A CHRISTMAS CAROL - PLAYSCRIPT -- DEC 2009 - ACT 8

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

PLAYSCRIPT - DEC 2009

ACT 8

We can see Scrooge carrying a lot of parcels and a big bag. He arrives at Bob Cratchit´s house. He knocks on the door and Bob opens the door. Scrooge pretends to be angry and gets into the room. 

SCROOGE: You are late for work! 

BOB CRATCHIT: I am sorry, sir. Yes, I am late. But Christmas only comes once a year, sir. And I promise I´m not going to be late again. My family and I were all together for Christmas you see… 

SCROOGE: Now listen to me, Cratchit. I don´t want you to come in late again. So do you know what I am going to do? 

Bob Cratchit looks scared and nervous. 

BOB CRATCHIT: A, a,  are you going to fire me, sir? 

SCROOGE: No… I am going to raise your salary! 

BOB CRATCHIT: Raise my salary, sir? 

SCROOGE: Exactly! Merry Christmas, Bob! (smiling, he hugs Bob, Bob looks astonished). 

SCROOGE: Let´s sit down, my dear boy, or you´re going to fall on the floor. I am going to explain my change. (They sit down, Scrooge looks very comfortable but Bob looks uncomfortable). For many years I was an unhappy man. I wasn´t kind to people. I wasn´t kind to you, Bob. But I have changed. I am a new man! You are going to have many wonderful Christmases in the future, Bob Cratchit. 

Bob Cratchit looks away sadly. His family appear, the three children. 

SCROOGE: You have a big, wonderful family. I want to know them all. 

BOB CRATCHIT: This is my oldest daughter Belinda, this is Martha, the rose of my garden, and this is Tiny Tim, my boy. 

SCROOGE: Hello, Tiny Tim, come and sit with me. (The boy sits on Scrooge´s knees). My dear Bob, I don´t want to die a lonely man who no one loves. I want people to remember me with kindness. I know Tiny Tim is very ill and I want to help him to grow strong and healthy. 

BOB CRATCHIT: You would help me, sir? (Astonished again) 

SCROOGE: Bob, I am going to make a promise to you now. I am going to help your family in every way I can. Do you want me to do this? Do you want my help for Tiny Tim? 

BOB CRATCHIT: Oh, Yes! Mr Scrooge. (With tears in his eyes). You are too kind, sir. If only my boy could  get well again! 

SCROOGE: Okay now, Tiny Tim, Martha and Belinda, take the parcels and open them, I think Santa Claus left some present for you in my house. 

TINY TIM: (standing up with difficulty, opens his parcel) Oh thank you, Mr Scrooge! 

SCROOGE: Oh, it´s nothing. Bob, take this bag and give it to your wife. I have bought some food for tonight. 

Mrs Cratchit appears. 

BOB: Darling, this is my Mr Ebenezer Scrooge. He has bought some presents for the children and some food for tonight. 

MRS CRATCHIT: Nice to meet you, sir. Would you please stay for a cup of tea? 

SCROOGE: A cup of tea? Yes, that would be wonderful! 

Mrs Cratchit leaves. 

BOB CRATCHIT: You are a generous man, sir! I always knew you had a good heart. 

Mrs Cratchit appears with the tea, Belinda helps her. 

BOB CRATCHIT: A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

SCROOGE: May all of us keep Christmas in our hearts! 

TINY TIM: God bless us, every one!

END OF THE PLAY  

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - PLAYSCRIPT -- DEC 2009 - ACT 7

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

PLAYSCRIPT - DEC 2009

ACT 7

Scrooge appears alone in his bedroom. He starts looking around. 

SCROOGE: I´m alive, ha ha! It was all a dream, ha, ha! Yes, yes, now I remember! I made a promise to the Spirit of the Future. The Christmas Spirit must live in me! Oh, Jacob Marley, thank you, thank you! Christmas is wonderful, life is wonderful! 

Scrooge is laughing and crying at the same time. He goes from one place to another. 

SCROOGE: I don´t know what to do! I am as light as a feather! I´m as happy as an angel! I´m as merry as a schoolboy! 

He runs over to the window and opens it wide. 

SCROOGE: Merry Christmas to everybody (He shouts out) And a Happy New Year to all the world! 

He leaves the room in a hurry. Takes a hat and puts a scarf around his head. He arrives at the street and sees a boy. 

