We are in London in 1843. It’s a very cold winter.
It’s Christmas time and people give presents to their relatives and friends
or money for the poor.
Children sing Christmas songs everywhere.
Scene I Scrooge’s office
This is Scrooge. This is his office and this is Bob, his clerk.
Marley was Scrooge’s partner. He died seven years ago but the business
is still known as “Scrooge and Marley”.
Well, Scrooge is a rich man, hard as stone. He has no friends and no one likes
him.
Today is Christmas Eve, the 24th of December. Mr. Scrooge and Bob are still
working.
Fred, Mr. Scrooge’s nephew, is just arriving.
FRED Merry Christmas, uncle Scrooge.
SCROOGE Humbug! Christmas is only a time for spending money.
FRED Christmas is the only time to be really good. I’ve no money but I’m
happy because this is a good time to spend with the family.
SCROOGE Bah! It’s a humbug!
FRED Don’t be angry, uncle. Come and have dinner with us tomorrow!
SCROOGE Certainly not. Good bye.
FRED Why not? We may be friend…
SCROOGE Good bye!
FRED (to Bob) Merry Christmas, sir.
BOB Merry Christmas to you and your family.
SCROOGE(to Bob) Humbug! YOU must be mad too.
Fred exit
Scene II
Two gentlemen are arriving, asking money for the poor.
GENTLEMAN 1 Mr. Marley?
SCROOGE Mr. Marley died seven years ago this very night.
GENTLEMAN 2 Oh, sorry, Mr. Scrooge. Well, as you know, it’s Christmas
time and many people have no food nor drink…
GENTLEMAN 1 Please, would you give us some money for the poor? Please…
SCROOGE I have no money for lazy people. Good bye, gentlemen.
The two gentlemen exeunt
Scene III
It’s late. It’s closing time.
BOB Well, Mr. Scrooge, I’m going home… ehm, excuse me, eh, can
I stay with my family all the day tomorrow?... It’s Christmas Day…
SCROOGE But…
BOB But Christmas is once a year, sir.
SCROOGE Yes, of course. But no work no salary!
BOB Ok, sir… and Merry Christmas…
Bob exit. Scrooge closes the office and exit
Scene IV Scrooge’s home
Scrooge arrives at home. He unlocks the door, goes in and locks the door.
He lights a very short candle and checks everywhere.
SCROOGE …nobody under the table, nobody under the armchair, nobody behind the curtain. All right!
He sits in his armchair with a very old blanket.
SCROOGE Humbug. I won’t believe it. (closing his eyes)
A strange noise of chains comes up.
SCROOGE What’s that? …Marley? You? No, it’s impossible!
Marley appears in front of him with a long chain round his leg.
MARLEY Don’t be afraid! I’m here to help you.
SCROOGE But you are dead!!!
MARLEY Yes, I spent my life making money. I had no friends at all.
Now my spirit has no peace, no rest.
But it’s not too late for you! Tonight three spirits will visit you, listen
to them.
Remember, you still have a chance… Exit
SCROOGE Humbug, humbug… ehm…brrr… (shivering and closing his
eyes)
Scene V The first spirit
Scrooge is sleeping. The clock sounds Twelve. A strange visitor with a white
dress is arriving.
SCROOGE Who are you?
GHOST 1 I’m the ghost of Christmas Past, your past. Come with me…
They arrive at a poor school, some children are singing “Jingle bells”, only one is alone.
SCROOGE I was a poor boy here.
GHOST 1 Yes, this is your old school.
You had no friends. You were always alone. Do you remember?
SCROOGE Yes, I do. And it’s too late, now. (weeping)
GHOST 1 Come and see another Christmas.
Scene VI
A young man is sitting by the side of a young lady.
GHOST 1 You were a young man and that was your first girl-friend,
do you remember?
YOUNG BOY Why do you want to leave me?
YOUNG LADY … another love is now in your heart… (she is very sad)
YOUNG BOY What love?
YOUNG LADY The love of gold and money. You are changed. You are not the same
man I met. I don’t love you any more. Exit
SCROOGE I don’t want to see. Take me home!
