Original subtitles

[music playing]

[christmas music]

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): All day I couldn't

push myself out on the street.

I told myself, hey Basinger, it's just a job.

You take these things too personally.

But 15 years I've been doing this Christmas piece,

each year with enthusiasm.

Jeb Basinger, bearing witness to.

I mean, it's out there every day.

The human tragedy, the squalor.

The tawdry existence of all those lonely souls

we turn our backs on--

the drunks, the failures.

The neglect is just more exquisite on Christmas--

a holiday for storekeepers and for those who've got.

Anyway, it's 6:30 and the daylight's going,

and I've got nothing.

Christmas Eve, everybody goes home early.

BILLY: Evening, Mr. Basinger.

How's the column coming?

Struggling, Billy.

Did you eat?

Do you think that's why I got this headache?

Hey, Mr. Basinger, I don't move

unless I get my three squares.

Bet you ain't had nothing all day, right?

Hey, do yourself a favor Mr. Basinger,

give yourself a break.

Oh, good old Billy.

Hey, Mr. Basinger, don't forget your coat.

It's real raw out there.

Famous guy like you should treat himself better.

Thank you, Billy.

You don't eat, you don't last.

And what would this paper be without Basinger's New York?

Yeah, the voice of the people.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Basinger.

How's the, uh, column look, Mr. Basinger?

I haven't finished it yet, Joey.

Oh, yeah?

Going out to do some quick shopping?

Nobody to shop for.

Sorry to hear about you and the missus, Mr. Basinger.

Yeah, well, they carried me home once too often, Charles.

Hey, Mr. Basinger, you better sneak out the back.

Your crazies are waiting for you.

What else is new?

Hey, you give them publicity.

Everybody else runs from them like a plague.

You write them up.

They're famous.

I ought to take my picture off the column.

[police sirens wailing]

Good evening, Jed.

Do we know each other?

We do now.

I'm Jonathan Smith.

John Smith, unusual.

I'm Mark Gordon.

Mark, huh?

Hello, Mark.

He is unusual.

How so?

You see Jed, I am an angel.

You too?

[laughs] That's nice.

Taxi!

Well, you impressed him.

Oh, that's cute, real cute.

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): It seemed

a small miracle,, Christmas Eve to get a cab like that.

But, I didn't think much about it at the time.

You get a cab in New York, you don't expect a thing.

Listen, yes.

Think, impossible.

I told the cabby to take me to Ed's Coffee Shop on East 56th.

It was the last thing I got to say for about 15 minutes.

Anyway, you think he'd call.

I mean, wouldn't you?

Uh-huh.

Who?

The kid.

Seven months.

You know, they got these milk containers.

Who has?

In the stores.

With these kids pictures on them.

The missing kids.

Oh, yeah.

Well, I think that's a pretty good idea.

Yeah.

But they're all little kids.

I mean, at least the ones I've seen.

My kid's 15.

Your kid?

15, you're still a kid.

These days 15-year-olds are pretty grown up.

That's what the cops said.

God, what'd your kid do?

Nothing.

Never done nothing.

Cops don't give a damn.

They're all business.

Take his name, your number.

They'll call you if something turns up.

Yeah, well I mean, there are so many of those missing kids

today.

It's the times.

Wife never leaves the house.

Months now.

In case they should call.

You should see her.

It's getting old.

Seven months, like 10 years.

He could be anywhere--

Chicago, California even.

Could be dead.

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): What made me say that?

He didn't need to hear that.

What the hell's the matter with me?

Oh, hey, uh, I'm, uh, I'm sorry.

No, you're right.

No, I'm not.

I'm not right, I'm not right.

Hey, look.

Hey, I'm, uh, I just, I had a bad day.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

Here we go, $8.30.

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): I stuck my hand

in my wallet, grabbed a bill.

It was a $20.

I shoved it in his hand, jumped out of the cab,

and started walking.

Hey, Barney!

Barney!

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): Why didn't I tell him I'd put

the boy's name in the column?

I could have--

I could have put a picture of the kid in.

Instead of me.

ED: Hey, how are you Mr. Basinger?

Hey, Ed.

Listen, thanks for that mention in the column.

You're welcome.

What will it be?

What's good?

I recommend the corned beef.

All right, on rye, and a creme soda.

No, make it a beer.

No, make it a cream soda, and a pickle.

