Velveteen Rabbit, The (2009)

[bunniefuu]

(air hissing)

Whoa.

Toby?

Stay with me.

(whistle blows)

(children clamoring)

(bell dinging)

(whistling)

(train chugging)

Father:
Toby?

Yes, Father?

Time for bed, Toby.

God bless Father, Emily,

Frank,

and bless my mother
in heaven with You.

(train whistle blows)

Amen.

Amen.

(whistle blowing)

(steam hissing)

Well...

- here you are.
- Mother.

It's good to see you.

Toby, say hello to
your grandmother.

Hello, Grandmother.

- Hello, Toby.
- Mother, l...

appreciate this.
I really had no choice.

My staff will be on holiday--

You do realize that this is
my busiest social season.

As I was saying,
if there had been anyone else--

You mean besides you.

I must be getting back on.

Remember you are
a little gentleman.

Your grandmother will not
tolerate any misbehavior.

Yes, Father.

Will I see you
at Christmas?

That won't be possible.

No tears.

I'll see you in a few weeks.

Conductor:
All aboard!

(whistle toots)

No tears.

(door opens, closes)

I do not permit
running in the house.

Wet shoes are to be left
in the foyer.

Jackets are to be hung up.

And meals are to be eaten
in the kitchen.

Yes, ma'am.

- You have a nice house.
- Let's keep it that way, shall we?

My bridge group is
arriving any minute.

You may stay quietly upstairs
until dinnertime.

- Mom?
- Toby.

What are you doing up here?

I'm sorry, Grandmother. Should I have
asked your permission?

Yes, you should have.

My goodness, l--

I haven't been up here
in years.

What a filthy mess.

Oh, come along.

It's time for dinner.

- Grandmother?
- Yes?

When I was in the attic,
I saw lots of things:

toys...

and books and--

Are you asking permission
to use them?

Perhaps if you wouldn't mind.

Help yourself.

However...

I do not want things from
the attic lying around.

Your father used to leave his toys
scattered all over the house,

used to drive me crazy.

That's why I turned it
into a playroom.

Well actually, you father used to
refer to it as "the magic attic."

My father?

Yes. He spent all
his time up there

during the long winter days.

If I recall,

John had quite an imagination.

He would come down
from that attic

loaded with stories about
his fantastic adventures.

"The magic attic."

It was nonsense then
and it's nonsense now.

Thank you, Mother.

It's perfect.

(wind howls)

Look, Rabbit,
it's beginning to snow.

I love to watch it fall,
don't you?

- Good afternoon, Henry.
- Good afternoon, Mrs. Morgan.

- The florist, please.
- Certainly.

Master Toby.

(bell tolling,
people chattering)

(children playing)

Boy:
Nice throw!

Ellen?

Ah, ladies.

- Come on, come on, get him out!
- Yeah, come on!

Boy:
Throw the ball! Throw the ball!

Come on!

Hey, kid, throw the ball!

- Come on, throw it!
- Toss it here!

You're wasting our time!
Throw it!

(all shouting)

Come on!

Throw the ball!

- Throw!
- Throw it!

What was that?
You throw like a girl.

Go to the car.

If you'll be my friend, Rabbit...

I'll be yours.

(Toby gasps)

Oof!

Whoa.

Huh?

(straining)

(laughs)

Oh, hi there!

Hey, look at that.

You're alive!
You talk?

(laughs)

Guess so.

But...

you're just...

- a stuffed--
- Hey!

--toy.

I am?

What's happening?

I was just wishing
you were alive, then--

You imagined me to life?

Wow! You're pretty good.

Um, thanks.

Hey, what else can you imagine?

Hmm.

Ah!

(floorboards rumbling)

That's great, Toby.

Oops, sorry.

Huh? Ahhh! Oof!

Are you okay?

Now try for something
really big.

- Yeah?
- Yeah!

(grunting)

(house rattling)

(sighs)
Mmm.

