[Ralphie] When you're a kid, all you want is the perfect Christmas gift.
When you're a parent, all you want is for Christmas to be perfect.
But sometimes, if we're lucky,
the Yuletide stars shine full upon us
in a rare moment of truth.
And how we react in these moments can forever seal our fate.
[Ralphie] Ah, there it is. Our humble abode
on the south side of the city.
Just like I remember,
in all of its yellow, orange and avocado-green glory.
Oh, life moves fast.
One day you're playing "kick the can" with kids named Flick and Schwartz.
And the next thing you know, you're paying taxes and pulling out grey hairs.
But no matter. My sights were set on a higher purpose.
And I was gonna get there with Sandy
by my side.
Even though times were lean,
we had everything we needed.
At least that's what we told our kids, Mark and Julie.
[Julie] Okay, but what if there's a fire in the fireplace?
Santa is fireproof.
What if the fireplace is too small?
He sneaks in a window.
Good morning.
-Good morning, Mom. -Morning.
What if the window is stuck?
He has WD-40.
-What if the window is too small? -He sucks in his gut.
-Hey. Get your breakfast. -Okay.
[both] Yes, Mom.
[Ralphie] While the kids counted the days left 'til Christmas,
I was racing against the clock.
We had socked away just enough for one year, so I could write
the next great American novel.
Everyone gets their chance, and when yours comes along,
you had better grab it.
[laughs] Nothing could stop me now.
Dad! We're out of milk.
-What? -My fault, my fault. I forgot to get it.
But have you ever had the delicacy of cereal with...
orange juice?
-[groans] -Ew.
Nobody? You are in for a treat.
Nice bowl full of cocoa buds
poured with some delicious OJ. Hm.
And then... [slurps]
[Mark] Ugh. That's disgusting.
-Mm. -Ew.
Mm. You can't beat that.
There you go, sweetie.
Well, you gonna try it?
-Mom, you go first. -No.
Dad, when can we take out the stockings?
Let's wait for Grandpa. He loves that stuff.
Yeah, you guys can do it together.
The angel! She's so beautiful.
It's almost Christmas and we don't have a tree for our angel.
I know, honey. We're gonna get a tree
as soon as Grandma and Grandpa get here. Two more days.
I feel like I've been waiting forever.
[Ralphie] Every year, my parents made the long drive to Chicago
so we could all celebrate with a big city Christmas.
But until then, I could stay focused on my dream.
Oh...
-How do I look? -Like a writer.
-Hey, kids. -Good luck.
-Good luck.
♪ Santa Claus is comin' To town ♪
♪ You better watch out ♪
♪ You better not cry ♪
♪ You better not pout I'm telling you why ♪
♪ Santa Claus is comin' To town ♪
♪ Santa Claus is comin'... ♪
[Ralphie] This was the deal. I had to be published
by the end of this year,
or I'd pack up my dream and return to the rat race.
So, I'd sent my manuscript to 16 lucky publishers,
and 14 of them enthusiastically said, "No."
With the year almost over, I desperately needed a win.
Mr. Parker...
we generally handle this sort of meeting with a written correspondence,
but your insistence to meet in person--
Oh. Uh, I brought you a little something.
Greasing the wheels certainly couldn't hurt.
Marshall Field's.
The good stuff.
Is this...
a bribe?
I don't know.
You tell me.
[chuckles]
Your manuscript, Jupiter's Oblivion--
Uh, Neptune. It's Neptune's Oblivion.
Though an interesting title and thoroughly written,
we're not accepting manuscripts over 2,000 pages.
Oh. Well, I could cut it down a bit.
You could cut it in half and there'd still be too many words.
Ah, Well, I know it doesn't feel like it ends,
but that's because it all pays off in the sequel, which I'm writing right now.
Oh, Lord, not more.
This isn't a subject we're interested in...
-at all. -No.
This has been my entire life this past year.
Good day, Mr. Parker.
And have a Merry Christmas.
[Ralphie] Merry my foot.
This pencil pusher had no appreciation for my vision.
Oh, one day he'd see.
They'd all see.
[male awards announcer] We're back, just in time for the main event!
And the winner of the Pulitzer Prize
for literary achievement in science fiction writing
over 2,000 pages is...
Mr. Ralph Wesley Parker for Neptune's Oblivion!
[male awards announcer] What an upset! We're seeing history, folks!
This is Ralph's first nomination and first win.
-That's my husband. -With 100% of the vote.
Even the other contestants voted for him.
Anyone who doubted him must be kicking themselves tonight.
-And there's one of them now! -Forgive me, Mr. Parker. I was wrong.
Dead wrong! Please.
-[male awards announcer] What a moron! -Please.
Tonight, we crown the new voice of a generation.
Eat your heart out, Hemingway. [laughs]
[crowd chanting] Parker! Parker! Parker! Parker! Parker!
Mr. Parker.
Oh.
I said good day.
Oh, right. Good day.
[Sandy] Well, there's still one publisher left.
Yeah.
Hey, you know, I heard that Mark Twain
got rejected 34 times before he got published.
-That's brutal. -Yeah.
-I just mean you're in good company. -Thanks.
-[Sandy] But he actually said that you could cut it in half? -That's crazy, right?
I mean, it is...
a little wordy.
[Ralphie] It's an epic saga.
[Sandy] Right, honey. Are you sure you should be writing a sequel? I mean--
The first thing they're gonna ask when it sells is, "What's next?"
Okay. No, I mean, you're the expert.
-Well, what do you suggest? -Well, okay.
Honey, you write so well.
And you have such a strong voice.
So maybe you could write something that's...
like, more relatable.
You know, Denise at the Book Barn,
she says true crime is the next big thing.
[Ralphie] That's it.
A book about strangling Denise from Book Barn.
Can I have another piece of pizza?
Here you go. Take mine.
Well, what do you guys want for Christmas?
An Easy-Bake Oven, Hungry Hungry Hippos
and a stuffed kitty cat.
[chuckles] Got it. What about you?
A Flexible Flyer F-23 Yankee Clipper.
And what is that?
-A sled. -Oh, okay. I'm sorry.
What do you want, Dad?
Want?
A time machine to restart the year.
What I need is a new radiator for the Plymouth.
-[phone ringing] -Oh. I got it. I got it.
-Could be my manager with some good news. -Okay.
[Ralphie clears throat]
Mr. Ralph Parker speaking.
-Hi, Mom. -Nope. It's Grandma.
What's wrong?
What?
Wait. Wait a minute.
Okay.
[sniffs]
Uh-huh.
[sighs deeply]
Where are you now?
[Ralphie] Nothing can prepare us for one of life's
most painful and inescapable events.
The passing of a parent.
Okay, Ma.
As the sadness of losing my old man took grip,
two undeniable truths washed over us that night.
Grandma needed us in Hohman,
and this Christmas would be nothing like we anticipated.
We're getting close.
Yeah. You can taste it.
Oh, come on. It's not that bad.
You said the birds fly backwards so they don't choke.
And the sludge pool swallowed children whole.
Does Santa go to Hohman?
Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't he?
Because Dad said winter in Hohman is so bleak, it crushes the human spirit.
[Ralphie] Kids ignore every important thing you say,
then recall with painful accuracy
every incriminating word you've uttered in the last five years.
Honey, it's the opposite.
Santa loves Hohman.
In fact, if you play your cards right,
you'll get to meet him at Higbee's.
But is it the real Santa Claus?
Oh, it's him. Trust me.
I'll see for myself.
Egg. [sighs]
Oh. I'm sorry. It's cold.
[Ralphie] Ah! There is no nobler a sacrifice for the common egg
than the ingenious automotive repair known as...
"The Midwest Souffle."
One serving temporarily seals any bum radiator,
ensuring safe passage to the next pit stop.
Our car ate more eggs than Cool Hand Luke.
[grunts] Come on! Stupid trunk!
Stupid...
[Ralphie] Ah, there it was.
Our old house on Cleveland Street.
It looked like it had been frozen in time.
[Mrs. Parker gasps, chuckling]
You're here!
Oh, my goodness!
-Grandma! -Grandma!
Oh, my goodness! I could eat you up. [kisses]
I missed you, Grandma!
I love you guys.
Oh, Sandy.
I am so sorry.
-Oh. -[sniffles]
[both chuckle]
Hello, Mom.
Ralphie.
I am so sorry, Mom.
He was the best.
[chuckles, sniffles]
-I'm so glad that you all are here. -Of course.
And I don't want you to worry about anything.
I'm gonna take care of all the arrangements,
-the service-- -No, no, no.
Listen to me, Ralphie.
All that can wait. [chuckling]
Your father was so excited about Christmas.
[chuckling] I mean, if he saw us moping around,
he'd just throw a fit.
I've given this a lot of thought.
