Cast:

In order of Appearance
Granddaughter………………………………………………....
Gramma Belle…………………………….…………………….
Scrooge …………………………….…………………………
Bob Cratchit………………………….……………………...
Nephew - Fred………………………………………………...
Businessmen……………………………………
Boy through window singing………………………………..
Carolers................................................................................
Marley's ghost……………………………………..…….
Ghost of Christmas Past: ……………………………………
Children in schoolyard............................................................
Young Scrooge in schoolyard………………………………..
Scrooge's sister, Fannie…….…………………………………..
Mr. & Mrs. Fezziwig. ……………………………..
Fezziwig's workers - dancing…………………………...
Young Belle………………………………………………
Young Ebenezer……………………………………….…………
Belle…………………………………………………………...
Belle's husband……………………………………………..
Ghost of Christmas Present: ……….…………………………
Mrs. Cratchit………..……………………………………….
Cratchit children……………………………………………..
Martha Cratchit………………………………………………
Tiny Tim……………………………………………………..
Fred's wife …………………………………………………
Party guests……………………
Ghost of Christmas to Come:………………………….……...
Cleaning woman……………………………………………..
Laundress………………………………………….………
Old Joe …………………….……………………………………..
Little family…………………………………………..
Turkey boy ………………………………………………….. .
Butcher……………………………………………………..
Assistant Director…………………………………………….
Stage Crew……………………………………….
Curtains & Lighting………………………...
Spotlight……………………………………………………………

1
Scene 1

Curtains are closed. To audience's left, on a small platform slightly offstage and higher than audience
level, is a rocker and a small, brass, reading lamp stand. An older woman covered with a quilt is
obviously asleep in the rocker. A young girl walks out carrying a large book.

Granddaughter: Gramma, you promised!

Grandmother: Are you sure? It's a long one…

Granddaughter: It's my favorite…about your old friend Ebenezer!

Grandmother: Well, then, let's snuggle up and read it together: A Christmas Carol, by Charles

Dickens… (She opens the book and starts dramatically)… Marley was dead...to begin with. He was

dead as a door nail.

Granddaughter: And that's really dead!

Grandmother: Ebenezer Scrooge knew Marley was dead…but he didn't miss Marley. Scrooge even

went to work the day of Marley's funeral. He didn't even bother to change the sign to their business --

he just left it the way it was-- Scrooge & Marley.

(A sign is quickly hung on the far side of stage right curtains that says, Scrooge & Marley, Counting
House)

Scrooge was a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner. If it was

blistering hot or freezing cold, no winter weather could chill him, and no warmth could warm him. No

one ever stopped him in the street to say,

Granddaughter: (chimes in quickly in a "grown up voice") My dear Scrooge, how are you today?

When will you come to see me?

Grandmother: No children asked him what time it was and no man or woman ever once in his life

asked him directions. Even the blind men's dogs knew him, and would guide their masters away and

around Scrooge. But what did he care? He liked being alone, with no one around him.

Granddaughter: (calls out dramatically) Until that Christmas Eve!!!

2
The curtain opens three quarters. A bell has already been hung on the far center panel of stage right
curtain, but the ringer has padding in it. Crew will remove padding for Scene 1 and Scene 12 only.
There are two men, hunched over their desks, sitting facing each other so Scrooge can watch
everything Bob does. Scrooge is bent over his slanted table busily writing with a feather pen. A single
candle is on his table. Bob Cratchit is sitting at a lesser table, with a single, half burnt out candle. He,
too, is busily writing away. Bob is wrapped up in a thin blanket which he constantly adjusts to try and
stay warm. He rubs his hands together constantly and blows on them.

Grandmother: One Christmas Eve, many years ago, Ebenezer Scrooge sat busy in his counting house.

It was cold and snowy outside. Scrooge had a little fire to warm his office, and his poor clerk, Bob

Cratchit, had to wear a blanket just to stay warm…

Scrooge's nephew, Fred: (walks upstairs located at audience left and shakes stage right curtain as he

walks by so the bell sounds) A Merry Christmas, Uncle! God Save you!

Scrooge: Bah! Humbug! (Not looking up from his work)

Nephew: Christmas, a humbug, uncle? Surely you don't mean that?

Scrooge: (grumbling, and distracted, not looking up from his work) I do. Merry Christmas! What

right have you to be merry? What reasons? You're poor enough!

Nephew: Come on uncle, what right have you to be gloomy and grouchy? You're rich enough!

Scrooge: Bah! Humbug!

Nephew: Don't be cross, uncle.

Scrooge: (grumbling, and distracted, and still, not looking up from his work) What else can I be when

I live in a world of fools! Merry Christmas! What's Christmas time to you but a time of paying bills

without money, a time for finding yourself one year older but not an hour richer? If I could have my

way, ever idiot who goes around with Merry Christmas on his lips should be boiled in his own pudding

and buried with a stake of holly through his heart!

Nephew: Uncle!

Scrooge: (He looks at him and pounds his desk) Nephew! Keep Christmas your way and let me keep it

my way. (Goes back to his work, hunched over writing)

3
Nephew: Keep it! But you don't keep it.

Scrooge: Leave me alone then! It hasn't done you any good.

Nephew: There are many things which are good that have nothing to do with money. (Bob Cratchit

sets down his pen and listens still looking at his desk) Christmas is a kind, forgiving, charitable and

pleasant time. It's the only time in the whole year when everyone agrees to open their hearts and think

of all people as fellow passengers to the grave. And, therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of

gold or silver in my pocket --I believe it has done me good and will do me good and I say, God bless it!

