The Naughty List

The Naughty List
Written by
Chip Riggs
Story by Chip Riggs and Lilly Riggs
(757) 903-1647
chipriggsfiction@gmail.com
FADE IN:
EXT. DESERTED ROAD - NIGHT
The middle of nowhere.
Lights of the city in the distance.
A small figure trudges toward us.
As it gets closer, we see it’s a LITTLE BOY. He’s dressed

warmly and he’s excited but a little anxious.
This is TOMMY ALBERT (8).
He tosses something red over and over in his hands.
As he reaches us, he stops and looks around.
Looks at the red item in his palm. It’s a button.
He takes a deep breath.
Pushes the button.
From the button comes a BURST OF BRIGHT LIGHT. It engulfs him.
Then it’s gone-- and so is Tommy.
The road is empty and dark.
INT. DARK SPACE - NIGHT
Tommy sits against a wall, knees pulled to his chest.
He stares across an open space.
At an ELF (ageless).
But this isn’t a Keebler Elf or a happy toymaker. This elf’s

face is tight, almost gaunt, a fanatical light in his eyes.
He wears a black military-style uniform with three stripes.
This is DOKKALFAR, and he stares back at Tommy dispassionately,

like you might a zoo animal.
He turns and walks away, crisply, disappears into the darkness.
And from seemingly nowhere comes a quiet whisper.

2.
VOICE
(eerie whisper)
Santa...isn’t...real.
Tommy’s eyes go wide and fill with tears, as we:
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. LILY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
A preteen girl’s bedroom, pictures and posters all over.
TITLE CARD: “ONE YEAR LATER”
A little girl HUMS the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE THEME.
On one wall we see several pictures of LILY STARK (5-8 y/o) and
her firefighter father JERRY riding horses.
In one, Lily holds a trophy while Jerry beams.
INSERT: Newspaper article taped to wall.
Headline: HERO FIREFIGHTER KILLED. Subhead: “Ran back into

burning building, saved child.” Jerry’s photo in the middle.
A small hand reaches out and touches Jerry’s photo.
It belongs to LILY STARK (now 11), mischievous and DETERMINED:

she’ll go over, around or THROUGH a wall to get what she wants.
She touches her finger to her lips and kisses it.
LILY
Go time. Right, Dad?
She wears a snugly-tied ratty bathrobe and swimming goggles;

she grabs a rolled-up piece of paper and slides out the door.
INT. CHARLIE’S ROOM - NIGHT
Pink walls covered with mermaids and unicorns.
CHARLIE STARK (9) lies under the covers, eyes open and thumb in
her mouth. She looks withdrawn, pensive, sad to her core.
The door opens and Lily comes in.
LILY
(whisper)
Operation Christmas Pony is a go.
Charlie doesn’t move. Lily grabs her by the arm.

3.
LILY (CONT’D)
Come on! We have to go over the
ops plan.
(Charlie doesn’t move)
Charlie! You know this is our last
chance. Tomorrow she wraps
everything and it goes under the
tree. If we’re gonna get a look,
we have to do it tonight.
Charlie sits up; Lily kneels on the floor in front of her.
LILY (CONT’D)
You know I have to find out if
there’s anything pony-related in
Maria’s closet.
Charlie’s eyes narrow.
LILY (CONT’D)
C’mon, Charlie! I need you for
this one. I can’t do it alone.
Charlie reaches out and taps Lily’s chest, then taps her own.
LILY (CONT’D)
That’s right. Sisters forever.
Charlie hesitates, then reaches out and takes Lily’s hand.
The girls kneel on the floor and Lily spreads the paper in
front of them. It’s a child’s diagram of a series of rooms.
LILY (CONT’D)
Here’s the game. Two players.
INT. MARIA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT (IMAGINATION)
Tastefully decorated bedroom. MARIA STARK (30s) sleeps alone.
In the far back of the room is a closed closet door.
LILY (V.O.)
The target’s in the interior vault
which is under total lockdown,
guarded by a high-tech security
system.
A light blinks on an alarm panel next to the door.
LILY (V.O.)
It’s in a tower that’s guarded by
a moat filled with monsters.
4.
EXT. STARK HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Beneath the wall of the two-story home is a swimming pool full

of green, brackish water. A frog sits on the diving board.
FROG
RIBBIT!
LILY (V.O.)
And finally, the biggest security
threat of all.
INT. MARIA’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
The door opens in silence and Lily and Charlie sneak in wearing
matching sleek black climbing suits and gloves.
They tiptoe by the bed, but Maria sits up and stares them down.
LILY (V.O.)
The light sleeper.
INT. CHARLIE’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS (REAL LIFE)
Lily hands Charlie a black marker and points at the diagram.
LILY
So the direct assault won’t work.
(Charlie crosses out the
door, mimics typing)
Yeah, we could hack our way in.
INT. MARIA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT (IMAGINATION)
The bedroom is the same. Maria sleeps alone.
A wire camera appears under the door. It snakes forward across

the carpet toward the closet door.
INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Lily and Charlie, still in the matching suits, kneel in front

of the door and stare at a digital screen.
The camera sneaks up to the panel next to the closet door.
The wire rises up into the air and connects to a port at the
bottom of the panel with a soft BEEP.
5.
Charlie taps on a wireless keyboard, her face serious as she

stares at the screen.
Suddenly a puff of smoke emits from the bottom of the security

panel and an alarm starts to WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!
The camera disappears with a POOF and we see what it is-- a

bunch of wire clothes hangers unfolded and duct-taped together.
Lily and Charlie stare at each other.
LILY
But we’re not hackers and we don’t
even own a spy camera.
(they shrug)
So that’s out.
(Charlie crosses out the
hallway)
We could come in from the outside.
INT. MARIA’S CLOSET - NIGHT (IMAGINATION)
A darkened closet. A stack of unwrapped boxes in the center of

the room.
On the far wall is a window. Through the window we see:
EXT. STARK HOUSE - NIGHT
Lily in her climbing suit hangs from the side of the house, a
rope through a carabiner on her belt and a piton on the wall.
Charlie holds the rope next to the pool below.
LILY (V.O.)
But...the monsters.
The frog jumps off the diving board onto Charlie’s shoulder.
She doesn’t shriek-- doesn’t make a sound, actually-- but

flinches and starts slapping at the frog. She drops the rope.
Lily looks down and sees her stumbling around, and in the
distraction she lets go of the wall.
6.
Falls back, her arms flapping futilely...
Charlie shakes her head sadly. Lily nods in solemn agreement.
LILY
The monsters.
(Charlie crosses off the
outside)
That just leaves one possibility.
Charlie looks up quizzically. Lily just smiles back.
INT. CHARLIE’S ROOM - LATER
The room is empty, the diagram wadded up on the floor.
Up high on one wall, the grill to the air vent hangs by the
hinges, the vent an open chasm behind it.
INT. AIR DUCT - NIGHT
Lily and Charlie Army-crawl through the air duct, their little
bodies barely fitting in the tiny space.
Lily wears a backpack, headband with flashlight shoved in it.
Charlie drags two bedsheets tied together.
Maria sleeps peacefully.
INT. MARIA’S CLOSET - NIGHT
The boxes sit unmolested. All is quiet.
From the air vent we hear SCRAPING and MUTTERING. Then...
LILY (O.S.)
(whisper)
Shhhhhhhh!
Maria turns over and MUTTERS, but doesn’t awaken.

7.
INT. AIR DUCT - CONTINUOUS
Lily reaches the grill. Beneath it is the stack of presents.
She turns to Charlie, points two fingers at her eyes and then
the presents like a recon officer.
Charlie furrows her brow and shakes her head.
Lily repeats it but Charlie still doesn’t get it. Lily rolls
her eyes in exasperation.
LILY
(whisper)
The presents are right there.
Lily pushes against the grill. It doesn’t budge. She strains,

her eyes bulging, but no dice. She sags, helpless.
LILY (CONT’D)
(whisper)
It won’t give.
Charlie points at hers and Lily’s feet, then at the grill.
LILY (CONT’D)
(whisper)
You’re a genius. I always said you
were a genius!
Charlie shrugs and grins.
The girls wiggle around so their feet are against the grill. At
one point Lily’s butt ends up smushed against Charlie’s face.
Eventually they get turned with their feet against the grill.
LILY (CONT’D)
(whisper)
On three. 1, 2--
(Charlie taps her arm)
What?
Charlie does 1-2-3 on her fingers, nods emphatically on three.

Does it again, waits a beat. Shrugs.
LILY (CONT’D)
(whisper)
On three. Not after. Got it?
(off Charlie’s nod)
Okay, here we go. 1, 2, 3.
On three they push against the grill with their feet.

8.
It resists...but CREAKS outward and finally gives way.
Lily leans down to look at the presents.
LILY (CONT’D)
(whisper)
There they are!
The flashlight slips out of her headband and falls.
Lily reaches for it, grasps, gets her fingers on it...
It bounces on her hand for a moment, slips from her grasp,

falls down and hits the carpet with a muted THUD.
Lily stares at it, horrified.
THUD!
Maria sits up, her eyes sleepy but alert.
Lily waits quietly, her head poking out of the duct.
One second passes, then another.
Charlie’s eyes are wide, her expression full of terror.
LILY
(whisper)
I don’t hear anything. I think
we’re okay.
(grabs the bedsheet)
Let’s do this.
INT. CLOSET - NIGHT
The presents sit quietly.
They might be surprised if they looked up, as Lily dangles

above them, kept aloft by the bedsheet through her backpack.
LILY
(whisper)
Now!
Slowly she begins to descend: one inch, then another. She looks
up and down impatiently, but the speed doesn’t change because:
9.
Charlie channels Jean Reno in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, feet jammed

against the duct, sheet gripped tightly in gloved fingers.
A bead of sweat forms on her forehead, rolls down her nose.
INT. CLOSET - CONTINUOUS
Lily turns and stares up at the air duct in frustration.
LILY
(whisper)
Charlie!
(silence)
Faster! If we take too long, Maria
might--
She turns back-- and finds herself FACE TO FACE WITH MARIA!
MARIA
Maria might what?
LILY
Ahhhh!
She flails her arms and feet in shock.
Charlie’s feet dislodge; suddenly she’s sliding into the

opening, pulled by the heavier weight of her bigger sister.
She scrabbles for a crevice, a screw, something, but--
INT. CLOSET - CONTINUOUS
Charlie crashes on top of Lily, who crashes into Maria.
They end up in a pile among scattered boxes and presents.
Lily lifts her head off the floor--
-- and breaks into a huge grin as she finds herself looking

directly at a saddle.
INT. MARIA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Maria paces in front of the girls, who sit on the bed.

10.
MARIA
What did you girls think you were
doing in there? Are you crazy?
(kneels in front of them)
I expect this from you, Lily.
You’re reckless and selfish. But
how could you drag your sister
into something dangerous like
this?
LILY
Daddy always told me that polite
women don’t make history.
MARIA
I know what he said, Lily. It’s
not about being polite. It’s about
putting other people before
yourself. He was a wonderful man
and an amazing father. And maybe
sometimes a bit of recklessness is
called for. We both wanted you to
be the kind of girl who can look
out for herself. But you’re
selfish too, and that’s a horse of
a whole different color. All we
can do now is take care of each
other, which includes you taking
care of your sister. If you don’t
think about her before yourself,
you’re going to get her hurt or...
LILY
Or?
MARIA
Or worse.
(starts away, looks back)
Since you saw the saddle, I might
as well tell you. Your dad and I
talked about it before he...well,
we talked about it, and you were
going to get a pony for Christmas.
LILY
Were? What do you mean, were?
Maria SIGHS. Her sadness is infinite-- but so is her resolve.
MARIA
Lily, I hope you know how much I
love you and your sister. I want
nothing more than to see you two
be happy and safe.
(MORE)
11.
MARIA (CONT’D)
But safe’s got to come first, and
right now I don’t know if I can
trust you with a pony. So...until
you prove to me you can be
responsible enough to own a horse
and be safe, I can’t let you have
one.
LILY
But...what about Santa? Daddy said
if we believed in Santa--
MARIA
You’re too old for that nonsense,
Lily.
(off Charlie’s wide eyes)
As far as Santa is concerned,
you’re both on the Naughty List.
INT. CHARLIE’S ROOM - DAY
Charlie sits on her bed with a Gameboy.
On the wall, a photo of her playing with Tommy Albert.
He wears a plastic holster, plush bear binky hanging out of it.
Lily pushes the door open and comes in.
LILY
Tommy Albert.
Charlie glances at the photo.
LILY
You told Dad he went looking for a
way off the Naughty List, right?
Did he ever find out how?
She shrugs, points at the photo and shakes her head.
LILY
What do you mean, you haven’t seen
him? Did he move?
Charlie gives her a long look, then shakes her head.
EXT. TOMMY ALBERT’S HOUSE - DAY
Lily and Charlie in front of a house. Lily KNOCKS.

