Original subtitles

[opening theme music playing]

[Christmas music playing]

[man] Time to go, Samuel.

Samuel, it's time to go.

It's getting late, and your grandfather's waiting.

I wish it was tomorrow morning.

It's awful waiting till Christmas morning

to open your presents.

If that's your most awful experience,

you'll have a pretty easy life.

Didn't you hate to wait when you were a kid?

No. That's part of the excitement,

wondering what you're gonna get.

I hope I get everything on my list.

Knowing your grandfather, I'm sure you will.

I got a feeling that kid's Christmas list

is longer than the Oakland phone book.

[laughing] It is.

He's our assignment?

He's part of it.

I hope the other people in this assignment need some real help.

I got a feeling that kid's got it made.

He does.

Then why is he part of the assignment?

-Oh, Mark. -Never mind, never mind.

You're going to give me that "mysterious ways" line again.

Look. See that guy right there?

Now, that guy looks like he could use some help.

That's the kind of assignment we should have on Christmas eve.

He is.

-He's part of the assignment? -Sure.

How about that for intuition?

[dog whining]

Merry Christmas.

Oh, that's cute, Jonathan.

She did that on her own.

She's part of the assignment, too.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

Anybody else?

Everybody.

Do you realize how many people live in this city?

I don't mean this city.

Thank you-know-who.

I don't mind working on Christmas Eve, you know, up to a point.

I mean the world.

Oh, well...

So much for watching Miracle on 34th Street tonight.

Hi, Agatha.

Oh, good evening, Master Samuel.

[Samuel] Hi, Mom.

What took you so long? It's about time, young man.

I had to pick out grandfather's present.

Three hours to pick out shaving lotion?

How did you know it's shaving lotion?

You pick it out every year.

-Oh, well, he likes it. -I know.

[Mom] Uh-uh.

Don't shake the packages.

Christmas is tomorrow.

Can I open just one tonight?

No.

It's not fair. You guys get to open all your stuff tonight.

Mm, you are breaking my heart.

You poor, mistreated boy.

Go wash up.

OK, where's Dad and Grandfather?

He's in the study but they're in a very important meeting.

Can I go in for just one minute?

I need to ask Grandpa an important question.

No you don't, because I have already answered it.

You are not opening anything tonight.

How come mothers always know everything?

Just a God-given gift, I suppose.

-Now go wash up. -Okay.

The Senator feels it's going to take a slick advertising campaign

to get this to appeal to the people.

You know the feeling of the public since the Chernobyl fiasco.

I know.

But I think my son has this pretty well under control.

Some aspects of the plan are obvious.

A nuclear power plant is needed in the state

for us to attract any kind of large industry.

As far as the public fears are concerned,

I think we need to play up the technical superiority of the United States

versus the Russians.

We could make it a pride issue.

That's good.

And we include a plan to use the increased revenue

to secure more wetlands and state parks.

If one or two environmentalist groups were behind us,

it would make a difference.

That's easier said than done.

Nobody said it would be easy.

Listen, the world isn't going to stand still.

If we don't do it, somebody else will.

We'll be left behind.

Go to work, Bob.

Yes, sir. I'll be in Washington on the 2nd.

Have a nice Christmas.

I will, and I'll be talking to you soon.

I'll look forward to it.

-Have a nice trip. -Thank you.

-A little bourbon? -Yes, thanks.

[glasses clinking]

My son, this project is going to put HNNC through the roof.

-We haven't got it yet, Dad. -Oh, yes we do.

The timing's right. The project's right.

We're going to turn this state around, you and I.

For the better, I hope.

Of course for the better.

I wish you could convince Barbara of that.

Maybe I can.

Look, you and I know this plan is the state of the arts.

It has more backup systems and safety controls

than you could shake a stick at.

Technical stuff's not her bailiwick.

Let's give her something concrete.

-Like what? -The summer place.

What about it?

She likes it there, always has.

It's my Christmas gift to her.

Dad...

You'll own it anyway someday, right?

And I like for her to have it now.

It's 60 miles from the plant site.

Now, does she think I would give her that

if I had any worries about the plant?

I mean, my grandson's going to be there, for God's sakes.

Dad, you don't have to do that--

I'm doing it because I want to,

not because I have to.

Now I got to make some calls before turkey time.

OK.

-Can I... -Yes, yes, you can tell her

She'll be thrilled.

She always wanted to redecorate the place, anyway.

Thanks, Dad.

[doorbell chimes]

-May I help you? -Aggie?

Do I know you?

Well, not really. I know about you through your son.

Peter?

I do business in London occasionally. We met there.

In a pub, no doubt.

No. His pub days are over, Aggie. He's turned his life around.

I'll believe that when I hear it from his own lips.

You will, tonight. He promised me he'd call ya on Christmas Eve.

Ha!

You know the last time I heard from him?

Nine years.

I won't be waiting by the phone.

He will call, Aggie.

I pray you're right, Mr., Uh...?

Smith.

Jonathan Smith. This is Mark Gordon.

We're here to see Ronald.

Is he expecting you?

No, but it won't take long,

and it's very important.

Oh, I'm sorry, but the master wouldn't...

mind at all, I'm sure.

Go right in.

Thank you, Aggie.

I know that, Senator. I sure appreciate it.

You bet. And the same to you and yours.

Don't forget our bet on the rose bowl game.

We'll see about that.

OK, I'll talk to you next week.

Bye, now.

Who are you two?

My name is Jonathan Smith and this is Mark Gordon.

We're sorry to barge in on you like this.

How did you get in here?

Agatha let us in.

Well, she can let you just out right now.

Listen.

I don't like strangers coming into my house, especially on Christmas eve.

I understand how you feel, and I won't take up much f your time,

but it's important.

It concerns your grandson.

-Samuel? -That's right.

Your company's the leading contractor

for the proposed nuclear plant at Galant.

What does this got to do with my grandson?

Everything. His future, his health, the health of his children.

All right. All right.

What group are you guys with?

The human race.

Oh, please, spare me, please.

We have a nuclear regulatory commission in this country.

Take your complaints up with them.

Come on, the NRC isn't going to listen to me.

And neither am I!

Can you guarantee

this won't turn into another Three Mile Island?

We're going to bring that up again?

It's been blown way out of proportion.

Blown out of proportion?

Everyone involved, the NRC, the entire nuclear industry

spent a fortune convincing us that

what happened at Three Mile Island wouldn't harm anybody.

Yet, when they went to court,

they said that the people who were dying of cancer were at fault,

because they should've known all the time that radiation was dangerous.

Look, let's put an end to this.

This plant is fail-safe. I guarantee it.

The Russian government

guaranteed Chernobyl wouldn't have a meltdown for 10,000 years.

Are you comparing their technology with ours?

They're light years away from us.

We guaranteed there'd be thousands of accident-free launchings of the space shuttle

before any disasters. It took twenty.

I've heard enough.

Time to go.

You come back here again, I'll call the police.

Come on!

Out!

I almost forgot.

Merry Christmas.

Aggie...

What? Oh, Mr. Smith.

We're leaving now.

Leaving? I don't remember letting you in.

[telephone rings]

Better get that, Aggie. It could be for you.

[telephone ringing]

Hays residence.

This is she.

Peter! My boy!

Well, you made Aggie happy.

Sure struck out with Hays.

What was that present you gave him?

A look at the future he guaranteed.

[Mr. Hays] "No one spoke.

For they were all thinking about their adventure.

They heard Sharon's mother call them to dinner.

And as they marched up to eat, they smiled at one another.

They had shared a great dream.

And it would always remind them

of how much dreams can help to bring people together."

All right. That's it for tonight.

Oh, Grandpa. Just one more chapter.

I've read three already.

Now come on. Put your head on the pillow,

and go to sleep.

You have a big day tomorrow.

Lie next to me for a while.

Samuel.

Please? I like when you do that.

All right, only for a little while.

-Grandpa? -Mm-hmm?

Is that big blue box under the tree from you?

Mm-hmm.

Boy, I wonder what's in it!

You'll know in the morning.

It couldn't be the car with the real motor that we saw.

You wouldn't give me that.

Goodnight, Samuel.

Goodnight, Grandpa.

-Grandpa? -No more questions, Samuel.

I wasn't going to ask a question.

I wanted to say I love you.

I love you too, Samuel.

"Merry Christmas, Grandpa.

2018."

Where are we, anyway?

Ronald Hays' future.

Hmm...

You know what?

I feel different.

You should feel different. You're 30 years older.

I'm what?

You're 30 years older. This is the year 2018.

You're kidding?

Ohh...

Look at that--look! My hair's all white.

You're 80 years old. Something's got to change.

Yeah, guess so.

Say, you mean I'm really going to live this long?

That's right.

Maybe now you'll thank me for getting you to quit smoking.

Hey, that's right.

Well, what are we doing standing here?

Waiting for him.

Excuse me. I don't know where I'm...

You...

I know you.

You're the one who came to my house.

That's right.

What's going on? Where am I?

In your future.

Thirty years from the time we spoke.

That's ridiculous.

Is it?

Barbara, why don't you take a break in my office?

Come on.

Yes, that's Barbara, your daughter-in-law.

This is crazy.

Why is she crying?

What's happening?

Why don't you go in the room

and find out for yourself?

Who's in there?

Your grandson Samuel.

Is there something wrong? Is he ill?

No. He's not ill.

Come on.

That's...that's Samuel?

That's right.

[Hays] And the little boy?

[Jonathan] Ron Hays II.

Your great-grandson.

Dear god.

The plant you built had an accident.

Several hundred thousand gallons of radioactive water

went down Piper Creek.

Your son Gordon and little Ron

were swimming that day.

They spent all their summers at the lodge.

Little Ron really loved his grandfather.

What are you saying? Where is my son?

I want to see him! I want to talk to my son!

He died of cancer a year ago.

Daddy, where's Mommy?

[Samuel] She'll be back soon.

You look tired, Daddy.

Rest your head for a little while.

Daddy, I love you.

I love you, too, son.

This is the future you guaranteed.

Samuel.

Samuel.

Samuel.

Samuel!

Oh! Oh, Samuel.

It's my fault.

Grandpa, what's wrong?

I had a dream-- a bad dream. It scared me.

I've had them, too.

They're just dreams, though.

They can't really happen, can they, grandpa?

No. Not if you don't let them, son.

[voice breaking] Not if you don't let them.

[snoring]

[moaning]

Must have dozed off there for a minute.

Boy, I was dreaming--

Oh.

Whew! It was a dream.

No. It was a nightmare--

One that might come true.

Where are we, anyway?

Out in farm country.

Ha ha! Oh, yeah? That's great!

You smell that air? Love that.

I remember that when I was a kid.

Now, this is the kind of place to grow up in.

Ah, it used to be.

What do you mean it used to be?

You'll see.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Hey, don't worry about it.

It's only two. That's a new record.

Hand me that dustpan.

I'll get it.

Why don't you put Bon to bed? It's getting late.

Not yet. It's early, and I'm not tired.

Maybe you're not, but we are.

You'll be up before the sun.

No, I won't. I promise.

Don't make promises you can't keep.

Can't I see the lights first?

OK, then it's off to bed.

Oh!

It's beautiful.

It's the most beautiful tree we ever had.

I think so, too.

I picked it out, remember?

How could I forget?

Give your mom a kiss.

-Oh, please. -Now.

-Goodnight, Mom. -Goodnight, my beauty.

Here we go.

Now...Right off to sleep.

You've got a big day tomorrow.

It's going to be hard to sleep.

I'm too excited.

Well, just close your eyes

and let visions of sugarplums dance in your head.

I don't even know what a sugarplum looks like.

Oh. Well, then, count sheep.

That always works.

Now give me a kiss.

I love you.

I love you, too.

I'll get her presents.

You need any help?

No, I got it. You'd better make coffee.

I've got that doll house to put together.

I'm sure it's got a thousand pieces.

Coffee coming up.

Hey, Ruth?

Yeah. What?

Were you in the chemical storage room tonight?

No. Why?

The light's on.

I'm not the only one who forgets to turn off lights.

I'll be right back.

[wind blowing]

[door creaking]

[whistling]

[Jonathan] Good evening, Tom.

What--

Who are you?

My name's Jonathan. This is Mark.

I don't know what you want--

Hey, it's all right.

Don't be afraid. I just want to talk to you.

How did you get in here?

That's not important. What I have to say is.

