WINNER BEST MUSIC INSPIRED SCREENPLAY - NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL

Stranded en route to his hometown, a notorious member of a famous boy band is rescued by a working-class woman that has no clue of his reputation.  Longing for a ‘normal” lifestyle, he imposes himself on her and her six-year-old son’s tranquil life.

SYNOPSIS:

The star on the top of a giant Christmas tree in the town square sparks out. At the base, three minstrels, The Elfettes, our magical musical storytellers set up the story by singing “Dear Santa (Bring Her a Man This Christmas)”.

As The Elfettes wander through town, they introduce us to Teresa Mendes, an intelligent working-class woman who struggles to support herself and her six-year-old son. Having spent her entire adult life caring for her child, Teresa has had little experience or time to partake

in the healthy lifestyle enjoyed by most her age.

The Elfettes fly across the Chicago horizon to the United Center, a large entertainment venue. Performing is an enormously popular boy band, FIRST CLASS. We are introduced to Cooper Harris (23), the notorious member of the group. He is best known for his partying lifestyle as well as his love of cannabis. Cooper spent his high school years wasted – his way of coping with life.

Cooper’s charm wins over thousands of adoring female fans as he sings “Celebrate Me Home”.

Backstage, after the show, Cooper tells his manager he will reluctantly spend the holidays with his mother in his nearby hometown. Rather than be chauffeured, Cooper opts to drive to the home he grew up in.

He shows his weariness from the past year as Teresa, a retail store manager, shows her tiredness from a hectic Christmas shopping period as they sing "I Need a Silent Night".

Heading home in the rented car, Cooper is pursued by a paparazzo, ultimately leading him into a crash in the middle of a desolate highway.

At the end of a grueling day, Teresa wearily fights fatigue driving home. Nodding off, she almost hits an injured Cooper wandering on the highway.

With no cell phone reception, Teresa has no choice but to give him a ride. He begs her to not take him to a hospital because he’s on probation and had a beer in the car. So, she takes him to her home where she will summon a cab.

Against her instructions, he doesn't wait outside and goes into the house. While on hold with the cab company, he falls asleep on the sofa.

The next morning, Jesse Mendes, Teresa's six-year-old son is intrigued by a strange man in the house and wonders if Cooper is his father.

Cooper goes to his mother's office to get a key to her home. His mother Emily Watson (46), a strong successful businesswoman who always takes charge, does whatever is necessary to keep her family in societal esteem. She was a large contributor to Cooper's need to always be wasted in high school.

At the house, Cooper finds a new framed picture on the wall of his bedroom that includes several dated mug shots from previous arrests. A blank mug shot is labeled "TBA". The picture was the work of Parker Watson (21), Cooper’s half-brother.

Parker is a sweet but timid college student who worships Cooper. His greatest fear is to displease and disappoint Emily.

Teresa spearheads a Community Center Christmas Eve Dinner for the area’s homeless. While in the center dealing with the arrangements, Jesse rehearses with the Children’s Choir.

Cooper’s plan to visit and thank Teresa is thwarted when he gives in to Emily’s demand to spend the evening with his family. When Parker tells them that his college roommate doesn’t have a place to spend Christmas, Emily extends an invitation for him to spend it with them.

While shopping for a Christmas tree, Teresa joins The Elfettes in singing “Christmas This Year”.

Arriving home, she finds Cooper at the house waiting with thank-you gifts and a dinner invitation. She declines because it is the night of her traditional tree-trimming dinner with Jesse. Jesse likes Cooper, who almost appears to be his peer, and convinces his mom to let Cooper participate in the festivities.

The Elfettes sing “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” as Teresa prepares dinner with Cooper unsuccessfully trying to help. They then set out to decorate the tree.

Tree decorating is not in Cooper’s arsenal, so he requires a lot of help. Teresa finds an ornament with a picture of her (at age seventeen) and an infant Jesse. She wells up remembering the occasion that her father took the picture. As Teresa sings “Somewhere In My Memory”, we see Teresa at various stages in her life celebrating Christmas with her parents and family.

After putting Jesse to bed, Teresa and Cooper get to know each other. Relating to Jesse’s problem of not knowing his father, Cooper gets Teresa to open up about Jesse’s past. She reveals that while in high school, she got drunk and can’t recall having sex, much less who the boy was. The boy’s family wanted to retain social status and made a deal with her father to pay child support and a college education provided the birth father’s identity remain a secret.

Inexperienced in the dating game, Teresa throws up her guard when sparks ignite between her and Cooper. Although Cooper wants to spend the night, she gracefully rejects the offer but does agree to dinner the following night.

Teresa’s cousin and confidant, Maria (23), advises Teresa to loosen up and make the most of the date, and start enjoying life instead of devoting every waking hour to her son. Maria encourages Teresa by singing “Wrapped in Red”.

