A street in the business district of
London. The most prominent
establishment: "Scrooge & Marley's
Counting House." Christmas Eve. 1843.
Approximately 2:00 p.m.
The street is teeming with people, all
in a holiday rush, greeting each other
warmly. In the distance, we hear a
GROUP OF CAROLERS SINGING. As the
Carolers get closer to the street, the
various pedestrians begin to pay
attention to the caroling, and look
down the street towards the sound. (It
is hoped that, when the children
arrive, they can walk through the
audience to the stage.)
As the Carolers approach, NEDDY, a boy
of 16 or so, races out of "Scrooge &
Marley's Counting House" and leaps into
the crowd. Hot on his heels, out of
the establishment, comes BOB CRATCHIT,
who appears to be in a dither over
Neddy's abandonment.
BOB
Neddy! Neddy, get back in here at once! You know Mr.
Scrooge won't allow any time off in the middle of a work day!
NEDDY
Work day, indeed, Bob Cratchit!
(to a group of revelers)
Did you hear that, lads! A work day, indeed!
(the lads laugh)
BOB
(catches up with Neddy)
Get back inside, Neddy! If he catches you out here...
NEDDY
It's Christmas Eve, Bob! Ever heard of the day? Christmas
Eve! Tell 'im, my friends! What day is it?
ALL
CHRISTMAS EVE!!!
(they laugh; the singing
children are getting closer)
BOB
Christmas Eve to Mr. Scrooge is no different from any other
day! You've only been working for him a few weeks, Neddy!
You don't know him as well as I do!
NEDDY
Well, I know him well enough to know he's off to Grovsner
Square on business and won't be back this afternoon or this
evenin'!
BOB
He told you that?
NEDDY
He did! And he told me to tell you we should take the rest
of the day off!
BOB
Mr. Scrooge said that?
NEDDY
That he did!
BOB
That's extremely strange...
NEDDY
So enjoy yourself, why don't you, Bob Cratchit! You're
always mopin' around with a frightened look on your mug! Be
cheerful!
BOB
Cheerful?
NEDDY
Yes, Bob! Cheerful! You remember how to be cheerful don't
ya? Just make yourself feel happy...
(grabs passing girl, flings her
into Cratchit's arms)
...and then DO somethin' about it!
(he starts them dancing; Bob
smiles)
WOMAN IN CROWD
Here they come!
The group of Carolers arrive in the
street, reaching the culminating verses
of the carol, which they complete to
the delight of the gathered throng.
With the applause of the CROWD, a
couple of STREET MUSICIANS BEGIN
PLAYING A ROUSING TUNE, POLKA-TEMPO.
(The Street Musicians can simply mime
to recorded music.)
The Carolers sing and the crowd erupts
into gleeful dancing. Neddy swaths a
path through the crowd, dragging Bob
with him. He hoists Bob up on a
platform, and coaxes him to dance.
Eventually, Bob gives in and breaks
into a lively solo dance atop the
platform. The crowd watches this and
enjoys it thoroughly.
Then, breaking his way through the
crowd, SCROOGE enters, in a rage. He
tears through the people, knocking one
or two folks to the ground in his haste
and anger. He waves his walking stick
in protest and screams at the top of
his lungs, attempting to quiet the
festivities.
SCROOGE
STOP! CEASE! STOP THIS, I TELL YOU! STOP THIS IMMEDIATELY!
STOP!
(he lifts himself up onto the
platform where Bob is dancing
oblivious to the interruption)
I SAY STOOOOOOOPPPPPP!!!!
The noise of the crowd ceases
instantly. Bob, lost in his joy, keeps
dancing away. Everything has stopped-
the singing, the music, the cheer. But
Bob keeps dancing and singing.
Finally, after a moment, Bob turns in
his dance, and ends up face to face
with Scrooge.
SCROOGE (CONT'D)
(after a beat staring Bob down)
Enjoying yourself, are you, Bob?
BOB
(frozen in panic)
Yes, sir. No, sir. Maybe, sir. Well, sir...
SCROOGE
QUIET! Quiet, Bob Cratchit before I lose control of my good
nature! Who put you up to this?
BOB
Well, Mr. Scrooge, I can't really say that I...
SCROOGE
Don't lie to me, Cratchit, you don't have the intestinal
fortitude to participate in such an exercise in stupidity as
this without some kind of provocation! It was that new
apprentice, wasn't it? Ned Percival! Why, I curse the day I
was talked into hiring him. Where is he?
(beat; Neddy attempts to sneak
away)
Come, speak up, Cratchit! Where is that ridiculous boy?
(sees Neddy)
PERCIVAL!!!
(Neddy stops)
Percival, put your weasly little face in front of mine this
instant!
(Neddy makes his way to the
platform)
Now! Tell me the truth! Was it you who put Cratchit up to
this?
BOB
Please, sir, Neddy had nothing to do...
SCROOGE
Quiet, Cratchit, I'm addressing his weasly face, not yours!
(to Neddy)
Well, Percival?
NEDDY
Yes, sir. I lied to him. I told Bob you'd be away for the
afternoon and that you'd told us to take the rest of the day
off!
SCROOGE
(beat; smiles)
Well, then...I understand. I appreciate your telling me the
truth, Neddy.
NEDDY
You do, sir?
SCROOGE
Of course, I do. And as a display of my appreciation, I am
officially giving you the rest of the day off!
NEDDY
Why, thank you, sir!
SCROOGE
And while you're at it, take tomorrow off! And the next day!
And the next!
(incensed)
In fact, take the rest of your life off! Consider yourself
discharged!
(Neddy, runs off; the crowd
reacts negatively)
And as for the rest of you, I advise you to remove your
sweating, frivolous carcasses from the front of my place of
business! If you remain here one second longer, I shall
summon the constabulary! Off with you now! Go! Go!!!
Grumbling, the crowd disperses.
Scrooge steps off the platform and goes
to the door of his office. Bob crawls
off the platform and begins to walk
away.
SCROOGE (cont'd)
And where do you think you're going?
BOB
Why, Mr. Scrooge, I assumed...I was...I assumed you would...
SCROOGE
Oh, you assumed, did you? Well, let me tell you what you can
assume from now on, Bob Cratchit. You can assume that I
expect you to stay at your post one extra hour every day for
the next six months with no increase of salary. You can
assume that I will not stand for any further display of
insubordination or malingering from you from this day
forward! And to use the word in a different but equally
viable context, you can assume the office duties of one Mr.
Neddy Percival, apprentice, no longer affiliated with this
business establishment.
(opens door)
Now, get to work!
BOB
Yes, sir!
(rushes to door)
Thank you, Mr. Scrooge! Thank you so very...
SCROOGE
TO WORK!!!
BOB
Yes, sir!
(he runs inside)
SCROOGE
(scowls at bare street)
Humbug.
(goes inside and closes door)
