*
CLAIRE: Five years ago, my mother died on this island, on Christmas.
I remember it was really warm that year.
The lake didn't even freeze over.
My grandfather was making us solve one of his puzzles,
like he did every year.
Mom never liked to play.
She walked away from the resort on Christmas Eve.
And the next morning, she had drowned.
How it happened is a mystery.
That was the last time our family celebrated Christmas.
*
I hate that thing. Flattens my hair.
Country living. Plays havoc with your looks.
Hard to be high maintenance out here.
Give me time.
I don't suppose you want to help with the groceries?
Not a problem.
Thanks. The mail was really weighing it down.
Bill... bill... bill...
Oh!
A fancy envelope.
Do you mind if I open it?
Sure. Go for it.
It's from Paris.
Raymond La Foret.
My grandfather.
He's coming for Christmas...
And he's invited the whole family.
Oh God! I've got so much to do.
I wonder why now?
You said... Christmas.
It's been five years since he's been here.
This isn't just about Christmas. He has something up his sleeve.
I just want to know who's coming.
I'm not going if I don't know...
I do not like surprises, Daddy, you know that...
Hold on...
I have a headache.
I just want to know. is she going to be there?
We've been invited to Shadow Island for Christmas.
Haven't I've asked you not to dress like that to the office?
The invitation's from Granddad.
He's coming?
He wants the whole family together for the holidays.
What about Margaret? You can't go.
I was invited.
If she doesn't want to see me, she can stay home.
I'm not getting in the middle of another battle between you two.
You're not in the middle, Dad. You're on my side, remember?
I think we should go.
Granddad gives good stuff for Christmas.
I wonder if Ian's going?
(Rock music playing)
More champagne.
You're supposed to take them with water.
It doesn't make a difference now, does it? Champagne.
You are sure this game of yours is going to work?
It has to. It's my last chance.
Auntie Margaret! It's so good to see you!
You remember my friend Monica.
Of course, I do. Hi there. Hi.
Hope you're ready for the La Foret Christmas games.
I remember my father constructed this elaborate game
for my fifteenth birthday.
He said I wasn't going to get my present until I solved it.
Which I didn't because I ate the birthday cake.
Turns out the clue was written in the icing.
Who knew?
What about your present?
Never got it. The cake was good.
All families play games. Ours are just more...
Brutal.
Theatrical.
Just made a pot of coffee. You want some?
Not unless you put bourbon in mine.
What? Bourbon makes it Christmas-y.
Okay... I've got some Christmas-y stuff over here.
I'm just going to go freshen up.
Maybe don't drink too much before Granddad arrives.
I've always found my father much more enjoyable
with a little glow.
Okay. I'll see you in a bit.
It's really good to see you.
I'm going to my cabin to lie down.
Wake me up when it's New Years.
Expensive.
Granddad does nothing small.
Uh, Auntie Margaret, why don't we have a seat?
Monica will get you something less Christmas-y to drink.
So Margaret, how's your husband?
I don't think she wants to talk about Uncle Dirk right now.
I kicked the bastard out two months ago.
Dirk the jerk.
He was cheating with my own niece.
Can you believe it?
She's not coming, is she, Claire?
Dad promised me she wasn't.
I don't know.
What about Stuart? Is he coming?
I think he might be.
You watch.
My brother's always selling something new and worthless.
Never listen to Stuart.
Here. Have some more coffee.
You found that?
I haven't seen it for years.
Oh, yeah.
Oh... Auntie Margaret... I was hoping to keep that.
I've already lost the other one.
Really? I didn't know there was two.
And we may also need some spoons for later.
Claire says that Ian's coming.
He is? Oh, that is fantastic.
That boy has so much potential.
He just spends too much time with tramps.
Monica used to go out with Ian.
Oh...
Ian! Hi!
Oh, I missed you!
I want to hear everything you've been up to.
Even the boring stuff.
Got nothing to tell.
It's been three years! You got something.
Nope. What about you? Living on Shadow Island.
You know I'm running this place for Granddad now?
Get lots of tourists in the summer.
Some snowmobilers in the winter, but its pretty dead these days.
You're hiding out.
Excuse me! I'm not the one who disappeared for years.
That's you, brother dear!
We're going to have fun this Christmas.
To make up for the last one?
Sorry.
Are you still writing?
Trying to.
Mysteries? Yeah.
Good. If Granddad makes us play games, I want you on my team.
