.

Yeah, but I'm not exactly a success, am I?

Christmas is six days away, and if things don't change...

we're not gonna make it.

You know, I'm gonna go take a little walk, I think.

Break my new boots in, so...

- I'll see you later? - Yeah, see you later.

Morning, Hattie.

- The usual? - Yep.

I'm about as predictable as a sunrise, aren't I?

Well, good thing I love a good sunrise.

Sharon, hi.

So how's it going up there in the North Pole?

Oh, well, it's cold.

Have you been getting all the reports I've been sending?

Yes, and the team is crunching the numbers.

The observatory seems delightful.

- And this Arthur fellow... - Andrew.

Uh-huh. You know, if I didn't know any better,

I'd say that you were quite fond of him.

Oh, uh, what would make you say that?

He seems to be featured quite prominently in your notes.

Oh, uh, well, I mean, he is the owner of the inn.

Working the personal angle never hurts.

- Personal angle. Yeah, right. - Attagirl.

Uh, look, Sharon, I promise I will call you back

as soon as I have any updates, okay?

Good. Just remember that Christmas

is less than a week away,

and I'm hoping to get a little more than coal.

Bye for now.

Coal.

Erika, take a load off.

Oh, thank you.

- Hi. - Hi.

So was that the head office?

Yes, as a matter of fact, it was.

And do you think the Hollidays are really gonna sell the inn?

Are you asking as a reporter?

I'm asking as a friend.

Hmm. I don't know.

I know Andy has put so much work into the place.

He did. And it's a shame it never really took off.

I guess we're just a little too far out for tourists.

- I guess so. - Well, whoever buys it,

I hope they keep it just the way it is.

Everyone should have the opportunity to appreciate

the Christmas magic that Garland has to offer.

Wait, what did you just say?

We're a little too far out for tourists.

No. The other part.

Oh, um...

everyone should have the chance to appreciate

the Christmas magic that Garland has to offer.

Why?

Yes, yes.

Martin, you're a genius. I'll be back.

So you don't think my decorations are adequate?

I just think that if Garland's gonna be all about Christmas,

then the Garland Inn should be too.

You gotta hit 'em with merriment and cheer

right from the moment they walk in until they check out.

- Can't argue with that. - Yeah.

I think you got so involved in the renovations

that, you know, you just didn't advertise soon enough.

Or enough enough.

We need to invest in some search engine optimization.

That way, people have an easier time finding you

when they're researching Alaskan vacations.

And more write-ups. Definitely more write-ups.

But in bigger and more widely distributed publications

than the Garland Star and In-Flight Magazine.

Maybe we could link your blog to a bigger travel blog.

See, here's the thing. The best marketing

really doesn't sell the hotel, but it sells the location.

So, you know, a hotel in New Orleans

might sell Mardi Gras or jazz fests.

Hotels in Manhattan,

they have partnerships with different Broadway theaters.

You could sell Christmas.

Why didn't I think of that?

Yeah. First, we get them to Garland,

and then we show them why you're the best place to stay.

You mean the only place to stay?

Hmm. We need to up the ante.

What do you mean?

Christmas events for your guests.

You mean all three of them?

Oh.

Maybe we could do a mixer.

You know, invite some of the locals,

have them post, share with friends.

And that... That is how you get a clientele.

Erika McNicholl, you are a genius.

Well, I know.

How about this?

We do a mixer on the 23rd and then, in addition,

a Secret Santa gift exchange Christmas morning.

Oh, that is a great idea.

Everyone puts their name in a hat,

somebody picks it, and then they buy 'em a gift.

Will you be here... Christmas Eve?

Oh. Uh...

Just so I know whether to put your name in the hat or not.

Well, I mean, you know,

my travel plans are a little in flux right now,

so... maybe.

Probably.

- Let's do this. - All right, yes!

All right, here's where we're gonna start... Decorations.

Be careful.

- Where are we going? - Don't you worry about that.