Let's go to hell with ourselves.

I hope you don't mean that.

Hey.

Small world, huh?

Uh-huh.

What'd do you, fly?

Don't answer that.

ED: You sitting there Mr. Basinger?

Oh, yeah, yeah sure.

Well, how'd you know I'd come here?

There are only about 50,000 places I could have gone.

He is an angel, Mr. Basinger.

[laughs] Oh, of course he is.

Here's your soda, Mr. Basinger.

Thanks.

Hey, see this guy here?

He's an angel.

Like I said, Mr. Basinger, any friend of yours

is a friend of mine.

What will you have, fellas?

Tell you what.

Why don't you bring some sandwiches

and coffee to the guys outside?

Tell them it was your idea.

Hey, if it was my idea I don't need your money.

An act of charity.

But then, you are an angel.

Why, it's not possible?

Let's say it's not probable.

Miracles are never probable.

Miracles, guys, please.

I'm not buying it.

Mr. Basinger, that's why we're.

Here I mean, that's why he's here.

Because I don't believe in miracles?

No, no.

No, it's because you lost hope, Jeb.

Have I?

Haven't you?

What's your Christmas column going

to be about this year, Jeb?

I'm just telling it the way it is.

Jeb Basinger is telling them what it's like in New

York on Christmas Eve.

Yeah, something like that.

Oh, what is it like in New York this Christmas, Jeb?

Christmas in New York is great if you've got the money.

Otherwise--

Well, what about kindness?

Kindness?

Hey guys, give me a break.

Don't you think there are any kind people out there, Jeb?

There are bums lying in the street out there.

In New York, people step over them.

They don't even stop.

You mean, no one stops?

Yeah.

You-- you do it once.

You try to help once.

You know what happens?

The bum's belligerent.

He's freezing to death.

He opens his eyes, and he's abusive.

Grateful?

Forget about it.

They expect handouts.

They think it's their due.

That's what everybody in New York is at arm's length.

Thanks, Ed.

Oh, what a Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you, Bert.

And God bless you, my friend.

God bless you.

All right, all right, all right.

Let me show you New York.

You're an angel, right?

Fine, I'll put you in the column.

I'll call it, "The Education of an Angel."

Kindness, huh?

Goodwill towards men, mm-hmm.

[christmas music]

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): A man in a Salvation Army

uniform pierced the icy cold with the purity of his playing,

and his intent.

His cheeks were beet red, and the wind

must have been going right through the thin fabric of

his jacket, freezing his ribs.

But, he never shivered.

You couldn't help but be touched.

Getting colder.

We'll never get a cab.

[horn honking]

Hey, how are you doing, Max?

Do we know each other?

Ah, we've met.

How are Joan and the kids?

Hey, they're swell. Thanks.

Oh good, glad to hear it.

Hey, they're what counts.

They sure are.

I'll tell you, it's a tough night to get a cab.

You need a cab?

No problem.

Thank you, Max.

And Merry Christmas to you.

And to you.

[whistle blowing]

Hey, you two!

Come on, let's go!

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): A cop in New

York getting a civilian a cab?

When was the last time you saw that?

The shelter of St. Marks in the Bowery.

You got it.

Barney?

Mr. Basinger.

Small world.

Hey, Barney I, uh, I tried to stop you before.

I wanted to get your kid's name, you

know, and put it in my column just in case he might see it.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, that'd be great.

Thanks.

Yeah, it's all right.

Barney's boy has been missing seven months now.

Barney, this man here is an angel.

Yeah?

I've never had an angel in my cab before.

Don't be so sure.

Tell me about your boy, Barney.

Well, he was always a good boy growing up.

I mean, marks were up, didn't have any trouble

at school or nothing.

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): Well, Barney began

telling Jonathan his woes.

But we weren't the only story taking shape that night.

Not by a long shot.

In a hotel room on Park Avenue, Senator Morton Bourne

and his wife Clary were getting ready to go out

to eat a Christmas dinner courtesy of our mayor.

How do I look?

Lovely as ever.

Just see that nobody steals your jewels.

This is New York.

You don't have to remind me.

You know how I feel about New York City.

Yes, I know how you feel about New York City.

Just don't let the mayor know how

you feel about New York City.

He could be sensitive.

What's a nice man like him doing in a town like this?

He lives here.

