Okay! So, I want to get back to this story. You know, our little Made for TV Movie about a Christmas homecoming in the cheesy greeting card company style? This started out as a gag, more or less. But it's accumulated quite a bit of material over the course of 11 blogs, thus far and it's telling me it wants to be finished; as stories so often do. The Muse must be obeyed. I keep thinking of a movie. Was it called The Muse? Please hold...
Yeah, so it was called The Muse. It's an Albert Brooks movie from 1999. Now the scene I'm remembering is Albert arriving at Sharon Stone's house; I think the question being: Is she really a mythological "muse" or isn't she?. But you're supposed to bring her a gift, which she puts on her fireplace mantel. I can't find the specific scene; but here's the trailer. Let's take a look!
That looks better than I remember. I'll have to revisit.
Okay, let's review (and if you want to follow along from the beginning, please see my blog: The Hallmark Movie for the Restivus! from December, 2023. The conclusion of each blog should tell you where to find the next one (hopefully); but here's a link to the first one:
www.christopherfreidy.com/blog/the-hallmark-christmas-movie-for-the-restivus
Okay, let's review (and if you want to follow along from the beginning, please see my blog: The Hallmark Movie for the Restivus! from December, 2023. The conclusion of each blog should tell you where to find the next one (hopefully); but here's a link to the first one:
www.christopherfreidy.com/blog/the-hallmark-christmas-movie-for-the-restivus
I actually need to review myself; that is, bring myself up to speed on my own story, because I kinda forget where I was with it. But here goes:
Our teleplay follows the yuletide exploits of one Ms. Honoria Cummings. Most people call her "Ri-ri" or just "Ri." She's one of them, there "high powered" Businesswomen who works for a conglomerate in The Big City. JOHNSON INDUSTRIES is led by Ri's boss, Mr. Marlon Johnson. It's a family business he's inherited. He seems kind of indifferent to running it; but he's also kinda good at it, so he does. Johnson Industries has all kinds of holdings. A diverse portfolio, as they say. One of those ventures is a chain of Christmas themed restaurants called Jolly Jingles. Wildly popular in the 60's and 70's, Jolly Jingles declined in popularity and was eventually shuttered by the company. But one last location held on, in Winooski Falls, Vermont. Actually, it was kind of forgotten about. It mysteriously "fell through the cracks" and continued doing business. But it's an anomaly and Marlon wants it off the books; so he sends Honoria to Vermont to do the dirty work of axing the place and disemploying its staff.
Luckily or unluckily, Honoria happens to be from Winooski Falls, where her dad is not only both the mayor and the sheriff; he also runs a holiday themed "motor in." Along with her persnickety personal assistant, Jurgin; she climbs into Marlon's super-expensive self-driving Tesos car and heads to the chopping block. I should also mention the movie starts out with a flashback with Honoria narrating.* It seems she's gotten pregnant on her return trip home and there is more than one candidate for the father; including Marlon who she's been flirting with.
That's the basics, thus far. I'll post part of the last installment here:
CUT TO:
EXT. -ALL HOLIDAY INN -EVENINGTIDE
The police cruiser pulls into the driveway of the inn, past a vintage Holiday Inn neon sign. A large flashing neon "ALL" has been added above the "H" in Holiday. The attched marquee reads: JOIN US FOR X-MAS WITH ST.S PAT AND NICK WITH THE TAYLOR SWIFTT EXPERIENCE / MARCH 17TH!
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE CRUISER - FURTHER EVENING
Ash drives with Ri in the passenger seat. Jurgin, in the back, cranes his head and looks up at the marquee.
JURGIN
Taylor Swift spells her name with two "T"s? News to me...
ASH
Oh, that's not the actual Taylor Swift!
JURGIN
No!
ASH
Yeah; no. But she's an incredible simulation!
CUT TO:
EXT. PARKING LOT - EVEN FURTHER EVENING
The cruiser pulls into a space in front of a door with a neon sign that says OFFICE. The doors of the car open and Ash, Ri and Jurgin emerge from the vehicle. Ri, is clearly kind of in awe at the tumult of assorted holiday decorations from not just Christmas; but EVERYTHING (but mostly Christmas). She pirouettes as she takes the place in. Honoria will heretofore be named as "Ri" from this point on.
RI
It's amazing...so...kitschy.
JURGIN
You say that like it's not a good thing.
ASH
"Kitschy"? You mean, like, "cozy"?
JURGIN
No, Sir. She means like, "campy."
ASH
So, like, tents and campfires and The Boy Scouts?
JURGIN
Sure. Let's go with that.
RI
Daddy's not "hip," Jurgin.
JURGIN
(To Ash) Oh. Sorry, Sir.
ASH
You can call me Chief Krumholtz.
JURGIN
I'd rather not.
ASH
How about, just "Chief"?
JURGIN
Yes, chef!
ASH
You're a funny guy.
JURGIN
I try!
ASH
Well, follow me!
He escorts them through the door of the office
INT. OFFICE -NIGHT
The office has a little lounge area and a check-in desk. The whole vibe of the place is a kind of a retro-holiday, Populuxe-Googie type, deal-eee-oh, daddy-oh. An old 50's TV, the sound off, has an old Rankin-Bass Christmas special on the screen.
JURGIN
So, Chief...you run this inn; you're the sherrif...what else do you do? Cosmetology? Theology?
ASH
Believe it or not, I had planned to be a rabbi but my life went down a different path.
JURGIN
I can see it.
RI
Where's mom?
ASH
I'm not sure. And where's Stoney?
JURGIN
Who?
