Holiday in Happy Hollow (2024) Movie Script

1
- I'm sorry.
Good morning, Amy.
- Morning!
- Okay.
It's final.
The Carbell sold.
Well, Merry Christmas to us!
- Amy, this looks fantastic.
I do think this revised
footprint works better.
- I mean, it doesn't
interfere with the natural
tree growth that we have
over here because we're shifting
it over to this section.
- Eco-friendly and a kind
gesture for the community.
- Nestled right into Christmas.
- Yeah.
- Not bad. Not bad.
- There you are.
I saw the Carbell sold.
That's it, right?
- That's it.
- Remember, we're only able
to start one priority build
next year. So, make sure
you have it all finalized
by end of year.
- Absolutely. Totally doable.
- So by Christmas Eve,
when the office closes?
- Oh.
What if it were,
say maybe the 29th?
- It'll go when it goes.
Probably be delayed.
- What other project is ready?
- The parking garage.
- That's boring.
- Yes.
I'd much prefer
your magical hotel.
- On it.
That's a lot in a short
amount of time.
- Yeah, but that's
your specialty, right?
And look, an owl just laid eggs
in the middle of December.
Anything's possible!
No, but seriously, look,
it's an owl cam.
Have you ever seen them run?
She's so cute.
In the snow. I'll show you.
It's adorable.
- Oh, I, uh...
This timeline is worrying me.
- Is it really the end
of the world if it gets pushed?
We'll have more time
to finesse the designs, and...
Right.
I forgot, your 10-year plan.
What are those?
- Oh, I eat at my desk too much.
Huh.
- Are those properties?
- Zoom in.
- How did I miss this?
- What is it?
- They read like real properties
but that doesn't make sense.
Five separate one foot
by one foot squares of land?
Like, this size. I mean,
is that even usable?
- Who would buy that?
- Good question.
- Why don't you go
investigate in person?
- What?
- Happy Hollow.
Could you possibly go there?
- It says it would take
three hours if I left right now.
That's crazy, right?
- Crazy efficient
if you compare it
to the pace we'd be at if
we're not the priority project.
- Yes. Absolutely.
I have to chase this down
in person. Can you cover for me?
- Of course. Go, sleuth.
Get nestled into Christmas.
- Okay, I don't know
how nestled I'll be,
but you are the best.
Thank you so much.
- Bye. Good luck.
- Okay.
Wow.
Happy Hollow information.
Hello? Hi!
- Here, take a candy cane.
- Oh, uh, thanks, I'm-I'm okay.
- Are you diabetic?
Because I've got sugar free.
- No, it's okay, I'm...
- Take one. It's Christmas!
- Thank you. Um,
might you point me to...
Marybeth?
- Okay, I'm Marybeth.
- Oh, hi, Marybeth,
it's nice to meet you.
I'm Gracie. Okay, so I need
your help.
You see these?
- Oh yeah,
that's the Carbell farm.
- Yes.
- But what are those five dots?
- They're land plots.
- You're kidding?
- I wish. I'm with
the developer of the new hotel.
Have you heard of it, Happi?
- With the I, right?
- Mm-hmm. We just bought
the Carbell farm
and I need to find
who owns these
so that I can obtain them too.
- I got a question for you.
Why the I in Happi?
Why can't you spell it the way
that we spell the town?
- It was a marketing decision.
Okay, but back to these,
can you...
- Well, it looks pretentious
with the I.
Let me see the map.
Okay, let's see here.
Hmm.
No, you know, these dots
do look peculiar.
And before my time.
I'm stumped.
- Can I take a look through
your property records?
- No, you see, the archives,
they're up at the county seat,
and they got downed trees
up that way
so the roads are closed.
Ooh, you should check
the Historical Society.
Jack, he's got all kinds
of old businesses over there.
That's it.
Here. That's where you're gonna
find what you're gonna need.
- Perfect. Thank you.
- You bet. Here, take
a candy cane... for the road.
- No, no, no,
what are you doing?
- What are you doing?
- The Historical Society,
three o'clock,
you can't close up.
- Well, you can't jump in front
of a moving vehicle so...
- I am sorry.
Gracie Moreau. I need help
with this bizarre historical
property line situation.
I need to talk
to the town historian.
- Well, I'm the town historian
and this is the only hour
I have to fix my bike, so I...
- Are you Jack?
It's nice to meet you.
A lot, and I mean a lot,
depends on me figuring out
this weird land issue.
Please?
Be my Christmas miracle.
Help me?
- Well, that does sound like...
a lot.
Okay, let's look.
- Thank you. You are my hero.
- Let's not get ahead
of ourselves, Gracie.
I'm just opening the door.
- Well, you shouldn't
have been closed yet.
- Oh.
- But oh, it's fine.
Okay.
Hi, Marybeth,
it's Jack. Is Kirril there?
Well, can you let him know
that I'm going to be
a little late dropping off
my bike?
There's a woman here with
some kind of a map.
Oh, you met her.
You met Marybeth.
Her husband,
Kirril's my mechanic.
Oh, you sent her to me.
No, I'm not sure how long this
is gonna take. Is later okay?
Oh, game night. Could you
ask him about tomorrow?
Okay, great.
You mean the letter I?
Yeah, I see what you mean.
I think that's just
the thing these days.
Okay. Bye-bye.
What's wrong?
- Nothing. I'm good.
- That's a fake smile.
What is it?
- Nothing. You're helping me
and I'm grateful.
- But?
- Sorry, but I sort of have
a brain auto set
for time management.
- Well, now I'm intrigued.
- That whole conversation
could have been much more
efficient had you just
texted him directly.
- Seeing as though I was
changing things up last minute,
I thought I owed him
the courtesy of a phone call.
- That's fair.
- You're one of
the hotel people.
I guessed as much.
Let's see your map.
- Oh, yeah. Here, you can
take a look here at that.
Oh, sorry, just...
Gabe, you know I'm crazy
about you,
but this isn't working. We...
I'm gonna call you back. Okay.
Okay. These.
- Mm-hmm.
Here it is.
You found it.
Whose are they?
- So, it was 1965.
That December, Happy Hollow
had a huge snowstorm.
Houses were damaged.
So, the Carbell family
held a raffle to raise money
for those in need.
Each winner was deeded
a one square foot plot of land
on the Christmas Tree farm.
- What were they supposed to do
with that tiny bit of land?
- Every time a tree grew
in that spot,
it was the winner's tree.
Or in other words,
the deed was a promise of a free
Christmas tree every few years.
- Do you know who
the winners were?
- Not a clue. I think that
most people forgot
about the whole thing.
It was more about
the coming together
and exchange of goodwill,
rather than the actual winnings.
- Perfect.
It was just a gesture.
- How do you mean?
- Well, due to their location,
the deeds could have sunk
the whole hotel project
but it was just a fun,
little pretend prize.
Not official.
Thank you,
Jack. Merry Christmas.
- No, no, no. Not-not so fast.
Uh, I'm afraid the deeds
are official.
They were legal
transfers of land
so you probably can't build.
I'm sorry.
- 1965. Are they still alive?
- Boy, that's the efficient
way to ask that.
- Sorry. I...
What happens to the deeds
when the winners,
may they rest in peace,
are no longer with us?
Does the land get transferred
back to the Carbells?
- I suppose it's passed
on to the next of kin.
- So, I just have to get them
to agree to sign over
their land rights.
