Section 9 of 12 - Table of Contents
A CHRISTMAS CAROL OR THE MISER'S YULETIDE DREAM
[Illustration:
SCROOGE BOB CRATCHIT MARLEY'S GHOST SECOND SPIRIT
THIRD SPIRIT WAIT MISSION LASS FRED FIRST SPIRIT
COSTUME OF
MRS. FEZZIWIG FEZZIWIG BELLA EBENEZER & DICK FIDDLER
PETER, BETTY,
BELINDA and MRS. CRATCHIT MARTHA BOB TINY TIM
THE CRATCHIT FAMILY]
A CHRISTMAS CAROL OR THE MISER'S YULETIDE DREAM
ADAPTED FROM CHARLES DICKENS' IMMORTAL STORY.
CHARACTERS.
EBENEZER SCROOGE _A Middle-aged Merchant_
"Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck
out generous fire."
BOB CRATCHIT _Scrooge's Clerk_
"With the Christmas spirit in his heart."
FRED _Scrooge's Nephew_
"A whole-souled, merry-hearted young married man."
TWO MISSION LASSIES
THE GHOST OF JACOB MARLEY _Scrooge's Partner_
"Dead these seven years."
FIRST SPIRIT (Little Girl) _The Ghost of Christmas Past_
SECOND SPIRIT _The Ghost of Christmas Present_
THIRD SPIRIT _The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be_
A CHORUS OF YOUNG BOYS _Carol Singers_
FIRST WAIT _The Leader of the Singers_
MR. FEZZIWIG _A Jolly Old Merchant_
MRS. FEZZIWIG _One Vast Substantial Smile_
EBENEZER _Scrooge as a Young Man_
DICK _His Fellow Clerk_
THE OLD FIDDLER
BELLA _Scrooge's First and Only Love_
MRS. CRATCHIT _Bob's Wife_
BELINDA, _Aged Eighteen_ }
MARTHA, _Aged Seventeen_ }
PETER, _Aged Fourteen_ }
BOB, _Aged Eleven_ } _Bob Cratchit's Family_
BETTY, _Aged Nine_ }
TINY TIM, _Aged Four_ }
_Five Ladies, Five Gentlemen and a Little Boy for the Fezziwig Tableau_
STAVE I.
SCENE: _The counting house of_ SCROOGE _and_ MARLEY. _A dark, dreary
office, indicated by brown curtains at sides, with entrances R. and L.
and brown curtains at rear. Note: These rear curtains must be arranged
to be parted, showing the tableau stage back of the real stage. The
tableau stage is elevated a few feet above the real stage (this makes
a better picture but is not absolutely necessary). High desk at R.
facing the R. wall. Tall stool at this desk; ledger, quill pen, ink,
candle on this desk. Small, old desk down L., facing audience. Desk
chair back of this desk. Two common wooden chairs at R.C. and L.C.
Ledger, quill pen, books, candle stuck in an old dark bottle, on desk
down L._
_Full description of costumes, a detailed illustration of the stage
setting, etc., will be found at the end of the play._
_Before the curtain rises_ WAITS _are heard singing off L. Curtain
rises disclosing_ BOB CRATCHIT _seated on stool, bent over ledger at
desk R., working by the light of the candle._
WAITS (_outside, sing "Christmas Carol"_).
(CRATCHIT _turns and listens._)
_Enter_ SCROOGE _from R. in a towering passion. Slams door R._
CRATCHIT _hurriedly returns to his work._ SCROOGE _crosses to door L.
and flings it open angrily._
CHRISTMAS CAROL.
J.M. NEALE.
THOMAS HELMORE.
[Music illustration:
1. Christ was born on Christ-mas day,
Wreathe the hol-ly, twine the bay,
Light and life and joy is He,
The Babe, the Son, the Ho-ly One of Ma-ry.
2. He is born to set us free;
He is born our Lord to be;
Car-ol, Chris-tians, joy-ful-ly;
The God, the Lord, by all a-dored for-ev-er.
3. Let the bright red ber-ries glow
Ev-'ry-where in good-ly show,
Light and life and joy is He,
The Babe, the Son, the Ho-ly One of Ma-ry.
Christian men, re-joice and sing;
'Tis the birth-day of our King.
Car-ol, Christians, joy-ful-ly;
The God, the Lord,
By all a-dored
For-ev-er.
