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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:00We're like a big family here, so feel free to use this common area.
00:00:05Hey, guys. I'm a bit of a baking nut.
00:00:08I share my latest creations with tea every afternoon.
00:00:13Ernie, these are delicious.
00:00:16I think they're giving me a little edge in this card game.
00:00:19Hi, Esther.
00:00:21Hi.
00:00:22Let's go check out the apartment.
00:00:23Great.
00:00:25Lovely to meet you all.
00:00:26See you around.
00:00:30You know, it's fully furnished.
00:00:32Oh, that's actually great, because I don't even own a chair.
00:00:39Wow.
00:00:40It is so legitimate cozy, not just tiny cozy.
00:00:52How soon can I move in?
00:00:54You can move in now if you want.
00:00:57Oh.
00:01:04Nancy.
00:01:05Hi.
00:01:06I want you to meet Ernie, the caretaker of the property.
00:01:08Ernie, I want you to meet Nancy, one half of my two best friends.
00:01:11My other half, Laura, is away on business.
00:01:14Hi, half of besties.
00:01:16Okay, so I love it, but what do you think?
00:01:27Be honest.
00:01:28So great.
00:01:30I'll be right over with the rest of your stuff.
00:01:45But I do want to go on record again as saying that Laura and I didn't want you to move out.
00:01:50We love having you with us.
00:01:51I know, but you guys have family coming in for the holidays.
00:01:54And besides, this is the perfect place for me to land while I look for an apartment.
00:01:59And I know I've said it before, but I really cannot thank you both enough for just taking me in after everything with Brad.
00:02:07Oh, Brad is in the past.
00:02:09You're making a new present here that will lead to a happy ever after future.
00:02:14Well, cheers to that.
00:02:17Wow, you guys work fast.
00:02:20Ernie, would you like some wine?
00:02:22Never touch stuff.
00:02:26It's whiskey or nothing.
00:02:28Got it.
00:02:29Here's your keys.
00:02:31This one is to the basement storage room.
00:02:33You're welcome to put things down there.
00:02:35I live in the apartment next to the laundry if you need anything.
00:02:38Great.
00:02:39Thanks.
00:02:44Oh, it's my boss.
00:02:46I got to run, but you feel free to stay and enjoy the wine.
00:02:50Oh, I will for a few.
00:02:51I can put away the housewarming gift Laura and I got for you.
00:02:54Stop.
00:02:55You didn't have to do that.
00:02:57Love you.
00:02:58Break a pencil.
00:03:10Hi, Diane.
00:03:15This cocoa's delicious.
00:03:17I got you one.
00:03:18Oh.
00:03:20You never treat.
00:03:21I always treat myself.
00:03:24But it's the season, so here you go.
00:03:29What's going on, Diane?
00:03:32As you know, our numbers keep dropping.
00:03:34Subscriptions to the paper are down.
00:03:36Even our online views are down.
00:03:37With everything going down, we need to downsize.
00:03:42I don't need to be a savvy investigative journalist to figure that since I'm one of your more recent hires,
00:03:47I'm one of the downsized?
00:03:49You're a damn good reporter, Sophia.
00:03:52You've made such impressive strides since you started working here.
00:03:55That piece you did on the social influencer whose dog was kidnapped was fantastic.
00:03:59Uh, yeah, well, people just love stories about dogs.
00:04:04I don't want to lose you entirely.
00:04:06If you're willing to continue to work here, I can pay you per story.
00:04:10Oh, would that mean that I get to pick what I want to write instead of you assigning me stories?
00:04:15Exactly. No more running off to town halls to cover another city council meeting.
00:04:20You remind me of myself when I started out.
00:04:22Minus the glamour.
00:04:24But you've got gumption and hustle, Sophia.
00:04:27Go find me a good story.
00:04:30One for Christmas would be ideal.
00:04:32A good Christmas story.
00:04:34Got it.
00:04:36I will go snoop around Santa and his elves.
00:04:39You never know what you'll find.
00:04:45I love you.
00:05:15Oh!
00:05:30Oh!
00:05:31Excuse me, I am so sorry.
00:05:33No, it's okay.
00:05:35My gingerbread man needed a bath.
00:05:38Can I buy you a new one?
00:05:40No.
00:05:41Thank you, actually.
00:05:45I coffee so much merrier now.
00:05:47Okay.
00:05:48Well, good.
00:05:49I'm so glad that I could be of service.
00:05:51Yeah.
00:05:52I'm glad I could be of service to you as well.
00:05:55Oh, really?
00:05:56How's that?
00:05:58Well, you could have bumped into him.
00:06:03Oh, and what?
00:06:04That would have been worse?
00:06:06Yeah, he's big and has a wide girth and probably has bad breath.
00:06:15Okay, well, you better be nice or you're going to end up on his naughty list.
00:06:18Oh.
00:06:33Hi.
00:06:37Hey.
00:06:38What happened with your boss?
00:06:40Looks like I'm going to have another box to unpack.
00:06:42My belongings are at my desk at the paper.
00:06:45You've been fired?
00:06:47Downsized.
00:06:49I can still work as a freelancer, though.
00:06:51Well, that to me is actually good news.
00:06:53You should be writing for bigger publications.
00:06:55Oh, well, thank you.
00:06:58Oh, on the bright side, I did actually get myself a Christmas tree, though.
00:07:01Oh, it's so adorable!
00:07:04Wait.
00:07:05Do I spy the Brad ornament?
00:07:08Uh, I just found it in the Brad box.
00:07:13I want you to close that box and dump it in the storage room like Ernie suggested.
00:07:17That box should be taped and forgotten.
00:07:20Brad box.
00:07:21Storage room.
00:07:23Now.
00:07:24Okay, okay.
00:07:25I'm going right now, okay?
00:07:26Bye.
00:07:50What do you mean, a good Christmas story?
00:08:20To Abigail, love forever, your secret Santa.
00:08:50Let's see who it is.
00:08:54Hi.
00:08:55My name's Sophia.
00:08:56I just moved into apartment 15.
00:08:58I threw this in the storage room.
00:09:00Are you Abigail?
00:09:01Oh, no.
00:09:02I'm Margie, and this is Abigail.
00:09:05Now, I do get my baby Christmas presents, but they're for me, not from Santa.
00:09:10Okay.
00:09:12Oh.
00:09:13And have a very meowy Christmas.
00:09:18Like we haven't heard that one before.
00:09:31Who is Abigail?
00:09:34Why didn't she receive the present?
00:09:37Who's her secret Santa?
00:09:38Someone she knows?
00:09:40Or a secret admirer?
00:09:43What is the present?
00:09:57Could this be my story?
00:10:05Hey, Ernie.
00:10:06Morning.
00:10:07Good morning, Sophia.
00:10:08How was your first day?
00:10:09It was rather interesting.
00:10:10I found this in the storage room.
00:10:14To Abigail, love forever, your secret Santa.
00:10:19Do you have any idea who Abigail is?
00:10:22Afraid I can't help you.
00:10:23Oh.
00:10:26I'm thinking that Abigail's somebody from the past.
00:10:30This present was dusty, like it had been sitting in the storage room for a long time.
00:10:37Look how fragile this tape is.
00:10:40And the wrapping paper just smacks of 1970s groovy.
00:10:451970s groovy, it does indeed.
00:10:48How long have you worked here?
00:10:51I came here in 81.
00:10:53Oh, okay.
00:10:54And were there any Abigails during that time?
00:10:56Not that I recall.
00:10:57Tenants sometimes leave stuff down in the storage room.
00:11:01This present's probably long forgotten, huh?
00:11:04I'll put it back for you if you want.
00:11:06Well, actually, I'd like to hold on to it.
00:11:08Why?
00:11:09Well, I'm a journalist, and I think this could make an interesting story.