Were these cabins always green?
No, I just painted them.
You did a good job.
Thanks.
Hey, remember when we painted the Sunset cabin
that gross orange colour?
Mom was so angry.
She was never a happy woman.
Hard to believe it's been five years.
I don't want to think about it.
So... Monica's here.
She's been helping me. That's not a problem, is it?
No. Not for me.
You're really not going to tell me what you've been up to?
Nope. I know how you enjoy a good mystery.
I've missed you.
Back at you.
So Granddad and Auntie Margaret. Who else is coming?
Uncle Stuart.
Yawn. What about Natasha?
She better not be.
She had an affair with Uncle Dirk.
How do you know about that?
Auntie Margaret sent me letters.
Can you believe Uncle Dirk?
What is she thinking?
Ew! Gross!
That is wrong. I know!
What's so funny?
Do I get a hug?
Well, I have a thousand things to do,
so I'm gonna get out of here.
I'm gonna help Ian unpack.
Great.
*
Granddad!
Hi! Oh, it's good to see you.
Did you get everything I forwarded?
I did. I'm glad you're here.
I want you to meet my assistant, Sergio.
Ciao.
I am Signor La Foret's medical assistant.
Nice to meet you.
Oh, yes, we're all so very nice.
Daddy.
You look great.
You liar. I look terrible.
Ian, I'm glad you were able to join us mere mortals.
Granddad, you remember my friend Monica.
Nice to see you again, sir.
I remember you. You used to be chubby.
Now, where's Stuart?
Never mind, he'll be along.
Money-money.
Everyone, this is my assistant, Sergio Bonnici.
I found him in Venice.
Poached him from a business associate,
Moved him to Paris to work for me.
He'll make sure everything's set up properly.
So that the games can begin precisely at 8:00 p.m.
Sergio, take me to my cabin.
Remind me why I came back.
I need a drink.
Chubby?
How old is he now? He looks so old.
He is old. While you haven't aged a bit.
Would you like a coffee, Ian? I'll get you one.
Little bourbon with ice?
Why's everyone in here?
Hey Uncle Stuart.
Dad's assistant is setting up
for tonight's little torture session. No peeking allowed.
Who wants to peek?
Merry Christmas.
You're looking good, Mags.
Thanks, Stuart. I do my best with what I have.
Which thanks to you, gets less and less each day.
Just let me sit down and then you can be nasty.
I have no intention of being nasty.
If it's just you, I'm fine.
It's not just me.
She didn't...
Merry Christmas, everyone!
What's wrong?
Natasha...
You're here.
(Knocking)
Your grandfather, he needs his rest.
The flight took a lot out of him.
Okay.
So, you're a writer?
I try. I don't know how good I am, but thanks.
Not that you said I was good.
Moving on. What else did he tell you?
That you run this resort for him.
That you're single. Strong-willed.
Which means I'm what? Stubborn?
He meant it as a compliment. He also said
that your mother died five years ago on Christmas.
I'm sorry.
He told you a lot.
Si.
Including the fact that you're very beautiful.
Well, if there's anything I can do
to make Granddad more comfortable, let me know.
I want him to be glad he came.
I have never known Signor La Foret to regret anything.
MARGARET: I don't want to talk to you. I don't even want to look at you.
NATASHA: Then don't. Look over there. Look out the window.
Stuart! Get her out of here!
I can not believe you have the nerve to show your face!
I have just as much a right to be here as you do.
You have no right to be anywhere.
Dad wants to see her, Mags.
Don't call me Mags. We're not friends.
Your daughter destroyed my marriage.
You were doing a pretty good job before I came along.
Okay, listen--
Whoa! Stop it! Auntie Margaret.
Natasha.
Claire, please, get her out of here!
I was invited.
You are a liar. Dad promised me he wasn't going to invite you.
Well, he did.
You okay?
No.
GRANDDAD: I'd like to propose a toast.
To us, being together on the holidays.
I don't suppose you want to share any of that champagne?
You wouldn't want to deny your old man
one of his few pleasures.
Don't tempt me.
Let it go, Margaret.
We're family, we all have to be here.
Now for tonight's entertainment
I've made this year's puzzle very special.
I call it the Jean La Foret Memorial Christmas Puzzle.
In memory of my beloved daughter.
We're playing a game about Mom?
In loving tribute to her.
Jean hated your games.
Maybe we should give Dad's game a try.
Thank you for your support, Stuart.
