A Christmas Carol Script excerpt
Scene 1
The scene opens in complete darkness, then through the mist, we find ourselves in a mean street in London, a foggy cold evening, the only illumination a solitary gas street lamp. A poor urchin huddles at the foot of the lamp post, hunched against the cold. People pass by, hurrying to get to the warmth of their homes; no-one sees the child. In the distance, carol singers are heard singing 'It came upon a midnight clear', accompanied by a small brass ensemble. The Watch appears; he sees the bundle of rags, and kicks at it. The child wriggles to avoid the boot; the Watch, satisfied that he doesn't have to deal with a corpse, passes by. The child starts to sob gently. More people pass by, the carol singers with their lanterns make jovial banter as they gather for another rendition, wishing others a Merry Christmas. Totally oblivious to the child, they repeat 'It came upon a midnight clear'. Scrooge appears from the darkness, pushes past the singers, but trips over the urchin. He stumbles painfully on the icy ground. As he rises, he hits out at the child with his stick.
Scrooge: Damn you - damn you all for a set of lazy, good-for- nothing scoundrels. Haven't you got anything better to be doing than to block the King's highway? Preventing an honest businessman from the pursuance of his trade?
Carol Singer: It is Christmas, sir. Come, join us - join us in a carol -
Scrooge: Bah - what profit is there in that?
Carol Singer: None at all, sir. Except if it be to cheer some poor soul -
Scrooge: Poor soul - ha!
Carol Singer: Then you will not sing?
Scrooge: Indeed not - what is there to sing about?
Carol Singer: There is little enough joy in the world, sir. Well, a merry Christmas to you, anyway.
Scrooge: Christmas! Humbug -
He passes by, grumbling to himself. The singers finish their carol, and move off into the darkness, leaving the street empty but for the child, who continues to sob intermittently, as the light from the lamp fades to blackness. Orchestra takes up the carol as we move to the next scene.
Scene 2
As the lights return, we find ourselves in Scrooge's counting house, a dimly lit prison of a room, with candles flickering vainly against the overwhelming sense of cold and dark. Bob Cratchit and the other clerks toil silently at their ledgers; a great sense of despair pervades the room. In one corner, a poor fire is about to give up the uneven struggle against the cold. A solitary clock ticks loudly on the wall; the only sound. The door bursts open, as Scrooge returns from his dealings. If anything, it is colder within than in the street outside. He looks suspiciously at the clerks, who do not acknowledge his appearance. Failing to find fault, he sits at his desk, a large ledger before him, which he opens, and enters the latest of his dealings with a scratchy quill pen.
Scrooge: Cratchit -
Bob: Yes, Mr Scrooge?
Scrooge: It's warm in here - you've been using extra coal, haven't you?
Bob: No, sir - indeed -
Scrooge: Hah! I shall take it out of your wages. What time is it?
Bob: Why, ten minutes before six, Mr Scrooge.
Scrooge: And at what time do you think it appropriate that you should finish your labours for the day?
Bob: Why, at six, sir - just as usual. If you please -
Scrooge: That is just ten minutes from now, I calculate.
Bob: Indeed, sir - that is correct.
Scrooge: Then I must disillusion you,
Cratchit. Sad as it may seem to you, that clock is almost a quarter hour fast. I fear that your labours must last another twenty five minutes yet.
Bob: But, Mr Scrooge, I checked that clock myself, sir, against the chimes from Ludgate. I do not believe it is wrong, sir.
Scrooge: You do not believe it is wrong, you say? But I say it is - and if I say so, then it is - do you understand me?
Bob: But, sir - it's Christmas Eve.
Scrooge: And what has that to do with anything?
Just a little taster you understand....hope we've whetted your appetite.