This can't be the thing that we think of every Christmas.
We've gotta make it a good memory, so...
promise me...
we're gonna make this a wonderful Christmas.
One that we'll never forget.
Mom.
[Ralphie chuckles] In the history of tall orders, this one took the cake!
There was no way. Impossible! Give up now, stupid!
I promise.
[chuckles] Okay.
[Ralphie] Oh, what had I done? The old man was the reason
for the greatest Christmases any of us ever knew.
And now it was all up to me?
Get a grip, man!
Millions of folks pull it off every year because everyone knows the recipe.
-[laughs] -[exclaims]
Oh.
Oh, yeah!
[all cheering]
[all laughing]
I had to pull this off.
For the memory of my old man, and for every Christmas to come.
[grunts]
[the old man] Fragile. It must be Italian.
-[dog barking] -Bumpuses!
Not a finger!
[Ralphie] It suddenly struck me that my old man's voice
would never echo through these walls again.
[the old man, echoes] A fuse is out!
[Ralphie] It was my old home.
With its light, its colors...
its smells.
But it was forever changed.
In the Southwest, it's said they bring chili con carne.
Atlantic states, stew.
But here in Hohman,
it's the fabled casserole that appears in times of need.
[exhales] I swear, every neighbor dropped off a casserole.
It's gonna take us a year to finish all this. [chuckles]
Mm. Well, this one looks like tuna and olive and... beans?
Hm. Uh, I think that's a blueberry.
Uh, I think, let's see.
[Mrs. Parker] This one is, uh, cream, beans, and pickled carrots and...
Mm...
And tastes of cinnamon. Mm.
So inventive.
[Ralphie] No matter the tongue-curling flavors
or indistinguishable ingredients,
no one dared waste food in my mother's house.
I'm so touched that everyone has gone to all this trouble for us.
Will we have turkey on Christmas?
Oh, no. We have to finish all this first.
-[groans] -Oh, hot, hot, hot.
-Yum. -Oh, my.
-Ketchup and what? -Mm.
What do you think that is?
It's mayonnaise.
Yeah.
Cooked mayonnaise.
[dog barking]
[grunts] It's colder here than in Chicago.
It's looking pretty good.
I don't know. His arms aren't even the same size.
He doesn't know that.
[Ralphie] Oh, this would surely be a highlight of Mark and Julie's Christmas.
A close encounter with Delbert Bumpus.
The smartest member of the hillbilly family next door.
[gathers spit in throat]
[gulps] Ah!
Hey.
Hey yourself.
We're building a snowman.
His name is Sparklypoof.
We did not agree on that.
-Bad idea. -[engine revving]
Snowmen don't last long 'round here.
[grunts]
-[Julie screaming] -[engine revving]
[screaming continues]
Whoo! [laughs]
[Ralphie] By God! The neighborhood bullies reincarnate.
What was once mere beatings and shakedowns
had evolved into surprise attacks of mechanized terror.
Yeah!
-[whooping] -They murdered Sparklypoof!
[bullies chuckling]
[bully] Grab it. Grab it! Yeah! I got your scarf!
That's mine!
Hey, you get back here!
-[whooping, laughing] -Hey, bring that back!
Well, this town is full of surprises, isn't it?
How fun.
-Uh, come on. Let's go inside. -[Ralphie] This was a new wrinkle in the Christmas plans.
Mark and Julie just landed at the bottom of the local food chain.
♪ O come, all ye faithful ♪
Hey, guys. I just hung up with my manager,
and I asked him to call here with any news.
So please pick up the phone, day or night, okay?
Yeah.
Ralphie, how is it going with your novel?
[Ralphie] Oh, if mothers knew every rocky detail of our lives, they'd never sleep.
Best to keep her off the scent.
Oh, I got some real nice irons in the fire.
Oh. Well, you know, that's really good to know. [chuckles]
[Ralphie] Whew. Out of the frying pan...
That way, we can really focus on getting into the Christmas spirit.
[Ralphie] ...and into the fire.
Absolutely.
It's gonna be great.
Well, it's only five days away.
Well, Ralph's got this.
-Yeah? -Right?
Oh, you bet. Uh...
We're gonna do it all. [chuckles]
Aw... That would make your father so happy, Ralphie.
I can't wait to see what you're gonna do with it. [chuckles]
[Ralphie] Oh, that makes two of us.
I gotta figure this out.
You know, I think I'm gonna take a walk.
Um, just get some fresh air, maybe clear my head a little bit.
I'll be back.
[dogs barking]
Come on, get out of here!
Not the Bumpus hounds, too.
They tormented my old man his whole life.
Now even they expected me to fill his shoes.
Uh, how was I supposed
to replace the greatest Christmas ringmaster of all time?
Especially when he was the one everyone was missing.
Well, sometimes, at life's most desperate moments,
the universe offers us a sign.
♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells Jingle all the way ♪
Perhaps some insight from the Hohman brain trust could help.
[all cheering]
My old pal Flick had inherited the bar from his old man.
Before that, he was best known as the genius
who once stuck his tongue to a frozen flag pole.
-[cheering continues] -[man] You're up by one.
[all cheering]
Down by one.
You're up, Schwartz.
Last shot.
[Ralphie] Any good luck Schwartz ever had ran out in the fourth grade.
These days, he was either running up his tab at Flick's,
or at home with his mom.
For all the donuts, suckers.
[Ralphie] Could it be? Schwartz?
In a moment of triumph?
Not a chance.
[man] He did it again!
Congratulations to the Slag Heaps!
Come on, drink up, everybody. Drink it up.
Here we go.
[indistinct chatter]
Looks like I backed the wrong team.
Again.
-Well, if it wasn't such a junk table. -Junk? I just had it waxed.
[Ralphie] Some things never change.
[young Schwartz] Well, I double dog dare you!
[Ralphie] Especially Flick...
[young Schwartz] Stick my tongue to that stupid pole?
[Ralphie] ...and Schwartz.
That's 'cause you know it'll stick.
Yeah, you've got an--
-[both] Ralphie! -Hey!
-[chuckling, cheering] -Am I glad to see you guys.
Come, have a drink! The cosmopolitan man returns.
Yeah, Mr. Big Shot, gracing us small town folk with his presence.
Yeah. Come on, I could never forget about you guys.
Believe me, I tried.
[Ralphie] Truth was, years ago, I had promised myself
that I wouldn't return to Hohman until I was a genuine success.
And now, I didn't have the heart to tell them the embarrassing truth.
Hey, Flick! Come on, get us all a round, right?
-Put it on my tab. Come on. -Yeah.
What? I'll pay my tab.
Eventually.
Mm-hmm.
Now, here's you two.
Here's mine.
Ralph, to your old man.
Hell of a guy.
Thanks.
Sorry, Ralphie.
He was the best.
-To the old man. -[both] To the old man.
-[phone ringing] -[all gasp]
[Ralphie] Oh, no.
The death knell for stool rats 'round the world.
Flick's Tavern.
No one knows for whom the bell tolls.
Yes. Is Larry here?
Is Larry Novak here?
[mouthing] No.
Nope. Sorry, Mrs. Novak. Larry's not here.
Yes, you have a Merry Christmas as well.
[crowd sighs in relief]
[Ralphie] You ever wonder what happened to your high school quarterback?
Ours turned into good old Larry Novak.
So what do you guys do around here for Christmas these days?
[sighs] It's the same here as it's always been.
Yeah, just the usual.
No, the usual's not gonna cut it.
I need something more. It's all on me this year.
Well, in that case, I suggest you start drinking
and don't stop till New Year's.
No, this is serious.
Larry?
What do you want from me?
I come here to avoid my family.
All right. Got an idea. Here, you take that.
-We'll come up with some idea. -All right.
So, let's make a list. It's okay. You're gonna be fine. We got this. Okay.
Ooh! But first, line 'em up again.
-To lubricate our brains, right? Come on. -It's a good idea.
-Christmas is... -I have a terrarium.
Okay.
It's a fish tank for snakes and lizards.
It's very stimulating.
-[Schwartz] Ah. -Cool. That's a great start. I love terrariums.
Hey. My sister knows a guy who owns a Cessna.
-My cousin Craig, he's got a buffalo. -Yeah.
Oh, that'd be fantastic.
-It's huge. -No bad ideas, guys. Keep 'em coming.
I need this stuff.
-We got you covered. We got you. -It's the kind of magic I need.
-Come on, to Christmas. -We got you. Christmas!
[snores]
[chatter echoing]
Ralph?
It's almost 10:00. Are you awake?
-Uh-uh. -Mm.
[smacks lips, breathes deeply]
So, is this the list?
You know, the one you woke me up about at 3:00 am?
Yeah.
That's my Christmas plan. [grunting]
Okay. All right.
Well, you know, some of these are good.
