Musical Number # 1 - “Overture”
SCENE: A Busy
London street
Musical Number # 3 - “Merry Christmas!”
CAROLERS (singing) Merry Christmas for all children And
for all their parents, too. Merry Christmas for our neighbors For good friends both old and new! Merry
Christmas for the lonely, And for all those in distress. Merry Christmas for our lov’d ones, For them
all we wish the best! Merry Christmas, we remember Christ our Lord was born this day, Bringing
peace and joy forever, Taking all our cares away! (Refrain) Merry Christmas! we do wish you, And
a Happy New Year, too! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Joy to you the whole year through! SCENE:
Scrooge's Counting House
NARRATOR The sign on the door still said Scrooge and Marley. They had been money lenders,
but Marley had been dead for seven long years this Christmas evening. As darkness fell, Scrooge and his impoverished, long-suffering
Clerk, Bob Cratchit, labored on by candle light, Scrooge in warm comfort, and Cratchit half frozen near his tiny fire.
Scrooge
had no family, only his nephew Fred, son of Scrooge's now dead sister, Fan. True to form, Fred called in on Scrooge again
this evening with holiday greetings.
FRED (Jovially) A Merry Christmas, Uncle! God save you!
SCROOGE Bah!
Humbug! I say “Humbug!”
FRED Christmas a humbug, uncle? You don’t mean that, I’m sure.
SCROOGE I absolutely
do. Merry Christmas! Bah! What right have you to be merry? You’re poor enough!
FRED (Gaily) Well, then, what right
have you to be dismal? You’re rich enough!
SCROOGE Bah! Humbug!
FRED Don’t be cross, uncle.
Musical
Number # 4 - “Bah! Humbug!”
SCROOGE (singing) Yes, I’m really cross! What else should I hope to be? When
the world is full of fools, As most can plainly see. So what is Christmas? You’re sure a whole
year older, But not a minute richer, Nor an hour bolder. What’s Christmas to you? A time
for paying bills Without the cash to do it? Now how is that for thrills! Yes, Merry Christmas! If
I only had my way, Every fool who mouths those words Would surely rue the day. Buried merry! Yes! Holly
stake right through his heart. Boiled in his own plum pudding, Then wouldn’t he look smart! (Refrain) Bah!
Out upon it! Merry Christmas! Bah! Indeed! Christmas is a humbug sure, A day I’ll never need. (Coda) Christmas
is a nonsense, And I say Bah! Humbug!
FRED (Pleading) Uncle!
SCROOGE (Sternly) Nephew! You
keep Christmas in your way. I’ll keep it in mine.
FRED But that’s the point. You don’t keep it.
SCROOGE Then
let me leave it alone. It's never done you much good.
Musical Number # 5 - “Christmas Is A Good Time!”
FRED
(singing) There are many good things in this world, Most things of great value to me, And even a few
without profit, As good folks can easily see. And I’ve always thought about Christmas, Whenever
its time rolls around, As a pleasant, good time for kindness, And good will to all, to abound. We
all know we owe veneration To the one for whom it is named, And to the day’s origin sacred: To spurn
Christmas one should be shamed. Christmas, I vow, is the only time, In all the long span of the year, When
good people open their hearts up, And set aside all of their fears. At Christmas, we look at each other As
comrades who hope to be sav’d, And not as some alien creatures Destined somewhere else than the grave. (Refrain) It
hasn’t put gold in my pockets, But I know it’s done me lots of good, So I say to you now, ‘God Bless it!’ May
its worth be by all understood. (Coda) Christmas is a good time, And I say God bless it! Musical
Number # 6 - “Humbug” and “Good Time” (as Repartee)
FRED (finishes) Christmas is a good time, And
I say God bless it!
SCROOGE (finishes) Christmas is a nonsense, And I say Bah! Humbug!
(CRATCHIT applauds
FRED. SCROOGE gives him a withering glance.)
SCROOGE (To Cratchit) One more sound from you, and you’ll keep your
Christmas by losing your situation. (Then to Fred) You’re such a powerful speaker. Why aren't you in Parliament?
FRED Don’t
be cross, uncle. Dine with us tomorrow. It’s Christmas Day.
SCROOGE No! No! No! I’ll see you hung, drawn, quartered,
chopped up into little pieces and fed to the seven-headed dog before I tangle myself up in your Christmas humbug!
FRED But
why, Uncle.
Musical Number # 7 - “Why Can’t We Be Friends?
FRED (singing) I see you’re feeling grouchy. There’s
nothing I want from you, and nothing I ask of you, so why can’t we be friends?
SCROOGE (singing) Good
afternoon.
