The Homecoming: A Christmas Story Page #3

for his recipe,

that we had to start

making it again.

His recipe was famous

from one end of the

state to the other.

'Course it was tried and

true-- been in the family

for generations.

The judge didn't

leave us as much money

( whispers ):

as most people suspect.

But he did leave us

the recipe.

It provides for us

in our old age.

I couldn't exist

if I had to live

on charity.

So we make the recipe.

Or did, till

the catastrophe.

W-What catastrophe

is that, Miss Emily?

Our machine has

broken down.

We think that

the trouble

is with a copper coil.

You see...

No, sister, it's

in the burner.

You see, we have to

keep the ingredients

at a regular temperature

while they're cooking.

Emily, the trouble's

in the coil.

There's something

stuck in there

that won't let

the recipe through.

At any rate,

Mrs. Walton,

we're terribly low

on the recipe.

We'd be mortified

if someone came

asking for it

and we couldn't

supply it.

Well, wha-what

did you want John for?

John?

My John.

Oh.

Sister, why did we

want John Walton?

Sister.

We thought

that he might,

you know, examine the machine

and repair it for us.

We're prepared to pay whatever

the job might call for.

Oh, I'll tell John

when he comes home.

It's been a real treat

to see you, Mrs. Walton.

Thank you.

How are all those

dear children?

Fine. Just fine.

John Walton says they're

regular thoroughbreds.

Yes, ma'am.

I hope Santa Claus

is good to everybody

at your house.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas,

Mr. Godsey.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you.

Merry Christmas,

Miss Emily.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas,

to you.

Come on.

Come on down here.

Here's this bag.

Thank you.

Ground's slippery,

so be careful now.

Watch it.

Claudie! Claudie,

open the door, boy!

( car driving off )

Where's John, Olivia?

I've been expecting him by

to do his

Christmas shopping.

Well, John's

not home yet, Ike.

Oh, he'll be along.

John Walton would no more

stay away from home

on a Christmas Eve

than fly to the moon.

Hey, I know he'll

get here if he can.

It's just that, 50 miles

on slippery roads

and then that

long walk home

from the bus...

Lot of ground

to cover.

I didn't mean to tell

you my troubles, Ike.

I've come for some sugar.

How much do you need?

Oh, uh, I figure

I can get by on

about two pounds.

Two pounds.

What else can I get

for you, Olivia?

Well, I believe

that'll do.

You have noticed,

uh, I put in

a line of toys this year.

That's a mighty

sweet little doll.

Mm-hmm.

And your youngest,

she just can't take

her eyes off it.

She can't come in here

without picking it up,

holding it, babying it.

It's hard to explain the

Depression to children.

Did you notice

the price tag reads 89 cents?

And worth every cent,

if a person is in

the market for a doll.

I can let you have it

for what it cost me.

I won't make

a penny on it,

but we can do it

for Elizabeth.

65 cents.

Thank you just

the same, Ike.

If it's a problem of cash

right at the moment,

I can let you have

a little credit.

Don't put temptation

in my way, Ike.

You know, John and I

never bought anything

on credit in our lives.

( register rings )

Just thought I would

make the offer.

And I appreciate it.

Merry Christmas

to you, Ike.

And you and John,

Olivia.

Merry Christmas,

everybody.

Sheriff Bridges?

Yes, ma'am?

You didn't happen to pass,

uh, John Walton

walking somewhere

between here

and Hickory Creek,

did you?

No, ma'am.

If I had, I'd have

sure given him a ride.

Well, how are the roads

over that way?

People getting through?

Well, as far

as I can tell,

Mrs. Walton.

Well...

merry Christmas.

Yes, ma'am. Merry

Christmas to you.

( bell rings )

Well, what do

you say, Ike?

Hey, Sheriff.

Something I can

do for you?

Well, you can give

me about a nickel's

worth of crackers and...

about a dime's worth

of this bologna.

What you doing

out this way?

You looking for somebody?

Maybe. Maybe.

You wouldn't put

a man in jail

on Christmas Eve,

now, would you?

I would if

I could catch him.

You would.

Is that a dime's worth?

To the ounce.

Who is this man

you're looking for?

Mm, look here.

Look here.

"Robin Hood Bandit

Strikes Again."

( chuckles ):

Ain't he something?

"Many citizens

of the outlying counties

"are enjoying

Christmas this year

"due to the efforts

"of the man they call

'the Robin Hood Bandit.'

"Each year, since 1929,

needy people have found

gifts of food and supplies

at their back door."

"Usually the appearance

of such gifts

"have coincided with

the disappearance

of such items

from the shelves

of local markets."

"This year, it is the

J&B Produce Company

whose supply room

was emptied of its

turkeys and hams."

Seems a shame to arrest

a man like that.

He's just making a

laughingstock of me

in front of the

whole county, is

what he's doing.

I'm tired of it.

I got me a mind

to arrest him

before the day is out.

And what are you doing looking

out this way, Sheriff?

I got some clues,

I got some clues.

Like what?

Look here, Ike.

You mind your business,

and I'll mind mine.

Strikes me funny that

he never robbed you.

Maybe you know

who he is.

MAN:

Yee-ha!

( laughs )

She'll be driving six

white turkeys when she comes

She'll be driving six

white turkeys when she comes

She'll be driving

six white turkeys

She'll be driving

six white turkeys

She'll be driving six

white turkeys when she comes.

( radio playing "Deck the Hall"

through static )

Why don't you try to get

that station in Pittsburgh?

That is the station

from Pittsburgh.

Well, I don't think you know

how to work that radio.

Don't tell me I don't know

how to work a radio.

You're just going

to bust it again.

Let me try.

( radio changing stations )

GRANDMA:

There you go,

the Charlottesville station.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:

In New York, Mr. Lindbergh

was welcomed on the steps

of City Hall by Grover Whelan.

Lucky Lindy, a former

aerial mailman himself,

has been in Europe

surveying the possibility

of airmail service between

the Old and the New World.

He suggests that airmail service

between Europe and America

is practical, and predicts

that in the distant future

freight, and even passengers,

might cross the Atlantic

by airplane.

Cross the ocean?

Why, I wouldn't even fly

from here to Rockfish

in one of them things.

...two of America's

most beloved personalities,

Babe Ruth and Will Rogers.

As they toured the wards,

Rogers joked with the children

and performed some of

the rope tricks he made famous

on the stage

of the Ziegfeld Follies.

The great Bambino gave each

of the children a baseball

autographed

by the entire Yankee team.

See anything of John, Livy?

On the local scene,

snow continues

to hinder attempts

to rescue two men

trapped when a bus overturned

on Route 29.

The bus, filled with passengers

homeward bound for the holidays,

went off the road

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