Prancer (1989) Movie Script
Oh little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
- Just the right half, please.
Yet in thy dark street shineth
The everlasting light
- The other half.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
- You three, sing.
Yet in thy dark street shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
- Thank you.
That will be all.
Honey, why don't you
- Shut up.
- I don't recall asking
for a second opinion.
Sing a bit softer.
- She sounds worse
than when I kick my dog.
Silent night
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright
- And the Moon shone with
a special brightness.
And, as if by magic,
animals who were natural enemies,
when they saw it lay down together.
The leopard with the chicken.
The lion with the lamb.
Sleep in heavenly peace
- And though snow fell
they were no longer cold.
Sleep in heavenly peace
- Which is why
many believe today
that when the moon is
full on Christmas Eve,
it offers a magical time of peace,
a blessing on the world.
Holy night
Shepherds quake
- And guided by
a star, the wise men.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts
- Guided by a star, the
wise men came bearing gifts,
gold and spices from the orient,
oils and silk.
Christ the savior is born
Christ the savior is born
- Up a little bit.
A little more.
All the way up.
Come on, guys.
- Oh, look, Santa's reindeer.
Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer
- There's a car.
- Now Dasher, now Dancer, now
- Get out of the street.
- Now Dasher!
Now Dancer!
Now
- Watch it!
- Prancer!
- I've been telling
the council for years
these decorations are too old.
- Almost went right
through that man's windshield.
- Oh, look.
- Looks like Santa's
only going to have seven
reindeer this year.
- Up and out, people.
Let's clear the streets.
Don't want any accidents.
Let's clear the street.
- Aren't you going to fix him?
Aren't you going to fix him?
- I don't know.
- They've got to fix him.
Santa needs all his reindeer.
Maybe he can't fly without Prancer.
- It's not the real Prancer.
It's just wood.
- I know that.
It's just wood.
- I don't know, you
got a lot of hours on it.
- Hey, that tractor's
only three years old.
- Yeah, but I can
only give you 1,900 for it.
- It's worth twice that.
- Look, I know you're
having a rough time here.
- Dad, guess what?
- 3,000.
- A reindeer fell
and almost went right
through a man's windshield.
- Not now!
- That's my best offer.
Take it or leave it.
- Leave it.
What are you dressed up for?
- It was the Christmas
pageant today, remember?
- Yeah.
How'd it go?
- Good.
- That's good.
- You know what?
Shawn Griswold was supposed
to carry the baby Jesus,
but he lost it.
They had to wrap up a bunch of rags
and use that instead.
Dad, are we poor?
- No, we're not poor.
We're just down on our luck.
- Well, will we be up on our luck?
- I'm doing everything I can.
- I could help if you let me.
- You're just a little girl.
- Are we going to starve?
- No, of course not.
Stop worrying about
these things, will you?
We're going to be all right.
Apples.
We're going to eat apple sauce
and apple cider and apple pie.
And then stewed apples and
baked apples and dried apples.
Apple butter.
Heck, no.
We're not gonna starve.
- Hi, Aunt Sarah.
Steve, can you fix my sled?
- No.
' No?
- No.
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Good tidings to you
Wherever you are
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Now bring us some figgy pudding
- Dinner!
' Coming!
Now bring us some figgy pudding
And bring some right here
We won't go until we get some
We won't go till we get some
- Ah, wish.
Wish.
Flop, flop, wish.
There's going to be a
full moon this Christmas.
- Don't talk with your mouth full.
- Sorry.
That means there's bound to
be magic things happening.
- Give me a break.
- You don't know anything about it.
Our teacher
- There is something about a full moon.
Nancy Hooper works over at the hospital
and she says whenever there's a full moon,
the patients on the eighth floor,
you know, the mental patients,
they all start acting up like crazy.
- Really?
- Mm hmm.
' How?
- Why don't you go there on
Christmas Eve and find out?
They'll show you magic.
- Why are you so nasty?
- You want to eat like an animal,
take your food out to the barn.
- It's not an easy
thing that we're playing here.
- It's not easy on me either.
You think I like not being
able to provide for her?
- You do provide.
- No, I don't.
I can't even get a bank loan anymore.
- Have you told her yet, John?
You've got to.
- I know.
I know.
- I still don't see why
she's been coming over
so much lately.
- She's your aunt.
She's trying to help out.
- She asked dad if he told me yet.
Told me what?
- Maybe they're gonna get married.
- Don't be revolting.
She's married to my uncle Arnold.
- Maybe they were talking
about a surprise, a Christmas
present they got you.
- You know Santa's the one
who brings all the presents.
- Oh, right.
Santa Claus.
- You know it's true.
My mother told me, and she'd never lie.
- Let's not talk about it
anymore right now, though.
There's some serious sledding to be done.
- We're the first ones.
- The only ones crazy enough to do this.
- Hey, you!
This is private property.
Get off my property.
- Steer away!
Turn!
- I'm trying, I'm trying-
- Don't you come here, you hooligans!
Go away, you violators.
You hit me and you'll go to juvenile hall.
Oh.
Oh, my floribundas.
Oh.
You animals!
Oh, oh, oh, my floribundas.
You rascals!
Oh, I'll get even with you.
I'll catch you.
I'll catch you, you.
I'll get YOU, YOU, YOU
Terrorists!
- Would she recognize us?
- I don't think so.
See you tomorrow.
Okay, bye-
- I've never seen one like you.
You're not afraid of me.
Dad, I just saw a deer in the woods.
- Come in here.
- It was interesting.
It was so big.
It looked like a giant.
It was so weird, you would never imagine.
- How many times have I told you
not to go near McFarland's?
- Dad, will you listen
- She just gave me a call
and says you ruined some
of her flower bushes.
You wanna guess who's gonna pay for those?
- But, dad!
- I want you to
stay away from there.
- It looked just like the one in my room.
Hey!
- You hear me?
- Yeah, I do, clad.
- I believe you saw a deer in the woods.
There's lots of 'em around.
But I don't believe it was Santa's,
and I don't believe it flies.
- It looks just like this one, Prancer.
See the white mark on his forehead?
Hey, wait a minute.
Remember it was Prancer that
fell down on Main Street?
- That's right, it was.
- So is this one.
I have a magazine that had
all the reindeers lined up.
I cut them out and this is the order.
This is Prancer and this is,
this is Prancer, Dancer,
okay, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer,
this is Vixen and this is Prancer.
- Are you going to eat your pickle?
- The moon's almost full!
It'll be full on Christmas Eve.
Don't you see?
It all fits together.
- The problem is, Jessie,
I don't believe in Santa Claus anymore.
- What?
- I mean, think about it.
How could one man climb
down all the chimneys
in the world in one night?
- He's magical, Carol.
- It doesn't make sense.
- Well, Carol, not everything
in the world can be explained.
- I've never seen Santa Claus,
and I've clone a lot of looking.
- You've never seen God, either.
Does that mean there's no God?
- Well, how do we know
about that for sure?
- Because if there's no
God, there's no heaven.
- Well, maybe there isn't.
- All right for you, Carol Wetherby.
You're not my friend anymore.
- What did I say?
- That there was no heaven!
' $0?
- What about my mother then?
- I said I'm sorry.
Jessie, come on!
I was just kidding.
I believe in Santa Claus, okay?
I believe in God, and I believe in heaven.
- Do you believe it was Prancer?
- Yes.
- I don't believe you.
- There's my mom.
She's taking me Christmas shopping.
Talk to you later.
- Get in here!
Come on!
I talk and I talk and you
just don't listen, do you?
What are you doing out there by yourself?
- Looking for the reindeer.
- I've told you never to go into the woods
by yourself this time of year.
A hunter will shoot you!
- Where were you going, daddy?
- Just groceries.
You know, looking at some feed and things.
- I heard you and Aunt Sarah
talking the other night.
What does told me yet mean?
- What?
- What does told me yet mean?
- Oh, baby.
You know, it's just not right
when a little girl's got to
grow up without a mom around.
We've been talking about maybe
you going to live with her.
- No, daddy, please,
I don't wanna do that.
- I know you don't.
This is a hard thing for me to do,
but I got to think about
what's best for you.
- You're what's best for me.
- No, I'm not.
I can't buy you the things you want.
Can't give you an education.
Sarah will be able to do those things.
- Please, daddy.
Please.
I want to stay with you.
Daddy, I know we argue, but,
please, daddy, please.
- Honey, us arguing hasn't
got anything to do with it.
It's just not right that I'm
away from the house so much.
- Send Steve if someone has to go.
