THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE synopsis

LOGLINE

When Christmas is coming, an old man who collects pennies in his hat—with the help of an angelic woman with long golden hair and a trail of diamonds—brings surprises to a sickly neighbor boy and his father.

PITCH

All because an old man with a hat asks for pennies on the street corner during Christmas, a small goose saves the life of a sickly little boy, and an angel with diamonds helps them do so. Secretly, the goose even lays golden eggs, a miracle that no one understands, but receives gratefully. 

SYNOPSIS

An old man from a street corner near London’s Tower Bridge likes to chant riddles and collects coins in his hat. Several passersby drop coins into his hat to put toward Christmas dinner. In between asking for pennies, he belts out Christmas carols, thinking that it will attract more charity. Then, a beautiful woman with a glowing face and long, golden hair empties coins in his hat. A trail of snow that looks like diamonds seems to follow her as she walks, and the crystals blows in the wind. Now the mistake is to think that the charity was for him. In fact, it is for the family next door to him. Although the old man has no family, he is more concerned for his neighbors than he is about himself. The father has been out of work for more than six months, watching over his sickly son, who will likely die any day. The mother had passed away from tuberculosis a few years ago during a very hard winter, and the boy has lost hope. So, the old man has decided that a toy soldier and trumpet were not enough to give the child—there must also be a Christmas goose.

Then the old man grabs his coat and top hat and goes to Christmas Eve service at All Souls Church in Langham Place. The church towers next to the British Broadcasting Corporation, which plays Christmas carols on the radio all day. After the service, the old man spots his neighbors a few pews in front of him, looking less than festive. Placing his hat on the young boy’s head, he tells them that early Christmas morning he will visit them with surprises. The old man sits in the pew for a bit, admiring the sanctuary decorated with holly, candles, and garland. As he sits in the pew, the church empties—all except for the beautiful woman with long, golden hair and diamond jewels. Then she sits down next to him in the pew. She tells him that his generosity will save the boy’s life, and he will not leave his father alone at Christmas for the years to come. She says that the old man’s hat will protect him from the blistering winter wind, and the gift of the Christmas goose will be his new best friend.

The next morning, the old man wakes up with the sunrise and plucks the feathers out of the largest goose. Then he shoves him in the oven and seasons him. However, he wraps a bright red bow on the other golden goose and grabs the other gifts for the neighbor boy. The neighbor boy opens the door wearing the old man’s hat. As the goose waddles into the neighbor’s house, the deathly ill little boy throws his arms around him. Then the old man looks out the window and spies the beautiful woman from the church as she walks down the street in a trail of sparkling snow that resembles perfect diamonds. The wind blows the diamonds toward the old man. He catches them in his hand, at first thinking they were icicles, but puts them in his jacket pocket with a prayer of thanksgiving. In the weeks ahead that pass, the Christmas Goose and the little boy become such good friends that the little boy never feels sick again. The Goose lays dozens of goose eggs. And as legend has it, when no one is looking, the goose even lays golden eggs. As for the diamonds, they turn out to be real, and only an angel would know how that happened.

Copyright 2022 Jennifer Waters