00:11:14I would like to find out who Abigail is and deliver this present to her.
00:11:18Maybe try Esther.
00:11:19She's been here the longest.
00:11:21All right.
00:11:22Thanks, Ernie.
00:11:24I don't remember any Abigail.
00:11:27But if there is an Abigail, she would be right here in my binder.
00:11:32Every year, I send out Christmas cards, Hanukkah cards, greeting cards to all the residents in the building.
00:11:39And I've been updating my list ever since I moved in.
00:11:43Hmm.
00:11:44So if there's an Abigail, she'd be right here.
00:11:48Oh, oh, wouldn't you like a cup of tea?
00:11:52Please, thank you.
00:11:54Oh, of course, of course.
00:11:56Oh, here, you take this.
00:11:57Oh, great.
00:11:58All right.
00:11:59Let's start looking.
00:12:00Okay.
00:12:08Well, no Abigail.
00:12:10Oh, sorry.
00:12:12Maybe we can narrow down the timeline by this gift card and this wrapping paper.
00:12:17Hmm.
00:12:18Let me take a look.
00:12:19It does look very old.
00:12:21It really does.
00:12:23Oh, such a sweet little note, isn't it?
00:12:27M.H.
00:12:30M.H., of course.
00:12:33Marcy Harris.
00:12:35Oh, Marcy Harris used to run a gift store down by the Christmas corner.
00:12:41She used to design all her very own gift cards, greeting cards, wrapping paper.
00:12:47Oh, well, do you know if she's still around?
00:12:49Oh, no, she retired years ago.
00:12:51She moved to Arizona.
00:12:54Her store is now an antique shop.
00:12:58Timeless Treasures.
00:13:00Maybe they can help.
00:13:03Hmm.
00:13:24Hmm.
00:13:29Excuse me.
00:13:32Oh, well, out of all the gingerbread joints in all the towns in all the world, she comes walking into mine, huh?
00:13:43Here's looking at you, Santa.
00:13:47Welcome to my shop.
00:13:49Your shop?
00:13:50Yeah, well, me and my sisters.
00:13:52Nicknacks and collectibles from yesteryear.
00:13:55You come by looking for something in particular, or did you just want to bump into me again?
00:13:59Well, I'm actually looking for Marcy Harris's wrapping paper and gift cards.
00:14:02Did you carry that here?
00:14:04Yeah, I sure did.
00:14:07Right this way.
00:14:17Oh.
00:14:18Oh.
00:14:20And that's definitely Marcy Harris's wrapping paper. Abigail?
00:14:24Oh, no, I'm not Abigail. I'm trying to find Abigail.
00:14:27I'm trying to discover when this present was supposed to be given to her.
00:14:30Oh, well, Marcy Harris would design a new paper every season, and she would always discreetly work the year into the design.
00:14:37It's, oh, right there.
00:14:39Oh, wow, 1972. Great. Thank you so much.
00:14:43You're welcome.
00:14:45Is that all you needed, or...?
00:14:47That's it.
00:14:48Oh, okay. Well, I guess we'll always have Harris.
00:14:53You get it, right? Right?
00:14:56Ooh.
00:14:57I figured out the year that Abigail was supposed to receive the present, 1972.
00:15:02Esther moved in in 1973, which means Abigail could have lived here in 1972 and just moved out before she ever received the present.
00:15:10I believe that this present is from somebody who was in love with Abigail.
00:15:14How do you figure that?
00:15:15Well, love forever is definitely more of a romantic greeting, and, I don't know, the handwriting seems masculine.
00:15:24Are you really going to write a story about this?
00:15:26I want to. I want to find out who Abigail is, or was, and I want to find her secret Santa.
00:15:36Maybe after all this time, it's meant to stay a secret.
00:15:41No, I don't think so. I think that there's a story here that needs to be told.
00:15:47I mean, knowing what the present is would help, but I don't know.
00:15:54What the heck? Open it.
00:15:57Heh.
00:16:07I've got to be really gentle with this paper. I want to preserve it.
00:16:26Oh.
00:16:45It is so romantic.
00:16:48You really think so?
00:16:50Aren't you familiar with the story of the Nutcracker, the whole Christmas ballet by Tchaikovsky?
00:16:55The only thing I watch every Christmas is Die Hard.
00:16:58It's a great movie, but this story takes place on Christmas Eve, and a young girl gets a nutcracker from her beloved uncle,
00:17:08and that night the nutcracker turns into a prince, and...
00:17:11And the prince takes the girl to a wondrous world where they spin around on their tippy-toes.
00:17:16That much I do know.
00:17:18Hmm.
00:17:21This nutcracker is handcrafted. It's a work of art. It feels antique.
00:17:28It's got to have value.
00:17:30You mean money kind of value?
00:17:32Well, I mean, now it has sentimental and monetary value, so this story has just gotten so much more interesting.
00:17:42Wait, do you have any files on tenants prior to 1973?
00:17:45Yep. In the storage room. Keep digging if you feel so inclined.
00:17:50Good luck finding Abigail.
00:17:54Thank you, Ernie.
00:18:07Who are you, little guy? Huh?
00:18:10What's your story?
00:18:15That was fast. What you got for me?
00:18:17Okay, I have a Christmas mystery that is just going to blow your stockings off.
00:18:21Well, my silk stockings are very expensive, so this better be good. Let's hear the pitch.
00:18:26Okay, so the story is about an undelivered Christmas present to a woman named Abigail from a secret Santa who loved her, and...
00:18:32Get this.
00:18:33What?
00:18:34They look pretty real to me.
00:18:36Oh, keep going.
00:18:38So, I believe that this present was supposed to be delivered in 1972.
00:18:44This can't be true.
00:18:46I'm sure it was.
00:18:48I'm sure it was.
00:18:50I'm sure it was.
00:18:52I'm sure it was.
00:18:54I'm sure it was.
00:18:56I'm sure it was.
00:18:58I'm sure it was.
00:19:00I'm sure it was.
00:19:02I'm sure it was.
00:19:04I'm sure it was.
00:19:06I'm sure it was.
00:19:08I'm sure it was.
00:19:10I'm sure it was.
00:19:12I'm sure it was.
00:19:14I'm sure it was.
00:19:16I'm sure it was.
00:19:18I'm sure it was.
00:19:20I'm sure it was.
00:19:22I'm sure it was.
00:19:24I'm sure it was.
00:19:26I'm sure it was.
00:19:28I'm sure it was.
00:19:46A search for the secret Santa.
00:19:50A search for the secret Santa.
00:19:58Coming.
00:20:04Hey, sweetie. How about Chinese for dinner?
00:20:06Yeah.
00:20:10I just got to keep it quick because I am on assignment.
00:20:12You've lined up an article since yesterday.
00:20:14Way to hustle.
00:20:16Your advice landed me a contract to write a series of articles for the paper.
00:20:20I share so much sage advice, you're going to have to elaborate.
00:20:24Well, I dumped the frat box in the storage room just like you ordered.
00:20:26It wasn't really an order.
00:20:28Well, I found a Christmas present addressed to an Abigail from a secret Santa.
00:20:34He looks fancy. Like, antique fancy.
00:20:40Yeah, I know. And so now I have this whole other mystery to solve besides who Abigail is.
00:20:44Who is this guy? You know?
00:20:48What? What are you grinning at me like that for?
00:20:50I'm just glad to see you've got your spark back.
00:20:54Wait.
00:20:56I actually have a first draft of the first story. Do you want to read it?
00:21:06Bravo!
00:21:08This is not just a mystery. This is a story about community.
00:21:10A forever love and giving and Christmas.
00:21:14The Nutcracker legacy.
00:21:16It's beautiful.
00:21:20And this is only part one.
00:21:24You best get cracking.
00:21:26Stop it!
00:21:36Okay.