- He's older than you.
I need his help.
- I help, too.
- I know you do.
- I can do everything he does.
He'll get too old for work.
I can take his place.
Please, daddy, please.
- You'll only be 30 miles away.
- 30 miles!
That's like a billion, two trillion,
a thousand miles
- Calm down, will ya?
Families do this for
each other all the time.
They help each other out
when things get tough
and things are tough for me right now.
- I'm gonna run away if she comes for me.
- I don't wanna
hear you talk like that.
- I will if she comes
and you'll never find me.
- Stop it, Jessica!
- Dad, look out!
It's him!
- Wait, stay here!
- He's hurt, daddy.
- Stay away from him.
- We gotta help him.
Daddy, no!
- It's hurt.
It's been wounded, Jessie.
- No!
- Let go!
- You can't!
It's the one I saw!
It's Santa's!
- Jessie, he's just gonna suffer.
- No, no!
I hate you, I hate you!
- All right, you hate me, you hate me!
- I'm going to look over this way.
- Don't even think about it.
This is gonna stop.
- You're here.
How did you know where I live?
Do you want me to help you?
I won't hurt you.
Are you hungry?
I gotta get you out of here.
Dad will shoot you if he sees you.
Everything's going to be all right.
It's okay.
Come on.
Come on!
I know what will get you out of here.
Come on.
It's a Christmas cookie.
Come on.
Come on, you can do it.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
You can do it.
That's it, that's it.
Come on, over here.
Come on.
I'll get more cookies but
you gotta come in here first.
That's it, come on, come on.
You gotta let me.
I'll get more help, but you
got to stay here till then.
- Come on, we're going to miss our bus.
- Coming.
- You forgot the dishes
last night, Jessica.
- Sorry, dad.
- Something's been
eating our little trees.
- Which?
- The little chestnuts.
- What do you think it was?
- Oh, I don't know.
From the looks of the droppings
I'd say it might have been a deer.
- Must have been hungry
if it was eating wood.
- Wood.
That's what they eat.
If I see 'em do it,
they'll be eating lead.
- See you, dad.
- Forgot my homework.
- Too late now.
- 1 got to.
- Then you'll have to walk.
- Go ahead!
See ya later!
- Not if I see you first!
- This isn't a very healthy breakfast,
but it'll have to do until
I can get you some hay.
And you did eat our little trees.
Oh, Prancer, you're
getting worse and worse.
I'm going for some help.
- You okay?
- Benton!
Doctor Benton!
Doctor Benton!
- Whatever it is can wait til tomorrow.
I've been up all night.
- Can't wait!
Emergency!!
Please?
Just come, please.
I brought someone to help you, Prancer.
- Oh, my God, if it's a reindeer.
You tricked me into this.
- Uh-uh.
I said there's an animal
that needs your help
and that's the truth.
I think he's dying.
Where are you going?
- I'm sorry.
I can't.
- You're a doctor.
You're supposed to help animals.
- Domestic animals.
I thought it was a cow.
- But he'll die!
- Talk to mother nature.
- Doctor Benton, this
is very, very important.
You have no idea!
No!
He'll die!
- Let go of my truck.
- He's one of Santa's.
Prancer, actually.
- I'm so glad to hear that.
- It is!
- Would you please stop?
- It's Prancer.
If you don't help,
he'll never make it
back home by Christmas.
- Would you please stop doing that?
- Maybe there won't
- Your dad's going
- Even be a Christmas
- To hear about this.
- If he doesn't get back.
- Young lady, I was up half
the night with a pregnant cow
and a crazy horse.
I'm tired, my hand hurts,
I've got a sick wife to tend to.
I can't help you.
- But I'm telling you.
He's one of Santa's!
- Then call Santa!
And let go of my car.
- Probably couldn't help him anyways.
Doctors are just liars.
They never make anyone better!
Is he going to be okay?
- Too soon to tell.
Should take a while to heal.
Hold his head away from me.
- I really don't think this is necessary.
He's probably used to being around people.
- What am I, an elf?
Hold his head down.
And keep that on after I leave, you hear?
They bite.
- Isn't he the most beautiful
thing you've ever seen?
- Like a cow with antlers.
Don't know what a reindeer
is doing this far south.
Must have escaped from that Christmas show
over at Riverdales.
I'll give 'em a call.
' No!
Please, I don't want anybody to know.
Especially daddy.
I don't think he'd understand.
- I gotta give 'em a call just in case.
But I'll make you a deal.
I'll give you a couple days
to tell your father yourself.
- Deal.
History's going to love you for this.
- Oh, go to school.
- School!
- I swear I don't know
what you're thinking about half the time.
Your head's always off
in the clouds somewhere!
You don't just show up for
school when you feel like it!
- It's almost vacation, anyway,
and all I missed was finger
painting and I didn't see
- That's the very thing I'm talking about!
The very thing I'm worried about!
I've gotta go off to Benton Harbor tonight
and who knows what you're gonna get up to.
You going to tell me why you were late?
Are you listening to me?
- No.
- You're not?
- No, I mean, I'm not going to tell you
why I was late for school.
- Fine.
Have it your way.
- Hello.
Mister Benton?
This is Jessica Riggs.
- Yes.
What?
Huh?
- Jessica Riggs.
I was wondering if you
called the Christmas show.
- Yes, it's not theirs.
- Thanks, sir.
I knew it.
- Darnedest thing.
Where did that deer come from?
- I have to babysit my crazy sister.
Of course I've got her locked in her room,
so I probably could just
sneak out of the house.
She's on a mission to find some reindeer.
My dad almost made a
road pizza out of him,
but she thinks he can fly.
No, not my dad, the reindeer.
- Suppertime.
This is the part I told you about.
You tear apart the baby's rattle,
see what makes noise inside.
But there's a veil
covering the unseen world
which not the strongest
man could tear apart.
No Santa Claus?
Thank God he lives and lives
forever 1,000 years from now.
10 times 10,000 years from now.
He'll continue to make glad
the heart of childhood.
I can't read as good as my mom did.
But you understand what it means, right?
I bet Santa doesn't think
you'll get back in time.
I better let him know.
I love you, Prancer.
But!
What about me?
Do you love me?
Say cheese!
- Did you get that?
- Ho ho ho, little buddy.
Of course I did.
Let's see, Skeletor, slime pit,
skateboard, and handcuffs.
- Right.
- Ho ho ho.
Merry Christmas.
Whoa!
You're getting kind of
heavy for Santa's lap,
aren't you little girl?
- I'm sorry.
I don't have any time for chitchat.
I know you're not the real Santa.
- Whoa.
Of course I am.
- But can you get this letter to him?
- Why don't you just put a stamp on it
and drop it in the mailbox?
- It's too late for that.
Please believe me.
This is a matter of utmost importance.
Prancer's in the shed near my house!
I plan to take him to Antler Ridge
on December 23rd, midnight.
- All that's in the letter?
- Here's a picture of him.
That way Santa will know
you're telling the truth.
- Do you think he'd doubt me?
- Admit it.
You're not the real Santa.
- Okay, okay-
Keep it to yourself.
- Can you help me?
- I'll do everything I possibly can.
- Thanks.
- Oh, wait a minute now.
Is that all you want for Christmas?
- Well, for now, anyways.
I really don't want to live with my aunt,
but I don't know if Santa
can do anything about that.
- Can we hurry it
along a little bit, Santa?
- Yes, sir.
- Go on, honey.
It's your turn.
Go on up there, quick.
There you go.
- On!
Well.
And what do you want for Christmas,
you little devil, you?
- Put the Minot robbery on three,
the farmers on welfare story on five.
- I got something to cheer you up, pal.
This will be perfect
for tomorrow's edition.
- You've got to swear, Carol.
- I said I would.
- Cross your heart, swear not to tell.
If you do, I'll
- I swear!
- Ready?
- I'm ready.
I'm ready!
Oh, my God!
- It's Prancer.
Go ahead.
Pet him.
- No.
It's okay.
I don't like animals that much, anyway.
- Come on, that's not an animal.
- What are you doing here?
- It's a bird.
It's a plane.
It's a hat rack.
- It's a reindeer, you nerd.
- Looks like enough
meat to last the winter.
Whoa!
Hurt me.
My knees are shaking.
- If you tell clad, I'll
never speak to you again.
- Is that a promise?
Dad!
Oh, dad!
Hey, dad!
Guess
- Shut up, Steve.
- Shut up?
- Look, I'll make you a deal.
You don't tell dad and I'll
clean out the barn for you
until the end of the year.
