Charlie Manx/Season 2

### Bad Mother

Manx has been in a coma for the last 8 years. He suddenly dies and Christmasland darkens after his Wraith is restored but the engine removed by Paul Demeter. Bing manages to track it down, under the guise Ethan Anderson. A Rolls Royce enthusiast. Bing has Paul under the influence of gingerbread smoke, and he is now susceptible to suggestion. Bing orders him to help lower the engine into the Wraith. Once the engine is in place, Manx’s heart beats once again and the lights of Christmasland rekindle.

### Good Father

Ernie Hicks, the security guard at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, enters the morgue and takes a photo of himself next to Manx’s body. The lights suddenly go off and he exits the morgue. He sends the photo to Sasha, but she reminds him that he was also supposed to take a photo of his hands. Ernie re-enters the morgue and finds that Manx is no longer on the autopsy table. Manx sneaks up from behind and bashes Hicks over the head with a silver hammer. He then staples his chest shut and takes Hicks’s clothes. While alive, Manx remains extremely weak.

Flashback to many years prior. Charlie Manx and his wife Cassie return from seeing the *Nosferatu* film. Cassie compares Manx to Nosferatu and asks for Charters opinion. Manx, in a jokingly fashion, puts two toothpicks in his mouth to resemble fangs. Cassie then asks about her father, who Charter tells her had gone to bed.

Manx joins Cassie upstairs in their bedroom, where she reveals that she’s pregnant. She fears what her father will say. He’s already been so kind by letting them stay there. She wonders what he’ll say to them bringing a baby into his home. Manx insists that he’ll simply have to accept it as it is his grandchild. He then remarks how much Cassie’s father resents him. However, it wasn’t always like that. When Manx was driving for him, their relationship was much more pleasant but that changed when Manx and Cassie eloped. With the baby on the way, Manx wants to propose to Cassie’s dad a proposition. A small loan until they are on their feet. Cassie tells Charlie that she loves him and believes in him. Manx gets down on his knees and tells their child-to-be that he will take care of them.

Present day; Manx grabs Hick’s car keys and exits the morgue. He calls Bing and tells him to put a child in the Wraith and to meet him at Sleigh House. Do that, and the Wraith will start on its own and drive Bing to him.

Flashback; the maid tells Manx that Cassie would like to name their new born child Millicent, after her mother. Manx looks to Cassie’s father, Horace, who agrees this shall be the child’s name. As Millie starts to cry, the maid takes her away. Manx approaches Horace with a business proposition, but he isn’t interested in funding any of Manx’s endeavors. The very qualities that made Manx an excellent driver are the same traits that make him an insufferable son-in-law. He doesn’t trust Manx and doesn’t know what to make of him. However, Horace tells Manx that he has arranged an inheritance in the form of a trust for Millie when she turns 18. He lastly remarks that Manx thinks he can live off him like a vampire.

Present day; Manx drags himself to the parking garage, leaving a pool of blood behind with each step. He gets into Hick’s car and backs out just as another security guard is approaching. Manx turns the car around and runs the security guard over.

Flashback; Cassie expresses her concern to Manx. They’ve moved out of her father’s home and are struggling to stay afloat. She worries what this kind of living environment will have on Millie. While Cassie has remained faithful to Manx and always believed in him, even after her father died and the money dried up, belief won’t put food on the table or clothes on their backs. She suggests that she go looking for a job, which Manx refuses to allow to happen. He suspects that she wants to open something as frivolous as a kissing booth. She tells Manx that if he doesn’t come up with something soon, she’ll leave and take Millie to her sister’s. Millie interrupts and Manx takes her back to her room.

Manx lays Millie in bed. She wonders why her mother was crying. Manx replies that she’s merely worried about grown up things, but he does fears that she doesn’t have faith in him. Millie, on the other hand, will always have faith in her father. She then gives him an Eskimo and butterfly kiss. Manx tells Millie to close her eyes and dream of Christmasland.

