CAST:
Narrator Narrator 2 Scrooge Fred Bob Cratchit Scrooge’s Niece Marley Guest The Ghost of Christmas Past Young Scrooge The Ghost of Christmas Present Sara The Ghost of Christmas Future (No Big Brother Speaking – just gestures) Boy Fezziwig Shop Keeper Tiny Tim Maid Big Sister Man 1 Mrs. Cratchit Man 2
Scene 1:
Narrator: Marley was dead. There was no doubt whatsoever that Old Marley was as dead as a doornail. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come from the story of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Narrator 2: Once upon a time, of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve, old Scrooge was at work in his counting house when his nephew Fred came in.
Fred: A Merry Christmas, Uncle!
Scrooge: Bah Humbug!
Narrator: He was a scraping old grouch; Scrooge was, hard and sharp as a flint.
Scrooge: If I could work my will, every do-gooder who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips would be boiled and buried with a stake of holly.
Fred: Uncle! You don’t mean that. Come dine with us tomorrow?
Scrooge: Humbug!
Narrator 2: With nothing left to say, it seemed like a great time for Scrooge to push his nephew out the door and into the cold.
Scrooge: ::Mocking:: Would you dine with us for dinner? HUMBUG!
Narrator : When the day was over, Scrooge’s clerk Bob Cratchit snuffed the candle out and put on his hat to go.
Scrooge: You’ll want all day off tomorrow, I suppose? Christmas, a poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December!
Bob Cratchit: Yes sir, I would like the day off, but I promise to make up for lost time on the 26th of December. You, uh, have a Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge!
Narrator 2: Scrooge stomped around in his usual mood and walked out onto the cold streets of town. On his walk home, no single soul dared to wish Scrooge a Merry Christmas. In fact, people seemed to avoid him at all costs, ducking into shops to prevent any encounter involving that Old Scrooge!
Scene 2
Narrator: When Scrooge arrived home, however, something strange happened. As he put his key in the lock he saw in the knocker, not a knocker, but the face of his dead partner, Jacob Marley.
Scrooge: Humbug! Narrator 2: And all at once, it was a knocker again! Scrooge, quite satisfied, locked the door and went upstairs to dress for bed. Scrooge looked at the fireplace and commented:
Scrooge: Such a tiny fire for a man of such wealth and privilege.
Narrator 2: But he was interrupted when he heard…
::jingle, jingle, jingle::
Scrooge: What’s that noise?
::Jingle, Jingle, Jingle::
Scrooge: Oh, dear! It’s getting louder!
Narrator: Scrooge cowered in his chair as the noise grew louder and crept closer.
Narrator 2: Just then, a figure came through the heavy door.
Scrooge: Who are you?
Marley: Ask me who I was.
Scrooge: Well, who were you then?
Marley: In life, I was your partner Jacob Marley.
Scrooge: Humbug! I tell you – HUMBUG!
Marley: HEAR ME! I wear the chains of greed I forged in life! I am here to warn you, that you have a hope and a chance of escaping my fate. You will be haunted tonight by three spirits.
Scrooge: I - I think I’d rather not.
Marley: Without their visits, you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first when the bell tolls one.
Narrator: And just like that, the ghost floated off into the dark night.
Narrator 2: Scrooge certainly had no chance of sleeping now. He had no choice but to wait for the tolling hour.
::Ding Dong::
Scrooge: A quarter past!
::Ding Dong::
Scrooge: Half Past! ::Ding Dong::
Scrooge: A quarter to it!
::Ding Dong::
Scrooge: The hour itself!
Narrator: The bell sounded with a deep, dull, hollow, melancholy ONE. Light flashed up in the room, and the curtains of his bed were drawn aside by a hand.
Scrooge: Who and what are you?
Ghost of Christmas Past: I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.
Scrooge: Long Past?
Ghost of Christmas Past: No, your past. Rise, and walk with me.
Narrator 2: Scrooge helplessly agreed and together they passed through the wall.
Scene 3
Narrator: Scrooge saw that they now stood upon an open country road. The city had entirely vanished.
Scrooge: I know this place! I was a boy here!
Narrator 2: A group of boys in great spirits came along the road and Scrooge called out to them.
