My Norwegian Holiday

Look, Henrik, you're a great guy,

but this isn't working out for me anymore.

I know you've been through a lot,

but this just isn't what I signed up for.

Look, I understand that.

You need to get back out there.

Look for a job, connect with people.

I appreciate you buying me a plane ticket and all.

Look, ask yourself this.

If Norway is so great, why haven't you left Minneapolis

and gone home in so long?

Yeah, see that right there? That face, that's the problem.

You just shut everyone out.

If all Norwegians express their feelings like you do,

your sister's wedding will feel more like a wake.

Okay. Completely reasonable.

One to go for Jessica Johnson.

- Here. - That's me.

Oh, um, actually, I.

I only drink chai tea.

How do you not know that after all this time?

I did order a chai tea, right?

Um, you did, but that's hers.

Hello.

You're Jessica Johnson too?

I am.

Okay, that's weird.

Oddly enough, it is not.

I'll get you a new peppermint latte

and your, your bakery items will be ready in just a minute.

Do you still need that tea?

It doesn't look like it. Thanks anyway.

Yikes.

Poor guy.

- Hey. - Hi.

I'm sorry for the mix up.

Two Jessica Johnson's, what are the odds?

- Higher than you think. - It's a common name.

There were actually two in my kindergarten class,

that's when I started going by JJ.

Let me help you.

Oh! Oh no!

- Oh! Can I? - No!

No, please stop helping me,

or whatever it is you're doing here.

I'm recovering from a leg injury.

Essentially I'm a mess.

Thank you.

I teach high school students.

You wanna talk chaos, drama, and messy breakups,

you're not even in their league.

Can I buy you a second latte?

Or technically a third one.

I have to get to school.

It's just.

I hope your day gets better.

Merry Christmas.

Hey, JJ?

S- sorry! I come bearing three gifts.

Uh, like one of the wise men?

Exactly. Except for the wise part.

Is it weird that you found me here?

It feels borderline creepy.

There's only one high school, one block from the cafe.

I definitely know your name,

and a nice group of students pointed me to your classroom.

Fair enough.

First gift.

To help you get through your afternoon.

Oh, bless you.

Second gift.

That's the lemon poppy seed.

So I can have black things in my teeth all afternoon.

And give the students something to talk about.

Perfect.

Finally, I found one more.

But I was thinking.

If you were to change this negative

into a positive, just one little line right here,

then his answer would be right,

and we could round this D up.

What do you think?

Could we give Wyatt here a C for Christmas?

My day could really use the lift.

Well, technically the D was a gift.

That better?

- I feel happier already. - Okay.

Hey, no one remembers 10th grade science.

So you are either a physicist or a teacher yourself.

Just a guy who knows how to use the internet.

Hey, you have a troll!

- And? - It's from Bergen,

Norway, like me.

How do you know that?

It's wearing the Bergen bunad.

The bunad is a traditional Norwegian dress.

Every region has their own.

And your little guy is from Bergen.

How did you get it?

It, um, was my grandmother's.

She always had it on her nightstand.

Did your grandmother love Norway?

I don't think so. She never went.

- Really? - Really.

Hey, can I ask you something?

What were you about to say earlier?

Sorry?

Outside of the cafe, you started to say something.

Oh, yeah. Not my circus.

I know, it's my circus.

Okay, you just sat there. She was rough.

You didn't call her out on any of it.

No, she wasn't wrong.

And I am in between jobs.

Okay. She didn't need to do it in public.

Besides you got her a ticket to Norway.

A smart move would've been to take the free ticket

and then dump you.

You're right. What was she thinking?

Okay. Merry Christmas.

Aye yai yai.

Stop doing that.

You could have the ticket,

the extra plane ticket to Norway.

It's in your name.

You could spend Christmas in Bergen.

I can't pick up and go to Norway.

Do you have other holiday plans?

Not really. That is not the point.

Listen, this isn't some weird pickup move.

The ticket is non-refundable.

I'd just hate seeing it go to waste.

We'd say goodbye at the Bergen airport

and we won't even see each other

for two weeks until we fly back.

You have a troll from, from Bergen, it feels like fate.

Uh, why are you shaking your head and not even considering?

Because I can't go to Norway with you.

It is out of the question.

Why not?

One, you are a self-confirmed mess.

Two, you're vaguely in between jobs,

which I'm pretty sure means

you're an international jewel thief.

Three, I don't believe in fate.

Four, I don't even know you.

You don't have to know me.

All you have to do is sit next to me on the plane.

I'll be asleep before, before we take off.

What are, what are you doing?

Here's my number.

My name is Henrik.

Call me when you change your mind.

Flight's tomorrow on KLM through Amsterdam.

Back on January 2nd. I believe in fate.

Yeah, I still don't.

I know, but you're gonna love Bergen at Christmas.

- See you tomorrow. - Oh, no, you won't!

Yes, I will.

We'd love to have you over for Christmas dinner.

Your lovely wife already messaged me and I confirmed.

So you're not taking the free ticket?

Go to Norway with a jewel thief?

I don't even drive out to Lake Minnetonka, if I can help it.

Do you hear that?

I'm making dad noises now when I sit down.

Anyway, you should go to Norway.

You know I need to work on my dissertation.

Which reminds me, I need one more extension.

JJ, I gave you one extension

to care for your grandmother.

Another extension to recover from her loss.

But a third.

You've given three before to other people.

Remember Larry, the guy who had two sets of twins?

Besides, it's almost Christmas.

I can't wrap up a dissertation in two weeks.

Well, you'll have to or reapply to the university

and hope the admissions board accepts you again.

Merry Christmas, Bill.

JJ, I've been more than fair.

Can you look me in the eye and tell me

that you've been focused on finishing it this semester

or even working on it at all?

Well, then my mind is made up.

Unless, well, there is one way

I might possibly consider giving you the extension.

Really? What way?

You take the ticket and go to Norway for Christmas.

Bill, I can't do that, you know I can't.

I know you think you can't.

Serious question.

Do you see any irony in the fact

that your dissertation deals with the polar ice caps

and yet you've never been anywhere near either pole?

Do you know that Bergen is the birthplace

of modern meteorology?

Well, it is.

I've always wanted to visit the university there

and I've always wanted to see the northern lights.