Introduction
We want to present a script based on the novel titled
“A Christmas Carol” written by Charles Dickens.
Charles Dickens is one of England’s greatest writers. “A Christmas
Carol” tells us about mean, old man – Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by
the ghosts… Mr. Scrooge doesn’t like Christmas.
He gave for his clerk, Bob Cratchit, only fifteen shillings a week.
Bob had to work in a cold, little office.
On Christmas Eve, his nephew visits him to wish
a merry Christmas, Scrooge wasn’t at all pleased. He says: “Christmas is
humbug”. On Christmas night he was visited by ghosts of Jacob Marley
and later three more other ghosts. It was a long and frightening night.
This night learned him a lot about life and Christmas. He woke up as a
totally different person.
Chapter 1
Marley's ghost
Narrator1:
Scrooge and Marley were partners in London for many years. They were excellent men of
business. When Marley died, Scrooge continued it alone. Scrooge was an old clever man. He
was scary. The cold inside him made his eyes red, and his thin lips blue, and his voice high
and cross. Scrooge lived alone. Nobody asked him: “How are you?”. Poor people didn’t ask
him for money. He liked being alone.
(Scrooge is walking along the room, it is Christmas Eve, cold afternoon, two small rooms of
Scrooge's office)
(Bob Cratchit is sitting and working, Scrooge is also working, a lot of books, papers)
Narrator2:
One Christmas Eve, old Scrooge was working busily in his office. It was cold, frosty, foggy
weather. Scrooge kept his office door open, in order to check that his clerk Bob Cratchit, was
working. Bob spent his days in a dark little room. Scrooge had a very small fire, but Bob's fire
was much smaller.
Scrooge's nephew (Scrooge's nephew Fred has arrived, happy voice)
Merry Christmas, uncle! God bless you!
Scrooge:(crossly)
Bah! . Humbug!
Nephew:
Christmas is humbug! Surely you don’t mean that, uncle?
Scrooge:
I do. Why do you call it “merry” Christmas? You are too poor to be merry.
Nephew (smiling):
-“Well”
Nephew:
-“Why are you so cross? You are too rich to be unhappy?”
Scrooge:
-“Of course I am cross”
Scrooge:
-“ You say “Merry Christmas”! But what is Christmas? Just a time when you spend too much,
when you find yourself a year older and not an hour richer, when you have to pay bills.”
Nephew:
-“Uncle! Please don’t say that!”
Bob:
Yes, don’t say that!
Scrooge:
-“ If I hear another sound from you, you will lose your job!”
Nephew:
-“ Don’t be angry with him, uncle, come and have dinner with us tomorrow”
Scrooge:
-“Dinner with you? I will see you dead first”
Nephew:
-“But why won’t you come? Why?”
Scrooge(angrily):
-“Because Christmas is humbug! Goodbye!”
Nephew:
-“I want nothing from you. I ask nothing of you. Why cant we be friends?”
Scrooge:
-”Goodbye!”
Nephew:
-“I am sorry. I have never wanted to argue with you. But I came to see you and invite you
because it is Christmas, and so I will say, a merry Christmas, uncle! And a happy New Year!”
(The nephew left the room.)
Scrooge(very angrily)
-“Goodbye!!!”
(Two gentlemen came in with books and papers in their hands.)
Gentleman1:
-“This is Scrooge and Marley, I think I am speaking to Mr. Scrooge or Mr. Marley?”
Scrooge:
-“Mr. Marley is dead”
Scrooge:
-“He died 7 years ago, on Christmas Eve.”
Gentleman2:
-“I am sure that you are just as kind to the poor as your partner. At this happy time of year,
Mr. Scrooge”
Gentleman1:
-“We should help poor people who have no food or clothes or homes”
Scrooge:
-“Are there no prisons?
Gentleman2:
-“Plenty of prisons”
Scrooge:
-“And the workhouses, where poor people can live and work? Are they still open?”
Gentleman1:
-“Yes, they are, I am sorry to say.”
Scrooge:
-“I am happy to hear it, I thought, from what you said at first, that perhaps these useful
places were closed, for some reason.”
Gentleman2:
-“ We are hoping to give some meat and drink, and wood for fire to people who need all
these things. This is a time when we should help poor people. How much will you give, sir?”
Scrooge:
Nothing! I don’t have a merry Christmas and I won’t pay for other people to be merry. The
poor will have to go to workhouses or prisons.
Gentleman1:
Many don’t want to go there, that is why they prefer to die.
Scrooge
If they prefer to die, why don’t they die then? There are too many people in the world. I am a
very busy man and I don’t have time to think about other people. Goodbye gentlemen.
( Gentlemen are shaking their heads sadly, they are leaving the office. Scrooge is going back
to his work)
Narrator1:
Outside the fog was thickest and the cold was biting. Lights from the shop windows shone
brightly. People were hurrying to buy that what they need for tomorrow's Christmas dinner.
At last it was time to close the office.
