0:01

Act two logline Twelve Steps

0:03

of Christmas, a filthy Christmas comedy.

0:05

One of rebellious kids. Denied his dream Christmas

0:08

present by his mom, he goes to his estranged

0:11

alcoholic father, who lies about being

0:13

sober with an idea adapt

0:15

the twelve step program to teach me

0:18

how not to be you. In Act

0:20

one, we learned Jake is afraid he can't change.

0:23

We also learned that his father, Carl

0:25

sobriety is the non

0:27

existent kind that features a handle

0:29

of that sweet sweet daily

0:31

hitch. Adapting

0:37

the twelve steps from a recovery he did not achieve

0:39

and from a program he did not complete,

0:42

Carl uses negative credentials

0:44

to create an adapted Christmas

0:46

theme list to help Jake reform his

0:49

own aggressive behaviors. We

0:51

ended with Jake being humiliated and beaten

0:53

by a giant hen, yet somehow

0:56

also completing step two and three. Can

0:58

Jake complete more or can he somehow

1:01

learn something from such a fuck up father? We're

1:04

uncertain, So text your sponsor

1:06

and fill a cup with two

1:08

perfectized cubes and Canadian

1:12

rye. Why don't you know it swirls

1:14

differently against the cubes, clouding

1:16

ever so slightly. Oh God

1:20

had more to taste or tolerance. Hmm

1:25

oh yeah, mamma, that's

1:28

the stuff, and

1:30

join me and USh for K

1:33

two as two of the least qualified

1:35

people in the world try to stumble into

1:37

lessons of empathy and personal

1:40

responds ability. Interior,

1:44

redepartment, bathroom day,

1:46

Jake inspects his black eye and smashed

1:49

nose in the mirror. He checks it from

1:51

different angles. There's no hiding this

1:54

thing. Kitchen Jake

1:56

goes through the mail. He opens an envelope

1:58

and smiles of the picture of the card,

2:01

the perfect inviting Christmas Home. He

2:04

fist pumps when a check falls out.

2:06

Moments later, Jake gazes at the

2:08

picture of the house phone to hear

2:12

just wanted to say thanks for the money and

2:14

everything. So

2:16

thanks. Intercut with interior

2:19

department Store a night. Grandma

2:22

sixties, a woman who can be described

2:24

as handsome, pushes

2:27

her cart down the nile of holiday decorations.

2:30

Well, I

2:32

hope you get yourself something nice you want.

2:35

Grandma reaches for a figure of adolescent

2:38

Jesus and is often ignored

2:40

awkward teenage years, but

2:43

a stressed mom thirty five grabs

2:45

the last one while her screaming

2:47

child four has a tantrum.

2:50

How are you? Is

2:53

your mother there? Take

2:55

a wild guess she's at work?

2:59

Your mother? Honestly,

3:03

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

3:05

pray to the Lord for you both every

3:08

night. Grandma

3:10

sees mom distracted and swipes

3:12

Jesus from her cart. I'm always

3:14

here, okay,

3:17

I know. I think I'll

3:19

hear the door. I gotta go. Thanks,

3:22

love you close

3:24

on awkward adolescent Jesus

3:26

lands in Grandma's cart. Interior

3:30

redepartment kitchen day, Ashley

3:32

enters home from work. Hi, sweetie,

3:35

ooh mail anything

3:37

for me besides preapproved credit they won't

3:39

approve. Ashley sees Jake

3:41

and the fridge seemingly ignoring her,

3:44

not even a hello. I'm

3:47

the one who should still be mad here, not

3:50

you. I just never took

3:52

the time to read and appreciate this stuff.

3:55

Did you know this cran raspberry flavored

3:57

juice cocktail is a refreshing way to get

3:59

the new tree you need for an active lifestyle.

4:02

You won't even look at me. Jake

4:04

emerges, but hides his face behind

4:06

a jug of juice. We have

4:09

five percent juice from concentrate for

4:11

optimum taste and vibrant color. Water

4:14

in a high frutos corn zerup. Two

4:16

faces bottled in Battle Creek,

4:18

Michigan. Stop acting like this,

4:21

talk to me. Ashley lowers

4:23

the juice, exposing Jake's beat up face.

4:25

Jesus, what happens to your face?

4:28

There were these really big hands, like heavy

4:31

ones, way up on a shelf. He fell on

4:33

you. I volunteer to get him down,

4:36

and yeah, damn,

4:39

you're really getting into volunteering.

4:42

Let me get some ice. Ashley opens

4:45

the freezer. A lie worked, but

4:47

Jake feels bad. Interior

4:49

Carl's apartment, living room day. Carl

4:52

watches from the couch as this parole officer

4:55

Jordan, fifty's dour wears

4:57

heavy overcoat, studies three

5:00

small plush Christmas elves

5:02

on the windowsill. These

5:04

elves look demented.

5:08

The wife and kid gave me one every

5:10

year, sort of lost the others,

5:13

and that figures this

5:16

will be my first Christmas without my

5:18

wife. You know same here. I

5:21

know that difference

5:23

is I don't see mine because of some

5:25

unpronounceable cancer. You don't

5:28

see yours because you're a continuabal fuck up.

5:31

You, Karl, are your own cancer.

5:33

Jordan clicks his pen and makes notes

5:36

next to a checklist.

5:39

Let's see who's been naughty or

5:41

nice? So you're

5:43

all alone this year? Nah,

5:46

I got family, nieces,

5:49

nephews, whatever, that's good.

5:52

No, they insisted, I'm

5:55

being suffocated by the goddamn

5:57

Christmas spirit. I've been worried

5:59

about you, your man, since your wife,

6:01

you haven't been your normal

6:03

buoyant self. You've

6:06

known me to be buoyant. No,

6:08

no, always very grave, but differently

6:11

so. Jordan looks up from his

6:13

report. You

6:16

don't need a list to see how bad this place

6:18

is. You just need eyes. Jordan

6:21

is knocked back by something he smells

6:25

and a nose. What the hell's that

6:27

smell? Is it better

6:29

if I know what it is or don't

6:31

know whether it is? Look

6:34

around? Would you treat someone

6:36

you care about as badly as you treat yourself?

6:39

Carl shrugs. The

6:41

answer is beyond me as well. So

6:44

guess what You're going to

6:46

a meeting? Go figure something

6:48

out. But I've tried all that dumb

6:50

shit. Reminder, I'm

6:52

the one who decides your value to society.

