SCROOGES

CHRISTMAS
By
Ken Jones
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 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS
A CHRISTMAS CAROL

By Ken Jones
Copyright MMVIII by Ken Jones
All Rights Reserved
Heuer Publishing LLC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

ISBN: 978-1-61588-135-2
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 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

SCROOGES CHRISTMAS
Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Adapted by Ken Jones

SYNOPSIS: In Ken Jones' adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale, A

Christmas Carol, a group of actors portray all the characters of this
Christmas tradition. The ensemble provides the songs and sounds as the
miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is confronted by the Spirits of Past, Present, and
Future. This unique telling can play to an audience in an intimate or large
setting using nothing but costumes and a few props. This remarkable
adaptation is perfect for schools and community theatres, and running at just

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an hour, it is the perfect version for family audiences.
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CAST OF CHARACTERS

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(NINE MEN, SIX WOMEN)
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Actor 1, Scrooge .............................................................. (157 lines)

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Actor 2, Bob Cratchit, Marley ......................................... (45 lines)
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Actor 3, Nephew [Fred], Christmas yet to come............. (35 lines)

Actor 4, Gentleman 1, Christmas Present........................ (44 lines)
Actor 5, Gentleman 2, Fezziwig, Mr. Haversham........... (39 lines)
Actor 6, Mrs. Cratchit ...................................................... (29 lines)
Actor 7, Niece, Christmas Past ........................................ (49 lines)
Actor 8, Young Scrooge, Joe, Thomas............................ (20-25 years)(39 lines)
Actor 9, Peter Cratchit, Boy-in-the-street........................ (15-18 years) (17 lines)
Actor 10, Fan, Martha Cratchit........................................ (18-22 years) (19 lines)
Actor 11, Tiny Tim, Boy Scrooge ................................... (3 lines)
Actor 12, Belinda, Belles Daughter ............................... (11 lines)
Actor 13, Dick Wilkins, Belles Husband, Balladeer...... (23 lines)
Actor 14, Woman 1, Fiancee (Belle), Polly .................... (39 lines)
Actor 15, Woman 2, Mrs. Fezziwig, Mrs. Haversham.... (30 lines)

Setting:
An empty space.

This play can be done in any theatrical configuration: proscenium, arena,

thrust or alley. The action of the play takes place in and around the city of
London on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning of the year 1843.

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 BY KEN JONES

The acting area should allow the ACTORS easy access to the audience
without destroying the atmosphere created by the action of the play. The
ACTORS are always present.

SUGGESTION: A small wooden desk and two stools should suffice in

representing Scrooges office; a stool for the schoolroom; and a table and
chairs for the Cratchits household.

Sound Effects:
All sound effects should be created by the ACTORS either with their voices
or small sound effects props such as wooden blocks and chains.

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During the course of the play, the changing of locations should be
represented by props and simple furniture pieces carried on and off stage by

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the ACTORS.
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Costumes:
A representative period costume should be worn by each ACTOR. Items
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such as scarves, gloves, capes, and shawls will create the needed costume
changes except for the more elaborate characters like CHRISTMAS PAST,
CHRISTMAS PRESENT, CHRISTMAS YET TO COME and MARLEY.

A NOTE ABOUT THE PLAY

Scrooge's Christmas premiered at the University of Virginia in the Helms
Theatre. After five more full productions at various colleges, the play was
reworked and produced at the University of Notre Dame. It has since
become a seasonal favorite with universities and high schools.

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 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

A bell begins to toll. Soon, many bells begin clanging. In the shadows,
figures can be seen weaving in and out until they are all positioned at
different points about the acting area. The figures begin singing:
GOD REST YE, MERRY GENTLEMEN.

ALL:
GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN
LET NOTHING YOU DISMAY.
REMEMBER CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR,
WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY
TO SAVE US ALL FROM SATANS POWER
WHEN WE HAVE GONE ASTRAY.

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OH, TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY, COMFORT AND JOY,
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OH, TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY.

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THEY repeat the song.
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GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN

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LET NOTHING YOU DISMAY . . .
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ACTOR 2 steps into the light. The PEOPLE freeze.

ACTOR 2: Marley was dead to begin with. Old Marley was as dead
as a doornail. (THEY sing on.)
ALL:
REMEMBER CHRIST OUR SAVIOR
WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY . . .
ACTOR 2: There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be
distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come from this
story.

THEY sing.

ALL:
TO SAVE US ALL FROM SATANS POWER
WHEN WE HAVE GONE ASTRAY.
OH, TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY, COMFORT AND JOY,
OH, TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY.

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 BY KEN JONES

SCROOGE enters. HE circles the acting area, growling at all he

passes. HE finally, sits upon his stool and leans over his writing
podium.

ACTOR 3: Now, Scrooge was his sole executer, his sole

administrator, his sole assign, his sole friend and sole mourner.
But even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event
nor by any event for that matter.
ACTOR 4: He was, in short, a tight-fisted at the grindstone . . .
SCROOGE: - Scrooge!
ACTOR 5: He was a squeezing . . .

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ACTORS move about the stage around SCROOGE. HE growls and
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snorts at each passing body.

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ACTOR 6: . . . wrenching . . .
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ACTOR 7: . . . gasping . . .
ACTOR 8: . . . scraping . . .
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ACTOR 9: . . . clutching . . .
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ACTOR 10: . . . covetous old sinner!

ACTOR 2: Hard and sharp as flint.
ACTOR 3: The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his
pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait . . .
ACTOR 4: . . . made his eyes red, his thin lips blue . . .
ALL: . . . and spoke out in his grating voice!
SCROOGE: BAH, HUMBUG!
ACTOR 6: He carried his own low temperature always about with
him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didnt thaw it one
degree at Christmas.
ACTOR 7: Once upon a time - of all good days in the year, on
Christmas Eve - old Scrooge sat busy at his counting house.
(SCROOGE is busily scratching away with a quill into his ledger.)
Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerks fire was so very
much smaller that it looked like one coal.

BOB CRATCHIT is revealed at his small chair.

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 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

CRATCHIT: (To audience.) But Bob Cratchit, the clerk, couldnt

replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room so he
tried to warm himself by the candle; but not being a man of strong
imagination, he failed.

BOB turns back to his papers. Scrooges NEPHEW enters. HE

MIMES opening a door.

The ACTORS create the sound of the door opening and shutting as
well as the sound of the wind.

NEPHEW: A merry Christmas, Uncle! God save you!

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SCROOGE: Bah! Humbug!
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NEPHEW: Christmas a humbug? You dont mean that, I am sure?
SCROOGE: I do! Merry Christmas! What right have you to be

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merry? What reason have you to be merry? Youre poor enough.
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NEPHEW: Come, then, what right have you to be dismal? Youre

rich enough.
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SCROOGE: Bah! Humbug! Whats Christmas time to you but a time
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for paying bills without money! If I could work my will every idiot
who goes about with Merry Christmas on his lips should be
boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly
through his heart!
NEPHEW: Uncle!
SCROOGE: Nephew! Keep Christmas in your own way, and let me
keep it in mine.
NEPHEW: Keep it! But you dont keep it.
SCROOGE: Let me leave it alone, then.
NEPHEW: I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time;
a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of
when men and women seem to open their shut-up hearts freely.
God bless it!

CRATCHIT breaks into applause.

ACTOR 6: Bob Cratchit involuntarily applauded: becoming

immediately sensible of the impropriety, he poked the fire, and
extinguished the last frail spark for ever.

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 BY KEN JONES

SCROOGE: Let me hear another sound from you, Bob Cratchit, and
youll keep your Christmas by losing your situation. (To his
NEPHEW.) Youre a powerful speaker, sir. I wonder you dont go
into Parliament.
NEPHEW: Dont be angry, Uncle. Come! Dine with us tomorrow.
SCROOGE: Id rather be roasted for the Christmas goose.
NEPHEW: But why, Uncle?
SCROOGE: Why? Why did you get married?
NEPHEW: Because I fell in love.
SCROOGE: Because you fell in love?
ACTOR 7: Scrooge growled as though love was the only thing in
the world more ridiculous than Merry Christmas.

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NEPHEW: Nay, Uncle, you never came to see me before, why give
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this reason now?
SCROOGE: Good afternoon.

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NEPHEW: I want nothing from you, but to be friends.
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SCROOGE: Good afternoon.

NEPHEW: I am sorry with all my heart, but Ill keep my Christmas
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humor to the last. So a Merry Christmas, Uncle!
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The NEPHEW opens the door.

SCROOGE: Good afternoon!!

NEPHEW: And a happy New Year!
SCROOGE: Humbug!!!

The NEPHEW exits. The wind pushes against him as HE leaves.

ACTOR 8: When Scrooges nephew went out, two other men came
in.

GENTLEMAN 1 mimes knocking on the door. The sound effect is

achieved by an ACTOR. Two GENTLEMEN enter.

ACTOR 7: They were portly gentlemen, pleasant to behold, and now

stood, with their hats off, in Scrooges office.
GENTLEMAN 1: (TO CRATCHIT.) Scrooge and Marleys, I believe.
Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge, or Mr. Marley?

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 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

CRATCHIT points to SCROOGE.

SCROOGE: Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years. He died
seven years ago, this very night.
GENTLEMAN 2: Yes . . . well . . . at this festive season of the year,
Mr. Scrooge, it is more than usually desirable that we make some
slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at this
present time.
SCROOGE: Are there no prisons?

The ACTORS, who are all about the stage, moan.

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ALL: Ooh.
GENTLEMAN 2: Plenty of prisons . . .

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SCROOGE: And the workhouses? Are they still in operation?
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EVERYONE moans a little louder.

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ALL: Oooohhh!
GENTLEMAN 1: They are. Still. I wish I could say they were not.
SCROOGE: I help support the establishments I have mentioned:
they cost enough, and those who are badly off must go there.

The loudest moan of all.

ALL: OOOHHHH!!!!
GENTLEMAN 1: Many would rather die.
SCROOGE: If they would rather die, they had better do it, and
decrease the surplus population. Good afternoon, Gentlemen.
ACTOR 3: Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their
point, the gentlemen withdrew.

They exit complete with ACTORS creating wind and door sounds.

ACTOR 10: At length the hour of shutting up the counting-house

arrived. Bob Cratchit snuffed his candle out, and put on his hat.
SCROOGE: Youll want the whole day tomorrow, I suppose?

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 BY KEN JONES

CRATCHIT: If quite convenient, sir.

SCROOGE: Its not convenient, and its not fair.
CRATCHIT: (To the audience.) The clerk observed that it was only
once a year.
SCROOGE: A poor excuse for picking a mans pocket every twenty-
fifth of December! But I suppose you must have the whole day. Be
here all the earlier the next morning!
ACTOR 6: The clerk promised he would and Scrooge walked out
with a growl.

The wind is excessively loud when HE opens the door.

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ACTOR 4: Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual
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melancholy tavern . . . (SCROOGE tries to cross the street, but as
HE does a huge crowd of people carrying packages enter from all

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sides. HE is swallowed in the crowd.) . . . and then he went home.
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SCROOGE looks both ways for the same CROWD, but HE does not
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see them. Happily, HE steps into the street, only to be swallowed by
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the CROWD again, hustling and bustling from side of the stage to the
other. SCROOGE is spun in a circle.

SCROOGE: Humbug.

SCROOGE disappears into the darkness as the lights capture a

group of CAROLERS singing: THE CAROL OF THE BELLS.

ACTORS:
HARK HOW THE BELLS,
SWEET SILVER BELLS,
ALL SEEM TO SAY,
THROW CARES AWAY
CHRISTMAS IS HERE,
BRINGING GOOD CHEER,
TO YOUNG AND OLD,
MEEK AND THE BOLD,
DING DONG DING DONG
THAT IS THEIR SONG

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 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

WITH JOYFUL RING

ALL CAROLING
ONE SEEMS TO HEAR
WORDS OF GOOD CHEER
FROM EVERYWHERE
FILLING THE AIR
OH HOW THEY POUND,
RAISING THE SOUND,
OER HILL AND DALE,
TELLING THEIR TALE,
GAILY THEY RING
WHILE PEOPLE SING

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SONGS OF GOOD CHEER,
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CHRISTMAS IS HERE,
MERRY, MERRY, MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS,

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MERRY, MERRY, MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS,
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ON ON THEY SEND,
ON WITHOUT END,
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THEIR JOYFUL TONE
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TO EVERY HOME
DING DONG DING DONG . . . DONG!

The SINGERS disappear to the shadows. SCROOGE appears

hunched over as HE approaches his door. NOTE: The door can be a
black cloth held by TWO ACTORS. A flap of fabric near the top on
the backside hides the hole for MARLEYs face. MARLEY merely
steps behind the cloth and places his face in the spot of the door
knocker.

ACTOR 15: Arriving home, Scrooge approached the door of his

house.
ACTOR 14: There was nothing particular about the door . . . except
that it was very large . . .
ACTOR 13: And of course, there was the door knocker . . .

MARLEYs face in the door.

MARLEY: Scrooge!

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 BY KEN JONES

SCROOGE: Marley? (SCROOGE turns away to check his senses.

MARLEY steps away from the cloth, and replaces the flap of
fabric. HE has disappeared. SCROOGE turns back.) I see. My
mind playing tricks on me.
ACTOR 10: Scrooge went inside and straight away to his bedroom.
ACTOR 5: As he dressed for bed . . .
ACTOR 8: . . . strange sounds begin to fill his room.

SCROOGE throws a nightshirt over his clothes and places a night

cap upon his head. The COMPANY begins to create howling noises
and moans. Chains can be heard shaking.

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ACTOR 7: Ebenezer . . .
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ACTOR 3: Scrooge!
ACTOR 5: Eb - e . . .

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ACTOR 6: . . . ne . . .
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ACTOR 8: . . . zer . . .
ACTOR 7: Scrooge.
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ACTOR 4: Scrooge!
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ACTOR 10: Ebene . . .

ACTOR 5: . . . zer . . .
ACTOR 3: Scrooge!
SCROOGE: Humbug!

Dragging chains are heard. NOTE: A member of the COMPANY

should use two large chains to create the sound of MARLEY walking.
This ACTOR should try to coincide the chain steps with MARLEYs
steps and movements.

MARLEY: Scrooooooge!!!
SCROOGE: Its humbug still! I wont believe it!
ACTOR 8: It was Marleys ghost! His body completely transparent.
ACTOR 6: Now, Scrooge had often heard it said that Marley had no
bowels, but he never believed it until now.
SCROOGE: How now! What do you want with me?
MARLEY: Much.
SCROOGE: Who are you?
MARLEY: Ask me who I was?

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 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

SCROOGE: Who were you then?

MARLEY: In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.
SCROOGE: Can you . . . can you sit down?
MARLEY: I can.
SCROOGE: Do it then.
ACTOR 4: Scrooge asked the question, because he didnt know
whether a ghost so transparent might find himself in a condition to
take a chair.

MARLEY mimes as though he were sitting on an invisible chair.

MARLEY: You dont believe in me?

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SCROOGE: I dont.
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MARLEY: Why do you doubt your senses?
SCROOGE: Because a little thing affects them. A slight disorder of

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the stomach. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of
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mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato.

ACTOR 5: At this, the Spirit raised a frightful cry, and shook its
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chains with such a dismal and appalling noise, that Scrooge fell
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upon his knees.

MARLEY rises as a scream develops deep from within. The sound is

picked up by the ACTORS sitting about who add their own screams
to his one. The NOISE should be overpowering.

