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.