SCROOGE: Hallo! What day is it today my boy? 

BOY: (The boy looks up at Scrooge in surprise. He doesn´t understand) What, sir? 

SCROOGE: (happily) I say, what day is it today? 

BOY: Why, it is Christmas Day, sir! 

SCROOGE: Christmas Day! (He cries) Well, merry Christmas then! 

BOY: A Merry Christmas to you too, sir! 

Some more people come walking along the street. 

SCROOGE: Good morning to you, sir. A Merry Christmas to you, madam. God bless you, children. 

People reply in surprise. Scrooge leaves. 

MAN: Was that Ebenezer Scrooge? 

WOMAN: Yes, incredible, isn´t it? He looks the happiest man in the world! 

MAN: Perhaps he has gone crazy! Ha ha! 

Everybody leaves. 

Scrooge arrives at his nephew´s house. A girl opens the door. 

SCROOGE: Good morning, dear. Is your father here?... Don´t worry, he knows me. 

GIRL: Yes, sir. He´s in. (She calls her father). Daddy, there´s an old man asking for you. 

Fred appears, and when he sees Scrooge he looks surprised and happy at the same time. 

FRED: Uncle! 

SCROOGE: Fred! My dear boy! 

FRED: Bless my soul! 

SCROOGE: Yes, it is I, your uncle Ebenezer Scrooge. I am coming to dinner. Is your invitation still good? 

FRED: Well, of course, uncle. Please don´t stay there, come closer. Let me introduce you to my family. This is my daughter Emma. 

SCROOGE: You´re a nice little girl, Emma. 

FRED:  Lisa! Lisa! 

Lisa appears. 

LISA: Yes, dear? (she sees Scrooge) Oh! 

FRED: Lisa,  you don´t know my uncle Ebenezer. Uncle, this is my wife, Lisa. 

SCROOGE: Well, I can see you have been very lucky, Fred. And I can see where Emma got her beauty from. 

Lisa and Emma look at each other, they smile and blush shily. 

SCROOGE: I´m very happy I have finally met you. I should have come before, I know. And I hope you will forgive me for having been so rude. I am a new man now. I have changed. 

FRED: That´s good, uncle. It´s never too late to change. I knew you weren´t a bad person. 

SCROOGE: (Now he says sadly) There is specially one person I have hurt more than anyone, and his family of course too. I have to go and see him immediately. Am I being too rude if I go now and come back a bit later for dinner, Fred? 

FRED: Of course not, uncle. Go and do what you think you have to do. We will wait for you.

END OF ACT 7

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - PLAYSCRIPT -- DEC 2009 - ACT 6

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

PLAYSCRIPT - DEC 2009

ACT 6

Scrooge is sleeping in his bed and sleeptalking. He is complaining about how badly he has behaved with the people around him. He mentions Fred, Bob Cratchit and specially Tiny Tim. A dark figure appears on the stage and moves slowly and silently towards Scrooge. Scrooge wakes up, and when he sees the spirit shouts, gets down on his knees and hides his face. The Spirit is wearing a black cloak with a deep heavy hood. The Spirit doesn´t say anything and Scrooge is frightened. 

SCROOGE: Are you the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come? (he asks with a trembling voice).

The ghost says nothing but points straight ahead. 

SCROOGE: Ghost of the Future, I thank you for your advice. Please speak to me! Are you going to show me my future? 

The ghost does not speak but only nods its head slowly and points straight ahead. 

SCROOGE: Let us go then. The night is almost finished. Time is important to me now – I must learn all I can. Lead on, Spirit! 

They appear in a street. Two men are talking. 

MAN 1: So, he is dead at last. 

MAN 2: If you ask me, it´s a good thing. It´s better for the town. 

MAN 1 When did he die? 

MAN 2: Last night. 

MAN 1: It´s going to be a very cheap funeral. (With sarcasm) 

MAN 2: I´m not surprised about that. Are you? Ha, ha. But what about all his money? Where is it? 

MAN 1: I don´t know. I don´t have it! I think the old man probably has it with him in his coffin! (They both laugh aloud.) 

MAN 2:  Okay, I must go home, my family is waiting for me. 

MAN 1: Yes, I´m going home too, it´s cold today, it´s always cold at Christmas time. Have a good night my dear chap. 