00:21:38Looks good.
00:21:40Save.
00:21:42And...
00:21:44Send.
00:21:56Hmm.
00:22:00I didn't brought her a present as cool as you.
00:22:04Probably because I always pick the wrong guy.
00:22:12Don't worry, little buddy.
00:22:14We'll find your Abigail.
00:22:26Okay.
00:22:46Welcome back. Not Abigail.
00:22:48So...
00:22:50I opened the present.
00:22:53The Mystery of the Antique Nutcracker.
00:22:56Written by Sophia Meyer.
00:22:58So now I just need to find out about the Nutcracker's history and its origin.
00:23:02Well.
00:23:04Let's say you come to the right place.
00:23:06You're talking to Professor Jackson Hawkins.
00:23:08I happen to teach German history and a class on Christmas folklore and legends at the university.
00:23:12Oh.
00:23:14Mind if I have a look?
00:23:16Certainly.
00:23:18Whoa.
00:23:20He's extraordinary.
00:23:22Yeah.
00:23:24You see how different he is than all the other ones?
00:23:26Hmm.
00:23:28Wait.
00:23:30You made all of these?
00:23:32Yeah. You could say I'm nuts about nutcrackers.
00:23:34I've never seen one with two carat diamond buttons before.
00:23:38Wait. Real diamonds?
00:23:40Yeah. I don't kid about treasure.
00:23:42Treasure hunting used to be a bit of a hobby.
00:23:44Oh.
00:23:46Mind if we go, uh, get a cup of hot cocoa?
00:23:50Sure.
00:23:52Well, he wasn't made for sale, that's for sure.
00:23:54His staff and his crown are made of 24-carat gold.
00:23:58The fur on his cape is from the eastern alpine mink.
00:24:00It's now extinct.
00:24:02Feel it.
00:24:04Poor guy. Killed for a nutcracker.
00:24:06Yeah.
00:24:08These rubies.
00:24:10They're from the Mongok Stoke track mine in Miramar.
00:24:12Look at their clarity. It's just absolutely extraordinary.
00:24:14Can you tell when he was made?
00:24:16World War I era, if I had to guess.
00:24:18Look at this crest at the bottom.
00:24:20It means it was made by royalty or for royalty.
00:24:22Well, if he's associated with royalty,
00:24:24does that add to his value?
00:24:26Yeah, you bet.
00:24:28Where'd you say you found him?
00:24:30In the storage room.
00:24:32From the secret Santa?
00:24:34Mm-hmm. Yeah. Emphasis on the secret.
00:24:36Look, if you want me to make any inquiries into this wooden fella,
00:24:40I'd be happy to do that.
00:24:42Landed yourself an epic mystery here.
00:24:44I'd really appreciate that.
00:24:46Mind if I take some photos?
00:24:48Go ahead.
00:24:50Um, one more thing.
00:24:52This nutcracker,
00:24:54it's worth somewhere between super valuable
00:24:56and priceless.
00:24:58Can you be a tad more specific?
00:25:00If I had to hazard a guess,
00:25:02I'd say there's seven figures in that number.
00:25:04Holy wow.
00:25:06Yeah.
00:25:08Be careful about the information
00:25:10you share with the public
00:25:12and keep him in a secure location.
00:25:14Secure location as in locked up?
00:25:16He's treasure.
00:25:18There's treasure hunters out there.
00:25:20You sound like you know that from experience.
00:25:22I do.
00:25:24I learned the hard way.
00:25:40Hey, boss.
00:25:42I got your text.
00:25:44What's your name?
00:25:46Look at the Ashford Times.
00:25:48Page three.
00:25:52I want that nutcracker.
00:25:54Get it for me.
00:25:56Where is it?
00:25:58The journalist Sophia Meyer has it.
00:26:00Money?
00:26:02This nutcracker is priceless.
00:26:04It doesn't matter how.
00:26:06It doesn't matter who gets in your way.
00:26:08Get him for me.
00:26:16How did the secret Santa
00:26:18come into possession of such
00:26:20a valuable nutcracker?
00:26:22Did the secret Santa know
00:26:24of the value when he wrapped
00:26:26the present for Abigail?
00:26:28The wrapping paper and gift card
00:26:30suggest that this was a gift
00:26:32from a man very much in love.
00:26:38Then I like her
00:26:40like stuffed animals.
00:26:42Sweet.
00:26:44Cuddly.
00:26:46At first.
00:26:48But then they're
00:26:50ultimately just
00:26:52spineless and full.
00:26:54Full of
00:26:56stuffing.
00:26:58And then I like her
00:27:00like stuffed animals.
00:27:02Sweet.
00:27:04Cuddly.
00:27:06And stuffing.
00:27:26Hey, Ernie. This guy needs
00:27:28a little patching up and Esther can't
00:27:30find her sewing kit, so is there any chance
00:27:32that you have one I could borrow?
00:27:34I'm a caretaker. I have everything.
00:27:36Oh, great.
00:27:38Oh! Wow, I thought
00:27:40I heard music playing. Did you?
00:27:42I loved your article. Can't wait to see what happens
00:27:44next. Oh, thank you.
00:27:46Wow, someone's
00:27:48scoring big this Christmas.
00:27:50Those are for loved ones.
00:27:52Do you have any grandkids?
00:27:54I don't know. Tenants are my loved ones.
00:27:56There might be a present with your name on it,
00:27:58so no peeking.
00:28:00Lucky me.
00:28:04Whoa, it's just me.
00:28:06Oh, I'm sorry. You just got the stuffing
00:28:08out of me. Sorry, I was just trying to keep
00:28:10quiet. What are you doing
00:28:12here? How did you even find me? I found
00:28:14the golden arrow of Aramith, all right? Finding you was a piece
00:28:16of cake. Okay,
00:28:18well, I'm figuring
00:28:20that you had important information for me. No,
00:28:22I have crucial information about your
00:28:24nutcracker. Abigail's nutcracker.
00:28:26You left him out
00:28:28in the open like this? Didn't you hear a word I said?
00:28:30Words are my living.
00:28:32Why is he just sitting out here for anybody to grab?
00:28:34Okay, well, the poor guy's been boxed up
00:28:36for decades, so I just figured, you know, give him a little
00:28:38freedom. And besides, I mean, he is
00:28:40really helping me grab for my second article.
00:28:42Please, just
00:28:44be careful, right?
00:28:46Yeah,
00:28:48okay.
00:28:50Okay,
00:28:52so what's your
00:28:54crucial information?
00:28:56I did a little research.
00:28:58The royal crest that's painted on the base of the nutcracker
00:29:00is from the House of Leopold.
00:29:02It was a small kingdom in the Alps
00:29:04between Germany and Austria. Now,
00:29:06the kingdom dissolved in 1912, and
00:29:08the castle is privately owned.
00:29:10Oh, that's a dead end.
00:29:12Not so fast.
00:29:14I did find
00:29:16a distant relative.
00:29:18She's a third cousin, twice removed, but
00:29:20she happens to live on the edge of town.
00:29:22Okay, wow.
00:29:24You really are a treasure hunter.
00:29:26Do you think you could actually get me her contact information?
00:29:28I think I could probably do one better than that.
00:29:30What are you doing tonight?
00:29:32Oh,
00:29:34tonight, like, tonight.
00:29:36Yeah, she might be expecting us between
00:29:38six and eight.
00:29:40I'm sorry, did you just say us?
00:29:42Yeah, Sophia, come on.
00:29:44I'm a treasure hunter. This is my jam.
00:29:46Yeah,
00:29:48I don't know.
00:29:50Oh, come on.
00:29:52I've got to admit, I've been a little helpful.
00:29:54At all?
00:29:56Maybe.
00:29:58Uh-huh.
00:30:00Okay, first, a test. I need to go back to the scene of the crime,
00:30:02which is?
