Page 3

“Ooh, congratulations! First film gig, that’s so exciting.”

She straightens, eyeing me through the mirror while comparing my skin tone to a couple different bottles. She drops back down and continues her rummaging without replying, or even making eye contact.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you with anything you need. This is my third Christmas movie, and my sixth time on set with this team, so I’m practically a veteran at all this. Have you seen our other films?”

Mariah spreads a bit of foundation on my cheek, comparing two tones, then chooses one bottle, setting it down on the desk in front of us while letting the other drop unceremoniously back into her bag. “No,” she replies, a full thirty seconds after I asked the question.

“Oh, well, you’re in for quite a treat. We’re a blast to work with, practically a party every day.” I raise my pointer fingers in the air and do a little wiggly happy dance.

Mariah meets my gaze through the mirror for half a second, her expression stony, before bending back toward her bag.

Tough crowd.Maybe she didn’t sleep well last night. Maybe she’s nervous about her first time working on a movie. Maybe she had to get up super early to do her fancy hair and makeup and she hasn’t had her coffee yet.

Or maybe I’m stuck with the grumpiest person on set.

A chorus of laughter draws my attention through the mirror to the other side of the room. Aimee’s hair and makeup people are howling at something she said. Oscar is laughing so hard he’s wiping away a tear, his own makeup artist chasing his fingers away with dabs of tissue. Julia’s radiant smile is already accented with rosy lipstick and her eyes pop with big fake eyelashes.

Despite my best efforts, I feel my shoulders sag a bit, my stomach souring. If only I...

Nope. Don’t go there.

I snap my focus back to my own reflection and give myself a stern look.Be grateful you’re here. You’re an actress, living your dream, working on the set of a Christmas movie, for crying out loud. It doesn’t get much better than this! Five years ago, you were dreaming of being exactly where you are right now.

Well, notexactly.

But close. So close I can smell it—literally. Whatever hair spray they’re using over there is potent.

I take a deep breath and force a smile back on my face. “How lucky are we to be here together, hey?” Mariah doesn’t reply, which doesn’t surprise me. “We have an excellent script, the dynamic duo of Yueyi and Marlene, we have Oscar-friggen-Fizak, and we’re here in beautiful Chilliwack of all places! It’s all going to be great! Are you stoked or what?”

She gives me a flat look, eyes half-lidded. “Thrilled.”

My hundred-watt smile dims to maybe a ninety as I struggle to keep the excitement alive for the both of us. Usually by now I’ve won over whoever it is I’m working with, we have an amiable conversation going, and we’re equally pumped for the work ahead. But Mariah seems to be immune to my charms. If I’m not careful, she might suck the Christmas spirit right out of me.

This is going to be a long two weeks.

Act 1

FADE IN

Ext. Downtown Hemlock Grove - Day

ANNIE, age thirty, dressed in a business suit with red blouse and black heels, steps out of a parked car. She twirls in a circle as she admires the festive décor on quaint downtown businesses. The sidewalks are covered in piles of snow, lights twinkle, and garland is draped on every sign.

Annie grabs her luggage from the trunk and walks down a cobblestone alley.

SHOPKEEPERS greet PEDESTRIANS as they walk past dressed in winter clothes while quiet instrumental Christmas music echoes through streets.

Annie takes note of a café conspicuously devoid of décor, then walks to bright red door with a wreath and presses the buzzer.

Int. Apartment Hallway - Day

The interior hall door swings open to JENNA, age twenty-six, wearing an oversize sweater with stains on her pants and hair in a messy bun. She smiles and holds her arms out wide.

ANNIE

Merry Christmas, little sister!

Annie steps into the apartment.