Christmas with the Wrights by Christina C. Jones

Still, Luther and Nora continue to stand their ground.Īs they are packing on Christmas Eve morning, they receive a call from Blair, who announces she's at Miami International Airport, en route home for Christmas with her Peruvian fiancé as a surprise for her parents. Even the newspaper gets into the act by publishing a front page story complete with a photograph of the unlit Krank house and states that the Kranks' street has lost the prize and won sixth place because of how Luther and Nora refused to decorate their house. Children picket, led by Vic's son Spike (Erik Per Sullivan), neighbors constantly call, and Christmas carolers try to revive the Kranks' holiday spirit by singing on their lawn, which Luther stops by freezing his front lawn. However, it is revealed that Walt's wife Bev is suffering from cancer, perhaps dampening his holiday spirits. Walt doesn't seem to like Luther, so his efforts are primarily personal.

Vic has political and bureaucratic connections in Chicago. Vic, who's the unelected leader of the street, organizes a campaign to force the Kranks to decorate their home so Hemlock Street won't lose the coveted award for best decorations.

Most vocal in their objections are neighbors Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Aykroyd) and Walt Scheel (M. Luther's co-workers think he has become Ebenezer Scrooge when he gives all his employees letters that state about his Christmas boycott, local stationer Aubie is distressed to lose the couple's order for their engraved greeting cards and Christmas Eve party invitations, the Boy Scout troop is upset and angered when the Kranks refuse to purchase one of their Christmas trees to help the scouts make enough money for a camporee, and the police are stunned to discover they won't be buying this year's calendar from them. The Kranks are amazed to discover they are considered pariahs as a result of their decision. Luther tries to refuse but finally agrees and they begin planning the trip. Skeptical at first, Nora finally agrees under the condition that they still give a donation to the church and Children's Hospital. Luther calculates the couple spent $6,132 during the previous year's holiday season and, not looking forward to celebrating Christmas without their daughter, he suggests they invest the money usually spent on decorations, gifts, and entertainment and treat themselves to a ten-day Caribbean cruise instead. Luther (Tim Allen) and Nora Krank (Jamie Lee Curtis) see their daughter, Blair (Julie Gonzalo), depart for a Peace Corps assignment in Peru on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, empty nest syndrome sets in.

Christmas with the Wrights by Christina C. Jones