Long after her mother is killed in a car accident, a withdrawn third-grader must come out of her shell before her school Christmas break or her father may never find love again.

SYNOPSIS:

Exceedingly precocious on the inside but appearing withdrawn third-grader, HOLLY BARRY (9), is in for the night of her life. She talks aloud only to her single father (LOGAN BARRY; 36) since her mom was killed by a drunk driver. Her classmates think she's rude. Logan takes Holly to the rundown Nick's Diner before his "friends" date with vivacious TV actress MARIANNE (36), who co-stars on "Crime Scene, Burbank." Nick's Diner, owned by NICK and MEL who look like Santa and Mrs. Claus, is "home" to the Barrys, but the diner has just lost the catering job at the TV Studio, so Nick moonlights there as a security guard. Marianne calls Logan from the studio to cancel her date and tells him the show might get canceled by visiting Executives. Holly intervenes with text messages to Santa, while her dad drives on Hollywood Boulevard. Holly's Christmas wishes are for her dad to find love, Marianne to keep her job, Mel to get the catering job back, and an elderly homeless couple in the diner to receive a home. Holly wishes nothing for herself.

Holly convinces her dad to bring Marianne dinner at the studio. Holly's only homework assignment is to write a speech about her normal evening's activities. However, the fateful night involves a car accident, an open box of a stinky fish, a light-up palm tree, and a long evening trapped in the TV studio taping the show's final episode. Holly experiences fantastic daydreams throughout the evening, in stark contrast to reality. Christmas themes come alive in her hopeful eyes. Nick and Mel appear more like Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the hip-hop background singers, the FIVE HOODLUMS (any R&B band), frequently appear, act, and sing several songs. Still, the TV show is doomed. The womanizing leading man, LES CANNY/DETECTIVE GUNNER DOWNS, botches lines. Marianne is clumsy. The new French caterers accidentally spike a dish with medicine that affects equilibrium. Holly and Logan unwittingly participate in the TV show's demise, and the Executives cancel the drama series. However, during the chaotic night, love is in the air. Holly grows closer to her dad, Marianne befriends Holly, and Holly suggests the show should be done as a comedy. The comedy version is a hit. Marianne falls for Logan and Holly, and all three are offered contracts. Nick and Mel get their catering job back. And just as magically, the elderly homeless couple gets a place to live. Holly gets her four Christmas wishes.

The next morning at school, Holly summons the courage to speak in front of her class. She asks to be forgiven for not talking to them. She triumphantly summarizes the whole story of her chaotic night with the background singers, and with Marianne and her dad falling in love - all because she was texting Santa on magical Hollywood Boulevard!

MIRACLE ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD BY TOM STOHLGREN AND ARTHUR O.THOMAS