On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

The film opens with a flashback to college, where student DJ Mitch O'Grady offers a ride to a stranded Maggie Chalke during a massive snowstorm. To cheer her up, Mitch creates a 'best Christmas ever' experience on the road, including building snowmen and sledding. Ten years later, Maggie is a reporter for the Harrison Gazette, which is facing a corporate takeover by Wrightsbridge. Mitch arrives in Harrison to host the morning show at WCNQ, but he has transformed into a cynical 'Grinch' who bans Christmas music. Maggie recognizes him and, seeing his lost spirit, decides to be his Secret Santa, sending gifts based on their shared past, such as a DIY snowman kit and a carriage ride invitation. Her boss, Alan, and corporate executive Ryan Gallagher pressure her to write a human-interest series about the mystery DJ and his benefactor to boost the paper's metrics. Mitch initially suspects Brianna, a local yoga instructor, who falsely claims to be the Secret Santa for publicity. As Maggie spends time with Mitch 'on the record' for her articles, she learns his cynicism stems from his mother's death on Christmas Day ten years prior. The gifts successfully thaw Mitch's heart, but the situation implodes when Mitch discovers Maggie is the Secret Santa. He believes she orchestrated the entire mystery as a journalistic stunt to land a prestigious job at the Chicago Telegraph-Standard. Heartbroken and feeling her integrity is compromised, Maggie resigns from the new job and writes a final, non-rhyming confession in the Gazette titled 'The Twelfth Day of Christmas.' On Christmas Eve, Mitch reads her heartfelt article, realizes her intentions were pure, and the two reunite. Mitch presents Maggie with a bike—the one gift he never received as a child—and they celebrate their new relationship as Maggie returns to her job at the Gazette.