MARLEY: AaaaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHH!
SCROOGE: Mercy! Why do Spirits walk the Earth, and why do they
come to me?
MARLEY: It is required of every man that the spirit within him walk
abroad among his fellowmen; and if that spirit goes not forth in life,
it is condemned to do so after death! Ooooohhh . . . woooooe -

ALL ACTORS pick up the woe again adding to the volume.

ALL: - oooooooooeeeeeee -
MARLEY: - is me!!!

MARLEY shakes his chains which hang about his body.

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 BY KEN JONES

SCROOGE: You are fettered. Tell me why?

MARLEY: I wear the chains I forged in life. I made it link by link, and
yard by yard; I gathered it on my own free will, and of my own free
will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you? Or would you know the
weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full
as heavy as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. It is a
ponderous chain!
SCROOGE: Jacob, speak comfort to me.
MARLEY: I have none to give, Ebenezer Scrooge. I have nothing.
SCROOGE: But you were always such a good man of business,
Jacob.

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MARLEY: (Yelling.) Bus -
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ALL: - iness!!
MARLEY: Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance,

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and benevolence, were all, my business! (HE pauses and adjust
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the cloth holding his jaw in place.) Hear me! My time is nearly
gone! I am here to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope
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of escaping my fate.
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SCROOGE: You were always a good friend to me.

MARLEY: You will be haunted by three Spirits.
SCROOGE: Is that the chance you mentioned, Jacob?
MARLEY: It is.
SCROOGE: Then . . . Id rather not.
MARLEY: Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tolls one.
SCROOGE: Couldnt I take them all at once, and have it over,
Jacob?
MARLEY: Expect the second on the next night at the same hour.
The third upon the next night when the last stroke of twelve has
ceased to vibrate.

MARLEY begins to move backwards.

ACTOR 10: When the apparition had said these words, he walked
backward into the darkness.
ACTOR 12: Scrooge moved to within two paces of the being.
ACTOR 13: But Marley held up his hand, warning him to come no
nearer. Scrooge stopped.

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 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

MARLEY backs into the darkness.

MARLEY: Beware! (MARLEY disappears. Only his echo is heard.)

Beware!
SCROOGE: Humbug!
ACTOR 7: Scrooge went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell
asleep upon the instant.

Lights fade on SCROOGE in his bed. A man lighting the streetlamps

is seen. HE begins to sing O HOLY NIGHT. SUGGESTION: The
streetlights are represented by ACTORS placed about the stage
holding large candles. The MAN walks from ACTOR to ACTOR

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lighting these candles as HE sings.
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THE BALLADEER

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O HOLY NIGHT, THE STARS ARE BRIGHTLY SHINING,
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IT IS THE NIGHT OF THE DEAR SAVIOURS BIRTH.

LONG LAY THE WORLD IN SIN AND ERROR PINING
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TILL HE APPEARED AND THE SOUL FELT HIS WORTH.
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A THRILL OF HOPE, THE WEARY WORLD REJOICES,

FOR YONDER BEAMS A NEW AND GLORIOUS MOURN.
FALL ON YOUR KNEES!
OH, HEAR THE ANGEL VOICES!
O NIGHT DIVINE!
O NIGHT WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN!
O NIGHT DIVINE!
O NIGHT, O NIGHT DIVINE!

The MAN FINISHES the song. All the ACTORS (STREETLAMPS)

blow their candles out on cue. SCROOGE is snoring loudly.
ACTOR 4: When Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of
bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from
the opaque walls of his chamber.

SCROOGE snorts himself awake and sits up.

SCROOGE: I can barely distinguish the transparent window from the

opaque walls of my chamber.

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 BY KEN JONES

ACTOR 4: I just said that.

SCROOGE: (To ACTOR 4.) Sorry.
ACTOR 6: Suddenly, the clock bell sounded.

All the WOMEN of the ENSEMBLE.

WOMEN: DING!

All the MEN.

MEN: DONG!
ACTOR 5: Light flashed up in the room upon the instant, and

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standing before Scrooge stood a strange figure.
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The GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST appears. THIS GHOST is soft

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and gentle. Its robes and gown seem to flutter in the night air. The
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SPIRIT is delicate and glowing.

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ACTOR 3: It was a figure - like a child; yet not so like a child as an
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adult, viewed through some supernatural medium.

SCROOGE: Are you the Spirit whose coming was foretold to me?

The GHOST speaks with a low, harsh voice.

PAST: I am!
ACTOR 2: The voice was soft and gentle . . .

The GHOST acknowledges the NARRATION and attempts another

VOICE. This time it works.

PAST: I am.
ACTOR 2: It was singularly low, as if instead of being close beside
him, it was at a distance.
SCROOGE: Who, and what are you?
PAST: I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.
SCROOGE: Long past?
PAST: No, your past.

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 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

ACTOR 4: The Spirit put out its strong hand as it spoke, and clasped
him gently by the arm.

The SPIRIT grabs SCROOGE a little too hard.

SCROOGE: Ouch! Gently!

PAST: Rise! And walk with me!
SCROOGE: I am but mortal and liable to fall.
PAST: Bear but a touch of my hand there and you shall be upheld in
more than this!

SCROOGE touches his hand. The lights create a sense of motion

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and/or flight. ACTORS make the noise of wind.
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ACTOR 2: As the words were spoken, they passed through the wall,

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and stood upon an open country road, with fields on either side.
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The darkness and the mist had vanished leaving a clear, cold
winter day, with snow upon the ground.
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SCROOGE: Good heavens! I was bred in this place. I was a boy
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here!
ACTOR 6: Scrooge was immediately conscious of a thousand odors
floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts,
hopes, joys, and cares long, long, forgotten!
PAST: Your lip is trembling. And what is that upon your cheek?
SCROOGE: Nothing.
PAST: Do you recollect the way?
SCROOGE: Remember it! I could walk it blindfold.

SCROOGE spins slowly breathing in all the memories.

PAST: Strange to have forgotten it for so many years! Let us move
on.

Once again the idea of motion is achieved. PEOPLE mill about the
stage.

ACTOR 3: The meadow was filled with joy.

ACTOR 14: Boys and girls in great spirits, running happily.
ACTOR 15: Shaggy ponies . . .

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 BY KEN JONES

ACTOR 5: . . . snowballs and . . .

ACTOR 12: . . . snowmen.
ACTOR 13: Fresh baked-pies.
ACTOR 4: The smell of spices.
PAST: These are but shadows of the things that have been.

SCROOGE is caught up in the festive mood. HE begins to greet the

people, but they do not notice.

SCROOGE: Good day. (Pause.) Hello. (Pause.) Hello there.

PAST: They have no consciousness of us.

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The CROWD clears revealing a small boy, BOY SCROOGE, sitting
rfo ot sa
alone on a stool.

ce
SCROOGE: My old schoolhouse!
pe N ru

PAST: The school is not quite deserted. A solitary child, neglected

by his friends, is left there still.
an
Pe

The BOY sighs.

BOY SCROOGE: Um-humph.

SCROOGE: I remember. (THEY move on. The BOY exits to his
place.) I wish . . . but now its too late.
PAST: What is the matter?
SCROOGE: Nothing. Nothing. There was someone singing a
Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given
him something, thats all.
ACTOR 2: The Ghost smiled thoughtfully.
PAST: Let us see another Christmas.

YOUNG SCROOGE is now seated on the same stool as before, in

the same position that BOY SCROOGE had been in. A young
woman, FAN, rushes on.

FAN: Dear brother!

SCROOGE: Fan!?
FAN: Ebenezer!

17
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

SCROOGE extends his arms, but the girl runs past SCROOGE to
YOUNG SCROOGE.

SCROOGE: My sister! Fan! Alive again.

