ANNALISE ASSISTANT BOARD_MEMBER BOTH CHILD EMPLOYEES ENGINEER EVAN GRACE JAYNE JESSIE JOHN KIDS LORENZO MAITRE_D MARISSA NICOLE PASSERBY PRESIDENT SANTA SCOTT SHELBY SHERMAN TEACHER TOGETHER SHELBY Far, far away at the very top of the North Pole, right next to Santa's Village lives a very special man, his name is the Christmas Prince, the magical ruler of the North Pole. Every day, the Christmas Prince, he tours the North Pole, granting wishes for the reindeer and the elves and even Santa and Mrs. Claus and at the end of the day, he heads to his palace to make hot chocolate with peppermint sticks and when he's finished, he invites Santa and Mrs. Claus and all the elves to a Christmas tea in his royal dining room to thank them for all their hard work for making toys. And after they've eaten and drank their fill, he hooks up his beautiful, white horse, Snowball and takes them on a merry ride around Santa's village in his royal carriage. GRACE Tell them about the wishes he granted to the elves, Mommy. SHELBY Well, one elf got a sweater knitted from the hair of the Abominable Snowman. KIDS Whoa! SHELBY But here's the really special thing about the Christmas Prince, he was so good at spreading joy, Santa gave him a new job. Each year, during the Christmas season, the Christmas Prince would choose one boy or girl to be his king or queen and that lucky boy or girl gets 12 wishes, one for each day leading up to Christmas. SHERMAN How come my mom and dad never told me about this guy? SHELBY Not everybody knows about the Christmas Prince, just my family, my dad told me about him, my grandpa told my dad and my great grandpa told my grandpa. TEACHER Okay, kids, Story Time is done for today. Tomorrow, Sherman's mom's coming to read Sherman's favorite Christmas book. But for now, Miss Shelby has to be getting to work. GRACE My mom builds rockets, so they can answer all the questions of the universe. TEACHER Let's say thank you to Grace's mom for coming to Parent Story Time. KIDS Thank you. SHELBY You're welcome. All right, Princess, bye, muah! GRACE Bye, Mommy. SHELBY Bye. ENGINEER 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, zero, lift off. SHELBY Whoo! LORENZO Yes! SHELBY Whoo hoo hoo! LORENZO We did it! SHELBY We did it! SHELBY Oh! LORENZO Oh! SHELBY Oh! LORENZO A toast. SHELBY Yes. LORENZO To the culmination of seven years and to the best supervisor in history. SHELBY And to one of the best rocket engineers I have ever worked with. LORENZO That feels good. Oh, and to our fearless leader, Dr. Spock called the worst director in history. SHELBY Finally emerged from the Vulcan Cave, I see. LORENZO You know, I'm still not sure if he even knows my first name. SHELBY You've been working here for four years, how is that even possible? LORENZO Same reason he doesn't know you're a single mom, I guess. SHELBY It's almost kind of impressive how he can consistently be so oblivious. LORENZO That's his superpower clearly. SCOTT The Board is very happy about this launch. EVAN Thank you, Scott, frankly, I was a little worried, when you said you wanted to speak with me today. SCOTT Actually, I was easing my way into this next part. Can we talk in your office? EVAN Ah, okay, yeah. SCOTT Bottom line, the Board is concerned about your performance. EVAN But you just said SCOTT It's not your technical skills that are the problem, it's your management. EVAN I see. SCOTT Losing three key players in the last six months is way above norm and they all cite you SCOTT as the reason for leaving. EVAN I understand that SCOTT Look, the point is, we can't afford to lose any more people. The Board's concerned you're gonna fall behind on this next phase and if we miss the window for the deployment of the solar array. EVAN I understand, it will cost us millions. It won't be a problem, I'll make sure that everyone puts in some extra hours. SCOTT Don't push so hard and if you lose any more employees, you're headed for review. EVAN I didn't realize it was that dire. SCOTT Look, I personally love the fact, that you don't have a life, but it might be good for you to remember that some of your employees do. EVAN Okay. SCOTT And try to have a little fun. All right, next is Mars. SHELBY Yay! You did it on your own this year, you are growing so fast. GRACE That's what Daddy always used to say. SHELBY He did say that, didn't he? Hm, what do you think? GRACE Hm. A couple more ornaments maybe? SHELBY Okay. How was school today? GRACE Sherman told me he didn't think the Christmas Prince was real. SHELBY Well, Sherman doesn't know everything. GRACE I know. All my friends like the Christmas Prince story better than any of the other stories the other moms and dads told for Story Time. SHELBY I'm glad, love bug, that makes me happy. Okay, snuggle in. GRACE Mommy, is the Christmas Prince real? SHELBY He is if you believe in him. GRACE But how would I know him, you know, if I saw him? SHELBY Well, he is tall, dark and very handsome and most of all, the Prince has a little mark on his hand right here, where Rudolph kissed him when he was a baby. GRACE Wow, that's cool. SHELBY I know. Okay, are you snug as a bug? GRACE Yep. One kiss? SHELBY Muah! GRACE Two kiss? SHELBY Muah, muah! GRACE Three kiss? SHELBY Muah, muah, muah! GRACE Four kiss? SHELBY Muah, muah, muah, muah! GRACE And. SHELBY Last kiss. Muah! Sleep tight, love bug. GRACE Night, Mommy. Christmas Prince, it's me, Grace. I wanted to ask you a favor. See, it's been a really hard year. Sherman bugs me and since I moved schools, I still don't have a lot of friends, but most of all, I really, really miss my daddy. So it would be really nice, if you could make me your queen this year, please. NICOLE Hey! SHELBY Hey! NICOLE You saved my life. The boss is tightening the screws. SHELBY Oh, that's unusual. Right? I owe you like 123 pickups. NICOLE 124, not that I'm counting. Oh, hey, heads up, Grace was a little outta sorts, SHELBY when I picked her up today. What happened? Hi, honey. NICOLE The school announced that they're having the annual Christmas Dance when we bring the whole family. SHELBY Perfect. What are you gonna do? NICOLE Luckily my brother said he'd come, so that helps. SHELBY Sometimes I really wonder why I moved away from my family. NICOLE Hey, you have me and the group, what more could a gal want? SHELBY True and speaking of the group, Toy Drive wrapping tonight? NICOLE Yep. Jessie, we gotta go, hun. NICOLE Six o'clock at my place. SHELBY Okay, I'll be there. NICOLE All right, bye. SHELBY Bye, guys. You're gonna have to stay in the break room and play on your iPad, okay? GRACE Okay. SHELBY My boss is sort of a Grumpus, remember? So no coming out. GRACE Okay. SHELBY Hey, Nicole said that you were worried about that Christmas Dance. GRACE Kinda. SHELBY Well, you know, some families only have a couple of people