memorial day.
They downgraded him.
In essence, the church walked away
from saint nicholas.
Doesn't it also stand to reason
that they would walk away
From the derivative, diluted,
secular figure of Santa Claus?
I... presume so.
Thank you... Dr. Hunter.
But the church has not made it clear
what its pos-
No further questions.
It's all right, Kriss.
He's just trying to get under your skin.
Colonel.
Have you ever been to the north pole?
Yes, sir.
In 1972 and again in 1984.
Did you explore the region?
Extensively.
Did you ever find
any evidence of dwellings...
animal pens, barns, workshops?
No, sir.
No evidence whatsoever?
None, sir.
Tell me something, colonel.
In your opinion, would it be possible
for an individual Like, uh,
Mr. Kringle over there
to create a settlement in that
Inhospitable region
large enough to manufacture
at least one toy
For each and every one of the earth's
1.7 billion children?
No, sir.
There isn't any way in which the gentleman
can have seen my workshops.
They're invisible.
Kriss, sit down, please.
But Mr. Collins is completely mistaken.
My workshops don't exist
in the physical world.
They're in the dream world.
Let me be the lawyer.
I always thought that was
completely understood.
Your honor... with the court's permission,
I'd like to call my next witness.
Mr. Collins, what is this?
This... is a reindeer, your honor.
I know, but what's it doing
in my courtroom?
I'd like the court to see Mr. Kringle
make the reindeer fly.
He's baiting you.
He wants you to lose your temper.
He wants you to act crazy.
Remember that.
Mr. Kringle... we're waiting.
Well... Isn't it.
Well, I would greatly like to oblige Mr. Collins,
but I cannot make this reindeer fly.
I didn't think so.
He only flies on christmas eve.
Yes. Of course.
No further questions, your honor.
Then would somebody please remove
the witnes-
the animal from the courtroom?
Your honor, the state of new york
has no desire in laying waste
to a popular myth,
but this case is not about mythology.
It's about the mental competency of a man-
that man Kriss kringle.
Everyone in this courtroom,
if they were entirely honest
with themselves,
Would have to conclude based on
the evidence that Mr. Kringle,
regrettably, is insane.
As a sworn guardian of the laws
of the state of new york,
As a citizen and a father,
it is my wish that Mr. Kringle,
Who masquerades as Santa Claus,
a figure of benevolence
And generosity,
but who does so solely for profit-
That's not true!
Your honor.
Mr. Kringle will refrain from comment,
or he will be removed from the courtroom.
Sit down. Sit down, Kriss.
Your honor,
I was not aware that cole's department
store was a charitable Institution.
If it is, I'm more than willing to apologize
to the court and to Mr. Kringle.
I didn'tthink so, your honor.
As I was saying before I was
so rudely interrupted,
it is my wish that Mr. Kringle be placed
under the care of the state
so that the children of new york
will no longer be put at risk.
Hey, you big jerk!
Mr. Kringle's the nicest man in the world!
He'd never hurt anybody!
Order!
Order!
- Sit down!
- Order! Order!
I have nothing further to say, your honor.
Kriss, sit down. We're almost through.
Honey, it's o. k.
Mr. Bedford... do you wish
to make a closing statement?
Your honor,
a lot of people believe in Mr. Kringle,
including millions of children.
If you rule against him, you won't destroy
anyone's belief, just the man they believe in.
Mr. Kringle is not concerned for himself.
If he was, he wouldn't be here.
He is in this regrettable position
because he is willing to sacrifice himself
for children to create in their minds
a world far better than the one we've made for them.
If this is, as Mr. Collins suggests,
a masquerade,
then Mr. Kringle is eager to forfeit his
freedom to preserve that masquerade,
To subject himself to prosecution,
to protect the children's Right to