12.
After a moment MRS. ALBERT (30s) opens it.
A POODLE stands next to her, YAPPING. This is POOKIE.
MRS. ALBERT
Hello, ladies. Isn’t it early to
be selling Girl Scout--
(peers at Charlie)
Charlie Stark, is that you? How
are you, dear?
Charlie smiles. Mrs. Albert peers at her in confusion.
LILY
She...doesn’t really talk anymore.
She stopped after our dad died.
MRS. ALBERT
Oh, my dear! I’m so sorry. You
were always so lively and happy.
Tommy loved playing with you.
She leans over, gives Charlie a hug.
The poodle YAPS until Charlie leans down and pets her. Her YAP
immediately turns into a happy GROWL and she rolls over for
Charlie to pet her belly.
As they speak, Charlie plays with Pookie in the BG.
MRS. ALBERT
Wow. Pookie doesn’t like anybody.
LILY
Mrs. Albert, we were wondering if
you could tell us about Tommy.
(off her questioning look)
Uh...Charlie misses him.
MRS. ALBERT
I miss him too, sweetheart. He
went away almost a year ago. Right
before Christmas, in fact.
LILY
What happened?
MRS. ALBERT
He was in trouble. Something
silly, honestly, I really don’t
even remember what. But I told him
he was on the Naughty List and
Santa wouldn’t bring him any
presents.
(MORE)
13.
MRS. ALBERT (CONT’D)

At first we thought he ran away.
But when he didn’t come back, we
looked for him, called the police,
everything. I even went through
his room.
LILY
And you didn’t find anything?
(off Mrs. Albert’s headshake)
Could...could we take a look?
MRS. ALBERT
Oh, I don’t know, sweetie. I’m not
sure it would be approp--
LILY
We’ll be really careful. And I was
just thinking that Charlie knew
him so well, maybe she could find
something an adult might have
missed. She’s really observant.
Off Mrs. Albert’s surprised look, we:
CUT TO:
INT. TOMMY’S ROOM - DAY
A little boy’s room, still perfectly maintained.
Lily and Charlie stand in the middle of the room, door closed.
LILY
We don’t have much time. She’ll
get suspicious if we’re here too
long. See if you can find
anything.
Charlie nods. She gets on her knees and looks under the bed.
Lily looks in the closet, doesn’t see anything.
Charlie checks his toys. Nothing.
Lily opens and closes the drawers of his desk. Nothing.
Charlie glances toward her sister-- and her eyes go wide.
LILY
What?
But Charlie’s not looking at Lily.

14.
Charlie runs past her to the dresser.
Next to it hangs the holster and bear binky we saw earlier.
She pulls out the bear and digs underneath it.
Comes up holding a folded-up piece of paper.
Lily’s eyes go wide. She grabs it, unfolds it.
MRS. ALBERT (O.S.)

Lily? Charlie?
Lily shoves the paper in her pocket.
LILY (CONT’D)
Let’s go.
(calls out)
Coming!
They run out the door.
The bear binky still sits on the dresser.
EXT. TOMMY ALBERT’S HOUSE - DAY
Lily and Charlie wave at Mrs. Albert and head up the street.
Lily looks over her shoulder as they reach the corner.
Mrs. Albert still watches them.
Lily waves at her. She waves back, her eyes suspicious.
The girls turn the corner and disappear. Still she watches.
INT. LILY’S ROOM - NIGHT
Lily and Charlie come in, and Lily pulls the paper out.
LILY
Let’s see what we got.
INSERT: SHEET OF PAPER
Written in little boy handwriting- careful, a bit unsteady.
It says: NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - ZELDA

15.
LILY
He must have gone to the library
to find out about the Naughty
List. Let’s go find this Zelda
person and see if she can tell us
how to get off the list.
Charlie turns away and buries her face in Lily’s pillow.
LILY (CONT’D)
What’s wrong?
(silence)
Come on, Charlie! We have to
figure this out. If we don’t get
off the List, I won’t get my pony.
(off Charlie’s headshake)
I’m not the only one not getting
any presents, y’know. You’re not
getting what you want either.
Charlie starts to CRY. Lily’s eyes soften and she hugs her.
LILY (CONT’D)
I’m so sorry. This is all my
fault. I made you go in there with
me. Now neither one of us is gonna
get what we want unless Santa
brings it to us.
Charlie’s face darkens again. She looks away and bites her lip.
LILY (CONT’D)
(penny dropping)
Do you...do you not believe in
Santa anymore?
Charlie shakes her head sadly. Lily tears up.
LILY (CONT’D)
Do you know what Dad said to me
the last time we rode together?
He said if we don’t have belief,
we don’t have anything. And now we
don’t have anything...and I don’t
know what to believe anymore. All
I know is we have this paper and
maybe that’ll get us a chance to
get off the list. And then maybe
we can both get what we want.
(beat)
Wait. What do you want?
Charlie glances at the Jerry Wall, then points at Lily.

16.
LILY (CONT’D)
You want me to get what I want?
Then that’s our plan.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY - DAY
The baroque colossus rises from piles of snow.
LILY (V.O.)
Step one of the new plan:
research. What is the Naughty List
and how do you get off it?
INT. NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - DAY
The vast, quiet, modern bustle of the cavernous NYPL.
Lily and Charlie make their way through the aisles and head for
the massive Information Desk in the middle of the room.
The desk is manned by ZELDA (50s), short and slender-- one

might say almost elfin.
The desk bears a sign: ZELDA WINTERBEAN, Information Assistant.
She leans over the desk to peer down at Charlie and Lily.
ZELDA
How can I help you ladies?
LILY
Are you Zelda?
ZELDA
I am! I’m so glad you came to look
for me. What can I do for you?
LILY
It’s just that...well, we have a
strange request.
ZELDA
(claps)
I love strange requests! How can I
help?
LILY
We need to look at books about
Christmas.
17.
ZELDA
(disappointed)
Well, that’s not strange. We have
a whole slew of those.
LILY
Do you have any that talk about
the Naughty List?
ZELDA
Now that’s more like it! Why do
you girls want to know about the
Naughty List?
(off their looks)
Ah. Well, I’m sorry to hear that.
LILY
Us too.
ZELDA
Well, we happen to have a
Christmas expert working here.
LILY
You do?
ZELDA
We sure do. He even looks a little
like...well, you can probably
guess. If anybody can tell you how
to get off the list, it’ll be him.
Do you want to meet him?
INT. NYPL STACKS - DAY
Zelda leads the girls between high, dusty stacks of old books
and the occasional stuffed animal. This part of the library
looks like it belongs in Cairo, not New York.
LILY
I’ve never seen this part of the
library before.
ZELDA
This is the special part where we
keep the most important
information.
LILY
Like the Naughty List?
Zelda just smiles at her.

18.
She turns a corner and leads the girls into:
INT. NYPL HALLWAY - DAY
A long, poorly-lit hallway with a line of closed doors.
ZELDA
Each of these doors is a gateway
to a whole new world, a universe
of knowledge.
LILY
About what? What’s this one?
A bright green tendril pokes out from under the door and curls
up near her foot.
ZELDA
We’ll just call this one a
giant...terrarium. Now let’s step
lightly!
She grabs Lily and pulls her away from the door-- just as the
plant bares fangs hidden under the tendril and snaps at her.
LILY
And this one?
A puff of purple smoke elides from under the door and catches
Lily and Charlie. They both COUGH and GIGGLE.
LILY (CONT’D)
That smells funny!
ZELDA
Let’s just keep on moving!
They stop in front of a door with a sprig of holly hanging from

it. The number on the door is 1823.
ZELDA (CONT’D)
This is the place.
LILY
Room 1823. Does that number mean
something?
ZELDA
Everything back here means
something. 1823 is the year “The
Night Before Christmas” was first
published.
(MORE)
19.
ZELDA (CONT’D)
(beat)
Now, I should warn you before we
go in that Kit can be a
little...well, he’s not the
jolliest guy in the world.
LILY
Kit?
ZELDA
It’s what we call him. It’s short
for Chris.
LILY
Chris? Like Kringle? You actually
have Santa Claus working for you?
ZELDA
(laughs)
Not like Kringle. Like Adams. And
he gets mad whenever he thinks
somebody’s making fun of him for
being like Santa, so now we just
call him Kit. Just...be careful
with him.
She knocks on the door.
There’s no response.
She waits a moment, then knocks again.
Still nothing.
ZELDA (CONT’D)
Kit! Open the door! I have two--
The DOOR FLIES OPEN, revealing the ruddy figure of KIT ADAMS
(65) wearing only a pair of red sweat pants.
Zelda was right. He’s got the Santa look down, from white beard
to round belly-- but his eyes are red, wild and angry.
This is not your father’s Santa Claus.
Behind him it looks like Christmas barfed all over Sherlock

Holmes’ study: holly hanging from the ceiling, Douglas Firs in
the corners, and dusty Christmas books on a dozen wall shelves.
There’s even a stuffed Rudolph with a glowing nose.
KIT
WHAT?!?!
20.
The two girls take an involuntary step back. Zelda does not.
In fact, she puts a hand up in the middle of Kit’s chest and

shoves him back into the room.
ZELDA
You need to behave.
KIT
Don’t tell me what--
She gives him a gentle shove into a nearby chair. He flops back
into it with a WHOOOF.
She grabs a shirt from the floor and tosses it to him.
ZELDA
Put some clothes on.
He eyes her grumpily but pulls his shirt on.
LILY
What is this place?
ZELDA
This is Kit’s study. His
laboratory, if you will, where he
studies and learns everything
about Christmas. In fact, you
could say that old Kit here is the
world’s greatest Christmas expert.
KIT
(BURPS loudly)
What do you want?
ZELDA
These little girls have some
Christmas questions for you.
He leans over and stares at Lily and Charlie.
Charlie recoils, but Lily stares right back at him.
KIT
Questions, huh?
LILY
Yeah. About the Naughty List.
He leans farther so their noses are only a few inches apart.

21.
KIT
And what makes you think I want to
help two snot-nosed little kids
with their questions about the
Naughty List?
He pronounces Naughty List “Nau-tee-less.”
Lily reaches out and pokes him in his red, bulbous nose.
LILY
Because we’re kids. And adults
should always want to help kids.
And because we’re cute.
KIT
Don’t be so impressed with
yourself, Kid.
(re: Charlie)
And why doesn’t that one say
anything?
(waves at Charlie)
Hey, Kid!
ZELDA
I think you’re scaring her.
LILY
It’s not that.
KIT
Then what is it, Smarty Pants?
LILY
She hasn’t said a word since our
dad died. I think she’s forgotten
how to talk.
Charlie starts to CRY.
KIT
That’s really terrible.
LILY
Tell me about it. And he used to
say she was too loud, too.
KIT
(to Charlie)
Okay, okay...stop crying, little
girl. I can’t handle crying kids.
(to Lily)
Tell me what you want to know.
(MORE)
22.
KIT (CONT’D)
Whatever it takes to get the
little girl to stop crying.
Lily looks at Charlie, who miraculously stops crying.
LILY
(suppressing a grin)
What happens when your name goes
on the Naughty List?
KIT
What do you think happens?
LILY
I mean, duh. Santa can’t bring you
presents when you’re on the
Naughty List. That’s the whole
point. You know, naughty and nice?
KIT
Then what do you need me for?
Lily looks at Charlie, who begins WAILING on command.
KIT (CONT’D)
Yeah, okay. What else?
Charlie STOPS CRYING.
LILY
How do you get off the list?
KIT
It’s a list. How do you normally
get your name off a list?
Lily’s confused.
Charlie makes an erasing motion, but Lily doesn’t get it.
Charlie looks around and picks up a pen. She turns the pen
upside down and faux-erases the air. Now Lily understands.
LILY
You erase it!
(turns to Kit)
You erase it.
He smiles. It’s not warm or particularly encouraging.
LILY (CONT’D)
So we have to erase our names off
the Naughty List.
23.
KIT
Sounds like you got it all figured
out.
(stands, turns away)
Now, if we’re all done here...
LILY
We’re not done yet. I need--
KIT
Yeah, we are. Now go away.
She holds up her cell phone and snaps a photo of him.
It’s not flattering.
KIT (CONT’D)
What are you doing?
LILY
And...it’s posted!
KIT
Posted? To where?
LILY
The Internet. With the caption,
‘The World’s Meanest Santa.”
KIT
You can’t--
LILY
I can. And I did. And I’ll do it
every day until you help us out.
KIT
I hate technology.
LILY
If you help us, we’ll leave you
alone. But if not, it’ll be a
picture a day of the meanest Santa
in the world posted to Twitter,
Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram.
I’ll even go back in time and
create a MySpace page just so I
can put your picture on it.
KIT
You’re really not going to leave
me alone, are you?
She shakes her head, grins at him. He SIGHS, shrugs.

24.
KIT (CONT’D)
Fine. What?
LILY
How do we get to the North Pole?
KIT
I suppose saying “Go North” would
be too obvious?
LILY
“Go North?” That’s all you got? I
coulda gotten that from Google.
KIT
Well, there is one other thing.
LILY
Oh?
KIT
Santa’s workshop isn’t just a
place. You can’t find it on
Google, and you can’t just go
north to get to it.
He pulls a red button from his pocket and tosses it to her. She
looks at it quizzically, then looks back up at him.
LILY (CONT’D)
What’s this?
He just grins back at her.
INT. LILY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Lily lies under the covers, apparently asleep.
The door opens and Maria sticks her head in. She fusses with
the covers, tucks a stray hair behind Lily’s ear.
She leans over, kisses Lily on the head and leaves.
Dark and quiet for three seconds, then Lily jumps up.
Fully dressed, head to toe in black.
She pulls on a thick jacket and a small backpack.
Puts a big stuffed bear under the covers, fluffs the blankets.
She opens the door, glances up and down the hall, and exits.
25.
INT. CHARLIE’S ROOM - NIGHT
Charlie’s a tiny lump under the covers.
The door opens and Lily comes in.
LILY
(whisper)
Rise and shine. Time to go meet
the elf.
Charlie jumps up, already dressed too.
Lily heads out the door. Charlie follows, then stops.
She grabs the photo of her and Tommy and shoves it in her
backpack, then follows her sister out the door.
Lily and Charlie exit the house through the back, past a small
barn in the backyard behind the pool.
They sneak around the side of the house to the street, avoid
streetlights and hide in the shadows as they run away.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
They’re alone on the street.
Lily pulls the button out and looks at Charlie, who shrugs.
Lily shrugs back, takes Charlie’s hand.
And pushes the button.
For a moment nothing happens. But then...
A BURST OF LIGHT.
When it subsides, Lily and Charlie are gone.
INT. SPACE/TIME TUNNEL - CONTINUOUS
LILY’S POV:
A psychedelic explosion of light.
Catapulting through starbursts.
Nearby CHARLIE FLAILS THROUGH THE AIR, still holding on for

dear life.
26.
LILY/CHARLIE
(faded, in the background)
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Far, far below are the winking New York City skyline, the
darkness of the countryside, Montreal, darkness...
Nothing.
The whole world goes dark.
Then a loud POP! And we:
CUT TO:
EXT. ICE SHEET - NIGHT
The night is dark as pitch and quiet as a tomb.
A SMALL FIGURE huddles motionless and turned away in a corner

of an enormous sheet of ice floating in a large body of water.
BG: Several icebergs, a huge glacier and a massive ice shelf.
Suddenly a HOLE OPENS UP IN THE AIR just above the ice sheet.
Lily and Charlie topple out of the hole and tumble to the ice.
They roll over and over, away from each other.
Lily comes to a stop in the middle of the ice plain, while

Charlie bounces to the edge--
AND DISAPPEARS OVER THE SIDE!
Lily lies motionless for a few moments, then jolts up.
LILY
Charlie! Charlie?
She searches frantically, but Charlie’s nowhere to be found.
Lily jumps to her feet. She notices the figure in the corner.
LILY (CONT’D)
Hey, you! Did you see where my
sister went?
The figure glances up at her. To her surprise, he’s an ELF.