and that's okay, right? Not everybody has a big family. GRACE I know, just not anyone in my school. SHELBY Don't worry, I'm gonna make this the best Christmas ever, I promise. SHELBY Okay? GRACE Okay. SHELBY Love you, love bug. GRACE Bye. SHELBY Bye. EVAN Ah, excuse me, everyone. I I have an announcement. As we all know, a successful launch, while positive is hardly a time to run a victory life. LORENZO He's gonna ask us to work on Christmas. SHELBY No, he's not, even for him, that's just EVAN I understand it's the holiday season, but since we are slightly understaffed, we are all going to have to put in some extra hours SHELBY to hit our target date No, no, no. SHELBY Please don't say it. EVAN For the next phase. SHELBY You really don't, really don't have to say it. EVAN So everyone should expect to work a full day on Christmas Eve and if necessary, a half day on Christmas. SHELBY Are you crazy? LORENZO She doesn't mean that. SHELBY No, no, that is exactly what I mean. People have families and problems. LORENZO And in the spirit of this happy season, let's all take a deep breath and EVAN And just be happy, huh? So Merry Christmas Time and thank you for understanding and listening. SHELBY That's it, he's leaving? You're just leaving? EVAN I'm, I'm sorry you find this so distressing, but this is not a normal job. We are rocket engineers, scientists. SHELBY Which is why I work weekends, over time and more holidays than I can care to remember. EVAN Well then, you understand the importance of sacrifice, even on Christmas and if you don't like it, then you can just SHELBY What? Quit? EVAN If you insist on being so inflexible, then SHELBY Inflexible? I'm the one who's inflexible? That's it, I am out of here. EVAN This is very inappropriate. SHELBY Inappropriate? You're the one who's inappropriate with your Merry Christmas work on Christmas, because I'm a rocking engineer speech. Why do you think people are dropping like flies around here? I need a box. LORENZO Shelby, please don't go. SHELBY Does anybody have a box? LORENZO Don't help. SHELBY Thank you. EVAN You're making a scene. SHELBY I realize that. And... That is all I have to say. GRACE Mommy, my iPad isn't working. SHELBY Honey, we are leaving. GRACE You came, you came. EVAN Ah. GRACE I knew you'd come. EVAN Hm. SHELBY Grace, stop hugging the nice man. GRACE He's not the nice man, he's the Christmas Prince. SHELBY Honey. EVAN The what? SHELBY He's my boss, he is not the Christmas Prince. GRACE He is too. Look, he has a reindeer kiss burn mark. This is gonna be the best Christmas ever. ANNALISE She thinks you're who? EVAN The Christmas Prince, whatever that is, very odd. ANNALISE So what's the plan, genius? EVAN You know, I hate it when you call me that. ANNALISE Fine, what's the plan, brainiac? EVAN I don't have one, only I can't let her quit. ANNALISE I thought she did quit. EVAN She did, although I'm surprised I noticed with her daughter clinging to my pant leg like she was. ANNALISE Have you told your boss any of this? EVAN Not yet. ANNALISE Good, then all you have to do is butter her up, get her back before you get booted. EVAN Butter her up? I may be wrong, but I don't think I'm skilled at buttering up anyone. ANNALISE Then you'd better learn quick. EVAN You do revel in torturing me, don't you? ANNALISE I'm your sister, it's my job. EVAN It's probably too late anyway, she probably had it worked out to the finest detail. No one quits without a backup plan. ANNALISE Hm, you'd be surprised. SHELBY I don't know what I'm gonna do. The one thing I do know is that I made a complete idiot of myself in front of my entire team. NICOLE What happened? SHELBY Please, I don't wanna relive it. The point is, I can't not just have a job, especially now, it's Christmas. MARISSA Well, what about that other job you applied to at Skyrocket a while ago? NICOLE Oh yeah, you said that was your dream job. SHELBY Well, it wasn't really a serious application and landing a job like that is next to impossible. Besides, I love my work, it's Evan I can't stand. NICOLE Oh, which still isn't a terrible reason to take a new job. SHELBY Skyrocket's in California, besides, Grace has had a hard enough time changing schools in the same district, let alone moving to a different state. NICOLE And then she'd have to make all new friends. MARISSA And you wouldn't have all of us. SHELBY I don't have the Skyrocket job anyway. NICOLE Okay, okay, let's remember our number one rule. TOGETHER One thing at a time. NICOLE What are you gonna do about this whole Christmas Prince thing? SHELBY Well, I mean, I can't tell Grace the Christmas Prince isn't, you know, real. JAYNE What is the Christmas Prince anyway? SHELBY It's this story that has been in our family for years and it's Grace's favorite Christmas thing. MARISSA No, no, danger. SHELBY I know, right and the worst part is the Prince's magical powers have grown every year. JAYNE I know your pain, our Christmas elf went from showing up in a new room every morning to arriving with a gift, then it was arriving with a gift and a poem and then it was a clue to some elaborate scavenger hunt to find the elf, the gift and the poem and this happens every single day until Christmas. NICOLE So what are you gonna do? SHELBY Well, I'm not gonna ask my boss to be the Christmas Prince, that's for sure. Okay, no, I am not gonna do that. He wouldn't even do it, trust me. NICOLE I don't know, too bad you don't have some dirt on him. JAYNE Oh, yeah, you could blackmail him into being the Christmas Prince. NICOLE Solved it. Blackmail it is. SHELBY Wait a minute, that actually is the perfect solution. EVAN So you're blackmailing me? SHELBY Think of it more as a symbiotic bargain. I won't quit if you play the role of the Christmas Prince. EVAN Who is magical and grants every single wish your daughter comes up with. SHELBY In a nutshell, yes. EVAN I have a counter offer. Okay, there are professionals that do this kind of thing. Okay, so you don't quit and I will cover the cost for you to hire a pro. SHELBY No, it has to be you. EVAN Why? Look, I I am not good with children. Heck, I wasn't good at being a child myself. SHELBY It's because you have that on your hand. EVAN What, my birthmark? SHELBY It's the mark left when Rudolph kissed the baby Prince. EVAN Rudolph? SHELBY Rudolph. EVAN Why would you keep up such a ludicrous facade? SHELBY Well, excuse me, for trying to keep the magic alive for my daughter, goodness knows, she'll get her innocence knocked right out of her soon enough. EVAN I just don't understand why parents keep up SHELBY You don't have to understand. Do you want the deal or not? EVAN Um, what type of wishes are we talking about? SHELBY I will take care of that, nothing too outrageous. If you don't wanna be the Christmas Prince for Grace, then ask yourself this, do