I could put together
a pro forma quitclaim,
and that should take
care of that.
Are the deeds up at the county?
- It's hard to say.
Our record keeping is...
- Right. So, if no one
comes forward, we're fine.
But if one person comes forward
with the deed, we are not fine.
- It's a pickle.
- Actually, you know,
I'm adding unnecessary steps.
I will go directly
to Mrs. Carbell.
Her family created the raffle.
- Or there's that.
Coralie Carbell is little
bit reclusive.
I'm not sure that
I would count on her.
- No. Thank you so much
for your help,
Jack, the historian.
I mean it,
this got me a long way.
- Wait, Gracie, before you go,
I have something that you can
give Coralie that might help.
- Hi, Mrs. Carbell?
- Mm-hmm.
- My name is Gracie Moreau
and I'm with Astrid Development.
- Hmm.
- I was hoping that
you could help me with
a pesky deed issue
that I've come across.
- Well, it was my understanding
that the sale went through.
- That's true,
and we are so excited
to break new ground next door.
But there is a tiny hiccup
and I was hoping that
you could help me.
I almost forgot.
Jack wanted me
to give you these.
May I come in?
- Sure.
Come, come.
- Wow.
- 1956.1983.
July 17, 1975,
I have done that one.
Jack brings me old crosswords.
- Oh.
- I like to do a couple a day.
It's good for the brain
to dig up
all those historical clues.
- Speaking of digging up
historical clues,
the help I need involves
a special raffle
at the tree farm in 1965.
Do you remember that raffle?
- Oh, barely. I was only eight.
- Eight? Jack told me
that the raffle awarded
square plots of land
to five winners.
I have to find those landowners
or the whole project
is compromised.
- You have a lot of energy.
- I do, yes. At the office,
I'm known as the optimizer.
- Remind me of myself
at your age.
Now, I do appreciate
you putting in the hotel.
Town needs one.
Especially with my husband and I
retiring the tree farm.
- Your husband?
- Oh yeah,
well he passed away
eight years ago.
I tried to keep it
going by myself for a while,
even letting the community
farm their own trees,
but oof, it was time.
- I'm so sorry.
- I especially like your plans
for the event hall
and the ballroom.
Do you know, way back,
they used to hold events here?
Including the Sleigh Belle Ball.
- What's your favorite
Christmas event
here in Happy Hollow?
Oh, well, I don't...
I don't really go out
to those things so much anymore.
You know, I'd like to help you.
I... I do remember
the raffle,
just only in glimpses.
- I'm sorry, I-I
didn't mean to...
- Ah, ah, thinking.
It was Christmas, of course.
There were pinecones
with all the gold tips.
Oh, I cannot believe
I forgot that. Yes!
One young man was a winner.
Oh, he was my first crush.
He was so handsome!
I am never gonna forget
that smile. Yeah, he was
one of the raffle winners,
I am sure of it.
- Amazing! What's his name?
- His name.
- Yeah.
- No. No, sorry, don't have it.
But he was the town heartthrob
for a time,
I can tell you that for sure.
That's it. I better
get back to my day.
You can just show yourself out.
- Okay. Well, can I give you
my number
in case anything else comes up?
- Oh, no, I'll just send
any information through Jack.
Shorts and sandals.
One of the raffle winners
was wearing shorts and sandals.
I know it doesn't make sense
but...
That's what's in storage.
And a woman.
- Okay, great.
Can we stay on that image
and perhaps offer
a face description or a name?
- Hmm.
You can show yourself out.
- Okay. Thank you
so much for your time.
- Uh-huh.
- Update, please.
The deeds were
given out at a Christmas raffle
in 1965.
- A raffle? Are you serious?
- It was organized
by the Carbell family.
So, I went to see
Coralie Carbell,
who was eight at the time,
so she gave me a bunch
of cryptic clues, and now,
I have to scour the town
to try and make sense of them.
- That actually sounds amazing.
- Oh, man.
I have to go back to him.
- Who?
- This guy, the town historian.
Who is reluctantly
cooperative, at best.
- His name?
- Jack something.
- Jack Carrington?
- That's it.
- Oh. He's cute.
- Couldn't be more
beside the point.
- So, you think he's cute?
Okay.
I just sent you his address.
- Oh, you are so creepy
and so wonderful.
- So...
where was romance
in your 10-year plan?
- Ames, he's not my type.
No. And I get the feeling
that he's not a fan
of the hotel.
He might be an enemy.
- There's a saying about that.
Keep them nice and close.
And cozy.
- I don't think
that's how the saying goes.
- I can hear you smiling.
Okay, go.
- Okay. I love you. Bye.
- Gracie Moreau.
What a surprise.
- I swear, I'm not a stalker.
- Stalker?
- Finding you.
I wasn't looking for you.
I mean, I was looking for you,
but I was planning
to go to your house.
- Mm-hmm, I see.
- Let's just cut
to the chase. Oh just...
- Same guy?
- What guy?
- Your... boyfriend?
- Oh, I don't have a boyfriend.
- Gabe?
- Gabe is my contractor.
He is the same age as my father.
We work together.
- Oh. Ha.
- I spoke to Ms. Carbell.
- Coralie helped you?
- She remembered random details
that might be something,
but I don't know the town
well enough
and I need someone who does.
Will you partner
with me on this?
- I can't. I'm sorry.
- Is it because
you're against the new hotel?
- Happi-i-i?
I'm not sure that
I'm against it,
I'm just hesitant.
But I-I can't help you.
I have a stack of grants
that I have to write
by January 1st in order to keep
the Historical Society funded.
In fact, I should probably
get back and start writing.
- Oh, I promise you that
Astrid Development
will be a platinum-level sponsor
of the Historical Society
if you help me find those names.
- Gracie,
we are funded by
bake sales and grants.
We don't have
sponsorship levels.
- Fine.
You won't have to write grants.
How about that?
- Well, if the deedholders
won't sign your quitclaim,
then what?
- Doesn't matter.
If we find the names,
you have done your part
and the Historical Society
will get their funding.
I don't see it failing.
Hmm.
Deal?
- Deal.
But that's it.
I help you find the names
and then I'm out.
Christmas is a busy time here.
I don't have time
to go chasing...
waterfalls.
- Yeah.
- I don't know why
or how those words came
out of my mouth.
It's, there's another saying
I was going...
- It's okay, it was cute.
- Okay. So, what do we have?
- We have three clues.
Two and a half.
Deedholder number one,
a heartthrob around
the age of 70.
She had a crush on him
when she was younger.
Okay. Number two,
shorts and sandals
at the raffle?
And number three, a woman.
Are any of these anything?
- The heartthrob,
I'm not sure how
to go about that.
Shorts and sandals, however,
I may have a lead.
- What? Really?
- Let's meet in the parking lot
near the boathouse.
- Mm-hmm.
- Tomorrow at two.
- No, oh... are you sure
we can't go today?
Just knock it out.
- I'm sure, Gracie.
See you tomorrow.
Rainbows. Chasing rainbows. Ha.
- Ha.
- Full reference.
Oh.
You're a new face.
Hi, I'm Cosmo.
Uh, Cosmo Jr.
- Hi, I'm Gracie.
- Oh, Gracie, what a great name.
- I brought Gracie
here to meet you.
- Really? Uh, okay,
well, I'm not really
big on small talk so
I'll just get into my
three favorite things
about Happy Hollow.
