Billy Christmas just doesn't work out for me. Never has.
Played by Peter Scolari 
The Polar Express (2004) · 75 quotes
The Polar Express (2004) · 75 quotes
6th most-quoted character in The Polar Express (2004): in 7 of its 75 quotes
Most scenes with: Hero Boy (5), Hero Girl (5), Know-It-All (2)
Scenes with Billy
7 scenes Billy 
I see you've made some new friends.
Billy Yes, sir. I sure have.
That's a lucky lad. There's no greater gift than friendship.
It's everything I dreamed it would be.
Billy Could all this be nothing but a dream?
No.
[After the train arrives at the North Pole and stops in front of the giant tree in the city's center...] [organizing the children and lining them up]
Alright. Alright, ladies and gentlemen. 2 columns, please. Shorter in the front, taller in the rear. Even-numbered birthdays on the right, odd-numbered on the left. No pushing. No pushing. But let's not dilly-dally, it's 5 minutes to midnight.
Hey, what gives? It was 5 minutes until midnight 4 minutes ago.
Exactly! Columns of 2! [counts the children] 1, 2.
Question.
[looks at Billy inside, thinking that Billy can choose to see Santa or not]
No one is required to see Santa. [to the children] Ladies and gentlemen, you do not have to hold hands...
[Hero Boy and Hero Girl climb aboard the observation car, but unbeknownst to them, Hero Boy accidentally steps on a lever which uncouples the car. Inside...] [to Billy]
Look, you have to come with us.
Billy [feeling depressed and left out and thinking Christmas is not important to him]
Christmas just doesn't work out for me. It never has.
But Christmas is such a wonderful and beautiful time. It's a time for giving and being thankful, for friends and family. People hang decorations and lights. And then Santa comes and leaves presents under our Christmas trees.
Billy [still unconvinced]
Christmas just... doesn't work out for me.
[sighs]
Look, I don't know if Christmas is gonna work out for you or not, but this is Christmas Eve. Don't stay here by yourself.
Yes, come with us. We'll go together.
[Billy then decides to come with the two and have the chance to meet Santa. But just then, the observation car jerked and started to roll backwards, and its lights go out. It was uncoupled from the train. The three go to the platform at the back and feared what would happen next.] [assuring]
We're gonna be okay. [They get diverted onto another track downhill.] MAYBE NOOOOOOOTT!! [gasps] The emergency brake. The emergency brake! [hurries to the front of the car] There's no brake! I CAN'T FIND THE BRAKE!!
[materializes next to the manual brake]
Take a break, kid! How 'bout a nice, good hot cup of Joe?
[notices a present coming down]
Hey, look! A present. It's going to my town. To someone named Billy!
Billy My name is Billy!
It's going to, uh... 11344 Edbrooke Avenue.
Billy That's my address!
Billy [Something grabs Billy's foot]
Aah! Something's got me! It's got my leg!
Give me your other hand. Give me your other hand!
Billy I can't!
On 3! 1, 2, 3! [they yank Billy up, but he is still stuck] Look! [sees a hand grabbing Billy's foot]
Billy It's still got me!
On 3 again! 1, 2, 3! [they yank Billy up again, and the person grabbing onto Billy is revealed to be the Know-It-All; shocked yet sternly] You!
What are you doing here?!
Same as you, I'm checking out my Christmas presents. I wanna make sure I'm getting everything on my list. All I found was one present, and all it had was a bunch of stupid underwear!
Elves
[All the children gather with the Conductor and elves in the North Pole city square. The elves bring the reindeer out] [singing]
It's the spirit of the season / You can feel it in the air / You can hear it if you listen everywhere, so much care, like a prayer, whatever it is, you need to share it [the reindeer are lined up] It's the spirit of the season [the horns are played. The elves bring the harnesses out] It's the spirit of the season / You can feel it in the air [Everyone cheers. The elves place the harnesses on the reindeer]
Aren't those bells the most beautiful sound?
Elves
[Hero Boy is unable to hear the bells. The entire square grows silent] [singing]
Oh, you better watch out / You better not cry / You better not pout; I'm telling you why / Santa Claus is coming... TO TOWN!!
[Santa finally emerges from the doors. A massive cheer erupts from the children and elves as Frank Sinatra's recording of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" begins blaring over the city's P.A. system] [elated]
He's here! He's here!
Billy [ecstatic]
I see him! He's over there!
I can't see him! [the Conductor takes off his hat in respect. He's unable to see Santa, due to the elves stacking themselves on top of each other, blocking his view] I can't see him! I can't see him! [suddenly, a loud clatter erupts from the reindeer, who prance about excitedly. The sequence begins to slow. A bell breaks loose from the harness and is thrown into the air. The bell falls back down, bounces on the ground and rolls right to him. He picks it up, and shakes the bell next to his ear, but cannot hear it; decided] Okay. Okay! [closes his eyes] I believe. I believe. [whispers] I believe. [shakes the bell, and to his surprise, the bell he shakes makes a wonderful sound]