CHRISTMAS WITH THE ARNOLDS
Written by
Cian Crotty
1.
1 EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT 1
The camera guides the viewers through the festive and jolly
neighborhood. As we get further into the neighborhood, we can
see that the people went all out on their Christmas
decorations.
2 EXT. YOUNG MARK'S HOUSE - NIGHT 2
The house is the furthest from the block, and there is
absolutely no Christmas decorations or anything. We can a
sign on the front door that reads: "NO CHRISTMAS
CAROLERS!!!".
3 INT. YOUNG MARK’S ROOM - NIGHT 3
YOUNG MARK (10-12) is sound asleep on his bed, and we get a
good look at his room. Unlike the rest of his house, his room
has Christmas lights around his bed, a little Christmas tree
on his night stand. Suddenly, there is a loud annoying
beeping sound that wakes up YOUNG MARK. YOUNG MARK then
realizes that it was just his alarm clock, which reads:
"12:00". YOUNG MARK jumps up off his bed in excitement.
YOUNG MARK
(excited)
Yes! It's finally time.
4 INT. STAIRS - MIDNIGHT 4
YOUNG MARK slowly, sneakily, goes down the stairs, hoping to
find Santa, but hears his parents arguing. Camera shifts to
MOM and DAD.
5 INT. FAMILY ROOM - MIDNIGHT 5
MOM and DAD are standing arguing and yelling at each other,
not knowing that YOUNG MARK is watching them from the stairs.
DAD
Why are you always yelling and
nagging at me all the time?!
MOM
Because, I'm always trying to get
you to get a job, but all you want
to do is lay down and be a lazy for
the rest of your life!
DAD
2.
Well, maybe if you stop treating me
like a kid, and treat me like a
grown man--
MOM
(interrupts)
Well, if you stop acting like a
child, and start acting like a
grown man...
6 INT. STAIRS - MIDNIGHT 6
Camera shifts to YOUNG MARK, who stands up, defeated, and
heads to his room.
7 INT. YOUNG MARK’S ROOM - MIDNIGHT 7
YOUNG MARK walks to his bed and lies down and starts to cry.
MARK (V.O.)
This is when I decided that I will
never hope for Christmas.
CUT TO:
MAIN TITLES BEGIN
8 EXT. NEW YORK CITY - MORNING 8
The city is flooded with tons of people as Jingle Bells Rock
plays. There are a bunch of "Santa's asking CITIZENS if they
could donate change.
FAKE SANTA
Would you like to support the Navy
and donate some charity for the
poor and the homeless?
CITIZEN #1
No thank you. I donated and
supported enough.
FAKE SANTA
But please, I need it-- I mean,
they need it.
CITIZEN #1
I said no.
FAKE SANTA
Please! It's for a good cause!
3.
CITIZEN #1
Leave me alone!
FAKE SANTA
You left me no choice, please
forgive me.
FAKE SANTA takes CITIZEN #1's wallet and runs as CITIZEN #1
chases him. CITIZEN #1 notices the POLICE OFFICER and points
to FAKE SANTA who is still running, but slowly.
CITIZEN #1
Hey! That Santa guy stole my
wallet.
The POLICE OFFICER notices FAKE SANTA running with the wallet
in his hand and chases after him.
POLICE OFFICER
Hey, stop right there.
The POLICE OFFICER chases FAKE SANTA and tackles FAKE SANTA,
who falls down.
FAKE SANTA
Ow!
The camera shifts to MARK who walks past them, heading to the
coffee shop.
MARK (V.O.)
This is New York City, the craziest
place you'll ever see, in my
opinion. Crimes like that happen
all the time, in fact, everybody's
pretty used to it by now.
9 INT. COFFE SHOP - MOMENTS LATER 9
MARK walks into the Coffee Shop, which is a very cozy place,
with Christmas music playing in the background. MARK sits
down at a empty booth and the WAITER comes to him.
WAITER
Hey Mark, the usual?
MARK
Yes please.
