| A Christmas Carol Play
Act Nine | 
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A Christmas Carol Play Act Nine
Written by: Walter Ben Hare
Adapted from the famous story of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens ACT NINE Scrooge is discovered seated at his
desk, his head buried in his hands. The Third Spirit stands at C. with green, ghastly light
on him from R. This is the only light on the stage. The bells toll six.
Scrooge (awakens). I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Third Spirit (inclines head).
Scrooge. You are going to show me the shadows of things that are to happen in the future?
Third Spirit (inclines head).
Scrooge. I fear you more than any I have yet seen. But I know you are working for my
welfare, so I will see your visions with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me?
Third Spirit (points downward with R. hand).
Scrooge. No word for me. Well, have you anything to show me?
Third Spirit (points to rear stage. The curtains part. Rear stage is draped in white sheets,
with bare trees at R. and L. A grave with carved headstone is at C. Blue lights on this
scene. Snow falls. Bells heard tolling in the distance.)
Scrooge. A churchyard!
Third Spirit (goes to rear stage, points to tombstone.)
Scrooge. Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point, answer me one question. Are
these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they the shadows of things that May be,
only?
Third Spirit (points to stone).
Scrooge (creeps tremblingly toward it, moving very slowly, bends over, reads the name,
screams). Ebenezer Scrooge! My tombstone, my grave! No, Spirit, no, no! (Rushes to desk,
sinks in chair.) I am not the man I was. I am not past all hope. I will honor Christmas in
my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Save me, save me!
(The rear curtains are slowly closed)
Scrooge (rising). I will keep Christmas in the past, the present and the future. The spirits
of all three shall strive within me. Heaven be praised for this Christmas warning.
(Laughing.) I don't know what to do. I'm as light as a feather, I'm as happy as an angel,
I'm as merry as a schoolboy. A Merry Christmas to everybody. A happy New Year to all the
world. Hip, hurrah!
(Christmas chimes heard outside. Waits singing in the distance.)
Waits (singing louder, music, page 169):
Christ was born on Christmas Day,
Wreathe the holly, twine the bay,
Light and Life and Joy is He,
The Babe, the Son,
The Holy One
Of Mary.
Scrooge (rushes to the door). Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. God bless ye! (Flings them a
handful of coins.)
First Wait. Thankee, sir.
Scrooge (grabs him and brings him down C.). What day is this, my merry lad?
Wait. Hey?
Scrooge. What day is this my lad?
Wait (loudly). Today! Why, Christmas Day!
Scrooge. Do you know the grocer's in the next street?
Wait. I should hope I did.
Scrooge. Do you know whether they've sold the prize turkey that was hanging up there? Not
the little prize turkey, the big prize turkey?
Wait. What, the one as big as me?
Scrooge. Yes, my buck.
Wait. It's hanging there now.
Scrooge. Is it? Go and buy it.
Wait. Aw, go on!
Scrooge. No, no; I'm in earnest. Go and buy it and tell 'em to bring it here, that I may
tell 'em 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.
Wait. Watch me. (Rushes out.)
Scrooge. What a fine little fellow. See him run. I'll send the turkey to Bob Cratchit's. He
shan't know who sends it. It's twice the size of Tiny Tim. He should be here by now.
Enter Cratchit from R.
Cratchit. Morning, sir. (Takes off cap and muffler, goes to desk, starts to work.)
Scrooge (at desk). What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?
Cratchit. I'm very sorry, sir. Very, very sorry.
Scrooge. Sorry? (Sarcastically.) Yes, you are! Come here! Come here at once! Understand!
Cratchit (comes to Scrooge's desk). If you please, sir—
Scrooge. I'm not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore (rises, dances
toward Cratchit, digs him in ribs), and therefore I am about to raise your salary.
Cratchit. Heavens! The master has gone plumb crazy.
Scrooge. I'm going to help you and your family. I'm going to be a Godfather to all of 'em.
The two girls and Master Peter, Bob, Betty and to dear Tiny Tim. Home to your family, now.
Home to them, Bob Cratchit—and merry Christmas to you and yours. God bless you.
Enter Fred from R.
Fred. Here I am again, uncle. Merry Christmas.
Scrooge (rushes to him and shakes his hands heartily). And the same to you, my lad, and many
of 'em. I'm going to eat Christmas dinner with you this day. I'm going to honor Christmas in
my heart, and keep it every day in the year. I will live in the past, the present and the
future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. (Stands C., Fred on his R.,
Cratchit on his L. He takes their hands.) Merry Christmas, boys, and God bless us!
Fred and Cratchit. The same to you, sir. God bless us.
(Rear curtains are drawn back, showing the Cratchit family at the table. Tiny Tim stands on
table.)
Tim. God bless us everyone!
(All unite in singing a Christmas Carol to)
Slow Curtain.
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