Scrooge: Hello!
Ghost of Christmas Past: They cannot hear you, Scrooge; these are but shadows of things that have been. They will be unable to see or hear anything of us.
Narrator: The boys continued to play as Scrooge looked on. Was that a grin on his face?
Scrooge: Why do these images make my heart leap? Why am I filled with gladness?
Ghost of Christmas Past: The school is not quite deserted.
Narrator 2: Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past entered the schoolroom, which was dreary and drab. The room was made even gloomier by the sight of a lonely boy who sat reading. Scrooge crept closer to get a better look at the boy.
Scrooge: Could it be?
Ghost of Christmas Past: Yes, this was how you spent Christmas all those years ago. Scrooge: He has nowhere to go for Christmas!
Narrator: At this thought, a tear glistened in Scrooge’s eye.
Ghost of Christmas Past: Let us see another Christmas, shall we?
Narrator 2: They were now in the busy thoroughfares of a city. The ghost stopped at a warehouse door and asked if he knew it.
Scrooge: Was I apprenticed here?
Narrator: The two walked in and saw a lively party taking place.
Scrooge: Why, it’s old Fezziwig, alive again!
Fezziwig: You, there! Ebeneezer!
Narrator 2: Scrooge’s former self, a young man, came walking across the room to greet his boss.
Young Scrooge: Fezziwig!
Fezziwig: No more work, Ebeneezer, it’s Christmas Eve!
Young Scrooge: You know I do love a grand celebration! Let us forget about all there is to do, just for this moment.
Narrator: In no time, the warehouse was converted to be as bright as a ballroom. Guests arrived, and among them, came a lovely young lady.
Sara: Hello Ebeneezer! A Merry Christmas to you!
Young Scrooge: Merry Christmas to you, my Sara! May I have the pleasure of dancing with you this evening?
Sara: Oh, of course!
Narrator 2: The guests sang, and danced, and carried on. They ate cold roasts and enjoyed the company of those they held dear. Scrooge looked on so solemnly that he scarcely realized that he had been transported back to his bedroom.
Narrator: Scrooge sank into his bed and fell into a sleep as heavy as his heart.
Scene 4
::Ding Dong::
Ghost of Christmas Present: Scrooge!!! Scrooge: Well, yes, hello. And who might you be?
Ghost of Ghost Present: I am the ghost of Christmas Present. You have never seen the likes of me before.
Scrooge: Never
Ghost of Christmas Present: We should get on with what I have come here to do. Please grab ahold; there are some things you need to see.
Narrator 2: They stood in the city streets on Christmas morning. The people who were shoveling away on the housetops were full of glee, calling out to one another and exchanging snowballs. The ghost led Scrooge straight to his clerk Bob Cratchit’s house.
Mrs. Cratchit: Well, isn’t this a lovely Christmas?
Tiny Tim: The best!
Mr. Cratchit: Look at the goose! You have done such a wonderful job. Why, I don’t believe I have ever seen nor tasted a more tender goose!
Big Sister: And, it is a miracle that we are all here!
Mr. Cratchit: Yes, Tiny Tim is growing so strong and hearty!
Narrator: Though there was nothing of high mark in the Cratchit’s Christmas dinner, they were happy, grateful, and pleased with one another, and contented with the time spent together.
Narrator 2: It did not matter that they were a poor family or that Tiny Tim couldn’t walk without his crutch. The simple fact that they were together meant more to them than any item money could purchase.
Big Brother: A Merry Christmas to all my dears!
Tiny Tim: Bless this family, every one!
Scrooge: Spirit, tell me if Tiny Tim will live?
Ghost of Christmas Present: I see an empty seat, and a crutch without an owner.
Scrooge: No, no! Oh no, kind spirit, say he will be spared!
Narrator: The Ghost of Christmas Present rested a hand upon Scrooge’s shoulder and they were transported to another familiar spot in town. For Scrooge, the sound of laughter was a delightful contrast to the sorrow he felt for Tiny Tim.
Fred: He said that Christmas was a humbug! Guest 1: He is a comical fellow!
Scrooge’s Niece: I am sure he is very rich!