6:55

Don't fuck with me, Carl

6:57

is shook. Jordan throws a copy

6:59

of a report at him.

7:02

You say it's dumb, but I

7:04

noted, you're just scared. You better

7:06

find a way to get over that fear. Carl

7:08

thinks about how.

7:11

Hours later, Carl sits on the couch,

7:13

fidgeting nervously, looking back

7:15

and forth between the door and the drink

7:17

in his hand. You

7:20

know, I was hoping for a bit of that

7:23

liquid courage you advertise. Carl

7:25

drinks, he looks at the door. Is

7:29

this like a self interest thing

7:31

instead of getting up the nerve? You frame my

7:33

nerves so bad, I'm too weak and afraid to

7:35

go all at once. Carl stands,

7:38

aces his drink and heads out the door,

7:41

grabbing his elf coat off a chair on

7:43

the way. Interior, redepartment

7:46

living room night. Ashley comes

7:48

home, carrying a pizza and looking exhausted.

7:52

I'm back from the breakdancing finals. I

7:54

didn't win, but it was a valuable experience.

7:56

I think my popping is excellent.

8:00

Lock in these work. Jake

8:02

greets her wearing a Christmas sweater,

8:04

hair combed and offering eggnog.

8:07

It's his best impression of a good kid.

8:09

Some delicious nog. Wow,

8:12

so hopeful and did

8:14

you bathe?

8:17

I know a mother's love is supposed to be unconditional,

8:19

but I think I like you more right now. Later

8:22

kitchen, Jake and Ashley sit

8:25

sharing the pizza. Hope

8:27

you weren't too hungry. I feel like other

8:29

homes are full of pies, fresh baked cookies,

8:31

whatever a Yule log is, and

8:34

a Christmas pheasant. Maybe

8:36

this food in this home is as

8:38

good as any other, even if

8:41

that home is in southern Delaware. Ashley

8:44

laughs, but the moment is ruined when the phone

8:46

rings. She answers, and Jake watches

8:48

her. Good mood turn sour as she shoots

8:51

in the stern look. She covers the

8:53

phone. It's mister Elfman. Did

8:56

you blow off the food drive just to hang around

8:58

the house. Very

9:01

not cool, Jake. People starve

9:03

so you can eat pizza. Take

9:06

some cans with you. Jake knows what's

9:08

going on here, and he's royally pissed.

9:11

Interior Officina in Tegrupal,

9:13

Hispana night, Jake

9:16

and Carl join Hispanic alcoholics

9:18

sitting in folding chairs while children

9:20

race around the room. What the hell are we doing

9:23

at a Mexican AA meeting? Do this

9:25

next thing and you'll be done with

9:27

steps four and five and

9:29

six and even seven. That's two

9:31

birds with one stone and

9:34

then two more again, dead

9:36

birds all round. Fuck them.

9:39

I really needed to light a mom for this. She

9:42

finally seemed okay. Now she's back

9:45

in crazy bitch mood. You're too hard

9:47

on her. That's why you need to be here.

9:49

Step four name ways, you're

9:51

a flawed fucker, emphasizing

9:53

times you've been crazy, fuckeratic,

9:56

dumb, fuck, erroneous or violent

9:58

fuckeruptive. Kids

10:00

don't deal with such crazy bullshit. It just

10:02

doesn't happen with other moms. It's only

10:04

her, that's all I know.

10:07

Carl spots Angel on his way to the front

10:09

and gives a wave. That's

10:12

your mog, colleague Santo's clause. If I'm not

10:14

mistaken, I asked Papa Noel

10:16

to share some of his stories so you can

10:18

see something. Your mom isn't

10:20

as messed up as you think, because the

10:23

world isn't as pure as

10:25

you think. The group claps

10:27

as Angel gets behind the lectern. I'm

10:30

not gonna understand him anyway, It's okay,

10:32

he said. His niece agreed to translate. Angel

10:35

whistles over to the children. Maria

10:38

Maria Mata key, Maria

10:40

ten, the most darling little kid

10:42

ever, hustles over seet be on

10:45

head. Maria smiles super

10:47

excited. Jake is still on edge.

10:50

Series of shots, Maria translates

10:52

Angel's story. As Maria

10:54

translates for Angel, she playfully

10:56

acts out what she says. Her vivid

10:59

language and dicktion is very startling.

11:02

Maria listens, then pretends to

11:04

steal something. Wow,

11:07

Guanolas is down being malen

11:10

ratch oleando tolo

11:16

When things were bad, I was a real boozhound

11:19

sniffing out vulnerable bodegas all over

11:21

town. Maria listens, then pretends

11:23

to whisper a lie lemnie to monto

11:27

lemni men tira man tira lem

11:32

mo. I

11:35

lied to everyone. My lies

11:38

led to more lies. I even lied to myself

11:40

about how I felt about things. You ever

11:42

guilty of that? I want to hear some character

11:44

flaws. By the end, Jake

11:46

doesn't look up for it. Maria

11:49

listens, then pretends to fight me

11:51

boys the lat Then

12:05

he has sangris los manos

12:08

suns understanding

12:14

understone pedaueno

12:17

masculs last yees

12:20

see if let pegge

12:22

no Filipino.

12:28

My bag of cans was stolen by a Filipino

12:30

man named Lou. I snapped blacked

12:32

out because of rage and discount

12:35

gin when I can. When

12:37

I came to, there was blood on my hands.

12:39

My cans were gone, but there were seventy

12:41

dollars in my pocket, far more

12:44

than what the cans were worth, but roughly the

12:46

street value of an unlucky Filipino corpse.

12:50

Real listens, gun Gi rates awkwardly.

12:53

Oh you doing me?

12:57

Oh we can we

13:00

you're doing me? In

13:02

the lavasa, they have

13:04

kinda they bought now kay

13:07

me Marta, I

13:12

conceive my baby daughter in a porn

13:14

store dumpster. Maria

13:22

listens, then pretends to be a kiddy,

13:25

licks her paw, make come

13:27

Gato, well,

13:37

I ate a cat spie.

13:41

Maria listens, then squats

13:43

and strains her face. Make

13:46

again and the picture's

13:48

mound and love Lilis Kira, Make

13:50

again. I

13:54

pooped on the leeward side of a picture's

13:56

mount. Maria

13:59

listens, then translates Angel's

14:01

closing remarks, betosim

14:04

Bremnaia coopera

14:06

solo me familia

14:08

stachi. Let's get They

14:13

tell us that no one recovers in isolation.

