A CHRISTMAS CAROL : ACT THREE
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 : THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT

(a light slowly begins to shine from underneath one of the doors in Scrooge’s apartment and we see his outline, standing there in the dark - he moves toward the door and the light and hesitatingly puts his hand on the handle)

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Scroooooge! Come in! Come in! (Scrooge obeys) Come in! and know me better, man!

SCROOGE

My room!? (Scooge enters timidly - the walls and ceiling are hung with living green from which bright gleaming berries glisten - a roaring fire is on the hearth - a kind of throne is heaped up of turkeys, geese, game, poultry, great joints of meat, pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch : upon this couch, there sits a giant who bares a glowing torch shaped like a horn of plenty)

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

I am the Ghost of Christmas Present. Look upon me! (the spirit is clothed in one simple green robe, bordered with white fur and on its head a holly wreath set with shining icicles) You have never seen the like of me before!

SCROOGE

Never.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Have never walked forth with the younger members of my family; meaning (for I am very young) my elder brothers born in these later years?

SCROOGE

I don’t think I have. I am afraid I have not. Have you had many brothers, Spirit?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

More than eighteen hundred.

SCROOGE

A tremendous family to provide for! (the spirit rises at this, Scrooge continues quickly, but submissively) Spirit, conduct me where you will. I went forth before on compulsion, and I learnt a lesson which is working now. Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Touch my robe! (Scrooge does so)

SCENE TWO : ABOUT THE CITY

(Scrooge and the spirit walk through the town - people shovel snow, throw snowballs, shop for groceries, carry goods and dinners - the spirit sprinkles incense from his torch on them)

SCROOGE

Is there a peculiar flavour in what you sprinkle from your torch?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

There is. My own.

SCROOGE

Would it apply to any kind of dinner on this day?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

To any kindly given. To a poor one most.

SCROOGE

Why to a poor one most?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Because it needs it most. (they approach Bob Cratchit’s home and the spirit takes a generous helping of incense and spreads it across the doorway) Do you know this home?

SCROOGE

Should I?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Look! (the walls of the home part as the spirit waves his hand and they are inside - Mrs. Cratchit and Belinda make up the table - Peter tends a saucepan of potatoes - two smaller Cratchits, boy and girl, come tearing in, screaming that they smell the goose and dance)

MRS. CRACHIT

What has ever got your precious father then? And your brother, Tiny Tim! And Martha warn’t as late last Christmas Day by half-an-hour?

MARTHA

Here’s Martha, mother!

TWO YOUNG CRACHITS
(in unison)

Here’s Martha, mother! Hurrah! There’s such a goose, Martha!

MRS. CRACHIT

Why, bless your heart alive, my dear, how late you are!

MARTHA

We’d a deal of work to finish up last night, and had to clear away this morning, mother!

MRS. CRACHIT

Well! Never mind so long as you are come. Sit ye down before the fire, my dear, and have a warm, Lord bless ye!

TWO YOUNG CRACHITS
(in unison)

No, no! There’s father coming. Hide, Martha, hide! (Martha hides herself, Bob enters carrying Tiny Tim who hold a crutch)

SCROOGE

THIS?! is Bob Crachits home?

BOB
(looking about in surprise)

Why, where’s our Martha?

MRS. CRACHIT

Not coming.

BOB
(incredulous)

Not coming! Not coming upon Christmas Day!

MARTHA
(coming out running into his arms)

Here I am father!

BOB

My dear girl!

TWO YOUNG CRACHITS
(in unison)

Tim, Tim! Come hear the pudding singing in the copper! (they go off)

MRS. CRACHIT

And how did little Tim behave?

BOB

As good as gold, and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see. He’s growing strong and hearty, you know! (Tim and his little siblings re-enter)

MRS. CRACHIT

Everyone’s here, let’s put on the goose! (they all help in the finishing of setting the table)

PETER

Mashed potatoes and gravy!

BELINDA

Applesauce!

MARTHA

One goose, stuffed to the brim!

TWO YOUNG CRACHITS
(in unison)

Hurrah! Hurrah!

