Ugly Duckling's Christmas Wish, The (1996)

[bunniefuu]

[music playing]

MR. CRUMBS: This is
a Christmas story.

Oh, I know it doesn't look
much like Christmas now,

but that's because
our story actually

starts several months earlier.

My name is Mr. Crumbs,
and I am a mouse--

a mouse of distinction
I might add.

And this is a
story of how I came

to meet my fine-feathered
friend, Omar,

and how he came to meet a
certain little girl named Ruby

during one wonderful Christmas.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

It all began here at the edge
of this tranquil little pond

with an expectant
mother patiently waiting

on a nest for the big event.

Unfortunately,
someone was lurking

in the bushes with other plans.

[music playing]

Boo.

[screams]

My egg.

My baby.

Don't hurt my baby, please.

[crash]

[suspense music]

My baby, give me my baby
back you horrible beast.

No, I don't got
it no more lady.

Look.

No!

[bird screeching]

Give me my baby!

[suspense music]

[bird screeching]

[suspense music]

[bird screeching]

[truck]

[music playing]

What is it?

Is it time?

Is it time?

No, I'm just stretching
for heaven's sakes, Drake.

Why are you so nervous?

It's not like you have to drive
me to a hospital or anything.

I can't help it.

It's a first time father thing.

Well, I wish you'd
just settle down.

And stop that pacing.

You're driving me crazy.

Oh, my baby.

My poor baby.

I'll never see you again.

MILDRED: Drake.

Drake, come to.

It's all over.

I need some help
with these babies.

Drake!

Am I a father yet?

Yes, Drake.

You passed out when
the first one hatched.

What's the matter
with the big one?

Why didn't it hatch?

Don't ask me.

I've got my wings
full all ready.

DRAKE: It's happening,
Mildred, it's happening.

MILDRED: Don't faint!

[music playing]

[yell]

MILDRED: Oh, honestly, Drake.

[scream]

He's big.

He's ugly.

Clumsy too.

[laughter]

[music playing]

Ohhh.

[music playing]

[thunder storm]

[music playing]

[whistle]

[music playing]

[sad music]

[lullaby]

[crying]

[music playing]

MR. CRUMBS: Poor Omar,
and things didn't get any

better for him as summer turned
to fall, fall turned to winter,

and Christmas was in the air.

[christmas music]

I don't care
what anybody says.

Sliding on this stuff is fun,
as fun as swimming in it.

Oh, no, look Cindy.

Here comes that big, fat,
geeky brother of yours.

Quack.

He can't even quack right.

Oh no, he's going
to try to skate.

Save yourself.

Omar's coming.

Oh no, look out.

Look out everybody.

[scream]

[laughter]

Where'd Omar go?

I don't know I was too
busy watching the others.

Man, they really went flying.

Why do I have to
have a geeky brother?

He embarrasses our whole family.

It's just not fair.

Maybe you can wish him
away on the Christmas Star.

The what?

Don't you know anything.

Oh, that's right this
is your first Christmas.

Yeah.

Hey, it's your
first Christmas too.

But I'm older.

A couple of days.

That's older.

Besides I'm bright, so
momma tells me stuff.

And she told me at
Christmas, which it almost

is, you make a wish
on the Christmas star,

and then the wish you wish
you get for Christmas.

Really?

Of course, see up
there, the brightest one.

Go ahead.

Wish your goofball brother gone.

I don't know.

It's awfully mean.

He'll embarrass you for
the rest of your life.

Magic Christmas
wishing star, I

wish my brother Omar was gone.

It's as good as done.

I feel guilty.

It's not really his
fault that he's odd.

And ugly and clumsy and dumb.

Mean ducks, I
wish I was gone to.

I wish I could find a new home.

(SINGING) The Christmas star
is a symbol of hope for you.

Make a wish, and
it could come true.

Just you wait and see.

The Christmas star fills the
sky on the darkest night,

fills your heart with a shining
light, sets your spirit free.

Go on, make a wish on
the Christmas star.

What have you got to lose?

In a season filled
with miracles,

one could come to you.

The Christmas star fills the
sky on the darkest night,

fills your heart with a shining
light, sets your spirit free.

