STEP INTO CHRISTMAS by Shaun Blake A SMITH SCRIPT This script is protected by copyright laws. No performance of this script – IN ANY MEDIA – may be undertaken without payment of the appropriate fee and obtaining a licence. For further information, please contact SMITH SCRIPTS at [email protected] A Christmas Song / Step Into Christmas A Jukebox Musical by Shaun Blake Based loosely on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 1 A Christmas Song / Step Into Christmas Version 2 CHARACTERS Doubling up is optional in many cases. Only Edward and Charly definitely cannot double. Male Edward Scrooge: The Owner and Manager of Dickenco Web Design Ltd and a ruthless businessman. Robbie Juniper: Web Designer of Dickenco and a nice family man and father Pete Juniper: Robbie and Lesley’s oldest son Timmy Juniper: Robbie and Lesley’s youngest son Jake Morley: Edward’s deceased business partner (a ghost) Freddie Scrooge/Young Scrooge: Edward’s Nephew (and actor doubles as the Edward’s younger self) Mr Fuzzy/”Arnold”: Fuzzy is Edward’s former boss, friendly and pleasant. “Arnold” is a crazy last minute shopper who is meant to resemble Arnold Schwarzenegger……well sort of Ghost of Christmas Present Ghost of Christmas Future (can be female as the character is masked and does not speak) Joe (can be same actor as Fuzzy/Arnold) Thief Female Lesley Juniper: Robbie’s wife and mother Linda Juniper: Robbie and Lesley’s daughter Emma O’Hara: Edward’s former fiancée. Freya Scrooge: Edward’s sister. Rebecca Scrooge: Freddie’s wife Ghost of Christmas Past Charity Collectors Charly – Narrator of the show. Also plays Mrs Carton. Staff members, town bustlers etc. 2 A Christmas Song / Step Into Christmas Version 2 SYNOPSIS A Christmas Song opens on Christmas Eve in London (Step into Christmas), several years after the death of Edward Scrooge's business partner, Jake Morley. Edward, a successful business man and owner of a web design company, dislikes Christmas and refuses a dinner invitation from his nephew Freddie. He turns away a group of ladies who seek a donation from him to a charity who provide shelter and Christmas dinners for the less fortunate (Mary’s Boy Child). He only grudgingly allows his overworked, underpaid web designer, Robbie Juniper, Christmas Day off with pay just to conform to the social expectations and to avoid ruining his company’s reputation (Yeah It’s Christmas). That night Edward is visited at home by Jake's ghost. Jake tells Edward that he has a single chance to avoid the same fate as his own: he will be visited by three spirits and must listen or be cursed. (A Spaceman Came Travelling) The first spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past, takes Edward to Christmas scenes of Edward's childhood, reminding him of a time when he was more innocent. The scenes reveal Edward's lonely childhood at school, his relationship with his beloved sister Freya, and a Christmas party hosted by his first employer, Mr Fuzzy, who treated him like a son. Scrooge's neglected fiancée Emma is shown ending their relationship, as she realises that he will never love her as much as he loves money. (Last Christmas). Finally, they visit a now-married Emma with her large, happy family on the Christmas Eve that Jake died. Scrooge, upset by hearing Emma's description of the man that he has become, demands that the ghost remove him from the house. (What If) The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes Edward to a joyous city shopping centre with people Christmas shopping and to celebrations of Christmas for people in the city (Merry Xmas Everybody). Edward and the ghost also visit Freddie's Christmas party who proceed to mock Edward behind his back (Fairytale of New York). A major part of this journey is taken up with Robbie’s family feast (Driving Home for Christmas) (All I Want for Christmas Is You) and introduces his youngest son, Timmy, a happy boy who is seriously ill. The spirit informs Scrooge that Timmy will die unless the course of events changes. The third spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Future, shows Edward a Christmas Day in the future. The ghost reveals scenes involving the death of a disliked man whose funeral is attended by local businessmen only on condition that lunch is provided. His own staff steal his possessions to sell to get rich themselves (Thank God Its Christmas). When he asks the spirit to show a single person who feels emotion over his death, he is only given the pleasure of a poor couple who rejoice that his death gives them more time to put their finances in order. When Scrooge asks to see tenderness connected with any death, the ghost