1. Hello! Merry Christmas,
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2. and welcome back
to Play of the Week,
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3. where each week a new play
is performed live
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4. in front of a studio audience
here in Cornley
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5. and broadcast to the nation.
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6. - I am Chris Bean,
the director.
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7. And I'm thrilled to present
tonight's Christmas play.
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8. - Before we begin,
let's meet the...
- Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris...
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9. - Yes.
- What noise
does a reindeer make?
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10. Clearly a matter
for rehearsals, Dennis.
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11. Before we begin,
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12. let's meet
the star of the show.
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13. Ladies and gentlemen,
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14. please put your hands together
for Father Christmas.
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15. Ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas.
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16. I've come all the way
from Lapland
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17. with my favorite two elves,
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18. Nistle and Nostle!
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19. Well, we've got
just enough time
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20. before the main event
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21. to meet some children from...
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22. the local area.
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23. All right, so who have we got.
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24. Right... Grace.
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25. Grace, what would you like
for Christmas, Grace?
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26. I'm not Grace.
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27. Why are you looking
at me, then?
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28. Don't make eye contact
if you're not Grace.
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29. - Who's Grace?
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30. Right, okay,
what do you want for Christmas?
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31. An Xbox.
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32. An Xbox?
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33. Are you sure that's the gift
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34. you prearranged
with the producers?
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35. Yes.
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36. Oh, ho, ho, ho,
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37. I think the producers agreed
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38. there was a £15 limit
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39. and you'd be getting a copy
of Robert Groves'
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40. Anything You Can Act,
I Can Act Louder,
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41. now with diagrams.
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42. And it's even signed
by the author, you see?
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43. "To Grace."
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44. That says "Grate."
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45. So sorry.
Let's fix that, shall we?
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46. There we are.
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47. Now it says "ungrateful."
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48. Right, let's do another.
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49. - What do you want
for Christmas?
- PlayStation.
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50. Right, no games consoles.
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51. That's not the budget
we're working with.
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52. Have an acting book.
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53. Right. What would you like
for Christmas, little girl?
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54. - I'm a boy.
- Oh, who chose these?
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55. All right, that's clearly
enough of that.
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56. Let's get on with the show.
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57. The actors are prepared,
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58. the stage is set.
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59. Please enjoy
"The Spirit of Christmas."
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60. Dreadful section.
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61. One Christmas Eve,
not long ago
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62. a sweet little girl
built a man out of snow.
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63. She sighed as she played
in the cold winter air
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64. for she had some worries
she needed to share.
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65. Hello, Mr. Snowman,
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66. you're going to be
my best friend.
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67. And I won't say that again!
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68. What do you want me
to do, Maude?
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69. I've been running errands
all day for you,
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70. picking up all the food.
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71. It's 8:00
and I've still got to prepare
all this for tomorrow.
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72. Fine. What can I do to help?
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73. Cut up these chicken breasts,
will you?
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74. Try not to make
a mess of it.
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75. I see you got
the cheap sausages.
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76. - Daddy, can we do a cracker?
- Of course we can.
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77. The crackers are for tomorrow.
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78. Maude, just let her
pull a cracker.
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79. It's Christmas Eve,
for goodness sake!
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80. Why don't you decorate
the tree?
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81. Oh, can we?
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82. I'll do the baubles
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83. - and you can do the tinsel.
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84. Make sure
you spread it out evenly,
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85. I don't want it
looking silly.
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86. Oh, no, where's the...
Where's the star?
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87. Oh, I can't see it.
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88. What? You've lost
my grandmother's star?
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89. I haven't lost it,
I just can't find it
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90. I can't trust you
with anything, can I?
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91. You know what,
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92. I think I need some air.
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93. When is Daddy coming back?
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94. I don't know, darling.
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95. Can I sleep
downstairs tonight
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96. so I can wish him
a happy Christmas
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97. when he comes home?
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98. Of course you can,
sweetheart.
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99. And I'll put out
some sherry for Santa.
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100. Bring it down.
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101. Away went Belle's letter,
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102. high up in the sky.
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103. She just had to wait now
for Santa's reply.
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104. Would he have the answer?
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105. Could this do the trick?
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106. Belle put her trust
in kindly Saint Nick.
