INT. HADLEY FAMILY HOME (KITCHEN)- EVENING (CHRISTMAS EVE)

Christopher Hadley: SEVEN YEARS OLD, FAIR HAIR, FOUR FEET FOUR INCHES, LIGHT BLUE EYES, WEAKER THAN AVERAGE, THIN, CAUCASIAN

MELANIE HADLEY: 42 YEARS OLD, FEMALE, DIED BLONDE SHOULDER LENGTH HAIR, ATTRACTIVE, DARK BLUE EYES, FIVE FEET SEVEN INCHES TALL, SLIM

Christopher Hadley is still toying with his dinner while his mother is also seated at the table with a mug of coffee.

MELANIE HADLEY: Come on Christopher. You should eat all your greens. You want to grow up big and strong don’t you.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: What time does Santa normally arrive at?

MELANIE HADLEY: Well Christopher, that depends on a number of things like the weather, how busy his schedule is. He could also be getting older and age can slow anyone down.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: If he’s so old and tired why doesn’t he eat the milk and cookies we leave out for him every year.

MELANIE HADLEY: Something tells me that this year he will Christopher.

INT. HADLEY FAMILY HOME CHILDRENS BEDROOM - NIGHT (CHRISTMAS EVE)

HADRIAN HADLEY: TEN YEARS OLD, FOUR FEET, EIGHT INCHES TALL, SHORT DARK HAIR, SLIM

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: I can’t wait until morning.

HADRIAN HADLEY: Yeah, well it’s just another day

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: What’s Santa Claus getting you for Christmas Hadrian?

HADRIAN HADLEY: One day Christopher you’ll realise that there is no Santa Claus. It’s all just pie in the sky. One big phoney

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Don’t tell me. It will ruin the surprise.

INT. HADLEY FAMILY (PARENTS BEDROOM) - NIGHT

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Mom, Dad I think I heard something on the roof.

MELANIE HADLEY: Go back to bed Christopher. It’s ok

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: But mom

DUNCAN HADLEY: Christopher, who would be on the roof on a night like this? Go back to bed.

INT. HADLEY FAMILY HOME LIVING ROOM - CHRISTMAS DAY MORNING

Christopher Hadley rushes downstairs and opens his present to reveal a block of wood, a small chisel and a hammer. Duncan and Melanie Hadley enter the room

DUNCAN HADLEY: 44 years old, Five Feet 11 inches, Dark receding hair, slightly overweight, brown eyes, cleanshaven.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Thanks mom, thanks dad.

MELANIE HADLEY: Don’t thank us. Thank Santa Claus

Hadrian Hadley comes down stairs and opens his present

HADRIAN HADLEY:  Cool. A robot. Wow.

Hadrian pauses to look at Christopher’s present.

HADRIAN HADLEY: Christopher, why did you only ask for a block of wood.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Dad always says don’t ask for too much. Besides this block of wood could be anything.

INT. HADLEY FAMILY HOME KITCHEN - CHRISTMAS DAY 10:30AM

Melanie is removing a full bin bag from the bin in the kitchen. Christopher is near her.

MELANIE HADLEY: Christopher can you be a good boy and bring out the trash.

EXT. OUTSIDE HADLEY FAMILY HOME - CHRISTMAS DAY 10:30AM

Christopher puts the trash in the bin outside but notices a man lying in pain in the snow and dressed in green 

MR KRINGLE: DARK SKINNED, DRESSED IN A GREEN UNIFORM, DYED DARK HAIR, FIVE FEET ELEVEN INCHES, SLIGHTLY OVERWEIGHT, BLUE EYES

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Hey. Are you alright Mister?

The man groans in pain

MR KRINGLE: I think my leg is broken

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: I’ll go tell my mother

MR KRINGLE: Please don’t

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: But you need help

MR KRINGLE: No adults and no hospital. I just need to get out of the snow in case I die of hypothermia. 

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: We might be able to get you to the shed over there. My Dad never goes there in winter.

