A CHRISTMAS CAROL : ACT FIVE
Adapted for Reader’s Theater
by M Ryan Taylor
from the novel by Charles Dickens
Copyright © 2008 by M Ryan Taylor
Permission to copy for home or classroom use granted.
Please contact M Ryan Taylor for rights to perform publicly.

SCENE ONE : SCROOGE’S APARTMENT

SCROOGE

I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future! The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh Jacob Marley! Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob; on my knees! (he sobs, but then looks up at the be curtains) They are not torn down, they are not torn down, rings and all. They are here–I am here–the shadows of the things that would have been, may be dispelled. They will be. I know they will! (he leaps up, laughing and crying at the same time) I don’t know what to do! I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world. Hallo here! Whoo! Halloooooooo! There’s the saucepan that the gruel was in! There’s the door, by which the Ghost of Jacob Marley entered! There’s the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present, sat! There’s the window where I saw the wandering Spirits! It’s all right, it’s all true, it all happened! (he laughs long, hard and well) I don’t know what day of the month it is! I don’t know how long I’ve been among the Spirits. I don’t know anything. I’m quite a baby. Never mind. I don’t care. I’d rather be a baby. Hallo! Whoo! Halloooooo here!" (there is a ringing of church bells outside and Scrooge runs to the window and throws it open - a boy is passing in Sunday clothes) What’s today!

BOY

EH?

SCROOGE

What’s today, my fine fellow?

BOY

Today! Why, CHRISTMAS DAY.

SCROOGE

It’s Christmas Day! I haven’t missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. Hallo, my fine fellow!

BOY

Hallo!

SCROOGE

Do you know the Poulterer’s, in the next street but one, at the corner?

BOY

I should hope I did.

SCROOGE

An intelligent boy! A remarkable boy! Do you know whether they’ve sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there?–Not the little prize Turkey: the big one?

BOY

What, the one as big as me?

SCROOGE

What a delightful boy! It’s a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my buck!

BOY

It’s hanging there now.

SCROOGE

Is it? Go and buy it.

BOY

Walk-ER!

SCROOGE

No, no, I am in earnest. Go and buy it, and tell ‘em to bring it here, that I may give them the direction where to take it. Come back with the man, and I’ll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half-a-crown! (the boy is off like a shot) I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s! He sha’n't know who sends it. It’s twice the size of Tiny Tim. Joe Miller never made such a joke as sending it to Bob’s will be! (he writes the address for the poulterer, pulls on his finest quickly, and exits the front door)

SCENE TWO : THE STREET

(the knocker on his door catches his eye) I shall love it, as long as I live! (he pats the knocker with his hand) I scarcely ever looked at it before. What an honest expression it has in its face! It’s a wonderful knocker!–Here’s the Turkey! Hallo! Whoop! How are you! Merry Christmas! Why, it’s impossible to carry that to Camden Town. You must have a cab. Here’s the address. (he chuckles each time he hands out money) Here’s for the turkey. Here’s for the cab. Here’s your half-a-crown my boy! Off with ya! (Scrooge sets off down the street himself, greeting people that walk by) Good morning, sir! A merry Christmas to you! Merry Christmas my dear! Happy New Year to you! (he sees the two gentlement that visited the day before and approaches them with arms open)

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Scrooge and Marley’s, I believe?

SCROOGE

My dear sir. (he takes the old gentleman by both his hands) How do you do? I hope you succeeded yesterday. It was very kind of you. A merry Christmas to you, sir!

SECOND GENTLEMAN

Mr. Scrooge?

SCROOGE

Yes. That is my name, and I fear it may not be pleasant to you. Allow me to ask your pardon. And will you have the goodness . . . (Scrooge whispers in his ear)

FIRST GENTLEMAN

Heaven bless me! My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious?

SCROOGE

If you please. Not a farthing less. A great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me that favour? (the first gentleman whispers in the second gentleman’s ear)

SECOND GENTLEMAN

My dear sir. I don’t know what to say to such generos- . . .

SCROOGE

Don’t say anything, please. Come and see me. Will you come and see me?

FIRST GENTLEMAN

I will!

SCROOGE

Thank’ee. I am much obliged to you. I thank you fifty times. Bless you! (Scrooge enters the church and sings with the congregation and then makes his way to his nephew’s house, where he passes the door a dozen times, mustering the courage to knock - the door shortly opens)

SCENE THREE : FRED’S HOME

SCROOGE

Is your master at home, my dear?

SERVANT

Yes, sir.

SCROOGE

Where is he, my love?

SERVANT

He’s in the dining-room, sir, along with mistress. I’ll show you upstairs, if you please.

SCROOGE

Thank’ee. He knows me. I’ll go in here, my dear. (he opens the dining room door and sidles his face in, round the door) Fred!

FRED

Why bless my soul! Who’s that?

SCROOGE

It’s I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred? (Fred leaps to Scrooges side shake his arm almost off and embraces him heartily)

SCENE FOUR : SCROOGE’S OFFICE

(the next morning, Scrooge is behind his desk, waiting for Bob when he arrives late)

SCROOGE
(growling)

Hallo! What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?

CRATCHIT

I am very sorry, sir. I am behind my time.

SCROOGE

You are? Yes. I think you are. Step this way, sir, if you please.

CRATCHIT

It’s only once a year, sir. It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.

SCROOGE

Now, I’ll tell you what, my friend. I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore . . . (he leaps from his stool, and gives Bob a dig in the waistcoat that he staggers back, Bob trembles and grabs the ruler to defend himself) . . . and therefore I am about to raise your salary! (Bob lowers the ruler) A merry Christmas, Bob! A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year! I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit! (Bob smiles and goes about it - Fred steps out and addresses the audience)

FRED

My uncle Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him. It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!