Yeah, sledding. That's great.
Maybe you and Mark could do that.
-You know, father-son outing. -Okay. Great.
But some of these are...
wax throwing?
Axe. Axe throwing.
-With the tomahawks and stuff. -Okay. Even better.
Uh, "Make them catch and kill their own turkey." Ooh. [chuckles]
Well, maybe we could combine that with the axe throwing.
Could be fun for the kids, I think.
Right here, "Volunteer at a soup kitchen."
See, that one's crossed off.
Yeah, it could be too much.
Polar bear plunge.
-Terrarium. -Yeah.
-Chips and salsa. -Larry has one.
Overthrow Castro. I'm in.
Ambitious. But we can do it.
Buffalo. Three exclamation points.
So, do we move there?
No, no, no. We're gonna bring it here.
[laughing] It's buffalo?
Like an animal?
Yeah, some of these need to bake, but--
You know, honey, I think you're maybe overcomplicating this.
Why don't we just keep it simple?
Like, we could go ice skating. You know I would love that.
Oh, I know.
And, you know, maybe we just do the usual Christmas stuff.
-Really? -Yeah.
Like, we could start with just getting the house decorated. Hm?
-Hm? Okay? -Hm. Okay.
It's a little boring. [chuckles]
Okay. So...
Ooh. No, let's start with the shower.
Okay.
[grunts]
[Mrs. Parker] Ralphie, be careful!
There's spiders as big as cats up there!
[Ralphie] Attics are museums of indifference.
Littered with junk you don't wanna look at,
but don't have the courage to throw away.
This place is a mess.
How am I supposed to find the Christmas stuff up here?
[Mrs. Parker] In the cardboard boxes!
[Ralphie] Which one? There's hundreds of them.
[Mrs. Parker] Figure it out. We're busy down here!
[the old man] He looks like a deranged Easter bunny.
[Ralphie sighs] And still traumatizing.
My first typewriter.
[chuckles]
Oh, the stories we could tell.
Oh! [laughs, imitates fanfare]
The motherlode of Christmas past.
This was gonna be easy.
Wait.
What the hell?
Sandy, honey, I'm just trying to be helpful.
That does not go there.
I... Okay. It may be more helpful
-if you start working-- -I'm way ahead of you.
What is this? Ow!
Damn it! It cut me.
No, don't. Your mouth is just full of diseases. Come on.
-Let's get some Bactine on that finger. -Mom, it's fine.
[Ralphie] My mother's cure-all for any breach of the skin,
from a splinter to a decapitation...
was a healthy swab of Bactine.
[blows, sighs] Your father hated that tree.
So do I. Where did it come from?
I bought it a few years ago, thinking it'd make things easier,
but your father banished it to the attic. [chuckles]
[chuckles] He was right.
We're getting a real tree. Today.
None of that fake junk.
-Well, you're the boss. -Hm.
[breathes heavily]
What is it?
Well, I know that you've got a lot on your shoulders,
but I need you to do something for me.
Yeah, Mom. Of course. Anything.
I want you to write your father's obituary for the newspaper.
Me?
You are the writer in the family.
[Ralphie] Oh, tell that to the publishing industry.
-Yes. I'll just have to think of what to say. -[shushes]
[carolers singing in the distance]
-♪ Oh, we Three Kings Of Orient are ♪ -[shushes]
-They're coming. -Who's coming?
[shushes]
Get down. Sandy, get down!
[Ralphie] There are two acknowledged schools of thought
on the holiday tradition of caroling.
The first...
[gasps] Carolers!
[Ralphie] ...believes it is a gift to the world.
-The second school... -Get the lights.
[Ralphie] ...to which our family devoutly subscribed,
believes carolers to be a scourge set upon the earth
-to pillage your time and ravage your patience. -Oh. Ah!
What are you doing? They're just carolers.
Exactly. They're just like ticks.
Once they get to your door, you can't get rid of 'em. Hide.
♪ Forever, ceasing never Over us all ♪
You're kidding, right?
No. No.
A couple of days ago,
I let my guard down and they ambushed me.
They sang three whole songs before I could break free.
♪ Star with royal Beauty bright ♪
-Oh! They're here. -But they're so cute.
Look at their costumes.
Don't encourage them.
[knocking at door]
You know, I grew up caroling.
[whispers] How could you?
[whispers] I didn't know.
But we can't just leave them out there like this.
Oh, yes, we can!
[yelps, grunts]
Hey!
The jig is up. I'll draw them off. Now, go.
Mom, no!
Save yourselves! Go!
-Mom! -Save the children!
-This is so crazy! -Come on, out!
[breathes heavily]
-[William] There's one over here! -Hello!
♪ We three kings Of orient are bearing gifts We traverse afar ♪
♪ Field and fountain Moor and mountain ♪
Dad! There's something wrong with this axe.
[whispers] Come on, come on.
We should have got the chainsaw.
We're going to get a Christmas tree, now!
-[both excitedly] Really? -[shushing, whispering] Come on, come on.
-♪ To reign, O... ♪ -[engine starts]
[Olivia] They're getting away!
I'm sorry. It was lovely!
Merry Christmas, you... you...
-turds! -[gasps] Terrence!
[Ralphie] What do you think, huh? [Sandy] It's okay.
-As long as you're... [gasps] -Look at that one.
-Christmas trees. -[Ralphie] Pretty good.
-[Mark] Yeah. -Okay.
-Hello. -Hello.
[Mark] I like that tree. [Julie] I like that one.
Hello. Can I help you, sir?
Uh, just looking for a tree.
Uh, tall, short, skinny, fat?
I'll know when I see it.
-Well, just let me know if I-- -If I see it.
Pretty slim pickings here, huh?
What do you mean, Dad? There's plenty of trees.
No, Mark.
-Yeah, they're all so beautiful. -Come here. [shushes]
Come here, come here.
-Now listen. -What?
Now, one of the many things my old man taught me
was you have to bargain with these people or they'll rob you blind.
-[Mark] Mm-hm. -You see, it's a battle of wits. Right?
Can't let 'em know what you're thinking.
But you gotta get in their head.
Now, we open with a low bid.
Okay?
Real insult, right across their bow.
And if you're willing to walk away, they'll come around.
Hm.
They always do. [chuckles]
-You got it? -Hm.
-Okay. Follow my lead. -[Mark] Yeah.
Let's go!
-Okay. -[Mark] Let's go. [chuckles]
[Ralphie sighs]
Find anything you like?
[stutters] I mean, I suppose I could, maybe...
with this meager inventory you have,
I could give you three...
maybe...
four bucks tops...
for that one.
But, Ralph, isn't that--
[Ralphie] Not now, woman! I'm about to judo flip this bozo into the gutter!
Sold.
Thank you so much.
I'll go get the twine. [chuckles]
Yeah, you bet you will. [chuckles]
Look at that, huh?
[tree lot guy] Hey, Chuck, I got rid of the monster tree!
-Bye! -[tree lot guy chuckles]
[Sandy] Ralph, are you sure it's gonna fit in the house?
[Ralphie] Oh, you bet.
[Ralphie grunts]
[Ralphie] My family was enthralled.
Awed by the spectacle I raised before them.
Isn't it great?
We probably should've trimmed the tree before we brought it inside.
No, that's just a saying.
Nobody trims trees.
Besides, it's perfect.
[grunts, sighs]
Yeah. Kinda looks like it's going through puberty.
No wonder they gave it to us for four bucks.
No, it's a wonder how I actually negotiated the deal of a lifetime.
Oh! [chuckles]
[laughs]
-Let's get to work. Come on! -[music playing over radio]
-Okay! -Come on! Let's go!
Decoration time!
A beautiful little angel.
-[radio powers off] -[Sandy] Radio.
Radio. Okay.
Um, what about this one? Nothing important?
-No. -[Ralphie] All right.
Three, two, one...
-[music resumes] -Hey!
[all cheering]
I don't think we should have so much red.
I like that. Ooh.
-Cheers! -Cheers!
[exclaims]
Cheers. You, too, yeah.
[Ralphie] Now, one of the best reasons to have children
is to make them do the things you don't wanna do as an adult.
This a good place?
-Higher than that. -[Ralphie] Go, go, go.
-Here? -[Sandy] Your hand.
-Yeah. Now up. -Now in.
-Here? -Both.
In and up.
-Go in and up. -Why didn't you just point there?
-[Ralphie] Looks good. -Yeah.
-Keep it up, guys. -How come you're not helping?
-We're having fun watching you. -Yeah.
When it's just us, it kind of feels like child labor.
[laughs]
Oh, no, honey, it's not labor if we don't pay you.
-Yeah. -[both groan]
-Cheers. -Cheers.
You're hanging too many on the bottom.
-Well, I can't reach that height! -Use the ladder.
