Summary: When Theatre Producer Ebenezer Scrooge discovers that his theatre is being used to host a Christmas Play, he decides to sabotage it. That night he is warned by his old partner Jacob Marley of three ghosts who will soon be there to change his outlook on life. He is taken from the Manager scene to the crucifixtion, and the home of his employee Bob Cratchit to his own grave. Based on Charles Dicken's A Christmas to Remember, this show helps show the true "Meaning of the Season", with moments of laughter and fun, and seasoned with enough carols and songs to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. (Note: the following is only an excerpt from the play. To obtain a full script, write to the author, whose email is at the foot of the script.)
Style: Dramatic. Duration: 60-90min
Actors: 8M, 3F, 9M/F
Characters:
Narrator
Scrooge
Bob Cratchet
Tim Cratchet
Jacob Marley
Elizabeth
Diana
George
John
Ghost of the Past
Ghost of the Present
Wonder
Joy
Ghost of the Future
Jesus
Mary
Joseph
Guest #1
Guest #2
Guest #3
Script
Prologue- [At rise, a choir sings “Carol of the bells” as the NARRATOR approaches CS. The singing continues during the Narration, but it is slow and quiet. A single light on him keeps the mood serious and eerie.]
NARRATOR. Now Marley was dead, as dead as a doornail. He had been like that for 7 long and tedious years. Not much could be said of old Jacob Marley, except that money followed him all the days of his short life. His only known acquaintance was his business partner in the Willington Theater House, Ebenezer Scrooge. Marley’s death left the hardened old man with the business and a very comfortable financial status. Life continued for the old man, and our story begins with Ebenezer at his office as he and his faithful employee, Bob Cratchit prepare for an upcoming production.
[Fade to Black]
[End of Scene]
Scene 1- [At Rise, Scrooge and Bob are in a snug little office. BOB is working on signs on the floor for their latest show, as SCROOGE works on tickets and pay checks at a desk that seems a little too big to be in such a small room.)
SCROOGE. Mr. Cratchit.
BOB. Yes sir?
SCROOGE. Do you know what today is?
BOB. (Excitedly)Why yes sir, it is precisely one week before Christmas.
SCROOGE. NO! Confound it Cratchit! It is the anniversary of Jacob Marley’s death!
BOB. Seven years today.
SCROOGE. Indeed. It was exactly seven years ago when this failing business of his was handed to me, to watch die.
BOB. Yes, sir I know. He was a very good man.
SCROOGE. HUMBUG! He wasn’t a good man at all! In my book, a man who is able to come to work and actually work is a good man. Marley wasn’t like that. He was never here, and when he was he daydreamed!
BOB. To help the poor sir…
SCROOGE. Don’t the taxes I pay for those work houses do enough!
BOB. Sir, the poor should be helped better than that. Many would rather die; they’re worse off than you think. I think if you would just…
SCROOGE. You think nothing! Besides if they would rather die they’d better do so to decrease the surplus population. Keep your mind on finishing those posters. This show is three days away, so get on it instead of busying your little brain on the poor!
BOB. Yes, sir! Sorry!
[Quiet fills the room as BOB works on the posters, making sure that SCROOGE can’t see them. After a while BOB starts to hum “O Little Town of Bethlehem”]
SCROOGE. Cratchit, I’ll only put up with so much of that holiday spirit in my presence.
BOB. Yes sir, I am sorry.
SCROOGE. Well, I am heading into the theatre. That ridiculous man you call a director expects to be paid, and yet he gives me no reason to do so.
[SCROOGE exits SR and Cratchit sighs relief. He begins to hum louder and louder until finally he begins to sing “Christmas is just around the Corner” by Barry Marilow.]
***NOTE**Skip the first verse*** [This show is about Jesus not Santa]
CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
Christmas is just around the corner
Candles are glowing everywhere
Can’t wait until that night reindeer appear
Christmas – and it’s just about here
Christmas is just around the corner
Christmas – you feel it in the air
All the trees are surrounded with presents
The stockings are filling up too
I’ll bet you’ll never believe it
When you see what I got you
What did you get me?
Christmas is just around the corner
Sleigh bells are ringing in the sled
Too bad December comes just once a year
Christmas – time to trim the tree
Christmas – can it really be
Christmas – yes it’s finally here
We’ve been waiting all year
And it’s finally here
Yes it’s finally here
It’s finally here
Christmas
[SCROOGE enters in a complete rage]
SCROOGE. Cratchit! What is the name of this confounded play? I have been supporting it for over the past three months under the impression that it is a non-holiday drama, and yet I go into my theatre and see my theatre covered with tinsel and garland! I demand to know what is going on!
BOB. Well…sir….honestly I didn’t think you’d mind the show once the ticket sales came in…we’re almost sold out…which means you are going to get a lot out of this-
[SCROOGE throws BOB out of his way and picks up a poster]
SCROOGE. Under a Star, what kind of show has a name like that?
BOB. You…didn’t read the…subtitle sir-
SCROOGE. “A CHRISTMAS play based on the manger and the hope that CHRISTMAS brings!”
BOB. [Under his breath] Oh boy-
SCROOGE. What is the meaning of this? Why did NO ONE tell me about this being a Christmas-
BOB. But sir, I-
SCROOGE. Is there anything else you want to tell me? Is there anything else that can make this day worse for me?
[GEORGE enters dramatically SL]
GEORGE. MERRY CHRISTMAS UNCLE!
SCROOGE. [To himself] I had to ask.
[“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. GEORGE begins the song, and eventually gets BOB to join in. The end of the song is cut off by SCROOGE’s temper]
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap- happiest season of all
There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago
It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time of the year
SCROOGE. HUMBUG!
