The Holiday Shift

This is a love story.

It's actually five love stories.

I guess, technically, it's ten if you count each individual...

You know what? This is a love story.

Pretty cool, right?

Christmas transforms a mall into a winter wonderland.

Some people say that's because of capitalism.

Well, they're right, but it still looks nice.

This is how most of the country

experiences the magic of the holiday season.

More people propose on Christmas Day than any other day of the year.

There's just something about the holiday season

that gives people permission to dream bigger and take chances,

and I'm rooting for every one of them.

Ow. Except him.

That kid sucks.

I lost part of my uniform.

I just moved and I've been living out of a suitcase and...

Can you do anything with them?

Uh, I mean, I can do a lot of things with them,

but I don't think that's gonna help us right now.

There are more dads out there than usual.

I don't even think that one has a kid.

Run to wardrobe.

- They'll take care of you. - Okay.

- Take this. - Thank you.

- You're missing your top! - Shut up, Sam.

The usual?

Sounds good.

- - Whoa!

You know you're never gonna sell one of those.

Today might be the day.

What do you think?

I think I saw a video of one of these catching on fire.

I saw a video of a car catching on fire, but I still drive to work.

I don't think that's the same thing.

Go ahead. Try it out.

Oh!

Your wish is granted.

Hey.

We got to get back to work. Break's almost over.

Dude, I got, like, a hundred bucks in here.

Yeah, cool. Super normal way for an adult to make money.

I told you this was a love story.

Such a great idea!

Today is your first day.

Now, I know you all have different jobs.

Valet, concierge, tall elf.

But we all have one common goal.

- To spread joy? - No. To stop shoplifters.

But how?

Listen, I don't expect you all to live above a dojo

and get free karate lessons like I do.

- - Okay, so we work for John Wick.

It's been a long time since I karate-fought a teen.

- - Oh.

- You on break from school? - Oh. Yeah.

- I graduate in the spring. - Hmm.

Now, let's go out there and make some people happy.

And remember, if you see something,

don't say something, do something.

So, corporate says, with this job,

you have to wear clothes from the store... aha.

But luckily, you get a 50% discount,

and you get 100% of a really cool boss.

- Hmm? - Sorry, I kind of shoehorned that one in there.

I like to tell people I'm a cool boss right up front,

- that way, no one has to wonder. - Cool.

Sup, dudes?

Why is your hair wet?

Why is your hair dry, Brian? We could do this all day.

- Oh, thanks. -

Appreciate it.

- Okay. - Are you high?

- No. - Yep. Wait, me or him?

- I'm not high. - He's worse. He just saw Tess.

- Tess? - Tess.

- Tess? Who's Tess? - Who are you?

Oh, sorry, this is Marissa. It's, uh, her first day.

But never mind that, I mean, why is Tess here?

Spill that tea.

Okay, can someone please tell me who Tess is?

She's the one that got away.

Like, the love of his life.

The one. Oh, man.

- This is embarrassing. - Guys, calm down.

She's just a friend from high school who I haven't seen in a long time.

Ooh, whoa. What's going on?

I was on my way to the airport,

but I had my mom stop so I could say goodbye.

But we threw you a going-away party yesterday.

I hope you're not expecting more presents.

No.

I, uh, actually got you something.

I'm sorry, I... it's dumb, but...

I know you're a softy and you like stuff like that, so...

I am really gonna miss you.

I'm gonna miss you more.

I love you.

What?

I just said, uh, I, um...

will see you later... dude.

Oh, wow. Oh, my God.

It's like a rom-com.

- So, you like rom-coms? - No.

What? Everybody likes rom-coms.

No, I was saying no to whatever it is you were about to do.

What? Everybody likes that, too.

Look, I-I think I just need to go on break to clear my head.

Ah, s... I... look, normally, I'm there for you, okay?

But, uh, we are really busy, and you did just have a break, so...

- Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Brian. -

Okay.

I'm the only one here. This seems weird.

I see what you're doing.

Yeah, this? This is extortion.

Okay.

Bye.

Busiest shopping day of the year, huh?

Oh, I cannot let anyone in until the fire smell is gone.

Ciao, ciao, my Deonte.

Oh, boy. Okay, I'm gonna go flirt with the guy

at the T-Mobile store until you finish up with whatever this is.

Okay. Yeah, bye.

There he is.

- Oh, I've missed you. - I have missed you, too.

How was Thanksgiving with Jason?

It was good.

I'm so sorry we couldn't do our trip.

Plans changed, apologies were made,

and I just had to do Thanksgiving with him.

Little bit of advice? Never get married.

Wish I had more time, but I must go.

See you tonight for our makeup dinner?

- Mmm. - Mmm.

Oh.

Oh, and I saved your number in my phone as "florist,"

so text me some stuff about flowers in case Jason gets suspicious.

Miss you. Ciao.

Bye.

Okay, so, what do I do?

You have to tell her how you feel.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

You don't just go around telling people how you feel.

Okay? That's crazy.

I say you do nothing and see what happens.

- That's because you're hollow inside. - You just met me.

And yet it sounds like she's known you for years.

Hey, Marissa, this is Deonte, my roommate,

and Summer, the woman who sleeps on our couch.

That's a weird way to introduce someone.

Oh, she's not homeless.

Uh, she moved in after she got into a fight with...

Oh, I don't want to talk about Charlie.

No offense, but I don't want to talk about Charlie, either.

I want to talk about Tess.

- DEONTE/SUMMER: Tess? - Oh, yes. Tess.

She's back, and it looks like she has some unfinished business,

and that business is Sam.

Okay, okay, I like you, and I love this energy right now.

How do we know this? What... uh, why is she back?

- Why is she here? - It doesn't matter.

He needs to move on, okay? Deonte, back me up on this.

No, no, no. You can't ask him. He doesn't believe in love.

Okay, because love is not real.

It is a made-up word for a made-up feeling.

Hungry, yeah, that's a feeling. Love is a lie.

Wow, okay.

So you're the Puddleglum of the group.

- Thank you. - Puddleglum is from Narnia.

Narnia is a book.

A book is something you read.

- I know what a book is. - Whoa.

Sam, this is your second chance.

What do you want him to do? Walk up to her and say...

"Hey, maybe you didn't hear me four years ago

'cause I made a baby whisper, but I love you"?

Okay, wow, no, no. It was a manly whisper.

Like-like the kind that they use in war.

- - He's right.

I can't just go up to her and say, "After all these years,

"I still think about you every day.

"I have loved you since the moment I met you,

"a-and not telling you that before you left was the biggest regret of my life.

"And when I saw you today, I realized that, um...

I love you now more than ever."

Yes, you can. You have to.