Original subtitles

: Is the Wraith dead?

[Gasps]

I'm a Rolls-Royce enthusiast.

[Chuckles]

You sure you don't want to give me that Wraith?

[Chain clanking] And slowly, slowly, slowly.

Yes, sir. Okay. Stop.

[Dramatic music plays]

Girl: The lights are on!

[Laughter]

[Dramatic music plays]

[Door creaks, closes]

Hicks: Come on. Just one?

I need it to get through this goddamn nightshift.

You know the drill. Tit for tat.

Hell, I'll show you my tat.

If I knew it was gonna be that easy...

Are you gonna do it or not?

I'll do it, I'll do it. Jesus Christ.

You're a freak. You know that?

Serial killers get me hot.

♪♪

You have any idea what that body down there has done?

How many kids Charlie Manx murdered?

And they never found a single body.

I think he ate them.

Oh, make sure you get his hands.

Tools of his trade.

Hands, fine.

But no dick.

Mm.

♪♪

I wish I got you hot like that.

Mm.

Get me Manx...

I'll show you hot.

[Stamps feet]

[Exhales sharply]

[Door creaks]

♪♪

♪♪

[Light buzzes]

Okay, okay, okay.

Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.

Okay.

[Camera shutter clicks]

Shit.

♪♪

[Door creaks]

♪♪

[Door closes]

♪♪

[Cellphone keyboard clacking]

♪♪

[Cellphone swishes]

♪♪

[Sighs]

Charlie: [Wheezing]

♪♪

What the?

♪♪

[Door opens, creaks]

♪♪

[Door creaking]

♪♪

[Door creaks]

♪♪

♪♪

Ugh! [Body thuds]

[Wheezing]

♪♪

[ "Carol of the Bells" playing eerily]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[Wheezing]

[Stapler clicks]

[Stapler clicks]

[Gasps]

[Stapler clicks]

[Stapler clatters]

[Breathes raggedly]

[Cassie, Charlie laugh]

No, I don-- I don't mean physical resemblance, Charles,

but his -- his passionate nature.

His eyes -- that's what it is.

You have his wounded, soulful eyes.

Oh, I have wounded eyes?

[Chuckles] He's an old,

ugly man with bad posture.

[Clicks tongue] What do you think, Charters?

Doesn't my husband remind you of the Nosferatu?

Wait! Wait.

[Clock chimes]

[Hisses, growls] [Laughing]

I, myself, have not seen that moving picture, Miss Cassie.

Uh, beg pardon -- Mrs. Manx.

[Clock chiming]

You will always be my Nosferatu.

Well, the whole picture was silly,

a nasty man creeping around in bedrooms,

giving women love bites. Mm.

[Hisses] [Laughing]

Is my father still up?

He's retired for the night, ma'am.

Why don't you do the same, Charters?

But I'll take a whiskey before you go.

[Footsteps departing, clock ticking]

Oh.

I'll be up in a minute.

[Ticking continues]

Mm.

♪♪

♪♪

[Breathes deeply]

♪♪

♪♪

Penny for your thoughts.

[Sets brush down]

It's going to take more than that.

Boy or girl? Oh, Charles,

there's no telling that. Then why the sad face?

Princess, this is the greatest day in the history of the world.

You're worried what your father will say.

Princess, don't you see? This changes everything.

That's what I'm afraid of.

He's already been so kind, letting us stay here.

But is it quite fair to ask him

to support another man's son or daughter?

This is his grandchild.

That has to count for something.

Mm-hmm.

[Scoffs]

My God, that man resents me.

What are you talking about?

Papa adores you.

When I was his driving for him, as long as I did what he said,

I was acceptable.

And then you and I eloped, and I became very unacceptable.

But now, with a baby on the way, he'll have no choice.

I have done the numbers. This is a foolproof proposition.

If he doesn't leap at the chance,

I'll raise the money myself.

All he has to do is hear me out.

A small initial loan to secure the inventory,

and the Family Manx will be putting up residence

on Easy Street.

[Chuckles]

[Inhales sharply]

You believe in me, don't you?

Of course I do.

I love you.

♪♪

You don't have any doubts, do you, Little One?

Your father is going to take care of everything.

You'll see.

The Charles Manx

premiere fleet of private chauffeured automobiles.

Chauffeur -- that's French for driver.

Good enough for Rod La Rocque and Vilma Bánky.

Oh, we don't have movie stars in Wyoming, Charles.

Well, that doesn't mean you can't ride like one.

Leather seats, a sleek sedan --

the smoothest ride in your life span.