One, polar plunge.
Goes without saying.
Two, hiking. And three,
wait a minute, is this a...
a set-up, or a tour guide thing?
Why are we meeting again?
I mean, do you need some tackle?
- Gracie has a question
about the Carbell
tree raffle back in the 60s.
I think that it's possible
that your dad
was one of the winners.
Whoa.
You're blowing my mind
right now.
How-how do you know about that?
- We were following a set
of clues, shorts and sandals.
I figured the founder
of the polar plunge
would be the only guy
wearing shorts and sandals
at Christmas time.
- My pops used to love
shorts and sandals in the snow.
So, what do you wanna know about
my dad's Christmas tree plot?
- We were...
- Oh I...
- Well, she's...
- I work for Happi,
the new hotel. To build,
we need to acquire
those land plots.
Hopefully, you'd be amenable
to signing your rights
over to us.
Here, this explains everything.
And of course,
there is a summary
of the town hall presentation.
- Right.
- Of how the hotel would be good
for the Happy Hollow community.
Look, if you agree,
and you have the deed
at the ready,
it'd be easy for me
to just drop the paperwork
while I'm here in town.
- Let me just read this.
The hotel really
could be something,
especially for my guided tours.
What did you say it was
gonna be called again?
- Happi.
- Happy,
oh you mean like Happy Hollow.
- Yeah, but with an I.
- Why?
- No, with an I.
- No why an I?
It seems unnecessarily extra.
- Extra.
- Oh, uh, never mind.
No, I'm sorry.
I just get a little
defensive about the town.
- It's very understandable.
- You know what would
make everything okay?
A polar plunge!
- Oh, no, I think I'm...
- I'll get the gear!
- Yeah, I figured this
might happen.
- Oh.
- It's like a trust exercise.
Like a test of honor for Cosmo.
I recommend that you do it.
I think that I'm gonna
sit this one out.
- Oh. I see what you're doing.
You think you've got one
over on me.
I will take that
polar plunge gladly,
so as not to give you
the satisfaction.
- It's not as effective
when you articulate it out loud.
- I don't care.
I'd be honored to get
better acquainted
with all that
Happy Hollow has to offer.
- All right, Gracie.
- Okay.
- This is going
to change your life.
And here you go.
- Oh, no, no, I'm-I'm good.
- Sorry, you're doing
the plunge.
Come on there you go.
There's a good boy.
- No, I hurt my back.
My back is so, oh...
Let's do it!
Who's going polar bear plunging?
- We are!
- Yes! That's the spirit.
Yes, great!
Oh... Okay.
- Okay, oh.
What do you think
the temperature is?
- Yeah, I don't even wanna know.
Whew! Come on!
Come on! Woo-hoo!
- Oh, those were icicles.
Icicles just hit our legs.
- Woo! Haha!
I've never felt so alive!
- Listen, I've never
done the polar plunge.
- What? Isn't it like a major
Happy Hollow tradition?
- Yeah, yeah. Shh, shh,
please don't tell Cosmo.
I've artfully avoided
it for years.
Woo! Okay...
- Ah, okay.
Well, here we are.
Let's do this together.
No funny business.
We both go, right?
Okay, one, two, three.
- You know what?
It's actually not that cold.
- Yes, it is!
- I'd be happy to...
to sign over
the land rights to you.
You know, to be honest,
I was gonna do it anyways.
- Woo!
- Woo!
- Wanna go to shore?
- Yes! Yes!
- Oh, come on! Come on!
Where ya going?
Come on, we're having fun!
She said the whole
town was in agreement.
He was like, the town hottie.
- Hottie?
- Mm-hmm.
- Well, maybe we just
sit in the square
and wait for men over 60
to walk by
and rate them with scorecards.
- No time for jokes, okay?
We need to keep our momentum.
- No, you see, I think
that's actually a bad tactic.
- Explain.
- Well, if you're always
driving forward,
you're likely to miss things.
- I know live in the moment,
life's a journey, I get it.
And I'm happy to try all that,
once the deeds are all sorted.
- No, I mean for gathering info.
Be open to clues,
not missing things
in the periphery.
Like, you were joking
about acquainting yourself
with the town's traditions.
Maybe...
maybe there's something to that.
Like, maybe...
if we just sit here
on this bench for a few minutes,
at the center of town,
actually taking in the sights,
the sounds, the smells,
you never know what'll come up.
- Okay.
What do you got?
- Over there.
That series of storefronts.
Marybeth's doily snowflakes
lit perfectly after hours.
The mini twinkly skyline
with the, the church
and the community center.
- Hmm.
Hmm.
I smell...
hamburgers?
- Yep. Milly's Diner.
Tuesday's hamburger night.
It's a very, very important
piece of information
right there.
And of course, the ever-present
evergreen smell.
- Southern balsam.
It's the best smelling.
Also the Carbell family tree
farm specialty.
You know, I do my homework.
- Hmm.
- Hey.
Is that...
50s pop music?
Oldies?
- Yep.
That would be the senior
Christmas sock hop.
- Wait, what? You're telling me
that all the townspeople
65 and up are gathered
in one space, ready to gossip
about who was the hottest
when they were kids?
- I suppose so.
- Well, look at that.
Your whole, slow down,
be in the moment approach
worked!
Okay, let's go!
- Oh.
Now we're back to your approach.
- Wow, it's a young
crowd tonight.
- Let's poll the experts.
- Not a bad idea,
actually, but how?
- I suppose we go up
to these nice people
trying to have a good time,
tap them on the shoulder
and say, "Hey, who was
foxy 59 years ago?"
- Ooh, maybe instead
of a shoulder tap,
you dance up to them
and you say,
"Hey, who was foxy
59 years ago?"
It'll be fun!
Hey, do you know
the funky chicken?
Okay.
70s not 60s.
- How about 70s.
Oh, the Hustle!
- The Hustle.
- Come on,
aren't you a historian?
It's iconic.
There's an East Coast version
and a West Coast version.
- Wow.
Oh my.
- Well, it's more
of a partner dance.
- Oh yeah?
- You wanna learn?
- Aren't I a historian?
Okay.
Just follow my footwork.
Okay, ready?
- You make it look so easy.
- Okay, let's slow it down.
Half the time. Ready?
One, two, three.
One, two, three.
One, two, three.
One, two, three.
- How'm I doin'?
- Looks pretty good.
One, two, three.
- Am I getting it?
- Yeah.
- Oh!
- Ow!
- Oh, I'm sorry.
- That's okay.
- I-I'm so sorry.
No, it's okay.
We should probably...
get back out there
and find our heartthrob.
- Yeah.
- Yeah. Okay.
My friend and I have a bet.
Were you the town heartthrob
when you were younger?
Care to dance?
- I'm curious, who was a guy
that all the girls were wild
about when you were growing up?
- Hank.
- Hank Arbor.
- Yes?
- You're Hank!
- I know you.
The bicentennial. Jack?
- Hi. Hank, uh,
let me introduce you to Gracie.
Gracie, meet Hank Arbor.
- I was watching you dance.
You know what you're doing, kid.
- Thanks!
Did you, by chance,
ever win a raffle
at the Carbell family
Christmas tree farm?
No segue, huh?
- As a matter of fact, I did.
Now I'm part owner of
the Carbell Christmas tree farm.