- You're lousy at cleaning the barn.
- Name your price, then.
- Hm.
I don't wanna wash any dishes till June.
- Deal.
- By the way,
I wouldn't take any more feed
from the barn if I were you.
- Now look,
Steve, he has to eat.
- Well then you guys can buy some oats.
- With what?
- I don't know.
- You wanna give us some money?
- We don't have any money.
- You know,
dad's noticed the missing hay.
He thinks it's the deer getting in.
He says he's going to
- Don't say the word.
- Be waiting with his gun.
See you, Prancer.
Bye, Carol.
- I only need two more days.
Then I'll take him up to Antler Ridge
and Santa will come and get him.
- He will?
- Yeah, I sent him a letter.
It's all worked out.
- Kid isn't playing with a full deck.
- Listen, Steve.
Nobody, and I mean nobody but us three,
can know about Prancer.
- Don't worry.
I wouldn't want anybody
to find out you're nuts.
- No, Prancer, I have no cookies.
If you didn't eat so fast,
you'd still have some hay left.
Where am I going to
get the money for oats?
They cost something like $15 a bag.
- Don't look at me.
I spent all mine on Christmas presents.
- Maybe we can earn it.
We're on vacation.
We can get jobs.
Don't worry, Prancer.
I won't let you starve.
- Jessie.
Your Aunt Sarah's gonna be
staying over the next two nights.
She wants to take you to church on Sunday,
and Christmas shopping tomorrow.
- I can't tomorrow.
I got something important to do.
- You stay with your Aunt Sarah.
I got to go to town on business.
I don't want to come back
and hear you've been
giving her a hard time.
- What do you want?
- I came to apologize for trespassing
and for messing up your flowers.
- Well, I should think so.
This isn't the first time
you hooligans have torn up my property!
- I know.
I'm really sorry.
- You should see my creeping bent
in the summer, what they do.
- I know!
I know.
Anyway, ma'am, I'm sorry.
- Don't do it again,
or I'll be forced to notify
the juvenile authorities.
I'm sure you wouldn't enjoy a
month or two in reform school.
- No, ma'am.
No.
While I'm here, ma'am, I'm
raising money for a good cause.
And, well
I'm willing to do chores
for you for half price.
- Raising money?
For what cause?
- An animal shelter.
- What kind of chores?
And how much?
- I'll clean any room in your
house top to bottom for $5.
- Any room?
- Any room.
- Been meaning to fix this
up for quite a while now.
- This looks like a $10 job.
- You said any room for $5.
Now, this goes upstairs.
This goes upstairs.
You can leave this here.
These go out back.
These go in the closet under the stairs.
This goes up on the top floor.
Oh!
These are still good.
Keep that over there.
This room needs a big dusting.
Oh.
These books.
Put them in the bookcase.
And this might
Come on.
Little girl.
Little girl?
Little girl.
Little girl.
Are you playing a game on me?
- Surprise!
- What's all this?
- Aren't they beautiful?
- Pack these up right away.
- Why?
- No, I don't want them.
Pack them up.
- But don't you like them?
- No, I don't like them.
- You used to win all of the lights awards
for decorating your house.
People came from miles around.
- Why would I want people
to come from miles around
to trample everything?
- Because you have a beautiful house.
- Well,
I'm not doing it anymore.
- Please?
Please?
- To the left.
No!
My left!
$5.
And $10 makes $15.
- We agreed on five.
I know, but you did $15 worth of work.
- Thanks, Mrs. McFarland.
- Let's go in for those cookies and milk.
- I got to go.
- But you said you were
going to stay a while.
- I got something important to do.
- Fine!
Be that way.
- I was so worried,
I looked for her all day.
She took off early this morning
and she didn't say a word.
- I'll talk to her.
It's spite.
- Dear Santa Claus,
don't worry about Prancer.
He's in good hands.
He was hurt, but I helped him to get well.
I will bring him to you
at the top of Antler Ridge
at midnight on Sunday, the
night before Christmas Eve.
That way you will have plenty of time.
If you don't want me to see
you, I'll close my eyes.
But I do want to see you.
Love, Jessica Riggs.
- How is it, honey?
Does it fit you?
- Very well, thank you.
- 10 minutes.
- Come on, man.
Hurry UP-
' Be quiet.
She can hear us.
- Oh, my God.
- Here he is.
- He's big.
- Oh, wow.
He's rad!
- Okay, Quinn, what are you doing here?
- Hey! twigs.
Just wanted to see the famous Prancer.
- Prancer?
Who told you?
- Nobody.
I just saw
- I'm going to strangle that Carol.
- Look at his weird feet.
- And those eyes.
- He's so ugly.
' Yeah.
' Out!
Come out!
- Hey, watch it!
- Take it easy.
- That thing is sharp!
- What's wrong with you?
Out, out!
- She's crazy, man.
- I'm gonna slice you into little pieces!
Out!
Get away!
Get, get, get!
Shoo and never come back again!
You're not ugly, Prancer.
Don't let those creeps bother you.
I'm going to strangle that Carol.
All right for her.
- All I'm saying
is you better get that
reindeer out of the shed soon.
- I am.
Tonight.
Pretty soon everyone's
gonna know about him.
I can't believe Carol told.
- Hello, Jessica.
- Hi, Mrs. Fairburn.
Aunt Sarah, this is my
teacher, Mrs. Fairburn.
- Oh, hello.
- You must be so proud of her.
- Oh, well, yes.
We always are.
- I want to hear all about it.
I'll talk to you after church.
- Good morning.
- Good morning, reverend.
- Merry Christmas.
Well, well, well, well, well.
You have added inspiration
to my day, young lady.
- What'd you do, hand out money?
- I don't have any idea
what they're talking about.
- That brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus,
through the blood of the
everlasting covenant,
make you perfect in every
good work to do his will,
working in you that which
is pleasing in his sight
through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
Hark, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
- And the Angel
of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them,
and they were so afraid.
And the angel said unto them, "Fear not."
- What's the matter, Ralph?
Oh Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the earth
Thy hand has made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed
Then sings my soul
My savior God to thee
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My savior God to thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
- And now a final community note.
We have someone very special
in our congregation this morning.
Those of you who have read
this morning's Sunday newspaper
know who I'm talking about.
But for those of you who haven't,
I'd like to read part of an editorial
that appears in the family section.
It may help to inspire you
in the same way that it did me.
In an electronic age where
children are growing up
light-years faster than their ancestors
ever dreamed possible,
where the harsh realities of everyday life
have invaded even the most
idyllic of communities,
it is inspiring to see that some children
are able to hold on to their
dreams and innocent spirit.
Yes, Santa, there are still
Virginias in this world.
We have one right here in Three Oaks.
She's nursing the spirit
of Christmas back to health
the same way as she's nursed
your missing reindeer back to health.
Please stop by soon to collect Prancer.
Until then, he's in good hands.
Three Oaks is in good hands
as long as we have children
like Jessica Riggs,
with all their sense of wonder and belief.
We need that belief.
The world needs it.
May it live forever.
- Oh, man.
- Oh, no.
Dad's probably reading it right now.
- Whoa, Janet!
Dumb cow.
- Prancer!
- Where's Prancer?
- We have to find him first.
- Let's go this way.
- Nobody's here.
- Hi, John.
Hope you don't mind us
barging in like this.
- Oh, no.
- There he is.
- Look, there he is.
HEY, YOU guys, look.
He's over here, he's in the house.
- He's got a gun!
- Don't shoot!
Don't shoot!
I want to make a proposition to you, John.
- Holy cow.
- Oh, no.
He's gone.
Daddy, where is he?
Did you kill him?
- You had that deer out in
that shed all week, didn't you?
- Tell us, daddy.
- That's why you skipped school.
You gave him food from
the barn, telling lies.
Then I find a 40 pound
sack of oats out there
with a Christmas bow on it!
Do you wanna tell me where that came from?
Did you steal that, too?
- No, she bought it with
- You were in on this, too, huh?
I'll get to you later.
- Daddy!
- Sit down to read the
newspaper for a change
and all heck breaks loose.
Darned deer lets the stock out
then comes into the house!
I got too much on my mind for all this.
You kids are making me nuts.
- Daddy, you didn't shoot him.
Tell me you didn't shoot him.
- I didn't shoot it.
- You didn't?
- No, I didn't.
- Really?
- No, I didn't.
- Oh, thank you, daddy.
Did he run away?
Which way did he go?
Did he go to Antler Ridge?
- Down at Three Oaks.
I sold him.