you really wanna gamble on losing another employee right now? NICOLE So Egon the Terrible is actually going to be the Christmas Prince? SHELBY Strange, but apparently true. NICOLE How is he gonna pull off 12 wishes? SHELBY Oh, please don't say that out loud. NICOLE What, you're the one who came up with it. SHELBY Don't say that out loud either. NICOLE So what's the plan? SHELBY I'll have a talk with Grace. Maybe I can get her down to one or two wishes. SHERMAN The Christmas Prince isn't real. GRACE You don't know what you're talking about, Sherman. NICOLE Oh oh, looks like we've got a showdown in the yard. GRACE It is too and I am so going to be the Christmas Princess Queen this year. SHERMAN I don't believe you. JESSIE You're gonna feel like a dumb dumb, when he grants all of Grace's wishes and you only get stuff from Santa Claus. NICOLE Don't say dumb dumb, Jess, it's not polite. GRACE But Sherman said the Christmas Prince isn't real again. SHELBY Grace, let's not fight with our friends. Sometimes they believe in different things SHELBY and it doesn't make GRACE But you're the one, who says Sherman doesn't know everything. SHELBY Well, I might have mentioned something like that, SHELBY but I didn't mean it. SHERMAN Even if he is real, you're probably gonna ask for something easy, so that your mom can make it come true. GRACE Oh yeah, wanna see my list? SHELBY Grace, no, no, now is not the time to do SHERMAN Whoa, you're gonna get a pony to live in your closet? LORENZO Wow, Grace really brought out the big guns, huh? SHELBY Pony is the least of my concern. Evan's gonna be the Christmas Prince. LORENZO You're right, the pony is the least of your concerns. SHELBY I know, it's bad. LORENZO He's actually doing it? SHELBY He'd better. EVAN Morning. SHELBY Yes, it is. LORENZO Good chat, gotta work. SHELBY So you take cream, huh? EVAN Is there a reason I shouldn't? SHELBY No, no, no, no, I was, I was just noticing. EVAN Did you want something? SHELBY Actually, yes. Would you mind if I get you a cup of coffee? A good one. EVAN Okay, "Watch a Christmas movie with Santa and the elves. A giant size gingerbread house to play in. A pony to live in my closet. A grand piano. A ride with Snowball?" Who, who's Snowball? SHELBY You know, the horse that pulls your Christmas carriage. The elves love it. EVAN Why would you put something like that in a story? SHELBY I don't know, it sounded good when I made it up. EVAN And the list goes on, "Make a snowman come to life. Kiss a reindeer." Ah huh. "First prize at the most Christmassy house." What? SHELBY Our block has this thing, the Williams, they have won 20 years in a row, so that, that one might be a little tricky. EVAN Oh, okay and top it all off with, "Tea at La Maison." SHELBY That last one shouldn't be too hard. EVAN If you're the President or an A list celebrity. SHELBY No reason to be hyperbolic. EVAN No one gets a reservation there. SHELBY Like they say in my group, let's just focus on one thing at a time. EVAN Which practically speaking means what? SHELBY If you're gonna play the role of the Christmas Prince, you have got to lose the pocket protector vibe. EVAN I like my pocket protector, it keeps pen marks off my shirt. SHELBY Well, the Christmas Prince doesn't wear one. EVAN How would you know? He is not real. SHELBY Well, he is now and you're him. EVAN Meaning what exactly? SHELBY Sorry, I might be a little late picking up Grace. NICOLE Oh, that's okay. EVAN Absolutely not. SHELBY Hold on, Nicole. Why not? EVAN Um, I don't know, maybe because I'm not accustomed to wearing jingle bells. SHELBY I'm sorry, I actually was kidding. Here, try this. NICOLE So how's My Fair Scrooge's makeover coming? SHELBY About as bad as you might expect. NICOLE Oh, I wish I could be a fly on the wall. SHELBY Why of all people in the universe did Grace choose Evan for this job? NICOLE Hey, maybe he is the Christmas Prince. I mean, what are the chances he would have a reindeer kiss on his wrist? SHELBY It's a birthmark, Nicole and I am too stressed for sarcasm. I gotta go. That'll be fine. Now all we have to do is make sure that Grace's list is a little more manageable. ANNALISE Wow, very Prince Harry ish, Ev, I didn't know you had it in you. EVAN This sweater was $200. ANNALISE So? EVAN Who pays $200 for a sweater? ANNALISE It's obviously cashmere and you can more than afford it. EVAN Well, that doesn't change the fact, that it is completely impractical. Look at this, it's dry cleaning only, who buys something that you can't wash? ANNALISE Everyone in the universe except you obviously. Just roll with it. EVAN I don't see how, this entire charade is ridiculous on many levels, least of which it is very unlikely, that I can convince a child, that I am anything other than what I am. ANNALISE I for one, think it will be good for you. EVAN Why? ANNALISE It'll help you get in touch with your inner child. EVAN I never had an inner child to begin with. ANNALISE True, you were the only kid I'd ever heard of, ANNALISE who hated recess. EVAN Never saw the point of it. ANNALISE It's called fun, I highly recommend it. EVAN Yeah, well, that's easy for you to say and you've always been comfortable around everyone. I'm not hardwired like that. ANNALISE You just need a little loosening up, that's all and you're gonna rock it. ANNALISE You're in good hands. EVAN Meaning what exactly? ANNALISE I don't know, just that Shelby is not only brilliant and accomplished, but she's also very pretty. EVAN I never noticed. ANNALISE Well, maybe you should. EVAN Okay, I'm going back to work. ANNALISE Bye. GRACE Frosty, thanks, Mommy. SHELBY You're very welcome. GRACE I still have one wish left to figure out, I can't decide between a sleepover or 100 more wishes. SHELBY A sleepover sounds much more fun. GRACE Yeah, I guess you're right, sleepover. SHELBY You know, maybe we should make your wishes a little less ambitious? GRACE What does that mean? SHELBY Well, remember how we talked about asking Santa for things? GRACE Yeah. SHELBY What did we say? GRACE That it's not polite to ask for too many big things, 'cause Santa has lots of presents to give out. SHELBY That's right and it's exactly the same thing with the Christmas Prince and wishes. GRACE But doesn't the Christmas Prince only have one person to give wishes for? SHELBY Yes. GRACE So then we have nothing to worry about. SHELBY That is true, but you wouldn't want the Christmas Prince to think you're greedy, you know? GRACE Hm, okay, then I'll cross off the pony, then I'll get the Christmas Prince to help with your group's Toy Drive for needy children and then I'll keep the rest of the wishes just the way they are. EVAN I thought you said you were going to manage the wishes. SHELBY At least we don't have to come up with a pony. EVAN Don't try and spin this positive. SHELBY You