(Bob Cratchit claps)

Scrooge: (looks up quickly at Crachit) Let me hear another sound from you and you'll keep your

Christmas by losing your position here. (To nephew) You're a powerful speaker, nephew--you should

go into politics.

Nephew: Don't be angry, Uncle, come spend Christmas with us.

Scrooge: (controlled anger) I'll see you first…in…

Nephew: (gasps) Why! Why Uncle!

Scrooge: Why! Why did you get married?

Nephew: Because I fell in love…

Scrooge: (He looks up) Because you fell in love…Good afternoon! (And quickly looks down at his

work again).

Nephew: Why do you use my marriage as an excuse? You didn't visit me before I was married.

Scrooge: Good afternoon!

(At this cue, two businessmen appear audience left by the stairs and look up at the sign and back to a

list of names on a long sheet of paper they are carrying).)

Nephew: I want nothing from you. I ask nothing of you. Why can't we be friends?

Scrooge: Good afternoon!

4
Nephew: I am sorry with all my heart. We've never had a quarrel, so each year I come of my own free

will… to invite you to our home in the spirit of Christmas. And so, a Merry Christmas Uncle!

Scrooge: Good afternoon!

Nephew: And a Happy New Year!

Scrooge: Good afternoon!

Nephew: (Heads towards stage left staircase and then goes back to Bob Cratchit saying) And a Merry

Christmas to you!

Bob Cratchit: Merry Christmas to you, sir!

Scene 2

(Scrooge's nephew, Fred rings the doorbell loudly as he leaves and Bob quickly buries his head in his
work. As soon as Nephew rings the bell, the businessmen start up the stairs and he walks past the
businessmen, they politely nod and say "Merry Christmas" each other, and the two businessmen walk
in ringing the bell again)

Businessman1: (Broadly and with a smile) Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge or Mr.

Marley?

Scrooge: (Does not look up from his work) Mr. Marley died seven years ago this very night.

Businessman2: We have no doubt Mr. Marley's generosity was passed on to his partner. (Looks at

Scrooge waiting for a response - Scrooge doesn't look up)

Businessman1: (clearing throat) Ahem...At this festive time of the year, Mr. Scrooge, it is more than

usually desirable that we should take care of the poor and needy who are suffering and lack common

comforts.

Scrooge: Are there no prisons to send them to?

Businessman2: Plenty of prisons.

Scrooge: Workhouses?

Businessman2: There are.

5
Scrooge: Oh, I was afraid from what you said that something had happened to shut them all down. I'm

very glad to hear it.

Businessman 1: Prisons and workhouses scarcely offer Christian cheer to mind or body. A few of us

are trying to raise money to buy the poor some food and blankets. We chose this time because it is a

time of year when want is keenly felt and abundance rejoices. How much shall we put you down for?

Scrooge: Nothing!

Businessman2: Ah, you wish to be anonymous?

Scrooge: I wish to be left alone, since you asked me what I wish. Gentlemen, that is my answer. I

don't make myself merry at Christmas and I won't pay to make lazy people merry.

Businessman1: Many people have nowhere to go for food or shelter and must ask for help or die.

Scrooge: (He looks up and glares at them over his reading glasses) Well they had better do it quick

then and decrease the surplus population!

Both businessmen: Well, indeed! (The men turn around quickly and leave ringing the bell. Offstage,

clock chimes 5 o'clock)

Young boy: (singing) God rest you merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay

(Scrooge glares at the boy, and the boy runs off)

Scrooge: (Not looking up but directed at Cratchit) You'll want all day tomorrow off, I suppose?

Bob Cratchit: If it's quite convenient, sir.

Scrooge: It's not convenient and it's not equitable. If I didn't pay you for the day you would think I

was unfair.

Bob Cratchit: It is only one day a year.

Scrooge: (Peers down at Bob and leans slightly over his desk), A poor excuse for picking a man's

pocket every 25th of December. I suppose you must have the whole day. (Points his finger at his

watch) Be here all the earlier the next morning.

6
Bob Cratchit: Oh, I promise. Oh thank you. Thank you, Mr. Scrooge.

(Barely taps the bell, and quickly runs down stage to audience left stairs. Scrooge sits alone for a
moment after Cratchit leaves. He checks his watch, “blows out" the candle, gets up and taps the bell,
goes down the stairs. Curtain closes as soon as Scrooge taps the bell- office set removed behind the
curtain. Scrooge and Marley sign is flipped over to reveal a window on the other side, Scrooge's
bedroom is set up, have bell stuffed and quiet ready for next scene 2) As soon as Scrooge is down
stairs and walks to audience left side of singers, stage crew also moves stairs to audience right of
stage. He circles round singers in audience center, just finishing song, and pulls his coat higher above
his neck.

Singers: one or two lines until Scrooge is at his door: "Remember Christ our Savior was born on
Christmas Day"

Scene 3

Scrooge: Humbug! Walks up audience right stairs and faces the downstage left door. Suddenly,
Marley's face appears through the door. Scrooge looks at Marley's face sticking through the door,
looks away and looks again

Scrooge: Bah! As Scrooge goes around the curtain, his shoes slip off and a large nightgown and cap
are slipped over his clothes. Curtain slowly opens into Scrooge's bedroom, one rickety old rocker, his
bed with posts and curtains, battery-operated candlestick on a small table. Small fireplace could work
well, too. And, a recognizable quilt (even better if there are two similar quilts so the one that is
recognized with the laundress later, can stay on the bed)
Scrooge walks into his room holding a candle, sits down in the rocker. As soon as he sits down the
shop bell starts ringing. Scrooge jumps up, startled, and looks around.

Scrooge: Humbug! More bells and chains rattling louder now. Faint footsteps getting louder

Scrooge: Humbug...still!