The Christmas star holds
the door to a better day,

holds a promise that lights
the way, if you believe.

Go on, make a wish on
the Christmas star.

What have you got to lose?

In a season filled
with miracles,

one could come to you.

Go on, make a wish.

Go on, make a wish.

Go on, go on, go on.

Street people,
street kids, those

that some refer to as
misfits in our society.

They come together at
shelters such as these to find

a glimmer of Christmas cheer.

Those that society
has forgotten,

those that don't fit
in, who are different,

who else do they have
during this holiday

season but each other?

They are still another facet
of Christmas in the city.

I could go there to the city.

She said there were people
there that didn't fit in,

that were different like me.

Oh, I can't do that.

I'm just a little kid.

A little kid that
everybody hates.

Bunch of hayseed ducks.

I don't like them much either.

I want to be happy,

to find someone who likes me.

But how am I going to get there?

If you're really a
Christmas wishing star,

then my wish is for you
to find some way for me

to go to the city where
I can have some friends.

BOY: Can I go to the city
with you tonight dad?

Nope, got Christmas
shopping to do.

I could help.

The shopping I'm
doing is for you.

Then I can really help.

Yeah.

It worked.

My Christmas wish worked.

The farmer's going to the city.

This is my big chance.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

A place where I belong.

Hey, hey, wait for me!

Wait for me!

Oh, I made it.

Who says I'm clumsy.

I made it, and I'm on my way.

Merry Christmas to me.

I'm going to find
me some friends.

MR. CRUMBS: Omar was on his
way to the big city, a city

full of bright lights and

people full of Christmas
cheer, except over at my

neighborhood on the
wrong side of the tracks.

[christmas music]

In my neighborhood, there
wasn't a Christmas decoration

to be found and
nobody had much to be

cheerful about, especially
another little run-away--

an 8-year-old girl named Ruby.

She was frightened of the

dirty streets she
was walking through

and had every reason to be.

[music playing]

[man mumbling]

I can't go in there.

MR. CRUMBS: No, she
couldn't go in there,

but she did need to
get out of the cold.

And it wasn't long before
she discovered the window

to the cellar.

My private entrance.

[bumping]

[scream]

What in the world?

[clock]

Oh, you, you
miserable bird you.

You could have
gotten me m*rder*d.

I shall disconnect you.

I will, but first I must
assess the situation outside.

Stay right where you are.

Oh, this is not good,
not good at all.

This place is kind
of dirty and creepy.

No.

No, no, don't come this way.

She's coming this way.

Shh, she'll here you, uh me.

Well, at least it's warm.

What's a little girl like
that doing in a place like this?

She's moving in.

That's what she's doing.

Oh, what a fine little
Christmas gift this is.

I finally find a decent
home, and a human being

moves in right next door.

I'm trapped, trapped
like a mouse.

The moment I set foot outside,
she will see me, shriek,

and then attempt to
batter me with a broom

or a shovel or maybe a--

oh, what difference does it make
what kind of weapon she uses?

I'll still be just as dead.

Think.

Think.

[music playing]

[christmas music]

This is a big place.

I wonder where that
shelter thing is that woman

was talking about on TV.

Maybe it's this way.

[ding]

Hey, watch it.

Look out.

I'm down here.

Woo, well, at least they
can't step on me under here.

[growl]

[chase music]

[barking]

Maybe this wasn't
such a good idea.

[barking]

Maybe this wasn't
such a good idea.

[creepy music]

Get out, you lazy
good for nothing bum.

I'm gone.

I ain't coming back here.

People just try
and put me out.

I've got to be brave.

It's awful lonesome here.

I mustn't be afraid.

I just can't go home.

[crying]

Poor little thing.

What in the world
is she doing here?

No, no, none of that.

None of that feeling
sorry for anyone.

Sentiment gives way
to rash actions,

and rash actions can
cost a mouse his life.

Remember that.

I'm on my own.

She's on her own.

Nothing I can do to
help her any way.

At least that wretched
dog has stopped barking.

Now if she would
just stop crying.

I'm not going to
get a moment's rest.

This didn't turn out the
way I thought it would.

Merry Christmas to me.

[christmas music]

Well, at least
she's still asleep.

Now if I can just find
something to eat and get

back home before she wakes
up, I'll be set for the day.