- Just a little bit further. - Okay.

- Am I gonna trip? - No, I promise you will not.

You'll only have one black eye. No, I'm just kidding.

This had better be worth it.

Oh, trust me, it is so worth it.

Okay, all right.

All right, here we go.

- Can I take it off? - Yep, take it off.

- Oh, wow. - Yeah.

I had a little extra space. I thought...

why not give Garland what it always needed.

And best of all, we have an exclusive deal

to sell premium pastries from the best bakery in town.

- It's the only bakery in town. - Technically.

Then it's a good thing I'm the best.

And drumroll, please.

Erika McNicholl, I would like to present to you

the very first...

Garland...

cappuccino.

Oh, boy.

Mm, yeah.

So you gonna note that down in your little clipboard thing?

No, I think I'm actually just gonna enjoy the moment.

- Looks incredible.

And that is how you build a clientele.

Erika McNicholl, you're a genius.

Well, I'm doing my job.

Okay, set that right there.

Oh, Claire, Carl, you're the first ones here.

Oh, well, Joy sent over these ties,

and I just wanted to make sure you were festively attired

at the start of this little soiree.

That's from Joy.

Well, I think I will save this

for an even more festive occasion.

Funny.

There's mulled wine, eggnog, plenty of snacks.

Help yourselves.

Thank you.

Nice tie.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Very nice dress.

Thank you.

What's wrong?

Absolutely nothing.

Woman like you in a dress like that

on a night like this...

you deserve a proper escort.

Why, thank you.

You and Andy seemed to be having quite the time together.

Yeah. You know, I forgot how great we were.

Andy's a real special guy.

He deserves a real special woman.

Yeah.

Andy lives here, I live in Seattle.

We had our chance.

Just seems a little too complicated now.

Tell me, how did you manage to climb so high up

in that company of yours?

I worked hard.

Exactly.

You strike me as the type of person

once she knows what she wants, she goes and gets it.

After all, things seem a whole lot simpler

once you simply make them a priority.

- Oh, man.

Can I join you?

Oh, absolutely.

You know, I have to say, if I lived here,

this would be my favorite spot.

Well, this and the observatory, of course.

Yeah. Those were my favorite spots too.

Were?

I just have a feeling I won't enjoy them as much

when I'm no longer able to share them with you.

Andy...

I'm serious, Erika.

What if this is our second chance?

And if it is, I don't want to throw it away.

It's not that simple.

When we were together,

I had no idea you felt unimportant to me,

and nothing could be further from the truth.

You know that Christmas story, "the gift of the magi,"

where the wife sells her hair to buy her husband a watch chain,

and then he sells his watch to buy his wife a hair comb?

Yeah, but what does that have to do with us?

Well, if you sell the inn to my boss,

then I'll get the promotion

that I've been working on for nearly a decade,

but you'll lose something that's important to you,

something you've worked for.

And if you decide you don't want to sell,

then I probably won't get the partnership and...

And nobody wins.

Yeah.

Erika!

Your boss Sharon is on the phone.

- Oh! - Oh, on my phone.

- Oh, yeah, thank you, Claire. - You're welcome.

Erika...

Sharon, I'm sorry I've been so unavailable.

Claire, has anyone ever told you you have impeccable timing?

They often do, yes.

I need to think. I'm gonna...

I'm gonna take a walk.

- Okay. - Yeah.

Fitness, yeah, it's important.

I am so sorry that I haven't called you back.

I've just been really busy.

Busy working on my Christmas present?

I don't need to remind you that tomorrow's Christmas Eve.

Oh, I know.

So I can trust that everything is going to work out.

Well, you know, it's... it's complicated.

Well, then let me uncomplicate it.

Me, the proud new owner of the Garland Inn. You...

my executive vice president.

That was easy, wasn't it?

Can I... Can I call you back tomorrow?

Something's wrong, isn't it? I can tell.

It's not Arthur, is it?

Andy? No. No, it's...

It's just there's something I need to do.