But no, I don't want to invest in any of your new ventures.
I'm not playing.
We all have to play.
Because this is the last Christmas we'll be all together.
You see...
I'm dying.
Sergio, please.
Stage four inoperable cancer.
Signor La Foret has very little time.
You can all stop pretending to look sad.
Did I mention the winner
gets a huge amount of money?
All you have to do is find the prize.
Sergio has been instructed to pay out whoever claims it,
no questions asked.
One twist... the losers
get cut from the will.
I thought that would get your attention.
This game is different.
It's a special game.
A tribute.
To everything Jean.
It's not fair. Claire is the best player.
Everyone knows she's going to win.
Can't you get her to shut up?
GRANDDAD: Focus on the game, Margaret. It'll help.
As for Claire. It's true that she is very good.
That's why I've asked her to sit out the first hour.
She won't start until 9:15. Are we all ready?
Come along Stuart, I know you could use the money.
Your mutual funds went down 37% last year.
And Natasha,
must take a small fortune keep you in designer frocks.
And Margaret, as pissed off as you are with me,
Dirk has been gone six months.
The bills must be piling up.
Ian, how about you? Are you playing?
I don't care about money.
Nobly said.
Are you playing?
So, in the Christmas tree
there are presents for everyone.
Go ahead, please. Help yourself.
Except for Claire.
Maybe we could watch the game together.
If you want.
I'd like that.
I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have brought Natasha.
Just take her and leave. Please.
You know that I can't.
Hurry, people. Hurry.
This game doesn't play itself. Open your boxes.
It's a bell. That's it?!
It doesn't ring.
There are Christmas carols written on the side.
Yes. All the carols Jean loved.
And that is your clue...
Sergio, take me to my cabin.
Everybody, Keep your eyes and ears open.
That's all I'm going to say.
Enjoy.
So, what do we do now?
(Music playing)
My guess. We follow the music.
The music's coming from everywhere.
How many speakers are there?
Dad never makes things easy.
(Laughing)
(Coughing)
You shouldn't be so confrontational.
Tell that to her. I came in smiling.
You had an affair with her husband.
He took advantage of me. You should be mad at him.
I was mad at him.
I was mad at both of you, but that's the past.
Why don't you apologize to her?
She's not going to listen to me.
She hates me.
Let's just play this stupid game.
Not that it's fair! Not with Claire around.
Doesn't that make you angry?!
Unlike you, I expect to get nothing from my father
and so far I haven't been disappointed.
I want you to make up with Margaret.
I'm going to talk to Sergio.
Little bells. Maybe they're connected to the game.
Claire says to figure out a puzzle you have to talk it out.
Bells.
(Ringing)
Jingle Bells.
Hell's bells. Church bells.
A face so pretty, you hear bells.
I remember that smile.
So cute... and sexy.
I thought we were playing the game.
(Coughing)
He's really dying?
His doctors didn't want him to come.
But your grandfather's very strong-willed.
You may even say, stubborn.
And he's just giving away his money?
Are you not interested?
It's not like I couldn't use some.
Signor La Foret has provide me with a very large sum of money
to exchange for the prize.
The winner doesn't even have to show his or her face.
It is that straightforward.
Nothing my grandfather says is ever straightforward.
He said you were very beautiful.
Yeah. You have to stop telling me that...
Not now, but soon.
(Beeping)
Excuse me.
Signor La Foret wants to see us.
We should go.
(Wheezing)
Do you have it all figured out?
I'm sure it's more complicated than it seems.
It always is.
How resentful are they that they have to play my little game?
Margaret is upset because you invited Natasha.
You lied to her.
I needed them all here.
Let them be angry. They all want me dead.
No one wants you dead. Is that what you think?
Families are like puzzles, Claire.
With a little work, they can be figured out.
(Coughing)
Maybe you should go. I will take care of him.
He must have wired up the whole resort.
Or tapped into it.
I don't know.
We're supposed to be playing the game.
That's what we're doing, right?
Don't you think there's stuff we should talk about first?
Why don't we not talk about stuff?
(Clearing throat)
Have you seen Sergio? I'm looking for help.
No, we haven't.
But I think we should keep playing over there.
Could you just give me a sec?
So where are you going to spend all the money?
Who says I'm going to win?
You want me to apologize for being good at games?
You can't help yourself.
You just like showing how smart you are.
Why do you say things like that?
It's true. You're smarter than everyone else.