00:30:04The storeroom. Let's go now.
00:30:06Right.
00:30:08Oh.
00:30:10Oh.
00:30:22We need to look for file boxes and see if there was an
00:30:24Abigail who lived here in 1972,
00:30:26and we need to look to see if there were any
00:30:28single men who were also living in the building
00:30:30at the same time.
00:30:34Bless you.
00:30:36Thanks.
00:30:40So,
00:30:42you're really into nutcrackers, huh?
00:30:44Yeah.
00:30:48According to German folklore, nutcrackers were
00:30:50given as keepsakes to bring luck and
00:30:52to protect the home from
00:30:54evil spirits.
00:30:56Ah.
00:30:58So when do they originate?
00:31:00Well, the ones that look like soldiers and royals first
00:31:02appeared in Germany around 1800.
00:31:04They were crafted in the Erzgebirge region.
00:31:06That's the mountain region of the country.
00:31:08Kingdom.
00:31:10Yeah.
00:31:12Then isn't it the Nutcracker Ballet by Tchaikovsky
00:31:14that linked the Nutcracker to Christmas?
00:31:16Uh, yeah.
00:31:18Right again.
00:31:20The ballet first premiered in 1892,
00:31:22but the original story,
00:31:24written by E.T.A. Hoffman, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,
00:31:26was published in 1816.
00:31:28Ah.
00:31:30E.T.A. is an estimated time of arrival.
00:31:34I'm so sorry.
00:31:36Please.
00:31:38Continue.
00:31:40The original story was darker and spookier
00:31:42than the ballet version.
00:31:44In it, the Mouse Queen
00:31:46casts an evil spell
00:31:48on a prince and turns him into
00:31:50a hideous beast.
00:31:52A nutcracker.
00:31:54Ah. Tale as old as time.
00:31:56Men always try to act like they're prince charming,
00:31:58when in reality they're rats.
00:32:00Okay. Uh, not all men.
00:32:02Some men are just...
00:32:04cursed.
00:32:08Anyway,
00:32:10there's an epic battle
00:32:12between the Cursed Prince
00:32:14and the Mouse King.
00:32:16The Cursed Prince
00:32:18fights valiantly,
00:32:20but the Mouse King gets the upper hand.
00:32:24He's going to kill the Cursed Prince,
00:32:26but just then...
00:32:28The young girl!
00:32:30Yes, Clara!
00:32:32Grabs her slipper
00:32:34and tosses it at the Mouse King.
00:32:38Killing him.
00:32:44And lifting the curse.
00:32:48It was Clara's love
00:32:50that turned the cursed beast back into
00:32:52a prince.
00:32:54Her love or her slipper?
00:32:56Her slipper killed the Mouse King,
00:32:58and her love lifted the curse.
00:33:00I'm sorry, that?
00:33:02That's rat poop.
00:33:04You don't believe that the love of a good woman can turn a rat into a prince?
00:33:06No, I believe that it's a man's personal responsibility
00:33:08whether he's a prince or a rat.
00:33:10What about the magic of love?
00:33:12I mean, love inspires.
00:33:14Provides comfort
00:33:16and support.
00:33:18It catalyzes change
00:33:20and inspires growth.
00:33:22I mean, love spreads joy
00:33:24and compassion.
00:33:26And...
00:33:28I think that
00:33:30love can cure curses,
00:33:34especially ones that we put on ourselves.
00:33:42Wow!
00:33:44Tony!
00:33:46Love and magic.
00:33:48Magic?
00:33:50Yeah, I mean, it's pretty magical
00:33:52that we just found this, don't you think?
00:33:54Yeah.
00:33:56It's a tale as old as time.
00:34:04Maybe we should get out of here.
00:34:06Yeah?
00:34:08Yeah.
00:34:18So, to recap, her name is Leonie Leopold.
00:34:20Oh, that's a great name.
00:34:22I know, right?
00:34:40All right.
00:34:52Wait,
00:34:54what is the third cousin royalty?
00:34:56Twice removed.
00:34:58So, wait, is she a duchess or a dame?
00:35:06Ms. Leopold, hi.
00:35:08I'm the professor
00:35:10and the generals.
00:35:12Oh.
00:35:20We were hoping
00:35:22you could tell us about him.
00:35:24Get that thing away from me.
00:35:26That thing is cursed!
00:35:34I'm gonna go put him in the car.
00:35:36Mm.
00:35:38Um,
00:35:40Ms. Leopold,
00:35:42we apologize.
00:35:44The Nutcracker is part of a much larger mystery
00:35:46that we would like to understand
00:35:48and we need your help solving that mystery.
00:35:50You're safe now.
00:35:56You're lucky that you're charming.
00:35:58It's the only reason
00:36:00I'm letting you in.
00:36:02Hey.
00:36:36Family recipe.
00:36:40I went halfway around the world
00:36:42and start fresh
00:36:44to get away
00:36:46from the Leopold legacy.
00:36:48And now that thing is in my yard,
00:36:50how is this possible?
00:36:52Why is the Nutcracker
00:36:54no longer with your family?
00:36:56It brought us nothing
00:36:58but pain and sorrow.
00:37:00It cursed our family.
00:37:02How is the Nutcracker responsible for the pain and the sorrow?
00:37:04Lord Bolvar
00:37:06hit the Leopold family hard.
00:37:08Half of the family was killed
00:37:10fighting the Germans,
00:37:12including two princes.
00:37:18There were only three
00:37:20royals left.
00:37:22King Leon, Queen Nora,
00:37:24and their youngest son,
00:37:26Prince Peter.
00:37:28The king and queen were long past
00:37:30their ability to have children, so
00:37:32King Hope, for the continuation
00:37:34of the royal dynasty,
00:37:36was with his 21-year-old son.
00:37:40But Peter was not
00:37:42the marrying type.
00:38:02Peter.
00:38:18Peter
00:38:20loved Finn.
00:38:22A commoner, a male commoner.
00:38:24Peter
00:38:26showered Finn with extravagant gifts
00:38:28and Finn took some
00:38:30of the gems and made a Nutcracker
00:38:32for Peter.
00:38:34Nutcrackers were considered
00:38:36empowerment and protection
00:38:38for those who owned them.
00:38:40It's a hundred years later
00:38:42and we're still struggling
00:38:44to accept people for who they are
00:38:46and who they love.
00:38:48King Leon got nothing about love.
00:38:50The only thing he cared about
00:38:52was the continuing of the
00:38:54royal line.
00:38:56And the king discovered his son's
00:38:58love affair with Finn.
00:39:00He banished Finn from the
00:39:02kingdom and
00:39:04forbid his son to ever see Finn again.
00:39:06Peter felt so
00:39:08distraught, he died of a heart
00:39:10attack.
00:39:12A broken heart?
00:39:14And the king was so guilt-ridden that he saw
00:39:16the Nutcracker as a
00:39:18sign,
00:39:20a reminder of his own
00:39:22tragic blindness.
00:39:24But the queen couldn't get rid of the Nutcracker,
00:39:26could she? I would assume
00:39:28that she saw it as a
00:39:30representation of Finn and
00:39:32Peter's love, not only for each other, but
00:39:34her love for her son.
00:39:36Oh.
00:39:38Yes, she did.
00:39:40But the king, he thought
00:39:42that the Nutcracker was
00:39:44cursed. And as long as
00:39:46it existed, the curse would
00:39:48prevail.
00:39:56The queen gives
00:40:08the Nutcracker to her maid
00:40:10for safekeeping. And
00:40:12that Nutcracker passed
00:40:14from the queen's sister
00:40:16to a cousin
00:40:18to another cousin.
00:40:20And, um,
00:40:22it did stop.
00:40:24The tragedy hit
00:40:26whomever has it.