You have 24 hours.

All right.

Everybody left?

Well, you had yourself a real long walk.

Yeah, I just needed to think.

Hattie, don't worry about that. That's not your job.

This is nothing compared to the diner.

Anything you want to talk about?

This is from Erika.

There does seem to be unfinished business between you two.

Andy, I'm leaving for Seattle in the morning.

I called your mom, and I'm staying with her tonight.

I think it's for the best. Erika.

Yeah, she finished it. She...

checked out.

What?

Yeah.

- I really thought... - I know. Me too.

We're just...

caught between a rock and a hard place, between...

the inn, a real estate deal,

between Garland and Seattle,

between the past and the present.

Any way you slice it, this relationship just...

wasn't meant to be, so...

Oh.

If you ask me,

"meant to be" is what you make of it.

Either you make it happen...

or you don't, right?

Yeah.

Hi. Come on in.

Hi, Mrs. Holliday.

Thank you so much for letting me stay.

It just felt a little complicated staying at the inn,

and I was not about to make Martin

drive me all the way back to Anchorage at this hour.

Honestly, I welcome the company.

Frank is so busy this time of year.

It gets lonely at our home.

You know, you're welcome to stay as long as you'd like.

Any friend of Andy's...

Or are you more than friends?

You know, honestly, I'm not really sure anymore.

I'll set you up in the guest room.

You make yourself at home.

Thank you, Mrs. Holliday.

Call me Faith.

Faith.

Hello?

Hi.

Uh-oh. I know that tone.

This whole trip really turned into

a "Gift of the Magi" situation.

A what, now?

You know that old Christmas story where...

the couple makes these big sacrifices,

and they give each other these really meaningful gifts,

but in the end, they wind up making the gifts meaningless?

I'm still not following.

Well, if I choose Andy,

then I disappoint my boss, and I lose my promotion.

And if I force Andy to sell and choose the job, then...

You'll lose Andy,

- and he'll lose the inn. - Exactly.

So I came and ran to his parents' house.

- I'm a mess.

You know, you totally missed the point of that story.

How so?

Love and selflessness,

those are the gifts that couple really gave one another.

They gave of themselves,

choosing one another over everything else.

Maybe it's time to stop listening to your head

and start listening to your heart.

You make it sound so simple.

I think it's simpler than you think.

Hey.

It's me.

I know we haven't exactly talked lately.

It's been a minute since I visited you

at the Greenland Mall,

but, uh, I was hoping

maybe you could just help me out this one time.

No matter what happens,

please make sure that Andy gets this gift.

He really deserves it.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Good morning, Hattie.

Hold on.

Two?

Actually, one's for me.

Oh!

You know, uh...

your visits are the best part of my day.

Maybe we could plan one outside the diner.

Oh, I... Yes.

I'd be honored.

Super duper.

Somebody's up early.

I had a meeting.

Before breakfast?

I needed Martin to notarize some documents for me.

Is that about the sale of the inn?

Yeah.

I actually handed off the account to a colleague of mine

because it just didn't feel right

making a commission off of Andy's dream.

Mm-hmm.

Maybe I shouldn't have come here at all.

This job was supposed to lock in a big promotion for me at work,

and I'll be lucky if I have a job at all.

Do you really think that one missed deal

can undo years of hard work?

By my boss's standards?

I'm supposed to prioritize work

above everything else in my life,

and for the first time, I'm not doing that.

Thank you, but I'm not really hungry right now.

Actually, Erika, can you sit?

What's going on?

There's a few things about our family I need to tell you,

things that maybe Andy was afraid to share.

What's up, son?

How's everything with Erika and the inn going?

Look, Dad, we need to talk.

All right.

Here's the thing.

If I'm gonna take over Holliday Shipping,

it has to be on my terms.

When I'm really ready.

I mean, this job,

your job is all about joy and magic,

not obligation.

Well, that's certainly an interesting way of putting it.