They both leave. Scrooge is alone with the third Spirit. 

SCROOGE: Who are they talking about? Who is the dead man? Are they talking about Jacob Marley? No, it´s not possible, his death was in the past and this Ghost is showing me the future! 

The Ghost watches Scrooge silently. 

SCROOGE: Where am I in this future? 

SPIRIT OF THE FUTURE: Before I answer your question, come with me, I´ll show you something you will not like! 

They are in the Cratchits´  living room. The two girls and the mother are sitting sadly, sewing. 

SCROOGE: Where is Tiny Tim? Why are they so sad? 

MRS CRATCHIT: Sewing hurts my eyes. I must rest them a little. 

BELINDA: I can hear father coming. I think Father is walking more slowly these past few evenings, Mother. 

MRS CRATCHIT: Open the door for him Martha, please. Your father is tired. 

Bob Cratchit comes in and sits down on a chair. Martha goes to stand close to him. 

MARTHA: Don´t be sad, Father. 

They all look sad. 

MRS CRATCHIT: What about the churchyard? The grave? Did you go today? 

BOB CRATCHIT: Yes, Tiny Tim´s grave is beautiful. It is very green. (He cries out loud) My child! My dear little child! We shall never forget our beloved Tiny Tim! 

Scrooge is watching the scene with the Spirit of the Future and starts crying. 

SCROOGE: Oh, Spirit, please, please let me help this family! 

SPIRIT OF THE FUTURE: No, I have to show you something. You asked me a question, now it´s time to answer it. 

SCROOGE: What question did I ask you? 

SPIRIT OF THE FUTURE: You asked me where you were in this Future. Come with me. 

They get to a graveyard. There they see two gravestones. First he reads the gravestone of Tiny Tim. It is full of flowers. Then he goes to the second gravestone, a very ugly one, abandoned and he reads his own name. 

SCROOGE: Ebenezer Scrooge. This is my name. What happened to me? Did I die? 

SPIRIT OF THE FUTURE: Yes, you died, but that is not the worst. The worst is that you died alone. Nobody visits your grave. Nobody visited you when you were ill in bed. 

SCROOGE: Oh, no Spirit! No! Please, no! The lessons of the other spirits from the past and the present are in my mind forever! 

SPIRIT OF THE FUTURE: Are you sure of that? Do you think you will be able to change for your own good? 

SCROOGE: Yes, yes. Please, tell me that I can cancel the name on this grave! Please give me just one more chance! I promise to honour Christmas every year in my heart. 

SPIRIT OF THE FUTURE: More, I want more from you!  Being nice for Christmas is not enough! 

SCROOGE: I promise I am going to keep the Christmas Spirit alive all year long!

END OF ACT 6

 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - PLAYSCRIPT -- DEC 2009 - ACT 5

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

PLAYSCRIPT - DEC 2009

ACT 5

They see a beautifully decorated living room. There´s music. And happy laughing voices. There´s a tall Christmas tree and green garlands everywhere. People talking, drinking and eating and laughing. The Spirit and Scrooge get close to Scrooge´s nephew and  his  wife. 

FRED: Uncle Ebenezer says that Christmas is nonsense. And I think he really believes it. 

LISA: That is a pity, Fred. He must be a very unhappy, lonely old man. 

FRED: He is a funny man, that´s the truth. He is not unpleasant, I have nothing bad to say about him, but he is strange. 

LISA: I feel sorry for him. He is very rich, isn´t he, Fred? 

FRED: I suppose he is, but that is not important. I don´t care about his money. 

LISA: Well I must say he must be very miserable living like that. 

FRED: Don´t be angry with my uncle, dear. I suppose he has his own problems. I asked him to come here and spend Christmas with us but he doesn´t want to come. And so what happens? He doesn´t have a Christmas dinner! 

LISA: He certainly missed a very good dinner! 

FRED: I´ll go and visit him as soon as I can, and now  let´s play a game! It´s a game called ‘yes’ ‘no’. You must think what I´m thinking about by asking questions. 

LISA: Okay, I begin. 

WOMAN 1: Is it an animal? 

LISA: Yes. 

WOMAN 2: Is it an unfriendly animal? 

LISA: well, yes! 

WOMAN 1: I know the answer! 

FRED: Really? You´re quick! 

