The Spirit Of Christmas

The Spirit Of Christmas is a short feature film created by IAmBellaB in December of 2020, following the main protagonist Penny learning what Christmas really means.

The Spirit Of Christmas was IAmBellaB's first object film created for YouTube, and it's premiere was promoted for December 23rd 2021. The Spirit Of Christmas was announced on IAmBellaB's Instagram page on December 21st 2020, two days prior to the films release.

## Plot

### Opening Scene

The short film begins with Penny coming out of her office and calling out to her little brother Dimey, asking where he is going. Dimey responds and says that he is going home for the night, but his sister states that it is only six o'clock. Dimey becomes annoyed and protests that it is Christmas Eve and that they both need a break from work. Dimey also mentions that the other employees of the store had left hours ago to spend Christmas Eve with their families. Dimey finally states that Penny should try put a little more effort into celebrating Christmas. This makes Penny briefly feel bad about not enjoying Christmas, and then says "Bah Humbug" to Dimey. Penny then walks off into her office. Dimey is upset because of this, and he sadly leaves the store. Penny is seen standing near the door of her office, looking toward the door, then she begins mocking Dimey. She begins to wonder what is so good about Christmas, and states that Christmas is a joke.

### The Past

Shortly after the opening scene, the screen goes black and remains like that for a few moments, but then suddenly, someone begins to speak and call out Penny's name. The scene then transitions to a Christmas-y looking setting with a lit fireplace decorated with stockings and a Christmas tree, as well as Penny drowsily waking up, only to see an object sitting in front of them. This object is noticing that Penny is waking up, and continues to call her name. Penny is shocked by the unexpected object and begins to scream, which causes this new object to also start screaming. Penny pushes this object away and begins to ask what they are doing in her store, but she pauses and notices where she is. She looks around, and then asks who this new object is. Penny also freaks out, wondering if she's been kidnapped. This new object introduces themselves as Bauble, the ghost of Christmas past and proceeds to assist Penny in standing up. Bauble also reassures Penny that he didn't kidnap her, and that he is more of a figment of her imagination. Penny is confused as to how Bauble is apart of her imagination, stating that Bauble seems very real to her. Bauble confirms that he isn't real by floating in front of Penny, which fascinates Penny.

Bauble begins to ask Penny questions about their surroundings, hoping Penny remembers where she is. Penny says that it is the last Christmas that she actually enjoyed. Bauble continues to ask her about this last Christmas. The scene transitions to a view of what happened in this "last Christmas," showing Penny and Dimey playing with their Christmas presents, being a teddy bear and a sketchbook. In this view, Penny states that she had gotten the sketchbook to use the coloured pencils that he father used to also use. Bauble is pleased with Penny's memory of this "last Christmas," but then Penny continues on explaining what happened on the next Christmas. Penny's father had passed away the year after this "last Christmas," and Bauble continues on, saying that after that Christmas, Penny had lost her passion for Christmas and her passion for art. Bauble finally states that in order for Penny to get her Christmas spirit back, she needs to change herself in the present.

The scene transitions to black, getting rid of the happy memory. Penny appears in the scene, looking scared and asking for the memory back. Bauble comes into the scene asking Penny why she had repressed her happy Christmas memory. Penny denies repressing the memory, and then proceeds to ask Bauble to take her back to the memory and let her relive it one last time. Bauble disappears, and Penny becomes even more scared, calling for him to come back. The scene once again transitions to black.

### The Present

Penny is heard repeating the word 'no' as the screen is still black, but another new voice is heard, asking Penny what she is saying no to. The screen then transitions to Penny's office, with Penny and a second new object standing inside. Penny screams when she notices that there is another object with her. This new object stares at Penny and tells her to collect herself. This new object continues talking and introduces themselves as Star, the ghost of Christmas present. Star gets in Penny's face and asks her if she's feeling jolly, and smiles a big happy smile at Penny. Penny replies and saying "no," causing Star to react with a shocked face. Star tells Penny that she shouldn't be like that, telling Penny that she need to be extra jolly this year. Penny begins to ask Star a question, but gets cut off as Star explains to her that Penny had shouted "bah humbug" at her little brother, Dimey, and explains to Penny that he didn't feel very jolly after she had said that. Penny attempts to lie and deny it, but Star cuts her off and tells her that if she tells her that she didn't do it, she'd be lying. Penny is shocked when Star tells her that she would be lying, and Star explains that she needs to change her attitude toward Christmas, otherwise her future may very different to what she had in mind. The scene then transitions to black.

