daughter to think any differently. Also, it is evident that Doris has had a bad time with men on her own. Susan's father walked out on them the day Susan was born - enough said. Doris doesn't want Susan having a father image in her life and wants Fred to stay away. If he goes near her again, she'll call the police. Fred tells Susan that he recently came out of the Marines and is has finally passed the bar (after three tries) and is ready to start practicing law. He has no plans to try and sweep Doris and Susan off their feet - he is a single man. He sings "Look Little Girl" where he basically reveals more about himself, but eventually kisses Doris. He wonders why he did it. She exits wondering much the same. Romance is in the air - confused as it may be. The following Monday morning at Macy's store psychologist's office, Mr. Kringle is put through a myriad of tests where Mr. Sawyer, the store psychologist, appears more nervous than Mr. Kringle. Mr. Sawyer tells his secretary that Mr. Kringle should be dismissed from work as soon as possible - even though his secretary, Miss Crookshank, reminds him that Mr. Kringle gave all the right answers. Mr. Sawyer fires her, and Mr. Kringle approaches him and demands that he retract her firing. Sawyer says "no" and actually fakes being attacked by Mr. Kringle. That night at the toy department, Susan visits Mr. Kringle and talks to him. There is some sort of meeting for Mr. Kringle tonight though he doesn't know what it is about. While waiting, Mr. Kringle talks to Susan about her imagination and helps her create a world of her own while singing "Expect Things to Happen." Alone Susan imagines a world all her own in two musical numbers ("Susan's Birthday Party Ballet" and "The Toy Ballet.") Mr. Kringle returns and breaks Susan's spell - she is no longer lost in her imagination. Mr. Macy enters with the Governor and Mayor and many press people who are about to witness Mr. Kringle being offered a lifetime contract at Macy's. Doris is honored, too. Mr. Gimbel is there and announces his new slogan is "If Gimbel's hasn't got it, try Macy's." It seems that everyone is getting along. Doris discovers that Susan is also there, and is most upset to find that Fred brought her to the store after being told to stay---away. Police then enter to take Mr. Kringle to Bellevue based on Mr. Sawyer's (the psychologist's) recommendation. It appears that Mr. Kringle was a "maniac" when Sawyer refused to believe he was Santa Claus." Doris says she knows nothing about this, but asks Mr. Kringle to simply say he isn't Santa - and he needn't pretend just because young Susan is present. He says that he is not pretending - and the police escorts him off. Susan confronts her mother and says that Mr. Kringle is Santa. Doris once again tries to reason with the child saying that it is nonsense - but Susan runs off in tears. The act opens the following Thursday morning in the Chambers of Judge Martin Group. Fred is there and wishes to speak to the Judge about Mr. Kringle, but his secretary says no. As she exits Fred tries on the judge's robe (just for the heck of it), but gets himself stuck in it as the Judge and Doris come in arguing. He quickly ducks behind the door. Doris says that she believes that Mr. Kringle deserves a fair trial, and she also believes that he really is Santa Claus. The judge informs her that Mr. Kringle has failed the mental test at Bellevue. If he has, she says that it's because he did it on purpose. She continues to fight for Mr. Kringle and even says that she has a lawyer. Fred will represent him! She leaves. Fred gets the robe off just before the judge needs it and goes into court. Having heard the entire conversation between Doris and the judge, he is now quite prepared to have Doris call upon him - tonight. In the meantime at Bellevue, it appears that Mr. Kringle has all but given up. He even passes up a temporary release, just because he doesn't seem to care. Susan shows up and tells Mr. Kringle that he can't stop believing in himself. She shows him a picture of Fred's farmhouse with a swing and cow that Fred gave her. She tells Mr. Kringle that if he really is Santa then he'll get this for her - for this is what she wants for Christmas. He says that he'll try, but that it's virtually impossible. She tells him that if he really is Santa nothing is impossible. The two sing a reprise of "Pinecones." Later that night in Fred's apartment, Fred is playing poker with four of his marine buddies. He tells the guys that they must go because a "dame" is arriving. They tease him - saying that he doesn't have any dame coming over. In the song "She Hadda Go Back," Fred bets them that he knows just when she'll be over. At the end of the number, the door buzzes and Fred takes a bow - expecting to win the bet with Doris walking through the door. Instead, it is a Girl Scout selling cookies. Fred has lost the bet and pays the men as they each leave.
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