This is WILEY (ageless), his face is gaunt and a bit twisted,
and he couldn’t be less interested in where Charlie went.
Lily runs around the ice sheet, looking for Charlie.

27.
LILY (CONT’D)
Charlie! Where are you, Charlie?
Then she stops, ear cocked.
A THUD. Like someone trying to hammer a nail into sand.
THUD. THUD. THUD. THUD. THUD.
Lily rushes over, drops to her knees and looks over the side...
Where she sees Charlie, the fingernails on one hand dug deep
into the ice, the other hand BANGING frantically against it.
Lily also sees that the ice sheet is HUGE, the size of a
building, and Charlie is hanging a couple of floors down.
She’s terrified, her eyes huge as she stares up at Lily.
LILY (CONT’D)
OK, hang on, Charlie. I’ll get
you. Just hold on!
Lily looks back at the strange, elfin figure across the ice.
LILY (CONT’D)
Can you help me? Please?
WILEY
(shrugs)
Not my job, girlie.
LILY
But my sister...she can’t hold on
forever!
He stares at her for a moment with a total lack of empathy.
But he reaches into the recesses of his coat and tosses what
looks like a hockey puck with a handle on the top to Lily.
She gives it a long look and then glances back at the elf.
LILY (CONT’D)
What...how does this help me?
WILEY
Drop it on the ice and you’ll see.
Lily looks over the side, sees Charlie, drops the puck.
It speeds downward to the ice, almost like it’s got a magnetic

connection to it, and slams into it with a loud THUD.
28.
WILEY (CONT’D)
Left to disconnect. Now leave me
alone until you’re ready to go.
He turns away and his face disappears behind his cloak.
She grabs the handle and tries to pull it off the ice, but it
won’t move. She twists it to the left and it easily lifts away.
LILY
Wow.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
LILY (CONT’D)
Right.
She looks down, sees Charlie banging, sweat on her forehead.
Lily puts the disk near the edge, kneels down and holds on for
dear life as she climbs over the side.
The disk holds tight as she hangs over the edge and kicks her
foot into the ice.
Once she’s got it in, she twists the handle and quickly brings
her hand down to create another hold.
She free solos down the side of the ice, one herky-jerky motion
at a time, until she hangs just above Charlie.
She reaches down and takes Charlie’s outstretched hand.
LILY (CONT’D)
I’ve got you. Now climb up.
(off Charlie’s terrified
headshake)
Come on. We can’t hang here
forever. You’re getting tired.
Charlie grimaces. She holds tight with her right hand, squeezes
her eyes shut and lets go with her left hand.
She hangs, finally gets her second tiny hand inside Lily’s.
They hang this way for a moment as Lily tries to pull her up.
LILY (CONT’D)
I need you to push up.
Charlie pushes up with her feet and Lily lifts her...
But then LILY’S FOOT SLIPS!

29.
She swings away from the side of the ice sheet, connected only
to the handle on the black disk above her, while Charlie
flutters at the end of Lily’s arm.
Lily musters all her strength and jams her foot into the ice,
pulls Charlie upward and gets her hands on the black handle.
LILY (CONT’D)
Hold on tight.
Charlie holds on for dear life and snuggles against Lily.
Lily puts her free arm around her sister and pulls her close.
LILY (CONT’D)
I got you.
Charlie nods and lets out a single SOB.
LILY (CONT’D)
OK, now we have to go up.
She kicks one foot back into the ice, then the other.
LILY (CONT’D)
Wait.
(calls out)
Hey, little guy! You have another
one of these things?
No sound.
A second black disk comes flying over the edge. Lily reaches
out with her free hand-- and PLUCKS IT OUT OF THE AIR!
LILY (CONT’D)
Uh, thanks?
She plants the second handle into the ice.
LILY (CONT’D)
Now I gotta give you a piggyback
ride.
Charlie stares up at her. Lily nods, and Charlie snakes her

arms around her big sister’s neck and locks them there.
She inches her way around Lily’s midsection until she’s

attached snugly on her back.
LILY (CONT’D)
Ready?
(Charlie nods into her back)
Here we go.
30.
She disconnects one handle and inches upward.
Reconnects, disconnects the other, reconnects, over and over.
Charlie looks up once, glances down, and goes white as a sheet.

She buries her nose against Lily’s back and doesn’t look again.
When they reach the edge, Charlie scrambles up Lily’s back and
dives up onto the surface of the ice sheet.
Lily climbs up and collapses next to her.
They lie on the ice for a few moments, breathing heavily.
Charlie flips over and JUMPS ON LILY, squeezing her in the

tightest hug you’ve ever seen.
Lily strokes her little sister’s hair.
LILY (CONT’D)
It’s okay. We’re safe now.
Charlie just nods into her chest.
WILEY (O.S.)
Ain’t that adorable?
LILY
(glares at him)
Hey, thanks for the help.
WILEY
Don’t mention it. You got my
handholds?
She tosses her head toward the edge where the two black disks
are still stuck in the ice.
The elf SIGHS and bounds around the two girls-- giving them a
wide berth-- to quickly snap up his handles.
WILEY (CONT’D)
So you’re my cargo, eh?
LILY
Looks that way. And you are?
WILEY
Wiley. Now let’s get going...we’re
burning moonlight!
LILY
Wiley? Like the...
31.
WILEY
Yeah, like the. And if you make a
roadrunner joke I’ll throw you
over the side. Now let’s go.
LILY
Go...where? And...where are we?
WILEY
A few thousand miles from the
North Pole. You are planning on
visiting Santa, right?
Lily sits up, knocks Charlie off her chest. Her eyes are wide.
LILY
Did you say a few thousand miles?
WILEY
Give or take.
LILY
But Christmas Eve is--
WILEY
Tomorrow, yeah, I know. So?
LILY
So...how do we get a few thousand
miles by tomorrow? Does this thing
fly? Are you a pilot or something?
WILEY
(braying laugh)
Do I look like a pilot, girlie?
LILY
You look like an elf. Are you one
of Santa’s?
He sneers at her, SNAPS a pair of goggles over his eyes.
WILEY
Useta be. Not now. Hold on.
LILY
Why--?
He pushes his hand down like he’s pushing a gearshift, and the
ice sheet lurches forward.
Lily topples backward; she and Charlie hold on to the ice as

the sheet gains speed across the water.
32.
The elf tosses the two disks back over his shoulder.
Somehow they land on the ice directly in front of Lily and

Charlie, who each take hold of one.
Lily pulls herself to her feet. She staggers to the front of

the ice sheet, turns and motions for Charlie to join her.
They stand at the front of the sheet and watch the beauty.
Lily puts her arms around Charlie’s waist.
LILY (CONT’D)
I’M KING OF THE WORLD!
She and Charlie GIGGLE and dance, holding hands.
As they turn, though, Charlie’s expression changes to one of

fear. She taps Lily’s arm and points in front of the sheet.
Lily looks and realizes with horror that THEY’RE SPEEDING

DIRECTLY TOWARD AN ICE SHELF.
LILY (CONT’D)
(shouting)
Hey, iceberg right ahead!
WILEY
(shouting)
You ever seen Star Wars?
LILY
(shouting to the elf)
Are you crazy? This ain’t exactly
the Millennium Falcon.
Wiley glances back at her and grins. He looks crazy.
LILY (CONT’D)
(to Charlie)
C’mon.
He pushes the imaginary stick, the ice sheet LEAPS FORWARD.
Lily and Charlie are thrown to the ice. Lily grabs Charlie’s
hand and puts it on one of the handles.
LILY (CONT’D)
Hold on for your life.
Charlie holds on. Lily grabs the other handle and holds tight.
The sheet accelerates again and Lily’s feet come off the ice.
33.
She flaps in the wind, only the disk keeping her on the sheet.
The shelf is only a few hundred yards away and closes quickly.
Lily watches it with horror. She looks back to see Charlie’s

terrified face. Lily motions to her eyes and closes them.
Charlie nods, taps her chest and closes her eyes.
Lily looks back at the ice shelf and closes her eyes too.
LILY POV
The world GOES DARK.
And then it GOES SILENT.
ICE SHEET
The ice sheet hurtles toward the much larger shelf...
But then, with a wink, IT DISAPPEARS.
Lily opens her eyes.
LILY POV
Everything is black.
A look back. Yes, Charlie still hangs on and floats.
We look down and realize that we too are floating.
In the distance we hear THE WHOOSH OF AN ONCOMING TRAIN.
We see the twinkling of lights and then THE WHOOSH IS ON US.
And then we BURST OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
EXT. NORTH POLE - NIGHT
The ice sheet APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE at the edge of a vast body
of water and comes to a sudden halt next to the shore.
EXT. ICE SHEET - CONTINUOUS
The girls fly forward, land on the ice.
Lily stands up, hair wild and eyes still wide.

34.
LILY
What...was...that?
WILEY
(shrugs)
Had a lotta ground to cover.
LILY
So we’re close?
WILEY
(another shrug)
Clos-ER.
LILY
So what now?
WILEY
There’s one more step. He’ll be
here in a few minutes.
LILY
He who?
WILEY
The reindeer guy.
LILY
The reindeer what?
WILEY
(long pause, then:)
Why are you doing this?
LILY
Our dad died a few months ago.
WILEY
So?
LILY
We had this one thing that we did
together, all the time, for years.
It was our thing. And I’m afraid
that I’ll forget what it was like.
Silence for a moment.
WILEY
I was on the Security Squad. But
then the Chief got mad at me and I
got sent away.
LILY
I’m sorry to hear that.
35.
WILEY
It’s not so bad. I get to see the
guys every now and again, and I
have plenty of work.
LILY
Lots of people come to Santa’s
workshop?
WILEY
Some try. Not too many get there.
And nobody comes back.
LILY
Wait, what?
WILEY
Yeah, this is pretty much a one-
way trip.
In the distance but approaching, we hear the JINGLE of bells.
WILEY (CONT’D)
He’s here.
LILY
The reindeer guy?
WILEY
That’s the one. He’ll take you the
rest of the way. This is as close
as I can get.
From the gloom over the nearby stretch of land we see A SLEIGH
PULLED BY EIGHT REINDEER.
Charlie grabs Lily’s arm and points at the sleigh.
LILY
I know!
(to Wiley)
Is the reindeer guy...Santa?
WILEY
(donkey laugh)
Not exactly.
As the sleigh pulls near we see that it’s driven by another ELF
(also ageless). He wears a black uniform, made with some sort
of stretchy fabric.
He raises a hand in greeting.
ELF
Brother!
36.
WILEY
Brother!
LILY
Brother?
Charlie just looks quizzically at the two elves.
Wiley jumps off the side.
The girls, shocked, look over the side to see Wiley land
smoothly and give his brother an enthusiastic hug.
WILEY
Come on down!
LILY
Are you insane? It’s like--
WILEY
218 feet. It’s exactly 218 feet.
But you’ve come this far; now it’s
time to take a leap of faith.
Charlie shakes her head.
LILY
We have come a long way. Leap of
faith?
She holds out her hand.
Charlie’s scared, but she takes it.
She mimes 1,2,3 and nods on three.
LILY (CONT’D)
Exactly. We go on three. Ready?
One...two...three!
They jump.
There’s a WHOOSH of air and a RUSH as the girls plummet to the:
EXT. NORTH POLE - CONTINUOUS
They both land softly, easily and exchange a look of surprise.
LILY
Huh. So that worked.
WILEY
Winkle, cargo. Cargo, Winkle.
37.
LILY
Uh, hi. I’m-
WINKLE
You’re Lily. And this must be
Charlie!
He bows ceremoniously and holds out his hand. When they reach
out to shake, he instead kisses both their hands.
Charlie GIGGLES and covers her mouth.
Lily shivers and puts her arms over her chest.
WINKLE (CONT’D)
Oh, yes. Put these on and you’ll
stay warm.
He tosses them each a small black mesh packet. When they pull
the packets apart, a stretchy black suit pops out. They both
doff their jackets and pull the suits on over their clothes.
They both fit perfectly.
WILEY
Bye, girlies. Winkle here’ll take
good care of you.
He gives his own lopsided bow, then turns and LEAPS.
Goes straight up and lands softly on the edge of the ice sheet.
He gives a jaunty wave, then turns and disappears.
The ice sheet pulls away and chugs off into the distance.
Winkle claps his hands.
WINKLE
Shall we away, ladies?
He motions to the sleigh, and they all clamber in.
WINKLE (CONT’D)
On Dasher, on Dancer--
LILY
Wait. These are Santa’s reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen?
The whole group?
WINKLE
The very same, my dear.
(MORE)
38.
WINKLE (CONT’D)
I’m responsible for making sure
they get their daily exercise.
Charlie furiously taps Winkle on the arm. When he looks at her,

