"A CHRISTMAS STORY" (1983)

A film hased on Original

Material by Jean Shepherd

SPECIFIC SCENE BREAKDOWN - NOT NOTED IN SCRIPT

9pt MED SHOT —-RALPHIE = KITCHEN - Day 9Ipt LONG SHOT - THE YARD - Day 9Ipt THE FAMILY KITCHEN - Day

"Ralphie is lost in his reverie”

“in reality, Ralphie hears a voluminous racket..."

"The house is surrounded..."

Miss Shields -. "Didyou want something Ralphie"

“Ralph gets out of the car"

Page . $0. 53pt “RANDY RACES PAST RALPH INTO THE BATHROOM

Page 1 53pt THE BATHROOM DOOR FLIES OPEN-

Page 62pt CLOSE-UP - RANDY UNDER THE SINK - BATHROOM = Day

"Ralphie dashes into the house..."

Please make a notation.in your script re the above breakdown.

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Graphic says Northern Indiana, sometime in the 1940's.

FADE UP TO FIND Hohman,a steel town ‘squattingbeside Lake Michigan; CAMERAPANS the city, then begins a. SERIES OF CUTS to showever more microcosmic views of -Hohman. TheNARRATOR'S VOICE (JEAN SHEPHERD) fades up. We hear a MEDLEYOF CLASSIC CHRISTMAS CAROLS which form a striking contrastto the images.

RALPHIE, FLICK and SCHWARTZ run across a slag heap in foreground. RANDY.trailsbehind.

_NARRATOR (V.O.) Hohman,Indiana. [Itclings precariouslyto the underbody ofChicago like.abarnacle clings tothe rotting hulk of a tramp steamer. On the far horizon,beyond the railroad. yards and thegreat refinery tanks, layour own mysterious,. privatemountain range. Dark andmysterious, cold and uninhabited, the steel mills stacked likemalignant dominces againstthe steel gray skies.

Kids run past delapidated fence.

Kids race by, Randytrails.

Sree

ee aeeeeeaaaeae eeeeeseA EOARETE Sw!

3. CONTINUED

Filled with cars and shoppers.

| . NARRATOR . . But over itall, like a faint, thin off-stage choruswas the building | excitement. Christmas was on its way. Each day was more exciting. than thelast, because Christmas was one day closer.

irene

CAMERA CUTS TO A WIDE SHOT of Higbee's Department Storewindow. Citizens stand “cohing" and “aahing" | in frontof the Yule splendor. CAMERA MOVES IN TOWARD thewindow. .

)

(CONTINUED)—

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6. CONTINUED | | 6.

a

CAMERA PANS the rapt faces peering in. one little boy - RALPHIE comes bobbing up between the legs ofa startled— grownup. We see.FLICK, SCHWARTZand RANDY also.

CAMERA PANS: the window. Over this SHOT we see the OPENING TITLES. -

This is the heyday of the Seven Dwarfs and their virginal den mother Snow White. Walt Disney's seven cutie-pies hammer and chisel and paint while Santa, bouncing Snow White on his. mechanicalknee, ho-he-ho's through eight strategically placed loudspeakers ~-=interspersedby choruses of "Heigh he, heigh ho, it's off tework we go". Grumpy sits at the controls of a miniature eight-wheel Rock Island Road steam engine and Sleepyplays amarimba, while in the background, inexplicably, Mrs.Claus. y ceaselessly irons a red shirt. Sparkling artificial snow drifts: downon Shirley Temple dolls,Flexible Flyers, and Tinker Toy sets glowing in the golden spot- light. In the foreground a frontier steckadebuilt of Lincoln Logs is manned by a companyof kilted lead Highlanders who are doughtily fendingoff an attack bv six U.S. Army medium tanks. (Historyhas always been vague in Indiana.) A few feet away standsan Arthurian cardboard castis with RaggedyAndy sittingon the draw- bridge, his feet in the moat, throughwhich a Lionel freight train burping real smoke goesround and round. Dopey sits in Amos and Andy's pedal-operatedFresh Air Taxicab beside a stuffed panda holdinga lollipop in his paw, bearing the heart«-tugginglegend,"Hug Me”.

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From fluffy cotton clouds above, Dionne quintuplet dollswearing plaid golf knickers hang from billowing parachutes, having justbailed out of a high- flying - balsawood Fokker triplane. All in all, Santa's workshop makes SalvadorDali look like Norman Rockwell. —

CAMERA PANSFROM Ralphie' Srapt fact TO the beaming face of Red Ryder,who ishustling the Daisy BB rifle to achingkids everywhere. We DISSOLVE. TOthe entranced face of Ralphie.

CAMERA PULLSBACK to reveal that Ralphie is reading "Boy'sLife.” Downstairs we hear the hectic routine of. a school morning. The omnipresent RADIO CRACKLES in the background. Ralphie'sFATHER, hereafter known as The Old Man, roars dimly inthe distance as he fights the good #ight againstthe indefatigable Indiana winter. Ralphie's MOTHER calls intermittentlythe waning minutes| before.Schooldeadline.

NARRATOR © Iremember. clearly,itchingly, nervously,maddeningly the first time Ilaid eyes on it, pictured > ina three«color smeared illustration ina full-page back coverad in 'Boy'sLife.'

CAMERA CUTS toRalphie's POV and STARTS A SLOW ZOOM INTO the smiling faceof Red Ryder. We see the follow- ing copyon thepage: =

7. CONTINUED

BOYS! ATLAST YOU CAN OWN AN OFFICIAL RED RYDER CARBINE ACTION TWO HUNDREDSHOT RANGE MODEL AIR RIFLE.

CAMERA PANS OVER itspage, seeing the following copy as we hear Ralphiebegin reading it out loud to himself.

The SOUND of Ralph'sVOICE REVERBERATES AND ECHOES.

CAMERA CUTSTO Ralphie and bagins a SLOW 200M INTO his eyes.

{CONTINUED)

~~o CONTINUED

+e

CAMERA HAS ARRIVED AT AN EXTREMELY CLOSE SHOT of Ralphie's eye. We DISSOLVE to the following, which is Ralphie's daydream fantasy.

é

SenerINT. RALPH'S KITCHEN - EXTREME CLOSEUP.~ RALPHIE'S EYE ~ enema

CAMERA PULLS BACK to see Ralphie on one knee, histrusty Red Ryder ait rifle at the ready. As CAMERA CONTINUES a TO PULL BACK we see Ralphie's Father huddle in the corner, Minaeen his arms about Ralphie's Mother, whose eyes roll with cosmic fear. At her feet, RANDY, Ralphieé'sbrother, is clasped in his mother's desperate arms, his fingernails poised before his chattering teeth. His eyes stareas if they beheld the coming of the millenium. Ralphie's Fatner Speaks:

CLOSEUP ~ RALPHIE

NARRATOR| With Herculean caim Ralphie turns to them.

He holds up his BB air rifle.

Then CAMERA CUTS BEHIND what is obviously thekitchen sink of Ralphie's house. Slowly Ralphie's face appears over the edge. The steely eyes surveythe scene before him.

Looking past the kitchen faucet and out thekitchen window we see what Ralphie sees! Atvarious points across the backyard, desperate men are creepingon their bellies across the snow toward the house. There are about eight of them, and each wears a thinBandit- Burglar type black mask, the kind thatlooks likegoggles. They all wear striped shirts and carry blackjacks. One nears the house; two are slinking over the fence. One crawls through the garage door.

MED. SHOT ~ RALPHIE

He surveys thesituation coolly, then fast as awhip- Snake he leaps up and. snapsoff THREE SHOTS.

LONG SHOT - THE YARD ©

Three bad guys leap acrobatically intothe air,mortally wounded, The others stand up, stricken intodumbness by the sting of "“Ol'Blue." They race unceremoniously and plunge headlong over the fence and disappeardown the alley. We... .

“THE FAMILY

They cheer wildly, embracing Ralphie. Ralphiestands tolerating this stoically but kindly. ;

CONTINUED | | 9.

CLOSEUP. -THE FAMILY

CLOSEUP - RALPHTIE

BACK TO REALITY

We realize Ralshiehas been jarredout of his fantasy by his mother's voice. He leapsup and scurries to get ‘ready. Randy plunges intothe drawer and starts to do his Little Brother thing. Two minutes means two — minutes.

%,

al NARRATOR

Mothers know nothing about creepingmarauders burrowing throughthe snow toward the kitchen where only you and you alone stand between your tiny huddled family and insensate Evil. There was no question aboutit. Not only should I have such.a gun -- it was an absolute necessity! Race memories of Kid plots through the agesbegan to surge through my cortex into conscious strategy.

1l. INT. PARENTS'BEDROOM - RALPH - DAY

CAMERAFOLLOWS Ralphie into his parents' room where we see him pickup a copy.of "ScreenRomances” and slip "Boy's Life" betweenthe covers.

NARRATOR

Y “Mymother, grabbing for her ar. copyof 'ScreenRomances’ would

find herself cleverly euchered intoreading a Red Ryder sales pitch.

MED. SHOT -THE HALLWAY

CAMERA FOLLOWSRandy and Ralphie down the hallway,. LOSING Randyand FOLLOWING Ralphie to the bathroom door. He barges inand wefind The Old Man in the finalstrokes of shaving. de looks down at Ralphie. Ralphie cleverlyputs the "Boy's Life" behind his back.

| -FATHER Whatcha got there?

(CONTINUED}

-10=

ll. CONTINUED il.

The Old Man looks back to the mirror to wipe the lather off. He walks from the bathroom.

The door closés. CAMERA FOLLOWS The Old Man as he waiks to the dining room table, sits down and unfolds his morning paper, immediately going to the sports page.

CAMERA PANS UP TO FIND Ralphie's Mother coming to the Sie table with breakfast.

MOTHER — That's nice. Ralphie!

MED. SHOT =~RALPHIE

We see Ralphie placing a ‘Boy's Life’ inside oneof his father's 'Field & Stream' magazines.

ese*

-11-

ll. CONTINUED ; . ll.

CAMERA PANS with Ralphie from the bathroom to the kitchen. He and.Randy climb up to the table for breakfast. Randy stares at his food. Randy never eats.

a NARRATOR -

My fevered brain seethed with

me the effort of trying to come sain up with the infinitelysubtle

devices necessary to implant

ees the Red Ryder range model air

rifle indelibly into my parents'

ee consciousness without their

being aware that I had planted

a it there.

atl RALPHIE

(abruptly) |

TR Flick says he saw some grizzly —* bears near. Pulaski'scandy store

the other day.

There is a sudden silence.

RALPHIE : I'll bet you'll neverguess what I got you forChristmas, Dad.

-12-

ll.

CAMERA HOLDS on Ralphie and his mother as she clears the table and he begins to pull on his galoshes.

-RALPHIE An official Red Ryder carbine action two~hundred shot range model air rifle!

-13=

ll. CONTINUED ll.

_ NARRATOR (CONT) But suchwas my mania, my desire fora Red Ryder carbine that I immediately began to rebuildthe dike.

'RALPHIE Heh heh... I was just kidding. Even though Flick is getting one. I guess... I guess, uh, I'd likea... some Lincoln Logs.

We hear the SOUNDS of The Old Man being chased bya. PACKOF HOUNDS. The Old Man curses as he fights them oft.

We hear a LOUD YELP. He has obviously gotten in at leastone good kick. |

CAMERA FOLLOWS him as he marches to the sink, grabs a large panand fills it with water and deposits it on the stove,flicking on the gas.

~l4-

ll. CONTINUED ll.

...Others Catholics or Jews. My father was an Oldsmobile man.

Just at that moment we hear a SOFT LITTLE PUFF OF AN EXPLOSION. The Old Man's ears perks up.

He cocks his head to one side like a manic roadrunner. sinner

|

“The SOUND COMES AGAIN. A soft puff of blue smoke billows “TEE ace” from the furnace grate.

—eermenumewiie FATHER (continuing; at eeagmigge!oi the top of his einen voice drawn out ee like a bugle . ‘supe charge) Sonofabitch clinker!!

| NARRATOR It was the Indiana war cry and he was off down the basement steps, knocking over Ball jars and kicking roller skates out of the way, bellowing.

| FATHER The son of 4 bitch has gone out again! The goddamn clanky son of a bitch!

WeenclloneSmallen.eortmmemcommeadh:meen «noma,

-15-

(> CONTINUED il.

We hear the horrendous SOUND of The Old Man tumbling down the stairs and hitting bottom.

The SOUNDS that come hurtling cut of that basement would cause such loss of face to the producer of a Japanese monster movie that he would be forced to impale himself post-haste on the nearest ceremonial sword. ROARS, CLANKS, SNORTS, RATTLES, MUMBLES, orales GROANS, SCREAMS! Meanwhile Randy and Ralphie start to put on their overclothes.