I can't believe you heard
of that. It's ancient history.
Jack, you've met your match.
You a history buff, too?
- Well, she's not.
- Uh, just an interested party.
- She's with the new hotel.
- Oh, yeah!
That's gonna be great.
- It is going to be great.
Except for one hiccup.
In order to build, we need
to get all five raffle winners
to agree to sign over
their square plot land rights,
which is why we sought you out.
I have a printout
of information in my bag.
- Not necessary.
I'd be thrilled to.
- Huh, just like that?
Don't you wanna hear
the plan first?
It's gonna be a big change
for our town.
- What are you doing?
- It's good for people
to make informed decisions.
- Now that you mention it,
I do have one request.
- Anything.
- Gracie, you dance
a fine peppermint twist.
I don't have a partner
for the dance contest.
Would you enter with me?
- I would be honored.
- So, have you been able
to enjoy Happy Hollow,
despite all of your work
and deed hunting?
- I think I'm enjoying it
because of my deed hunting.
- It's a magical place.
You should stay
through Christmas.
- I wish I could, but I gotta
keep things moving.
Speaking of moving.
Where did you learn
how to dance?
- My mother taught
ballroom dancing.
So, after school,
I'd sit in the corner,
I'd do my homework, and then,
if there was an odd number,
I'd get to jump in.
- Kinda like now.
- I was lucky. And now,
I'm lucky to be dancing
with the most eligible
bachelor in town.
I'm not the most
eligible bachelor. He is.
- Hmm.
- Thank you.
Wow.
- Everyone, please congratulate
the winners of this year's
31st annual seniors
sock hop dance contest!
Woo!
- I will be in contact.
- I'm counting on it.
- Thank you, Hank.
Oh.
- Already practicing
for next year's sock hop?
- Yeah.
I figured if a stranger
could come into town
and sweep the sock hop
dance contest,
I should probably brush up.
- Right.
Do you wanna...
- Do you wanna go?
- That would be great.
- I'll go grab our jackets.
- Okay.
Stay focused, Gracie.
You're here for the deeds.
That was a success, overall.
So, I'll collect the paperwork
from Hank,
as well as Cosmo.
Do you know where a notary is?
- Ooh, I am a notary public.
- You keep burying the lede.
- Hmm.
- Why did you throw a wrench
in our plan back there?
Aren't we on the same team?
- Well, I thought it was good
for him to really consider
whether that was
the right decision.
- I still can't tell
if you're trying to help me
or stop me.
You're still not sold
on the hotel, are you?
- Well, maybe I'm just
processing.
I think that we should
talk to Coralie tomorrow.
We have to do better than
"woman" as our next clue.
- So, you are helping me?
After all, there is that sweet,
sweet grant money.
- Well, I am glad that
it worked out
with Hank and Cosmo.
And that you're getting to know
our humble town a little better.
Where are you staying?
- The Spruce Inn Motel,
just outside of town.
I sure wish there were suitable
accommodations
here in Happy Hollow.
- All right, all right.
- So, I guess
this is good night.
- Yep. Shall I walk you?
- I'm good.
- Okay. Roger that.
Well, it was...
- Bye.
- Oh.
Oh, sorry, yeah.
Whoa.
Huh.
- Okay, bye.
- Great dancing, by the way.
- Thanks! See you tomorrow.
- Great dancing?
Oh, come on. God!
- Hey, Gracie.
Hey, Ames,
how's it going in Nashville?
Are you keeping Judith at bay?
- You've got nothing
to worry about.
Everyone's checked out
this week.
- Good.
- The mom owl just ate
a fish the dad owl brought her.
- Are you still watching
that nest cam?
People are gonna think
you've lost it, Ames.
- It's my reality TV, okay?
I told you, no one's here.
It's boring.
What do you want from me?
So, what's happening with you?
Spill the tea.
Did you clear up the deeds?
- We got two deedholders
to sign over their land rights
but no leads on the other three.
But I did actually go
on a polar plunge yesterday.
- Oh, my God! Good!
Was that history hunk guy there?
Were you clothed?
First,
it wasn't about relaxing,
it all had to do
with the deed search.
Same with history hunk.
Clothing intact.
- Noted. So, two out of five.
- Yeah. Still a long way to go.
Ready? I need to be headed
to the county seat by noon.
- You bet. Coffee?
- Ooh, yes, please.
How long does that take?
- The whole process
from start to finish?
In the very beginning,
there is a little coffee seed
buried deep in the earth,
wishing and hoping that one day
it will grow up
to be a big, old...
- Okay, well,
now you're just messing with me.
- Yes, Gracie.
I went out last night
and I purchased
this entire coffee set-up,
just to prove a point.
- Fine, I can wait.
It's just that we should
already be at Coralie's,
and the county seat
closes at two PM
and I can't miss them.
Also, the roads
are supposedly treacherous.
- So, you don't want a coffee?
You just wanna let this little
coffee seed down?
- Of course, I do. Thank you.
- I am confident that
after speaking with Coralie,
you won't need to go to county.
- Can't we just call the county
and have them look it up?
Especially since they're
inaccessible half of the time.
It's like they're holding
records hostage.
- You have to be there
in person, and no,
they're not in any rush.
How do you take it?
- I'm frustrated.
- No, your coffee.
- Black.
Okay, one sugar.
- Aren't you sweet enough?
Oh.
- Here you are.
Good?
- It depends if you factor
in time and labor.
- Hmm, well if you don't
like it, I can just take it...
- Don't... you dare.
It's delicious.
I love it.
Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Almost makes time stand
still, doesn't it?
Let's go and see Coralie.
- So, it's this one?
- Yeah!
- Coralie, direct me.
- No, it's good!
- This? Okay.
- Yeah.
- You sure?
- Jack.
- That was in a donation box
I received in October.
- Come here, let me see
what you're made of.
- So, we found two
of the five raffle winners.
- It's a reproduction.
- Uh, now we need
to find the other three.
- It's a very old reproduction
circa the early mining years,
but it is not
from the Indigenous community.
- Hmm.
- It's probably something
a parent made for a child
to play with.
I mean, take it from me,
something doesn't need
to be old to be meaningful.
- No, of course not.
Heck, it was probably
meaningful to the kid.
- Yeah.
- Coralie studied archaeology.
- Oh.
- It's just a hobby.
- It's more than that,
and you know it.
- Listen, your raffle question.
- Yes, my raffle question.
- After you left the other day,
I had a little bite
of my chocolate orange
and it sparked something,
you know, the way smell
and tastes can do that. Well...
I remember there was
a raffle winner
who had a little basket
with what I thought
were tiny,
red Christmas ornaments.
And at the time, I watched her
reach into that basket
and take one out
and bite into it!
And I... at eight,
I was so scared,
I was so confused.
- Why are you laughing?
- Well, they're radishes,
obviously.
Of course!
- I think you have
to catch me up on that one.
- You know, and I think
another of your raffle winners
won the Sleigh Belle.
It could've been
the radish lady.
Could've been someone else.
I don't know.
But I remember because
I was so sore for so long
that I didn't win it.
My family was the center
of Christmas for this town
and I had never won it.
I know, it's so silly.
I can't complain.
- Maybe that just means
you're a permanent
Sleigh Belle, Coralie.
- That's how
I will think about it.
- Is there any chance
that maybe you have a name?
Or an initial, or anything?
