The Christmas List

The Christmas List is a television movie from 1997. It originally aired on The Family Channel, and later appeared on ABC Family as part of the 25 Days of Christmas programming block. Mimi Rogers stars in the lead role. The story centers on Melody Parris, a 35-year-old perfume saleswoman in Seattle. She has a pushy boyfriend named George and an overbearing mother who lives next door and constantly pressures her to marry. After a disappointing day at work, Melody’s best friend Naomi suggests she write a Christmas list for fun, focusing on selfish desires. Melody begins the list but is interrupted by a call from George, who is returning from a business trip. That evening, Melody asks her mother if they can celebrate Christmas in a “Dickens-style” manner, but her mother is reluctant. The mother then compares Melody unfavorably to a neighbor’s daughter, a supermodel, and to Melody’s married sister. Melody storms out, apologizing for not being anything that makes her mother proud, and misses her mother’s response that she is proud. At work the next day, Melody is passed over for a promotion in favor of a younger, less skilled coworker named April May. Melody finishes her Christmas list and, after some playful moments with Naomi, places it in the store’s Santa Mailbox. Soon, her wishes begin to come true. She meets a boy named Danny Skylar, who wants to buy a perfume that reminds him of his late mother. When he cannot pay the full amount, Melody loans him the rest. Danny enters both their names in a store sweepstakes to win a Ford Mustang convertible, and they win. Store policy prohibits employees from entering, but Danny explains the mix-up, and Melody agrees to give him the car until he can drive. Melody becomes attracted to Danny’s father, Dr. David Skylar. Her boyfriend George intervenes, and they arrange a shared schedule for the car, which allows Melody and David to grow closer. That same night, a Christmas tree appears in Melody’s apartment, and her mother becomes more maternal, announcing the family will celebrate Dickens-style. When Danny asks Melody to lunch, George joins them, and an argument ends with Melody pouring crème brûlée onto George’s lap. A woman named Faith, who is dating David, fakes an engagement to him to eliminate competition. Upset, Melody gives the car to the Skylars permanently. George proposes clumsily, but Melody refuses.