(An instrumental version of the song continues playing as we cut to Phillip, alone in New York. He and Beth had stopped in a coffee shop, and Phillip had the chance to make some money by helping someone move a piano. Reluctantly, he left Beth alone, but in the company of a friendly sidewalk Santa. However, upon returning to the diner Beth—and their car—were missing. All that was left was a small sketch of the sidewalk Santa.

We pick up the action as a panicked Phillip starts running around New York City, searching for Beth by accosting sidewalk Santas and comparing them to her drawing. He sees one Santa—it’s not him. He spots another one across the street, darts into traffic, hurdles two benches and turns the Santa around. Wrong, once again. Next we see, he’s running full speed down a very crowed Central Park West. When he gets to Central Park South, he sees him—THE sidewalk Santa. Once again darting into traffic, he yells).

Phillip:
Hey! Hey! (Reaching the Santa, he turns him around and shakes him). Where’s Beth? What’d you do to her? Where is she?

(COMMERCIAL)

Phillip (Still shaking Santa):
Where’s Beth?

(Nick turns around and points. Beth is seated on a bench, sketching. She looks up).

Beth:
Phillip!

Phillip (Running over to her):
Beth! (He hugs her and picks her up). Where did you go? I thought something happened to you. You scared the hell out of me.

Beth:
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. But I thought you’d be longer doing the piano.

Phillip (Sighs):
Beth…

Beth:
I was going to go back to the coffee shop.

Phillip:
Beth, this is New York. You can’t just do that here. You can’t just run off with anybody.

Beth:
But he’s not just anybody. He’s Santa Claus. (Phillip groans). You wanna meet him?

Phillip:
No, I don’t want to meet him. I want to get out of here. Come on. (They start gathering Beth’s art supplies).

Beth:
Look. Look at how much money he helped me make.

(She shows Phillip a box full of bills).

Phillip:
Where did you get that?

Beth:
I sat here and I made almost ten dollars! Isn’t that great?

Phillip:
Yeah, it’s great. (Hurrying her). Come on, let’s go.

Beth (As Phillip hurries her off, she yells to Nick):
Bye! Thank you! (Stopping Phillip). Phillip! I didn’t want to be rude to him.

Phillip (Looking suspiciously at Nick):
Look. There are people looking for us by now. Be sensible. We can’t trust anybody.

Beth:
But he’s such a nice old man.

Phillip:
I don’t care. Come on.

(They leave…and Nick follows.)

We cut to the Bauer home. Ed, Maureen and Rick are entering. Maureen is upset).

Maureen:
New York? Tonight? By yourself?

Rick:
Please, Maureen. New York is great at Christmas time!

Ed:
But why are you going to New York now?

Rick:
Because…because it’s the longest break of the year. I mean, I don’t start school for a long time. I’ve been caught up on my reading and…and…well, dad, I just thought it’d be good for me to get a little more independence, you know what I mean?

Ed:
All right. You just want to get out of here for awhile, right?

Rick:
No. Not from you two. Just from Springfield, I guess. You know, I’ll be tied up in this med school program for a long time, and I’m living at home. I just thought it’d be good for me to get away for awhile, you know?

Ed:
I think I understand.

Maureen (Looking at Ed):
Well, I don’t! (Pause, standing and going to Rick) Well, Rick, (giving him a hug) have a wonderful time, hon.

Rick:
Thanks, Mo.

Maureen:
And be careful, ‘cause we’ll worry about you, you know that.

Rick:
I will.

Ed:
Yeah, we’re going to worry about all of you, Rick.

Rick:
Dad?

Ed (Standing):
Well, you’re going there to see if you can find Phillip and Beth, right? I mean, isn’t that what Alan told you? That they were in New York?

Rick:
Yeah. Yeah, Dad, I have to do it.

Ed:
I’m proud of you. (Gives Rick a hug). I’m proud that you care so much about your friends.

Rick:
Thanks, Dad.

Ed:
But I am a little bit worried you’re getting in over your head.

Rick:
Don’t worry, Dad. I’m going to be careful.