You always have everything planned out.
And that's bad, right?
Being organized is a bad thing?
Look, I live on an island.
I'm one step away from being a recluse.
I don't have a boyfriend.
I don't know if I can write, but I keep trying.
That doesn't sound like a real put together person to me.
You're also kind of bossy.
I am not.
And even if I am, I can live with "bossy".
You gonna help us?
It's missing its clapper. Ask yourself why.
She was a beautiful woman, your mother.
Yes, she was.
So, are you playing?
The hour's up. You should open your present.
Another bell without a clapper.
You okay?
Yes. Yes.
I tell you what, let's solve it together.
Excellent.
First...
We turn off all the speakers.
(Music stops)
We all find the prize, we all get the money.
Everyone wins. No more fighting. Agreed?
What sound does a bell with no clapper make?
It makes no sound.
Exactly. And what is written on all your bells?
Christmas Carols.
So what Christmas Carol sounds like no sound?
Silent night.
No clappers in the bell is a clue.
In order to hear the next clue, I'm guessing we need silence.
(Music stops)
(Footsteps)
I'm afraid I must tell everyone:
Signor La Foret is dead.
It was quick. Massive heart attack.
CLAIRE: I just saw him a half hour ago.
STUART: You should have called us.
SERGIO: There was not enough time. I'm his attendant.
I was taking care of him.
STUART: He's dead. What kind of care is that?
MARGARET: I'm not going in. I can't see him dead.
CLAIRE: Monica, take Margaret in. Get her a drink.
NATASHA: I don't want to see Granddad either.
STUART: You go too, Natasha. I'll be there in a minute.
SERGIO: Are we ready?
Heart of Jesus have mercy on the dying.
Someone should call an ambulance.
I will.
Why don't you go back to the lodge
and make sure Margaret and Natasha are okay?
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
It makes no sense. How does someone just die?
His system was weak.
He was on pain medication, chemo drugs, heart pills.
He would not stop drinking. It's really not surprising.
I'm going back.
I'll call an ambulance.
I can't find my phone.
Claire, why don't you give yourself a minute?
I just wanted...
You know...
to say I'm sorry.
For what? My father dying before you got your money.
I'm trying to apologize about Uncle Dirk.
You don't have an affair with someone and call him Uncle.
He dumped me too.
That makes me feel much better.
I don't want to hear from you either.
My head is pounding.
Maybe if you stopped drinking.
Maybe if you stopped losing all my money in the stock market.
Maybe if your daughter stopped picking up men
the way she picks up new dresses.
Not everything bad that happens is about you, Margaret.
Dad just died. How about some perspective?
NATASHA: I tried to be nice.
I did what you said but she's not worth it.
Dirk told me you had a nasty temper.
It's no wonder he divorced you.
Shut up!
(Glass shattering)
Just...
Hey.
He seemed like a nice old man.
He wasn't. Not really.
Sorry.
Let me.
Hello.
Yes. Someone has died at Shadow Island Resort...
About half an hour ago.
We need an ambulance or the coroner to come...
Yes, they'll have to cross the ice...
No, I work for the deceased...
How long?
Well as fast as you can. Thank you.
It's going to be a while. The holidays.
Thank you.
It's midnight.
Merry Christmas.
I don't want to get anyone all pissy but...
What about the money?
Natasha...
I assume everything goes back to the original will.
No.
The rules are the rules.
If no one secures the prize,
no one gets the money.
The entire estate
goes to the La Foret Foundation.
What if we kept on playing?
No one wants to play anymore. The game's over.
Technically, no.
Signor La Foret has not been legally declared dead.
It is your family's choice.
I have the money.
I believe Signor La Foret would have liked
to have seen his puzzle solved.
The ambulance won't be here for several hours.
It's your decision.
I'm playing. Dad, you in?
If she's playing, I'm playing.
Auntie Margaret!
I need the money and she's not getting it.
Claire, please, I need your help.
No, I'm sorry. I can't.
("Silent Night" playing)
Claire said "Silent Night"
was the next part of the puzzle, didn't she?
He's making us play from the grave. You know he set this up.
It's this one.
Give it to me. I found it.
It's not nice when someone takes something of yours, is it?
Stop it! Please. Granddad is dead!
Can we just have some peace?!
(Music volume increases)
It's another speaker.
What is it?
Mom's necklace.
Let me see.
A star! That's the next clue?!
There are stars everywhere.