Fresh snow, looks
like Christmas.

Too bad it doesn't feel
like Christmas to me.

I--

OMAR: Excuse me.

Can you help me?

[screaming]

How dare you go
sneaking up on me.

For heaven's sake, you
nearly scared me to death.

If you had been a
carnivore, I daresay

you would have
scared me to death.

You aren't a carnivore, are you?

No, I'm a duck.

You don't look like
any duck I've ever seen.

OK, and ugly duck.

Well, I wouldn't say that.

How come?

Everybody else does.

Just go away.

Nobody wants to help
a crummy, little duck.

Who feels sorry for himself.

I got good reasons.

That's how come I
ran away from home.

There appears to be a lot of
that going around these days.

See back on the farm--

Oh, farm boy.

Uh-huh

Come to the big city to
seek fame and fortune.

Well, sorry kid.

If, I knew how to
find that, I wouldn't

be living in a cuckoo clock.

But I'm not looking
for fame and fortune.

Well, what then?

Something called a
homeless shelter I think.

MR. CRUMBS: Homeless shelter?

See back on the
farm everybody thinks

I'm just a big, clumsy,
dumb, old freak duck.

Then I saw this
thing on TV where

people go who don't have
any friends, people that

don't fit in, people like me.

People being the
operative word here.

Huh?

MR. CRUMBS: I hate to be
the bearer of bad tidings

at Christmas me lad.

but I strongly doubt they'll
be welcoming ducks in there

with open arms

[omar chuckles]

unless you're
interested in being

Christmas dinner, of course.

What am I going to do?

I wished on the Christmas
star to find a new home.

Christmas star?

Hey, maybe I can
move in with you.

Now why in the world
would I let you do that?

It could be your
Christmas present to me.

Why in the world
would I want to give you

a Christmas present?

I don't even know you.

Oh, I'm Omar.

How you do?

I am Mr. Crumbs.

I-- now wait a minute,
I have enough problems

without trying to stuff a
duck into a cuckoo clock.

Omar: -Uhm

So I suggest you run along and--

Ahem

oh, honestly I'm getting soft.

I shall give you a
Christmas present provided

you will give me one in return.

I ain't got nothing.

Oh, but you do.

I shall allow you to meet
a certain little girl who

will probably love
and take care of you.

MR. CRUMBS: You in
return will promise

to keep her from k*lling me
when and if she ever sees me.

It's a deal.

Thanks, Crumby.

That's Mr. Crumbs
to you, not Crumby.

Now let us proceed.

Ya-hoo!

[crash]

[ruth gasps]

Who-- who are you?

Quack

Oh, why you must be a
little duck, aren't you?

I'm sorry I screamed, but
you made a lot of noise

and woke me up.

My name is Ruby.

What's yours?

Too bad ducks can't
talk to people I mean.

Guess you can talk
to each other.

Get a bunch of ducks together,
and they'd go quackers.

That was a joke.

My dad told me.

My name's Ruby.

Guess I said that
already, didn't I?

What are you doing here?

This is a pretty weird
place for a little duck.

Pretty weird place
for a little girl too.

I'm here, because I
ran away from home.

I - I had to.

I've been pretty lonesome,
especially since it's almost

Christmas and all.

It's pretty awful, but then I
guess you wouldn't understand.

You do.

You didn't run away
from home too, did you?

Really?

So do you have a place to stay?

Oh, yes, you do.

You can stay with me.

We can have a wonderful time.

Right now we can have breakfast.

I brought some stuff with me.

Are you hungry?

Well, come on.

You can choose, corn chips
or chocolate chip cookies?

I didn't bring any of
that junk I don't like.

Which do you want?

That's good.

Now we each get what we
really want the most.

We're going to be
such good friends.

I just know it.

And this place isn't so bad.

We can find--

[scream] [thump]

What was that?

What's the matter boy.

What you are doing?

What the-- what's going on?

Hello?

Hello?

I'm smothering in here.

What's in there.

Come on, let me see.

Come on, what is it?

A mouse.

Whoops, sorry.

Whoa!

Feisty, isn't he?

I got an idea.

Wait right here.

MR. CRUMBS: You were
supposed to protect me.

