Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)

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Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)


TRUNDLE: 'Twas the night before Christmas

When all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

Not even a mouse

The stockings were hung

By the chimney with care

In the hopes that Saint Nicholas

Would soon be there

The children were nestled

All snug in their beds

While visions of sugarplums

Danced in their heads

And Mama in her kerchief

And I in my cap

Had just settled our brains

For a long winter's nap

Ugh.

If only I could sleep.

If only I knew.

[CLOCK TICKING]

FATHER MOUSE: 'Twas the night before Christmas

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring Not even a mouse

Well, I'm stirring.

If only I could sleep.

If only I knew.

We got trouble, the boss and me.

Big trouble.

How would you feel if it was three minutes to Christmas...

...and you didn't know whether?

As we say when approaching a tall piece of cheddar...

...better start from the top.

The trouble began two months ago when the mailman came.

Hey, wait a minute, this isn't for us.

It's for Santa.

- So is this.

- And this.

- And this.

- I spilled that ink.

- These are the letters we wrote to Santa.

- The letters we wrote to Santa, returned?

"Not accepted by addressee."

- What does that mean, Father?

- Santa doesn't want our letters.

- But why?

- I don't know, Sarah.

I don't know.

FATHER MOUSE: The same thing was happening all over town...

...as boys and girls got their letters back from Santa.

No one knew what it meant. But we grownups knew one thing for sure:

We were gonna do everything we could to find out.

[ALL CHATTERING]

FATHER MOUSE: While people stormed the village hall...

...and the mayor was wishing he was somewhere else...

...I decided to give Mouse Bell a whirl and get the word from up north.

North Pole substation.

This is Father Mouse in Junctionville.

Am I coming through?

The equipment is in working order.

Oh, well, listen, we want to know what's the matter with Santa.

- You'll have to be more specific, sir.

- I'll be specific.

How about these letters that all came back not even opened?

- You did say Junctionville, sir?

- Yes, Junctionville.

Ooh, that explains it, sir.

Santa didn't like that letter in the Junctionville Register, sir.

Not one bit.

Letter?

What letter?

Who wrote it?

I wish I knew.

It was signed, "all of us."

Hello.

Back issues, Junctionville Register, in the cellar.

[ALL CHATTERING]

MAN: A citizen to see you, Mr. Mayor.

- Citizen?

They're not allowed in here.

This is public property.

This one says he has an answer to our problem.

Then show him in.

Show him in!

Mr. Joshua Trundle, a clockmaker.

TRUNDLE: Mr. Mayor and honorable councilmen...

...I think we all know what the problem is.

We have concluded that, for reasons unknown...

...Mr. Claus, Santa, that is...

...has taken an unconscionable attitude of hostile retaliation toward...

Oh, heck, he's mad at us.

That's just what I think too, and I want to make him happy again...

...with this.

Very handsome, Mr. Trundle.

But how will a clock make him happy?

It's not an ordinary clock.

At exactly midnight on Christmas Eve, when Santa is flying overhead...

...he'll hear this.

CHILDREN [SINGING]: Christmas chimes are calling

Santa, Santa

Every heart recalling

Santa, Santa

Come on ol' Kris Kringle

Down the Milky Way

Of course, this is only a small model.

With the children singing, I must make a big one...

...big enough for Santa to see and hear.

- I move to authorize construction at once.

- Second.

All those in favor?

And don't you dare say no, McDavitt.

MEN: Aye.

- Carried.

You may build your clock, Mr. Trundle.

And may the enchanting tones of its melody...

...soar to the pinnacle of the celestial heights where...

Oh, heck, get started.

MOTHER MOUSE: I found it, I found it.

"Dear Editor, Santa Claus is a fraudulent myth...

...rooted in unconscious fantasies and emerging as a deceitful lie."

"P.S. The reindeer are phony too."

MOTHER MOUSE: "Signed, all of us."

- No wonder Santa's angry.

- Who would send him a letter like that?

- Big words.

It sounds like the mayor.

Long words.

Long words.

- Long words.

- Oh, no.

It couldn't be.

- Albert?

- Yes, Father.

- There's something we've got to talk about.

- I said, yes, Father.

- "Yes, Father," what?

- I wrote the letter...

...my friends and I, that is.

All of us.

You didn't, Albert.

"Dear Editor, Santa Claus is a fraudulent myth rooted in..."

- Enough.

Enough.

- Write another one right away, apologizing.

But I can't.

- Why not?

- That letter was true.

You don't know as much as you think, because you only think with your head.