Wow, Toby.

But when I said big, I meant...

big!

(birds chirping)

How did you know
I could do that?

How did you know
you couldn't?

Did you ever try before?

No, I guess not.

What shall we do now?

Hmm.

(straining)

(wind whistling)

Ahh!

Ahhh!

Rabbit:
Whoa!

Hey, Rabbit!

Whoa!

Whoa!

Wanna race to the pond?

What pond?

(strains)

Come on!

Ahh!

Come on!

Hold on!

(Toby and Rabbit laughing)

Toby!

What are you doing?

Toby, look at me
when I speak to you.

What happened to your pants?

We've been playing
in the pond.

Stories-- just like your father.

Now I want you to go and
change into something respectable.

I'd like you to meet
the ladies of my committee.

Where did that rabbit come from?

Over there.

Let me have it.

But I've never seen this before.

It's mine.

Hurry up to your room
and get ready...

without the rabbit.

But, Grandmother!

Would you rather I put him
back in the box?

Ellen:
Ladies,

I'd like you to meet
my grandson Toby.

I'm so happy he can be with me over
the holidays while John is in New York.

It's good to see you again, Toby.

Isn't he just precious?

Adorable little fellow.

- Are you excited about Christmas, Toby?
- Well, of course he is.

All the children love the holidays.
Isn't that right, dear?

And where is that great
big Christmas tree

all full of lovely decorations?

Uh, well, we haven't had
much time since he got here.

- But it's next on our list.
- Wonderful.

Well, I've brought you
an early Christmas gift.

You have?

It's not much but
I think you'll enjoy it.

- Go on.
- Thank you.

That's very thoughtful of you.

(Ellen chuckles)

Come along, dear.

Now ladies,
let's start our meeting.

Well, what is it?

It's a stickball.

You play stickball?

Not really.
No one ever showed me how.

- Oops!
- Rabbit: That's okay.

Maybe somebody here
can teach us.

Maybe her.
Go ahead, ask her.

- Huh?
- Ooof!

Who are you?

- Where's my Ellie?
- Uh, I'm Toby.

And I'm his rabbit-- see?

Hmm...

yes, your papers seem
to be in order.

Welcome to the attic, Rabbit.

Now where's Ellie?

- Who?
- She's a little girl with dark hair--

ah-- and a beautiful smile.
Loves to laugh...

The only girl around here
is my grandmother.

- Her name's Ellen.
- Oh, ha. How silly of me.

I'd forgotten she's not
a little girl anymore.

And by the way,

"Grandmother" is such
a long name.

When Ellie was a child, she called
her grandmother "Nana."

Oh, Ellie used to be
so much fun.

Fun?
My grandmother?

Well, she did what all children do:
she grew up,

even had a little boy

who was always up here
ruffling my feathers

with his cowboy games.

Now what was his name?

My memory's a little... dusty.

You were one of
my grandmother's toys?

Did they have toys
back then?

"Did they have toys back--"

I was her favorite toy.

And Horse belonged to--

oh, what was his name again?

Horse? Oh, Horse?

- Come out, come out, wherever you are!
- Excuse me,

but do you know how
to play stickball?

- Toby wants to learn--
- Stickball?

Oh, heavens no.

But Horse does.

Horse? Oh, Horse dear,

what was your boy's name?

Horse!

I know you're in there.

It's not polite
to ignore someone.

Horse, really.

- Ooof!
- Johnny!

I knew you'd come back!

Echh!

Hey, you're not Johnny.

Get our of our attic!

Johnny! That's it.

Her little boy's name
was Johnny.

Of course he goes by
John now.

John? That's my dad.

So you're Johnny's boy.

Why do I have a headache?

Swan,

are we going on an adventure
or did you wake me up for nothing?

How wonderful!
An adventure.

No cowboys, though.

What do you mean,
no cowboys?

Let the kid decide.

Pony Express rides again!
Saddle up, partner.