Marley slowly appears from stage right with chains wrapped around him. He has the appearance of a
mummy.
Scrooge: I know you… (Catches breath) Marley's ghost! What do you want with me?

Marley's ghost: Much

Scrooge: (Asking again) Who are you?

Marley's ghost: In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley. (Stunned) You don't believe in me.

Scrooge: I don't!

Marley's ghost: Why do you doubt your senses?

7
Scrooge: Because a little thing can affect them. (Rubs his stomach) A stomach ache, old cheese,

(makes a belching movement) undone potato. There's more of gravy than the grave about you,

whatever you are! Humbug, humbug, I tell you! (He waves his arms at Marley)

Marley's ghost: (wailing) Ohhhhhh!

Scrooge: (down on his knees quickly), Mercy! Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?

Marley's ghost: Worldly man, do you believe in me now?

Scrooge: I do. I must. Why have you come to me?

Marley's ghost: I am doomed to wander through the world and witness what I cannot share but what I

might have shared on earth and turned to happiness. (He wails). Ohhhhh!

Scrooge: Why are you wearing those chains?

Marley's ghost: I wear the chains I built in life. I built each link from every wrong and cruel action.

Scrooge, do you know how long your chain is? It is a very, long, and heavy chain already.

Scrooge: (Looking worried, he looks around himself to see his chain), Jacob, Jacob Marley, tell me

more. Speak comfort to me.

Marley's ghost: I have no comfort to give you. I cannot stay. I cannot rest. In life, I never walked

farther than our counting house, and now I have a long journey ahead of me.

Scrooge: You sure traveled slowly, Jacob.

Marley's ghost: Slow?

Scrooge: Seven years traveling all the time, and you're still here?

Marley's ghost: The whole time. No rest, no peace, just remorse.

Scrooge: You travel fast?

Marley's ghost: On the wings of the wind.

Scrooge: You might have gone over a greater quantity of ground in seven years…

8
Marley's ghost: (wails loudly) Ohhhhh! No space of regret can make amends for life's opportunity

wasted.

Scrooge: But you were always a good man of business, Jacob.

Marley's ghost: Business! Bah! Mankind, charity, mercy, and benevolence should have been my

business. Why did I walk through crowds of people with my eyes turned down, and never raised them

to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor, little stable…Hear me, Scrooge! My time is

nearly gone.

Scrooge: I will. But, don't be hard on me!

Marley's ghost: I am here tonight to warn you that you still have a chance to hope to escape my fate.

Scrooge: You were a good friend to me. Thank you.

Marley's ghost: You will be haunted by Three Spirits.

Scrooge: Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob?

Marley's ghost: It is.

Scrooge: I think...I'd rather not.

Marley's ghost: (wailing), Ohhhhh! Without their visits, you cannot hope to avoid these chains.

Expect the first when your clock strikes one tonight. (Turns and walks off towards stage right)

Scrooge: Couldn't I take them all at once and have it over with, Jacob?

Marley's ghost: (Off stage he calls out), The second will come tomorrow and the third the next day.

Scene 4

Scrooge: (looks off after him watching - long pause) Humbug! (Crawls into bed and draws curtains

shut. Clock strikes one. He peeks out) Humbug! (Ghost walks in from stage right) Are you the spirit?

Ghost of Christmas Past: I am

Scrooge: Who and what are you?

Ghost of Christmas Past: I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.

9
Scrooge: Long past?

Ghost of Christmas Past: (smiling kindly) No. Your Past. Rise and walk with me. (Stands by window)

Scrooge: (looks down at his feet until ghost speaks) I am a mortal and liable to fall.

Ghost of Christmas Past: Bear but a touch of my hand on your heart.

(They stop at the 2nd step down so they're above everything, spotlight hits audience center on a small
group of children playing blind man's bluff. Audience center, a single boy is sitting on a bench alone
reading a book. The children play and even hide behind the boy, but he keeps his nose to the book,)

Scrooge: (looks out surveying audience and then children,) Good heavens! I know this place. I was a

boy here.

Ghost of Christmas Past: Do you remember it?

Scrooge: I could walk through it blindfolded.

Ghost of Christmas Past: These are but shadows of the things that have been. They have no

consciousness of us.

Small group of Children: (audience center) Good bye! Goodbye! Merry Christmas! Merry

Christmas!

(Children hug each other, ignoring young Ebenezer Scrooge sitting on a row of benches, reading.
They walk out of the spotlight and go back to their seats in the audience - as the children walk off,
spotlight turns to grandmother in the rocking chair).

Granddaughter: Scrooge liked to read lots of books, didn't he?

Grandmother: Oh yes, he loved to read, books kept him company because he was so terribly

lonesome… (Spot back on Scrooge, Ghost of Christmas Past, and the boy below them).

Scrooge: (looking at lonely boy on the bench) Poor boy.

Ghost of Christmas Past: What is the matter?

Scrooge: (he turns away from the Ghost and keeps looking at the boy) Nothing. Nothing. There was a

boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should have given him something. That's all.

Ghost of Christmas Past: Let's see what happened this Christmas long ago.
10
(Young girl skips up to young Scrooge on the bench)

Scrooge: Fannie!

Fannie: Dear brother, I have come to bring you home! You are coming home, home, home!

Young boy Scrooge: Home, little Fan?

Young Fannie: Yes, home.

Young boy Scrooge: And Father wants me there?

Young Fannie: Yes! Father wants you home.

Young boy Scrooge: And we shall have Christmas and have the merriest time in the world?