(Scrooge is getting up slowly from his desk. Bob was waiting for this moment, and he
immediately puts on his hat.)
Scrooge:
You will want a holiday all day tomorrow, I suppose?
Bob:
If you don’t mind, sir.
Scrooge:
I do mind. I have to pay you even then, when you aren’t at work.
Bob(politely):
It is once a year, sir.
Scrooge:
This isn’t reason to robbing me every twenty-fifth of December. I suppose you must know it.
Be here early next morning.
(He is putting on his coat)
Bob(happily):
I promise I will.
(Scrooge walked out, without another word.)
Narrator2:
Bob had closed the office, he ran home to his family in Camden Town as quickly as possible.
Scrooge always used to eat his dinner alone. Tonight was no different from other nights. He
read the newspapers, looked at his bank books, and went home to bed. He lived in dark
building in a lonely side street, where no one, except Scrooge, lived. In the blackness of the
night, through the fog and the frost Scrooge was coming home.
(He finally reached his front door and put the key in the lock. Suddenly, to his great surprise,
he saw that the knocker wasn’t a knocker any more, but had become the face of Jacob
Marley! In Front of him was Marley’s face, white and ghostly, with terrible staring eyes. So
Scrooge looked, it became a knocker again. He was afraid, but he didn’t show his fear. He
turned the key, opened the door and walked in. He did look around before he shut the door,
and he did look behind the door, to see if anyone was hiding there. But there was nothing
there. He shut the door with a bang, to show that he wasn’t afraid)
(Room is empty. He isn’t afraid. Scrooge takes candle and goes up the stairs. He doesn’t see
anything. He walks through his rooms. He checks everything. He checks under the bed, table,
behind the door. He sees a pot of soup in his bowl. He looks relieved. He shuts and looks the
door of his bedroom. He sits down by the fire and he eats soup. He looks at the fireplace)
Scrooge:
Humbug!
(He walks across the room. He sits down and notices a bell. He looks at the bell and it moves
and rings. He hears strange noise becomes noisier and noisier.)
Scrooge:
It is humbug still!
(He says and becomes pale. Marley's ghost comes in with chains. Scrooge pretends not to be
afraid)
Scrooge:
-What do you want?
-Who are you?
Ghost:
-In life. I was your business partner, Jacob Marley.
Scrooge:
It is humbug. I tell you! There are no ghosts!
(Ghost cries and shakes chains in a very frightening way. Scrooge falls on the ground and he
cries and says)
Scrooge:
-Yes!, yes. You are real. I see that now! Why have you come? Why do ghosts come back from
the dead?. Tell me, Jacob!
Ghost:
The spirit of every man who doesn’t help other people in life, has to travel all the time after
his dead. We have to carry the chains that we make in our lifetime. Do you recognize your
chain, Ebenezer ?
Scrooge:
Please tell me more !
Ghost:
I can’t help you much, Ebenezer! I can’t rest, I can’t stay anywhere for long. I have been dead
for seven years and all that time I have been travelling on the wings of the wind! No peace,
no rest for me in death, because I was never good or kind in life!
Scrooge:
But you were always a good man of business, Jacob!
(He was now beginning to worry about his own life)
Ghost
Business! (cries the ghost miserably). Why didn’t I think of people as my business? I thought
only about making money, not about being kind and helpful to other people. Listen to me,
Ebenezer! I am here tonight to warn you. You still have a chance to save yourself from what
has happened to me. Three spirits will come to visit you: The first tomorrow at one o’clock,
the second at the same time the next night, and the third at midnight the following night.
You will not see me any more, and for you own peace after death, remember what I have
told you!
(The spirit walks slowly backwards to the window. It holds up its hands and chains. Scrooge
listens to the cry in the air. The spirit starts crying!)
Scrooge
Humbug! ( Suddenly stops, slowly goes to bed and falls asleep).
Chapter 2
The first of the three spirits
Narrator 1:
It was very dark in the room. Scrooge heard the church heavy clock start
striking up two twelve (somebody is hitting the bell Scrooge wakes up).
Scrooge:
Have I slept all day? Is it the next night already?
Scrooge:
Or has something happened to the sun? Perhaps it's midday, not midnight! But
that's impossible!
Narrator 2:
Scrooge got up and come to the window and saw nobody outside in the dark,
foggy, streets. He realized it must be night time. He could not understand what
was happening.
Scrooge:
Was Marley's ghost a dream? But it seemed very real.
Narrator 1:
Scrooge lay awake and was waiting for visit of the first spirit of the Christmas
Past.
(somebody is hitting the bell once)
Scrooge:
It's one o'clock !
Narrator 2:
Cried Scrooge delightedly and nothing has happened. Suddenly Scrooge saw
light shone into his bedroom.
(The first spirit looks half like a child and an old man. It has long, white hair but
its skin is soft and young. It wears a short, white robe, covered with both
summer and winter flowers.)
Scrooge:
Who and what are, you sir?