Night of sadness,
Morn of glad-ness
Ev-er-more:
Ev-er, Ev-er,
Aft-er man-y troub-les sore,
Morn of glad-ness ev-er-more, and ev-er-more.
Mid-night scarce-ly passed and o-ver,
Draw-ing to the ho-ly morn;
Ver-y ear-ly, Ver-y ear-ly, Christ was born.
Sing out with bliss,
His name is this:
Em-man-u-el!
As 'twas fore-told,
In days of old,
By Ga-bri-el.]
SCROOGE (_flinging open door L. at this point_). Get away from my
door. Begone, ye beggars! I've nothing for you.
FIRST WAIT (_sticking his head in door at L._). Only a shillin', sir,
for a merry Christmas, yer honor.
SCROOGE. Get away from there or I'll call the police.
FIRST WAIT. Only a shillin', sir.
SCROOGE. Not a penny. I have other places to put my money. Go on, now.
You don't get a cent. Not a penny!
FIRST WAIT. All right, sir. Merry Christmas, just the same, sir.
(_Exits L._)
SCROOGE (_comes down to his desk at L., muttering_). Howling idiots!
Give 'em a shilling, hey? I'd like to give 'em six months in the
work'us, that I would. Paupers! I'd show 'em what a merry Christmas
is. (CRATCHIT _gets down from stool and starts to slink out L._) Hey!
CRATCHIT (_pauses, turns to_ SCROOGE). Yes, sir.
SCROOGE. Where you goin'?
CRATCHIT. I was just goin' to get a few coals, sir. Just to warm us up
a bit, sir.
SCROOGE. You let my coals alone. Get back to work. I'm not complaining
about the cold, am I? And I'm an older man than you are. Back to work!
CRATCHIT (_sighs, pauses, then says meekly_). Yes, sir. (_Resumes
work._)
SCROOGE. You want to let my coals alone if you expect to keep your
job. I'm not a millionaire. Understand? (_Loudly._) Understand?
CRATCHIT. Yes, sir, I understand. (_Shivers, wraps long white woolen
muffler closer about throat and warms hands at candle._)
SCROOGE. Here it is three o'clock, the middle of the afternoon, and
two candles burning. What more do you want? Want me to end up in the
poorhouse?
FRED (_heard outside at L._). Uncle! Uncle! Where are you? Merry
Christmas, uncle.
FRED _enters from L. He is happy and bright and has a cheerful, loud
laugh. He enters laughing and comes down C._
SCROOGE (_looking up from his work_). Oh, it's you, is it?
FRED. Of course it is, uncle. Merry Christmas! God save you!
SCROOGE (_with disgust_). Merry Christmas! Bah! Humbug!
FRED. Christmas a humbug, uncle? You don't mean that, I'm sure.
SCROOGE. I don't, hey? Merry Christmas! What cause have you got to be
merry? You're poor enough.
FRED (_laughing good-naturedly_). Come, then, what right have you got
to be dismal? You're rich enough. So, merry Christmas, uncle.
SCROOGE. Out upon your merry Christmas! What's Christmas time to you
but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself
a year older, but not an hour richer? You keep Christmas in your own
way and let me keep it in mine.
FRED. Keep it? But you don't keep it!
SCROOGE. Let me leave it alone, then. Much good may it do you! Much
good has it ever done you!
FRED. Christmas is a good time, uncle; a kind, forgiving, charitable,
pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the
year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up
hearts freely, and to think of people below them in the social scale.
And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or
silver in my pocket, I believe that it _has_ done me good, and _will_
do me good; and I say, God bless it, God bless Christmas!
CRATCHIT (_who had been listening eagerly, claps his hands_). Good!
SCROOGE. Let me hear another sound from _you_ and you'll keep your
Christmas by losing your job. Get to work!
CRATCHIT. Yes, sir. (_Resumes his work on the ledger._)
SCROOGE (_to_ FRED). You're quite a powerful speaker, sir. I wonder
you don't go into Parliament.
FRED. Don't be angry, uncle. Come, dine with us tomorrow.
SCROOGE. Dine with you? Me? I'll see you hanged first. Dine with you?
I'll see you in--
CRATCHIT (_sneezes violently_).
SCROOGE. What's the matter with _you_? (_Turns to_ FRED.) I'm a busy
man. Good afternoon.
FRED. Come, uncle; say "Yes."
SCROOGE. No.
