ANNOUNCER: The Columbia Broadcasting System brings you a radio dramatization of the famous Christmas poem, "The Visit of St. Nick" by Clement C. Moore. MUSIC: FOR AN INTRODUCTION ... A QUICK CHORUS OF "JINGLE BELLS" ... THEN OUT SOUND: CLOCK STRIKES EIGHT MOTHER: (BEHIND ABOVE) There now, Sally Ann -- you're all tucked in. You all right, Teddy? TEDDY: Yes, mother. SALLY ANN: I'm too excited to sleep! Aren't you, Teddy? TEDDY: Yes. Where's daddy, mother? MOTHER: Oh, daddy's very busy tonight, dear. SALLY ANN: Well, will he be busy long? TEDDY: Why couldn't we stay up till he's through? MOTHER: (CHUCKLES) No, no, Teddy. You'll want to be wide awake in the morning. So be good children now, and cuddle down in your little beds. SALLY ANN: What'll we dream about, mother? MOTHER: Well, let's see. Let visions of sugarplums dance in your heads. BIZ: SALLY ANN, TEDDY AND MOTHER GIGGLE TEDDY: Oh, mother? MOTHER: Hm? TEDDY: I just thought of something terrible. MOTHER: What? TEDDY: Suppose Santa didn't get my letter about the airplane. MOTHER: Oh, I imagine he got it, Teddy. TEDDY: Well, when will I know? MOTHER: First thing in the morning. You'll know then whether he's been here, all right. Now go to sleep, both of you. SALLY ANN: Mother? Would you do me a favor? MOTHER: If I can, Sally. SALLY ANN: I think I could go to sleep quicker if you played the music box lullaby. MOTHER: (CHUCKLES) SALLY ANN: Will you, mother? MOTHER: All right. If you'll both shut your eyes tight. Good night, Sally Ann. Good night, Teddy. SALLY ANN: Good night. TEDDY: Good night. SALLY: Start the music box! MOTHER: (MOVING OFF) All right. Just a minute. MUSIC: MECHANICAL MUSIC BOX PLAYS A TINKLING VERSION OF BRAHMS' LULLABY SALLY ANN: (YAWNS, SETTLES DOWN TO SLEEP) MUSIC: TRANSITION ... AS ORCHESTRA JOINS THE BOX TO COMPLETE THE LULLABY SOUND: GRANDFATHER CLOCK TICKING, THEN IN BG ... SQUEAK OF WOODEN FLOORBOARDS MOTHER MOUSE: (CHIDES) Mildred Mouse! Don't you know better than to scramble across the floor and have it squeak like that? You'll wake the children. Come back here this minute. MILDRED: But I want to see! MOTHER MOUSE: Mildred! If you don't mind me, I'll spank you, just as sure as my name is Mrs. Cordelia Mouse. BILLY: But look at all the packages and things. MOTHER MOUSE: Never mind that, Billy. You two children stay right here in the corner under the chair, and be good little mice, and mind your mother. BILLY: Say, mother? Everything's awfully quiet around here tonight. MOTHER MOUSE: Of course it's quiet, Billy Mouse. It has to be. MILDRED: Oh, look, Billy. There's some cookies and cakes on the table. Let's run up the table leg and nibble a bite or two. MOTHER MOUSE: (ADMONISHES) Mildred Mouse! MILDRED: Ow! You pulled my whiskers! MOTHER MOUSE: I meant to. Those cakes are still in the box. They aren't to be opened until tomorrow. Besides, it's a tin box, and you'd both ruin your teeth. BILLY: Well, tomorrow night, can we have some, mother? MOTHER MOUSE: Yes, Billy. But right now, neither of you must stir. MILDRED: Why mustn't we, mother? MOTHER MOUSE: (INHALES SHARPLY) Don't you know what night this is? MILDRED: No. MOTHER MOUSE: (INHALES SHARPLY) BILLY: What night is it? MOTHER MOUSE: Such children, such children. Billy, suppose you ask Hickory Dickory Dock. Maybe he will tell you. MILDRED: Who ever heard of