FAN: (To YOUNG SCROOGE.) I have come to bring you home,
dear brother!
YOUNG SCROOGE: Home, little Fan?
FAN: Yes! Home, for good and all. Home, for ever and ever. Father
is so much kinder than he used to be, that homes like heaven. He
spoke so gently to me one night when I was going to bed, that I
was not afraid to ask him once more if you might come home; and

rm for l
he said, yes, you should. And he sent me in a coach to bring
rfo ot sa
you! And you are never to come back here again! We are going
to have the merriest time in the world!

ce
YOUNG SCROOGE: You are quite the woman, little Fan!
pe N ru

YOUNG SCROOGE and FAN exit together.

an
Pe

PAST: Always a delicate creature, whom a breath might have

withered, but she had a large heart.
SCROOGE: So she had. Youre right.
PAST: She died a woman and had, as I think, children.
SCROOGE: One child. She died bringing him into this world.
PAST: Your nephew.
SCROOGE: Yes.

THEY pause for a moment, and then move on.

ACTOR 4: The ghost moved to a certain warehouse, and asked
Scrooge if he knew of it.
SCROOGE: Know it! I was apprenticed here. (FEZZIWIG enters.
HE is a large, jolly man. HE is carrying wrapped gifts.) Why its
old Fezziwig! Bless his heart; its Fezziwig alive again!
FEZZIWIG: Yo ho, there! Ebenezer! Dick!

YOUNG SCROOGE and DICK WILKINS enter.

DICK: Here we are, Mr. Fezziwig!

18
 BY KEN JONES

SCROOGE: Dick Wilkins, to be sure! Bless me, yes, there he is. He

was very much attached to me, was Dick Wilkins. Poor fellow.
Dear, dear!
FEZZIWIG: Yo ho, my boys! No more work tonight. Christmas Eve,
Dick! Christmas, Ebenezer! Lets have the shutters up before a
man can say Jack Robinson!

The BOYS mime putting up the shutters.

DICK: Ebenezer, theres a dream I have quite often.

YOUNG SCROOGE: And what may that be, Dick?
DICK: One day . . . one Christmas Day I hope to hold as great a

rm for l
party as good old Fezziwig.
rfo ot sa
YOUNG SCROOGE: Ive dreamt the same myself.
DICK: Then well hold our parties as one, and well invite all our

ce
friends -
pe N ru

SCROOGE: (SADLY.) - friends long forgotten -

DICK: - and there will be food -
an
YOUNG SCROOGE: - and drink -
Pe

DICK: - and presents for all!

YOUNG SCROOGE: And you and I will be hailed as the kindest of
gentlemen.
DICK: And everyone will love and admire us!

MRS. FEZZIWIG enters. SHE is as jolly as her husband.

MRS. FEZZIWIG: And whos admiring who?

DICK: Good evening, Mrs. Fezziwig.
YOUNG SCROOGE: Good evening, maam.
MRS. FEZZIWIG: Boys! Tonight will be a great night! A night to
remember!
MR. FEZZIWIG: Ah, theres my beautiful wife! (THEY hug.) Clear
away, my lads, and lets have lots of room here!
MRS. FEZZIWIG: We have dancin to do!
MR. FEZZIWIG: And who better to choose for a dance partner than
my own wife!
MRS. FEZZIWIG: Youre assuming that Ill accept your proposal?

19
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

MR. FEZZIWIG: For twenty-five years youve been accepting my

proposals, I see no reason youd stop now!
ACTOR 2: Suddenly, in rushed people each wearing a substantial
smile!

ACTORS rush on from both sides. Ribbons in their hair, hats, and
colored scarves are used to represent their party clothes. THEY
make two lines for a traditional dance.

ACTOR 9: Beautiful women -

ACTOR 6: - followed by their young broken-hearted suitors.
ACTOR 4: Housemaids, cooks, barbers and bakers!

rm for l
ACTOR 14: The Fezziwigs saw no class structures. They saw no
rfo ot sa
positions of wealth and prestige. They saw only good hearts and
good souls.

ce
pe N ru

The ACTORS sing: DECK THE HALLS. THEY all begin to dance.
Soon, SCROOGE is swept into the dance weaving in and out of the
an
unaware lovers.
Pe

ALL:
DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!
TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
DON WE NOW OUR GAY APPAREL,

CHRISTMAS PAST silences everyone in mid-dance. SCROOGE

continues on singing and dancing.

SCROOGE: FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!

HE realizes they are dancing without music or noise.

PAST: He made people so full of gratitude. A small matter.

SCROOGE: Small?

20
 BY KEN JONES

PAST: Why! Is it not? He spent but a few pounds of your mortal

money; three or four pounds, perhaps. Is that so much that he
deserves this praise?

PAST claps and the ACTORS finish the song.

ALL:
TROLL THE ANCIENT YULETIDE CAROL
FA LA LA LA LA LA LA!

THE MEN and WOMEN divide into couples and rush off in all
directions.

rm for l
rfo ot sa
SCROOGE: Spirit! He had the power to render us happy or unhappy;
to make our service light or burdensome: a pleasure or a toil. The

ce
happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.
pe N ru

ACTOR 10: Scrooge stopped.

PAST: Whats the matter?
an
SCROOGE: I should like to say a word or two to my clerk just now!
Pe

Thats all.
PAST: My time grows short! Quick!

Lights reveal YOUNG SCROOGE talking with his FIANCEE, BELLE.

YOUNG SCROOGE: Dont be ridiculous!

BELLE: Ebenezer, I am not being ridiculous, and even if I were, isnt
it proper to be ridiculous when youre in love?
YOUNG SCROOGE: I dont have time to be ridiculous. I have a
career to think about!
BELLE: Do you have time to be in love?
YOUNG SCROOGE: Love is for fools.
BELLE: Than I am a fool who loves a man who does not love me. I
matter little to you, very little. Another idol has displaced me; if it
can cheer and comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried
to do, I have no just cause to grieve.
YOUNG SCROOGE: What idol has replaced you?
BELLE: A golden one.

21
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

YOUNG SCROOGE: This is the even-handed dealing of the world!

There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty . . .

SCROOGE tries to stop the young shadow of himself from speaking.

SCROOGE: Dont go on . . .
YOUNG SCROOGE: . . . and there is nothing it professes to
condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!
BELLE: You fear the world too much. All your hopes have merged
into hope of being beyond the chance of its sordid reproach.
YOUNG SCROOGE: I am not changed towards you.
BELLE: You are changed. When you made your promise to me, you

rm for l
were another man.
rfo ot sa
YOUNG SCROOGE: I was a boy. I am a man now. I must consider
making a living. This world demands a certain status, if I do not

ce
achieve that status we will always be forced to struggle. I do all I
pe N ru

do for you.
SCROOGE: You fool!
an
BELLE: For me?
Pe

YOUNG SCROOGE: Money is the key to all things.

BELLE: No, Ebenezer, love is the key. Companionship.
YOUNG SCROOGE: Belle, I do love you, but I cannot afford to live
without means. It is not fair to you or myself.
BELLE: Our contract is an old one. It was made when we were both
poor and content to be so.
SCROOGE: No more . . .
BELLE: Your own feelings tell you that you were not what you are.
You say you love me, but you also love wealth.
YOUNG SCROOGE: Belle, must we continue on with this?
BELLE: We were one heart, but sadly, we are now two.
SCROOGE: Oh, my dear Belle, we are still one . . .
BELLE: I release you from your promise.
YOUNG SCROOGE: I do not seek a release?
BELLE: In words, no.
YOUNG SCROOGE: Then, in what?
BELLE: Tell me Ebenezer, would you seek me out and try to win me
now?
YOUNG SCROOGE: I must think of my career.

22
 BY KEN JONES

BELLE: Would you seek me out now?

YOUNG SCROOGE does not answer.

SCROOGE: Answer her, you idiot! Answer her!

Silence.

BELLE: I thought not. May you be happy in the life you have chosen,
Ebenezer.

SHE exits.

rm for l
rfo ot sa
SCROOGE: Spirit! Show me no more! Conduct me home! Spirit
remove me from this place!

ce
PAST: I told you these were the shadows of things that have been.
pe N ru

That they are what they are, do not blame me.

