A Christmas Masquerade

- Hi, Nina. What can I do for you?

Absolutely, yeah, I'm sending it over right now.

Happy Holidays!

Hey, Lara.

Julianne, hi, thanks for

dealing with Nina,

but can you pick up my dry cleaning before it closes?

- Sure. I'll just grab Nora and I'll be right over.

- I'll mull you some apology wine.

- Hi, Nora! - Hi, Mom!

Hi, sweetie!

You had a good day?

Yeah.

- Lara, we're here! - Hey, I'll be right down!

Whoa!

Can we get one like that?

- Are you going to help me carry it up three flights of stairs?

- Sure. - Come on, Lara's waiting.

Let's go, let's go, let's go!

- Here you go! - Wow. Spoon, please.

I thought you were joking when you said you were mulling wine.

- Why would I joke about something so serious?

Besides, you're finished

for the day and I made you traipse all the way back here.

- I'm your assistant, it's my job!

You don't have to go to any trouble.

So what's in it?

- It's a treasured secret family recipe...

that I found online.

Wine, sugar and cinnamon! Mm, what's not to love?

Cheers.

- Oh, right. I need to finish getting ready. Where am I going again?

The Hudson Benefit.

- Oh, and then the Fitzgerald festive drinks.

- Mm-hmm and then a quick appearance at the MADAM Christmas party,

if you can stand it.

Bringing this week's grand

total to eight holiday events so far

and it's not even the weekend yet.

- You're a trooper. So what are you gonna wear?

Mom, why don't you go?

Very funny.

- You never go to Christmas parties. You should go!

Then aunt Lara can stay home.

- It's not that simple, bub. People are expecting to see Lara.

- Tonight, but you can definitely go to another party for me.

- Really? - I don't think so.

- Hey, there's a big pile of invites in my office.

Why don't you go choose one for us to send your mom to!

Be right back!

Don't give me that look.

You know it would do you some good to get out

and let your hair down.

- My hair is perfectly fine how it is, thank you!

- Come on, you deserve a party and it certainly wouldn't do

your career any harm to make some new connections.

- My career? What, are you trying to get rid of me?

- No. - Because you know I'm perfectly happy working for you.

- And I'm perfectly happy with you working for me too,

but I also want what's best for my friend.

- A job, with flexibility where I can pay my bills on time and be there for Nora?

This is what's best. - Okay, forget I said anything.

- Found one! - Mm!

All right. Let me see.

Ah...

- The Carson Centre Christmas Masquerade Ball?

Nice try, kid. - Lara said I could pick any.

- Nora, it's a very important event and Lara has to be there.

- I absolutely do not have to be there, but...

I did say I would meet a potential client there.

You know what, he probably won't even show. You should go.

What?

- You're going in my place. I've decided.

- What are you gonna wear? - Yeah?

We're gonna go shopping!

- Hey, sis! - You're late.

- Ah, yes, but I come bearing gifts.

- Hmm, that better be non-alcoholic.

Uh...

Of course not.

- So, where is the dotting father-to-be?

Vegas.

What's so funny?

- I'm just picturing John in Vegas.

- He's working, dummy. - Ah.

- Like most adult males, he has a career.

- Oh, I'm about to have a career.

Oh!

Sure.

Look, you are looking

at the future Vitanian Ambassador to the United States.

- If the panel approves you. - Oh, come on!

The Ambassador's been a Karlsson since...

The...

...1800s. - Yes, whatever, the 1800s, exactly!

You really think Dad'll retire and they'd appoint somebody else?

Instead of you? Sure.

- Ah, no, no way. Dad would never let that happen.

It would be far too damaging to his massive ego.

And besides, I'm the next Karlsson in line.

- Mm. And you're not a popular appointment.

This might have passed you by, Michael, but um...

you have something of a reputation.

A reputation? Moi?

That's what you get

for dating American models the last 20 years.

Oh, don't be ridiculous.

I mean, they haven't all been American.

- I'm serious. The appointment committee is not a shoe in.

You need to work for it!

Ma'am, yes, ma'am!

- Ten days, Michael, they are meeting on the Eve of Christmas Eve!

- I know that. - You need to up your game.

Consider it up!

- Okay, then you can join me at the Carson Centre Christmas Masquerade Ball tomorrow.

- Great, I love a Masquerade. - Great!

And you can finally meet the PR specialist that I've hired there.

- Mm... Helena, on second thoughts, tomorrow night--

Non-negotiable.

- Come on, you know how much I loathe PR people.

Not this time.

Hm. That was easy.

- Oh, you're here already? Dinner's gonna be 20 minutes.

That's perfect, Mom.

It could be on the table

now if you'd let me know that you were on the way.

It's not good for Norushka to be hungry.

- She's not hungry, so-- - We had a hot chocolate.

Yeah.

- Why were you buying a hot chocolate at this time?

It was at Aunt Lara's.

And Lara said that Mom can go to the "Maquerade" Ball.

Masquerade, baby.

- Masquerade, at the Carson Centre.

Oh, my...

The Carson Centre Christmas Masquerade ball?

You're going? Ah!

It's tomorrow night, no? The third Saturday of December.

- How does Babcia know when it is?

- Well, we used to take your mama when she was a little girl.

Every year.

- Mom, you went before? - Not inside.

- She used to sit with her little pencil case,

making drawings of all the guest presses as they arrived.

Oh, my, what are you gonna wear? - I don't know yet.

- The red dress! The one you made at fashion college.

Show all the guests how talented you are!

- No. No, no, no, it's too old and I haven't even looked at my sewing machine in months.

I'll just borrow something from Lara. It's not a big deal.

- Not a big deal? Well, try telling that to little Julianne.

She'd be thrilled.

Look, it'll be fun,

but I'm not gonna stress myself out trying to be something I'm not.

I'm a guest. No one will even notice I'm there.

- Mm-hmm, now that, that could never happen.

Ah, here we go.

One hour and I'm out of here.

- Great. The whole Ambassador thing

is probably overrated anyway.

Oh, sure. - Yeah, mm-hmm.

Hi!

You shall go to the ball.

Excuse me!

Hi. Would you mind taking a photo?

Uh, sure.

There you go.

- But I... didn't have time to pose.

Ah, no, I'm sure it's fine.

I'm sorry but...

would you call this a good photo?

No.

- Right, well, if you're gonna say yes to the job,

you should at least try to do it well.

- Oh, well, you only asked me to take a photo, not a good photo.

- Oh, so it's your policy to do the bare minimum?