Yahoo-doo!

- How do you take your tea, Toby?
- Tea?

Oh, you gotta be
kidding me.

Well, I was kinda hoping you could
show me how to play stickball.

Cowboys don't play stickball.

Neither do proper
young gentlemen.

One lump or two, dear?

I think we should do
what Toby wants to do.

Fine fine, as long as
it's not stickball.

(snorts)

Is there something else
you'd like to play?

We're wasting time!
Of course he wants to play cowboys.

There you go again, Horse:
flying off the handle.

- Did you say fly?
- (tray smashes)

Oh, be careful, Toby.

Rabbit:
He'll be okay, Swan.

Come on, Toby.
You can do it.

I don't know about this.

On the count of three:
One two...

Both:
three!

(both screaming)

(splashing)

(Horse laughing)

- He flew!
- Oh, that's not flying!

What did I do wrong?

Swan's a bird;
maybe she knows.

- Swan?
- Absolutely not.

I stopped giving lessons
long ago.

Now come down from there
immediately.

Do you think you can fly?

- Well...
- You have to believe it.

Everything that is real
was imagined first.

Don't be afraid, Toby.

Just throw
your heart into it,

and the rest of you
will follow.

¶ There's a something
you own ¶

¶ In the insides of you ¶

¶ Don't need
directions to work it ¶

¶ It's natural to do ¶

¶ Just imagine ¶

¶ And watch
the miracles happen ¶

¶ You can be
a deep-sea captain ¶

¶ Be a circus clown
or a king ¶

¶ With your amazingly
magical mind ¶

¶ You can be anything ¶

¶ Think of all the friends
you'll make ¶

¶ All the love you will receive ¶

¶ Your dreams can't help
but come awake ¶

¶ When you believe
in make-believe ¶

¶ Discover the fun
that you'll find... ¶

Toby!

¶ Your amazingly magical mind ¶

¶ You can do anything ¶

¶ You can do anything. ¶

Ha ha ha!

¶ I feel the life coming
back into me! ¶

- Ha ha!
- Oh, dear.

I wish he hadn't
wanted to fly.

Hey yeah, you should fly up
and check up on him.

Ooh, that's right--
you haven't flown since

Ellie hurt her foot
jumping off that trunk.

Oh, you're one to talk.

You've been about as much fun as
a rock since Johnny stopped coming.

And you never used to have runners
when Johnny brought you to life.

Leave Johnny out of this.

- I don't need advice from a swan.
- (Swan gasps)

- Duck!
- Really?

- I thought you was a swan.
- No, I mean duck!

- Oh! Ahh!
- Oooh!

(both gasping, coughing)

- Are you okay, Duck?
- Mmm!

(both laughing)

Ahhhh!

(Horse whinnies)

Uh-uh.

Look at you: you have runners and
you didn't even use them,

you old boat anchor.

Toby, you are
testing my patience.

Hurry up!

Coming!

(people chattering)

(metal banging,
horns blowing)

(horse whinnies)

Driving up all these
winding mountain roads!

Ah! My word!

Ahh!

Oh, Henry, stop these creatures
before they take my eye out!

Mrs. Morgan, are you quite sure
you want to go through with this?

I told those ladies I was
getting Toby a tree,

and that is what
I intend to do.

Toby, go find a tree.

I'll direct you from here.

Bigger!
Find one that's fuller.

Shorter needles!

Hey, son,

over here.

You need some help?

The name's Neal.
I own this lot.

- Come on.
- Toby!

I'm going to look over here,
Grandmother.

Well, be quick about it!
I'm freezing.

Now I can't
remember exactly where,

but my best tree in the whole lot
is somewhere around here.

- Maybe it's this one.
- You know what?

I believe you're right.

I've never picked a tree before.

I've seen a lot of men try
and choose the right tree.

It's not an easy job,

especially when they're attempting
to please a picky woman.

Toby!

I know what you mean.

Toby!