- Sold him?
- To Herb Drier.
He offered me $200 to
take him off my hands.
- Mister Drier, the butcher?
Daddy, he'll eat him!
- No, he won't.
- He's a butcher, daddy.
He'll cut him up and sell the pieces.
- Now stop it.
- No, I won't.
You don't understand what you've done.
He's one of Santa's.
- Oh, come on, Jessie!
- Mom would've never done this.
- Look, a reindeer don't fly, okay?
I hate to be the one to tell
you that, but they don't.
- I'll shoot her instead of you.
Die, I'm gonna die.
- Oh, John, you really
didn't do that, did you?
- Where is he, Mister Drier?
- Where's who?
- Prancer!
- Over there.
- Prancer.
You're alive.
- I saved his life.
Now he's my best salesman.
Aren't you, fella?
Nobody answer that.
I'm tired of having to
explain to everybody
why I sold that reindeer.
- May I be excused, please?
- Yes, you may.
- Sorry about the mess
he made in the house.
I'll do the dishes after
everyone's through.
- Where do you think you're going?
- None of your beeswax.
- You're heading for town
at night in a snowstorm
and it's none of my business?
You're gonna try and spring Prancer.
- So what if I am?
- I just wondered
why do you need a sack
full of clothes to do it.
Come on, Jessie, what are the clothes for?
You're gonna tell me what you're doing
or I'm gonna go get dad.
- I'm not coming back.
- Boy, that's just great.
Come on, Jessie.
Come back to the house.
Come on, don't be crazy.
HEY, are you going to make me drag you?
- Go ahead, drag me.
I'll just find another way to leave.
- Am I the only sane
one left in this family?
- Look, Steve, I'm not going
to ever, ever live with Aunt Sarah.
- Aunt Sarah?
- Dad wants to send me there
and I really don't want to go.
- He does?
Why is everyone keeping me
in the dark about everything?
- I didn't think you'd care.
- Of course I do.
- I thought
maybe you might be glad.
- Of course not.
Now come on back, Jess.
We'll work this out.
- Dad doesn't want me.
- Sure, he does.
- He doesn't treat me right.
- He's just mixed up right now.
- He doesn't love me,
doesn't understand me.
- Maybe he doesn't
understand you all the time.
I don't either.
That doesn't mean I don't love you.
Come on, come on home.
I'm tired of talking about this.
- I can't, Steve.
With Prancer gone, there's
nothing left for me in this town.
Bye, Steve.
- Figured you might need
some help with the jailbreak.
Don't think I'm gonna try
and talk you out of running away anymore.
Whatever you wanna do is fine with me.
- Thanks, Steve.
- We gotta hurry.
Bert makes his rounds every half an hour.
You be the lookout.
Where were you?
- I didn't see it.
- Get back to your post.
- No, let me help.
The snow's too thick for looking out.
- If you don't get back to
your post we're going home.
' Hey, Steve!
UP here!
- What are you doing?
What the heck are you doing?
- Prying the roof off
so Prancer can jump out.
- Too high for you and
it's too high for him.
- He's Prancer, Steve.
Maybe we'll get to see him fly.
- Get down!
- No.
Come on, Prancer.
Come on.
You're all better now.
There's nothing holding you back.
Prancer, come on.
We don't have much time.
It's quarter till 12.
Prancer, come on!
Look, Steve.
He's gonna fly, he's gonna fly.
Steve, look!
- It's Bert.
Stay put.
Maybe he won't see you in all the snow.
- Hey, Prancer.
How you doing tonight, huh?
Nice weather we're having here, huh?
- How about that?
Yeah.
Oh, boy'
Well, we'll see you on our next run
and I'll bring you something
real good to eat, too, okay?
Okay.
See you later.
- Stay put!
I'm coming up!
Jessie!
Jessie!
Bert!
Bert, wait!
Bert!
Wait, Bert, stop!
Bert, my sister's hurt!
Wait!
Bert!
Come back!
She's hurt!
Wait!
Come back, Bert!
Are you sure?
I think maybe she came home
from the hospital too soon.
I know the X-Rays turned out alright.
She's still not feeling well.
Things are blurry when she looks at 'em.
She doesn't want to get out of bed.
She doesn't want to play
her Christmas records.
Oh, no, you don't understand.
My daughter plays
Christmas records all year.
Yeah, okay.
I will.
- How are you feeling, honey?
Things still look a little funny to you?
- Sort of.
- Tomorrow when your uncle and I come over
for Christmas dinner,
we'll all get bundled up and
we'll go and see Prancer.
- I don't want to see that deer anymore.
- What on earth are you talking about?
- Everyone was right.
Don't know why it took
me so long to listen.
- I don't understand, Jessie.
- It's just a deer, Aunt Sarah.
- What would make you say such a thing?
After all that you've done for him,
after what he did for you last night?
Why, I bet Santa's coming
to get him tonight.
- You don't have to pretend.
Dad's right.
I'm almost nine years old.
It's time I grew up a little.
- Hey, John, how are you?
What you doing down here?
- I was just checking on the reindeer.
- You ought to go up to your house
'cause there's gonna be a party there.
- Uh.
- Dumb.
It was supposed to be a surprise party.
- A what?
- Just between you and I,
it's a party for Jessie.
So, we'll see you out there, okay?
- Well, yeah.
Sure I'll be there.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
- Don't hit me in front of people.
I outrank you, you know.
Oh Tannenbaum
Thy leaves are so unchanging
Not only green when summer's here
But also when 'tis cold and drear
Oh Tannenbaum
Thy leaves are so unchanging
Oh Tannenbaum
Thy leaves are so unchanging
Not only green when summer's here
But also when 'tis cold and drear
Oh Tannenbaum
Thy leaves are so unchanging
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
We wish you a merry Christmas
- I found this at the Christmas tree lot.
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
- Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Please come in!
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
- I haven't got much to
give you this Christmas.
- That's okay, daddy.
- No, it isn't.
It isn't.
I've been thinking.
Maybe we could do some of
the things we used to do,
you know, before?
On other Christmases.
You know that old sleigh?
Remember the rides we used to
take in it every Christmas?
Well, maybe we could
hook it up to old Ralph
and do that tomorrow.
- I'd like that, daddy.
- I found this out in the shed.
What?
- Read it.
Just this part.
That's my favorite.
- You tear apart the baby's rattle,
and you see what makes the noise inside.
But there is a veil
covering the unseen world,
which not the strongest
man could tear apart.
Only faith,
poetry,
love, and romance
can push aside that curtain
and view the beauty and the glory beyond.
Is it all real?
Virginia, in all this world,
there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus?
Thank God he lives,
and lives forever
1,000 years from now,
10 times 10,000 years from now.
He will continue to make
glad the heart of childhood.
- I didn't really wanna run away.
I just, I just wanted
you to find me
and bring me back here
and tell me things were going to be okay,
like they used to be.
- Oh, Jessie.
I can't tell you everything's
going to be all right.
I wish I could.
But I know things are always
going to be hard around here.
Could even be we'll
lose this farm someday.
But I can bear that.
What I can't bear is
when you were gone last night,
I saw what it would be like around here
not to have you around.
I love you, Jessie.
- I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, daddy.
I'm sorry.
I love you, too, daddy.
- I know, baby.
It's okay.
Don't cry.
You're home, honey.
And that's where you're gonna stay.
I got something I want to show you.
- How'd you get him?
- Tracked Herb down and
gave him his money back.
I think we still got time to
get him out to Antler Ridge.
Santa hasn't been to Three Oaks yet.
- You don't have to.
I know he's really not Prancer.
- You're gonna have a lot of trouble
convincing all those
people downstairs of that.
Move out of the way, everybody.
We got a reindeer to get to
Antler Ridge by midnight.
- I don't think this is
such a good idea, John.
The doctor said that she
could get out of bed,
but I don't think this
is what he had in mind.
She still needs her rest.
- I know what she needs, Sarah,
and from now on she's gonna
be getting more of it.
- Bye!
- Bye, reindeer!
- Merry Christmas, Prancer!
- I wish I could keep
you for just my own pet.
I'll always remember you, Prancer.
I love you.
Thanks, Prancer, for everything.
- Look.
- Where did he go?
- I don't know.
He just disappeared.
- He couldn't have jumped and live.
- Maybe he flew.
This would be a good place
for Santa to come and get him.
- The moon is full.
- And it is Christmas Eve.
Listen.
Maybe you'll hear his bells.
- I hear them.
I hear them, daddy, I do.
Goodbye, Prancer.
Good bye.