Mother flies to the kitchen and pulls the chain marked "draft." CAMERA PANS BACK TO thecellar door and. HOLDS. All is silent for a few seconds; then suddenly ‘a€ greatROAR andthe SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS pounding up the steps. The door flies open and The Old Man emerges from a cloud of blue smeke like Mephistopheles appear- ing before Faust.

He turns and disappears inte the blue cloud, yelling.

~16~

+ ll. CONTINUED ~ Il.

We hear the inevitable CRASH as The Old Man hits bottom again. Mother pushes the basement door closed andturns to the kids. The Old Man toils on in the stygian darkness below the house. CAMERA FOLLOWS Mother as she moves to help Randy with his clothes.

Mother has Randy practically on his head trying to stuff him into -hissnowsuit. Finally she gets him in and stands him up. He stands with both hands extended from hissides like a tiny scarecrow. Mother begins tQ wrap an enormous scarf around his neck. We hear a faint whimpering coming from inside Randy's suit. The sound is totally muffled. Randy stands forlornly with his arms sticking straight out like an abandoned semaphor.

He mumbles fiercely.

He is quite desperate by now.

-17-

‘CONTINUED: ll.

‘Shebegins the long, painful task of unwinding the scarf. Randy» isquite frantic.. Finally she gets the scarf off, and parts thehood, exposing Randy's face. We Hear what he was saying. oe oo

Mother stands back and appraises the situation. Sure. -enough, Randy can't put his arms down. Mother steps forwardand forces Randy's asmsdown to his side. As soonas she steps away, however, they spring back. Randy whimpers. Mother steps forward and tries again. Up hard spring again.. |

“MOTHER -You' Ll put ‘your arms down when. you get to school...

She proceeds to rewind Randy against his furious protests.

We seejust what the Narrator is describing.

-18-

oN ll. CONTINUED _ os . | | | ii. L aa eas - NARRATOR

(continuing)- . -The wind raking the living room rug with angry fury.foran instant = >. -and.we would be launched...one after the other, my brother and I like astronauts into unfriendly space.

(12. EXT, PARKER HOUSE - DAY. on | eee er or

Outside the door. We see| Randy and Ralphie leaning into -the fierce wind « The door clangs shut. es

Lee NARRATOR . ‘The deor clanged. shut behind us and that was it ~- it was.“make

tl school or die.

Cut TO:

oan LONG SHOT OF RALPHIE’s BLOCK OE

ES,

YLTRRR\hoe. Ne oo, oe - We.see“Ralphie’s.house, black smoke.billowing

from the —

: | drafts. The Old Man's tilt with the windmill goes. on.. TT We see“Ralphie and the hapless stiff-armed Randy coming up their walkway to the street. CAMERA TAKES IN the ‘whole Block and we see the other kids on their way.

ET, Scattered out over the icywaste

around us could be seen other— tiny, befurred jots of wind-driven. humanity, all painfully toiling . toward the Warren G. Harding school miles away over the tundra.. All of us were bound for Geography lessons involving the exports of Peru; readinglessons dealing with fat cats and dogs named ‘Spot.!

-19~

a“, 12. CONTINUED | oe . : 12.

CLOSER SHOT

Ralphie |sees. his friend FLICK and runs. toward him. Randy struggles after, the » perpetual kidbrother.

| RALPHIE » Hey, Flick, wait up! Wait up!

Ralphie runs up to Flick and they begin that inexpliciable ritual common to schoolboys everywhere, trading punches on the arm. First one, then the other, until it obviously hurts like hell. It is all rooted, no doubt, in some dim territorial imperative stretching back over the centuries. —

‘RALPHIE (continuing)

Whatcha doing?

ee cnecaigguanane ine pickin’ goobers?

tensioner

mene

Just at this aonent they pass Schwartz’ S house. SCHWARTZ— plows down the driveway toward them. The arm ritual is. repeated between Ralphie and Schwartz. The pecking | order is important in Kid rituals and apparentiy there. is order and reason behind it, indecipherable to adults, but apparently sufficient to kids.

- | SCHWARTZ (to Flick). a ‘Heylisten, smart ass, =Iasked my Ol’ Man about sticking your tongue to metal light poles in winter, and he says it will freeze right to the pole. Just

a . 13. CONTINUED 13.

see |SCHWARTZ i ee ; He knows because heée:oncesaw a

-guy stick his tongue to a . “railroad. track.On .a-bet. And ‘the: Fire Department had tocome get the guy's tongue off the — track 'cause hecouldn't get.it off. Tt. frozeright there.

poe _ RALPHIE. . I think he'Ss right, Plick.

“FLICK . Aw, jeez, you guys are real |suckers foranything... ‘My brother gays that's an old wife's tale, and so does my Mother. .

Yeah, well, she's anou! Wife .— all right. She oughta know!

“Schwartz and Ralphie laugh. crazy kia laughter. — oes

“FLICK

yee oe ey, watch it,_Jerk-head. ‘Don't |

talk about: my mal

- Any reference to one's mother was. like throwing. downthe gauntlet, “no matter how vague or remote the Slight. Just the mere mention of. one's mother with any adjective© in the dictionary, no matter how innocuous, was grounds for instant and ruinous vendetta.

Flick bristles. ‘The ceremony ‘ts played out.|

_. FLICK 3 Yeah, well, just watch it.

oe 14. EXT. - ALLEYWAY - DAY : 7 14. () . —

They continue turning the corner down an alleyway.

eps _ NARRATOR | That simple phrase, "Yeah; well just watch it.'. If only it had been understood and deployed by “statesmen through. theagesuntold -mayhem and carnage could have. been averted. Imagine — _ Chamberlain standing up at the end of the Munich Conference and~ glaring downat. Hitler with “ steely eyes and muttering‘Yeah, well, just watch it!' Do you think there would have been. | any invasion of Poland, or ee oe vee aaa Czechoslovakia or Austria?: - ‘Orany World War Two? Not on... a eee your blue-striped garters. : [

- Somehow all. this is resolved. in more arm punching. They: start Off toward school.

“FLICK

UA OE eeoe es Yeah, well, your Old Man is co See ‘pullingyour leg and you're too. eo co a - dumbto Know it. . |

; SCHWARTZ = : | a All: right, idare you to try oo oe oo dt. .

) wee. . one ‘Yeah. _ : ee ES J

- SCHWARTZ | | Yeah.

Ee SCHWARTZ

Senet feet ae a (CONTINUED) ) =

-22-

CONTINUED | | : 14.

-SCHWARTZ I doubledare ya.

CAMERA MOVES IN SLOWLY on the groupas they acknowledge something 0.S. A slow,ominous CHORD OF MUSIC begins to creep up, not unlike thetheme music from Jaws. It grows during this sequence. CAMERA PANS from oneoneface to another. asthey peer, fear-struck.

“THEIR POV ~ CLOSEUP - A WOODEN SLATTED.FENCE

We can just see enough through theboards to vaguely sense a figure moving on itsother side. The MUSIC oozes up ominously. CAMERAPANS the fence as the figure glides by. . |

THE THREE HAPLESS ONES

THREE QUICK CUTS.- THEIRPACES

“as they watch likemesmerized mice.

i°etaeeeeOeee “

Te a te et capeaneee ~ Temomentemsetstee:nnnttttenen,

~23-—

14. _ SOmEEHTED 14.

THE FENCE

The ominous presence glides. on. CAMERA TILTS DOWN SLOW- LY TO a break in the fence. We see a pair of broganned feet stop. The ominous MUSIC SWELLS to a crescendo. The feet stand there planted, menacingly. a

| CUT TO:

OUR THREE LITTLE MICE

as they tremble, wide-eyed.

| | CUT BACK TO:.

THE FENCE

The feet in the -‘brogans stand for. one more moment, then . _move off arrogantly. .

CAMERA TILTS UP. to. see the figure disappear: behind the - fence. We hear a nasty, evil LAUGH.tailing off in the | “wind.

‘CUT BACK TO:

THE BOYS-

Relief floods their faces.

Whew! That was close.

They belt across the road toward school.

SCHOOL = DAY

Snow covers the ground. Ice sheets cover the basket-. ball courts. We hear a BELL RING. Kids scurry.

-24—

They huddle together conspiratorially, obviously pass- -ing something around.

MISS SHIELDS

A fourth. grade teacher in the classic mold. She moves to her desk. ;

The kids hurry to their desks.

We. hear’ the class answer in. unison, but: they sound. funny, like a comic take-off on a Japanese kamikaze pilot. Miss Shields looks puzzled for a brief moment, — then: slowlyshe. holdsher hand out, palm up, with studied, professional.patience. CAMERA PANS FROM — Miss Shields TO the class.

oe LONG SHOT - “THE CLASS. Saal aa|aie, a Every kid in the class. is wearing a set of. wax teeth. We see them all grinning and sigghing at her. They — look like 25 demented beavers.

| CUT. BACKTO:

MISS SHIELDS

She wiggles her palm with subtle meaning.

cuT To::

THE KIDS”

One by one they file past, handing in their wax teeth.

om Men

2AakLLANEAeniseanYuwely

-25—

16. CONTINUED | " 16. —— on NS CLOSEUP - MISS SHIELDS' HAND

The wax teeth are handed overone by one. Finally CAMERA FOLLOWS one.hand downas she deposits the teeth in a huge drawer, the Fridaydrawer, containing an in- eredible collection ofKid Effluvia; yo-yo's, rubber noses, pea shooters, slingshots,plastic lensless eye= glasses with false noses.attached,fake mustaches, ‘plastic waterpistols shapedlike Lugers, jaw-breakers both used and unused, string,a Scout knife, a small hard black rubber ball, cardswith.pictures of base~ — ball players, three.or four small wax bottles. filled — with a verminous greenliquid, bottle caps, a top, five or six lurid comic.books andother. treasuresof | kid-hood.

CLOSEUP = MISSSHIELDS

She is calm, impassive.

- MISS SHIELDS

teen All right, class,Open your

you remember,Silas Marner was...

i. 7 ‘ChIERA PULLS BACK to’ reveal class, heads bent with _ exaggerated studiousness, openingtheir readers.

Recess. In the’ drifted dirty snow,kidsstand in littleclots.

Skies are. darker than in. the earlier scenes. We sense a blizzard on theway.. The steady BANGING of a lan~ yard on the flagpole inthe cold north wind provides a. sinisterringing tempo tothe Scene,

CAMERA PANS DOWN the pole TO PICK UP the ‘kids.The ecenversation fromthethorningcontinues. ee

_s SCHWARTZ Alright,I dare ya again.

-~26-

17. CONTINUED

oe FLICK Oh yeah?

SCHWARTZ — I double dog dare ya.

An audible gasp from the other kids.

_SCHWARTZ I triple dog dare ya!

Flick flinches.

EACH OF THE KIDS IN TURN

‘Theywatch the great showdown.

NARRATOR 0 oo Flick's spine stiffened. His lips curled in a defiant sneer... There was no going back now. —

CLOSEUP - THE. POLE-

CLOSBUP - SCHWARTZ

triunphant.

CLOSEUP - RALPHIE

wonderment.

arias (CONTINUED)

-27=

on, 17 * CONTINUED 17.

CLOSEUP - FLICK

He stands a few inches from the pole, staringit down. He turns and gives the guys one last bravado look.

CLOSEUP - SCHWARTZ —

He smirks, but a little less confidently.

CLOSEUP ~ FLICK-.

FLICK: Ah, this is dumb!

He laughs a bravado little laugh, turns, and with utter disdain thrusts his tongue tofull extension andplunges it forward onto the flagpole.

rt sticks, freezes solid as a popsicle.

Flick mumbles in panic and tries to pull free. He doesn't try this for long. It smarts. et _CLOSEUP - SCHWARTZ

His smirk turns to astonishment.

Ralphie stands there cpen~mouthed.

CLOSEUP ~ THE OTHER KIDS

They stare, dumbfounded.

Flick grunts an inchoate cry for help.

Schwartz and Ralphie, now vaguely aware of impending official doom, back - off.

Suddenly the BELL RINGS. Ralphie and Schwartz look at the school and then back to Flick. The BELL RINGS — like a shriek out of hell. That's it. Ralphie and Schwartz are off like a shot.

ie petntreRaeSE : " ettinA...Mthsn“ tt.atteattiwate,ceth,

-28-

van 17. CONTINUED | | a 17.

a : NARRATOR

7 In Indiana, when the schoolbell. rang, you went. Neither sleet. nor snow norfrozen tongues stayed your headlong flightto your desk. Flick's predicament was no exception.

And as the wind rises and the lanyardBANGS with a _ Steady drumming beat, the playground isemptied except for a tiny huddled figure frozento the flagpole.

18. 18..

slide into their desks and play dumb. Over their shoulders, away across the schoolyard,we see the hapless Flick. Ralphie and Schwartzcollectively wince. We now have an empty seathalfway in the back row. Miss Shields' radarbegins to warm up. She knows something is wrong.