didn't let me finish. I talked Grace out of kissing a reindeer and making a snowman come alive, that would've been tough. EVAN I still have to come up with 12 wishes. SHELBY No, I convinced her that you were super slammed with royal business during the week, so instead of 12 wishes, you only have eight. EVAN Where did that number come from? SHELBY Well, you're doing royal stuff during Monday through Friday, which just leaves us three weekends until Christmas, add two wishes per weekend. EVAN It's been a relatively long time, since I solved a word problem, but I'm pretty sure that's six wishes. SHELBY I threw in a couple for good behavior, she's been brushing her teeth for two minutes now. EVAN And that buys two wishes? SHELBY Two minutes of teeth brushing is a really big deal for a seven year old. EVAN Why am I attempting to speak in logical terms? I mean, this whole thing is insanity. SHELBY Anyways, your first wish is really, really easy. You can, you know, kind of work your way into the role. EVAN Okay, well, what's my first wish? SHELBY A Christmas themed sleepover with Grace's friends. EVAN You want me to sleep over with children? SHELBY No, no. EVAN Okay. SHELBY You're just meeting them, you know. EVAN Okay. SHELBY So that Grace can introduce you and show everyone what a kind, generous and fun Prince you are. EVAN Okay, when is this Christmas sleepover supposed to happen? SHELBY Tonight. EVAN What? SHELBY It'll be over in no time. Oh, my gosh, oh, my gosh, are you okay? Calm down, calm down. Okay, look, just introduce yourself, maybe answer a quick question or two and you'll be done. Easy peasy. EVAN Huh. EVAN I did tell you I wasn't good with children, didn't I? SHELBY I think you might have mentioned that. EVAN Yeah, I can't do this. SHELBY Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, you can, you can, I am here to help. EVAN How? SHELBY I, well, I'm not exactly sure, but EVAN No, no, no, no, no, that's it, I can't do this, I really can't do this, okay, I am the last person in the world that can do this. SHELBY Don't you think I know that? EVAN Good, okay, then tell Grace that I got sick for the year EVAN or or something. SHELBY No, no. You are the Christmas Prince, this is a wish and you do not have a choice. EVAN I have a choice, okay and I'm choosing not to do this. SHELBY Yes, you are, my daughter has had a hard life and I am not gonna let her down just because you EVAN Oh, my goodness! SHELBY Oh! EVAN Did she see me? SHELBY Yep, she's, she's coming out here. SHELBY Get down, smile. EVAN No. SHELBY Come on, stop it. Smile like a good Prince. EVAN I have no idea what a good Prince smiles like. GRACE Christmas Prince you came! My friends can't wait to meet you. EVAN Wonderful. GRACE’S FRIEND How did you get to be Santa's best friend? EVAN Well, that is a, a very good question. JESSIE What do elves like to eat? EVAN You you mean the the little people with the the pointy GRACE’S FRIEND Why don't you have a Christmas Princess? SHELBY Okay, girls, let's not ask the Christmas Prince all of our questions at once. GRACE I know, tell us a story. EVAN A a story? GRACE The Christmas Prince is the best storyteller of the whole North Pole. EVAN A actually, the the North Pole's population is is pretty low, so I'm not really GRACE Tell us the one about you and the elves, I love that story, it's really funny, but then it gets sad and there's a surprise twist at the end and you'll never guess. SHELBY You know, Christmas Prince, once upon a time. EVAN Right, yes, once upon a time. SHELBY A week before Christmas. EVAN Yes. SHELBY The elves were running behind on their toy making, because GRACE Mommy, let the Christmas Prince tell it. EVAN Okay, um, once upon a time, a a week before Christmas, the elves were off schedule with their, ah, toy manufacturing. GRACE Tell them why. EVAN Because there was a, ah, reindeer plague. Then Santa Claus, he um, passed the legislation with a protracted court battle and Godzilla moved out. The end. That was the single most humiliating thing of my life. SHELBY It was worse watching it. EVAN You're welcome very much. SHELBY I'm sorry, but Godzilla living at the North Pole? EVAN It was the only story I can remember. SHELBY This isn't gonna work. EVAN That is exactly what I was trying to tell you. SHELBY Well, what am I gonna tell Grace? EVAN Anything that doesn't involve me. GRACE Christmas Prince, Christmas Prince, I didn't get to say goodbye, my friends love you, they think you're really funny. EVAN Oh, um, w well, good, I I suppose. GRACE I made you this. EVAN Is this me and and you? GRACE Ah huh, I made you very handsome and see, I made your eyes brown just like mine. EVAN But we're we're holding hands. GRACE Do you like it? EVAN I do very much. GRACE Good, because I've decided to change one of my wishes, I want you guys to go on a real life date. LORENZO Are you kidding me right now? You're going on a date with Mr. Spock? SHELBY It's not funny. LORENZO I'm nominating you for Best Mother of the Year Award. This is, this is beyond the pale. SHELBY I knew I can count on you to make me feel worse. LORENZO Can you video it? I wanna put it on my Insta Story. SHELBY It's not funny! LORENZO Okay, okay. But it kind of is. SHELBY Stop. LORENZO If it's that bad, can't you just talk her out of it? SHELBY No, not now, he's the Christmas Prince and he has chosen her. LORENZO Meaning? SHELBY The Christmas Prince is a huge deal, to her, the Christmas Prince is the biggest A list celebrity of all times and if we were up to Grace, she would want me to marry the Christmas Prince. LORENZO Let's not even go there. SHELBY Good idea. So. EVAN I guess, I see you have carrots. SHELBY Yep, I have carrots. EVAN Do you eat carrots often? SHELBY So have you always wanted to be a rocket scientist? EVAN Ah, yes, as a young boy, my father used to spin stories about the stars and constellations and I've been fascinated ever since. You? SHELBY I guess I always wanted to answer questions about the universe that people have asked for centuries. Not many people get to do stuff like that. EVAN I absolutely agree. I feel very lucky to have a profession that I love so much, even if the managing portion is challenging. SHELBY Really, why is that, if you don't mind me asking? EVAN Well, it's a bit difficult to connect, when your moniker is Dr. Spock. It's not unwarranted, rubbing elbows with employees never really interested me. SHELBY So you just don't care? EVAN No, I didn't say that. It's just that some people aren't comfortable being, I don't know, social butterflies. SHELBY Okay, fine, but you really could try. EVAN How? SHELBY Engage, do something for your employees, ask about their lives, tell them you appreciate them. Just don't hide in your office 24/7. EVAN Okay, I get it, yeah, thanks. SHELBY Well, SHELBY this