"THE GREATEST GIFT A MAN CAN RECEIVE IS A FAMILY. THIS GIFT WAS ABOUT TO BE THROWN AWAY, UNTIL A LETTER SENT UP A CHIMNEY CREATED A MIRACLE WITHIN THE CITY"
The script can only be described as
"It's a Wonderful Life on 34th Street"
a Christmas Story Charles Dickens would be proud of.
The story needs no introduction from the first page the Child in you will be released and the Story will transfix you into another world of fantasy, humour whilst releasing the Christmas Spirit within your heart.
This work is an accumulation of two years hard work, resulting in the creation of Original Children's Characters, New Christmas Stories, Original Christmas Songs but most of all an Original Christmas Theme that carries high moral family values.
BELOW WE HAVE COMBINED THE SYNOPSIS WITH A SMALL PORTION OF THE SCRIPT AND SELECTED DIALOGUE TO HELP THE READER ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL ADVENTURE.
We open in a gym as we pan we find a white haired jolly old elf of a man climbing up a ladder then leaning against a make shift fireplace and chimney in the middle of the basketball court. He is surrounded by six little people placed in different locations around the fireplace.
From Script.
The Head Elf
Everybody stops including Santa and turn to the head elf….
I mean only one hundred and twenty hours till…
Nobody moves
Okay look… just five days that is 4 sleeps until the big night … and Bubba Claus you are out of shape.
Santa
No I’m not. Just watch this.
He stands on the top of the chimney as if he is on the ten meter spring board in the Olympics. Magically dropping his sack of toys into the chimney he poises himself gathering his composer and springs into the air touching his toes in a perfect swan dive and drills into the chimney. As he travels down we see each brick move out allowing him access and then right back into place. As he reaches the bottom of the fireplace his arrival is announced by a large puff of soot. He rolls up out of the fireplace into a perfect stance just like a gymnast completing a perfect landing. Everybody irrupts in applause except the Head Elf who is staring at Santa unimpressed.
Santa
muttering under his breath…
I’ve been doing this for years.
Just than the gym door opens and snow comes bellowing in along with Yodule Elf (he is made of ice cream). As he runs and trips and falls sliding across the par cay court right into Santa leaving a trail of ice cream in his wake. The Elves run over and begin scoping up the remains.
Yodule is in an agitated state of panic! "Santa, Harry the Snowman has run away!" However, Santa calmly re-assures Yodule that there is nothing to worry about. He will personally sort out Harry's problems and bring him back home safe and sound! (The story of Harry the Happy Snowman) "Note can be read on website under stories."
Being as good as his word, having returned a happier Harry back to the fold, Santa returns the the more pressing task of reading his post, still excited about the news of his story book, when the contents of one particular letter greatly disturbs him! Gravely, he turns to Mrs Claus and asks in distress,
"Can you pack my bag my dear, I need to go to the City, it appears that the people have lost the Christmas spirit, along with their family values. I have even received a letter from one little girl, asking for her Daddy to come back home, and be part of their family again." Before the journey Santa has to ok it with Head Elf.
Head Elf is giving final instructions to Santa before he leaves to save Christmas.
from Scipt
Head Elf
Okay, Santa here are the keys to Stancer. He is ready to take
care of you better than you know. We have equipped him
with the anti-gravity population unit from the sleigh the
Latest GPS navigation system so you can sleep on
way there. You have the laptop we got from Bill Gates so
we will be in constant communications. Mrs. Claus has packed
some of your favorite dishes and your new book
You need to be back here in six thousand and four hundred and
and eighty minutes.
Santa stops and stares at him.
Okay one hundred and eight hours…
Santa looks kind of irritated…
Look Dude just four and a half days to get back here.
Santa
Okay, Old school in the house… let’s rock.
Mrs. Claus
Yo, Yo, Yo see ya on the flip side.
Head Elf
You two are killing me…
Santa plants one on Mrs. Claus gives her a hug. Head elf and Santa head to the barn.
Santa sets off in his talking car Stancer, unaware that Yodule has hid himself in the trunk of the car. During the journey, Santa explains to Stancer that he is going to read his new story book to the children in the shopping mall.
When Santa arrives at the mall, he notices as sign in a shop window! "SANTA WANTED" However, at the same time, he also notices a Santa look-a -like being evicted from the very same store! He takes pity on the poor fellow, and after enquiring about the job, and being duly accepted, he insists that the manager also takes pity on the other fellow, and re-employ him as a gesture of goodwill, it is after all Christmas! The manager agrees, and offers the other "Santa" the job of store Janitor.
As Santa observes the crowds in the mall, he notices a distinct absence of any sense of Christmas spirit, then suddenly he is distracted by a sudden commotion out in the street. He goes to the store entrance to see what all the fuss is about, only to find a Moter Maid trying to pin a parking ticket on Stancer, but the mischievous little car is having non of it, and so a crowd starts to gather, greatly amused by his teasing of the hapless Meter Maid!