[chuckles]
[Sandy] Careful, honey.
Yeah, Mark, hold the ladder.
I am!
[Ralphie] Yeah, you're doing good, honey.
-Just get up a little higher. -It looks really good.
What next?
We have the whole side over here,
-the one that faces the window. -Mm-hm.
[sighs]
Grandma! Are you sleeping?
No, just resting my eyes.
It was more fun with all of us.
Yeah. Grandpa always helped us finish the tree.
-You know what? You're right. -Yep.
-All right. Here we come. Come on. -Okay.
-[Ralphie] The tree topper! -It's not an angel.
We always have an angel.
[Ralphie] Uh-oh. Better think fast.
Not here in Hohman.
Uh-oh!
Here. Honey, hold this, will you?
Kids, come over here by Grandma. Come on.
[Ralphie] To hook this little guppy,
I'd need just the right combo of mystique and legend.
Here in Hohman, it's star country.
If you don't have a star, you can forget about it.
Santa won't even stop by your house.
Wait. Huh?
[whispering] I'm improvising.
Building new traditions.
-It's good. -Okay.
No doubt about it.
Around these parts...
no star, no Christmas.
-[Ralphie] Come on, take the bait. -Mm.
That's it.
Okay.
Hook, line and sinker.
[all cheering]
-[Sandy] Ralph, we're leaving in 15. -Okay.
-[Sandy] How's it going up here? -Oh. Couldn't be better.
Look at this.
These obituaries are so impersonal.
Well, make it un-impersonal.
This will be the last time most folks ever give him a thought.
It's a lot of pressure.
Yeah.
If anyone can do it, it's you.
-I gotta finish getting ready. -All right. I'll be down in a few.
Okay.
[sighs]
[typewriter clacking]
[Ralphie] The human animal has an incredible knack
for avoiding its greatest responsibilities
when any easier pursuit...
is nearby.
-[phone ringing] -Don't answer it!
Expecting a big call from my manager.
[clears throat]
Good afternoon. Mr. Ralph Parker speaking.
[man] Good afternoon to you, Mr. Parker.
I do hope that we have not caught you at an inconvenient time.
No.
Your Excellency.
Randy.
Yeah.
Well, who were you expecting, President Nixon?
[Ralphie] To everyone's amazement, my kid brother, Randy,
had done quite well for himself,
traveling the globe for business, a regular Rockefeller.
[Randy] So I'm calling to see how Mom's holding up.
Yeah, she said you're on your way.
[sighs] Look, Ralph, it's...
it's not that easy getting from India to Indiana.
But you're working on it, right?
Yeah. I'm at the airport.
Just waiting for my plane to show up.
[Ralphie] And true to form, Randy was burying his head in the sand.
So how's Mom?
Now, the unspoken rule amongst siblings
is that under certain extraordinary circumstances,
a hit below the belt is not only fair but necessary.
I think she is getting her strength back.
What does that mean?
She finally ate something. Thank God.
Half a cracker.
A cracker?
Wait, that's it? A cracker?
Yeah, she's still in bed.
-[whispers] Hi, Mom. -[mouthing] Hi.
But she did speak today.
[chortles]
What'd she say?
A...
It was one word.
She said...
"Randy."
Oh.
But we all know how busy you are
-and how hard you're trying to get here. -No, wait!
Ralphie, Ralphie! Wait, no!
-Ralphie, don't go. -Oh. I think she's up.
Ralphie, don't go, don't go.
Okay, gotta go.
-Don't hang up on me now, Ralphie. Ralphie-- -Good luck, Randy. Bye.
[laughs]
[Ralphie] There are hobbyists, dabblers, and dilettantes.
-But they all take a backseat... -Blade covers.
-...to the most annoying amateur of all... -Pom-poms.
the aficionado.
She packed her own skates?
-Always. -Oh.
You look like a princess.
[Ralphie] My wife was a self-avowed figure skating devotee.
Okay. Let's go.
Let's go.
-Have fun, Ralphie. -Bye, Mom.
[Ralphie] Her keen ability to recall every skater,
move, and point value was matched only by...
[yelps]
...her complete lack of athletic ability.
You know, I really am good once I get on the ice.
Well, you have such sturdy ankles. I'm surprised they gave out.
[footsteps approaching]
[breathing deeply] Ah. Ah.
Hey, look. Found these in the attic.
Pretty fun.
-[laughs] -Thank you.
All right. I'll leave these with you, honey.
-Like, I can do tricks and stuff. -Uh-huh.
[horn tooting]
[bully screams]
[Ralphie] Most bullies enjoy a little time off for the holidays,
but for devoted lifers like these, the hunt never ends.
I can even do an arabesque.
Is that what you did off the front porch?
Uh...
[Ralphie] Like unaware prey on the Serengeti,
Julie, Mark, and Delbert were distracted by the Bumpus' junkyard jungle.
-Slow down! I get car sick. -What?
-[horn tooting] -[Ralphie] What happened next was inevitable.
Mark, they're back!
Go to the backyard.
Whoa. Here they are.
-[Mark grunts] -[bully laughs]
-You better run! -[Julie] Come on, Mark.
-Hurry! -[Delbert] See you later.
-[bully] Aw... He's stuck. -[grunts]
-Hey, kids, do you wanna play some-- -[bully laughs]
[Mark] Stop.
[Ralphie] Barbarians!
Oh, not on my watch.
-Let him go! -Say it and we'll let you go.
-[screams] -[laughs]
-Just say it. Mercy. -No!
-Just say it. -Say it.
Okay, mercy!
Hey! That's enough!
-It's his dad. We gotta bail. -[grunts]
Go, go, go!
Babies need their daddy to save them.
See you next time!
-Mark, you're okay? -Leave me alone.
[Julie cries]
-Mom. -Oh...
Oh, you're okay. Oh, here we go.
-Come on. -Now you done it.
It's open season on us.
Dumbass.
Watch your mouth.
[Ralphie] Was he right? Was there untold wisdom lurking behind Delbert's dead eyes?
By protecting them, was I making things worse?
Pa, they're back!
[Sandy gasps]
Oh, Lordy be!
-Not Black Bart and his gang. -[Mark gasps]
[Julie] Your old nemesis. What we gonna do?
We gonna fight.
We meet again.
Ralphie.
Follow my lead.
[grunting]
[grunts]
Fire!
[grunting]
[Julie] Get out of my way!
Fight back. What are you doing?
[laughs]
They're useless.
Not Mark!
[Mark] Pa! Save me!
-[distorted groan] -[gasps]
[distorted] No!
[pained grunts]
[Julie] Oh, no! Pa!
We'll be back, Ralphie.
And you won't be around to save 'em.
[laughs]
Let's ride!
-[horse neighs] -[laughs]
-[Ralphie gasps] -[crying]
[Sandy] Oh, Ralph.
[Mark] Who's going to fight for us now, Pa?
[Julie] We're as good as coyote food.
[all crying]
[Ralphie] Every parent learns you can't protect your kids forever.
Eventually, they have to do it for themselves.
I needed to get Christmas back on the rails.
And no better place than the biggest and brightest distraction in all of Hohman.
[indistinct chatter]
-Look at that. It's the Higbee's window. -Wow.
-You guys wanna go see it? Go, go, go. -Yeah.
[Sandy] Wow! [Ralphie] It's pretty good, right?
[Sandy] It's just like you described it.
[toy train toots]
[Ralphie] Magically withstanding the test of time...
the window at Higbee's did not disappoint.
Casting its spell on young and old alike.
Slowly, I could feel the Christmas ember beginning to glow again.
Time to turn it up to a full-blown crackle.
Who wants to go see Santa?
[gasps]
-He's inside right now. -Oh, yes!
-Oh, yes. -Come on, let's go.
[Santa] Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!
This is amazing!
Incredible!
[Ralphie laughs] It was.
Thank God. It really was.
Okay. Go get in line for Santa.
-And we will meet you right here when you're done. -Okay, Mom.
-Bye. Love you. -All right. Bye. Love you. [laughs]
[Ralphie] Seeing Christmas through your children's eyes
has the power to summon long-forgotten memories and emotions.
Don't let him kick you in the face.
-Huh? -Oh, it's okay.
Uh, all right. What do we got?
Okay, all right. I have got the Christmas budget and here's the list.
-Oh, well. You kids have fun. -All right.
I'm going to the lounge.
-Bye, Ma. -Bye.
Okay. Flexible Flyer F-23.
-Hungry Hungry Hippos, Easy-Bake Oven. -Mm-hm. Yeah. It's all there.
-All right. Ready? -Yeah.
-Let's go! -Let's go!
-[grunts] -[pained grunts]
-Here you go, sir. Sorry about that. -Are you okay?
-I'm so sorry. -Everybody's okay.
