A Family Carol

Written by Aaishiki Paul

Edited by Tesal Sangma
Inspired by the book “Scrooge’s Christmas”

Characters:
1. Naomi - Mother - F
2. Dream Naomi - F
3. Jason - Step-Father - M
4. Dream Jason - M -
5. Hermione - Twin Sister - F
6. Dream Hermione - F
7. Harry - Twin Brother - M
8. Dream Harry - M
9. Ron - Baby Step-Brother - M
10. Lily - Older Step -Sister - F
11. Dream Lily - F
12. Ghost of Christmas Past (PA) - M
13. Ghost of Christmas Present (PR) - F
14. Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (F) - M

7 Females
7 Males

(It’s a howling night, wind batter heavily across the windows).

(A family sits around the Christmas presents, looking
disappointed, while 2 adults try to be cheerful)

ACT 1:
Naomi: Children, come on! Let’s open the presents. The gifts are
nice this year.
Ron: But mom, why don’t we have a tree? We can’t have Christmas
without a tree!
Naomi: Ron, please. Your father and I are running a bit low on
money. We’ll get through this, but we have to make sacrifices.
Lily: (Stands up) I’m going to my room. I need to send some
texts.
Jason: Lily, not now. We’ve got some special things for you all,
and your father and I both tried our best. After this, we can go
out to maybe the parkand give away some of our old and unused
things.
Naomi: We’re running short on cash, Jason. Maybe after these hard
times pass...
Jason: Fine. (Sits back down).
Naomi: Harry, you first!
(Harry gingerly opens the present)
Harry: (Gasps happily) A watch. Thanks mom!
Naomi: Actually, your father bought it for you.
Harry: (Looks disappointed) Oh… Thank you, sir.
Jason: (Tries to act cheerful) You’re welcome! Lily, you next.
Lily: (Grudgingly opens the present) … A hairclip. Thanks.
Jason: It was your grandma’s clip from when she was young. She
wanted you to have it.
Lily: Oh. Cool. (Starts texting on her phone)
(Silence Prevails)
Naomi: (Angrily) That’s it. I’m done with you all. You don’t care
about anything but yourselves. Your father and I are trying to
make Christmas nice for you, but all you do is act ungrateful.
Jason: (Cuts N off) Naomi, stop! They’re just kids. This is a
huge change for them.
Naomi: (Cuts J off) Doesn’t mean that they start acting spoiled.
Forget it. Everyone, go to bed. And Lily, give me your phone.
Lily: (Looks up, startled) What?! No, of course not.
Naomi: Hand it over.
Lily: (Shouts) You can’t do that. I wish you weren’t my mom!
(Silence prevails)
Jason: Naomi, listen to her. Phone! Now!
Lily: Fine. (Hands her phone over)
(Everybody leaves the scene in different directions, sad and
disappointed)

ACT 2:

(Harry and Hermione are talking on the left of the stage)

Harry: I can’t believe that today turned out like this.