TINY TIM
(feebly)

Hurrah! (they begin to dine)

BOB

There never was such a goose!

PETER

Its tenderness!

BELINDA

Its flavor!

MARTHA

Its size!

TWO YOUNG CRACHITS
(in unison)

Onion and sage!

MRS. CRACHIT

And a good price I got for it too! I think it’s about time to check on the pudding. (she goes to fetch the pudding)

BOB
(to the little children)

Suppose it should not be done enough! (the older children take up the game)

BELINDA

Suppose it should break in turning out!

PETER

Suppose somebody should have got over the wall of the back-yard, and stolen it!

TWO YOUNG CRACHITS
(in unison)

Oh no! (they began to weep)

MARTHA

Now, now my dears, look! Here it is! (Mrs. Cratchit enters, smiling proudly, with the pudding all ablaze with a sprig of Christmas holly stuck into the top - she serves Bob first)

BOB

Oh, a wonderful pudding! I regard it as the greatest cullinary success achieved by Mrs. Cratchit since our marriage.

MRS. CRACHIT

Now the weight is off my mind, I must confess I had my her doubts about the quantity of flour.

BOB
(raising a glass)

A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!

ALL BUT BOB AND TIM

God bless us!

TINY TIM

God bless us every one!

SCROOGE

Spirit, tell me if Tiny Tim will live.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

I see a vacant seat in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.

SCROOGE

No, no. "Oh, no, kind Spirit! say he will be spared.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race, will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.

SCROOGE
(bowing his head)

My very words.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Man, if man you be in heart, not adamant, forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered What the surplus is, and Where it is. Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child. To hear the Insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust! (Scrooge bends over before the Ghost’s rebuke, and trembling casts his eyes upon the ground. But he raises them speedily, on hearing his own name)

BOB
(raising a glass)

Mr. Scrooge! I give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!

MRS. CRACHIT

The Founder of the Feast indeed! I wish I had him here. I’d give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he’d have a good appetite for it.

BOB

My dear, the children! Christmas Day.

MRS. CRACHIT

It should be Christmas Day, I am sure on which one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge. You know he is, Robert! Nobody knows it better than you do, poor fellow!

BOB

My dear. Christmas Day.

MRS. CRACHIT

I’ll drink his health for your sake and the Day’s, not for his. Long life to him! A merry Christmas and a happy new year! He’ll be very merry and very happy, I have no doubt!

ALL CRACHIT CHILDREN
(glumly)

Mr. Scrooge.

BOB

I have some wonderful news that concerns our young Master Peter.

PETER

Father?

BOB

I have a situation in my eye for you, which would bring in, if obtained, a full five-and-sixpence weekly. You’ll be a right and proper man of business.

PETER

Five-and-sixpence?

TWO YOUNG CRACHITS
(laughing)

Peter? A man of business?

BOB

Enough of that you two. Come Tim, give us a song.

TINY TIM
(singing)

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen, when the snow lay round about deep and crispt and even . . . (he continues)

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

It is time to go on.

SCROOGE

Can’t we stay a little longer to hear the end of the song?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Take hold of my robe (Scrooge obeys and they are transported through a series of scenes of Christmas cheer, yet Tiny Tim’s singing is heard still echoing in the distance through it all - fires, kitchen scenes, family reunions, dinners, children playing, and then to distant climes; miners celebrating on the moor, a lighthouse vigil, sailors tossed about on a windy sea singing carols, and then to Scrooge’s nephew’s home)

SCENE THREE : FRED’S HOME

FRED

Ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha, ha! He said that Christmas was a humbug, as I live! He believed it too!

FRED’S WIFE

More shame for him, Fred!

FRED

He’s a comical old fellow, that’s the truth: and not so pleasant as he might be. However, his offences carry their own punishment, and I have nothing to say against him.

FRED’S WIFE

I’m sure he is very rich, Fred. At least you always tell me so.

FRED

What of that, my dear! His wealth is of no use to him. He don’t do any good with it. He don’t make himself comfortable with it. He hasn’t the satisfaction of thinking–ha, ha, ha!–that he is ever going to benefit US with it.

FRED’S WIFE

I have no patience with him.