_ MISS SHIELDS Where is Flick?

an . Conspicuous silence.

conspiratorial silence.

Finally one little girlbeckons to Miss Shields...

The little girlpoints hurriedly to the playground.

MISS SHIELDS© | (continuing) What was that? .

— : (CONTINUED)

vemeliteeventtteementenant,clan cattpicer oBas y altAes.ole walln, seltore w emymecower, — shimsananassae,

-29—

18. CONTINUED 18. nell—~

to the window, looking closer.

At this point, twenty-two children stampede towardthe window, gawking out. Only two innocentsremain unin- terested. Ralphie and Schwartz sit unconcernedly looking nonchalantly up atthe ceiling. You. could never tell they were involved.

Miss Shields flies from theroom.

19. INT, /EXT....SCHOOLROOM. ANDYARD =LONGSHOT~ DAY. 19.

LOOKING PAST the kids out to the playground. Ambu- lances and two fire engines are just removingFlick from the pole. We hear the steady keeningof SIRENS.

Ralphie and Schwartz turn and look at one another with doom in their faces.

with bandaged tongue being led back into the classroom. He doesn't say a word, looking- straightahead ashe moves to his seat andsits down. But Miss Shields looks directly at Ralphie and Schwartz. Has Plick > squealed?

pls2eet+TasselANrTa a wntarmenoesFaire-raaet iALcelles sommescemmirmeean,aatet,eetln,em seme

~30—

20. CONTINUED : | , 20.

Ralphie and Schwartz give eachother a look which says everything. .

NARRATOR : Adults loveto say things like that. But kids know better. We knewdarn well it was always betternot to get:caught...

CAMERA MOVES INTO A CLOSEUPof Flick and his wounded tongue. Schwartz and Ralphie stare stonily at Miss Shields, betraying absolutelyno emotion. There is not a hint of their guilt.

- MISSSHIELDS ; Not onlydid you suggestthis awful thing,but even worse, you left himthere all alone in the cold. Now don't you feel terrible? Don't you feel remorse forwhat youhave done?

She pauses dramatically and subjects the entire room to her X-ray eye.

A low, sullen mumble rollsthrough the classroom.

AATa SN + A.AADraRe,S.AANARohne

—31-

20. CONTINUED "20.

DISSOLVE TO:—

21.. EXT, ANOTHERALLEY ~- DAY : 21.

wee

“Ralphie, Schwartz. andthewounded warrior Flick huddle| =e. together forwarmth amid the gray craggy snowbanks. In the HOWLING GALE,the TELEPHONE WIRES WHISTLE like banshees.

RALPHIE ~ Did it hurt, Flick?

~32- . R~-21/12/82

va?

—

Ralphie senses something. He stops and looks in thedirection of the fence.

RE

But. itis too late. A face appears suddenly in the gap

EN between two boards. It is a malevolent face. [It is

the face of meanness personified. It is the dreaded GROVER DILL. The MUSIC SHUDDERS appropriately.

| DILL Hey! Fat mess!

(CONTINUED).

ATpeatecam

-33- R-21/12/82

—<

21. CONTINUED 21.*

DILL ree

oan

Hey you, come here..

-

a RR

DILL

A Nah, your Aunt Tilly! Ya, Nae you. Get over here. HO

ga

gn Obediently, hopelessly, much in the manner of a

hypnotized bird approaching a snake, Schwartz goes to OTE Dill. Dill methodically takes Schwartz's arm and + twists it.

| SCHWARTZ Aw, gee, Dill, cut it out!

DILL Say ‘Uncle'.

SCHWARTZ

ge Uncle! Uncle! Unele!

on ce DILL

(sing-song)

me Se Cry baby, cry...

Sneeattcttmntsieeatinieniicin MO

~33A- R-21/12/82

Dill finally has twisted Schwartz down to his knees. He gives a shove and Schwartz sprawls in thealley.

DILL Alright,who's next?

He laughs malevolently and thenmakes amock. Frankenstein lungeat then..

DbILL (continuing) Ahhhhhaggghhhhhh!

The boys bolt. Like jack rabbits.Dill lets them go. Scut Farkas oozes down off the fence and joinsDill. They laugh after the fleeing victims.

DILL (continuing): Youbetter run,you jerks.

MEDIUM SHOT

Ralph running. Dill inb.g.

Many ‘OF us have | grown up wearing mental Keds and still duckingbehind filing cabinets, water coolers, and into convenientmen's rooms when that cold sweat trickles down between the shoulderblades. My moment of Truth was Grover Dill! But fox now, I breathed easier.

ARTAAnl MlitRitthntn th, STlw. tr sentshtng sh 9 nenttecnmrmmmtnote necttinethet + ans we<Mayhaktenetsnnnesignibyullbesacibe.ctiuelesae

-34- R-21/12/82

kk

-_ RALPH ) ) 22.

Ralphie heads up the stairs.

NY

stairs two at | a time) No. Tf gotta do my homework!

eR a MOTHER

(instantly) Ralph! Stop right there.

aa She moves up the stairs and places her hand on Ralph's -_brow. No fever! She looks at him in puzzlement. si ne ae : - RALPHIE

Ma. <Igotta do my homework.

He dashes up the stairs. CAMERA HOLDS on Mother.

: MOTHER Na good'il-come of this.

23. 23..

Ralph races to his desk, scattering books and papers. He sits down, takes out pen and begins writing swiftly and frantically in his Indian Head notebook. We look OVER HIS SHOULDER as he writes. .

f (CONTINUED)-

satestasityiattstietn,sinmagstm,an.linanshe.Pn.—eeUUpape endsaipennsecbidoTAlita lite mlmenanneescienairaameaautiniesHenten soles vs nt,Damygs othteie Sreytaapteat

CONTINUED _ 2 23. wf;:

RALPHIE'S VOICE

i:

What I want for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time. I think everybody should have a Red Ryder BB gun. They are very good for Christmas. Tf don't think a football is a very good Christmas present.

Ralph completeshis work, reads over his Magnum Opus. Ashe reads,we hear swelling in the background, the magnificent melodic lines of Mozart's Andante ("Elvira Madigan"MUSIC). Finally Ralph, with a sign of satis- faction,slaps his notebook closed. He leans back in his chair. His fantasy sweeps over him.

‘CAMERAMOVES INTO his face. Again we see Ralph's thoughtsprojected.

EXT, HOUSE -DAY | 24,

Miss Shields is coming up the front walk, but this is a different Miss Shields than the rather nondescript and mousy teacher. She now strides up the front walk with great presence, dignity and authority. She rings - the bell. Door is opened by Mother, who draws back in surprise.

-36-

24. CONTINUED | 24.

Mother ushers Miss Shields into thehouse, listens respectfully as Miss Shields, now seatedon sofa, speaks.

MISS SHIELDS | (continuing) : I understandyou have expressed doubts about Ralph,your extraordinaryson, asto whether or not he shouldbe the owner of a RedRyder BB gun. He has convincedme beyond a doubtthrough his magnificent and eloquent theme that it. isabsolutely

EE necessary thatRalph be given

a Red Ryder BB gun,for the protection of your family. Ordinarily, Iwould not make such a recommendation,but |

II RRR wt in the case ofRalph, I feel a

certain thathe will use his Red Ryder BBgun with his

NER customary skilland responsibility.

If you have anyquestions

IRE about what I have justsaid,

‘please writethem in a theme mo |

EERE of one hundredwords or less —

for Ralph todeliver to me at school. Iwill grade it and return it by nextFriday.

“MOTHER ‘Thank you,Miss Shields, we will followyour instructions to the letter. We are so fortunate inhaving Ralph as eurson!

SSeet

~37-

25. CONTINUED | 25,

Hf . MISS SHIELDS (CONT) MA Ralph is a magnificent boy,

and he needs a Red Ryder BB

Lo - gun, especially now that wild e : bears have been reported in hes the vicinity of Pulaski's

candy store.

Mother thanks Miss Shields fervently.

- agreement that they are indeed fortunate to be the | parents of the truly great human being -- Ralph.

, DISSOLVE TO:

I Ralphie is lost in his reverie. He smiles vacantly, as he gets up and wanders aimlessly across the room and : flops down on his bed amid a pile of comic books. He - stares at.the ceiling.

aett Ralph groans.

RALPH i |

| He flops over on his stomach and flings one of his comic books.at the wall next to him. He stares at it blankly. | Its lurid cover reads:

FURTHER ADVENTURES OF. FLASHGORDON ON THEPLANET MONGO.

The cover shows a scene of Flash Gordon, his golden hair gleaming, facing his evil arch-enemy Ming The Merciless. Ralph stares at the cover blankly for a few moments.

The scene DISSOLVES and we are in what appears to be the futuristic, dank atmosphere of an alien planet. MING THE MERCILESS fills the screen. He appears to be- eighteen feet tall, dressed in jade~green robes with sinister gold cabalistic symbols flashing in the un- natural light, his eyes glittering with evil, his Fu Manchu mustache adding to tha horror, his yellow -

seinmiaatataaeneaalaclae*SDNoeASoiwnoiePaBe*Oe“daenennati"snhbinwevititeuri.aa5aa

-38-

ae 26. CONTINUED 26.

He cackles with fiendish laughter.

' CAMERA PULLS BACK and we see.Flash tiedwith. hugeropes. hand and foot to a strangely sinistertree trunk: that: appears to have snakeskin insteadof bark. MING snaps his golden bullwhip in the airviciously. Behind him we see the woven basket of a curiously futuristic balloon. The balloon has sulphurous liddedcat's ' eyes painted on it.

TM proceedto destroythe planet — Earth withmy Turbo-Xenon

Space Balloon,with its

ae

deadly Z-GammaRays.

Ming, we earthlingswill live forever. You...

no, Ming snaps hiswhip imperiously.

There is a QUICK CUT andwe see, in the dank jungle undergrowth, Ralph's eyespeering out at this awful pageant. His eyes arewide with wonder, yet there is an air of grim determinationabout him.

His voice is cutoff by the HIGH, SCREAMING LAUGHTER of Ming.

~39~

26. CONTINUED: 26.

He leaps into the balloon, which begins to rise,his LAUGHTER echoing maniacally and fillingthe SOUND track.

Ralph leaps to his feet and lurchesout of theundergrowth. He is carrying his Red Ryder range-modelBB gun. The “balloonhas ascended high overhead.

' FLASH GORDON. (his face registering astonished relief) Ralph! You're alive! You escaped the Space Crocodiles!

Ralph stands heroically and raises his BB gun. It giows magically. He sights along its barrel. [In the distance we see Ming's evil baliconhigh inthe yellow sky of the planet MONGO. The Maniacalcacklings of Ming are heard as he shrieks.

| MING . Death to Earth! Death toEarth!

Ralph pulls the trigger of his Red RyderBB gun.

A projectile streaks upward. Wehear Ming's SCREAMING

;

shriek.

His baloon makes anobscene farting noise,careening off crazily, growing smaller and smallerby the instant.

f

ym 26. CONTINUED 26.

er RALPH .

(smilingmodestly) Itwas nothing, Flash. After all, I hadmy trusty Red Ryder range- . . 2 modelBB gun,and nothing can

ee Se standup to this baby. Cae tk ERap FLASH | . amen (tears of joystreaming Si agirne 'down his cheeks) Rata OE Ralphie, all Earthlingswill be

foreverin your debt.

RALPHIE

in reality. He smilesin triumph.

Suddenly, Ralphiehears a vcluminous RACKET. He runs to the window andlooks out. We see: |

The Old Man isdriving the Olds up the driveway. He is pursuedby at leasta dozen flop-eared hound dogs, BARKING,YAPPING, HOWLING and leaping.

NARRATOR | The Taylors, a quiet family who have lived next door to us foryears, had moved out and without warning the Bumpuses. had fleodedin. In an instant, the entire neighborhood changed. -There were thousands of Bumpuses, and they all moved in.

{CONTINUED)

pr ottocesinemeni a

-4]~—

poe 27. CONTINUED 27.

; NARRATOR (CONT) Overnight what had been a

i nondescript bungalow, became

a battered hinge-sprung . sagging hillbilly shack.

} RALPHIE"S POV - LONG SHOT - THE BUMPUS HOUSE

The house is surrounded by a thick swamp of junk: old _truck. tires,rusty pitchforks, busted chicken crates, an old bathtub, at least 57 ancient bedsprings, eight or nine horse collars, chicken wire, baling wire, ) barbed wire, corncobs, an ironing board and a lot of big tall water boilers with pipes sticking out. The Old Man is trying to get out of the car.

)

) C7

were just a great churning mass of tails and tongues

oar and flea-bitten bodies. You:

could almost see the smell -~ and they loved my father. They ignored every other human being on earth but my Old Man. Every time he set foot outside the whole tidal wave of heaving flanks and bloodshét eyes would descend on him. The trouble was that half of them were trying to lick his face and the other half were trying to take off his leg.

