Mr. ScroogeA musical for KS2 / KS3 schools

by Paul Delaney

FULL SCRIPT

If you use this script, it would be great if you purchased the CD and backing track, direct from Paul Delaney. Please email me: info@pdelaney.co.uk

I’m also available for drama / music masterclasses!

NOTES

2

List of characters (The number of speaking lines is in brackets)

Narrator(s): (17)

Carol singers: Sing Christmas carols

Ebenezer Scrooge (84)

Fred (8)

Beth (7)

Bob Cratchit (18)

Gentleman #1 (3)

Gentleman #2 (3)

Market workers (Song)

Boy (9)

Girl (6)

Lucy (5)

Helen (3)

Belinda (4)

Martha (8)

Tiny Tim (6)

Mrs. Cratchit (8)

Jacob Marley (6 + 1 song)

Spirit of Christmas past (Rock and roll ghost) (12 + song)

Spirit of Christmas present (Country and western ghost) (9 + song)

Spirit of Christmas future (Latin American ghost) (7 + song)

School master (7)

3

School children (2 in unison)

School child (6)

SCENE 1

SCROOGE’S OFFICE

The narrator and carol singers enter, carrying lanterns.

NARRATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen. If I have your attention, then our tale shall begin. Once upon a time, of all the good days of the year, Old Ebenezer Scrooge sat in his counting house. The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already. It was cold, bleak, biting weather. The lonely, haunting sound of church carol singers could be heard…

CAROL SINGERS: God rest ye merry gentlemen…

SCROOGE: Enough of that infernal singing! Begone with you!

Fred and Beth enter, Scrooge’s nephew and niece

FRED: Good afternoon, uncle and a merry Christmas to you!

SCROOGE: Rubbish nephew! Humbug!

FRED: Humbug Uncle Ebenezer? Surely you can’t be serious?

SCROOGE: I am indeed serious. What does Christmas mean? You’re poor! You have nothing.

What do you have to be merry about?

FRED: All the more reason, uncle, that you should be merry. You have more than enough money.

SCROOGE: Fiddlesticks! Humbug!

BETH: Christmas is a time to be happy. It’s a time for feasting and laughing and bringing home huge armfuls of holly. It’s a time for family and friends. And it’s a time for kindness too!

SCROOGE: What fools you are! Just about everybody who believes this rubbish about Christmas is a fool. The world is full of fools… (Shouting) and they’re all deluded!

FRED: Just the same, uncle. I will go on believing that Christmas is a joyous time. In fact, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

SCROOGE: (Angry) One more idiotic outburst from you, Sir, will be your last in this office!

BETH: We’d like it, uncle, if you would have Christmas dinner with us tomorrow.

SCROOGE: Ridiculous! I can think of nothing more distasteful and now, I will have to leave you two. I am a very busy man. Good afternoon.

FRED: But all the family want you to come, uncle.

SCROOGE: Good day to you both.

BETH: At any rate, uncle, a merry Christmas to you.

4

SCROOGE: Good afternoon.

FRED: And a happy new year too! Good afternoon.

Bob Cratchit is busy at his desk, working in Scrooge’s office. He briefly looks up at Scrooge.

SCROOGE: Get on with your work, Cratchit! And stop gawping at me! Another word out of you and I’ll dock another shilling from your wages!

BOB: But I haven’t said anything, Sir.

SCROOGE: Oh do shut up anyway!

BOB: Yes Sir.

There is a heavy knock at the door. Scrooge pulls the door open and is confronted by two portly gentlemen.

GENTLEMAN 1: Good afternoon, Sir. Are you Mr. Marley or Mr. Scrooge?

SCROOGE: Mr. Scrooge is my name. Mr. Marley, my old business partner, has been dead for many years. In fact, he died seven years ago…on this very night!

GENTLEMAN 2: Ahh, well then, Mr. Scrooge. What a splendid opportunity to pay homage to your dead partner.

SCROOGE: What do you mean, Sir?

GENTLEMAN 1: He means, Mr.Scrooge that we are going around the streets of London collecting small sums of money, to be used in giving a bit of Christmas cheer to those a little less fortunate than ourselves.

SCROOGE: There are prisons for such people!

