Miracle On 34th Street Page #9

New York State Supreme Court.

I'll not waste this court's time

with such nonsense!

Mr. Marrah seems to have

appointed himself judge.

He's ruling on what testimony

I may introduce.

We request an immediate

ruling from this court.

Is there or is there not

a Santa Claus?

Well...

Ahem!

The court will take a recess

to consider the matter.

I don't care what you do

with old whisker puss...

but if you rule

that there's no Santa Claus...

you better start looking

for that chicken farm.

We won't even be able

to put you in the primaries.

But, Charley, listen to reason.

I'm a responsible judge.

I've taken an oath.

How can I seriously rule

there is a Santa Claus?

Why don't you...

All right.

Tell them the New York

State Supreme Court rules...

there's no Santa Claus.

It's all over the papers.

The kids don't hang up

their stockings.

Now, what happens

to all the toys...

that are supposed to be

in those stockings?

Nobody buys them.

The toy manufacturers

are going to like that.

So they have to lay off

a lot of their employees...

union employees.

Now you got the C.I.O.

And the A.F.L. Against you.

And they're gonna adore you

for it.

And they're gonna say it

with votes.

And the department stores

will love you, too...

and the Christmas card makers...

and the candy companies.

Oh, Henry, you're going to be

an awful popular fellow.

And what about

the Salvation Army?

Why, they got a Santa Claus

on every corner...

and they take in a fortune.

But you go ahead, Henry.

You do it your way.

You go on back in there

and tell them...

that you rule

there's no Santa Claus.

But if you do, remember this:

You can count on getting

just two votes...

your own and that

district attorney's out there.

The district attorney's

a Republican.

All rise!

Before making a ruling...

this court has consulted

the highest authority available.

The question of Santa Claus...

seems to be largely

a matter of opinion.

Many people

firmly believe in him.

Others do not.

The tradition

of American justice demands...

a broad, unprejudiced view

of such a controversial matter.

This court, therefore,

intends to keep an open mind.

I'll hear all the evidence.

He's crazy, too.

The burden of proof for this

ridiculous contention...

clearly rests with my opponent.

Can he produce evidence

to support his views?

If Your Honor pleases, I can.

Will Thomas Marrah

please take the stand?

Who, me?

Thomas Marrah, Jr.

Hello, Daddy.

Here you are, Tommy.

Tommy,

you know the difference...

between telling the truth

and telling a lie, right?

Everybody knows you

shouldn't tell a lie...

especially in court.

Proceed, Mr. Gailey.

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Sure I do.

He gave me a brand-new

flexible flyer sled last year.

And what does he look like?

There he is, sitting there.

Your Honor, I protest!

Overruled.

Tell me, Tommy...

why are you so sure

there's a Santa Claus?

Because my daddy told me so.

Didn't you, Daddy?

You believe your daddy,

don't you?

He's a very honest man.

Of course he is.

My daddy wouldn't tell me

anything that wasn't so.

Would you, Daddy?

Thank you, Tommy.

Good-bye, Daddy.

Your Honor...

Don't forget.

A real official football helmet.

Don't worry, Tommy.

You'll get it.

Your Honor,

the state of New York...

concedes the existence

of Santa Claus.

But we ask that Mr. Gailey

cease presenting...

personal opinion as evidence.

We could bring witnesses

with opposite opinions...

but we desire

to shorten this hearing...

rather than prolong it.

I request that Mr. Gailey...

now submit

authoritative proof...

that Mr. Kringle...

is the one-and-only Santa Claus.

Your point's well taken.

I'm afraid we must agree.

Mr. Gailey, can you show that

Mr. Kringle is Santa Claus...

on the basis

of competent authority?

Not at this time, Your Honor.

I ask for an adjournment

until tomorrow.

Court stands adjourned

till tomorrow afternoon, 3:00.

Well, I guess that's that.

There's a way, Alfred.

There's got to be!

It's hard to explain.

They're having a trial

about him.

You mean like for murder?

No, it isn't that kind

of a trial.

It's just because

he says he's Santa Claus.

I've got a feeling

he is Santa Claus.

Some people don't

believe that. That's why...

But he's so kind

and nice and jolly.

He's not like anyone else.

He must be Santa.

I think

perhaps you're right, Suzie.

Is Mr. Kringle sad now,

Mother?

I'm afraid he is.

I'm sure he misses you.

Then I'll write him

a letter and cheer him up.

Hey, Lou, come here!

Yeah?

Here's a new one.

I seen them write

to Santa Claus...

North Pole, South Pole,

and every other place.

This kid writes...

"Kris Kringle,

New York County Courthouse."

The kid's right.

They got him on trial there.

He claims he's Santa Claus,

and the D.A. Claims he's nuts.

Read it for yourself.

Right on the front page.

Hey, Lou,

how many Santa Claus letters...

we got

at the dead-letter office?

I don't know.

There must be

about 50,000 of them.

Bags and bags

all over the joint.

And there's more coming in

every day.

Yeah. Hey, Lou.

It'd be nice

to get rid of them, huh?

Yeah, but...

Hey, that's a wonderful idea!

Why should we be

bothered with all that stuff?

Why not get some trucks?

Big ones right away.

Load them with Santa Claus mail

and deliver it...

to Mr. Kringle

at the courthouse.

Let somebody else

worry about it, huh?

Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Hello, Kris.

Fred.

Kris, I'm afraid

I've got bad news for you.

I've tried every way to get

some competent authority.

I've wired the governor,

the mayor. I even...

This is worth more to me...

than all the governors

and mayors in the world.

It's all over. Look at him.

He hasn't got a thing.

And furthermore,

the defense has yet to offer...

one concrete

piece of evidence...

to substantiate

this preposterous claim.

Not one authoritative proof

that this man is Santa Claus.

In view of these facts...

and especially since

today is Christmas Eve...

we're, naturally,

all anxious to get home...

I ask that you sign

the commitment papers...

without further delay.

Mr. Gailey...

have you anything further

to offer?

Yes, I have, Your Honor.

I'd like to submit the following

facts in evidence.

It concerns

the Post Office Department...

an official agency

of the United States government.

"The Post Office Department

was created...

"by the Second

Continental Congress...

"on July 26, 1776.

"The first postmaster general

was Benjamin Franklin.

"The Post Office...

"is one of the world's

largest business concerns.

"Last year,

under Robert Hannigan...

"it did a gross business

of $1,112,877,174."

We're all gratified to know...

the Post Office

is doing nicely...

but it hardly has

any bearing on this case.

It has a great deal, Your Honor,

if I may be allowed to proceed.

By all means, Mr. Gailey.

Your Honor, the figures

I have just quoted...

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