Original subtitles

Everyone thinks Christmas is just one long vacation.

Holiday! Around the world.

Holiday! Spirit's gonna get you tonight. Deadly serious, Johnson. I'm

withholding your Christmas bonus to pay for it.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

Oh my God, you're the ghost of Christmas past.

Behold, the future.

Why not? I've been beholden everything else around here.

you start paying.

Christmas, Mr. Murlock?

Hey, watch it, buddy. You don't have to remind me.

Yo, Mr. Murlock, you want a hot chestnut?

What in the world do I want a hot chestnut for, Velazquez?

It's Christmas, man. Who cares?

Release me out of that, Mr.

Velazquez.

Johnson,

what's all this about?

Well, it's Christmas Eve day.

I mean, it's time for cheer, goodwill toward men.

Humbug. Tell them to hold it down. See, some of your own students are trying to

study in there.

Mr. Morlock is not as horrible as he seems.

Make the first man in here!

He's worse.

All right, everyone, let's take it from the top.

mistletoe doing in there? Well, I just wrinkled some around the school.

You never know when you might get lucky.

Everyone thinks Christmas is just one long vacation.

Boy, I remember when school was school and Christmas was they didn't get to

biking on it.

The train set.

The toy soldiers.

Well, you know, Mr. Morlock, this is a particularly hard time of the year to be

excruciatingly poor.

Are you whining about that raise again? It's just that turkeys are so expensive

and the children need gifts and a woman my age could only knit so many

potholders. Well, I've got good news for you, Mrs. Bird.

Oh, dear God. Could it be true?

They're not laying you off. Laying me off?

Your salary's going to stay exactly the same.

In other words... Felice Navidad.

In A Christmas Carol, what is Charles Dickens saying about Christmas?

What does it mean?

It means we get two weeks off.

More to the point, what does Ebenezer Scrooge feel about Christmas?

He hated Christmas.

He didn't like anything or anybody.

Nobody likes him, not even his partner, Jacob Marley. Scrooge isn't really a

mean man.

He just used his work to fill a void in his personal life.

Would you say he was a bad man?

Actually, he was more like a sad man.

And then when he didn't marry the girl of his dreams, he probably gave up his

only chance for happiness.

And that's why he was miserable.

So because he was unhappy, he was sometimes mean.

Especially at Christmas time. Because that's when he realized just how little

had. Just when everybody was trying to have a little fun, he would waltz in and

mess up everything.

Hey, no eating in class.

Mr. Murlock, what are you doing?

68 .3. You're .3 degrees over.

Now, this isn't a spa, Miss Sherwood. Degrees mean dollars, and this school

board doesn't have many.

All right.

What are some other characteristics of Ebenezer Scrooge?

He was cheap.

That's it, Miss Tyler. Be careful.

All right, Mr. Donovan, here is the juice.

Yeah!

Who got blackie, Mr. Morlock?

What is that tree doing in here?

It's Christmas time, Mr. Morlock. Everybody has trees at Christmas.

Orphanages, prisons.

Just get rid of it.

Right.

I love the yuletide season just as much as the next man.

Mr. Morlock is allergic to evergreens.

This happens to be an artificial tree.

Mr. Morlock is allergic to artificial trees. Wait a minute. Mr. Morlock,

really going to make us take this tree down?

It's against fire regulations. Now get rid of the tree and lose that silly

suit.

Mr. Morlock is allergic to Santa suits.

Hey, hey, break this up, Mendenhall.

Write him up. Now, you've got to put a stop to this kind of madness.

Mr. Morlock, this isn't madness.

They're two people in love.

It's Christmas.

Look, I don't care if it's Valentine's Day. You can't lose control of the

situation.

Mr. Morlock, I may have been your henchman for too long.

I've lied for you. I've spied for you.

When you asked me to write up my friends on Christmas, that's too much.

I think I treated you like a son. If you had epaulets, I'd rip them off.

Mr. Mendenhall, you've lost the privilege of being hall monitor at the

the Arts.

tried being Mr. Nice Guy, but this time you've gone too far.

Look at this. Name brand potato chip. This party's completely out of hand and

it's officially over.

Hey, come on, Mr. Morlock. You can't be serious.

Oh, I'm deadly serious, Johnson.

I can't have a faculty member carrying on like this.

And to show you just how serious I am, since this party obviously didn't come

out of your pocket, I'm withholding your Christmas bonus to pay for it. Merry

Christmas to all.

And to all, a good night.

You're not really going to spend the night here, are you? I most certainly

These budgets were due at the Board of Education last week. Not one single

teacher turned theirs in, so I'm here doing their dirty work, Christmas or no

Christmas. Well, I brought you the pajamas from the wardrobe department.

That's a nightgown.

I specifically asked for pajamas.

I was hoping for some of those little feet.

Well, this is what there was. Take them or leave them.

I'll take them.

Oh, and I brought you some eggnog in case it gets cold later.

Thank you.

Is there anything else you want?

Yeah.

I want a bike.

Silver with racing stripes.

Have you been good?

That'll be all, Miss Burke. Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

Let your heart be light

Next year all our troubles

will be out of sight

Jacob Marley?

But you look just like me. We have a lot in common.

What?

We're both selfish men.

Correction.

I was a selfish man.

Now I'm a spirit condemned to walk the earth forever chained in limbo.

Uh, what brought you here?

I've come to warn you, Quentin Warlock.

Before it's too late, change your wicked ways.

My wicked ways?

Listen, you've got the wrong man. I'm a nice guy, ask anybody.

The wrong man?

A foolish man.

Please, just leave me alone.

A simple request.

You are alone.

But take Eve with more love.

For the night is young.

And before the sun rises and creatures like myself fade into the darkness, you

will be visited by three spirits. Wait a minute.

I know this story.

I must be dreaming.

Maybe I drank too much eggnog.

Definitely it is.

It's a lovely piece, isn't it?

Yeah, lovely.

You know, I can remember the first time Handel played as Messiah as if it were

yesterday. Who are you?

Get rid of it! Isn't he a little ridiculous?

Oh, my God, you're the ghost of Christmas past.

Bingo! And tonight we're going to spend a little time together.

A little once upon a time.

Once upon a time, you mean like in the past?

Prepare yourself for a journey, Quentin Morlock. A journey when we shall fly

through the ages.

Where are we?

You tell me, Grant Morlock.

I know this place.

This is our old high school make -out zone.

Behold, Quentin Morlock, Christmas past.

It is a past, isn't it?

All these people, they look just like I remember them.

Buddy Ballone, boy, could that guy sing.

We all thought he was going to be this big star, but he got real fat and lost

all his hair.

That's my best friend, Fast Eddie Cartucci.

Hey, Cortucci!

He can't hear you.

Nobody can except me.

Is he slick or what?

He brought his own missile, though.

I mean, he was ten years ahead of his time.

Talk about some moves.

That's me.

Who would have thought I would grow up to be such a good -looking guy?

Recognize the girl?

Francine.

She was my first love.

Oh, Quinny, I'm so happy.

Not as happy as me.

I love you, Quinny, and we're going to be so happy.

Could have.

Why didn't you?

I don't know. I don't remember.

Then let me refresh your memory.

You know I'm crazy about you, but you have to understand I have a higher

calling.

I'd never ask you to give up baseball for me.

It's just that when two people are right for each other, they make sacrifices,

and I'd be willing to wait for you.

What kind of a guy do you think I am?

I couldn't give it my all knowing I had a wife back on the farm.

Well, then I'll just pack my suitcases.

I'll travel with you.

What do you mean? You can't do that.

Yes, I can.

You'll need someone to look after you on the road just like you would back home.

So we have to wait a little while for house and children.

Until then, it'll be like one long, wonderful honeymoon.

I can't take a girl on the road.

It just wouldn't work.

There's just no home.

No room where you won't make room.

See, you got to understand.

Coach Lyon says that with my talent, I'm a sure bet to be scooped up by the

major leagues.

Do you know how much money a professional ballplayer makes?

A lot.

Well, then you got to understand.

I've seen.

I want to hit a home run in Ebbets Field.

I want to hear the crowd roar.

I want to play ball.