I tried.

She's going to get
something to k*ll me.

Kick the pot.

Kick the pot.

Get me out of here.

I got you a cookie.

Oh, where'd he go?

There he goes.

Miserable bird.

I bet that's his house.

RUTH: You were
trying to hide him.

RUTH: Is he your friend?

MR. CRUMBS: That's it.

Tell her everything.

Mice are nervous.

I know.

I had a pet one once.

He got loose in the house.

Mother bopped him with a broom.

Well, we'll leave this here
in case he gets hungry.

[munching]

I saw this last night
when I was looking around.

We can use all this old stuff
to decorate for Christmas.

(SINGING) This place
is, kind of, dreary,

and we've only got
a cardboard tree.

It isn't much like home, and
it doesn't feel too Christmasy.

But I can color
pictures to put up

on the walls, while you
untangle all those lights,

so we can deck the halls.

We'll make the very
best of what we've got.

Although it's almost Christmas
and we haven't got a lot,

I've got you and you've got me.

That makes us a family.

And family is all
you really need

to make Christmas great indeed.

Here I was at Christmas,
all gloomy and doomy,

then you fell in the window
and now I have a roomy.

Up till now I always got
a 10-foot pile of stuff.

But this year all I got
is you, and guess what?

That's enough.

We'll make the very
best of what we've got.

Although it's almost Christmas
and we haven't got a lot,

I've got you and you've got me.

That makes us a family,
and family is all

you really need, yes indeed.

[music playing]

Love's our greatest present,
and it doesn't cost a penny.

When you care about someone
your blessings will be many.

So chase away those
Christmas blues

and paint them red and green.

Side by side, our holiday
will be the best we've seen.

We'll make the very
best of what we've

got, although we've
got a Christmas

tree that doesn't look so hot.

And Santa might
not find us, but we

can't let that
blind us to the fun

that we can have hand in hand
in our private Christmas land.

We'll make the very
best of what we've got,

although it's almost Christmas
and we haven't got a lot.

I've got you, and you've got me.

That makes us a
family, and family

is all you really need to
make Christmas great indeed.

[christmas music]

Well, it's a little
crooked, but it'll do.

Sure wish we had a
star to go on top,

but you can't have everything.

[footsteps]

They'll find us.

They'll put us in jail.

Come on.

[suspense music]

I'm tired of people
messing with my stuff.

Where is it?

And why [inaudible] When
I get my hands on him.

[suspense music]

[crash]

Phew.

That was close.

I'm so scared.

I don't want to be here anymore.

[crying]

I'm sorry.

I just miss my
mother and father.

That's all.

RUTH: But I can't go home.

I just can't.

I had to run away.

I had to.

See, the other night
I came down the hall

to get a glass of water,
and I heard my mom and dad.

They said we were going
to have a new baby,

and they were worrying about
not having enough money

and having to go
to the poor house.

Little babies need love, and
they knew their mom and dad

just like I did.

But see I'm eight
years old now--

almost a grown up.

I just wanted to make sure that
my new little brother or sister

would get what I got, and I
didn't want my mom and dad

to worry because of me.

So see I had to
run away from home.

But I can't help but miss them,
especially at Christmas time.

You know what I wish?

I wish-- oh, but what difference
does it make what I wish?

What?

What are you doing?

Where are we going?

Well, OK, I'll follow
you, but I don't get it.

That poor little thing.

She can stay here just
as long as she wants to.

[music playing]

RUTH: OK, so what
are we doing here?

Yeah, it's the sky.

Oh my, what a pretty star.

Hey, maybe we
should make a wish.

That's That's what you brought
me up here for, isn't it?

To make a wish.

How's a little ducky
know about wishing stars.

Do you think it really works?

Well, then let's try it.

But we shouldn't tell each
other what our wishes are,

or they won't come true.

[ruth giggles] Of course,
you couldn't tell me

what yours was even
if you wanted to.

[ruth thinking to herself]

[ruth thinking to herself]

The only thing I wish I
could have for Christmas

is to be back at home
with mom and dad again,

and that it would be OK.

[omar thinking to himself]

I don't really have a wish.

You already made mine come true.

But if I had a wish, it could
be that Ruby and me would always

be together.

RUTH: Well, we'll see.

Who knows?

Maybe our wishes
will both come true.

RUTH: Merry Christmas, ducky.

One of these is lose.

If I can find the right
one, we might just

get them to light up.

I hope it isn't burned out.

Yay, I did it.

It's not as nice as
the one we had at home.

You think Santa Claus
will find us here?

Oh, everything will be fine.

We'll have a
wonderful Christmas.

I've even got a little
present for you, ducky.

One of these days
I'm going to have

to decide on a name for you.

Ducky just doesn't make it.

I didn't have anything to wrap
it with, and it's kind of old.

Her name is Sydney.

She was mind.

Merry Christmas.

Take good care of her.

She's pretty nice.

[christmas music]

[ruby crying]

[mr. crumbs hears ruby crying]

[sad music]

MR. CRUMBS: Poor kid.

She cried herself
to sleep again.

I think it's because I didn't
get her a Christmas present.

MR. CRUMBS: No.

Maybe cause she's afraid Santa
Clause is going to find her.

No, I don't think so.

OMAR: Well, what?

She's homesick.

She misses her
mother and father.

A little girl like
that shouldn't be here.

She should be at home.

She shouldn't have run away.

She had to.

I don't know.

I wonder if she didn't
get something mixed up.

I still want to
give her a present.

Well, I can't
quite see a mouse

and a duck waltzing into
a toy store with no money.

I'll find something even
if you don't want to help me.

Oh, wait.

Wait for me.

MR. CRUMBS: How do I get
myself into these things?

Because your nice.

You may be crabby and
cranky on the outside,

but you're nice on the inside.

And just what kind
of Christmas present

do you have in mind?

Something good.

Oh, well, that narrows it down.

[omar singing] What would put
the merry in Merry Christmas?

What would put the happy

in Happy New Year?

That's the perfect
present, I can give her

that is full of Christmas cheer.

What kind of present?

A pheasant might be pleasant.

I'm the

only bird that Ruby needs.

The Mona Lisa or the
Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Those are both

a bit beyond my means.

What kind

of gift would give me a lift?

What about a quarter pound
of cheese, cheese, cheese?

Stick to the mission.

Stop your wishing.

Ruby is the one
we're here to please.

So sorry.

What will put the
merry in Merry Christmas?

What will put the happy
in happy in Happy New Year?

What's the perfect
present I can give her--

BOTH: That is full
of Christmas cheer.

[MR. CRUMB SINGING
The cliffs of Dover or

a four leaf clover or

some rain from
that plain in Spain

or a choo choo train
or a whooping crane.

OMAR: With no money all those
things go down the drain.

Think plain.

Think simple.

Use your brain.

Strain.

I have it.

You do?

It's me.

It's you?

What about a mouse to
have around the house?

I could sing and dance
and chase away her gloom.

I could wiggle and jiggle
until I made her giggle.

I can finagle till I
brighten up her room.

It's a

nice idea But, I
simply can't agree,

because your little plan is
filled with doom, doom, doom.

If she ever goes home and
you decide decide to roam,

her mother's going to bop
you with a broom, boom.

Ouch, that sounds painful.

Let's look about.

I'll be the scout.

There's treasure to be
found upon these streets.

If you see something,
shout, and I'll dig it out.

Between the two of us,
we can't us, be beat.

[both]: We will find a

treasure for Ruby's Christmas
pleasure, and nothing's

going to stop us till
we're done, done, done.

For our Christmas
day, Ruby's going

to play with something that we
got her that is fun, fun, fun.

We will put the merry
in Merry Christmas.

We can put the happy
in Happy New Year.

We can find a perfect
present to give her that

will brim with Christmas cheer.

[music playing]

Hey, I don't know why the
boss wanted this Christmas

stuff all taken down tonight.

It's Christmas Eve, and
I'm still here working.

Eh, shut up and
get the next load.

MR. CRUMBS: Well, we
tried to find something.

That isn't good enough.

Now Ruby's still
going to be sad.

Well, like I said, I think
she's unhappy about more than--

Look it over there.

Look on top.

That star, Ruby
said she wanted one

for the top of our
Christmas tree.

That's what I can give her.

It's a thought, but how
are you going to get it?