While the adults are distracted by this unexpected comedy show, the appearance of Santa at the doorway attracts and excites the children. As he returns inside the store, the children follow, and seeing this great opportunity before him, Santa sits down, and begins to tell them a story.
(Story of Santa as a boy)
In no time, he has gathered quite a crowd, even the new janitor who is called Jim! After the story has ended, he feels a bond between himself, and the man whose job he saved! Feeling he can trust Santa, Jim opens his heart, and tells Santa the reason why he has fallen on hard times. Having lost his last job, and his self respect, he felt he could no longer support his family, or have their respect! He had a daughter called Ally, and a wife who was a successful career lady in her own right, and he could no longer provide for them!
The Meeting between JIM AND SANTA (THE DIALOGUE)
Dialogue1.
(Jim) Thank you buddy for persuading the manager to let me keep a job. This place is awful, huh, some Happy Shopping Mall, no Christmas Spirit, full of unruly teenagers, but I do need a job thanks.
Anyway my name is Jim, What’s yours?
(Santa) I’m Santa pleased to meet you.
(Jim) Santa!!!!! What’s your real name?
(Santa) Sorry I forgot I was in the city, my name is Nicholas.
(Jim) Well Nick, that story was good; you really cheered that young boy up. You know Nick when I was at school, I was the best at everything and look at me now, all washed up. Nick would you lend me a couple of Dollars I need a drink.
(Santa) Come on Jim I’ll buy you a drink
THEY HEAD TO THE NEAREST BAR. SANTA PULLS OUT A 100 DOLLAR BILL AND HANDS IT TO JIM.
(Santa) I don’t usually carry money, but Mr’s Clause insisted that I needed money for the city. I usually give presents not money. Imagine if everybody gave money at Christmas I would be out of a job.
JIM GOES TO THE BAR AND ORDERS.A DOUBLE WHISKY AND SHOUTS TO SANTA.
(Jim) Hey Nick what you’re having.
(Santa) A small Brandy please.
JIM RETURNS WITH THE DRINK.
(Santa) I usually have a small mince pie when I have a Brandy Ho Ho Ho.
(Jim) Yeah !!! and a carrot for Rudolph.
(Santa) Yes Jim, Rudolph I do miss him.
(Jim) Nick. You are a knock out, You are good at being Santa but do you not think you are taking it a bit to far.
(Santa) I’m only being myself.
JIM DOWNS THE DRINK AND ORDERS ANOTHER.
(Jim) Another Brandy Nick.
(Santa) No Jim, too much Alcohol is bad for you. I could tell you a story about to much Alcohol but I must go, you enjoy your night and I will see you at work in the morning. Be Careful.
SANTA LEAVES AND HEADS TOWARDS STANCER. HE GETS IN, FLICKS A SWITCH AND THE CAR TURNS INTO A BEDROOM WITH A GIANT TELEVISION SCREEN. HE TALKS TO MR’S CLAUSE.
(Santa) I’ve found Jim, deep down he’s a good guy but he is, a little boy who has lost his way.
Every afternoon the crowds begin to gather to hear the Stories and also to see Stancer this incredible car. There are even rumours going around, that a monster had been seen? The Mall Manager was now happy his store is full so he decided to get into the Christmas Spirit and fix the Christmas Lights. Santa is so popular he even Dances with the Children to his own Song
Dance with Santa (SONG)
Click here to read the lyrics .
It's story time again and Jim reads the story of Yodule Elf. Jim and the children listen "Note can be read on website under stories" and how he wanted a family. “See Jim all Yodule wanted was a family. You are lucky you have got one, go back to your family” Santa said to Jim, but Jim just ignored him.
After reading the Story of Yodule Elf. (click on title to hear the story or click on stories to read the story
YODULE ELF (STORY Narated by Santa)
Click here to read the STORY .
After Santa tells the Story
DIALOGUE
(Jim) Nick that was a good story a real happy ending, that big guy got what he wanted.
(Santa) Yes Jim, he’s a great boy, he’s like a son to me. I miss him, I wish he was here.
(Jim) Nick It’s just a Story. An Ice Cream Elf. Nick you are off this planet.
(Santa) He’s my family, Have you a family?
(Jim) I had everything and look at me now. I’m the guy who Springsteen wrote about in Glory Days. I was the top man. I was Captain of the Football Team. Had a great family I didn’t appreciate. All I thought about was my self. I wish I had the chance to go back and put it all right. I lost my job; I wasn’t close to my family. I was the big shot with big friends having great times thinking about number one. Where are my friends now?
JIM THROWS HIS BRUSH DOWN AND STORMS OFF.