Young Fannie: And you are never to come back here. (Takes young boy Scrooge by the hand and

leads him away audience right)

Ghost of Christmas Past: Always a delicate creature. She had a big heart.

Scrooge: Yes she had.

Ghost of Christmas Past: She died with children?

Scrooge: One child.

Ghost of Christmas Past: True…your nephew Fred.

Scrooge: Yes. (Lowers head slightly) (Spotlight shifts to two young boys on stools at tall desks)

Scene 5

Ghost of Christmas Past: Do you know this place?

Scrooge: Know it! I was apprenticed here!

Granddaughter: (looking up at her Grandmother) What’s "apprenticed?"

Grandmother: This was the first place Scrooge worked. He learned his business here.

Fezziwig comes out of audience left

Scrooge: Why it's old Fezziwig! Bless his heart! It's Fezziwig alive again!

11
Fezziwig: Yoo hoo there, Ebenezer! Jack! (The two young men jump off their stools and come running

straight up to Fezziwig).

Scrooge: Jack Wilkins, bless me. He was a good friend. Poor Jack.

Fezziwig: Yoo hoo my boys. No more work tonight. It's Christmas Eve, Jack and Ebenezer. Set

things up quickly. Everyone will be here. (8-10 young people come out and excitedly greet the

Fezziwigs. Quick fiddler! Come on Mrs. Fezziwig, let's show these young ones how to dance!

(The music starts and everyone does a simple square dance. Scrooge weaves in and out and all
participating, laughing out loud) Scrooge watches and has fun walking around behind. As dance starts
to end lights dim suddenly and they dance quietly while the Spirit and Scrooge talk)

Ghost of Christmas Past: Small matter to make these silly people grateful.

Scrooge: Small!

Ghost of Christmas Past: Fezziwig didn’t spend any money. Why should he get any praise for this

evening?

Scrooge: (still watching the group) It’s not that, Spirit. Fezziwig had the power to make us happy or

unhappy and make our work a pleasure or make it miserable. His power was in his words. The

happiness he gave was the same as if it cost a fortune. (Lights out on dancers and Fezziwig)

Ghost of Christmas Past: What's the matter?

Scrooge: Oh nothing

Ghost of Christmas Past: Something

Scrooge: No. I should like to say a word or two to my clerk, Bob Cratchit, just now that's all.

Ghost of Christmas Past: My time grows short. Quick!

Scene 6

Audience center bench now has Young Ebenezer and a young woman. He is writing with a pencil in a

ledger while a young woman watches him.

Granddaughter: That girl looks like you, grandma.

12
Grandmother: Smiles sadly and nods

Belle: It matters little, Ebenezer, another idol has displaced me and if it could make you happy or

comfort you, I wouldn't feel so sad.

Young Ebenezer: What idol, Belle?

Belle: A golden one.

Scrooge: (stands behind the two and looks at the young woman) Oh sweet Belle, the world is not fair -

it's hard on poverty yet it condemns the pursuit of wealth!

Belle: You fear the world too much, Ebenezer. I have seen your noble desires fall off. Your only

passion is gain. (She points at his ledger)

Young Ebenezer: What then? Even if I have grown so much wiser, what then? I am not changed

towards you.

Belle: (she shakes her head no). When we got engaged, you were poor and happy. You wanted me to

wait until you could improve your worldly fortune. You are changed. You are a different man.

Young Ebenezer: I was a boy.

Belle: Your own words tell that you are not who you were.

Young Ebenezer: I am.

Belle: It is enough and I release you.

Young Ebenezer: Have I ever asked to break this off?

Belle: In words, no, never.

Young Ebenezer: In what then?

Belle: In a changed nature. If we weren't engaged, would you seek me out and try and win me now?

No. (She gets up and walks away toward audience right). May you be happy in the life you have

chosen.

Scrooge: (Upset) Spirit! Show me no more. Take me home. Why do you delight to torture me?
13
Ghost: One more shadow.

Scene 7

Granddaughter: Look! That's you and grandpa, when you were young isn't it?

(Belle and her husband walk arm in arm from audience left to audience right. They pause briefly to the
audience right of Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past)

Belle's husband: I saw an old friend of yours, Belle.

Belle: Who was it?

Belle's husband: Guess!

Belle: How am I to guess? I don't know, Ebenezer Scrooge? (Laughing)

Belle's husband: Mr. Scrooge it was. I passed by his office window and saw he had his one candle

burning inside. I heard his partner, Jacob Marley, is at the point of death…and there sat Scrooge in his

counting house alone.

Belle: (softly) He is quite alone in the world.

Scrooge: SPIRIT! Remove me from this place. (Starts backing up the stairs and into his bedroom) I

cannot bear it. Leave me! Take me back.

Ghost of Christmas Past: (walking down the stairs and out towards audience left, looks back at

Scrooge and calls softly to him). I told you these were shadows of things that have been. They are what

they are. Do not blame me.

Scrooge: Haunt me no longer. (Backs up onto stage - and falls onto his bed)

Scene 8

Clock starts to chime two as soon as Scrooge is on the bed.

Ghost of Christmas Present: (enters from stage right and stands at the foot of Scrooge's bed)

(energetic, enthusiastic) Look upon me! You have never seen the likes of me before!

Scrooge: (kneeling on his bed) Never. Spirit, take me where you will. Teach me.

14
Ghost of Christmas Present: Touch my robe.

(They step down to the second step. Cratchit home is set up audience center platform, children are
setting the small table. Benches instead of chairs. Armchair with a few patches on it and a small
hurricane lamp for the table. (Fire place?)

Mrs. Cratchit: What has made your precious father late? And your brother, Tiny Tim! And where's

Martha?