I'll think of something.

That's what I was afraid of.

OMAR: It's pretty tall.

Could you boost me up?

Highly unlikely.

Well, maybe I
could boost you up.

I'm not going up there.

Aw, come on, Crummy.

No, don't you dare,

MR. CRUMBS and stop
calling me crummy!

I'm not tall enough
to boost you.

Oh, thank goodness.

Heaven only knows
what's in that thing.

I'm cold.

Let's go home.

OMAR: Here hold on to this.

What for?

OMAR: Just hold on tight.

Why?

What are you?

[omar yell]

OMAR: Why did you do that?

Now you can get to the
star and throw it down to me.

MR. CRUMBS: The star
is way up there.

I fell clear down here.

That's what the string is for.

I'll pull you up.

MR. CRUMBS: There's only one
thing wrong your little plan.

OMAR: What's that?

MR. CRUMBS: I let
go of the string.

How come you did that?

MR. CRUMBS: I thought
it would be fun.

Get me out of here.

You sure you don't
got hold of the string.

Yes, I'm sure I don't
got hold of the string.

It's tangled on some
coat hangers up there.

Maybe-- maybe I
can climb up it.

What are you doing out there?

Oh, just hanging around.

What are you doing up there?

Trying to get
the star for Ruby.

Get me out of here first,
then get the stupid star.

I almost got it.

Woah!

OMAR: Hello

MR. CRUMBS: Great move duck.

Now we're both stuck down here.

OMAR: No, we're not.

MR. CRUMBS: [yell]

Stop throwing me around.

Sorry.

Can you fly out of there?

OMAR: Well, I can try.

I can't do it.

What kind of duck
are you anyway?

A little one.

What are we going to do?

MR. CRUMBS: Wait a minute.

I have an idea.

Now where's the
end of that string.

I'm tying a rock to
the end of the string,

then I'll throw it to you.

You can climb up.

OMAR: The last time I tried
that the string broke.

Well, unless you
have any other ideas.

OMAR: Ow, you hit
me on the head.

Oops, a thousand pardons.

Are you coming?

OMAR: Yes, I'm coming.

Don't doddle.

What if it breaks again?

Then you'll fall.

Hurry up before a garbage truck
comes along and squishes you

in its steely jaws.

OK.

This is hard.

My wings are tired
from trying to fly.

I can't do it.

It's too hard.

I think I hear
that garbage truck.

I made it.

Splendid.

Now what are you doing?

I just want to get the star.

I swear if you fall in again,
I'm washing my hands of you.

I made it.

I got it.

Woah.

Don't fall in.

Don't fall in.

MR. CRUMBS: Don't
fall on me either.

(SINGING) We will put the
merry in Merry Christmas.

We will put the happy
in Happy New Year.

We have found the perfect
present for Ruby--

That will brim
with Christmas cheer.

OMAR: Look, that's Ruby.

MR. CRUMBS: I dare say it is.

MADELYN: I'll go
ask at that house.

She's coming this way.

Hide!

I wonder who she is.

Shh.

Yes?

Maybe you can help me.

I wondered if maybe you'd
seen our little girl.

She ran away from home.

She left a note.

She misunderstood
something, and I wondered

if maybe you'd seen her.

No.

Oh, you poor people
and on Christmas Eve.

Oh, please keep this,
and if you do see her--

I'll keep my eyes open.

I promise.

Thank you.

MADELYN: She-- she
hadn't seen her.

[cries] What did we do?

What did we say?

How could she ever think
we didn't want her?

Oh, Richard, what
are we going to do?

It's OK.

It'll be all right.

We'll put up the rest
of these posters,

and then we'll check
back with the police.

And then we'll
find her, Madelyn.

We'll find her.

I knew she had it all wrong.

Let's go.

Go where?

To get Ruby.

But why?

We've got to somehow let
her know about her parents.

I don't want to.

Let's pretend we never saw them.

Now hold the
phone there buster.

OMAR: What?

Look at those poor
people out there.

You could listen to them
and still go back to Ruby

and act like nothing
has happened.

I don't care.

You don't care.

You don't care that Ruby
and her mother and father--

that all of their
hearts are breaking?

Ruby was crying, because she
was worried about Santa Clause.

