Thursday, December 25, 2008

George Seaton on the Spirit of Christmas

Fred Gailey (John Payne): You don't have any faith in me, do you? It's not about faith. It's just common sense. Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to. It's not just Kris that's on trial. It's everything he stands for. It's kindness, joy, love, and all other intangibles.

Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara): Fred, you're talking like a child. You're living in a realistic world! Those lovely intangibles aren't worth much. You don't get ahead that way.

Fred Gailey: ...Yes, I guess I expected too much. Someday, you're going to find out...that your way of facing this realistic world just doesn't work. And when you do, don't overlook those lovely intangibles. You'll discover they're the only things that are worthwhile.

Fred Gailey, Kris Kringle's attorney, to the cynical Doris Walker, Macy's Special Events Director, about the existence of Santa Claus in the touching Miracle on 34th Street.
Screenplay by George Seaton