she taps her nose and mimes a glow.
LILY
Oh yeah! What about Rudolph?
WINKLE
Rudolph. As if a reindeer with a
glowing red nose would be real.
The reindeer take off and trot along through the snow.
LILY
Oh, yeah, that’s the weird part.
Not flying a sheet of ice through
a glacier.
WINKLE
A necessary step, my dear. You
must pass through the magic
protecting Santa’s workshop.
LILY
Magic?
WINKLE
Strong, ancient magic. Why do you
think you can’t find it on a map?
Lily considers this for a moment, then...
Behind them, a LOUD GROWL. They all look over their shoulders.
LILY
What’s that?
WINKLE
Bears. They’re all around here.
On cue three huge POLAR BEARS lope from the gloom toward them.
WINKLE (CONT’D)
Uh-oh.
LILY
Uh-oh? That doesn’t sound good.
Why don’t we take off?
WINKLE
Take off? You mean fly?
39.
LILY
Yeah! The reindeer can fly, can’t
they?
WINKLE
Yes, but that requires Santa’s
magic. Without him, they only run.
LILY
Oh, great. Super useful magic you
guys got here.
(to the reindeer, yelling)
Run!
At Winkle’s urging the reindeer speed up, but they’re no match

for the bears, who draw near, GROWLING and HISSING.
As the bears get closer, the reindeer panic. Comet and Cupid
pull to the right while Dancer pulls left. The sleigh swings
wide and makes a hard turn--
-- AND CHARLIE IS THROWN OFF THE BACK, INTO THE SNOW!!
LILY (CONT’D)
(to Winkle)
Stop! Charlie fell off!
He tries to pull them up, but they resist his direction.
Behind them, the smallest bear stops chasing them. It turns and
runs toward Charlie, who sits on a snowbank, a bit stunned.
It GALLOPS TOWARDS HER.
It ROARS as it comes up on her.
She stares at it and, of all things, SMILES AT THE BEAR.
Instead of running her over or snapping at her, it pulls up

right in front of her, sniffs her...
...and LICKS HER FACE.
It lets out a long, happy GROWL and puts its head in her lap.
She strokes its head and it lets out another ROAR. It twists
and turns its head to maximize her petting.
Meanwhile, the other two bears slow down and trot toward
Charlie and the baby bear.
WINKLE
(calling to the reindeer)
Whooooooa!
40.
He pulls up on the harness and the reindeer slow to a stop.
Lily jumps off the back and runs toward Charlie and the bears.
By now, all three bears are lying in the snow around her and
letting her pet them.
LILY
Charlie! Are you okay?
Charlie looks up at her and nods happily as she strokes the

three bears on the head and neck.
Lily sits next to the bears. One lifts its head and GROWLS at
her, but Charlie strokes its ears and it lies back and quiets.
LILY (CONT’D)
They really like you.
(off her nod)
How did you know?
Charlie shrugs.
She reaches over, puts her hand on Lily’s. She’s at peace, like
she could vibe with every animal on the planet if she had to.
LILY (CONT’D)
If we make it home, Maria’s gonna
kill me.
EXT. SANTA’S WORKSHOP COMPOUND - LATER
A huge, gated, multi-building compound rises from the flat,

snow-covered plain.
Two SECURITY ELF GUARDS (young) stand post at the entrance to

the compound. They wear black uniforms and severe looks.
The sleigh appears out of the gloom. Only Winkle is visible.
He waves at the guards as he goes by. They wave back, bored and
disinterested.
INT. SLEIGH - CONTINUOUS
As Winkle waves at the guards, TWO PAIRS OF EYES STARE UP AT

HIM from a slit in a hidden compartment beneath the seat.
The sleigh passes the guards and enters the compound.

41.
EXT. SANTA’S COMPOUND - CONTINUOUS
As the sleigh moves through the compound, we get our first look
at Santa’s Workshop.
It’s Wakanda On Ice: Multiple gleaming buildings rise out of

the snow, with an elevated train moving between the towers.
It’s shiny and gorgeous.
Dozens of ELVES (all ages) drive trucks, walk between buildings

and carry toys in various states of completion.
It has state-of-the-art security: tall fences with chicken

wire, high-powered floodlights, and guard towers manned with
SECURITY ELVES, who all wear the same black suits.
Two SECURITY ELVES patrol the perimeter with two GIGANTIC DOGS.
Their dogs look more like wolves.
All the security elves carry electric crowd control batons.
The sleigh navigates past the elves, who wave at Winkle and
EXCHANGE GREETINGS with him.
The two dogs GROWL at the sleigh.
Their elf partners stop and let them loose.
The dogs run to the sleigh, WHINING.
But as they reach the sleigh, both downshift to happy GROWLS.
Winkle throws on a grin for the security elves, who LAUGH and
call the dogs back.
The sleigh pulls around a corner toward the stables, briefly

hidden from both the front gate and the watchtower.
INT. SLEIGH - CONTINUOUS
Winkle reaches down and pops a latch.
A door on the side of the sleigh swings open and Lily and
Charlie fly out, hit the ground and roll.
A trapdoor opens up under them and they DISAPPEAR!
INT. LAUNDRY CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
The girls slide down a gleaming metal chute and fly out into a
laundry cart.
42.
LILY
(muffled)
Oof!
With perfect timing, WOBBLE (ageless) walks by and drops an

armful of laundry on top of them and covers them completely.
He pushes the cart past the other LAUNDRY ELVES working in the
laundry room. All these elves wear white uniforms.
We follow Wobble as he traverses the UNDERGROUND SERVICE AREA:
He exits the laundry room and pushes the cart down a sterile,
chrome-lined hallway.
Above him are signs written in Elvish and English:
-- SECURITY
-- OPERATIONS CENTRE/DORMITORIES
-- WORKSHOP
-- LOADING DOCK
He makes a 90-degree right turn at the Operations Centre

entrance and enters:
INT. OPS CENTRE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
He pushes the cart past the OPERATIONS CENTER, which is full of

high-tech video screens monitored by a group of SECURITY ELVES.
Past Dokkalfar, an elf we’ve seen before.
He’s Santa’s Security Chief, a dark elf with pale complexion

and generally sour demeanor, who wears the same uniform we
first saw him in- black with three stripes.
Dokkalfar SNIFFS THE AIR and frowns, but then turns his head
back toward the screens.
Wobble and the cart pass the door and make a second 90-degree
right turn into a doorway marked DORMITORIES:
INT. DORMITORY HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Wobble pushes the cart past numerous open bedroom doorways.

43.
Some are empty, others have ELVES in various activities (tooth

brushing, pulling on their uniforms, eating a can of tuna).
At one doorway he suddenly swings the cart for one more 90-
degree right turn into:
INT. WOBBLE’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
A simple room - single bed, sink, table and a couple of chairs.
Wobble pushes the cart to the middle and closes the door.
Pulls the laundry out of the cart and tosses it on the floor.
WOBBLE
You can get out now.
The girls clamber out and look around, a little overwhelmed.
LILY
Uh...I’m--
WOBBLE
I know who you are! You’re our
guests! And I am Wobble.
LILY
Are you Wiley and Winkle’s
brother?
WOBBLE
(suddenly sad)
How is Wiley? I haven’t seen him
in so long.
Lily and Charlie exchange looks.
LILY
He’s, uh...
WOBBLE
(laughs and claps)
Oh, yes! That’s him exactly!
(to himself)
“He’s...uh...”
LILY
So...what do we do now?
WOBBLE
You want to get to Santa’s list?
LILY
Exactly.
44.
WOBBLE
That will be complicated. And
dangerous. The security elves are
everywhere. We will have to be
most careful. You will have to get
the key to the chamber where the
list is kept.
LILY
Where is it?
Wobble just smiles grimly.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE SANTA’S ROOM - DAY
An opulent hallway - gold leaf, decorative trim, plush

carpeting, thick oak door with flowery script “C.”
The door opens and we move into:
INT. SANTA’S ROOM - NIGHT
The bedroom of the world’s most famous elf and his wife.
Gorgeous four-poster bed, leather couch, multiple wall-size

windows with exquisite views of the workshop and tundra beyond.
LILY (V.O.)
Hold on.
INT. WOBBLE'S ROOM - DAY
Lily stares at Wobble.
LILY
The key is in Santa’s bedroom?
WOBBLE
Oh, it is much worse than that, my
young friend.
INT. SANTA’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Past the door to the bathroom with a dazzling view of gold

flooring and a massive mirror, and on to a second door.
This door opens and we cruise into:

45.
INT. SANTA’S CLOSET - CONTINUOUS
This would pass as a master bedroom in most mansions.
It houses a long row of red suits with white fur linings--

along with a couple of high-end designer suits.
Behind the door: his and hers Mr. and Mrs. Claus bathrobes.
On a far wall: 12 of Santa’s famous red fur-lined hat.
A belt rack holding ten thick black belts with gold buckles.
They’re all REALLY long.
Fourth wall: Mrs. Claus’ clothes, including several red suits.
LILY (V.O.)
So it’s in his closet? I mean, if
we can get into his room, getting
into his closet shouldn’t be that
big of a deal.
WOBBLE (V.O.)
That’s not the problem, young one.
The belt rack pulls away from the wall, revealing the final
impediment: the digital keypad of a modern safe.
INT. WOBBLE’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Lily turns to Charlie and they exchange a long, wary look.
LILY
How do we get into the safe?
(off his shrug)
You don’t have the code?
WOBBLE
No one has it but Santa.
Lily sits hard on the edge of Wobble’s bed. This is a

complication she wasn’t expecting.
She thinks for a bit, then makes her decision.
LILY
Let’s go.
Charlie looks at her in surprise.
WOBBLE
Without the code?
46.
LILY
I’ll figure something out. I
always do.
Charlie taps her on the arm. Lily looks over to see that she’s
holding the photo of Tommy.
Charlie looks up at Lily, her eyes questioning, then at Wobble.
LILY
Yes, we can look for Tommy too.
But we have to find the list
first.
WOBBLE
Tommy?
Charlie shows him the photo. He obviously recognizes Tommy.
But he shakes his head and gives it back.
WOBBLE
We cannot save this boy.
Charlie tears up.
LILY
Why not?
WOBBLE
Dokkalfar has him.
LILY
What’s...who’s a Doll Fart?
WOBBLE
Dokkalfar. Santa’s Chief of
Security.
LILY
Why does Santa need a Chief of
Security?
WOBBLE
As you can imagine, human children
try to infiltrate the workshop
every year. The security elves
protect the workshop from
infiltration by humans.
LILY
(long look)
You mean...like this?
47.
WOBBLE
You are not the first children to
get in successfully, but none have
gotten in and escaped. Dokkalfar
has caught every one.
LILY
What about Tommy?
WOBBLE
(shakes his head)
He came here a year ago. He was
not the first. But he got caught
by Dokkalfar, like every other
child before him. And now he is
lost. If you try to save this
child, you will be lost as well.
(beat)
Now, if you would like to get to
the list and make it out of the
Workshop, we must go. Miss
Charlie, if you could put this on?
Charlie crosses her arms over her chest, shakes her head.
LILY
C’mon, Charlie! We came here to
get our names off the list so I
can get my pony and you can get
whatever it is you want. This Doll
Fart guy sounds like bad news.
Charlie’s eyes burn holes in Lily, her rage barely contained.
LILY (CONT’D)
Let’s do what we came here to do,
Charlie. Tommy has to wait.
(off Charlie’s glare)
If we get our names off the list,
we’ll try to find him. Okay?
Wobble holds up a white Laundry Elf uniform. Charlie cocks her

head and stares at him. He smiles.
INT. OPERATIONS CENTRE - NIGHT
The Ops Centre hums with Security Elf activity.
Dokkalfar watches from his seat in the back of the room.
EARANDIL (old), Dokkalfar’s deputy, stands over a young

Security Elf and watches him clack away on a keyboard.
48.
DOKKALFAR
Earandil!
EARANDIL
Yes, sir!
DOKKALFAR
I must go to my quarters to finish
the list.
EARANDIL
Yes sir. Everything is under
control here, sir.
He snaps off a salute as Dokkalfar departs.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE DOKKALFAR’S ROOM - NIGHT
A gold-trimmed hallway.
A door marked CHIEF OF SECURITY with a retinal scanner.
Dokkalfar comes to the door, leans over, scans his eye.
INT. DOKKALFAR’S QUARTERS - NIGHT
This place would make Harry Caul sweat: a wall of monitors,

control desk, multiple laptops, and microphone.
Dokkalfar sits at the desk and turns on the monitors.
ON THE MONITORS:
Surreptitious footage of everyday human life all over the world

from webcams, security cameras, Xboxes, you name it.
All involve CHILDREN - some naughty, some nice.
Kids helping out their parents, kids screaming, kids hitting

other kids, kids picking up their toys...
He taps a couple of keys and the scenes begin to blink in and

out, moving from scene to scene so rapidly it makes you dizzy.
But Dokkalfar is unmoved.
He watches the scenes dispassionately, his eyes never blinking.
As he watches, he types without looking at the keyboard.
He cycles through thousands of naughty kids in a few moments.