a mouse asking a clock anything? MOTHER MOUSE: Silly child. I guess you don't remember your lessons very well. Why, the first thing you ever learned was, "Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock." MILDRED: Oh, golly. I'd forgotten 'bout all that. BILLY: Mother Mouse is right. MOTHER MOUSE: Of course I'm right. And why would he do that, if not to ask Mr. Clock something? So go on, Billy. Ask him. Ask him what day this is -- and why we must all keep quiet. BILLY: All right. Give me a boost, Sis. MILDRED: (WITH EFFORT) Ooh. SOUND: THE MOUSE RUNS UP THE CLOCK ... RATCHET BILLY: Mr. Hickory Dickory, will you please tell us two mouse children what tonight is? And why we mustn't even move? CLOCK: (MONOTONE, IN TICK-TOCK RHYTHM) 'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. BILLY: Ooh, I see. But why are the stockings hanging up, please? CLOCK: The stockings were hung by the chimney with care In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. SOUND: THE CLOCK STRIKES ONE BILLY: (DISBELIEF) No! MOTHER MOUSE: (CALLS) Now, I guess you know, Billy. Come down, quickly. SOUND: THE MOUSE RUNS DOWN, LANDS ON THE FLOOR ... EVOKED BY RATCHET, THEN ONE TAP ON A WOODBLOCK BILLY: Who is St. Nicholas, Mother Mouse? And where does he live? MOTHER MOUSE: Oh well, now, that's a long story. It's longer than-- Oh, longer than your great-grandfather rat's tail. MILDRED: I love long stories! BILLY: Yes. Tell us, mother. MOTHER MOUSE: Well, will you be very quiet and promise to stay right here in the corner and listen? MILDRED: Yes, Mama Mouse! Yes! MOTHER MOUSE: All right. Sit up nice now. Shoulders back. That's it. (GASPS) Mildred, Mildred! MILDRED: Yes, mother? MOTHER MOUSE: Curl your tail around your feet neatly! MILDRED: Ooh! MOTHER MOUSE: Well! That's better. Now. St. Nicholas lives waaaaay up in the land of ice and snow. MILDRED: What does he do?! MOTHER MOUSE: Not so loud, Mildred Mouse. You will wake those two children. MILDRED: (WHISPERS, ENUNCIATES) What does he do? MOTHER MOUSE: All the year long, he's busy making toys and presents for all of the children. BILLY: Just hisself alone? MOTHER MOUSE: (INHALES SHARPLY) Billy -- what English! And to think that you live under the stairs of one of the most cultured families in the town. BILLY: I mean, all by himself? MOTHER MOUSE: Well, that's better. No, no. He has a whole staff of helpers. And then there's Mrs. St. Nicholas, of course, who helps him. MILDRED: When does he come to this house? MOTHER MOUSE: Just as soon as they get the sleigh packed, I suppose. My goodness, goodness, I'll wager they're busy up there right now. Yes, I can just hear the hammers going, the people scurrying back and forth-- (FADES OUT) SOUND: TRANSITIONAL PAUSE ... FADE IN NOISY WORKSHOP BACKGROUND (SAWING, HAMMERING, ET CETERA) ... UNANSWERED PHONE RINGS DURING FOLLOWING-- SPANGLES: (CALLS) Hey, give me a handle, buddy! ELF: (OFF) Handles are [?] in back of the sleigh! MRS. CLAUS: Spangles, shut the door to the workshop. SPANGLES: Yes'm. MRS. CLAUS: I can't hear myself think. SOUND: WORKSHOP DOOR CLOSES, MUTING MOST OF THE NOISE, EXCEPT FOR RINGING PHONE MRS. CLAUS: Oh, Spangles, you hurry up and help me get these electric trains finished, will ya? SPANGLES: Yes, ma'am. MRS. CLAUS: (CALLS) Santa Claus?! SANTA: Yes, Mama? MRS. CLAUS: You'll have to