Go and pay the man, Henry.
And bring my grandson here.

That's fine.

(sighs)

Thanks a lot.
I couldn't have done it without you.

Thanks, Neal.

Master Toby,

your grandmother wants you to
return to the car immediately.

- I'll see you later, son.
- Yeah.

Run along.
Off you go.

Now...

if we can agree on a price,
I'll tell you where to deliver it.

Hurry up.

And close the door.

The attraction of having
a tree in the house eludes me--

needles all over the rug
and the mess it makes.

It'll be a nice Christmas tree.

It'll be a fire hazard.

Neal said it was the best
tree on the lot.

Neal said?

And how does this person Neal
know what I want?

We could go back and
look some more.

You could help me.
Neal wouldn't mind.

Oh, don't be ridiculous.

Now come along, take that coat off
before you overheat.

I'm going to make some tea.

Rabbit?

Rabbit!

Rabbit!

No! No no no no! Rabbit!

- What on earth's the matter?
- My rabbit, he's lost!

I took him out there
to the tree lot!

Rabbit!

- Rabbit!
- Toby, come back here at once!

Oh, no!

Grandmother, you've got to let me
go back to the tree lot!

My rabbit might be there!

Toby! Toby, get back here
this instant.

You've got to take me back!
Please, Henry!

Henry!
Bring him in, Henry!

- I'm sorry, Master Toby.
- No no no no, please, Henry!

No!
You can't do this to me!

No!

Please please please please!

Tantrums are not the way
to get what you want, young man.

- Let me go find my rabbit!
- Take him to his room, Henry.

There's a lock-- use it.

- We won't be having him running off--
- Why are you doing this?

- Let me find my rabbit!
- And you, young man,

you are going to stay here until
you are ready to act

- like a proper young man.
- Just let me go find my rabbit!

(pounding on door)

Help me find my rabbit!
Help me, Henry!

You can help me!

(banging on door)
Please please please.

Why don't you let me
do that, Mrs. Morgan?

No, you go back to
that tree lot

and see if you can find
that ridiculous little rabbit.

And while you're in town,

telegraph John.

Tell him to get back here
immediately.

I will not put up with
an uncontrollable child.

Toby?

Toby?

- (wolf howling)
- (gasps)

(howling continues)

- (footsteps)
- (gasps)

(door opens)

(door closes)

- (whimpers)
- (howling resumes)

I couldn't find it anywhere.

Did you wire John?

Yes, ma'am.

All this commotion over a toy.

Henry:
Ah, the tree. Bring it in.

Toby lost his rabbit in the lot.

- Neal: I'll keep my eyes open for it.
- Neal?

Henry:
Careful now.

Mrs. Morgan won't appreciate
needles and dirt over her fine floor.

The boy-- really good kid.

Would you like me
to cut the twine, madam?

No, I'll do it.
Give it here.

Ahem.

If you don't mind my saying so,

it would be a real shame
to see Master Toby go.

(door unlocks)

Your tree has arrived.

Rabbit?

Rabbit, oh, I'm so sorry!
I didn't mean to leave you!

I'll never leave you behind
ever again!

I know what it feels like
to be left behind.

You're my best friend.

Does he have to go
back to the attic?

Can he stay with me
for tonight, please?

Thank you, Grandmother.
Thank you so much.

Well...

And then they went
over the hill like this...

Ah! Er! Oof!

Horse:
That was hopping.

Those were real rabbits, son.

Real? But we're real,
aren't we?

Ha!

We're just toys--

a shadow of reality

that's been
created in a child's mind.

As soon as Toby
forgets about us,

it's back to some dusty box
in a forgotten attic.

Toby won't forget about me.

Cherish your time
with Toby.

He'll grow up
before you even know it.

So I can never be real
like those other rabbits?

Well, there is one way:

You're Toby's toy.

If he grows to love you enough,
you'll become real. Real--

Oh, not that silly fable again.