49.
One by one, the screens go to black.
When the last screen is dark, he picks up the microphone.
DOKKALFAR
(into the mic)
List is complete. Begin
distribution.
INT. LAUNDRY ROOM - NIGHT
In uniform, Charlie passes as an elf and carries dirty laundry

from carts to a pile next to an enormous washing machine.
WALTZ (ageless), the fourth brother, works the machine.
WALTZ
You’re doin’ great, little lady.
We’ll tacareayooz, dontcha worry.
She smiles at him and goes to pick up more laundry.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE SANTA'S ROOM - NIGHT
Wobble pushes the laundry cart down the hall toward Santa’s
room. It’s piled high with Santa’s red suits.
WOBBLE
(whispers into the cart)
Almost there.
As he approaches the halfway point, Santa’s door opens.
Wobble’s startled but quickly recovers, his expression placid.
A SECURITY ELF (young) comes out and stares him down.
SECURITY ELF
What are you doing here?
WOBBLE
Delivering Mr. Claus’ laundry.
SECURITY ELF
But this is off-schedule.
WOBBLE
We received a ticket that the boss
needs his clothes. You know...for
tonight.
SECURITY ELF
Let me see.
50.
Wobble hands the elf a laundry receipt. The elf looks it over,
then lifts the top few suits and glances through them.
He looks up at Wobble, back in the cart, back at Wobble again.
He looks under the rest of the suits, then at Wobble.
The moment hangs on a razor’s edge.
SECURITY ELF (CONT’D)

Carry on.
Wobble nods and pushes the cart to the door. After he passes
the elf, he lets out a long, quiet breath.
He glances down at Lily, who hangs on the bottom of the cart.
Wobble opens the door, rolls the cart partway into the room.

Elf!
Wobble turns, keeps his body between Lily and the elf.
WOBBLE
Yes?
SECURITY ELF
I’ll come with you.
WOBBLE
Oh, that won’t be necessary.
SECURITY ELF
Oh, but it will.
Wobble SIGHS and pushes the cart:
INT. SANTA’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
As the cart comes into the room, Lily drops out from under it
and rolls under Santa’s bed.
The security elf follows in and stands next to the door with
his hands crossed in front of him.
Charlie walks with ELVES carrying laundry through the room.
A TOY ELF (old) in a GREEN UNIFORM comes in and CLAPS loudly.

51.
TOY ELF
Laundry Elves! We need some of you
to help us move toys! It is time
to load the sleigh!
He points at various elves.
TOY ELF (CONT’D)

You! You! You! You!
(points at Charlie)
You!
She’s confused.
Waltz pushes her toward the door.
The toy elf glances at her, his face a bit confused.
TOY ELF (CONT’D)

They start so young now.
INT. SANTA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Wobble unloads about half the suits and carries them toward the
closet. The guard follows him.
As soon as they exit, Lily rolls out from under the bed and
crosses the room. She runs quietly into the bathroom and
disappears just as Wobble and the security elf come back out.
The security elf cocks his head like he’s heard a far-off
sound. He crosses and looks under the bed, then shoots Wobble a
suspicious look.
Wobble is terrified they’ve been caught, but waits, resolute.
The security elf stands up and brushes off his uniform, then
turns his back on Wobble.
He strides out the door.
SECURITY ELF
Be quick.
The door slams behind him.
Wobble lets out the SIGH OF RELIEF TO END ALL SIGHS OF RELIEF
as Lily peeks out from behind the bathroom door.
52.
INT. SANTA’S WORKSHOP - NIGHT
It’s the interior of Santa’s workshop, and it’s just as amazing

and busy as you might expect on the night before Christmas Eve.
An assembly line winds its way among hundreds of TOY ELVES in

green uniforms who grab toys in various stages of completion
from the belt and make additions or put them in packaging.
On one wall, two large, full tanks that read BELIEF.
It’s breathtaking in its organization, functioning like a well-

made Swiss clock.
On the wall in big block letters:
EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF PRESENTS TO ALL THE WORLD’S CHILDREN
Laundry Elves in their white uniforms walk in a perfect line to

a pile of presents along the wall and each pick up one, then
turn and head to a massive open bay door on the far side.
One of the laundry elves looks young and familiar.
Charlie picks up a box and marches along behind ZIZZO THE ELF
(ageless) while Waltz stays behind her and works to keep anyone
from getting too good a look at her.
The elves carry their presents through the bay door, to:
EXT. SANTA’S WORKSHOP - CONTINUOUS
Where they find SANTA’S SLEIGH, a large TOY SACK in the back.
The sack is open, corners tucked to maximize space.
A few feet away, a BONFIRE roars.
A SECURITY ELF (old) stands next to the sleigh, holds an iPad.
SECURITY ELF
Presents for Hawaii first! They
should go in the bottom, since
they’ll be the last ones
delivered!
(beat)
And don’t forget the final check!
The first line of laundry elves bring their presents.
Security Elf checks the names on the boxes against the iPad.
As he checks them off, they put the boxes in the sack.

53.
SECURITY ELF
Yes...yes...yes...wait!
On his iPad we see in large red letters: NAUGHTY
The fourth laundry elf stops.
Security Elf flicks a long, bony finger and the laundry elf
drops his head, turns, tosses the gift in the bonfire.
SECURITY ELF
Let’s go! Next! Yes...yes...
Charlie puts her head down as she reaches the Toy Elf.

No!
He glares at Charlie, flicks his finger.
She doesn’t move. A tear curls on her cheek, her head bowed.

You! What’s wrong with you? We
don’t have time for you to hold up
the line! Santa will be here soon!
Zizzo nudges her.
She turns, slowly, walks to the edge of the fire.
Drops her present in.
Trudges into the workshop, her cheeks stained with tears.
Security Elf watches her go, finally turns back to his list.
SECURITY ELF
Yes...yes...no!
INT. SANTA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Lily comes out of the bathroom and motions to Wobble.
LILY
(whispers)
Let’s go.
He follows her into:

54.
Lily looks around in open-mouthed wonder.
LILY
Wow.
Wobble opens the hidden compartment behind the belt rack.
Lily kneels on the carpet in front the safe and stares at it.
WOBBLE
I hope you can think of something.
LILY
Me too.
She punches in “1225.” The safe BUZZES.
LILY (CONT’D)
No dice.
WOBBLE
It must be a number that means
something to Santa.
At his words, Lily’s eyes go unfocused as she half-remembers...
ZELDA (O.S.)
(quiet, in Lily’s head)
Everything back here means
something.
INT. NYPL HALLWAY - FLASHBACK
LILY POV:
Zelda stands in front of a door. We look from her smiling face

to the door, but the number is blurry, out of focus.
ZELDA (V.O.)
(echo)
Means something...means
something...means something...the
night before...The Night Before...
The blurry number slowly fades in: 1...9 - no, 8...2...3.
Lily SNAPS HER FINGERS.

55.
LILY
That’s it!
WOBBLE
What’s it?
LILY
The Night Before Christmas!
WOBBLE
What?
She leans forward and dials in the number 1-8-2-3.
The safe CLICKS and the door swings open.
Lily CACKLES and punches Wobble on the arm.
WOBBLE (CONT’D)
Ow! How did you--?
Lily ignores him, peers into the safe.
INT. SANTA’S SAFE - CONTINUOUS
Sitting by itself is an old-fashioned metal key. Lily takes it.
Then Santa’s bedroom door OPENS.
And Wobble DISAPPEARS!
LILY
(whispers)
Where did you go?
He REAPPEARS.
WOBBLE
(whispers)
Sorry. It’s an elf thing.
DOKKALFAR (O.S.)
(calling, like a cop)
Come out of there, human! We have
you surrounded!
WOBBLE
That’s the Security Chief! Oh, no!
Lily makes a snap decision, pushes the key into Wobble’s hand.
LILY
Do that elf thing again. Don’t let
them catch you.
56.
He takes the key, stares at her for a moment as a TEAR DROPS

FROM HIS EYE, and DISAPPEARS.
Lily closes the safe and rack, looks for somewhere to hide.
DOKKALFAR (O.S.)
HUMAN!
She climbs on the suit rack, tries to hide behind the suits.
She hears a QUIET GRUNT and realizes she’s bumped into Wobble.
LILY
(whispers)
Sorry.
She drops down and tries to hide behind Mrs. Claus’ clothes,
across the closet from Wobble.
The closet door opens and three SECURITY ELVES come into the
room, with the two wolf-dogs.
They spread out around the closet and look for Lily.
It doesn’t take them long to find her.
WOBBLE POV
From a small slit between two coats, a security elf drags Lily
out from behind Mrs. Claus’ clothes.
She KICKS AND SCREAMS, but the three elves overpower her and
bind her arms behind her back.
The dogs GROWL at her. It’s not friendly.
One leans over and puts his nose right in her face.
She stares right back.
A security elf puts his boot in her back and pushes her down.
Dokkalfar strides in and stares down at Lily’s prone figure.
He SNAPS HIS FINGERS and the three elves drag her into an
upright position so he can lean over and look her in the eye.
DOKKALFAR
Did you really think you could
sneak in here, human?
LILY
I did sneak in here, Elf.
(MORE)
57.
LILY (CONT’D)
If it wasn’t for that stupid
laundry elf, I’d have made it too!
DOKKALFAR
Oh, yes! Where is your friend, the
laundry elf?
LILY
(laughs)
Friend? That stupid elf never knew
I was in the basket! I scared him
and he ran off.
Dokkalfar leans in closer so his face is very close to hers.
DOKKALFAR
Did you know that elves are born
lie detectors, human? If you lie
to me, I will find out, and I will
find the laundry elf.
LILY
Do your worst, Doll Fart.
Dokkalfar stares closely at her, but her expression never

changes. She’s a GOOD liar!
After a few moments, he GRUNTS and looks away from her.
DOKKALFAR
Why are you here, human?
LILY
I just wanted to see Santa face-
to-face. He didn’t bring me the
puppy I wanted last year, and I
want to ask him why.
DOKKALFAR
Then you should have gone to the
mall, human.
He SNAPS HIS FINGERS and the three security elves drag her out
of the closet behind him.
INT. SANTA’S WORKSHOP - NIGHT
The laundry elves (and Charlie) march through the workshop

toward the last remaining pile of toys.
They each pick up a toy and head for the open bay door.
58.
The main door to the facility opens and Dokkalfar comes in,
flanked by about a dozen SECURITY ELVES.
And the wolf-dogs.
As they spread out throughout the room, the activity stops.
The laundry elves all stop in front of the open bay door. Waltz
steps in front of Charlie to block her from Dokkalfar’s view.
Dokkalfar walks around, nose up, ostentatiously SNIFFS THE AIR.
DOKKALFAR
I smell a human in this room!
GASPS OF SURPRISE titter across the room.
The security elves loose the dogs. As Dokkalfar speaks, they

prowl among the toy and laundry elves.
DOKKALFAR (CONT’D)
Do you know that smell, comrades?
It’s the smell of rotting flesh,
evil intentions, sneaky children
trying to STEAL SANTA’S MAGIC!
The toy elves are terrified.
We can’t have that, can we,
comrades? We can’t have dirty,
sneaky, evil, ROTTING HUMANS take
Santa’s magic and ruin everything
we have built here, CAN WE?
The last line is an order, and the toy elves all respond.
TOY ELVES
(unison)
No, sir!
DOKKALFAR
Now, I know that these evil human
children can sometimes be
tricksters. They can make elves
think that they’re friendly, or
sweet, or helpless, and they can
convince elves to do things they
normally wouldn’t do. But now is
the time for all elves to remember
what we are HERE TO DO! Do you
remember, comrades?
59.
TOY ELVES
(unison)
Yes, sir!
DOKKALFAR
Why are we here?
TOY ELVES
(unison)
EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF PRESENTS TO
ALL THE WORLD’S CHILDREN, SIR!
DOKKALFAR
That’s right.
One of the dogs brushes by Charlie.
Its lips draw back, teeth gleam.
A low-pitched GROWL.
Dokkalfar notices, nods that way. A security elf hustles over.
A tiny hand reaches out, touches the dog on the nose.
The growl ceases, lips slide back into place, teeth disappear.
The dog moves on.
Waltz steps in front of Charlie, blocks her as the security elf

goes by.
The elf signals to Dokkalfar, shrugs.
You are here-- WE are here-- to
help Santa efficiently deliver
presents to those VERY SAME
HUMANS, but in a way that protects
the workshop. We are not here to
help humans steal Santa’s magic
and STEAL THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS!
Are we here to do that, comrades?
TOY ELVES
(unison)
No, sir!
DOKKALFAR
So I need someone to help repair
the trust that has been destroyed.
I need someone to help my team
find the security threat here in
our workshop!
(MORE)
60.
I need an elf to SHOW ME WHERE THE
HUMAN IS!
A long beat.
The dogs GROWL.
WALTZ
Right here, sir!
He points to the tiny figure behind him.
The security elves run over to the line of laundry elves and
push them aside to find the human.
The toy elves-- not a hearty bunch-- run SCREAMING for the
doors, blocked by the laundry elves and security elf phalanx.
Dokkalfar rushes over, a wolfish grin on his face.
The dogs follow.
Finally a security elf breaks through, grabs the tiny figure.
He spins the figure around to get a good look.
It’s Winkle.
SECURITY ELF
Sir! This is an elf, sir!
Dokkalfar LETS OUT AN EAR-PIERCING SCREAM.
DOKKALFAR
FIND THE HUMAN!
The security elves knock the laundry elves out of the way and
begin a frantic search for the missing child.
EXT. SANTA’S WORKSHOP - NIGHT
Wobble leads Charlie by the hand through the darkness toward

the imposing building at the center of the compound. The chaos
of the workshop fades behind them.
INT. DETENTION CENTER - NIGHT
The security elves (minus Dokkalfar) lead Lily into a huge open
room the size of an airplane hangar.
In the middle are about twenty human CAPTIVE KIDS (8-12) and
one OLD MAN (80s)- the older they are, the unhappier they look.
61.
No physical barrier holds the captives in the room. Chairs in

the middle face a television and beds along the side of the
pristine, glowing white floor that contains them in the middle.
The elves lead Lily to the edge of the white floor and then
motion for her to step onto it.
She doesn’t move.
LILY
Why should I?
A security elf behind her doesn’t touch her, but pushes his
hand forward as if he’s shoving her.
She flies forward, onto the white flooring. She turns and runs
back at the security elves--
-- and hits an invisible wall right at the edge of the mat.
LILY (CONT’D)
What? Why--?
The elves turn around and walk away, leaving her in the middle
of the room with the other captives.
LILY (CONT’D)
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Wobble and Charlie stand in the middle of the laundry room

among carts and piles of laundry. They BREATHE HEAVILY.
WOBBLE
We do not have much time. The
security elves will be here soon.
Charlie looks at him questioningly.
WOBBLE (CONT’D)
Your sister has been captured. She
wanted me to give you this.
He hands her the key to the List Chamber.
Charlie looks down at it, frowns at Wobble.
WOBBLE (CONT’D)
It is up to you to get into the
chamber and change the list.
Charlie thinks on this for a beat, then shakes her head.