Maybe you can do that thing
that you did last time
where you were...
you could take a bite
of that chocolate orange
and-and see what it conjures.
- You know who we did see,
following your last
set of clues?
- I can't believe we haven't
told you yet.
It's your dreamboat,
your first crush.
His name is Hank.
- Hank! Yes! That's it.
- He's a great dancer.
- Which we only know
because Gracie
is a great dancer.
- Hmm.
- Well...
he needed a partner.
I have no designs on him.
- But don't you miss
all the Happy Hollow
Christmas events, Coralie?
- I miss a lot of things.
They sure have been on my mind
a lot lately, though.
Ever since this one came by
the other day,
I have had
the most bizarre dreams
about the raffle
and the old days.
I had one that had
a smoke monster in it.
Not a smoke monster,
more like a ghoul,
that was covered in dust,
with eyes showing,
you know, like a bandit.
- Gosh, I didn't mean
to give you nightmares.
Oh, no, no.
No, it's okay, really.
He wasn't even mean.
He had this, this big,
friendly smile.
- Wow.
- Hmm.
- Huh.
- I actually lost track of time.
- What a shock.
- Okay, but now,
what do we have?
We have a dust monster
and some radishes?
- I actually think
we have quite a bit.
Come on, let's regroup.
We are gonna need these.
- Okay. So, one of us
is going skiing,
and the other one is going,
what, swimming?
- You'll see.
- So, we have some time.
What's your story?
What's your history?
Oh.
Uh, what do you wanna know?
- Everything.
- Everything?
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay. I'm an only child.
I was raised by my grandparents.
That's probably where I fell
in love with history.
An old know-how,
that kinda thing.
- They gave you the idea
to take over the Happy Hollow
Historical Society?
- They did not. No.
That um...
do you really wanna know?
- Of course.
- You're not gonna like it,
but okay.
I grew up in a town that used
to be like Happy Hollow.
- Hmm.
- When I was in high school,
a factory came in,
tore down all the old houses,
put up a cinder block eyesore
on top of the old,
historic district.
Destroyed any sense
of community and town pride.
- That's awful.
- It is.
So, my grandparents moved us
back to Happy Hollow
where they grew up,
and I swore to myself
that I wouldn't let
the same thing happen here.
That's why I started working
at the Historical Society,
to protect it from
commercial interests
that didn't understand the town.
- And that's why
you're upset about the hotel.
- No, no, I'm not upset,
I just...
I don't know.
- Jack, I know what
I'm talking about.
I do this for a living.
I promise you,
so much time and consideration
was put into taking
the community into account.
We do a ton of research.
- Look, I-I'm not trying
to tell you how to do your job,
I just,
I would want anyone
making this big of an impact
on a town like ours
to take some time
actually getting
to know the town
before the deal is done.
- I hear that.
Getting to know
what about the town?
Well, all of it.
Everything.
Just seems that sometimes
the world is moving
too fast for its own good.
- I agree.
- We agree?
So, if your time
must be maximized,
why this hotel?
Why this specific rush?
- If we don't start the build
at the start of the year,
then the firm will bump us
down the pipeline
for a parking garage instead.
And I don't wanna be
bumped for that.
This job is the last goal
that I have on the list
that I made years ago.
- Let me guess,
your five-year plan
you completed in three?
- Almost.
My 10-year plan.
I beg your pardon?
- My goals aside,
I do think it would be good
for Happy Hollow.
Otherwise, the plot
just sits there,
waiting for something good
to happen to it.
- Okay.
What is going on?
- Welcome to the annual
Happy Hollow Spice Toss.
- This happens every year?
- It's one of the town's
great Christmas traditions.
As far as a festival, it's new,
but the tradition goes
back generations.
I don't even know how or why
it got started but it's a blast.
- They look dusty.
- Exactly.
So now,
we need to figure out
who was doing this in 1965.
- Hmm.
- Goggles on!
Bah!
Wah! Traitor! Whoa.
Come here!
Oh, Gracie? Gracie!
- Wah!
- What? What? Oh, no fair!
You already got me!
- Okay, okay, truce, truce.
Oh! Oh my... oh!
Oh! Excuse me, um,
he looks the right age.
Excuse me, sir?
Ah. Nice perch.
- Please, have a seat.
- Wow.
What a thing.
- I look forward
to it all the year.
- I can't believe
this even exists.
- A Happy Hollow gem.
- I just checked something off
my bucket list
I hadn't even heard of
before today.
- Well, that's a good day.
- Gracie.
- Viggo.
Do you have a moment?
My wife makes the best hot cider
for after the Spice Toss.
Stay, I'll bring you some.
- Thank you.
- You look chill.
Are you in detective mode,
listening for clues?
- No. I'm just taking
a breather.
I think I may have a lead.
- A lead on what?
- A lead on who might have been
at the Spice Toss 59 years ago?
- Nobody. There was no
Spice Toss 59 years ago. Jack.
- Viggo, thank you.
- You're welcome.
- There has to have been.
Are you sure?
- I am sure!
Fifty-nine years ago today,
my older brother turned 25
and he was single then,
so in Danish tradition,
my family ambushed him
and threw cinnamon at him.
Other people found out about it
and then thought it was
a Christmas tradition,
my brother's birthday being
so close to the holiday.
Now, the next year,
new people showed up right here
with their own bags of spices
and they were so excited,
we just didn't have the heart
to correct them.
- I can't believe
I didn't know that.
Your family gifted Happy Hollow
one of its greatest traditions.
- Now, Jack,
you know Happy Hollow
is full of funny history
like this.
It's why it's special.
- It is.
- And then, these corporate
developers wanna come
and stamp it out into
a cookie cutter tourist town
with their monstrosity
of a hotel.
- Well...
- But fear not.
I have a secret weapon.
My brother bequeathed to me
a piece of the land
they're trying to grab out
from underneath us.
Wait. I'll show you.
I stopped by my lawyer's office
this morning
and all I need to stop
the developers...
is this.
- Well, look at that,
the deed for one square foot
of the Carbell family
Christmas tree farm.
- Viggo, I'm the developer.
- You?
- Mm-hmm.
- Jack, tell me this is a joke.
- It's not a joke.
- Ha!
- I actually came here
hoping to ask you about
this very deed.
Hoping that you would
sign over your land rights.
If you give me a chance,
I can show you
the upsides of the hotel.
- Well, young lady,
that is not going to happen.
I'm sorry.
- I understand your resistance
and protectiveness
of Happy Hollow.
But now that you've met me,
I hope you can see that I'm not
some greedy corporation.
- No, you seem lovely,
but Happy Hollow is too special
for this...
soulless kind of development.
- You're... you're right.
I'm here to develop the largest,
most modern-looking building
in town.
But that's a good thing.
Because life has changed
and Happy Hollow
is a living town.
So, I think the question
is what kind of change
do you want?
For instance, jobs were lost
when the farm shut down.
There will be so many
job opportunities when we open.
And a hotel isn't soulless.
I can send you
a mock-up of the design.
- I won't sign
my land rights over.
- Not a problem.
We will pay you for them.
No, keep your money.
It's not about that!
- I respect that.
But we have spent so much time
getting to know your town.
I'm just asking you
to do the same. Look into us.
I can send you any information
you need.
Please, just tell me
that you'll think about it.
- I will think about
thinking about it.
- Okay. Thank you.
And-and thank you
for your hospitality.