00:40:28Oh.
00:40:30And finally,
00:40:32sometime in the 1960s,
00:40:34it was donated to
00:40:36a ballet company from
00:40:38Minsk that will perform
00:40:40the Nutcracker.
00:40:42Do you happen to know the name of the ballet
00:40:44company? I do not,
00:40:46and I don't care.
00:40:48I want nothing to do
00:40:50with that Nutcracker
00:40:52journey.
00:40:56But
00:40:58it's so nice to meet you.
00:41:00Thank you very much, Miss Leopold.
00:41:02Leone,
00:41:04please.
00:41:06Um,
00:41:08Miss Leopold, I was
00:41:10actually wondering if you would
00:41:12allow me to tell
00:41:14Peter's story and
00:41:16honor his love for Finn.
00:41:18It's never
00:41:20been told before.
00:41:22Well, I believe that it's time.
00:41:26I think you're right.
00:41:42You know, it's just
00:41:44a shame Peter and Finn's love couldn't have been...
00:41:46Been what? Like the love
00:41:48that Leone had for you?
00:41:50I was gonna
00:41:52say honored, but yeah, sure, that too.
00:41:54Oh.
00:41:56The Nutcracker
00:41:58is a piece of Austrian history.
00:42:00It should be in a museum somewhere.
00:42:02Yeah, I agree with you.
00:42:04As a treasure
00:42:06hunter, did you hunt treasure for a personal
00:42:08profit or for museums?
00:42:10Listen,
00:42:12Sophia, there's something I should tell you.
00:42:14Wait! What? I think I see a light
00:42:16in my apartment.
00:42:24Maybe you left a light on.
00:42:26No, it looks like it was a flashlight. It was moving.
00:42:46I think somebody's been here.
00:42:48Or is still here.
00:43:16You know, you really gotta get this Nutcracker to a museum
00:43:18sooner rather than later.
00:43:20No way!
00:43:22We are so close to cracking this thing
00:43:24wide open.
00:43:26Is this story really more important to you than your safety?
00:43:28Oh, I'm an investigative journalist.
00:43:30Risk is on my resume.
00:43:32All right, well, at least let me camp out on your couch tonight.
00:43:34Just to be safe.
00:43:36What, are you afraid to be alone?
00:43:38No.
00:43:40I'm not.
00:43:42I'm not afraid to be alone.
00:43:44Hmm.
00:43:46Hmm.
00:43:48I don't know. What do you think?
00:43:50Should we let him?
00:44:14Hmm.
00:44:36Love,
00:44:38what are we willing to do for it?
00:44:40To sacrifice for it?
00:44:42To lose for it?
00:44:44To give for it?
00:44:46Is the distortion of love a curse?
00:44:48If love breaks us,
00:44:50can love fix us?
00:45:08Hello.
00:45:10I'm still on duty.
00:45:12That's Detective Fibb to you.
00:45:14I know. I'm sorry to call so late.
00:45:16What do you need?
00:45:18Does it have anything to do with the stories you're writing
00:45:20for the Ashford Times?
00:45:22Oh, you read my stories?
00:45:24I skimmed them.
00:45:26I'm kidding. They're great, kiddo.
00:45:28Thanks, Fibb.
00:45:30Well, I just need help finding out
00:45:32about what happened to the Nutcracker.
00:45:34The Nutcracker from your story?
00:45:36Yep, the one that is allegedly cursed
00:45:38and undoubtedly priceless.
00:45:40Okay, well,
00:45:42I'll see what I can do.
00:45:44Thanks, Fibb. You're great.
00:45:46Okay, bye.
00:45:58Good morning.
00:46:02Coffee.
00:46:08Oh, good coffee.
00:46:10A journalist's panacea.
00:46:16Did you pull an all-nighter?
00:46:18No, no, no. I got two hours of sleep.
00:46:20But I have information for you.
00:46:22Crucial information.
00:46:24Okay. Let's hear it.
00:46:26The Nutcracker was stolen.
00:46:28What?
00:46:30Yeah, it was stolen from the Pembroke Playhouse on December 14, 1972.
00:46:32How'd you find that out?
00:46:34I have a friend in law enforcement.
00:46:36Okay, impressive.
00:46:38Isn't the Pembroke Playhouse just the next town over?
00:46:40Yeah, yeah. I'm actually going there today.
00:46:42Oh.
00:46:44Mind if I go with you?
00:46:46Yeah, I was kind of hoping...
00:46:48Hey, what's that?
00:46:50Huh.
00:46:56I have answers to your questions.
00:46:58Meet me at the corner of
00:47:00Elm and Rosedale Roads.
00:47:02Bring the Nutcracker.
00:47:04One sharp.
00:47:10You should call the police.
00:47:12Oh, no.
00:47:14I need to get the entire story, and I don't have it yet, so I'm going.
00:47:16All right.
00:47:18At least let me come with you.
00:47:20Well, okay.
00:47:22Just as long as you keep your distance.
00:47:24Because I don't want to scare this guy off.
00:47:26All right. Aye-aye, Captain.
00:47:34In the middle of the ocean
00:47:38And the bottom of my heart
00:47:50Play it again, Rizzo.
00:47:52You just got yourself fired.
00:47:54Looks like I've got to do everything myself.
00:48:04Hey!
00:48:06Oh!
00:48:08Are you okay?
00:48:10Yeah, I think so.
00:48:12Which way to go?
00:48:14Uh...
00:48:16The Ashford Lounge.
00:48:18Let's split up. I'll meet you there.
00:48:20Okay.
00:48:34Come on.
00:48:36Come on.
00:48:38Come on.
00:48:52Tracker.
00:48:54You're a sneak.
00:49:04Oh!
00:49:06Oh, happy holidays.
00:49:14Oh, excuse me.
00:49:22Sophia.
00:49:24It was him.
00:49:26But he's gone.
00:49:34That was a close one.
00:49:36I was really hoping we were going to catch him.
00:49:42Be right back.
00:49:44Oh, yeah, sure.
00:49:46You must be Sophia.
00:49:48Hi.
00:49:50My brother has been having a blast helping you with the stories.
00:49:52He's really into that nutcracker.
00:49:54Or maybe it's not just the nutcracker.
00:49:56Oh, well, your brother's been a really big help.
00:49:58I'm glad.
00:50:00He really needed something to pull him out of his funk.
00:50:02I shouldn't share any more, but just as much as he's been helping you,
00:50:04you've been helping him more.
00:50:06You two make quite a team.
00:50:08Oh, uh...
00:50:10Well, I just...
00:50:12I can't believe that he made all of those nutcrackers.
00:50:14It's, uh...
00:50:16They're wonderful.
00:50:18Excuse me, miss.
00:50:20Oh, sorry. Excuse me.
00:50:22That was wild. You okay?
00:50:24Oh, yeah, I'm good.
00:50:26You're a woman of surprises.
00:50:28Tracking device.
00:50:30Yeah.
00:50:32Okay.
00:50:44You have got to be more careful, Soph.
00:50:46I am being careful.
00:50:48I'm not just talking about the strange men
00:50:50trying to rob you.
00:50:52What about this Jackson guy?
00:50:54Without him?
00:50:56You let him sleepover.
00:50:58Treasure hunter?
00:51:00You just met? Come on.
00:51:02Okay, look. I'm not being stupid, okay?
00:51:04I put the nutcracker in a secure location,
00:51:06and besides Jackson, it's actually been really, really helpful.
00:51:08Treasure hunters
00:51:10hunt treasure.
00:51:12What if he's using you
00:51:14to get to the nutcracker?
00:51:16Nancy, I...
00:51:18He said the thing's like seven figures in value, right?
00:51:20I doubt there's a treasure hunter on this planet
00:51:22who wouldn't do anything for that,
00:51:24including acting like a prince of Othello.