You're not playing?
Games are like blood sports in my family.
I don't have the stomach for it.
I shouldn't have come back.
Hey!
I'm glad you did.
Let's go somewhere else.
(Beeping)
I was just looking for stars.
You can't see many tonight. It's too cloudy.
The next clue is a star. I found it myself.
If it's part of the game, you know I can't help.
You could if you wanted to.
If you did, I'd be... very grateful.
Do we really have to keep playing?
You must know something.
I know something.
I know you solicited your grandfather
for additional funds for years.
I know that you live not only beyond your father's means,
but you slept with your uncle for financial gain
and destroyed his marriage.
That is not going to help you either.
I'm not playing anymore.
You can't make me.
No.
(Beeping)
Sergio?
I was just sending a message to Paris.
Everyone at the Foundation
is shocked to hear of your grandfather death.
How did my grandfather get a hold of my mother's necklace?
Is that what that is? It's part of the game, no?
You know it is.
I put things where my employer asked me to put them.
I set the clues. I cue the music.
What they mean, who knows?
What kind of game was my grandfather playing?
He wanted to know who deserved to get his money.
There's more going on.
I'm going back to his cabin.
*
* All is calm
* All is bright
Stars.
Daddy...
(Screaming)
Sergio?
What are you doing out here? It's freezing.
I heard something.
Let's go inside. I need to talk to you.
Look at this.
"Stop the games before things go too far."
It's written on resort paper. Have you seen it before?
No. Do you recognize the handwriting?
Did you know my grandfather had a gun in his drawer?
No. He did not bring a gun.
I just saw one.
Signor La Foret has many convincing props for his games.
It must be that.
My mother wore this necklace every day of her life.
She was wearing it the night she drowned
but they didn't find it on her body.
The police said it got washed off in the lake.
So can you please explain to me how it ended up here?
I was hired to take care of Signor La Foret's health
and his papers.
That's all I know.
And the game.
Si, and the game.
Whoa!
I'm not a Christmas present.
You don't have to rip off the wrapping.
What if I want to?
You're supposed to open your presents slowly.
Your turn.
Did you miss me?
Uh-huh.
When was the last time you kissed someone?
It's been a while.
(Clattering)
Sorry.
I was trying to solve the puzzle.
Any luck?
No. I'm no good at them.
Look at me. My father's dead, I'm still trying to please him.
They're just games, Uncle Stuart.
Not to him, they weren't.
I have to admit I was always a little jealous of you, Claire.
My father liked you.
He liked whoever would play his games.
Whoever could play with him. I was a disappointment.
Can I ask you something... Why do you think Granddad
included Mom's necklace in the game?
He could've clued "Star" without using it.
He wanted us to see it. Why?
You think there's some deep meaning there?
If there is, he didn't share it with me.
(Squeaking)
I think I heard something outside.
I'll go check it out.
Help!
CLAIRE: That's good Cognac.
Jesus! What are doing in the dark?
Thinking.
I'll bet you have the whole thing figured by now.
Not even close.
Natasha, why did you come back?
You knew Margaret wasn't going to like it.
I knew none of you would.
You're all on her side.
I'm part of this family too.
Everyone seems to forget he treated me like shit too.
I apologized to her and she didn't listen.
That's all I can do.
Granddad's champagne.
It's warm.
Still worth hundreds of dollars a glass.
Granddad sure had good taste in champagne
for being a spiteful old bastard.
He's dead.
When my father needed money, you know what Granddad wrote him?
"Pray for it".
The man wasn't nice, Claire.
Did you give this to Granddad?
What are you accusing me of?
She fell. I don't think she's hurt. Someone get her a drink.
The champagne's mine.
Nice chest.
What happened?
Someone pushed me off the deck.
What?! Auntie Margaret! When?
A while ago...
I don't want water! What are you thinking?
Maybe it was the same person who wrote that note to Granddad.
What note? Never mind.
Somebody wanted the games to stop.
We all wanted the games to stop.
Claire didn't.
It's a good thing that I fell in the snow bank.
It's a good thing you were feeling no pain.
Is everything okay?
I don't like it in here anymore.
I'm going to my cabin.
Excuse me.
Don't get up on my account.
You're a doctor, or whatever. She fell off a deck.
I was pushed.
No, no... You were drinking. You fell.
I was shoved.
I was looking at the stars and "bam!"
We should take her to her cabin.