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107. She lay down her head,
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108. her heart full of care,
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109. dreaming that Santa
would answer her prayer.
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110. Ho, ho...
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111. Oh, come on!
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112. My sack's caught
on the flue.
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113. You can't say that.
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114. Of course I can,
it's a literal sack.
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115. Not talking about
my balls, am I?
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116. Okay,
now my actual sack is caught.
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117. Robert? Robert.
Be careful.
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118. Be careful, Robert!
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119. Hand me the gifts.
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120. Bloody acting books!
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121. Oh, sorry.
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122. Come out!
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123. Wake up, dear one.
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124. - Santa?
- Ho, ho, ho!
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125. That's right.
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126. I received your letter,
Belle,
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127. and it moved me greatly.
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128. Are you sad, Belle?
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129. I am, Santa.
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130. Belle's sad.
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131. - Aw!
Aw!
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132. What are you doing?
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133. Do not participate.
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134. Unbelievable.
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135. God, I just feel
so dreadfully low.
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136. That just won't do!
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137. But don't worry,
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138. because I've brought
my two elves
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139. to come and help you.
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140. Come along, Nistle!
Come along, Nostle!
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141. Here I come!
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142. Hello, Santa!
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143. And here I come!
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144. I'm coming.
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145. I'm on my way.
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146. Almost.
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147. Al...
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148. Ah.
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149. I shall remain.
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150. Nistle and Nostle
are the happiest two el...
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151. Two elves in all of Lapland.
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152. That's because
we're the closest of friends
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153. and wherever
you see Nistle...
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154. You're sure
to see Nostle!
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155. ♪ The fun never ends
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156. ♪ Never despair!
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157. ♪ Nostle goes
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158. ♪ Nostle goes...
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159. Ah!
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160. Hey!
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161. Well. That was good.
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162. Ah, Belle,
I see you've left me
some sherry.
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163. How delightful.
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164. It's real sherry.
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165. And some mince pies.
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166. Delicious!
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167. Delicious.
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168. But Belle, you said
in your letter
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169. you don't feel
the spirit of Christmas
this year.
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170. That's right, Santa.
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171. Aw, well, this is serious.
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172. Why don't you both
have a mince pie?
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173. And I'll have another nip
of sherry
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174. and we'll solve
our troubles together.
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175. Yes, we will!
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176. Just another nip.
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177. Just a couple more nips.
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178. Just a couple more nips.
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179. That's a lot of nips.
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180. - Are you
really going to help me, Santa?
- I will, in a minute.
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181. I'm just working
on something else
quite complicated here.
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182. Ah! Stop it! Stop! Stop!
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183. Right, get out of the way!
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184. That really was
too many nips.
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185. - Santa?
- Hmm? Yes.
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186. Well, in difficult times
what you need is
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187. a magfastic fagical friend.
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188. A fanfastic magifal...
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189. A fantastic vaginal friend.
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190. A friend. A friend.
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191. Perhaps an old friend
of mine
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192. can be
a new friend of yours.
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193. ♪ When you're feeling blue,
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194. I can take it from here.
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195. Everybody!
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196. Go on! Go on!
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197. Oh, you've missed it now.
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198. You missed it.
That's the end.
You say it there.
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199. Right now...
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200. Right now,
we're going to do it.
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201. We'll do it, "On his way."
Three, four...
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202. Terrible.
Absolutely terrible.
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203. Again.
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204. ♪ Way
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205. No, it's a D Flat.
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206. We'll call it there
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207. Don't patronize me.
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208. Right, let's meet a new friend.
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209. Right, stand back everyone.
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210. Get ready to see some magic!
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211. Hello, Santa!
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212. Hello, Mr. Snowman!
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213. Merry Christmas,
my old friend.
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214. Well, if you've called on me,
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215. that must mean someone's lost
their Christmas cheer.
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216. That's right.
Come inside and meet Belle!
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217. I'll have to be careful
I don't melt!
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218. Oh, get over yourself.
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219. Hello, Belle!
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220. Hello, Mr. Snowman!
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221. It's very nice to meet you!
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222. I'm going to be
your new best friend!
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223. Give me a hug!
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224. Yay!
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225. We're going to
have so much fun!
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226. We can play together.
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227. Every day's an adventure
in the snow.
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228. This is not
your best work, Chris.