As long as you're going to live here,

you might as well be mayor.

I don't want to go to this party!

It's a little Christmas dinner.

For 500 politically motivated people.

Of which I am one.

I love you, my Darling, but my heart is not in this evening.

You have no heart, my dear, so your remark is redundancy.

My life is a bore.

Christmas is one of my few pleasures.

And Christmas means home, and our children,

and my mother, and midnight mass.

You are a bore.

And this Christmas you will spend it with the mayor

of New York, and your husband.

And you just have to forego mass,

and hope God isn't looking for you.

[laughs] Funny, funny.

I'm a little girl from a little town.

I was brought up on the Christmas story.

I believe in it, and I hate you for making me go to this party.

Noted.

[beeping]

We're late.

How do I look?

Handsome as ever.

I just want to tell him that I love him.

You know, if he'd just call.

Trying to put it out of my mind but, as the man says,

maybe he's dead.

He's not.

Then where is he?

I don't know.

But I know he's all right.

I believe you.

I don't know why I believe you, but maybe I want to.

I believe you.

Next block on the right, Barney.

I'll wait for you.

Not the best place to get a cab.

Thank you, Barney.

[music playing]

This is Christmas in New York.

The city's great unwashed, as someone once said.

These people walk the rim of the abyss, a huge black hole

with no bottom where all the unknown,

the unwanted, all the sinking flotsam

and jetsam of our society fall.

Hey, Mr. Newspaper writer.

Hey, how are you, Ollie?

I waited for you at your office and you didn't show.

What, did you get thrown out of your house?

This place is full up.

What are you going to do?

Well, I'm next.

When you're next in line for something,

you never can tell what's going to happen.

Uh, well, a guy could--

could die here in the middle of night,

you know, or maybe, I get the DTs, maybe.

And then they take them to the hospital, and I get his bed.

[laughs] Hey, Mr. Newspaper man, you need a bed?

You could take my spot.

No, kiddo, I got a spot.

Don't lose yours.

You're next.

Hey, you want me to play you a tune?

Hey, this wall's got a great, great sound.

Great tone.

That's tone, you know?

And that tone.

[fancy music]

Does my smile look real?

Phony as a $3 bill.

Good, I'll blend right in.

You're gorgeous.

Mm-hmm, if your taste runs to elephants.

Let's eat.

Let's go easy, will you?

You'll outweigh Brazil.

Senator.

Hello, mayor.

Good to see you.

And Mrs. Bourne, you look lovely this evening.

Yes, don't I?

You've got about 80 people out there on the street.

Tell me about it.

We had to turn away about 500.

How many beds you have?

About 110.

Look, I'll do my best to feed them.

But I got no place for them.

Mr. Basinger, you can't give us a rap on this one.

We're trying, the city is trying.

We just can't keep up.

I got a guy sleeping on my cot back there.

I had to turn away a guy and his wife tonight, she's pregnant.

I mean, she's due.

No bums mind you, he's a carpenter, can't get a job.

Joseph somebody or other and--

are you ready for this--

Mary.

You turned away Joseph and Mary?

I hope they left their donkey outside when they came in.

[laughs] This is a story, gentlemen.

This-- this you write about--

Joseph and Mary abroad on Christmas Eve.

Hey, hey!

Come on, we got to go find them.

Where to now?

Not sure, Barney.

We're looking for Joseph and Mary, with child.

Yeah.

Joseph and Mary?

That's right, and we're the three wise men.

Three wise men, and an angel.

He's not an angel, Barney.

Are you really sure?

Are you an angel, Jonathan?

Tell me the truth.

Yes, I'm really an angel, Barney.

I believe him.

Christmas Eve, night of miracles--

I believe him.

So we got an angel, and we're looking for Joseph and Mary.

Where do you think they'd go?

Where would you look, Barney?

Me?

I'd look up.

Yeah, see, there it is.

See that star, that bright one.

Barney, this is ridiculous.

You got a better idea?

That's uptown.

I'd look uptown.

That's North.

The Christmas star is in the East.

That was then.

Come on, hop in the cab.

What have we got to lose?

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): So we headed uptown following a star.

If you can believe that.

While somewhere in the city, a guy

named Joseph and his pregnant wife

Mary were trying to get in out of the cold.

[horn honking]

We only have $3 left, Now, I want you to go inside Mary.