I understand, Quentin.

I hope you get everything you want.

It went out of the park for me, okay?

Francine!

Francine!

Francine! Francine!

Oh, please.

Don't let her get away again.

I never let her get away.

You did, Quentin. You let her get away.

Francine!

Francine?

Yes. Don't tell me you're the spirit of... Christmas present.

I don't need to see Christmas present. I know all about Christmas present.

People home with their families, unwrapping presents, putting bikes

kids that could have been mine. Oh, stop your whining.

You've been living in the present, but you've never seen it.

It's time you took a good look at the people you've touched, of the lives

affected, of the dreams you've shattered, of the pain you've caused.

And you'll see all this, Quentin Morlock, as Christmas present unfolds.

It's going to be a long night.

How long are we going to stand here? I mean, I'm getting cold. Can't we go

inside?

Stop whining, you big baby. You're not going anywhere.

Behold the Christmas present.

The people.

Where'd they all come from?

The people have always been there. You just never took the time to notice them

before.

and hear all the children laughing.

Christmas Eve. I'll get the TV dinner.

Wait a minute.

Don't you think we're supposed to do a toast first?

Absolutely.

To Christmas.

To Christmas.

To good friends. To the best friends.

And to Quentin Morlock.

Morlock. I'm drinking here, man. I'd rather die of thirst.

Hey, come on, guys. Don't you think you're being kind of hard on him? Atta

Johnson. I always do.

I'm surprised none of us have caught pneumonia the way he makes a study in

cold classroom.

I have to keep the thermostats low.

Don't you understand? I'm only following orders.

Where have we heard that before?

Man, that Christmas party was just starting to pick up, man, and he got to

and spoil it. Let's face it, our school is being run by an ogre. An ogre?

I mean, I'm a little strict, but I'm hardly an ogre. I'm a nice guy.

I think I used to admire him.

Et tu, Mendenhall?

Wait a minute now. Mr. Morlock gave me a break. What about when he got me that

job? Did he give you a break, man, when he took your Christmas bonus away?

Did you ever think he acts the way he does because he's lonely?

Well, maybe he wouldn't be so lonely if he was a nicer guy.

If he was a nicer guy, he might not be so lonely.

Look, guys, this is the time of the year when you're supposed to forgive

people's failings.

I mean, you look into their souls, you see the good things about them.

Now, we all know Quentin Morlock isn't perfect.

But deep down inside, he cares about us all. I know that.

He's just one of those people that don't know how to show it.

To Quentin Morlock.

To Quentin Morlock.

All right. All right, Mr.

M. Now go get the food.

Where are the cranberries going?

Why not? I've been beholden everything else around here.

Where are we?

Don't you know?

This can't be my school.

Look again.

Where's the music?

Where's all that singing and dancing?

You put an end to it.

Me?

I don't remember doing that.

Maybe he was right.

No. No, I wasn't. I wasn't right. You're wonderfully talented kids.

What have I done?

You'll see.

Mr. Shirovsky, you must be wrong.

If I killed all the music, he wouldn't be here.

Mr. Shirovsky, are you here again?

Oh, I hope you don't mind. I just happen to be in the neighborhood I thought I'd

sit here for a while.

Well, it's all right with me.

As long as you don't hum or anything.

waiting for the music to come in.

Mr. Swarovski, don't let something that I did break you.

You're a brilliant musician with a love for music and a talent for teaching.

Where's your spirit, man?

He can't hear you. He has to hear me.

Benjamin!

He's humming.

midterm exams.

The first two sections are multiple choice and are worth 30 %

of your total grade.

The last section is an essay and is worth two -thirds of your choice.

You may begin.

You know, Miss Sherwood, this essay stuff is a bunch of crap.

Then don't do it.

Shame on you.

You took the heart of your soul out of the school and the students.

Why not the faculty?

What's the answer to number one?

E.

I want you to do it.

Thanks, babe.

Terrible. I mean, they're blatantly cheating and she's blatantly ignoring

How are you a coach? Miss Sherwood, I'm ordering you to stop this cheating.

Continue your work, boy.