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229. I'm always happy
to make a new friend.
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230. There we go, Belle.
Don't you feel better now?
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231. Yes, thank you, Santa.
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232. Much, much better.
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233. Oh, don't cry.
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234. Us elves don't like it
when people cry.
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235. I can't bear to look.
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236. I'm sorry.
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237. It seems like nothing
can bring back
my Christmas cheer.
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238. Sometimes everyone feels sad.
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239. Denise left me.
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240. I've not gotten over that.
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241. I'm sure I can cheer
Belle up, Santa.
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242. Most of the time I'm fine
and then...
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243. bam!
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244. It hits you.
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245. I'm always happy.
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246. Why? You're
essentially enslaved.
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247. Why don't you take a look at
what gifts Santa has brought
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248. and see
what there is for you?
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249. Can we help you?
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250. No! No it's fine.
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251. I've got it.
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252. I've practiced this.
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253. Yeah!
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254. There!
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255. It's a new doll!
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256. Aw, thank you, Mr. Snowman.
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257. It says on my list
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258. that dolls
aren't Belle's favorite toy.
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259. - This calls
for the toy machine.
- Of course!
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260. We can make it appear
by magic!
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261. Can't we, Nostle?
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262. I think
I'm running out of air!
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263. That's right!
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264. - Ready, Nostle?
Ready!
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265. Here we go.
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266. Three.
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267. Two.
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268. One!
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269. Wow!
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270. This is
the magical toy machine.
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271. It can make anything
you can dream of.
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272. Any toy imaginable.
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273. Not rude stuff, obviously.
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274. Tell me, Belle,
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275. what are your favorite things
in the world?
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276. Unicorns!
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277. I think we can manage that,
can't we, Nostle?
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278. My legs are numb!
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279. And here we go.
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280. Here we are.
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281. One unicorn.
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282. Oh, he's...
He's beautiful.
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283. And it's time for us
to be on our way.
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284. Of course. Lots more toys
to be delivered!
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285. But look, Santa,
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286. Belle's still crying.
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287. What is it now?
What a drain.
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288. Christmas is hard
for all of us, you know.
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289. Where are my gifts?
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290. Think about that.
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291. What's wrong, Belle?
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292. Oh, I'm sorry.
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293. Thank you.
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294. I love my new friend,
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295. and my new doll
and my new unicorn...
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296. but I just still
don't feel very happy.
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297. Something else
must be wrong.
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298. Something else
must be wrong!
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299. Come on guys, switch on!
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300. Belle?
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301. What's all that noise?
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302. Oh, it's Mummy! Hide!
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303. Quickly,
behind the curtains.
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304. Belle?
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305. Are you awake, darling?
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306. Sleep well, sweetheart.
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307. Lawrence...
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308. When are you coming back?
It's gone 10:00.
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309. What do you mean you're not?
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310. It's Christmas Eve
and we're all alone.
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311. Belle's counting on you.
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312. I'm counting on you.
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313. Merry Christmas, Belle.
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314. Now I know
why you're so sad.
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315. Oh, Belle,
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316. family is
the most important thing
in the world,
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317. especially at Christmas.
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318. Oh, no!
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319. Did you enjoy that, Belle?
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320. Not even that lifted my spirit.
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321. Lifted mine.
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322. Do your parents
fight a lot, Belle?
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323. My mummy
and daddy fight all the time.
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324. And the truth comes out!
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325. I don't want presents
or even friends,
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326. all I want is
for my parents to be happy.
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327. It's like Nostle always says.
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328. I'm horribly burned.
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329. I just don't know
what else we can try.
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330. My buttons are made of biscuits.
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331. We could all eat those.
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332. Thank you, Mr. Snowman!
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333. Mmm.
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334. Did that taste good?
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335. Yes.
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336. Didn't make you happy though,
did it?
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337. I'm afraid not, Nistle.
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338. Of course it didn't.
She just ate a plastic button
off his pants.
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339. Oh, Santa, remember,
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340. we have still have presents
to deliver tonight,
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341. all over the world.
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342. I'm sorry, Belle.
Nipple's right.
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343. We have to go.
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344. Come on, Nozzle.
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345. We must return
to the chimney.
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346. You're already in
the chimney, you fool.
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347. The sleigh's
in the garden anyway.
