Northpole Page #5

are too sappy.

- That's for sure.

- The other trees,

they're just, like,

well, they're just

way too prickly.

You can't get near 'em.

- Hmm! Yeah, I get it.

- Look, Kevin is just

looking at things

a little differently, you know?

Something I think everyone

should do once in a while.

You OK?

- Yeah, I thought I...

Nothing.

(Talking indistinctly)

(Grunting)

- Ah!

- Perfect! Now, if someone

would

just call me an ambulance...

- I thought you were

a mountain man, huh?

- Only in my mind, not my back.

- Thank you. We never

would've

gotten this monster in here

if you didn't offer to help.

- My pleasure!

- Maybe some hot chocolate

will make your back feel better?

- Terrific!

- Two marshmallows

in mine, please!

- I know, I know!

(Clementine talking, indistinct)

- (Clementine's mother):

I don't know what to say,

honey.

- I know, Mom.

I worry too.

So things are getting worse?

- I'm afraid so.

Assembly lines have slowed,

and elves are starting to talk

about not being able to

supply

enough toys for Christmas.

- Don't let your candy cane

lose its stripes, Mom.

We're working on it.

- I know you are, honey,

but don't get your hopes up.

It looks like this problem

may be even bigger

than your determination.

- Tomorrow, we kick

things up a notch.

- Kevin's talking

to his imaginary elf.

I wish he would

just make one real friend.

- Well, I was 12 when our

family moved us to Colorado.

I became a little withdrawn,

but, hey, look at me now!

(Groaning)

(Chuckling)

Wow, nice Christmas display!

All you need now

is a nativity scene

made out of office supplies.

- Yeah, I tend to

bring my work home.

- Oh, that isn't

Greenwood Park, is it?

- Yeah! Did you know it used

to

be called Christmas Tree

Park?

It's been having tree

lightings

for almost a century.

- Hmm, it was so

cared for back then.

Look at these two!

(Chelsea chuckling)

(Cell phone ringing)

Go ahead and take it.

I gotta get going.

- OK. Thanks, though,

for helping us with

the Christmas tree.

(Chuckling)

(Door opening and closing)

Hello?

- This is Watson Elementary.

We're having an after-school

assembly tomorrow,

so pickup will be

at 5:
00 p.m.

Merry Christmas! Beep!

- You're not supposed

to say the beep.

- Oh, sorry! I was

just so in the moment.

- (Chelsea):

Mr. Pendleton?

- Yes?

- Chelsea Hastings

with The Examiner. Hi!

- I have a publicist that

deals with press inquiries.

If you'd like to

make an appointment...

- I just wanted to ask

you a couple questions

about your plans

for Greenwood Park.

Look, I understand that you

had

a crew surveying the

property.

Do you and the mayor have

plans that I don't know

about?

- Please, just take

my word for it:

After the holidays,

it'll all sort itself out.

- I would be a lousy reporter

if I took everybody's

word at face value.

- I'm sorry, I really

can't comment any further.

(Cell ringing)

- Mr. Jenkins!

- Drop whatever you're doing.

There's a protest going

on at Greenwood Park.

I need you there.

- Greenwood Park?

- Why are we still

talking, Hastings?

- I'm on it, sir.

- (Man):
We need you all to

stand back. Just stand back.

- Excuse me.

Oh, sorry!

- (Man on walkie-talkie):

10-4.

- Copy desk?

Hey, this is Chelsea.

I'm here at the protest.

Can I dictate a story?

Jenkins will want this

on the website ASAP.

Yeah.

(Panting)

A lone protester

in Greenwood Park

caused emergency vehicles

to come out this afternoon.

- He's really wedged

in up there, Captain.

Bucket's going up now.

- Fire officials have gathered

to try to coax down

the reluctant figure

suspended 50 feet

above the ice rink.

As far as a statement

from the protester...

- Hey, Mom!

- Kevin?

What are you doing up there?

- Stringing up decorations!

Figured if nobody else

would do it, we would.

- Sir, that... that's

my son up there!

- So I gathered. Ma'am,

why don't you step aside?

We'll handle this.

- As long as he's up there,

I'm staying right here.

- I see the ornament doesn't

fall far from the tree.

(Captain chuckling)

- (Man):

You got him?

(Crane beeping)

- I can almost see

our house from up there!

- Yeah? Did you also see me

lose 10 years off my life?

Oh gosh! Oh!

Thank you!

Honey, I thought

you were supposed to be

at a school assembly

meeting friends!

- I was actually here

with a friend.

Clementine? Clementine!

Huh! She was just

here a second ago.

- Clementine? The elf?

- Exactly!

- We're going home right now.

- I heard what happened.

Is Kevin all right?

- If you consider grounded

for life all right.

I knew this was gonna happen.

- (Woman on TV):
Firemen

were

called to Greenwood Park,

where a child was pulled

from a 60-foot tree...

- Get your facts straight!

It was a 50-foot tree!

- More strange activity

with the Northern Lights.

- Well, at least he wasn't hurt.

- Yeah, but he could've been,

all because of the ceremony

that nobody cares about

and a park that's not

gonna exist in a month.

- What do you mean,

isn't gonna exist in a

month?

- Mr. Pendleton, the

developer,

he's building condos on it.

- What? How could that guy

be such a Scrooge?

- I don't know. If I knew,

maybe I could change his

mind.

But right now, what

I'm worried about is Kevin.

This whole thing has

gotten out of hand!

- OK, OK!

Look, let's just take it

easy.

- OK, this is what I'm gonna do:

I'm gonna pack our bags,

book us tickets to someplace

warm for the holidays,

away from this town

and your little assignment

that turned into

Kevin's mission!

- No! I can't leave now!

It's too important!

You gotta believe me!

- Honey, it's a fantasy.

It's not real!

- Yes, it is!

- You listen to me, Mister!

- No, you're wrong!

Just 'cause you don't think

it's

real, doesn't mean it isn't!

- Kevin! Honey!

Kevin!

- He's just a little

boy, Chelsea,

who isn't quite ready

to grow up.

- Yeah, I know 2 people

who are stuck in that phase.

- Which is probably why

it's so hard for you to

decide

whether to let Kevin stay

in his own little world

or drag him kicking and

screaming into yours.

- Good night, Mr. Wilson.

(Door opening and closing)

(Sighing)

- This Pendleton guy

wants to demolish the park!

- Kevin!

- So there will never be

a tree lighting ever again!

- I know! I heard

everything,

including what your mom said

about wishing she knew why

Mr. Pendleton is such a

Scrooge!

Which gave me an idea.

OK, grab your coat,

and let's go.

(Sighing)

(Knocking)

- Kevin?

(Knocking)

Kevin?

Kevin?

- So, tell me why

we're here again?

- To find out why

Mr. Pendleton is so mean,

he would cut down

the city's Christmas tree.

I mean, who would

do such a thing?

And maybe whatever we find,

your mom can use

to help bring the

tree-lighting

ceremony back on track.

- Sounds like kind

of a long shot.

(Sighing)

- Right now, my friend,

it's the only shot we got.

(Giggling)

- I checked State Street and

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