And if you're concerned about your investment,

I will make sure that you are paid back in full.

I will... I will take out loans.

I'll do whatever it takes to get you paid back.

That won't be necessary, Andrew.

What do you mean?

I know how much the inn means to you,

and I don't want you to have to worry about me.

Really?

This place was my dream,

but the inn is yours.

I realize that now.

I guess I was just so concerned about what I wanted,

I never considered that maybe you'd want something different.

Wow, Dad, that... that means a lot.

Now I just have to figure out what to do about this company.

Yeah.

Dad, about that...

Is this the final inventory, Frank?

- Hey there, cousin! - Hey, Joy.

Nice to see you, but I'm off.

Gifts don't get under the trees by themselves now, do they?

Dad, what I was gonna say was, uh...

Yes, you should absolutely keep Holliday shipping in the family,

but does it have to be me when you have an even more...

enthusiastic and qualified candidate?

Hmm. You mean...

Think about it. She could run the day-to-day,

while you spend more time with Mom,

not to mention you could take even better care of yourself.

That's really something to think about.

Good.

I'm glad.

Oh, uh, I gotta go.

I have another fence to mend.

Good thing you like fixing things.

And if I don't get to talk to you before tomorrow,

Merry Christmas, Dad.

Merry Christmas, Andrew.

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone.

I think it's time to start the gift exchange!

Everyone has pulled a name,

and so now it's time for all you Secret Santas

to hand out those special presents.

Okay, that leaves us with the last two presents,

and what do you know.

Andy, Erika,

looks like you two picked each other.

Well, here we are.

That's Garland for you.

What do you say we open these somewhere a little more private?

Sure.

So... you and my mom, huh?

Yeah.

She filled me in on quite a few things about your family,

but some of it I knew.

Some of it was, uh...

Wow.

Yeah.

- Yep. - It's a lot.

But Santa Claus?

I mean, your mom has a very active imagination.

I know, right?

Good ol' Mom.

- Speaking of Santa Claus... - Oh, yes.

- Merry Christmas. - Oh, yeah.

But before you open that,

I just wanna apologize.

All these years, I thought it just wasn't the right time.

Now I realize that with me running back to Garland,

I never gave you a choice.

Erika, you deserve so much more

than just a pretty good boyfriend.

And I want you to know how much I missed you

all these years.

- Andy... - It's okay.

You open your gift. Open it up.

- Right. - Okay.

What is this?

I named a star after you.

I know it's so cheesy, but hear me out.

Hear me out, okay?

I just thought no matter how far apart we are physically,

we could always look up and see Erika.

Andy...

Although I, you know, I have to admit,

staring up at Erika from my dinky little telescope,

my tiny city balcony will never remotely compare to this.

Because mine is so much better.

Well, yeah...

which is why I much rather see it from here.

What do you mean?

The article that changed at all.

For both of us.

I thought you could hang it up by the check-in desk,

since you're gonna be running this place

for the foreseeable future.

I will?

But what about your boss?

Well, I sent her a little email on the way over here tonight.

Ms. Moneybags has been informed

that the Garland Inn is not for sale.

Which means...

I quit.

What? Erika, no!

I mean, I appreciate everything you've done,

but I didn't want you to quit your job.

I'm tired of living her life.

And most importantly, I'm tired of missing out

on all the wonderful things that life has to offer,

like a town full of people who already feel like family.

People like you.

If you... you'll still have me.

I...

Are you serious?

Andy...

it's never gonna be the right time

unless we just make time.

Are you sure? It's such a big change.

I mean, your whole life and your your career...

Well, maybe you need to hire a director of marketing.

But what about everything from before?

What if I'm never more than a...

a pretty good boyfriend?

Andy...

you are a wonderful boyfriend.

I never should've left.

I never should've let you go.

Is this our second chance?

I guess we have some lost time to make up for.

I couldn't agree more.

Wait.

Was that...

That's Garland for you.

Ho ho ho!

Merry Christmas!