14:16

My family is there for me. Thank

14:19

you. Karl is deeply

14:21

affected by these words. As the group

14:23

collaps. You

14:25

just saw step five right

14:27

there. Have the integrity

14:30

to own your shit. Otherwise

14:32

head to the lube imporium because it's

14:34

just pointless moral masturbation aka,

14:37

don't be a bitch. Jake

14:40

feels put on the spot. This

14:42

isn't fair. I don't see what some crazy

14:44

drunk has to do with me. You seriously

14:46

can't own one weakness?

14:49

What about you? You're nothing but

14:51

weakness. I'm the sad one. You

14:53

can't keep going until you grow

14:55

some balls and name some false I

14:58

don't care about you and your stupid doctor's who

15:00

sounding steps. How am I supposed to

15:02

learn something from someone who's more affed up

15:04

than me? Carl

15:06

considers slowly nods as

15:08

he realizes his move. I'll

15:12

show you. Jake is surprised

15:15

when Carl answers with action. Carl

15:17

stands, hands the notebook to Jake

15:20

and heads to the front. PLA

15:26

me nombre is, Carl,

15:32

I really don't know where to start. Hey,

15:36

that's one good thing about drinking. You don't

15:38

even remember a lot of bad shit. Yeah,

15:44

not funny.

15:48

I want to talk about step six

15:50

and seven. Jake sees

15:52

his father struggling. When

15:56

someone's always upset with you, you

15:58

you protect yourself

16:01

and think no there's

16:03

got to be something majorly wrong

16:05

with them. It's the

16:08

most selfish, dickhead

16:10

thing you can do, especially to family,

16:14

your wife, your mom,

16:18

anyone you love. Jake sees

16:20

himself in this looks down, ashamed,

16:23

and that's where these two steps come

16:25

in and ask do

16:28

you believe someone can

16:30

change? Because if

16:32

you don't, there's no point.

16:36

Just stop. Sorry,

16:41

this is my first time up here. I

16:44

couldn't do it before. I

16:47

guess that's proof of small change. No,

16:52

actually, I couldn't do anything before. Finishing

16:56

one step was impossible, let

16:59

alone twelve, I

17:01

said I did. But Jake leaves

17:04

the notebook and heads for the exit. I

17:06

thought I could fix things now if I

17:08

told a small lie about back then. Jake

17:11

begins to run as he bursts through the doors

17:13

outside exterior Officina

17:16

in Tregupal, Espana,

17:18

day. Carl exits to see Jake

17:21

jump on the bike and ride away. Wait

17:23

fuck, Carl runs after

17:25

him, notepick in hand. Exterior

17:28

town Street's day. Jake pedals

17:30

as fast as he can, but the busted

17:32

front wheel keeps Carl within shouting distance.

17:35

Jake, I'm sorry you lie to us.

17:37

You're exactly the same, Jake, picks

17:40

up speed on a hill and begins to pull away

17:42

until the faulty wheel buckles

17:45

and he goes flying, landing

17:47

hard. Carl races over,

17:49

but Jake pushes away any aid or

17:51

comfort, buck off loser.

17:54

They sit collecting their breath and

17:57

their thoughts.

18:01

So you don't care about

18:03

anything if you just get drunk

18:06

all the time. When I drink, I

18:08

don't get drunk. I get

18:11

normal, then I

18:13

get drunk. Staying normal makes

18:15

you drunk. That doesn't make sense.

18:18

Sometimes you drink just to forget your

18:20

drinking. None of it makes sense.

18:23

Jake is absorbing this when he notices

18:25

something on his bike. You

18:29

guys spelled healthy wrong. Also

18:33

mountain. Good

18:35

job kneeling black though, Yeah, that'd be me.

18:39

It was my job to stens ale the words. I

18:41

was a bit too sloshed for more than that.

18:45

Momspray painted. Yeah,

18:48

we actually ran out of paint Christmas.

18:51

Even your mother runs into the night

18:55

and somehow insanely

18:57

she returns with cans from

19:00

where she wouldn't say,

19:02

but the next morning I noticed your bike had

19:04

the same color schemes. The robes of Mary

19:07

and Joseph next door the

19:10

Nativity scene, mom

19:12

stoles spray paint from the neighbors. Jake

19:14

libs over picks up his

19:16

bike to assess the damage. Unstealing

19:19

them was actually way harder. Ended

19:22

up mailing him back. Can

19:24

you do that? Male? Aerosol

19:26

cans No, No, that would be her

19:29

second felony of the story. She

19:31

really wanted you to have that bike. Jake

19:34

on twists bent handlebars to find

19:36

a detached brake line. Some

19:40

of what you set up bear sun it right, Like

19:42

when you said you're a selfish dickhead. I'm

19:45

glad that landed the part about me being terrible.

19:48

No, because I've

19:51

been like that too, like I with

19:53

Mo. Yeah,

19:56

you don't become better if you're chasing some phone

19:58

bullshit. It could be

20:00

called selfish decay behavior. Jake

20:03

looks up to see Carl holding a pen up

20:06

to step four. So I'm

20:08

hearing you say you were wrong about

20:10

something. Yeah,

20:13

for sure. Carl crosses off

20:15

step four, puts the pen to step

20:17

five, and you're owning

20:19

it. Jay, screw

20:22

the sout. I just got to get right with

20:24

mom. Carl crosses

20:26

off step five. So are we still

20:28

doing this? Jake nods,

20:31

but when Carl goes in for a hug, Jake

20:33

stops him. But there's a

20:35

condition. If you're gonna help me,

20:38

you got to let me help you. Jake

20:40

pulls a liquor bottle from Carl's jacket

20:43

pours it out. God,

20:45

it pains me to watch that. You

20:50

have a deal. Jake moves to good

20:52

Carl a big hug, but hold

20:55

on. Carl pulls a half pint from his sock

20:58

tosses it into the woods. Again,

21:01

Jake moves to give Carl a big hug, but

21:04

one more. Carl pulls

21:06

a tequila Minnie from the fold of

21:08

his elf hat. Again, Jake moves

21:10

to give Carl a big hug, but almost

21:13

done, Carl pulls yet another Mini

21:15

from inside the other sock, sort

21:18

of losing the impulse to hug you here, that's

21:20

it, I'm unarmed. Carl

21:23

opens his arms, defenseless, boozeless.