The legend of toys is not silly.

It doesn't happen
to everyone,

but it can happen.

Toby's love can make you real.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

Oh! What?

We need to talk.

Don't tell him that.
He won't want Toby to leave.

Maybe he should stay.

The kid has had enough of
the real world for a lifetime.

And besides, if he stays here
he'll never leave.

And we can be alive forever.

That's not how it works!

Our job is to help children
deal with the real world,

not run away from it.

But Swan, if we can just
get him to love us enough...

I came so close
with Johnny.

And now where is he?

We've spent too much time

trying to become real with
our children. And now--

They don't even
think about us anymore.

Quit feeling sorry
for yourself.

This is about Toby,
not us.

- But--
- One two three!

Oof!

Aw! I love Toby being here
just as much as anyone,

but we have to
make Rabbit understand.

(sighs)

I was just sorting
the decorations.

I-- I thought we might
trim the tree.

Maybe you'd like to help?

I don't know how.

Well, I guess we can
both learn together.

It's been some time for me too.

But if my memory
serves me correctly,

it's not all that hard.

What sort of decorations
do you have at home?

We don't have any.

Well, what do you put
on your Christmas tree?

We don't put up a tree anymore.

Father hasn't been home
for Christmas since Mother died.

Your mother gave me that.

She loved the holidays.

Well...

I think have absolutely chosen

the best tree in
the entire lot.

Thanks...

Nana.

"Nana"?

"Grandmother" is such
a long name.

Don't you think?

Ye-- I guess it is quite long.

Isn't it?

"Nana."

It is beautiful.

But it seems to me we--

we are missing something.

I know!

I wonder where on earth
it can be.

What are you looking for?

My angel.

I haven't put a tree up
in several years and l--

I just don't know what
happened to my angel.

We could go buy one.

No, we can't.
Well, at least not today.

I just gave Henry the day off.

The car is here.
You can drive us.

Impossible.
I don't know how to operate a car.

That's Henry's job.

It doesn't look that hard to me.

No, I couldn't possibly.

Could l?

I think you could.

Then run and get ready
before I change my mind.

Er...

well, I don't know where to start.

I think you need to
turn it on.

Oh, yeah. That's as good
a place as any.

(engine spins)

(spinning)

(motor revving)

Oh, my,
what do I think I'm doing?

You can do it, Nana.
I know you can.

Well, this isn't so hard.

See? I told you
you could do it.

Rabbit was right.
You really aren't all that crabby.

Oh, well.

I guess I'm going to have to thank
Rabbit for that wonderful compliment.

You can thank him right now.

Er, why thank you, Rabbit.

(horn whistling)

Santa Claus.

Is there something you'd like
to ask of Santa?

Oh yes, I know what I want.

What might that be?
A friend for Rabbit?

A game?

I want Father home for Christmas.

Oh, well...

that might be a little
difficult request, Toby.

You see, Santa specializes in...

well, book and toys and puzzles

and, well, things that fit
easily into his bag.

But I guess it couldn't
hurt to ask, could it?

What's that you're look at, dear?

Real rabbits. See?

Aren't they beautiful?

- (inhales)
- Ahh...

- Ahem.
- Yeah.

Toby is spending an awful lot
of time with us here.

Yeah, isn't it great?

He can't live here forever.

- That's not--
- That's not how things work.

But Toby brings us to life.

If he leaves, I'll never be--

Real?
None of us is--

None of us is real!

Tell him, Duck.

None of us are real.

- It's our--
- It's our responsibility to--

It's our responsibility

to help him grow.

But the legend!
I thought--

Hey, Rabbit!

Watch this.

(sniffing)

(howling)

Worming!

Rabbit:
I wish you never had to leave.

Toby?

Yes, Grandmother?

You're filthy, young man.

Come on, tell your friends good night.
It's time to get cleaned up.

Good night, Swan.

Good night, Horse.

Wait a minute.

What have you got in
your hand?

