On Strike for Christmas

What's going on? Here we go.

Lookie, there you go.

What do we have here?

-Oh, my goodness.

-Kneel next to Grandpa.

Oh, good.

Hey, boys.

Hey.

Hey, l could use some help here.

l'll do it.

Hey, hey, hey.

Come on over here.

Mark, that one's for you.

All right, you lick and stick,

l'll keep writing.

-This should look good.

-Yeah. Yeah.

Two, fou--

Look at these dishes.

Hey.

-Hey.

-Oh, hey, l could use your help.

l could use your help.

This way-- Oh, my, look at that.

That's spectacular. Well done.

-Want the big wing?

-Yeah.

Get right into this.

Thank you, Santa Cruz. Good night.

You were really jamming, Grandma.

Well, that's high praise

coming from you.

l was wicked, though, wasn't l?

You were money.

Stephen, you're up next.

l wanna finish grading these papers

so l can work on my novel.

Family tradition, Stephen.

And since it's my birthday

and the Christmas season...

...you can't say no.

Remember when Grandpa

was acting out the word ''jackass''...

-...when we were playing Guesstures--

-Yes, l do.

And to this day,

l don't think it was funny.

But l miss him.

Come on, honey.

You know l love your voice.

You don't sing for me anymore.

Sing ''Up on the Housetop.''

Your dad sang that for you

enough times.

Yeah, every year.

Play it so l can get over to Brittany's

before she gets pissed.

Dude, you've been going out with her

for a couple of weeks. Chill.

Look, D-bag,

at least l have a girl waiting for me...

...not your secret stash

of Girls Gone Wild.

l'll wait till Gramms leaves

before l rip your face off.

Nobody's ripping anyone's face off...

...or going to Brittany's,

or anything else before....

Dad, just play.

Okay, l'll play.

Erna, this is for you.

Erna, how l love you

How l love you

My dear young Erna

You mean the world to me

That's all l got.

Oh, you don't have to hide it from me.

l've already had five.

Why does my willpower

disappear during the holidays?

l was doing so well.

No mere mortal can resist

your special thumbprint cookies.

l look forward to them all year.

You're right.

l'm giving myself a holiday pass.

Are you sure

l can't help you with this mess?

No. No, no, no, l'm good.

-You look tired. Why don't l just...?

-Mom. Bye-bye.

l'll be at the shop by 9.

l'm so glad that Bolivian yarn

that you love so much came in.

l didn't think it would be here in time

for the holiday rush.

Hey, did your mom finally--

Oh, you found your coat.

Yes, l did, thank you.

-You're going so soon, Erna?

-Oh, you.

Here, let me help you with that.

Now practice your singing, Stephen.

Christmas is almost here.

-Night, you two.

-Good night.

Happy birthday.

-You are terrible.

-But you can't resist me.

Do you think

she had a good time?

How could she not?

You're the perfect hostess.

Tell me why the perfect hostess

lost her mind...

...and promised her son that he could

have a party here for his band friends?

What's this?

You know, l was gonna

talk to you about that later.

A pipe burst at the Ziffs' house...

...so they asked if we could host

the English Department party.

l was stuck.

Stephen, you know how swamped l am

down at the shop...

...since our

biggest competitor closed.

You know how happy l am

that it's successful.

Honey, l'm so far behind

with Christmas already...

...and to try to fit in

a department party....

l know it's a hectic time of year

but you always pull it together.

-You think?

-l know.

l can't believe it's our last Christmas

before the boys go off to college.

l want it to be really special.

lt will be.

Nobody does Christmas like you.

Oh, get a room.

-The Niners are up seven-zip, Dad.

-How much time's left in the quarter?

A couple of minutes.

The defense is shutting them down.

Did l tell you l needed cookies

for the football banquet?

No, you didn't.

Niners need this game.

l'm gonna be over at Sharon's.

Don't worry about the mess.

l'll get it later.

-Hey, Joy.

-Hi.

What's Stephen up to?

He and Jeremy

are watching some game.

-Why don't you go join them?

-Yes, please.

Maybe l will.

l'll see you later.

You said you were gonna cut back

this season.

l've catered these Christmas

parties for five years.

You need to learn how to say no.

Thank you for the advice, Mrs. Pot.

Cookies and wine, Mrs. Kettle,

the perfect combination.

l wish you would give me

this recipe.

No way. Family secret.

So you really have

no help with any of this?

From where, exactly?

And l broke a nail.

-Oh, hazard of catering?

-No, l was playing football with Ryan.

Jeremy talked me

into playing basketball.

l couldn't walk the next day.

l guess we should feel lucky

at this age...

...that they're even talking to us,

right?

Yeah.

Hey, what's going on?

lt's that it's the boys'

last Christmas at home...

...before they go to college

and there's still so much to do.

Stephen just sprang on me...

...that we're hosting the faculty

holiday party on Christmas Eve.

l can understand why you're upset.

l mean, that is a lot of people.

lf Keith did that to me

at this time of year, l'd kill him.

Yeah, well, you know me,

l'm usually so on top of things.

But l'm nowhere near

where l usually am at this point.

You love this time of year...

...and you are the most

organized person l know.

Yeah.

l just make my list.

You just get her done.

Yeah, for sure.

My house, on the 23rd.

Sweet. Yeah, this party's gonna rock.

All right. Later.

Mom, you're gonna

talk to the neighbors...

...let them know it might get loud

when we start jamming at my party?

Mark, l just cleaned.

-l know, the house looks great.

-Yeah, it did.

Why does no one in this house ever

use that invention called ''the dish''?

You're funny, Mom.

Wait. Wait.

l need you to go get the decorations

from the garage.

Mom, we love Christmas

and all the things you do...

...but don't you think

we're getting old for...?

Or not. Just don't forget

to talk to the neighbors.

Well, you don't forget to be on time.

We're getting the tree at 7:00, sharp.

Dad, haven't you heard

of that wonderful invention, the dish?

Go to school.

Honey, do you have your reminder?

Oh, l had it somewhere.

That's not funny.

There's still a lot to do...

...especially now with your

department party to plan.

Oh, by the way...

...Keith thinks we should invite

the graduate assistants.

How many more people is that?

-Well, with significant others, 1 2.

-Twelve more?

With the 40 we already have...

...l'm gonna have to borrow

more glasses and cutlery--

-Where's Jeremy? He's gonna be late.

-He's outside. l'll corral him.

All right, l'll see you later.

And please don't be late. We've

postponed getting the tree three times.

Okay.

lt's just there's not

that much time left.

Three, 95. Hut, hut!

Nice defense, Mrs. Robertson.

That was solid. But it's better

if you don't scream at the receiver.

Now do one of you two Tim Bradys

wanna help me pick this stuff up?

Oh, yeah.

l thought the season

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