 The craft food company presents the Great Gildersleeve. I'm back! Well, it's the day before Christmas, and the Gildersleeve household is decked out merry and bright. In the living room, there's holly and mistletoe, and a Christmas tree glittering with tinsel, and upstairs... Well, who's that? Looks like old Saint Nick himself with his red coat and white whiskers. Let's take a closer look. Zeef! Well, it's our old friend the Great Gildersleeve. Oh, don't pull that belt so tight, Marjorie. All right, Uncle Moore. I've got to breathe, you know. That's better. And here's your cap. Here, let me put it on for you. That's all right. Hold still, Uncle. You don't want the tassel in your face. You can look in the mirror when I get through. I want to see what I look like. You look like Santa Claus. I do? Uncle, don't fidget. Well, hurry up. Oh, all right. Go look at yourself. Zeef! Not bad. I wouldn't know myself behind these white whiskers. Is the coat fit all right in the back? Yes, Uncle. Yes, I look pretty good, am I, G? Yes, you look fine. Better than the Santa Claus of Hogan Brothers, huh? Yes. Let's see. Hey, I look good sideways, too. Uncle, you don't be such a ham. I'm Santa Claus. It's all you, fellow. Oh, brother. You better take the costume off now and save it for tonight. Maybe you ought to wear it for a while, sort of get used to the character, huh? What an excuse. And guess you're right. I want to get it all wrinkled. As long as I got it on, might as well go down and show it to Bertie. As long as I got it on. Uncle, you're such a child. Yeah, I'll get in with Slade behind the reindeer and ride away. Giddy up! I'll give you careful. Come on, you reindeer. Giddy up, prancer and dancer. Come dunder, come blitzin'. No, Bertie, I just wanted to show you my costume. Oh! Boy, it looks fine, Mr. Gillespie. Glad you like it. Dr. Neatham asked me to play Santa Claus at his church tonight with the kids. That's nice. You sure fool me, Mr. Gillespie. If I didn't know it was you, I'd never have recognized you. Really? Yes, sir. You sure fool me with them whiskers and everything. And them boots. You sure look fat all right with that pillow stuck under your coat. Bertie, that's no pillow. Oh! Excuse me, Mr. Gillespie. That's all right. Guess I am getting a little stout. You feed me too well, Bertie. Oh, you want me to take the presents out of the closet now and put them under the tree? Please, Bertie. Gotta go down to Hogan Brothers and pick up Leroy's model airplane. Didn't you get that yet, Mr. Gillespie? Well, I haven't had time. But I'm going to get it right now. That airplane, that's all Leroy's been talking about. Yeah, I know. Model airplane, model airplane. Morning, noon and night. Yes, Bertie. That's all he talks about. Yes, sir. Sounds like Leroy. I'm going to get out of here before he starts asking me questions about that airplane. And see you later, Bertie. Santa Claus. That old spony had a pillow under there. And I guess I better establish some food controls around here. Come on in. Hi, Bertie. Hello, Leroy. And who's this little man? No, he's just a new kid. He said his Christmas tree was bigger than ours. It is bigger. Don't believe I ever saw him before. My name is Donald Robert White. I just moved here. Oh, a new friend. That's nice. He's an old friend of mine. He's just been hanging around here. He's a twerk. Oh, now, Leroy. He looks like a fine little boy. Donald, we got some nice cookies. Would you like one? Uh-uh. We got plenty of cookies at home. Nice and yours, all that. I told you he was a twerk. Well, if you change your mind, just come on out in the kitchen and ask for one. And take off your coats now, so you won't catch cold and you go out again. You see that tree? It's bigger than yours. It is not. It is too. It almost touches the ceiling. Arts touches the ceiling. Must be a low ceiling. Big room. Uh, this is big. And we have a chauffeur and a butler. I bet I'm going to get more for Christmas than you are. I bet you're not. I bet I am. I'm going to get all kinds of things. So am I. I'm going to get a model airplane. So am I. You're a twerk. And my model airplane is going to be bigger than yours. Go home and tell your mother she wants you. And I'm going to get a scooter, too. Beat it. And I think she's so smart. What do I care what he gets? Little twerk. That's a matter, my boy. No, that new kid was just over here. We're lagging about all the things he's going to get for Christmas. Oh. An air rifle, a scooter, a pony. Well, his folks are probably wealthy. Well, they are. They have a chauffeur and a butler. Oh, and you must remember, Leroy, that you're an old uncle, isn't it? Well, I don't want all those things. It could happen if he wants it. Just so I get my model airplane. That's all I want. Ah, yes. See you later, Leroy. Where'd you hide my airplane, Uncle? And that'd be telling. It was not up in the attic. I looked up there. It'll be under the tree tomorrow morning. Don't you worry. Sure, I'm