Charlie: [Wheezing]

♪♪

[Telephone ringing]

♪♪

♪♪

[Wheezing]

Bing...

Partridge...

Mr. Manx?

I knew it.

I knew if I put the engine back in, you'd come back,

and here you are!

Where are you, anyway?

Put a child in the Wraith,

and meet me at Sleigh House.

Okay, but that's just it -- I-I-I put the engine back in,

sir, but she won't start.

I-I did everything I can think to do --

Put a child in the Wraith.

It will start, and it will drive you to Sleigh House.

[Stammers] Y-Yes!

Uh, yes, sir, Mr. Manx.

Uh, leave it to me, sir.

[Wheezing]

♪♪

Mrs. Manx said how she'd like to name her Millicent,

after her mother.

With your permission, Father Haber?

Good-looking child.

Good Haber stock.

And born on Christmas Day.

My little sugar plum.

My little Millie.

[Baby fusses]

Oh, okay, okay.

She must be hungry.

Time for mother.

[Footsteps departing]

♪♪

Um, Father Haber, I wonder if you've had a chance

to consider my -- Habers make hard men and soft women.

My business proposal.

The -- The fleet of chauffeured automobiles?

Here's hoping that Millicent is a damn sight smarter

than her mother. It's just, with the child here now,

Cassie and I are very much hoping to set out on our own. [Lighter clicks]

Capital idea, Manx. Long overdue.

It's funny that you should use that word.

Um, it's the initial capital investment

that I need to secure.

If given the opportunity, I-I know that I could do --

Opportunities aren't given, my boy.

They must be taken.

This is what I don't understand about you.

The very qualities that made you an excellent driver --

your obedience, your almost cloying servility --

these are the very things

that make you an insufferable son-in-law.

I tell you, Manx,

there's something off about you.

Father Haber -- What can you do

besides drive a car and... get my daughter pregnant?

You have no people,

none I've heard of, and I've heard of everyone.

The only Manx I know is a breed of cat...that has no tail.

I can't say I care for that.

What is your tale?

I'm...

thinking of my wife and my daughter,

of their futures. If that's true --

and I don't think it is --

then you can put your mind at ease.

Little Millicent will see a considerable inheritance

from her good-for-nothing grandfather

in the form of a trust, held until her 18th birthday.

But, Father Haber --

You can "Father Haber" me till kingdom come.

A fleet of automobiles.

[Grunts]

Man thinks he can live off me like a vampire.

♪♪

♪♪

[Wheezing]

♪♪

[Car alarm chirps]

[Wheezing continues]

♪♪

♪♪

[Walkie-talkie beeps] Yeah, that inbred moron forgot his gun again.

It looks like he shot himself, too.

[Engine starts]

Hicks!

What the actual hell, man?

[Engine revving, tires screeching]

♪♪

[Tires screech, walkie-talkie beeps] Tony, that was not Hicks!

Look, man, we gotta call the state police.

Oh, shit!

[Gunshots, glass breaking]

Ugh!

[Tires screeching]

[Dog barking]

[Birds chirping]

[Knock on door]

[Lawn mower engine whirring]

[Lock clicks]

Uh, hi. Um, Michael Demeter's father sent me to pick him up.

Are you the mother?

She's at work. Mike's downstairs.

[Chuckles]

[Light switch clicks]

Hey.

♪♪

You okay there, buddy?

Yeah.

♪♪

Who did this to you?

Eric.

♪♪

[Grunting, moaning]

♪♪

Which one of you is Eric?

Hi.

[Grunting, moaning continues]

♪♪

Gimme the key.

[Woman moaning pleasurably]

♪♪

[Sighs]

[Dog barking]

You know, it's -- it's okay to cry if you have to.

I used to cry a lot when I was your age.

Wasn't supposed to, but I did it anyway.

Like, in private.

Really? But you're so...

Big?

Yeah.

I used to think I was so big 'cause I had too much sad in me.

But then I realized that a frown is just a smile upside down.

And now I look at everything that way.

You should try it.

[Both laugh]

You know, anyone who'd put a great kid like you

in a doggie cage is definitely on the Naughty List.

That's Eric.

He made me drink my own pee once.

He likes porn and blowing up frogs.

Mike...

do you want me to go in there and kill him?

[Dog barks]

Nope.

I will. I know,

but then you'd go to jail.

So? So who would I talk to?

♪♪

There is a place I know.

It's a special place.

They don't let just anyone in.

But if you get in, everyone has friends,

and no one ever picks on you ever again.

Disneyland?

No, no, this is a real place.