21:27

They hug. Interior

21:29

Redepartment living Room, day Jack

21:32

decorates the tree, looks Jesus,

21:36

I'm a big Jack Nicholson fan. Interior

21:39

Redepartment living Room day Jake

21:42

decorates the tree, looks over at Ashley.

21:45

I'm almost done over here, you're gonna do your

21:47

side. Ashley's half is barely

21:49

touched. She sits depressed

21:51

and detached. It worries Jake. I

21:55

think we still have enough time, like before

21:58

Grandma comes. If that's

22:00

what's wrong, I just haven't

22:03

been able to sleep, even though I'm exhausted.

22:07

I only have a few hours before I leave. Your

22:09

schedule's nuts covering

22:11

somebody else's shift. She

22:14

helped me out a few days ago when I needed to leave,

22:16

so oh

22:19

when you had to pick me up. It's

22:21

a full so I'll

22:23

be back around two or three. Ashley's

22:26

depression makes her hard to read.

22:29

Interior Carl's apartment living room

22:31

night, Jake Don's the higher Elf

22:33

hat. Carl is sprawled out on the couch

22:35

in a cold sweat. These

22:37

withdrawals are hell higher

22:40

elf commands, sit up forget

22:42

me focus on your mom. You

22:44

said six and seven are about believing

22:46

a person can change. I'm only

22:48

asking you for one amends to prove it to me.

22:51

Shouldn't you already have a listen here? Oh,

22:54

here we go. Carl

22:56

shoots up and lunges for Jake, but he plays

22:59

keep awake immense compensate

23:01

Tahitian whr Nahmi repay

23:05

Alex for whiskey horrors. I think

23:07

at the top of fifty three, you might

23:09

have said, repay Alex or whiskey

23:12

horrors, and it's horrors.

23:15

So if we can just get that case

23:19

hoors. Yeah,

23:21

yeah, repay

23:24

Alex for whiskey horrors. Apologize

23:28

to the Polish community of East Saint Louis.

23:31

Carl yanks the notebook away and looks at

23:33

his old list. Apologize to Ronnie

23:36

because of that thing with his sister. Most

23:38

of these are expired. If

23:41

I can't make excuses, neither can you.

23:43

Do you think they want that me busting

23:45

in while they decorate the tree? Hey, ron haven't

23:48

seen you in a decorated decorate.

23:52

Do you think they want that me busting in

23:54

while they decorate the tree? Hey, ron I

23:56

haven't seen you in a decade. Sorry about

23:59

that thing with your sister, Man, you

24:01

should have seen the list she ended up

24:03

on. No one needs that. How

24:06

about this? Why do you have to

24:08

go to jail? Carl doesn't want to

24:10

answer, but needs to Telecommunications

24:15

fraud tell ACoM

24:17

fraud as we call it in the streets, seriously

24:22

like robocoals. Yeah, but I

24:24

wasn't swindling old ladies out of their tithing

24:26

money. I only hit bad people and

24:28

my scams were all fake.

24:31

Carl takes off his shirt to wipe flop

24:34

sweat off his face. I'd

24:37

think of the most despicable

24:40

shit, I could really repulsive

24:42

stuff, and then I'd offer a chance to get in on the

24:44

action. You can't even call them victims. That's

24:47

bool. What could be so bad? Not

24:50

see gold do anything for you?

24:52

That's the one I got busted for gold Boo Leon

24:54

exchange traded funds invest now for

24:56

huge guaranteed returns. Oh

24:59

and they also got a free boat. Why

25:01

the boat? Always offer a

25:04

boat? People love modes. Carl

25:06

chugs water, painfully battling

25:08

his withdrawal. Uh.

25:11

My po thinks there was more than one scam,

25:13

but he can't prove it. It drives

25:16

him crazy. I just

25:18

never left any evidence. How'd

25:21

you get caught there? One night

25:23

I was drunk, I

25:26

fucked up somehow. Instead of having

25:28

a nice wide range like always,

25:30

all calls went local. A couple of thousand

25:32

towns people got an identical call about

25:35

Himmler and the ultra low four

25:37

percent premium on wartime loot.

25:41

Just like a Cayman Islands think no,

25:43

it's too obvious. They expect an

25:45

offshort count instead,

25:47

do the opposite. Licktionin, boy,

25:51

instead do the opposite Liechtenstein

25:54

enclosed by an entire continent

25:56

on all sides. I got a guy there. Carl

25:59

picks up a shirt and smells it, throws

26:01

an old cold forty five tea with

26:04

Billy D Williams promising it

26:06

works every time. I'm not sure

26:08

we found our amends yet. Start

26:11

small, my disciple, What do

26:13

you do with all the money? Carl doesn't want

26:15

to say, but exterior

26:19

Abes Liquor Locker Bar night,

26:22

Jake and Carl stand in front of a dive

26:24

bar. Carl doesn't wear his Santa

26:26

hat or beard. Wow,

26:29

you blew it all at a place called Abe's

26:31

Liquor Locker. A lot of memories

26:33

here. They're all blank,

26:36

but I recall there were a

26:38

lot of them. Carl opens

26:40

the door, but stops Jake from following, considering

26:43

the tidbits I do remember, you

26:45

should probably wait outside. No

26:48

way, I'm your sponsor here. Sure

26:51

enough, Carl holds the door,

26:53

but Jake stops to question him. By

26:56

the way, no beard, no hat.

26:59

Oh the people around here used to

27:01

seeing me all scraggly, never clean

27:03

shaven like now. It'll totally throw

27:05

them. Oh and this Carl

27:07

slaps on a yamaka, who's that

27:09

smooth jew? Ain't Carl,

27:12

that's for sure. Carl follows

27:14

Jake inside interior

27:16

Abe's liquor locker bar night.

27:19

It's dark and smells like stale

27:21

beer, drunk barfly.

27:24

Mike looks just like Carl

27:26

in fifteen years calls over,

27:29

Hey, hey, hey, Carl,

27:31

what's up? Man? Hey, hey,

27:34

my man, what's good? How's that shit with

27:36

your landlord going? Mike groan

27:38

so drunk he struggles to keep his head

27:40

up. Mike, Hey,

27:44

mikeie, he's a shy,

27:48

he's an introvert. Jake

27:50

is alarmed to see Carl's Natural Environment

27:53

owner and operator Abe seventy

27:55

folks Hee seen it all is behind

27:58

the bar melting last night's ice. Well.