FRED (singing) My heart is really sorry to find you are so stubborn. We never had
a quarrel in which I was at fault.
SCROOGE (singing) Good afternoon!
FRED (singing) I’ve
tried my best in homage to Christmas that I honor. I’ll keep my Christmas humor right to the very
last.
SCROOGE (singing) Good afternoon!!
FRED (singing) A Merry Christmas, Uncle! We
wish you’d come to dinner, And share the joy of Christmas With us at long, long last. SCROOGE
(singing) Good afternoon!!!
FRED (singing) A Happy New Year to you! I’ve done the best I can do. The
rest is up to you now, So please be of good cheer! SCROOGE (singing) Good afternoon!!!! Coda FRED
(singing) A Merry Christmas, Uncle! SCROOGE (singing) Good afternoon!!!!
FRED (singing) And
a Happy New Year, too!
SCROOGE (singing) Good afternoon!!!! Good afternoon!!!! Good afternoon!!!!
FRED A
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours Mr. Cratchit.
CRATCHIT (Warmly) Thank’ee, sir, and the same
to you.
SCROOGE (Aside) There’s another one, my clerk, Bob Cratchit! Talking of Merry Christmas with only fifteen
shillings a week and a family to support. I may go mad!
Musical Number # 8 - “Merry Christmas!” (Reprise)
CAROLERS
(singing off stage)
SCROOGE Merry Christmas indeed! I say Humbug! Bah! Humbug!
Musical Number # 9 - ‘Bah!
Humbug!’ (Reprise)
SCROOGE (singing as a soliloquy) Oh! Merry Christmas! If I only had my way, Every
idiot mouthing it Would surely rue the day. Buried, merry! Yes! Holly stake right through his
heart. Boiled in his own plum pudding, Then wouldn’t he look smart! Yes! Merry Christmas! What
a blight upon my ear. The season to be jolly? The folly of the year! (Refrain) Bah! Out upon
it! Merry Christmas! Bah! Indeed! Christmas is a humbug sure, A day I’ll never need. SCROOGE Time
to close up for today. I suppose you’ll want the whole day off tomorrow.
CRATCHIT If it's convenient, Sir.
SCROOGE It’s
neither convenient nor fair. If I docked your pay, you’d think me stingy. But you've no problem taking a day’s wages for no
work.
CRATCHIT But, Sir, it’s only one day a year.
SCROOGE A poor excuse for picking my pocket every twenty-fifth
of December, but if you must have the whole day, take it, but be here earlier next morning.
CRATCHIT Yes, Sir. Thank’ee,
Sir. Good night, Sir.
SCROOGE Humbug!
NARRATOR And so they closed up the office and went their separate
ways in the cold darkness. After stopping to eat, SCROOGE made his way to the lodgings he once shared with Marley and thought
for just a moment he saw Marley's face staring out at him from the door knocker.
SCROOGE What a miserable evening.
Chilled me to the bone. And foggy, too. My supper ain’t agreeing with me. (Clanking and rattling of chains.)
Musical
Number # 10 – “I Don’t Believe My Eyes”
SCROOGE (singing) (Introduction) How now! What’s this? A humbug,
surely, I’ll be bound!
The darkness must be playing tricks. I’d swear I saw old Marley’s face. From
out the knocker it did peer. Then, on my stairs a hearse did race! It’s indigestion sure, I’ll bet. For
supper, something bad I et. It’s foggy, cold outside, and yet Worse things inside I now have met. Just
now, outside my window there, Were spirits floating in the air: Ethereal, transparent, sad And moaning,
groaning, — likely mad! (A cacophony of strident bells is heard along with clanking, rattling and loud thumping)
Now,
all those bells, so long disused, With clanking, thumping sounds confused, And rattling chains — some thing
abused? Now almost scared, I’m not amused. It’s Jacob Marley! Him I know! Or, much more likely,
Marley’s shade, All weighted down with keys and locks, And other symbols of our trade. I see right
through him! ghost is he? My senses trick me or some such! They used to say he had no bowels. Now
seeing that is far too much! And so grim spirit, speak, I pray. What is’t you’d have of me this day? And
tell me quickly, ‘ere you go, What causes you to haunt me so? (Refrain) It’s a humbug still, This
figment of my mind. Although I do perceive it, I truly can’t conceive it, And simply won’t believe
it. I don’t believe my eyes! MARLEY'S GHOST (Emits a truly terrifying moaning groan.)
SCROOGE (Still
caustic) What do you want of me?
MARLEY'S GHOST (Commanding) Much!
SCROOGE (Aside) It's Marley's voice.
(To Marley's Ghost) Who are you?
MARLEY'S GHOST In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.