-Here we go. Let's get you off your feet. -Okay.
-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. -Merry Christmas, buddy.
Thank you.
-Oh, there she is. -Hi, Ma.
-Hi! -[Ralphie] We had a little accident.
-Sit down. -[Ralphie] Okay.
-Here we go. -[Sandy] Thank you.
[Mrs. Parker] There. [Sandy] Oh, God. Okay.
-I got it. I got it. Okay. -[Sandy exclaims]
-All right, I'm gonna go. I got this. -Are you sure you're okay?
-No problem. I can do it. I got it. -Okay. Good luck.
Ooh.
-Want one? -Yeah.
♪ We wish you A merry Christmas ♪
♪ And a happy new year ♪
[Santa] Ho, ho, ho!
Want some?
[both] No.
Okay.
[panting]
I like this kind of Christmas shopping.
Oh, it's very civilized.
[cashier] Merry Christmas...
All right. I got the puzzle.
-And all the little stuff. -Okay.
-Ooh. Good work, good work. -Pretty good start.
-Where are the kids? -About halfway through.
-Okay. All right. Go, go, go. -All right. Okay.
My husband's doing all the Christmas shopping.
She had a skating accident.
Are you sure you don't want some?
[both] Yeah.
Okay.
[woman] I never--
[laughs]
-Ah! Merry Christmas! -[screams]
We got a wild one.
Get her up.
Last chance.
We're good.
Okay.
[Santa] Ho, ho, ho.
Merry Christmas.
-Who's next? -All right. You're next. Come on up.
-Come on. -Let's go. Are you? Let's go.
Let's go. Come on!
Don't you dare! Ah!
Oh, Lord.
[male elf] Jeez! Get the mop.
Go get the mop. Come on.
-You gotta put it in a letter this year. -Get out of here, kid.
Come back tomorrow.
[laughs]
I really shouldn't drink this much on an empty stomach.
-I have a candy cane in my purse. -Mm.
[Ralphie] Oh, come on, come on, lady, please
[sighs]
[grunts]
[male elf] Merry Christmas!
So you're the real Santa Claus?
[male elf] Oh, here we go again.
Why, yes, I am.
-Reindeer. How many? -Eight.
-Naughty kids. What do they get? -Coal.
Your legal name?
Kristopher Kringle.
North Pole. Longitude and latitude?
90 North by 135 West.
You're good. Very good.
Yes, I am.
Tree-toppers. Star or angel?
[Ralphie] Come on, Kringle, don't screw this up.
-Star! -[Ralphie laughs] That's my guy!
-[gasps] You really are Santa. -Yes, I am!
Okay. I want...
-[whispers] -Huh.
Well, the cat, I can do.
The other thing, you're on your own.
Deal.
All right. Here we go. Merry Christmas! Hey!
Hey, Santa. What other thing?
The kid asked for a radiator...
for a '66 Plymouth.
[pants]
-[woman 1] Oh, let go! -[woman 2 screams]
-[laughing] -[gasps]
Did you do it?
[cheering]
You didn't think he could do it.
[laughing]
♪ Jingle bells, Batman smells ♪
♪ Robin laid an egg ♪
♪ The Batmobile Lost its wheel ♪
♪ And the Joker got away ♪
[all blowing raspberry, laughing]
[Sandy] You got my mouth.
Oh, damn radiator!
-[all] Ah... -[Sandy] Are you kidding me?
[Julie] Again? [Mrs. Parker] Poor Ralphie.
[sighs]
-Egg. -Yeah.
-We're out. -Ah, you gotta be kidding.
All right. Well, get comfortable. It's gonna be a while.
Gotta let it cool on its own.
[Julie] Oh, man!
Mom, can we play in the snow?
Yeah. Why not?
Bring your gloves.
[Ralphie imitating Mrs. Parker] "No, honey, get the Plymouth."
Stinkin'...
[grunts, laughs]
[Ralphie] No, no, no. That's not how you do it.
You gotta pack it tighter if you want it to go further.
Here, let me show you.
You gotta pack it up.
Come on, you guys have made snowballs before. Here.
If you want it to go far, you gotta pack it. Pack it.
Push it. See, the tighter you pack it, the further it will go.
Like this. Then it goes...
Like that, all right? Good luck.
Like that?
[all laughing]
[Ralphie] The question is...
do you have enough ammo?
[all grunt]
What did I do?
-You're his accomplice. -[screams]
[Ralphie] Snowball fight!
[children scream]
You shouldn't have challenged me.
[grunting]
-[Julie screams] -Get him! Get him!
Get 'em, Ralphie!
Come on.
[grunting]
-[grunts] -[laughs]
-[laughs] I thought you were injured. -Mm.
-I'm feeling no pain. -Well, whose side are you on?
Uh... me and Mark.
-And you and Julie. -[grunts, laughs]
-Oh, you got it. -[screams]
-Come on, Mom! -Stop. Take cover.
Oh, God. Oh, God.
-Now! -[Mrs. Parker] Hey!
Wait for me. Oh! [grunts]
Back in the car, Ma!
Oh, yeah.
That's a good idea.
[laughing]
No, no, no. Head for cover! Run!
-I bet you can't hit me! -Want to bet?
-Yes, we can! -No, you can't!
[Ralphie] Oh, yeah? Watch this!
Get 'em, Dad!
[Ralphie] Oh, my God! I killed Julie!
-Dad, you ran three stop signs. -Thank you, Mark.
He is your dad.
Everyone out, please.
[Mrs. Parker] Ralphie. [Ralphie] Come here. I got her.
[Sandy] All right. [Ralphie] She's fine.
-Come on, honey. -[Mrs. Parker] Are we home?
No, Mom. We're at the hospital.
Would you get in the hospital, please?
[Mark] Is she gonna lose her eyeball?
[Ralphie] She's not losing anything. Get inside.
[Mark] You let her have it. Pow!
[Ralphie] Yes, I was there. I saw.
[Sandy] You'll be okay, sweetheart.
[Ralphie] She's fine.
[snores]
[soft Christmas music playing on radio]
[grunts]
-Mark, it's not polite to stare. -Uh-huh.
[snores, grunts]
Oh. [chuckles]
Would you look at that?
I'm a Cyclops.
[Sandy] Oh... Hey. Oh, oh. [Mrs. Parker] Oh, honey.
Come on, let's get you home.
I'll put some Bactine on it.
I'm so sorry, sweetheart.
No, it's okay, honey.
Because the doctor said it's just gonna be a couple of days, tops.
Yeah. Better to be safe.
We don't want anything to get in that eye.
-Like a snowball? -[Ralphie grunts]
Okay. Let's get you home. Okay?
-We'll get you safe. -Um, Ralph...
[Mrs. Parker] Were we robbed?
[Ralphie] My mind grappled with the grim reality
that every dollar we had set aside for Christmas was spent!
And now, just three days before Christmas,
what do we have to show for it?
Nothing! Not one stinkin' thing!
The only upshot...
-That hurt? -No.
[Ralphie] Our kids had no idea.
Son of a bitch.
You got that right.
-[typewriter clacking] -[dog barking]
[Ralphie] Faced with an impossible situation,
I did what any good parent would do in a time like this.
Completely ignore the problem and hope it goes away on its own.
Hey, Reuben. It's Ralph Parker.
I just wanted to call and let you know
that I'm close to completing my follow-up manuscript.
I can probably have it wrapped up in a few days.
So if you think it'll make a difference--
[Reuben] Seeing as though we haven't heard back on the one.
-Nothing yet, huh? -Yeah.
Okay. Uh...
Do you know if they received the fruit basket I sent?
I know. I know. I'm getting to that.
Ralph, I know you'll write a great obituary.
But right now, we need to focus on Christmas.
Yeah, I know. I'd love nothing more.
But I'm just a little hung up on the monsters that stole presents from our children.
I had everything. I had everything. Every gift.
You were a sight to behold at Higbee's.
I was. I really was.
But then, you know, we get into a snowball fight, we're having fun,
and then Mark says, "Hey, I bet you can't hit me from here!"
-And then she just came out of nowhere. -Ralph...
-I mean, I didn't see her. She just sort of teleported. -Ralph.
Honey, everyone knows that you did not try to bean our daughter.
[sighing] Man.
This is, you know...
My dad made this all look so easy.
Yeah, that's what good parents do.
But that doesn't mean it was easy.
So, look, I put together all our cash
and what we have left of the Christmas fund
and we can still get the kids some presents.
How much do we have?
Including the change from the ashtray...
$21.17.
[Ralphie] Oh! It was worse than I thought.
Things had sunk to a new low,
forcing us to attempt the most delicate of parental maneuvers...
the lowering of expectations.
-[Julie] It's crazy. -Hey, kids.
So, this Christmas, we thought it might be really fun
to focus a little more on gratitude.