Cooper and Parker talk about the wonderful new woman in Cooper’s life. The first “second date” he’s had since high school. Cooper confides that he never kisses because of a traumatic incident that occurred in his youth.

The dinner is a wonderful experience for Cooper and Teresa. Cooper refrains from overindulging in alcohol or marijuana. He has never been happier. Teresa starts to loosen up and give herself permission to have a good time and stop punishing herself for her youthful indiscretion.

Cooper opens up about his fear of speaking in public.

After dinner, Cooper gets the courage to kiss Teresa. They sing “Could I Have This Kiss Forever” which leads them into a romantic moment.

Cooper discovers that Parker is gay, and in love with his roommate. Parker reveals that he hasn’t told Emily for fear she might disown him. Cooper convinces Parker that he needs to tell her before the boyfriend shows up for Christmas dinner. Cooper will be there for moral support.

Decorating the Community Center, Teresa tells Maria about the date. She confides that she is falling for Cooper. Maria tells her to have fun, but not to get emotionally attached – Cooper will be leaving after Christmas, and she will be heartbroken. She also advises her to not let Jesse get attached. The point is punctuated when they notice that Jesse has drawn a snake tattoo on his arm resembling the one on Cooper’s.

At the Mall, Cooper, Teresa, and Jesse join The Elfettes in singing and dancing "Come on Christmas".

To make a quick stop, Teresa sends Cooper and Jesse ahead to get in line to see Santa. Jesse falls and cuts his hand. Cooper steps up to the task and bandages Jesse, using a paper towel to stop the bleeding.

Teresa joins them at Santa’s kiosk and is impressed with Cooper’s doctoring powers. Cooper removes the paper towel and puts it in his pocket.

When Teresa hears Jesse tell Santa he wants Cooper to be his daddy for Christmas, she becomes overwhelmed. Making matters worse she sees Cooper enjoying the celebrity recognition he receives from mobbing female fans that have discovered him there.

That afternoon, Cooper tries to help Parker tell their mom about his gay lifestyle. While waiting for Parker, the ever-controlling Emily wants details on the woman Cooper is dating so she can do a background check. The always rebellious Cooper refuses to divulge any information.

When Parker fails to tell Emily, Cooper lambasts him as a coward, then tries to pump him up to find the courage as they sing “Angel With A Shot Gun”.

The song gives Parker new-found courage to face Emily. But in the end, he chickens out again.

The Elfettes and Emily sing about the happiness of having family around at “Christmas Time”.

Emily finds Cooper’s cell phone on the kitchen counter and decides to snoop at this call list. When she sees Teresa’s name, a look of recognition overcomes her, and she decides to call Teresa.

Cooper arrives at Teresa’s house to have her tell him she can no longer see him. She justifies it as the pain that she and Jesse will suffer when he leaves the following week. And the longer she prolongs it, the harder it will be. Nothing he says changes her mind and he leaves heartbroken and angry.

Cooper sings “Endings” as he starts to revert to his old “mind-numbing” habits.

Maria tries to cheer up a melancholy Teresa; convincing her to move on, singing “Hard Candy Christmas”.

When Parker tries to get Cooper out of his stupor, Cooper shows Parker pictures of Teresa and Jesse. Parker points out an uncanny resemblance between Cooper and Jesse; leading them to suspect that Teresa may have broken up with Cooper because Cooper is Jesse’s father.

Cooper takes the paper towel with Jesse’s blood on it to a DNA Diagnostic Center but is disappointed to find the center closed on Christmas Eve.

Teresa struggles to put on a happy face as the Christmas dinner for the homeless at the Community Center gets underway.

Returning from the DNA Center, Cooper accidentally knocks over a box of 'Tax Return Receipts' in Emily’s garage. He goes through it and finds canceled checks made out to Teresa.

Cooper confronts Emily about her controlling everyone’s life, getting her to admit that she has been supporting Jesse to protect her underage son from making a decision that would alter the rest of his life. Cooper says he is no longer underage and wants it to alter his life because it has sucked up until now.

Emily drops the bombshell that Jesse is not Cooper’s son. He is Parker’s.

In the middle of the Christmas Eve Party, Parker is summoned to the kitchen. Parker assumes that Cooper told Emily about him being gay. Instead, he is amused to find out they think Jesse is his son. Parker insists he just recently lost his virginity, so he couldn’t be the father.

Parker finally admits to Emily he is gay. Something she already knew.

Cooper heads out to the Community Center to win back Teresa with the song “All I Want for Christmas is You”.

She is reluctant to hear him out, but his heartfelt speech in front of the entire community wins her back. That plus telling her that Parker is not Jesse’s father.

A party ensues and the ensemble sings “Shake Up Christmas”.

The Elfettes join the song and take us outside to a Bollywood Style number ending up at the giant Christmas tree where the burned-out bulb sparks back to life.

SHAKE UP CHRISTMAS