GEORGE. Oh uncle-
SCROOGE. What are YOU doing here my…pathetic excuse for a nephew?
GEORGE. I’ve come to invite to my annual Christmas celebration… tomorrow evening.
SCROOGE. Oh my dear nephew, I fear you really don’t know me at all-
GEORGE. But if you’d rather not… I shalln’t worry my head about you… though I do pity you, uncle!
SCROOGE. Well take your pity and save it for every person who goes around with merry Christmas on his lips. You know those people should be boiled in their own pudding (snickers) and buried with a steak of holly through their heart (laughs very loudly).
GEORGE. But uncle-
SCROOGE. (Still humored by his joke) Nephew, keep Christmas in your way and let me keep it in mine.
GEORGE. Keep it! But you don’t keep it!
SCROOGE. Then let me leave it alone then and get out of my office I have work to do!
GEORGE. I shall be praying VERY VERY hard for YOU uncle Ebenezer.
SCROOGE. OUT!
GEORGE. Merry Christmas uncle, and to you Bob Cratchit.
BOB. Same to you, sir!
SCROOGE. NOW!
GEORGE. (Loudly) And a Happy New Year!
SCROOGE. HUMBUG!
(George exits)
BOB. Sir, I was wondering if I could have…well…sir I was wondering if I might have-
SCROOGE. Spit it out Cratchit
BOB. If I might have Christmas day off-
SCROOGE. (Annoyed) To enjoy the Christmas festivities I assume?
BOB. Yes, it’s only once a year, anyway sir, I’m almost done with the signs and can finish them at home!
SCROOGE. Why do you insist on picking a man’s pocket every twenty fifth of December?
BOB. Please, Sir I’ll make it up! I promise I will!
SCROOGE. Be here all the earlier the next day!!
BOB. Yes sir!
SCROOGE. It’s closing time Cratchit, get on home.
BOB. Yes, sir, good night sir!
[BOB exits]
SCROOGE. I’ve been fooled for the last time. I can’t call off the show, that would ruin any scrap of reputation I have left. But I can do a few things to make an audience…not show up.
[SCROOGE changes a ticket price sign from $15 to $50 smirks]
SCROOGE. Humbug!
[and then tears a few posters as he storms out.]
[END OF SCENE]
NARRATOR. The walk home was long and cold for old Ebenezer, but it didn’t seem to affect him. Some said the winter cold was just a glimpse of the frigid heart that beat in his hollow chest. He arrived to a cold…empty house…and was greeted by the blackness of the dark sky. The only warmth found in the place was that of a small candlestick…but just as the clock prepared to strike the next hour…Ebenezer Scrooge was about to start anew as well.
Scene2(Inside his home, it is a dark besides a small candle and a faint spotlight) (SCROOGE enters with a candle, searches around and then sits in an overstuffed chair. He leans his head back and begins to rest until jolted by the sound of a faint whisper)
MARLEY. SCROOOOOGE!
SCROOGE. What is that?
MARLEY. SCROOOOOGE!
[Scrooge looks around to find nothing]
SCROOGE. Who is there?
MARLEY. [Slightly louder] Ebenezer Scroooge.
SCROOGE. Marley, is that you?
MARLEY. It is I.
SCROOGE. Ghosts aren’t real-
MARLEY. You yourself know that I died 7 years ago…and hear I am.
[Sound of chains rattling as Jacob enters]
SCROOGE. Why do I hear chains but do not see them?
MARLEY. They are the chains which I am forced to wear because of you!
SCROOGE. ME? How so?
MARLEY. All the times I was at that CONFOUNDED office helping you get rich off the plays you supported… hundreds died from starvation and I was forced to forget them and get back to my…greedy work!
SCROOGE. It is you, Marley…You’re really overdoing this arguing a bit, aren’t you? You always had to have the last word in the conversation. I thought that was what deathbeds were for-
MARLEY. I’ve come to save you from the same fate I am condemned to!
SCROOGE. What is that fate?
MARLEY. To walk abroad the earth, and try to do good where I could have when I was alive. This I must do…until the end of time!
SCROOGE. You aren’t real…you’re what I get for eating before I go to bed! Yes…there’s more gravy in you than grave. You could be a…bit of bad potato…or an uncooked slab of beef! Hum bug, that’s what you are a humbug!
[Marley yells loudly at scrooge in a horrific way]
SCROOGE. (Frightened to death) I believe you…but what do you want?
MARLEY. Undo the wrong you have committed this night! Turn from your hateful ways.
SCROOGE. Now Marley, I’m not as bad as you say I-
MARLEY. It was always the hard way with you.
SCROOGE. What ever do you mean by-
MARLEY. You shall be haunted by 3 spirits. The First you should expect at the stroke of Midnight!
SCROOGE. Come now Marley…can’t we settle this some other way?
MARLEY. The second you should expect at the stroke of One.
SCROOGE. Couldn’t you just bring them all at once? You know, get it all done with… in one big-
MARLEY. The third will come in his own good time! Goodbye Ebenezer…and May God have mercy on your soul!
[Marley vanishes into smoke]
[Scrooge looks to see if Marley is around; pauses, looking puzzled, and then sits down in a chair]
SCROOGE. (Trying to shake it off) It must have been something I ate! Humbug!
(End of Scene)
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© Copyright John Charles Siedenberg II 2005, All Rights Reserved. This is just an excerpt from the full script, which may not be reproduced, translated or copied in any medium, including books, CDs and on the Internet, without written permission of the author.
To obtain a copy of the full script, contact the author at: