Ms. Christmas Comes to Town

Come in.

Hey, we need Ms. Christmas camera ready in 20.

Okay.

Hey, are you all right?

Yeah, absolutely. Just reminiscing a little bit.

Well, let me know if you need anything, okay?

I am perfectly fine, darling.

Go. Do your thing.

I will.

Welcome back, Ms. Christmas.

Thank you, my dear.

The bumper scripts are loaded onto the prompter,

and we won't roll until you're happy with them.

Sounds perfect.

It's magic time.

It's the most wonderful time of year once again.

Ms. Christmas is coming, and I've got lots of surprises

in store for you this holiday season.

Tune in on December 1st and spend

24 days of Christmas with us on the holiday shopping channel.

Great. First day back.

Yes, it was.

So Mayor Bailey wants you to be the guest of honor

at the tree lighting ceremony.

Tell the mayor I'd be delighted.

Will do. And the station manager at WSU Radio has asked

if you want to be part of the live reading

of "A Christmas Carol".

Which part?

Scrooge.

They're doing a gender flip.

Absolutely.

Well, that covers it.

So if you don't need me for anything else today,

-I have a thing. -Like a date thing.

Date?

What? No, I'm just meeting someone for coffee.

What about you? Have anything else exciting planned

for the rest of the day?

Nothing exciting.

Just an errand on the way home.

Anything I can take care of?

No, I can manage on my own.

Have a nice date.

Lucky man.

Why are you so dead set on this being a blind date?

I am a romantic absolutist,

and the first in-person impression is everything.

There's either a spark or there's not.

All the profile pics in the world can't make up for it.

I must have been crazy to have ever agreed to this.

You need to have someone special in your life.

Need is too strong a word.

We can use the word like

as in, I would like to have someone special in my life.

You deserve to have someone special in your life.

Okay.

You're crazy.

I'm in.

He's tall, dark and handsome.

Define, tall.

And he's wearing a navy blue peacoat.

I see him. Here goes nothing.

Call me after.

Hi.

Hi.

I'm Amanda. It's nice to meet you.

Normally, I don't go for set-ups,

but Emily spoke so highly of you,

and she's managed to stay married to the same man

for over a decade.

And his mother to a daughter I absolutely adore.

So I figure maybe she knows something the rest of us don't.

Yeah, sure.

Things that you need to know about me.

I am currently single.

Obviously. I'm on a blind date, never married,

and I'm looking for someone special.

This is a very hectic time of year for me, job wise,

and from my perspective,

the worst time, not just for me,

but for anyone to enter into any new relationship.

But having said that,

I do believe that Christmas is a time of magic

where even the impossible becomes possible.

I actually believe that at times, too.

Really?

Do you always put yourself out there like this on a first date?

Never.

You must bring out the best in me.

Amanda.

I'm Michael.

Wait. What? You're not Michael.

I'm Travis.

-Travis? -Yeah.

Why didn't you say anything, Travis?

Well, it's not every day such an enchanting woman

such as yourself shows any interest in me...

accidentally or on purpose.

I want to hold you two up. So what time?

Whoa. Got to go. Yeah. Here, Michael.

This seat has your name written all over it.

Hope you are as charmed by Amanda as I was.

Hi.

So how does it feel being back in the saddle?

It's my 24th year and it still feels like a gift.

It truly is for the folks who watch you.

Ms. Christmas inspires so much joy during the holidays.

I hope I can keep doing it for as long as I can.

You know, you and I have an anniversary coming up.

That is true. Five years coming up next month.

So how have you been feeling?

Maybe a little tired,

but I think I'm doing okay.

We need to discuss the MRI results.

Not my favorite topic.

Me neither.

I do wish I had better news to share with you.

How much time do I have?

A year or two. Maybe a little more.

But there are always new trials.

Then I better make that year or two count.

I am sure you will.

Usually I'd suggest focusing on the things

that truly make you happy.

But I got a feeling you are a step ahead of me

in that department.

It's okay.

That is my job.

Thank you for everything.

It goes without saying.

I trust you'll keep this between us.

Gail, of course. But I am so sorry for this news.

Please.

I want to enjoy the time I have left doing exactly what I love.

Well, I suppose that's the best

any of us can ever hope for in life.

Oh, honey.

I want to give this Christmas everything I've got

by doing something extra special.

Well, the sky's the limit.

Anything you want, Gail. And I will spare no expense.

I'm going to hold you to that.

That's exactly what I hoped you'd say.

Oh, it is, is it?

Thank you for coming in early.

Of course. What's going on?

Well, I have some news, and I want you to hear it first.

Okay.

Directly from me.

I plan to announce my retirement.

This will be my last Christmas on HSC.

I don't understand. Why now?

As much as I would love to believe otherwise.

Nothing lasts forever, honey.

I want to go out while I'm still at the top of my game.

This seems so sudden.

Is this coming from the network?

Oh, no, not at all. This is all my decision.

Wrapping it up now lets me do it on my own terms.

I want us to go on tour,

visit communities that could use just a little

extra Ms. Christmas magic this year.

I love the idea of taking the show on the road,

but this is very last-minute.

We leave in two weeks.

I know I'm asking a lot from you, but...

It's important to me to mark my retirement

with a celebration.

With your blessing,

I am ready to give it everything I've got if you are.

Whatever you need.

Ms. Christmas deserves the best send off that we can give her.

And so do you.

I've got so many exciting ideas for the tour,

but the most exciting of all

is my contract allows me to name my successor.

You.

You are the only person in the world

that I would ever want to take my place, honey.

Wow. I am... Wow.

Are you sure? Like, are you really sure about this?

I am.

And to ease the transition,

I want to introduce you as my apprentice, Ms. Holiday.

You know, I've always considered myself

the magic behind the magic.

You are. But you're going to be magic

in front of the camera, too, sweetheart.

I know you will.

Yes. My answer is yes.

I am going to give it everything I've got.

That's exactly what I'd hoped you'd say.

-Come with me. -Oh, boy.

We're going to use the latest bumper scripts

since you're familiar with them,

just to dip your toe in the water.

Just a dip.

Okay. Roll camera.

It's the most wonderful time of Christmas once again.