GENTLEMAN 2: Prisons, Mr. Scrooge? You would ask the poor and needy to spend Christmas locked up in a prison?

SCROOGE: Indeed I would, Sir. Indeed I would. And prison is too good for most of them at that! They’re lazy scoundrels and believe me, Gentlemen; I don’t have the money to throw away on idle, good for nothing fools.

GENTLEMAN 2: The prisons are overcrowded, Mr. Scrooge. And there are many poor people who are so proud, that they would rather die than go to prison for help.

SCROOGE: Let the fools die then! It’s no concern of mine. Why on earth should I care about poor people? And now, Gentlemen, I have already been interrupted twice today. Good day to you both. You can cancel Christmas for all I care!

BOB: Excuse me, Sir, but it’s twenty minutes after closing time.

SCROOGE: One interruption after another all day long. Well then, Mr. Cratchit, why don’t you leave?

BOB: Yes Sir, err, I have been meaning to, err, ask you, Mr. Scrooge, Sir…if, that is if…Well tomorrow’s Christmas day and…

SCROOGE: (Interrupting) Ahh tomorrow is Christmas day and you want the day off do you? Is that it?

BOB: Err, yes, Sir.

SCROOGE: The whole day?

5

BOB: Err, if it’s not too much trouble, Mr. Scrooge, Sir. If you don’t mind, Sir.

SCROOGE: Well I do mind, Mr.Cratchit. No doubt you’ll still expect to be paid for it too?

BOB: But it’s only one day a year, Mr. Scrooge. AND it’s Christmas!

SCROOGE: Christmas? Humbug! Go on then, Mr. Cratchit! Have your day off!

BOB: Oh thank you very much, Sir! I can’t thank you enough! The children are counting on it so. We’re going to have a goose and Christmas pudding and sprigs of holly and…

SCROOGE: (Interrupting) Oh do shut up Cratchit! Get on with it, then. Before I change my mind!

Ebenezer Scrooge stares at Bob, who hastily grabs his hat and scarf and runs out into the busy street. Scrooge sits alone, counting hundreds of gold coins. He places them in a little wooden chest, which he locks up. Then he puts on his hat and coat and goes out into the street.

NARRATOR: And so, Scrooge left his dreary office to go for a quick walk. He would return later as he lived in the house above. Although it was cold and frosty, the London streets seemed bright and exciting. Street traders were eagerly selling their wares. Children were excitedly taking it all in. To Scrooge, though, there was no joy at all. Christmas was a terrible burden, an enormous weight upon his shoulders. Everything was humbug!

SCENE TWO

AT THE MARKET

The market is busy, bustling with the excitement of the Christmas season. Some of the Cratchit family are at work.

SONG 1The market song

We are at work in the market, selling our wares on the street!

Lovely fresh flowers and juicy fresh fruit, selling our goods to delight.

What can you buy in the market? Linen, tobacco and wine.

In fact you can buy anything you want, from early ‘till half past five!

London town at Christmas time is full of joy and festive cheer.

Take your time to look around, my friend, this market’s very cheap.

Do you want to buy a present? Do you want a glass of beer?

London town is so exciting, as Christmas time draws near.

(THE SECOND VERSE IS SHOUTED OUT, OVER THE MUSIC)

6

Apples, oranges, two for a farthing! Get your mistletoe here!

Cheap China plates and porcelain dolls…it’s the bargain of the year!

Mince pies! Mince pies! Get your mince pies! Christmas trees only a shilling

Christmas pudding, Christmas pudding! Freshly baked today!

London town at Christmas time is full of joy and festive cheer.

Take your time to look around, my friend, this market’s very cheap.

Do you want to buy a present? Do you want a glass of beer?

London town is so exciting, as Christmas time draws near.

After the song, the busy life of the market continues…

BOY: A pound of apples for Mr. Scrooge, please!

GIRL: And two pouches of the finest tobacco!

LUCY: Did you say Mr. Scrooge?

HELEN: Ebenezer Scrooge?

BOY: Yes, that’s right. The mean, selfish lonely old man who lives in the Strand.

GIRL: We often do his errands for him.

BOY: And all we ever get is a measly farthing, even though he’s very, very rich.

LUCY: Our father works for him. He calls Scrooge the meanest, nastiest, loneliest man in the whole of London town.

