A Husband for Christmas

Is everyone there?

Great. I'’ll see you guys at the airport.

Uh, hey, lady, where you headed?

I'’m getting a husband for Christmas.

[piano playing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"]

Can you believe all this?

I actually can'’t believe Mr. Rawlings invited me.

Don'’t worry about it.

I'’ve been his assistant 15 years.

This is only the third time I'’ve been invited.

There'’s a lot of people here I don'’t know.

There'’s Barry Kane.

- Barry-- - No, no, no, don'’t look.

- Don'’t look. - Oh, okay, not looking.

He'’s the CFO of Onway.

Onway Media Branding?

- Yes. - Wow.

We'’re merging. I know it.

Oh, there'’s gonna be a bloodletting.

That'’s kind of harsh, isn'’t it?

Fifteen years. Fifteen years I'’ve been here.

You'’d think I'’d get a promotion. Instead I'’m getting an ulcer.

Hey, hey, hey!

I am so sorry. Oh, wow.

Let me go get something at the bar, and I'’ll get it out.

I'’ll be right back.

Club soda, please.

Lady, there'’s a line.

Uh... Ohh...

Just one minute, one second, one second, okay?

Club soda.

Excuse me?

It will get anything out.

Oh.

Thanks.

Nice party.

Yes.

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year.

It'’s all right.

Roger Burkett.

Oh. Brooke Harris.

So how long have you hated Christmas, Brooke Harris?

I don'’t hate Christmas. It'’s just--

Is "dislike" more apropos?

No.

"Indifferent?"

What are you, a copywriter?

Graphic designer.

And you work for Onway?

Well, I hope to be working for Rawlings soon.

So there is a merger.

Oh, that'’s the word on the streets.

Who do you work for?

Rawlings.

Oh.

Richard-- Mr. Rawlings--

he'’s a wonderful man and, as I'’m sure you know,

seems to be quite a terrific company.

I just hope everything works out with the H-1B.

What'’s that?

My work visa.

Oh, I thought the company took care of that.

No, not if they can hire an American just as easily,

or in this case, already has the job.

You don'’t say.

So what do you do for Rawlings?

I'’m a graphic designer.

I see.

Club soda, please.

- Coming right up. - Thank you.

Your accent'’s nice. It'’s, uh...

- British. - British. Oh.

- It is nice meeting you, Roger. - Likewise.

Thank you.

I'’ll take the whole bottle.

Oh, God.

What, Mother?

Brooke, it'’s your mother.

I just wanted to see if you changed your mind

about Christmas dinner.

Your father and I would love to see you.

Tracy and David will be there, too.

They'’re engaged. Can you believe it?

Your little sister'’s getting married.

Mm-hmm.

Now, I don'’t want you to tie yourself into knots.

You'’ll find someone soon, darling.

Oh, Mom.

Brooke, for the bajillionth time,

they'’re not gonna fire you.

You were just telling me last week

how much they were loving you.

I didn'’t say "loving me."

What about that job offer, the one in New York?

I passed.

Brooke, you passed it up?

Oh, my God. You got to get over your fear of flying.

Well, maybe I don'’t want to move.

Look, I love California.

I just need to find a better place.

What about that condo you said you liked? The one downtown.

You mean the one that'’s way out of my price range?

Brooke, I think that you'’re looking at this all wrong.

Maybe this merger is a good thing.

Not if they'’ve already brought in your replacement on a visa.

How do you know that?

He told me at the party.

You met the guy that they'’re going to replace you with?

Well, I'’m not sure,

but he does work for Onway, and he'’s a graphic designer.

Do the math.

Where is he from?

He said England.

Is he cute?

No.

Maybe. He'’s all right.

You like him.

What?

I can tell, even over the phone.

You got a lousy poker voice, girl.

I barely even know him, Amanda.

He'’s a real life Prince Charming.

Just because he'’s British doesn'’t make him a prince.

Maybe you'’ll get married, too.

Too?

Is there something I don'’t know?

Well...

not yet, but it'’s gonna happen soon.

Really?

Well, it didn'’t happen at our anniversary,

and then it didn'’t happen on our weekend getaway,

so the only other option is that he'’s gonna propose

under the tree on Christmas.

Oh, God, I can barely handle the suspense.

- Ah. That makes two of us. - You said that he was cute.

Girl, would you stop it? I gotta go. Bye.

Too much.

- Good morning, Florence. - Hi, Brooke.

Here is your extra-large vanilla latte.

Thank you.

- Morning. - Morning.

Hey, Natasha, I have got your espresso,

and for Mr. Rawlings, a medium half-caff hazelnut

with whip, no foam or caramel drizzle.

Thank you.

Could you tell him it'’s from me?

Brooke Harris, you are one impressive beast.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

Five years. All they'’re offering is two weeks'’ severance.

It'’s Christmas.

Who'’s gonna even look at a resume before January?

Brooke.

Yes, Natasha.

Mr. Rawlings would like to see you in his office.

I'’ll be right there.

Good luck.

Thanks.

You wanted to see me, Mr. Rawlings?

Beth!

- Brooke. - Have a seat.

Okay.

I'’ve been looking over some of your designs,

and I want you to know how thrilled I am

with the work you'’ve been doing for us.

Thank you.

Now, as you may have heard,

I made a deal to merge this company with an outside firm.

Onway.

Unfortunately, as with all transitions,

there will need to be some changes around the office,

and with budgets being what they are,

we simply cannot afford redundancies in our departments.

Are you with me?

Yes.

I want you to know we spent a lot of time

discussing what the best course of action would be,

regarding your employment with us.

- Yes? - And...

And we decided to double your salary

and promote you to vice president.

Huh?

The truth is you'’re one of the best designers we have,

and it'’s time to have you overseeing your own projects.

I thought you were gonna fire me.

Fire you? Darling, you'’re irreplaceable.

There'’s a very talented graphic designer from Onway

that we want you to oversee.

A fantastic talent out of London.

Roger Burkett.

You know him?

Yes. We met at the party.

Do me a favor.

Look at his work.

Ooh, nice. Roger painted these?

His work has won several awards.

Oh, so then you solved his problem.

Problem?

His problem with immigration.

Actually, you see, in the old days,

the job technically would be enough to clear the visa