The Old Man is fighting for his life, and screaming— at the top of his lungs. We can't quitemake out what he's saying, but it sounds like:|

illrllels,alaheAinsireUUSiNnresineeillusAINeAeRArrRRAAASPOCRe0reeAReehRillreereEeBeAonne

sn come

~42-

etn, 27. CONTINUED 276

He's kicking at the dogs and backing up,holding some- thing aloft.

Ralphie turns and dashes downstairs.

CS out on’ thedining roomtable.

Paste pot handy, scissorsand ‘ruler, pen and ink atthe ready, The Old Man clippedand glued, | struggled and guessed-- and now the payoffhad come!.

Ralphiearrives downstairs asThe Old Man lunges through the front door, closingit on the ears of one of the most insistentof the SNARLING pack. The dog HOWLS in the backgroundas The Old Man leaps about the living room waving a telegramover his head.

FATHER __ A major prize. A major prize. Iowon! Iwon! Look!

He hands Mother the telegram. The kids crowd around. We see the telecram. Itreads:

(CONTINUED}

Ee, FTElal.5Ee.eine, cirenaROneeabiesvs“rth Ce ee.ee a il a —— Mnt+ oi

-43~-

fo\0 28. CONTINUED 28.

INSERT - TELEGRAM

Congratulations. You have won a major award in our fifty thousand dollar "Great Heroes From The World of Sports"contest. It will arrive by special messenger delivered to your address. You are a winner. Congratulations!

BACK TO SCENE

The Old Man is now dancing a jig around the room. The kids are whooping, the dog, whose ears arein the door, is) HOWLING.

er | a . . MOTHER Noe What do:you mean? ‘ | ee UT

FATHER ;

ON Tonight! It's coming tonight. |

I called Ernie McClosky down at the freight office. It's | | there! He's gonna send it out tonight. The telegram | was late, the prize is already. there.

The old man continues his jig.

He dances over to the door and releases thepoor dog's ear. He sticks his leg out the front door andholds it there comically.

wos bite, boys, take a bite. It's. 1 en me. I don't care. Go oat ahead!

‘

eeee

-44—

CONTINUED — 28.

We hear a dog YELP. The Old Man pulls the leg in quickly: andslams the door. He claps his hands to- gether, suddenly serious.

The Old Man is stumped for a minute.

He laughs. Nothing is going to spoil his expansiveness.

_ FATHER (continuing) Well, it'll be a while! Let's eat! I'm starving. Gettin’ rich is hard work.

CAMERA DWELLS on Ralphie and Randy's awestruck faces.

Ralph and Randy sit at table, Mother scurries from stove to table, back te stove. Father reads the Chicago Tribune sports page. Randy sits with his feet twihed around the legs of his chair, poking . listliessly athis food. He hedins to plow the sur- face of his mashed potatoes with a fork. TheOld Man glances at his watch impatiently from time to time.

A iai

~45-

yn

CONTINUED 29.

Randy begins to shape mashed potatoes into the configuration of a football.

Mother serves Father red cabbage and removespan to stove, returning to take her seat.

DSaeee a aea a eeeeeeee;

liminens|

-46-

CONTINUED | | : 29.

Patiently, Mother rises and goes tostove.

NARRATOR

- You could see that my mother fe

had not had a hot meal in

a a about fifteen years.

en RANDY esA

(in a whining

ote oe sing-song) | : Meatloaf, smeetloaf, double

beetloaf....

Randy fidgets, stirs milk with finger, pushes food from one side of plate to the other, now arranging red cabbage in an artistic circle around his cold, congealing slice of meatloaf.

Mother eats hurriedly, pausing to wipe up Randy's spilled milk with her paper napkin.

Mother looks at Randy. Her face lights upwith an idea.

(CONTINUED}

-47-

No | 29. :29* CONTINUED:

RANDY | (tentatively) J Oink? |

NARRATOR | My brother was deep in his Three Little Pigs bag.. He had a little Golden Book, and it was his favorite heavy reading material.

Randy waits for more coaxing.

| MOTHER (continuing) Be a good boy. Show us how the piggies eat.

—

Suddenly, Randy bends forward, shoves face into plate, begins to gabble food frantically, “oinking" allithe

alll while. Mother smiles as plate is emptied.

ll

His tone is one of total disgust.

| MOTHER. . (beaming) . Nice piggy, good little piggy.

Scene ends with.Randy smiling and oinking over his. clean plate, his face looking like a half-finished Mount Rushmore.

Suddenly, the DOORBELL RINGS. The family freezes. After a long pause The Old Man in a hushed whisper:

(CONTINUED) —

LASERS SASRTAERAREERRELESR;;.EEEBee,-—_-meect.Fmeeaecarececeaemgmtaep5ibelittlesisltSahainsea

~49-

29. CONTINUED© | | 29.

As one, they all. dash to the front door.

30... INT./EXT. THE [HOUSE~ NIGHT a a 30.

The door is flung open,a MAN stands in the doorway , looking downat a bill of.lading.

, FREIGHT MAN Sign. here.

The old Man grabs the |pad and scribbles frantically.

The family stands open-mouthed as two burly movers carryin a waist high cardboard carton. Not a word issaid as Mother directs them to the kitchen where thebox is deposited gently on the kitchen floor. As the men depart an air of foreboding surrounds the. mysterious object. Then The Old Man dives in.

NARRATOR > The Old Man, his face flushed with excitement, fumbled in supercharged haste to lay -bare his hard won symbol of victory.

- (CONTINUED)

Sin sli «iaieAl, cometagataemetePeelealstweeaete

-~49—<

30. CONTINUED 30.

A billowing mushroom cloud of excelsior explodes into the air. The Old Man literally plunges into the.carton disappearing for a long moment . He emerges holding aloft the prize. a co

(continuing) Before us, in the heavy,.. fragrant, cabbage-scented _ kitchen stood a life-size lady's leg ~- in true eee blushing pink flesh tones ee and wearing a modish black 2 patent leather pump with spiked heel. When I say life-size I am teferring to a rather large lady who obviously had dined — well and matured nicely. For an instant we thought that we had received in the mail the work of an artist of the type that was very active at that period -~ the trunk murderer. We stood silent and in awe at the sheer shimmering / unexpected beauty of the ‘Major Award.’

Mother is the first to recover.

- MOTHER What is it?

There is a long pause.

aeaee eeeeee SNTeeeaeenesaaee | Seonsill.aAtnlin.alea

30.. CONTINUED- 30.

A statue?

_NARRATOR Our family had neverowned a statue. A statuewas _ always. consideredtobe a lady wearing.awreath and concrete robes, holding a torchin one hand anda book, intheother.

RALPHIE | &RANDY Whoopee a statue! We won a statue!

My mother was tryingto insinuateherself between us and ‘the statue’.

a MOTHER aiSS“a, Isn't it time forbed? éi

suddenly ‘The Old Man stands up Like he's received an electric’ shock.

They all fall silent.

| FATHER (continuing) Do you knowwhat that is?

Silence.

| |MOTHER What?

_ (CONTINUED)

-51l-

(oN 30. -CONTINUED

In an instant The Old Man has screwed it atop the fulsome thigh. and ‘there. itstands,afull four feet high.

: ‘FATHER What a great lamp! Wow this is exactly what we need for the front window.

‘He ‘sweeps up the plastic trophyand rushes into the§ ‘living: room.

Saget

ee An, 2AceeArAtll,AlBNcae/—nPeetettethpmentsammewaarcumwwmetar, tte etmmmatett,Sahetnaalwe_anneesuhPeetemmsee,le,

-52-

| 56. CONTINUED ee ee

(80.

We see The Old Man. plunge into a jungle of.extension cords and 4-way plugs, wires heading in every . ‘direction.'Ralphie. rushes in..with the. extension

cord... The Old. Man disappears ‘behind the couch.

Much heavy breathing andcursing. emerges.-

| NARRATOR The snap of a few sparks, a quick whiff of ozone and the lamp blazed forth in unparalleled. glory. From ankle to thigh the . ¢ryanslucent fleshradiated a vibrant, sensual,luminous, orange/pinkish nimbus ofpagan fire. All it needed was. tom- toms and maybe a bone or two.

The Old Man backs away in admiration. The leg lamp

is ridiculous. But The Old Man is in his glory.|

Hey wait! I want to see it from the outside.

3i. INT/EXT. THE HOUSE AND STREET - NIGHT = 31.

The’ Old Man rushes out into the darkness,across the porch. ~.‘The. Bumpus. dogsarestartled. andcaughtoft. guard. We look out the window over Ralphie's shoulder. A crowd has gathered around The OldMan. -

Mother . reluctantly complies.

| | FATHER -(continuing) Okay!

32. EXD. HOUSE -NIGHT , oo 32.

The Old Man moves further across the road. He pretends to be a casual observer walking down the street.

~53-

OLN 33. EXT. /INT. HOUSE - NIGHT —— ae 33.

Mother and the kids stare out.

, NARRATOR | The entire neighborhoodwas turned on. It cculdbe seen '.up and down Cleveland Street, the symbol ofThe Old Man's. victory! My motherwas truly on the horns ofa dilemma.

wae mothers.

Ralph and RAndy.race acrossto the radio and Snap it ON. It HUMS TO LIFE. Inthe background we see The - Old Man re~enter the house.

ATIEIR en nlRrrerrinn

~54-

Ce 33. CONTINUED 33.

Inthe background we see Mother casually rise, walk over to the window and draw the blinds and snapoff

the leg lamp. Father pretends not tonotice.

CLOSEUP - RALPH

as he sits, enraptured, befor= theradio.

neal

CLOSEUP.~ ORNATE FRONT OF RADIO

Pra

weeeeeeeee

neesatewhyttyae, wreSON“aaemimanenteni eefoe,

“255=

CONTINUED | 33.

Inthe background we see The Old Man, his casualness matching Mother's. He draws open the drapes and stands pretendingto stare out at the street.

He snaps onthe lamp. Mother pretends to be uncon

“cerned.

, RADIO (V.O.) Okay, kids.Time to get out your secret decoder pin. Time for another secret message direct from Little Orphan Annie to members of the _ Little Orphan Annie Secret — Circle.

Ralph slumps.

NARRATOR ae | | Igot no decoder pin. A member — . of an Out Group at the age of nine. And the worst kind of an Out | Group. I lived in a non-Ovaltine~ drinking neighborhood.

~. (CONTINUED)

-56-

f " ; 33. CONTINUED | | 33.

We see Mother rise and ambletoward the window. She stops to pick a new magazine.

She snaps the drapes closed. TheOld Man feigns in- difference.

Ralph shows disinterest. The showis over. Ralph also locks vaguely troubled.

aeeeeea TeA

33... CONTINUED meena 33k.

We FADE OUT on the scene asThe Old Man makes yet

another move on the drapes.

FADE IN:

Ralph, Schwartz, Flick, Miss Shields,Extras.

Children file past Miss Shields’ desk;each carefully. places their theme papér on it. Ralph adds his to » the pile with a Little flourishof impliedvictory.

NARRATOR

C) I had done it. Therecould

be no doubt that thistheme would absolutely overwhelm Miss Shields. Not only was

carbine air rifle irrevocably mine, but I began to envisage that Miss Shields, inher ecstasy, would excuseme from -theme writing forthe restof my school days,or at leastuntil high school... suchwas the Clarity and powerof my prose that. it seemed ridiculousto ask me to demonstrate it further.

CAMERA MOVES SLOWLY IN TO Ralphie's faceas he begins to fantasize. ,

‘a a, «lie letin +sea4mi,ln,ten«tennsth.«itnityactinwrainn- satat,aan—eac tHiieenonseamen

-58- R-~21/12/82

35. INT, SCHOOL - MISS SHIELDS IN RALPH'S FANTASY - DAY 38,

We see Miss Shields grading papers grumpily. She throws one one down in disgust and scribbles alarge "F" on it. She picks up another and gives it the same treatment, and another and yet another. She puts her hand to her forehead in despair for’'amoment, then she plunges in again.

She begins reading Ralphie's theme. Her face brightens. Her mouth flies open. She reads on. She utters an exclamation of joy and clasps the theme to her bosom, silent movie style.

She begins reading again, barely able to contain herself. With every sentence, she exclaims in ecstasy. Finally, she can contain herself no more. She leaps to her feet, throwing the theme into the air, and races to the blackboard. She writes Ralphie's name on the board in huge letters and follows. this with:

RALPHIE BAPE EEEEETLE EEE E ET EEE TREE TETHtttt

A huge "A"; then she begins writing plusses after the A. She writes plusses until she runs out of board, then continues writing them.off the board and around the walls.