WOMAN 1: It´s your uncle, Ebenezer Scrooge! 

LISA: Yes, it is.! Ha ha! 

Everybody laughs. 

FRED: Come now, let´s drink to my uncle´s health! 

Scrooge seems confused, he looks at the Spirit. 

SCROOGE: Does my nephew think I am a  bad person? 

SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT: What do you think? 

SCROOGE: I don´t know, I´m too tired and too sad. I want to go home to sleep. 

SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT: Yes, my time is finished. I have to leave you. Goodbye Scrooge. Think about what I have shown you tonight.

END OF ACT 5

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - PLAYSCRIPT -- DEC 2009 - ACT 4

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

PLAYSCRIPT - DEC 2009

ACT 4

It is two o´clock. Scrooge wakes up when he hears the clock strike two. He feels cold. He looks around nervously.  A soft white light appears in the room. A spirit appears in the room. It´s the spirit of Christmas Present. 

SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT: Hi there! I´m the Ghost of Christmas Present, you´ve already met my sister, the Ghost of Christmas Past. 

Scrooge looks curiously at the Spirit. He is a jolly man wearing a green long robe with a white fur collar. The spirit has long brown curly hair and is wearing a garland of holly on its head. Bright eyes and Cheerful voice. It seems a merry character. 

SCROOGE: Oh yes, she visited me an hour ago. Fascinating things I saw with her. I didn´t remember things from my childhood. Ok, Spirit, show me life, Teach me, let me learn from your visit. 

The Spirit takes Scrooge´s hand and they leave. 

...

Now they are in the street, all the shops are open and there are many people in the streets, buying things and with lots of packets and bags. They are happy. 

SCROOGE: Why are we here, looking at these people? 

SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT: Can´t you smell the flavour in the air? 

SCROOGE: What flavour? The smell of bread and turkey? 

SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT: Yes, it´s the flavour of happiness. I want to take you to see a family you know. 

They arrive at the small home of Bob Cratchit. The Cratchit family is preparing the house for Christmas dinner. Their clothes are old. Mrs Cratchit is preparing dinner. Belinda is helping her mother. Martha is playing with Tiny Tim. There is not much food but they look happy. Tiny Tim carries a crutch to help him walk. 

BOB CRATCHIT:  Hey, where´s my family! 

TINY TIM: (He goes towards his father and hugs him) Hello daddy! How was your day? You are early today! 

BOB CRATCHIT: Yes, good Mr Scrooge let me leave earlier. How are you feeling today, Tim? Does your leg hurt? 

TINY TIM: No Daddy, not today! Today I´m feeling really wonderful. 

MRS CRATCHIT: Okay children, your father is home. Time for dinner! 

BELINDA: Hello Dad, I´m helping mom with the dinner. 

MARTHA: Hi Dad, finally you´re here! I´m so hungry! 

Bob Cratchit helps Tiny Tim sit by the table for their dinner. The children organize the chairs for everybody. Now they´re all sitting by the table, and they start praying. Scrooge and the Spirit watch. 

TINY TIM: God bless us, every one! 

SCROOGE: (with tears in his eyes) Oh, Spirit, that poor child is so weak. What is going to happen to him? 

SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT: You will know later, now you still have to watch more. 

Mrs Cratchit brings the goose to the table. 

BOB CRATCHIT: This is a beautiful goose, mother. It is perfectly cooked. It´s delicious. A toast! (They all hold up their glasses) To Mr Scrooge! For the money for this fine dinner! And a Merry Christmas to us all! God bless us! 

MRS CRATCHIT: Mr Scrooge isn´t a good man. He doesn´t pay you enough. You work so hard in that office! I don´t want to drink a toast to him! I want to tell him what I think of him. 

BOB CRATCHIT: My dear (softly) it is Christmas Day. We must only think in happy thoughts. We must be charitable. Mr Scrooge gave me a job. He pays me regularly. It´s Christmas. Let´s celebrate! God bless us! 

TINY TIM: God bless us, every one! (He says happily) 

Scrooge is hearing all this and bows his head. He is ashamed. Scrooge turns to the Ghost with a worried expression: 

SCROOGE: But the young boy, Tiny Tim, what is going to happen to him? 

SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT: I see an empty seat at the Cratchits´  table next Christmas. (sadly) I see a crutch without an owner, and a family that is very, very sad. 