The First of Spirits (of the Christmas Past):
I am the ghost of Christmas Past.
Scrooge:
Do you mean long ago in the past?
T.F.S:
No. Your past.
Scrooge:
Spirit, please tell me why you are here?
T.F.S:
I am here for your own good.
Scrooge:
Thank you.
Narrator 1:
But secretly he thought, humbug ! A night of unbroken sleep is a more useful
thing to have !
T.F.S:
I am here to help you change your life ! Watch and listen ! (It puts out a strong
hand and helds Scrooge by the arm.)
T.F.S:
Get up, and come with me !
Narrator 2:
It was dark and cold outside Scrooge did not want to go anywhere, he said
nothing and he wanted to come back to bed.
Narrator 1:
London, the fog, and the darkness had all disappeared, and it was a clear cold,
winter day, with snow on the ground.
Scrooge:
Good Heavens ! I was born near here ! I remember it well !
T.F.S:
How strange that you've forgotten it for so many years ! What is that on your
face? Are you crying?
(Scrooge puts a hand over his eyes)
Scrooge:
It's nothing- I've got a cold, that's all. Take me where you want, spirit !
(A lot of people are walking on a road, laughing and wishing each other a Merry
Christmas)
T.F.S:
They are only shadows from the past. They can't see us.
Narrator 2:
Scrooge knew and named all of them. He was so delighted to see them? His
cold heart beat faster when they went past, shouting Merry Christmas!
T.F.S:
There is still one lonely child at school.
Scrooge:
I know !
(At school a lonely boy is sitting and reading something. Scrooge when see him
starts crying)
Scrooge:
Poor boy ! I wish- but it's too late now.
Scrooge:
There was a boy singing Christmas carols at my door yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't
give him anything, that's all.
(The ghost is smiling, and lifting its hand.)
T.F.S:
Let's see another past Christmas.
(There is the young Scrooge again, a little older and bigger than before. The
door opens, and a little girl, much younger that him, comes running in, putting
her arms round his neck, she says lovingly to him)
Girl:
I've come to bring you home, dear brother. Father is so much kinder than he
used to be ! The other day I asked him, if you could come home, and he said yes
! And we're going to spend Christmas together.
( She is laughing delightedly as she starts pulling him towards the door. They go
out happily together, hand in hand)
T.F.S:
What a warm heart she had?
Scrooge:
You're right !
T.F.S:
She married, I understand, and had children, I think before she died.
Scrooge:
One child
T.F.S:
True. Your nephew !
(Scrooge did not answer at once)
Scrooge:
...Yes
Narrator 2:
Now the school had disappeared, and they were in the middle of a busy town,
with shadows crowds and carts all around them
Narrator 1:
Here it was Christmas time again, but it was evening, and there were lights in
the shops and streets. The ghost stopped at an office door.
T.F.S:
Do you know this place, Scrooge?
Scrooge:
Know it ! Why, I was a clerk here?!
Narrator 2:
They went in, and they saw, a large, kind-looking old genteleman sitting at a
high desk.
Scrooge:
Good Heavens it's old Fezziwig ! God bless him ! It's Fezziwig alive again.
(Old Fezziwig puts down his pen, and looks at the clock. Fatening his coat
buttons over his fat stomach, he starts laughing as he calls out in a rich deep
happy voice)
Fezziwig:
Ebenezer ! Seven o'clock ! No more work tonight ! Wilkins it's Christmas Eve,
remember ! (The young Scrooge hurries in, with another clerk)
Scrooge:
That's Wilkins. He always liked me. Oh dear ! Poor Wilkins.
Narrator 1:
Scrooge and Wilkins stopped their work and followed Fezziwig to his house,
there were his three sweet and pretty daughters, six young men,a milkman,a
fiddler and women. The fidler started playing, and all visitors were dancing.
When they were all tired, Fezziwig said…
Feeziwig:
Well done! Now, have something to eat and drink !
Narrator 2: There was cake, hot meat, bread and cold fruit. After they danced
again and finished when the clock struck eleven. Visitors come back to the
house, Mr and Mrs Fezziwig wished them a Merry Christmas.
Narrator 1: During this time Scrooge had thought of Christmas Eve and he
enjoyed it. Suddenly he saw the light on the spirit’s head [it was burning very
clearly].
T.F.S:
It seems easy enough to amuse these childish people. It was nothing much that
Fezziwig did, was it ? After all, he only spent a few pounds, on food and drink,
and paying the fiddler.
Scrooge:
It isn’t a question of money [replied warmly]. No, spirit, you see… our
employer can make us happy or sad. His words, his looks, all these things are so
important! The happiness that he gives is just as valuable as money! [spirit is
watching him closely and Scrooge felt this and stopped speaking].
T.F.S:
What’s the matter?
Scrooge:
Er- nothing, just that- I’d like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk now.
Narrator 2:
Now Scrooge could see himself again. He was older now. His eyes were restless,
and his mouth looked thin and mean. He was not alone, but was sitting beside a
lovely young girl. She's was crying.
