The Polar Express

On Christmas Eve, many years ago,

I lay quietly in my bed.

I did not rustle the sheets.

I breathed slowly and silently.

I was listening for a sound

I was afraid I'd never hear.

The ringing bells of Santa's sleigh.

Aah!

All right. All right, Sarah, you had your water.

Now let's get you upstairs and into bed.

But-- But-- But I have to.

He said Santa would have to

fly faster than the speed of light

to get to every house in one night.

- So? - And to hold everyone's presents,

his sled would be bigger than an ocean liner.

Your brother said that?

He was just kidding you. He knows there's a Santa.

He said-- He wasn't sure.

He wasn't sure if Santa was for real.

Of course Santa's for real.

He's as real as Christmas itself.

But he won't come until you're sound asleep, young lady.

Sweet dreams.

Santa will be here before you know it.

So go to sleep.

Mm-hm.

"Stark, barren.

Devoid of life."

He's gotta be asleep by now.

He used to stay awake all night

waiting for Santa.

Think those days are just about over.

That would be sad if that were true.

Yeah, an end of the magic.

Merry Christmas, sweetheart.

See, he's out like a light.

An express train wouldn't wake him up now.

"End of the magic"?

All aboard!

All aboard!

Well? You coming?

Where?

Why, to the North Pole, of course.

This is the Polar Express.

The North Pole?

I see.

Hold this, please.

Thank you.

Is this you?

- Yeah. - Well, it says here

no photo with a department-store Santa this year, no letter to Santa.

And you made your sister

put out the milk and cookies. Mm-mm.

Sounds to me like this is your crucial year.

If I were you,

I would think about climbing on board.

Come on, come on, come on. I've got a schedule to keep-- Oh.

Suit yourself.

Hey. Hey, you. Yeah, you.

Do you know what kind of train this is?

- Huh? - Train.

Do you know what kind of train this is? Well, do you?

- Uh - Of course.

It's a magic train.

- We're going to the North Pole. - I know it's a magic train.

Actually it's a Baldwin 2-8-4 S3-class steam locomotive

built in 1931 at the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

It weighs 456,100 pounds and...

Are we really going to the North Pole?

- Mm-hm. Isn't that wonderful? - Look, everybody!

Herpolsheimer's! Herpolsheimer's!

Wow, look at all those presents. I want all of them.

It's so Christmassy and cozy and beautiful!

Tickets.

Tickets, please.

Tickets.

Ticket, please.

Try your pocket.

Try your other pocket.

Thank you, sir.

Hey, watch out, there.

Thank you, sir.

Uh-uh-uh. That is a public-address microphone. It is not a toy.

Boy, that guy sure likes to show off.

Look what that wise guy punched on my ticket.

- "L-E." What the heck does that mean? - Next stop, 11344 Edbrooke.

We're heading for the other side of the tracks.

Well? You coming?

Ah, it's just another pickup.

That's weird. I thought you were supposed to be the last one.

Why, to the North Pole, of course.

This is the Polar Express.

Suit yourself.

Hey, that kid wants to get on the train.

Come on!

Hurry up!

We have to stop the train.

- I don't know how. - Pull the emergency brake!

Who in the blazes applied that emergency brake?!

He did.

You.

In case you didn't know,

that cord is for emergency purposes only.

And in case you weren't aware,

tonight is Christmas Eve.

And in case you hadn't noticed,

this train is on a very tight schedule.

Now, young man,

Christmas may not be important to some people

but it is very important

to the rest of us!

But... But...

He was just trying to stop the train so that kid could get on.

Hmm.

I see. Young man, is that what happened?

Well...

Let me remind you we are on a very tight schedule.

And I've never been late before

and I am certainly not going to be late tonight.

Now, everybody, take your seats, please!

Thank you.

Your attention, please.

Are there any Polar Express passengers in need of refreshment?

- Me! Me! Me! - I thought so.

You know, Montezuma, the king of the Aztecs

would drink 50 quarts of hot chocolate every day.

It was thick as mud and red.

He put chili pepper in instead of sugar.

- Get it? Hot chocolate? - How do you know? That's not true.

- Where you going with that? - It's for him.

- I don't think we're to leave our seats. - It's a violation of safety regulations

for a kid to cross moving cars without a grown-up.

I think I'll be okay.

Are you sure?

What about this lad in the back?

Did he get any refreshment?

Uh-uh.

Well, let's take some to him, by all means.

Watch your step, now. Watch your step.

Uh-oh.

She forgot her ticket.

It hasn't been punched.

Hey, what are you doing?

You're gonna get us all in trouble!

Young lady, forgive me.