Yeah.
Wait, what's going on?
[Ralphie] That was fast.
Well, that's what we wanted to talk about.
Um, because Christmas isn't really about how many great gifts you get.
-Oh, no. -Isn't it?
-[Ralphie] They're onto us. -No. It isn't, Mark.
Because this is part of Christmas, right? And maybe the best part.
Mm-hm.
Yeah, all of us together, enjoying delicious home-cooked...
food.
[flies buzzing]
[Ralphie] Nice try, Sandy.
Are you saying we're not getting presents, just more casserole?
[Ralphie] No, no, no. [Sandy] No.
What your mom is trying to help me say
-is that there will be presents. -Mm-hm.
-Yeah. -Just more likely not the ones you wanted.
Does this mean Santa's not coming?
[Ralphie] Bail out, bail out! Eject, eject!
No, no. Of course he's coming.
[Ralphie] Because Santa always comes. [Sandy] Yeah. Yeah.
No, we just want you to keep one thing in mind.
[Ralphie] Oh, please, please. Don't say it.
It's the thought that counts.
[Ralphie] Oh, no! She said it!
Kids can smell that stinker from a mile away.
So, Christmas is gonna suck?
I knew it! This means I'm not getting a sled, doesn't it?
Okay, less attitude and more gratitude, mister.
[door closes]
[sighs] Well, they certainly got the message.
Can you just go after Mark?
Sorry.
Wanna play Spades?
One-Eyed Jacks?
No, thanks, Grandma.
I have something important I need to figure out.
Mark, let's go for a walk.
Come on.
Suds for Dad,
Shirley Temple for the kid.
To Christmas.
-Cheers. -Cheers.
[Ralphie] Ah, the genius of the Shirley Temple.
A few simple ingredients that can make a kid feel like he's one of the grown-ups.
[Flick] Oh, no, no. Ralphie.
After the week you've had, don't worry about it. It's on the house.
Whoa! Did I hear "on the house"?
-No, you didn't. -[sighs]
Hey, how's your Christmas going, kid?
It's okay, I guess.
-I'm trying to focus on gratitude. -[confused grunts]
That's real low, Ralph.
Hey, Mark, you ever bartend before?
-I'm ten. -Old enough. Come on back here.
Have some fun. Come on.
[dogs bark distantly]
Any in here?
Nope. Nothing.
[dog whimpers]
[gasps] Look at you.
Hey. Come with me.
[laughs]
What do you want?
I'm fixin' to feed the lobster.
I found your puppy.
She must have gotten out somehow.
What's your angle?
If you want your adorable little puppy back,
I want a reward.
What kinda reward?
There you go.
No way.
Yup.
You got it. Just go right down there.
Hey, thanks, kid. You're all right.
-[phone ringing] -[all gasp]
Mark, answer it. Go on.
Hello? Mm-hm.
Hold on. Let me check. Is Junior here?
Junior Kissel?
-Junior Kissel? -[mouthing] No.
Junior Kissel?
-[mouthing] No? -[mouthing] No.
No, I'm sorry, ma'am.
There's no one here named Junior.
Mm-hm.
Merry Christmas to you, too.
[chuckles] Bye.
[whistles]
-Good job. You're great. -[all cheering]
-He's great. -Your kid's a natural.
Well done, kid.
-There you go. -Wow.
Flick. Beer and a bag of pork rinds. Put it on my tab.
No, out of pork rinds.
Jeez. What kind of bar runs out of pork rinds?
Hey, you know, last week they were out of corn nuts.
[all laughing]
It's the kind of bar that floats a guy who runs up a big tab
while disrespecting the place.
Whoa. I don't like your tone.
[Ralphie] Though he'd be the last to admit it,
deep down somewhere in his inner core,
Flick had it out for Schwartz since that day on the playground long ago.
And what kind of tone would you prefer, Your Highness?
You know, you may be a little more comfortable
down the street at The Knight Cap.
-[all murmuring] -The Knight Cap?
[Ralphie] The Knight Cap? Ugh. Dante's lowest circle of bars.
The Knight Cap?
-Oh, you think? -Yeah, maybe I do.
-Oh, yeah? -Yeah.
-Yeah? You're taking it back. -Why would I?
I swear on my mother, Flick.
-You're taking it back! -Oh, yeah?
Well, how about this?
I'll take it back if you ride The Ramp.
[all exclaim]
[Ralphie] The Ramp?
No one with half a brain would agree to ride The Ramp.
What, are you out of your skull? I mean, I'm a grown man.
I ain't ridin' no ramp.
[Ralphie] But Flick was already two moves ahead.
And...
-I'll clear your tab. -[all] Ooh.
[Ralphie] Poor Schwartz was outmaneuvered.
Rather than lose face with his fellow lowlifes,
Schwartz sealed his fate.
-You're on. -Okay.
-[all exclaiming] -[Flick] All right. Everybody out.
-[bell dinging] -Dad, let's go!
[Ralphie] The Ramp.
An abandoned experiment from the Army Corps of Engineers.
In winter, it transformed into a frosted sluice of terror.
On The Ramp, you may as well be riding in your coffin.
-Holy... -Yeah? What was that?
Huh? No. Nothing.
[boy] Here. It's your funeral.
He's gonna ride that?
Uh-huh.
[heavy breaths]
What the hell are you looking at? Stupid kids.
He's out of his mind.
[Flick] Keep going.
Keep going up that hill, Schwartzy. Let's go!
It's getting cold!
What are you doing, man?
Oh, he's gonna chicken out. Don't worry.
[panting] This is crazy. This is crazy.
[exhales]
But it's gonna clear my tab.
[exhales sharply]
[panting]
[grunts]
[Flick] Hey, you gonna go down,
or we gonna stand here and freeze our nuts off?
[Ralphie] If revenge is a dish best served cold,
-this was a frozen dinner. -[exhales]
There's no way I'm gonna kill myself for this. It's crazy!
Hey, Schwartz!
I Triple Dog Dare you!
[Ralphie] Oh, if Schwartz backed down now,
he could never show his face in Flick's Tavern,
or perhaps even in Hohman ever again.
[grunts]
Oh, I got him now. I got him.
Okay. We should probably move out of the way.
[grunts]
Hey, hey, hey, Ralphie.
He's gonna be okay, right?
We should just probably move out of the way.
[man] He's going to do it! [woman] All right, let's go!
[shouting] Geronimo!
-[grunts] -[all gasp]
Schwartz!
-Schwartz. -Schwartz.
-Schwartz, wake up. -Schwartz, wake up.
Schwartz. Schwartz.
-Is he alive? -I think. I don't know.
-Schwartz, wake up, man. -Schwartz.
-[burps] -[all groan]
The stink!
Uh... I thought we lost you there, brother.
Did I do it?
-Did I clear my tab? -[man] Yeah, come on, Flick!
Yeah, your tab is forgiven.
[all cheering]
-Let's get you home. -Okay.
Wait, but first, let's go get a drink.
Put it on my tab. [laughs]
[Ralphie] Fueled by bravado, one-upmanship, and libations,
the barflies took matters into their own hands.
-No! My sled! -Come on!
[Ralphie] Any sensible person knew full well, no one over 40 should go sledding.
But these were not sensible people.
[grunts]
You could not look away.
[screams, groans]
Make way!
[grunts]
Whoa!
Ooh. Ooh.
[grunts]
[screams] Whoa!
[dodging grunts]
[screams]
[Ralphie] I hadn't seen that many cold-weather casualties
since the Korean War.
[Mark] Dad! Watch this!
Mark! No! No!
-[laughs] -[kid] Watch out!
Steer!
-Steer! -[screams]
[man] Slow down, kid.
[both scream]
[grunts]
[Ralphie] Oh, my God! I killed Mark!
[dogs bark distantly]
Hi.
It's so late.
Everything go okay with Mark?
-More or less. -That's good.
I took care of the presents.
Oh. Thank you.
You're welcome.
Good night.
By the way...
-Mark broke his arm. -Hm?
[Ralphie] My mother was one of the most creative and ruthless Scrabble players,
in the entire Midwest.
Everyone knew better than to lock horns with her.
Sandy, on the other hand...
Oh, um, I don't think "bajillion" is actually a word.
Yes, it is. You just used it in a sentence.
So, that's a double-word score, a double-word score,
and a seven-tile bonus
which is 50 points. So, just give me a second.
122 points.
Wow.
[vehicle approaching, horn tooting]
[bully laughing]
Kids, you know, when your father was your age,
he had a similar sort of problem,
but he worked it out.
[Ralphie] Uh, the Scut Farkus Affair.
Really? What happened?
Well, he beat the snot out of that kid. [laughs]
That's what happened.
-Wow! -Daddy beat someone up?
Wait, that story is true?
Is it so hard to believe?