So you have a lot of trouble believing in things you can't see or touch.

Like, for instance, what things?

[SINGING]

How about fairies and leprechauns

On St. Patrick's Day

How about Just about everything

That makes a holiday g*y

There's more to the world Than meets the eye

When doubt's in your mind Give your heart a try

Let up a little on the wonder why

And give your heart a try

If you can't believe What you can't see

Well, here's what to do To become like me

Let up a little on the wonder why

And give your heart a try

CHORUS: What is spring Without the Easter Bunny?

Like a rainbow That doesn't end in money

And a Valentine Would certainly look stupid

Without a cupid

So let his arrow in your heart

FATHER MOUSE: That would be a start.

CHORUS & FATHER MOUSE: There's more to the world

Than meets the eye

When doubt's in your mind Give your heart a try

Let up a little on the wonder why

And give your heart a try

FATHER MOUSE: Here's our first example...

...of how you ruined everyone's Christmas with your opinions.

This children's hospital once knew laughter, best medicine there is...

...but not anymore.

[CHILDREN CRYING]

There's Davey Thomas, best artist in school.

He made that picture of Santa when he thought that Santa cared.

These are just kids.

Grownups never believe in Santa.

Don't quite know everything, do you?

Shh.

Everyone's asleep.

Mr. Trundle's been hard at work making a special clock.

There's the model.

When the clock strikes on Christmas Eve...

...it'll play a song welcoming Santa.

Does that sound like a man who doesn't believe?

[WHISPERING]

A song? When the hands come together like this?

[SONG STARTS TO PLAY]

What's the matter with you?

Do you wanna wake everyone up?

Neat.

Does it work on the gear-and-pinion principle...

...or an AC synchronous motor?

Well, it's more of a...

A gear what?

Synchronous who?

Ever since Copernicus, Dad, it was known that...

Never mind.

Never...

You may know algebra, son...

...but this time, the whole town's counting on this clock.

[MARCHING BAND PLAYING]

Fellow citizens...

...we are gathered on this auspicious occasion...

...to honor a distinguished gentleman...

...whose inspired and consummate excellence...

...in the craft of chronometric creation has, uh, ahem...

Oh, heck, he made one whale of a clock.

Mr. Joshua Trundle.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

And now, Mr. Trundle, if you will start your magnificent clock and its song...

...that will make Santa Claus our friend again.

With pleasure.

[SONG STARTS TO PLAY]

FATHER MOUSE: After the clock went kerplooey...

...life changed for Mr. Trundle.

No one trusted him anymore.

Please, come back.

I'm still a good clockmaker.

Really, I am.

- What do you want?

- I'm Joshua Trundle.

- I've come to fix the clock.

- Ain't you fixed things enough around here?

But I made that clock for the town, for Santa.

It's got to work by Christmas Eve, and I can make it work.

L...

- What seems to be the trouble?

- This joker wants to get in.

- He came to fix the clock.

- Is that what he says?

Well, let me tell you something, Trundle.

Of all the incompetent, insolent purveyors of chicanery that I have ever...

Oh, heck, go home.

FATHER MOUSE: Winter came, and things got tough for the Trundles.

And if you think they had it bad...

We'd have swapped our whiskers for a peanut shell or a ripe apple seed...

...but meals don't fall from empty tables.

Then, finally, it was Christmas Eve.

- No sense in hanging stockings, Dad.

- There's no one to fill them this year...

...unless you believe in miracles.

Now, don't go saying that.

The night's not over yet.

There's...

There's always hope.

Miracles happen most every day.

[SINGING] To people like you and me

But don't expect a miracle

Unless you help make it to be

So you hope And I'll hurry

You pray and I'll plan

We'll do what's necessary 'Cause

Even a miracle needs a hand

You love And I'll labor

You sit And I'll stand

Get help from our next-door neighbor 'Cause

Even a miracle needs a hand

We'll help our maker

To make our dreams come true

But I can't do it alone

So

Here's what we're gonna do

- You hope and I'll hurry - We'll hope

- You pray while I plan - We'll pray

We'll do what's necessary 'Cause

Even a miracle needs a hand

BOTH: We'll help our maker

To make our dreams come true

But we can't do it alone

So What are we're gonna do

- You wish while I whittle - We'll wish

You drip while I dry

Let's all try to help a little 'Cause

Even a miracle

- Needs a hand - Even a miracle needs a hand

MOTHER MOUSE: Come, children, it's time for bed.