Children: Here's Martha, mother, Hurrah, hurrah! (They hug Martha and she hugs her mother and

then the children).

Mrs. Cratchit: Why bless your heart alive, my dear, how late you are!

Martha: (removing her apron) We had so much work to do yesterday and then we had to finish up

today until late.

Mrs. Cratchit: We'll never mind as long as you're here. Sit by the fire dear and warm yourself.

Children: No, no, father's coming. Hide Martha, quick, hide! (She hides behind the armchair or a

rocker with a blanket laying across that hides her).

Children: Hello, father.

Bob Cratchit: Hello, darlings! Oh, didn't Martha make it home?

Mrs. Cratchit: Not coming.

Bob Cratchit: Not coming… (Martha sneaks behind him and covers his eyes) Oh, Martha!

Martha: Father!

Mrs. Cratchit: And, how did our Tiny Tim behave at church?

Bob Cratchit: He was good as gold. He told me on our way home from church, he was hoping people

would see him, so they might think of who truly made the lame walk and blind men see… (All sit

around a small table). A Merry Christmas to all my dears. God bless us!

Tiny Tim: God bless us every one!

Scrooge: Spirit, Tell me, Tiny Tim will live.

15
Ghost of Christmas Present: I see a vacant seat in the poor chimney corner, and a crutch without an

owner carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, the child will die.

Scrooge: No, no, kind spirit, say he will be spared.

Ghost of Christmas Present: If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, none other of my race

will find him here. What then? If he dies, he had better do it quickly then and (turns to face Scrooge

as he says these final words) decrease the surplus population

Bob Cratchit: And thank you to Mr. Scrooge, the founder of our feast.

Mrs. Cratchit: The founder of our feast indeed! I wish I had him here, I'd give him a piece of my mind

to feast upon and I hope he'd have a good appetite for it!

Bob Cratchit: My dear…the children…Christmas Day.

Mrs. Cratchit: It should be Christmas Day. I am sure we should bless the health of an odious, stingy,

hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge. You know he is, Robert! Nobody knows it better than you do,

poor fellow.

Bob Cratchit: My dear…Christmas Day.

Mrs. Cratchit: I'll bless his health for your sake but not for his long life. Merry Christmas and a Happy

New Year. He'll be very merry and happy I have no doubt.

(The children start to sing Silent Night - Tiny Tim sings a little bit - and then Cratchits stop singing and
spotlight moves over to a small group of young adults walking together from audience far right to
audience center, Cratchits set table behind grandmother platform but leave benches in a semi-circle-
make sure Tiny Tim stays in character and uses his crutch).

Scene 9

Fred: (laughing out loud). He said that Christmas was a humbug, as I live! He believed it, too!

Fred's wife: More shame for him, Fred.

Fred: He's a comical old fellow and that's the truth and not so pleasant as he might be. However, his

offences carry their own punishment and I have nothing to say against him.

16
As soon as the last of the Cratchits have cleared away table, this group moves onto the benches.

Fred's wife: I'm sure he's very rich, Fred.

Fred: His money is of no use to him. He doesn’t do any good with it. He doesn't make himself

comfortable with it. He doesn't have the satisfaction of thinking, ha, ha, ha, that he is ever going to

benefit us with it!

Fred's wife: I have no patience with him.

Fred: Oh I have! I am sorry for him. I couldn't be angry with him. I tried. Who suffers by his ill

whims? He takes it in his head to dislike us, won't come and dine with us, what's the consequence? He

won't lose much of a dinner! (All laugh and reassure Fred's wife the food is delicious)

Partygoer: Indeed! I think he has missed a very good dinner!

All: Here, here!

Fred: I was only going to say, as a consequence of his taking a dislike to us and not making merry with

us, I think, he loses some pleasant moments that could do him no harm. He may rail at Christmas till

he dies. But he will find me going there in good temper year after year, saying, Uncle Scrooge, how

are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk, Bob Cratchit, fifty pounds then that's

something; and I think I shook him yesterday.

Fred's wife: Oh, let's play our questions game! You first, Fred!

Fred: Very well

Partygoer: Is it an animal, vegetable or mineral?

Scrooge: (he tells himself) Oh I think I shall be very good at this game.

Fred: Animal

Partygoer: Pleasant?

Fred: Oh my no, disagreeable and savage!

Scrooge: I wonder if it were a hawk or an eagle?

17
Partygoer: Where can you find this animal?

Fred: Wandering through London (big smile and with each question he smiles and chuckles more and

more)

Scrooge: Hmmm, London

Partygoer: Does it have a leash?

Fred: No.

Scrooge: Well, then it cannot be a dog.

Partygoer: Does it live in a menagerie?

Fred: No.

Partygoers: Is it a horse?

Fred: No.

Partygoers: Is it a cow?

Fred: No.

Partygoers: Is it a pig?

Fred: No.

Partygoers: Is it a cat?

Fred: No.

Partygoers: Is it a bear?

Fred: No.

Scrooge: Oh good grief, Fred, tell us what it is!

Partygoers: Is it a donkey?

Fred: (laughs loudly), No.

Partygoer: I know what it is Fred, I know, I know!

Fred: What is it?

18
Partygoer: It's your Uncle Scrooooge! (Scrooge suddenly has a very stern expression)

Fred: It certainly is. And he has given us plenty of merriment. Hurrah for Uncle Scrooge! (Scrooge

drops his jaw)

Partygoers: Hurrah to Uncle Scrooge!

Fred: And a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the old man whatever he is! Now, shall we

play Blind Man's Bluff?

Scrooge: (turns to the ghost and says), Oh may we stay longer?