FRED. But why? Why?
SCROOGE (_savagely_). Why did you get married?
FRED. Because I fell in love.
SCROOGE. Bah! (_Resumes his work._) Good afternoon.
FRED. I want nothing from you. I ask nothing from you. But why can't
we be friends?
SCROOGE. Good afternoon.
FRED. Uncle I won't part in anger. My dear mother was your only
sister--your only relation. For her sake let us be friends.
SCROOGE (_savagely_). Good afternoon.
FRED. I'll still keep the Christmas spirit, uncle. A merry Christmas
to you.
SCROOGE (_busy at ledger_). Bah!
FRED. And a happy New Year.
SCROOGE. Good afternoon!
FRED (_goes to_ CRATCHIT). And a merry Christmas to you, Bob Cratchit.
CRATCHIT (_getting down from stool, shaking hands with_ FRED
_warmly_). Merry Christmas, sir. God bless it!
FRED. Ay, God bless it! And a happy New Year.
CRATCHIT. And a happy New Year, too! God bless that, too!
FRED. Ay, Bob, God bless that, too. (_Exit L._)
SCROOGE. Cratchit, get to work!
CRATCHIT. Yes, sir. (_Resumes work._)
SCROOGE (_looks at him_). Humph! Fifteen shillings a week and a wife
and six children, and he talks about a merry Christmas. Humph! (_Works
on ledger._)
_Enter from L._ TWO MISSION LASSIES. _They come down C._
FIRST LASS. Scrooge and Marley's, I believe? Have I the pleasure of
addressing Mr. Scrooge or Mr. Marley?
SCROOGE. Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years. He died seven
years ago this very night.
FIRST LASS. We have no doubt his liberality is represented by his
surviving partner. (_Shows subscription paper._)
SCROOGE. Liberality? Humph! (_Returns paper to her._)
SECOND LASS. At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, we are
trying to make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who
are suffering greatly. Hundreds of thousands are in want of common
comforts, sir.
SCROOGE. Are there no prisons?
SECOND LASS (_sighs_). Plenty of prisons, sir.
SCROOGE. And the workhouses--are they still in operation?
FIRST LASS. They are, sir; but they scarcely furnish Christmas cheer
for mind and body. We are trying to raise a fund to buy the poor some
meat and drink and means of warmth.
SECOND LASS. We chose this time because it is a time when want is
keenly felt and abundance rejoices. What shall we put you down for?
SCROOGE. Nothing.
FIRST LASS. You wish to be anonymous?
SCROOGE. I wish to be left alone. I don't make merry myself at
Christmas, I don't believe in it. And I can't afford to make idle
people merry. They should go to the poorhouse.
SECOND LASS. Many of them would rather die, sir, than do that.
SCROOGE (_savagely_). If they would rather die, they'd better do it
and decrease the population. And besides, I am a very busy man.
FIRST LASS. But, sir--
SCROOGE. Good afternoon.
FIRST LASS. I'm sorry, sir. Sorry--
SCROOGE. Sorry for them?
FIRST LASS. No, sir, I'm sorry for you, sir. Good afternoon. (_Exits
L. followed by_ SECOND LASS.)
SCROOGE. Sorry for me, hey? (_Pause. He works. The clock strikes
five._) Sorry for me!
CRATCHIT (_closes his book, blows out candle_). Is there anything
more, sir? (_Comes to C._)
SCROOGE. You'll want all day off tomorrow, I suppose?
CRATCHIT. If it's quite convenient, sir.
SCROOGE. Well, it isn't--and it's not fair. If I'd dock you a half a
crown for it you'd think I was ill using you, wouldn't you?
CRATCHIT (_nervously_). I don't know, sir.
SCROOGE. And yet you expect me to pay a full day's wages for no work.
CRATCHIT. It only comes once a year, sir. Only once a year.
SCROOGE. A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth
of December! But I suppose you've got to have the whole day. But you
be here all the earlier next morning.
CRATCHIT. Oh, yes, indeed, sir. (_Goes out R._)
SCROOGE. I'll stay here a bit and finish up the work.
_Enter_ CRATCHIT _from R. with hat. He turns up his coat collar, wraps
the long white woolen muffler around chin and pulls hat down over his
face._
CRATCHIT (_crosses to door L._). I'm going, sir.
SCROOGE. All right.