SCROOGE Why
do you trouble me this way?
Musical Number # 11 - "HEAR ME!¨
MARLEY'S GHOST (singing) (Refrain) Hear me!
Hear me! Hear me!
Oh! Mortal man! Now mark me well! It is required of all men The spirit biding in their hearts Must
walk among their fellow men And travel somewhere, sometime far, And if it goes not forth in life It must then do
so after death Then doom'd to wander through the world.
(More moaning, groaning and rattling of chains.)
Oh!
Woe is me! Oh! Woe is me! Oh! Woe!
SCROOGE (Trembling) I see you're wearing chains. Why?
MARLEY'S GHOST (singing) I
wear the chain I forged in life I made each link and yard by yard By my own will I put it on And so I chose to wear
it, too. Look closely at the things attached Know you them not ? Are they so strange? Do you not know what these
things are? They symbolize my life, and yours.
Know you the chain that is your own? The weighty coil you
bear yourself? That you have fashioned through the years. Just seven Christmas nights ago, Your chain was then as
heavy, and As long as this I bear.. Since then you've labored building up Your own, and now it's truly ponderous.
SCROOGE (Imploring)
Please, Jacob! Speak some comfort!
MARLEY'S GHOST (singing) Of comfort naught have I to give It comes from other
regions far By agents of a different sort To different kinds of men than you. I cannot rest. I cannot stay In
life I never walked abroad Beyond our dingy office walls. Now weary journeys lie ahead.
SCROOGE Seven years
dead, and traveling all the time?
MARLEY'S GHOST The whole time. No rest. No peace. Incessant torture of remorse.
SCROOGE You
must travel fast?
MARLEY'S GHOST (singing) (Moaning, groaning, and clanking again) Oh! Captive bound in double
irons To know not what extent of toil By creatures foreign to this earth Must pass into eternity 'Ere earth's
potential is achieved, And no regret can make amends For opportunities misused, Yet such was I! Oh! Such was I!
SCROOGE (Tentatively)
But you were always good in business.
MARLEY'S GHOST (singing) Oh! No! My business was mankind Its welfare should
have been my trade. I should have sought benevolence And peace, and mercy most of all. Now hear! My time is nearly
gone!
SCROOGE Yes, Yes - but don't be hard on me.
MARLEY'S GHOST You'll be haunted by three spirits. Look
to see me no more. And for your own sake, mark you well what I have said.
NARRATOR And thereupon the ghost disappeared
through the window to join a host of moaning spirits hovering in the air. Exhausted, SCROOGE fell asleep only to be wakened
by a new intruder.
SCENE: Scrooge's Bed Chamber
SCROOGE Are you the Spirit Marley told me of?
FIRST
SPIRIT I am!
SCROOGE Who are you?
FIRST SPIRIT I'm the Ghost of Christmas Past.
SCROOGE What
brings you here this night?
FIRST SPIRIT Your salvation is my mission. Rise! Walk with me! See, there!
SCENE:
An Open Field
SCROOGE Say! I know this place. I lived here as a boy.
FIRST SPIRIT You remember the way?
Musical
Number # 12 - “It Seems Like Yesterday”
SCROOGE (singing) (Refrain) Remember it? Of course I do! Why,
I could see it in the dark, And never miss a thing because It seems like yesterday!
See! Over
there’s the great oak tree, And old man Tyler’s rusty gate, And there’s our little market town. See,
there’s the river winding down Toward the bridge, and over there’s the church, And look, see there! A truly
merry time! Oh, see the boys and shaggy ponies, too. See how they race their pony carts along.
FIRST
SPIRIT These are but shadows of things that have been. They're not aware of us.
SCROOGE (singing) I know those
boys! I know ‘em all. There’s James and Jonathan and Hal And Adam, Michael, Ben and Giles. Oh! Hear
them now. Each wishes all A Merry Christmas as they part their ways. But what is Merry Christmas now to me? What
good for me did Christmas ever do? So Merry Christmas! Out on it I say!
SCENE: A School Room
FIRST
SPIRIT See that lonely child, neglected by all, still lingers there at boarding school.
SCROOGE (singing) That
child I know. He had no friends, So he did read and fantasize! And, look, it’s Ali Baba there, Old
Ali Baba, that good man, And there’s his donkey loaded down with wood. There was a Christmas time when yonder
child Was left abandoned here, and all alone, And Ali Baba came to comfort him. And Valentine.