is EVAN Excruciating. SHELBY I was gonna say interesting, but I mean, you know, I'm just trying to make the best of it. EVAN Can we just pretend that we went on a date and just leave? SHELBY If we say we are going on a date, we are going on a date, I don't lie to my daughter. EVAN This entire thing is a lie. SHELBY Not really, it's a Santa lie. EVAN What's that? SHELBY When you make something up to make your kid's life more magical. EVAN If I was a parent, I wouldn't fill my kid's head with fantasies. SHELBY That is exactly what your father did, you wouldn't be who you are, if he didn't fill your head with fantasies. EVAN Well, that may be, but this entire ruse with Grace is excessive. I really don't understand why you keep on going so far with SHELBY If you really wanna know, Grace has had a very hard life. EVAN Okay, you keep saying that, but how hard could it be? EVAN She's eight. Her father died, when she was five. SHELBY That was kind of hard, okay. EVAN Ah, I I'm sorry, I I didn't know. SHELBY Why would you, you only authorized my bereavement leave? EVAN I don't remember that. SHELBY You didn't even ask who died. Maybe we should go. EVAN Of course. Excuse me, I'll take the check please. SHELBY It was bad. LORENZO It hurts my teeth just thinking about it. SHELBY And we have four wishes left. LORENZO Well, what's next? SHELBY We're driving to La Maison this afternoon to beg the maître d' for a table for their Christmas Tea. LORENZO Are you kidding? That place is impossible to get into. I mean, good luck with that. EVAN Let me talk to him. SHELBY No, let me, EVAN An old colleague of mine has connections, he's already spoken with the maitre d'. SHELBY Fine, but I'm better with people and I can handle MAITRE D May I help you? BOTH Yes. EVAN Ah, Eric Grunewald told you I'd be coming, EVAN my name is Evan McCormick. MAITRE D About a reservation for our Christmas Tea tomorrow, I believe? EVAN Yes, about 4:30 works very nicely for us. MAITRE D I'm sorry, sir, but we're completely booked. EVAN There must be something that you can do. MAITRE D I'm afraid not, as I said, sir, we're completely booked. EVAN Yes, you've already said that, but MAITRE D Would you like to see tomorrow's seating chart? EVAN Yes, that is an excellent idea. I have a solution, simply move this table of five here and these tables of two and three to these corners here and that will open up plenty of room for a table of two, we'll take that. MAITRE D Sir, at the risk of being redundant. SHELBY What was your name? MAITRE D George. SHELBY George, do you think you can give us one itsy bitsy second? Just let me handle this. EVAN I don't know what you can possibly do, that man is clearly unreasonable. SHELBY Just let me handle this. EVAN Okay, but if you just listen to what SHELBY Just, just, just don't talk. EVAN Okay. SHELBY George, would it be possible for you and I to have a quick moment? It'll be super duper fast. MAITRE D If you can assure me that it will be super duper fast, I'm about to take my lunch. MAITRE D Promise me you'll have your Aunt Alma call, you have my number. SHELBY I do and don't forget about New Year's Eve, my house, eight, heavy hors d'oeuvres. MAITRE D Please, won't you let me bring something? SHELBY No, no, just yourself. EVAN Hello, sir, we look forward to seeing you tomorrow at our Christmas Tea, I'll be sure to give Grace our best table. SHELBY Shall we get back to work now? EVAN What did you do to him? SHELBY I was just asking him questions, that's all. EVAN You got an impossible to get reservation by just asking questions? SHELBY It's not about getting something, it's about getting to know someone, you know? EVAN Actually, I don't know. SHELBY It's simple, once someone feels like you're really listening, they'll usually show you their chewy center, no matter how hard the shelling, once you get that. EVAN Chewy center? Which one? ANNALISE Hm, you know what? You should actually wear your gray suit. EVAN All right and a tie? I only own three, I'm, I'm not sure what they go with. ANNALISE Evan, it's tea with a seven year old. EVAN And and what kind of questions do I ask? ANNALISE It's not an interview, Ev, just, you know, be in the moment. EVAN Okay, but but like what if I'm trying to get where she's coming from, you know? ANNALISE Wow, you're really starting to care about this little girl, aren't you? EVAN No, no, I I didn't say that. It's just that her and her mom have had a, a difficult time and I feel compelled to make them feel better, although I'm not quite sure how. ANNALISE You've got a huge heart, Ev, why don't you just try and let them see that? I think the rest will work itself out. GRACE That's him, that's him, that's the Christmas Prince! Hi. EVAN Um, you look fancy. GRACE Thank you, so do you, only you look handsome. EVAN Are are you ready for tea? GRACE Ah huh. SHELBY Now remember, this is a very nice tea, so be sure to use your best manners. GRACE Don't worry, Mommy, I will. I've never had a real grown up tea before, have you? EVAN Actually, I haven't. SHELBY I'll be right here, honey. GRACE Okay, Mommy. The Christmas music is so pretty, isn't it? EVAN It is lovely. GRACE I've been wanting to learn how to play a piano for years and years. EVAN Have you? GRACE Ah huh, I want to take lessons, so I can learn how to play Christmas songs just like this. Daddy used to like Christmas songs a lot. MAITRE D Good afternoon, miss, may I present our tea? We have a selection of Christmas inspired scones and pastries and of course, our world famous finger sandwiches. GRACE Thank you very much, sir. MAITRE D You are quite welcome, miss and please say hello to your mother for me. GRACE He's nice, isn't he? EVAN Very. GRACE I have a question. EVAN All right. GRACE What do you do when you're not granting wishes or visiting Santa? EVAN Well, I do enjoy looking up at the stars. GRACE So does Mommy. I bet the stars are super bright at the North Pole. EVAN Yes, I I suppose they are. GRACE Mommy says they're filled with stories, could you tell me one? EVAN I, um, I'm not sure I know a story. GRACE Oh. EVAN Although have you heard the one about Pegasus? GRACE What's a Pegasus? EVAN A flying horse. GRACE Cool. EVAN The Pegasus belonged to Poseidon, God of the sea, earthquakes and storms and one day, on one of his special missions, Poseidon was in trouble, so he whistled and he called for Pegasus and he came flying out of the ocean, he saved him. Shall we? SHELBY Suddenly, this whole thing just feels weird. NICOLE I don't get it, he's fulfilling all the wishes, that's what you wanted, right? SHELBY I know, but the whole reason I don't date is so that Grace doesn't have to deal with another man in her life. NICOLE Okay, but she's the one going for tea, not you, so. SHELBY So you should just see the way she lights up, when she's around Evan. NICOLE