Scripts

In 1895, Holly Hewins is a single woman in her 40s, working as a full time nurse to a sick child in Brockton, Massachusetts. Sales are lagging at her brother in-law James Edgar’s local department store. When James decides to dress up as Santa Claus to drum up business, the local children recognize him and call him out. James decides to invite the jolly old man himself, and when Santa shows up unexpectedly, he meets Holly. Holly’s sister, Annie Edgar, sees a spark between the woodsman and her sister and embarks on a scheme to get them together. 

Santa’s been single for all of his 600 years. Annie does what she can to make him over from a rough edged reclusive toy maker to Jolly Old Husband material. Mildred Segal, another Brockton spinster sets her sights on single Santa and woos him with cookies, while Santa struggles to be sociable and overcome his fear of dating. Holly is devoted to her work and while she appreciates her sister’s efforts, Santa, letting his fears get the better of him, hurts Holly’s feelings by not showing up for their date.  After awkwardly rebuffing Mildred’s advances and struggling through a Sunday dinner with the Edgars and Holly, Santa retreats to the North Pole where head elf Cappy, tries to encourage the world’s oldest bachelor to try again, but to no avail.  

When a tragedy befalls Holly’s patient, Constance, a young girl who had written to Santa, Santa can’t stay away. He goes to console Holly and they finally see each other as kindred independent spirits,  whose life purpose is to care for children. Santa proposes and we end with a beautiful spring wedding for Mr & Mrs. Claus.  

The story of ‘The Christmas They Met’ includes the origin of letter writing to Santa, the first department store Santa, and the origin of Mrs. Claus, all set against the background of a classic ‘Currier & Ives’ small town winter. James Edgar was the first department store Santa in Brockton Massachusetts in 1895. He and his wife Annie were great philanthropists to the families of their town.