Why didn't you come on up to my house?

Because it's these chemicals I wanted to talk about.

You've got quite an assortment here--

Pesticides, nitrates, you name it.

You use a lot of these chemicals?

I use what I need to use. What's this all about?

Maybe you use too much.

[scoffs]

I don't need anyone telling me how to farm.

I produce more per acre than any man in this valley.

At your family's expense.

What are you talking about?

The buildup of deadly chemicals

in your soil and your water.

When's the last time you had your well water analyzed?

I don't know, a couple of years.

It was in acceptable limits.

You tested for all these chemicals?

Most.

Hell, I don't know.

Look, it's Christmas eve.

I'd like you to get out of here.

Look, I understand how you feel.

I'll only take another minute.

Tom, it's got to stop.

The indiscriminate use of chemicals has to stop.

You're respected around here. You could help.

Look, it isn't just me. It's everybody.

People want cheap food.

You realize what would happen if you stopped using this,

food costs would jump 30%-- maybe more.

Let's say you're right about that. What about the other costs?

Somebody has to clean up this mess,

otherwise there won't be any water left to drink.

And what about the other costs--

hospital bills, insurance premiums?

I'm not doing anything illegal.

I'm following federal farm policy.

Federal farm policy wasn't designed to maintain

the soil's fertility or the water's purity.

It was designed for one thing--

to produce an abundant supply of food.

And who gets rich?

Chemical companies and commodity traders.

You get the government to do something.

Then I'll do something.

If you don't get out, I'll call the police.

You're wasting your time, Jonathan.

Here, Tom.

What's this?

A present. Have a merry Christmas.

[door creaking shut]

"Merry Christmas, Grandpa"?

That guy's really wacky.

I don't have a grandchild.

[wind blowing]

What the hell is going on here?

Ruth?

Ruth!

Bonnie?

Who are you?

What are you doing in my house?

Where's my wife and my daughter?

[Jonathan] She can't hear you.

She can't see you, either.

You two.

What is this?

Where's my wife and my daughter?

Your wife died five years ago, soon after you did.

Soon aft--

Oh, I'm having a dream.

Does it feel like a dream?

I'm...

I'm dead?

Yeah.

You were only 52.

My daughter...Bonnie?

That's...

That's my Bonnie?

That's Bonnie.

[child] Mom!

Mom!

Bonnie.

Here, Tommy.

More, Mom. I'm so thirsty.

There's no more, son.

More, Mom.

Thirsty.

I'll get more, son.

I'll get more.

What's she doing? The boy's thirsty.

[glass crashing]

[liquid bubbling]

Oh, god.

[Jonathan] Pretty horrible, isn't it?

There was a buildup of chemicals

in the ground water-- no way to stop it.

There was a cry of emergency.

They banned the use of all chemicals.

By then, it was too late.

Where's she going?

Her son's water-- your grandson--

She's going to try to get him some.

[wind howling]

Half-gallon. $50.

Well, can't you fill it, please?

You said 50 bucks worth.

Next!

A gallon.

$100.

Please. My wife--

Let's see the money, old man, 100 bucks!

I...I don't have it.

100 bucks.

I...I've got this watch.

What do I want with that?

Anybody here care what time it is?

[laughing]

Come back when you have money, old man.

But my wife needs water now.

Move on!

Next!

A gallon.

100 bucks. Let's have it.

Fill the old man's bottle first.

Fill it!

Bless you.

Bless you.

Bless you.

Now mine.

[gunshot]

Bonnie!

Bonnie?

[Ruth] Tom!

Tom!

Yeah?

What are you doing?

I'm coming!

What were you doing out there?

I was, uh...

I don't know,

thinking.

Have you ever...

had a...dream

without being asleep?

You mean like daydreaming?

Yeah, I guess so, but it was...

It was what?

Nothing.

Whole thing was ridiculous.

The coffee's on the stove.

Thanks, hon.

I had this silly...

nightmare...

Or whatever, about you and Bonnie...

and my grandson.

Your grandson?

You're kind of rushing Bonnie along, aren't you?

Yeah, it was the craziest--

Tom? Tom, what's wrong?

It's getting late, Jonathan.

What are we doing here?

We got an appointment with the president.