Present day; Manx pulls up to a truckstop. His wounds have opened and he continues to grow weaker. Manx exits the car, covered in blood and barely able to walk. A bystander notices him struggling up the ramp and calls the authorities. Manx calls Millie from a pay phone and tells her to stay brave. She asks when he is coming home. He isn’t sure, but he tells her not to worry as Christmasland is forever. They’ll always be safe inside his gates. However, Millie reveals to him how the lights went out and the white noise crept up all the way up to the Sleigh coaster. Millie begs her father to return. He promises her that the lights will never go out again and that he’s on his way.

Manx duct tapes the incisions on his chest. He then sneaks up on a trucker and smashes his head in with the bone hammer. He locks the bathroom door and hides the trucker’s body in the custodian closet. Two state troopers arrive and kick in the door and find Manx hiding in the last stall. He suddenly regains his youth and exits the restroom.

Manx heads towards the parking lot. While he may look youthful, his wounds have not yet healed. He gets inside the trucker’s truck and drives off. He arrives at the Sleigh House, or at least where it once stood. He finds a child within the trees, who unbeknownst to him is Vic’s son. He tells Manx that his family doesn’t celebrate Christmas, and he thinks the ornaments on the tree are creepy. Wayne shares the stories he’s heard of Charlie Manx, who’s allegedly killed many children. Manx tells Wayne not to believe everything he hears. He looks into Wayne’s eyes and calls him by his first name: Bruce. Wayne replies that no one calls him that, though it is in fact his name. Manx then appears to recognize Wayne. He’s seen him before in a dream. Wayne then runs off as Manx continues to bleed through his shirt.

Flashback; Manx returns home with a 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith in pristine condition. Millie is overwhelmed with joy, but Cassie is not impressed, questioning how much the vehicle cost. Manx reveals that it cost $3,000. He pawned her mother’s rings, which was the last thing Cassie had of her. She tells Manx to take back the Wraith or else she and Millie are leaving. Cassie explains that their daughter needs a stable home, and she can no longer do this by herself. Manx tries to explain that he did this for their family, but Cassie insists that Manx did this for his own selfish needs and goes inside. Millie approaches her father and gives him an Eskimo kiss. Inside, Cassie packs her and Millie’s belongings. Millie, however, doesn’t want to go to her aunt Beatrice’s. Cassie reveals that they’re taking a bus. She purchased tickets last week, having planned ahead for just this moment. Manx admits to having failed them and offers to drive them to her sister’s house himself.

Bing arrives at the Sleigh House with Mike in the backseat, only to find Manx bleeding out on the ground. Bing helps Manx to his feet and drags him to the Wraith. Upon entering the vehicle and grabbing ahold of the steering wheel, Manx heals almost instantly. He looks back to Mike and asks if he’s ready for the ride of his life. Mike smiles, baring his extremely sharp teeth.

Manx stops on the road to Christmasland and reminds Bing of their deal that he can only enter Christmasland after helping save ten children. Bing reminds Manx that he saved his life. While this is true, Manx questions if Bing had any doubts of his return. Bing admits that he was doubtful at times. And so, Manx hands Bing a flashlight and tells him to take the northward path and wait for him there.

Flashback; Cassie tells Manx that she and Millie are freezing in the back of the Wraith. He intentionally misses the turn off to her sister’s house and speeds up the car. He tells her that he was never going to allow her to take his daughter and everything he’s ever worked for. He claims that all women are alike. They’re all hen-pecking harpies and whores. Millie appears to be sick. She shows her mother that her teeth are coming out, though Millie is amused, whereas Cassie is frightened. Millie’s fangs come in and she attacks her mother, ripping the skin off her face. Manx is empowered by this act. He passes out but soon awakens to find himself more youthful than before. Millie then points towards Christmasland, which up until now, Manx didn’t know was real. They exit the Wraith and approach the gates.

Present day; Manx arrives at Christmasland and greets his children. Millie runs into his arms. He introduces everyone to Mike, though Millie is only interested in whether her father is staying. To make up for his absence, Manx feeds Paul Demeter, who he’s had tucked away in his trunk, to the kids. However, Millie doesn’t join in as her only concern is with her father. He tells her that he will be leaving soon as there are other children that need saving, though he promises her that he will return.