Hold on. Are you sure we should be moving her?
I know what I'm doing.
Stars.
CLAIRE: Aunt Margaret, are you in there?
(Knocking)
Aunt Margaret, are you sleeping?
No, no. Come on in.
I'm going to have a nasty bruise on my butt.
Is that what Sergio said?
He said nothing. He was gone before I hit the pillow.
I wanted to ask you:
Did you see anything before you fell?
Before I was pushed, you mean?
No. I was facing the railing.
Nothing at all?
No. Nothing.
I miss your mother.
I do too.
Try to get some sleep. It's late.
I miss her most this time of year.
We used to always fight, but not so much at Christmas.
When we were young, Mom and Dad used to give us our own tree
up in the nursery to decorate.
Your mom liked that.
She never told me that.
Your mother never enjoyed things they way she should've.
I was so silly...
she was so serious.
Not that it helped her.
When she ran off that night--
why was she so angry?
Honey...
It's hard to say.
She was always angry.
At who?
Me?
All of us.
Jean against the world.
Sleep?
Did Sergio call for an ambulance?
Doesn't matter. I don't want to go anyway.
Cancel it.
Hello. I'm calling from Shadow Island.
Someone called for an ambulance about a half an hour ago...
Uh, how about earlier?
My grandfather died. Someone called around ten...
Are you sure?
Okay, well, then can you please send someone right away?
As fast as you can.
Thank you.
Sergio?
IAN: You know, last Christmas I was here,
five years ago,
it was actually nice.
The weather was mild.
The lake didn't freeze over.
And what happens? My mom dies.
This year, it's my granddad.
I shouldn't have come back.
Ian, none of this is your fault.
My Mom and I would always have the same fight.
She'd say, "You're wasting your life."
Which I was.
Then I'd say, "You're being a nag."
Which she was.
I was ungrateful. She wouldn't mind her own business.
Then she'd storm away mad.
Last time she did that, she drowned.
I need to go for a walk.
Sergio? Are you in here?
(Clattering)
Granddad!
Hey, have you seen Sergio?
No.
Granddad's missing.
What?
What do you mean missing?
Not in his cabin.
His body is just... gone.
He's playing a trick on God.
He'd do something like that.
I don't think God likes tricks though.
Otherwise the wise men would've followed some camel
instead of the Star of Bethlehem.
Who are you?
An angel?
A saint?
Why has someone hurt you?
Hello?
Natasha?! Why do you have a gun? What did you do to her?
Claire!
I was trying to help her.
I found her that way.
Claire!
Natasha! Are you okay? Wake up!
(Natasha moaning)
Thank God. Did he hurt you?
Who?
Sergio. Are you hurt?
No. I'm dizzy.
It must have been the champagne.
You drank from Granddad's bottle.
It made me dead to the world.
Stay here. Rest. I'll be right back.
I know you're in there.
Do you want me to wake up the whole resort?
(Door unlocking)
I knew it.
Would you like a drink?
I'm guessing no. I'll make you one anyway.
What you're doing? This makes no sense.
You just haven't figured it out yet.
I am so angry at you.
I know that. Have a drink.
Come on, Claire,
show off that puzzle brain of yours.
How did you know I was alive?
Natasha drank your champagne. She passed out.
I remembered how tired you were after you drank the same thing.
I assume it was spiked.
Blowfish toxin, can you believe it?!
Deadens the nerves.
Slows the heart rate to virtually nothing.
I knew that to be a convincing corpse
I needed help.
He's got a gun.
He works for me.
I assume you know he's not a doctor.
He didn't help Margaret. I figured as much.
I'm a private detective.
What were you doing back there with Natasha?
Checking to see she was okay.
He was removing evidence.
The champagne bottle. Stupid me.
I left it in the living room.
You needed a gun for that?
Sergio's the one who tracked down your mother's necklace.
I found it for sale online two months ago.
Five years after Jean drowned it shows up for sale.
Curious, don't you think?
The police said the necklace washed off in the lake.
A necklace doesn't just slip off in the water.
I never believed that.
You didn't say so at the time.
You think it was one of us?!
Sergio...
I uncovered your mother's autopsy report.
She suffered a severe blow to the back of the head.
At the time, the idea was she slipped in the boat
and fell into the lake.
How do you hit the back of your head and fall into the water?
The side or the front, maybe.
But when you fall back, that's where you land!
Didn't that ever bother you?
