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Mr. Scrooge

A musical for KS2 / KS3 schools

by Paul Delaney

FULL SCRIPT

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NOTES

List of characters (The number of speaking lines is in brackets)

Narrator(s): (17)

Carol singers: Sing Christmas carols

Ebenezer Scrooge (84)

Fred (8)

Beth (7)

Bob Cratchit (18)

Gentleman #1 (3)

Gentleman #2 (3)

Market workers (Song)

Boy (9)

Girl (6)

Lucy (5)

Helen (3)

Belinda (4)

Martha (8)

Tiny Tim (6)

Mrs. Cratchit (8)

Jacob Marley (6 + 1 song)

Spirit of Christmas past (Rock and roll ghost) (12 + song)

Spirit of Christmas present (Country and western ghost) (9 + song)

Spirit of Christmas future (Latin American ghost) (7 + song)

School master (7)

School children (2 in unison)

School child (6)

SCENE 1

SCROOGE’S OFFICE

The narrator and carol singers enter, carrying lanterns.

NARRATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen. If I have your attention, then our tale shall begin. Once upon a time, of all the good days of the year, Old Ebenezer Scrooge sat in his counting house. The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already. It was cold, bleak, biting weather. The lonely, haunting sound of church carol singers could be heard…

CAROL SINGERS: God rest ye merry gentlemen…

SCROOGE: Enough of that infernal singing! Begone with you!

Fred and Beth enter, Scrooge’s nephew and niece

FRED: Good afternoon, uncle and a merry Christmas to you!

SCROOGE: Rubbish nephew! Humbug!

FRED: Humbug Uncle Ebenezer? Surely you can’t be serious?

SCROOGE: I am indeed serious. What does Christmas mean? You’re poor! You have nothing.

What do you have to be merry about?

FRED: All the more reason, uncle, that you should be merry. You have more than enough money.

SCROOGE: Fiddlesticks! Humbug!

BETH: Christmas is a time to be happy. It’s a time for feasting and laughing and bringing home huge armfuls of holly. It’s a time for family and friends. And it’s a time for kindness too!

SCROOGE: What fools you are! Just about everybody who believes this rubbish about Christmas is a fool. The world is full of fools… (Shouting) and they’re all deluded!

FRED: Just the same, uncle. I will go on believing that Christmas is a joyous time. In fact, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

SCROOGE: (Angry) One more idiotic outburst from you, Sir, will be your last in this office!

BETH: We’d like it, uncle, if you would have Christmas dinner with us tomorrow.

SCROOGE: Ridiculous! I can think of nothing more distasteful and now, I will have to leave you two. I am a very busy man. Good afternoon.

FRED: But all the family want you to come, uncle.

SCROOGE: Good day to you both.

BETH: At any rate, uncle, a merry Christmas to you.

SCROOGE: Good afternoon.

FRED: And a happy new year too! Good afternoon.

Bob Cratchit is busy at his desk, working in Scrooge’s office. He briefly looks up at Scrooge.

SCROOGE: Get on with your work, Cratchit! And stop gawping at me! Another word out of you and I’ll dock another shilling from your wages!

BOB: But I haven’t said anything, Sir.

SCROOGE: Oh do shut up anyway!

BOB: Yes Sir.

There is a heavy knock at the door. Scrooge pulls the door open and is confronted by two portly gentlemen.

GENTLEMAN 1: Good afternoon, Sir. Are you Mr. Marley or Mr. Scrooge?

SCROOGE: Mr. Scrooge is my name. Mr. Marley, my old business partner, has been dead for many years. In fact, he died seven years ago…on this very night!

GENTLEMAN 2: Ahh, well then, Mr. Scrooge. What a splendid opportunity to pay homage to your dead partner.

SCROOGE: What do you mean, Sir?

GENTLEMAN 1: He means, Mr.Scrooge that we are going around the streets of London collecting small sums of money, to be used in giving a bit of Christmas cheer to those a little less fortunate than ourselves.

SCROOGE: There are prisons for such people!

GENTLEMAN 2: Prisons, Mr. Scrooge? You would ask the poor and needy to spend Christmas locked up in a prison?

SCROOGE: Indeed I would, Sir. Indeed I would. And prison is too good for most of them at that! They’re lazy scoundrels and believe me, Gentlemen; I don’t have the money to throw away on idle, good for nothing fools.

GENTLEMAN 2: The prisons are overcrowded, Mr. Scrooge. And there are many poor people who are so proud, that they would rather die than go to prison for help.

SCROOGE: Let the fools die then! It’s no concern of mine. Why on earth should I care about poor people? And now, Gentlemen, I have already been interrupted twice today. Good day to you both. You can cancel Christmas for all I care!

BOB: Excuse me, Sir, but it’s twenty minutes after closing time.

SCROOGE: One interruption after another all day long. Well then, Mr. Cratchit, why don’t you leave?

BOB: Yes Sir, err, I have been meaning to, err, ask you, Mr. Scrooge, Sir…if, that is if…Well tomorrow’s Christmas day and…

SCROOGE: (Interrupting)Ahh tomorrow is Christmas day and you want the day off do you? Is that it?