Manx reconvenes with Bing in the Graveyard of What Might Be. They stand over Wayne’s grave and state that he’ll need saving above all the other children.

### The Night Road

Wayne faintly hears O Holy Night playing in the distance and goes to investigate. He follows the music to the Wraith, where he is approached by Manx. Wayne asks if he’s feeling better, as their first encounter ended with Wayne running away as Manx bled from his chest. Manx refers to him as Bruce Wayne McQueen, but Wayne corrects him in saying that he only goes by Wayne. Manx then pulls a candy cane from his ear and gifts it to him.

The doors of the Wraith open, revealing a back seat filled with toys and presents. Manx tells Wayne that when he was his age, all he wanted was magic. The magic of Christmas and making his problems disappear. He encourages Wayne to hop in. Before he does, Wayne asks Manx for the password, that being "1048 Fairbanks." When Manx replies that there aren’t any passwords in Christmasland, Wayne runs off into the woods, where he is recovered by Lou.

Manx arrives at Parnassus, a bar occupied by Strong Creative, such as himself. He approaches the bar, where Old Snake, a Strong Creative with red eyes and scales, challenges him to a game of dice, even rolling snake eyes in that very moment. Manx replies that his mother didn’t raise any fools. Manx then joins Abe at his table, where he reveals that he bought the house a drink in Manx’s honor when he heard of his death. However, Abe knew Charlie wasn’t dead. Manx requests that Abe arrange a meeting between him and the Hourglass Man, but Abe doesn’t do introductions anymore. He’s become antisocial in his retirement. Manx recalls the days when the denizens of this world would run and hide when they heard Honest Abe has left his Empty Forest to travel the Night Road. Now, he’s the one that’s running scared. Abe retorts that it’s Vic and her bike that scares Manx. She killed him once and it’ll happen again if he doesn’t let it go. Manx replies that he told Abe the same thing about the Walking Backwards Man. If Manx hadn’t intervened back then, Abe would be dead, for which he is grateful. The phone rings. Before answering, Manx tells Abe that the time has come for him to show his gratitude. Abe reluctantly agrees and tells Manx that he wishes he was dead. As Manx goes to answer the phone, Abe tells Manx to tell his goddaughter that he misses her.

Manx picks up the phone. It’s Millie. She asks when he is coming home. Manx tells her that while there’s been a delay, she’ll have a new friend to play with soon. Assuming she’s been a good girl. Millie reveals that she saw a light from a house on top of Candy Mountain. Manx reminds Millie that children who venture beyond the gates end up on the naughty list. She questions who is up there. Manx claims that nothing is up there and warns her that snooping will land her on the naughty list. He depends on her to spread Christmas cheer while he’s away and to take care of the children. He tells her Merry Christmas and hangs up the phone. The lights within the bar suddenly start to flicker.

Vic arrives outside Parnassus. Though no one is inside the Wraith, it’s headlights turn on upon her arrival. Vic has a gas canister with her. She sticks a rag inside and prepares to light it on fire, but Manx exits the bar. He tells her that he won’t make the mistake of underestimating her again. He asks if she knows where they are. They’re on the Night Road. An Inscape formed by the collective unconscious of a community of Strong Creatives. Access requires a certain darkness of the soul. He wonders what darkness has been lurking inside her since their last encounter; teen pregnancy, child born out of wedlock, his father burned to death along with Bradley, all as a consequence to Vic’s actions. Vic promises that she will stop Manx, even if it kills her. He believes it to be her wish to die by his hands so that she doesn’t have to face her family or failures. And once Wayne is in Christmasland, he’ll forget all about Vic. The Wraith starts up and has its sight set on Vic. She lights the gas can and charges towards the Wraith, launching the canister in its direction, only narrowly missing it. Vic retreats to her Bridge after a failed attempt to stop Manx.