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348. None of this play
makes sense.
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349. I shall return to the snow.
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350. This is not
your best work, Chris.
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351. - Santa! It's time to leave.
- Hmm!
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352. Goodbye, Belle.
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353. Merry Christmas.
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354. Oh!
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355. Oh, Santa, now you look sad.
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356. I've never failed
to bring Christmas cheer
to a little one before.
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357. It is a sad, sad Christmas.
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358. And we've never known
the magical toy machine
not to work.
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359. What a car crash.
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360. - But Santa, look!
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361. Sleep tight, Belle.
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362. Lawrence?
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363. Look what I found.
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364. Is that the Christmas star?
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365. Yes.
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366. Oh, thank you
so much, darling.
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367. It must have fallen out
on the garden path
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368. when I was bringing in
the decorations.
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369. Splendid.
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370. Now it really feels
like Christmas.
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371. Mummy? Daddy!
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372. Oh, sorry, Belle.
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373. I didn't mean to wake you.
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374. Have you stopped fighting?
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375. Yes, Belle.
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376. Yes, we have.
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377. I'm sorry I lost my temper.
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378. I thought you were fighting
because of me.
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379. Of course not, sweetheart.
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380. I'm sorry
for arguing with you, darling.
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381. Christmas isn't a time
for fighting.
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382. It's a time for love,
kindness and understanding.
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383. You stupid man.
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384. I hope you have
a bad Christmas.
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385. Oh, Santa.
Look how happy Belle is now!
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386. Perhaps we weren't
needed here after all.
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387. All she needed was
the love of her mother and...
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388. Oh, this is saccharine crap.
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389. Give it six months,
he'll be living in his car
like I am.
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390. Don't feel bad,
it's a Honda Civic.
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391. Right, time for bed,
I think,
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392. or Santa won't come!
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393. I'm already here, you idiot!
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394. Merry Christmas, Belle.
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395. Oh, thank you, Santa!
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396. Thank you, Belle.
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397. Let's have another one
of those sherries.
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398. No, I don't think
that I should.
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399. I'm only a little girl.
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400. You're 26.
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401. Right, come on.
Final hurdle, here we go.
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402. What have
you learned?
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403. Well, I've learned that
at Christmas
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404. I don't need presents
and toys.
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405. As long as I have
my family in my heart,
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406. I know I'll be happy.
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407. Have you learned anything
tonight, Santa?
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408. Not really.
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409. - Nothing?
- No, I'll tell you
one thing I have learnt.
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410. Christmas, ultimately,
commercial holiday.
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411. Who's the real winner
at Christmas?
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412. I'll tell you who.
Amazon.
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413. They have drones now.
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414. Tiny little dystopian sleighs
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415. delivering iPads
and headphones.
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416. I ordered a toaster,
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417. it was on the doorstep
five hours later.
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418. Do we need that?
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419. It was 4.99.
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420. For a toaster!
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421. I mean, someone's
being exploited there,
aren't they?
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422. Santa, I think we should...
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423. I know! I know!
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424. I expect you're all going
to write in, aren't you?
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425. Typical BBC audience.
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426. Nothing better to do
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427. than sit around complaining
about my conduct.
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428. Well, this time
just leave it.
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429. All right? Leave it.
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430. Don't cut away.
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431. We've had enough complaints
this series,
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432. no one even reads them
anymore.
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433. Do you know
what we do with them?
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434. We burn them.
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435. In a massive weekly bonfire
in the car park.
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436. Which ironically generates
a lot of complaints.
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437. Santa, I think we should go.
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438. Oh, yes, walk away!
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439. - Just like Denise!
Oh!
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440. Am I giving
a good performance?
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441. Aw! Bye-bye, Santa.
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442. Wow. Hint taken.
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443. Let's roll.
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444. Hello, Rudolph.
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445. Chris, you're having
a shocker.
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446. - Bye, Belle!
- Bye, Santa!
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447. Are you ready, Rudolph?
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448. Clearly a matter
for rehearsal, Dennis.
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449. Remember, little ones,
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450. if you're ever worried
about a thing,
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451. I'll come to your house.
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452. A merry Christmas to all
and to all a good night.
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453. Belle's family were reunited.
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454. They were full
of festive cheer.
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455. All looking forward
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456. to a happy new year.
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