00:51:26Fair point.
00:51:30I don't want to sound harsh, Soph,
00:51:32but you don't exactly...
00:51:34What?
00:51:36Have the best track record when it comes to choosing men?
00:51:38Yeah.
00:51:40I know.
00:51:42It's your nature to snoop.
00:51:44Have you snooped him yet?
00:51:46Not yet.
00:51:48Snoop him, Soph.
00:51:56Thanks, Dan.
00:52:00What is going on?
00:52:02Trying to figure that out.
00:52:04Oh, my gosh.
00:52:06Bernie, are you okay?
00:52:08Yeah, you should see the other guy.
00:52:10Yeah, yeah, I'd like to see the other guy.
00:52:12What did he look like?
00:52:14He's wearing a face mask.
00:52:16Solid build.
00:52:18Looked like he was in his early 30s.
00:52:20I'm so sorry.
00:52:22It's okay.
00:52:24It's okay.
00:52:26We're okay.
00:52:28This is about your stories, isn't it?
00:52:30Yeah, I believe so.
00:52:32There's treasure hunters that want the nutcracker.
00:52:34Poor thing's had a rough enough life already.
00:52:38Keep telling your story.
00:52:40Call me
00:52:42if you think of anything else.
00:52:48So this is about your story?
00:52:50Yeah, I think so.
00:52:52I need you to find out about a guy
00:52:54named Jackson Hawkins.
00:52:56Hawkins?
00:52:58Yeah, I arrested him three years ago.
00:53:00He was a treasure hunter.
00:53:02Avoided jail time by turning in his fences
00:53:04and returning some stolen artifacts.
00:53:06I think he may still be doing community service.
00:53:08Can you get me that arrest report?
00:53:10Sure.
00:53:12It's part of the public records.
00:53:14So you think he's involved?
00:53:22Yeah.
00:53:44December 1972,
00:53:46Karen and Mark Levi
00:53:48abruptly vacated apartment 5 on Christmas Eve
00:53:50with their daughter, Abigail,
00:53:52age 17.
00:53:54I wonder why on Christmas Eve.
00:53:58Wait, apartment 5 is Margie's apartment.
00:54:00That means that Margie moved in
00:54:02right after Abigail moved out?
00:54:04Okay, Abigail,
00:54:06nicknamed Twirly.
00:54:08Twirly? That sounds like a nickname
00:54:10for a ballerina.
00:54:12Maybe.
00:54:14Abigail was a dancer and Tony wanted her to have her
00:54:16own nutcracker.
00:54:20So,
00:54:22if they left
00:54:24on Christmas Eve,
00:54:26that could explain why Abigail
00:54:28never actually received the present.
00:54:30But then,
00:54:32how did Tony come into possession
00:54:34of something so valuable?
00:54:36I want me to give it to Abigail.
00:54:40Did she know that it was stolen?
00:54:42I don't know.
00:54:44I don't know.
00:54:46I don't know.
00:54:48Did she know that it was stolen
00:54:50and therefore refuse the present?
00:54:52And knowing that her great love was a thief
00:54:54and a rat caused her to
00:54:56flee with her parents?
00:55:18Hello,
00:55:20Ivana.
00:55:48Bingo.
00:56:06Directions to the Pembroke Playhouse.
00:56:18Oh.
00:56:30Oh, happy holidays.
00:56:36Another rat.
00:56:42Been a long time, Jackson.
00:56:44Yeah, not long enough.
00:56:46Your sister's lovely.
00:56:48Shame many things shouldn't happen to her.
00:56:50Leave her alone, all right?
00:56:52Only if you help me.
00:56:54I'm still on probation.
00:56:56And I still have dirt on you that can lock you up.
00:56:58Hi.
00:57:18Hi.
00:57:20Excuse me, I'm looking for Ivana Sorokin.
00:57:22She's right over there.
00:57:24I'm Ivana Sorokin.
00:57:26Hi, I'm Sophia Meyer
00:57:28from the Ashford Times.
00:57:32Is this you?
00:57:34Such a long time ago.
00:57:36Yes, that is me.
00:57:38What do you think happened
00:57:40to the nutcracker?
00:57:42I don't care what happened to it.
00:57:44I'm glad it's been gone all these years.
00:57:46Why do you believe that it's cursed?
00:57:48Without a doubt.
00:57:50How so?
00:57:52That nutcracker was given to our valier company
00:57:54yesterday.
00:57:56Our lead ballerina broke her ankle.
00:57:58It ended her dancing career.
00:58:00Oh, yikes.
00:58:02It didn't stop there.
00:58:04Sets, bell, and crew members'
00:58:06performances were cancelled.
00:58:08After Tony, the custodian,
00:58:10stole it,
00:58:12all the bad things stopped.
00:58:14We realized it must be cursed.
00:58:16Tony?
00:58:18Yes, Tony.
00:58:20He was such a nice young man.
00:58:22Everyone loved him.
00:58:24But...
00:58:26One December night,
00:58:28Tony
00:58:30and the nutcracker disappeared.
00:58:32A gunshot was heard on the stage that night.
00:58:34The police were called.
00:58:36Was anybody hurt or killed?
00:58:38Not that we know of. There was no body here when police arrived.
00:58:40What do you think
00:58:42happened to Tony?
00:58:44Some in our troupe believe he had been murdered
00:58:46and whoever killed him hid the body.
00:58:48But you don't believe
00:58:50that, do you?
00:58:52I had a little crush
00:58:54on Tony, but...
00:58:56it didn't last long.
00:58:58Tony was
00:59:00in love with a girl in local
00:59:02ballet class.
00:59:04After that night, I never saw that girl
00:59:06again.
00:59:08I always had hope.
00:59:10Tony and she had run off together.
00:59:12What if I
00:59:14told you that I could return the nutcracker to you?
00:59:16I'd tell you to flush it, trash it,
00:59:18keep it away from my dancers.
00:59:20It's worth quite a bit of money.
00:59:22Then please,
00:59:24donate it somewhere where it can do some good.
00:59:26We don't want it.
00:59:38Oh, thank you.
00:59:44Hey, Diane.
00:59:46Oh, hey there.
00:59:48What's the latest with their story?
00:59:50Oh, I found out where the nutcracker
00:59:52was stolen from.
00:59:54Good job.
00:59:56Did you get help from that Jackson guy?
00:59:58Uh, no.
01:00:00Not this time.
01:00:02At the risk of prying,
01:00:04is there anything going on there?
01:00:06You've been spending lots of time with the guy.
01:00:08Uh, well,
01:00:10I am working solo now.
01:00:12Really?
01:00:14Yeah, it turns out he's a scoundrel.
01:00:16Just like every other man I bump into.
01:00:18Um, but this time I thought...
01:00:20I don't know, I thought...
01:00:22Sounds like you've been thinking too much.
01:00:24Well, I mean, it would be kind of
01:00:26reckless for me to not assess his past
01:00:28and his motives.
01:00:30Look, I don't know what you think his motives are, but in these matters
01:00:32I've always found it's best to listen
01:00:34to your heart. What does your heart
01:00:36say?
01:00:38I don't know.
01:00:40Sometimes it's hard to be
01:00:42brave enough to listen, but as a reporter
01:00:44you've always been intrepid, Sophia.
01:00:46Thanks, Diane.
01:00:48Follow
01:00:50your heart.
01:00:52And get me that next
01:00:54story installment.
01:00:56Okay, I will.
01:00:58Bye.
01:01:08What'd you put on my nutcrackers?
01:01:10We sold them all. Every single one.
01:01:14Man, I, uh...
01:01:16really don't deserve a sister like you.
01:01:20Are you in trouble again?
01:01:24Yeah.
01:01:26I don't know how to get out of it this time.
01:01:28Is this about Sophia?
