Annie Claus Is Coming to Town

Good morning, Miss Claus.

-Merry Christmas, Albie. -Merry Christmas to you.

Good morning, Miss Annie Claus.

Merry Christmas, Ian.

You do know that Christmas is over a month away.

Merry Christmas, Tracy. Beautiful bows.

Ian, here, every day is Christmas.

Of course it is. You are absolutely right.

Here's the toy popularity report you'd asked for.

Just as I thought.

We have a lot of work to do.

Rally the troops. Conference in ten minutes.

Hot cocoa and sugar cookies for everyone!

Merry morning, villagers.

It's announcement time!

This is Chester Singleton, Executive V.P. of Operations.

We have prepared a state of the village address

to give you our status for the upcoming holiday season.

So without further ado, I give you the man himself,

Santa Claus!

Go get 'em, Santa Claus.

Ahem... My fellow villagers...

-Cookie? -Mrs. Claus and I

would like to thank you all for all your hard work this year.

Have one.

And I'm happy to report that we are poised to have

our greatest season that we have seen

since I began my tenure as Santa Claus.

Now, it is due in no small part to Chester here,

and my daughter Annie, vice president of toys...

And all of you who have

worked endlessly year-round to make this season special

for children worldwide.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas.

And that is how we do that.

Okay, here we go...

Well, naughty and nice lists are coming in

fast and furious.

Well, they do every year.

A parent's greatest ammunition.

Anybody have time for a cocoa break?

Who has time for breaks this time of year?

I mean, the season's upon us!

With you going on sabbatical,

my load just got considerably heavier.

Maybe you should not go. Father!

I've only been waiting for this trip my entire life.

Santa, you know that this is her time.

None of us would be here

if you had not taken your season off.

Yes, but I came back to the village

and Annie might too.

But she needs to experience the world

before she can make that important decision for herself.

It's a harsh and unforgiving world out there, Martha.

Do not listen to your father, Annie.

The outside world is so full of adventure and wonder.

Why, the day Santa came into my diner...

Then I was known just as boring old Calvin Claus.

Calvin Claus was anything but boring to me.

It was love at first sight.

Wouldn't it be wonderful, mother,

to go out into the world

and find my very own Calvin Claus?

This journey is about finding where you belong.

But if there is a Calvin Claus out there

who makes your decision easier,

all the better.

All right, Annie, are you ready to find out

where sabbatical will be taking you?

I'm so excited, mother.

It could be anywhere.

Paris... Prague... Pittsburgh...

It all depends on this.

Very exciting, indeed.

Places that I've only seen on the globe.

And I could go there!

One of the perks of being a Claus.

No peeking, now.

I wouldn't dream of it.

This is far too important. All righty, then.

Throw away, throw away,

and let the fates fall where they may!

Where am I going?

Where am I going...

Los Angeles, California.

Just like the Beverly hillbillies!

"Swimming pools, movie stars."

For sabbatical?

Think of all the excitement that awaits you

in that wonderland of sunny Southern California!

I know I, for one, would be absolutely devastated

if, come Christmas day,

Annie decides to sign over her rights.

It... it would be that day?

That very day.

Wait. Does this mean I'm out of a job?

Because I... I... I need this job.

My father cut me off, and... Calm......

Ian, you have not heard the best part yet.

What's the best part?

The best part is that, upon Santa's retirement,

the head of operations takes over.

Wait, you're the head of operations.

Yes, I am.

I did not make the rules, Ian.

I merely follow them.

And you know, I have had my eye on you

for some time now.

- Me? Re... really? - Yes.

You see, Ian,

I was not born into power and privilege,

like the Clauses.

My parents came from the rank and file of sleigh maintenance.

Mine were in postal management.

I have worked too hard...

We... we have worked too hard to get here,

and it is time for us to get what's coming to us.

Now, you stick by me,

and you have a very big future.

Wait... you just can't force her to stay.

What... what if she comes back?

I cannot... But he can.

Who is Dean Durling?

He is the man that Annie is going to fall in love with.

The man who is going to ask her

to stay in Los Angeles with him.

Okay, Dean, take 49. With feeling, project!

Action.

Hey there. You know, after my accident,

I was told I may never walk again.

But Shaw, Shaw, and Shaw got me $180,000!

Cut! Let's do it again.

Take 50. Back to one!

-Good-bye. -Bye, Annie.

-Bye. -Have fun.

Good-bye. Uncle Chester will take good care of you.

Good-bye. Good-bye.

Bye. Good-bye.

Bye, Annie. There she goes.

Now, if you get homesick, just shake up this snow globe,

and it'll remind you of the home you love so.

Thank you, father.

Ready for your big adventure?

I'm more ready for it than anything.

Good-bye. Bye, Annie!

-We're gonna miss you, Annie. -Be careful.

-Come back to us. -We'll miss you a lot.

Be careful out there. Bye-bye.

Good-bye, everyone.

Good-bye. I'll miss you.

Eat lots of cookies!

What a wonderful trick!

-merry Christmas, driver. -Where you going, lady?

The candy cane motel, if you please.

Doesn't that sound like the most wonderful place

in the world? Delicious.

Merry Christmas.

Happy black Friday, Barry.

Happy black Friday, Ted.

How's business going? See for yourself.

This place used to be packed around the holidays.

What happened?

Well, the lovely people at super store

decided to build a flagship two blocks away.

Super store opened at 3:00 A.M. this morning.

First 40 people in line got flat screen TVs for a dollar.

That is why it is time to pull out the big guns.

Gotta do something to restore this place

to its former glory, right?

-Charley Boone's trains. -Yep. Care to do the honors?

I'd be honored to do the honors.

And...

Plan "B."

Maybe, advertising.

Online presence, perhaps.

All of those things cost money.

And, as my accountant, you should know that

I don't have any of that. Yeah.

And I don't think I need to tell you

that you have a balloon payment due at the end of the month.

I've still got a month. I'll think of something.

You sure you don't want to stay someplace a little nicer?

Look at the name... The candy cane motel.

I have to stay here for Christmas.

No, it's not the four seasons,

but it's cheap and it's clean.

You want to make a reservation or not?

Great. You're booked. Can't wait to meet you.

Hi.

I believe that you have a room waiting for me.

-What's it under? -Annie Claus.

K-l-a-u-s.

There it is. The little Annie Klaus.

Sounds like I should be saying Santy Claus.

Your parents have a good sense of humor.

I get that a lot.

We have you under the extended stay.

Sign right there.