### The Lake House

Manx uses the candy cane that he gave Wayne to communicate with him through his dreams. Wayne wakes up to the sound of children singing Christmas carols outside of the house. He looks outside the window to see the children of Christmasland. They tell him to come play with them. Wayne then opens the front door, where only he can see Charlie Manx. Vic tries to wake Wayne up, but he remains asleep. Manx welcomes him to Christmasland. He tells Wayne that unhappiness is against the law and only the most special of kids are allowed. Wayne can come if he does Manx one small favor.

Manx makes contact with Wayne again. Manx tells him that Christmasland can be his home. He’ll be happy and loved, more than he ever was with his parents. All he asks is that Wayne tell him where they are hiding. As Vic recovers Wayne and takes him back inside, he reveals to Manx that he’s at Lake Passamaquoddy. Manx awakens in his Wrath to find Bing standing just a few feet away. He tells Bing to get the gas. It’s time to load up the Wraith.

Manx and Bing are held up at the The House of Sleep Two. They are tracked down by Agent Hutter. She is attacked by Bing from behind. Though he outweighs her in size and strength, she manages to fight back. Using a candle holder to her advantage. She knocks Bing to the ground and recovers her gun. She hits him with her pistol and handcuffs him. However, Bing is not alone. Manx arrives and strikes her in her left shoulder with the bone hammer he stole from the autopsy lab. Fortunately, Tabitha manages to draw her gun and shoot Manx in the head. She pulls herself to her feet and limps outside of the church. The bullet lodged inside of Manx brain only incapacitated him momentarily. He awakens and removes the bullet, much to Bing’s relief, as he was worried that Manx was dead.

### Bruce Wayne McQueen

Manx calls out to Bing and demands that he bring Wayne to him. Wayne reluctantly enters the Wraith, and Manx tells him that his wildest dreams are about to come true. Suddenly, Vic arrives and screams out "Manx! Let him go." However, Manx gets inside the Wraith and charges towards Vic, who holds in her hand the detonator to blow up Manx, however, she can’t, as it would also mean killing her son. And so, Vic runs away, with Manx following behind. He drives through the gate and mows Vic down. She goes flying through the air.

Manx kicks Vic awake as she lies on the ground after being run over. She tries to get up, but he beats her with the bone hammer, striking her in the back several times, mercilessly, breaking the metal plates embedded within the jacket she’s wearing. Manx tells Vic that her days of riding are over. He can’t believe they live in a world where a whore like her is allowed to have children. She nearly stole his children from him, and now, he claims hers as his own. She will never see Wayne again. He claims he’ll bring Wayne more joy and love than he’s ever had. As he goes to strike her again, she kicks Manx in the knee and disarms him off the bone hammer. She grabs the weapon and strikes Manx in the face before turning her attention to the Wraith, hitting it many times, weakening Manx in the process. She then finds Wayne sleeping in the back. She wakes him up, as she beats on the window with the hammer, though she leaves not even a scratch. Bing exits the Wraith and opens fire. Unable to free Wayne from the Wraith, Vic runs onto the dock and dives into the lake.

Manx makes it back to his feet to find Lou smashing his window. He sneaks up from behind and strikes Lou over the head with the hammer. He then smashes Lou’s head into the window repeatedly. Manx tells Wayne that Lou will be coming with them to Christmasland.

Manx joins Bing on the dock and tells Vic that only a coward hits a man and runs. He also informs Vic that Lou is destined for a ride in his Wraith and reminds her of Craig Harrison, who she killed. While it’s unfortunate his kids didn’t get to snack on Craig, they will feast on Lou for weeks. Manx promises that Wayne will call Vic from Christmasland. And when she hears his voice, she’ll know that he’s better off with him. Manx flees in his Wraith after Chris starts shooting.