Ghost of Christmas Present: We must go quickly. (Fred's group leaves quickly, one grabs the table

and places it audience center platform again)

Scrooge: Are spirits' lives so short?

Ghost of Christmas Present: My time here is very brief and ends right now. But let me remind

you, here in the Christmas present, exists (he pulls out two large signs from beneath his cloak and

holds them up for audience to see) both Ignorance and Want. And, in Ignorance, Ebenezer

Scrooge, I see your doom. (He puts the placards back in his cloak)

Scene 10

(Clock starts to ring three. Ghost of Christmas Present leaves. And slowly while the clock chimes
three, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come walks up slowly).

Scrooge: I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: (nod)

Scrooge: You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened, but will happen in

the time before us? Is that so, Spirit?

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: (nods his head slowly)

19
Scrooge: Ghost of the Future! I fear you more than any I have seen. But I know your purpose is to do

me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company

and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me?

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: (doesn't talk-- just signals where to go with his hand).

Scrooge: Lead on! The night is waning fast and we have precious little time I know, Lead on!

(A Two men talking far audience right)

Man1: No, I don't know much about it either way. I only know he's dead.

Man2: When did he die?

Man1: Last night, I believe.

Man2: Why what was the matter with him? I never thought he'd die.

Man1: What has he done with all his money?

Man2: No doubt left it to his company. He hasn't left it to me. That's all I know.

Man1: I just heard it was a very cheap and quick funeral. Why, they just put him in the ground with a

headstone not ten minutes ago!

Man1: Perhaps there was a lunch provided, shall we go see?

Man2: I don't mind going if a lunch is provided, but I must be fed if I am to show up there.

Man1: Well, anyways, old Scratch has got his own at last.

Man2: Cold isn't it?

Man1: Seasonable for Christmas time. You're not an ice skater?

Man2: No, no, Well, good afternoon! (They both walk off audience right)

Scene 11

Two women walk in--each with a bag over their shoulder. They set down the bag on the table and
crowd around the little table (used for Cratchit's dinner) they light a candle and look around.

Charwoman: What are the odds then! Every person has a right to take care of himself. He always

20
did.

Laundress: That's true indeed. No man more so than he.

Joe the undertaker: Well, why are you standing around then? Who's the worse for the loss of a

few things like these? Not a dead man, I suppose.

Charwoman: No indeed (laughing)

Laundress: If he wanted to keep ‘em after he was dead, why wasn't he a kind man in his lifetime?

If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with death, instead

of lying there (overdramatically) gasping out his last word there, alone by himself.

Joe the undertaker: A truer word that ever was spoken. It's a judgment on him.

Charwoman: Open the bundle, Joe, and let me know what you'll give me for this.

(He pulls out one silver teaspoon, a silver candlestick, boots, tongs, and sheets and finally Scrooge's
topcoat).

Joe: (he hands her coins) I always gives too much to the ladies.

Both women: Awwww, go on! (Cackling together)

Joe: It's a weakness of mine and that's the way I ruin myself. If you ask me for another penny I'll

change my mind.

Laundress: Open my bag!

Joe: (looking in bag) What's this? Bed curtains??!!!

Laundress: Ahhhh, bed curtains (crossing her arms and very proud of them)

Joe: You don't mean you took 'em down, rings and all, with him lying there?

Laundress: Yes I do! Why not?

Joe: You were born to make your fortune, and you'll certainly do it. (He holds the candle over the bag

and looks in…)

Laundress: Don't spill wax on the blankets!

Joe: (looking pale) His blankets?

21
Laundress: Who else's do you think? He isn't going to catch cold without them, will he?

Joe: (stopping what he was doing and turning to her) I hope he didn't die of anything catching, did he?

Laundress: Don't you be afraid of that. (Joe pulls out a shirt). Now you can look through that shirt ‘til

your eyes ache; but you won't find a hole in it nor a threadbare place. It's the best he had. Why, they

would have wasted it if it hadn't been for me.

Joe: What do you mean, wasted it?

Laundress: Putting it on him to be buried in, to be sure. Somebody was fool enough to do that, but I

just took it off again when they weren't around. If his old calico shirt isn't good enough for this

purpose, it isn't good for anything. He can't look uglier than he did in that one.

Joe: (pulls out a flannel bag with money in it)

Charwoman: This is the end of it you see! He frightened everyone away from him when he was alive,

(turns to the Laundress) to profit us when he was dead! (Joe shakes bag of coins) Ha ha ha!

Scrooge: Spirit, this is a fearful place, in leaving it, I shall not leave its lesson, trust me. Let us go!

Scene 12

Scrooge: If there is any person in this town, who feels emotion caused by this man's death, show that

person to me, Spirit, I beg you!

A young mother and her two children are sitting at the table, with tablecloth and one half-melted

candle. She has a handkerchief and keeps dabbing her eyes. The father walks in from audience left

crosses in front of Scrooge and the Ghost.

Mother: Is it good or bad?

Father: Bad

Mother: Are we quite ruined?

Father: No, there is hope yet, Caroline.

22
Mother: If he relents there is! Nothing is past hope if such a miracle has happened. (She dabs her eyes

with the handkerchief)

Father: He is past relenting. He is dead. Remember when his laundry woman wouldn't let me in

yesterday, when I tried to get a week's delay. I thought he was avoiding me, but he truly was ill

because he died last night.

Mother: Who will take on our debt?

Father: I don't know, but by the time someone takes on our debt, we shall be ready with the money.

We may sleep with light hearts tonight, Caroline. (They get up and walk out. Leave their tablecloth

and candle)

Scene 13

Scrooge: Spirit, Let me see some tenderness connected with this death.