MR KRINGLE: That’ll do

Christopher starts to pull Mr Kringle by the arm but it has very little impact

Mr Kringle writhes in pain

Christopher hears his friend and neighbour Jake, playing in his back garden

JAKE STEVENSON: Seven Years old, Dark skinned, light blue eyes, four feet tall, slim, dark hair, tightly cut

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Hey Jake

JAKE STEVENSON: What?

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Can you help me?

JAKE STEVENSON: Why?

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Just come here

Seconds pass as Jake makes his way into Christopher’s back garden

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: What’s your name Mister?

MR KRINGLE: Kringle

JAKE STEVENSON: Woe, is that Santa Claus?

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: No, silly, his name is Kringle. Can you just take one of his arms.

The two boys take an arm each and manage to pull the injured man to the shed. Christopher opens the shed door and they pull Mr Kringle inside.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: It’s not very warm but you can have my sleeping bag. Are you sure, you don’t want to go to a hospital? They’d look after you properly. We don’t know anything about mending a broken leg.

MR KRINGLE: I should be alright

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Say, what were you doing when you broke your leg?

MR KRINGLE: To be honest, I can’t remember, but please don’t tell anyone I’m here. It’s important.

JAKE STEVENSON: How do we know you’re not a burglar?

MR KRINGLE: Well if I am a burglar, I won’t get very far.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Don’t worry. We’ll help you Mr Kringle.

INT. HADLEY FAMILY SHED - MORNING

Christopher returns to the shed with a hair dryer and a sleeping blanket and a pillow. He plugs in the hair dryer and uses it to warm the man’s body, before switching it off

MR KRINGLE: Thank you young man

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: The name is Christopher. I’d better bring it back before Mom notices it’s missing. I’ll see you after dinner. I’ll make sure to bring food.

MR KRINGLE: Don’t worry about me. I could survive on milk and cookies alone. 

INT. HADLEY FAMILY KITCHEN - DAY

The family sit down for Christmas dinner.

MELANIE HADLEY: Christopher, you’re only eating half of your dinner. What’s wrong?

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: I guess I’m not very hungry. Can you put it in a doggy bag for me and save it for later?

MELANIE HADLEY: What did you think of your Christmas present Christopher?

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: I think it’s great

MELANIE HADLEY: Every year, for the last three years all you ask for is a lump of wood or play dough. Are you sure you’re happy?

The camera focuses on some of Christopher’s previous efforts at carving and moulding that are imperfect.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Mom, with a hammer and chisel that lump of wood can become anything?

HADRIAN HADLEY: Yeah, and if you’re previous efforts are anything to go by, they’ll be junk.

MELANIE HADLEY: Now Hadrian, It’s great that your brother isn’t as demanding as other kids his age. I think it shows he has a heart.

HADRIAN HADLEY: The heart of a dimwit.

INT. HADLEY FAMILY SHED - DAY

Christopher gives Mr Kringle some food.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY:How is your leg?

MR KRINGLE: It’s been better

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Say Mister, do you have friends or relatives that might be missing you?

MR KRINGLE: None, this far south.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Are you sure you don’t want help? It might get awful cold and lonely in this shed on your own at night.

MR KRINGLE: I have you, don’t I?

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Are you good at stories Mr Kringle? I’ve read all the books I have. I do like a good story.

MR KRINGLE: I’m not the best at telling stories. I used to be a nifty toymaker in my time, but those days are behind me.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Say, how old are you anyway.

MR KRINGLE: About one hundred and sixty-two years old

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: You don’t look a day over fifty

MR KRINGLE: You can work wonders with a little hair dye and some botox

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: The oldest person I know is eighty-two. Why you’re twice her age. You should be in the book of world records. Say, what do you work at anyway?

MR KRINGLE: You could say, I’m in distribution.

INT. HOSPITAL WARD - EVENING

SAM CASTLE: 78, Six feet one inch, grey hair, slightly overweight, suffering from cancer.