I'm going to get a cup of coffee if anyone needs me. I'll be in the

lounge. Wrong.

There's no teacher's lounge anymore.

Yo, Francis.

Hi. There he is. Francis.

He's still hanging out in the hall.

Francis. In the coat.

Who wrote Hamlet?

Shakespeare. Are you sure?

Yes, I'm sure. Francis Bacon.

Oh, Bacon.

At least you're still

teaching. What about me?

I guess there's just no room for an old classical music instructor in today's

high -tech world.

Shouldn't you be getting back to your classroom?

No.

I want to give them a little more time to cheat.

Would you mind if I hummed?

Actually, I would.

Mrs. Burke.

What happened to her?

Looks like she never got that ring.

Vengeance.

Elizabeth, I really scored today.

It's amazing what people throw away just because the can is bulged a little.

You didn't come across any old piano strings, did you?

No.

But if you fill some glasses half full of water and hit them with a teaspoon,

gives a lovely effect.

I can't believe I let all this happen.

Let it happen?

You made it happen.

We have one more place to visit.

How did I die?

Alone.

With no one to mourn you.

Oh, no.

No.

No.

Not dead.

I'm alive.

I'm wonderfully alive.

Oh, my ox.

Still here.

It's the same squirrel.

It's real.

That beautiful... Three, it's still here.

Oh,

the pianos. They're still here.

And Benjamin, he's still the world's greatest music professor.

Hey.

It's the same crummy classroom.

to Morlock Memorial Auditorium.

I'm not dead. I'm alive.

I'm wonderfully alive. I love this school.

Oh, school, I love it.

Mr. Morlock, are you all right?

All right. Of course I'm all right. I'm more than all right. I'm sensational.

My, my, you have been overworked.

If anyone's been overworking around here, it's you. And I'm going to

guarantee that you get that raised. A whole ten bucks.

Mr. Morlock, I'm flabbergasted. It's the least I can do to show you my

appreciation.

Make it 12 bucks.

12 .50, what the heck? Oh, thank you, Mr.

Morlock. Oh, thank you, Mrs. Berg.

It's a small gift, but it's the most I can do. Well, I brought something for

you, too. I suspect... you'd work the entire night in the office on that

So I brought you a coffee cake. It's the least I can do for you on Christmas.

Thank you, Mrs. Burke.

It is Christmas, isn't it?

Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Morlock.

Merry Christmas, Gertie.

And thanks for the cake.

It's a cinnamon crumb.

That's what I've been, isn't it?

But that's all going to change.

From now on, I'm going to be Quentin Morlock, fun guy.

You are fun.

You got that right. I bet I can start getting invited to parties and

Mr. Morlock, what's come over you?

Christmas. That's what's come over me. It's Christmas, and I've got the spirit,

and I'm never going to lose it.

It's Christmas morning, and it's great to be alive.

Put on something festive.

Call everyone and get them over here on the double.

Hello, Benjamin?

Merry Christmas.

We're having a party.

wanted to see. I want to give you some advice for Christmas.

I'd rather have pants.

Listen, now that your job's restored, I want you to be a strong leader and show

compassion.

Thank you, Mr. Morlock. Remember that. Hey, Tamatulo, listen, I'm sorry I never

laughed at your jokes in the past, but all that's changed.

I don't get it.

That's funny.

Mr. Morlock, I don't know what I like.

Chapman, listen, Dolly,

It's a precious gift to be shared, but not during tests, okay?

That matters.

Benjamin,

just for you, Merry Christmas.

Len, sister, how practical.

I knew you'd love it. Johnson, can you forgive a foolish man?

No. Prove it. How?

I want you to put this Christmas bonus in your pocket and dance.

I mean, what's a party without a dance from Leroy Johnson?

You got it.

Is this great or what?

It's wonderful.

Don't I get a present for you?

Well, listen, I got a very special present for you, Mr. Wood.

Baseball card.

That's not just any baseball card. That's Ty Cobb. Now, in my mind, he's

the greatest.

I, uh, put that ribbon around his face. He's a bookmark.

Thank you, Mr.

8, 9, ladies dancing, 8, maids no milking, 7, swans no swimming, 6, each a