28:00

When he notices Carl, Carl,

28:04

good to see you, my friend. Oh

28:06

look at you? You look like hell.

28:09

You do seem far more upright than normal,

28:12

less surly perhaps seventh

28:16

and coke. Sorry, it's last night's ice,

28:18

but I'm guessing you don't mind terribly.

28:20

Carl's reflects is strong, but he

28:23

looks at Jake and resists. Thanks,

28:27

but no, and it's

28:29

not the ice. Abe is puzzled, then

28:32

notices Jake, Hey, what's with a

28:34

kid? He can't be it here? I

28:37

mentor him big brother type

28:39

thing, one of those deals for kids

28:41

without a father. I

28:44

can't imagine you'd be much improvement.

28:47

And he didn't know what they were doing. I've

28:49

turned over a new leaf since

28:51

Wednesday. Yes, Wednesday,

28:57

it was a pivotal hump day. A lot can

28:59

happen on a Wednesday. You don't even remember,

29:01

do you? Carl does not. And

29:04

that drink looks really good. Well,

29:06

you challenged each person in the place,

29:09

shouted that they were wasting their lives

29:12

drinking it away. As such, I'm the

29:14

only one willing to fight for more. You

29:17

kept yelling that you

29:19

really wanted to fight someone. You were

29:21

swinging like a madman. Well that's

29:23

sort of why I'm here. I want

29:26

to apologize for stuff. I'm

29:29

not sure how I've

29:31

watched you for years now. I swear

29:33

to God, you pick fights just to lose

29:35

them. Carl motions for Abe

29:38

to shut up in front of Jake. Hey,

29:40

that's right, you're a real asshole. I

29:43

remember now. You're a real and

29:47

a real piece of shit. Carl

29:50

turns to find a resurgent mikey

29:52

inches from his face and I'm sorry

29:54

if we fought I this

29:56

is your old man. Jake blows their

29:58

cover to defend his dad. Yeah,

30:01

and what if he is, Well, he's

30:03

a real asshole. He's a

30:06

real and

30:08

a real a real piece

30:10

of shit. Yeah, and he's

30:13

a bitch and worthless.

30:15

He's a punk ass drunk sounds

30:18

exactly right. Actually, even

30:20

he knows you're a fuck dodge, that's

30:23

not all. He's scraggly. He drinks

30:25

away the bad and the good. He can barely

30:27

stand straight most of the time. What

30:29

else, no friends, has

30:32

a meaningless life right, and

30:36

smells like drippy farts. Fuck, yeah,

30:38

exactly. The thing is he's

30:41

changed now, tell them,

30:43

well, shit, things are

30:45

different now. Yeah, I mean I'm

30:49

sober now. He was shocked.

30:52

Mike is defensive. Uh you

30:54

you think you're better than me? Fucking

30:56

sober, You're not better than me. We're

30:59

the same, so don't fucking forget

31:01

it. The same. So

31:04

he's just like you, and you just

31:06

described all the ways he was a total

31:08

loser. Mike is twisted

31:11

around. He was

31:13

like that, And to be honest, I

31:15

literally just started describing you. That's

31:18

how bad he was as bad as being

31:20

you. Before anyone reacts,

31:22

Abe slides Carl's drink down

31:25

the bar. Oh, mikey, you weren't even

31:27

here that night. Go drink that.

31:29

Shut the hell up. Mike SLINKs

31:31

away, collapses back onto a bar

31:33

stool. So you

31:36

said you want to apologize, but I don't know how. Try

31:39

this. Just say it.

31:41

Tell me you're sorry, then what for?

31:45

Okay? Sorry

31:48

for being a flake

31:50

or an asshole and

31:53

whatever else? On and off for much

31:56

of the past decade, make

31:58

direct amends, to which people whenever

32:01

possible, except when to do so would injure

32:03

them or others. Not

32:05

as easy as it sounds. Twenty

32:08

years sober, seriously,

32:11

but amend's more than just words.

32:14

You got to stick to shit. So

32:16

get the fuck out. Happy

32:18

to see you go, Harry Christmas.

32:21

Carl appreciates the moment. He

32:23

and Jake head out. Oh

32:26

you're Jewish now too? When

32:28

did that happen? I told you it was

32:30

the hell of a Wednesday? Man? Why

32:32

am Abe watches

32:34

them go interior Carl's

32:37

apartment living room night. Carl

32:39

is altering his elf jacket, tailoring

32:41

it and cutting off frills. Jake

32:44

sits racking his brain you need

32:46

the mother of all amends.

32:49

What do you do for the woman who carried you around

32:51

inside her for nine months and then

32:54

all that other stuff? Since? How

32:56

is she? She's been super

32:59

depressed before she was totally

33:01

freaking out about impressing Grandma. Now

33:03

it's like she doesn't care.

33:06

Does she ever just tell you what

33:09

would make her happy? You

33:11

don't talk much. She's at

33:13

work, or she's mad at me because I ruined

33:16

another day, Jake reflects,

33:18

before having a light bulb moment.

33:22

That's it. She always wishes

33:24

for it out loud. I just

33:26

wish I could have one nice

33:28

day. Jake stands, excited.

33:31

Carl completes it. One nice day

33:33

where nothing goes wrong and no one gets

33:35

upset. It sounds so easy,

33:38

but we always fuck it up. This is true,

33:43

This will be different. I'll give her one

33:45

nice day tomorrow on Christmas

33:47

Eve. Jake deflates and sits

33:50

back down. How

33:52

the ef am I going to do that? What

33:55

does she yell at you for? She's probably

33:57

directly letting you know what she

33:59

wants. Huh.

34:03

That never occurred to me before. It's

34:07

a lot of small things. I guess you

34:09

think that stuff matters. What do you think,

34:13

yeah, maybe a lot. Actually,

34:17

I can start super early. After she leaves for work,

34:19

they share an awkward moment wondering

34:22

the same thing. I guess

34:24

I won't need this snazzy jacket

34:26

now. No, I can still

34:28

come over. It won't take all day

34:30

if I'm fast. We still have steps to finish,

34:33

right, of course we do. You're

34:35

still super fucked up, right, Jake

34:38

nods as serious, of course,

34:40

before laughing. Interior,

34:43

Red apartment kitchen morning. Jake

34:46

enters while Ashley runs through her morning

34:48

routine. You're up early. Christmas

34:51

Eve, biggest day on the Christmas

34:53

food Drive calendar. I'll see you later tonight.