(Bob Cratchit's house all are sitting at the table, Tiny Tim's crutch is resting against the wall)

Cratchit child: (reading) And he took a child and set him in the midst of them.

Mrs. Cratchit: (puts a handkerchief to her face, the child stops reading and looks at his mother). The

color hurts my eyes. They're better now. It makes them weak by candlelight; and I wouldn't show

weak eyes to your father when he comes home, for the world. It must be near his time to come home.

Young Cratchit: Past it rather. But I think he has walked a little slower than he used to these few last

evenings, mother.

Mrs. Cratchit: I have known him walk with -- I have known him walk with Tiny Tim upon his

shoulder, very fast indeed.

Young Cratchit: And so have I. Often.

Mrs. Cratchit: And he was very light to carry, and his father loved him so, that it was no trouble. And

there is your father at the door!

23
Bob Cratchit: Yes, my dear, I wish you could have gone. It would have done you good to see how

green a place it is. But you'll see it often. I promised him that I would walk there on Sundays. My

little, little child! My little child. Well children, you know, who I saw today, Mr. Scrooge's nephew,

Fred. He saw me walking down the street, and seeing that I looked a little down, you know. On

which, for he is the pleasantest-spoken gentleman you ever heard, he said, I am heartily sorry for it, Mr.

Cratchit, and heartily sorry for your good wife. By the bye, how he ever knew that, I don't know.

Mrs. Cratchit: Knew what, my dear?

Bob Cratchit: Why, that you were a good wife,

Cratchit's son: Everybody knows that!

Bob Cratchit: Very well observed, my boy! I hope they do. Heartily sorry, for your good wife. If I

can be of service to you in any way, and he gave me his card and said, that's where I live. Pray come to

me. Now it wasn't for the sake of anything he might be able to do for us, so much as for his kind way

that this was quite delightful. It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim and felt with us. I am

sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Tim, shall we?

All Cratchits: Never, Father,

Bob Cratchit: And I know, my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was;

although he was a little, little child; we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves and forget poor Tiny

Tim in doing it.

All Cratchits: No, never father. (Cratchit's platform is removed to audience left - staircase stays)

Scene 14

Scrooge: Spectre, something informs me that our parting moment is at hand. I know it, but I know not

how. Tell me who is the man who is dead and no one mourns him?

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: (Points away from Scrooge's room to audience left)

24
Scrooge: My house is yonder, why do you point away? Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you

point, answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that will be, or are they shadows of

things that may be, only?

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: (Points to the grave)

Scrooge: Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead. But

if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me?

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: (Points to the grave)

Scrooge: sees his name on the tombstone, Am I that man who has died?

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: (Points from the grave to Scrooge)

Scrooge: (backing up towards his room) No, Spirit! Oh no, no! Spirit, hear me! I am not the man I

was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this night. Why show me this if I am past hope?

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: (finger starts to shake)

Scrooge: (backing up the stairs), Good spirit, assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have

shown me, by an altered life?

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: (The kind hand trembles).

Scrooge: (holds onto the bed curtain) I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.

I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.

(Backs up and sits in his chair) I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me that I may

sponge away the writing on that stone!

Scene 15

Scrooge: (Head in his hands as he is sitting in the chair) I will live in the Past, the Present, and the

Future! The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. (Looks up and then looks around his room

slowly) Oh Jacob Marley! Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! I say it on my knees,

old Jacob, on my knees! (Change in voice standing up slowly), Here are the bed-curtains, they are not
25
torn down, rings and all. They are here - (puts his hands on his head and shoulders) I am here - the

shadows of the things that would have been, may be dispelled. They will be. I know they will!

(Scrambling to put his clothes on - inside out, upside down, tearing them apart, during this hustle and

bustle, stairs moved back to audience right)) I don't know what to do! I am as light as a feather, I am

as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. A merry Christmas to everybody! A Happy New

Year to all the world! Halloo there! There's the door, by which the Ghost of Jacob Marley entered.

There's the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present sat! There's the window where I saw the

wandering Spirits! It's all right, it's all true, it all happened. Ha, ha ha! I don't know what day of the

month it is! I don't know how long I've been among the Spirits. I don't know anything. I'm quite a

baby. Never mind. I don't care. (Calls down through window to young boy in audience center) Ho

there, young boy! What's today?

Young boy: What?

Scrooge: What's today, my fine fellow?

Young boy: Today??? Why it's Christmas Day!

Scrooge: It's Christmas Day! I haven't missed it! The Spirits visited me all in one night. Of course

they did! They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. (Back to little boy),

Hallo, my fine fellow!

Young boy: Hallo!

Scrooge: Do you know the butcher shop in the next street, the one on the corner?

Young boy: I should hope I did!

Scrooge: An intelligent boy! A remarkable boy! Do you know whether they've sold the prize Turkey

that was hanging up there? Not the little prize turkey, the big one?

Young boy: What, the one as big as me?

Scrooge: A delightful boy! It's a pleasure talking to him. Yes, my buck.

26
Young boy: It's hanging there now.

Scrooge: Is it? Go and buy it.

Young boy: Walk-errr!

Scrooge: No, no I am in earnest. Go and buy it, and tell ‘em to bring it here so I can tell them where to

take it. Come back with the man and I'll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five

minutes and I'll give you half-a-crown! Young boy runs off

Scrooge: I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's. (He's writing the address on a scrap of paper). He won't

know who sent it to him. It's twice the size of Tiny Tim.

(Scrooge walks behind curtain and goes in front of his door as soon as Butcher starts up the steps
carrying the turkey wrapped in paper. Curtain closes. Behind Curtain scene changes to Scrooge &
Marley's counting house).