Wayne pleads with Manx to stop the car, watching as his mother attempts to chase them on foot. Manx retorts that Vic isn’t deserving of being called a mother. Wayne blames Manx for hurting his family. Manx would normally never allow a child to witness such bloodshed, but he insists that Vic gave him no choice. Manx also still blames Vic for putting him in a coma for nearly a decade. Making his children go hungry. Wayne begs Manx to let him go as he doesn’t want to go to Christmasland. Manx assures Wayne that this is in fact what he wanted, which is why he told Manx where to find them. Wayne will be free of violence and drinking in Christmasland.

Vic gets on her bike and chases Manx down. She manages to catch up to him. She fires several rounds at the Wraith even as Manx tries to run her off the road. They near an intersection, and he suddenly slams on his brakes, though Vic continues and is run over by the Hourglass Man. Wayne asks if his mother’s dead. Manx replies that Vic can no longer hurt him.

### The Hourglass

Wayne wakes up in the back of the Wraith on the road to Christmasland. Manx is aware that he has his phone and tells him to call his mother if that’s what he wants. Wayne calls Vic’s phone, but as Manx suspected, she didn’t answer. Manx tells Wayne that his mother only cares for herself and no one else. Craig's burned and disfigured ghost appears to Wayne and tells him that Vic will come for him. He tells Wayne that he was a friend of his mom’s. Manx proceeds to tell Wayne how he knows what's best for him. Unbeknownst to Manx, Wayne is talking to Craig.

Manx pulls into a junkyard. They have a long journey ahead of them, so he’s making a pit stop. While the scar on Manx’s face is healing, it's still very noticeable. He tells Wayne that he needs to rest. They can sleep and dream of Christmasland. And when the sun rises again, it’ll be like Christmas morning. Manx then tells Wayne to go back to sleep, as he leaves the Wraith to secure the area.

Manx awakens in the Wraith. His scar has healed. He looks back to Wayne and asks if he has to use the bathroom before they leave. He gets out to open Wayne’s door but is ambushed by Bing, who sprays him with gingerbread smoke. Within seconds, Manx is on the ground and unconscious. Bing proceeds to disrupt the engine of the Wraith before dragging Manx’s body away.

### Cripple Creek

Manx awakens in a garage, old, weak, and chained to a support beam. He claims that he was worried for Bing’s well-being after their encounter with Vic, but Bing isn’t convinced, even as Manx claims that saving children is their purpose. Bing explains that he disconnected the ignition coil to the Wraith, so Manx won't be going anywhere, as it’s time they had a talk. Bing puts on his gas mask and sprays Manx with the gingerbread smoke in hopes of getting the truth from him.

Flashback to Charlie Manx as a young boy. He and several of the local boys put on a show at the tavern. His mother, Fanny Manx, watches from the crowd. She tells Charlie that he’s special. Manx is proud, if only for a moment, as he watches his mother take payment from a man and heads upstairs to have sex. Mr. Tim approaches young Manx and reminds him that he owns the general store across the street. On occasion, Mr. Tim has odd jobs and with Manx knowing the boys in town so well, he was hoping to use Charlie to help wrangle up some help. He saw Charlie eyeing the new sled in his shop window. He’s willing to pay Charlie for his help and if he saves up, he’ll have the sleigh by Christmas time.

Bing asks Manx about his old assistant, Peter Ives. Manx replies that he died, along with the two previous assistants before him, Cardinal O'Byrne and Dewey Hansom. Bing tells Manx to clarify. Manx threw O’Byrne from the Wraith and fed Hansom to the children. Given that Bing helped save four children and brought Manx back to life, he wonders if he’s going to Christmasland. Under the influence of the gingerbread smoke, Manx reveals that he was never taking Bing to Christmasland.

Bing tortures Manx, striking him multiple times. He gave up everything for Christmasland only to discover that Manx never had any intent on taking him. Hoping to calm Bing, Manx tells him how special he is and how important their mission is. The children are in danger and they need to be saved, including Wayne. Bing isn’t convinced and continues beating Manx.