Fred: And what of that, my dear? His wealth is of no use to him! He doesn’t do any good with it. He doesn’t make himself comfortable with it. He hasn’t the satisfaction of thinking – ha, ha, ha – that he is ever going to give US any of it!
Scrooge’s Niece: There will be a time when he can’t take it with him!
Narrator 2: Scrooge cast his eyes to the ground. He immediately raised them as he heard his nephew’s next words.
Fred: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the old man, wherever he is! He wouldn’t take it from me, but he may have it, nevertheless. To Uncle Scrooge!
All Guests: To Uncle Scrooge!
Narrator 2: Scrooge, forgetting that his words would be unheard, spoke:
Scrooge: And a Merry Christmas to you, my darlings.
Ghost of Christmas Present: It is time to go now.
Scrooge: Just another moment, please, I beg you!
Narrator: And the two were off. Soon Scrooge awoke, back in the comfort of his room. Only too soon, the chimes rang out again.
Scene 5
::Ding, Dong::
Scrooge: Am I in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?
Narrator 2: The spirit answered not, but pointed onward with his hand.
Narrator: Although Scrooge was used to ghostly company by this time, Scrooge feared the silent shape, and he found that he could barely stand to follow it.
Scrooge: Will you speak to me?
Narrator 2: and the spirit gave him no reply.
Narrator: The city seemed to spring up around them. The figure gestured to a group of businessmen.
Man 1: I don’t know much about it; I only know that he’s dead. Man 2: It is likely to be a very cheap funeral, for in all my life I couldn’t dream of anybody who would go to it!
Narrator 2: The figure led Scrooge into a low-down shop, where a woman was untying a heavy bundle.
Shopkeeper: Bed-curtains! You don’t mean to say you took them down, rings and all, with him lying there?
Maid: Yes I do! He will have absolutely no use for them now! I, on the other hand, will benefit greatly from these curtains. So, I did what was necessary.
Scrooge: I never liked her, anyway.
Narrator: Quickly, the scene changed and they stood before a headstone. The headstone was uncared for. Suddenly, a gust of wind carried away the earth and twigs to reveal…
Scrooge: It was me! No Spirit, oh, no, no! I am not the man I was! I will honor Christmas in my heart and keep it all the year. I will live in the past, present, and the future. The spirits of all three shall live within me! Oh, tell me I may wipe away the writing on this stone! Please say that these visions are only shadows of what might be rather than what will be!!
Narrator: Scrooge did everything short of begging to have his fate reversed. As he knelt at the spirit’s feet, the spirit vanished. When Scrooge came to his senses, he awoke in his bed.
Scene 6
Narrator 2: So pleased was he to find himself in his home! He ran to the window and pushed it open like an eager child.
Scrooge: What day is today?
Boy: It’s Christmas!
Scrooge: I haven’t missed it! My fine fellow, do you know whether they have sold the prize turkey hanging up in the window on the next street over?
Boy: What, the one as big as me?
Scrooge: Yes, that’s the one! Go and buy it, and I’ll give you a shilling. Come back in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half a crown!
Narrator: The boy was off like a racehorse.
Scrooge: I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s! He won’t know who sends it! It is twice the size of Tiny Tim. Ha ha! Narrator 2: After sending off the turkey, Scrooge dressed himself all in his best and set out for his nephew Fred’s house.
Narrator: It was in mercy that his nephew didn’t shake his arm off when he arrived. Scrooge felt at home in five minutes. Nothing could be heartier. Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful happiness!
Scene 7
Narrator 2: Scrooge was early at his office the next morning.
Scrooge: Hello. What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?
Bob Cratchit: It is only once a year, sir. It shall not be repeated.
Scrooge: I am not going to stand this sort of thing, therefore… A Merry Christmas, Bob! A merrier Christmas than I have given you, for many years! I’ll raise your salary! And, I will do what I can to assist your struggling family.
Bob Cratchit: But, Sir!
Scrooge: No Buts, Bob. It is high time that I thank you for your years of service! I will hear no more about this matter!
Narrator: Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend and as good a man as the good old city knew.
Narrator 2: And it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas as well as anyone alive. May that be truly said of us, all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, bless us, every one!