Remember me.
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
- Just the right half, please.
Yet in thy dark street shineth
The everlasting light
- The other half.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
- You three, sing.
Yet in thy dark street shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
- Thank you.
That will be all.
Honey, why don't you
- Shut up.
- I don't recall asking
for a second opinion.
Sing a bit softer.
- She sounds worse
than when I kick my dog.
Silent night
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright
- And the Moon shone with
a special brightness.
And, as if by magic,
animals who were natural enemies,
when they saw it lay down together.
The leopard with the chicken.
The lion with the lamb.
Sleep in heavenly peace
- And though snow fell
they were no longer cold.
Sleep in heavenly peace
- Which is why
many believe today
that when the moon is
full on Christmas Eve,
it offers a magical time of peace,
a blessing on the world.
Holy night
Shepherds quake
- And guided by
a star, the wise men.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts
- Guided by a star, the
wise men came bearing gifts,
gold and spices from the orient,
oils and silk.
Christ the savior is born
Christ the savior is born
- Up a little bit.
A little more.
All the way up.
Come on, guys.
- Oh, look, Santa's reindeer.
Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer
- There's a car.
- Now Dasher, now Dancer, now
- Get out of the street.
- Now Dasher!
Now Dancer!
Now
- Watch it!
- Prancer!
- I've been telling
the council for years
these decorations are too old.
- Almost went right
through that man's windshield.
- Oh, look.
- Looks like Santa's
only going to have seven
reindeer this year.
- Up and out, people.
Let's clear the streets.
Don't want any accidents.
Let's clear the street.
- Aren't you going to fix him?
Aren't you going to fix him?
- I don't know.
- They've got to fix him.
Santa needs all his reindeer.
Maybe he can't fly without Prancer.
- It's not the real Prancer.
It's just wood.
- I know that.
It's just wood.
- I don't know, you
got a lot of hours on it.
- Hey, that tractor's
only three years old.
- Yeah, but I can
only give you 1,900 for it.
- It's worth twice that.
- Look, I know you're
having a rough time here.
- Dad, guess what?
- 3,000.
- A reindeer fell
and almost went right
through a man's windshield.
- Not now!
- That's my best offer.
Take it or leave it.
- Leave it.
What are you dressed up for?
- It was the Christmas
pageant today, remember?
- Yeah.
How'd it go?
- Good.
- That's good.
- You know what?
Shawn Griswold was supposed
to carry the baby Jesus,
but he lost it.
They had to wrap up a bunch of rags
and use that instead.
Dad, are we poor?
- No, we're not poor.
We're just down on our luck.
- Well, will we be up on our luck?
- I'm doing everything I can.
- I could help if you let me.
- You're just a little girl.
- Are we going to starve?
- No, of course not.
Stop worrying about
these things, will you?
We're going to be all right.
Apples.
We're going to eat apple sauce
and apple cider and apple pie.
And then stewed apples and
baked apples and dried apples.
Apple butter.
Heck, no.
We're not gonna starve.
- Hi, Aunt Sarah.
Steve, can you fix my sled?
- No.
' No?
- No.
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Good tidings to you
Wherever you are
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Now bring us some figgy pudding
- Dinner!
' Coming!
Now bring us some figgy pudding
And bring some right here
We won't go until we get some
We won't go till we get some
- Ah, wish.
Wish.
Flop, flop, wish.
There's going to be a
full moon this Christmas.
- Don't talk with your mouth full.
- Sorry.
That means there's bound to
be magic things happening.
- Give me a break.
- You don't know anything about it.
Our teacher
- There is something about a full moon.
Nancy Hooper works over at the hospital
and she says whenever there's a full moon,
the patients on the eighth floor,
you know, the mental patients,
they all start acting up like crazy.
- Really?
- Mm hmm.
' How?
- Why don't you go there on
Christmas Eve and find out?
They'll show you magic.
- Why are you so nasty?
- You want to eat like an animal,
take your food out to the barn.
- It's not an easy
thing that we're playing here.
- It's not easy on me either.
You think I like not being
able to provide for her?
- You do provide.
- No, I don't.
I can't even get a bank loan anymore.
- Have you told her yet, John?
You've got to.
- I know.
I know.
- I still don't see why
she's been coming over
so much lately.
- She's your aunt.
She's trying to help out.
- She asked dad if he told me yet.
Told me what?
- Maybe they're gonna get married.
- Don't be revolting.
She's married to my uncle Arnold.
- Maybe they were talking
about a surprise, a Christmas
present they got you.
- You know Santa's the one
who brings all the presents.
- Oh, right.
Santa Claus.
- You know it's true.
My mother told me, and she'd never lie.
- Let's not talk about it
anymore right now, though.
There's some serious sledding to be done.
- We're the first ones.
- The only ones crazy enough to do this.
- Hey, you!
This is private property.
Get off my property.
- Steer away!
Turn!
- I'm trying, I'm trying-
- Don't you come here, you hooligans!
Go away, you violators.
You hit me and you'll go to juvenile hall.
Oh.
Oh, my floribundas.
Oh.
You animals!
Oh, oh, oh, my floribundas.
You rascals!
Oh, I'll get even with you.
I'll catch you.
I'll catch you, you.
I'll get YOU, YOU, YOU
Terrorists!
- Would she recognize us?
- I don't think so.
See you tomorrow.
Okay, bye-
- I've never seen one like you.
You're not afraid of me.
Dad, I just saw a deer in the woods.
- Come in here.
- It was interesting.
It was so big.
It looked like a giant.
It was so weird, you would never imagine.
- How many times have I told you
not to go near McFarland's?
- Dad, will you listen
- She just gave me a call
and says you ruined some
of her flower bushes.
You wanna guess who's gonna pay for those?
- But, dad!
- I want you to
stay away from there.
- It looked just like the one in my room.
Hey!
- You hear me?
- Yeah, I do, clad.
- I believe you saw a deer in the woods.
There's lots of 'em around.
But I don't believe it was Santa's,
and I don't believe it flies.
- It looks just like this one, Prancer.
See the white mark on his forehead?
Hey, wait a minute.
Remember it was Prancer that
fell down on Main Street?
- That's right, it was.
- So is this one.
I have a magazine that had
all the reindeers lined up.
I cut them out and this is the order.
This is Prancer and this is,
this is Prancer, Dancer,
okay, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer,
this is Vixen and this is Prancer.
- Are you going to eat your pickle?
- The moon's almost full!
It'll be full on Christmas Eve.
Don't you see?
It all fits together.
- The problem is, Jessie,
I don't believe in Santa Claus anymore.
- What?
- I mean, think about it.
How could one man climb
down all the chimneys
in the world in one night?
- He's magical, Carol.
- It doesn't make sense.
- Well, Carol, not everything
in the world can be explained.
- I've never seen Santa Claus,
and I've clone a lot of looking.
- You've never seen God, either.
Does that mean there's no God?
- Well, how do we know
about that for sure?
- Because if there's no
God, there's no heaven.
- Well, maybe there isn't.
- All right for you, Carol Wetherby.
You're not my friend anymore.
- What did I say?
- That there was no heaven!
' $0?
- What about my mother then?
- I said I'm sorry.
Jessie, come on!
I was just kidding.
I believe in Santa Claus, okay?
I believe in God, and I believe in heaven.
- Do you believe it was Prancer?
- Yes.
- I don't believe you.
- There's my mom.
She's taking me Christmas shopping.
Talk to you later.
- Get in here!
Come on!
I talk and I talk and you
just don't listen, do you?
What are you doing out there by yourself?
- Looking for the reindeer.
- I've told you never to go into the woods
by yourself this time of year.
A hunter will shoot you!
- Where were you going, daddy?
- Just groceries.
You know, looking at some feed and things.
- I heard you and Aunt Sarah
talking the other night.
What does told me yet mean?
- What?
- What does told me yet mean?
- Oh, baby.
You know, it's just not right
when a little girl's got to
grow up without a mom around.
We've been talking about maybe
you going to live with her.
- No, daddy, please,
I don't wanna do that.
- I know you don't.
This is a hard thing for me to do,
but I got to think about
what's best for you.
- You're what's best for me.
- No, I'm not.
I can't buy you the things you want.
Can't give you an education.
Sarah will be able to do those things.
- Please, daddy.
Please.
I want to stay with you.
Daddy, I know we argue, but,
please, daddy, please.
- Honey, us arguing hasn't
got anything to do with it.
It's just not right that I'm
away from the house so much.
- Send Steve if someone has to go.
- He's older than you.
I need his help.
- I help, too.
- I know you do.
- I can do everything he does.
He'll get too old for work.
I can take his place.
Please, daddy, please.
- You'll only be 30 miles away.
- 30 miles!
That's like a billion, two trillion,
a thousand miles
- Calm down, will ya?
Families do this for
each other all the time.
They help each other out
when things get tough
and things are tough for me right now.
- I'm gonna run away if she comes for me.
- I don't wanna
hear you talk like that.
- I will if she comes
and you'll never find me.
- Stop it, Jessica!
- Dad, look out!
It's him!
- Wait, stay here!
- He's hurt, daddy.
- Stay away from him.
- We gotta help him.
Daddy, no!
- It's hurt.
It's been wounded, Jessie.
- No!
- Let go!
- You can't!
It's the one I saw!
It's Santa's!
- Jessie, he's just gonna suffer.
- No, no!
I hate you, I hate you!
- All right, you hate me, you hate me!
- I'm going to look over this way.
- Don't even think about it.
This is gonna stop.
- You're here.
How did you know where I live?
Do you want me to help you?
I won't hurt you.
Are you hungry?
I gotta get you out of here.
Dad will shoot you if he sees you.
Everything's going to be all right.
It's okay.
Come on.
Come on!
I know what will get you out of here.
Come on.
It's a Christmas cookie.
Come on.
Come on, you can do it.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
You can do it.
That's it, that's it.
Come on, over here.
Come on.
I'll get more cookies but
you gotta come in here first.
That's it, come on, come on.
You gotta let me.
I'll get more help, but you
got to stay here till then.
- Come on, we're going to miss our bus.
- Coming.
- You forgot the dishes
last night, Jessica.
- Sorry, dad.
- Something's been
eating our little trees.
- Which?
- The little chestnuts.
- What do you think it was?
- Oh, I don't know.
From the looks of the droppings
I'd say it might have been a deer.
- Must have been hungry
if it was eating wood.
- Wood.
That's what they eat.
If I see 'em do it,
they'll be eating lead.
- See you, dad.
- Forgot my homework.
- Too late now.
- 1 got to.
- Then you'll have to walk.
- Go ahead!
See ya later!
- Not if I see you first!
- This isn't a very healthy breakfast,
but it'll have to do until
I can get you some hay.
And you did eat our little trees.
Oh, Prancer, you're
getting worse and worse.
I'm going for some help.
- You okay?
- Benton!
Doctor Benton!
Doctor Benton!
- Whatever it is can wait til tomorrow.
I've been up all night.
- Can't wait!
Emergency!!
Please?
Just come, please.
I brought someone to help you, Prancer.
- Oh, my God, if it's a reindeer.
You tricked me into this.
- Uh-uh.
I said there's an animal
that needs your help
and that's the truth.
I think he's dying.
Where are you going?
- I'm sorry.
I can't.
- You're a doctor.
You're supposed to help animals.
- Domestic animals.
I thought it was a cow.
- But he'll die!
- Talk to mother nature.
- Doctor Benton, this
is very, very important.
You have no idea!
No!
He'll die!
- Let go of my truck.
- He's one of Santa's.
Prancer, actually.
- I'm so glad to hear that.
- It is!
- Would you please stop?
- It's Prancer.
If you don't help,
he'll never make it
back home by Christmas.
- Would you please stop doing that?
- Maybe there won't
- Your dad's going
- Even be a Christmas
- To hear about this.
- If he doesn't get back.
- Young lady, I was up half
the night with a pregnant cow
and a crazy horse.
I'm tired, my hand hurts,
I've got a sick wife to tend to.
I can't help you.
- But I'm telling you.
He's one of Santa's!
- Then call Santa!
And let go of my car.
- Probably couldn't help him anyways.
Doctors are just liars.
They never make anyone better!
Is he going to be okay?
- Too soon to tell.
Should take a while to heal.
Hold his head away from me.
- I really don't think this is necessary.
He's probably used to being around people.
- What am I, an elf?
Hold his head down.
And keep that on after I leave, you hear?
They bite.
- Isn't he the most beautiful
thing you've ever seen?
- Like a cow with antlers.
Don't know what a reindeer
is doing this far south.
Must have escaped from that Christmas show
over at Riverdales.
I'll give 'em a call.
' No!
Please, I don't want anybody to know.
Especially daddy.
I don't think he'd understand.
- I gotta give 'em a call just in case.
But I'll make you a deal.
I'll give you a couple days
to tell your father yourself.
- Deal.
History's going to love you for this.
- Oh, go to school.
- School!
- I swear I don't know
what you're thinking about half the time.
Your head's always off
in the clouds somewhere!
You don't just show up for
school when you feel like it!
- It's almost vacation, anyway,
and all I missed was finger
painting and I didn't see
- That's the very thing I'm talking about!
The very thing I'm worried about!
I've gotta go off to Benton Harbor tonight
and who knows what you're gonna get up to.
You going to tell me why you were late?
Are you listening to me?
- No.
- You're not?
- No, I mean, I'm not going to tell you
why I was late for school.
- Fine.
Have it your way.
- Hello.
Mister Benton?
This is Jessica Riggs.
- Yes.
What?
Huh?
- Jessica Riggs.
I was wondering if you
called the Christmas show.
- Yes, it's not theirs.
- Thanks, sir.
I knew it.
- Darnedest thing.
Where did that deer come from?
- I have to babysit my crazy sister.
Of course I've got her locked in her room,
so I probably could just
sneak out of the house.
She's on a mission to find some reindeer.
My dad almost made a
road pizza out of him,
but she thinks he can fly.
No, not my dad, the reindeer.
- Suppertime.
This is the part I told you about.
You tear apart the baby's rattle,
see what makes noise inside.
But there's a veil
covering the unseen world
which not the strongest
man could tear apart.
No Santa Claus?
Thank God he lives and lives
forever 1,000 years from now.
10 times 10,000 years from now.
He'll continue to make glad
the heart of childhood.
I can't read as good as my mom did.
But you understand what it means, right?
I bet Santa doesn't think
you'll get back in time.
I better let him know.
I love you, Prancer.
But!
What about me?
Do you love me?
Say cheese!
- Did you get that?
- Ho ho ho, little buddy.
Of course I did.
Let's see, Skeletor, slime pit,
skateboard, and handcuffs.
- Right.
- Ho ho ho.
Merry Christmas.
Whoa!
You're getting kind of
heavy for Santa's lap,
aren't you little girl?
- I'm sorry.
I don't have any time for chitchat.
I know you're not the real Santa.
- Whoa.
Of course I am.
- But can you get this letter to him?
- Why don't you just put a stamp on it
and drop it in the mailbox?
- It's too late for that.
Please believe me.
This is a matter of utmost importance.
Prancer's in the shed near my house!
I plan to take him to Antler Ridge
on December 23rd, midnight.
- All that's in the letter?
- Here's a picture of him.
That way Santa will know
you're telling the truth.
- Do you think he'd doubt me?
- Admit it.
You're not the real Santa.
- Okay, okay-
Keep it to yourself.
- Can you help me?
- I'll do everything I possibly can.
- Thanks.
- Oh, wait a minute now.
Is that all you want for Christmas?
- Well, for now, anyways.
I really don't want to live with my aunt,
but I don't know if Santa
can do anything about that.
- Can we hurry it
along a little bit, Santa?
- Yes, sir.
- Go on, honey.
It's your turn.
Go on up there, quick.
There you go.
- On!
Well.
And what do you want for Christmas,
you little devil, you?
- Put the Minot robbery on three,
the farmers on welfare story on five.
- I got something to cheer you up, pal.
This will be perfect
for tomorrow's edition.
- You've got to swear, Carol.
- I said I would.
- Cross your heart, swear not to tell.
If you do, I'll
- I swear!
- Ready?
- I'm ready.
I'm ready!
Oh, my God!
- It's Prancer.
Go ahead.
Pet him.
- No.
It's okay.
I don't like animals that much, anyway.
- Come on, that's not an animal.
- What are you doing here?
- It's a bird.
It's a plane.
It's a hat rack.
- It's a reindeer, you nerd.
- Looks like enough
meat to last the winter.
Whoa!
Hurt me.
My knees are shaking.
- If you tell clad, I'll
never speak to you again.
- Is that a promise?
Dad!
Oh, dad!
Hey, dad!
Guess
- Shut up, Steve.
- Shut up?
- Look, I'll make you a deal.
You don't tell dad and I'll
clean out the barn for you
until the end of the year.
- You're lousy at cleaning the barn.
- Name your price, then.
- Hm.
I don't wanna wash any dishes till June.
- Deal.
- By the way,
I wouldn't take any more feed
from the barn if I were you.
- Now look,
Steve, he has to eat.
- Well then you guys can buy some oats.
- With what?
- I don't know.
- You wanna give us some money?
- We don't have any money.
- You know,
dad's noticed the missing hay.
He thinks it's the deer getting in.
He says he's going to
- Don't say the word.
- Be waiting with his gun.
See you, Prancer.
Bye, Carol.
- I only need two more days.
Then I'll take him up to Antler Ridge
and Santa will come and get him.
- He will?
- Yeah, I sent him a letter.
It's all worked out.
- Kid isn't playing with a full deck.
- Listen, Steve.
Nobody, and I mean nobody but us three,
can know about Prancer.
- Don't worry.
I wouldn't want anybody
to find out you're nuts.
- No, Prancer, I have no cookies.
If you didn't eat so fast,
you'd still have some hay left.
Where am I going to
get the money for oats?
They cost something like $15 a bag.
- Don't look at me.
I spent all mine on Christmas presents.
- Maybe we can earn it.
We're on vacation.
We can get jobs.
Don't worry, Prancer.
I won't let you starve.
- Jessie.
Your Aunt Sarah's gonna be
staying over the next two nights.
She wants to take you to church on Sunday,
and Christmas shopping tomorrow.
- I can't tomorrow.
I got something important to do.
- You stay with your Aunt Sarah.
I got to go to town on business.
I don't want to come back
and hear you've been
giving her a hard time.
- What do you want?
- I came to apologize for trespassing
and for messing up your flowers.
- Well, I should think so.
This isn't the first time
you hooligans have torn up my property!
- I know.
I'm really sorry.
- You should see my creeping bent
in the summer, what they do.
- I know!
I know.
Anyway, ma'am, I'm sorry.
- Don't do it again,
or I'll be forced to notify
the juvenile authorities.
I'm sure you wouldn't enjoy a
month or two in reform school.
- No, ma'am.
No.
While I'm here, ma'am, I'm
raising money for a good cause.
And, well
I'm willing to do chores
for you for half price.
- Raising money?
For what cause?
- An animal shelter.
- What kind of chores?
And how much?
- I'll clean any room in your
house top to bottom for $5.
- Any room?
- Any room.
- Been meaning to fix this
up for quite a while now.
- This looks like a $10 job.
- You said any room for $5.
Now, this goes upstairs.
This goes upstairs.
You can leave this here.
These go out back.
These go in the closet under the stairs.
This goes up on the top floor.
Oh!
These are still good.
Keep that over there.
This room needs a big dusting.
Oh.
These books.
Put them in the bookcase.
And this might
Come on.
Little girl.
Little girl?
Little girl.
Little girl.
Are you playing a game on me?
- Surprise!
- What's all this?
- Aren't they beautiful?
- Pack these up right away.
- Why?
- No, I don't want them.
Pack them up.
- But don't you like them?
- No, I don't like them.
- You used to win all of the lights awards
for decorating your house.
People came from miles around.
- Why would I want people
to come from miles around
to trample everything?
- Because you have a beautiful house.
- Well,
I'm not doing it anymore.
- Please?
Please?
- To the left.
No!
My left!
$5.
And $10 makes $15.
- We agreed on five.
I know, but you did $15 worth of work.
- Thanks, Mrs. McFarland.
- Let's go in for those cookies and milk.
- I got to go.
- But you said you were
going to stay a while.
- I got something important to do.
- Fine!
Be that way.
- I was so worried,
I looked for her all day.
She took off early this morning
and she didn't say a word.
- I'll talk to her.
It's spite.
- Dear Santa Claus,
don't worry about Prancer.
He's in good hands.
He was hurt, but I helped him to get well.
I will bring him to you
at the top of Antler Ridge
at midnight on Sunday, the
night before Christmas Eve.
That way you will have plenty of time.
If you don't want me to see
you, I'll close my eyes.
But I do want to see you.
Love, Jessica Riggs.
- How is it, honey?
Does it fit you?
- Very well, thank you.
- 10 minutes.
- Come on, man.
Hurry UP-
' Be quiet.
She can hear us.
- Oh, my God.
- Here he is.
- He's big.
- Oh, wow.
He's rad!
- Okay, Quinn, what are you doing here?
- Hey! twigs.
Just wanted to see the famous Prancer.
- Prancer?
Who told you?
- Nobody.
I just saw
- I'm going to strangle that Carol.
- Look at his weird feet.
- And those eyes.
- He's so ugly.
' Yeah.
' Out!
Come out!
- Hey, watch it!
- Take it easy.
- That thing is sharp!
- What's wrong with you?
Out, out!
- She's crazy, man.
- I'm gonna slice you into little pieces!
Out!
Get away!
Get, get, get!
Shoo and never come back again!
You're not ugly, Prancer.
Don't let those creeps bother you.
I'm going to strangle that Carol.
All right for her.
- All I'm saying
is you better get that
reindeer out of the shed soon.
- I am.
Tonight.
Pretty soon everyone's
gonna know about him.
I can't believe Carol told.
- Hello, Jessica.
- Hi, Mrs. Fairburn.
Aunt Sarah, this is my
teacher, Mrs. Fairburn.
- Oh, hello.
- You must be so proud of her.
- Oh, well, yes.
We always are.
- I want to hear all about it.
I'll talk to you after church.
- Good morning.
- Good morning, reverend.
- Merry Christmas.
Well, well, well, well, well.
You have added inspiration
to my day, young lady.
- What'd you do, hand out money?
- I don't have any idea
what they're talking about.
- That brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus,
through the blood of the
everlasting covenant,
make you perfect in every
good work to do his will,
working in you that which
is pleasing in his sight
through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
Hark, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
- And the Angel
of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them,
and they were so afraid.
And the angel said unto them, "Fear not."
- What's the matter, Ralph?
Oh Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the earth
Thy hand has made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed
Then sings my soul
My savior God to thee
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My savior God to thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
- And now a final community note.
We have someone very special
in our congregation this morning.
Those of you who have read
this morning's Sunday newspaper
know who I'm talking about.
But for those of you who haven't,
I'd like to read part of an editorial
that appears in the family section.
It may help to inspire you
in the same way that it did me.
In an electronic age where
children are growing up
light-years faster than their ancestors
ever dreamed possible,
where the harsh realities of everyday life
have invaded even the most
idyllic of communities,
it is inspiring to see that some children
are able to hold on to their
dreams and innocent spirit.
Yes, Santa, there are still
Virginias in this world.
We have one right here in Three Oaks.
She's nursing the spirit
of Christmas back to health
the same way as she's nursed
your missing reindeer back to health.
Please stop by soon to collect Prancer.
Until then, he's in good hands.
Three Oaks is in good hands
as long as we have children
like Jessica Riggs,
with all their sense of wonder and belief.
We need that belief.
The world needs it.
May it live forever.
- Oh, man.
- Oh, no.
Dad's probably reading it right now.
- Whoa, Janet!
Dumb cow.
- Prancer!
- Where's Prancer?
- We have to find him first.
- Let's go this way.
- Nobody's here.
- Hi, John.
Hope you don't mind us
barging in like this.
- Oh, no.
- There he is.
- Look, there he is.
HEY, YOU guys, look.
He's over here, he's in the house.
- He's got a gun!
- Don't shoot!
Don't shoot!
I want to make a proposition to you, John.
- Holy cow.
- Oh, no.
He's gone.
Daddy, where is he?
Did you kill him?
- You had that deer out in
that shed all week, didn't you?
- Tell us, daddy.
- That's why you skipped school.
You gave him food from
the barn, telling lies.
Then I find a 40 pound
sack of oats out there
with a Christmas bow on it!
Do you wanna tell me where that came from?
Did you steal that, too?
- No, she bought it with
- You were in on this, too, huh?
I'll get to you later.
- Daddy!
- Sit down to read the
newspaper for a change
and all heck breaks loose.
Darned deer lets the stock out
then comes into the house!
I got too much on my mind for all this.
You kids are making me nuts.
- Daddy, you didn't shoot him.
Tell me you didn't shoot him.
- I didn't shoot it.
- You didn't?
- No, I didn't.
- Really?
- No, I didn't.
- Oh, thank you, daddy.
Did he run away?
Which way did he go?
Did he go to Antler Ridge?
- Down at Three Oaks.
I sold him.
- Sold him?