### The Future

Penny is questioning why she is in darkness again, and a third object replies, stating that the darkness won't go away. Penny appears in the scene and gets scared, because she does not know who or what is lurking in the darkness. The third new object appears next to Penny, and tells her to calm down. Penny's expression becomes irritated when she sees this new object, and asks if they are the ghost of Christmas future. This new object confirms that they are the ghost of Christmas future, but Penny states that she was joking about them being the ghost of Christmas future. The ghost of Christmas future asks Penny what she can see, as they both disappear from the scene. The scene remains with a black screen for a few moments, and Penny asks if the ghost of Christmas future was joking or not, and they confirm that they were not joking. Penny states that she sees nothing while becoming frustrated and asks what there is to see, and mocks by asking if there is a tree to see. The ghost of Christmas future asks Penny to take the situation seriously. Penny then becomes irritated with the ghost of Christmas future and begins yelling about why she should be so serious. The ghost of Christmas future finally tells Penny that this black abyss is her future. Penny suddenly becomes scared, then the ghost of Christmas future repeats themselves, saying that the black abyss is her future, and that it is nothing. Penny begins to panic and asks if she is going to die, and the ghost of Christmas future confirms that she won't die. Penny becomes relieved by this, then the ghost of Christmas future tells her that she is not seeing the point. Stocking explains that it doesn't matter if she dies or not, because every Christmas will be the same thing every year, that it's nothing. The ghost of Christmas future continues to explain that every year on Christmas day, Penny stands in the store, hoping that someone will come into the store, when really everyone is spending the day with their friends and family. The ghost of Christmas future tells her that her first priority shouldn't be her job, especially around Christmas. The ghost of Christmas future suggests to Penny to find her brother Dimey and make this year's Christmas special. Penny says that she will do whatever it takes to make this year's Christmas special for her and her brother. The ghost of Christmas future tells Penny to make every moment count. Penny thanks the ghost of Christmas future and pauses. She asks the ghost of Christmas future what their name is, and they state that their name is Stocking. Penny hugs Stocking and thanks him again. The scene transitions to black again.

### Closing Scene

The scene begins with Penny sitting on the side of the road near some trees, and Dimey is seen walking by on the other side of the road. He stops walking, and notices that Penny is on the other side of the road. Dimey stares, and decides to cross the road and be with his sister. Dimey walks up to Penny and sits next her. Dimey asks Penny of she is ok, Penny begins to reply, and then pauses. She continues on by apologising for not spending Christmas with Dimey since their dad had passed away. Penny explains to Dimey that she was worried that something bad would happen again on Christmas day if she enjoyed it. Dimey attempts to say something to Penny, but she cuts him off assuming that he's going to apologise and says that he's going to apologise for nothing since Penny was the one who had been avoiding Christmas. Dimey attempts to tell Penny that it's ok, but Penny cuts him off again, telling him that it's not ok. Penny begins to cry, explaining that she always forgets that Christmas occurs and that she always focuses on the store. Penny pauses, then begins to question herself, asking why she doesn't spend time with her brother. Dimey continues to talk to Penny, but Penny cuts him off for a third time. Penny continues to question herself, and continuously cuts off Dimey, causing him to becoe frustrated about not being able to get a word out. Dimey then yells at Penny and grabs her attention. He then tells her that it's ok, and that he knows she didn't want to hurt anymore. Dimey tells Penny to come in for a hug. The siblings share a hug as Penny apologises to Dimey, and Dimey tells her that it's ok. Penny explains that she wants to make up all the Christmases that she had missed. Dimey states that it is Christmas day, and that they still have time to celebrate. Penny asks if Dimey is mad at her, and Dimey exlains that he isn't mad at her and that he's glad that she wants to celebrate Christmas. Dimey suggests a range of things that he and Penny can do during the day, and Penny asks if they can do both of those things. Dimey agrees and asks if Penny would like to begin the activities right away, and Penny says yes. The scene then transitions to black, and the film ends.

## Credits

Writing, Directing, Graphics and Animatic, Produced by IAmBellaB

Music by; Michael Huang, TLX. 14 PRDCTNZ

### Songs featured within the film

Firey - TLX. 14 PRDCTNZ

Lulu and Shaco's quirky adventure - League of Legends

The Show - Michael Huang

Cool Mote - Michael Huang

Sad Moment - Track Creator is unknown.

Untitled Track - TLX. 14 PRDCTNZ