CRATCHIT (_shields face with arm as though he were afraid Scrooge
might throw something at him_). Merry Christmas, sir! (_Runs out L._)
SCROOGE. Bah! Humbug! (_He works at ledger. Finally drops his head on
his arms and sleeps. The light of his candle goes out. Note: Scrooge
might blow it out unseen by audience._)
_The stage is now in darkness. A musical bell tolls off L. After a
pause another bell tolls off R. The clinking of chains is heard. When
the stage is completely darkened the_ GHOST OF MARLEY _slips in and
sits at R. He is entirely covered with black, face and all, as he
slips in, so as to be quite invisible._
_Mysterious music. Sudden clap of thunder heard. An auto light from
the wings at R. is thrown on the_ GHOST'S _face. This light should be
green. The thunder dies away. Clanking of chains heard._
GHOST (_groans_).
SCROOGE (_starts up, looks at Ghost, pauses_). How now! What do you
want with me?
GHOST. Much.
SCROOGE. Who are you?
GHOST. Ask me who I was.
SCROOGE. Well, who were you, then?
GHOST. In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley. It is required of
every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his
fellow-men, and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned
to do so after death.
SCROOGE. You are fettered. Tell me why.
GHOST. I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, yard
by yard, the heavy chain of avarice. Now I must make amends for the
opportunities I neglected in life.
SCROOGE. But you were always a good man of business, Jacob.
GHOST. Business? Mankind should have been my business. Kind actions,
charity, mercy, benevolence, love--all should have been my business. I
am here tonight to warn you, to warn you, Ebenezer Scrooge, that you
have yet a chance of escaping my fate.
SCROOGE. You were always a good friend to me.
GHOST. You will be haunted by Three Spirits.
SCROOGE. If it's all the same to you, I think I'd rather not.
GHOST. Without their visits, you cannot hope to escape my fate. Expect
the first when the bell tolls one.
SCROOGE. Couldn't I take it all at once and have it over, Jacob?
GHOST. Remember my warning, heed the message and you may yet be saved.
My time is over. (_Chains rattle._) Farewell, farewell, farewell!
(_Loud crash of thunder. Light is quenched and_ GHOST _exits unseen by
audience._)
_Pause. The bell tolls one. Enter_ SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST _from R.
She comes down R. Strong white light on her from R._
SCROOGE (_trembling_). Are you the Spirit whose coming was foretold to
me?
FIRST SPIRIT. I am.
SCROOGE. Who and what are you?
FIRST SPIRIT. I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.
SCROOGE. Long past?
FIRST SPIRIT. No, your past.
SCROOGE. Why have you come here to me?
FIRST SPIRIT. For your own welfare. I must teach you the first lesson
of consideration.
SCROOGE. But I _am_ considerate.
FIRST SPIRIT. Are you a kind master to your clerk?
SCROOGE. Well, I'm not unkind.
FIRST SPIRIT. Do you remember your own first master? One Fezziwig by
name?
SCROOGE. Indeed, I do. Bless his dear, old heart. He was the kindest
master that ever lived.
FIRST SPIRIT. Then why haven't you followed his good example? Would
any of your clerks say that you were the kindest master that ever
lived?
SCROOGE. Well, times have changed, that's it--it's all the fault of
the times.
FIRST SPIRIT. It's all the fault of a squeezing, wrenching, grasping,
scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint,
from which no steel has ever struck out a generous fire. No wind that
blows is more bitter than he, no falling snow is more intent upon its
purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. And his name is
Ebenezer Scrooge.
SCROOGE. All I ask is to edge my way along the crowded path of life. I
want to be left alone. That's all--left alone.
FIRST SPIRIT. I have come to save you, Ebenezer Scrooge. I have come
to kindle into life the stone that once was your heart. First I will
show you the kind heart and generosity of your old time master. Behold
the warehouse of Fezziwig and Company.
(_Rear curtains are drawn apart, revealing a workshop, with desk down
R. facing front. Barrel up L. Sign on rear wall reads, "Fezziwig and
Company." Two young men_, EBENEZER _and_ DICK, _discovered happily
working at desk. Fezziwig stands up L. looking off L._ WAITS _are
heard singing off L. at rear._)
WAITS (_sing, music page 169_).
Christ was born on Christmas Day,
Wreathe the holly, twine the bay,
Light and Life and Joy is He,
The Babe, the Son,
The Holy One
Of Mary.