Girl:
I know it doesn't matter very much to you. You care about gold more than you
care about me. Perhaps I shouldn't be sad. Money will give you the happiness
that I wanted to give you.
Scrooge:
But I haven't changed.
Girl:
You have changed. We promised to marry a long time ago. I loved the man that
you used to be, but I know that, you don't wish to marry me any more. So I've
come to tell you that you're free. Be happy in the life !
Scrooge:
Spirit ! Show me no more ! Take me home ! This is too painful !
T.F.S:
One shadow more !
Scrooge:
No more ! I don't wish to see any more !
Narrator 1:
But the spirit held his arms, and he could not escape. Now they were in another
place, in a room which was not very large, but comfortable. Near the fire sat a
beautiful young girl. Scrooge thought she was the girl that he had just seen, but
it was a good - looking married lady, sitting opposite her daughter. Her husband
was coming back.
Man:
Belle, I saw an old friend this afternoon. Guess who? Mr Scrooge! He was sitting
alone in his office. His partner has died and I don’t think he has any other
friends.
Scrooge:
Spirit! Take me away from this place.
T.F.S:
These are shadows of the things that happened in the past. You chose the life
that you prefered, so why you are crying now?
Scrooge:
I can’t watch any more ! It’s too awful! Leave me alone spirit!
Narrator 2:
Now Scrooge found himself back in his own bedroom again. Feeling very tired, he climbed
into bed and at once fell into a deep, heavy sleep.
Chapter 3
“The second of the three spirits”
Narrator 1: When Scrooge woke up, he realized that the church clock was going to strike one. He felt that
the second spirit would soon visit him.
( A lot of best Christmas food in Scrooge's room, the Spirit of the Christmas Present is appearing dressed in a
long green robe, long hair, flowers, the torch in the right hand)
SCP(Spirit of the Christmas Present): Come in! Come in, man! I'm the ghost of the Christmas present! Look
at me!
Scrooge: (Quietly) Spirit, take me where you want. Last night I learned a lesson which is working now. If you
have anything to teach me tonight, let me learn from you.
SCP: Touch my robe! (all disappeared, now they are standing on snowy, cold street on Christmas morning. A
lot of people walking with their dinners ready to cook, SCP is holding the torch in its hand)
Scrooge: What does your torch do, Spirit?
SCP: It gives a special taste to people's dinners on this day.
Scrooge: Why do you use it most on poor people?
SCP: Because poor people need it most.
Narrator 2: They come to the small house where Scrooge's clerk Bob Cratchit lived.(Here the Spirit smiles
and helds his torch high over the door. Inside were Bob Cratchit’s wife and children)
Two young Cratchits: (crying) Here's Martha, mother! We are having a really big chicken for dinner, Martha.
Mrs.Cratchit: My dear, how late you are!
Martha: We were so busy yesterday, mother! That's why we didn't finish until this morning.
Mrs.Cratchit: Well! Never mind, now that you are here God bless you! Sit down by the fire, my dear!
Two young Cratchits: No, no! Father's coming! Hide Martha, hide! (cried the girls)
Narrator 1: Martha hid herself, and Bob came in with his son Tiny Tim in his arm.
Bob: Where's Martha?
Mrs.Cratchit: Not coming.
Bob: Not coming. (repeated Bob, his cheerful smile disappeared)
Bob: Not coming on Christmas Day!
(Martha runs from behind the door and kisses him, while the two young Cratchits show Tiny Tim the
chicken. Scrooge and the Spirit watch as the family is sitting down to eat)
Bob: It's the best chicken I've ever tasted.
(Belinda puts a clean plate in front of each person, and they all turn to look at Mrs.Cratchit as she comes in
from the kitchen with Christmas pudding)
Bob: It's your greatest pudding in all the years that we've been married, my dear.
Mrs.Cratchit: Well, I did wonder how much fruit to put in it. But yes, it's a good one. (And she laughed just
like a young girl)
Narrator 1: At last, when they have finished their meal, the children cleared the table and washed the
plates. Then they all sat round the fire, eating apples and oranges.
There was a large bowl of fruit and sugar and hot water and something a little stronger, but only three
people could drink at the same time, because family only owned two glasses and a cup. But this did not
warry the Cratchit's at all.
(Now Bob is lifting his glass and saying)
Bob: A Merry Christmas to all of us, my dears! God bless us.
(The family repeated his wish)
Tiny Tim: God bless us everyone!
(he is sitting very close to his father. Bob is holding his son's thin little hand in his own)
Scrooge: Spirit, tell me if Tiny Tim will live?
SCP: In the future I see an empty chair by the fire with a church beside it. If these shadows do not change,
the child will die.
Scrooge: No, no ! Oh no, kind spirit! Say that he will live!
SCP: If his life doesn't change soon, he will die before next Christmas. So, what's the matter? There are so
many people in the world. So it's a good thing if some of them die.