SCROOGE: No! No, spirit! Please, let him live! 

SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT: If the Cratchits´  life doesn´t change soon, I´m afraid Tiny Tim is going to die. Come, it´s time to go. I have to show you another house. 

SCROOGE: Another house? Whose house? I don´t know that many people! 

SPIRIT OF THE PRESENT:  You can´t guess whose house it is? 

SCROOGE: No idea… okay, let´s finish with this. I want to go home to sleep!

END OF ACT 4

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - PLAYSCRIPT -- DEC 2009 - ACT 3

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

PLAYSCRIPT - DEC 2009

ACT 3

Scrooge and the Spirit of the Past appear. They are not in the city any more. They´re in the country.   

SPIRIT OF THE PAST: Do you remember this place?  

SCROOGE: (feeling joyful) Yes, of course I do. This is where I was born.  

Scrooge and the Ghost stand in a corner of the stage. Two children, a boy and a girl appear and start playing with a ball. Scrooge boy appears with his hands in his pockets looking shy. 

SCROOGE:  It´s me! That little boy is me when I was 10.  

Scrooge boy looks sadly at the two children playing. He walks past them but the children don´t say anything. Scrooge boy takes out a book from his pocket and starts reading and looking at the children. The children look at him and go away. Scrooge boy is there alone and starts crying. 

SCROOGE:  Don´t show me this. My father left me. Nobody knows what it´s like to be a young boy all alone. (Scrooge´s eyes filled with tears)   

SPIRIT OF THE PAST: Is something wrong?  

SCROOGE: I was just thinking of another young boy I saw today. He came to my shop, alone, singing Christmas Carols. I did´t give him anything. … Oh take me away, I don´t want to see anymore! 

SPIRIT OF THE PAST: No, there are more things that you must see. We are going to visit another Christmas. 

Young Scrooge is sitting on a bench in the park. His sister, Fanny, comes to take him home . The brother and sister are happy because it is Christmas and they are together. They hold hands and run down the road singing a Christmas Carol. 

SPIRIT OF THE PAST: Your sister Fanny was very kind, but she died very young. 

SCROOGE: My sister was like a mother to me. She was the only person who really loved me just the way I was. When she died… I felt lost and alone. 

SPIRIT OF THE PAST: But she has one child. Your nephew Fred. 

SCROOGE: Yes, my nephew Fred. He reminds me of my sister, always so happy and so nice to other people. Never worried about himself. Always trying to give love away. (Scrooge looked down in a sad way, thinking)   

SPIRIT OF THE PAST: We have to hurry up, we haven´t got much time left and I have one more Christmas to show you before I leave you.  

SCROOGE: One more Christmas? When? Where? 

SPIRIT OF THE PAST: Come with me…(They stop at a warehouse and Scrooge sees Fezziwig, his old boss inside).

Scrooge: It´s old Fezziwig! He´s alive again! Look at him! Ha, ha!

They get closer and see Scrooge as a young man at a desk there. He is working as a clerk. Old Fezziwig puts down his pen and says:   

OLD FEZZIWIG: Ebenezer! No more work tonight! It is Christmas Eve! Let´s close the office now and start celebrating! 

Scrooge stands up and soon Mrs Fezziwig arrives, smiling. Soon many people come too with food and drinks, and begin to sing Christmas songs. Soon it´s a Christmas party. People are dancing and singing. Some are eating, others are drinking. Everyone is happy and laughing. But in a corner we can see young Scrooge talking to a pretty young woman. She is crying. 

ISABELLA: You are different Ebenezer, you don´t love me. You love another. (She sobs)  

YOUNG SCROOGE: What do you mean? I love you! 

ISABELLA: No, you don´t. You love MONEY. 

YOUNG SCROOGE: What are you saying? 

ISABELLA: You promise me happiness but you don´t know what happiness means. You are only happy with money. I cannot live with a man like you! (And the young woman runs away, leaving Scrooge alone again. Old Scrooge and Spirit of the past  are looking at young Scrooge. 

SCROOGE: Spirit, why are you showing me such unhappy scenes? I´ve always been so stupid! How could I let Isabella leave? Why didn´t I go after her? Oh, stupid, stupid fool! Please, take me home! 

They leave the stage, hand in hand and looking miserable.

END OF ACT 3