CAMERA PANS OFF Miss Shields TO Ralphie, where we see him: standing modestly, acknowledging the thunderous ovation of his adoring classmates. We HOLD on this for a long moment, then...

RALPHIE AND.REALITY |

_RALPHIE (coming to} What? Oh, no, not now. Uh eoegust turning in my theme.

Ralphie backs out of the room grinning sheepishly at Miss. Shields. Miss Shields looks after him quizzically.

ee ee eee 36*

We are holding on the steel mill for a long moment then suddenly in the foreground we see some figures blur by. It. is Ralphie, Flick and Schwartz. The frame is empty for a moment, until Grover Dill and Scut Farkas race past in hot pursuit, another empty moment, then Randy comes waddling by, arms still stuck out like a scarecrow.

OMIT - PAGES 59, 60, 61 & G2.%%* . | *

-=59=-

35. CONTINUED , | 35.

Ralph, Schwartz, Flick, Randy, Grover Dill. |

We see the boys heading down the street. Randy, whining, trails along about fifty yards behind, his galoshes open, wiping his nose on his sleeve.

‘RANDY Wait up! Come on, youguys. Awwww... I'm gonna. tellMa. Wait up!

Ralph and the others ignore him, moving in a sort of ‘purposelessramble, slowly working their way home, -kicking at cans; Schwartz hurls a rock languidly at a telephone pole insulator, not even bothering to turn and see if it hits.. Obviously, they do this every day.

They are passing beforea wooden fence. The old familiar MUSIC creeps up, very faintly. Ralph drags a stick across the pickets,making a rasping sound.

CAMERA PANS DOWN the fence. We see the familiar brogans matching Ralphie's stride~for-stride. The boys are oblivious to the menace. Such unwariness does not go unpunished in the jungles of boyhocd.

stalking them on the other side of the fence.

-60—-

(36. CONTINUED 36.

Their aimless wanderings take them intoan alley, at the end of which is afence theymust scaleto continue on their way. As theynear the cul-de-sac, the MUSIC RISES. At the lastminute, Ralphie senses something. He stops.and looks inthe direction of the fence.

But it is too late. A faceappears suddenly in the. gap between two boards. It is a malevolentface. It is the face of meanness personified. It is the dreaded GROVER DILL. The MUSIC SHUDDERSappropriately.

NARRATOR | Grover Dill! What a rotten name. Wewere trapped. There he stoodbetween us and the alley, GroverDill staring out at us withhis yellow eyes. He had yelloweyes. So help me God, yelloweyes! His cap slunk low overhis non-existent brow, resting onhis ears, which flared out liketoadstools. His lips curledover his green teeth in a.semblanceof speech.

~~-DILL Hey! Fat mess!

perce

maenamieellisHeeesti. sinofilnn«ttm

-61-

36. CONTINUED 36.

(continuing). . For some reason, Dill looked past me to Schwartz.

- DILL Hey you, come here.

SCHWARTZ

DILL Nah, your AuntTilly! Ya, you. Get over here.

Obediently, hopelessly, much in themanner of a hypnotized bird approaching a snake, Schwartz goesto Dill. Dill methodically takes Schwartz's arm and twists it.

SCHWARTZ— Aw, gee, Dill, cut it out!

DILL Say ‘Uncle’.

DILL (sing~-song) Cry baby, cry.

~62-

36. CONTINUED

Dill finally has twisted Schwartz down to his knees. He gives a shove and Schwartz sprawls in the alley.

‘DILL Alright, who's next?

He laughs malevolently and then makes a mock Frankenstein lunge at. them.

DILL (continuing) Ahhhhhaggghhhhhh!»

The boys ‘bolt like jack rabbits. Dill lets them go. Scut Farkas oozes down off the fence and joins bill. They laugh after the fleeing victims. —

DILL (continuing) You better run, you jerks.

MEDIUM SHOT

CS _. Ralph running. Dill in b.g.

Rmtntheoreti rifeneneRerRtAaTRRR oAAalaAth, Ate:seeswnk Anatt,memfemmesmn a,i= Parte ts fi met

-~§3- , R-21/12/82.

OMIT - PAGES 59, 60, 61 & 62.

ene, i2 uy 37. INT. HALLWAY OF HOUSE ~-FAMILY - NIGHT 37...

“Ralph, Randy and The Old Man stand waiting impatiently

in the hallway...

Mother comes racing down the stairs.

She moves to the window and snaps out the leg lamp.

EAT. HOUSE | ~_NIGHT i

' The Old Man gives her a look but“lets it pass. They

all bundle their way out the door and pile into the Olds.

_ NARRATOR. It was one of those rare nights in Hohman when the air was crisp and clean and so cold that the Bumpus dogs . wouldn't even come out from. under the Bumpus garage to chase my old man. And we were off on one of the great adventures of the year +- Selecting the Christmas tree “- and then a ride around town to see the Yuletide splendor.

39. 39.

Mother, Father, Ralph, and Randy walk around a frozen vacant lot, looking at Christmas trees.

seatAletaomeew“nsrememeRatte wertierr re mowaeBNfarei°mm“RRmG"eiscateated‘weesamemanatesfee.can mn omasiaialia tadrrrvsV-rite seri « ig smhacneiimve

-64=-

+ Pos

CONTINUED 39.

Sper -MOTHER

Oh.

The Christmas tree is finally chosen. After a great deal of difficulty, it is securely lashed to the back of the car, sticking out cf the trunk and tied to the « bumpers with lengths of grimy, knotted rope.

We. see the family in the car, Looking at the decorations. Christmas lights festoon houses, plastic Santas. smile from the tops of garages, plastic wreaths of: holly hang from the lamp posts surrounding smiling Santa faces. A choir of Christmas carollers accompanies this tableau.

We see a Nativity group.on afront lawn. Joseph and Mary kneel in the straw, adering the Infant, watched by three plastic sheep, a plastic cow, and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, his nose a bright red bulb.

alae enne im “acsmananamasanenmmnemeneaemenicin-“-valeael

-65-

co

a Eight more plastic reindeerstand on the roof of the 2 IY cardboard shed.

ae to getmixed up with Walt

Disney.

4l, 41.

INT, CAR - NIG

A sound Like "G=DUNK,G-DUNK, G-DUNK" is heard. The | car lurches.

Father pulls over, leapsfrom the car. The sound of

N_7 BANGING-TOOLSAND STEADY CURSING can be heard from

theback of the car.

Father passes sidewindow, rolling Spare tire, jack underhis arm.

NARRATOR | Itwas-the first time it had been suggested I go help my father with anything.

Ralphgets out of the ¢ar. CAMERA DOLLIES IN. The caris up on the shoulder, and every time a tractor- trailerbooms past, a spray oficy slush slops over.

Sea«

,.a.I

teeop 41. CONTINUED 41.

The Old Man as he struggles with the jack. On the

Aen other side of the car, away from the road, is a deep REa _weedy ravine, weed tops poking out of the drifted

snow. In the dark and slushy night, The OldMan struggles with his worn and patched spare tire.

RRR NARRATOR id Hs (continuing)

My Old Man's spare tires were

enemas actually only tires in the

academic sense. They were round; they had once been made of rubber, but by the time they were in the darkbullpen se of the car's trunk to be usedas pape sensesap spares. There was so little +a

tread on them that The OldMan amieom used to say you could read the “eejgeewneang Want Ads of the Tribuneright ek through them. ap

The old Man busily fits jack, jacks up car, begins to remove wheel bolts with wrench...Ralphwatches.

| RALPH Mom said I should help.

‘TheOld Man struggles with the tire. Ralph stands next tO him, holding the hubcap. Cars whiz by, throwing slush from under their tires. A giantsemi roars past, throwing up such a plume of slushand icy, filthy water that Ralph flinches.

~67=-

CONTINUED . | 4l.

The: OldMan reaches up, and accidentally hits the hub<cap with his hand. The PICTURE slows down INTO SLOW MOTION.

CLOSEUP = RALPH ~ IN SLOW MOTION

CAMERA ZOOMS IN on Ralphie's face, just ashe isabout

to make an exclamation... CAMERAZOOMS PASThis mouth

just as he is forming The Word. Just at that moment, a TRUCK ROARS by and drowns out the sound. We.do not hear the word or see it spoken,but it isevident that — Ralph has said The Word.

CLOSEUP - FATHER

His face is frozen in astonishment. There is a long pause. |

A long. puase,both figuresare> caughtin the glare o£ the oncoming traffic.

“ae so | (CONTINUED)

~6§8=—

CONTINUED | al.

He crawls around in the snow, looking forthe lost bolts, muttering constantly. After anenormous struggle, he manages to retrieve threeof them, and replaces the bolts,puts on thehubcap, returns the jack to the trunk after a brief tusslewith the lashed down Christmas tree. Ralphwatches dumbly.

Father, Mother, Ralph, Randy.

FATHER * OU Do you knowwhat your son just said? ~~ “ee. NARRATOR Mother lookedpuzzied. Randy, ~~ in the back seat,perked up and leaned forwardattentively. He knew I. wassuddenlyin

a trouble, andhe loved it. If °

he had a tail, itwould have beenwagging.

Whispers. Mother sitsbolt upright in shock.

She turns to glareat Ralph. Randy snickers. They ride home silently,Ralph with the air of someone being taken to the gallows.

DaaNe>On olHL.ah sitetmecmptewe9m«rteys«me. armas4imegiy«4kaknyyo AOA omah

-69-

MOTHER AND RALPE.

Ralph is sitting on the closed lid of the toilet. Mother stands over him menacingly.

Mother sticks bar of soap in Ralph'smouth.

Ralph sits on the tollet,bar of soap in mouth. Mother stands over him impassively.

teemmeecalles |ortan quam- daakanwma,Yona,ety«tenn,

-~70~

43. CONTINUED | 43.

; ee MOTHER . Are you ready to tellme?

Ralph nods yes. Mother removes soap.

His Mother puts the bar of soapback in Ralph's mouth. With an air of grimdetermination, she turns onher — heel and goes to the phone. She dials, pauses.

(continuing) Hello, Mrs. Schwartz? Yes, fine, how areayou? Mrs. Schwartz, do you knowwhat Ralph just said?

Pause. We hear GIBBLE-GIBBLEof Mrs.Schwartz's reply but cannot hear thewords.

Saatareas sotmmnansammmmsmmm, cnaitgscat = tltinacinARIAArANerPAR, AEaAemt5oti5etetinta= etm= atineiange

-71-

C) 43. CONTINUED 43.

She puts hand over mouthpiece andwhispers.

Yes. That. And do you know where heheard it? (long dramatic pause} -From yourson!

Mother stands holding phone. We hearquick TAP- TAP<TAP of Mrs. Schwartz's HEELS retreating. Suddenly, very faintly, there is a SCREAM.

NARRATOR

— 7 Retribution had come to Na Schwartz. Another shot

of mysterious, inexorable| official Justice. Justice? Injustice? It is immaterial. We are all guilty, inone way or another, and Schwartz was no exception.

Mother hangs up phone,returns tobathroom, removes soap from Ralph's mouth.

it ll aelelealtAR oe MS aet StSiimihnicmrte ANAR+ EEAA9 teoAtips, etn.at, «etetan.tien sit coinin « tatttanatctitninse Ritati= inneRIE, @ waa, Smarnnaebeesittertnay—pziniignsarearin <9 = chatailagk= eiir gearaye cfs SIG =i, Aas aeARR uy eeeinen. a, ecm cmnatingemit « eRsca, RAEDmeltAeRReDt

_ =72-

43... ‘CONTINUED - | 43.

Ralph goes slowly up the stairs.

Ralph lies forlornly on his bed. In the UPPER LEFT- HAND CORNER OF THE SCREEN, above his head, we see a PROJECTION of what he is thinking.

SCENE WIDENS until walk FILLS WHOLE FRAME.

CLOSEUP OF WHITE CANE

tap-tapping up front steps. Cane taps on door. Huge tall door opens.

46. EXTZINT. HOUSE = DAY . 46.

RALPHIE'S POV

Mother stands in doorway, looking down at the pathetic little figure before her. Father stands behind her.

| FATHER Come on in, Raiph. Where have you been?

|ee en i a ae nar ll.lentb1trneA0esartnnDO.aAFe ATAa2oeoso

46. CONTINUED | 46.

a Little Ralph, saying nothing, bravely taps his way into

the house. .

CLOSEUP - RANDY

looking horrified, peering out from under thedining room table.

Mother leads Ralph to the kitchen table. Ralph sits. bravely at table.

Ralph bravely smiles; shakes his head no. A tear runs

ea down under his dark glasses.

ee

ea

you to this lowly state?

i

‘Ralph is silent.

Ralph turns his head, fighting back the pain.

| MOTHER — Yes?

beeeeetimtnattenceeSeaeeeeeeJn.en, A.eyiit. .tlii.ahweetertcapatieNAL|tintgitmroette

46. CONTINUED . 46.

Mother sinks down beside Father. They cling together.