BOY: In the whole of the world, more like!

LUCY: My father calls him ‘Meany’.

HELEN: Father sometimes works day and night…all for three shillings a week.

LUCY: Look, here comes Tiny Tim with Belinda and Martha!

Tiny Tim struggles into the market on his crutches, accompanied by his sisters, Belinda and Martha.

BELINDA: Father should be home! He’s coming to market soon.

MARTHA: Old ‘Meany’ has actually given him Christmas day off. Can you believe it?

TINY TIM: Well it’s only one day a year, I suppose.

BELINDA: Yes, come to think of it, Father is very lucky to have Christmas day off at all.

MARTHA: Old ‘Meany’ only allows him one day off a year. It’s a disgrace!7

TINY TIM: Here’s mother!

Mrs.Cratchit walks into the market, carrying a large basket.

MRS. CRATCHIT: Now then! Now then! I only have a sixpence, but I’m going to buy the biggest turkey and Christmas pudding in the whole market!

MARTHA: Where’s father?

MRS. CRATCHIT: He’s still working. Ebenezer Scrooge told him he must work double hours on Christmas Eve to make up for having Christmas day off.

BOY: Well, goodness me! I never knew that old Mr. Scrooge was so mean.

MARTHA: He’s the meanest man in the whole wide world!

GIRL: Blimey, look at the time! We’d better get back. Mr. Scrooge will be in a foul mood.

They all say their goodbyes and wish each other a hearty ‘Merry Christmas’ The boy and girl leave the market and run to Mr. Scrooge’s office. They knock at the door and a very angry Mr. Scrooge opens the door.

SCROOGE: Where have you two been to…Africa?

BOY: Err, no Sir, you see…

GIRL: Well we…

Scrooge: (Rudely interrupting) I’ve heard enough! I’ve heard enough! I don’t want to hear your worthless excuses. Give me my change. I fact, give me my farthing back. You took too long. Now be gone with you, you pair of idle, lazy scoundrels. You deserve to be locked up!

The boy and girl start to cry and run away as Scrooge counts his money in his office.

SONG 2How many times?

How many times has he tried to say I love you?

How many times has he tried to show he cares?

How many times has he tried to sing those happy songs?

How many times has he tried to right his wrongs?

For he has no friends, for he has no friends,

for he’s all alone in the world.

There’s something inside. There’s something inside.

It’s deep in his mind, making him cruel.

8

How many times has he tried to say he’s sorry?

How many times has he tried to say he’s wrong?

How many times has he tried to say don’t worry?

How many times has he tried to belong?

For he has no friends, for he has no friends,

for he’s all alone in the world.

There’s something inside. There’s something inside.

It’s deep in his mind, making him cruel.

SCENE THREE

SCROOGE’S LOUNGE

NARRATOR: Scrooge was very annoyed with the children. Indeed, he was very annoyed with everybody, except himself! He settled down to a measly bowl of gruel. The cold and lonely house was very damp, but a large coal fire was burning brightly. As he began eating, a strange, ghostly noise broke into his thoughts.

SCROOGE: (Angry) Bah! Humbug!

Jacob Marley enters, accompanied by eerie, haunting music.

MARLEY: Ebenezer Scrooge! Ebenezer Scrooge! Do you remember me?

SCROOGE: Ahh no, I don’t believe in ghosts! No such thing!

MARLEY: (Screaming out loud in a haunting voice) Scrooge! Scrooge!

SCROOGE: What do you want with me? Who are you?

MARLEY: Ask me who I WAS.

SCROOGE: Who WERE you then?

MARLEY: In my earthly life, I was your business partner, Jacob Marley.

SCROOGE: Ahh, but, but, why do Spirits walk the earth? And why have you come to me?

MARLEY: I made many, many mistakes in my life, Ebenezer, so now I am paying for it.

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

MARLEY: Listen to my song, Scrooge! Listen to my song…

9

SONG 3Do you want to have a life, Ebenezer?

Hello Ebenezer. Do you remember me?

Your old business partner, it’s Jacob Marley.

I’m here to bring you a warning. I’m here to save your soul.

Listen to my message. Come in from the cold.

Do you want to have a life, Ebenezer?

