SIDE 1

DEB

Mr. Greenway, sir.

BUDDY

(standing up)

Hi, Mr. Greenway, I m Buddy the Elf!

MR. GREENWAY

What? Who the devil is that?

WALTER

Well, he s, uh, he s my, son.

MR. GREENWAY

What?!


WALTER

Deb! Buddy needs a break.

DEB

(to BUDDY)

Buddy, why don t you come help me put these documents through the shredder?

BUDDY

What s a shredder?


DEB

It s a machine that makes snow.

BUDDY

No way!

(BUDDY and DEB leave the office.)

MR. GREENWAY

Hobbs! My phone has been ringing off the hook. Angry mothers, kids crying,  What happened to Jingles, the jolly Christmas puppy?

WALTER

It was an unfortunate oversight, Mr

MR. GREENWAY

Hobbs, you re out of a job unless you can come up with a blockbuster idea for a new Christmas book. I mean a through- the-roof national bestseller!

WALTER

Well, sir, that s easier said than done

MR. GREENWAY

Yes, it is. So you better get your top writers on it, because I will be back in New York on the evening of December twenty- fourth. At that time, you will present to me, in exact detail, your plans for the book! Happy holidays, Hobbs.