I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown Page #2

ReRun has to ride

on the back of Mom's bike.

[BICYCLE BELL RINGS]

I like they way

your mom handles that bike.

See how she went through that hedge

instead of the brick wall?

Yes, I must admit her steering

is getting a little better.

Yesterday, we only hit four parked cars.

[SINGS]

Over hill, over dale

Poor dale.

Riding around all day

on the back of your mom's bicycle...

...gives you plenty of time to think.

It gives you time to think about

people and about life.

And about what would happen

if we ran into a tree.

We're going to the cleaners.

Mom always likes to return

the used coat hangers.

She hates it when I do this.

[DOG BARKING]

This is the part of the ride that I hate.

Every day,

this big stupid German shepherd...

...comes running out

and chases our bicycle.

He doesn't quit

until I throw my shoe at him.

I'm running out of shoes.

Riding on the back of your mother's bicycle

in the winter can be a real experience.

We can't see where we're going,

and we slide all over.

Now it's a shopping cart

in the supermarket.

Now it's a stroller through the mall.

And then back on the bicycle.

Sometimes I go a whole day

without ever touching the ground.

[PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC]

- You know something, Schroeder?

- What?

I liked you the very first time I saw you.

I disliked you the first time I saw you.

It was the best of times,

it was the worst of times.

I have a historical question for you.

Did Beethoven ever have any beautiful girls

nearby while he was practicing the piano?

No, I don't think Beethoven had any

crabby females hanging on his piano...

...while he was trying to practice.

That isn't quite what I said.

Here's something.

"A piano can strike notes

through a range of seven octaves.

In comparison, a child's toy piano

has a range of only one octave...

...and is virtually useless

as a musical instrument because of that."

[CONTINUES PLAYING LOUDLY]

What else does it say?

Never fall in love with a musician.

What do you two want?

[GROANS]

Good grief.

[ALL LAUGHING]

[PLAYING VINCE GUARALDI'S

"CHRISTMAS IS COMING"]

[SNOOPY LAUGHING]

Why can't I have a normal dog

like everyone else?

But you're lucky to have a dog,

Charlie Brown.

Does Snoopy have any sisters?

He has a sister, Belle,

who lives in Kansas City.

Does Snoopy have any brothers?

One day, one of his brothers named Marbles

showed up out of the blue.

But he only stayed one day.

RERUN:
Why was that?

CHARLIE:
Well, he had kind of a wild ride.

[ENGINE WHIRRING]

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

Here.

RERUN:
Who are they?

CHARLIE:
That's Andy and Olaf...

...two more brothers of Snoopy.

CHARLIE:
They showed up

and spent a few days with Snoopy.

And then Snoopy suggested

they go visit his other brother, Spike.

This is Spike.

He lives in the desert.

So, what happened?

CHARLIE:
They got lost and ended up

in Alaska as sled dogs for a while.

Snoopy has the greatest family.

If not the strangest.

I wish one of them could be my dog,

but my mom doesn't want one.

But would it be okay

if I play with Snoopy sometimes?

If your mom doesn't mind, sure.

That would make this

the best Christmas ever.

I guess I'll try to play by myself.

Here we go.

Slam dunk.

Lot's of slam, but no dunk.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Could you ask your dog if he wants

to come out and shoot a few baskets?

I'll see if I can find him.

I couldn't find him. But I doubt

if he would have been interested.

Can you ask your dog

if he wants to come out and play?

And then afterwards, I'll give him

a Christmas cookie with sprinkles.

[YELPS]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

Happiness is a warm puppy.

[GIGGLING]

I guess dogs have to eat a lot.

How does he do that?

By the way, when somebody walks by...

...how do you decide

if you should bark at him?

[BARKS]

This is how it works.

I'll take my cards

and you'll take your cards...

...and then we'll throw them in the air.

Whoever has the most cards

land face up wins.

How do you do that?

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Can you ask your dog

to come out and play chase the stick?

"Thank you for your offer

to come out and play.

We are busy at this time, however,

and cannot accept your offer.

We hope you will be successful

elsewhere."

Dogs have rejection slips?

Ask your dog

if he wants to come out and frolic.

Yesterday, you asked him

if he wanted to come out and play.

We're upgrading the neighborhood.

So then ask your dog

to come out and romp in the snow.

- Romp?

- To "romp" means to play...

...or to frolic in a lively way.

He said no.

"No" means to deny or refuse or disagree.

I know what it means.

Gee, Mom, dogs are so much fun.

Can we please get one for Christmas?

[WOMAN MUMBLES]

Why, Mom?

[WOMAN MUMBLING]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

I was wondering

if you'd be willing to sell your dog.

How much money do you have?

Here, you tell me.

I don't know anything about money.

Well, you have a dime,

a nickel and a penny.

You have 16 cents.

- Is that enough?

- No. You'd need $ 10 million.

How would it be if I gave you 16 cents now

and the rest later?

There's only one thing left to do.

It's time to see Santa Claus.

Hey, big sister, wait a minute.

I need you to take me to Santa Claus.

Why?

I have something really important

to ask him.

I'm very busy today. Maybe tomorrow.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[SCHROEDER PLAYING

CLASSICAL MUSIC ON PIANO]

Did Beethoven ever buy his girlfriend

fuzzy mittens for Christmas?

I doubt it.

Here's your chance

to do something he never did.

I've already thought of

doing something he never did.

[CONTINUES PLAYING MUSIC]

Did Beethoven ever play "Jingle Bells"?

He probably thought

he was too good to play "Jingle Bells."

[SCREAMS]

[PLAYING VINCE GUARALDI'S

"CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE"]

I have my list for Christmas.

Well, a bicycle would be nice.

And maybe a new sled

and a pair of in-line skates.

And maybe a new jump rope.

How did things go with Santa Claus?

It's nice to tell him

what you want for Christmas, isn't it?

If you can get past his secretary.

Wait here a second.

I have to check out this Santa.

Okay. If you're a real Santa Claus,

where are your reindeer, huh?

How are you gonna land

on all those rooftops...

...and go down all those chimneys?

And after you go down a chimney,

how are you gonna get back up, huh?

I'll give you about three houses,

and you'll be completely exhausted.

I thought you might like a snack

while you were working.

Hey, look, Ma,

Santa is eating out of a dog dish.

As your big sister,

I feel that it is my duty to tell you...

...that who you are about to see

is not the real Santa Claus.

I don't care who he is as long as

he can give me a dog for Christmas.

What you're looking at

is a dog in a Santa Claus suit.

Now that I've told you,

how does it make you feel?

I like him.

Santa, all I want for Christmas

is a puppy dog.

What does he want?

I think he wants a contribution

to his box there.

[SNOOPY MUMBLING]

What did he say?

He said, "Thank you,

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