I don't think so.

OMAR: Or because I
hadn't got her a present.

Ruby was my wish from
the Christmas star.

If she goes home with them, then
she won't be with me anymore.

That's not fair.

I had my wish, and it came true.

So you're willing
to go back there

and give her that pitiful little
tree ornament instead of what

you know she really needs
and wants to go home

with her mother and father.

You don't really think she can
survive on her own, do you?

She'll have me.

And you'll feed and clothe her
and put a roof over your head.

Well, I could try.

You talk a good
Christmas game,

but when you come smack up
against the true meaning

of Christmas, you
turn your head.

Christmas, in case
you've forgotten,

is for giving to others.

You've spent so much time
feeling sorry for yourself,

you can't even see that anymore.

I'm sorry your family
didn't love you the way

Ruby's parents love her,
but just because you

couldn't have that is no
reason to take it away

from someone else.

So go on.

Give her your
little tin trinket.

Merry Christmas to you, but
don't come looking for me

if you get into trouble.

Because I've had it.

You can stay with me.

We can have a wonderful time.

MR. CRUMBS: Poor kid.

She cried herself
to sleep again.

We're going to be
such good friends.

I just know it.

She's homesick.

She misses her
mother and father.

Oh, everything will be fine.

We'll have a
wonderful Christmas.

MR. CRUMBS: A little girl
like that shouldn't be here.

She should be at home.

She shouldn't have run away.

I'm so scared.

I don't want to be here anymore.

MR. CRUMBS: She's homesick.

She misses her
mother and father.

I just miss my
mother and father.

That's all.

A little girl like
that shouldn't be here--

shouldn't be here--
shouldn't be here--

shouldn't be here.

Wait, Mr. Crumbs, please!

OMAR: I'll do it.

I don't want to hurt Ruby.

I knew you'd come around.

Who wants this
lousy old star anyway?

It's a fine gift.

It's just not the
finest one you can give.

What'll I do?

Go get Ruby.

MR. CRUMBS: You've got to
get her out here somehow--

out here on the street, where
they can see each other.

And hurry, before her
mother and father leave.

OK.

[music playing]

Hurry!

What?

What's going on?

What are you doing, ducky?

Hey, where are you
going with my hat?

Come back here, ducky!

Come on.

It's too late at night
to be playing games.

He isn't going to make it.

He isn't going to make it.

[music playing]

Come back here.

This isn't funny.

No!

Ruby!

Oh my baby!

Mother, no!

No, Ruby!

No, don't run.

Honey, you got it all wrong.

Don't run away.

We love you.

The thought of having a new baby
in our house without you there

to help us love and take care of
it is tearing our hearts apart.

MADELYN: You
misunderstood, Ruby.

We didn't mean the things we
said the way you heard them.

Honey, we're a family,
and no matter what,

we will always need each other.

And no matter what happens,
we must always stay together.

We love you.

I don't want us to have
to go to the poor house.

Oh, honey.

I'm so sorry I said that.

It was just an expression,
a silly expression.

They don't even have
poor houses anymore.

All of us will be just fine.

I promise.

Really?

Mom.

Daddy.

MADELYN: My baby.

Oh, I was so afraid I'd
never see you again.

RUBY: I missed you both so much.

Don't ever think we don't
love you or don't want you ever.

Merry Christmas, Daddy.

I'll never ask for
another Christmas present

as long as I live.

I wonder if this was
Ruby's Christmas wish.

MR. CRUMBS I wouldn't
be a bit surprised.

I wished that Ruby and me
could always be together.

Oh, well, you've still got me.

Thanks.

[christmas music playing]

But I can't go
home without my duck.

Duck, what duck?

My duck.

We've been friends.

I haven't named him yet.

But you know, he
came and got me.

He stole my hat and made
me chase him out here.

He must have know you were here.

Of course, dear.

Well, heck, what's the
price of a little duck food?

You mean it?

We've got that little
pond out behind the house.

I'll bet your friend
would be very happy there.

Especially with
the new arrivals.

New arrivals?

But-- but wait, where is he?

Wait, wait, mom and dad said
you could go home with us.

Let's go.

Yippee!

Well, it looks as
though your Christmas

wish is going to come true too.