FRED

Oh, I have! I am sorry for him; I couldn’t be angry with him if I tried. Who suffers by his ill whims! Himself, always. Here, he takes it into his head to dislike us, and he won’t come and dine with us. What’s the consequence? He don’t lose much of a dinner.

FRED’S WIFE

Indeed, I think he loses a very good dinner.

FRED

Well! I’m very glad to hear it, because I haven’t great faith in these young housekeepers. What do you say, Topper?

TOPPER

Oh, well, a bachelor is a wretched outcast, who has no right to express an opinion on the subject.

FRED’S WIFE

Do go on, Fred. He never finishes what he begins to say! He is such a ridiculous fellow!

FRED

Ha ha ha! I was only going to say, that the consequence of his taking a dislike to us, and not making merry with us, is, as I think, that he loses some pleasant moments, which could do him no harm. I am sure he loses pleasanter companions than he can find in his own thoughts, either in his mouldy old office, or his dusty chambers. I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him. He may rail at Christmas till he dies, but he can’t help thinking better of it–I defy him–if he finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying Uncle Scrooge, how are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, that’s something. I think I shook him yesterday.

TOPPER

Ha ha ha! You shake Scrooge?!

FRED’S WIFE

Yes dear, you mustn’t indulge your fantasies now. Let’s play a game and forget this business.

FRED

I have a new game, it is called "Yes and No." I think of something and you ask me questions to find out what it is. I will, however, only answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’

TOPPER

Come on then, have got your subject?

FRED

Yes.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

It is time to go, Scrooge.

SCROOGE

But they are just starting into the games.

FRED’S WIFE

Is it an animal?

FRED

Yes.

GUEST ONE

Is it alive?

FRED

Yes.

GUEST TWO

Is it an agreeable animal?

FRED

No.

TOPPER

Is it rather savage then?

FRED

Yes.

FRED’S WIFE

Is it led about by anyone?

FRED

No.

GUEST TWO

Does it live in a menagerie?

FRED

No.

TOPPER

Can you find it in London then?

FRED

Yes.

FRED’S WIFE

Is it killed at the market.

FRED

No.

GUEST ONE

Does it bark or growl?

FRED

Yes.

TOPPER

Is it a dog?

FRED’S WIFE

Is it a cat?

TOPPER

Is it a bear?

FRED

No, no and no.

GUEST TWO

I have found it out! I know what it is, Fred! I know what it is!

FRED

What is it?

GUEST TWO

Savage, disagreeable, growls and prowls the streets of London. It’s your Uncle Scro-o-o-o-oge!

FRED

Ha ha ha - ha ha! You are quite correct!

TOPPER

Quite good, but when I asked if it was a bear you should have replied, ‘yes!’

FRED

He has given us plenty of merriment, I am sure, and it would be ungrateful not to drink his health. Here is a glass of mulled wine ready to our hand at the moment; and I say, ‘Uncle Scrooge!’

ALL GUESTS

Uncle Scrooge!

FRED

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the old man, whatever he is! He wouldn’t take it from me, but may he have it, nevertheless. Uncle Scrooge!

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Come now, take a hold of my robe. (again scenes from far and wide are presented, beside sick beds where they were cheerful, in foreign lands by stuggling men, almshouse, hospital, jail - the spirit leaves a blessing on all, and all the while the spirit ages)

SCROOGE

Are spirits’ lives so short?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

My life upon this globe, is very brief. It ends tonight.

SCROOGE

Tonight!

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Tonight at midnight. Hark! The time is drawing near.

SCROOGE

Forgive me if I am not justified in what I ask, but I see something strange, and not belonging to yourself, protruding from your skirts. Is it a foot or a claw?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT
(sighing)

It might be a claw, for the flesh there is upon it. Look here. (from the foldings of its robe, it brings two wretched children) Oh, Man! look here. Look, look, down here!

SCROOGE

Spirit! are they yours?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

They are Man’s, and they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!

SCROOGE

Have they no refuge or resource?

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses? (the bell strikes twelve and the spirit is gone - a solemnly draped and hooded phantom approaches)

END OF ACT THREE