What are you afraid of? SHELBY What if Grace gets her heart broken a second time? NICOLE Then I guess you'll just have to pick up the pieces all over again. GRACE One more question. EVAN All right. GRACE Why don't you have a Princess? EVAN Well, it's not always easy to find a Princess sometimes. GRACE I think it's hard for my mom to find somebody too. EVAN Why is that? GRACE Well, Mommy doesn't even date and she promised me, that she'd never get married again. EVAN I see. GRACE But I never even asked her to make the promise in the first place. Everyone needs someone to love them the best, don't you think? EVAN You are a very smart young lady, Grace. GRACE Thanks. There's Mommy, hi, Mommy! SHELBY Hi, love bug, did you have fun? GRACE I had the best time ever. EVAN Yes, I believe we did have the best time ever. SHELBY That's great. Did you say thank you? GRACE Thank you, you're the best Christmas Prince ever. SHELBY Thanks. EVAN My pleasure. SHELBY Come on. LORENZO I mean, it sounds like the tea was a big success. SHELBY It was all Grace would talk about this morning and about Evan. LORENZO Stop talking. SHELBY I know and when he brought her back, I, I can't describe it, but he actually was sort of charming. LORENZO What? SHELBY I know, this, this whole thing is, it's it's a little unnerving. LORENZO Yeah, no kidding. SHELBY Do you think he could actually be good for Grace? LORENZO I mean, even Spock was half human. Hang on. Look, these numbers can't be right. SHELBY Looks like the satellite is drifting. Let's get Evan in here. EVAN So you're saying we still have a chance to correct it? SHELBY We think so, but we're gonna need to run a couple of simulations. LORENZO And we need to do it now. SHELBY It's gonna be a long night. LORENZO I gotta make a call. SHELBY You have tickets to that midnight showing of "It's a Wonderful Life," don't you? LORENZO I I mean, yeah, but I mean, this is really important. EVAN No, we could handle it, can't we, Shelby? SHELBY Ah, sure. EVAN Good, it's settled then. LORENZO Okay, thank you. SHELBY Now, now that should be, it. Now all we have to do is run the simulator, it should take an hour or two. I think I'm gonna grab a coffee and head to the roof. Do you wanna join me? EVAN Sure. Shelby, what's it like being a, a single mom? SHELBY It can be a little tricky sometimes, being both Mom and Dad. EVAN Does it ever get lonely? SHELBY Sometimes, but I have Grace and my group. EVAN Your your group? SHELBY Yeah, it takes a village. It's a parent support group I formed after my husband passed. EVAN You formed a support group? SHELBY Well, my family was halfway across the country and I didn't wanna quit here, 'cause I have worked hard on that mission. I looked around, but I just couldn't find anything for single parents, so. EVAN So you created your own solution? SHELBY I guess so. EVAN Shelby? SHELBY Yes? EVAN I don't believe I ever told you, but I think you are an extraordinary engineer and I really do appreciate all your hard work. Like tonight, for example, you're amazing. SHELBY It's my job. Besides, you're the one going the extra mile for me with this whole Christmas Prince thing, so. EVAN Well, you did blackmail me, so. SHELBY Did you just make a joke? EVAN How'd I do? SHELBY It was clever. EVAN Hey. SHELBY It looks like the torque rods and the thrusters are gonna be our solution. EVAN Perfect, that, that's great news. SHELBY I can make the adjustments from here on out, no need to stay. EVAN Okay, I'll see you tomorrow afternoon then and and please don't hurry in, you should get some rest. SHELBY Thanks, Evan, you too. EVAN I'll be fine. I guess I'll leave you to it then. Hey, Shelby, something's been bothering me. I was wrong not to say anything about your husband and although it's belated, I want you to know, that I'm truly sorry for your loss. SHELBY Thanks, Evan, I appreciate that. LORENZO Something's wrong. SHELBY Everything was fine before I left, why didn't you call me? LORENZO It's not the satellite, you're never gonna believe it. Come on. I think it's some sort of Christmas party. SHELBY Was this Evan's idea? LORENZO Yep. SHELBY Oh! LORENZO Are we all about to get fired? SHELBY No. I think he's trying. EVAN Cookie? It's a reindeer, I decorated it myself. Have a snowman instead. SHELBY You made a Christmas party? EVAN I hadn't thought of it exactly that way, but I'm glad you think so. LORENZO They're good. EVAN Oh and speaking of Christmas, I have to make an announcement. Can I have everyone's attention please? As Shelby here pointed out on a previous date, many of you have family obligations during this season and well, in keeping with that idea, just this morning, I spoke with two young, excellent candidates out of Cape Canaveral, they're gonna join the team and help us with the solar array, which in turn will allow us to push through the next phase in a timely manner. Working on Christmas and Christmas Eve will no longer be necessary. EMPLOYEES Wow! EVAN So I hope that helps and Merry Christmas. SHELBY This is great news. LORENZO Really good news. EVAN So what's next on Grace's wish list? SHELBY Well, the piano wish is still left, which is a little rough, I checked, grand pianos start at around 20 grand. EVAN I think I have an idea, can I bring it over tonight? SHELBY Yeah. EVAN Okay. SHELBY But how are you gonna, oh! EVAN Oh, sorry, can you? SHELBY Oh! EVAN Thank you. I just gotta take this in my office, just one minute. Hi, Scott, can you hold just one moment? Hey, sorry, Scott, please go ahead. SCOTT Evan, listen, I wanted to talk to you before you heard it from someone else. EVAN Heard what? SCOTT The situation's a little more advanced than I hoped. I'm afraid you're under review. EVAN I am? Does that mean I'm getting fired? SCOTT I really don't know, we're just gonna have to wait and see. EVAN Okay, well, thank you for letting me know, Scott. GRACE My tongue is getting kind of dry and yucky. SHELBY Addressing Christmas cards is not for the faint of heart. GRACE Who's that? SHELBY Let's go see. GRACE Hi, Christmas Prince. EVAN Hello, Grace. GRACE What's under your coat? EVAN One of your wishes. GRACE Really, what is it? EVAN Your piano. GRACE That's a piano? EVAN It is a piano, but it's not just any piano. You wanna hear the story? GRACE The elves made this? EVAN They did many, many years ago and like all of Santa's toys, it was very special. GRACE It was? EVAN Yes, see, this piano was meant to bring great joy to whoever was lucky enough to play it, but year by year, nobody wanted it. GRACE Why not? EVAN Well, some children thought it was too small, some wanted a grand piano and some wanted a piano made only of wood. So each year, this piano got passed by and it became more and more sad. GRACE It did? EVAN Yes, because more than anything, it just wanted to be played and