They go back home and GHOST 1 disappears.
Scene VII The second spirit
Scrooge is sleeping again when the clock sounds One. A visitor with a green
coat is at the door.
GHOST 2 I’m the ghost of Christmas Present. Give me your hand.
Scrooge follows the second ghost to Bob’s house. He and his family are celebrating Christmas.
PETER Can I help you?
TIM Yes.
Peter helps Tim to sit at the table
BOB Merry Christmas to us all. (kissing his family)
WIFE Merry Christmas Bob.
CHILDREN Merry Christmas dad.
BOB Let’s wish a Merry Christmas to Mr. Scrooge!
WIFE He’s such a hard man!... But, you’re right, dear. It’s
Christmas and he’s alone. A merry Christmas to Mr. Scrooge!
BOB And a happy new year too…
SCROOGE Look. They are wishing Merry Christmas to me!
GHOST 2 Let’s go now.
Scene VIII
The ghost leads Scrooge to his nephew’s house
GHOST 2 This is Fred with his wife and his friends.
FRED Ha, ha, ha! He said that Christmas is humbug!!!
HIS WIFE That’s bad. He is not happy.
FRED Yes, he’s very rich but he does nothing good with his money.
FRIEND 1 Ehi, Fred, let’s play “Yes and No”.
HIS WIFE All right. You think something and we ask some questions.
FRED I’ll answer only “Yes” or “No”… Ok?...
Well, I’m ready.
HIS WIFE Is it an animal?
FRED Yes.
FRIEND 2 A living animal?
FRED Yes.
FRIEND 3 A nice animal?
FRED No.
FRIEND 4 Is it in London?
FRED Yes.
FRIEND 1 Is it killed for food?
FRED No.
FRIEND 2 Is it a dog?
FRED No.
FRIEND 3 A cat?
FRED No
FRIEND 4 Is it a bear?
FRED Noooo…
FRIEND 1 I know what it is! It’s your uncle Scrooge… ah, ah!
HIS WIFE Let’s drink to the health of uncle Scrooge!
FRED Merry Christmas to uncle Scrooge!
SCROOGE I can’t understand. They love me.
GHOST 2 Yes, but it’s time to go back now.
Scene IX The last spirit
Scrooge is at home, sleeping. It’s Two o’clock and a black spirit is coming.
GHOST 3 I’m the spirit of Christmas Future…
SCROOGE I’m afraid of you… you are the third spirit and you are
so black!
GHOST 3 Don’t worry. We’re going to see happy people…
A man and a woman are laughing
MAN ... this was HIS silver pen, these were HIS silver spoons and HIS books…
WOMAN Now, HE’s dead and HE doesn’t need HIS things any more…
MAN Yes, ah, ah, ah. That’s right. HE’s dead…
SCROOGE They are happy, but someone is dead. Who?
GHOST 3 We have to pay another visit.
Scene X
They arrive at the churchyard. Bob and Fred with their families are there with some flowers.
BOB Let’s put some flowers on HIS grave…
His wife and children put the flowers near the stone.
FRED Now that HE’s dead, I can help Bob and his family!
HIS WIFE You are a very good man.
SCROOGE Who is dead? Who?
GHOST 3 Follow me and look!
The ghost shows the stone with a name on it (SCROOGE)
SCROOGE My God. This is MY name! This is MY grave! I don’t want to die!
Help me… I can change.
I want to be good. Please help me… (weeping)
Ghost 3 disappears.
Scene XI Christmas Day
Scrooge sleeps. A Christmas song sounds around. He awakes.
SCROOGE What is it? A Christmas song?
(opening a window) Maybe it’s not too late.
(to a boy in the street) What day is it?
BOY Christmas Day, sir. Merry Christmas.
SCROOGE Great! I’m lucky and I’m happy. I can have a chance.
First I will send some money to Bob and his family.
Then I will buy a big turkey and I will dinner with Fred and MY family.
It will be a wonderful Christmas Day, this year and the next ones too.
EVERYBODY A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family
Curtains
Curtain