Or do you want to follow me?

Do you want to help the poor, Ebenezer?

Or do you want to shun reality, Ebenezer?

Early in the morning, when the clock strikes one.

Frost on your mittens will melt without the sun.

The spooks will pay you a visit and you must listen to their voice.

Your past, present and your future days, they will judge you but you’ll have no choice.

Do you want to have a life, Ebenezer?

Or do you want to follow me?

Do you want to help the poor, Ebenezer?

Or do you want to shun reality, Ebenezer?

SCENE FOUR

SCROOGE’S BEDROOM CHAMBER

Scrooge jumps out of his bed. He’s shaking with fear but eventually falls asleep.

He is woken by his Grandfather clock, striking one o’clock in the morning.

He is confronted by the Ghost of Christmas past.

10

NARRATOR: Scrooge had fallen asleep in his rocking chair. A strange, ghostly noise broke into his thoughts at exactly one o’clock in the morning. (The clock starts to strike and the ghost slowly appears)

SCROOGE: Who are you?

GHOST 1: I am the Ghost of Christmas past, Ebenezer Scrooge.

SCROOGE: What do you want of me?

GHOST 1: I have come to help you, Ebenezer.

SCROOGE: I need no help from anybody

GHOST 1: Beware, Ebenezer Scrooge! Remember the words of your old friend, Jacob Marley. Now come with me to the window. Look out and tell me what you see.

SCROOGE: I can see nothing. This is all a trick! A figment of my overworked imagination!

GHOST 1: Look out of the window and tell me what you see.

SCROOGE: How can this be spirit? It’s the village of my boyhood, with the very same trees and lanes. There’s the church with the river flowing beside it! There’s the crossroads with Mr. Jenner’s horse and cart, outside the ‘Black cow’ inn! How can this be?

GHOST 1: They are only buried memories. The ghosts of things long, long ago.

SCROOGE: I’ll admit, I had forgotten the village and my childhood there. Oh I don’t like to remember, Spirit. I don’t like it at all.

GHOST 1: You MUST remember, Ebenezer. It’s the only thing that will save you!

SCROOGE: Look! That’s my old school, St. Bedes! And there’s my old desk! Why is that really me there?

GHOST 1: It’s you as a young boy, Ebenezer. Do you remember?

SCROOGE: Yes, I do!

SCENE FIVE

IN THE CLASSROOM

MASTER: Ebenezer Scrooge, wake up! What do we do every morning?

CHILD: What Sir?

MASTER: We don’t say ‘What Sir?’ in this school, we say ‘pardon’. Now class, let’s read our school’s motto.

CLASS: Relate, rejoice, reflect!

MASTER: It’s not reflect, boy, it’s RESPECT!

CHILD: (Laughing) Oh, sorry, Mr. Hurst, Sir.

MASTER: Now class, let’s sing my favourite song…

CHILD: (Interrupting) Sir, I have a funny joke to tell you!

MASTER: I’m sick of your jokes, Scrooge! They’re almost as bad as Mr. Hurst’s!11

CHILD: (Eagerly) Where was Queen Victoria crowned?

MASTER: I don’t know, Scrooge. Where was Queen Victoria crowned?

CHILD: On the head!

The whole class, including the teacher, burst out laughing.

SCROOGE: Did I really used to tell good jokes? Did I really used to laugh out loud?

GHOST 1: You did, indeed, Ebenezer. You did indeed.

SCROOGE: Oh what happy times they were!

GHOST 1: Remember what sort of boy you used to be, Ebenezer. And what sort of man you have become. Listen to my song, Ebenezer. Listen to my song!

SONG 4Wake up Ebenezer!

It was late one night about a week ago; you walked past them in the street.

Do you remember the boy and girl, who were begging at your feet?

They were two little orphans, freezing cold, just looking for a bite to eat.

Your pocket full of silver, your pocket full of gold, so why did you cross the street?

Wake up Ebenezer! Wake up Mr. Scrooge! Who will believe you, that you’ve seen a spook?

Time to look behind you! I know you’re a fool! Time to change those evil ways! Time for Mister New!

You’ve probably forgotten about another time when you were walking through the park.

Do you remember the poor old man who said he’d lost his way in the dark?