There’s Valentine! And Orson his demented friend. See them. There. See them go. And what’s his name? The
Sultan’s slave turned upside down! The Genie did that trick, and well deserved, And was I ever glad to witness
it! What right had he to wed the likes of her? The Princess, kind and fair, of all my dreams! And
there’s the parrot, sure enough, With yellow tail and body green, And lettuce leaves atop his head. Why,
there’s good Robin Crusoe now! I wonder where he’s been? I say, “Halloo!” With Friday, too, now running for
his life! Well, Robin thought ‘twas nothing but a dream, But in the end, ‘twas not a dream but true. SCENE:
The Open Air
SCROOGE Spirit! Here we are in the open air again. Will you show me more things?
FIRST SPIRIT I
will, but quickly, now. My time grows short.
SCENE: A Chimney Corner
NARRATOR As a young man, SCROOGE became
engaged to a lovely, gentle, kindly young lady named Belle, but as time went on he focused more and more on business, and
less and less on her, and so . . .
Musical Number # 15 - “Something That Will Never Be”
YOUNG BELLE (singing) It
matters little to you, now, So very little, I’m dismayed. Your other idol took my place, But I will
never grieve, If it can cheer and comfort you, Just as I would, so I believe.
EBENEZER THE YOUNG
MAN (Incredulous) An idol has displaced you? What idol?
YOUNG BELLE (Speaking) One made of gold.
YOUNG
BELLE (singing) Our world together, as we’d planned, Is something that will never be. You are no longer
who you were. You now love gold, not me. That idol’s changed me greatly, now, In your affection and
esteem.
EBENEZER THE YOUNG MAN The world judges poverty so harshly, and yet condemns pursuit of wealth as well!
YOUNG
BELLE We were betrothed so long ago when both of us were poor and hoped to get ahead by working hard. But you ARE changed.
EBENEZER
THE YOUNG MAN (Impatiently) I was merely a boy.
YOUNG BELLE (singing) In some new course apart from me, I
hope you’ll be forever glad. For you the best I’ll always wish, And never something bad. So young
and poor when we began, To end it thus is truly sad.
EBENEZER THE YOUNG MAN Have I ever sought release?
YOUNG
BELLE (Speaking) What promised happiness to us when we were very young is fraught with pain now that we've grown apart.
And so I do release you now.
YOUNG BELLE (singing) Oh! Tell me truly now, I pray. I’m sure your feelings
tell you, too: If we were not betrothed today, You’d surely let me go. ‘Tis sad, but very true indeed, I
am no longer what you need. And so I do release you now. You would not seek me out today. Without
a dowry, I’d just be A burden in your way. Farewell! Though still I love the man you were, before
you went astray.
SCROOGE Hateful Spirit! Why remind me of this? Be gone from me!
SCENE: Scrooge's Bed
Chamber
NARRATOR And so the Spirit went leaving SCROOGE asleep once more in his bed. But not for long because another
visitor appeared.
SECOND SPIRIT Merry Christmas, Ebenezer! Pray rise and know me better. I'm the Ghost of Christmas
Present!
SCROOGE Take me wherever you please. Last night I went reluctantly but learned a lesson. If you have more
to teach, I'll try to learn it, too.
SCENE: En Route to Cratchit’s Kitchen
NARRATOR Traveling quickly, the
Spirit showed SCROOGE much of Christmas morning, men shoveling snow, boys throwing snow balls, townsfolk buying things for
Christmas dinner (Church bells) And then the shops began to close as folks went home to dress their best and go to church,
the Spirit stopped again.
SECOND SPIRIT Do you know who lives here?
SCROOGE Indeed I do. Bob Cratchit
somehow lives here with his family on fifteen shillings a week.
SECOND SPIRIT A Christmas blessing on this house
and all who live herein.
SCENE: Cratchit’s Kitchen
MRS. CRATCHIT Wherever is your father then? And your brother
Tiny Tim?
BELINDA CRATCHIT Look! Father’s coming.
MRS. CRATCHIT And how did little Tim behave?
CRATCHIT As
good as gold. But he thinks the strangest things. He said he hoped people saw he’s lame. It might remind them on this day
who made the cripples walk and blind men see.
SCROOGE Spirit, I’m concerned about Tiny Tim. Will he live?
SECOND
SPIRIT I see a vacant seat.
SCROOGE No! No!
SECOND SPIRIT A vacant seat, and a little crutch without
an owner.
SCROOGE Oh! No! Say it won’t be so.
