Tom Hanks: Hero Boy • Father • Conductor • ...

The Polar Express

Hero Boy • Father • Conductor • Hobo • Scrooge • Santa Claus

The Conductor: Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see.

The Boy: Thank you.
The Conductor: No, thank YOU. One thing about trains... it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on.

[last lines]
Hero Boy: At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.

Hobo: What exactly is... is your persuasion on the Big Man, since you brought him up?
The Boy: Well, I... I want to believe... but...
Hobo: But you don't want to be bamboozled. You don't want to be led down the primrose path! You don't want to be conned or duped. Have the wool pulled over your eyes. Hoodwinked! You don't want to be taken for a ride. Railroaded!
[Hobo puts out fire with the joe]
Hobo: Seeing is believing. Am I right?

Santa Claus: This bell is a wonderful symbol of the spirit of Christmas - as am I. Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.

The Conductor: Well, ya comin'?
The Boy: Where?
The Conductor: Why, to the North Pole, of course! This is the Polar Express!
The Boy: North Pole?
The Conductor: I see. Hold this, please.
[Hands Hero Boy his lantern]
The Conductor: Thank you.
[Picks up a clipboard and holds it out to Hero Boy]
The Conductor: Is this you?
[Hero Boy nods]
The Boy: Yeah.
The Conductor: Well, it says here... no photo with a department store Santa this year. No *letter* to Santa. And you made your sister put out the milk and cookies by herself.
[clicks tongue disapprovingly]
The Conductor: Sounds to me like this is your crucial year.
[Leans closer to Hero Boy]
The Conductor: If I were you, I would think about climbing onboard.
[Hero Boy hesitates]
The Conductor: Come on, come on. I've got a schedule to keep.
[Conductor checks his watch and quickly groans; Hero Boy steps away]
The Conductor: Suit yourself.

The Boy: Is everything all right? What do we do?
The Conductor: Well, considering that we have lost communication with the engineer, and are standing totally exposed on the front of the locomotive, and the train seems to be accelerating, uncontrollably, not to mention that we are headed to Glacier Gulch, which just happens to be the steepest downhill grade in the world, I suggest we all hold on... TIGHTLY!
[the train plunges down the VERY steep downhill tracks and accelerates rapidly]

The Conductor: There would be no Christmas without the Polar Express arriving on time! Am I the only one who understands that?
[He sees the Hero Boy]
The Conductor: You! I should have known. Young man, are you bound and determined that this train never reaches the North Pole?
Hero Girl: But, look!
[the Conductor sees that all of Caribous]
The Conductor: Caribou Crossing?
Smokey: I make this herd to be at least a 100,000, maybe even a million. It's going to be hours before they clear this track!
Steamer: A tough nut to crack!
The Conductor: We are in some serious jelly!
Smokey: And a jam!
Steamer: Tight spot!
Smokey: Up a creek!
Steamer: Up a tree!
Smokey: Lost In the grass!
Steamer: I'll tell you what's grass: our a...
[the Boy pulling his beard, screaming and Caribou whines]

[first lines]
Hero Boy: On Christmas Eve many years ago I laid quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets, I breathed slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound I was afraid I'd never hear: the sound of Santa's sleigh bells.

Santa Claus: [voiceover, as the Hero Boy opens his package to reveal the lost sleigh bell] Found this on the seat of my sleigh. Better fix that hole in your pocket. Mr. C.

The Conductor: [singing] Here we only got one rule / Never, ever let it cool / Keep it cooking in the pot / Soon we got hot chocolate!

Hobo: That skirt you're chasing must've moved on ahead. We got to high tail it to the hog, pronto!
Hero Boy: The hog?
Hobo: The engine. The engine, you tenderfoot. We've got to make it before we hit Flat-Top Tunnel.
Hero Boy: Why?
Hobo: [sighs] So many questions. There's but one inch of clearance between the roof of this rattler and the top of Flat-Top Tunnel. Savvy?