- To Herb Drier.
He offered me $200 to
take him off my hands.
- Mister Drier, the butcher?
Daddy, he'll eat him!
- No, he won't.
- He's a butcher, daddy.
He'll cut him up and sell the pieces.
- Now stop it.
- No, I won't.
You don't understand what you've done.
He's one of Santa's.
- Oh, come on, Jessie!
- Mom would've never done this.
- Look, a reindeer don't fly, okay?
I hate to be the one to tell
you that, but they don't.
- I'll shoot her instead of you.
Die, I'm gonna die.
- Oh, John, you really
didn't do that, did you?
- Where is he, Mister Drier?
- Where's who?
- Prancer!
- Over there.
- Prancer.
You're alive.
- I saved his life.
Now he's my best salesman.
Aren't you, fella?
Nobody answer that.
I'm tired of having to
explain to everybody
why I sold that reindeer.
- May I be excused, please?
- Yes, you may.
- Sorry about the mess
he made in the house.
I'll do the dishes after
everyone's through.
- Where do you think you're going?
- None of your beeswax.
- You're heading for town
at night in a snowstorm
and it's none of my business?
You're gonna try and spring Prancer.
- So what if I am?
- I just wondered
why do you need a sack
full of clothes to do it.
Come on, Jessie, what are the clothes for?
You're gonna tell me what you're doing
or I'm gonna go get dad.
- I'm not coming back.
- Boy, that's just great.
Come on, Jessie.
Come back to the house.
Come on, don't be crazy.
HEY, are you going to make me drag you?
- Go ahead, drag me.
I'll just find another way to leave.
- Am I the only sane
one left in this family?
- Look, Steve, I'm not going
to ever, ever live with Aunt Sarah.
- Aunt Sarah?
- Dad wants to send me there
and I really don't want to go.
- He does?
Why is everyone keeping me
in the dark about everything?
- I didn't think you'd care.
- Of course I do.
- I thought
maybe you might be glad.
- Of course not.
Now come on back, Jess.
We'll work this out.
- Dad doesn't want me.
- Sure, he does.
- He doesn't treat me right.
- He's just mixed up right now.
- He doesn't love me,
doesn't understand me.
- Maybe he doesn't
understand you all the time.
I don't either.
That doesn't mean I don't love you.
Come on, come on home.
I'm tired of talking about this.
- I can't, Steve.
With Prancer gone, there's
nothing left for me in this town.
Bye, Steve.
- Figured you might need
some help with the jailbreak.
Don't think I'm gonna try
and talk you out of running away anymore.
Whatever you wanna do is fine with me.
- Thanks, Steve.
- We gotta hurry.
Bert makes his rounds every half an hour.
You be the lookout.
Where were you?
- I didn't see it.
- Get back to your post.
- No, let me help.
The snow's too thick for looking out.
- If you don't get back to
your post we're going home.
' Hey, Steve!
UP here!
- What are you doing?
What the heck are you doing?
- Prying the roof off
so Prancer can jump out.
- Too high for you and
it's too high for him.
- He's Prancer, Steve.
Maybe we'll get to see him fly.
- Get down!
- No.
Come on, Prancer.
Come on.
You're all better now.
There's nothing holding you back.
Prancer, come on.
We don't have much time.
It's quarter till 12.
Prancer, come on!
Look, Steve.
He's gonna fly, he's gonna fly.
Steve, look!
- It's Bert.
Stay put.
Maybe he won't see you in all the snow.
- Hey, Prancer.
How you doing tonight, huh?
Nice weather we're having here, huh?
- How about that?
Yeah.
Oh, boy'
Well, we'll see you on our next run
and I'll bring you something
real good to eat, too, okay?
Okay.
See you later.
- Stay put!
I'm coming up!
Jessie!
Jessie!
Bert!
Bert, wait!
Bert!
Wait, Bert, stop!
Bert, my sister's hurt!
Wait!
Bert!
Come back!
She's hurt!
Wait!
Come back, Bert!
Are you sure?
I think maybe she came home
from the hospital too soon.
I know the X-Rays turned out alright.
She's still not feeling well.
Things are blurry when she looks at 'em.
She doesn't want to get out of bed.
She doesn't want to play
her Christmas records.
Oh, no, you don't understand.
My daughter plays
Christmas records all year.
Yeah, okay.
I will.
- How are you feeling, honey?
Things still look a little funny to you?
- Sort of.
- Tomorrow when your uncle and I come over
for Christmas dinner,
we'll all get bundled up and
we'll go and see Prancer.
- I don't want to see that deer anymore.
- What on earth are you talking about?
- Everyone was right.
Don't know why it took
me so long to listen.
- I don't understand, Jessie.
- It's just a deer, Aunt Sarah.
- What would make you say such a thing?
After all that you've done for him,
after what he did for you last night?
Why, I bet Santa's coming
to get him tonight.
- You don't have to pretend.
Dad's right.
I'm almost nine years old.
It's time I grew up a little.
- Hey, John, how are you?
What you doing down here?
- I was just checking on the reindeer.
- You ought to go up to your house
'cause there's gonna be a party there.
- Uh.
- Dumb.
It was supposed to be a surprise party.
- A what?
- Just between you and I,
it's a party for Jessie.
So, we'll see you out there, okay?
- Well, yeah.
Sure I'll be there.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
- Don't hit me in front of people.
I outrank you, you know.
Oh Tannenbaum
Thy leaves are so unchanging
Not only green when summer's here
But also when 'tis cold and drear
Oh Tannenbaum
Thy leaves are so unchanging
Oh Tannenbaum
Thy leaves are so unchanging
Not only green when summer's here
But also when 'tis cold and drear
Oh Tannenbaum
Thy leaves are so unchanging
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
We wish you a merry Christmas
- I found this at the Christmas tree lot.
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
- Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Please come in!
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy new year
- I haven't got much to
give you this Christmas.
- That's okay, daddy.
- No, it isn't.
It isn't.
I've been thinking.
Maybe we could do some of
the things we used to do,
you know, before?
On other Christmases.
You know that old sleigh?
Remember the rides we used to
take in it every Christmas?
Well, maybe we could
hook it up to old Ralph
and do that tomorrow.
- I'd like that, daddy.
- I found this out in the shed.
What?
- Read it.
Just this part.
That's my favorite.
- You tear apart the baby's rattle,
and you see what makes the noise inside.
But there is a veil
covering the unseen world,
which not the strongest
man could tear apart.
Only faith,
poetry,
love, and romance
can push aside that curtain
and view the beauty and the glory beyond.
Is it all real?
Virginia, in all this world,
there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus?
Thank God he lives,
and lives forever
1,000 years from now,
10 times 10,000 years from now.
He will continue to make
glad the heart of childhood.
- I didn't really wanna run away.
I just, I just wanted
you to find me
and bring me back here
and tell me things were going to be okay,
like they used to be.
- Oh, Jessie.
I can't tell you everything's
going to be all right.
I wish I could.
But I know things are always
going to be hard around here.
Could even be we'll
lose this farm someday.
But I can bear that.
What I can't bear is
when you were gone last night,
I saw what it would be like around here
not to have you around.
I love you, Jessie.
- I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, daddy.
I'm sorry.
I love you, too, daddy.
- I know, baby.
It's okay.
Don't cry.
You're home, honey.
And that's where you're gonna stay.
I got something I want to show you.
- How'd you get him?
- Tracked Herb down and
gave him his money back.
I think we still got time to
get him out to Antler Ridge.
Santa hasn't been to Three Oaks yet.
- You don't have to.
I know he's really not Prancer.
- You're gonna have a lot of trouble
convincing all those
people downstairs of that.
Move out of the way, everybody.
We got a reindeer to get to
Antler Ridge by midnight.
- I don't think this is
such a good idea, John.
The doctor said that she
could get out of bed,
but I don't think this
is what he had in mind.
She still needs her rest.
- I know what she needs, Sarah,
and from now on she's gonna
be getting more of it.
- Bye!
- Bye, reindeer!
- Merry Christmas, Prancer!
- I wish I could keep
you for just my own pet.
I'll always remember you, Prancer.
I love you.
Thanks, Prancer, for everything.
- Look.
- Where did he go?
- I don't know.
He just disappeared.
- He couldn't have jumped and live.
- Maybe he flew.
This would be a good place
for Santa to come and get him.
- The moon is full.
- And it is Christmas Eve.
Listen.
Maybe you'll hear his bells.
- I hear them.
I hear them, daddy, I do.
Goodbye, Prancer.
Good bye.
Remember me.