This cider is delicious.
- I, I have to ask,
why do the Danes throw cinnamon
at single people
when they turn 25?
Well, supposedly,
back a long time ago,
spice salesmen
were always traveling
and getting their spices here,
selling them there. Good money,
but they traveled so much,
they had no time to find a wife.
They forgot about finding love.
That's the connection.
- I see.
Thank you.
- Gracie, Gracie, slow down.
Don't worry.
Viggo might change his mind.
Sometimes it just takes people
some time
to see what's good for them.
The best thing that we can do
now is to move on, right?
Maximize our time.
- Okay, so the dusty man
has been identified.
And hopefully Viggo
comes around. So, what's next?
- Radishes.
- Radishes is actually
something?
- Yeah, very much so.
It has to do with
the Noche de los Rabanos.
It's uh, kinda hard to explain
unless you see it.
So, we should go.
You will love it.
- Again, you knew
this whole time.
Why do you keep hiding
these things from me?
- I guess, like I said,
I just want you
to experience these things,
the town, in a real way.
- I think I'm doing that.
- Fair enough.
We need to shower.
Uh, I mean, I'm...
I'm gonna go home and shower,
and you can go to your...
- Subpar accommodations.
- Yeah. Uh...
and we'll meet back
at the diner at six?
- Deal.
- Okay, then.
Okay.
See you at six.
- See ya.
- Okay, bye. Oh.
Hey. Nice scarf.
- Hi. Thanks.
- So? Radishes. What is this?
- Yes, radishes.
As I'm sure that you gathered
from meeting Viggo,
Happy Hollow being something
of a tourist town,
has a lot of immigrants.
- So, you admit
this is a tourist town,
and you don't want a hotel?
- Did I ever say that?
- Explicitly, no.
- All right.
So, there is a large community
of people who moved here
from Mexico,
and with them, the Oaxacan
Christmas tradition of...
- Noche de los Rabanos.
- Noche de los Rabanos.
One night early
because of tomorrow's
costume ball.
- Okay.
What is happening?
- It is a competition
to carve the best Christmas
scene out of radishes.
- How does Happy Hollow
have so many incredible
Christmas traditions?
- Hmm.
- Hmm. These carvers
look focused.
I don't know how well we'll do
hopping from booth to
booth, casually dropping
our 1965 questions.
- Divide and conquer,
for efficiency?
- Hmm.
You know what would be
really efficient?
Talking to the kids.
They're talkative,
they'll spill the beans.
They'll know if Mom and Pop
had tree farmland.
And I can talk
to more of them at once.
Also, kids carving radishes?
Rabanos?
Most likely adorable.
- Your machinations
know no bounds.
Divide and conquer it is.
- Oh, young fencing scholars,
your jousting skills are strong.
But the radish reindeer
are getting lonely.
Let's carve?
- Yeah!
- Sorry for the intrusion,
but I-I wonder if you might
be able to help me?
Uh, I am looking for someone
who was at this event
nearly 60 years ago.
- We do have records
of contestants
going pretty far back.
But not that far.
- I thought not.
Well, this contestant
won a Christmas tree plot
in a raffle that same day.
- I don't need records for that.
It was my mother.
We actually collected at it
after the first tree grew.
But then, I'm sorry to say,
we sort of uh, forgot about it.
- Well, what was her name?
- Soledad Aguilar.
- I remember that name.
She was one of
the Noche de los Rabanos
judges too, right?
- Yes, she was the best.
- Ah. That's an amazing story.
- Yes.
- Well, if you aren't
really using the land,
I might have a bit of an ask.
I have a friend over here,
her name's Gracie Moreau.
- So, like this? Okay?
- Well, what do we have here?
- Oh, Jack,
thank goodness you came.
We need your help. We have
so many radishes to carve
and so little time. Sit.
Grab a knife.
- I'm at your service.
What can I do?
- Prancer needs attention.
Sergio is a master
sleigh builder,
so he had to abandon Prancer
to direct that project.
- Future CEO?
- Probably.
- So, any traction
on the other pursuit?
- No time!
We have a reindeer
sleigh to build. Come on.
- Oh.
- Come on!
Oh, oh Prancer,
I like your hooves.
- Oh, I don't know.
They feel pretty clunky.
- No, they're perfect!
They're just right
for getting traction
on the icy roofs when
Santa parks his sleigh.
- Gracie, I want...
Cinco minutos mas.
Five more minutes!
- Okay, okay.
It's time for us
to line the reindeer up
in front of the sleigh.
Okay, great.
I didn't make any
progress with the deedholder.
I got distracted.
But, people mill around
after, right?
Are there cookies, refreshments?
We can divide and conquer then?
- I don't think so.
I got you.
See that woman there
coming up to the microphone?
That's Ana.
Her mother is Soledad Aguilar,
the fourth winner.
I talked to her
and got it all sorted.
She'll happily
give you her deed.
- Ah... Thank you so much!
Para la categoria infantil,
for the kid's category...
el gandor es,
the winner is...
el reno y su trineo!
The reindeer and their sleigh!
Good morning.
- Hey, you. I mean, Gracie.
- I got you a hot chocolate.
I bumped into Marybeth
and she told me about this caf,
Phoebe's, that has the best...
I mean, I'm sure you know.
- I love Phoebe's hot chocolate.
And it is the best.
Sounds like an extra stop
and a town bump in.
I'm impressed.
So, in an effort
to not bury the lede,
we have another big
night ahead of us.
- You found the records
for the costume ball winners?
- Before I answer the question,
have you ever been
to a costume ball?
- I have not.
- Well, today's your lucky day
because tonight we're going!
- Fun!
So, what's the winner's name?
- Well, here's the thing.
The Sleigh Belle
of the Ball is...
- The what?
- Well, that's what
we call the winner.
The winner is the Sleigh Belle
of the Ball.
Get it? For Christmas?
- I get it.
So, it's a beauty pageant.
- It's about who has
the best Christmas spirit.
Viggo won last year.
- Got it.
- Anyway, the Sleigh Belle
of the Ball signs their name
on a beautiful, antique,
horse-drawn sleigh
that gets displayed only
at the event itself.
- Are you saying we have to go
to a costume ball tonight
so we can find out who won?
- Yes. And Gracie,
wait 'til you see it.
- So, what do I wear
to this event?
- Oh, you know,
something festive.
- Festive, as in Santa hat
festive or ball gown festive?
- More like ball gown?
- Right. So, I'm going shopping.
What's open?
- All of the Happy Hollow
businesses are closed
on the day of
the Sleigh Belle Ball.
- What? You couldn't have
told me this yesterday?
- I didn't think about
the-the-the outfit thing.
I'm sorry.
- Of course,
because all you have to do
is comb your hair. Hmm.
What's the deal with these two?
- Oh, it's our first mayor
and his wife's inauguration
outfits.
Pretty neat, huh?
- You think I could wear it?
- You wanna wear a piece
of Happy Hollow history
to a costume ball?
- I'd be so careful.
Or you can go there and get
the name for me by yourself.
I trust you.
- Look, no, I-I want you to go.
It's one of our oldest
traditions.
I think you'll like it.
Okay.
Let's get you into this dress.
- Can you lace me up?
- Sure, no problem.
- Ow!
- Ooh, sorry. Uh...
I-I'm not sure how to do this.
- It's so tiny. Were women tiny?