Santa had another idea he would send a letter to Alley’s School and invite the Children to see Santa. As he left to find Patrick the Pigeon Post he passed Stancer and caught Yodule getting out of the trunk of the car.. The fun started but Santa had to forgive Yodule. (a slapstick story for the children) This scene is accompanied by the Yodule Elf Song. CLick on Yodule Elf below to hear or download the song.
Yodule Elf (SONG)
Click here to read the lyrics .
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Christmas Eve arrived and the Teacher brought the pupils to see Santa. “Right Children line up and put your letters you got from Santa in your pockets” said the teacher... One by one the children went up to Santa. As Alley got near, Santa said to his Helpers, get Jim to take over I’m not feeling well. Jim agreed to take over not knowing his daughter was in the line. When Alley walked in she did not recognise her dad and her teacher said “Tell Santa what you want for Christmas.” “I want my Daddy to come Home for Christmas so we can be a family again” Jim couldn’t speak as the tears welled into his eyes.
DIALOGUE 3
After the scene where his daughter comes to see him.
JIM WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES.
(Jim) Nick, that was my little girl, after all I’ve done she still loves me.
(Santa) Well go home Jim.
(Jim) I can’t.
(Santa) It’s Christmas, It’s a time for family. Let me read you a story.
When all the Children had gone Jim said to Santa “I can’t go home”.Santa then said, “Jim let me read you another Story”. He read Alley the Cat.” To listen to the story click below on title.or read the story by clicking on story.
ALLEY THE CAT STORY (Narrated by Santa)
Click here to read the STORY .
Note can be read on website under stories" Jim, the little girl in that Story was your wife. When she was a little girl she lost something she dearly loved, please don’t do it to her again, she loves you, please go home”.
Jim then built up the courage and headed home. His wife was putting up the Christmas tree it was Christmas Eve when Jim walked in.
She was so happy to see him and asked why he had come home. “I’ve been working as a Santa and Alley came to see me. She wanted a Daddy for Christmas and she is going to have a Daddy for ever. Please forgive me,
Jim then said to his wife “Darling you wouldn’t believe it I’ve been working with this guy, Nick, who believes he is Santa. He’s so convincing I want to believe him but he tells these fantasy stories and insists they are true. He told me one of Stories was about you and your cat as a little girl and how you lost it.”
“Jim it’s true that did happen”. I couldn’t tell you... My family were so poor and I was scared you wouldn’t like me if I told you. It’s true I still have the letter”. The wife went upstairs and got the letter from thirty years ago and it was an identical colour to the one Alley was carrying in the mall. Jim went to Alleys coat to find the letter and writing on both letters were identical.
“Darling I didn’t believe Nick was Santa! but I do know. I’ll be back I promise in an hour”.
Jim runs back to the shop but it is closed. He hammers on the Glass Door.
Dialogue.
(Jim) Let me in, I’ve got to see Santa, I mean Nick.
JIM NOTICES ANOTHER JANITOR LOOKING BEWILDERED AND TRIES TO CATCH HIS ATTENTION. THE JANITOR OPENS THE DOOR.
(Jim) Are you OK.
(Janitor) I think so.
(Jim). Are you sure.
(Janitor) You wouldn’t believe what I have just seen! Nick walked past me wished me a goodnight and a Merry Christmas. He said he had to leave early because he had a busy night ahead of him. Then he walked out of the shop and shouted for his car. The car actually moved without a driver, he got in, and the car took off. I mean flew above the roof tops. Should I be telling people this, they will think I’m mad.
(Jim) Buddy, you’ve heard the song Santa only comes when you close your eyes. Not this time. He knew he had to deliver and he has. He’s made me realise the importance of a family the greatest gift a man can receive and I was about to throw it all away. Merry Christmas Buddy and Thank You Nick, I mean Santa.
Jim then looks across the road to the clock it's 10 'o' clock and it's starting to snow. He looks to the moon, is that Santa heading off to see Marvin. It's Christmas Santa's most famous Song Plays out the Movie. Click on It's Christmas below to hear or download song.
It's Christmas (SONG)
Click here to read the lyrics .
The movie finishes with Santa going down the chimney in Jim’s House and leaving a present for Dad, Mom and Daughter and a card Thank you for Believing. You then see a cat in the house. Is it Alley from the Story we will never know.
THIS MOVIE MUST BE MADE.
The Stories and Music can all be heard in our Music and Story Sections.
THE FULL SCRIPT IS AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING JIM GREENLEAF FOR AMERICAN AND PACIFIC OPERATIONS OR CONTACT DEREK BUCKHAM FOR THE UK AND EUROPE.
CLICK ON PHOTOGRAPHS TO CONTACT EITHER JIM OR DEREK.
JIM GREENLEAF DEREK BUCKHAM