SCROOGE: Haunt me no longer!
an
PAST: One shadow more!
Pe

SCROOGE: Spirit, why do you delight to torture me?

PAST: Follow and listen!

THEY move about the set.

ACTOR 15: There was another scene and place -

ACTOR 5: - a room, not very large or handsome -
ACTOR 2: - but full of comfort!

BELLE, now older, is sitting with her daughter.

ACTOR 10: Across the room sat the woman who he had loved.
ACTOR 8: The same woman he had let go those many years before.
SCROOGE: Spirit! Its Belle, again. But how can it be? She looks
older. Mature.
BELLE: Another Christmas Eve.
DAUGHTER: And a beautiful night, it is!
BELLE: All Christmas Eves have their own beauty.
DAUGHTER: Do you think father will be home soon?

23
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

BELLE: If he doesnt wander off distracted by some beautiful gift

meant for his lovely daughter.
DAUGHTER: Oh, Mother! Wont you tell me what hes gotten for
me?
BELLE: Youll have to wait.
SCROOGE: She looks so beautiful. Look at the lashes of her eyes.
The waves of her hair. I would dearly like to kiss those lips.

The HUSBAND enters. BELLE rushes to help him with the load of
packages.

HUSBAND: Belle! I missed you so!

rm for l
BELLE: And I you.
rfo ot sa
THEY kiss.

ce
pe N ru

SCROOGE: Spirit! It is only with cruelty that you force me to witness

her love of another man.
an
PAST: Why? You said love was for fools.
Pe

HUSBAND: Belle, I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon.

BELLE: Who was it?
HUSBAND: Guess.
BELLE: How can I?
HUSBAND: Humbug!
BELLE: Mr. Scrooge?
HUSBAND: Mr. Scrooge it was. I passed his office window; and I
could scarcely help seeing him.
DAUGHTER: His partner, Marley, lies upon the point of death, I
hear.
HUSBAND: And there he sat alone.
BELLE: Quite alone in the world, I do believe.
SCROOGE: Spirit!
BELLE: He was a good man once. A kind, caring soul.
HUSBAND: Now they say he has no soul.
SCROOGE: Remove me from this place!
HUSBAND: But I do know that his loss . . . is my gain.

HE hugs BELLE. THEY exit.

24
 BY KEN JONES

PAST: That these shadows are what they are, do not blame me!
SCROOGE: Remove me from this place! Haunt me no longer!

Blackout. SCROOGE lights a candle.

ACTOR 5: Scrooge found himself alone.

ACTOR 6: Very alone.
ACTOR 9: The Ghost had disappeared magically, leaving Scrooge
in his bedroom.
ACTOR 3: It was his own room. There was no doubt about that.
ACTOR 12: He was exhausted.

rm for l
ACTOR 14: His mind reeled from all that he had seen . . .
rfo ot sa
ACTOR 13: Was it a dream . . . or was it . . .
ACTOR 3: Suddenly, the clock bell rang.

ce
ALL WOMEN: DING!
pe N ru

ALL MEN: DONG!

an
CHRISTMAS PRESENT is at one end of the room.
Pe

PRESENT: Come in! Come in! And know me better, man!

ACTOR 5: Scrooge hung his head before the Spirit.
PRESENT: I am the Ghost of Christmas Present. Look upon me!
You have never seen the likes of me before!
SCROOGE: Never.
ACTOR 7: And never had a truer statement been spoken.
ACTOR 8: The Ghost enormous in size wore a large robe, lined in
fur.
ACTOR 9: And upon its head was placed a wreath of holly.
ACTOR 10: Bearded by curls, the large mouth spoke . . .
PRESENT: Have ye never walked forth with the younger members of
my family?
SCROOGE: I dont think I have. I am afraid I have not. Have you
had many brothers, Spirit?
PRESENT: More than eighteen hundred.

25
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

SCROOGE: A tremendous family to provide for! Spirit conduct me

where you will. I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learnt a
lesson which is working now. Tonight, if you must teach me, let
me profit by it.
PRESENT: Touch my robe!

The same effect as before is used to create a sense of motion.

PEOPLE of all kinds: butchers, grocers, cobblers, etc., should move,
weaving in and out of the light. The ACTORS all sing: I SAW THREE
SHIPS COME SAILING IN.

ACTORS: (Singing)

rm for l
I SAW THREE SHIPS COME SAILING IN
rfo ot sa
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY;
I SAW THREE SHIPS COME SAILING IN

ce
ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING.
pe N ru

AND WHAT WAS IN THOSE SHIPS ALL THREE,

ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY?
an
AND WHAT WAS IN THOSE SHIPS ALL THREE,
Pe

ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING?

OUR SAVIOR CHRIST AND HIS LADY,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY;
OUR SAVIOR CHRIST AND HIS LADY,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING.
PRAY WHITHER SAILED THOSE SHIPS ALL THREE,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY?
PRAY WHITHER SAILED THOSE SHIPS ALL THREE,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING?
O THEY SAILED INTO BETHLEHEM,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY,
O THEY SAILED INTO BETHLEHEM,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING.
AND ALL THE BELLS ON EARTH SHALL RING,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY;
AND ALL THE BELLS ON EARTH SHALL RING,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING.
AND ALL THE ANGELS IN HEAVN SHALL SING,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY;

26
 BY KEN JONES

AND ALL THE ANGELS IN HEAVN SHALL SING,

ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING.
AND ALL THE SOULS ON EARTH SHALL SING,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY;
AND ALL THE SOULS ON EARTH SHALL SING,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING.
THEN LET US ALL REJOICE AMAIN,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY;
THEN LET US REJOICE AMAIN,
ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING.

After the song is finished, the ACTORS leave the stage revealing the

rm for l
CRATCHITs home; a few stools are placed around a small table.
rfo ot sa
MRS. CRATCHIT, PETER, and BELINDA are at the table.

ce
SCROOGE: Bob Cratchits home? Spirit, why do you bring me
pe N ru

here?
PRESENT: Shut your mortal mouth and listen.
an
MRS. CRATCHIT: What has ever got your precious father and your
Pe

brother, Tiny Tim? Not to mention Martha late by half-an-hour.

BELINDA: Heres Martha.

MARTHA enters.

PETER: Heres Martha, Mother!

MRS. CRATCHIT: Why, bless your heart alive, my dear, how late
you are!
MARTHA: Wed a deal of work to finish up last night and had to clear
away this morning, Mother.
MRS. CRATCHIT: Well! Never mind so long as you are here! Lord
bless you!
PETER: Fathers coming! Hide Martha, hide!
MARTHA hides. BOB CRATCHIT enters carrying TINY TIM on his
shoulders.

BOB: Why, wheres our Martha?

MRS. CRATCHIT: Not coming.
BOB: Not coming! Not coming upon Christmas Day!

27
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

MARTHA: Here I am, Father!

SHE runs into his arms.

BOB: Hows my dear Martha?

MARTHA: Good, Father.
MRS. CRATCHIT: And how did little Tiny Tim behave?
BOB: As good as gold and much better. Somehow he gets
thoughtful sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest
things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped
the people saw him in church, because he was a cripple, and it
might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who

rm for l
made lame beggars walk and blind men see.
rfo ot sa
ACTOR 3: Bobs voice was tremulous when he told them this, and
trembled more when he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong

ce
and hearty.
pe N ru

MARTHA: His active crutch was heard upon the floor, and back
came Tiny Tim before another word was spoken, and escorted his
an
sister to the dinner table.
Pe

MRS. CRATCHIT: The goose is served.

The entire FAMILY sits around the table. MRS. CRATCHIT enters
with a ridiculously small goose on a platter.

TIM: What a wonderful goose!

SCROOGE: Is that all they have, Spirit?
PRESENT: That is all they can afford.
TIM: What a splendid goose!

BOB stands to propose a toast.

BOB: Ladies and gentlemen, may I propose a hearty salute to all of

us. A merry Christmas to us all, my dears, and God bless us!
TINY TIM: God bless us every one!

