INT. HADLEY FAMILY HOME - EVENING
The Hadley Family are seated around the kitchen table.
DUNCAN HADLEY: Boys, the reason why I called a family meeting is because I’ve lost my job. Unfortunately, this means that I will have to find another one by the turn of the year or we’ll have to live with Melanie’s parents if they’ll let us.
HADRIAN HADLEY:Does this mean that the school trip to France next year, isn’t going to happen?
DUNCAN HADLEY: Well, Hadrian there’s no easy way to say this....
HADRIAN HADLEY: It’s all Christopher’s fault. If he wasn’t as foolish and blind to that hobo, you wouldn’t have stood up to your boss and .....
MELANIE HADLEY: It’s not Christopher’s fault.
HADRIAN HADLEY: Isn’t it time that you grew up and stopped believing in Santa Claus?
DUNCAN HADLEY: Hadrian..
HADRIAN HADLEY: It’s not fair. Why should I suffer just because he believes in some fantasy? Why can’t you tell him the truth? That guy who calls himself Kringle is a fake. Anyone can see it but him.
Hadrian leaves the room
CHRISTOPHER HADLEY: I’m sorry Father
Christopher slowly leaves the room
DUNCAN HADLEY: Honey, did I do the wrong thing?
MELANIE HADLEY: Duncan, If you did anything different, I wouldn’t love you as much as I do. Besides, living with my parents isn’t as bad as it seems.
DUNCAN HADLEY: Oh yeah?
MELANIE HADLEY: I know my Dad was always hard on you, but he’s seventy-one now, he’s probably grown up by now to know better.
DUNCAN HADLEY: He didn’t like me because I didn’t love baseball. When we stayed with them before we got married, your mother kept matching my socks with your socks. She’s completely colourblind.
MELANIE HADLEY: Honey, don’t you think you’re big enough to match your own socks by now?
INT. FACTORY FLOOR AT HARDECKERS - NOON
Mr Hardecker inspects the assembly line.
MR HARDECKER:Miller, I told you I want more widgets. Faster and better.
Miller speaks in a robotic voice
MILLER: But sir, the assembly line cannot keep up. As it is, I expect the line to malfunction in a few days.
MR HARDECKER: My family are in business for decades Miller. We don’t make mistakes. We make widgets. Increase the speed. I know what I’m doing. Turn it up to 95.
MILLER: But sir, by my calculations if we increase the speed to 95, our assembly line will fall apart by the time the day is out.
MR HARDECKER: I thought I programmed you to never question my orders. This is an order.
MILLER: My manufacturer also programmed me to always give accurate advice. When the two conflict..
MR HARDECKER: I’ve heard enough. Increase the speed and no more insolence.
INT. BURGOMART FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON
MR KRINGLE REACHES THE TOP OF THE QUEUE AT A LOCAL FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. HIS CLOTHES ARE WORN AND UNCLEAN AND HIS HAIR IS GREYER.
MR KRINGLE: Good afternoon Sitar, can I have a quarterpounder, and a strawberry milkshake
SITAR: Nobody calls me Sitar. Do you want cheese with that?
CUT TO:
SITAR HANDS MR KRINGLE HIS FOOD BUT LEANS TOWARD HIM AND SPEAKS IN A LOW VOICE.
SITAR: Don’t give me your phoney act you fraud. I can see right through you.
MR KRINGLE: No, Sitar, you can’t see at all.
INT. BURGOMART FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON
Mr Kringle is seated at a table by himself, eating his meal when Sofia Castle approaches.
SOFIA CASTLE: Not quite milk and cookies is it?
MR KRINGLE: Sophia. Please sit down
SOFIA CASTLE: You can cut the façade. I know you hate me.
MR KRINGLE: Why would i hate you?
SOFIA CASTLE: Because of the article I wrote.
MR KRINGLE: A man in my position can’t afford to buy a newspaper every day. I’m sure it’s no different to any other article written about me.
SOFIA CASTLE: Why don’t you come clean and tell me who you are? It would save everyone some trouble.
MR KRINGLE : How is your sister?
SOFIA CASTLE: I never mentioned my sister before. What are you talking about?