[SINGING SOFTLY]

Even a miracle

Needs a hand

[ALBERT SOBS]

- What is it?

- It's my fault.

All my fault.

- I've ruined everyone's Christmas.

- I know you wrote the letter, Albert.

You told us so, and that was honest of you.

But as you said, it was your opinion.

ALBERT: No, that isn't it.

Something else.

FATHER MOUSE: What else?

- Mr. Trundle's clock...

...in the village hall.

I wanted to see how it worked...

...so I climbed up into it and...

- Kerplunk.

- Kerplooey.

- You broke the clock?

- I didn't mean it, Father.

I'm sorry.

So sorry.

It's not enough.

When you've done something wrong...

...you have to correct the thing you did.

That's it.

I'll fix it, Father.

I'll fix the clock by midnight.

- Then maybe Santa will...

- You believe in Santa?

I don't know.

I don't know.

But I've learned that I still got a lot to learn.

But, son, you don't know how to fix a clock.

That's all right, Father.

Copernicus knew.

[SINGING] You hope

And I'll hurry

You pray And I'll plan

We'll do what's necessary 'Cause

Even a miracle Needs a hand

Good luck.

[TICKING]

Psst.

- Father Mouse?

- Merry Christmas, Mr. Trundle.

- Not very merry, I'm afraid.

- You're right, of course.

And it's my fault, my family's.

- How so?

- My older boy, Albert.

First, he insulted Santa, and then...

- I can hardly say it.

- Go on.

I'm afraid he got into your clock to see how it worked, and then...

- Kerplunk.

- Kerplooey.

So that was it.

The boy has repented.

He's trying to make amends right now.

Diameter of coil in inverse ratio to mainspring.

FATHER MOUSE: Which brings us to where we were three minutes...

Three seconds to Christmas.

No chimes.

No song. No Santa.

CAROLERS [SINGING]: All is calm

All is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

[CHIMES SOUNDING]

CHORUS: Christmas snow is falling

Carols fill the air

But it won't be Christmas

Till Santa Claus is here

[BELLS RINGING]

Christmas chimes are calling Santa! Santa!

Every heartbeat calling Santa! Santa!

Come on ol' Kris Kringle

Down the Milky Way

Christmas chimes are calling

Santa We need you today!

If you don't believe in Santa! Santa!

Think that he's deceiving Santa! Santa!

Think about a Christmas With no Christmas cheer

Christmas chimes are calling Santa And his eight reindeer

We love his laughter

His jingle-ling-a-ling Forever after

The bells will ring

Christmas chimes are calling Santa! Santa!

Every heart beat calling Santa! Santa!

Come on ol' Kris Kringle Down the Milky Way

Christmas chimes are calling Santa

We need you today!

TRUNDLE: When out on the lawn There arose such a clatter

I sprang from the bed To see what was the matter

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters And threw up the sash

The moon on the breast Of the new-fallen snow

Gave the luster of midday To objects below

When what to my wondering eyes Should appear

But a miniature sleigh And eight tiny reindeer

With a little old driver So lively and quick

I knew in a moment It must be Saint Nick

More rapid than eagles His coursers they came

And he whistled and shouted And called them by name

SANTA: Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch To the top of the wall

Now dash away, dash away Dash away, all

h*-h*-h*!

TRUNDLE: As dry leaves that before The wild hurricane fly

When they meet with an obstacle Mount to the sky

So up to the housetop The coursers they flew

With a sleigh full of toys And Saint Nicholas too

And then, in a twinkling I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing Of each little hoof

As I drew in my head And was turning around

Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound

He was dressed all in fur From his head to his foot

And his clothes were all tarnished With ashes and soot

A bundle of toys He had flung on his back

And he looked like a peddler Just opening his pack

His eyes, how they twinkled His dimples, how merry

His cheeks were like roses His nose like a cherry

His droll little mouth Was drawn up like a bow

And the beard of his chin Was as white as the snow

The stump of a pipe He held tight in his teeth

And the smoke, it encircled his head Like a wreath

He had a broad face And a round little belly

That shook when he laughed Like a bowlful of jelly

He was chubby and plump A right jolly old elf

And I laughed when I saw him In spite of myself

A wink of his eye And a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread

He spoke not a word But went straight to his work

And filled all the stockings Then turned with a jerk

And laying his finger Aside of his nose

And giving a nod Up the chimney he rose

He sprang to his sleigh To his team gave a whistle

And away they all flew Like the down of a thistle

But I heard him exclaim Ere he drove out of sight

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

---the end---