Jingle Bell Heist

By Nate Feldman

Sophia works at a department store during the Christmas season.  Her mom is in the hospital (with cancer I believe).  Nick works at a phone store.  He installed the security cameras in Sophia's store, so he is able to monitor everything.  He sees Sophia stealing money, and he blackmails her, asking her to steal things from the store for him, or else he will show her boss the video of her stealing money.  

Both Nick and Sophia are going through financial difficulties.  Nick is divorced, and he lives with one of his friends in a shared flat.  He has a daughter, Brianna, who his wife says he must do a better job of taking care of or else she will move way.  Sophia needs to pay expensive medical bills for her mother's health.  Besides the job at the store, she works at a bar.  

Sophia knows that Mr. Sterling, her manager, keeps money in a safe in his office, and she is finding a way to get the code so they can break in and steal it.

For discussion:

1. Blackmail is when someone threatens to do something bad to you unless you do something for them.  Has anyone ever blackmailed you?

2. Sophia and Nick are driven to crime because they are in desperate situations.  Have you been in a desperate situation?  What did you do to try to get out of it?

3. In the movie, customers are very impolite at the store.  Do you think customers are often rude to workers, especially during holidays?