Brett Gaffney’s grandma intended his Christmas present to be a surprise, but it nearly landed him in hot water with airport security.

The Los Angeles-based actor says in a TikTok video, “I got stopped at airport security, and you know what? It was because of this briefcase, which my grandmother gave me as an early Christmas gift and instructed me not to open it until I arrived in California.”

“I was thinking, ‘What’s in the briefcase?'” ‘It’s really hefty,’ says the Kansas native.

“Just wait ’til you get there,” Gaffney’s grandmother said.

“I was like, ‘Grandma, I’m going to the airport, as if I need to know,'” he recounts.

@brett.gaffney Airport Security said this is the second one they have seen today! #brettgaffneyforever #holidaytravel ♬ original sound – brett.gaffney

While he obeyed her instructions not to look into the suitcase, the TSA inspectors had other plans.

“They asked me what was inside, and I said, ‘I don’t know, I don’t know,'” Gaffney recalled. “‘What do you mean?’ they asked. ‘You’re carrying a briefcase and have no idea what’s inside?'”

Security highlighted the suitcase on the x-ray conveyor line, and an agent opened it and told Gaffney what was inside.

An antique typewriter was revealed to be the mystery present.

“Who am I, Tom Hanks?” Gaffney cracks a joke about the Oscar winner’s legendary fondness for typewriters. “Am I going to go to the park and write a whole book with a typewriter?”

“I almost didn’t get into the airport because of this typewriter,” he said.

The narrative pleased viewers of the film, which has had over 500,000 views since it was released last week.

“The fact you listened and didn’t open it is so innocent,” one TikTok user said, to which Gaffney responded, “I’m a man of pure trust.”

“I feel like the words ‘I don’t know, it’s a surprise’ shouldn’t be uttered to TSA, let alone in one sitting,” a friend of mine commented.

Gaffney continued to update fans on his typewriter voyage after returning home, noting that the machine was an SCM Smith-Corona 250.

“I’ve never used one of these,” he acknowledges in another video, which was released on Monday. He then tries to type on a page from a diary, noticing that the ink is too pale and that he’ll need to buy typewriter ribbons.

Gaffney admits in a video uploaded Wednesday that he’s warmed up to the machine, even comparing it to the new toys that motivated him to take time off as a youngster.

“I got this new typewriter because I’m becoming an old man,” he said. “And all I want to do is stay home and type on my typewriter.”

Gaffney had obtained a ribbon and paper at the end of the week.

He shared a video of himself typing cheerfully on Thursday with the message, “I didn’t think I’d use this, but here we are.” It’s quite relaxing.”