34:56

Dinner with Grandma is going to be late, so grab a

34:58

snack or something, okay,

35:00

Mom? Ashley

35:03

heads out. Jake springs into

35:05

action. Montage. Jake

35:07

gives Mom one nice day

35:10

and Carl struggles. Jake

35:12

at home, using Ashley's to do list

35:14

from the car, he cleans everything

35:17

using all the products Ashley bought.

35:20

He changes the sheets poorly, does

35:23

laundry also poorly. He launches

35:26

into decorating the hell out of the place.

35:29

He sees one item remains Baby

35:31

Jesus Christ. He

35:34

stands in front of the neighbor's nativity

35:36

scene. Mary and Joseph

35:39

are indeed enrobed in the same

35:41

colors as his bike. He

35:43

steals Baby Jesus from the manger

35:46

and replaces him with a red Sox

35:48

Era David Wells Bobblehead. Carl's

35:52

apartment. Carl opens Deal

35:55

with Cravings on his Addictionary

35:57

recovery phone app follows

35:59

the list of uncarl like recommendations.

36:03

Eat healthy. He throws

36:05

out all his food, order something

36:07

healthy, one bite and he gags,

36:10

tosses it and orders pizza. Learn

36:13

a hobby. He finds

36:15

a guitar and smiles. Loads yengwee,

36:18

I'm sorry. How do you say

36:21

sorry? Yingwey

36:24

mom Stein loads

36:27

Yungway Momstein. Ray Master

36:30

Series Instructional VHS

36:32

epically fails to follow the poodle

36:35

haired swede in purple blouse

36:38

Meditate. He tries to focus

36:41

with eyes closed, but

36:43

there's a game on TV, then

36:45

a sell alert from Hornhobb,

36:48

then a call. He watches TV next

36:50

to a now broken guitar talk

36:54

to a loved one. He thinks

36:56

a moment man skips it. He

36:58

closes the app and checks his porn Hub

37:00

alert instead. Jake's

37:03

apartment. Jake sits with broken

37:05

pieces of the ceramic Santa statue.

37:07

With a determined look, he unscrews a

37:10

tube of superglue. He

37:12

has some success with his painstaking

37:14

reconstruction, but it

37:16

collapses over and

37:19

over and over it breaks into

37:21

pieces. He's blitz

37:24

by aggravation and he wants to erupt,

37:26

but he gathers himself

37:29

and begins again every time.

37:32

Interior Carl's Apartment, living Room Day,

37:35

Jordan enters to find an organized,

37:37

spotless apartment. This

37:41

is different. This

37:43

place actually looks habitable,

37:47

no praiseworthy even we'll

37:49

see, not exactly the response

37:52

of his expecting expect less Carl

37:54

trails Jordan around as he makes his

37:57

appraisal. I'm glad you have family

37:59

visiting. They can teaching the true meaning

38:01

of Christmas. Prickly pair ha

38:04

bullshit bah, humbug, that's

38:06

you. You're just like Scrooge. What you

38:09

said humbug. Literally, the translation for

38:11

the word humbug is bullshit. Ah.

38:14

The family dragged me to Steven's Park yesterday.

38:18

I despise that place, and with

38:20

them around, I feel guilty about it. I

38:22

feel wicked, like it's a crime for me to

38:24

hate Christmas. Cheer Steven's

38:27

Park What a great idea. Couldn't

38:29

you feel how excited the kids

38:31

were some vicarious mirth. You

38:34

have no idea how jolly they get. It's

38:36

absolutely crushing me. Used

38:38

to be just me and Carol. You know she

38:41

loved Christmas. No, hell

38:44

no, she hated Christmas more than

38:46

me. Oh God, who's

38:49

heaving? We would just be together

38:52

aggressively, not celebrating. Carl

38:56

still tails Jordan hopefully and proud

38:58

of his apartment and sees

39:00

Carl's cut up, self tailored elf jacket.

39:03

What happened there? Carl shrinks?

39:06

Search us for a lie, you

39:08

know, fashion and stuff,

39:11

new look for today's modern elf. That's

39:14

so still have the job

39:17

or you just walk out again? No

39:19

response, Carl, How

39:22

the hell can you be so self serving and

39:24

so self destructive all at once? Jordan

39:27

marks the list and tosses Carl's

39:29

copy on the floor for your records.

39:33

Humbug exterior

39:35

Stephen's Park entrance night, Jake

39:38

and Carl approach the holiday excitement

39:40

of the big annual Stephens Park Christmas

39:42

Festival. Welcome to step two.

39:45

But instead of finding the Holy Spirit, your

39:47

step is believe in the motherfucking

39:50

Spirit of Christmas. Stevens

39:53

Park. I've hated this place since

39:56

I was a kid. Didn't feel the spirit

39:58

then? Really that I will still.

40:01

Jake follows as Carl heads in exterior

40:05

Stephens Park. Inside night a

40:07

big celebration. The park

40:10

is full of lights, music and kiddie

40:12

rides. The whole town is

40:14

there. In

40:17

World War One, the Western

40:19

Front suddenly went silent, no

40:21

guns firing, no death. Why

40:25

the Germans began decorating their

40:27

trench with candles and wishing

40:29

the English and Merry Christmas. The

40:31

Brits sang back the first

40:34

no Well, the crowds performed silent night.

40:36

Enemy soldiers emerged, met

40:39

no man's land to drink and celebrate.

40:42

Carl loves this story. Jake

40:45

has heard him tell it before. That's

40:48

the Christmas Truce of nineteen fourteen,

40:50

spontaneously springing up

40:52

from nothing but death,

40:55

mustard, gas and trench foot

40:58

So if you can't feel the christ Smith's spirit

41:00

in this place, and I have truly

41:02

failed. Ticket girl seventeen,

41:06

working the entrance, stops Carl.

41:09

Sir, we ask that you

41:11

take off the Senna hat, but

41:14

you don't want to make anyone uncomfortable. She

41:16

points to a sign. Santa's hat is

41:19

one of many forbidden Christmas symbols.