Narrator 2: Scrooge was ashamed and sad to hear his own words.
Bob: Mr.Scrooge! Let's drink to Mr.Scrooge, whose money has paid for this meal.
Mrs.Cratchit: His money! What can we buy with his fifteen shillings a week? Why should we drink to the
health of a hateful, hard, unfeeling, mean, old man like Scrooge?
Bob: My dear, remember it's Christmas.
Mrs.Cratchit: Well, Bob, I'll drink to his health only because of you and because it's Christmas. Long life to
Mr.Scrooge! A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to him! He'll be very merry and very happy, I'm sure.
Narrator 1: When the children heard Scrooge's name, a dark shadow come over their happiness for a while.
They were not a good- looking or a well- dressed family, but they were happy and grateful and loved each
other.
Narrator 2: The spirit took Scrooge into many houses, where fires were burning cheerfully and food was
cooking. People were merilly welcoming their friends and families into their homes. The Spirit takes him to
his nephew's Fred house.
(Scrooge’s nephew, his wife and several friends are sitting and laughing)
Scrooge’s nephew Fred: (crying) My dear uncle Scrooge said that Christmas was Humbug! Ha Ha!
Nephew’s wife: That’s very bad of him Fred!
Fred: He is now an old man. I feel sorry for him. His money is no use to him. He isn’t at all happy or
comfortable, although he’s rich. So I’m going to invite him every Christmas and maybe one day he will think
better of Christmas!
(they are playing games and laughing)
S.C.P (Smiling): It’s time to go now.
Scrooge: No, Spirit please! Let me stay here longer! Look they’re playing a new game.
(While playing, Yes and No game)
Fred's wife's sister: I know what it is, Fred! I know!
Fred: OK, what is it ?
FWS: That's your uncle Scro-o-o-o-ge!
(everybody is laughing)
Fred: We've been merry because of him, so I think we should drink to his health. Here's to uncle Scrooge! A
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the old man! Uncle Scrooge!
Scrooge: Are spirits live so short?
Spirit: My life in this world ends at midnight tonight. Listen! It's almost midnight now!
CHAPTER 4
The last of the spirits
(The third spirit is coming all in black. It is pointing onwards with one hand.)
Scrooge:
"Are you the spirit of Christmas Yet to Come? Are you going to show me shadows of the
things which have not happened yet, but will happen in the future?"
(There is no answer.)
Scrooge:
"Ghost of the future! You frighten me very much, but I think you can help me to change my
life. I will be very grateful to you show me the future. Well, show me the way, spirit!"
( The ghost pointing to one small group of women. Scrooge is going closer to listen to their
conversation,)
First woman:
"No, I don't know much about it, I only know he is dead."
Second woman:
"When did he die?"
First woman:
"Last night, I think."
Third woman:
"Why, what was the matter with him?"
First woman:
"I have no idea, who cares?"
Second woman:
"What has he done with his money?"
First woman:
"I haven't heard. He hasn't left it to me, that is all I know."
Narrator 1:
Scrooge looked towards the spirit, hoping it would explain what the conversation maent.
Ghost moved on, pointing at two more man. Scrooge listened again.
First man:
"How are you?"
Second man:
"How are you? Well! The old man has died at last, has he? Cold, isn't it? Nice and frosty
for Christmas. Good morning!"
Narrator 2:
"Scrooge wondered why the spirit wanted him to hear this conversation. He watched
cerefully, trying to understand.
Scrooge:
"Perhaps that is not suprising, because if I change my life, and I am planning to do that, I
won't be the same person in the future!"
(Spirit is standing quiet and dark beside him, with it's pointing hand.)
Narrator 1:
On the down one street there was a small shop, where worked an old man, his name was
Joe. He was sitting, waiting for customers. His business was buying old things and selling
them again. Scrooge and the spirit watched, three women arrived at the shop door at the
same time, each carrying a large bundle.
Joe:
“Good morning ladies!”
Three women:
“Good morning Joe!”
Joe:
"Ladies, you couldn't find a better place to meet, now come inside, and show me what you
have got to sell."
First woman:
"I don't care if everybody knows where this comes from! We all have to take care of
ourselves! He always did!"
Second woman:
"That's right."
Third woman:
"Very true."
First woman:
"Does a dead man need these things? And what did we get? Three shillings a week! It's
no suprise that he died alone, with no friends around him!"
Second woman:
"You never spoke a truer word."
Third woman:
"He was a bad man, we all know that."
Joe:
"Now what have we got here?"
(Joe is opening women's bundles.)
Joe:
"I see that you brought me different things, oh and you brought me a very good shirt."
First woman:
"Yes, it was his best, they put it on him after he died. But he doesn't need it now because
he's dead."
Joe:
"You took the shirt off a dead body, and the blankets and curtains off his bed while he was
lying there! Well, well! Here's your money."
First woman:
"Ha ha! He frightened everyone away when he was alive and we've made money out of
him now when he's dead! Ha ha!"
