The Christmas Gift

**

* Ooh

* Can you feel it in the air *

* This Christmas

* It's the holiday spirit all around the world *

* There is magic in our hearts *

* Joy and forgiveness

* A sense of wonder in the eyes of every boy and girl *

* It's the season of peace and love *

* All around the world

* Sure as the stars above

* It feels like Christmas

* Ooh

That's better.

- Hey. - Hey, Mom.

I brought you some candy and boxes.

What you got? Let me see.

Oh. "When winter's snow is on the ground

and colored lights are all around,

I hope this gift will help you write

about what made your Christmas bright.

Signed, Wesley Hardin Johnson."

Aw. Well, that's very nice, Wesley.

But you know a Secret Santa's not supposed to sign their name.

I'll never meet the person who gets this,

so what's the difference?

Okay. I guess you got a point there.

Hey.

Your father and I are very proud of you.

How come?

Well, because all of this was your own idea,

and it's a darn good one.

What you're doing here

is gonna make some child you don't even know

so much happier on Christmas morning.

And that, my friend, is a good thing.

- Thanks, Mom. - Oh.

Baby.

Who's it from?

It's from your Secret Santa.

Aunt Helen, why would somebody I don't even know

send me a present?

Oh, he's a boy your own age,

who just wants to share Christmas with other kids.

It's, like, his hobby.

I bet if I ever met him we would become friends forever.

I'm sure you would, honey.

"When winter's snow is on the ground

and colored lights are all around,

I hope this gift will help you write

about what made your Christmas bright.

Wesley Hardin Johnson."

- Do you like it, honey? - I love it.

No.

No.

"Five gluten-free cocktail recipes for your holiday party."

Oh. "Shape your eyebrows to a higher salary."

I can write that.

I can't... write that.

Hey!

Uh, you got a second?

I'm usually the one asking you that.

- What's up? - Okay.

So you know I like you right?

After six months together, I would think would be the case.

Yeah, so anyway, um--

Look, I've just been so incredibly busy

with everything that's going on around here

that I feel like I haven't been able to devote

the kind of time and attention you deserve from me.

It's me, not you. It's totally me.

Cooper. He really has me under the gun here right now.

Are you trying to get out of our dinner date tonight?

Because if you are, I'm gonna kill you.

Trying to get out of dinner? No, no.

Well, I mean yes. Maybe.

Alex, what is going on with you?

Look, I've just been thinking.

You know, we're really two different types of people.

Strike that.

We're two very similar types of people.

We both want the same thing--

to be the top dog around here.

- What's wrong with that? - Megan...

i don't want a girlfriend who wants to be me.

You know? I'm not into the whole competition thing.

Just causes stress that I don't need right now.

Wait. Are you trying to break up with me right here at work?

Well, I didn't want to take you out tonight

and just ruin your evening.

I can't believe you.

Look, it'll be good for both of us,

just take a little time off.

See what we really want,

especially with the holidays and everything.

You are pathetic and immature.

Thanks for understanding.

I-- I am on my way to the top.

Who am I kidding?

- Hey! - Hey.

Why aren't you at the Christmas party?

I'm sorry. I was so busy getting dumped

that it slipped my mind.

Oh, no. Alex?

I'm sorry.

Don't be.

Apparently he feels like I'm competing with him,

that I want to "be him."

Uh, who would want to be him?

Besides, you're better than he is.

That's what he's really worried about.

I mean--

Best to find out now, I guess, but... at Christmastime?

He's a piece of work, I'll give you that.

Well,

I will show him who the top dog is.

Girl, show him later. We have a party to get to. Come on.

Oh, okay.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Now get back to work.

Alrighty.

It's that joyous time of year again, right, folks?

Christmas.

Big ad sales, whole lotta people

expectin' a whole lotta stuff from us.

All right? So, that's why I have a few assignments

we're gonna have to get right back on when we get done here.

Real top-notch stuff.

Ah. Nice of you to join.

As we all know, our publication is about community, right?

Our audience, they look to us

to keep up with the things that matter most to them,

especially in the immediate world around us.

That's who we are.

That's who we'll always be.

Now, some of you have really excelled this year.

Right to the top.

You know who you are.

All right, our top story going forward will be

the plight of those people

dispossessed at Christmastime this year

by the corporate takeover and renovation

of the Gladstone area.

All right, city beautification.

But at what cost?

Real human interest stuff, people, right?

Coupled with a dose of moral outrage

should get us some big things.

We might be able to make a difference.

This is important.

That's why I'm giving this assignment...

- to Alex. -

Whoo!

- Whoo! - Whoo!

Thank you, sir. I won't let you down.

After the outstanding coverage

of the reservoir pollution scandal last month,

I expect nothing less.

I wrote that.

Drink up.

Please, sit down.

You took off so fast,

I didn't get a chance to talk to you.

I had some things I needed to finish.

So I see.

Can I help you?

Look, I know you wanted that assignment.

And I'm sorry.

Wow. Everybody's sorry today.

Megan, that story I gave Alex...

has an unhappy ending.

Needs someone with a little more bite than you have.

What are you saying?

You're too earnest. Yeah.

You're not prepared to cut into something with a dull knife,

and that's what this story needs.

You're not like Alex.

Funny you should say that.

Look, there're a lot of people out there, okay, Megan?

Some of them want to read about people

getting kicked out of their homes,

but there are others who wanna feel good about something--

about anything-- especially at Christmas.

And that matters.

Maybe.

But I deserve more.

I want to make my mark.

I want to mean something, and you're holding me back.

Am I holding you back? Really?

No.

Tell you what.

Get me something really cool and inspiring.

Wow me.

Destroy the box.

- "Destroy the box"? - Right.

Don't just think outside the box, destroy the box.

Destroy the box.

Right. Now we're cooking.

* I'm flying high in the Christmas sky *