You wanna go?

Will you come, too?

[Scoffs] Uh, yeah. [Chuckles]

Put your belt on.

♪♪

♪♪

[Wheezing]

[Engine shuts off]

♪♪

♪♪

Cassie: Charles, I'm scared.

From the moment I open my eyes till I put my head down,

I'm thinking, "What are we going to do?

Where is our next meal coming from?"

It's not for myself I mind, but Millie is a growing child.

I wish you'd believe in me for once.

Believe in you?

No, I -- I have --

I've believed in you since the day I met you.

Even after Papa died and the money dried up.

But belief doesn't put food on our table

or clothes on our backs.

Everyone is having a difficult time right now,

but, you'll see, prosperity is right around the corner.

Well, un-until you figure out which corner, maybe...

maybe I should find work, as well.

[Water dripping]

And do what?

Open up a kissing booth? What?

You want to put Millie on the game? Is that what's next? Charles!

Yeah, you'd like that, I bet.

Sit back and rake in the dough.

[Dripping continues]

[Sniffles] If you don't come up with something soon,

I will have no choice.

I will take Millie to my sister's. Fine.

Go. What?

You got a better offer?

There's the door.

[Thunder rumbles]

Millie: Where's Mama going?

Oh.

What is my Sugar Plum doing out of bed?

I will have to eat you up!

[Laughs]

[Footsteps depart]

Tuck you in. [Chuckles]

[Sighs]

Why was Mama crying?

Mm.

Don't you fret your little head about that.

Your mama's just worried about grown-up things.

Truth be told,

I don't think she has very much faith in your old man.

Well, I have faith in my old man.

Do you, kiddo?

I always will.

Forever and ever and ever and ever.

[Chuckles]

That is because you are my little Christmas elf.

Eskimo kiss?

[Thunder rumbles]

Butterfly kiss? Ah.

[Both laugh]

I don't think Mother understands us very well, do you?

Now...

...it's time for you to close your eyes

and dream of...

Christmasland. Christmasland.

[Chuckles]

I've been giving it a lot of thought,

and I think the woolly mammoth enclosure

should go under the Sleighcoaster

so you can run your fingers through their fur as you go by.

Well, but...

that's where you're gonna keep the dodo birds.

Well, the dodo birds can stay in the gumdrop palace,

between the flying monkeys and rainbow unicorns.

Oh.

Whatever you say.

♪♪

[Breathes deeply]

♪♪

[Wheezing]

♪♪

[Car door closes]

♪♪

Are you okay, sir?

Do you -- Do you need some help?

Oh, God.

[Wheezing]

[Gasping]

♪♪

[Static]

♪♪

[ "Joy to the World" plays]

Millie!

Father? What's happened? Where are you?

I need you to be very brave.

[Police radio chatter]

♪ The Lord is come ♪ What are you saying?

♪ Let Earth receive ♪

When are you coming home?

I'm not sure...

I'm gonna make it home.

♪ Let heaven and nature sing ♪

But you mustn't worry.

Christmasland is forever.

You'll always be safe inside her gates.

But, Father, you -- you don't understand.

You have to come. The lights went out,

and the White crept up all the way to the Sleighcoaster.

Everyone's scared that if the lights go out again,

the -- the White might swallow us all.

No, that's...

...that's not possible.

Please, Father.

You've been gone for so long.

Everyone's hungry.

Don't you fret, Little One.

[Wheezing]

The lights will never go out again.

One way or another...

[Wheezes]

...I'm on my way.

Where's my dad?

Well -- Well, we'll see him in Christmasland.

The sooner we get going, the sooner it starts snowing.

[Chuckles]

What do you say, little man?

You ready to take a ride?

That's not a real car.

That's an installation.

No.

No, this is a magical car.

It's -- It's -- It's -- It's like Santa's Sleigh.

Y-You're not gonna stand there and tell me

you don't believe in Santa Claus.

[Scoffs]

How's about you get in the backseat?

♪♪

[Wheezing]

♪♪

Man: [Grunts]

[Sighs]

Sorry, man. Heavy load.

[Toilet flushes]

[Lock clicks]

♪♪

[Stall door closes]

[Water running]

♪♪

[Water stops]

♪♪

[Hand dryer whirs]

[Breathes deeply]

Unh! Unh!

[Body thuds]

♪♪

[Grunting]

♪♪

[Sighs]

[Switch clicks]

[Sighs]

♪♪

This car's not magic.

[Scoffs]

You know, patient boys get special toys,

but pushy boys get nothing.

♪♪

[Pounding on door]

Male: State Trooper: Police! Open this door!

[Pounding continues]

Female State Trooper: You're surrounded!

[Pounding continues]

[Hood creaks]

Work, work, you motor jerk.

♪♪

♪♪

[Door creaks, closes]

♪♪

[Engine sputters]

Aaah!

♪♪

Sir? You okay?

[Slams car hood] Ow!

[Engine starts] Oh! Ha!

[Laughs] You see? It is magical!

[Laughs]

Charlie: [Wheezing] [Knock on door]

♪♪

Whoa. I'm sorry, officers.

Is there -- What -- What seems to be the problem?

♪♪

[Indistinct talking]

Yeah, look at that.

Drive safe now, y'hear?

[Indistinct talking]

♪♪

♪♪

[Door creaks]

[Keys jingle]

[Insects chirping]

♪♪

♪♪

[Ornaments clinking]

♪♪

They're beautiful, aren't they?

I think they're creepy.

Well, you may be the first boy I've met

who thinks Christmas is creepy.

We don't celebrate Christmas.

No Christmas?

I've never heard of such a thing.

I was talking about the guy who hung the ornaments.

You know about him?

Lived over there.

Charlie Manx?

He used to murder children.

You mustn't believe everything you hear.

Aren't you a little young to be out here in the woods

all by yourself? I'm old enough.

Where's your mother?

She's the one who told you about Charlie Manx, isn't she?

So? So your mother is a liar.

Do you live around here?

♪♪

Bruce...

No one calls me Bruce.

But it is your name.

I know you, don't I?

I've seen you before...

...in a dream.

♪♪

[Horn honks]

[Gear shifts, engine shuts off]

♪♪

Who is she?

Oh, can't you guess, Sugar Plum?

It's you.

I think she can take us to Christmasland.

[Door opens]

[Door closes]

What on Earth?

It's a genuine 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith in pristine condition.

And a brand-new uniform to go with it.

♪ We're going to Christmasland, we're going to Christmasland ♪ Oh, and before you say anything,

I got her for a song. ♪ We're going to Christmasland ♪

It'll be the flagship of our fleet. ♪ We're going to Christmasland ♪

You'll see -- this is going to turn everything around. ♪ We're going to Christmasland ♪

♪ We're going to Christmasland ♪ How much was it? Millie, stop that!

Well, the dealer let me have it for 2/3 off the official price

on account of someone died in it.

Someone died in it?

Where? Millicent, don't be morbid.

How much?

It was $3,000.

And where did this $3,000 --

What does it matter? I did it.

All this time, it was only fear holding me back, but I did it.

I took the plunge. We are on our way!

Look, you had those ritzy bangles laying around

with no cause to wear them, so I thought, why not use those

as a collateral investment in the business?

You pawned my mother's rings?

That's -- [sniffles] -- That's all I had of her.

It's only temporary, just until I can turn things around.

You take back that monstrosity,

or Millie and I are leaving.

What?

But, Cassie, I can't take it back.

It was a special deal. Hey!

For Pete's sake, be reasonable! Look around you, Charles.

Do you see anyone who can afford a chauffeur?

We can't afford milk.

Our daughter needs a stable home

with regular meals, clean clothes, new shoes,

doctors, dentists...

I can't do it by myself.

I'm through fighting.

Sure.

Run off to Beatrice

and that stuffed shirt of a husband of hers

so you can rub it in my face what a failure I am.

No, Charles, so our daughter can eat.

Why can't you understand? This was for her.

For you.

I did this for our family.

Like everything you've done, Charles Manx,

this is for you and no one else.

[Footsteps depart]

[Door opens, slams shut]

♪♪

[Footsteps approaching]

♪♪

Eskimo kiss?

♪♪

♪♪

[Footsteps approach]

♪♪

She's my daughter, too, Cassie.

Millicent!

[Sighs]

I don't want to go to Aunt Beatrice.

No, don't be silly. You love it there.

Pineapple upside down cake.

I want to go to Christmasland.

There's no such place, dear.

♪♪

Charles: How are you gonna get there?

Cassie: We're taking the bus.

I bought a pair of tickets last week.

Sometimes it pays to plan ahead.

I failed you.

♪♪

Come on.

Let's go. Wait.

I'm a selfish man...

more concerned with my stature and reputation than my...

You're right. I can't even provide a good home.

I can't seem to do anything...

Father, don't. Oh, no, don't cry, Sugar Plum.

♪♪

Let me drive you to your sister's.

Let me do that, at least.

♪♪

Please, Mama?

♪♪

♪♪

[Vehicle approaching]

♪♪

♪♪

Mr. Manx, I'm here. I'm here, Mr. Manx.

Oh, Bing... you came.

Let's get you where you belong, sir.

[Grunts] Here we go.

Come on, we can do it. Come on, Mr. Manx.

Come on. Come on, Mr. Manx.

[Grunts] Mr. Manx.

♪♪

Aah!

Aah! There you go.

[Breathing heavily]

♪♪

♪♪

[Sighs]

♪♪

Hello, Michael Demeter.

♪♪

Are you ready for the ride of your life?

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[Inhales sharply]

Oh. Ow.

[Laughing]

I've waited for this for so long!

First thing I want to do is ride the Ferris Wheel.

Or -- Or gumdrops!

I might want gumdrops before the Ferris Wheel.

Why are we stopping? [Gear shifts]

The agreement was 10 children, Mr. Partridge.

You know that as well as I.

But -- But I saved your life.

You did, indeed, Bing.

Look, I-I did just what you said.

You said to lay low, and I laid low for eight years.

I did nothing to get onto the Naughty List.

Not one mommy, not one slip.

I was nice, Mr. Manx.

You never had any doubts?

[Engine idling]

You did, didn't you?

Maybe once or twice, when I thought you weren't coming back,

but -- but even then, I-I knew you were.

Even when I wasn't sure, deep down, I knew.

Doubt is a disease, Mr. Partridge.

It can lead to madness.

I have no doubts, Mr. Manx.

That is good to hear.

[Wind howling]

Do you see those woods?

♪♪

Take the northward path through them and wait for me there.

You'll know it when you see it.

You can use the walk

to work through any lingering doubts you might have.

I have no doubts, Mr. Manx.

You won't be disappointed.

♪♪

♪♪

Cassie: It's freezing back here, Charles.

Isn't there something you could do?

Wasn't that -- That was the turnoff to my sister's.

[ "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" playing]

That was our turn!

[Engine revving] What are you doing?

For God's sake, you're going to get us all killed!

Finally something we agree on, Cassie.

You're just like my mother.

You think you can do as you please.

Ruin my life, and I'll do nothing?

Did you actually think that I was gonna sit by

and let you take my daughter?

Destroy everything I've worked for?

You selfish bitch! You're all alike. [Coughs]

Hen-pecking harpies and nags and whores!

Nothing's ever good enough for you, is it? Is it?!

Look, Mama, my teeth fell out. [Chuckles]

Charles! Your daughter is hurt!

Stop the car! Who wants to go to Christmasland?!

[Laughing] Oh! I do! I do! [Laughing]

Millie, hold on tight to Mama! No matter what, don't let go!

Oh, don't -- don't be scared, Mama.

[Chuckles] Eskimo kiss?

♪ Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place ♪

♪ And with true love and brotherhood ♪

♪ Each other now embrace ♪

♪ This holy tide of Christmas all other doth deface ♪

♪ Oh, tidings of comfort and joy ♪ [Engine revving]

♪ Comfort and joy ♪

♪ Oh, tidings of comfort and joy ♪

♪♪

[Wind howling]

[Breathing heavily]

Millie: Father, look!

[Chuckles]

Oh.

My beautiful child... No.

No, Father! There!

[ "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" plays]

It's just like you promised.

♪♪

♪♪

[Car door closes]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[Horn honks "Jingle Bells"]

Oh.

Oh, my children...

Father?

[Chuckles]

[Laughs]

Sugar Plum...

I promised you I would return, and I have.

And I've brought you a new friend...

[Car door opens] ...to keep you company.

Michael, this is my daughter, Millie.

Are you staying this time?

Don't you have anything to say to Michael?

You don't want to hurt his feelings.

Very pleased to meet you, Michael.

I hope you'll be my friend.

Father, are you staying?

Children, I've been gone far too long,

so I've brought you this special treat!

♪♪

Suppertime.

[Children growling]

♪♪

Sugar Plum...

aren't you hungry?

You promised me you'd stay. Uh-uh.

I promised you I would never let the lights go out again.

And I intend to keep that promise.

But we mustn't be selfish.

Think of all the children who need saving.

Now more than ever.

You understand that.

You're a big girl now.

I will be back...

just as soon as I can.

[Children growling]

[Car door opens, closes]

♪♪

♪♪

This is the one, isn't it, Mr. Manx?

I knew it when I saw it, just like you said.

We must save him, Bing Partridge.

Don't you agree? Ah, yeah.

Yeah, he needs saving more than all of them.

Funny... he looks just like his mom.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