FEZZIWIG (_flinging them a handful of coins_). That's right, my lads.
Sing away. Merry Christmas to you.
WAITS (_outside_). Thank ye, sir. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thank ye, sir. (_They sing and the song dies away in the distance._)
SCROOGE (_down R. with_ FIRST SPIRIT). Why, it's old Fezziwig. Bless
his dear, old heart. It's Fezziwig alive again.
FEZZIWIG (_comes merrily down C._). Yo ho, my boys! No more work for
tonight. Christmas Eve, Dick! (_Throws his arms over the shoulders of
the two boys._) Christmas Eve, Ebenezer! God bless Christmas.
DICK. Ay, ay, sir.
EBENEZER. Ay, ay; God bless Christmas.
FIRST SPIRIT. Did you hear that, Scrooge? That is yourself--and you
said God bless Christmas.
SCROOGE. That's true. That was thirty years ago.
FEZZIWIG (_bustling about_). The missis and the girls are down stairs,
so let's clear away before you can say Jack Robinson. (_They push desk
back, and decorate rear stage with strings of Christmas greens_,
FEZZIWIG _talking all the time._) Yo ho! That's right, Dick. String
the Christmas greens. Here you are, Ebenezer. We're going to have the
merriest time in all the kingdom. (_Dancing a step or two._) I'll
show ye how to enjoy life. That's it. Now we're all ready. (_Sings._)
"Wreathe the holly, twine the bay!" Let's have lots of room. Clear
away, Dick. Here comes the fiddler now.
_Enter_ OLD FIDDLER. _He sits on barrel at rear and starts to "tune
up."_
OLD FIDDLER. Merry Christmas, sir.
FEZZIWIG. The same to you, granfer, and many of 'em.
_Enter_ MRS. FEZZIWIG _from L._
MRS. FEZZIWIG. Lawsy, lawsy, I thought we'd be late. (_Goes to the two
boys and puts her arms over their shoulders._) And how's my merry boys
tonight?
DICK. Finer'n a fiddle.
EBENEZER. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Fezziwig.
MRS. FEZZIWIG. The same to you, dear lads.
FEZZIWIG. Where's the girls, mother?
MRS. FEZZIWIG. Here they come, Flora, Felicity and little Fanny May.
_Enter the_ THREE FEZZIWIG _girls with their escorts. Everybody
bustles around shaking hands, wishing each other "Merry Christmas."_
FEZZIWIG. And here's the housemaid and her cousin the baker. (_They
enter and are greeted by all._) The cook and the milkman, and the
lonesome little boy from over the way! And Ebenezer's young lady, Miss
Bella. (_They enter and are merrily greeted._) And now, mother, what
do you say to a rollicking game of Puss in the Corner.
(_They play Puss in the Corner with much loud laughter, clapping
hands, running about, etc. The_ FIDDLER _plays._)
MRS. FEZZIWIG. Oh, I never was so happy in all my life. This is the
real spirit of Christmas.
FEZZIWIG (_hangs up a bit of mistletoe_). And here's the mistletoe.
(_They form a ring and play a ring game with much noise and
confusion._)
EBENEZER (_catching_ MRS. FEZZIWIG _under the mistletoe_). I've got
ye! (_Kisses her._)
MRS. FEZZIWIG. God bless the boy!
EBENEZER. And God bless the merry Christmas!
FEZZIWIG. And now a dance, my hearties. Yo ho! For the old time
Christmas dance.
(_They dance a few figures of Sir Roger de Coverly or the Virginia
Reel. All are dancing wildly, swinging, etc., with plenty of loud
laughter, clapping of hands, etc., as the rear curtains are drawn.
Note: Use brilliant lights from R. and L. upon the rear stage._)
FIRST SPIRIT. What a small matter to make these silly folks so full of
gratitude and happiness.
SCROOGE (_astonished_). Small? It was the happiest time in my life.
FIRST SPIRIT. And yet your master only spent a few pounds of your
mortal money. Three or four, perhaps. And yet he kindled the true
spirit of Christmas in all your hearts.
SCROOGE. He could have made us miserable, but he made every day we
worked for him seem like Christmas.
FIRST SPIRIT (_gazes steadily at Scrooge, who becomes uneasy under the
look_). What's the matter now?
SCROOGE (_trying to appear unconcerned, but failing_). Oh, nothing!
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