WAITER
Alright, I'll be there in a minute.
MARK
4.
Okay, thank you.
WAITER
Yep.
The WAITER leaves as SARAH enters and sits Infront of MARK.
SARAH
Hey Mark.
MARK
Sarah? What are you doing here?
SARAH
Rude.
MARK
You know what I mean.
SARAH
Can I not enjoy a cup of coffee?
MARK
I mean why are you in New York
City? Besides, you don't even like
to drink coffee. You said it tastes
like mulch in water.
SARAH
I don't recall saying that. Are
sure I wasn't talking about your
breathe?
MARK rolls his eyes.
MARK
Haha, very funny. Did you come out
here all the way just to insult me?
SARAH
No. I came here for a favor.
Insulting you is just a perk.
MARK
You know, usually when someone is
asking another person a favor,
there usually nice, instead being
mean.
SARAH
Not my style. Look, you know how my
job is really important and I work
at night shifts and sometimes I
work for 24 hours?
5.
MARK
Yeah, so?
SARAH
Well, somehow, I'm working for 24
hours on Christmas eve and
Christmas night.
MARK
(not feeling sorry)
Wow, that sucks.
SARAH
Look who's being mean now.
MARK
Hurts, doesn't?
SARAH
Ugh! Whatever, were getting off
topic. Anyway, it gets worse.
MARK
(sarcastically)
Oh no.
SARAH
Shut up. Anyway, they want me to
leave Chicago and go to Indiana for
2 weeks!
MARK
So?
SARAH
So?! It's two weeks away from their
mom!
MARK
Okay, okay. I mean, can't you just
leave them home alone.
SARAH
No! One's 13 and ones 9.
MARK
I don't see the problem.
SARAH
I can't leave them home alone for 2
weeks!!
MARK
Okay, okay. Stop yelling at me.
6.
SARAH
Well stop acting like an idiot!
The WAITER comes back with a donut and a cup of coffee.
WAITER
Here you go, sir. Sorry for the
wait, were short staffed.
MARK
It's alright. Thanks.
WAITER
Of course, enjoy.
The WAITER leaves. MARK takes a bite of his donut.
MARK
Mmmm. This is really good.
SARAH
Mark! Help me!
MARK
Sorry! Uhm.... can't you just find
a babysitter?
SARAH
You think I didn't already try
that? There all booked going on
vacation.
MARK
Sorry, sis. I don't know what to
do.
SUSAN suddenly has a thought as MARK takes a big
SARAH
Ooh! What if you come over to
Chicago and stay with my kids.
MARK
You mean babysit?
SARAH
What? No! Your family, an your a
great Uncle.
MARK
Yeah right.
SARAH
No, I'm serious.
7.
MARK
I don't know...
SARAH
(emotional)
Please! I'm desperate and I'm
begging you. Your the only option I
have left. My children don't
deserve to spend Christmas alone!
MARK
Look! I'm sorry Sarah, but I just
can't. I'm sorry, I really am.
SARAH
(staring to cry)
I understand. Sorry to disturbed
you, have a good rest of your day.
Enjoy your donut and cup of coffee.
MARK
Sarah wait.
SARAH leaves crying. MARK sighs heavily.
10 EXT. MARK'S HOUSE - A FEW HOURS LATER 10
MARK pulls his car into the driveway and get's out of the
house. MARK walks to the front door and notices a piece of
paper taped to the door that reads: "EVICTION NOTICE!". MARK
groans and walks in to his house.
11 INT. MARK'S KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER 11
MARK calls out to his girlfriend, who is not there, and is
just calling at an empty kitchen.
MARK (O.S.)
Susan! I'm hope!
MARK walks into the kitchen and notices a piece of paper,
from his girlfriend and reads it out loud.
MARK (CONT’D)
(reads)
8.
"Dear Mark, I'm really sorry about
this but, I'm breaking up with you.
I want you to know that it was
nothing you did, it was me. It's
just, my life it so busy with being
an influencer that I don't have
time to have a boyfriend. Love
Susan." What?! That doesn't even
make sense.