Come on.

Let's go.

Oh, no.

They'll let a duck
into that car,

but I'll wager they'll
draw the line at mice.

Then I can hide
you under my hat.

It took me all my life to
find this splendid little house

I have in that clock.

I'm even getting rather attached
to that infernal cuckoo bird.

Besides, I am a
mouse of distinction.

I need bright lights and
the excitement of the city.

Gosh, I'll miss you, Crumbs.

That's Mr. Crumbs to you.

I'll miss you, Mr. Crumbs.

And I shall miss you.

But remember if I am here, then
it will give you some place

to come on your vacation.

What is that duck doing?

Well, he has to say
goodbye to his mouse friend.

Of course, he does dear.

Don't you know
anything, Richard?

MR. CRUMBS: Enough
of this emotion.

You're smothering me.

Let go.

Now hurry before they go off and
leave and I'm stuck with you.

Goodbye!

I'll never forget you.

Nor I you.

Now go.

Nor I you.

MR. CRUMBS: The next
day at their house

in the country,
Ruby and her parents

shared a wonderful
Christmas morning.

MADELYN: What'd he say?

ROBERT: Well, it wasn't Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.

RUBY: Oh, great.

Thanks mom.

MADELYN: Of course, dear.

ROBERT: Hey, honey, before you
get too caught up in that one,

there's another one over
here with your name on it.

MR. CRUMBS: Omar,
on the other hand,

was beginning to feel
a little left out.

Something's wrong.

I got my Christmas wish, and
I love being here with Ruby.

But it's not like I
hoped it would be.

She has her own family
now, and she needs them

a lot more than she needs me.

I'm starting to feel like
I don't belong again.

Maybe I never will.

Wonder who that is?

Merry Christmas.

Hi, do you live here?

We're new.

We just moved in
our whole family.

You got something in your eye?

You want to play?

My name's Meredith.

This is Sutty.

He's my brother.

You want to play with him?

You don't think I'm ugly?

If you're ugly, I'm ugly.

Because you look just
like me, and I'm not ugly.

I think you're kind of cute.

What kind of ducks are you?

Ducks?

We're not ducks.

We're swans.

What's a swan?

You're a swan.

Is your mother a duck?

No, she's a swan too.

So is my dad.

I don't get it.

My mother was a duck.

My father was a duck.

My brothers and sisters
were ducks, but I'm a swan.

Look it.

Look at his head.

He really looks like us.

He's got that funny
little spot on his head.

The one that mama says
comes from Daddy's side

of the family.

Who's that?

That's my mama.

She's beautiful.

You mean I'm going to grow
up to look just like that.

I hope not.

Mom's a girl.

Hello, children.

Who's your handsome new friend?

She called me handsome.

Look, mama, he's got the
family curse, the spot.

What?

Why I've never seen a spot
like that on anyone but--

oh my goodness.

What is it, mama?

I didn't think it
could be possible.

Somehow my precious little
baby has come home to me.

What?

What do you mean?

You are my son.

A long time ago you
were stolen from me.

I was.

I tried so hard, but I
could never find you again.

You mean that guy's my brother
that you keep talking about--

the one that got lost
when he was an egg?

Yes, honey he is.

You mean I really am a swan?

I never thought I'd get to
see your beautiful little face.

Yes, darling, you're a swan.

Come here.

[splash]

Oh, I never thought
I'd get to hold you.

Cool.

I got a new brother.

Oh, yuck.

That means I just told my
brother I thought he was cute.

[laughter]

All this time I
thought I was a duck.

You'd made one ugly duckling.

But you make a beautiful swan.

Oh, this is the most
wonderful Christmas

present any of could ever have.

Come on, let's go
find your father

and tell him the wonderful news.

I had to introduce you to your
other brothers and sisters too.

So that's what you meant
about the new arrivals.

Uh-huh.

They just showed up yesterday.

Maybe it was fate.

I don't know about that.

I think this is just one year
where everybody's Christmas

wishes came true.

MR. CRUMBS: So Omar
and his family and Ruby

and her family all
joined together

to make one big happy family.

And believe it or
not, this city mouse

turned country mouse when
later I came to live with them.

But, well, that's another story.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

[music playing]