"This isn't the real Santa," Roman informs Isla, as they make their way towards a disinterested-looking young man with a long cotton beard. "It's just one of his helpers."
"I know that. I'm not an idiot," says Isla. Roman is weighed down with bags of Christmas shopping. Grace went to look at jewellery in one of the store boutiques, so Roman is entrusted with taking Isla to see Santa.
"I know you're not an idiot," he says, ruffling her hair. "You're the smartest person I've ever met." She giggles.
While Isla runs over to see Santa, Roman sets the bags down, wishing he had brought someone along to fetch and carry for him. He takes his phone out, considering calling his driver and getting him to come and collect the bags. He can hear Isla talking to Santa telling him she wants a pony, but when he looks up she's no longer on Santa's lap. There's another child there instead. He looks around but can't see Isla anywhere.
""Excuse me." He pushes his way up to the Santa. "Where's the little girl who was just here?"
"I don't know." The Santa shrugs, looking bored and possibly high.
"Don't give me that, you beardy fuck." The mother of the child who is currently on Santa's lap gasps and lifts her child away. "She was right here. Where is she?"
He scans the store, panic starting to set in. No sign of Isla anywhere. She's gone she's kidnapped she's lost forever where is she I'll be good I promise I'll be a good person I'll never be mean again I won't worry about stupid things any more just give her back to me—
"Roman!" Isla throws her arms around his legs from behind and he breathes again. She holds up a toy unicorn. "I got a unicorn from Santa." The aforementioned Santa is still glaring at Roman from behind his beard.
"That's great, honey." Roman bends down to admire the unicorn, his heart still thumping in his chest. That was the most terrifying thirty seconds of his life. "But don't run off like that, you scared me. Let's go find your mom, okay?"
They find Grace outside the jewellery boutique and Isla regales her with her trip to see Santa and her new unicorn. "I still want a pony, though," she finishes.
"Shit," says Roman, looking at his phone.
"What's wrong?" asks Grace.
"Fucking Frank. He's approved that movie I told you about. The terrible turkey one? It's coming out next Thanksgiving."
"The Biggest Turkey in the World?" Grace laughs.
"It's not funny. This is going to kill our movie division. It'll be a total flop."
"You don't know that. Kids might like it."
"I can't believe they turned down my robot screenplay but they approved this." Roman is sulking as he puts his phone away.
"Well, your screenplay was a little violent. This is probably more marketable."
"It's about a giant turkey who sets up home in a family's backyard. How is that real? Where's the depth?"
"I wanna see it," pipes up Isla.
"Wouldn't you rather watch a movie about a homicidal robot?" Roman asks. "It's a metaphor for the cycle of violence." Isla shrugs, nonplussed.
"If it bothers you that much, then quit," says Grace. "You hate working under Frank. It's not like you need to work."
"That's not the point, Grace."
They're still bickering when they get back to the car where Roman's driver is waiting. As Isla shows the driver her unicorn, Roman suddenly remembers that he left all the shopping bags next to the Santa's grotto.