enjoyed and to bring whoever was lucky enough to play it great? GRACE Joy? EVAN That's right, but it needed a special, little girl, a girl with a big, generous heart, the kind of girl that cared about others, who gave up her own wishes to help other people in things like toy drives. GRACE It was waiting for me? EVAN Yeah, that's exactly right, it waited all those years just for you and when you play it, you both can enjoy it the way it was always meant to be enjoyed. Ready? Okay. GRACE It's beautiful. EVAN Is she finally asleep? SHELBY I thought she was gonna be up all night on that magical elf piano of yours. EVAN I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin her bedtime. It is a school night. SHELBY I don't know how to say thank you. You've been wonderful. EVAN She's wonderful and I understand now why you would do anything for her. If you don't mind me asking, what was your husband like? SHELBY Well, he was larger than life for one. He was a big guy with a big laugh and even bigger personality. But the one thing I loved most about him was that he was so solid and dependable. I guess that's why it hurt so badly. EVAN What do you mean? SHELBY It just never occurred to me he'd leave. EVAN He left you? SHELBY Not intentionally, I, I know this doesn't make any sense. He was sick, it wasn't his fault and it just, I couldn't help feeling like, I don't know, like... He just abandoned us. Anyway, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to like get heavy SHELBY all of a sudden. EVAN No, no, no, no, I'm glad you feel like you can tell me. What kept you guys? You're late. GRACE Santa! SANTA Ho ho ho! I hear you'd like to watch a Christmas movie together? GRACE Yeah, I've got popcorn, come on, hurry. Wow, my own gingerbread house! MARISSA I still can't believe the whole Christmas Prince thing is almost over. NICOLE And that he's doing a good job. SHELBY That really is the most amazing part. It's almost too good to be true. MARISSA So what's left? SHELBY This Toy Drive, of course and the Christmas Dance. JAYNE I still think it's so cute, that Grace is using one of her wishes for the Toy Drive. NICOLE She's got a heart of gold, that one. SHELBY Exactly why I can't stand to break it, especially if we end up moving. NICOLE Wait, what? SHELBY Skyrocket called several times. I finally called them back. MARISSA And? SHELBY I got a job interview for next week and they already hinted that the job is mine, if I want it. NICOLE I thought you said that job was impossible to get. SHELBY They lost one of their key engineers. MARISSA Are you serious about taking it? SHELBY I should be, this is a great opportunity, but I'd have to start right away, it was one of their stipulations. NICOLE Well, right away as in when? SHELBY After the first of the year. NICOLE What are you gonna do? SHELBY I don't know, everything is just, it's going so fast, I don't know what to think. GRACE The Christmas Prince is coming to the Dance, I know he is. JESSIE What are you gonna wear? I don't know, probably something really pretty. GRACE Same. SHERMAN Hi, Grace. GRACE Hey, Jessie. Hi, Sherman. SHERMAN The Christmas Dance is this weekend, you know. GRACE I know. SHERMAN Too bad you guys can't go. GRACE Yes, we can. SHERMAN No, you can't, you guys don't have any family to go with, SHERMAN just moms. JESSIE You don't know anything, I'm going with my mom and my uncle. SHERMAN But you don't have an uncle. GRACE I don't need one, I have the Christmas Prince. He's like family and he's coming to the Christmas Dance. SHERMAN He's a made up Prince, who's not even gonna come, not even if he was real. SHELBY Is everything okay? SHERMAN I was just kidding around with Grace. GRACE No, you weren't. That's what he always says when he knows he's wrong, even though he really meant it to begin with. SHELBY Tell your mom I said hi and thank her again for contributing to the Toy Drive. GRACE Yeah, the Christmas Prince is probably waiting for us right now to give out toys because he's nice and that's what real Princes do. SHELBY See you later, buddy. Grace, what has been going on? PASSERBY Merry Christmas. GRACE This is a really good one. CHILD I wrapped it, so I know. Thank you. EVAN Merry Christmas. CHILD Merry Christmas. EVAN Everything okay? SHELBY Yeah, why? EVAN You just seem a little preoccupied. SHELBY No, I'm good. EVAN Okay. Merry Christmas. SHELBY Four kisses and last kiss, muah! Did you have a good day? GRACE Super good. SHELBY It's been fun, hasn't it? GRACE It's not over yet, Mommy, we still have the Christmas Dance. Out of all the wishes, that's the one I want most. SHELBY Really? GRACE Yep. You're still coming, right? EVAN I wouldn't miss it for the world. GRACE Good, goodnight, Christmas Prince, I love you. EVAN I love you too, little one. SHELBY It's a beautiful night, isn't it? EVAN Very beautiful. SHELBY You know, I used to love stories about the constellation too. EVAN What's your favorite? SHELBY Andromeda. SHELBY It's so EVAN Romantic. SHELBY Yeah. EVAN It's my favorite too. SHELBY You know, if you would've told me that a month ago, SHELBY I wouldn't believe you. EVAN But now? SHELBY I do. Our satellite is out there somewhere. EVAN Yes, it is. SHELBY Sometimes I think I would like to be up there too, just floating. EVAN I used to think the same thing. SHELBY Used to? EVAN Lately, I'd rather be down here on earth right where I am. SHELBY Yeah, I guess I would too. EVAN I want you to know this has been the best Christmas I've ever had and I have you to thank for it. SHELBY I should be the one thanking you. EVAN I really had fun today. SHELBY Me too. EVAN Goodnight, Shelby. SHELBY Night, Evan. I really wanna say thank you for considering me for the position at Skyrocket, but after a lot of thought, I've decided to stay at my current position. LORENZO Hey, Merry Christmas. SHELBY Oh, thank you, Lorenzo, you didn't have to do that. LORENZO Oh, it wasn't me. EVAN There you go, Merry Christmas. SHELBY Wow! LORENZO I know, right? Personalized and everything, I didn't even know he knew everyone's names. I mean, the gifts themselves aren't personalized, everybody got the same thing. It's not exactly something I had on my list, practical, I'll give him that. EVAN Hey, Brenda. I'm sure it's exhausting with the new baby, but if you need more time off, just let me know and we'll work it out. Oh, sorry. Let me get this, Merry Christmas. Oh, I don't understand. Why does the Board wanna meet with me? SCOTT To be honest, I think it might be not very good news. EVAN Well, are they firing me? SCOTT I don't know, all I know is they wanna see you right away tomorrow at five p.m. EVAN Tomorrow? I have plans, a Christmas Dance, it's very important actually. SCOTT This is not something you can reschedule, they're flying in from all over the country, whatever you