41:21

Then she points to a banner above secular

41:25

Winter Solstice celebration. Carl

41:28

takes off his hat as he realizes they totally

41:30

stripped away Christmas. No red

41:33

and green, no elves, no

41:36

Rudolph volunteers

41:38

wear shirts with the pagan moon goddess

41:40

on them. What they do to the Christmas

41:43

magic? Carl is

41:45

incredulous. He swigs

41:47

on a bottle of soda he carries. I

41:50

guess they're sort of with me on the whole spirit

41:52

thing. Carl is in denial.

41:54

He spots a bake sale and rushes over

41:57

whatever. Who needs decorations? A bake

41:59

sale is chalk full of Christmas

42:02

spirit, but no nuts,

42:05

gluten or sugar. What the

42:07

hell's left after that? A more nourishing

42:10

alternative, that's what? No,

42:12

No, this should be chocolate chips,

42:15

snowball and sugar

42:17

cookies. Damn it, the loud and proud cookies

42:19

that don't hide what they're about. You

42:22

got healthier snacks now because of childhood

42:24

obesity. But isn't that just fat shaming?

42:27

I honestly we track of these things. This

42:30

made Carl steps away and drinks

42:32

his soda in a way that makes us suspect

42:35

the truth. It's half

42:37

liquor. Relax, you're

42:39

just on edge because you're not drinking. No, this

42:42

is important. You don't get

42:44

it. I remember it coming before

42:46

I get it. No, No, every Christmas

42:50

is new and totally

42:52

unique. The whole season is

42:55

a big reset. There's nothing

42:57

else like it. That's the Christmas spirit.

43:00

It's about hope. Carl can

43:02

barely handle it. He is chugging

43:04

more soda and he spots in

43:06

the shadows. A spidery structure

43:09

looms Hosanna

43:11

in the fucking highest. Carl

43:14

approaches. It's an old kiddy carnival

43:16

swing ride. Oh wow,

43:20

too bad it's not running. Oh will,

43:22

just need some juice. I know

43:25

you remember the Rudolph ride. Yeah, you puked

43:27

me when I was eight. Carl walks around

43:29

the ride, inspecting the base bit. Too much

43:31

eggnog with my whiskey that day, don't

43:33

you mean the opposite? No, it was just

43:35

a cup of whiskey. I'd have been fine. Twas

43:38

the night of too much nog. Jake

43:40

notices clean cut humdrum dad Carl's

43:43

age there with his wide eyed daughter eight.

43:45

They don't know what to make of Carl. Do

43:48

you know what's up with this? Well, yeah, it

43:51

was our favorite. They shut her down last

43:53

year. He's right, it's not operated.

43:55

Just need some juice. Carl

43:57

triumphantly hoist thick wires

44:00

to the ride. Christmas is magical.

44:02

If you make it, you gotta want it. The

44:04

spirit works if you work it.

44:07

Carl spots a large green pad

44:09

mounted utility box pads

44:11

over there. We go, one of those big green

44:13

box things. Shit,

44:16

it's locked. Well I hope, so there's a power

44:18

distribution transformer in there, of course,

44:20

yeah, exactly, well, perfect power

44:23

distribution transformer. You really

44:25

shouldn't touch that if you don't know what you're doing. You

44:28

got ground wire for the whole park running through that

44:30

thing. Carl has pulled up some sort

44:32

of how to article on his phone. Damn, straight

44:34

round wire. That's what's called the

44:36

primary high voltage. Did

44:38

you know that? Humdrum Dad

44:41

and white eyed daughter give Jake a nervous

44:43

look. This doesn't seem like standard

44:45

wiring. That's okay, Just strip off the

44:47

top thingy piggyback bear

44:50

of wires under our plug here. Carl

44:52

whips out an impressive pocket knife and

44:54

strips wires. This really isn't

44:56

worth it. Christmas isn't always blow

44:59

your mind, Amy, Sometimes you just got to buckle

45:01

in and enjoy the rickety holiday ride.

45:04

Carl has created a jumble of exposed

45:06

wires. What are we celebrating here?

45:08

I only remember bad shit, like

45:10

you and mom fighting. Something

45:13

always went wrong, So just stop

45:15

it. Carl strips the large,

45:17

powerful ground wire. That's exactly

45:20

why we need to do this. It's

45:22

absolutely about getting this up

45:24

and running. Jake softens, Let

45:28

me make amends. This is one

45:30

bad memory we can fix. Carl

45:33

studies his hand and concentrates

45:35

as he gets ready to give it. That shoe

45:38

cut too. Throughout the park, lights

45:41

surge dim and

45:43

flicker, flashing in and out. At

45:46

the bake sale, children and parents look around

45:49

confused. At the entrance ticket

45:51

girl Fields, concerned, looks under

45:53

a parking lot light leaning on his cruiser,

45:56

Officer Schmolla fifty bloated

45:59

his alarm, looks out and sees

46:02

a small explosion on

46:04

the far side of the park. Before bright

46:07

Christmas glory, the Rudolph

46:09

Ride lights up the sky. Rudolph

46:13

Ride, Carl's clothes are smoking

46:16

and his Santa beard burned off, exposing

46:19

his face. He's in a great

46:21

shock. Rattled but wired. Who

46:24

by juice you should

46:26

be dead. I'm fine, I'm possessed

46:29

by the spirit. No, you are

46:31

severely electrocuted. I'm gonna go

46:33

get help, would body. She points

46:35

up at Rudolph, brightly lit with nose so

46:38

bright. Throughout the park,

46:40

children start flocking to the bright red

46:43

and green lights. Officer Schmola heads

46:45

over with them to investigate Rudolph

46:48

ride. Carl jumps onto the control

46:50

platform. No music. He used

46:52

to play Christmas music, remember. Jake spots

46:55

a switch behind a locked cage. I

46:57

might have it, but it is locked,

47:00

he thinks, then kicks until

47:02

it breaks open like Carl did. Got

47:05

it? Children excitedly rush

47:07

to get on the ride. Fuck it. Hum

47:10

drum hum,

47:12

drum. Dad helps his thrill daughter

47:14

onto a swing. Not bad, eh,

47:17

Jake smiles, feeling the Christmas

47:19

energy. You know, if you get on

47:22

this ride, then you can cross off step

47:24

two. Jake smiles and

47:26

runs to the last open swing.