I just lost my mother. I wasn't thinking about puzzles.
Puzzles aren't just for fun, Claire.
Sometimes they're deadly serious.
So this is what? A trap.
Very good.
I need some air.
Don't tell anyone about this.
I can't hear you, Granddad. You're dead.
I don't believe anything you've said to me.
I haven't lied about anything important.
You didn't call the ambulance.
You don't think that was important?
I couldn't call. Your grandfather was alive.
I meant when Margaret got hurt.
He didn't want me to.
She may have needed a doctor. A real doctor.
Signor La Foret didn't think so.
He has been watching everyone on the security cameras.
What else are you not telling me?
Please, try to understand.
There is only so much I can say. I am on a job.
Then there is only so much I can help you.
If someone killed your mother, would you not want to know who?
He is dying, Claire.
That is not part of the game.
He told me he can't go to his grave
not knowing what happened to his daughter.
He needs to solve this mystery. You can help him.
CLAIRE: I need some answers first.
Why are you pretending to be dead?
I need to be dead to make the game work.
I don't see it.
You will. There's no time to go into the details now.
Granddad, this isn't just about details.
Do you keep a loaded gun in your cabinet?
I did, but it's missing.
What are you trying to prove with the puzzle?
Who killed your mother, of course.
You suspect us all?
Present company excluded.
Uncle Stuart?
Your Uncle Stuart lost a lot of your mother's money.
She was began pulling her investment out of his company.
I looked into his financial records.
Sergio has been doing a lot of snooping.
And then, Margaret...
They never really got along.
As for your brother...
Ian had nothing to do with it.
Do you know why Ian has been out of communication
for three years?
Prison. Armed robbery.
Assault with a deadly weapon.
I don't believe you.
Oh, my God.
What do you want me to do?
Take another look at that saint figurine,
and then do what you do best, Claire.
Solve the puzzle. That's all.
I don't know my Patron Saints.
Which one carries the lily and the baby Jesus?
MARGARET: What time is it?
CLAIRE: It's morning. We've been up all night.
What do you think?
St. Anthony. The Patron Saint of Lost Things and Missing People.
What does it mean?
It means you are better at games than you think you are.
Granddad would be proud.
It also means we're still looking for something.
Something missing.
I hate this game.
Granddad called the game
the Jean La Foret Memorial Christmas Puzzle.
So far all the clues have been tied to Mom.
Her favourite carol. Her necklace. The manger.
What manger?
I found the doll hanging over the Nativity scene
Mom used to put out every year.
Star of Wonder, get it?
Why is the head cracked?
Mom hit her head on the boat before she died.
They thought she slipped.
That's what the police said.
You think this game is about Jean's death?!
I think Granddad thought one of us is responsible.
This is outrageous!
This puzzle was his way of getting at the truth.
We were all there that night.
That's why he lied to Margaret about Natasha.
We all had to come back.
So what's missing?
A Saint with a crack to the skull.
I'd say the murder weapon.
We're supposed to be looking for a murder weapon?!
None of us thinks she was murdered.
Except for the killer.
Exactly.
So the murderer was supposed to dig up the weapon
and hand it over to granddad for a bag of money?
It doesn't make sense.
Yes, it does.
Because there's no risk anymore.
Granddad's dead. The person can give the weapon to Sergio.
No one would know.
Sergio would know.
Granddad hired him to do this specifically.
That was the point of the game.
To pay out the prize money no questions asked.
Sergio told me the winner didn't even have to show his face.
If that was the case, Dad would be rewarding someone for murder.
I think in Granddad's mind,
he's rewarding someone for admitting the truth.
He was dying. He needed to have an answer.
He wasn't going to turn any of us in. We're family.
You believe that one of us killed Jean?
I believe he believed it.
Maybe he was wrong.
But if he was right,
somewhere in this resort lies a murder weapon
and whoever retrieves it gets a big chunk of money.
*
This is quite the security setup you've got here, Granddad.
It's a complex puzzle to solve.
Well, you don't have much time.
I called the ambulance for Margaret.
I don't think any of them are guilty.
Claire, you wouldn't be helping me
if you didn't think I might be right.
Maybe it's better we don't know.
When you're dying you need answers.
Real answers.
Look.
That's Monica!
Monica wasn't on Shadow Island the Christmas Mom died.
It's not Ian.
Follow her.
I'm coming.
*
You said you had something for me.
I got what you wanted.
What did I want?
Ian! What's going on?!