have, you're gonna have to cancel it. I've gotta go, talk soon. SHELBY You're gonna look just like a proper Princess. GRACE You mean a Queen? SHELBY Oh, right, what was I thinking? GRACE You know, this has been a really, really good Christmas, hasn't it, Mommy? SHELBY It has. GRACE It feels like it did when Daddy was still here, don't you think? SHELBY I do. GRACE What time is it? SHELBY It is a little past 9:30. GRACE Do you think that's too early to start getting ready? SHELBY Maybe a little, the Dance isn't until tonight. GRACE I bet that's the Christmas Prince. Maybe it's not too early, Mommy. SHELBY Let's go see. GRACE Told you it's the Christmas Prince. Mommy, I should get my dress on. SHELBY What's wrong? EVAN I have some bad news. SHELBY Grace, honey, why don't you go play in your room? The Christmas Prince and I need to talk. Can't you reschedule? EVAN I already asked, but the entire Board is coming. SHELBY Why, what's wrong? EVAN I don't know, but it's important if they're all flying in. SHELBY You sure you can't make it? EVAN I really wish I could. SHELBY You really know how important this is to her, right? EVAN Oh, let me talk to her, I could try to SHELBY No. I'll do it. EVAN Okay, Shelby. SHELBY She's not gonna understand why. The only thing she's gonna understand is that you're not there. So you just go and you just do what you have to do. EVAN Okay, Shelby, please. SHELBY No, no, no, no. This is my fault, you were right, I should have never lied to her in the first place. I'll just handle it myself. EVAN Okay, Shelby. GRACE Is the Christmas Prince still here? SHELBY No, honey, he left. GRACE What did he want? SHELBY Gracie, I am really, really sorry, but the Christmas Prince can't come to the Dance tonight. GRACE But it was one of my wishes and the Christmas Prince SHELBY Maybe the Christmas Prince isn't as magical as we thought he'd be. GRACE Yes, he is. SHELBY Gracie. GRACE No, you're just too old to believe in magic, but that doesn't mean there's no such thing. SHELBY Grace. GRACE It's okay, Mommy, you'll see, he'll come to the Dance. He promised he would. SHELBY Honey, he'd be here already if he was coming. Look, we don't need the Christmas Prince to have fun at the Dance, do we? Oh, come on, we don't wanna be late. I'll go get my purse and we'll go, okay. GRACE Okay. NICOLE Hi. SHELBY Hi. GRACE Hi. JESSIE Hey, Grace, you look pretty. GRACE Thanks, you too. JESSIE I hope Sherman doesn't show up. GRACE I know, he's such a bully. SHERMAN So where is he? GRACE Who? SHERMAN You know, the Christmas Prince. GRACE He'll be here, just, just not yet. SHERMAN What happened, did his royal carriage break down or something? SHELBY Grace, honey, let's go get something to drink. Grace! I am so sorry, honey. I wish I could just make him be here for you. GRACE I'm not sad about that, Mommy. SHELBY You're not? Well then, why are you crying? GRACE I feel like you don't believe anymore. SHELBY Believe in what? GRACE In him, the Christmas Prince, don't you know that? SHELBY Oh, Grace. GRACE No, just because he's late to the Dance doesn't mean he's not the Christmas Prince. He's smart and he's handsome and he's a really good storyteller too and he's very, very kind, just like you said, so that's how I know he's the Christmas Prince and you should know that too. SHELBY How did you ever get to be so smart? GRACE Are you okay, Mommy? SHELBY I will be. Muah! Hi, can you watch Grace? NICOLE What's going on? SHELBY I need to do something. NICOLE Sure. SHELBY Thanks. NICOLE Um. PRESIDENT Probably the one we want to talk to. BOARD MEMBER You'll talk to her. PRESIDENT Evan, thanks for coming. Take a seat. Let me get right to it. It's not often that the Board gets together to address a single issue, namely you, but in this case, we felt it was necessary. John, why don't you take the floor? JOHN Thank you, Evan, I know that Scott spoke to you a few weeks ago about your performance. EVAN Ah, yes, he did. Listen, if you're gonna fire me, please just let me know right now, please. JOHN Oh, oh, no, look, we're not firing you, we'd like to promote you. EVAN Excuse me? PRESIDENT We're interested in exploring the habitability of Saturn's moons. JOHN And we think you're the right man to head up the probe build. EVAN I I don't understand. You told me my job was on the line. PRESIDENT It was, not anymore. JOHN We've received some excellent feedback on you JOHN in the past several weeks. PRESIDENT And we were very impressed with how you righted the ship, Evan. It takes a big man to realize he needs to change his ways. EVAN Oh, plus a little girl and an amazing woman. PRESIDENT Excuse me? EVAN A long story, regardless, I am flattered with your offer and of course, I would love to accept. PRESIDENT Good, well then, people, let's get down to discussing the details of rolling out this project. Most of us have turnaround flights in the morning. EVAN I'm sorry, I I can't. PRESIDENT What's that? EVAN I I can't stay. SCOTT That's funny. I always say that Evan doesn't have a life, it's kind of an inside joke between us, but he can stay. EVAN Actually, I didn't have a life, but now I do. I would love to discuss the project further, but tonight, I have a royal appointment. Don't ask. SCOTT Ah. NICOLE Three hot chocolates, please. JESSIE My mom's getting us hot chocolate. NICOLE Grace. GRACE Thank you. NICOLE You're welcome. JESSIE He'll come and your mom will be right back. EVAN Shelby? SHELBY Hi, it's Shelby, I mean, I know you know that. But anyway EVAN Shelby. SHELBY Wait, can you, can you just wait a second? There's something I need to say and it's really hard for me and if you could just not interrupt, that would be, well, really good. EVAN I'm sorry, go ahead. SHELBY The thing is, I was afraid for so long, that I tried to insulate Grace and I from everything, so neither of us could get hurt. What I'm trying to say is, is I don't wanna do that anymore. The point is. It's not just Grace that loves you. I think the same thing is happening to me. EVAN Turn around. GRACE Christmas Prince! Whoa! EVAN I hope I'm not too late. I had a little trouble with the royal carriage. GRACE Real carriage? Snowball, I get to have a ride of Snowball? EVAN Would you like that? EVAN And Grace, your crown. GRACE Wow! SHERMAN You look really pretty. GRACE Thank you. LORENZO Your Majesty, may I? GRACE Of course. ASSISTANT Queen Grace. Allow me to accompany you. ANNALISE Hi. SHERMAN Bye, Christmas Prince! JESSIE I told you. SHERMAN I was just kidding, I knew he was real all long. LORENZO Giddy up! GRACE This is so pretty. EVAN Oh. GRACE Who's that for? EVAN If you would do me the honor? SHELBY I would love to. GRACE Does that mean you're the Christmas Princess, Mommy? SHELBY I... Well, like my group says, one thing at a time. EVAN Well, perhaps we can start with this? EVAN Now.