We've got an appointment with the president

1:00 Christmas morning?

I know you're an angel,

but how did you get him to say yes to this?

To be honest, I didn't.

He doesn't know about it yet.

Oh, no, I got the feeling

I'm going to be getting older again.

[sounds from television]

[sounds of gunfire and explosions]

Mr. President?

Mr. President!

What?

I'm sorry I had to awaken you.

What the hell's going on here?

Oh, don't bother.

I'm on every channel--

Even more than when you make a speech.

Someone on my staff must like practical jokes.

It's not a joke, Mr. President.

Don't try to get up. You won't be able to.

Who are you? What's going on?

Let's just say I'm an alien from outer space,

like the one in the movie you were watching,

but you don't have to worry,

I'm only here to talk to you.

Talk to me about what?

About earth, about this planet,

about its destruction.

What if I told you that a force more powerful than you can imagine

was coming to destroy the earth? What would you do?

Ridiculous.

Well, maybe, but it's ridiculous

that you can't get out of that chair, yet it's happening.

What would you do?

Well, I'd notify Congress, and--

Then?

Well, I'd call together all the world leaders.

Both friends and enemies?

Of course, you're talking about the destruction of the world.

We'd have to come together to fight it.

It's already here.

What's already here?

The force that's destroying the earth.

It's been here for some time,

growing stronger every day.

Are--are you sure about this?

Oh, very sure.

Dear god, where did they come from?

From here.

From earth.

We are the force that's destroying the earth.

We're polluting our rivers and oceans,

turning them into seas of poison.

We're destroying our ozone layer.

We're creating millions of tons of deadly nuclear waste

with no notion how to dispose of it.

Our rain forests are disappearing

at the rate of 50,000 acres a day.

Our oxygen supply lowers every minute.

Hey, look, whoever you are,

I want you to know that I've discussed these things.

Why, I've formed committees--

Who will do nothing if it interferes with growth,

with money, and greed.

-No, that's not true. -Oh, yes, it is.

This destructive force can only be stopped

when all the world's leaders, all the world's people,

make it their number one priority.

We're not going to destroy each other.

We're not going to be destroyed from outer space.

Don't you see? We are going to destroy ourselves.

What is it you expect me to do?

Let the world know that it's time to put away their petty hates

and to join together for the common good of all men.

We're on this earth for such a short time.

We're only the caretakers for the next generation,

and the next, and the next.

And if we don't heal this planet, Mr. President...

Someday there will be no next generation for any of us.

Wait.

Wait.

Wait!

Wait!

-George. -Wait!

-George! -Wait!

Wake up.

Wake up.

What?

Oh, what a dream you were having.

Any louder, we would've had

a room full of secret service.

I'm sorry. It was so real.

There was a man here

telling me about the destruction of the world.

Well, we all have nightmares about atomic war.

But it wasn't war.

It was about pollution--

The water, the air.

That's what you get

for reading ecology reports before bedtime.

From now on, only read how well the economy's doing.

You'll sleep like a log. Come on to bed.

I've--I've never had a dream like that in all my life.

Put it out of your mind.

You're going to need all your strength tomorrow.

You're going to have a White House full of grandchildren

in the morning.

He said if we didn't do something now...

there would be no generations to come.

I guarantee you, with all your grandchildren,

there'll be generations to come.

Now, go to sleep.

Good night.

[sighing]

What? What in--

[humming Silent Night]

It's him... The man in my dreams.

Who are these children?

These are the great-grandchildren you would have had.

These would have been your great- great-grandchildren.

And those are the great-great- great-grandchildren

you would have had.

Merry Christmas,

great-great-great- grandfather.

You said, "would have been."

What did you mean?

The world died, Mr. President.

You did nothing to stop it.

They were never born.

It's not in my hands to stop it.

It's in the hands of all men...

All of us.

♪ The first Noel ♪

♪ The angel did say ♪

♪ Was to certain Poor shepherds ♪

♪ In fields as they lay ♪

♪ In fields Where they lay... ♪

Quite a night.

Yeah. Yeah, it was.

Think it'll do any good?

I don't know.

Like anybody else on this earth who really cares,

you got to try.

Come on, let's watch Miracle on 34th Street.

Sferastudios