MR KRINGLE: Life’s too short to fall out over money Sofia. You still can become the daughter your Father wanted you to be.
SOFIA CASTLE: Don’t you turn the tables on me. I’m only looking for a fair share.
MR KRINGLE: It will only leave you bitter and resentful. Leave it go.
SOFIA CASTLE: There’s a reason at work, why they call me the ice queen. I’m not going to change because a fraud like you wants me to. Just who are you really? An ex con? An immigrant? What’s your story?
MR KRINGLE: I’ve told you my story. You just weren’t listening.
INT. FACTORY FLOOR AT HARDECKERS - AFTERNOON
The assembly line starts to creak and alarm bells go off.
Miller turns it off and Mr Hardecker comes down from his office.
MR HARDECKER: What happened Miller?
MILLER: Like I said, Mr Hardecker, the assembly line crashed due to the pressure.
MR HARDECKER: And I suppose you think that this is my fault.
MILLER: I am not programmed to apportion blame Mr Hardecker.
MR HARDECKER: Well I am. Employee 425 has been slacking off. It must be her fault. Statistically she does less work than the other employees. See to it that she is fired.
MILLER: But sir, she did not contribute to the crash. By my calculations..
MR HARDECKER: Didn’t you learn anything about tact, Miller
MILLER: Tact does not compute.
MR HARDECKER: Well you have heard of the phrase that the boss is always right, haven’t you?
MILLER: I’m sorry sir, but I am told to override that instruction when my employer is incorrect.
MR HARDECKER: Is that so? Well I’m going to have to meet your maker. Now fix this mess. I’ve been nearly thirty years in this business and this is the first case of insubordination I have encountered. If I have to tear you apart and put you back together again myself I will. Now get to work.
INT. HADLEY FAMILY (PARENTS BEDROOM) - NIGHT
DUNCAN HADLEY: Honey I was kind of thinking that we could skip Christmas presents this year, between me and you in view of finances.
MELANIE HADLEY: Seriously Duncan? It’s the one day of the year when I feel special. Don’t I work hard enough to keep this family ticking over? Don’t you think I deserve a little happiness?
DUNCAN HADLEY: Yes honey. You deserve the moon and the stars but...
MELANIE HADLEY: Why is there a but? Don’t all women deserve to feel special? Especially your wife.
DUNCAN HADLEY: Well you seemed to be impressed with that cook book I got you last year
MELANIE HADLEY: Don’t you know anything about women? Nothing says you can’t cook more than buying your wife a cookbook. Is my cooking really that bad?
DUNCAN HADLEY: Don’t worry honey this year will be great. I promise you.
INT. HARDECKER RESIDENCE - EVENING
Joselyn Hardecker: 9 years old, shoulder length fair hair, hazel eyes, four feet two inches tall, slim, slender frame
Roland Hardecker: 7 years old, brown hair shortly cut, four feet tall, slim
Roland, Joselyn and Mr Hardecker are seated at the kitchen table
MR HARDECKER: Now kids I am sitting you down at the table because I want to talk about something important.
ROLAND HARDECKER: What is it dad?
MR HARDECKER: You may have seen on the news or heard in school that there is a man claiming to be Santa Claus. Its important that you know that there is no such man as Santa Claus and if ever you come across a man in a red or green suit stay clear.
JOSELYN HARDECKER: Where do the presents come from?
MR HARDECKER: From Mom and Dad’s hardwork
ROLAND HARDECKER: Do you and mom stay up all night making toys?
MR HARDECKER: Well er.. That’s not important. What is important is that you guys don’t believe in magic and dreams. You get what you earn in life through hard work, discipline and efficiency.
ROLAND HARDECKER: When I grow up I want to be an airline pilot
MR HARDECKER: Now son, you can’t become an airline pilot.
ROLAND HARDECKER: Why not? Do you know son, how many people get to become airline pilots? You’re dreaming son. Dreams aren’t allowed in this house. We’ve got to stamp them out. Now if you wanted to become a widget maker like your Dad, that would be realistic see.
JOSELYN HARDECKER: I want to be an actress.
INT. BURGOMART FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON
Mr Kringle once again is being served by Sitar.
SITAR: How is life on the street? Is the real Mr Kringle coming out today?
MR KRINGLE: Maybe it’s time that I conformed to your expectations. Personally, I hope the boy who dived into a river to save a complete stranger is not lost forever.
Mr Kringle turns and walks away with his tray of food
CUT TO:
INT. BURGOMART FAST FOOD RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON
Mr Kringle is seated at a table in Burgomart and is just starting to eat his meal when an attractive woman in her late thirties sits down beside him.
LYNN DOWDALL: 32, Attractive, Five Feet Eight Inches tall, short dark hair, blue eyes, wearing heavy makeup, short skirt, black tights and a pink tank top.
LYNN DOWDALL: Well, if it isn’t Santa himself. The hero in the green suit. My name is Lynn
MR KRINGLE: I know who you are
LYNN DOWDALL: I’m sorry what those evil men did to you, making you out to be an imposter, saying bad things about you.....
MR KRINGLE: I never figured you for..
LYNN DOWDALL: What? A bleeding heart? Doesn’t every woman have a heart underneath it all?
She reaches out and touches Mr Kringle’s hand.
MR KRINGLE: I’m an old man Lynn.
LYNN DOWDALL: Nobody is too old. Don’t you see that we’re both outsiders you and me. We’re not that dissimilar. I can tell that you are one of the good guys and that counts for a lot in my book.
MR KRINGLE: There are plenty of other, younger men out there for you if you just turned the corner and got your life back.
LYNN DOWDALL: I like my life. It’s no walk in the park but I get by. I have a cat. I have friends. I’ve made the most of what I have. I don’t need a preacher to tell me otherwise. What are you afraid of? Who is the real Mr Kringle
MR KRINGLE: I’m just an Alabama born boy who wanted to make good.
LYNN DOWDALL: You think your perfect so?
MR KRINGLE: I want you to be the best person you can be. I just don’t think your heart is in the right place
LYNN DOWDALL: Oh spare me the conceited speech.
Lynn stands up and walks away,
Mr Kringle is finishing his meal. Sitar approaches him, standing over him.
SITAR: How did you know that I saved a strangers life.
MR KRINGLE: It is my business to know these things.
Sitar walks away
INT. JEWELLERY STORE - AFTERNOON
Duncan Hadley approaches a jewellery kiosk and addresses a shop worker
DUNCAN HADLEY: Excuse me. That slender necklace doesn’t seem to have a price tag. How much does it cost.
SHOP WORKER: About two thousand
DUNCAN HADLEY: Would that be cents or dollars
SHOP WORKER: Dollars sir
DUNCAN HADLEY: And what about those earrings there. How much do they cost?
SHOP WORKER: About twelve hundred
DUNCAN HADLEY: You know, I think my wife looks better with only one in. If I got only one, would that be six hundred? That’s about my price range. It’s kind of my ceiling. I probably couldn’t afford six hundred dollars but it’s for my wife and you know.. It might keep her happy for a whole year.
SHOP WORKER: Yes sir I understand, but we are not a charity shop. We are a reputable jeweller.
INT. LOCAL TV NEWSROOM - EVENING
KELLY FAY: Returning to the story that keeps on giving. It turns out that the man who calls himself Santa Claus is just a dirty old man. Here is a picture of Santa and Lynn Dowdall, a lady of the night holding hands in a fast food restaurant. Here’s what Lynn had to say.
LYNN DOWDALL: I didn’t realise that this man was pretending to be Santa Claus. He was one of the vilest men I’ve ever come across. In the end, he didn’t even pay me. He just hit me a few times. A total fraud if you ask me.
KELLY FAY: And now a clip from the man who has campaigned from the very start as a purveyor of truth and honesty, Mr Hardecker.
MR HARDECKER: Well Kelly this man has got to be stopped. He portrays himself as something of a saint who can do no wrong but he is far removed from that. He represents everything that is wrong about society. He preys on the young and fills them with unrealistic notions and fantasies. He is a fraud who must be exposed. People have to realise that Santa Claus is a myth and anyone claiming to be the real deal is a liar and only interested in money and whiskey. He is immoral and dangerous. People are advised to steer clear of him.
KELLY FAY: Well thank you Mr Hardecker and Miss Dowdall. There you have it. What will this dirty old man do next?