Musical Number # 19 - “The Founder of the Feast”
CRATCHIT
(singing) We’ll have our dinner in a trice, But first, we’ll have our Christmas toast. Our holiday'll be
very nice, I’m not ashamed a bit to boast. Good news I have to tell you all. I’ve found a job
for Peter here That brings in five and six a week, So now his manhood doth draw near. And Martha,
too, has found her way, Apprenticed to a milliner. Long hours and hard work, but now Her situation
is secure. But best of all, we are intact. Our fam’ly dear is ‘round us here. It’s clear we cherish
being one, And so we’ll be throughout next year. Good fortune smiles on us this day! Our goose
is splendid, large, and cheap! And tender, succulent to boot, A bounteous meal for us to eat. The
pudding, too, beyond compare, A tribute to my dear wife’s skill, Which we’ll enjoy now presently, Delighted
‘til we’ve had our fill. Dear fam’ly gathered close around, I think it only fair, at least, To
toast the one we owe the most - Indeed, the founder of our feast! Except for him, there would not be A
goose or pudding here, at least, And so a toast, to Mr. SCROOGE! Undoubted founder of our feast! MRS.
CRATCHIT (singing) The founder of our feast indeed! I wish I had him here aright! Upon a piece of mind
of mine He’d feast and have good appetite! CRATCHIT (singing) My dear, dear wife, it’s Christmas day. Be
mindful of the children here. It is not meet that on this day Such angry thoughts should reach their ears.
MRS. CRATCHIT (singing) It should be Christmas day on which One drinks to such a stingy man. Unfeeling,
hard, and mean, it’s years Since his ill use of you began. CRATCHIT (singing) My dearest wife, I beg
you, please! It’s Christmas day, and charity Should guide our thoughts, and how we feel, And what
we let our children see. MRS. CRATCHIT (singing) I’ll drink his health for your own sake, And for
the day’s, but not for his. Long life to him! That he may learn What Christian kindness really is!
SCROOGE I
didn't know they thought me such an ogre. Oh, woe is me! Is there no remedy?
SECOND SPIRIT What was yesterday, was.
No changing that now. What is today, is. No changing that now, either. What will be tomorrow, will be. But not necessarily
the same as yesterday or even as today.
MRS. CRATCHIT Now let me give you all a toast to cap our festive Christmas
meal.
Musical Number # 20 - "God Bless Us Every One!"
MRS. CRATCHIT (singing) So here's my heartfelt toast
to all Now that our Christmas feast is done: May we most humbly thankful be - And may God bless us, every one!
This
time of year our world is cold And dark, and drear, without the sun But brighter days must lie ahead For God will
bless us, every one!
We all might wish for many things That cannot be: Tim'd like to run, But better we the good
things count, For God does bless us, every one!
Our loving fam'ly's all around And Tim's indeed our much loved
son. We'll nurture him and comfort him So please, God, bless us, every one!
Our Tim's yet young of limb and heart For
his dear life has just begun We'll all attend him day and night, And God will bless us, every one!
Of poverty,
adversity Yes, we indeed have tasted some But every day some joy shines through For God has blest us, every one!
We'll
persevere from day to day Our mortal struggles lost and won, But in the end he'll take us home Sure, God will save
us, every one!
The best of cheer to all of us! Of joyless Christmas we'll have none. Now drink my toast and with
me pray Dear God, please bless us, every one!
CRATCHIT (Raising his glass) A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears,
and a Happy New Year. God bless us!
ALL (In response, raising cups and glasses) God bless us!
TINY TIM (Raising
his glass in a toast) God bless us every one!
SCROOGE Is there still more to see this night?
SECOND SPIRIT Much
more. Come along swiftly.
SCENE: Fred's Drawing Room (Fred's loud and merry laughter is heard.)
SCROOGE What’s
that I hear? It sounds like my own nephew, Fred.
Musical Number # 25 - “Comical Old Fellow”
FRED (singing while
holding his sides and rolling his head) Uncle Scrooge! Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! A comical old fellow, don’t you know? Can
you believe it? He really said it! Christmas is a humbug! and, as live, I really think he thinks it’s really
true!
LETICIA More shame for him, Fred. I don’t find anything amusing in that at all.
FRED (singing
continues) Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Uncle Scrooge! A comical old fellow. That’s the truth! Unpleasant, yes, but
sure he could be worse. Why, his offenses punish him themselves! Against him really naught have I to say.
LETICIA I’m
sure he’s very rich. At least you always tell me so.
FRED (singing continues) So, my dearest, what of that? You
know his wealth is little use to him. He does no good for anyone with it. For his own comfort, he’ll not spend,
nor e’en Enjoy the thought he’ll leave it all to us!
LETICIA I have no patience with him.
FRED
(singing continues) That have I! For him I’m sad. With him, I’d not be angry if I tried. Who really suffers
most from his ill whims? Why, he himself, of course, and at all times. He turn’d our dinner down, whose loss
is that?
LETICIA I think he loses a very good dinner! (ALL agree.)
FRED (singing continues) Ha! Ha!