Not without you.

I'll be all right.

You got to get in out of this cold.

I don't want to be without you.

All right.

Look, I'll, I'll beg some money and I'll meet you inside.

No, Joseph.

I want to be with you.

I'm afraid.

All right.

All right, come on.

Tickets, please.

We only have enough for one ticket.

My-- my wife is pregnant.

There a problem?

Yes, are you the manager?

Yes, I'm the manager.

Well sir, my wife here is pregnant,

and she needs to sit down for a while.

And we don't have enough for two tickets.

We can only buy one, but we won't go inside.

We just want to sit in the lobby.

You need a place, go to a mission.

Well, we tried that but they're all full.

That's not my problem.

Couldn't we stay just for a little while, please?

No way.

Word gets around, this lobby will be full of bums.

I am not a bum!

- Joseph. - I have--

Let's just go, please.

This world is full of weirdos.

Listen, you give me two cups of coffee

and a couple candy bars.

For those two?

Yeah, they look hungry.

What harm would it have done letting them sit for a while?

You don't know how lucky you are sometimes.

You're telling me.

I've been crying the blues because my stereo

got ripped off.

You two, here.

It's not much, but here.

Thank you.

Don't thank me.

If I managed this place you'd be inside now.

Good luck.

Here.

Here, it's hot.

Joseph, we have to find a place.

I have to sit down.

We will.

We will.

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): And while Mary and Joseph searched

the streets for a room at the inn, the three wise men,

and the so-called angel continue their search

for Mary and Joseph.

[fancy music]

Nobody has to starve in the city.

They're not doing it out of choice.

It's a matter of education.

People don't starve for lack of education,

they starve for lack of food.

Clary, there's plenty of food.

Yes, and there's plenty of housing.

But you have to have money to get into any of it.

There are shelters all over this city.

Ah.

And hospitals.

You live in another world, Mort, my friend.

There are desperately ill people out there

who are barred from them, who die on their doorsteps.

Do you know how many people will not

see the sun tomorrow morning, who might

have with federal funding?

No, do you?

No, because there are no figures.

How do you collect figures on people who live in doorways,

on subways, who-- who wait at the back door of restaurants

for their garbage like flies.

Gentlemen, mayor, would you mind going to a neutral corner?

We'd love to continue this conversation,

but my water broke.

Oh, do you need a napkin?

Hardly.

I need a doctor.

Shall we go, darling?

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): Meanwhile, the star

following contingent had been crisscrossing this city

working its way northward, letting the cabby call

the shots in the dark and getting nowhere, which is,

naturally, what I had expected.

I haven't seen them.

I must be crazy.

I got a column to write.

Where is the celestial one?

He's in there, in the church.

Talking to his boss, no doubt.

Here he comes.

Well, what's the word from on high?

Baby hasn't been born yet.

Ah, he told you that, huh?

Yes he did.

He's an angel.

And mom and dad--

where are they?

We'll find them.

We will.

Well we have Joseph and Mary, three

men following a star, an Angel, and now the Lord himself.

We have all the characters.

All we need now is a bed of straw surrounded by animals.

You're right.

Come on, let's go. - Where?

Go where?

Just get in the cab.

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): Basinger, you can't write this.

CAROLERS: (SINGING) The first noel, the angel

did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as the lay.

In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,

on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel.

Born is the King of Israel.

Well, Barney where are they?

I was hoping.

Ah, yes.

Faith, hope, and charity--

three words bordering on extinction.

Have you come in search of Mary and Joseph?

Yeah.

Praise the Lord.

They are there.

He's pointing at statues.

Are you guys crazy, too?

Mr. Basinger, they're here!

[christmas music]

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): The minute

we left the park the traffic closed in on us, like it always

does when you're in a hurry.

[groaning]

Come on, come on.

Drive, will you?

I'm doing my best.

Thank you all so much.

She looks pale.

I'm all right.

Sure you are.

[horns honking]

Great, just great!

[horns honking]

Would you look at that?

Just what we needed.

[horns honking]

Well, Mr. Angel, if you happen to have

a spare miracle right about now the lady could use it.

Hey, where are you going?

Hey, Bart, you remember me?

Oh, you bet.

Glad to see you again.

Listen, I got a woman in that cab who's having a baby.

Do you think you can get that bus out of the way?