SOFIA CASTLE: 38, Five Feet nine inches tall, red shoulder-length hair, light blue eyes, slim build, attractive, well dressed

Sam Castle is lying on his back in hospital. He is ill and is dying. By his bedside is his daughter Sofia

SAM CASTLE: Sofia, do you remember when you were eight years old, I gave you a locket to hang around your neck?

SOFIA CASTLE: Yes Father. I remember. I haven’t warn that locket in years. I don’t even know where it is.

SAM CASTLE: I told you that I wanted you to be the best person that you could be. Do you remember that?

SOFIA CASTLE: Where are you going with this? I’m not eight years old anymore.

SAM CASTLE: I think you can do better Sofia. I know you’re this successful journalist, but your articles are cold and cynical and I’ve read almost all of them.

Mr Castle pauses for a moment.

SAM CASTLE: I think you can stand on your own two feet and I think you can do better. I’ve decided that you’re not getting your share of the inheritance. I’m leaving you with the sports car and the dog, but nothing else.

SOFIA CASTLE: Do you know what the insurance costs on the sports car and do you know what that dog eats? I will fight it?

SAM CASTLE: I don’t want you to. In the wrong hands money is a corrupting force. I know it seems harsh, but I still want you to be the best person that you can be.

SOFIA CASTLE: Spare me the phoney sentiment. Victoria was always your favourite. You always preferred her over me.

SAM CASTLE: I wish you would listen to what I’m saying. It’s nothing to do with favourites. I want what is best for you.

SOFIA CASTLE: Is it Charles? You never liked him? You seemed to always think he was after your money. I deserve an inheritance. I’ve earned it. I will fight tooth and nail to get it. Victoria won’t know what hit her.

SAM CASTLE: It’s not what I want

SOFIA CASTLE: I don’t care what you want.

Sofia picks up her hand bag and leaves.

INT. HADLEY FAMILY SHED - DAY

Christopher enters the shed once more with more food.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Mr Kringle, are you sure we shouldn’t get you to a hospital? I’d be afraid your leg would fall of or something or maybe have to be amputated.

MR KRINGLE: Don’t worry about me young man. I’m made of stern stuff

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: I just don’t know what would happen if you lost your leg. It would be all my fault.

MR KRINGLE: Christopher, I have a story for you.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Go on. What is it?

MR KRINGLE: There once were two brothers. Their Father was very wealthy and had two companies. One company was very successful widget manufacturing business and the other was a less successful pie making business. The younger brother was given the choice of which business he would like to run. He chose the pie making business, because he thought it had great potential. The other brother laughed at his younger sibling because he thought he had made a grave error of judgement. The younger brother dreamt of being successful and being the best in his industry, but he didn’t know what it took to be successful. He didn’t know how to promote the product and how to produce it efficiently and his business lost a lot of money. He eventually was forced to sell. The other brother mocked his younger brother and many of the friends he grew up with because they weren’t as successful as he was, but pretty soon his business started to struggle. There was a lower demand for widgets and he didn’t know how to make his business more competitive and adapt to change

.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: That’s not a good story Mr Kringle

MR KRINGLE: Why not?

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Because it doesn’t have a happy ending

MR KRINGLE: Not all stories have happy endings Christopher.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Tell me another story.

MR KRINGLE: The same two brothers were haunted by their failure but had enough money to get by. The older brother became bitter and turned to drink. The younger brother wanted to turn his life around, but this time he started to dream small and put a lot of work and planning into what he did. His return was modest but he kept going and gradually the business grew into one of the biggest pie making companies in the country. He reached out to his brother, who was too proud to accept his younger brothers help.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: Mr Kringle, that story was an improvement but it still isn’t the happiest of endings.

MR KRINGLE: Do you think, is there a moral to both stories Christopher?

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: I guess the younger brother was more successful because he worked harder.

MR KRINGLE: Cynics aren’t any better than dreamers. They both need to learn, work and adapt in order to be successful. Otherwise they are reliant on luck. You might say it’s pie in the sky.

CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: I still don’t think it’s the best story in the world Mr Kringle. You’ll need to improve on it.