Narrator 2:
Scrooge felt sick and angry at the same time.
Scrooge:
"Spirit, I see now. I could be that unhappy dead man. Good Heavens, what's this?"
(Joe and the women had disappeared and Scrooge was standing in a dark room. Opposite
him was a bed with no blankets or curtains. A light shone down from above on to the body
of a dead man, covered with a sheet.)
Scrooge:
"How sad to die with no friends or family around him! To lie in an empty room, with no
candles or flowers and robbed of his clothes! To know that nobody loves him, because he
loved nobody in his life! Money can't buy a happy life or a peaceful death!"
(He is looking at the spirit whose hand is pointing at the man's covered head)
Scrooge:
"Spirit this is a terrible place. Let's go!"
(Spirit is pointing at the man's head.)
Scooge:
"I understand you, but I can't look at him spirit I can't! If there's anyone in this town who
feels anything at this man's death, show that person to me, spirit please!"
First woman:
"Thank You God that he is dead. We don't have to pay him money back. Thank You God
for that."
Scrooge:
"So spirit you can show me only happisess at this man's death. It frightenes me spirit.
Show me please, that there can be sadness at a death."
Narrator 1:
The ghost took him to Bob Cratchit's house. The room seemed strangely quiet.
(The mother and her daughters are making a small white cotton shirt together, while the
usually noisy young Cratchits are sitting silently in a corner. Mrs Cratchit is putting put her
work down on the table, and covering her face with her hand.)
Mrs Cratchit:
"The colour hurts my eyes. They're a little better now. It's difficult to work by candlelight.
And I don't want to show red eyes to your father when he comes home."
Martha:
"He's a bit late, but I think he's walked more slowly these last few days, mother."
(They are very quiet again.)
Mrs Cratchit:
"I've known him walking with - with Tiny Tim in his arms, very fast indeed."
Martha:
"So have I. Often"
(Martha has cried.)
Mrs Cratchit:
"But he was very light to carry, and your father loved him so much! And there's your father
at the door now!"
(Mr Cratchit is entering home. Mrs Cratchit is going quickly to kiss Bob as he come in. He
looks tired and thin. Martha is taking his boots and scarf off, and Belinda is bringing him his
tea, and the little Cratchits are sitting close to him. He is very cheerful with all of them, and
pleased with the little shirt that his wife and daughters are making.)
Mr Cratchit:
"It'll be ready long before Sunday, won't it?"
Mrs Cratchit:
"Sunday! You went there today, Bob?"
Mr Cratchit:
"Yes, my dear. You'd love to see it. It's beautiful green place. But you'll see it often. I
promised him that we would go there every Sunday. My little, little child!"
Mr Cratchit:
(He says to his children.)
"My dears, one of these days some of you will marry and leave home. In a few years time
perhaps all of you will. But I'm sure none of us will ever forget Tiny Tim, will we?"
All children:
"Never, father!" (All are crying.)
Mr Cratchit:
"And I know, that when we remember how patient and gentle he was only a little child, we
won't argue among ourselves. We'll remember poor Tiny Tim, and love each other!"
All children:
"We will, father!" (They all are crying again.)
Mr Cratchit:
"I am very happy, I am very happy!"
(Mrs Cratchit is kissing him, and his daughters are kissing him, the two young Cratchits are
kissing him.)
Scrooge:
"Spirit, I know that you will leave me soon. Tell me who that dead man on the bed was!"
(No answer. The ghost is taking Scrooge through the streets of London again.)
Scrooge:
"Wait a moment. We're passing my office. Let me see how I will look in the future!"
Narrator 2:
Scrooge hurried up to the window and looked in. It was still an office, but not his. The
furniture was not the same, and the figure inside was not himself. The ghost continued to
point onwards, and Scrooge followed. They reached a church, and entered the
churchyard, Here, among the untidy graves and the uncut grass, lay the miserable man
whose name was Scrooge. It was lonely place, most suitable for a man so unloved. The
spirit stood and pointed down at one of the graves. Scrooge was strangely afraid.
Scrooge:
"Before I look more closely at that gravestone, answer me one question. Are the shadows
of the things that will be, or are they only shadows of the things that may be?"
(Without replying. The ghost is pointing silently down at the grave. Scrooge is moving
slowly towards it, and following the finger, reading on the stone his own name, EBENEZER
SCROOGE.)
Scrooge:
"Am I that man who was lying on the bed?" (Scrooge is crying.)
(The spirit is pointing from the grave to him, and back again.)
Scrooge:
"No, spirit! Oh, no, no!"
(The finger is still there.)
Scrooge:
"Spirit! Listen! I am a changed man! I have learnt my lesson from you spirits! Why do you
show me this terrible end, if there is no hope for me!"
(For the first time the hand is appearing to shake.)
Scrooge:
"Good spirit, tell me that my future will change, if I change my life now!"
(The kind hand is shaking again.)