You bet.

Come on guys.

Come on.

I've got Senator Bourne in the car,

and his wife's about to have a baby.

Hey, you, get in the bus and steer.

What the heck are you doing?

What are you standing there for?

Get in the bus and steer.

Keep pushing.

[interposing voices]

Keep pushing.

[horns honking]

Told you, Barney, he's an angel.

You'll be all right, dear.

That poor mayor.

Do you need a napkin?

[laughter]

[siren blaring]

Look a, a bunch of bums are moving the bus.

Hold on, dear.

How does it look?

The radiator's gone and the wheel's bent.

Officer!

Officer, we need your help.

I'm Senator Bourne, and my car has just been hit by that bus.

My wife is about to give birth, we

need to get to Mercy Hospital.

Hey, it's a small world, Senator.

How you doing, Max?

Hey, what are you doing here?

Same thing as the Senator, trying to get a pregnant woman

to the Hospital.

Senator, why don't you get your wife?

We got a cab right over there.

Thank you, thank you.

I'll lead the way.

Thank you, Max.

Merry Christmas.

Hey, Bart!

Yeah?

Do me a favor, will you?

Can you block traffic for me?

Our pleasure, and Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas and God bless you, Bart.

OK, come on.

Let's block this traffic.

Get up there!

[christmas music]

That's it.

I don't believe it.

Another pregnant woman.

And a Merry Christmas to you, too.

[christmas music]

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): With my angel's

policemen pal leading the way, the trip to the hospital

was a breeze.

But gaining admittance was another story.

I'm sorry.

If you do not have insurance there is nothing I can do.

What?

This is ridiculous.

Sir, my-- my wife is in labor.

Sir-- sir, if you don't mind, my wife--

Morton, please.

This woman's contractions are much closer together than mine.

Are you telling us you're not going to admit this woman?

She belongs in County.

I'll-- I'll get work.

I'm a carpenter.

I'll pay you back every dime.

Now, see here.

I demand attention.

This is an emergency!

You are shouting.

This is a hospital.

This is outrageous.

This is Christmas Eve.

This is Joseph and Mary.

I don't care if they're Abbott and Costello.

If they don't have insurance, they do not get in.

Let her in.

I'll pay her hospital bill.

No, you won't.

Young man, I'm the wife of a United States Senator,

and I'm going to have a baby.

I assure you, we'll take care of you.

I assure you, you will not.

If you will not have the humanity

to let this poor woman in your hospital on Christmas Eve,

I will have this baby on this floor right in front of you.

And Mr. Basinger will make sure it's in the morning paper.

Basinger?

The one and only.

I'm a little behind here.

This is Joseph and Mary.

I don't care if they're Abbott and Costello.

That's terrific.

You're really quite a wit, Mr.--

Pilot.

Pilot.

Oh, this is-- mm.

Um, I'll get you both upstairs in just a minute.

[christmas music]

[babies crying]

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): As befits the situation,

Joseph and Mary had a son, the first to be born in our town

on Christmas morning.

To further commemorate the occasion a man, said

to be an angel, bore witness.

[babies crying]

A shining few hours.

[laughs]

I wish I could have told it.

Well, why can't you?

No, it's long, long after deadline.

Come on, Jed.

This is a night of miracles.

A night of wonder, certainly.

A coincidence straining for duality, absolutely.

But Jonathan, please, miracles?

[music playing]

My god.

My son.

My son.

[music playing]

The world started with a very few.

It still just takes a few to change it.

One voice of hope.

Your voice, Jeb.

Go on, write your story.

Jonathan, I told you it's too late.

It's never too late, Jeb.

Now, go on.

Charlie!

Charlie!

Come on, open up.

Mr. Basinger.

Where have you been?

It's too late, right?

Oh, no.

Haven't you heard?

The presses have been down all evening.

They're going crazy back there.

I bet you got an hour.

What are you waiting for?

Go ahead.

[music playing]

JEB BASINGER (VOICEOVER): 2,000 years ago a child was born.

Another was born tonight.

[christmas music]

Copy.

Copy boy.

Hey there, Mr. Basinger?

You better go out the back way.

There's a nut out front who's surely Santa Claus.

[laughs]

Really?

Don't be too sure he isn't.

Merry Christmas, Charlie.

Merry Christmas to you.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

[christmas music]

[music playing]