- Well, people in general
used to be shorter.
Most women's ribs were broken
by these devices.
It literally suffocated them.
- And this is the history
you want to preserve?
- Well, so as to not repeat it.
Oh, I can't do this.
- So, what are you gonna do?
- I'm going to change history.
Jack? What is this?
- Coralie Carbell,
I have come to invite you
to be my date to
the Christmas ball tonight.
- I think we both know you have
another date in your sights.
- Oh, perhaps.
Maybe I'm a Lothario,
juggling many grand dames.
But I'd be honored
to have you on my arm.
I'm meeting her there.
- Ah.
- I know that it's been
a long time
since you've gone to anything,
and after a while,
people may have just let you be,
but I thought maybe
someone driving to your house
and offering you
a simple invitation,
a nudge, might be...
something.
I won't, I won't pressure you.
But I did get
all dressed up, so...
Well, we could make a deal,
right?
- Shoot.
- I'll leap, if-if you leap.
- I don't know what you mean.
- Yes, you do.
Is there still time?
- I made sure of it.
Okay, go, go, go!
- Okay.
- I know you have an epic closet
that you can sort through.
- Girl, how are you
enjoying the party?
- This is unbelievable.
- Right?
- And you!
Look at these earrings.
- Right?
- They look stunning,
and these are gorgeous.
Where are they from?
They were
my great-grandmother's.
Right?
- Good evening, Miss Mayor.
- Good evening.
The watch is the best part.
- What about your smartwatch?
Are you replacing it?
- She took a well-deserved
night off.
Coralie! You look gorgeous.
Did Jack tell you
about our progress?
- Oh, your progress?
- Oh, no, with the deeds.
It turns out, you were right.
The dust monster was real.
- The Spice Toss.
- Oh! Of course.
- And deedholder number two
is right over there.
- Ah, he's still so handsome.
- I happen to know
he needs a dance partner.
- Hello.
- Well, well,
if it isn't Coralie Carbell.
- You remember me?
- How could I not?
Going way back to when this ball
was in your family's home.
Your home and farm
are at the heart of our town.
Haven't seen you in a while.
You're like a comet.
- I heard you might need
a dance partner.
- Oh, now, now.
- So close. If I could...
- Give the sleigh some space.
Only the Sleigh Belle
of the Ball
can sit in that throne.
- What do we do?
- Um...
- Jack,
this is where you ask
Speedy here
if you may have this dance.
Oh, Jack.
- How do we read the names?
- Uh, I don't know,
but it'll be here all night.
May I have this dance?
- You just wanna dance
with the mayor of Happy Hollow.
- Oh, well, I cannot deny
that it is quite a thing
to have my arm wrapped
around a tailcoat
from the turn
of the 20th century.
- And how does it feel?
Very nice.
- Viggo was right.
There is something special
about this town's history.
I've participated
in so many things,
I never could have found
on my own
or could have
dreamt of on my own.
- Gracie, I...
I have to tell you something.
- Oh, you look very serious
right now.
Is this another clue that
you have been keeping from me?
- I just wanted to say...
our best Christmas tradition
is on Christmas Eve.
- Yeah?
- The people come to the tree
in the square with presents
as a blind gift exchange,
so that everyone
has something new.
It has nothing to do
with the deedholders,
but I'd love it if you came.
Will you think about it?
- Yes. I will come.
- You will?
- Yeah.
Besides, I can upload
all the documents from there.
- I freaking love the ball!
Look at everybody out there,
having fun. You know?
Hey, you know when you build
the hotel, you're gonna have
to build a ballroom for this.
- Of course.
We already have it
in the blueprint.
- Ah.
- Do we really need
a new ballroom?
- We'll be sure to keep it.
Boom!
That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.
Should-should we take a break?
- Sure.
- I'll check on Coralie.
- Okay.
How's your cider?
- It's great.
Not nearly as good
as yours, though.
- Oh. Thank you.
You know, I never get
tired of it.
We only drink it from
after Thanksgiving
until New Year's
so it stays special.
- That makes sense.
This is Marybeth, right?
- Candy cane gives it away.
- Coralie's dancing
with her childhood crush.
Cosmo is no doubt recruiting
for a post-party polar plunge.
It's a good night.
- Okay, I'll sign my land over.
- What? No, I wasn't even
going to push that tonight.
- No, I thought about it.
And I found your hotel
design online and your website,
and I really liked it.
It felt sincere, thoughtful.
There will be a hotel
eventually.
Why not let it be
someone who actually cares?
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.
- Oh!
Well, I think
the deciding factor
was how Jack looks at you,
so I figure we may
as well keep you around.
Now, don't pretend you don't
know what I'm talking about.
Life is short.
And I don't see you
as someone who doesn't
go after what they want.
- May I cut in?
- Only if you give her back.
- So, you taking any leaps yet?
- Maybe partial leaps.
- I don't think leaps
get to be partial.
Are you going to tell her?
- Tell her what?
- I pieced it together
a couple of days ago
that your grandmother
was the Sleigh Belle.
That you are deedholder
number five.
A fact I carefully
omitted for you.
- I guess that I'm still...
protective of the town.
- Is that all?
You know, you don't have
to like change,
but you do have to allow for it.
Otherwise, you'll become
as fossilized as the dinosaurs.
It's something I know about.
- Are you telling me
you're a fan of the hotel?
- Without reservation.
You know, most people
are thrilled about the hotel.
It's not a hostile takeover.
The hotel didn't kill
the tree farm,
the tree farm retired.
And I trust it because
I trust Gracie.
And so do you.
- Gracie is great
but she represents...
- Represents?
Oh, pish posh.
Look, move along.
You've interrupted
a long-delayed conversation
that I am very keen
to get back to.
- Hey.
This is great.
You know, I can't wait
until Happy Hollow
rents out the full-size
ballroom in the hotel for this.
- Rent? Why would we do that?
This is the dancehall.
This is where we have the dance.
- Sure. Now.
But the hotel will have
a state-of-the-art sound system.
Perfect climate control.
And there's enough space
we could even bring
in a live orchestra.
Actually, this would make
a perfect vacation rental.
A few renovations.
But it would be a nice
standalone for Happi guests
who are looking for
a more rustic experience.
- No, see, this dancehall
is Happy Hollow history.
- Also, I promised Cosmo
a new ballroom.
Anyway, it wasn't that long ago
that the dance was taking place
at Coralie's house.
Things change. Evolve.
- Ladies and gentlemen,
it is time to announce
the winner
of the Sleigh Belle of the Ball.
Viggo here, last year's winner,
will pass the honorary pen
to a member of our community
who has brought
laughter and joy.
Who has surprised and delighted.
And how has embodied
the spirit of Christmas.
Viggo,
would you like to announce
this year's winner?
- Yeah.
I'm very glad to announce
this year's
Sleigh Belle of the Ball.
While they did not attend
every event this last year,
their attendance tonight
means a great deal,
and this award is long overdue.
Belle of the Ball,
Coralie Carbell!
Oh my!
- Congratulations.
- Did Jack see?
- I think so.
I can't seem to...
but oh, Coralie,
you dropped this.
- Oh. Oh!
- Here you go.
- Okay...
- Marybeth?
- Yes?
- Do you know who
Dorothy Carrington was?
- Oh yes,
that's Jack's grandmother!
She won this too.
He didn't tell you?
- No. He did not.