not worried, Uncle. I know you won't let me down on Christmas. A little kid like me. Yeah, Carson. Or a toyland. Yeah, thank you. All these people wait a last minute to do their shopping. I like to fight my way over to the model airplanes. Excuse me. Excuse me, please. Madam, watch your elbow. Packed in here like tuna. Hot in here. Feel dizzy. Can't breathe. I'm going to faint. Guess I can't. No room to fall down. Made it. Just lean on the counter here a minute. Here's your package, Madam. Now, who's next? One at a time. One at a time. Please don't crowd. Clerk. What do you want, Madam? Clerk. Yes. I want to buy a model airplane. I'm sorry, they're all gone. Yes, Madam. What was it? Clerk. They can't be gone. Chemistry set, Madam. Right over here. Clerk. I've got to have one. I'm sorry, sir. Model airplanes are all gone. Sold the last one a few minutes ago. Clerk. You heard what he said, buddy. Get out of the way. Get somebody else a chance. I'll stand here as long as I want to. I'm a taxpayer. I surrender. Let me out of here. Pack of wolves. Lucky to get out of there alive. Now what am I going to do? No model airplane. But like tell me, Roy, you never forgive me. I wonder if that clerk was telling me the truth. But they got one around here someplace. Just too lazy to look. That's the trouble. What's that music? Santa Claus over there. A line of little kids waiting to see him. Say, he works here? Maybe I could get him to get me to... Sure. I'll just slip my $5 bill. Look at that little girl on his knee. And I want a mama doll and a set of play dishes and a great big dollhouse. All right, my dear. And I just mentioned a tricycle. You might just mention one. Well, you just be a good little girl and we'll see. Thank you, Santa. Now the next little... Santa Claus. Yes? I'd like to talk to you. What about? Well, Christmas present. Well, you're a little big to sit on Santa's knee. But you just get in line and Santa Claus will take care of it. I don't want to get in line. I just want to talk... You have to wait your turn. Those are Santa's rules. But Santa Claus, this will only take a minute. I'll be a good little boy in mind, Santa. You won't get anything for Christmas. But you don't understand, Santa. I just wanted you to get me a model airplane. Model airplane? All right. You just write a note to Santa Claus, care of the North Pole. What? You gods, look, you can say that stuff for the kids. I want to buy one. Please, Mr. These children are waiting. Well, the clerk said they were all out of airplanes. I thought maybe you could have a look around and see if you could find one. I'm sorry. I can't leave here. Make it worth your while. Here's $5. Put that money away. You can't bribe me. What? I... In front of all those kids, too. Want them to lose their faith in Santa Claus? Of course not. I'm Santa Claus. Remember that. I know that. Kids all over the world love me. I didn't say they didn't love me. You were trying to slip me a $5 bill. I'm sorry, Santa. I didn't mean to say it. Say it. Little boy's listening to us. Well, you want to spoil this Christmas? Come on. Make it sound good. Well, sonny. Huh? So you want an electric train for Christmas? And what else do you want? What? Come on. Tell Santa what you want. Sonny. Oh. Well, I want a set of grounds and some toy soldiers and a Mickey Mouse watch. Well, you just mind your mama and papa and Santa Claus will see that you get there. Oh, goody. Thank you, Santa Claus. And hot at all. Next, little boy. Fine Christmas this is going to be. Am I going to ever face Leroy? Snowing again, too. Not a model airplane in the whole town. Now, I hope this chemistry's set in par, so I'll make him feel better. Don't. You can just see a little Leroy's face looking up at me. Tears in his eyes. Because his old uncle let him down. Merry Christmas, Mr. Gildy Sleeves. Merry Christmas. What's merry about it? Like feeder crawls. Probably catch pneumonia. Serves me right. Anybody who would disappoint a little boy at Christmas is a scrooge. Gildy Sleeves. Stray dog. Look out, little doggy. I almost stepped on you. Cute little mutt. Kind of floppy. Get away now. Go on. Don't follow me. Go away. Now, here's the house. Might as well go in. Get this thing over with. Tell Leroy now. He's going to be broken hearted. You still here? No use looking at me like that. You can't come in here. Go away, little doggy. Go on now. Get your nose back. Hello, Leroy. What's in the packages? Leroy, I'd like to talk to you. What's the matter, Ronk? Leroy, maybe we better sit down. For corn's sake, what is it? Leroy. Yeah? There's something I want to tell you. You know, I promised you a model airplane for Christmas. Yeah, and you sure hit it good. I couldn't find it anywhere. My boy, I'm afraid you won't find it. What? I didn't get your model airplane. Oh, Leroy. You know that thing. I'm sorry, Leroy. I got you something else. I got you. Please, I'll just open the back door in any flue. Oh, that's the dog. Happy I am. Gilders leave, it's Christmas Eve. The great man is in a merry mood as he gets ready to play Santa Claus at the church party. Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle. He makes a jovial looking saint, Nick. As he picks up his sack of toys, throws them over his shoulder and starts down the stair. Oh, what fun it is to ride in one horse open sleigh. What's that? Who's Snowball? My dog. Well, quit crying. I'm sure he's around someplace. You come back. No, I won't let him. Donald, who's Donald? That new kid has been hanged at him. That little boy wouldn't take your dog, Leroy. A wealthy kid like him. He's got plenty of things to play with. I don't care. He stole him. Now, Leroy, we don't go around accusing people. Well, he did. That Snowball just sort of strayed away. He couldn't have gone very far. Why don't you go out and look for him? Will you help me look for him, Uncle? I can't, Leroy. I've got to play Santa Claus at the church pretty soon. Help me. But they'll be expecting me. I can't disappoint all those little kids. I'm a little kid. Leroy. You can find him yourself. You know I can't go running around the streets in this outfit. I'll never. I'll go help you look. Dad. Well, just for a few minutes. Come on now. Hold on here. Yeah. It's snowing harder, too. Oh, little dog. I can just see him lying in the snow somewhere. Oh, God, Leroy. He's probably warmer than we are. He's got fur. We've got to find him. We haven't started looking yet. Now, you go that way, and I'll go this way. We'll do this systematically, like the FBI. I can't. Snowball is probably sleeping under a nice warm stove someplace. Snowball. Snowball. That dog. I must have walked two miles. P.V. is still open. I think I'll drop in for a minute and get warm. Good evening, P.V. No, no. I think I'll just leave. Or should I say, Sandy Crosby. I'm giving out toys to the kids at the church tonight. No, if I may say so. Excellent criss-kringle. Thanks, P.V. And you've got the figure for it, too. Just a proper plumpness. Yes, P.V. You know, Mr. Gilles' leave looking at you brings back the question I used to ask myself when I was a boy. Well, what was that? How does a chubby fella like Sandy Crosby get down all those tiny chimneys? Well, I'm not going down any chimneys. I'm glad you hear that. What can I do for you this Christmas Eve? P.V., I'm looking for a dog. Well, drug stores carry a wide variety of merchandise these days, but I never heard of one of them selling dogs. Of course, it might be a new trend. I don't want to buy a dog, P.V. I'm looking for Leroy's dog. He's lost. Oh, sorry to hear that, Mr. Gilles' leave. They say a dog is man's best friend. Yes, sir. Of course, I wouldn't know myself if we have a cat. He isn't very friendly. When I come home at night, he spits at me. Hey, guys, all I want to know is, did you see anything look like a little dog around here? Well, I saw a little dog that looked like a dog. You did? What did it look like? It looked like a dog. P.V., was it a little white dog with a black spot on his nose? Well, yes. That's a fairly accurate description. That's the one, P.V., that snowball. Where'd he go? Well, I don't know. There was a little boy with him coming to get some candy. What? Cute little boy. I never saw him around here before. Leroy was right. That little boy took that dog. What's that, Mr. Galaxy? He stole it. He can't do this to Leroy. He's not going to get away with it. But, Mr. Galaxy, if you can't accuse him... You said yourself you saw him with the dog? Yes, but that doesn't... Why? He's nothing but a little criminal. He ought to be put in jail. Well, no, I wouldn't say that. Well, I would. Mr. Galaxy, I don't like to say this, but that's no way for Santa Claus to talk about a little boy. Well, I'm not Santa Claus. You certainly are. Goodbye and a Merry Christmas. And Merry Christmas. And, Judge, if they don't give that dog back, I'm going to take this case to court, and I want you to represent me. Gildy, this whole thing is ridiculous. You can't sue a little boy. Well, I can sue his parents. They don't frighten me. Show for butt lirts. Gildy, you're behaving like an idiot. It was just a stray dog, anyhow. My advice to you is to observe the spirit of Christmas and forget all about this. And you won't take the case? No, I won't. Well, you're no friend of mine. And you're no friend of mine. Oh! The commissioning. Well, are you the chief of police or aren't you? Yes, but you can't expect me to make an arrest on Christmas Eve. I don't care what it is. And with no evidence. P.V. saw him with the dog. But, Commissioner, he's just a little boy. That doesn't make any difference. And you? You dressed up like Santa Claus, too. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? No, I'm not. The fine chief of police you are. You ought to be back directing traffic. But, Commissioner. Never mind. I'll handle this myself. Hurry up, Leroy. Okay. Are you sure you know where this little rich boy lives? He's out with the big grey house down at the next corner. Well, we'll get that dog back, Leroy. Don't you worry. Sure, Ronk. I'll tell that boy's father a thing or two. So cat-hairy. And I'll show that kid, too. Little twerp. Sack of toys is getting heavy. So hurry up and get this over with so I can get down to the church. I'm late now. Well, this is the corner. See, this house can't be it. It's just a little place. He said I was on this corner. It must be some mistake. A wealthy family wouldn't live in a little house like that. Let's go in there. Maybe they can tell us where he does live. Yes? Oh, his Santa Claus. Well, just for tonight. I'm the water commissioner in town. It's Rockmoreton P. Yellowsleeve. I wonder if you could tell me... Won't you both come in? Yeah. Thank you. I'm looking for a little boy. I wonder if you could tell me where Donald White lives. Well, yes, he lives here. But he told Leroy that he lived... That he lived in a big house and had a chauffeur and a butler? Yeah. I'm afraid Donald has quite an imagination. He doesn't mean any harm. Oh, sure he doesn't. Are you his mother? No. No, he's my sister's boy. She and her husband just separated, so she left him with me for a while until she finds a job. Oh, I see. Oh, make him give me my dog. So he's staying here with you, eh? Yes. Things haven't been too good for them. And to make up for it, Donald has built an imaginary world of his own. That's why he tells all those stories. Then he isn't going to get all those things for Christmas? The scooter and a pony? No, I'm afraid not. I just have a few little things for him. I don't care. I want my dog. Funny how children think up all those things. Yes, it is. What was it you wanted to see Donald about? Well, you see, the dog... Oh, that's your dog. He brought it home this afternoon. I knew it belonged to someone in the neighborhood. Yes, my nephew's. Yeah, it's my dog. Oh, well, Donald said Santa Claus gave it to him. Said he could keep it. I was going to find out who it belonged to in the morning, but as long as you're here, you better take him. Well, uh... Right here in the bedroom. Oh, he's got the dog in bed with him. They're both asleep. Maybe we could come back tomorrow. Hank! Shh! Oh, well, be still. Donald? Oh, gee, Santa Claus, it's really you. Oh, thanks for the dog. Uh, Donald... I told her you gave it to me. But, uh... I told her, but she didn't believe me. Um, you know, Donald, Santa Claus has so much to do, he makes mistakes sometimes. What? And once in a while, he gets mixed up and gives a present to the wrong boy. Did you make a mistake, did you, Santa Claus? Well... I-I'm afraid he did, dear. Did you, Santa Claus? Well, you see... Donald, maybe next year he'll bring you and the dog. You gave the dog... Well, it looks like I did make a mistake, Donald. You see, the dog really belongs to... to... No! You didn't make a mistake, Santa Claus. Was I at Leigh Roy? It's Donald's dog. It is? Sure. I didn't want a dog in the first place. Then it's really mine? Sure. It's yours. Oh, gee. Uh, and Donald, I've got some toys for you in my sack. Here you are. A jumping jack and look atop Leigh Roy and the sack of marbles. Oh, thanks, Santa Claus. Merry Christmas, Donald. Merry Christmas. Thanks. Oh, thank you. Not at all. Well, Santa Claus has some more calls to make. Come on, Leigh Roy. My boy. Merry Christmas, everybody. Merry Christmas, Gilday. Nice of you all to drop over. Makes it a real Christmas day. I guess I don't deserve it the way I acted last night. You were just being your usual pig-headed South Gilday. Oh, look here, horse. Well, you were. Gentlemen, gentlemen, we may have our little arguments, but remember we're all friends. Yes, we're all true jolly boys, aren't we, Thore? Sure, Commiss. We gotta respect the Yuletide spirit. Let's have another drink of punch. Well, oh, Leigh Roy. Yes, Judge? There's a Christmas present for you out in the hall. Something special. Yeah, what is it? It's a model airplane. What? I knew your uncle would keep putting it off, so I picked it up yesterday afternoon. The last one. Oh. I was very thoughtful of you, Horace, old man. Thanks very much. It's all right, Gilday. You'll get the bill in the morning. Uncle, aren't we going to sing Christmas carols? Oh, carols. Oh, you're a good idea, Mindy. How about you starting it off, Birdie? Well, if you want me to, Mr. Gilday. That old English carol you sing at church every year. That's a lovely thing. All right, if you want me to. I'll play for you, Birdie. Okay. I think this would be the proper time for all of us to lift our voices in song. Now, may I suggest joining to the world? You may, Peavey. Come on, everybody. Joining to the world. Half of myself, the cast of the great Gildersleeve show, and our sponsor, the Kraft Foods Company, I'd like to add my heartfelt wish for a very joyous Christmas. May tomorrow's day of happiness and peace personify the happiness and peace that all the world is seeking.