answer that phone. SANTA: (CHUCKLES) All right. SOUND: RECEIVER UP SANTA: (INTO PHONE) Hello? -- Hello, yes, Santa Claus Headquarters. -- No, it isn't too late to take a few more orders. What is it, please? -- Yes, a little girl with brown hair and brown eyes in Denver? Yes? You want a doll? -- Yes! What kind of a doll? -- Oh, I see; with golden curls. Oh, oh, my goodness, wait a minute, please. (CALLS) Mama? MRS. CLAUS: Yes? SANTA: Have we a little doll with golden curls? MRS. CLAUS: Well, I think so. Where are you, Curly Top? CURLY TOP: Here I am, Mrs. Santa. MRS. CLAUS: All right, we have one. SANTA: (INTO PHONE) Yes, it's all right. We have one. Now, is there anything else? -- Ah, a boy, eight years old. -- Yes? He wants a fire engine. Well now, just a minute. Spangles? SPANGLES: Yes, sir? SANTA: Have we any fire engines left? SPANGLES: I'll see. SOUND: NOISY FIRE ENGINE, WITH SIREN AND BELL MRS. CLAUS: Oh, my goodness, Spangles -- shut it off! SPANGLES: Yes'm. SOUND: FIRE ENGINE OUT SANTA: (CHUCKLES) All right. We have it. Both for Denver, Colorado. -- Yes, sure, Santa'll put 'em in his bag right away. Goodbye. SOUND: RECEIVER DOWN MRS. CLAUS: Now, turn on the switch, Spangles, and we'll see if the electric trains work. SPANGLES: Yes, ma'am. SOUND: TOY ELECTRIC TRAINS ROLL AROUND A TRACK MRS. CLAUS: Yes, they're all right. Oh, oh, Spangles. How 'bout that furniture for the doll house that goes to Kentucky? And that cowboy suit for that boy in Minnesota? SPANGLES: They're all packed, Mrs. Santa. MRS. CLAUS: Uh huh. SOUND: PHONE RINGS MRS. CLAUS: Oh! Oh, my goodness. Santa, you'll have to answer that. SANTA: All right. MRS. CLAUS: I've got to finish painting these sleds. Spangles, hand me that red paint. SPANGLES: Here you are. SOUND: RECEIVER UP SANTA: (INTO PHONE) Santa Claus Headquarters. -- Hello? Yes, Santa Claus speaking. (CHUCKLES) What do you want? A movie machine? (CHUCKLES) Well, now, have you had good grades in school? -- Uh huh. You have, huh? (CHUCKLES) You brushed your teeth every morning and night? -- All right, the machine's yours. I'll be going down to Toronto with it pretty soon. Goodbye. SOUND: RECEIVER DOWN MRS. CLAUS: Who was that, Santa? SANTA: A little boy down in Toronto, Canada. MRS. CLAUS: Oh, mercy. Well then, you'd better put the machine near the top of the pack. You'll get to Canada first. SANTA: All right. Say, how 'bout the hobby horse for that little Sally Ann girl? Is he ready, Spangles? SPANGLES: Oh, yes, sir. MRS. CLAUS: (AMUSED) Oh, is he ready! Heh! He's been nosin' in my pocket for sugar for an hour. (TO HORSE) Spunky! Go on in there and get packed up now. Shoo! Hurry up! SOUND: TINY TOY HORSE GALLOPS OFF MRS. CLAUS: Oh, I declare, Santa, you'll be late startin' in spite of all I can do. Oh, my sakes alive, where's my order list? SANTA: Here it is, Mama. SPANGLES: Here's the candy and nuts for the stockings. SANTA: I'll help you put 'em in the pack. MRS. CLAUS: Oh oh! Spangles? SPANGLES: Yes'm? MRS. CLAUS: Oh! How about the doll buggies? Did you ask the carpenters when they'd be ready? SPANGLES: Oh, yes, ma'am. They're just putting on the rubber tires now. MRS. CLAUS: Well, tell them to hurry. SANTA: Oh, and Spangles--? SPANGLES: Yes, sir? SANTA: Did the woodcutters finish those wooden soldiers yet? SPANGLES: Yes, sir. They're here. SANTA: Now, wait a minute. Don't that toy town band go with that order? MRS. CLAUS: Oh, wait, now, let me see my list. Uh, here we are. (READS) "One regiment of wooden soldiers and the army band to lead 'em." (TO SANTA) Yes, it does. Well, where is it?! Where's that toy town band?! SANTA: Here it is, Mama. Wind 'em up and let's see if it works. SOUND: SOLDIERS WOUND UP MUSIC: A TINY TOY BAND MARCH SOUND: WOODEN SOLDIERS AND BAND START MARCHING OFF MRS. CLAUS: Yes, it's all right. Now how about that--? (GASPS) My goodness, Spangles! Get those soldiers back in here! Why, they nearly marched right out of the door while we weren't looking. SOUND: WOODEN SOLDIERS THROWN INTO SANTA'S PACK, BEHIND-- SPANGLES: Well, get into the pack, you [men?]. Hurry up, now. Come on, get in there. (CHUCKLES) Oh, here's the sweaters and robes, Mrs. Santa. MRS. CLAUS: Well, put 'em in the pack, Spangles. (CALLS) Oh, Curly Top? CURLY TOP: Yes, Mrs. Santa? MRS. CLAUS: Better jump in there with those woolly robes so you'll be good and warm. SANTA: Oh, now wait a minute. How's your voice? Let's hear it. MRS. CLAUS: Oh, yes, for goodness' sakes. CURLY TOP: (SINGS) "On the good ship lollypop It's a grand trip to a candy shop." SANTA: (CHUCKLES) MRS. CLAUS: Ah, that's fine. SANTA: In you go. Oh, by the way, Mama. Where's that airplane? MRS. CLAUS: Which one? SANTA: Well, the one for Sally Ann's brother, Teddy. MRS. CLAUS: Oh, yes. Now, where is it? I saw it here just a minute ago. SANTA: Mmm. Maybe it's packed. MRS. CLAUS: No, it isn't. I have to paint the name on it. SOUND: TOY AIRPLANE BUZZES OVERHEAD, OCCASIONALLY HITTING THE CEILING MRS. CLAUS: Wha--? Well, do you hear that? It's that Roscoe Turner doll. Now wouldn't you know it? It's at the controls again. And scrapin' my ceiling! SANTA: (CHUCKLES, MUCH AMUSED, IN BG) MRS. CLAUS: (CALLS) Hey, you, Colonel! Come down here. Come down here this minute. (TO HERSELF) Oh! Oh, the idea. SOUND: TOY AIRPLANE COMES IN FOR A LANDING SANTA: Oh, I declare, Colonel. Can't keep you on the ground long enough to ask you what time it is. MRS. CLAUS: Go on now. Get in that pack, youngster. And the plane goes with ya. (EXHALES) Now then -- we're ready. Spangles? SPANGLES: Yes, ma'am? MRS. CLAUS: Are the reindeer hitched and ready? SPANGLES: Oh, yes, ma'am. SOUND: HARNESS BELLS JINGLE SANTA: (CHUCKLES) MRS. CLAUS: All right, then. Take the pack to the sleigh, Spangles. SPANGLES: Yes'm. MRS. CLAUS: Come on, Santa, let me help you into your fur coat. SANTA: (CHUCKLES) All right, Mama. (HE'S TICKLISH AND KEEPS RIGHT ON LAUGHING IN BG) MRS. CLAUS: (GRUNTS WITH EFFORT) Oh, say now, will you stop laughing long enough for me to button your coat over your little round belly? You shake when you laugh like a bowl full of jelly! SANTA: (LAUGHS) All right, Mama. Spangles? SPANGLES: (OFF) Yes, sir? SANTA: Sprinkle those reindeer with stardust so I can slip through the sky without being noticed! SPANGLES: (OFF) Yes, sir! SANTA: (MOVING OFF) Goodbye, Mama, I'll see you tomorrow sometime. MRS. CLAUS: (ADMONISHES) Santa Claus Saint Nicholas! SANTA: (OFF, MEEKLY) Uh, yes, Mama? MRS. CLAUS: Come back here and put on your rubbers. SANTA: (RELUCTANT) Aw. MRS. CLAUS: Mm hm! You're so anxious to get to those children you don't take a lick o' care o' yourself. SANTA: (PUTTING BOOTS ON, GRUNTS WITH EFFORT) MRS. CLAUS: Oh, and be careful of those chimneys when you slide down. Goodbye. SANTA: (MOVING OFF) G'bye, Mama. SOUND: DOOR SHUTS ... HARNESS BELLS JINGLE ... REINDEER TROT OFF AND TAKE TO THE AIR ... TRANSITIONAL PAUSE ... FADE IN GRANDFATHER CLOCK TICKING AND CHIMING MIDNIGHT BEHIND-- MOTHER MOUSE: And that, my dear little mouse children, is what happens in Santa Claus' house. Oh, my goodness! Here we've sat and talked, and it's twelve o'clock already. BILLY: Gee whiz, Mother Mouse, he ought to be here any minute. MILDRED: What happens now, mother? MOTHER MOUSE: Well-- SOUND: HARNESS BELLS JINGLE ... CONTINUES IN BG MOTHER MOUSE: Oh. Listen. Listen. (GASPS) There he comes. There he comes. Hide way back there in the corner now -- under the chair -- and don't you make a sound. SOUND: HARNESS BELLS AND FLYING REINDEER HOOVES APPROACH SALLY ANN: Teddy? Teddy? TEDDY: Huh? What is it, Sally Ann? MUSIC: ACCOMPANIES ALL THE RHYMING DIALOGUE HENCEFORTH-- SALLY ANN: Out on the lawn, there's a terrible clatter. Spring out of your bed and see what's the matter. Run to the window, quick as a flash! Tear open the shutters and throw up the sash! SOUND: WINDOW OPENS TEDDY: Sally Ann, look! Oh look, Sally dear! SALLY ANN: It's a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer! TEDDY: And a little old driver, so lively and quick. I know, Sally Ann, that's our blessèd St. Nick. SANTA: Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now, dash away! dash away! dash away all! SOUND: REINDEER HOOVES, LANDING ON THE ROOF SALLY ANN: They galloped right over the roof! SOUND: SANTA COMES DOWN THE CHIMNEY TEDDY: He's coming down the chimney, Sally Ann. Listen. SANTA: (CHUCKLES) SALLY ANN: There he is! TEDDY: Hello, St. Nicholas! SALLY ANN: He's all dressed in fur, from his head to his foot. TEDDY: And his clothes are all tarnished from ashes and soot. SALLY ANN: A bundle of toys he's got on his back. TEDDY: He looks like a peddler opening his pack. SANTA: (CHUCKLES) SALLY ANN: His eyes, how they twinkle! His dimples, how merry! TEDDY: His cheeks are like roses, his nose like a cherry. SALLY ANN: What a droll little mouth, drawn up to a bow. TEDDY: And the beard on his chin is as white as the snow. SANTA: (CHUCKLES) SALLY ANN: He's so chubby and plump, a jolly old elf. TEDDY: I laugh just to watch him, in spite of myself. BIZ: TEDDY, SALLY ANN AND SANTA LAUGH SALLY ANN: He speaks not a word. TEDDY: He goes right to his work. SALLY ANN: He's filled all the stockings. TEDDY: Now he turns with a jerk. SANTA: (CHUCKLES) SALLY ANN: (CHUCKLES) He's laying his finger aside of his nose. TEDDY: Goodbye, Santa Claus. Up the chimney he goes. SOUND: SLIDE WHISTLE ... HARNESS BELLS JINGLE, THEN IN BG, TILL FINISH SALLY ANN: He springs to his sleigh. SANTA: (SHARP WHISTLE) TEDDY: To his team gives a whistle. SALLY ANN: And away they all go, like the down of a thistle. SOUND: REINDEER HOOVES ACROSS ROOF SANTA: (LAUGHS) TEDDY: Hey, Santa! Say something before you go out of sight! SANTA: Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night! BIZ: SALLY ANN AND TEDDY LAUGH MUSIC: FOR A FINISH ... "JINGLE BELLS" ... CONTINUES IN BG, TILL END ANNOUNCER: You have just heard the radio version of "The Visit of St. Nick," adapted and produced under the direction of Nila Mack. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.