Northpole Page #8

to kick off our holiday issue.

I wanna be serving turkey,

not eating crow.

- But...

- Look, we can deal with

this in the new year,

if anyone still cares

about it by then.

- This is a man's reputation!

- And I'm sure you feel

appropriately contrite

about what you did to it.

- Of course I do!

- Look, we'll wait.

We'll see how many

letters we get.

Anything else?

- You can expect

one letter for sure...

my letter of resignation.

( Rock on radio )

- Yuck!

- (Ryan):
How's it going?

- Not my best one!

It's a mountain of frosting.

- That's more of a

toupee right there.

- OK.

- Looks good!

- Yes, it does.

- (Kevin):

OK... Wow, it smells good!

- (Clementine):
A little

more

happy sprinkles!

How's it going?

- (Kevin):
Good!

- (Ryan):
Let's see!

- It's going out of control!

(Ryan laughing)

- Hey...

- Mom! What's going on?

- I didn't take you

seriously

about Mr. Pendleton,

and if I had, I wouldn't

have made the mistake

that cost him his good name.

We didn't get the permit.

The mayor rejected it

himself, and he's having

maintenance crews

take down the posters.

- What?

- I'm really sorry.

- How could they do that?

You're just doing your

job as a journalist.

- Ex-journalist.

I just resigned.

I've become such a skeptic.

I nearly missed one of the

best parts of parenting:

being reminded of what

I was like when I was a kid,

before I became so jaded.

You know, I couldn't

make myself believe

that Kevin's friend was an elf,

but I had no problem

believing

that Mr. Pendleton was a

crook.

That's just not

the person I wanna be.

And thanks to my

kid and Clementine

and, well, you...

it's gonna change,

starting now.

- I think I just got

my first Christmas present.

(Keyboard clicking)

- What you doing?

- Oh, just writing

about what I've learned

in the last couple of days.

- It did get kind of crazy

around here, didn't it?

- Yeah.

Crazy fun!

I love you.

- Ditto!

(Sighing)

- Hey, stranger!

- I saw you'd cleaned

out your desk

and thought you'd left

without saying goodbye.

- Well, that's one of the

reasons why I came back...

and to ask you for a favour.

- What's on it?

- An unauthorized final column.

I was hoping you could sneak it

onto the online edition for me.

- Is it a rant about the

callous nature of the news

biz?

- Uh, no!

- Too bad!

- Yeah. You'll still sneak

it

in for me though, right?

- Of course I will.

- You're the best!

Thank you!

(Sighing)

- I've been looking

around for you!

What are you doing?

- I was writing a

note to thank you...

and to say goodbye.

- What?

You promised to spend

Christmas Eve with me!

Remember?

You can't bail!

- I don't know what

made me think that

I could actually

make a difference.

- You did make a difference!

To me!

This is the most

dazzy Christmas ever!

You made me believe

in you, Clementine.

It's not fair to stop

believing in yourself.

- Mom...

- Hi, honey!

Is everything OK?

- Not so much.

Clementine's pretty

worried about Northpole.

I mean, I'd be freaking out

too if our home was in

trouble.

- Hey... Did you just

call this place home?

- Oh... I guess I did!

(Chuckling)

- Let's go talk to Clementine.

(Chelsea):
I'm glad you guys

decided to spend part of

your Christmas Eve with us.

- So's my dog, otherwise,

he'd be wearing

reindeer antlers again.

(Chelsea laughing)

- How are you, Clementine?

Look, I know things didn't

turn out how you'd hoped,

but, if nothing else,

you and Kev became friends.

- And we had a good

time working together.

- Yeah! So, I'm sure that

sent

some happiness to Northpole.

- Yeah, but not nearly enough.

- Then there's only

one thing to do.

We need to make more sparks.

Hmm!

- (Chelsea):

Oh, permit-schmermit!

That's what I say.

(Laughing)

- There's no law against

a few citizens enjoying

a public park on Christmas Eve.

- And having our own,

personal tree ceremony!

- (All):
Yeah!

- (Clementine):

I love the smell...

- All right, here you go.

One for you!

Clementine, for you.

- Oh! Thank you!

- You're welcome!

- Hey, I'll race you up there!

You know, I feel better

already!

- Me too!

- They look like they could use

a little company though,

don't you think?

And, ta-da!

(Chelsea, Kevin

and Clementine laughing)

- Awesome!

- Dazzy!

- (Ryan):
Huh?

(All laughing)

- Now it's perfect!

( Choir singing in distance

)

- ...leaves are

so unchanging

O Christmas Tree...

- Look at that!

- Wow!

- (Choir):
...thy leaves

are so unchanging

Not only green...

- Wow!

- I guess we really did

get the word out, huh?

- But also when

it's cold and drear

O Christmas tree...

- Uh, Mom!

- (Ryan):
Uh-oh!

- (Firefighter):

Well, lookie here!

The human Christmas ornament!

You, uh, have a permit

for this event?

- Actually, um,

not really. No.

- (Firefighter):
In that

case,

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to

break out the equipment and

string up the lights,

anyhow.

- (Kevin):
Yes!

(Clementine laughing)

- I knew I packed the

treeluminator for a reason!

- Each bough doth hold

its tiny light

That makes each toy

to sparkle bright

O Christmas tree

O Christmas tree

Thy candles shine

so brightly

- I'd forgotten all about this

until I read your column.

It was wonderful!

- Thank you!

Well, at least

one person read it!

- A few more than that!

It got picked up

by the wire services.

- The wire services? Really?

- Almost a million hits

and not slowing down.

Your story's flying

around the world

faster than Santa's sleigh.

(Laughing)

- Hey, if your story

went viral, then...

(Gasping)

Snow my gosh!

I gotta go!

Here!

- (Kevin):
Wait... Hold on!

Clementine!

- (Ryan):
We gotta...

- (Chelsea):
Yeah.

(Clementine laughing)

- (Kevin):
Clementine!

Where are you going?

- Home!

- What about the

tree-lighting ceremony?

- Don't worry!

I'll know when it happens!

Merry Christmas!

- Why, that is one special...

elf!

- You're gonna see

exactly how special

in 3, 2, 1!

- Did I just...

- Was that...

- Guess this is one

Christmas

you'll never forget!

Merry Christmas, Mom.

- Merry Christmas,

sweetheart.

I love you!

- Let me go put on my

skates.

- OK.

Well, this is actually...

- Uh-huh! Yeah...

Where's the mistletoe

when you need it?

- You could use

your imagination.

How about right here?

(Chuckling)

(Chelsea):

It's easy to forget

what connecting with

one another feels like.

With a few keystrokes

on a computer,

we convince ourselves

that we've communicated.

(People talking and laughing)

By believing that's enough,

we lose sight of

the importance of human

contact

and the joy of gathering

together as a community.

- How are you?

- That's what's so wonderful

about this special holiday.

It provides an opportunity

for fellowship,

a chance to truly touch

our neighbours,

friends and families with

generosity of heart and

spirit.

And if you ask this reporter,

it's nothing short of

miraculous.

You weren't kidding

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes