Original subtitles

Oh, Miss Krause, the kitchen looks lovely. Thank you, sir. I just hung up

mistletoe. Well, let me be the first.

Don't worry.

Your secret's safe with me.

Come on, Benson, you're next.

Step on those mistletoe.

Ralph, I'd sooner step in front of holiday traffic.

I'm waiting, Benson.

You're the governor. Give me a reprieve.

Come on, Benson, it's Christmas time.

Well, maybe later, after I've had my coffee.

Benson, you are not leaving this kitchen until you give Miss Krause a kiss.

That's right, Benson. What are you, some kind of scrooge?

Okay, hold it.

Batten down the hatches.

Come here, wench.

Now, let that be a lesson to you.

Benson, I won't be able to make that conservation meeting this afternoon.

Okay. The president called me last night, and he wants to see me in

this morning. Uh -huh.

But I'll be flying in Christmas Eve.

Oh, sir, I'm glad I caught you. It just occurred to me you really ought to take

the president a Christmas gift.

Oh, I don't think so, Clayton.

Now, sir, an appropriate gift at Christmas time can provide dividends in

fiscal year to come.

Sounds like a holiday greeting from E .F. Hutton.

All right, Clayton. I'll pick up something at the airport gift shop.

Oh, sir.

Your limousine is out front. Thank you, Miss Grouse.

Sir, about the gift... Clayton, don't worry.

I'll get something appropriate.

Bye. See you on Christmas Eve.

Bye -bye.

Why is it that no one understands the importance of a business gift?

Oh, Clayton, this isn't what Christmas is all about. It's peace on earth,

goodwill to men, sharing with those you love, remembering your family.

Yeah, my mother used to cook a caramel swirl coffee cake.

That smell still means Christmas to me. I haven't tasted anything like that in

years.

Oh, good morning, Gretchen. Mary, you haven't met everyone. This is Mary

our new assistant cook. Mary, this is Benson.

How do you do? And this is Clayton. Pleased to meet you.

Oh, I'm sorry I'm late. But I baked a little treat for coffee today.

A caramel swirl coffee cake.

What? We were just talking about that.

Well, then, now, that's Christmas.

Enjoy it. Thank you very much, Mary.

Well, get a knife. Let's divvy this thing up.

Okay. No, no, no, none of that for me. The fat content in that pastry goes

to the heart.

And you have nothing to worry about.

Oh, look at this.

I made one when I was five years old. I gave it to Daddy for Christmas.

Oh, that's cute. A little mushroom.

You have it upside down. It's a candle.

I don't know what I'm going to get Daddy for Christmas.

What'd you get Pete?

A muffler. Oh, is it wool?

No, it's anodized aluminum.

It's for his car.

Vincent, do you have any idea what my Daddy would like for Christmas?

I don't know.

What'd you get him last year? A Pac -Man t -shirt.

Maybe he'd like a matching tie.

I'll take these into the living room. Oh, thank you.

Denise, I'm going to have that conservation meeting this afternoon, so

calls and no casual visitors, okay? Okay, no problem. But I won't be here

lunchtime, though. I'm going shopping for your present.

Well, you don't have to give me anything.

Oh, I want to.

Well, don't spend too much money. Don't worry.

A couple of hundred dollars should do it.

Hey, did you leave a message for me? Oh, yeah. I thought maybe you'd like to

help me take these boxes of ornaments down to the living room. Oh, sure.

You can consider it an early Christmas present.

Pete.

Well, I don't know what to get you.

What'd you get me?

Oh, it would spoil the surprise if I told you. Okay, you don't have to tell

what it is.

Just tell me how much you spent.

What difference does that make?

Well, I don't want to embarrass you by spending more on you than you did on me.

Oh, Pete, that wouldn't embarrass me.

That would amaze me.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. It sounds like you're implying I'm cheap.

Denise? Denise, I'm gonna need... Oh, darn it. We can hide in here.

What's going on here?

Look out!

Where'd you come from? Later!

I know your kids are around here somewhere.

Okay, where are they?

Who are you? I'll ask the questions, Mac.

Not in my office, Mac.

Well, my name is E .G. Slade. I'm with the county welfare office. Now, I'll

repeat my question. Did two kids come in here? That's not the same question.

Look. Mister, I'm a poor slob trying to do a day's work.

Give me a break. And your work involves chasing children up and down the halls

of the governor's mansion?

Oh, Mr.

Slade. Okay, Mary, where are they?

You mean my children.

They don't belong to you, Mary.

Mary, would you mind telling me what's going on here?

It's very simple. I have two wonderful children, and Mr. Slade here doesn't

think I should keep them. I have a court order right here.

Stop making a big fuss, Mr. Slade. The children are fine.

I get paid to make a fuss.

Mr. Slade, this court order is for Jefferson County. That's because the

used to live in Jefferson County.

Yeah, but this is Lawrence County.

Okay. If you want to get picky.

I got a court order from Lawrence County.

And I'll be back. You can count on it. And I intend to write a report of this

entire incident.

Okay, you can call it what I did on my Christmas vacation.

children, you can come out now.

I want you to meet your knight in shining armor, Mr. Dubois.

Benson, this is Vin, and this is Margaret. Hey. Hi. We owe you one. Hey,

wash your car and we'll be even, okay?

No, you don't have to do anything for me.

Uh, Mary, uh, these are not your natural kids, are they?

Oh, well, no, but I've known Margaret since she was a baby.

She and her mother used to live next door.

And when her mother died, she came to live with me.

That was nine years ago. Where are you from, Vin? Vietnam.

His older brother, Kuo, brought him in during the airlift.

And he asked me to look after Vin for a while.

Kuo went back to look for their sister.

That was two years ago.

And he's coming back.

And you've never legally adopted them? Oh, I tried. I tried with Margaret. But

some people just can't see past color. So I never even told them about Vin.

Looks like you're going to have to hire a lawyer.

We don't need a lawyer.

We're blessed in having you.

Yeah, I'm just a plain old ordinary, everyday, rank -and -file, run -of -the

-mill budget director.

I'm not talking about your job. I'm talking about you. There's something

about you.

That's why the children came to you.

No, no, no. They were just trying to get away from that guy.

Benson, everything in this world happens for a reason.

That's what my mother used to say.

I know.

If you want to talk to us, we'll be in the coach quarters. Come on, kids.

Don't worry.

If Mom says you can do it, you can do it.

Yeah.

Good morning. The snow is really coming down out there. Oh, how did your meeting

go with the adoption people?

Well, not very well.

They were having their office party.

Well, so you didn't have any luck?

Well, not really.

I mean, I won the door prize, you know.

Two tickets to see Annie performed on ice skates.

So, what did you find out? Are they going to let Mary adopt the kids or not?

Well, they'll let her apply to adopt, but she can't do anything unless the

are in custody.

Hi, Benson.

How was the meeting?

Mary, I tried, but there doesn't seem to be an easy answer.

Well, there never is.

But you'll come up with something.

Well, we should stop saying that. I'm not coming up with anything.

Oh, you will.

You won't let him take my children away.

That's right, Mary.

Benson will stop him. Krause, I'm not a lawyer, and the adoption laws are very,

very complex.

Yeah, well, maybe he'll find a loophole.

Oh, a loophole. Say, that's a good idea.

So is a miracle a very good idea, but this ain't 34th Street, and I'm not Kris

Kringle.

Quick,

lock the doors.

Close the shutters. Turn out the lights. Cross, that's not going to stop him.

Well, what am I supposed to do? Greet him at the door with open arms?

Well, that might stop him.

I know none of you are glad to see me, so let's just get this over with. Mary,

have a court order from Lawrence County to take the children into custody.

Let me see it.

Do you know something, Slade?

I'm usually pretty easygoing, but you tick me off.

Now, now, please.

Mr. Slade is just doing his job.

Yeah, well, everything seems to be in order here. Oh, I'm not surprised. Mr.

Slade is one of the best.

Don't let him do it, Benson.

Slade, it's two days before Christmas.

Yeah, so?

Well, Christmas is the time for families.

And those kids are the only family Mary has.

Why don't we postpone this until after the holidays are over?

Well, that's a nice sentiment, but I can't do it. Now, where are the kids?

They ran away.

When? Today.

Across the international date line.

Is he gone?

You kids!

Get in here.

Now, stop that. You're not prisoners.

You're wards of the court. Benson, do something.

I can't do anything.

Now, here's some Christmas cookies for you to take with you. You promised we'd

stay together.

Oh, everything's going to be all right. Don't let him take us, Mom.

Oh, darling, now you children just keep smiling. Come on, let's get the show on

the road.

Goodbye. Have a Merry Christmas.

Bye -bye.

I'll walk you to the car. Come on.

Benson, it is going to be okay, isn't it?

Denise, you having any luck with those calls?

No, I am not having any luck. I called the head of every department on this

list. Really makes me mad. Just when you need the government, they all pack up

and go home for the holidays.

Yeah, what makes me mad is they come back.

Uh,

Benson, excuse me. Have you got a moment?

Sure, Clayton. Well, keep trying, Denise. Yeah. Whatever happened to

responsibility, dedication, caring?

What's with her?

Well, we're not having any luck getting those kids back.

Well, neither am I. I just got off the phone with Boothby Boothby and Zwicky.

And?

Zwicky.

No, I heard that, Clayton. What'd they say?

Well, you wouldn't take my word for it, so I went to the experts in the field of

child custody, and they agreed with me.

Mary is up to proverbial creek, et cetera, et cetera.

That's a... Governor, we've got a problem.

I know.

I already filled them in. Any ideas?

Not a one.

You? Nope.

But I have a question.

Yeah? What on earth are you wearing?

Oh, that's my Christmas present from President.

Ah, sir, did you get him something?

Oh, yes, Clayton. I got him a belt buckle with our state motto on it. You

him a belt buckle that says, if it's not broke, don't fix it?

Sounds a lot better in Latin.

Let's get back to the problem. Now, what are we going to do about marrying those

kids? Well, I'm afraid in the last day and a half, we've exhausted every

possibility. Sir, there are no legal options.

Well, there must be some way to get marrying those children back together

We can't let those kids wake up Christmas morning in some institution.

Where no one knows them.

Where they think nobody cares.

It's going to be pretty lonely.

I can see their little faces pressed up against the frosted windows.

Yeah. Dreaming of a Christmas tree and the family.

Yeah. But they'll be stuck in some cold, grey government building with a scrawny

little tree and a tinny recording of Jingle Bells playing in the background.

Mm. Mm. Mm.

Jingle bells.

Jingle all the way.

Oh, I...

That's when I tried everything.

I'll come back later.

Hold it, Denise.

All right, that's it.

I'm the governor of this state.

Maybe I can't clear up their legal problems, but I can certainly have them

guests in my house on Christmas Eve. Call my limo.

I'm going to pick up those kids' parsons.

I'm going to go out and I'm going to get every single one of those kids a

Christmas card.

I'm going to make sure those little types have a Christmas they'll never

By golly, I love Christmas.

Just when you're about fed up with Clayton, he pulls something like this.

I disagree, Commissioner. I think they're very much a family. I'm

in you, sir. I'm upset and I'm angry.

Merry Christmas.

That ought to fix it.

Now, let's see here.

Oh, you look wonderful.

The children are going to be so thrilled.

It was sweet of you to invite the other youngsters from the orphanage.

Come in.

Oh, hello, Benson.

Well, Santa, I think they're about ready for you. Oh, okay.

Oh, I don't have my... Oh, they're upstairs.

Mary, can I speak to you for a minute? Oh, isn't this the most wonderful

Christmas Eve?

Yes, it is. But, you know, the day after tomorrow, Vin and Margaret are going to

have to go back to state custody.

Vincent, you worry too much.

You don't worry at all.

No, there's nothing to worry about.

Everything's going to turn out for the best.

Why do you refuse to understand?

Nothing can be done. The law is very clear. You're going to lose those

No, I won't.

The law is not on your side.

Benson, don't you believe there's something greater than the law?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I believe. But right now, what I believe isn't important.

Well, as long as he knows you believe, there's nothing to worry about.

So I'm going to the party.

What is wrong with that woman? She thinks the answer's going to fall right

of the sky.

like this only happen when you're alone?

Oh, isn't it a beautiful tree?

Yeah, I wish we had something to put on the top.

What happened to the Chinese star we had last year?

We're missing a whole box of ornaments.

Oh!

Well, that's true.

Did you both bring presents?

Uh, yep.

Then who cares?

Uh, Governor.

There's no Governor here, just Santa Claus.

And his helper.

Well, Santa and his helper, can I see you for a moment? Oh, yeah.

Oh, Mary, there's plenty of Christmas candy in my sock for all the boys and

girls.

Yeah, I think I found something. Clayton, read that. What is it?

What is it, Bronson?

It's a law which allows you as the governor to designate any facility you

fit as an orphanage. That's exactly what it says. Where did you find this?

Well, let's just say it fell into my hands.

Well, that's wonderful. How does it help us?

Well, sir, as I read this law, you could designate the cook's quarters as an

orphanage. Oh, right. And then put the kids in Mary's care.

Very good, Santa.

Mary. Mary. Miss Krause.

Benson has brought us the best Christmas present of all. Mary and the kids can

stay together.

Come on, everybody. Let's sing Christmas carols.

Do you know Joy to the World?

Sure.

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.

Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day.

To save us all from Satan's power we are gonna stray.

and enjoy.

Merry Christmas, Mary.

Oh, holy night The stars are brightly

shining It is the night of the dear

saint

the soul.

of Bentham would like to take this opportunity to wish you all season's

greetings.

I'd like to wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season. And to all

Jewish friends, happy Hanukkah.

Here's hoping that the spirit of Christmas lasts you all year round.

My wish for everyone is that the new year brings peace on earth.

May your holiday season be filled with love and happiness.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Krauss would say,

but from Inga, an American, Merry Christmas.

I hope the new year brings you good health and good fortune.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.