Hermione: (With a frown) Same! It’s so weird not being able to
eat turkey or open presents under a tree.
Harry: I wish we could go back in time to where it was just us
and mom.
Hermione: I would really kill for a time-turner now.
(Ron enters, running)
Ron: ‘Mione, Harry, when will we have dinner? I’m hungry!
Hermione: (Worried) Oh right, we haven’t eaten anything yet! (To
Ron) Don’t worry Ron, I’ll ask mom to get us some food. Maybe
order some if they haven't made dinner.
Ron: OK! But ask her to make it fast. I’ll die if I can’t eat.
Harry: (Laughs) You won’t die, Ron. C’mon, let’s go to mom’s
bedroom.
(Lily walks in with a terrible temper)
Lily: Oh, it’s you three.
Harry: (In an unfriendly manner) Yeah, it’s us.
Lily: Have you seen dad? I can’t find him.
Hermione: Your problem.
Lily: (Annoyed) Chill out. I was just asking. No need to be rude.
Hermione: Huh? What about when you were being rude to your dad?
Harry: Because of you, we’re all dying over here. Ron hasn’t even
eaten!
Ron: But you said I won’t die-
Harry: Sh!
(Jason and Naomi walk in)
Naomi: Guys, I’m so sorry. The food’s just been ordered. I hope
you like pepperoni pizza!
(Jason and Lily are confused)
Harry: Yes! Pizza!
Hermione: A departure from the turkey, huh?
Jason: Naomi, Lily can’t eat it-
Naomi: Why? Does she not want pizza because she’s sad about her
phone?
(Silence prevails)
Lily: (In a clipped tone) No, it’s because I’m vegetarian.
Naomi: (Stumbles over her words) Oh, I’m sorry! I’ll order
margherita, or maybe uh- (scrolls rapidly on her phone,
flustered)
Lily: No need, I wasn’t that hungry anyways.
(The twins both look over their shoulder fast)
Naomi: (Sorry) But-
(The twins and Ron scream and fall over).
Jason: What-
(PAST enters the scene)
PAST: Hello, Granger family.
(Everyone is shocked and scared)
Lily: Wh-who are you?
PAST: (Raises arms dramatically) I am the ghost of Family Past. I
am here to save you all from the difficult futures that lie ahead
of you.
Naomi: (Frantically shines phone light in PA’s direction) Get out
of here, thief! Halloween was a month ago! Take our candy! But we
only have sugar free. I hope you don’t mind-
PAST: (Unaffected) You see what you expect to see. But I am far
beyond any of your wildest dreams, my companions, even more so.
Jason: (About to faint) An armed robbery? Take us both, but don’t
take out children!
PAST: (Annoyed) Quiet! (Coughs and goes back into a dreamy tone)
I will show you your pasts and what you missed so dreadfully
right now? Was it really that glamorous? I am, of course, not to
be ignored, but you must let me be and move on to the present.
(Waves hand)Look.

ACT 3:

(The family turns around, shocked as Dream - Harry, Dream -

Hermione, and Dream - Naomi enter the scene through the right.
Naomi is holding a bundle of blankets in her arms.)
Dream Harry: Mom! Where are our presents, where are our presents?
Dream Naomi: (Laughs) You have to wait!
Dream Hermione: (Whines) But mom, we can’t!
Dream Naomi: You know, Santa only gives presents to the nice kids
who wait for their turn. Now, you both set down the milk and
cookies.
Dream Harry: OK!
Dream Hermione: (Looks around) Mom, where’s dad?
Dream Naomi: (Sighs and clutches the bundle of blankets tighter)
Dad’s not home right now. He won’t be back for a bit.
Dream Harry: (Sad) Does that mean dad won’t celebrate Christmas
Eve with us?
Dream Naomi: (A bit angry) Yes, he’s got other people to
celebrate with, it seems. (Cheerful again) Now come on, let’s get
the food from the kitchen. We don’t want Santa to be hungry!
(Dream Harry and Dream Hermione forget about their father)
Dream Hermione: C’mon Harry, let’s go!
(Dream Harry and Dream Hermione run out of the scene, while N
trails behind)
(Silence prevails, the twins, Ron, and Naomi are about to cry)
PAST: That was the day your father left you forever, no?
(Silence again prevails)
PAST: The only way to let go of your past is to embrace it and
understand that nothing can be changed now, and nothing is your
fault. You’re a mortal, with their own thoughts, emotions, wants,
and mistakes. In the end, years change people, for better or
worse; and it’s your decision which path you wish to take. (Waves
hand again)
(Dream Jason and Dream Lily enter the scene through the right.
Dream Jason is crying into his arms and running, while Dream Lily
chases after him)
Dream Lily: (Pants) Dad, wait up!
(Dream Jason reaches the center of the stage, falls down onto the
ground and kneels)
Dream Lily: (Quavering) We can’t do anything about mom. Let’s
pray that she's watching us from above and wishing us a healthy
life.
Dream Jason: (Voice is shaky) You don’t understand. It’s all my
fault! If I hadn't bought her that car, it wouldn’t have been
broken. She would be right here, eating turkey and buying
presents for us.
Dream Lily: (Breaking down) Don’t say that! Mom wouldn’t want to
hear it.
Dream Jason: (Harshly) It doesn't matter now, does it? She’s
gone.
(Silence prevails)
Dream Jason: Let's go. (Stands up, wipes eyes, angry)
Dream Lily: Dad-
Dream Jason: Now.
(Both exit the scenes)
PAST: That was the day your mother died, no? She’s still here, in
your hearts, no matter where you are or what you do.
(Silence prevails)
PAST: The others are coming soon. I’ll be leaving now.
(PAST leaves the scene)
Lily: (Shakily) Are they s-stalkers? Or actual spirits?
Naomi: I think they are. Why would they stalk us over so many
years? We’re not stalkable.
Hermione: That’s not even a word.
Naomi: It is now.