- Oh.
- Excuse me.
- Your grandmother?
How long have you known?
- I-I tried to tell you.
I didn't think that it was gonna
turn out like this.
I thought, I hoped
you'd fall in love
with Happy Hollow
and maybe change your mind.
- This is the definition
of stringing someone along.
What? Were you just
keeping your enemy close?
- At first, maybe, but...
it became more
complicated than that.
- No, it was never complicated
because you held the final deed.
You watched me run around
and make a fool of myself.
- I figured out who had
the deeds pretty quick
but I wanted you to see
the community for yourself.
- You were stalling development.
- No, no. I never meant
to keep you waiting.
You were having so much fun.
- I thought we were having fun.
But you were just
wasting my time.
- I hoped you wouldn't
see it that way.
I-I misjudged you. I'm sorry.
- Can I have your deed?
No.
- Seriously?
- With everything
that we've just been through
and just said,
anyone who can just snap back
to being calculating
and, and opportunistic,
shouldn't be building
in Happy Hollow.
- Wow.
I really am a fool.
- Gracie, come on.
- No. I will put
the suit in the mail.
- Gracie! The eggs are hatching!
- Wow, Ames,
what are you doing here?
It's Christmas Eve.
- Me? What are you doing here?
Thought you'd be like, you know,
exchanging Christmas gifts
with the historian.
- I blew it.
- With the historian?
- With everything.
We can't build the hotel.
- What happened?
- Jack won't sign the quitclaim.
He thinks I'm heartless.
- Girl, what?
He has to be crazy
because you literally
have the biggest heart.
Come here.
Listen, he is a jerk, okay?
Do you wanna sip on some spiked
hot cider and talk about it?
Yeah?
- Yes.
- It's gonna be okay.
- Okay.
- It will.
Judith said anyone who has
to come into the office
on Christmas Eve gets a free
drink from the bar cart.
Thank you.
- Listen, he's just one guy.
And everyone loves you.
- He's not one guy.
Or he's not just one guy.
- You fell in love.
- No. I don't know.
I felt something.
I felt like we could
be something.
But he was just playing a game,
you know,
just keeping his enemy close,
like you said.
- But I added cozy.
- He was wasting my time.
But if I'm honest,
it didn't feel like
wasting time.
It felt like finding time.
Like we were discovering
a little island
of uncharted time
where nothing and no one
could bother us.
- Gracie,
you know how sometimes
you focus so much on one thing
that you miss out
on other stuff?
- Like the deeds?
- Like the deeds.
It would really suck
if you miss out on this guy
and he's, you know, the guy.
- Maybe he's right.
How can we understand
how a hotel like ours
will affect a community
like theirs
if we're just onlookers?
How can we make it theirs?
Not just good for them,
but part of them.
I...
Were there any buildings
on the land plots
that we purchased?
Okay, it looks like we bought
one brick building,
a log cabin,
a clapboard farmhouse,
and of course, the tree farm.
Is there any way
to incorporate bricks,
logs, and clapboard
into the hotel design?
- Yes. And it'll look amazing.
Reusing materials
is my favorite thing.
- Perfect.
- Look at you.
The mountain air
is doing you so good.
What time is their
Christmas Eve thing?
- I think seven.
- So...
one last push for all the deeds?
- I think I'm more concerned
with setting a few things
straight. The build can wait.
- Ah! Can I come?
- Please, you have
to see this place.
- Girl, I am so excited.
- Wow, this looks like
something from a picture book
I've read to my niece.
- I know! But it is 100% real.
- So, where is he?
- I don't know.
Hi, Marybeth.
- Hey.
- Oh, this is Amy.
- Hi.
- Hello. This is for you.
Thank you.
- So, where's Jack?
- He's not here?
- Oh, I thought he was with you.
- Um, listen, Marybeth,
I was wondering
if I can make an announcement,
just for a moment?
- Sure. I mean,
I don't see why not.
- Thank you.
- You got this.
It's gonna be okay.
- Okay.
- You got this.
- Okay, okay.
Hello, Happy Hollow.
I've met many of you.
My name is Gracie Moreau
and I work for
Astrid Development,
the company in charge
of the upcoming hotel.
The maybe upcoming hotel.
I know many of you
are for the hotel
and some are against it.
A few of you know that
I've run into some issues,
partly because some
are protective
of this wonderful,
unique, magical town.
I'm not here to push
the hotel on you.
I'm here because I have become
protective of the town, too.
A hotel is going to happen here,
sooner or later.
It is just a fact.
I want it to be your hotel,
Happy Hollow,
the hotel that is right
for this town.
As far as the hotel
that I'd build,
I've already thought
of some changes.
One of the easiest changes is,
Marybeth, you were right,
the I is no good.
It feels pretentious.
So, I think we should
change it back to Y.
Wait, why?
- There's more.
That might happen this year.
Next year. Maybe never.
But I want it to be
on your terms.
I was in such a rush
when I arrived
because my priorities
were all mixed up.
I had this deadline in my mind.
And I thought if I don't
make this deadline,
what was it all for?
But I know now.
It brought me here.
To a polar bear plunge.
To a sock hop.
To a spice toss.
Something I didn't even
know existed.
Noche de los Rabanos.
And someone so special
they can make you think
about time differently.
Merry Christmas Eve,
Happy Hollow.
Thank you for taking
such good care of me.
- Woo!
- Hey, uh, that...
that's my gift.
Are you gonna open
that right now?
- Um, should I?
- Yeah! So I could
talk to you about it.
- Um...
- Cosmo.
- Amy.
Is this a feather
from a long-eared owl?
Yes, it is!
You know, it's actually
kinda weird
'cause they don't usually lay
their eggs in the winter but...
- But mama bird just
hatched two newborn
long-eareds this morning. I...
- How do you know that?
- Oh, she's a star.
I saw it on her nest cam.
- No way!
I actually set up that nest cam.
- Oh my gosh, you did?
You like, made my entire week.
I...
- I'm kinda honored I did so.
- Yeah, I just,
I don't know,
I can't believe they're here.
- Uh, well, do you
wanna go see them?
- Yeah. Uh... but like,
in... in the dark?
Nope.
Let's go.
- So sweet.
- But the thing comes
right down.
- That is so romantic.
- Lands in the nest.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- I'm so sorry. You were right.
I didn't get it.
Here.
Open it.
In the spirit of being part
of the town,
instead of taking over,
every existing structure
on the land we bought
is being saved.
They'll be rescued,
brick by brick,
incorporated into
the new building.
I know it isn't everything,
but it's a start.
Incorporating
the history of the town.
I wanted to share it with you.
Is it crazy for me to say
that I missed the town already?
And you.
- No.
- If you don't wanna sign
the quitclaim, now or ever,
it's okay.
I will figure something out.
I have heard of this new
and improved 11-year plan.
And I don't mind working
on a parking structure
in Atlanta.
I just want to keep going on...
adventures with you.
On the polar plunge.
Or have you throw
cinnamon at me.
Or carve radishes.
- Sorry,
all this talk of time management
and it's taken us
way too long to kiss.
I agree.
- Of course I'll sign over
the land deed.
I'm sorry.
At first, I was just stubborn,
and then, I think later,
I just didn't want you to leave.
What time is it?
- Almost eight.
- Hmm. So, we have
some cushion before midnight.
I know a notary
who's open on Christmas Eve.
Difuze