Ed:
All right. (Puts his arm around Maureen). You know, we were wondering when we were going to look over and see a man there instead of a little kid. I think maybe that day has come. And please, wish Phillip and Beth a Merry Christmas for us.

Rick:
That’s if I find them.

Ed:
And have a good Christmas yourself.

Maureen:
And a safe Christmas!

Rick (walking away):
I’ll be careful, all right?

Maureen:
All right.

Rick:
I’m going to get packed…oh, and by the way, if Mindy calls…

Maureen:
Yeah, we won’t say anything.

Rick:
Thank you.

(He leaves).

Maureen (Draping her arms around Ed):
I just hope that our baby turns out to be as good and strong as Rick.

Ed:
Oh, how can it now be, with you for its mother?

(They kiss.)

(Cut to Phillip and Beth in New York. They are sitting on a curb—Phillip has just told Beth that their car was stripped).

Phillip:
It’s okay.

Beth (Upset and standing up):
I don’t believe it.

Phillip (Getting up after her):
It’s all right.

Beth:
I don’t believe it.

(Nick is following them in the background).

Phillip:
It’s okay.

Beth (Pause):
They took everything?

Phillip (Arm around Beth):
Yep. They sure did. They stripped her clean.

Beth:
There’s nothing let to sell.

Phillip (Quiet, shaking his head):
No.

Beth (Panicking):
What are we going to do, Phillip?

Phillip (Trying to calm her):
It’s okay.

Beth:
We don’t have any money. What are we going to do?

Phillip:
It’s all right. Beth, listen to me. It’s okay. We’ve got each other, right? That’s all we need. (Being playful). We’re tough. Come on, remember?

Beth (laughing):
I don’t believe you.

Phillip:
What?

Beth:
You’re always the one who’s so practical and I’m the dreamer.

Phillip (Nodding):
Yeah.

Beth:
We need money, Phillip. We have to find a place to sleep and we have to eat.

Phillip:
I know, I know, I know, I know. We’ll be okay.

Nick (Interrupting):
Merry Christmas, children.

Phillip (Angrily pointing at him):
What are you following us for?

Nick:
I think I can help you.

Phillip (Grabbing Beth’s shoulder and turning her away):
Come on, let’s get out of here.

Beth (Stopping him):
Phillip! Phillip, Phillip, Phillip—wait! He wants to help us. (Phillip starts to say something—she cuts him off). I know we can trust him. I know we can.

Phillip:
No, you don’t know that we can trust him. We don’t even know who he IS. Now let’s go.

Beth:
Phillip!

Nick:
So why don’t we introduce ourselves?

Phillip (Angry, still trying to pull Beth away):
I’m Pat. She’s Mike, okay. (Realizing his mistake) I mean…

Nick (Laughing and shaking Beth’s hand):
Hello, Mike.

Phillip (Sarcastic):
Very funny. Who are you?

Nick:
Why, Santa Claus.

Phillip:
Yeah.

Nick (Pointing across the street to Central Park):
Just follow me.

(Phillip puts his arm on Beth’s shoulder, but she gently stops him by doing the same.)

Nick (At the corner, waving for them to follow):
Come on.

Beth:
Please. Just come on, Phillip.

Phillip:
We’re not going to follow this guy!

Beth:
Yes, we can. He’s all right.

Phillip:
Beth, we don’t know who he is. We’re not…

Beth:
Phillip, I know in my heart he’s all right. Come on.

Phillip:
You know in your heart? (Nick’s still waving them on). You don’t know New York. You’ve never been here before. You don’t do that here. (Pointing to Nick) You don’t know this guy.

Beth (Grabbing his scarf):
Phillip, I just know. Let’s go.

Phillip:
Are you out of your mind?

Beth (Dragging him after her):
Come on. Come on.

Phillip (Whining):
Come on!

(They had back across Central Park South to the park. Beth’s practically skipping. Phillip is moping and making angry gestures to the traffic).

Phillip:
What’s the matter with you? (To a car) Are you letting me cross to the park? Santa wants me in the park.

Beth:
That’s why you should.

Phillip (Sarcastic):
Sure! Let’s come on. Come on. Wait Santa, wait up.

Nick (Slightly annoyed):
Come along. Come along.