About The Polar Express
On Christmas Eve, a Boy (who is never referred to by name) lays quietly in his bed, waiting for Santa Claus to come. He isn't sure whether to truly belive or not, but finally he nods off to sleep, but only to be awakened by the sound of a train outside. He runs outside and sees a train, The Polar Express, and meets the Conductor as well. The Conductor tells the Boy that the train will bring him to the North Pole, and the Boy decides to get on. On the train, he meets a Girl (also never referred to by name) who has trust in Santa Claus and the Christmas Spirit. After accidentally losing her ticket, the Boy climbs on top of the train, fearing that the Conductor will throw the Girl off the side of it. But instead of finding the Girl and the Conductor, he finds a Hobo. The Hobo (who seems to hint that he is actually a ghost) decides to help the Boy find the Girl. They ski on the roof of The Polar Express, and at the engine room in the front of the train, the Boy finally finds the Girl who is now driving the train while the engineers fix the train's light. After overcoming several problems, including getting a herd of caribou to cross the tracks and the train moving over an ice field, the Boy gives the lost ticket to the Girl. Finally, the train comes to a halt in the center of the North Pole. The Boy and the Girl feel bad for a younger boy named Billy who doesn't like Christmas, and after trying to convince him to stay with the group and to see Santa, the kids accidentally let go of the car's brake and the car hurtles down a passage into a tunnel which opens out to several rail road tracks. The Girl and Billy hear strange yet wonderful bells ringing in the distance (however the Boy doesn't hear them) and decide to walk down a certain track. They end up in one of many Santa's workshop and wrapping centre. Billy finds a present that is addressed to his address, and obsesses over opening it. He doesn't and continues on with the Boy and the Girl. Accidentally stepping onto a moving conveyor belt, the trio are launched into a metal funnel, meant for use only to load up Santa's giant sack. They land at the top of a mountain of presents, and they realize that they have accidentally landed in Santa's giant bag of presents. The bag is flown to the North Pole Town Center by elves, and the trio get out and rejoin the rest of the group. The elves bring out Santa's sleigh, and reindeer, who are wearing beautiful bells. But the Boy, who still doesn't believe in Santa, cannot hear them. But finally, after seeing Santa up close and speaking to him, the Boy finally hears the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh. It is revealed that Santa will pick one of the kids on the train to give the "first gift of Christmas". Santa chooses the Boy, and Boy decides to have one of Santa's bells. After Santa flies off in his sleigh, the elves rejoice while the kids get back onto the train. But the Boy is horrified to find that his bell is missing, for in his robe pocket there was a giant hole. Depressed, the Boy gets home and falls back to sleep. On Christmas morning, the Boy goes downstairs and finds the bell under the tree with a note from Santa. The film ends with a now grown up Boy saying that the bell "still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe".