Young Manx tries to convince Oscar to go with Mr. Tim, who has toys and candy. He’ll be away from the den full of wanting women and faithless men. Oscar reminds Charlie that both of their mothers are at the den. Manx replies that "Whores were hardly made to be mothers. Fanny Manx and Trudy Holiday the least among them." Mr. Tim pays boys to work at his store. And if he’s good enough of a worker, Mr. Tim even takes the boys to his house. And at his house, there’s more toys and candy than anyone could want. Manx successfully convinces Oscar to join Mr. Tim, who takes him away. Fanny notices Charlie from the bar. He explains that he’s helping Mr. Tim and saving up for the sled in his front window. Fanny asks if Charlie has been to Mr. Tim's shop. Charlie reveals that his job is to send the other boys. Fanny warns Charlie from ever going over there. She tells him that they’ll go together when he has enough nickels to buy the sled. She then leaves her with another man.

Manx wakes up, still chained to the support beam. He tells Bing that it’s because he’s special that he can’t go to Christmasland. Manx tells Bing about his mother and how’d she provide food but starve them of dignity. Back then, there was a man that was like a father to Manx. He tempted him with praise and work. The man, Mr. Tim, used and mishandled Manx like Bing’s father mishandled him. And his mother did nothing to stop him. That’s what makes them special. They’re children unsaved. Innocence stolen. They’d have no place in Christmasland. But they still have to save those who still have time. The moment Manx got Bing’s letter, he knew Bing would be more than an assistant — he would be a partner. Manx hopes that Bing still believes in the mission. Bing is fooled by Manx’s charm and wit and agrees to continue their mission, starting with repairing the Wraith.

Bing returns to the garage and accuses Manx of making Wayne sick. Manx claims that Wayne will be fine once they get him to Christmasland. Bing doesn’t believe him. "Charlie, Charlie telling lies. Soon he will be crying cries." Bing recalls what happened to Mike. Manx gets better while the kids get sick. Bing calls Manx a bad father and offers to show him how to be a good father. The same way he taught Paul Demeter. He says that Paul knew just what to do with his mouth.

Young Manx enters the tavern on Christmas Day to find it empty with only Mr. Tim sitting at the bar. Manx has his sled, which he saved enough to buy. Mr. Tim pays Charlie a $1 to pour him a whiskey. He joins Charlie behind the bar and asks to play a game, telling Charlie that he’s earned some fun as he unbuckles his pants.

Manx demands to know what Bing did to the Wraith. He felt it move. When Bing doesn’t respond, Manx reminds him that he’s all Bing has. Bing retorts that he has the Gas Mask Man. He was just a janitor in Haverhill hiding from his past, but Manx freed him, and now, he knows what to do with monsters. He unchains Manx from the support beam, but his hands and feet remain duct taped. He throws Manx to the ground and says "Bitch, bitch, go to sleep. Take a nap while I love you deep." Manx reminds Bing that he brought him the children willingly. No one told him that Paul Demeter was a bad father. The Graveyard of What Might Be never showed that Mike needed to be saved. Bing had no great purpose to rape Paul and steal his son. He used him to get into Christmasland and destroyed families to satisfy his urges. Manx argues that if he deserves death then Bing deserves worse. Bing agrees that he too is a monster before spaying Manx with the gingerbread smoke. Bing then drags Manx’s body out of the garage and puts him in the back of the Wraith, which is parked on a compactor.

Mr. Tim comes back from behind the bar after sexually assaulting young Manx and offers him a chance to come by his house. Manx, in a fit of rage, takes his sled and beats Mr. Tim to death. Fanny comes down and finds Charlie standing over his body. She tells Charlie that she’ll get him cleaned up and they’ll go find Boss Mitchell, who will know what to do. Everyone in town knows that Mr. Tim was a predator. Charlie is surprised to learn that so many knew and did nothing. He blames his mother for his own actions, reasoning that she made him do it. She wanted money. She pranced around and threw herself onto disgusting men so that Charlie would help her. She made him do it, he says. He asks why she didn’t protect him. Fanny tries to apologize, but he’s too upset. Charlie’s eyes fill with white static as he kills his mother, her blood splattering on the window.

Bing puts Manx in the Wraith and tells him that soon there will be two less monsters in the world. Manx worries about his children. If he dies, so will the Christmasland children, however, Bing isn't convinced. Bing turns on the compactor, turns up the pressure on the gas tank and throws it in the back with Manx. Wayne laughs from outside the Wraith as Manx pleads for help.

Bing gets into the passenger seat with his mask on as Manx becomes unconscious in the back. Bing tells Manx to say "I love you more than anything, Bing Partridge." Once Manx is knocked out, Bing takes his mask off and falls asleep along with him. However, Wayne stops the compactor from crushing the Wraith and wakes Manx up and frees him of his restraints. Bing awakens just as Manx plugs the ignition coil back up to the Wraith. Bing stumbles out the passenger seat and crawls away. However, the Wraith starts back up and Manx is rejuvenated and spry. He tells Wayne to get in the car.

Bing stumbles to his truck with Manx not far behind. Manx stabs him in the stomach with a sharp pole and admits that he lied to Bing when he told him he was special. He throws Bing to the ground and tells him that he will die there unless the police find him first. In fact, prison is a better place for Bing than hell. He asks that Bing thinks of him during Christmas time.

### Chris McQueen

Manx pulls over at the Sleigh House and exits the Wraith, taking in the scenery. He lets Wayne out and tells him to hang his bat-like ornament. Wayne, in the time between the scrapyard and Sleigh House, has grown fangs and become more monstrous. As Wayne gets lost within the trees, the Wraith starts to honk and it’s lights flash, alerting Manx of a presence. He then hears Vic’s motorbike and realizes that she’s nearby. Manx gets in the Wraith and drives towards her.

Manx meets Vic on the road. She revs her bike, challenging him. He charges towards her in the Wraith. Chris blows the first explosive but he misses. He blows the second explosive and misses again. Without notice, the Triumph cuts off. While the third explosive also misses, it hits close enough to steer Manx off track, though only momentarily. Manx turns his attention back to Vic and drives towards her. With the bike not starting, Chris jumps from behind the trees and pushes Vic and the Triumph out the way, though he is run over in the process. Wayne then emerges from the woods and gets into the back of the Wraith. Vic is stuck under the Triumph as Manx approaches. He stands over top of Chris and calls him a second generation failure and drunk before snapping his neck in front of Vic.

### Welcome to Christmasland

Manx arrives at Christmasland with Wayne in the backseat of the Wraith. He is welcomed by the other children, who argue over which cruel game to play first — "Stick the Blind," "Cops and Robbers," or "Carve the Goose." Manx tells the kids that there will be plenty of time for games after Millie gives Wayne the tour, but Mike informs him that Millie isn’t around, so Manx personally gives Wayne a tour of Christmasland.

Manx takes Wayne to the costume shop and tells him to pick a costume. Wayne appears to take interest in the astronaut costume, but he then looks at his pajamas and says that his mother gave them to him. Manx informs him that there aren’t any bedtimes at Christmasland and that he can stay up and play games as much as he wants. Manx then gifts Wayne with a brand new pair of scissors but tells him that he must first make his arrival official by signing his name in the book. Wayne writes his first name but is hesitant to write McQueen. So Charlie coaches him into writing Manx — Wayne Manx.

Manx finds Millie in the Eternal Maze. When she was the only child in Christmasland, Manx would always find her there. She wanted him to find her friends and he has. He’s even brought her another friend. Wayne. Millie replies that she has enough friends and that she wants to leave Christmasland. She reminds Manx of their previous home in the Real World. Manx then notices that Millie is wearing a golden cat brooch. Millie reveals that she found a house in the woods. He insists that there isn’t anything before the walls, but Millie offers to show him.

Manx is taken to his family home just beyond the gates. Millie takes him upstairs, where Mr. Tim attempts to break free from behind a locked door. Millie takes Manx to see her mother. Manx is frightened. He can’t believe his eyes. Cassie pulls him in to dance, though Manx remains in disbelief. She tells him that she’s always been there. Nagging at him like a song he can’t get out of his head. Millie wishes for all three of them to leave Christmasland together, as a family. However, Cassie reveals that she can’t leave the house because of what Manx did to her. Cassie tells Manx that he was always a terrible dancer. Her father even paid for classes but it didn’t help. He was so sure that it was his role to lead. All he ever did was spin them around in circles and trip over his own feet, she remarks. Manx insists that she's lying. He did more for their daughter than Cassie ever did. Cassie tells Manx that Christmasland isn’t a safe haven for children. In reality, it’s a way for him to escape his own failures. And that’s why Christmasland will turn into static now that Vic has arrived. Millie begs her mother to come with them, but she can’t. She simply warns Millie to leave Christmasland before Vic unleashes the Great White Static.

Manx drags Millie downstairs and tells her to go outside. Millie argues that going back to Christmasland will mean their deaths. She pleads with him to take her to the Real World, and Manx eventually agrees.

Manx calls out to Vic, who infiltrated Christmasland. Manx claims that Wayne is happy with him. Vic tries to convince Wayne to join her, but instead, he tells her that Wayne McQueen isn’t his name, much to Manx’s amusement. Manx swears that all his children are happy, but Vic reveals that it was Millie who told her about the faltering veil, which allowed her access to Christmasland. However, when Vic asks Millie to tell Wayne the truth, she is too afraid to speak. Vic gives Millie her word that she’ll be free of Christmasland if she brings Wayne over. However, Manx suggests that they let Wayne choose, and he chooses to stay in Christmasland. Manx then informs the kids that they have some drifters among them, referring to both Vic and Maggie, who plants a bomb under the large Christmas tree before escaping. Meanwhile, Vic flees into the costume shop and plants a bomb while the children bang outside the door until they manage to force their way inside.

As a result of the Great Tree being blown up, Manx’s nose begins to bleed. However, he doesn’t blame Millie. She was poisoned by Vic and Cassie. Manx wants to hang Vic’s head from a tree, but Millie would rather let Vic leave with Wayne and have her father stay in Christmasland with her. Manx refuses as he has work to do. Millie realizes that she’s not enough for her father. She never was. Millie has no desire to kill Vic and plans to leave Christmasland on her own. Manx reminds Millie that he is her father and that she’s to do exactly what he says, but Millie has chosen her path. She is leaving Christmasland at whatever the cost. With Millie gone, Manx grabs his silver bone hammer and exits the store just as the costume shop across from him explodes from another bomb, weakening Manx further.

Manx nears the Eternal Maze, where he notices a drop of blood on the ground. He catches up to Maggie and Vic as they're trying to escape. The Eternal Maze is one of his favorite exhibits. Children always find their way out but adults never do. Manx approaches Maggie and hits her in the stomach with his hammer. As he is about to bring the hammer down on her again, the bombs explode, destroying the Sleigh coaster and another shop. Manx instantaneously becomes weaker and ages rapidly. Vic takes his hammer and beats him over the head repeatedly. It takes Maggie to stop her as beating Manx in his own Inscape will accomplish nothing. They need to focus on finding Wayne before Christmasland falls apart.

Manx, in his weakened state, barely able to walk or talk, asks the children if they’ve seen Millie, but not one has.

### Bats

Manx drives the Wraith to the front gate of Christmasland. In his weakened state, he is barely able to pry the doors open, but he manages to do so. However, as he’s about to leave, the Christmas carols on his radio stop playing, which could only mean that Vic has returned. So he turns back around to face her.

Manx finds Vic and Maggie escaping on her Triumph. He chases them down and follows them onto the Shorter Way. Vic comes to a stop. Manx is now trapped on her Inscape. Vic takes control and manipulates the bats in her bridge to attack the Wraith, shattering its windshield. Manx drives towards Vic and Maggie. However, Vic wills the floorboards beneath the Wraith to crack. In doing this, she brings herself great pain, specifically her eye, but she continues until the Wraith falls off the bridge and disappears into the white static beneath. One month later, his body and the Wraith are found in a lake in Haverhill. Manx's body is cremated and the Wraith crushed.