MARK crumbles the piece if paper and throws it in the trash
can.
12 INT. MARK’S FAMILY ROOM - AFTERNOON 12
MARK sits down on the couch, with a sandwich and begins to
take a bite, but the lights suddenly go out.
MARK (CONT’D)
Great. Just great.
13 INT. BOSS OFFICE - NEXT DAY 13
The BOSS, late (40s), is typing on his computer as there is a
knock on his door.
BOSS
Come in.
MARK enters, nervous.
MARK
You wanted to see me, sir?
BOSS
Ah, yes. Mark, take a seat please.
MARK sits on a seat Infront of the BOSS'S desk.
MARK
Am I in trouble, sir?
BOSS
Trouble?
MARK
Yes.
BOSS
(chuckles)
No, not at all.
9.
MARK is relieved.
MARK
Phew.
BOSS
Well, maybe a little.
MARK
What?!
BOSS
Well, yes. You are in trouble.
MARK
What?!! What happened to "No, not
at all"?
BOSS
I lied.
MARK
Lied?!
BOSS
Well, not lie... anyway, were
getting off track here. The reason
I wanted you to come and see me is
because we had several complaints
about your.... attitude.
MARK
Attitude? What attitude? I don't
have an attitude.
BOSS
Well....
CUT TO:
14 INT. MARK'S OFFICE (FLASHBACK) - MORNING 14
MARK storms into his office, upset, and sits down and notices
there are 3 donuts.
MARK
(angrily)
Who ate my donuts?!
15 INT. HALLWAY - MORNING 15
MARK opens the door and yells at everyone in their office.
10.
MARK (CONT’D)
Everybody, come out now!
EVERYONE steps out of their office, nervously.
MARK (CONT’D)
I want to know who ate my donuts,
now!
WORKER #1
What do you mean?
MARK
What do I mean?! I had four donuts
and now I have three donuts. So I
want to know who is the culprit.
WORKER #2
Nobody was in your office.
MARK
Really? Are you saying that you
think I ate it? Huh? Huh?!!
MARK picks up a glass of water and slams it into the ground.
CUT TO:
16 INT. BOSS OFFICE (PRESENT) - MOMENTS LATER 16
The BOSS has his arms crossed, MARK tries to defend himself.
MARK
I had a bad morning!
BOSS
Look, Mark. I think of all the
people who work here, you deserve a
nice break.
MARK
A break?
BOSS
Precisely.
MARK
For how long?
BOSS
Forever.
MARK
11.
What?! Are you firing me.
BOSS
Look Mark, I'm sorry I had to do
this. Please pack your bags and
leave.
MARK
Please, boss. I need this Job. I
need to pay my power bill.
BOSS
Sorry, Mark. It is what it is. You
know what you need?
MARK
What?
BOSS
A vacation.
MARK
Vacation?
BOSS
Yes, go somewhere, anywhere. Just
not here.
MARK
(In shock)
Okay.... I'll leave then.
BOSS
Great, thank you.
MARK
Uh huh.
MARK stands up, still in shock, and walks to a wall, thinkin
it was the door.
BOSS
Oop, missed the door a little.
MARK then heads to the door.
BOSS (CONT’D)
There we go. Good job, buddy. Have
a great rest of your day.
17 INT. MARK'S CAR - DAY 17
12.
MARK is driving his car, and his a red light. MARK pulls out
is phone and clicks the "Phone App" and presses voicemail.
AUTOMATED VOICE (V.O.)
You have one, new voice mail.
SARAH (V.O.)
Hey Mark, it's Sarah. Look, can we
just talk things over, please? Want
to meet at the new Cafe' down the
street? I heard it's really good.
I-il... pay for your meal! Please!
Okay, bye. I hope I'll see you
there.
MARK sighs, and turns right to the Cafe'.
18 INT. CAFE - DAY 18
MARK walks into the Cafe' and finds SARAH at an empty booth
and sits Infront of her.
