(spoken): Merry Christmas everyone, Merry Christmas! Oh what a glorious day it is...the day before Christmas day, and my friend and I are guaranteed to make this day cheerier as the moments go by. You see, this is no ordinary dog. This is a very, very smart dog. Count to four, show them! (A dog barks four times.) That's right! Count to seven! (Dog barks seven times.) Right on, friend. Yes, yes. Count to two! (Dog barks two times.)See what I mean? Quite good. Count to tree plus four! (Dog barks seven times.)Very good! (Dog whimpers)Whats that? Oh my, they've moved in again! Oh dear, dear. (sung): My dog has fleas, but he's doin' the best he can, 'Cause we're livin' here beside this old pile of garbage cans. My name is Nick. I've been livin' on the street, And it's good to know close-by, I've got my dog and he's got me. Songs, songs for spare change please. My dog is full of fleas! He sure could use a bath, but it's cold outside And at the pet store there's a big warm tub of suds and lots of flea soap. (spoken):' Scuse me, any spare change? Well, Merry Christmas, non the less, Merry Christmas! Ha, Ha, Ha,Ho Ho. (sung): Now I don't know what are we gonna do. We've been here for quite a while. We've got three dollars, ninety two. Well at least pretty soon some good luck will come Coming right around the bend, Our good fortune will be found. Merry Christmas! Ha, Ha,Ho Ho. Merry Christmas!

Well here we are again. One of my most favourite times of the year. Christmas wish list time A time when all, Good little boys and girls Can ask Santa for whatever they want It’s time now once again for my wish list As I choose what I want to be mine Now I know there’s a Santa Claus, I call him daddy I can be sure to get what I want It’s Christmas time! Now what can I choose this year What would be the most coolest thing of all…hmm It’s hard to know what to choose from the catalogue I don’t want it soon obsolete or a bore I’m glad that my dad is rich it makes it easy I can be sure to get what I want It’s Christmas time oh boy I’ve already got a great stereo A giant television with deluxe Nintendo You can name it; I’ve got a lot of toys More than any other boy, I’m sure What do you think? There’s no room with more entertainment than in mine I’ve got it all I’ve got plenty to enrich my enquiring mind I gotta think And speaking of this mind of mine I put it to good use at Christmas time It’s time to write my letter to Santa Claus So my dad can fax it to the North Pole right away He’s going away on business on his jet plane Canadair of course And he won’t be getting back till Boxing Day Well let me see, What would be great for a child of thirteen? A gift I would never tire of At least until my birthday, that’s what dreams are of Here we go Dear Santa, I’ve been thinking What I want from you this year. I want it to be fulfilling Bring me joy through the coming year So if you’d be so kind Can I please have an expense account At the biggest store in town And my own name shining on my very own charge card I can use anytime to get what I want To have a good time Thank you very much Regards to Mrs. Claus and Rudolph And the reindeer, and the elves, Respectfully Johnny. Johnny: There, just the perfect touch to my letter to Santa Claus. John Sr: Son, do you have your letter ready yet? For Santa Claus. I’ll fax it to the North Pole today and Santa can bring your gifts to you by Boxing Day, right. Johnny: All right dad, well here it is. John Sr: Well that’s great son. Now remember we’re celebrating Christmas this year On Boxing Day The day after tomorrow. Johnny: No problem. John Sr: That’s when I’ll be back from this important business trip. Johnny: Right on dad. John Sr: No problems then, I’ll see you on the 26th. Johnny: Right, we’ll party then big time. John Sr: Ah sure, one giant Christmas party. Johnny: Good bye dad. John Sr: Good bye son. Johnny: Good bye. There he goes It’s always why you use some imagination Each year when Santa’s list time comes around. I’m glad that my dad is rich, It makes it easy. I can be sure to get what I want Yes! It’s Christmas time Christmas time, oh boy.

Ho, ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas everyone! Merry Christmas! Ho, ho, ho, ho. Now wouldn’t you have any change to spare? Just leave it with my dog in the can over there. You needn’t wonder needlessly cause the money’s not for me. As you can see my dog has fleas And it would be nice this Christmas Eve If he could get some soap and water So he’ll sparkle on Christmas day. He can do you a trick, he can give you a lick, He can count any number to ten. I will sing you a song, hear him howl along It will guarantee a smile in a minute. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho Merry Christmas! Ho, ho, ho, Nick: Sir, do you have any spare change there? John: Eh well umm, sure of course um, let’s see here umm, Here’s a quarter, well um no ahh, it is Christmas Eve isn’t it Well let’s see we’ll find a dollar here I’m sorry there’s no dollar um ah Let me get my wallet here ah No fives, ah tens or.. Here’s a twenty Here, look I gotta go, my jet’s waiting. Nick: Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas! Boy, that man certainly was in a hurry. Wasn’t it nice of him to give us… Look, a twenty dollar bill! Now you can have your bath. Oh my, what’s this? He’s dropped a piece of paper. Sir! Sir! You’ve…he’s gone He’s gone I’m afraid. Now what is it? Let’s look. Why, it’s a letter! My goodness! It’s a letter to Santa Claus. “Dear Santa, I’ve been thinking. What I want from you this year. I want it to be fulfilling To bring me joy through the coming year So if you’d be so kind Can I please have an expense account With the biggest store in town.” Do you believe this? This young lad wants his own expense account! Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho! His own charge card to get what he wants, To have a good time. “Thank you very much Regards to Mrs. Claus and Rudolph And the reindeer, and the elves, Respectfully Johnny.” There’s an address here at the bottom of the page. Let me see, it says: One Park Avenue, two Park Avenue, three Park Avenue Lane. It must be one big house. What a sad thing for any boy to want. What a sad thing for anyone to want. Well it’s half past two. Now what do you say we go to the pet store and you can have your bath. Get some soap and water and you’ll sparkle on Christmas day. Let’s hurry along now. That way we’ll have plenty of time so you can dry off at the pet store before closing. Merry Christmas! Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas!