The CRATCHITS speak no words nor make any sounds as they

eagerly continue on with their dinner.

28
 BY KEN JONES

SCROOGE: Spirit, tell me if Tiny Tim will live.

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. Oh, no, kind Spirit! Say he will be spared.
PRESENT: If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none
other of my race will find him here. What then? If he be like to die,
he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.

BOB raises his glass.

BOB: Mr. Scrooge! Ill give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the

rm for l
Feast!
rfo ot sa
MRS. CRATCHIT: The Founder of the Feast indeed! I wish I had him
here. Id give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope

ce
hed have a good appetite for it.
pe N ru

BOB: My dear, the children; Christmas Day.

MRS. CRATCHIT: It should be Christmas Day, I am sure, on which
an
one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling
Pe

man as Mr. Scrooge. You know he is, Robert! Nobody knows it

better than you do, poor fellow!
BOB: My dear, Christmas Day.
MRS. CRATCHIT: Ill drink his health for your sake and the days not
for his. Long life to him! A merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Hell be very merry and very happy, I have no doubt!
PRESENT: Come, little man.

The CRATCHITS exit.

SCROOGE: They seem so happy.

PRESENT: Happy? How could they be happy? They are poor?
SCROOGE: Yes.

The GHOST holds out his arm. SCROOGE takes hold and they move
on.

ACTOR 5: Again they moved through the town.

ACTOR 15: The snow fell and the wind blew.

29
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

ACTORS create the sound of WIND.

ACTOR 14: But Scrooge and the Ghost seemed unharmed by the
powerful blows of weather.
ACTOR 2: They arrived at a window and looked inside.
SCROOGE: What is this place?
PRESENT: It is where the son of your sister, Fan, lives.
SCROOGE: My nephew.

THE NEPHEW enters carrying a glass of cider.

rm for l
NIECE: Well, Im glad hes not coming. He would only succeed in
rfo ot sa
scaring our guests.
NEPHEW: Nonsense. Hes harmless.

ce
NIECE: Could one so harmless hate Christmas so much?
pe N ru

NEPHEW: He said that Christmas was a humbug, as I live and

breathe! He believed it too!
an
Pe

Scrooges NIECE enters.

NIECE: More shame for him, Fred.

The NIECE and NEPHEW move about the room preparing for a
party.

ACTOR 8: She was very pretty; exceedingly pretty. With a dimpled,

surprised-looking, capital face; a ripe little mouth, that seemed to
be made to be kissed. Altogether she was what you would have
called provoking, you know; but satisfactory too. Oh, perfectly
satisfactory!
SCROOGE: So there is the woman my nephew is so in love with!
(HE moves closer to her.) She is pretty. She reminds me of
someone . . .
PRESENT: A girl, in your past, who was replaced by an idol?
SCROOGE: Yes.

They are heard again.

30
 BY KEN JONES

NEPHEW: Hes a comical old fellow. Thats 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. His money will
be his own undoing.
NIECE: Im sure hes very rich, Fred. At least thats what you always
tell me.
NEPHEW: His wealth is of no use to him. He doesnt do any good
with it. He doesnt make himself comfortable with it. And he
certainly wont benefit us with it.
NIECE: I have no patience with him.
NEPHEW: Oh, I have! I am sorry for him. I could never be angry

rm for l
with him, even if I tried.
rfo ot sa
A smile creeps over SCROOGES face.

ce
pe N ru

SCROOGE: Thats the way his mother was with me. Never at ends;
always there with a smile.
an
PRESENT: A smile that lives on in her child . . . your nephew.
Pe

NEPHEW: And so . . . what does he lose? A dinner?

NIECE: I think he loses a very good dinner and a Christmas party
unlike any other in this good ole town.
NEPHEW: Well, I intend to give him the same chance every year,
whether he likes it or not, for I pity him. He may rail at Christmas
till he dies, but he cant help thinking better of it - I defy him - if he
finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying
Uncle Scrooge, how are you?
NIECE: You are insane!
NEPHEW: To my Uncle Scrooge, A Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year!
NIECE: To Uncle Scrooge!
The NIECE and the NEPHEW sing: GOOD KING WENCESLAS.

NIECE:
GOOD KING WENCESLAS LOOKD OUT,
ON THE FEAST OF STEPHEN,
WHEN THE SNOW LAY ROUND ABOUT,
DEEP, AND CRISP, AND EVEN.

31
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

NEPHEW:
BRIGHTLY SHONE THE MOON THAT NIGHT,
THOUGH THE FROST WAS CRUEL,
WHEN A POOR MAN CAME IN SIGHT,
GATHERING WINTER FUEL.
TOGETHER
IN HIS MASTERS STEPS HE TROD,
WHERE THE SNOW LAY DINTED;
HEAT WAS IN THE VERY SOD,
WHICH THE SAINT HAD PRINTED.
THEREFORE, CHRISTIAN FOLK, BE SURE,

rm for l
WEALTH OR RANK POSSESSING,
rfo ot sa
YE WHO NOW WILL BLESS THE POOR,
SHALL YOURSELVES FIND BLESSING.

ce
pe N ru

They kiss and EXIT. SCROOGE notices that the GHOST looks ill.
an
SCROOGE: Spirit, forgive me, but I notice you look weak and tired.
Pe

Are spirits lives so short?

PRESENT: My life upon the globe is very brief. It ends tonight.
SCROOGE: To-night?
PRESENT: At midnight - Hark! The time is drawing near!
SCROOGE: Spirit, forgive me if I am not justified in what I ask, but I
see something strange, and ill-begotten, clinging to you now.
ACTOR 6: From the foldings of its robe, it brought forth two children;
wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt at his
feet, and clung to his garment.
SCROOGE: Spirit! Are they yours?
PRESENT: They are Mans and they cling to me, appealing from
their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them
both, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that
written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased!
SCROOGE: Have they no refuge or resource?
PRESENT: Are there no . . .

All ACTORS speak his words with him to create a thunderous

reading.

32
 BY KEN JONES

PRESENT and ACTORS: . . . PRISONS!!?

PRESENT: Are there no . . .
PRESENT and ACTORS: . . . WORKHOUSES!!?

A fog fills the stage. PRESENT exits.

ACTOR 10: The bell struck twelve.

WOMEN: DING!
MEN: DONG!
ACTOR 2: Scrooge, lifting up his eyes, beheld a solemn Phantom,
draped and hooded, coming like a mist along the ground, toward
him.
rm for l
rfo ot sa
THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS YET TO COME enters.

ce
pe N ru

SUGGESTION: The floating affect can be achieved simply by fixing

a round ring at the inside hem of the ACTORS skirt. Upon the bottom
an
of this ring are casters. The ring is joined to the ACTORS waist by a
Pe

belt from which ribbing allows skirt never to touch the ACTOR inside.
Therefore, he/she can walk normally with no visible signs of
movement creating the motion.

SCROOGE: I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to

Come? (The SPIRIT nods.) 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? (The SPIRIT nods.)
ACTOR 6: Shrouded only in a deep black garment, which concealed
its face and body . . .
ACTOR 14: It lifted one bone-like hand to point the way.
SCROOGE: Ghost of the Future. I fear you more than any specter I
have seen, but as I know your purpose is to do me good, I am
prepared to bear your company. Lead on. Lead on!

The TWO GENTLEMEN enter.

GENTLEMAN 1: I only know hes dead.

GENTLEMAN 2: When did he die?

33
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

GENTLEMAN 1: Last night, I believe.

GENTLEMAN 2: What was the matter with him? I thought hed never
die.
GENTLEMAN 1: Id say his heart, but we all know, he didnt have
one!
GENTLEMAN 2: What has he done with all his money?
GENTLEMAN 1: I havent heard. Left it at his Company, perhaps. He
hasnt left it to me! Thats all I know.

THEY laugh.

GENTLEMAN 2: Its likely to be a very cheap funeral for upon my life

rm for l
I dont know anyone to go to it. Suppose we make it a party and
rfo ot sa
volunteer?
GENTLEMAN 1: I dont mind going if a lunch is provided, but I must

ce
be fed.
pe N ru

The GHOST again moves across the stage. The MEN exit as
an
beggars, and criminals rush on to the stage. SCROOGE and the
Pe

SPIRIT weave in between these people, until finally, two WOMEN

and JOE are revealed. Each WOMAN is carrying a bundle.

ACTOR 7: They moved deeper into areas where Scrooge had never
penetrated before.
ACTOR 4: The way was foul and narrow; the shops and houses
wretched.
ACTOR 5: The people were half-naked, drunken, ugly. Alleys and
archways, like so many cesspools, disgorged their offences of
smell, and dirt . . .
ACTOR 2: . . . and life!
ACTOR 6: Scrooge and the Phantom came in the presence of a
man, just as two women with bundles slunk into his shop.
JOE: Come into the parlor. Come into the parlor!!
WOMAN 1: All right! Here tis! What are you lookin at? Every
person has a right to take care of themselves! He always did.
WOMAN 2: Thats true, indeed! No man more so!
WOMAN 1: Whos the worse for the loss of a few things like these?
Not a dead man, I suppose.

34
 BY KEN JONES

WOMAN 2: No, indeed.

The WOMEN laugh.

WOMAN 1: If he had wanted to keep em after he was dead, the

wicked old screw, why wasnt he natural in his lifetime?
WOMAN 2: True. If he had been, hed have had somebody to look
after him when he was struck with Death, instead of lying gasping
out his last there, alone by himself!
JOE: Stop talking and open your bundles! (JOE looks inside her
bundle.) What have we here? A seal, a pencil case, a pair of
sleeve-buttons, and a pocket watch. Thats your account. (JOE

rm for l
tosses the WOMAN some coins.) I wouldnt give you another
rfo ot sa
sixpence, if I was to be boiled for not doing it. I always give too
much to the ladies. Its a weakness of mine.

ce
WOMAN 2: And now undo my bundle, Joe.
pe N ru

HE unties the sack.

an
Pe

JOE: What do you call this?

WOMAN 2: Bed-curtains!
JOE: You dont mean to say you took em down, rings and all, with
him lying there?
WOMAN 2: Yes, I do. Why not?
JOE: You were born to make your fortune and youll certainly do it.
WOMAN 2: Look at the blankets.
JOE: His blankets?
WOMAN 2: He isnt likely to get cold without em, I dare say. Now,
look at that shirt! Not a hole nor a threadbare place on it! Theyd
have wasted it, if it hadnt been for me!
JOE: What do you call the wasting of it?
WOMAN 2: Putting it on him to be buried in, to be sure.

THEY all laugh.

SCROOGE: Spirit! I see, I see. The case of this unhappy man

might be my own. My life tends that way, now. This is a fearful
place. In leaving it, I shall not leave its lesson, trust me.

35
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

The SPIRIT covers SCROOGE with his cloak. The scene changes as
the lights find another woman and a man, MR. and MRS.
HAVERSHAM.

MRS. HAVERSHAM: Perhaps a miracle will occur?

MR. HAVERSHAM: We are well past the miracle stage.
MRS. HAVERSHAM: Are we ruined?
MR. HAVERSHAM: No.
MRS. HAVERSHAM: Surely he showed no mercy in collecting the
debt?
MR. HAVERSHAM: He showed none.

rm for l
MRS. HAVERSHAM: The he will take all we have. He will throw us
rfo ot sa
into the streets.
MR. HAVERSHAM: There is hope yet.

ce
MRS. HAVERSHAM: If he relents, there is! Nothing is past hope, if
pe N ru

a miracle has happened!

MR. HAVERSHAM: Oh, yes! For he is past relenting . . . he is dead!
an
SCROOGE: Does no one feel sorrow for this dead man?
Pe

MRS. HAVERSHAM: Dead?

MR. HAVERSHAM: When I tried to see him to obtain a weeks delay
on the monies owed to him, I was told he was dead. Well, knowing
his disposition, I thought it was merely an excuse to avoid
speaking with me . . . but it turns out to be quite true!
MRS. HAVERSHAM: I think it could be a miracle.
SCROOGE: Surely they care more about the man than just about
clearing a debt?
MRS. HAVERSHAM: To whom will our debt be transferred?
MR. HAVERSHAM: I dont know. But before that time we shall be
ready with the money -
MRS. HAVERSHAM: - and even if were not, it would be a bad
fortune indeed to find a meaner, stingier creditor for his successor.
MR. HAVERSHAM: We may sleep tonight with light hearts!

THEY exit.

36
 BY KEN JONES

SCROOGE: Let me see some tenderness connected with a death!

Or that dark chamber, Spirit, which we left just now, will be ever
present to me.
ACTOR 4: The Ghost conducted him through the streets familiar to
his feet.
ACTOR 13: As they went along, Scrooge looked here and there to
find himself -
ACTOR 14: But nowhere was to be seen.
ACTOR 15: They entered poor Bob Cratchits house.

MRS. CRATCHIT, PETER, MARTHA and BELINDA are sitting

around the table. The WOMEN are sewing.

rm for l
rfo ot sa
MRS. CRATCHIT: The colors hurt my eyes. It makes them weak by
candle-light; and I wouldnt show weak eyes to your father when

ce
he comes home, for the world. It must be near his time.
pe N ru

PETER: Past it rather. But I think hes walked a little slower than he
used to, these few last evenings, mother.
an
MRS. CRATCHIT: I have known him to walk with - I have known him
Pe

to walk with Tiny Tim upon his shoulder, very fast indeed.
PETER: So have I!
BELINDA: And so have I!
MARTHA: But he was very light to carry and father loved him so,
that it was no trouble.
MRS. CRATCHIT: And there is your father at the door!

BOB enters.
PETER: Hello, father.
BELINDA: Hello.

MARTHA hugs BOB.

MRS. CRATCHIT: Did you go there today?

BOB: Yes, my dear. I wish you could have gone. It would have done
you good to see how green a place it is. But youll see it often. I
promised him that I would walk there on a Sunday. My little, little
child. (HOLDING back the tears.) My little Tim.

37
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

The SPIRIT moves on and SCROOGE follows. The CRATCHITS exit.

A lone HAUNTED VOICE is heard singing: GOD REST YE, MERRY
GENTLEMEN.

VOICE:
GOD REST YE, MERRY GENTLEMEN
LT NOTHING YOU DISMAY
REMEMBER CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR
WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY
TO SAVE US ALL FROM SATANS POWER
WHEN WE HAVE GONE ASTRAY
O TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY,

rm for l
COMFORT AND JOY,
rfo ot sa
O TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY.

ce
SCROOGE is led to a graveyard.
pe N ru

ACTOR 12: As the Spirit led Scrooge deep into the darkness.
an
ACTOR 15: Suddenly, the air was filled with phantoms . . .
Pe

SUGGESTION: ACTORS run from one side of the stage to the other
carrying streaming white pieces of cloth. A BLACK LIGHT effect will
illuminate the fabric but not the people. SCROOGEs white nightshirt
will allow him to also be illuminated.

ACTOR 7: . . . wandering hither and thither in restless haste . . .

ACTOR 14: . . . all moaning as they went.
At this point, the lights reveal the ACTORS, zombie-like, walking or
dragging themselves around, moaning. Shawls or capes or blankets
covering them will signify their distress. THEY all carry some type of
chain or rope.

ACTOR 8: Good day, Scrooge.

ACTOR 13: Ebenezer . . . join us.
ACTOR 6: Come, Scrooge. Come.
ACTOR 5: Join us.
ACTOR 14: Ebenezer . . .
ACTOR 15: Were waiting!

38
 BY KEN JONES

THEY return to their places.

SCROOGE: I fear this place, Spirit.