01:01:32Sort of, but, um...
01:01:36it's not really like that.
01:01:40Mary, Mary!
01:01:42Come on in.
01:01:44How you feeling?
01:01:46Pretty darn good for my age
01:01:48and my stage.
01:01:50Good. Brought you a gift.
01:01:52Would you like some?
01:01:54Only if you'll join me.
01:02:10What's on your mind, Sophia?
01:02:12I think you and I have a lot to talk about.
01:02:16Tony.
01:02:24I figured we'd have this talk
01:02:26sooner than later.
01:02:28How'd you figure it out?
01:02:30Ernst Fyodor Amadeus, ETA.
01:02:32As in ETA Hoffman, the author of
01:02:34The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.
01:02:36I couldn't be Tony anymore.
01:02:38I wasn't the wanted man.
01:02:40But I wanted a name.
01:02:42If Abigail came back,
01:02:44she'd know.
01:02:46She'd know it was me.
01:02:48I bet this plays something
01:02:50from The Nutcracker, doesn't it?
01:02:52Mm-hmm.
01:02:54Yeah.
01:02:56And all these presents are for Abigail, too,
01:02:58aren't they?
01:03:00One for each year we've been apart.
01:03:02So you left The Nutcracker
01:03:04wrapped in the storage room
01:03:06because it was stolen?
01:03:08I didn't want anybody to find it
01:03:10and make the connection.
01:03:12But it would still be there even if she...
01:03:14If she came back.
01:03:16See, the storage room was where we would meet.
01:03:18Where we could be alone.
01:03:20Away from her parents.
01:03:22So what happened
01:03:24the night at the Pembroke
01:03:26Playhouse?
01:03:28The night I stole
01:03:30The Nutcracker, I killed a man.
01:03:32I was young,
01:03:34young, scared.
01:03:36I ran.
01:03:38No, no, Tony.
01:03:40You didn't kill anybody. There was no body.
01:03:42I was...
01:03:44I was confronted by someone.
01:03:46I panicked.
01:03:48I didn't...
01:03:50I saw him fall into the orchestra pit.
01:03:52I mean, even if I didn't murder someone,
01:03:54I stole The Nutcracker.
01:03:56But why? Why did you steal it?
01:04:00I met Abigail in 1971
01:04:02at the theater.
01:04:04It was love at first sight
01:04:06for both of us.
01:04:10I was a high school dropout
01:04:12and a janitor.
01:04:14My parents forbid her to see me.
01:04:16I wasn't good enough for her.
01:04:20I figured those were real diamonds
01:04:22on that Nutcracker.
01:04:24I thought we could use it
01:04:26to run away together.
01:04:28The night I stole it, I wrapped the present
01:04:30and left it where we used to meet,
01:04:32hoping she'd find it.
01:04:34Figuring I murdered somebody,
01:04:36I couldn't bring that shame
01:04:38on Abigail, so I ran.
01:04:40I tried to send her a message,
01:04:42but her parents had found out
01:04:44that we were planning on running away together,
01:04:46so they moved.
01:04:48So then you came back here,
01:04:50hoping that she might return one day.
01:04:52I searched for her for years
01:04:54with no luck.
01:05:00I still love her
01:05:02every moment of every day.
01:05:06Don't give up, Tony.
01:05:14Fifty years ago,
01:05:16a real-life love story
01:05:18never got a happy ever after.
01:05:20True love doesn't die.
01:05:22True love endures
01:05:24whether it's fifty minutes
01:05:26or fifty years.
01:05:28This Christmas Eve,
01:05:30Tony will be waiting.
01:05:32His love for Abigail
01:05:34as strong today
01:05:36as it was fifty years ago.
01:05:38A love
01:05:40more valuable than
01:05:42any bejeweled,
01:05:44priceless Nutcracker.
01:05:46Abigail, if you are
01:05:48reading this, your prince
01:05:50awaits your arrival.
01:05:54Oh.
01:05:58Bye, Brad.
01:06:04You no longer hold any power over me.
01:06:10Jackson, what are you doing here?
01:06:12Shouldn't you be finishing up your community service?
01:06:16Look, I never lied
01:06:18to you, okay?
01:06:20You withheld pertinent information.
01:06:22And I don't know what's more offensive,
01:06:24the fact that you just didn't tell me about your past
01:06:26or the fact that you think so little of my investigative skills
01:06:28that you didn't think I would figure it out.
01:06:30Look, I'm embarrassed about what I did, okay?
01:06:32Really, I am. You're right.
01:06:34I was a rat.
01:06:36But I'm not one anymore, okay?
01:06:38I don't believe you.
01:06:40I tried to tell you I did.
01:06:42In the car on our way home from Leone's.
01:06:44I tried to tell you.
01:06:46Oh, there was plenty of time that night when you could have told me
01:06:48when we were sharing a bowl of popcorn.
01:06:50Wait.
01:06:52Hey, Jackson,
01:06:54what is going on?
01:06:56Everything's gone wrong. I don't know what to do.
01:07:02Where's the nutcracker?
01:07:04It's in a safe place, like you suggested.
01:07:06I'm sorry, Sophia, but I need it.
01:07:08Well, you know I can't do that.
01:07:10Please, Sophia.
01:07:12I'm begging you.
01:07:14No, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to feed your criminal habit.
01:07:16Sophia, I can't leave here without it.
01:07:18Well, then I'm going to have to call my detective.
01:07:20Please don't.
01:07:22Wait. I can explain everything.
01:07:26Did you buy all my nutcrackers?
01:07:28Yeah.
01:07:30Yeah, that was before I discovered that you're a rat.
01:07:34You're right, Sophia.
01:07:36I am a rat.
01:07:38But right now, I'm a cornered rat.
01:07:40What do you mean?
01:07:42I have to give that nutcracker to Simon or he's going to hurt my sister.
01:07:44Wait.
01:07:46Wait.
01:07:48Is Simon the guy with the eye patch?
01:07:50Yeah.
01:07:52Yeah, that's him.
01:07:54Yeah.
01:07:56Yeah, I saw you with him yesterday.
01:07:58How long have you been playing me?
01:08:00I'm not playing you, Sophia.
01:08:02Look, I was a treasure hunter,
01:08:04and Simon was my boss.
01:08:06I got arrested, and I was afraid of Simon,
01:08:08so instead of giving his name to the police,
01:08:10I gave him the names of everybody else that I worked with.
01:08:12And now, he's threatening my sister.
01:08:14If I give him that nutcracker, then...
01:08:18I don't know what's going to happen.
01:08:24Yeah, that's him.
01:08:26It's Simon.
01:08:28You have it?
01:08:30Not yet.
01:08:32Tick tock, tick tock.
01:08:34Andrea, don't hurt my sister.
01:08:36Bring me the nutcracker, and she'll be fine.
01:08:38Say okay.
01:08:40Okay.
01:08:42One hour.
01:08:44Okay.
01:08:46At the Pembroke Playhouse.
01:08:48Déjà vu.
01:08:50I'll meet you there in one hour.
01:08:52What about my sister?
01:08:54Well, you bring me the nutcracker, and I'll tell you where to find her.
01:08:58Okay.
01:09:00What are we going to do?
01:09:02Okay.
01:09:12Very clever.
01:09:14It's a good hiding spot.
01:09:16We're going to give the nutcracker to Simon.
01:09:20We can't trust Simon. He's a...
01:09:22Oh, so a beast, a rat, a mouse king.
01:09:26Gucci-wearing pirate.
01:09:28I have a plan.
01:09:32Where are you going?
01:09:34He's going to need backup.
01:09:42I'm going to record this whole thing just in case you get a confession.
01:09:44Good idea.
01:09:46Yeah.
01:09:58Okay.
01:10:14Tony?
01:10:16Wait, Tony's your caretaker?