Hush little baby Christmas time is here Filled with the warmth I know will last the years That’s what we’ve got for Christmas this year That’s what we’ve got for Christmas this year Hush little baby your mama’s gonna keep you safe The nights may be cold but the sun will soon be here again And if the sun don’t shine, well there’s no harm We just hold each other tight cause we know our love will stay warm And if sometimes you think all in life is not fair Just look for the hope and you’ll know that love will be there That’s what we’ve got for Christmas this year That’s what we’ve got for Christmas this year Hush little baby Christmas time is here Filled with the warmth I know will last the years That’s what we’ve got for Christmas this year Hush little baby Christmas is here Sleep now baby It’s a holy night

Nick: Well’ I’m certainly glad there was time for you to give my good friend here a bath. Tell me, young lady, what do you want for Christmas this year? Girl: Now that’s a good question. Let me see... 1) This morning I walked through a scene from a forest Surrounded by bundled rows of fresh-cut Christmas trees I looked for the one that would fluff out just right And when we hang the popcorn and we plug in the lights We’ll see. Girl: Now just hold still a little and we’ll get this job done. 2) There’s gotta be a rule how to wrap up a present Especially the one where the shape is up and down And so for my parents, I bought them a sheep To give to a family in a Liberia to keep around. Girl: Now close your eyes while I put on the soap and don’t worry, it’s the no tear formula. Bridge) The people walking by, the trace of tears that’s in their eyes: It could be from the cold but maybe there is something more And for the way to make the sadness feeling go away I wonder if they’ll ever find it shopping in another store Girl: Hey, you really like it when I scratch behind this ear? Don’t ya? Yuck, don’t eat the bubbles. Nick: Ho, ho, ho, he likes that. 3) A friend called to say she was feeling awful nervous She couldn’t find the recipe to make the shortbread right I said use flour and butter and with honey to stir And add a touch of baking powder to make the texture light. Girl: Whoa little guy. Don’t try to get out yet. Chorus) What I want the most at Christmas time Is the feeling from inside That I’m grateful for each day that comes With a joy I just can’t hide. Girl: You’re looking pretty happy too, aren’t ya? What do you want for Christmas? I bet you’d be happy with anything. Right? 4) My mother, as a child, says they always got 2 presents: An orange and something home-made in a stocking by the tree She says they were happy with the way that it was The best things for giving are the things that we get for free. Girl: Don’t try to get out yet. Nick: Stay! Girl: We’ll get all wet. Bridge) The shopping lists, the woolen mitts, the festive obligations Can create the feeling that we should be in a rush But if you ask me if it’s really how we want to feel I’d have to answer, “Tell me, is it truly worth the fuss?” Girl: Hold on. We’re almost done. What did you get on this paw? Is that some bubble gum? It’s awfully sticky. Nick: Oh my. Girl: Yuck! 5) Now I know there’s unknown in the future before us And the past is in memories hidden somewhere in our mind But now is the gift we are given to share That’s why it’s called the present and it’s for us with care, to find. Girl: There you go. Now let’s dry you off. Chorus) What I want the most at Christmas time Is the feeling from inside That I’m glad for each new day that comes With a joy I just can’t hide. And I wish for all at Christmas time Just to know the love that’s here It’s the way for all in how we live Every day of every year. Girl: There you go little fella. You’re all done. Nick: Why, thank you very much. Young lady, it is so fine to hear what you want for Christmas. Merry Christmas, ho, ho, hohhh Girl: Merry Christmas Nick! Merry Christmas! And to your good friend too! Good bye.

Ho, ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas my good friend! I’m so glad you got to have your bath. Just think how fine you’ll feel on Christmas day with no fleas. Now what are we going to do About the boy who wrote this letter to Santa Claus Such a sad, sad boy he must be Such a sad, sad boy he must be What’s that? Can you hear that sound there my good friend? It’s Christmas! Merry Christmas! Twelve o’clock sharp. Yes it is. There’s the answer, from the chimneys, can you see it there? And one thing this Nick knows about is chimneys The answer’s there! First thing we’re gonna do Is find a sack. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho And then we’re gonna give a gift to give what Johnny lacks Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas my good friend! We’ll get a gift for Johnny that’ll make him feel what he truly wants For Christmas Day. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas! We’ll see you after a short intermission and in the meantime we’re going to go and find a sack.

