Christmas Bonbons

Title: Christmas Bonbons

 Genre: Romantic Comedy/Holiday
Format: Feature Film Screenplay
Page Count: Approximately 118 pages
Rating: RECOMMEND

LOGLINE:

When a driven New York City investment banker returns home for Christmas to help her father, she discovers that her family's chocolate business is no longer the best in town. She blames a handsome Ecuadorian she liked in high school, who is now a successful chocolatier, only to learn that he has been protecting her family all along.

NINE-ACT SUMMARY:

Act One: Emma Gold, a driven New York City investment banker, is introduced in her isolated yet successful life. When her father, Poppa Pete is hospitalized after an accident at his chocolate factory, Emma reluctantly returns to Pine Tree, Delaware for Christmas. At the train station, she has an antagonistic meet-cute with Luis Silva, who offers her a ride while she discovers his Silva Chocolates have replaced Gold Chocolates throughout town. Their chemistry is immediate but complicated by business rivalry. (Pages 1-23)

Act Two: Emma learns her father needs expensive heart surgery and begins investigating Gold Chocolate's decline. She's forced to work more closely with Luis as he helps her navigate the town and family crisis. During dinner at Mabel's Diner and while cleaning her father's chaotic house, their attraction grows despite Emma's suspicions about Luis's business success. (Pages 24-35)

Act Three: Emma and Luis share intimate moments, including a late-night hot chocolate-making session where their romantic tension grows. They bond over family memories, and Emma begins to see Luis's genuine care for her family. However, Emma still believes he's married to Angelina, creating an internal barrier to fully opening her heart. (Pages 36-45)

Act Four: The midpoint arrives as Emma goes undercover at Silva's factory to gain insight into Luis's operations. She discovers what she believes is evidence that Luis is using her mother's secret bonbon recipe. Sarah reveals the truth about Gold Chocolate's decline, and Emma learns that Luis has been secretly helping their family. (Pages 46-55)

Act Five: Emma confronts Luis about her mother's bonbon recipe, leading to a heated argument at the town council meeting where he refuses her father's late contest entry. Emma struggles with her growing feelings, but is convinced Luis has been manipulating her family's situation. (Pages 56-65)

Act Six: Emma confronts Luis about being married to Angelina. Luis shows her security footage of her factory infiltration and confronts her about her suspicious behavior. Their conflict reaches its peak as Emma storms out, convinced Luis has been playing with her emotions while destroying her family's legacy. (Pages 66-75)

Act Seven: This is the "all is lost" moment where Emma discovers Luis has purchased Gold Chocolate factory, leading her to believe his entire relationship with her was a business manipulation. Through a flashback, we learn Luis had given her mother's recipe to Emma five years earlier in a silver box she'd discarded. Emma finds the recipe and realizes the depth of Luis's genuine feelings and his protection of her family's legacy. (Pages 76-86)

Act Eight: The reconciliation begins when Emma learns Angelina is Luis's sister, not his wife. Luis explains his business plans to preserve Gold Chocolate as a premium line while converting the factory into residential lofts. Emma wins the Christmas bonbon contest, and Luis offers her a partnership in both business and life. She chooses to stay in Pine Tree permanently. (Pages 87-97)

Act Nine: All conflicts resolve as Emma accepts Luis's job offer and romantic proposal. Her father recovers with minimal surgery, the family business will thrive with the merger, and Emma embraces her new life in Pine Tree. The story concludes with the community Christmas celebration, family reunification, and Emma and Luis's romantic future sealed with a kiss in the falling snow. (Pages 98-119)

SELLING POINTS:

  • Perfect adherence to proven Hallmark nine-act structure

  • Enemies-to-lovers romance with a chocolate factory setting ideal for holiday programming

  • Strong family legacy themes with multi-generational appeal

  • Authentic small-town Delaware Christmas atmosphere

  • Built-in contest finale provides satisfying climax

  • Cultural diversity with respectful Latino representation

  • Product placement opportunities with chocolate/holiday brands

  • Cat subplot adds family-friendly humor

CHARACTER LIST:

Emma Gold (30s) - Successful NYC investment banker who returns home when her father falls ill. Initially career-obsessed and suspicious, but rediscovers family values and opens her heart to love. Suggested casting: Lacey Chabert would be perfect for this role, bringing her signature blend of professional competence and vulnerability that allows audiences to root for her transformation.

Luis Silva (30s) - Handsome Ecuadorian chocolatier who owns the competing chocolate factory. Patient, kind, and deeply rooted in family traditions. Has carried a torch for Emma since high school. Suggested casting: Carlos PenaVega would bring authentic Latino representation and the necessary romantic chemistry, plus his real-life marriage to Alexa PenaVega adds Hallmark credibility.

Poppa Pete Gold (60s) - Emma's proud father who owns the struggling Gold Chocolate factory. Hides his financial problems but orchestrates events to bring Emma home. Suggested casting: Bruce Boxleitner would provide the perfect combination of paternal warmth and stubborn pride needed for this pivotal role.

Sarah (40s) - Emma's nurturing younger sister who serves as the emotional bridge between family members. Married with children, represents the family-centered life Emma initially rejects. Suggested casting: Jen Lilley could bring authentic sisterly chemistry and the warmth needed to ground Emma's character development.

Angelina Silva (20s) - Luis's younger sister whose presence creates the crucial misunderstanding that drives Act Seven. Represents the next generation of the Silva chocolate legacy. Suggested casting: Camila Banus would bring youthful energy and the necessary screen presence to make the mistaken identity believable.

GRAMMAR AND USAGE NOTES

No significant grammar or usage errors were identified in the screenplay. The dialogue feels natural and character-appropriate, with technical terminology properly contextualized for general audiences. The action lines are clear and cinematically written, supporting the visual storytelling essential for the Hallmark format.

This coverage was generated by Claude AI, an advanced language model created by Anthropic. Claude AI provides comprehensive script analysis, character development insights, and industry-standard coverage reports. Claude offers multiple subscription tiers starting with a free tier for basic use, professional plans for frequent users, and enterprise solutions for production companies.