ACT 4:
(The ghost of Family Future and Family Present enter through the
stage’s right)
Future: Hi! I’m the Ghost of Family future! Yeah, spooky, I know.
Present: (Nudges F with elbow) And I’m the Ghost of Family
Present.
Future: Right now things are looking bad-
Present: But you have a chance to change with our buddy Future
here!
(Family is confused)
Harry: Uh, Mr. Present and Future, aren’t you supposed to be
scary and stuff? You all are ghosts.
Jason: He doesn’t mean anything like that. Oh great spirits, have
mercy on us!
Future: No need to be like that! Past’s really sad, because
that’s how a lot of pasts are; but Present and I are more fun.
Present: Future’s a bit of an enigma. Ever heard of Master
Oogway’s quote?
Jason: No-
(Twins, Ron, and Lily chant together)
Twins, Ron,and Lily: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery,
but today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.
(Looks at each other, surprised)
Present: (Claps) Brilliant! You all got it! But sadly, now Future
has to show you guys a bit of what the universe holds for you.
Future: (Nods) I have a few instances, but I’ll show you the
worst outcome possible if you don’t choose to unite and go
through together. (Waves hand) Here.
(Dream Lily, Dream Jason, Dream Harry, Dream Hermione, Dream
Naomi enter from the right, looking sad. They all distance
themselves from each other except Dream Harry, Dream Hermione,
and Dream Naomi. Dream LIly is hugging herself. Dream Jason is
looking at the ground. Dream Harry, Dream Hermione, and Dream
Naomi are together, crying into their hands)
Naomi: (Voice cracks) W-what happened to us? Where’s Ron?
Future: (Sighs) Ron’s dead.
(The whole family says together) WHAT?!
Future: When all of this fighting stayed put, your parents split
apart. Without their money joined together, your mother doesn’t
have money to pay the bills for Ron’s pneumonia, and he dies…
(Silence prevails)
Present: But you all can avoid this if you just try to accept
each other. Doesn’t need to be all at once, but you need to make
an effort. Harry, Hermione, try to empathize with the others
more. Naomi, don’t be this strict. They’re going through a hard
time. Jason, be a bit more strict. Understand them, but be firm.
And Lily, please don’t try to run away from your problems. You
are the main cause for this rift between everyone, so make an
honest apology.
(Silence prevails)
Lily: I-I’m really sorry. I tried distancing myself from you all,
but I didn’t realize I was causing all of you so much pain. I’ll
be a better sister and daughter from now on.
Naomi: Lily, it’s fine. You went through a lot, and what matters
is that you’re trying to make up for it.
(The Dreams all leave the stage)
Future: (Smiles) Well, that future’s dissolved. (Clock chimes)
It’s midnight. We both can’t stay a minute past midnight, so it’s
time to say goodbye. Merry Christmas!
Present: Merry Christmas! We’ll meet you sooner or later.
(Future and Present leave the stage)
Ron: (Crying) Mom? Will I die? Was that creepy man telling the
truth? Is it because I didn’t eat today?
(Naomi and Jason eye each other)
Jason: Once he was telling the truth, but now, it’s just a dream.
Ron: (Sniffling) S-so I won’t die?
Lily: Not for a long time, Ron. Now, let’s go open your presents?
Ron: (Brightens up) Yeah, let’s go!

(Everybody goes to centerstage and bows)

END

Estimated time: 8-10 minutes