You don't want to know.

Toby,

there should be no secrets
between us.

But Grandmother, really,
it's nothing that you'd want.

Well, let me look.

I'm going to get
cleaned up right now!

Ahh!

Well, see that you do!

And tomorrow morning, you and l
are going to clean up this attic.

(shudders)

I'm going to hold
on to the saddle

until you're ready for me
to let go again.

I didn't know you
could do this, Nana.

Oh, I wasn't aware of many things
I could do until recently.

Now don't forget: keep pedaling.

Okay.

Here we go!
Pedal!

Pedal!

Oh, you're doing great.
Keep pedaling.

Look, Nana, I'm doing it!
I'm doing it!

Yow!

Father!

You came! You really came back
just like I asked!

I came back because
I thought something was wrong.

But you're here.
You can stay for Christmas.

Toby, go inside, please.
I'll be there in a moment.

Now Mother, maybe you'd like
to explain to me

why I left work
to hurry here

under the guise of an emergency
to find the two of you playing around.

There is an emergency
here, John.

It's Toby. He wants to be
with his father for Christmas.

That's what this is all about?

Christmas?

No, it's about your son.

He needs you.
He needs to spend some time with you.

I spent very little time
with my father.

Mmm. And what I wouldn't give
to relive those years with you.

Now I have to go and
explain to Toby

why I can't stay.
I'll leave first thing in the morning.

Don't you think it's
a little late for all of this?

It's never too late.

Rabbit, guess what?

- Guess what?
- What, Toby?

My father's come
to be with me for Christmas!

- Johnny!
- Yeah.

(both laughing)

Johnny's come back
to see me!

- To see you?
- Yeah, to see me.

- I'm his toy.
- Horse! That's enough.

I'm sure he's come
to see you, dear.

I've known him longer.

Have you ever played sheriff with him?
I have.

How about pirates?

Did you ever pretend
you were buccaneers on the open sea,

- looking for hidden treasure?
- No.

That's because he
likes playing with me!

- Horse!
- Who taught him how to play stickball?

Me! Who was there
when he got sick? Me!

Who comforted him when
his father died? Me.

Me! Me! Me!

- (thunder rumbling)
- Me.

(panting)

Toby, wait.

I didn't mean to--

Toby?

Toby? I'm sorry.

I just-- Toby?

- Are you listening to me?
- John: Toby?

Toby, I need to
talk to you, young man.

(stone skipping)

You think you're so
important, Horse.

Well, you're not, you know.

I don't want to
play with you anyway.

Toby?

(owl hooting)

(birds chirping,
owl hooting)

Toby?

Johnny!

Oh, look at you!

All grown up! Are you a cowboy
like you always wanted to be?

Johnny?

Come on, Johnny, it's me.

What's wrong?

Where are you going?

- No!
- (door slams)

Don't leave me again!

Take me to the train station.
I will not be staying after all.

But sir, the next train doesn't leave
for several hours.

I'm well aware of that.

Very well, sir.

(door opens, closes)

Horse didn't mean to hurt you.

Sometimes he just
gets carried--

(gasps)

Toby, please, I didn't mean to--

Horse?

Johnny doesn't love me anymore.

Neither does Toby.

No child ever will.

Without love,
what's the point?

I'm just wood and cloth.

Goodbye, Swan.

Horse, no!

- (Swan gasping)
- (thunder rumbling)

Oh! Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

Toby?
Where is he?

Where is the boy?
Oh, no, this is terrible.

This is terrible!
Toby!

Toby!
(echoing)

Look, Toby, I'm hopping.

I'm sure Horse didn't mean
what he said.

Your dad loves you.

Huh?

Huh?

Mother?

Is it really you?

My dear Toby.

Look how much you've grown.

You're very handsome.

(Toby sighs)

Oof!

I miss you so much.

I miss you too, dear.

But I'm always with you.

- You are?
- Yes.

Right here.

Love is what makes us real, Toby.