47:28

The ride begins playing an instrumental

47:31

twelve Days of Christmas. Carl

47:33

takes a triumphant swig of soda

47:37

Dun's is Santa Hat and begins

47:39

belting his own lyrics, forced

47:41

into the melody On the first

47:44

step of Christmas, my true love

47:46

gave to me a portrage

47:49

and a pear tree. For

47:51

some reason, Jake buckles

47:54

himself in. On the second step

47:56

of Christmas, my po said

47:58

to me, in this cup

48:01

you must bee, and

48:03

here are a couple more partridges.

48:07

Carl starts the ride, but before Jake

48:09

is out of earshot. On

48:12

the third step of Chris, miss

48:14

my child gave to me a

48:16

second fine, oh chance,

48:20

Jake hides his face and embarrassment,

48:23

but is cracking up. On the fourth

48:25

step of Chris, miss my body

48:27

gave to me shakes

48:29

like Aly talk

48:33

Mbam Mohammad and

48:37

three more goddamn partridges.

48:40

The ride goes full tilted children

48:42

love, Carl singing on the fifth

48:45

step of relaps of Booze

48:47

Hound gave to me boom

48:53

and he was like, you're gonna need this because here's

48:55

more partridges, Buddy partridges.

48:59

Jake takes it all in the

49:01

ride, music, lights and

49:04

Carl. Jake has

49:06

to smile kid like. Affected by Christmas

49:08

cheer, Carl speaks from

49:11

the controls to someone on the ground fine

49:13

traditional lyrics. From now on, it's

49:16

Officer Shmola he's talking to and

49:18

he is not amused. Shut it off

49:20

and come on down. Be decent

49:22

man, have some holidays. Cheer you

49:25

guys want me to stop the ride. Jake

49:29

is flying by on his swing when he sees

49:31

Carl talking to a cop. His joy

49:33

is replaced with familiar disappointment. I

49:36

think you're drunk. You don't

49:38

know the rules. When you wear a Santa

49:40

hat. You're not drunk, you're jolly.

49:43

Jake can only see what's happening when he passes

49:45

on the swing. Each time he does, things

49:47

look worse. Carl hops

49:50

down, and Officer Shmola moves to detain

49:52

him. We've done this before, Carl.

49:55

When you refuse to surrender the pavilion

49:58

for the Lilac Fest doesn't

50:01

sound like me. I'm must have a good reason.

50:04

Jake jumps from the moving ride and runs

50:06

over in times to see Officer

50:08

Shmalla reaches in Carl's jacket and

50:10

pulls out a bottle of vodka, then

50:13

opens the soda bottle and sniffs.

50:16

We're right over here. Come

50:18

on, let's go. You're not serious.

50:21

Officer Shmaala takes Carl away, passing

50:24

Jake. I'm sorry.

50:27

Humdrum Dad shuts off the ride.

50:29

The lights go dark. And the music goes silent.

50:31

As Carl is led away, Jake

50:34

is left alone, exposed.

50:37

Noticed we recognize

50:39

some of Jake's classmates, including Chad.

50:42

Hey, Jake, they're taking away your drunk,

50:44

homeless friend. I think that's his fucking

50:46

dad. Jake

50:49

looks around and, like in

50:51

class before, doesn't see

50:53

one kind face again.

50:55

They record with their nice phones. Aren't

50:58

you going to freak out? Freak? Jake

51:01

doesn't fight, He blocks it out

51:03

and pushes past everyone. What's

51:05

wrong? Where's your Christmas spirit?

51:08

Now? Jake snaps, He turns and

51:10

charges so emotionally attacks the

51:13

wrong kid starts beating on

51:15

Chad's friend number three. Chad

51:17

peels him off. Jake stands

51:19

ready to fight them all, and he tries,

51:22

swinging like a madman. But one

51:24

guy can't beat three, and

51:26

they start getting some good shots in. Jake

51:30

falls back onto the ground, hitting the legs

51:32

of an intervening adult. He

51:34

looks up, face dirty and cut to

51:37

see Principal McGriff wearing

51:39

a Moon Goddess volunteer shirt. This

51:42

is getting control of yourself. Jake

51:45

doesn't have an answer. Do you

51:47

have someone to take you home? Interior

51:50

police cruiser moving night motherly

51:53

female officer. Ashley's age

51:55

drives with Jake slouched in the back

51:57

seat, angry and embarrassed.

52:00

Try not to be too upset. It's still Christmas

52:02

Eve, after all, I'm not upsets.

52:06

The cruisers roll past each other and Jake

52:09

sees Carl in the back seat. They

52:12

manage brief eye contact before looking

52:14

away, both in trouble and the shame.

52:17

Later, Jake looks out the window

52:19

as they turned down his street. This

52:21

is it, yeah,

52:24

that your mom? Jake sees Ashley

52:26

getting home. She struggles to open the

52:28

door while carrying bags full of groceries

52:30

for dinner. Interior,

52:33

redepartment living room night. Ashley

52:35

stays by the door, closes her eyes

52:37

as she processes, It's

52:39

not what you think. It's not just getting in this

52:41

kind of trouble, having a cop bring you home

52:44

for Christ's sake, with your grandmother

52:46

coming later tonight. There's

52:48

the other thing. Obviously,

52:51

you weren't helping at the food drive. You blew

52:53

it off for the park. Jake doesn't

52:55

know how to answer. Tell me the truth for

52:57

once, I didn't volunteer tonight,

53:00

I say, I'm in disbelief, but you can only

53:02

be shocked, so many times before you realize it's just how

53:04

things are. I never volunteered ever

53:09

as an ever this

53:11

whole time, where

53:13

have you been going? What have you been

53:15

doing? Nothing? So

53:18

then all the rest of this stuff, how you've been acting

53:20

lately? Is this just an act, some set

53:23

up to get a stupid phone out of me? No, that's

53:25

not it. What are we doing here?

53:28

Who am I raising? She

53:30

walks off, not mentioning the decorations

53:32

or work he did. Fine,

53:35

believe what you want? Maybe I really am

53:37

that bad. Jake hides his

53:39

frustrated tears as he wipes them away.

53:43

Later, Jake places the reconfigured

53:45

ceramic Santa statue on an end

53:47

table near Ashley napping. He covers

53:50

her with the blanket, then grabs

53:52

his coat and sneaks out into the nipe

53:55

and act too. Pe,

54:01

all right, we'll

54:04

have lunch.