Scrooge:
"I will remember the past, and think of the future. I will be good to other people. I will keep
Christmas in my heart, and will try to be kind, and cheerful, and merry, every day. Oh, tell
me I can clean away the writing in this stone!"
(Wildly, he is catching the ghostly hand and holding it for a moment. But the spirit is
stronger than him, and pulling its hand away. Just then Scrooge notices that something
strange is happening to the spirit. It is getting smaller and smaller, and suddenly it
becomes - a bedpost.)
Chapter 5
The end of the story
[Scrooge is in the bed, he is happy and he has disordered hair]
Narrator1: All thinks in the room are his own. Best and happiest of all, the
future was his own, to change his life in!
Scrooge: I will remember the past, and think of the future.
[Scrooge jumps out of the bed ]
Scrooge: God bless you Jacob Marley! And God bless Christmas!
[His face is wet from crying]
Scrooge: Here are my bed-curtains! They aren’t stolen! And I’m alive! Those
were only shadows of things that may be! The future will be different! I know it
will!
[Scrooge is putting on his clothes hurriedly. He puts left foot in his right shoe,
couldn’t find the buttons on his shirt, and forgets to brush his hair.+
Scrooge: I don’t know what I’m doing!
[Scrooge laughing and crying at the same time.]
Scrooge: A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy new year to all the world!
Hurrah! There’s the door which Jacob’s ghost came through! There’s the corner
where the ghost of Christmas Present sat! There’s the window where I saw the
travelling ghosts! It’s all true, it all happened! Ha ha ha!
Narrator2: Scrooge hadn’t laughed for so many years and it was an excellent
laugh.
Scrooge: I don’t know what the day of the month it is! I don’t know how long
I’ve been with the spirits! I don’t know anything. I’m just like a baby and I prefer
being a baby! Hurrah!
[The bells ring out. Scrooge is running to the window, opens it and looks out]
Narrator1: No fog at all, a clear, bright, cold day, golden sunlight, blue sky,
sweet clean air, merry bells.
Scrooge: What’s today?
[Scrooge is calling down to a boy in the street]
Boy: Today? Why, it’s Christmas Day!
Scrooge(He thinks loudly): The spirits have done it all in one night!
Scrooge: Hallo, young man! Do you know the meat shop at the corner of the
next street?
Boy: Of course I do.
Scrooge: What an intelligent boy! Do you know if they’ve sold the big turkey
that was in the shop window yesterday?
Boy: What, the one as big as me?
Scrooge: What a delightful boy! Yes, that’s the one!
Boy: It’s still there in the window.
Scrooge: Is it? Well, go and buy it.
Boy: Do you mean it!
Scrooge: I do, I do. I’m serious. Go and buy it, and tell the man to bring it back
here. Come back with the man and I’ll give you a shilling. Come back in the less
than five minutes and I’ll give you three shillings!
[The boy went very fast]
Scrooge: I’ll send the turkey to Bob Cratchit’s!
[Scrooge laughing]
Scrooge: He’ll never know who’s sent it! It’s twice as big as Tiny Tim! Ha ha ha!
*Scrooge is writing Bob’s address. The man and the boy are back]
Scrooge: Here is your money.
[Scrooge is giving money to the boy]
Boy: thank you.
[ Boy is going away]
Scrooge: Here is an address, go to this house and give the turkey to the man
who lives there. I’ll pay for a taxi.
Man with the turkey: All right.
[The man is going away in a taxi]
[Scrooge became home and finish dressing. He is going into the streets wearing
his best clothes. Happy, busy people are on it. Scrooge is smiling at all of them.]
1Man: Good morning, sir! And a merry Christmas to you!
2Man: Good morning, sir!
3 Man: Merry Christmas, sir!
[Scrooge is walking. Suddenly he is noticing a gentleman who is coming to his
office to ask for money for the poor. Scrooge straight up to him, taking his
hands.]
Scrooge: My dear sir, how are you? A merry Christmas to you, sir!
Gentleman1: Mr Scrooge?
Scrooge: Yes that’s my name. I’m very sorry for what I said to you when you
visited me yesterday. Will you please_.
*He speaks quietly in the gentleman’s ear+
Gentleman1: Good Heavens! My dear Mr Scrooge, are you serious?
[Gentleman is crying]
Scrooge: I am. Not a shilling less. I must tell you, I haven’t given anything to
anyone for years.
Gentleman1: My dear sir!
[Gentleman is shaking hands with Scrooge]
Gentleman1: I don’t know how to thank you for_ everything
Scrooge: Don’t say anything, please. Will you come and see me tomorrow
about it?
Gentleman1: I will!
[Gentleman is crying, and he is happy]
Scrooge: Thank you, and God bless you!
[Scrooge is going to the church, watching people, giving children money for
sweets, and he is very happy]
*He is going to his nephew’s house, passing the door several times and then he
is knocking. He is going to the sitting-room. Fred and his wife are there]
Scrooge: Fred! It’s your uncle I’ve come to dinner. Will you let me stay, Fred?