I wish you could
stay here with me...

forever.

So do l.

But there is someone who
needs you much more right now.

I know-- Rabbit.

No, your father.

Be well, my dear one.

Mother? No!

Don't leave me!

Don't leave me.

Ahh!

No, don't leave me.

Don't leave me.

Toby!

(panting)

Oh, Toby!

He's burning up.

He's sick.

We've got to get him
back to Ellie.

Ah! Ellie!

Ellie, Toby needs your help!

Toby?

Toby?

Toby.

Wake up, sleepyhead.
It's nowhere near your bedtime yet.

Toby, wake up.

Mother?

No, it's Grand-- it's Nana.

Oh, you're burning up, child.

I've got to get you
downstairs now.

You need to wake up now.

Nana, my throat's on fire.

Oh!

It will be-- it'll be okay, Rabbit.

Can you get in touch with John?

Yes, right away.

In the meantime,

remember what I told you
to look for.

- The rash.
- Yes.

Oh, no.
Something's wrong.

Toby shouldn't still be here.

- (Toby moans)
- Toby?

I don't feel well.

Just imagine yourself better.

Swan:
Oh. Mmm.

(thunder rumbling)

Hey, it worked!

(laughing)

No, Rabbit.
This isn't right.

But he's feeling so much better.

Whoa-- oof!

There's a big difference
between imagining he's well

and actually being well.

Ignoring this won't
make it go away.

Rabbit:
Toby's happy here.

I don't want him to leave.

Besides, Toby's the only one

who can make me
a real rabbit.

Is becoming real
more important to you

than Toby's life?

You have to make him go back.

- But--
- (Toby laughs)

But what if he
forgets about me

like Johnny and Ellie
forgot about--

I mean...

If you love him,

that's a chance you
have to take.

(Toby laughing)

Come on!

What should we play?

Um, Toby,

I don't think we
should play right now.

You're very sick.

Sick?
If I was sick,

could I do this?

No, Toby!
Not right now.

You need to listen!

Toby, you need to be
in the real world.

Maybe you should
stop pretending now.

Stop pretending?

No, I don't want to be
in the real world anymore.

As long as you're here,
I'll never leave.

I love you, Rabbit.

(gasps)

Oh, no.

(thunder rumbling)

(Rabbit sobbing)

Ellen: You must get John and bring him
back as quickly as possible.

I'll get there as fast
as I can.

Make sure he understands
how serious this is.

He'd never forgive
himself if anything...

happened to Toby.

Mrs. Morgan,
the boy will be fine.

And I will bring John
home promptly.

(door opens)

Henry.

I'm afraid I'm here
on urgent business, sir.

Look, I don't know what kind

of manipulative game
she's playing, but--

Not a game.

Dr. Kennedy told me
to bring you home,

and I came as fast as I could
to tell you.

- Tell me what?
- It's Toby.

He's contracted scarlet fever.

(distant bell tolling,
whistle blowing)

(train whistle toots)

He's so hot.

Marcus, you have
to do something.

Well, I'm sorry, John.

Unfortunately, we just
have to wait it out.

I'll come back as soon
as I can.

You get some rest.

Marcus is right--

get some rest.

(door closes)

Call me if you need anything.

Yes.

(wheezing)

(lightning strikes)

(thunder rumbles)

Ooh!

Rabbit?

Swan? Horse?

Horse?

Horse!

He's still so very hot.

It's Nana, Toby.

You want to explain to me

how you happen
to be called "Nana"?

"Grandmother" is such
a long name, don't you think?

Why don't you just say
what you must be thinking?

- I honestly don't know what--
- I've failed him.

We both know it.

He never asks

for anything.

He never asked

for his mother's eyes...

or her smile.

I-- I can't go through
that again.

I thought if I could--

if I kept him
far enough away--

if I just kept working,

that I wouldn't feel anything.

But...

I've learned something
in these past few days with Toby:

loving him is worth the risk.

