The Devil of Christmas

The Devil of Christmas is the first episode of the third series of Inside No. 9.

## The Devil of Christmas

### Produced By

Adam Tandy (producer)Jon Plowman (executive producer)

The episode opens with a VT clock slate for a film named *The Devil of Christmas*. Set in December 1977, the film follows Julian, his pregnant wife Kathy, his mother Celia and his son Toby as they are shown into an Austrian Alpine chalet by Klaus. The party discuss their plans until Toby is struck by an unpleasant painting of the Krampus on the wall.

In a voiceover, the film's director Dennis Fulcher talks to another man about the making of the film, in the style of an audio commentary. The video is rewound so Dennis can comment on a continuity error. He continues to discuss the film over the remainder of the episode, including commenting on the way that "Celia" misses her marks and fluffs her lines, and the way "Julian" says his lines too quickly in his eagerness to get to another job.

Klaus tells of the Krampus, unnerving Kathy. Before bed, Toby leaves out his boots for the Krampus, and Kathy empties a bottle of tablets. The next morning, Toby's boots are filled with switches, indicating—according to Klaus's story—that he has been visited by the Krampus due to his naughtiness. Celia suspects Kathy, who is not Toby's mother, but Julian rebukes her. At dinner, Toby tells of the wonderful day he has had with Klaus. Toby heads to bed, and Kathy speculates that Toby was sleepwalking the night before, becoming agitated when Julian and Celia are unconvinced. That night, both Toby and Celia are out of bed, and the figure of the Krampus is seen. The next day, scratches are found on Toby's body, and Celia leaves with the child.

That night, Julian finds that Kathy has scratches on her back, and the pair discover that her boots are stuffed with switches. Julian later finds Kathy downstairs. Celia calls to say she and Toby are safely home, and Kathy admits that her child is not Julian's. The Krampus snatches her, and Julian keels over, clutching his heart. He needs his medication, but Kathy watches him die, holding his empty pill bottle for him to see. "The Krampus" is revealed to be Klaus in a costume, but Klaus then removes a fake moustache and drops his accent; he is Simon, Kathy's lover.

Fulcher explains that there is a final scene. The actors ready, and the scene begins: Kathy is on a bed, and pours Champagne. She is joined by Simon, still half-costumed, who chains her to the bed. Simon claims to be Krampus, and the scene ends with Kathy screaming as "Krampus" cackles. The actor playing "Krampus" leaves, with the actress playing Kathy believing the filming is over. The cameras keep rolling as plastic sheeting is put under "Kathy" by two stagehands for a scene that was not in the script. Another actor is dressed as the Krampus, and Kathy is roughly gagged by a stagehand. The new Krampus advances, armed with a machete; the older Dennis explains that "Kathy" understands what is about to happen, and that we are witnessing genuine fear. "Kathy" screams, and the tape cuts just as the machete is about to fall. Dennis says that he is surprised the tape has surfaced again, but says it was "one of the better ones"; *The Devil of Christmas*, unbeknownst to the main cast, was a snuff film. Dennis's interviewer then terminates the police interrogation.

## Cast

 Jessica Raine
 Rula Lenska
 George Bedford
 Reece Shearsmith
 Naz Osmanoglu
 Derek Jacobi
 Cavan Clerkin