He asked you for a penny, as he wanted a cup of tea.

You said you had an appointment and rushed off conveniently.

Wake up Ebenezer! Wake up Mr. Scrooge! Who will believe you, that you’ve seen a spook?

Time to look behind you! I know you’re a fool! Time to change those evil ways! Time for Mister New!

GHOST 1: Think well, Ebenezer. Think well about my message.

(The Ghost slowly walks away whilst singing the chorus of the song) Wake up Ebenezer, wake up Mr. Scrooge

12

SCENE SIX

SCROOGE’S BEDROOM / IN THE STREET

Scrooge lies on his bed, anticipating the arrival of the second spirit.

GHOST 2: Ebenezer Scrooge! I am the ghost of Christmas present. Come with me to the window. See the group of children? They look happy don’t they?

SCROOGE: Yes, I admit they do.

GHOST 2: They are, except for one dark cloud hanging over them. The little boy on crutches – that’s your office clerk’s son, Tiny Tim. He’s very, very poorly. This could be his LAST Christmas!

SCROOGE: Can’t the doctors do anything for the poor fellow?

GHOST 2: The kind of treatment he needs costs a lot more than his family can afford.

MARTHA: Come along, Tim. We’d better be off home.

BELINDA: Will it be a happy Christmas, Martha?

MARTHA: I do hope so!

TINY TIM: Of course it will be! God bless us everyone.

SCROOGE: Tell me, spirit…will Tiny Tim live?

GHOST 2: Listen to my song, Ebenezer! Listen to my song!

SONG 5If you don’t change you will be sorry!

Look through the window, tell me what you see. Can you see a loving family?

Can you see the shadows, hanging over the little boy? Do you know he’s very poorly?

If you don’t change you will be sorry. If you don’t change the child will die.

The book of future days will terrorize your soul. If you don’t change Tiny Tim will die.

Do you recognise the faces, of the family in the scene? It’s Bob Cratchit and his family.

The little boy on crutches, he won’t be here next year. His special treatment’s too expensive.

If you don’t change you will be sorry. If you don’t change the child will die.

The book of future days will terrorize your soul. If you don’t change Tiny Tim will die.

13

Do you want the child to die? Or do you want him to survive?

So don’t look back, be happy and shout to all the world. Look at me, I’m a different man.

If you don’t change you will be sorry. If you don’t change the child will die.

The book of future days will terrorize your soul. If you don’t change Tiny Tim will die.

GHOST 2: I see an empty seat in the Cratchit house. I see a crutch without an owner. I see tears of untold sadness. If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, then the child WILL die.

The ghost sings the chorus before slowly walking away

GHOST 2: If you don’t change you will be sorry. If you don’t change the child will die.

SCROOGE: (Screaming loudly) Nooooo!

Scrooge lies down on his bed and falls asleep. Soon, the third ghost appears.

SCENE SEVEN

SCROOGE’S BEDROOM / SCHOOL ROOM /GRAVEYARD

SCROOGE: Who are you?

GHOST 3: I am the ghost of Christmas’s yet to come. The Ghost of Christmas future.

SCROOGE: Spirit of the future, I fear you the most!

GHOST 3: Look over there!

SCROOGE: A gravestone, Spirit. Why are you showing this to me?

GHOST 3: Can’t you guess, Ebenezer Scrooge? Remember that I am the ghost of the future. Watch carefully and you will find your fate.

MASTER: Good morning class. I have some very good news for you. ‘‘You know who’ died this morning!

CLASS: Cheer!

SCROOGE: They all seem very happy, spirit. It must be a wonderful thing that somebody did for them.

GHOST 3: It is…he died.

SCROOGE: I don’t understand. How can this be? Somebody has died and everybody seems to be so happy, rejoicing and singing!

GHOST 3: He was a mean, selfish, greedy man, who only ever thought of himself. He made people’s lives hell!

SCROOGE: Who was this man spirit? Who on earth was he?

GHOST 3: Listen to my song, Ebenezer. Listen to my song…

14

SONG 6Mister Scrooge is dead!

Have you heard the news today? Have you heard it on the grapevine?

Have the children passed this way? They’ll be singing this song.

Laughing faces in the street, singing songs and clapping hands.

Big red blisters on their feet, they’re so happy they don’t mind.