& | - MOTHER = Oh, my God! .Oh, my God! I'll never forgive myself! Howcould: I. havedone it! —

Ralph puts his hand’ on his. Father's sob-wracked shoul- ders. | Randyclings lovingly to Ralph's ankle.

es RALPHIE I’ Ll get along...somehow. I deserved it. |

eee MOTHER’ You" reso brave, ‘Ralph.

eri NARRATOR - There has never been.a kidwho didn't believe, vaguely but insistently, that he would be stricken blind beforehe reached twenty-one. And then they'd-be sorry!

Ralph's face, larger and larger, moves INTOFRAME. His poor, blank, blind eyes stare INTOTHE CAMERA. One

.. large tear rolls down his cheek. FOCUS on large tear.

MONTAGE

NCESLATS = ‘DAY _

We see Ralphie, Flick and theothers fly past. The SHOT remains empty for amoment then we see Dill and

- Farkas fly past. : .

romais ¢emakerememneymers ¢cremegentemmaTeakgtaitemime crecammanegsmwi,tantiny— conptnnant nywattWey,a-mmamr«Anes4.weaoreaiencaincnetnias=SEAH

et,

Snow and WIND HOWLS

It is Friday. The children are filing intoclass.

oe

Every third or fourth. childpauses to give Miss

cane Shields a little gift as is the custom. We see roe the booty piling up, mostly apples a few cupcakes, some ES cookies, a solitary flower.

Suddenly a pineapple, a very large and particularly ‘tropical lookingpineapple is placed upon the desk. A pineapple in Hohman during -thedepression is a sight indeed. = :

“ Ralphie' s face eases ‘up through the foliage on top

of the pineapple. He grins a grin about as subtle as "Oilcan Harry." Miss Shields locks at him.in. amazement.

- MISS SHIELDS Why -~ thank you, Ralph!

‘Ralph slides away.

Silence, then we hear the POUNDING OF FEET. Ralphie and the others go thundering past. Silence, then Dill and Parkas come racing by. HOLD on the silence a moment.. .

Mee oe

‘EXT.~_RALPH'S HOUSE - LONG SHOT ~ DAY . 51.

Ralph comes dashing tup to ‘the mailbox and stops to catch his breath, looking behind him. :

_. NARRATOR > GroverDill was just another of the hostile elements of nature like the wind and the snow and the Boogie Man and as such could be tolerated. But the agony of waiting for — the days to pass so I could receive my theme in triumph was unbearable. - Twas nearing madness. .

Ralph straightens uP ‘and looks into the mailbox.

Ralph takes a large erivelope out of the box.

CAMERA CUTS TO the letter:.

BE IT KNOWN TO ALL AND SUNDRY THAT MR. RALPH WESLEY PARKER IS HEREBY APPOINTED A MEMBER OF THE LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE SECRET CIRCLE AND IS ENTITLED TO ALL | THE.HONORS AND BENEFITS ACCRUING THERETO.

cmeyainarsqosentemamminecsp«allandoin dabei biietianoneeaabdieaaeitaabiaindiietibbtteasmn enimelm neniatetiii

~77—

CONTINUED 51.

raa

— Countersigned: Pierre Andre.

eS, , at the age of nine.

Ralph races ‘to the radio and whirls the: dial frantically.

Ralphhunches closer to radio.

- RADIO (V.0.)_ OKAY, FELLAS AND GALS. GET OUT YOUR DECODER PINS. TIME FOR THE SECRET MESSAGE FOR ALL THE REGULAR PALS OF LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE, MEMBERS OF THE LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE SECRET CIRCLE. ALL SET? HERE WE GO. SET YOUR PINS AT B-12.

We see Ralph frantically setting his pin.

TiltniecntationanmnnaeinenRaceonetenantslinentattleetnee.nlBnDt,icIAimBimtnt,Aearrymematieaeermmmramenarmssomeseeee

-78-

| 52. CONTINUED | | 52. an | | | (og NARRATOR on My eyes narrowed: to mere slits,

my steely claws working with precision, I set my simulated-

o eS _ RADIO (V.0.) ie ALL READY? PENCILS SET?

: - Ralph licks point of pencil. |

; oan _. important.

| | a | “RADIO v. 0.) ; | SEVEN... TWENTY -TWO.

We see Ralph writing. dike mad,brow furrowed in manic

| a concentration. | |

ee - NARRATOR hoe | Istruggled furiously to keep , up with his booming voice —

dripping with tension and excitement. Finally...

OKAY, KIDS. THAT'S TONIGHT'S

ee . SECRETMESSAGE. LISTEN AGAIN |

TOMORROW NIGHT, WHEN YOU HEAR. Who's that. little chatterbox.. The one. wee. curly _2UDUENTocks. vak

53. 53.

ae - :

— egowrintEeD)

~79-

ae 53.imeCONTINUED 53,

- spun the dial, poring over:

tion, the plastic. scale of letters.

~ Ahal B. I carefully wrote down my first decoded number: Z went to the next. 22. - Again I spun the dial. Ee:

it. was“coming easier now. 219... From sonGehara out inthe: house I could hear my kid. brother whimpering, his wail gathering steam, then the faint shriek of my mother.

:RALPHIE eee I!1l be Eight out, Mal Gee | whiz! - OS ives

eee NARRATOR S... U... 15. ..EB. Be sure! A aaaoage was coming - through! Excitement gripped my gut. I was getting The| Word. Be sure. 14... 8... T... 0... Be sure _ to what? What was Little _Orphan Acmie trying to say?

‘Ralph scribbles more> Erantically, running hand through. hair dLatractedLy. |

| RALPHIE (frantic) ; | All RIGHT, Ma! I'll be right outT ———-

~80-

53. CONTINUED , 83,

o : NARRATOR (CONT D) wee : - Ll...9. Nee — .. 32...

a OVA... 19.. ‘ I sat for a long ‘moment in

that steamy room, staring.

notebook. A crummy commercial.

We hear enother. THIN WAIL from: Randy, 0.S.

nnanaens

ee crying out loud. .

|

ee,

NARRATOR |

ee I pulled up my corduory pants |. . 4

and went out to face the meat a | loaf and the red cabbage...

ae Punjab.had decapitated.another |

victim.

I

Randy races past Ralph into the bathroom. Ralph con- tinues on down to the kitchen. | ma

| | NARRATOR, Ce . {eontinuing) - aaa oe ‘The agony crept over me.

appear Again I. hoped dinner would ‘pring relief. Maybe there me was a surprise.

Ralph peers into the pot on the stove.

'NARRATOR (continuing) Ha, fat chance -- red cabbage. I didn't even bother to: look ‘im theoven where the perpetual meatloaf sizzled. My mother was hanging over her sink, swabbing eternally with her Brillo pad. If © mothers had a coat of arms in the midwest, it would consist of crossed plumber' ‘s helpers rampant on a field of Brillo pads...

“aga

(CONTINUED)-

jtihn,dlnbeiti,aRoRhAectlnaircremcennntancccacrarctaeaiRia,why«Revean«emmysietenyemmwemgamewmGmeneampataatenenateettnemeimEINSRAOROS

-8l-

yo : 53. CONTINUED - BB.

ac’ a . . RALPHIE

Se Yeah!

NARRATOR

' | What happened next was rather : unreal, My mother walked

out of the kitchen with her watering can in tow bound for

o brief moment of silence then a | loud crash from the living room

and a phony stifled gasp. | Another split second of silence while the fuse sputtered and ignited -- and then it began — -- The Old Man knew -- he had

- been fearing it since the very

The bathroom door flies open and The Old Man stands

What broke? What happened? What broke!

| voice) I -- ‘The lamp,' said my mother in

a soft phony voice, feigning heartbreak.

The o1d Man rushes headlong down the: stairs and into the Living room.

| FATHER Where is itwhere is it?

eenreTetmeviearlyunmtoesatetetateeeator9REee———————e——_—_reeeeeoe.TM“nsryteeserie, meillbls, 1xoni. nevittnanwelliniay,

~82-

53. CONTINUED | oe 53. —_~ 7 Weg The Old Man drops to his knees amid the debris.ris

The Old Man Looks |at her for a long moment then speaks | in measured voice. .

, | MOTHER Jealous? Of a plastic leg?

| _ NARRATOR Now it was out, irretrievably.

The Old Man draws himself up to his full height and ‘glares at her with bristling dignity.

| ‘MOTHER We're out of glue.

| NARRATOR

ae The Old Man stood quivering on with fury.. Aes . (MORE)

-83-

53. CONTINUED 53.

He turns and races from the house nearly takingthe door with him. There is silence for amoment, then the door is ripped open and The OldMan bellows:

‘He wheels and slams the door! Silence.

_It is later. We are looking atthe house in LONG SHOT.

We see The Old Man silhouetted inthe window trying to repair the lamp.

We see The Old Man bending intentlyover the leg.

| NARRATOR (continuing) Time and again,it looked almost successful. Then he would removehis hand slowly -~Being the kneecap would spring upand sail across the roomand the whole thing

aoaginaniFT would collapse!

FEreeRR EB ERBE i heak caltnetl = tt statas aectmearn©sammerememwee+Fagidamaney 4 Fem meeeg 6 aareasantakana~tte renee“rcninnecanacinnestiosstinBtwn ttheitn olin

—-84—.

| NS 56. EXT./INT. HOUSE - NIGHT | 56.0

) - We see and hear the lamp come CRASHING to the floor. \ The Old Man disappears out of the window for a long . i moment. Suddenly he appears out the front door,makes

hs way to the side of the house and dumps thewhole mess in the garbage. He marches resolutely back into the house. After a moment we hear his voice faintly.

| FATHER ) I won't forget this -- ever. |

The house sits there tranquilly in thebrilliant winter.

_ . air. We hear the FAINT STRAINS of"O LittleTown of

Bethlehem."

po : | | DISSOLVETO:

_ : 57. EXT. RALPH'S HOUSE - DAY — oe 57.

It is a raw, wind-whipped day. Cheery smokepours out of every chimney except one,which belches out black

| acrid puffs.

7 CAMERA ZOOMS INTOthe smoke. We. hearThe Old Man ROAR= | ny ING out hisdefiance of the villainous furnace.

CAMERA PANS DOWN the house TO the front door. We see Ralphie and Randy being hurriedout by their anxious Mother.—

MED. SHOT - RALPHIE,FLICK -DAY

We seé Ralphie pursuedby the bowling ball which is his. brother, Randy. They rundown the walk and join Flick. They punch arms and thenhead out for school.

Ralph and the othersmove INTOVIEW. We see Grover Dill lounging about theice-ancrusted jungle gym.

| DILL Hey,Fat Mess. Come over here. I wannatalk to you.

-~85-—

58. CONTINUED | | | 58.

) NARRATOR eee : Ordinarily, if Dill so much

as said 'Hi' to you, you felt great andwarm inside. But mostly he just hit you in the mouth.

Ralphie runs for school.

DILL Hey you!

Dill is furious. He turns to the luckless Flick.

oS | DILL oe : (continuing)

You! Get. overhere.

Flick files by, his eye is blackened.

CLOSEUP - RALPHIE

He virtually pants with anticipation, ignoring Flick

aoreeeeai

-86-

59. CONTINUED 7 | | 58.

CLOSEUP - THE HANDS OF THE KIDS

passing the themes back along the rows. CAMERA PANS with the hands. —

CLOSEUP - RALPH

He is turning red from holding his breath.

CLOSEUP

CAMERA PANS with the papers down the row.

CLOSEUP ~-RALPH

CLOSEUP - THE PAPERS

They arrive at Ralph's desk. He extricates his and passes the others on. CAMERA PANS UP To his face as he unfolds his theme. His facedrops. CAMERA PANS BACK DOWN TO the paper andwe see the grade C- pulsat- ing IN AND OUT OF FOCUS.

NARRATOR | My first impulse was that obviously a mistake had been made. But then I saw it -- it leaped off the page and around the room and fastened itself leechlike on the back of my neck.

CAMERA CUTS BACK UP TO Ralphie's face, then TILTS BACK TO the paper and PANS DOWN and ZOOMS TO the fateful words. They pulsate in red:

ae

aa a “itheRehanns|ecaneaith,i,A,tsineaanywahtyatneeteeReteenemenoa

-87-

59. CONTINUED

P.S. You'll shoot your eyes out.

KIDS, 60. MOTHER, EXTRA ~ DAY |

The CAMERA CATCHES the forlorm figure of Ralph walking dejectedly to his house. We MOVE IN on him as he kicks a slab of dirty ice down the sidewalk. Randy tags along behind.

We are CLOSE on Ralph's face when suddenly a brackish snowball about the size of a basketball whistles INTO FRAME and smacks Ralph right in the kisser. It nearly knocks him off his feet. He clears the slush from his eyes and chokes back the tears that threaten to well up. He looks 0.58.

LONG SHOT - GROVER DILL

is seen walking in his cocky manner down the street toward Ralph.

-88-

60. CONTINUED | 60.

DILL Hey, Fat Mess. How'd ya like your snowball sandwich!

Dill and Scut Farkas laugh their nasty little laugh as they approach Ralph.

MED. SHOT - RALPH

CAMERA MOVES SLOWLY INTO Ralph's face.

Somewhere deep in the recesses of my brain a tiny red-hot little flame began to. grow.

~

Dill has strutted ‘upand stands, legs spread, in front of Ralph. .

DILL Listen, Jerk, when I tell ya to come over, ya better come over.

NARRATOR — By this time my red demon. had grown to man size and came exploding out of my eyes and ears and mouth.

Ralphie explodes all over the startled Dill, knocking him flaton his back and begins pounding him.

-NARRATOR (continuing): Bravery does not exist, just a kind of latent nuttiness. If I had thought about attacking Dill for ten seconds before I had done it, I'd have been four blocks away in a minute flat. But something had happened. A fuse blew and I had gone out ofmy skull.

Ralph and Dill begin to fight in earnest.

-89-

60. CONTINUED | 60.

(The swearing will be indistinguishable, lost under narration.)

LONG SHOT |

We see Ralph's Mother arriving.

is wailing hysterically. This has never happened to him before. They drag the two kids apart amid a great ring of surging grownups and exultant, scared kids who know more about what is happening than the mothers and fathers ever could. Ralphie' s Mother looks at him for a long moment.

60. CONTINUED- 60.

| . NARRATOR | That'sall. There was a funny lookon her face. At that instant all thoughtof Grover Dill disa- ppeared fromwhat was left of my mind andall I could think of was the incredibleshame of that un- believabletornado of obscenity I had sprayedover the neighbor- hood.

UNS

Just go inand lie down.

She takes Ralphby the shoulder and pushes him down on the daybed. He Liesthere scared, raally scared of what he has done.

CLOSEUP ~ RANDYunder the sink.

eae

-9]-

wet, we 62. CONTINUED 62.

Ralph walks into the kitchen and sits down.

7 MOTHER __ Oh, you know how kids are.

eeeteintiFLEERESERESRRRERRRRERREES al

-92-

63. CONTINUED

Mother resumes her endless table-to-stove-+to- vefrigerator-to-table-to-stove treadmill.

ae FATHER Yeah, Zudock has tickets. Boy, I wish I did. Oh well, you'd freeze your keister off out there.

-Father shovels in more meatloaf.

Mother, leaning over to serve more red cabbage to

_Father, casually leans her arm against Ralph's shoul-

der and gives him a friendly, understanding little

bump. Father does notnotice.

Ralph. resumes eating, this time as though he were actually tasting the food. Mother goes from table to stove. Father eats. Randy whines. Life is back to normal,

‘INT.BEDROOM - RALPH- NIGHT

Ralph lies in bed.

tee

-93-

64. _ 64.

We see an EXTREME CLOSEUP of a huge Santa's head. It appears to be bobbing along in the air. CAMERA PULLS BACK and we realize that what we have been see- ing was a huge rubber Santa. We now realize we are seeing theHohman Christmas Parade. CAMERA PANS AND ZOOMS TO Ralph and the family watching the parade flow by. Jingle Bells fills the air.

-94-

65. CONTINUED : 65.

CAMERA PANS OFF the parade as the last Shriners march past and TILTS UP to see the huge Santa and reindeer above the gold-plated Higbee's Department Storesign.

66, INT. HIGBEE'S -FAMILY, CROWD - NIGHT ae

We PULL BACK from the real Santa's laughing face to TAKE IN the full scope of Higbee's Department Store. We see milling crowds of blue-jowled, agate- eyed, foundry workers, grey-faced refinery men, motley hordes of open hearth, slag heap, Bessemer converter, tinmill, coke plant and welding shop fugitives trudg- ing through the wildly pulsing store, through floor after floor of shiny, beautiful, unattainable treasures, trailed by millions of leatherette-jacketed, high- topped,mufflered kids. Worried-looking, flush-faced mothers wearing frayed cloth coats with ratty fox-fur collars, their hands chapped and raw from years of : dishwater therapy, ride herd on the surging mob,. ranging far and wide into the aisles and under the

- counters; cuffing, slapping, dragging whiners of all

sizes from department to department.

Ralph, Randy, Mother and Father are carried forward by thewaves of maddened shoppers. They pause by 4 coun-_ ter, confer briefly, heads together. We do not hear what is being said, but then Mother and Father go off in the direction of the Men's Department.. CAMERA STAYS with Ralph and Randy as they get on the end of a long line of nervous, fidgeting, greedy urchins waiting to see Santa Claus.

LONG SHOT - THE LINE

It stretches like a human snake teaching to infinity.

-95-

- 66. CONTINUED. | 66.

The shoving, restless, sniffling, whining line slowly inches forward. Far ahead we see a gigantic snowy throne, framed with red-and-white candy canes, under a suspended squadron of plastic angels blowing silver trumpets. The line slowly moves forward.

CLOSEUP - STORE CLOCK

9:45.

We see (RALPH'S OV) a glowing golden grotto at the top of a high ramp. Ramp, seen through Ralph's eyes, is exaggeratedly high, like a soaring glass mountain stretching up to infinity before the kids.

Smenganee

-96—

66. CONTINUED. 66.

Behind Ralph and Randy a skinny seven-year-old girl wearing a brown stocking cap and gold-rimmed glasses ‘hits her little brother steadily to keep him in line. He is wearing an aviator's helmet with goggles pulled down over his eyes. His galoshes are open and his maroon corduroy knickers are damp. Behind them, a fat boy in a huge sheepskin coat stands numbly, his eyeswatering in vague fear, his nose red and running.

CAMERA TAKES IN long line, an uneven procession of stocking caps, mufflers, mittens and earmuffs inch- ing painfully forward, while in the hazy distance, in his magic glowing cave, SANTA CLAUS waits to sit each in turn on his broad red knee. Over the ser- pentine line roars a great sea of sound: TINKLING BELLS, RECORDED CAROLS, THE HUM AND CLATTER OF ELEC- TRIC TRAINS, WHISTLES TOOTING, MECHANICAL COWS MOOING, CASH REGISTERS DINGING, and from far off in the faint distance the "Ho-ho-ho-ine" of jolly old Saint Nick.

Ralph and Randy wind slowly through the Tricycle and Bicycle Department, jostled and pushed by the hordes of kids behind them. Suddenly they reach the head of the line, the foot of Mount Olympus itself. Santa's enarmous gleaming white snowdrift of a throne

’ soars ten or fifteen feet above their heads on a +Saneacr®

mountain of ted and green tinsel carpeted with flash- ing Christmas tree bulbs and gleaming ornaments.

Each kid in turn is prodded up a tiny staircase at ‘the side of the mountain on Santa's left as Santa passes his last customer on to his right and dewn a winding red chute which gives the kid a little ride down to floor level and back into oblivion for another year. Pretty ladies dressed in Snow White costumes, gauzy gowns glittering with sequins and tiaras clipped te their golden, artificial hair, preside at the head cf the line, directing traffic and keeping order.

Randy begins to hang back, whining and whimpering steadily. Ralph herds him ahead of himself while, behind, the girl in the glasses does the same with her kid brother. SNOW WHITE grabs Randy’s shoulder with an irongrip, Launching nim up the slope.

-97—

66. CONTINUED 66.

Deafening MUSIC blasts from the SPEAKERS above: . JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY sung by ten thousand echo~-chamberedreverberating chipmunks.

RALPH'S POV

We see his brother's tiny yellow and brown stocking cap as it bobs on Santa's lap what seems miles above the floor. We hear a thin, high trailing wail. Suddenly the abyss opens before Ralph.

BACK TO SCENE

Snow White grabs his elbow with an iron claw and Ralph begins to struggle upward toward the mountaintop.

| NARRATOR | I have always felt that later generations of tots, products of less romantic upbringing, cynical non-believers in Santa Claus from birth, can never know the nature of the true dream. I was well into my twenties before I finally gave up on the Easter Bunny, and I am not convinced that I am the richer for it. I had long before decided to levei with Santa, to really lay it on the line. No kid stuff. If I was going to ride the range with Red Ryder, Santa Claus was going to have to get the straight poop.

This Santa Claus is not the conventional department store Santa, but rather Santa as he is seen thwugh a child's eyes. He is ENORMOUS, seemingly eight feet tall; high shiny black patent-leather boots, a nimbus of snow white beard, and a real thrumming, belt-créaking stomach. His voice is amplified to a thundering pitch. He seems vast, immense,enormous, world=filling, God like to the eyes of Ralph.

(CONTINUED}

~98-—

66, CONTINUED.

Ralph quailsas Santa reaches down and neatly hooks his. sheepskin collar,swooping him upward. Ralph sits on Santa's huge knee,looking down and out over the endless expanseof Toyland and down to the tiny figures that windoff intothe distance.

Ralph stares straightahead in mindless panic. His mouthopens, snapsshut convulsively, open again with a feeblecroak.

Sangeet (CONTINUED}

al eeblewsnAanlscues:lBRsmeoc remy«rmsAERateateeNRTTeT

66. CONTINUED” 66.

Ralph is being slidoff Santa's knee and deposited in the red chutefor his slide to the ground floor.

Just as hebegins to slide he comes to and, struggling frantically,claws his way back up to the lip of the chuteand thrusts his face up over it desperately.

(allin a rush semi-hysterically) No! No! I want an official Red Ryder.Carbine-action “Ewo-hundréd- shot Range Model air.“rifle with a special sight and a. CORDS SS ain the stock| with a. sundial?

Santalooks in surprise at the absurd figure of Ralph clinging.tothe chute.

Santareaches out gently with his boot and gives Ralph

s,conees

a little shove. We hear this "NOOOQOOO00"ECHO as he disappears..

Ralphmeets Randy, who stands snivelling under a counter piled high with Raggedy Ann dolls. From nowhere, Mother andFacher reappear. Os

wo neneral it\

-100-

66 CONTINUED | . 66.

Ralph looks hangdeg. All hope isgene. The family, like a salmon swimming upstream,begin to struggle through the crowd to the front doorsof the store. From the distance we can still hear Santa Claus.

Merry Christmas. Ho-ho~-hoe!

EXT, PARKER HOUSE - NIGHT | 67.

The house is nestled inthe snow. The night is crisp and brilliant.

nthe <Ae.,eeSAnSe: saree emnaegsimmteeeatm,

-101-

ca

seed 2 68. INT. - LIVINGROOM - RALPH,RANDY, MOTHER, FATHER - NIGHT 68.

It is afterdinner. The family is trimming the tree on this most importantof all nights, Christmas Eve. The. tree, completewith a bare spot which did not "fluff out" is standing in itslittle red tin holder, fragrantly, toweringly, teeteringly.

Father standson a ladder, also teetering, stringing lights tothe topof the tree.

Mother scrambledaround, finds extension cord under sofa,plugs inChristmas tree. lights.

FATHER

- Them. greenones ain't lit. cs :. fe Dammit:ion :

Father scramblesdown the ladder, gets a new bulb, runs back upthe ladder to the top of the tree, screws in thenew bulb.

Motherplugs the string of lights into extension.

The Christinastree lights up.

| (CONTINUED)

PMSUBS en alan Ee ate snaeitn essytyaeeara mamios marmotammgrcaamngsaae eatoyeaeatitiathe,llrORallaelt...lle.nt”thtAtas 7 Ntlt

68. ‘CONTINUED | 68.

The Christmas Tree goes out, lightsblink and dim, the kitchen light burns wildly forone moment, flickers, goes out. oO

Father runs down the ladder,grabs the extension, and unplugs the tree lights.

Ralph and Randy run to the kitchen.

Snwe

burning downwhole blocks cf homes, ormore often blowing out themain fuse,plunging half the town intodarkness.

Ralph and Randy return,carrying the extension from the

a

toaster.

_

Father plugs the extensioninto a rat's nest of electrical junk, rams the plug from thetree into the extension, . and hurries up the ladder.

Mother plugs it in. TheChristmas tree lights up. The house remains lit. | .

a a aeaaas wieSlean RS RESAeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeespoemceaengeeghem

-103-

a le )a“ 68. ‘CONTINUED. 68.

, -MOTHER My, isn't thatpretty.

| FATHER (admiringly) Son of abitch.

The tree stands in all itssplendid fragrant beauty. Father comes down the ladder. The family stands in awed silence around thetree, drinking.in its magnificent beauty.

Mother digs in thecardboard box. Father climbs the ladder.

Father leansover fromthe ladder, and places the star at the top of thetree. For a moment all hang suspended. The tree glows; Ralphand Randy admire; Mother nervously wrings her hands. Then, glowly, majestically, the tree begins to tilt.

'Pather grabs thetop of the tree, and shoves it back

upright. The staris now noticeably cockeyed.

Nobody mentions. th

(CONTINUED}

~104-

‘.. 68. CONTINUED 68.

the tree. Mother sighs and wipes her hands on her apron. Mother glances at the clock.

Randy dashes to the window.

‘ RANDY - . I was good all year Santa?

Ralpnie said bad.words twice and I never said any.

Randy looks at them a moment of indecision flickers on his face, He turns back to the window

; RALPHIE Squealer!

petiPi aeeAeeeee,eeeSeer, oer eeeeS

-105-

68. CONTINUED i 68.

FATHER — On the double.

Theboys dash up the stairs. Mother and the Old Man look atone another.

A lightsnow falls. CAMERA PEERS from across the street.

We seeMother and the @1ldMan as they play Santa Claus. TheGld Man opens the front door and goes to the trunk ofthe Olds. It is a calculated risk.

Severalof the Bumpuses' hounds.stir. A howl sets up. Theold man dashes for the door, slipping and sliding

Sege on the new snow. He makes the front door one step

aheadof the furry mass.

Ralphie stares forelornly from his bed. We see the light snow falling outside his window.

CAMERA MOVES in on his face.

~106-

CONTINUED. 70.

CAMERA MOVES in on Ralphieas he fantasizes.

“We see Santa Claus and thereindeer on a very fairy

tale like snowcovered rooftop. He isbeing menaced — by the same burglars from Ralphiesfirst fantasy.

Ralphie appears racingover the rooftops. He chases off thebandits with histrusty air rifle and is rewarded by Santawho pilespresent after present on ‘top of Ralphie.

Ralphie stirs fromsleep. The bright light from the window makes him shieldhis eyes. He leans over the

emer bed and peers out.

CAMERA PANS to lookout the windowinto the backyard. An overnight ice stormhas touched the neighberhood with a crystal wand.

The morning sun sends spraysof colored light radiating from the gnarled silver iciclesthat cover everything; trees, wires, eaves, fences. It is a fairy kingdom Ralphie turns from thewindow.

-107-

?‘ait’ a ' sey_/: 73. INT, HOUSE - DAY _ | oo 73. he

We. seeRalphie and Randy creepingdown the stairs. They stop and stare into the livingroom.

CAMERA PULLS BACK to find greatheaps of tissuey, crinkley, Sparkly, enigmatic packages underthe tree, half-hidden amid the folds of a white bedsheetthat looks, in the soft light, like some magic snowbank.

Ralph and Randy stare in awe at thetree and the packages beneath it.

Mother and the Old Manenter behind them. They sit down

—_— and watch the kids’ reactionto the presents. o

In the background,on theRADIO, Lionel Barrymore's wheezy, friendly oldvoice speaks kindly of Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim and the Ghostof Old Marley. Ralph grabs a package. It is taggedTo Randy From Santa.

Ralph feverishly passesit over to Randy and returns to work. Hepulls out a largish,lumpy, red=-wrappedgift. We.see the tag readsTo Ralphie Srom Aunt Clara.

Frantically, Ralphtears the wrappings off. It is a pair of slippers. Bunny slippers. Ralph's mouth drops open.

x jo.

PRTRilltTetlTRRiteCtenellesRs watitnatmimnentinestantiesSemenRrARtenmene«antemtsmmerent;etsymememgraeBSS8Rapeteweetmnakyimisnenaeater se atinaee etntidetrernnia

~108-

Ralphlooks disgusted.

7 Aunt Clara always gives you t thenicest presents. Put

them.on;see if they fit.

Ralph putson slippers.

Next to Ralph, Randy silently, doggedly strips package afterpackage untilhe hits the zeppelin.

-109-

CONTINUED _ 73.

Randy launches it upward into the middle branches of the tree. Two glass angels and a golden bugle crash to the floor and a string of lights winks out.

Randy centinues to play with zeppelin. Ralph opens more packages: A Sandy Andy, a dump truck, a Monopoly game, etc. :

Ralph immediately puts on Frankenstein face.

FATHER | I think it looks good on him.

Ralph stands up, dees his famous Frankenstein walk,

clumping stiff legged around the living room and back to the tree.

~110-

73. CONTINUED | 73.

Finally it is all over. There areno more mysterious packages under the tree, only agreat pile of crumpled tissue paper, string, andempty boxes. Randy lies dozing amid the rubble, the zeppelinclasped in one hand and his new fire truck inthe other.

Father leans forward inhis easy chair, his eighth glass of wine in his hand. He gets up ceremoniouslyand moves over to the tree.

Ralph looks up, afraid tobelieve. He runs to drapes and pulls them out. Sureenough there it is, a long, heavy, red-wrappedpackage. It is marked To Ralphie, From Santa. Frantically,Ralph tears the wrappings —

oft.

| NARRATOR . A Red Rydercarbine~action range-modelBB gun

Ralph makes inarticulategasps of surprise and eestasy.

vea aaa=OeOOeeRS.Sm serete «ote Stig mbt «ste oieheeSmete can amemng ommendmeaentts aet ans an elataellens tne seman a sanactience, li 6B roa,

-111-

“~~

| a 73. CONTINUED 73.

] )

NARRATOR (cont'd)

)

into the walnut, his level

; gaze unmistakable, his jaw _ clean and hard, was Red Ryder | himself. His face was even

more beautiful and malevolent. than the pictures in the ad- vertisements showed.

Father grins broadly, expansively. Mother smiles a weak, doubtful smile. Over the RADIO thunders a thousand-voiced

| heavenly choir: JOY TO. THE WORLD,THE LORD HAS COME.

Ralph digs back into the box, comes up with tubes of BB'S

' and black and white printed targets.

| , out, but the instruction book | Said, in Red Ryder's own words: | . Kids, never fire a BB gun in ) the house. T'never shoot Na anybody but bad guys, and I

don't want any of my friends hurt. ‘ oe

Ralphie gathers up his boectyand dashes out. The Old Man and Mother look after him.| .

MOTHER© And don't shoot.at bird's or any animals.

| OLD MAN Except Bumpus Hounds!

_ | | (CONTINUED)

~11l2-

73. CONTINUED | 73.

By this time Mother is in the kitchen andpulling a golden succulent turkey out of the oven. Sheplaces iton the table. The old man pulls some skin away.

Ralph brushes snow off front step,props up a gleaming Red Ryder target, the black rings andbull's eye Standing out starkly against the snowywhiteness. He backs off into the snow a good twenty feet,slams the stock down onto his left kneecap, hookshis fingersinto the icy carbine lever and cocks hisblue~steel beauty for the first time.

Ralph sights over the barrel. Slowly, slowlyhe squeezes the frosty trigger. Back...back....back.

CRAAAACK!

The gun jerks upward. Ralph'shorn-rimmed glasses spin from his head into a snowbank. He standsparalyzed, not knowirigwhat has happened. Blood trails down his cheek and onto the walnut stockof the Red Ryder BB gun.

-113-

74. CONTINUED 74.

The BB has ricocheted off the tin target and struck Ralphieon the cheek.

Finally, snapping out ofhis daze, Ralph scrambles around in the snowfor his glasses. He finds them at last. .

The back door opens just a crack. Ralph can.see the blur Of his Mother's Chinese~red chenille bathrobe.

Ralphdashes into the house, meets Mother right inside the door. Mother sees his broken glasses, Sees the long bloody scrapeon his cheek.

ening

Lake«TyatatinnaettaayniinNettieRt, ll,ie atlnRAhtc,thiinttnnia ye=n,ae «EM 6 tnermsutyme 4LaneFS mGsanemynserSweaadmes..eed entlie «sllanil,lyvelnmnetesseem.

~114~

ae Q . 7 4 * CONTINUED | 74.

- NARRATOR | Ibegan to ery, fakingit at first.

*éceiede

Mother leads Ralph into the bathroom,wets washcloth in cold water, puts it on Ralph'scheek. Ralph still clutches BB gun to his chest. le!

| OLD MAN (OFF) What's goin'on?

jma (CONTINUED)

‘a necs Seneeeee mi ceiteetete taintteroeaminar cmcanme enaminegemmitig tn

~115-

Nealeeo|

_. MOTHER| Nothing, we'll be- right down and stayaway from that turkey. Ithas to cook for another hour. You'll get worms.

Now itis well known through-. out the midwest that the old man isa turkey junkie...A. bonafide galli turkecanus freak. A few days before Christmas his eyes would begin to gleam with a wild and ravenous light.

i Every few hours he would check

his carving set to make sure ‘theknife was.honed,the fork tines sharp.

OT. cnet We see the Old Man leaning over the turkey drawing a long

deepdraft of turkey essence into his nostrils. He glides backto his chair and sits taking uP the Sports pagewith

great satisfaction.

Mother is still cleaning ‘Ralphie’ s wounds.

We hear a huge crash, followed closely by another, then athundering bellow from the Old Man.

Wo

Nl,la SMll.ARAItclcAlinniSittinin“FsameceataaeemRahogeemtaEyemtrasesata

~11l6-—

We see the old man peering in horrorover his newspaper. After a beat we see what the tragedy is. A blur streaks by the foreground ofour shot..The old man stares. Then another blur whizzes by. Then another and we realize we are seeing the Bumpuses'hound. Now the whole pack roars past. The old man scramblesto his

He races for the kitchen just in time to see thedogs leap upon the table, grab the twelvepound turkey and in a mass of snarling fury, disappear throughthe

kitchen door all but takingit off the hinges.

Ralphie, Randy and. Motherarrive just intime to see the Old Man staring out the door asthe sound of the hounds recedes in the distance.

Finally the old Man turns andwalks back into the kitchen. He stands looking down _atthebig sheetof wax paper

wee ‘dyipping with warm turkey gravy andbig clumps of oyster

stuffing.

| NARRATOR The heavenly aroma still hung heavy in thehouse. But it was gone -~ allgone == no turkey -~no turkeysandwiches no turkey salad,.noturkey gravy, turkeyhash, turkey a la king,or gallons of turkey soup, gone,all gone. The 61d Man cameas close to. crying as I'dever seen him come. .

The Old Man standsthere quivering with frustration. Finally,

: OLD MAN Get your coats!We're going . to the chinese joint. We're | going to haveChop Suey!

(

—-117-

aeane

CONTINUED 78...

©) @he- Old Man exits with flourish. CAMERA HOLDS on Mother, >

1. 79. 79.

-We heara faint Chinese tune emanating from the restaurant.

We are across the.street looking in at the family. They arethe only customers. The happyChinese family hover aroundthem. Two waiters, come marching out with a wilted

‘pottedpaim. dotted. withasad string of colored lights.

- They are followed by a.“waiter carrying a tray bearing a

large duck. The tray is. placed beforethe family...We

-. hear-an exchange ,then the Old Man ‘begins to beam, ‘the

familydigs in.

Itnestles sleepily in the snow.

Lies awaké, a smile on his face.

~118-

poo,

CONTINUED ees Bl.

od si.

"NARRATOR Next to me in the blackness lay my oiled blue-steel beauty, the greatest Christmas gift I had ever received. Gradually I drifted off to sleep, pranging — -ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots as I dissolved into nothingness.

The lights are dim; only the Christmas tree glows, its

icicles reflecting the multi colored bulbs. The gentle

sounds of "Silent: Night". swellsoftly-fromthe Crosley Cathedral RADIO.

Mother has cleared away the last of the debris. She crosses the room to where the Old Man sits luxuriating_ in the glow of the wine and the moment. Mother stops and looks down at the Old Man. For these brief moments

wo all is right with the world... eee

They look at one another with a oneness of satisfaction that comes rarely to any of us. It is a nice moment, simple, uncontrived and.affecting. Mother sits beside. the Old Man and their hands: entwine and they: share?.no-

words are needed.

~The room is dark. We hear a faint sound like a BEEPING.

_CAMERA DOLLIES: ‘TOWARDthesound. -We can make out a

‘figure.under thecovers.

THE BEEPING SOUND gets louder. As we near the bed, Randy suddenly pops out from under the covers and looks around furtively and comically for a moment. Then he lifts his zeppelin frothunder the covers and whirls it through the air a couple of time, then ducks quickly beneath the blanket and continues his joyousjourney with his magical zeppelin.

eaheewmd FeaeaeeeeleSkEa ienene.Eweaneeaneeletani mnie

5Sae--— —e

-119-_

83. CONTINUED - : 83.

CAMERA PANS SLOWLY OVER TO the sleeping Ralph. 01! Blue lies across his chest. The strains of "Silent Night" float gently up to us.

CAMERA MOVES SLOWLY FROM Ralph's blissful faceTO ‘TAKE IN the crystal starlit. night.

ROLL CREDITS.

‘THE END.