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The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two · 2020 — Chapter 17 of 20 · 3'57" · B1

Mrs. Claus Stops the Chicken Game, Explained: a game of chicken

The two rivals drive straight at each other until Mrs. Claus shouts "Enough!" and stops the crash. The excuse comes fast - "We were just playing a little game of chicken" - and she is not buying it, telling one of them he actually enjoys these dangerous stunts.

What happens

Two sleds race straight at each other until Mrs. Claus calls for it to stop. One of them insists he was going to veer off at the last second and that they were only playing a game of chicken. She is not convinced, and later the healed reindeer returns to the village.

ArgumentsWarningTeasingFriendsB1slowamericanClean
IMDb ↗

Listen for

a game of chickenput an end to somethingwork a miracleat the very last second

00:00 / 03:57
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Phrase of the scene

a game of chicken

胆小鬼游戏（比谁先退让）

贝尔斯尼克和圣诞老人驾着雪橇对冲，事后他辩解说只是在玩胆小鬼游戏。

The two drivers were playing a game of chicken.

Also in this scene

  • put an end to something

    终结、制止

  • work a miracle

    to achieve something that seemed impossible

  • at the very last second

    at the final possible moment

Everything marked in this scene

30 notes across 42 lines

Phrase · B1the village squareAll right, there's the village square.
Phrase · B1get over somethingWhen we get over the tree, you jump.
Phrase · B1all the way down there-[jackalotes yip] -Jump? All the way down there?
Phrase · A2make itYou'll make it. I promise.
Phrase · A2get readyHere it comes. Get ready!
Phrase · B2on someone's commandNow, coursers, on my command!
Phrase · B1get ready to do somethingOkay, boys! Get ready to charge!
Phrase · B1why'd someone do thatWhy'd you do that?
Phrase · B2put an end to somethingTo put an end to this nonsense and stop the two of you from trying to destroy each other.
Phrase · B1this nonsenseTo put an end to this nonsense and stop the two of you from trying to destroy each other.
Grammar · B2put an end to

put an end to

To put an end to this nonsense and stop the two of you from trying to destroy each other.
Soundput an end to

liaison

To put an end to this nonsense and stop the two of you from trying to destroy each other.
Phrase · C1veer offI was… I was… I was gonna veer off, at the very last second.
Phrase · B2at the very last second

at the final possible moment

I was… I was… I was gonna veer off, at the very last second.
Grammar · B2was gonna veer off

was gonna

I was… I was… I was gonna veer off, at the very last second.
Phrase · B2a game of chickenWe were just playing a little game of chicken.
Grammar · B1were just playing

past continuous

We were just playing a little game of chicken.
Sounda little game of chicken

liaison

We were just playing a little game of chicken.
Phrase · C1dangerous escapadesNick, sometimes I think you actually enjoy these little dangerous escapades.
Phrase · B1actually enjoy somethingNick, sometimes I think you actually enjoy these little dangerous escapades.
Grammar · B2you actually enjoy

actually

Nick, sometimes I think you actually enjoy these little dangerous escapades.
Sounddangerous escapades

stress

Nick, sometimes I think you actually enjoy these little dangerous escapades.
Phrase · A2don't be sillyOh, don't be silly, I… I…
Phrase · B1be all better-Oh, Dasher! You're all better now. -[Dasher grunts]
Phrase · B1save someone's lifeThank you for saving my life. Oh! [kisses]
Phrase · B2bad moveBad move, Yule Cat.
Slang · B2SayonaraSayonara, Jola!
Phrase · A2look greatWelcome back, girl. You look great!
Soundlook great

liaison

Welcome back, girl. You look great!
Phrase · B2work a miracle

to achieve something that seemed impossible

I knew you'd work a miracle.

Mrs. Claus Stops the Chicken Game, explained

What's really going on

The scene resolves the duel the way the film resolves most of its conflicts: someone steps in and refuses to let pride win. The two drivers were about to crash, and the excuse is childish - "We were just playing a little game of chicken" - which the other character calls out with a smile, since she knows it is partly true: "Nick, sometimes I think you actually enjoy these little dangerous escapades." The comedy is in the mismatch between the danger and the shrugging explanation, and the payoff is that when the wounded reindeer returns, the earlier recklessness is forgiven. For all the jokes, the message is simple: real strength is knowing when to put an end to a stupid fight.

Theme

CourageCalling off a dangerous duel shows that restraint, not winning, is the braver choice here.
Family loveThe scolding comes from affection, as one family member refuses to let the others hurt each other.

Listen for

  • put an end to — liaison
  • a little game of chicken — liaison
  • dangerous escapades — stress
  • look great — liaison
To put an end to this nonsense and stop the two of you from trying to destroy each other.

The reason for breaking up the fight: not to win, but to prevent the two rivals from destroying each other.

I was… I was… I was gonna veer off, at the very last second.

A sheepish excuse that is supposed to prove the crash was never going to happen.

We were just playing a little game of chicken.

The childish framing of a deadly stunt as a harmless game.

Nick, sometimes I think you actually enjoy these little dangerous escapades.

A teasing insight: the thrill, not the danger, is what he is really after.

Questions about this scene

Why do the two sleds stop?

Mrs. Claus shouts for them to stop before they crash into each other, putting an end to the game of chicken.

How does one of them explain the stunt?

He claims he was going to veer off at the very last second and that they were only playing a little game of chicken.

Why does Mrs. Claus scold Nick?

She suspects he actually enjoys these dangerous escapades, so she is not fooled by the excuse.

What happens to the wounded reindeer?

It recovers, returns to the village, and is welcomed back, while the heroes celebrate its perfect antler smash.

The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two · 20 chapters

All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 18at the end of the daySanta Talks Belsnickel Down
Chapter 1come from a long line ofBelsnickel Reveals HimselfChapter 2could care lessKate Grumbles Through a Beach ChristmasChapter 3the time of one's lifeKate Sees Through the BribeChapter 4a real dragKate and Jack Reach the PoleChapter 5took matters into my own handsKate Wakes Up at the North PoleChapter 6time stands stillSanta Tours the VillageChapter 7whipped upKate and Jack Stay One NightChapter 8one of a kindMrs. Claus Tells Santa's Origin StoryChapter 9buy some timeBelsnickel Steals the StarChapter 10one way or anotherSanta Flies with Seven ReindeerChapter 11not a moment to loseMrs. Claus Arms Jack With CookiesChapter 12hallowed groundSanta Returns to the Elf ForestChapter 13a tear in the fabric of timeThe Sleigh Tears Through TimeChapter 14for all I knowKate Gets Stopped at the AirportChapter 15the sky is fallingKate Confesses to a StrangerChapter 16see something throughKate Meets Her Father DougWatching · Chapter 17a game of chickenMrs. Claus Stops the Chicken GameChapter 18at the end of the daySanta Talks Belsnickel DownChapter 19from time to timeThe Last Sleigh Ride HomeChapter 20one day at a timeKate and Jack Come Home
Chapter 17 of 20 · about 9 min to go