Oh, John, you and I were
never risk-takers.

Until...

Sarah.

I mean, everything about
Sarah was so--

so vibrant, so loving.

So real.

When-- oh!

When--

when she left us,

I think we both did what--
what we'd always done:

hiding behind
a proper appearance.

Well, Toby has helped me
come out of hiding, John.

I could never make it
up to him.

All he needs is you.

(sniffles)

Just keep telling him
you're here.

It's all he wanted for Christmas.

Toby, I'm here.

I've come home
for Christmas.

(thunder cracks)

Ah... huh?

(neighs)

Ooh! Oh!

Good thing I'm here!
That fire might have reached the tree.

Oh!

Swan! What's happening?

He's leaving the real world!

Toby, wake up, please!

(gasps)

Horse!
But I thought you were--

No time, Swan!
Toby needs me!

Ahh! Oooh!

Oh!

Ah!

- Swaaaaa...
-...aaaaan!

Oh, ch--

Ahh! Oooohhhhh!

Oh!

Whooooaa! Ahh!

Toby! Ahh.

(sniffing)

Toby?

I'm so sorry.

We're too late.

No, it's not too late.

It's never too late!

(boards buckling)

All:
Ooh!

Oof!

(gasping)

(both coughing)

Rabbit!

Swan's hurt!
It's up to you!

Ahh!

Careful!

(straining)

Rabbit, not like that!
You may throw him into the fire!

(straining)

(gasping)

Mmm!

Rabbit?

Rabbit?
I love you, Rabbit.

I love you too, Toby.

Oh, no.

Ahhhh!

Hello, son.

You're back.

Is it Christmas?

No.

Not yet.

(coughing)

I'm going back to
sleep now, Father.

All right.

Well, young man,

you certainly have made
my holiday happier.

He's all right, then?

It's like he's getting better
with every hour that goes by.

Now that Toby's on the mend,

you'll need to get rid of
the sheets, blankets, quilt--

everything Toby's used
during his illness.

They're covered with the scarlet fever
germs and could reinfect--

- (gasps)
- Oh!

Those things
can be replaced.

Not everything?
Not his little rabbit?

Oh, yes. I'm afraid that
has to go too.

Oh!

We'll have to burn everything
that's been contaminated,

and as soon as possible.

Ooh!

(door opens)

Toby?
You're okay!

Where's Rabbit?

Uh, mmm...

No, Rabbit, no!

Toby!

Get back in the house!

- Get back in the house.
- Leap out, Rabbit. Hurry!

Rabbit, please, you've got
to get out of there!

Wake up and get out!
Please, Rabbit!

Rabbit, I need you!

I love you, do you hear me?
I love you with all my heart!

I'm so sorry, Toby.

I-- I never meant to hurt you.

Father, you're crying.

I'm so sorry.

It's okay.

A greater love hath no toy,

that he laid down his life
for his child.

I love you, son...

with all my heart.

I love you too, Dad.

Horse:
One name above all

will shout the cry of bravery:

Rabbit.

He was a kind toy,

a loving toy,

a stuffed toy.

A velveteen rabbit with
the heart of a velveteen lion.

- Horse!
- Yes!

A horse!
He was worthy to be called a horse.

- Look!
- Huh?

You were right, Rabbit:
love does make us real.

- What did you say?
- Love makes us real.

(both laughing)

He's alive!

- But--
- Don't you see, Horse?

We had it wrong.

It's not love,

it's loving that makes us real.

The legend is true.

The magic attic.

Toby got your gift, Sarah.

Somehow after all these years,
he found it.

We both found it.

It was up in the attic.

Come on then!
Let's play.

Found a pitcher's glove, see?

Now put your hands
here and here.

That's it, yeah.

Not like that.

So your stance-- feet apart.
Back up.

All right, Henry.

I hit it. I hit it!

Yeah, I hit it!
I can't believe it.

Okay, go!