don't.
Well, you are a very patient man.
Most guys are gone
after a few months of me.
So you admit that you're rough on men.
No, not just rough on men.
Yeah. I admit it. I'm careful.
At this point in my life, I really don't need
to be disappointed.
Do you want one of your
christmas presents early?
I got you a christmas present,
and I want to give it to you.
What is it?
Do you want it early?
Yes.
What is it?
Open it.
It's an engagement ring.
If I've given you a...
false impression of this relationship,
I'm very sorry.
Are you serious?
Have I ever given you any sign
that I wanted to marry you?
No.
Then, tell me, whatever possessed you
to make a presumption?
You know, I've done everything
I could to try to make you happy.
I love your daughter
like she's my own.
I loved you, getting nothing in return.
Never asking for anything in return.
I put my faith in you.
Well, if that's true,
then you're a fool.
- Taxi, please
- Certainly.
Mr. Bedford.
Kriss.
How was your night as a babysitter?
Oh. Very pleasant.
Susan's a good kid.
Yes. Delightful. Delightful.
Well, how was it?
I gave her an engagement ring.
Ohh. Ooh!
She didn't like it very much.
Well, perhaps your timing
wasn't particularly good.
Oh. Not at all.
She... she's a sad sort of person, isn't she?
It's a pity, really.
She's very kind...
but she's terribly careful about her emotions.
What I know about Dorey is pieced together
from fragments of a dozen conversations.
She was married in college,
he had a drinking problem,
And right after Susan was born
he took off and hasn't been heard of since.
She's filled with these, these bitter thoughts.
The worst part is she's dragging
Susan into this with her.
Ah, yes. Well, Susan is struggling with it.
But I get the feeling that she does want
to believe in me, you know.
She's a good girl.
She's loyal to her mother's wishes.
I can't fault that.
Of course, if I can't convince the mother,
I have no hope of convincing the child.
The tooth fairy told me that.
Well, your cab's here, Kriss.
I always wondered what guys who have to return engagement
rings Say to the sales clerk at the jewelry store.
Now I don't want to know.
I'm sure in your line of work
you can find some lucky guy to give this to.
That's very generous of you,
but I don't think this ring will ever fit anyone
Other than Mrs. Walker.
I'm sure you'll find somebody.
- I'm sorry.
- It's o. k.
I'll get over it.
Will Susan?
Well... I know what you want
for christmas now.
I'll see what I can do.
- Good night.
- Good night.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye!
Come on.
It's your turn to go up now.
Hello.
What do you want for christmas?
Excuse me, sir.
Could you please step aside?
This is for the children.
Hot little helper you got here, huh, Santa?
She the one that puts the, uh...
twinkle in your eye?
Hey, kids, you see that guy up there?
He's not really Santa Claus.
He doesn't even live at the north pole.
He lives in a nursing home on 140th street!
You know what he is?
He's a big... Fat... Fake!
Just a fake.
Ho ho ho.
Hey! Goofball!
Huh?
Yeah, you, numb-nuts.
What is a guy your age playing
this game for, huh?
I mean, are you just a lonely,
pathetic mental case?
Or does it go a little bit deeper than that?
Is there a darker side to this?
Tell me something, you sorry old cripple, you.
You got a thing for the little ones, huh?
Huh? Huh?
'Cause they ain't much good for
nothin' else, are they? Huh?
Stop that man! Quickly!
Get the cane away from him.
Come on.
I... I-I didn'tintend to injure him.
He baited me. He provoked me.
Save it for the cops, sir.
He's badly hurt.
Wait a second. You're-
you're cole's Santa Claus.
Cole's Santa Claus?
Oh... He... said the most... terrible th-Oh...
- Get away folks, please.
- Come with us.
All right, folks.
- Please. Step back.
- Take it easy, mister.
You might want to clear the kids out of
the room before we read this next story.
It