62.
Wobble realizes what she’s saying, and shakes his own head.
WOBBLE (CONT’D)
It is not possible for us to
rescue your sister. She is in the
Detention Center for retraining.
Charlie picks up a nearby sheet and stretches it in front of

Wobble. She is determined to persuade him.
And he’s determined not to be persuaded.
WOBBLE (CONT’D)
It is impossible to break her out,
my dear. It is protected by
powerful magic.
He moves his fingers in a circle, miming the invisible wall

around the Detention Center.
Charlie looks up at the ceiling, sees the air vent, and grabs
another sheet, which she ties to the first one. She nods toward
the air vent and looks back at Wobble.
She drops her finger right inside the pretend wall as if coming
down from above.
He tries to resist, but she stares him in the eye.
Then grins.
Lily stands at the edge, in disbelief that she’s stuck in this

place. She looks around at the other people in the center.
She takes her phone from her pocket and turns on the camera.
She moves between the people, who don’t talk and, in fact,
don’t interact at all. They just stare into the distance as if
listening to a faraway sound no one else can hear.
Except, after a moment, Lily starts to hear it too-- just a

whisper, really, seemingly from a great distance, but after a
few repetitions it becomes impossible to ignore.
RETRAINING VOICE
(whisper)
Lily looks around.
LILY
What? Who is that?
63.
VOICE
LILY
Shut up!
The voice continues to repeat itself over and over in the

background as Lily tries to ignore it.
She walks around the people and takes pictures of them.
She steps in front of one BOY (9) who just stares into the
distance and her eyes go wide with shock.
LILY (CONT’D)
Tommy?
It’s TOMMY ALBERT! She grabs him by the shoulder.
LILY (CONT’D)
Tommy! Tommy? It’s Lily, Charlie’s
big sister! You used to come over
to our house and play! Remember?
But he doesn’t respond; he stares into the distance, listens

only to the voice telling him that Santa isn’t real.
Lily takes a photo of him.
VOICE
LILY
SHUT UP!
She shakes Tommy, trying to break his reverie.
DOKKALFAR (O.S.)
It appears he’s not listening.
She turns to see Dokkalfar just beyond the edge of the white
floor, watching her interact with Tommy.
She dashes across, and forgets for a moment that she can’t--
WHAM!
She slams headfirst into the invisible wall! It staggers her

and she shakes her head to clear the cobwebs.
(amused)
Don’t hurt yourself.
64.
LILY
What’s wrong with him? Why won’t
he answer me?
DOKKALFAR
He’s...learning.
LILY
Learning what?
DOKKALFAR
Oh, my dear. I’m sure you can
already hear the voice inside your
head telling you that Santa isn’t
real. Soon you’ll come to realize
that it’s true. Or, if not...
He points toward the old man, who stands in the far corner and
seems to be arguing with himself.
OLD MAN
Yes he is...yes he is...leave me
alone!
DOKKALFAR
Most people learn the lesson after
a year or two, and then we can
send them back to wherever they
came from. But some cases are more
stubborn than others.
LILY
But...they’ve-- we’ve seen this
place. How can you decide you
don’t believe it?
DOKKALFAR
We have one very powerful
advantage.
LILY
What’s that?
DOKKALFAR
After a certain age, humans can
convince themselves that anything
is real...or not real. Once they
stop believing in Santa, they’re
no longer a threat to us and we
can send them home. We just use
the retraining to speed the
process up. After all, we don’t
want your kind here.
65.
LILY
And Santa...?
Dokkalfar smiles again. It’s not a pleasant look.
DOKKALFAR
Sometimes the most generous of us
must be protected from themselves.
She looks around the room, her face darkening with realization.
LILY
No cameras in this room. You
wouldn’t want Santa to find out
what you’re doing here.
DOKKALFAR
If it were up to Santa, we’d open
this place to all the human
children of the world. But then we
would lose what makes us magical.
LILY
Which is?
DOKKALFAR
Belief.
LILY
I don’t understand.
DOKKALFAR
I’m sure you don’t. So let’s talk
about you for a moment. I went
back and checked you out--
LILY
What do you mean, checked me out?
DOKKALFAR
(laughs)
My dear, this is Santa’s Workshop.
We make every computer, cell
phone, iPad, GoPro, camera, you
name it, that children get for
Christmas. You don’t think we’d
program in a back door so we can
keep an eye on all you naughty
creatures? And you’ve always been
quite the naughty creature,
reckless and selfish, haven’t you?
Do you know what that tells me?
That tells me you don’t really
believe in Santa.
66.
LILY
I do believe in Santa! He’s real!
DOKKALFAR
He’s more than real, human. He’s
goodness itself. He’s a light in
the darkness who just wants to
bring joy to children, no matter
how ungrateful they may be.
LILY
But I’m not ungrateful!
DOKKALFAR
Did you ever tell your father
thank you for getting you the
riding pants you wanted last
Christmas?
LILY
I...I meant to. But he knew how
grateful I was-- he knew...
DOKKALFAR
And now you can never tell him,
can you?
A long silence, punctuated only by Lily’s SOBS.
DOKKALFAR
It’s the ungrateful ones like you
who cause us problems, the naughty
ones who are too selfish to do the
one thing that powers our assembly
lines and motivates our elves to
keep working on toys all day
long-- believe. It’s the children
like you who are the biggest
threats to us, the ones who try to
infiltrate the workshop to prove
to themselves that Santa is real
because they just don’t believe
strongly enough. You force us to
re-educate you, to show you the
error of your ways, to teach you
that Santa’s not real so that you
can go home and either decide for
yourselves that he is and give us
the power we need to keep
producing toys, or decide that
he’s not, so we can cross you off
our list and save the energy for
children who do believe.
(MORE)
67.
We only have so many elves who can
make so many presents. If we had
to make presents for every human
on the planet- every adult along
with every child, it would
be...well, the only thing that
allows us to function is the fact
that adults stop believing in
Santa, so we can cross them off
the list.
Lily leans against the invisible wall, stunned.
You know, I like humans. I really
do. We all do. But I have a job to
do. In some ways, my job is even
more important than Santa’s. I
mean, of course he’s the face of
the organization, but without me
we’d be overwhelmed.
Lily’s eyes start to mist over.
Now...I know you have an
accomplice. Those traitor elves
Wobble and Waltz are going to find
themselves out with their brother.
LILY
No! They’re good elves.
They...they--
DOKKALFAR
(interrupting)
But if you tell me where the other
human is, maybe I’ll only put them
on garbage duty.
But she has nothing to say.
She slides down the side of the wall, her expression already
growing vacant as she stares into the distance...
VOICE
(louder)
Santa...isn’t...real...
Dokkalfar watches her for a moment, then turns and leaves her
to absorb her retraining.
68.
INT. DETENTION CENTER - LATER
Most of the humans have moved around, but Lily has not.
She sits slumped against the invisible wall, her expression

vacant but her cheeks damp with tears.
She doesn’t notice that, far above her, the screws are
loosening on an air vent.
She also doesn’t notice the vent swing open and Charlie drop
down, on the end of a bedsheet rope.
Charlie has the bedsheet rope tied around her waist and she
hangs upside down as she slowly drops through the room.
Lily doesn’t notice her, never looks up, and doesn’t move as
Charlie slowly drops the 40 feet or so from the grate.
Eventually she hangs directly in front of Lily, almost like

Spider-Man and MJ.
She grabs Lily’s chin and shakes her, but Lily doesn’t respond.
Charlie grabs her sheet and gives it a pull.
A moment later, a second bedsheet rope comes tumbling down and

hangs just above the ground.
As Charlie stretches to wrap the bedsheet around Lily, we

notice the tufts of cloth stuffed in her ears to prevent her
from hearing the retraining.
She ties the sheet around Lily’s waist, secures it with a tight
knot, and tugs on the sheet.
It takes a moment, but the sheet starts to pull, lifting Lily

off the ground and into the air.
At the same time, Charlie’s sheet starts to lift her up too.
A dozen LAUNDRY ELVES on one side of the grate, led by Wobble,

pulls one sheet, while a similar line on the other side, led by
Waltz, pulls the other. They work in perfect, efficient tandem.
INT. DETENTION CENTER - CONTINUOUS
The two girls rise to the ceiling, Lily slumped and non-
responsive. Charlie grabs her hand and holds it as they rise.
69.
Finally they reach the ceiling. Charlie clambers in.
Charlie and the elves lift Lily into the duct. They lie her
prone on the floor of the duct and back away.
Charlie kneels over her, her eyes wide and terrified.
She shakes Lily’s shoulders, but she doesn’t respond.
She SLAPS LILY’S FACE, but that doesn’t rouse her either.
LILY
(whispers)
Charlie looks at the elves in alarm, starts to CRY.
Wobble puts his hand on her arm.
WOBBLE
You have to remind her, little
one. She’s forgotten.
LILY
(whispers)
Charlie puts her mouth up close to Lily’s ear.
CHARLIE
(loudly)
Santa is real!
Lily’s eyes pop open and she stares at Charlie. She lets out a
DEEP, VIOLENT BREATH, almost as if she’d been drowning.
LILY
He’s...real?
Charlie nods and points around at the elves.
Lily’s glance darts between them, eyes wild and breath ragged.
Everything starts to slow down as the spell breaks.
She focuses on Charlie.
LILY (CONT’D)
Wait...did you...did you talk?
Charlie shrugs and grins.

70.
Lily sits up and throws her arms around her sister.
LILY (CONT’D)
And you believe in Santa?
Charlie nods into her shoulder, her eyes filled with tears.
Lily looks over Charlie’s shoulder and sees all the elves.
LILY (CONT’D)
Oh, my. Well, hello.
LAUNDRY ELVES
(as a group)
Hello!
She LAUGHS, but then her eyes go dark.
LILY
(furiously)
Speaking of Santa...how can you
let this go on and not tell him?
Wobble and the elves are taken aback.
WOBBLE
We never talk to Santa!
ELVES
(almost in unison)
Never talk to Santa!
LILY
You’re...not allowed?
Wobble shakes his head furiously. He looks terrified.
WOBBLE
Dokkalfar would send us away.
Lily thinks for a moment, then takes Charlie’s hand.
LILY
Then I guess it’s up to us.
WOBBLE
To get to the list?
Lily shakes her head.
Charlie and the elves stare at her, confused.
Until she points down.

71.
INT. SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTRE - NIGHT
A group of SECURITY ELVES monitor the cameras all over the

facility.
Dokkalfar stands in the back, his arms crossed over his chest.
DOKKALFAR
Where are they...?
He turns to a SECURITY ELF ASSISTANT (young) standing near him

and grabs the elf by the lapels.
How do you lose every one of the
laundry elves?
SECURITY ELF ASSISTANT

I don’t know, sir. They
simply...disappeared.
It’s a full-on Berlin Elflift.
Two elves hang by bedsheets and grab humans from the floor.
Above, two more wait to be dropped down.
Lily supervises the lift.
Down the way, Charlie sits with Tommy Albert.
He stares ahead, his eyes blank, while she holds his hand.
INT. OPERATIONS CENTRE - NIGHT
On one monitor, the laundry room sits empty.
SECURITY ELF #1
There they are, sir!
Dokkalfar shoves the assistant aside, peers at the monitor.
SECURITY ELF #1 points at one of the monitors. Onscreen six

laundry elves run in a perfect line down a dormitory hallway.
DOKKALFAR
What are they doing...?
72.
He picks up a walkie-talkie.
(into the walkie-talkie)
They’re in the dormitory hallway!
Get there and get them now!
SECURITY ELF PATROL #1

(from the walkie-talkie)
Yes sir!
SECURITY ELF #2
Sir!
DOKKALFAR
What?
SECURITY ELF #2
We’ve got them here now!
He points to a second monitor.
Another group of six laundry elves run-- again, in a perfect

line-- outside in the snow near the stables.
DOKKALFAR
Get someone over there!
SECURITY ELF #3
Sir!
DOKKALFAR
WHAT?!
SECURITY ELF #3
More here, sir.
Another monitor, another group of laundry elves.
Suddenly, every screen in the facility is lit up with groups of

laundry elves in their distinctive white uniforms:
-- running down hallways

-- between the conveyer belts in the workshop
-- through the mess hall
-- over the snow.
DOKKALFAR
How many laundry elves are there?
Security Elf #1 checks a clipboard.
SECURITY ELF #1
24, sir.
73.
But the monitors give the lie to this, as there are easily
hundreds of laundry elves running around the compound.
Now they split up, run in circles, twist doorknobs and

generally act as distracting as possible.
Dokkalfar and his elves are so distracted that they don’t

notice two elves stop at the door to the List Chamber and a
particularly tall elf unlock the door with an old metal key.
They just stare as the elf dervishes run all over the compound
and then, at the same time, DISAPPEAR.
INT. LIST CHAMBER - NIGHT
Lily and Charlie slip into the List Chamber and quietly close
the door behind them.
The room is dark and solemn, with only one spotlight coming
from the ceiling above.
It’s focused on a platform in the middle of the room.
LILY
(whispers)
That must be it.
Charlie nods. They hold hands and walk toward the platform.
As they near, though, they’re both surprised by what they see:
ON THE PLATFORM
It’s a computer, not a book.
But not a new computer.
Your grandma bought this hunk of junk at Radio Shack: puke

green plastic and dull diode screen that’s currently dark.
LILY
What in the...?
Charlie shrugs. Lily looks it over again and realizes--
LILY (CONT’D)
It doesn’t even have a mouse!
Charlie reaches out and touches a button. The computer WHIRS to

life and after a few seconds the screen LIGHTS UP.
It’s the List.