Scrooge: (looking at the door knocker) I shall love it as long as I live! I scarcely looked at it

before. What an honest expression it has in its face! It's a wonderful knocker! Butcher and the

boy look at each other and back at Scrooge) Oh, Here's the Turkey. Hallo! Whoop! How are

you! Merry Christmas. Why it's impossible to carry that to Camden Town. You must have a cab.

Take it to this address (presses paper into butcher's hands) and don't tell them who bought it.

(Pays both) (Finally puts on topcoat)(Goes down his steps and sees the two men, audience right, he
turned away - they see him and turn to walk away he starts to head down the stairs as soon as he is
down the stairs, they are moved to audience left. Scrooge's door is removed from the curtain)

Scrooge: My dear sirs, How do you do? I hope you succeeded yesterday. It was very kind of you. A

merry Christmas to you, sirs!

Businessman: Mr. Scrooge?

Scrooge: Yes, that is my name and I fear it may not be pleasant to you. Allow me to ask your pardon.

And will you have the goodness (whispers something to the man)

Businessman: Lord bless me! My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious?

Scrooge: If you please, not a penny less. A great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you.
27
Businessman: My dear sir, I don't know what to say to such…

Scrooge: Don't say anything please, Come and see me. Will you come and see me?

Businessman: Oh I will!

Scrooge: Thank you, I am much obliged to you.

(Now, he paces in front of the audience and finally reaches up and (crew rings) rings a bell).

Fred: (pops up out of audience center and answers door)

Scrooge: Fred!

Fred: Why bless my soul!

Scrooge: It's I, your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?

Fred: Let you in! Wonder-ful! Wonder-ful, Wonder-ful. Look darling, dear Uncle Scrooge has

come to dinner.

Scene 15

(spot on Scrooge as he walks through the crowd shaking hands with people and children come up to
him, he pats them on their heads and gives them a candy which they go skipping away from him)

Grandmother: And Scrooge passed the happiest Christmas day he'd ever known, after he laughed and

ate and played games with his nephew and his wife and family, he walked about the streets, he patted

children on the head, questioned beggars and found everything could make him smile. He never

dreamed that any walk--that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Scrooge goes up the stairs

and quietly rings the bell as he walks past the curtain) But he was early at the office the next morning.

Oh, he was early there. If he could only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late! That was

the thing he had set his heart upon. And he did it! Yes he did! The clock struck nine. No Bob. A

quarter past nine. No Bob. He was a full eighteen minutes late.

Bob runs in from the back of the audience and stops and tiptoes up the stairs, rings bell curtain too
loudly as he goes past door and quickly gets himself set up on the stool. Scrooge is already sitting at
his desk hunched over his work).

28
Scrooge: (sternly) Hallo! What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?

Bob Cratchit: I am very sorry sir, I am behind my time.

Scrooge: You are? Yes. I think you are. Come over here Bob Cratchit.

Bob Cratchit: It's only once a year, sir. It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday,

sir.

Scrooge: Now I'll tell you what, my friend, I am not going to stand for this sort of thing any longer and

therefore...therefore... I am going to raise your salary!

Bob Cratchit: (looks like he's going to call for help and backing up from Scrooge).

Scrooge: A merry Christmas Bob! A merrier Christmas Bob, my good fellow than I have given you

for many a year. I'll raise your salary and try to help your family and we will discuss all of your affairs

this afternoon over a hot bowl of soup! Make up the fires and buy another bucket of coal before you

dot another I, Bob Cratchit!

Grandmother: And 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. (Show him and Cratchit going down the stairs and

silently smiling and greeting Cratchit's family he lifts Tiny Tim up on his shoulder and smiling and

laughing silently) He became as good a friend, as good a man as the town knew. Some people laughed

to see the change in him, but he let them laugh, for he was wise enough to laugh with them and that

was quite enough for him. And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if

any man alive could do so. May that be truly said of us and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed,

Tiny Tim: God Bless Us Every One!

29
Blocking

Scene 1
Grandmother/Granddaughter
Nephew
Scrooge
Bob Cratchit

Scene 2
Scrooge
Businessmen
Young boy singing
Bob Cratchit
Carolers

Scene 3
Scrooge
Marley's Ghost

Scene 4
Ghost of Christmas Past
30
Scrooge
Grandmother/Granddaughter
Small group of children playing
Young Scrooge in schoolyard
Scrooge's sister, Fannie

Scene 5
Ghost of Christmas Past
Scrooge
Jack Wilkins
Mr. & Mrs. Fezziwig
Fezziwig's workers

Scene 6
Ghost of Christmas Past
Scrooge
Grandmother/Granddaughter
Young Ebenezer
Belle (Scrooge's girlfriend)
Scene 7
Ghost of Christmas Past
Scrooge
Grandmother/Granddaughter
Belle
Belle's husband
Scene 8
Ghost of Christmas Present
Scrooge
Mrs. Cratchit
Cratchit children
Martha
Bob Cratchit
Tiny Tim

Scene 9
Ghost of Christmas Present
Scrooge
Fred
Fred's wife
Party guests

Scene 10
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Scrooge
Businessmen from Scene 2

Scene 11
31
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Scrooge
Charwoman
Laundress
Joe

Scene 12
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Scrooge
Mother
Father

Scene 13
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Scrooge
Mrs. Cratchit
Cratchit children
Bob Cratchit

Scene 14
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Scrooge

Scene 15
Grandmother/Granddaughter
Scrooge
Young turkey boy
Butcher
Businessmen
Fred
Fred's wife

Scene 16
Scrooge
Cratchit
Cratchit family
Tiny Tim
Grandmother/Granddaughter

32