Ha! The consequence Of his dislike of us is simply this: He loses pleasant times he could enjoy, Our
company instead of lonely thoughts In moldy office, dusty chambers, too.
So, each Christmas, I shall
ask Him once again to dine with us, and if This charity of mine does naught but prompt Him to bequeath
Bob Cratchit fifty pounds, Alone that’s something good ‘twill come of it.
LETICIA Oh, Fred, go on!
He’s such a ridiculous fellow!
FRED (singing continues) Uncle Scrooge! We toast you now! So here’s our Merry
Christmas, Uncle Scrooge, And here’s our Happy New Year wishes, too. You wouldn’t take good wishes from me
straight, But may you have our blessing anyway!
FRED Uncle Scrooge has surely helped to make our evening
merry It would be ungrateful not to drink his health. So, raise your glass. I give you Uncle Scrooge!
ALL Uncle
Scrooge!
FRED A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the old man! He didn't seem to went it, but may he have
it anyway. Uncle Scrooge!
ALL Merry Christmas, Uncle Scrooge!
Musical Number # 27 - “Merry Christmas!
FRED
and HIS FAMILY (singing) Merry Christmas! for our fam’ly, Mother, father, children too. Merry Christmas!
may Saint Nick’lous Bring good cheer to all of you. Merry Christmas! For our friends here, And
for folk throughout the earth. Merry Christmas! for all people, As they mark our Savior’s birth! Merry
Christmas! on His birthday, We recall the manger spare. Hope incarnate for mankind in Christ the
newborn lying there! (Refrain) Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! we do wish you, And a Happy New Year,
too! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Joy to you the whole year through! SCENE: A Wretched Dismal
Place
SCROOGE Spirit! This night’s been long. I’m tiring. When will it end?
SECOND SPIRIT Soon.
SCROOGE I
see something strange just there, not belonging to yourself but following and reaching for your robe. Sometimes I thought
I saw its foot. Sometimes it seemed a claw.
Musical Number # 28 - “Oh! Mortal Man, Look There!”
SECOND SPIRIT
(singing) It might have seemed a claw, For there is flesh upon’t! Oh! Mortal man, look there! Look,
look you now, look there!
SCROOGE How pitiful! Spirit are they yours?
SECOND SPIRIT (singing) They
are mankind's abused. Not mine, They yearn for me, To save them from their fate They've ne'er known gentler
days. The boy is ignorance. The little girl is want. They are fanatics' seed Mark me, beware
them both. But most beware the boy. To prove what he believes But does not know, he'll kill. And all
mankind will pay.
Don't slander those who tell Hard truths you'd wish away For only charity, Not strive,
can save the DAY.
SCENE: A London Street
NARRATOR Distracted, Scrooge looked away and as he did, the Spirit
disappeared. But then another form approached. Dark, somber, hooded, ominous. It never spoke but only pointed.
SCROOGE Are
you the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come? Are you to show me shadows of future things? I fear you most but think you'll
do me good. Will you not speak to me? Lead on, then! I know your time is precious!
Musical Number # 29 – “Merry
Christmas!” (Reprise)
CAROLERS and TOWNFOLK (singing) Merry Christmas! For all children, And for all their
parents, too. Merry Christmas! For our neighbors, For good friends both old and new! Merry Christmas!
For the lonely, And for all those in distress. Merry Christmas! For our lov’d ones For them all we
wish the best!
Merry Christmas! We remember Christ our Lord was born this day, Bringing peace
and joy forever, Taking all our cares away!
(Refrain) Merry Christmas! We do wish you, And
a Happy New Year, too! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Joy to you the whole year through!
SCROOGE I
know this quarter well. It’s dangerous! Full of crime and filth. What have we here? A reeking den of infamous resort? A beetling
shop, I see, judging from the heaps of trash.
Musical Number # 30 - “The Beetler’s Lament”
OLD JOE (singing) Welcome
to my parlor all! No better place for you to meet! Stop, now, until I shut my door. There! listen
how it squeaks!
CHARWOMAN(singing) Missus Dilber, what odds now? I say each person has the right For
his own int’rests to watch out, The way Scrooge always did.
MRS. DILBER That’s true, indeed.
CHARWOMAN
(singing) I wish ‘twere heavier, And would have been if I had laid My hands on other things of worth, But
this is all I got.
Do my bundle first, Old Joe, Tell me truly of its value. I’m not afraid to
be the first, Nor ‘feared for them to see.
MRS. DILBER None's the wiser
CHARWOMAN The wicked
old screw warn't natural in his lifetime? If he's been, someone would’ve looked after him 'stead of his gasping out a last
breath all by hisself.