74.
But this isn’t some modern spreadsheet or easy-to-manipulate

database. No, this List is just that-- a list.
Left to right are entries for NAME, LOCATION, and PRESENT.
Lily pushes the Down Arrow key and watches the cursor drop from
the top name on the list to the next name down.
LILY (CONT’D)
Oh. Wow.
She CLACKS the Down Arrow key and pages through the list.
CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK
LILY (CONT’D)
It’s not even in alphabetical
order.
She reaches a name and stops. It says MARIANNE WINGARD - LONG

ISLAND, NY - NEW CELL PHONE.
She runs her finger along Marianne’s name and looks surprised.
LILY (CONT’D)
Why’s Marianne on the Naughty
List?
She CLACKS and stops again at JULIE HONORE - LONG ISLAND, NY -

LAPTOP COMPUTER.
LILY (CONT’D)
I know this girl. She’s really
nice. How did she end up on here?
She stops and turns to Charlie.
LILY (CONT’D)
This is going to take a while. Why
don’t you stand watch by the door?
Charlie nods and slips away into the darkness. Lily turns all
her attention to the computer.
She CLACKS again on the Down Key.
CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK
She picks up speed and CLACKS through quite a few names before
she finally sees LILY STARK - LONG ISLAND, NY - PONY.
LILY (CONT’D)
(to herself)
Bingo.
75.
She CLACKS to the end of the line and DELETES.
But then she stops.
Right below her name on the list, she sees:
CHARLIE STARK - LONG ISLAND, NY - HELP ME REMEMBER DADDY
Lily’s face falls and tears form in the corners of her eyes.
She staggers backward, finger off the keyboard, face slack.
LILY (CONT’D)
(whispers)
Charlie.
She turns and looks at Charlie, who’s still standing by the

door, and it’s like she’s seeing her in a whole new light.
LILY (CONT’D)
Charlie!
(off Charlie’s glance)
Come here.
Charlie darts over and Lily points to the screen.
Charlie sees her own name and starts to CRY.
Lily, also in tears, puts her arms around Charlie.
LILY (CONT’D)
(whispers)
I’m sorry. I was so worried about
me that I didn’t even think...
She holds Charlie away from her and gives her a long look.
LILY (CONT’D)
Are you having trouble remembering
Daddy?
Charlie hesitates, then nods. She is unfathomably sad.
So is Lily.
LILY (CONT’D)
I am too. Sometimes I try to
remember his laugh, and I can’t
quite hear it. Like, I think I
know what it sounded like, but
it’s just...
Charlie points off, into the distance.

76.
LILY (CONT’D)
Exactly. It’s far away. I’m
worried that in a few years I
won’t remember him at all.
Charlie nods.
LILY (CONT’D)
He always laughed when we rode.
Charlie pulls Lily in for another hug and more tears.
Lily wipes away a tear and points to the screen.
LILY (CONT’D)
You want to clear ourselves off
this stupid list and go home? And
take Tommy with us?
Charlie nods.
They reach over and together press DELETE on Charlie’s line.
Neither of them notice that Lily’s line is once again

completely filled out.
The cursor backspaces over her entry and it disappears.
Lily presses the Up Arrow to her own line-- but then stops.
LILY (CONT’D)
Look.
Charlie’s line has reappeared.
LILY (CONT’D)
What the...?
She DELETES her own line-- and watches it reappear.
LILY (CONT’D)
No!
She tries Charlie’s line again...but it reappears.
LILY (CONT’D)
Unplug it.
They look around for the power, but can’t find it. Charlie
shrugs helplessly.
Lily checks the back of the computer and her mouth drops open.
LILY (CONT’D)
Look at this.
77.
She points at the box.
We follow Charlie’s glance and see that it says NAUTILUS 6000.
Charlie looks back at Lily, confused.
LILY (CONT’D)
Remember what Kit said?
(off Charlie’s shrug)
“Why would I help a couple of
snot-nosed kids looking for the
Naughty List?”
She pronounces it like Kit did: “Nau-tee-less.”
LILY (CONT’D)
Nautilus...Naughty List. I think
Kit is--
SANTA (O.S.)
Kit is what?
The girls JUMP, turn to see a rotund FIGURE in the doorway.
LILY
Santa!
The figure, clad in Santa’s traditional Christmas Eve red suit

and hat, steps into the light.
And...it’s Kit!
He holds up two gloved jazz hands.
KIT/SANTA
Surprise!
(stern)
Why are you messing with my list?
LILY
Trying to delete our names.
SANTA
Why?
LILY
You told us if we got our names
off the list, we would get our
presents.
SANTA
Did I?
LILY
You--
78.
INT. KIT’S STUDY - FLASHBACK
Kit glowers at the girls.
LILY
So we have to erase our names off
the Naughty List.
KIT
Sounds like you got it all figured
out.
INT. LIST CHAMBER - NIGHT
Lily remembers and ain’t happy about it.
LILY
Oh. Oh, that was sneaky.
SANTA
Not my first rodeo, kid.
LILY
But...it’s the Naughty List!
SANTA
Is it?
LILY
Isn’t it?
SANTA
Remember what I told you.
LILY
‘Santa keeps the list because it’s
too many to remember...’
SANTA
...’Even for someone as smart as
him.’ Me. As smart as me.
LILY
(as the penny drops)
So it’s...it’s just a list? Like,
of what kids want?
(off his grin)
And there’s no...?
SANTA
Of course there’s not a Naughty
List, kid. I’m Santa Claus, not
Judge Judy!
79.
Both Santa and Lily miss Charlie’s confused expression.
LILY
Who?
SANTA
(eyeroll)
Never mind. Anyway...there’s no
such thing as a naughty kid.
LILY
Could you tell my stepmom that?
SANTA
(HO HO HO)
Every kid deserves to get what
they want. And that’s why I’m
here.
LILY
So you sent us on a wild-goose
chase. Why? Just to get us up
here?
SANTA
Let’s call it my little rebellion.
LILY
Rebellion against what? Don’t you
run this place? I mean...it is
called Santa’s Workshop.
SANTA
Elves are remarkably efficient
creatures, and they keep this
place running like a machine. But
they don’t experience joy and
suffering like humans do. I need a
little messiness in my life.
(glances at Charlie)
And besides...sometimes kids need
to see to really understand.
LILY
And sometimes adults need to get
new computers.
SANTA
What are you talking about? The
Nautilus 6000 is state-of-the-art
technology!
LILY
For 1970.
80.
SANTA
But it-- yeah, okay. I need to
upgrade, but this is the only
place on Earth Amazon doesn’t
deliver.
LILY
There’s an Apple Store in Times
Square!
SANTA
Millennials make me nervous. I
mean, Genius Bar? Really? Do they
serve their Geniuses in bottles or
on tap?
LILY
OK, Boomer...next time you’re in
New York, Charlie and I will take
you to the Apple Store and get you
a new computer.
SANTA
And how is my favorite kid who
never speaks?
He offers Charlie his gloved hand.
She smiles bashfully and takes it.
They walk ahead as Lily takes a last look at the list.
LILY
Santa?
(beat)
Kit? Wait, what do I call you?
SANTA
Santa’s fine. What can I do for
you?
LILY
Keep the pony.
SANTA
What?
LILY
I’ve been so worried about getting
my pony that I didn’t notice how
hard this has been for Charlie.
SANTA
You’re a kid. Don’t be so hard on
yourself.
81.
LILY
I’m her big sister. Our dad’s
gone, but...we’re here. I should
be taking care of her, not chasing
after a pony. A horse isn’t going
to help us remember our Dad.
SANTA
So what are you saying?
LILY
Keep the pony. Just...bring our
Daddy back. Charlie needs him. ...
I need him.
Santa looks at her for a long moment, and we start to think

that maybe he can actually do it, but then--
SANTA
Now you’re asking me for the one
thing I can’t give.
The girls exchange looks of sadness, and a tear runs down

Lily’s cheek.
It’s a long, quiet, sad moment.
Until Santa SNAPS his fingers.
SANTA
Wait! C’mon!
He hustles out the door.
The girls exchange a look, scramble after him.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Santa marches down a hallway toward the workshop. The girls run
behind him, but he’s a lot bigger and they can’t keep up.
SANTA
(to himself)
Gotta find one of those...
INT. WORKSHOP - NIGHT
He bursts into the workshop and all the toy elves stop what
they’re doing and turn to stare at him.
He ignores them and marches to a door on the far wall. He opens

it to reveal a closet, with shelves lining three walls.
82.
On the shelves are boxes of all sorts-- cardboard, metal,

crystal-- and all sizes.
He disappears into the closet and rummages through the boxes,

MUTTERING to himself as he does so.
The girls follow him in. They start across the room, but then--
DOKKALFAR (O.S.)
STOP!
All the attention in the room turns to Dokkalfar, who leads a

group of Security Elves into the workshop from a far entrance.
He points at the girls.
There they are.
(beat)
Get them!
The Security Elf phalanx surrounds the girls, hands up to form

a magic wall that keeps the girls locked in.
Santa’s still inside the closet, oblivious to the disturbance--

but Dokkalfar is also oblivious to him.
Dokkalfar strides across the workshop floor. The security elves

create a space for him to enter and he steps inside the magic
wall with the girls.
We’ve got you...all of you.
He nods toward the door he just came from. The girls look over
to see all 24 laundry elves detained by another pack of
security elves.
You thought you’d come in here and
ruin everything--
SANTA (O.S.)
Found it!
Dokkalfar’s eyes go wide. He -- and everyone else-- turns to

see Santa emerge from the closet holding up a small silver box.
Santa turns to see the strange tableaux.
SANTA (CONT’D)
Dokkalfar! What in Heaven’s name
are you doing?
Dokkalfar is temporarily speechless.

