Scott Calvin was driving home from his company's annual Christmas party. B&R Toys had a successful year because they created the "Do-It-All-For-You Dolly" and it became a big hit. He was running late and every time he does, Scott had to make an excuse. He picked up his phone and called his ex-wife, Laura. She and her new husband, Neil, were dropping off 8 year-old Charlie and 4-year-old Ella, at Scott's townhouse. Charlie is the spitting image of his father and in third grade at Lakeside Elementary School. Ella looked more of both her father and mother and she started kindergarten at the same school as her brother. Scott and Laura divorced when Charlie was 4 and Ella was 2. Laura met Neil at one of her divorce counselor meetings, then they got married after Charlie started kindergarten and Ella turned 3. Both Scott and Laura agreed to have the kids visit their dad after school and celebrate Thanksgiving with their mom and Christmas with their dad once a year and then switch. Last year, the kids spent Thanksgiving with Scott and Christmas with Laura. The kids already spent Thanksgiving with their mom and now it was Scott's turn to have them for Christmas.

"Laura, I was hoping to catch you before you left your house," Scott said as he drove along the empty freeway. "I ran real late today. You wouldn't BELIEVE the traffic out here." Even though he knew there was no one else on the freeway, Scott honked the horn so Laura would believe why he was running late. "Yeah, same to you! And that's not very ladylike!" Scott chuckled nervously and went back to the phone. "Anyway, I'll get to my house as soon as I can. Oh, there's the problem right there. Three-car pileup. I'm really gonna be late." Scott hung up the phone and kept on driving. When Laura got the message, she sighed. She was already used to her ex-husband's excuses.

"Alright, let's go," said Laura, as she and the kids saw Scott pulling up to the street in front of his house.

"Bye, kids," said Neil.

"Bye, Neil!" replied Charlie and Ella.

"Oh, sorry I'm late, everyone," Scott said. "Hi, Daddy!" Ella said as she gave her father a big hug. "Hey there, Ella Bella!" Scott said happily as he scooped up his daughter. He gave Charlie a hug. "Hi, Sport." He looked up at his ex-wife. "Hi, Laura."

"Hi, Scott," Laura said.

"Do you want to come in for a second?" Scott asked.

"Neil's waiting in the car," Laura replied.

"Well, why doesn't he come in?"

"Because Daddy, he says you'll end up saying something snotty," said Charlie.

"Not necessarily. Could be rude or sarcastic, whatever it takes," said Scott as he waved to Neil, who did the same thing.

"See?" Laura asked. "I got to go. Here." She handed Scott their kids' overnight bags.

"Come on, it's Christmas Eve," Scott continued. "Can you come in for just a minute?" Laura reluctantly agreed and followed Scott, who is still carrying Ella, and the kids into the house. Once they were in, Scott put Ella down. Ella went with Charlie to put their Christmas presents under the tree.

"So, are you going to your Mom's for dinner?" Scott asked his ex-wife.

"We just came from Grandma's house, Daddy," Ella told her father.

"We're going to be with Neil's family," Laura added.

"Ah, Christmas at the pound," Scott said sarcastically as he walked into the kitchen. He began to howl like a dog and hiss and meow like a cat, making Ella giggle. Scott stopped towards the living room to check on his kids.

"There aren't many presents under there," said Charlie.

"Well, that's because Santa is not here yet," replied Scott.

"Neil doesn't believe in Santa."

"Well, Neil's head comes to a point."

"He's smart, he's a doctor," Charlie countered.

"He's not a doctor, he's a psychiatrist," Scott continued. "Kids, take off your coats, you're sticking around, aren't you?"

"I'll be right there, just a sec!" Laura called out to Neil, who pointed at his watch. Ella quickly joined her mother to give one more wave to Neil. He smiled and waved back. After Laura and Ella went back inside, Laura told her daughter to go upstairs and draw a picture. Ella knew what that meant. Her mother was going to talk to Scott about what happened on the day she and Charlie came home from school.

"Did that jerk tell the kids there is no Santa Claus?" Scott asked.

"What? Oh, here is what happened," Laura began. "The other day, the kids came home from school early for vacation. Ella was in tears and Charlie had a bloody nose. All because some big kid told Ella there was no such thing as Santa. Charlie saw what happened and tried to stand up for her, but he ended up getting hurt. After I took care of Charlie, Neil sat them down and..."

"He told them that there was a Santa Claus?" Scott interrupted.

"Well, all he said was that Santa was more like a feeling," Laura continued. "You know, more like a state of mind than a person."

"Kind of like Neil," Scott snarled. "And who gave you permission to tell Charlie there's no Santa Claus? I think if we're gonna destroy our son's illusions, I should be a part of it. And Ella? She's only four. She's not old enough for this yet."

"Yeah, but you're never around for them, aren't you, Scott?"

"Oh, please."

"Listen," Laura argued. "All we are trying to do is give Charlie and Ella a firm grasp on reality." "That's a good idea. You don't want kids runnin' around usin' their imaginations," Scott countered. "Oh, yeah. This from the guy responsible for the Do-lt-All-For-You-Dolly," Laura said sarcastically. She began to sing, "Don't you burp me, don't you change me. I'm the dolly-" "Why do you guys always have to fight?" Charlie asked. He heard every word. "I, uh, swear we're not fighting, son," Scott insisted. "It's your mom's singing. It sounds a lot like fighting, doesn't it? Cats even. The trouble is, Neal and your mom, they don't believe in Santa because they were real naughty. Which is why they'll probably get lumps of coal in their stockings." "I don't know," Charlie replied, still frowning. "It seems kind of babyish to believe in that kind of stuff." "What are you talkin' about?" Scott said. "I believe in Santa Claus. I'm not a baby." "Well...", Laura countered. "Maybe it's time you left," Scott suggested to his ex. "We don't want to keep Dr. Pinhead waiting." He then called for his daughter. "Ella! Come say goodbye to your mom!"

"Coming, Daddy!" Ella called as she ran down the stairs. Laura held out her arms to give her son and daughter a hug. "Come here."

"Do we have to stay?" Charlie asked his mom.

"Listen, kids. You and your daddy are going to have a great Christmas, okay?" Laura told them.

"Will you pick us up tomorrow?" asked Ella.

"Of course."

"Early?" asked Charlie.

"Yes," Laura replied.

"We're talking sunup, you here?" Charlie told Laura.

Laura chuckled as she hugged her children one more time. "You'll be fine. Oh, Merry Christmas, Charlie. Merry Christmas, Ella. I love you."

"We love you, too, Mom."

Before she left, Laura gave Scott Neil's mother's phone number in case he needs to reach her. She gave Charlie and Ella one more kiss goodbye. "You kids be good, okay?"

"Bye, Mom!" Charlie and Ella waved. They watched their mother get in the car while Scott was reading a recipe for Christmas turkey. "4 hours?!" he muttered to himself.