NOTE: The GRAVE MARKER should be the headboard of

SCROOGEs bed. The word Scrooge should be cut out of the wood,
hidden by a black scrim, and lit upon the proper cue.

ACTOR 7: The Spirit stood among the graves, and pointed down to
one.
SCROOGE: Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point

rm for l
answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that
rfo ot sa
Will be, or are they the shadows of the things that Might be, only?
ACTOR 8: Still the Ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it

ce
stood.
pe N ru

SCROOGE: Mens courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if

preserved in, they must lead, but if the courses be departed from,
an
the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!
Pe

ACTOR 4: Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went, and read

upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name.
SCROOGE: Ebenezer Scrooge! (The GRAVE STONE [headboard]
lights up. The stage is covered by a red glow.) Spirit! Hear me! I
am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been.
Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown
me, by an altered life! I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to
keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, Present, and the Future.
Light only on SCROOGE.

ACTOR 6: Holding up his hands in a last prayer to have his fate

reversed . . .
ACTOR 2: He saw an alteration in the Phantoms hood and dress.
ACTOR 7: It shrunk, collapsed and dwindled down into a bed sheet.

The SPIRIT has disappeared.

ACTOR 4: Yes! The bed sheet was his own!

39
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

Sunlight pours onto the stage through SCROOGEs bedroom window.

SCROOGE: I am home. I am alive! I dont know what to do! I am

as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as
a school-boy, I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry
Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!
Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo! (HE rushes about his room dressing as
HE goes.) I dont know what day of the month it is! I dont know
how long Ive been among the Spirits. I dont know anything. Im
quite the baby. Never mind. I dont care. Id rather be a baby.
Hallo! Whoop! Hallo there!
ACTOR 5: Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his
head.
rm for l
rfo ot sa
A BOY is passing.

ce
pe N ru

SCROOGE: Whats today?

BOY: Eh?
an
SCROOGE: Whats today, my fine fellow?
Pe

BOY: Today! Why, Christmas Day!

SCROOGE: Christmas Day! I havent missed it! The Spirits have
done it all on one night! Hallo, my fine friend!
BOY: Hallo.
SCROOGE: Do you know the butchers, in the next street, at the
corner?
BOY: I should hope I do.
SCROOGE: An intelligent boy! A remarkable boy! Do you know
whether theyve sold the prize turkey that was hanging up there?
Not the little turkey, the big one?
BOY: What, the one as big as me?
SCROOGE: What a delightful boy! Its a pleasure to talk to him. Yes,
my buck!
BOY: Its hanging there now.
SCROOGE: It is? Go and buy it.
BOY: Youve got to be . . .

40
 BY KEN JONES

SCROOGE: No, no. I am in earnest. Go and buy it, and tell em to

bring it here, that I may give you directions where to take it. Come
back with the man, and Ill give you a shilling. Come back with him
in less than five minutes, and Ill give you half-a-crown!
BOY: (To audience.) The boy was off like a shot!

HE exits.

SCROOGE: Ill send it to Bob Cratchits! He shant know who sent it.
Its twice the size of Tiny Tim! I love it! I love life!
ACTOR 6: He dressed himself all in his best, and at last got out into
the streets. Meeting the boy, he gave him directions to Bob

rm for l
Cratchits and sent the boy and the turkey on its way.
rfo ot sa
The BOY enters dragging a bag as big as himself. After speaking

ce
with SCROOGE, HE continues on. As PEOPLE pass by, SCROOGE
pe N ru

greets each one with a handshake, a joke, a smile, and for one lonely
woman, a kiss on the cheek.
an
Pe

ACTOR 7: Scrooge had not gone far, when coming towards him he
beheld the portly gentlemen, who had walked into his counting
house the day before.
SCROOGE: My dear, sirs. (The GENTLEMEN are wary of the new
SCROOGE.) I hope you succeeded yesterday. It was very kind of
you. A merry Christmas to you, sir.
GENTLEMAN 1: 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 . . .
SCROOGE whispers into their ears telling them secretly of his
intended donation for their causes.

GENTLEMAN 2: Lord bless me! My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you

serious?
SCROOGE: If you please, not a farthing less. A great many back-
payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me this
favor?
GENTLEMAN 1: My dear sir, I dont know what to say.

41
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

SCROOGE: Dont say anything, please. Come and see me. Will you
come and see me?
GENTLEMAN 2: We will!
SCROOGE: Thank you. I am much obliged to you. I thank you fifty
times. Bless you. (The MEN exit. SCROOGE again makes his
way happily through the CROWD of people. HE arrives at the door
of his NEPHEW. HE knocks as an ACTOR makes the knocking
sound. The NEPHEW and NIECE open the door and stare at
SCROOGE unaware of who the happy man is before them.)
Fred, it is I.
NEPHEW: Im sorry . . . do I know you?
SCROOGE: Your uncle!

rm for l
NEPHEW: No . . .
rfo ot sa
SCROOGE hunches over and scowls.

ce
pe N ru

SCROOGE: Humbug!
an
Finally, they recognize him.
Pe

NEPHEW and NIECE: Uncle Scrooge!

SCROOGE: I have been a foolish old man, Fred. I have neglected
you these many years. I have blamed you for what was not your
fault. (Pauses.) I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?
NEPHEW: Always dear uncle.

The NIECE kisses SCROOGE on the cheek, and SCROOGE places

his arm around FREDs shoulder.

ACTOR 15: Scrooge was immediately welcomed.

ACTOR 14: He was accepted and loved.
ACTOR 13: And for a man who knew no love in his life . . . it was a
very warm feeling.
SCROOGE: A feeling that Scrooge quite liked.
ACTOR 10: The day was wonderful and the night brought a dinner
like none he had known.

42
 BY KEN JONES

The NEPHEW and the NIECE exit. The COUNTING HOUSE is

replaced.

ACTOR 8: Scrooge was in his office early 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 his heart set
upon.

SCROOGE is huddled over his desk. BOB hurries onstage and

quickly removes his scarf. BOB meekly sits on his stool.

SCROOGE: Hallo! What do you mean by coming here at this time of

rm for l
the day?
rfo ot sa
BOB: I am very sorry, sir. I am behind my time.
SCROOGE: You are! (HE giggles.) Step this way, if you please.

ce
BOB: Its only once a year, sir. It shall not be repeated. I was making
pe N ru

rather merry yesterday, sir.

SCROOGE: Now, Ill tell you what, my friend, I am not going to stand
an
for this sort of thing any longer . . . and therefore . . . I am going to
Pe

raise your salary!

BOB: (To audience.) Bob momentarily had the idea of knocking
Scrooge down and calling for the people in the court for help and a
straight-jacket.
SCROOGE: A merry Christmas, Bob! A merrier Christmas, Bob, my
good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year! Ill raise your
salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family, and well
discuss your affairs this afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of
punch, Bob! Make up the fires and buy another coal-scutter
before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!

The COMPANY appears onstage singing HARK THE HERALD

ANGEL SINGS. The ACTOR portraying SCROOGE steps forward
and addresses the audience.

43
 SCROOGES CHRISTMAS

ACTOR [SCROOGE]: 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, as good a master, as
good a man, as the good old city knew. And ever afterwards, it
was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well,
if any man alive possessed the knowledge. And may that truly be
said of us, and all of us! And so as Tiny Tim observed . . .

TINY TIM runs to SCROOGE who places him on his shoulder.

TINY TIM: God bless us, every one!

COMPANY:

rm for l
HARK! THE HERALD ANGEL SINGS,
rfo ot sa
GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING
PEACE ON EARTH AND MERCY MILD;

ce
GOD AND SINNERS RECONCILED.
pe N ru

JOYFUL, ALL YE NATIONS RISE,

JOIN THE TRIUMPH OF THE SKIES.
an
WITH ANGELIC HOST PROCLAIM
Pe

CHRIST IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM.

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING,
GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING!

Curtain.

THE END

44
NOTES: