mister?
I don't believe it.
This guy ain't dangerous.
He may be off his rails a little bit,
but he ain't no thug.
And if he wants to call himself Santy Claus...
then god bless him.
Hello, Kriss.
Hello, Mr. Bedford.
What brings you out
on a miserable day like this?
A friend in need.
Hmm.
You failed your mental exam
on purpose, didn't you?
Huh. Why would I... do a thing like that?
I don't know.
Maybe you've served people long enough.
Maybe you've given all you have to give.
No.
Then why did you do it?
The charges against you were dropped.
The man you hit suffered no injury.
You could've been out of here
if you passed your exam.
I disgraced myself.
I read your transcript, Kriss.
You defended your honor.
You stood up for the dignity of every child.
That isn't a disgrace.
That's decency.
If I'm dismissed as a crazy old man...
then the good name of...
Santa Claus is spared.
That isn't true.
If not for you, there is no Santa Claus.
You are him.
Crazy or not, here or gone, you're Santa Claus.
Only if the children believe that.
And what kind of Santa Claus
were they believing in, anyway?
They can't look to me anymore,
not after knowing what happened
the other night.
Well, think about the other night.
A man was there to photograph the incident.
The man you hit was the man you replaced.
The cops told me this, Kriss.
The cops believe in you.
A lot of people do.
More will when we're finished.
Finished with what?
We are going on court.
There's a hearing Thursday to decide
if you're to be committed.
I'm going to defend you.
Together we're gonna prove that
there is Santa Claus and that you're him.
I'm ready, counselor.
Now, we have a few days to distance
ourselves from this scandal...
and restart our advertising.
Uh, Mrs. Walker, we are in conference.
I have just read your press release.
You are all such a bunch of cowards.
You really don't deserve to run the store.
You are entirely out of line, Mrs. Walker.
We have spent millions telling people
that we are the store that cares.
Well, what is it that we care about?
Profits? Ourselves?
Our jobs?
Well, what about one of our
own who needs us now?
And wh..what am I to do?
The public perception of Kriss
is that he's out of his mind.
He's dangerous.
We have to change that.
If... we stand with Kriss...
If we challenge the rumors
and the scandal sheets,
if we force the truth, we'll win.
Now, he's going into court with...
the best attorney in the city.
And he's going to prove
that Kriss is not... crazy.
For the sake of the whole company...
I think that all of you should decide
about whether or not you...
believe in Santa Claus.
Bring up two. Go.
For the last 75 years,
Cole's has invited Santa Claus...
to meet and greet the children
of New York city
in our 34th street store.
Cole's believes in Santa Claus...
and we will stand by him.
He has done nothing but serve the children
and the families of New York city...
and the world.
We invite you to join with us
and ask yourself this one simple question...
Do you believe in Santa Claus?
How are you doing?
Well, I have to confess,
I'm a bit uneasy.
You'll be fine.
All you have to do is tell the truth.
Who's that character in the gray suit?
That's the prosecutor.
Oh. Anything I should know about him?
Yeah.
He doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
All rise!
Oyez, oyez.
Let all those who have business
before this court come forward.
The honorable justice Harper presiding.
Draw near, and ye shall be heard.
You may sit.
Your honor, in the matter of Kriss Kringle,
the commitment papers are on your desk.
With your honor's permission
I'd like to call the first witness?
Mr. Kringle,
would you please take the stand?
Good morning, judge.
How's that grandson of yours?
The parade.
He thought I looked like Santa Claus.
Oh. Oh, yes.
You swear to tell truth, the whole truth,
nothing but the truth, so help you god?
Yes. Uh, don't I put my hand on a