shows him Robbie and his family mourning the death of Timmy (Stay Another Day). The ghost then allows Scrooge to see a neglected grave, with a tombstone bearing Edward's name. Edward pledges to change his ways (Mad World). Edward awakens on Christmas morning a changed man. He makes a large donation to the charity he rejected the day before, anonymously sends a large turkey to the Robbie’s home for Christmas dinner and spends the afternoon with Freddie's family. The following day he gives Robbie an increase in pay and begins to become a father figure to Timmy. From then on Edward treats everyone with kindness, generosity and compassion, embodying the spirit of Christmas. (Do They Know It’s Christmas) 3 A Christmas Song / Step Into Christmas Version 2 The songs are all either Christmas songs or general songs that happened to have been released in December and therefore made the Christmas charts (even if they were not specifically Christmas songs) I have suggested arrangements or versions to use but feel free to use your own ideas with these. SUGGESTED SONG LIST: 1. STEP INTO CHRISTMAS – Elton John (Mac Huff Arrangement) 2. MARY’S BOY CHILD – Boney M 3. YEAH IT’S CHRISTMAS – Robbie Williams 4. A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING – either Chris De Beugh or Smokie 5. UNDERNEATH THE TREE – Kelly Clarkson (Ed Lojeski or Mac Huff Arrangement) 6. LAST CHRISTMAS – either Taylor Swift or Ashley Tisdale version 7. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE – Shakin’ Stevens (either Hans Reintjes or Matt Lammin arrangement) 8. FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK – The Pogues and Kirsty McAll 9. WHAT IF – Kate Winslet 10. MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY – Slade (or feel free to use Steps version for harmonies) 11. DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS – Chris Rea 12. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU – Mariah Carey 13. THANK GOD ITS CHRISTMAS – Queen 14. STAY ANOTHER DAY – East 17 (or Kylie Minogue, or Girls Aloud) 15. MAD WORLD – Michael Andrews and Gary Jules 16. DO THEY KNOW ITS CHRISTMAS – Band Aid 4 A Christmas Song / Step Into Christmas Version 2 ACT 1 SCENE 1 The scene is set in modern day London, and we open with a very hustle bustle busy London town all ready with Xmas trees and decorations out and about and people are doing their shopping etc. People on phones taking photos etc. SONG 1 “STEP INTO CHRISTMAS” – CHARLY (solos) and COMPANY (Dialogue) CHARLY (In a cockney accent) Welcome ladies and gentlemen to this grand extravagant story we have for you tonight. Consider yourselves right at home. Who will buy this glorious story? This will be a tale of one city as it were. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Hang on, you may be wondering why I’m talking like this me old chums? (stops the accent) Ok, ok, I can’t be bothered with this cockney anymore. Did the director seriously expect me to speak like that the whole evening? Who do they think I am, Dick Van Dyke? Honestly where do they get these people? Directors eh? Who would have them. All they do is order us about on stage “move to this position and then you give that actor the prop and then you move over here and pick up the telephone and then and then” blah blah blah. Can we not just do some improve once in a while? Anyway, I have this one story. This one director of a play I once did…….. PASSERBY Hey will you just get on with it already? CHARLY Ah ok. Yes Charly. Focus on this play. We’re right here now in (town/city the play is taking place) and I only have about 2 hours to get you through this story. So fasten your seatbelts and …. Actually no you don’t have seatbelts. That was another play. Focus Charly. Anyhow. This is A Christmas Song. A fab musical with all the Christmas songs you’re already familiar with, so hope you enjoy. Welcome to London everyone!! (Sings) So it’s Christmas Eve and looky here. (A man comes on stage who resembles Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Jingle All The Way” well maybe not quite, it can be a poor resemblance) ARNOLD Stop!! I need one of those Turbo mans! SHOPPER What are you talking about, that Turbo man is mine. 5 A Christmas Song / Step Into Christmas Version 2 ARNOLD I’m a Cop you Idiot! SHOPPER Really? ARNOLD No! Now give it here! SHOPPER Get out of here you crazy man! ARNOLD Get back here CHARLY So yes things are a bit crazy out and about. And I’d say everyone’s cheery (Another group of people look happy as they walk across, interacting like a family/friends) Well most people at least. I guess I should probably tell you, what’s happening in this building.