Huh. Ralph.
-Did he ever bother you again? -Nope.
Hey, you guys gotta get this figured out.
You can't just be a target for 'em.
Armoire.
-That's not a word. -Yes, it is.
It's just a fancy word for "cabinet."
-You have one upstairs. -I certainly do not.
In Indiana, we say "wardrobe."
-Come on, grab your coat. -What for?
I have an idea.
"Arm." For five.
Oh, boy!
Five whole points for Sandy.
Good for you.
It's hideous.
The worst.
[Ralphie] The window was closing, and I needed some good news.
All my hopes were pinned on one last publisher.
-Hello, it's Reuben. -Hey, Reuben. It's Ralph again.
-Ralph. -Uh...
Wow. Still in the office on Christmas Eve?
-That's dedication. -Yeah.
Um, I was just calling to check in, um,
one last time, before Christmas.
No. Ralph. Um, not interested in it.
I see.
[Ralphie] That was it. I had my chance.
And now... I had my answer.
[dogs barking distantly]
Ralphie, are you all right?
Yes.
No. No.
That obituary is the hardest damn thing I have ever had to write.
And I just found out why.
I'm no writer.
Just ask any publisher in Chicago.
Nobody cares, Mom.
Nobody wants my book. It's over.
-Oh, Ralphie. -And an obituary?
How do you sum up a man's life into a paragraph?
I can't do it.
Ralphie.
Ralphie, look at me.
Just forget about the publishers and the paragraphs.
Forget about trying to write the perfect words.
Life isn't perfect.
[shuddering breaths]
Your father certainly wasn't perfect.
Just write about the man you love.
Or don't.
It's up to you.
[the old man] He looks like a pink nightmare.
This is a lamp!
I had one when I was eight years old.
[Ralphie] Incredibly, the dam had broken.
Once I got out of the way, the words and emotions poured onto the page.
My fingers raced to keep up with the flood of memories
of my old man.
[exhales sharply]
[children giggle]
Hey.
Are you okay?
You know, actually...
I am...
[Christmas song playing on low volume on radio]
[children giggle]
[Ralphie] What's going on with you two? [both] Nothin'!
[Ralphie] Nothin'?
Behind every nothin', there's always a somethin'.
-[Julie] Here they come. -[bully] Look! Another snowman.
[engine revving, horn tooting]
-[bully] Say goodbye! -[crash]
[bullies scream]
[Julie gasps, laughs]
Oh, my...
[horn toots, vehicle hisses]
[pained grunt]
Gee, what happened, fellas?
Yeah, fellas. Run into something?
Like a tree stump?
[grunting]
That is mine.
Thank you very much.
Pop's gonna kill us.
-Look! He done pissed himself! -Did not!
[laughing]
[Ralphie] Laughter, the sharpest weapon in the arsenal of man,
able to cut giants down to the size of mice.
Come on.
-Did you actually pee yourself? -Shut up.
Mark.
Nice job.
[laughs]
I got snowmobiles.
[radio tuning]
[announcer on radio] Wait a minute, folks.
North American Aerospace Defense Command radar
has just picked up an unknown flying object in the night sky.
It's headed south toward the continental United States
at a very high rate of speed.
-Repeat, NORAD radar... -Is that what I think it is?
...has just intercepted a signal originating from the North Pole.
It's Santa Claus! It's Santa Claus!
[Ralphie] You know what? I think it is!
[Ralphie] At last, we were one silent night away from Christmas.
I was home free.
By morning, my job would be--
-[shatters] -[Sandy gasps]
Oh.
The star. [cries] It shattered.
[Ralphie] Not just shattered, pulverized!
[cries] Can we fix it?
Oh, honey...
You said it won't be Christmas without a star.
Oh, no, honey. It's okay. We can still have a great Christmas.
No! You said Santa won't come without a star.
[Sandy] Oh, honey.
-Did I say that? -[all] Yes!
Well, I didn't know this was gonna happen.
I knew it. No Christmas.
Okay. You know what?
I'm gonna go out, and I'm gonna get us a star.
An even better one!
Ralphie, it's Christmas Eve.
-Well, then I better hurry. -Well, uh... Everything's closed!
Well, you heard her. Where are you going?
I am fixing this.
Ralph! Just give it up.
No! I am not giving it up.
I'm gonna go get us a star!
Oh. And we're gonna have a great Christmas!
-[door closes] -[dogs bark]
Get out of here! Not now. Not now.
Not now, damn it. Get out of here.
[Ralphie] As the town went dark, so did my hopes of completing my mission.
[brakes screech]
The term "breaking and entering" has always had such an unduly, sinister tone.
"Borrowing from a friend," on the other hand,
that sounded downright neighborly.
[doorknob rattling]
If Flick were here, he'd let me in.
But since he wasn't...
[grunts]
-[dog barks distantly] -Son of a...
[grunts]
Come on.
Ow! [groans]
[exhales]
[sighs]
Victory!
With star in hand, I could return triumphant to my adoring family.
Christmas would be saved.
[man] You! Hold it right there.
Put your hands up. I said put 'em up.
It's okay. I know the owner, Flick.
I just had to borrow a Christmas star.
I left a note.
[laughs] You left a note. Well, that's a new one.
Wait.
Don't I know you?
Scut Farkus.
-There he was, with those same yellow eyes. -[evil laugh]
Dear God, he still had yellow eyes!
I hadn't said as much as two words to Scut
since I miraculously knocked the snot out of him decades ago.
Say uncle!
Maybe he wouldn't recognize me.
Ralph Parker.
Damn!
Breaking and entering. Never imagined you'd end up like this.
Wait. I can explain.
Get in the car.
[police radio chatter]
[Ralphie] Rule number one.
When taken by the enemy, don't show fear.
Befriend your captor and develop a rapport.
So, what's it been? 20, 30 years?
Thirty-three...
if you're counting.
Oh, this was it.
Scut would lock me up and throw away the key.
What would become of my family?
-[door unbolts] -[grunts]
-Who's there? -You got visitors.
[door buzzes]
[man] Dead man walking.
Sandy.
Wow, you look great.
I feel great, Ralph.
Better than ever.
Mark?
[in British accent] Hello, Dad.
Why are you talking like that?
-Oh, look. He suddenly cares. -[chuckles]
You never came home, Dad. So things went a wee bit rotten.
Julie, is that you?
[gasps]
-Brought you a present. -What happened to your eye?
[groans]
Well, you did keep one promise, Ralph.
It was a Christmas we'll never forget.
[all] Never forget.
-Never forget. -[grunting]
-Never forget. Never forget. -[gasps]
-Never forget. -[laughs]
Never forget.
Ah, man.
[Ralphie] Uh...
That's the police station. I think we just passed it.
Don't worry about it.
[Ralphie] Don't worry? I was very worried.
Oh, forget jail.
Scut was gonna kill me!
You're looking kinda jumpy, Parker.
Me? No. I'm fine.
Like busting into a bar on a Christmas Eve fine?
Oh, I didn't want to do that.
I had to. I needed that star for the tree
for my family for Christmas.
None of it makes any sense.
When we were kids, life was simple.
It was all just fun and games. Am I right?
Lots of laughs. [fake laugh]
Yeah, now I got some devil spawn of my own,
running around all day on that stupid snowmobile.
Between us... I think they're worse than I ever was.
No. What are you talking about?
I mean, you...
You were great.
[Ralphie] Oh, what was I saying?
My mind was mush. My dying words were lies!
All lies!
[man on radio] Farkus. Come in, Farkus.
-What's your 20? Can you hear me? -[turns off radio]
[Ralphie] Oh, no! How would he do it?
Death by a thousand cuts? Buried alive?
Medieval chin breaker? Burned at the stake?
Steam rolled? Pool of piranhas?
End of the road, Parker.
Oh, no! This was it!
Kiss my sweet ass...
This is home, right?
[dog barking]
Yeah, this is home.
Breaking into Flick's dump, huh?
You must've really needed that star.
Yeah, I did.
Look, I appreciate you blowing smoke up my dress like you did,
but we both know when we were kids...
I was kind of a nightmare.
[Ralphie] Kinda?
I was just trying to be a tough guy, you know?
Like my old man.
But that day you handed my ass to me... I mean, that got me thinkin'.
[Ralphie] Not sure where this is going.
You know, I put all that garbage behind me.
And look at me now.
I'm one of the good guys.
So I guess what I'm saying is...
I owe you, Parker.
Hey.
Merry Christmas, Ralph.
Merry Christmas, Scut.
You know, if anyone else but me had answered that call,
you'd be rotting in a jail cell all weekend.
How about that?
[laughs]
[siren wails]
[exhales]
[Mrs. Parker] Oh, Ralphie. You found a star.
Yeah.
I miss him, Ma.
