Elf (2003)

Bob Newhart: Papa Elf

Photos 

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  Papa Elf : Oh, hello. You're, uh, you're probably here about the story.

  [the pages flip to show Papa Elf talking to the camera] 

  Papa Elf : Elves love to tell stories. I-I'll bet you didn't know that about elves. There's, uh, probably a lot of things you didn't know about elves. Another, another interesting, uh, elfism, uh, there are only three jobs available to an elf. The first is making shoes at night while, you know, while the old cobbler sleeps.

  [Cuts to elves doing work on the cobbler's shoes while the cobbler snores with his head on the table] 

  Disgruntled Cobbler Elf : Lazy bum! Couldn't even make a clog!

  Papa Elf : You can bake cookies in a tree.

  [Cuts to exterior view of a tree, which bursts into flames] 

  Papa Elf : As you can imagine, it's, uh, dangerous having an oven in an oak tree during the dry season.

  [the elves inside run out screaming] 

  Tree Elf : I want to make shoes!

  Papa Elf : But the third job, some call it, uh, "the show" or "the big dance," it's the profession that every elf aspires to. And that is to build toys in Santa's workshop.

• [last lines] 

  Buddy : [cradling baby Susie]  Hi, Susie.

  Papa Elf : Come here, little one. Poppy wants to see you.

  [Buddy brings over Susie and sits on Papa Elf's lap] 

  Papa Elf : Buddy... Buddy... Buddy...

• [as Santa flies away with Buddy, Papa Elf finishes narrating his story] 

  Papa Elf : And so, with a little help, Buddy managed to save Christmas. And his spirit saved a lot of other people, too.

  Jovie : [singing "Auld Land Syne" with Walter at the piano]  Should Auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind. Should Auld acquaintance be forgot...

  [singing fades] 

  Papa Elf : Walter started his own independent publishing company. His first book was written by a brand new, critically acclaimed children's author. The book was "Elf" - a, uh, fictional story about an adopted elf named Buddy who was raised in the North Pole, went to New York, ate spaghetti, worked in a shiny mailroom, and eventually saved Christmas.

  Buddy : [reading his book at Gimbels to amazed kids]  First, I traveled through the seven levels of the candy cane forest, passed the sea of twirly-swirly gumdrops, and then, I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel.

  Papa Elf : [talking to the camera]  And as for me, I can't complain. Buddy comes up to visit from time to time.