Christmas is happiness with bells on. For Carol Sturka, that makes it practically an emergency. To bring a little festive misery to Apple TV’s Pluribus, we created an original, in-world scene featuring Rhea Seehorn as the most unhappy person on Earth. The setup was simple: send eight unnervingly committed carol singers to Carol’s door and let Christmas collide with someone determined not to enjoy it. They arrive armed with smiles, harmony and goodwill. Carol reacts as though festive cheer might be contagious. Rather than create a conventional holiday promo, we wanted the film to feel like a missing scene from the series. Working closely with show creator Vince Gilligan, we planted fan Easter eggs throughout the casting, wardrobe and props—rewarding anyone paying especially close attention. Existing fans got a new moment with Carol, while everyone else received a perfectly uncomfortable introduction to her character—and to a world where too much happiness is genuinely dangerous. The comedy came from playing everything completely straight: the carolers hauntingly sincere, Rhea characteristically unimpressed and not a trace of forced Christmas cheer from either side. Scripted, shot, edited and posted in just 72 hours, the entire 1983 production was a miniature Christmas special for the one person least likely to want one. A small holiday miracle. Carol would hate it.