Mr. Scrooge is dead…

If you do not change your ways, they will dance upon your grave.

You could start to change today and I will watch how you behave.

Then I will decide your fate. The future shadows you can change.

But it’s probably too late but it’s time to re-arrange.

Mr. Scrooge is dead…

GHOST 3: Read the name on the gravestone. Read the name. Read the name.

SCROOGE: Eb, en, eez, er…Scr, oo, ge? Ahh no spirit! Please no! No! No!

Again, the ghost slowly walks away, singing the chorus of the song.

Scrooge, tired and weary, falls asleep. Soon, he wakes up and sings his song, with the three spirits acting as the chorus, dancing away in the background.

SONG 7When it starts to rain…

This is the place that I call home, a friend of darkness, all alone.

And I pray, that it’s not too late, to change my ways, to save my soul.

I’ve been so selfish in the past. I’ve worshipped money, first and last.

And I hope, you will be my friend and you’ll forgive my foolish ways.

15

When it starts to rain and the thunder clouds come out.

Where is the sunshine, you ask but were you too late?

When your life is gone, there’s no time to say goodbye.

How many people will say I remember his smile?

And when the winter breathes her last, when cold and windy days have passed.

Icy tears, dripping from my heart. A new beginning, a brand new start.

When it starts to rain and the thunder clouds come out.

Where is the sunshine, you ask but were you too late?

When your life is gone, there’s no time to say goodbye.

How many people will say I remember his smile?

Painful memories, the thunder in your song.

Haunting melodies, true reflections of a life gone wrong.

When it starts to rain and the thunder clouds come out.

Where is the sunshine, you ask but were you too late?

When your life is gone, there’s no time to say goodbye.

How many people will say I remember his smile?

SCENE EIGHT

THE STREET OUTSIDE SCROOGE’S HOUSE

SCROOGE: Why I’ve slept all night long! How strange. Boy! Boy! What day is it today?

BOY: Why it’s Christmas day, Sir!

GIRL: The whole world is rejoicing, Sir. Why this is the day that Jesus was born!

SCROOGE: Christmas, you say? Well, well, well. So it’s Christmas day. How wonderful! Now then, you two scruffy scoundrels. Ha! Ha! Only joking! Are you willing to run two or three errands for a shilling each?

BOY: A shilling, Sir! Golly, thank you Sir. We certainly will.

16

SCROOGE: Good morning then! Or should I say Marry Christmas? (Laugh) Bring me the biggest turkey you can find. Buy the finest plums and apples. Bring sprigs of holly and toys for the children. Here, take this purse. There’s more than enough money in it. Go now, be quick. Two shillings each if you’re back within the hour. No. Let’s make that three shillings! Why not indeed? Ha! Ha!

BOY: We’ll be back as quick as we can, Sir!

SCROOGE: Ho, ho! It’s Christmas day! Ho, ho! It’s Christmas day!

GIRL: I don’t believe it! Wow! What’s happened to him?

BOY: He’s gone mad. Stark raving mad! (Laugh)

The carol singers come up, singing ‘Silent night’. Fred and Beth are singing with them.

SCROOGE: Why what beautiful singing! My favourite Christmas carol too! Here’s a gold sovereign for your charity.

FRED: Wow, thanks uncle Ebenezer!

BETH: What’s happened to you, uncle Ebenezer? I thought you hated Christmas!

SCROOGE: Let’s just say I’m a changed man! This is the new, loveable me! And I love Christmas. It’s the best time of the year by far. Merry Christmas everybody! I wish you a merry Christmas! (Singing) See you all later…and here’s a sovereign each. A little Christmas present from your favourite uncle!

FRED / BETH: Wow, thanks uncle Ebenezer!

BETH: I don’t believe it, Fred. A real gold sovereign…and it’s all mine! Wow!

The choir look stunned as everybody leaves the street.

SCENE NINE

THE CRATCHIT’S HOUSE

Scrooge enters the Cratchit’s house

MRS.CRATCHIT: Come Belinda, help me spread the tablecloth. Lucy, be a dear girl and see if the potatoes are ready.

LUCY: All the people are singing and everybody’s happy!

HELEN: Here comes Martha!