Nick: We’re certainly getting this sack filled in a hurry now aren’t we? Always the stray pieces that fall from the train as it comes around the bend here. Well, it can be put to good use you know. There’s many stoves and furnaces in this city that rely on black coal just like this for their heat. But from the chimney of Emily Brown I hardly noticed a puff of smoke coming out. Dear Johnny I got you letter that you wrote to Santa Claus And I wish you joy the whole year through With the sack of coal I leave for you. Yes. A sack of coal young man. I know it might not seem fair But you don’t always get what you want from me. And if it was only you to ask I’d give you anything I could bring But there’s a world out there. And Santa doesn’t make room for extra toys When you’ve got more than you could play with the rest of your life. There’s a world out there. I give you this coal For I find it the perfect gift for you this Christmas. You see a room near is cold. And a mother and her babe have so little coal for their stove today. So you can knock on their door At fifteen twenty three Victrola street Leave the coal that you got for Christmas And be grateful! There’s a world out there. I wish you love your whole life through. Affectionately, your good friend Nick. Merry Christmas! Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. What do you think of our letter? Ho, ho, ho. Now we’ll just leave the sack of coal at the front door of young Johnny’s house And I’m sure when he reads my letter It will make him truly think of what Christmas is about. There’s a world out there. Well friend, I’d say it’s time that we’re off to Johnny’s house. We’ll have this sack of coal at his front door before daylight.

Johnny: My goodness, this sack of coal certainly is heavy. Nick must be one strong guy. Here’s the sign Victrola street. Just like in the letter. There’s the house, the numbers match. And up from the chimney, only the faintest wisp of smoke. Almost there. Well it’s now or never I guess. I hope that Emily doesn’t think that I’m somehow nuts. Here we go now. Emily: Hello? Johnny: Emily Brown? Emily: Why, come on in. Johnny: Thank you m’am. Merry Christmas, this coal is for you. Emily: For me? Johnny: Yes Emily: Why thank you. Johnny: And for your baby of course. Santa left a note that said he thought you could use it. Emily: We sure could. Johnny: Right on! I hope you didn’t mind me ringing on your doorbell so early this morning. Emily: Why not at all. Johnny: Last night Santa came to visit and he left me this sack of coal. Emily: Santa? Johnny: well he calls himself Nick. He somehow got my letter I just thought it went to Daddy. Emily: Well, I would have thought so too. Johnny: I guess there’s more to Christmas than I ever believe was told. Emily: Well that goes for both of us! Johnny: Now what you do with this coal, Santa said your chimney pipe would tell me. It’s cold in here! Emily: It’s not too bad. Johnny: I would assume that means you use it in your stove to keep your place warm. Emily: That’s right, we do! Johnny: I see. I never dreamed that I could ever feel this good. I guess that Santa knows true Christmas spirit comes from giving, sharing, helping, loving and feeling this deepest joy! Now you can understand I wonder how Nick knew your situation. Emily: Well I do wonder Johnny: You can me sure that I’ll be thinking much more differently from this point on. Emily: That goes for both of us! Johnny: And if you ever need a friend you can be sure to count on this Johnny. Emily: That makes me feel real fine! (Ding Dong) Johnny: I think someone’s at your door. Emily: Now who could that be? John Sr.: Hello, I’m looking for my boy. I have this note here … Johnny! Johnny: Merry Christmas, Dad! John Sr.: Merry Christmas, son. I’m so glad I was home from my business early. Johnny, who’s your friend here? Emily: Emily, and this is Sasha. John Sr.: What a lovely child. Johnny: yes she is. They use this coal father to keep warm. Emily: You have a fine son sir. John Sr.: Please call me John. Emily: You have a fine son John. Johnny: I’m sure glad that Santa brought me this sack of coal. There’s such a great big lesson to learn as you grow up to feel whole. I feel so good inside. This sort of feeling I never want to hide. Giving fills your heart more than anything you can get, And if you think that you need lots, There’s lots for you to learn yet. I feel so good father. John Sr.: You do? Johnny: You bet. That sack of coal was a sack of joy. I’m so glad this Christmas that Santa brought me coal. I never knew to give away was to find the true meaning of Christmas day. John Sr.: Merry Christmas! Emily: Merry Christmas! Johnny: Merry Christmas! Nick: Merry Christmas everyone, may all your spirits shine, may we all find kindliness this fine. And may this feeling stay with us throughout our whole lives through. This is what of Christmas time is true. So Merry Christmas everyone, just fill a sack and share and give it to someone who’s cold or who’s hungry, or differently abled. There’s a world out there. Merry Christmas everyone. Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas! Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. Well, that about ends this story of one Christmas in recent memory. Ho, ho, ho. Oh, by the way, young Johnny’s father ended up marrying Emily Brown and little Sasha has the kindest big brother you could imagine. I’m just doing fine thank you and my dog is fine too thank you. Yes, fine indeed. Ho, ho, ho, except, that is… my dog has fleas again. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho. Oh well, we know of a nice pet shop where he can soon have a bath. Time to get out our tin can my good friend. Happy new year everyone. A joyous new year to one and all and to all a good night.