MRS. DILBER A truer word waar never spoke. 'Tis a judgment on him.
CHARWOMAN Open
my bundle, Old Joe, and tell me what it's worth
UNDERTAKER'S MAN No. Not so fast. Me first.
OLD JOE (singing) What,
indeed, have we here now? So let me see: a pencil case, Two seals, two buttons and a broach. Is that
the lot you’ve brought?
UNDERTAKER'S MAN Aye, indeed, that's it.
OLD JOE There’s your account, and
I'd not give another sixpence if you boiled me in oil. Who's next?
MRS DILBER (singing) That’ll be me for sure now. I’ve
brought you sugar tongs and towels, Some sheets, and boots, and bits, and bobs. How much for all of this?
OLD
JOE (singing) Ladies get too much from me! My ruin and my shame! That’s it! If you but ask a penny more, I’ll
knock off half a crown!
CHARWOMAN Now do my bundle, Old Joe.
OLD JOE And what on earth d’ye call
these?
CHARWOMAN They be bed curtains.
OLD JOE Did you take‘em down, rings and all, with him lying there
dead?
CHARWOMAN I surely did, and why not? And you may look through that shirt till your eyes ache, but you won’t
find a hole anywhere. They’d have wasted it if I hadn’t got it.
OLD JOE Wasted it? How?
CHARWOMAN(singing) Put
it on to bury him! The fools! I took it off again! He went to rest in calico, No ugli’r than in life! Look
you now. Here’s how it work’d: In life he frighten’d all away To profit us when he was dead! And there’s
the end of it! SCROOGE Spirit! I see. That man they spoke of might be me. I beseech you, Spirit, show me some
compassion. Some tenderness. (Pause) I know these streets. I've been here recently. Bob Cratchit lives nearby.
SCENE:
Cratchit’s Kitchen
CRATCHIT I ran into Mr. Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, today and he said, “You look a little down. Is
something wrong?” So I told him Tim had died. And then he said, “I’m heartily sorry to hear that, Mr. Cratchit and I’m sorry
for your good wife, too.”
MRS. CRATCHIT I’m sure he’s a good soul!
CRATCHIT It really seemed he’d known
our Tim and shared our feelings at our loss.
Musical Number # 31 – “We’ll Always Have Each Other”
CRATCHIT(singing) My
dears, it’s just as likely as it’s not One of these days, our Peter will depart To set up house somewhere
for him and his. Don’t fret! There’s time a-plenty left for that. But when we part, and go our sep’rate
ways, However and wherever that may be, We’ll all remember Tiny Tim, I’m sure, The first to part from
us: He’s been set free. MRS. CRATCHIT (singing) Though but a child, he was so mild, and bore His cross
so patiently, our Tiny Tim. Remember him whose essence was from God, And we’ll not eas’ly quarr’l amongst
ourselves. CRATCHIT (singing) So even when our lives diverge, as sure They will some day, together
always will We be in heart, in mind, in spirit, too. We’ll always have each other, come what may. ALL
(singing) Yes, even when our lives diverge, as sure They will some day, together always will We be in heart,
in mind, and spirit, too. We’ll always have each other, come what may.
SCROOGE Good Spirit! Say these
dread shadows yet may change. Say I may yet live to be loved! I’ll honor Christmas in my heart and keep it all year long.
I‘ll not forget the lessons I’ve been taught. Assure me with my help that Tiny Tim may yet be saved!
NARRATOR And
then, all of a sudden, Scrooge found himself back in his bedchamber, alone, confused, and puzzled.
SCROOGE How now?
The bed curtains aren’t torn down! Rings and all still are here. I’m still here. Now shadows of things that might have been
will be dispelled. I’ll see to it that they are. (Pause) I don’t quite know what to do! Why, a Merry Christmas to everyone!
A happy New Year to all the world.
Musical Number # 32 – “Oh! Happiest of Days!”
SCROOGE (singing) I do not
know what day this is, How long the spirits held me in their thrall, Or e’en how long I was asleep. In
fact, - I don’t know anything at all!
And I don’t really care a rip! Indeed I’m like an infant in some
ways. If other folks could see me now, Their eyes - and minds I surely would amaze!
Oh! Glorious
day! No fog! No mist! With golden sunlight, heav’nly sky so bright, And sweet fresh air, clear, bracing, cold. Those
merry bells my senses do delight!
(Calling) Hey, there! Boy! What day's today?
BOY Today? Why, Christmas
Day, of course!
SCROOGE (singing) Oh! Christmas! Happiest of days! Great luck! I haven’t missed it after
all! They did it in a single night! And in’t, my mind and heart they did enthrall!