[Mrs. Parker] I miss him, too.
But I know he's here.
-[Ralphie groans] -[Mrs. Parker sighs]
-[Ralphie] I'll get the fuse. -No. No. You go to bed.
I've gotta learn to do these things on my own from now on.
-I'll be fine. -Okay.
Okay, so, go. Go on.
-I'm going up. -Okay. All right.
Be careful, Ma.
Good night, Ralphie.
Good night.
[footsteps running]
[both] Wake up!
[screaming]
-Come on, it's Christmas! -There's presents under the tree!
We have to go see! Come on!
-Okay, we're up, we're up. -Okay, okay.
-Hurry up! -Faster!
[gasps] Look, Julie!
[screams] Daddy, Daddy, you did it!
-You got the star and Santa came! -[Mark] Look at it!
-Is that a beer logo? -[Mark] Awesome.
Don't ask.
-[laughs] Oh. Merry Christmas. -[Sandy] Oh. Merry Christmas.
-Merry Christmas, Ma. -[Mark] He ate the cookies!
-Good morning. -[Julie] And the stockings are full!
-[both] Wow. -Did you get extra presents?
No. Did you?
No.
"For Ralph. Love, Dad."
Oh.
"For Julie. Love, Grandpa."
[gasps]
Mom, these are all from Dad.
Yeah.
Last night, when I was down in the basement
fixing the fuse, I found them.
He must've got them before.
Yeah. [chuckles] He did good.
[Ralphie] Yeah.
-[laughs] Well, come on! Let's open gifts! -[Ralphie] Yeah!
[Ralphie] Each of us, in turn, opened the gifts from my old man,
marveling at their thoughtful perfection.
An Easy-Bake Oven!
-I can make Christmas cookies today! -[Ralphie] Yeah!
It even has a pom-pom.
-[Ralphie] Wow. -Really pretty.
-It is soft. -Yeah.
-[Sandy] Ah... -Fountain pen.
-Oh, lovely. -Wow.
Wow!
[chuckles]
A Flexible Flyer F-23 Yankee Clipper!
How did he know?
He knows. He always knows.
And right when it seemed the only thing missing was the old man,
he was here, just like always, on Christmas morning.
[Ralphie] Whoa! Look at that. [Sandy] Oh, you are...
Oh, boy.
[Ralphie] We tore into the remaining presents with abandon.
See, now your papa can't hit you in the eyes anymore.
It was an accident.
[Ralphie] Some were from Mom's stockings from Santa,
and the rest from Sandy's ingenious use of our remaining cash.
It's a party calendar.
[Ralphie] Disco. [Sandy] Disco.
[Mrs. Parker] Disco. Yeah. [Ralphie] Look at that.
No one cared how much they cost, because...
and I can't believe I'm admitting this,
it was the thought that counts.
[Sandy] He's gonna break his other arm, too. [Ralphie] Yeah. He just might.
-And, Dad, I have something for you. -Oh.
[chuckles]
-Ooh. -The gifts are great.
-Thanks. -You're welcome.
-Merry Christmas. -Merry Christmas.
[Mrs. Parker] Oh.
-[laughing] -[Sandy] What?
Oh. A radiator.
-Where did you-- -I blackmailed Delbert.
-It was easy. -[chuckles] That's my girl.
Thank you, sweetheart.
I love it.
-[Ralphie] Delbert Bumpus. The gift that keeps on giving. -Oh, my God.
I can't wait.
Me neither.
[Mrs. Parker] Not until the casseroles are finished.
[groans]
[laughs] Come on, let's go. Two plates, two forks.
-Off you go. -You serious?
I'm serious. Out you go. Come on.
Put some meat on those bones. Go on.
-[Julie] It never ends. -I know, I know.
[Sandy sighs]
You know, I've been thinking.
I mean, a year, it really isn't that much time.
-And to build a writing career-- -No, honey.
A deal's a deal.
And it was a real gift.
But come January, I'm going back to work.
And that's okay.
Okay.
[Ralphie] It wasn't the lack of success that bothered me.
It was the sting that laid in the belief
that I still had something meaningful to say.
[woman] Ralphie!
Great job!
Okay.
[man] Hey, Ralphie!
The wife and I loved your story.
The newspaper.
It's great!
It's my story.
How did they get my story?
Don't look at me.
I gave it to 'em.
What are you talking about?
Well, last night, after you stormed out, the newspaper called.
They wanted the obituary for the Sunday paper.
So, I borrowed your mom's car and I dropped it off.
It's not an obituary.
No, I know. The editor said the same thing.
Ralph, I read it. It's the best thing you've ever written.
And besides, I wasn't about to give them
the lousy three sentences you scribbled on that notepad.
-[phone ringing] -Oh, I'll get it.
Hello? Yes.
Yes, he's here.
It's for you.
Who is it?
It's the editor from the paper.
Hello?
Uh-huh.
Yes.
Yes, I do. All right.
Okay. Mm-hm.
Thank you.
Well, what did he say?
He wants to know if I have more stories.
Ralph...
You did it.
I did it. I did it!
-[all laughing] -I did it.
I did. I actually did it!
I was a bona fide published writer!
And they wanted more!
-[indistinct chatter] -[knocking on door]
-I'll get it! -He also said it's gonna be syndicated.
-What? -What does that mean?
It means it's going in all the papers.
-Even in Chicago? -Yeah.
Come on. Let's go read it!
-Ralph. -[Julie] Wait for me!
-Thank you, honey. -Of course.
-[Mrs. Parker] Ralphie, you have visitors. -Go, go, go!
-Okay. Okay. -Go!
Who is it, Ma?
There he is! Hohman's own Ray Bradbury!
Oh, man! Good job.
-Hey! Yeah, good stuff, man. -Thanks, buddy.
Mom loved it.
-Had me read it to her twice. -Wow.
-Thanks for the story, Ralph. -Hey, Larry.
Great excuse to get out of the house.
-Yeah. -Oh, yeah.
How do you feel about casserole?
-I love it. -You must be hungry.
Casserole.
-Let's eat! -Come on.
Merry Christmas, everybody!
[Ralphie] As the word spread, it seemed like half the neighborhood showed up.
My mother welcomed them with open arms...
as long as they weren't carolers.
-You digging in? -Ralph.
[indistinct chatter]
-No, it's not true. -Officer Farkus...
Hey! What's all the fuss?
[all] Oh, Randy!
-Randy! -Mom!
Oh.
-Hey! Merry Christmas, big brother. -You made it.
Yeah. A cracker?
Mm-hm.
-[both] Uncle Randy! -Hey, runts! How are you doing?
Good to see you. Good to see you.
Hey, why don't you go check out that suitcase over there.
I picked up some gifts along the way.
-Sandy! -Randy!
-Hey. -Hey. Merry Christmas.
[gasps] It's the stuffed cat I wanted!
Oh.
Cool! A saber.
-Awesome! -Oh.
[Mrs. Parker] No, no, no.
[sniffs] What's that smell?
Casserole. Come on, let's eat.
-What, on Christmas? -Let's go. Go.
Come on. We need some dishes.
Extra chairs. Come on, everybody. Come on.
[Ralphie] Everyone gathered 'round, rolled up their sleeves,
and loosened their belts a notch.
Those casseroles didn't stand a chance.
Not with the bottomless pit known as...
good ol' Larry Novak.
Yeah!
[all cheering]
Turkey! Turkey's ready! Make room for the turkey!
[Mark] Finally!
Here we go. All right.
[Ralphie] When I tallied up the final scorecard,
it was hardly the perfect holiday I'd imagined.
My wife on crutches,
broken arm for my son,
my daughter nearly blinded,
stolen gifts,
and my book flopped.
But somehow, beyond the scope of probability,
through all the headaches and heartaches,
the house was filled with life,
laughter,
and love once again.
The old man would be proud.
[radio tuning, turns off]
[chuckles]
Hot damn, Ralph!
You did it.
[chuckles]
[Ralphie] Mom, what'd you think?
Oh, I haven't read it yet.
-What? -No.
I wanted to hear it from my son, the writer.
Yeah, Dad. Read it.
[Sandy] Yeah.
[chuckles]
Come here.
[clears throat]
"My Old Man.
My old man didn't just celebrate Christmas,
he indulged in it.
Brought it to life for his family.
One Christmas in particular stood out as the gold standard.
And it all started back in the good old house on Cleveland Street.
Christmas was on its way...
lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas
around which the entire kid year revolved.
Downtown Hohman was prepared for its annual bacchanalia
of peace on Earth and good will to men.
But more importantly, to one boy,
his quest to acquire the most coveted gift
a nine-year-old could hope for...
The Holy Grail"
[young Ralphie] ...Holy Grail of Christmas gifts.
The Red Ryder, 200 shot,
range model air rifle.