Summaries

Synopsis

In Washington, D.C., a frustrated mother played by Kellie Williams of the 1990s TV series "Family Matters" leaves her bickering children Hailey and Jaxx with their grandmother, played by Jo Marie Payton of the same TV series. While their mother goes Christmas shopping, Henrietta gets the children to behave by reading them a story about Alternis, who is compared to all three of the ghosts who appeared to Scrooge. The Christmas spirit uses magic on misbehaving children.

At Thatcher Prep Academy, where most of the students are African American, Brandon is a good looking and popular teenager who is the school's basketball star. His mother Tessia is the principal, and she is making announcements over the intercom. Shortly before Christmas, Brandon wants to ask Vanessa, best friend of his future stepsister Emily, to the Yultide Ball (that's how the sign outside the school spells it). He is interrupted by Gregory, and Emily's 10-year-old brother Aiden, who is a science nerd. Gregory is bullying Aiden because of his book, the same one Henrietta is reading, because Aiden still believes in Santa Claus and other fantasies. Aiden has to fish his book out of a trash can.

Tessia and her fiance Dr. Joseph Kingsley, and their families, are now living together in a nice house. As the family sit down to a meal, Joseph announces he and Tessia are making it official.

Brandon talks to his father on his cell phone, hoping they can get together for Christmas. He does not want to spend the holiday with his new family.

Even though his father and Tessia have made it official, Aiden overhears a conversation about Brandon's Aunt Tracie that leads him to believe they are breaking up. Aunt Tracie will be staying for a while and will take Emily's room.

Joseph's friend Curtis visits and Joseph promises to set him up with Tracie, but he doesn't promise Curtis will like her.

Because of the family's problems Aiden calls on Alternis after mixing the blue stuff and the red stuff hoping it can make him like food he doesn't like. It doesn't work. But Alternis does appear when called. He mixes the blue stuff and the red stuff. He reads a contract as he explains that he will try to make each family member see the point of view of the others.

During the night, Aiden ends up in Brandon's body, Brandon ends up in Emily's body and Emily ends up in Aiden's body. They never tell anyone but each other, but each tries to pretend to be whoever's body is being occupied. Brandon is distressed to learn Emily is having her period. Aiden has some uncomfortable feelings of his own but he likes how he looks, especially when he arrives at school.

Emily is upset to see Brandon doesn't care about "her" appearance, and she helps Brandon to look better.

In class, Emily as Aiden is much more confident dealing with "his" bullies, but this doesn't help much. Eventually, the teacher decides Gregory and Aiden will work together on the science fair project.

Brandon as Emily is uncomfortable when she has to use the girls' restroom for the first time.

After school, Emily is distressed to see that Brandon sweated so much in her body in gym class.

Back in the "real world", the kids are interested in the story their grandmother is reading and want to know more.

Alternis goes in the wrong bedroom and frightens Emily as Aiden, who didn't believe in him before, but now she does. Artenis is asked to switch everyone back but he can't do it just yet. The kids have to help each other.

Gregory makes it sound like he will let Aiden do all the work on the science project, but Emily as Aiden doesn't know what to do and insists Gregory will do the work.

Aiden as Brandon manages to ask Vanessa to the dance, though Brandon as Emily doesn't like this because it is Aiden who is getting the benefit. What if they don't switch back in time?

Aiden as Brandon also can't play basketball. Brandon as Emily tries to teach him. Tessia is impressed at how well Emily plays.

Aunt Tracie arrives. She has a strong personality and lots of luggage. Emily is having a sleepover with her friends, but she is really Brandon trying to pretend to be Emily. Brandon as Emily wants to talk about boys and learns about their feelings. "Her" comments to Vanessa make it sound like "she" is attracted to Vanessa. Also, Emily as Aiden shows up and is told girls only. To which Aiden as Emily tells Brandon as Emily that he should leave. Then Aunt Tracie shows up and insists on being a part of the party.

The next morning, Brandon as Emily goes back in "her" bedroom to find Tracie, a very large woman, in her underwear and not covered up, in "her" bed.

Over time, each child has to teach the one occupying that person's body what needs to be learned. Brandon must learn history, Aiden must learn basketball, and Emily must learn to do a science project. Jesse is impressed with the new knowledge Emily (Brandon) has and he wants to ask her to the dance.

Curtis arrives and spends time with Tracie, and in a sequence with no audio other than music, the adults draw Christmas trees (Tracie's looks like Charlie Brown's) and make gingerbread houses, while the kids teach each other what they need to know.

Eventually Curtis has to leave and Tracie can tell he doesn't like her. What's wrong with her?

Aiden as Brandon tells his teammates his strategy will be to fool the players on the other team into thinking he can't play very well and then show them what he can do. But he messes up the names of the most famous basketball players.

Aiden as Brandon has to play in his first game. One of the coaches finds him in the hall calling himself a loser. The coach tells him he is not a loser and knows he can play and do very well. In fact, the game is a disaster, as Aiden messes up constantly, and the other team wins. Aiden as Brandon is upset regardless of what the family says to encourage him.

Emily as Aiden must deal with "his" own competition. "His" project is not particularly complicated--a simulation of an earthquake--and someone makes fun of such a simple project, but nevertheless "he" wins. Aiden as Brandon is distressed at how well his sister imitates him--is THAT how he sounds?

The kids have helped each other, so why haven't they changed back?

Aiden comments on how much he misses his mother, who has died, and he didn't even remember her that well. Emily says she is hurting too and she did remember her mother. They are getting along better than they have.

Aiden as Brandon has one more challenge to get through--the dance. In a brief appearance from the "real world" kids thinking the problems have been solved, the grandmother tells the kids no, there;s more.

The one thing Aiden as Brandon learned to do right was dance. He is really good. So is Vanessa, who is gorgeous. Brandon as Emily is uncomfortable in "her" dress" even though "she" is beautiful too. "She" is miserable as she watches Brandon having such a good time. "She" also dances with Vanessa but people look at them funny. Then Jesse asks for a dance. Also impressing the crowd is Brandon as Aiden, who dances quite well.

Alternis returns and ends up in the wrong bedroom again. He meets Tracie, who is frightened but eventually decides she likes the funny-looking man.

The time comes for Tessia to name a king and queen of the dance, the Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. She reveals that the winners of the vote were Brandon and Vanessa, which upsets the real Brandon further. Back at home, Brandon is still upset but can't explain why. Tracie is drunk and making weird claims.

The last straw is the phone conversation between Aiden as Brandon and Brandon's father, who would love to spend the holiday with his son, but he is at a work-related party, and he can't have Brandon for Christmas. "You know how these things are". Aiden as Brandon gives a mature response which impresses Tessia, but it upsets Brandon who thinks Aiden's response will just make things worse.

The night before Christmas, Brandon as Emily takes off. Alternis meets him and shows him video illustrating what Aiden really did, which Brandon didn't see. He persuades Brandon to go home, telling him that unless the three are together by midnight, the change will be permanent. Brandon returns to find the others in the same bed.

All three kids are asleep in the bed when they are returned to their rightful bodies. They are so delighted, and then Tessia and Jospeh come in the room in matching Christmas pajamas, telling the kids to put on their own pajamas and to come down. Tracie is still there as everyone opens presents.

The story is finished and the real world kids are happy but want to know more. Their grandmother tells them the story will be finished next time. Their mother comes back happy and amazed at how well behaved the kids are. After they leave, the grandmother thinks she sees Alternis.

Tracie finds the stuff that was created when Aiden mixed the red stuff and the blue stuff. Just in time, Aiden stops her from drinking it. Or does he?