Narrator2: Fred let him stay! He almost shook his uncle’s arm off. Scrooge felt at
home in five minutes. Nothing could be merrier. And what a wonderful dinner
they had! Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful happiness! Next day
Scrooge is waiting in his office for his worker Bob Cratchit.
Next day.
[Scrooge is in the office and he is waiting for Bob Cratchit. He is looking for a
clock.]
[Bob is coming into the office]
Scrooge: Hallo! What do you mean by coming here so late?
Bob: I’m very sorry, sir. I’m late. It’s only once a year. We were rather merry
yesterday, sir.
Scrooge: Now I’ll tell you what, my friend. I’m not going to have this any longer.
And so…
*Scrooge is jumping off his chair and shaking Bob’s hand]
Scrooge: I’m going to pay you twice as much!
[Bob is shocked]
Scrooge: A merry Christmas, Bob! I’m going to pay you well, and help you with
your family, and we’ll discuss it all this afternoon over a Christmas drink, Bob!
Put more wood on the fire at once, and let’s be comfortable!
Narrator1: Scrooge did everything that he had promised, and even more. To
Tiny Tim, who didn’t die, he became a second father. He became as a good
friend, employer and man, as anyone in London or in the world. Some people
laughed to see the change in him, but he didn’t care. His own heart laughed
inside him, and that was good enough for him. He never had any more
conversations with spirits, but kept Christmas cheerfully, and lived a happy life.
That is what all of us want, and so, as Tiny Tim said, ’God bless us, every one!’
The end
The list of students, who took part in the performance of this play on 22nd of December 2010
during School Christmas Eve:
1. Tomasz Chmielewski 3a- Scrooge
2. Michał Szymaś 3a- Narrator 2
3. Maciej Gładysz 3a- Gentleman 2, Man- Scrooge’s old rfiend, Second Man
4. Michał Martin 3a- Young Scrooge, Man with a Turkey
5. Jakub Copija 3a- Fezziwing
6. Karol Olobry 3b- Narrator 1
7. Patryk Wolski 3b- Scrooge’s nephew Fred
8. Łukasz Nowak 3b- Bob Cratchit- Scrooge’s clerk
9. Katarzyna Kostrzewska 3b- Bob’s wife- Mrs. Cratchit
10. Agata Kapelańczyk 3b- Jacob Marley’s Ghost
11. Jacek Krzewiński 3b- Gentleman 1, First Man,
12. Paulina Kosińska 3b- Bob’s daugher- Belinda
13. Kamil Jastrzębski 3b- music, sound effects
14. Zuzanna Walencik 3g- The Ghost of Christmas Past, First woman with bundle
15. Kamila Karasewicz 3g- The Ghost of Christmas Present, Second woman with bundle
16. Magdalena Kozioł 3g- Third woman with bundle
17. Bartek Samborski 3g- Bob’s son- Tiny Tim
18. Adrianna Matuszewska 2b- The Ghost of Christmas Future
19. Jagoda Kramarczyk 2b- Belle- Scrooge’s old friend, Fred’s wife
20.Natalia Potapińska 2b- Belle’s daughter
21. Izabela Cybulska 1b- Bob’s daughter – Martha, First woman
22.Sandra Sabat 1b- Young Cratchit, Second woman
23.Magdalena Jarema 1b- Young Cratchit
24.Magdalena Ciuma 1b- Scrooge’s sister, Scrooge’s former girlfriend
25. Paulina Janczyszyn 1b- Fred’s wife’s sister, Third woman
26. Paweł Stempnik 1b- Joe- the shop owner
27. Paula Gruchot 3b, Laura Wiarus 3a, Magdalena Woźniak 3b,
Milena Stawska 3b- dancers
A script written by students of English Club working in A. Fiedler Junior Secondary
School in Dębno in academic year 2010 /2011
The list of students, who wrote the script:
1. Karolina Olobry 3b
2. Patryk Wolski 3b
3. Jacek Krzewiński 3b
4. Agata Kapelańczyk 3b
5. Łukasz Nowak 3b
6. Kararzyna Kostrzewska 3b
7. Paulina Kosińska 3b
8. Paulina Janczyszyn 1b
9. Magdalena Jarema 1b
10. Izabela Cybulska 1b
11. Magdalena Ciuma 1b
12. Sandra Sabat 1b
13. Paweł Stempnik 1b
14. Zuzanna Walencik 3g
15. Kamila Karasewicz 3g
16. Natalia Przybylak 2d
17. Adriana Matuszewska 2b
18. Jagoda Kramarczyk 2b
19. Natalia Potapińska 2b
The list of students, who illustrated the script:
1. Marcin Krzewiński 1e
2. Maciej Gładysz 3a
3. Patrick Paul 3a
4. Magdalena Ciuma 1b
5. Anna Chmielowiec 3a
6. Renata Gąsior 3a
The whole Project was coordinated by the teacher of English Danuta Fossa