Ash taps the bell on the desk and and it TING-TINGS. A rustling brings forth a MAN from somewhere in the back. He's so tall he has to duck under the door frame. This is STONEY PETERSON, 30's. He lives up to his name and has the look of a 50's movie idol. He's quiet, yet friendly; very Vermonty.
STONEY
Oh, hey-ya Chief!
RI
Stoney!
Stoney pushes his glasses down the bridge of his nose and tilts his head.
STONEY
Ri-ri?
RI
Yes, it's me! I know, I look different.
STONEY
I'll say! You got tall!
RI
Well, I'm wearing heels.
Jurgin thrusts out his hand to shake, as he spontatneously starts singing a tailored version of "Stoney End."
JURGIN
(SINGING)...Going down the stoney end, I always wanted to go down the stoney end...*
The other three look at him like he has three heads
Our teleplay follows the yuletide exploits of one Ms. Honoria Cummings. Most people call her "Ri-ri" or just "Ri." She's one of them, there "high powered" Businesswomen who works for a conglomerate in The Big City. JOHNSON INDUSTRIES is led by Ri's boss, Mr. Marlon Johnson. It's a family business he's inherited. He seems kind of indifferent to running it; but he's also kinda good at it, so he does. Johnson Industries has all kinds of holdings. A diverse portfolio, as they say. One of those ventures is a chain of Christmas themed restaurants called Jolly Jingles. Wildly popular in the 60's and 70's, Jolly Jingles declined in popularity and was eventually shuttered by the company. But one last location held on, in Winooski Falls, Vermont. Actually, it was kind of forgotten about. It mysteriously "fell through the cracks" and continued doing business. But it's an anomaly and Marlon wants it off the books; so he sends Honoria to Vermont to do the dirty work of axing the place and disemploying its staff.
Luckily or unluckily, Honoria happens to be from Winooski Falls, where her dad is not only both the mayor and the sheriff; he also runs a holiday themed "motor in." Along with her persnickety personal assistant, Jurgin; she climbs into Marlon's super-expensive self-driving Tesos car and heads to the chopping block. I should also mention the movie starts out with a flashback with Honoria narrating.* It seems she's gotten pregnant on her return trip home and there is more than one candidate for the father; including Marlon who she's been flirting with.
That's the basics, thus far. I'll post part of the last installment here:
CUT TO:
EXT. -ALL HOLIDAY INN -EVENINGTIDE
The police cruiser pulls into the driveway of the inn, past a vintage Holiday Inn neon sign. A large flashing neon "ALL" has been added above the "H" in Holiday. The attched marquee reads: JOIN US FOR X-MAS WITH ST.S PAT AND NICK WITH THE TAYLOR SWIFTT EXPERIENCE / MARCH 17TH!
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE CRUISER - FURTHER EVENING
Ash drives with Ri in the passenger seat. Jurgin, in the back, cranes his head and looks up at the marquee.
JURGIN
Taylor Swift spells her name with two "T"s? News to me...
ASH
Oh, that's not the actual Taylor Swift!
JURGIN
No!
ASH
Yeah; no. But she's an incredible simulation!
CUT TO:
EXT. PARKING LOT - EVEN FURTHER EVENING
The cruiser pulls into a space in front of a door with a neon sign that says OFFICE. The doors of the car open and Ash, Ri and Jurgin emerge from the vehicle. Ri, is clearly kind of in awe at the tumult of assorted holiday decorations from not just Christmas; but EVERYTHING (but mostly Christmas). She pirouettes as she takes the place in. Honoria will heretofore be named as "Ri" from this point on.
RI
It's amazing...so...kitschy.
JURGIN
You say that like it's not a good thing.
ASH
"Kitschy"? You mean, like, "cozy"?
JURGIN
No, Sir. She means like, "campy."
ASH
So, like, tents and campfires and The Boy Scouts?
JURGIN
Sure. Let's go with that.
RI
Daddy's not "hip," Jurgin.
JURGIN
(To Ash) Oh. Sorry, Sir.
ASH
You can call me Chief Krumholtz.
JURGIN
I'd rather not.
ASH
How about, just "Chief"?
JURGIN
Yes, chef!
ASH
You're a funny guy.
JURGIN
I try!
ASH
Well, follow me!
He escorts them through the door of the office
INT. OFFICE -NIGHT
The office has a little lounge area and a check-in desk. The whole vibe of the place is a kind of a retro-holiday, Populuxe-Googie type, deal-eee-oh, daddy-oh. An old 50's TV, the sound off, has an old Rankin-Bass Christmas special on the screen.
JURGIN
So, Chief...you run this inn; you're the sherrif...what else do you do? Cosmetology? Theology?
ASH
Believe it or not, I had planned to be a rabbi but my life went down a different path.
JURGIN
I can see it.
RI
Where's mom?
ASH
I'm not sure. And where's Stoney?
JURGIN
Who?
Ash taps the bell on the desk and and it TING-TINGS. A rustling brings forth a MAN from somewhere in the back. He's so tall he has to duck under the door frame. This is STONEY PETERSON, 30's. He lives up to his name and has the look of a 50's movie idol. He's quiet, yet friendly; very Vermonty.
STONEY
Oh, hey-ya Chief!
RI
Stoney!
Stoney pushes his glasses down the bridge of his nose and tilts his head.
STONEY
Ri-ri?
RI
Yes, it's me! I know, I look different.
STONEY
I'll say! You got tall!
RI
Well, I'm wearing heels.
Jurgin thrusts out his hand to shake, as he spontatneously starts singing a tailored version of "Stoney End."
JURGIN
(SINGING)...Going down the stoney end, I always wanted to go down the stoney end...*
The other three look at him like he has three heads
Please see: CUMMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS / PART 13
for next installment.
CFR 5/30/25
for next installment.
CFR 5/30/25