83.
SANTA (CONT’D)
Well?
DOKKALFAR
Uh...these...humans...are
infiltrators, sir! They must be--
SANTA
Must be what?
LILY
Your boy Doll Fart wants to stick
us in a prison and brainwash us.
SANTA
What?
DOKKALFAR
That’s-- that’s absurd! This human
is clearly lying. That’s what
humans do, Santa. They lie.
LILY
(no sir)
I got receipts.
She pulls her phone out and raises it above her head.
Dokkalfar grasps for the phone, but Lily’s a head taller and
holds it up so all he can do is grasp helplessly.
LILY (CONT’D)
Maybe if you believe hard enough,
you can make yourself taller.
SANTA
Let her through!
The security elf phalanx opens and Lily walks out to show him
the phone. She scrolls through the photos.
LILY
This is Tommy Albert. He and
Charlie were best friends until he
disappeared a year ago. And these
are...well, these are the other
people your security elf was
holding hostage.
DOKKALFAR
Was? What do you mean, was?
LILY
Check your cameras now, Doll Fart.
84.
DOKKALFAR
Why do you keep calling me that?
(beat)
Never mind.
He snaps at the nearest security elf, who brings him an iPad.
He flings some windows around, frowns.
DOKKALFAR
Where are they? WHERE ARE THEY?
INT. LAUNDRY ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The humans huddle in the carts, covered by laundry.
TOY FACTORY
Santa looks at the photos and his eyes narrow.
SANTA
I know this boy. He came to the
library last year, same as you.
(beat)
But...he never came to visit here.
LILY
But he did! They all did. Little
man over there intercepted them
all before you could see them and
locked them all away so he could
brainwash them into thinking
you’re not real.
Santa shoots Dokkalfar the dirtiest of dirty looks.
SANTA
Dokkalfar. I’m so disappointed in
you.
Dokkalfar hangs his head.
SANTA (CONT’D)
What do you think we’re here for?
ELVES
(in unison)
EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF PRESENTS TO
ALL THE WORLD'S CHILDREN.
SANTA (CONT’D)
Sure, that’s what we do. But do
you know why?
85.
There’s a long silence.
From somewhere in the room, an elf COUGHS.
SANTA
Oh, that’s so disappointing. We’re
not just here to bring presents to
children. We’re here to bring them
happiness and joy. The world is a
hard place for a lot of children,
and it’s our job to make their
lives a little brighter and a
little happier.
DOKKALFAR
No!
SANTA
Excuse me?
DOKKALFAR
We’re here to reward good behavior
and punish the naughty!
(off Santa’s shock)
Human children are by nature vile,
smelly creatures who cause
problems and create messes
wherever they go.
(gestures)
Look around here, for example!
These two little girls have
disrupted our factory and put us
completely off schedule! The
reason we’re here is to reward the
other children, the ones who
believe in you enough to
behave...to be nice, not naughty.
Those children provide enough
belief energy to keep our assembly
lines going. Those children rein
in their impulse to destroy
and...create messes. Unlike these
two.
Santa sits heavily on a nearby chair, head in hands.
SANTA
Oh, Dokkalfar. You just don’t get
it at all, do you?
(looks up)
Why do you think we don’t have a
Naughty List?
Dokkalfar looks away from him, but Charlie raises her hand and
jumps up and down.
86.
SANTA
Let her through.
Charlie runs to the Security Elf and takes his iPad.
She runs it to Santa, who stares at it as his eyes grow dark.
SANTA
(ice cold)
Dokkalfar, what is this?
Silence.
SANTA (CONT’D)
Is this a Naughty List?
Dokkalfar stands in silence, head high.
Santa lets out the longest and saddest of SIGHS.
SANTA (CONT’D)
Dokkalfar, all of you security
elves...go to your rooms. I have
presents to deliver, but then
we’re going to have a little talk.
DOKKALFAR
I don’t think so.
SANTA
Excuse me?
Dokkalfar SNAPS his fingers.
The security elves snap into formation, dogs in front.
They face Santa and the girls.
DOKKALFAR
You’ve gone too far this time,
Santa. Letting these two humans
run around the workshop like they
belong in here, taking apart all
the security I’ve put in place to
protect you and the magic that
powers our toy-making...perhaps
it’s time for a new Santa.
(to the Security Elves)
Take him and those two disgusting
humans to the Detention Centre.
I’ll be in the sleigh.
The dogs advance on Santa and the girls, lips drawn back.
87.
Teeth gleam in the workshop lights.
GROWLS rise.
Lily tries to hide behind Santa.
Charlie, though, steps forward and looks the dogs in the eye.
DOKKALFAR
It’s been years since Fang and
Banshee tasted human flesh.
(to the dogs)
Get her.
Charlie ignores him.
Sits on the floor and puts out her hands.
Fang stares at her hungrily.
Santa starts forward, but Lily puts her hand on his arm.
LILY
(quietly)
Wait. Doll Fart’s finished. He
just doesn’t know it yet.
Santa glances at her with narrowed eyes, but relaxes.
Fang leans in and stares at Charlie, teeth gleaming.
Opens his mouth.
LICKS HER FACE.
Puts his head under her hand, leans into her, tongue lolling
like the silliest Lab you ever saw.
Charlie GIGGLES.
Banshee pushes into the fun, rolls over to give her his belly.
Dokkalfar’s blood pressure spikes.
DOKKALFAR
What are you doing, you idiots?
(to Earandil)
Get them NOW!
Earandil and the security elves push forward, batons CRACKLING.
Charlie scratches the dogs’ bellies.
Then she motions toward the security elves.

88.
The dogs jump up, lips back, right back in FULL ATTACK MODE.
But now they go after the security elves.
In seconds, the phalanx breaks, and black-clad elves run

SCREAMING through the workshop.
The dogs chase them around, BARKING and SNAPPING.
LILY
(points at Dokkalfar)
Wobble!
Wobble motions to the laundry elves, who surround Dokkalfar.
Lily grabs one of the batons from the floor.
Dokkalfar tries to push his way out. He doesn’t see Lily.
She hits him with the baton.
A BURST OF SPARKS and he’s the “Don’t tase me, bro!” guy.
He shakes and jibbers and falls to the floor.
Lily makes an “Ew!” face.
LILY
Who’s the smelly one now, Doll
Fart?
And just like that, it’s over.
The security elves give up, raise their hands in the air.
The dogs come to Charlie, lick her hands and sit next to her.
SANTA
(to Wobble)
Put them in the Detention Centre
until I get back. I’ll deal with
him later.
(to the toy elves)
Toy Elves! I need you to replace
every present on this list in...
(checks an imaginary watch)
Five minutes! Go!
The room erupts in activity as the toy elves jump to it.
Two laundry elves pick up Dokkalfar’s still-quivering body and

carry him out the door.
Wobble and the laundry elves lead the security elves out.
89.
As the door closes, the toy elves break out in a CHEER.
Santa peers at Lily.
SANTA
Doll fart?
LILY
Might have been Doll Poop after I
tased him.
She and Charlie GIGGLE. Santa just rolls his eyes.
LILY (CONT’D)
What are you going to do with him?
SANTA
I don’t know. He used to be a good
elf, but I think he’s lost his
perspective...
(waves it off)
Anyway. Here.
He hands the silver box to Charlie, who looks it over and then
looks back up at him, confused.
LILY
I don’t understand. How is that
supposed to replace our dad?
Santa raises a finger, his eyes twinkling.
SANTA
You know this place is magic,
right?
(touches his finger to the
side of his nose)
Open it.
Charlie opens the box-- and MAGIC HAPPENS.
HOLOGRAMS OF JERRY shoot out of the box and fly around them:
-- Riding horses with Lily and LAUGHING AUDIBLY.
-- Holding Charlie and LAUGHING AUDIBLY.
-- Chasing the girls around the house-- and LAUGHING AUDIBLY.
Lily and Charlie just stare in amazement. Lily puts her arm
around her sister and they watch their memories come to life.
90.
SANTA (CONT’D)
This will hold your memories of
him. That way you can visit him
anytime you want. And you never
have to forget his laugh.
This catches Lily off guard.
LILY
How did you know?
SANTA
I’m Santa Claus. Duh.
He holds out his arms toward Charlie. She hesitates, but then
jumps up and gives him a huge hug.
SANTA (CONT’D)
Since it’s Christmas Eve, can I
give you ladies a ride home?
LILY
What about everybody else?
SANTA
What do you-- oh, yes! Them too.
He waves at Wobble, who salutes and runs off.
EXT. SANTA’S SLEIGH - NIGHT
Santa sits in the front of his sleigh. The various people from
the Detention Center sit around the bag of toys.
Lily, Charlie and Tommy sit in the front with Santa.
Magically, everyone fits.
Wobble hands Santa the reins and waves at the girls.
LILY
Thank you, Wobble.
WOBBLE
(bows)
My pleasure, young one.
SANTA
Where’s my wife?
As if on cue, the door to the reindeer stables opens and MRS.

CLAUS walks out. The girls see her and GASP.
91.
It’s Zelda Winterbean.
She waves at the girls and steps up on the side of the sleigh
to give Santa a good-bye kiss.
ZELDA
You girls make sure he behaves,
all right?
LILY
We’ll try, but we can’t promise
anything.
Santa turns and looks over the crowd behind him.
SANTA
Normally this is a solo flight.
Everybody ready?
Nods and MUTTERED ASSENTS. Everybody in this sleigh is still

recovering from weeks, months, years of reprogramming. They’re
all still a little slow on the uptake.
He turns his head toward the girls, his eyes twinkling, and
touches the side of his nose.
SANTA (CONT’D)
On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer,
on Vixen...
The reindeer begin to move and the sleigh slides along the
snow.
SANTA (CONT’D)
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, on
Blitzen!
The sleigh LIFTS OFF THE GROUND and flies into the air.
LILY
Wheeeeeeeeeee!
The elves and Mrs. Claus watch the sleigh rise and disappear.
SANTA
HO HO HO!
EXT. TOMMY ALBERT'S HOUSE - NIGHT
A gentle WIND blows the trees outside the Albert residence.
Otherwise all is calm until Santa’s sleigh glides past the

trees and sets down gently in the street in front of the house.
92.
Santa, Tommy and the girls are all that’s left in the sleigh.
SANTA
We’re here, Tommy.
He shrinks against the side of the sleigh, timid and small.
Charlie kneels in front of him, takes his hand.
CHARLIE
Are you afraid?
He nods.
TOMMY
What if she doesn’t remember me?
CHARLIE
She misses you, Tommy. She misses
you as much as I miss my Daddy.
He starts to cry. So does Charlie.
She hugs him and he lays his head on her shoulder.
TOMMY
Thank you.
They stand and Charlie wipes the tears off his cheek.
He hugs Santa and Lily, then climbs out of the sleigh.
Crosses the street, KNOCKS on the door.
LILY
But his mom will see us!
Santa smiles, touches the side of his nose.
SANTA
It’s all good.
The door opens and Mrs. Albert sticks her head out.
Pookie peers between her legs.
MRS. ALBERT
Can I help y-- Tommy? TOMMY?!
TOMMY
Mommy?
She leaps out the front door and takes Tommy in her arms.
93.
MRS. ALBERT
Tommy...you’re home?
You’re...you’re home!
She BURSTS INTO TEARS, and so does Tommy.
As she hugs him she looks straight at them-- the sleigh, the
reindeer, Santa and the girls-- and doesn’t see a thing.
Pookie, however, stares directly at the sleigh. BARKS.
Mrs. Albert shushes her, hustles Tommy inside and closes the
door behind them.
Santa grins at the girls and gives the reins a little tug.
SANTA
Shall we?
The sleigh glides down the street and lifts off the ground.
The sleigh lands softly on the snow outside the girls’ house.
The three of them sit alone in the sleigh for a few moments.
SANTA
Well, then--
He’s interrupted by Lily engulfing him in a huge hug.
He hugs her back, his eyes cloudy with tears.
SANTA (CONT’D)
You’re a good girl. You too,
Charlie. Your father would be very
proud of you both.
The girls exchange a sad-but-happy smile.
LILY
You’re not so bad yourself.
He LAUGHS-- a deep Santa-sized HO-HO-HO belly laugh.
SANTA
Now go see your stepmom. She
misses you.
The girls jump off the sleigh and head for the house.
94.
SANTA (CONT’D)
(calls out)
Hey...Apple Store in the spring?
Lily looks back over her shoulder.
LILY
Count on it. You need the upgrade.
He LAUGHS and SNAPS the reins.
The girls hold hands and wave as Santa disappears into the sky.
Charlie leans her head on Lily’s shoulder.
CHARLIE
Sisters forever?
LILY
Sisters forever.
Charlie taps her chest, then Lily’s.
Lily squeezes her hand as they open the door and go inside.
EXT. MARIA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
WE RISE from the ground, settle outside Maria’s bedroom window.
The girls come into the room and rouse Maria from her sleep.
She pulls both girls to her in a long hug.
Lily launches into the story-- hand motions, wide eyes.
Charlie interrupts, says something we can’t hear.
Lily lets her talk.
Maria’s face: tears, joy, disbelief.
Charlie opens the box.
Maria watches with her hand over her mouth as images of Jerry
FLASH AROUND THE ROOM.
Then WE RISE again.
As we circle around the house, we see a small barn in the back

yard. It's new.
There's a POP and a BURST OF LIGHT.

95.
And suddenly there's a pony, head poked out the barn door.
As we rise up and the house becomes just another point of light

among a thousand points of light, we hear:
SANTA
Merry Christmas to all...and to
all a good night!
FADE OUT.

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Story by Chip Riggs and Lilly Riggs

EXT. DESERTED ROAD - NIGHT

The middle of nowhere.

Lights of the city in the distance.

A small figure trudges toward us.

As it gets closer, we see it’s a LITTLE BOY. He’s dressed

This is TOMMY ALBERT (8).

He tosses something red over and over in his hands.

As he reaches us, he stops and looks around.

Looks at the red item in his palm. It’s a button.

He takes a deep breath.

Pushes the button.

From the button comes a BURST OF BRIGHT LIGHT. It engulfs him.

Then it’s gone-- and so is Tommy.

The road is empty and dark.

INT. DARK SPACE - NIGHT

Tommy sits against a wall, knees pulled to his chest.

He stares across an open space.

But this isn’t a Keebler Elf or a happy toymaker. This elf’s

He wears a black military-style uniform with three stripes.

This is DOKKALFAR, and he stares back at Tommy dispassionately,

He turns and walks away, crisply, disappears into the darkness.

And from seemingly nowhere comes a quiet whisper.

Tommy’s eyes go wide and fill with tears, as we:

INT. LILY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

A preteen girl’s bedroom, pictures and posters all over.

TITLE CARD: “ONE YEAR LATER”

A little girl HUMS the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE THEME.

In one, Lily holds a trophy while Jerry beams.

INSERT: Newspaper article taped to wall.

Headline: HERO FIREFIGHTER KILLED. Subhead: “Ran back into

A small hand reaches out and touches Jerry’s photo.

It belongs to LILY STARK (now 11), mischievous and DETERMINED:

She touches her finger to her lips and kisses it.

She wears a snugly-tied ratty bathrobe and swimming goggles;

INT. CHARLIE’S ROOM - NIGHT

Pink walls covered with mermaids and unicorns.

The door opens and Lily comes in.

Charlie doesn’t move. Lily grabs her by the arm.

Charlie sits up; Lily kneels on the floor in front of her.

Charlie’s eyes narrow.

Charlie hesitates, then reaches out and takes Lily’s hand.

INT. MARIA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT (IMAGINATION)

Tastefully decorated bedroom. MARIA STARK (30s) sleeps alone.

In the far back of the room is a closed closet door.

A light blinks on an alarm panel next to the door.

EXT. STARK HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Beneath the wall of the two-story home is a swimming pool full

INT. MARIA’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

INT. CHARLIE’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS (REAL LIFE)

Lily hands Charlie a black marker and points at the diagram.

INT. MARIA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT (IMAGINATION)

The bedroom is the same. Maria sleeps alone.

A wire camera appears under the door. It snakes forward across

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Lily and Charlie, still in the matching suits, kneel in front

INT. MARIA’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

The camera sneaks up to the panel next to the closet door.