01:10:18You've been with him to the boarding house this whole time?
01:10:20Surprise.
01:10:22Thank you for coming.
01:10:24If I can help in any way, I'm game.
01:10:26Back of my hand.
01:10:28Thanks.
01:10:32Okay, little guy.
01:10:34You are going to be in very good hands.
01:10:38Oh.
01:10:40Okay, we've got about 20 minutes.
01:10:42You know, I really wish you'd let me face Simon alone.
01:10:44This isn't safe.
01:10:46He's dangerous, all right? This isn't just a story.
01:10:48Yeah, no, I know. It's a group effort.
01:10:56Give it to me.
01:11:00Give it to me.
01:11:04You're a little early, Simon.
01:11:06What did you do to Jackson's sister?
01:11:08She's a little tied up right now.
01:11:12Give me the nutcracker if you ever want to see her again.
01:11:14Wait, wait, wait.
01:11:16You tried to steal this nutcracker 50 years ago.
01:11:18Now you're attempting to steal it again?
01:11:20I'm not stealing it.
01:11:22I was swacked in the face with a flashlight
01:11:24from the guy who stole it years ago.
01:11:26See?
01:11:28I think I'm old.
01:11:30Give it to me.
01:11:32Not until you tell me where Andrew is.
01:11:34You're in no position to make demands.
01:11:36Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
01:11:38All of this, all of this really for a stupid doll?
01:11:40It's not just a doll.
01:11:42This doll is worth $25 million.
01:11:46$25 million and you're just, what,
01:11:48handing it over to this jerk?
01:11:50It's for my sister, all right?
01:11:52Oh, how sweet.
01:11:54A lover's quarrel.
01:11:56Oh, hardly.
01:11:58Wait, you know that whole prince story
01:12:00that you fed me about the love of a good woman
01:12:02turning a rat into a prince?
01:12:04What a bunch of rat crap.
01:12:06You men are all the same.
01:12:22He's out.
01:12:24All right.
01:12:26Shoot!
01:12:52Oh, my God.
01:13:22Oh, my God.
01:13:36Get out of my way.
01:13:38Not on your life.
01:13:44Sophia, run!
01:13:46Come on, get over here.
01:13:48Come here!
01:13:52Come on.
01:14:02Jackson!
01:14:04Jackson!
01:14:06Come on!
01:14:12I see you started without me.
01:14:14Back up, back away, back away.
01:14:16Everybody okay?
01:14:18Yeah.
01:14:20We'll take it from here.
01:14:22Come on, let's go.
01:14:24Did he hurt you?
01:14:26No.
01:14:28I'm okay.
01:14:30Quite a plan. Sherlock Holmes.
01:14:32Yeah, but you make a pretty good Watson.
01:14:38Andrea!
01:14:42I'm so sorry.
01:14:44It's okay.
01:14:46Good job, Sophia.
01:14:48You too, Tony.
01:14:50Your friend's a really good guy.
01:14:52Yeah.
01:14:58Yeah, he is.
01:15:06Thank you so much for joining us today,
01:15:08especially because it is Christmas Eve.
01:15:10When I discovered
01:15:12this Christmas present
01:15:14in the storage room,
01:15:16I knew
01:15:18that there was an interesting mystery to solve,
01:15:20but I had no idea how big
01:15:22the story would become.
01:15:24And what do you do with the nutcracker?
01:15:26So, my dear best friends
01:15:28Nancy and Laura are actually
01:15:30going to take this historic nutcracker
01:15:32to Austria next month on their honeymoon,
01:15:34and there it's going to be
01:15:36exhibited to honor the love of
01:15:38Prince Peter and Finn, a commoner.
01:15:40So what's next for you?
01:15:42For me?
01:15:44Lots of studios have actually
01:15:46approached me about optioning the story,
01:15:48and I've been
01:15:50approached about a book deal,
01:15:52and starting next week
01:15:54I'm going to be a weekly columnist
01:15:56at the Ashford Times.
01:15:58Sophia!
01:16:00What about Tony and Abigail?
01:16:02There's no sign of her just yet,
01:16:04but with true love, hope never dies,
01:16:06and Tony's going to be here waiting.
01:16:08I am. And for the record,
01:16:10no charges will be brought against him
01:16:12until the nutcracker's been returned.
01:16:14Hey!
01:16:16Folks, thanks for coming out,
01:16:18and have a merry Christmas.
01:16:20Thank you so much.
01:16:28Excuse me.
01:16:30Are you the woman who wrote those articles?
01:16:32Abigail.
01:16:38Abigail.
01:16:44Oh, but you were not here to see me.
01:16:46Tony!
01:16:48Come here.
01:16:50Tony!
01:16:52Twirly!
01:16:56You're back.
01:16:58You're finally back.
01:17:00We were always together.
01:17:04And so love conquered all.
01:17:08A happy ending.
01:17:10I don't know.
01:17:12I think there's one more chapter.
01:17:22Really, Diane?
01:17:24I mean, how many treasures can this basement hold?
01:17:26You're the writer. I'm the editor.
01:17:28Don't ever let me forget it.
01:17:30Your next story is down there.
01:17:32Okay, bye.
01:17:52Jackson?
01:17:54Are you defacing the beam?
01:17:58Well, uh, yeah.
01:18:00I was in the process of defacing the beam.
01:18:02I just, um, needed your final approval.
01:18:04My final approval for what?
01:18:06Um...
01:18:08Well, uh,
01:18:10this is a place of forever love,
01:18:12and I wanted to write
01:18:14Sophia and Jackson
01:18:16inside the heart.
01:18:18Can I?
01:18:22Uh...
01:18:24Oh, um...
01:18:27I made this for you.
01:18:32It is beautiful.
01:18:34Yeah.
01:18:36I know you're not a ballerina,
01:18:38but, uh, you've been dancing circles
01:18:40around my heart since the moment
01:18:42you, uh, bumped into me.
01:18:46You lifted my curse.
01:18:48Jackson,
01:18:50the real curse was me thinking that true love
01:18:52had to be like a fairy tale
01:18:54when the fact is
01:18:56real life
01:18:58and the real you
01:19:00are far better.
01:19:06Wait, uh,
01:19:08I almost forgot the key elements.
01:19:14Care to dance?
01:19:18You know I'm not a ballerina.
01:19:20Well, that's all right.
01:19:22Like I said,
01:19:24I'm not much of a prince.
01:19:52Fuck.
01:20:22That's a fucking shot!
01:20:24Don't jump off the field!
01:20:52Fuck.
01:20:56Fuck you.
01:21:06Come here.
01:21:08I'm fast.
01:21:10As soon as you hit the bar,
01:21:12it will stop.
01:21:16Yes.
01:21:22Yes.
01:21:36Beautiful timing,
01:21:38and it's a four.
01:21:53Yeah!
01:22:04That's a fucking shot!
01:22:06Don't jump off the field!
01:22:12Blast into the gap!
01:22:14Really good.
01:22:19That's a fucking shot!
01:22:21Don't jump off the field!
01:22:48Beautiful timing,
01:22:50and it's a four.
01:23:20Yeah!
01:23:32That's a fucking shot!
01:23:34Don't jump off the field!
01:23:44That's a fucking shot!
01:23:46Don't jump off the field!
01:23:50Yeah!
01:24:08Beautiful timing,
01:24:10and it's a four.
01:24:20That's a fucking shot!
01:24:40Blast into the gap!
01:24:42Really good.
01:24:50Beautiful timing,
01:24:52and it's a four.
01:25:06Beautiful timing,
01:25:08and it's a four.
01:25:21That's a fucking shot!
01:25:34That's a fucking shot!
01:25:51Beautiful timing,
01:25:53and it's a four.
01:26:03What a lovely shot!
01:26:20That's a fucking shot!