NARRATOR Determined
now to make amends, Scrooge quickly dressed, paid a boy to buy a turkey and send it to Bob Cratchit, and then set off across
the town to see his nephew, Fred.
SCENE: Fred's Drawing Room
SCROOGE Nephew Fred!
FRED Why bless
my soul! It's really you!
SCROOGE Yes, Fred, it's I, your Uncle Scrooge!
SCROOGE I’ve come to say I’d
like to dine with you if you’re still of a mind to have me?
FRED Of course, Uncle. You’re welcome indeed!
SCROOGE But
if there’s time, I’d like to set one thing aright before we eat.
FRED Our dinner won’t be ready for another hour.
SCROOGE I’ll
return soon and, in the meantime, Merry Christmas to you all!
NARRATOR Hurrying again, SCROOGE found himself at
Cratchit's door and knocked.
SCENE: Cratchit’s Kitchen
CRATCHIT Mr. Scrooge!
Musical Number # 33 –
“Cratchit’s Comeuppance”
SCROOGE (singing) Bob Cratchit, happy day, And Missus Cratchit, too. I’ve
given thought to many things I should take up with you. To speak tomorrow made No sense that
I could find, When you’d be late for work again, And think me most unkind. CRATCHIT Please
Mr. Scrooge, I promise I shan’t be late again, ever.
SCROOGE That matter wasn’t on my mind.
CRATCHIT (singing) And
please, Sir, please don’t think That I’m a profligate. Whilst true we’ve had a mighty bird, It’s one
we didn’t rate. I know not whence it came, This gift from out the sky. Our benefactor we should
thank, At least I’d like to try.
SCROOGE I’m happy about your Christmas dinner, but that wasn’t on
my mind, either.
CRATCHIT What, then, Mr. Scrooge? What is it?
SCROOGE (singing) A Merry Christmas! Bob! I
only came to say I’m go’ng to raise your salary, And by a lot, today!
MRS. CRATCHIT I can't
believe my ears!
SCROOGE (singing) Oh! Yes, you must believe. The raise is just the start. I plan
to help in many ways, And take Tim to my heart.
CRATCHIT I’m overwhelmed. Speechless. How can I ever
thank you?
SCROOGE No need of that. We’ll discuss the details tomorrow, but not at the office. Over a bowl of Christmas
cheer at the Queen’s Head Pub. That would be much better.
FRED I’ve got a grand idea. It's still awhile before our
goose is cooked and Uncle SCROOGE returns, so let’s go walk about to greet our friends and wish ‘em all a Merry Christmas?
SCROOGE I
must be going now. I’m having Christmas dinner with my Nephew Fred, but most heartily, I wish you all a Merry Christmas.
CRATCHIT Our
dinner isn’t ready quite. Perhaps we'll walk along with you part way.
SCROOGE And what say you to that my fine young
Tim?
TINY TIM I say this is the finest Christmas ever. And I say God Bless Us Everyone!
SCENE: A London Street
Musical
Numbers # 34 / #35 / # 36 - (Finale Ultimo)
(Initially numbers, #34 and #35 are interleaved but they soon devolve
into #36, a bona fide medley.)
Musical Number #34 - “God Bless Us, Every One!” (Reprise)
CRATCHIT FAMILY (singing) Here’s
our heartfelt toast to you, When e’er your Christmas feast is done: May you most humbly thankful be - And
say, God bless us, every one! This time of year, our world is cold, And dark and drear without the sun, But
brighter days lie just ahead, For God does bless us, every one! Oh, poverty, adversity - Yes,
most of us have tasted some, But every day some joy shines through. Sure God has blest us, every one!
We struggle on from day to day, Until life’s battle can’t be won, But, in the end, he’ll bring us
home. Yes, God will bless us, every one! So best of cheer to all those here. Of mirthless Christmas
we’ll have none. Now drink Tim’s toast and then proclaim For all, “God bless us, every one!” Musical
Number # 35 – “Merry Christmas!” (Reprise)
FRED, FAMILY, and REST OF COMPANY (singing)
Merry Christmas! For
all people, Mothers, fathers, children, too. Merry Christmas! May Saint Nick’lous Bring good cheer
in all they do. Merry Christmas! for our friends here, And for folk throughout the earth. Merry
Christmas! for all people, As they mark our Savior’s birth! Merry Christmas! On His birthday, We
recall the manger spare. Hope for mankind, wrap’d in swaddling, Christ, our Savior, lying there! (Refrain) Merry
Christmas! we do wish you, And a Happy New Year, too! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Joy to you
the whole year through! EXIT MUSIC - Musical Number # 38 – “Merry Christmas!”
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