MARTHA: Merry Christmas everybody! Where’s Father? And Tiny Tim?

MRS. CRATCHIT: They’ve not come back from church yet. Now take off your coat child, and warm yourself by the fire.

BOB: How good it smells in here! Merry Christmas my dear Martha.

MARTHA: Merry Christmas, Father and Tiny Tim.

TINY TIM: Merry Christmas everyone!

MRS.CRATCHIT: Shall I put the chestnuts in the fire?

BELINDA: Good, I’ll get the oranges and apples.

17

There’s suddenly a loud knock at the door.

BOB: Lucy, be a good girl and open the door please.

SCROOGE: Well then, Mr. Cratchit, aren’t you going to let me in?

BOB: (Looking stunned) It’s Mr. Scrooge!

SCROOGE: It is… and it isn’t Mr. Scrooge. The old Mr. Scrooge is dead!

BOB: What has happened?

SCROOGE: Well I’m the new Mr. Scrooge and I’ve come to wish the Cratchit’s a very merry Christmas!

BOB: Sit down, Mr. Scrooge.

SCROOGE: I have a few things outside the door. Now I must be going as…

BOB: (Interrupting) But you must stay for at least one toast with us, Mr. Scrooge. Martha, take Mr. Scrooge’s hat.

Bob introduces Tiny Tim to Scrooge.

SCROOGE: So this is Tiny Tim? I’ve heard a lot about you, my boy. Come over here and let me have a good look at you. Oh a fine looking lad! But aren’t these crutches a little uncomfortable? They look far too small for you my lad.

TINY TIM: They are far too small, Sir, but my father can’t afford to buy me a new pair.

SCROOGE: Well, well. We’ll see about that. And these are your children, Mr. Cratchit? A fine family, Sir! A fine family indeed! I’ll be glad when I know them all a little better.

MRS. CRATCHIT: Here, Robert. A glass for Mr. Scrooge.

SCROOGE: Ahh, thank you Mrs. Cratchit! It has been many long years since I’ve had such a treat.

BOB: I hope you won’t be offended, Sir. I don’t know what sort of miracle has happened. I don’t know where the old Mr. Scrooge has gone top but I can’t help saying that I like the new one much better than the old one.

SCROOGE: I am not offended, Mr. Cratchit! I too like the new one much better. The old Scrooge, Sir is dead. Gone forever!

MRS. CRATCHIT: Robert, everyone is served. Shall we have a toast for Mr. Scrooge?

BOB: Better yet if we ask Mr. Scrooge to make the toast!

SCROOGE: (Raising his glass) A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, that I have ever given you for many a year! I’ll double your salary and help your struggling family…especially Tiny Tim. Merry Christmas everyone!

ALL: Merry Christmas!

NARRATOR: Scrooge was much better than his word! He did it all. He paid for Tiny Tim’s expensive hospital treatment and so Tiny Tim did not die. Indeed, Mr. Scrooge became like a second father to him. He became as good a friend, as good a man as the good old city of London had ever known. But the final word must of course go to Tiny Tim.

TINY TIM: God bless us everyone! And a ‘Merry Christmas’ to you all.

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SONG 8Mr. Scrooge he has changed!

Well it’s just started to rain and I don’t know who to blame.

But I don’t care if it rains all day!

Well if you want to call my name. If you want me to explain.

I’ve changed my evil ways.

Like Christmas without lights, my heart was cold as ice.

And I’m going to share my new life with you!

Mr. Scrooge he has changed! Mr. Scrooge a new man!

Mr. Scrooge is alive! Merry Christmas to you!

Well the snow sticks to my feet and my shirt lets out the heat.

But I don’t care if I’m cold all day.

Well if you want to come around. A happy house I think you’ll find!

I’ve sinned but it’s all behind me now.

Like Christmas without gifts, Icy words came from my lips.

And I’m going to share my new life with you!

Mr. Scrooge he has changed! Mr. Scrooge a new man!

Mr. Scrooge is alive! Merry Christmas to you!

For he has new friends, for he has new friends.

He’s started again, he’s a happy soul.

There’s something inside, there’s something inside.

It’s deep in his mind, making him laugh again!

END OF PRODUCTION

Words and music: Paul Delaney

© DbM creations 2013

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