I don't know. Ask Monica.
Ta-da!
I think I should get a little credit for solving the puzzle.
Thank you.
What is that?
I guess it's the murder weapon.
How did you know where to find that?
Ian told me... didn't you?
I've never seen this before.
It's written on Shadow Island paper.
"What they're looking for is in the crawl space
wrapped in a tea towel. Get it. Love."
I didn't write that note.
You slipped it under the door.
Door? What door?
That door. You knew I was in here.
Why would I slip a note under my own door?
I thought you wanted me to do something for you.
You wrote "Love."
Ian, I need you to tell me the truth.
Did you have anything to do with mom's death?
No!
I know you've been to jail.
Jail? For what?!
When were you going to tell me that?!
Now you're upset?!
You thought he asked you to get a murder weapon!
I didn't think he actually did anything!
I just thought he knew where it was.
You didn't do anything, did you?
No! Look I've made a lot of mistakes, but I didn't kill Mom.
We fought that night, sure. We were always fighting.
She went away, mad. That's all I know.
What's in the towel?
You found this?
I haven't seen it in years.
Oh... Auntie Margaret... I was hoping to keep that.
I've already lost the other one.
Really? I didn't know there was two.
Margaret!
It couldn't be.
Is that why she jumped off the deck?
She was pushed... by Natasha.
How do you know that?
Natasha.
What are you looking at?
That's why I went back to her cabin, to confront her.
That's when I found out she was drugged.
Natasha was drugged? By who?
Never mind. Why didn't you tell me when it happened?
Because I didn't figure it out until later.
I was hired to do a job, not referee family feuds.
Where's Aunt Margaret now?
We need to find her.
Auntie Margaret?
We used to always fight, but not so much at Christmas.
When we were young,
Mom and dad used to give us our own tree
up in the nursery to decorate.
Your mom liked that.
The nursery.
I ruined your Christmas.
I'm so sorry, honey. I do that.
Ruin holidays.
You must be cold.
Why don't we go downstairs? I'll make us a fire.
Auntie Margaret, please give me the gun.
It was an accident.
I didn't mean to hurt her.
I can't...
I can't live with it anymore.
I really need you to stay back.
She accused me of stealing
in the most unflattering way.
I don't do it very often, Claire.
Only when I need to.
And it's not like your mom didn't have money.
She hated those games Dad always made us play.
And she was in such a mood that day.
She already had a fight with your brother,
and she was taking it out on me! Calling me names.
Just because I stolen one little candlestick.
I was trying to give it back to her, and I swung...
You hit her?
No. She fell.
Cracked her head on a rock.
Just like that, she died.
I know I should've called an ambulance,
I know, but I had been drinking
and was stupid.
So you made it look like an accident?
And you kept her necklace.
It was our mother's. It should have been mine.
I don't know why she gave it to her.
I didn't want to sell it, Claire...
But after Dirk left me
and then Stuart was losing all my investment money.
I don't know why I'm here.
Why am I here?
Margaret, listen to me...
Granddad is alive.
He's not angry. He wants to help you.
As soon as I heard the name of the puzzle,
I thought it might be a trap.
So I wrote dad a note telling him to stop it.
Then when I saw the necklace... I knew.
Turn yourself in and collect the reward,
that is so mean.
I don't want his money anymore. Your brother can have it.
He's been in prison. Did you know that?
I knew.
Auntie Margaret, please give me the gun.
It's Dad's.
I got it after I was pushed off the deck.
I went back to get my note I had sent him
but someone had already taken it.
No. You can't do this.
Yes, I can. I have to make the pain stop.
It's a trick gun.
It's from one of his games.
It's not going to work.
Please, give it to me.
Please!
I can't even kill myself properly.
Now you know the truth. Does it change anything?
Of course. It was an accident.
Sergio, make sure that she's looked after.
Are the police here? Where's Aunt Margaret?
Granddad, you're alive?
But we saw you lying there.
What is going on?
Of, course you knew I'd have a few surprises for you.
Come sit down. I'll explain everything.
They'll keep her for a few days.
Psychiatric evaluation. She'll be fine.
You know what I think?
No more games.
I want to thank all of you for putting up
with an obsessive old man.
As for Margaret, we'll make sure she gets the help she needs.
Why don't we have a toast?
To Margaret.
She needs her family right now and we'll all be there for her.
Merry Christmas.
ALL: Merry Christmas.
*