Miracle On 34th Street Page #3

we should say hello to Santa.

He's a nice old man,

and those whiskers are real.

Yes, dear. Many men

have long beards like that.

Susan, would you stand

over here a minute?

I want to talk to Mr. Gailey.

I shouldn't have brought

Suzie to see Santa Claus?

You're making me feel

like the proverbial stepmother.

I'm sorry, but I just

couldn't see any harm...

in just saying hello

to the old fellow.

But I think there is harm.

I tell her Santa Claus is

a myth, you bring her here...

and she sees hundreds

of gullible children...

meets a very convincing

old man with real whiskers.

This sets up a very harmful

mental conflict within her.

What is she going to think?

Who is she going to believe?

And by filling them

full of fairy tales...

they grow up considering life

a fantasy instead of a reality.

They keep waiting for

Prince Charming to come along.

And when he does,

he turns out to be a...

We were talking

about Suzie, not about you.

Whether you agree or not...

I must ask you to respect

my wishes regarding Susan.

She's my responsibility...

and I must bring her up

as I see fit.

OK.

- Say "Thank you."

- Thank you.

Bye. Merry Christmas!

Well, young lady,

what's your name?

I'm sorry.

She doesn't speak English.

She's Dutch. She just came over.

She's been living

in an orphans home...

in Rotterdam ever since...

We've adopted her.

I told her you wouldn't

be able to speak to her...

but when she saw you

in the parade yesterday...

she said you were

"Sinter Claes"...

and you could talk to her.

I didn't know what to do.

Hello.

Now do you understand?

Yes, I see what

you mean, Mother.

Good.

But when he spoke Dutch

to that girl, he was so...

Susan, I speak French,

but I'm not Joan of Arc.

What I'm trying

to explain is... Come in.

They said you wanted

to see me, Mrs. Walker.

Come right in.

Hello there!

Good to see you again.

It's nice to see you.

You're awfully lucky,

Mrs. Walker.

Lovely little girl

you have here.

Thank you. Susan's why

I asked you to drop down.

She's a little confused...

and I thought you could help

straighten her out.

Oh, glad to.

Would you please tell her

you're not really Santa Claus...

that there actually

is no such person?

I'm sorry to disagree

with you, Mrs. Walker.

Not only is there such a person,

but here I am to prove it.

No, you misunderstand.

I want you to tell her

the truth. What's your name?

Kris Kringle. I'll bet

you're in the first grade.

Second.

I mean your real name.

That is my real name.

Second grade?

It's a progressive school.

Oh,

it's a progressive school.

May I have this man's

employment card, please?

Yes, Mrs. Walker.

This dress is very cute.

Where did you get

such a lovely outfit?

Here at Macy's.

We get 10% off.

Please don't feel

you have to pretend for Susan.

She's a very

intelligent child...

and always wants to know

the absolute truth.

Good, because I always

tell the absolute truth.

About your school...

What's the name of your teacher?

Mrs. Haley.

- Here it is, Mrs. Walker.

- Thank you.

What else do you do

besides read and play games?

We have rest periods

for one half-hour.

I don't suppose

you care for that, eh?

No. We're not allowed

to talk or anything.

Tuesday, Chester Richards

kept talking all the time.

My, that was bad, eh?

Mrs. Haley made him rest

all alone for nearly an hour.

Susan, would you go out

and talk to Miss Adams?

I'll be right with you.

All right. Good-bye.

Good-bye, young lady.

Hope to see you again.

Thank you.

I hope so, too. Bye.

Good-bye.

I'm sorry, Mr., uh... Mr...

Kringle.

I'm sorry, but we're

going to have to make a change.

Change?

The Santa Claus

that we had two years ago...

is back in town,

and I feel we owe it to him...

Have I done something wrong?

Oh, no, no.

Well...

Yes?

Mr. Macy wants

to see you immediately.

I'll be right up.

Would you sit down...

and I'll be right back

and sign your pay voucher.

Yes, indeed.

Go right in.

Mr. Macy's waiting.

The effect this will

have on the public is...

Come in, Mrs. Walker.

- Hello, Mrs. Walker.

- Sit over here.

I've been telling these

gentlemen the new policy...

you and Mr. Shellhammer

initiated.

I can't say that I approve

of your not consulting...

the advertising department

first...

but in the face of this

tremendous public response...

I can't be angry with you.

- What's he talking about?

- Tell you later.

Now, to continue, gentlemen.

I admit this plan sounds

idiotic and impossible.

Imagine Macy's Santa Claus

sending customers to Gimbels.

Ho ho. But, gentlemen,

you cannot argue with success.

Look at this.

Telegrams,

messages, telephone calls.

The governor's wife,

the mayor's wife...

over 500 thankful parents...

expressing

undying gratitude to Macy's.

Never in my entire career...

have I seen such a tremendous

and immediate response...

to a merchandising policy.

And I'm positive, Frank,

if we expand our policy...

we'll expand

our results as well.

Therefore, from now on...

not only will our Santa Claus

continue in this manner...

but I want every salesperson

in this store...

to do precisely the same thing.

If we haven't got exactly

what the customer wants...

we'll send him

where he can get it.

No high pressuring

and forcing a customer...

to take something

he doesn't really want.

We'll be known

as the helpful store...

the friendly store,

the store with a heart...

the store that places

public service ahead of profits.

And, consequently, we'll make

more profits than ever before.

Yes, I know it's late,

and we're all tired...

and we want to go to dinner...

so we'll continue first thing

in the morning.

In the meantime,

you fellas get together...

and figure out the best way

to promote this thing.

We'll do that. Good night, R.H.

Good night.

I want to thank you two again.

And in your

Christmas envelopes...

you'll find a more practical

expression of my gratitude.

Thank you, Mr. Macy.

Tell that Santa

I won't forget him, either.

Yes, Mr. Macy.

Imagine, a bonus!

He just assumed it was our idea.

What's the matter?

- I fired him.

- Who?

- Santa Claus.

- What?

He's crazy.

He thinks he is Santa Claus.

I don't care if

he thinks he's the Easter Bunny.

Get him back.

He's insane, I tell you.

We'll hire somebody else

and have him do the same thing.

You heard Mr. Macy.

We've got to keep him.

What if he should have

a sudden fit?

Oh, no.

I've got to tell Mr. Macy.

But maybe

he's only a little crazy...

like painters or composers...

or some of those men

in Washington.

We can't be sure

until he's been examined.

If you fire him, and we find out

he wasn't really crazy...

Mr. Macy will have us

examined and fired.

I suppose

we ought to be sure.

We could if Mr. Sawyer

talked to him.

Of course.

He's a psychologist.

He's paid to examine employees.

Until we get his report,

we won't say a word.

I'll get in touch

with him right away.

First,

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