BOB: Err, yes, Sir.

SCROOGE: The whole day?

BOB: Err, if it’s not too much trouble, Mr. Scrooge, Sir. If you don’t mind, Sir.

SCROOGE: Well I do mind, Mr.Cratchit. No doubt you’ll still expect to be paid for it too?

BOB: But it’s only one day a year, Mr. Scrooge. AND it’s Christmas!

SCROOGE: Christmas? Humbug! Go on then, Mr. Cratchit! Have your day off!

BOB: Oh thank you very much, Sir! I can’t thank you enough! The children are counting on it so. We’re going to have a goose and Christmas pudding and sprigs of holly and…

SCROOGE: (Interrupting) Oh do shut up Cratchit! Get on with it, then. Before I change my mind!

Ebenezer Scrooge stares at Bob, who hastily grabs his hat and scarf and runs out into the busy street. Scrooge sits alone, counting hundreds of gold coins. He places them in a little wooden chest, which he locks up. Then he puts on his hat and coat and goes out into the street.

NARRATOR: And so, Scrooge left his dreary office to go for a quick walk. He would return later as he lived in the house above. Although it was cold and frosty, the London streets seemed bright and exciting. Street traders were eagerly selling their wares. Children were excitedly taking it all in. To Scrooge, though, there was no joy at all. Christmas was a terrible burden, an enormous weight upon his shoulders. Everything was humbug!

SCENE TWO

AT THE MARKET

The market is busy, bustling with the excitement of the Christmas season. Some of the Cratchit family are at work.

We are at work in the market, selling our wares on the street!

Lovely fresh flowers and juicy fresh fruit, selling our goods to delight.

What can you buy in the market? Linen, tobacco and wine.

In fact you can buy anything you want, from early ‘till half past five!

London town at Christmas time is full of joy and festive cheer.

Take your time to look around, my friend, this market’s very cheap.

Do you want to buy a present? Do you want a glass of beer?

London town is so exciting, as Christmas time draws near.

(THE SECOND VERSE IS SHOUTED OUT, OVER THE MUSIC)

Apples, oranges, two for a farthing! Get your mistletoe here!

Cheap China plates and porcelain dolls…it’s the bargain of the year!

Mince pies! Mince pies! Get your mince pies! Christmas trees only a shilling

Christmas pudding, Christmas pudding! Freshly baked today!

London town at Christmas time is full of joy and festive cheer.

Take your time to look around, my friend, this market’s very cheap.

Do you want to buy a present? Do you want a glass of beer?

London town is so exciting, as Christmas time draws near.

After the song, the busy life of the market continues…

BOY: A pound of apples for Mr. Scrooge, please!

GIRL: And two pouches of the finest tobacco!

LUCY: Did you say Mr. Scrooge?

HELEN: Ebenezer Scrooge?

BOY: Yes, that’s right. The mean, selfish lonely old man who lives in the Strand.

GIRL: We often do his errands for him.

BOY: And all we ever get is a measly farthing, even though he’s very, very rich.

LUCY: Our father works for him. He calls Scrooge the meanest, nastiest, loneliest man in the whole of London town.

BOY: In the whole of the world, more like!

LUCY: My father calls him ‘Meany’.

HELEN: Father sometimes works day and night…all for three shillings a week.

LUCY: Look, here comes Tiny Tim with Belinda and Martha!

Tiny Tim struggles into the market on his crutches, accompanied by his sisters, Belinda and Martha.

BELINDA: Father should be home! He’s coming to market soon.

MARTHA: Old ‘Meany’ has actually given him Christmas day off. Can you believe it?

TINY TIM: Well it’s only one day a year, I suppose.

BELINDA: Yes, come to think of it, Father is very lucky to have Christmas day off at all.

MARTHA: Old ‘Meany’ only allows him one day off a year. It’s a disgrace!

TINY TIM: Here’s mother!

Mrs.Cratchit walks into the market, carrying a large basket.

MRS. CRATCHIT: Now then! Now then! I only have a sixpence, but I’m going to buy the biggest turkey and Christmas pudding in the whole market!

MARTHA: Where’s father?

MRS. CRATCHIT: He’s still working. Ebenezer Scrooge told him he must work double hours on Christmas Eve to make up for having Christmas day off.

BOY: Well, goodness me! I never knew that old Mr. Scrooge was so mean.

MARTHA: He’s the meanest man in the whole wide world!

GIRL: Blimey, look at the time! We’d better get back. Mr. Scrooge will be in a foul mood.

They all say their goodbyes and wish each other a hearty ‘Merry Christmas’ The boy and girl leave the market and run to Mr. Scrooge’s office. They knock at the door and a very angry Mr. Scrooge opens the door.

SCROOGE: Where have you two been to…Africa?

BOY: Err, no Sir, you see…

GIRL: Well we…

Scrooge: (Rudely interrupting) I’ve heard enough! I’ve heard enough! I don’t want to hear your worthless excuses. Give me my change. I fact, give me my farthing back. You took too long. Now be gone with you, you pair of idle, lazy scoundrels. You deserve to be locked up!

The boy and girl start to cry and run away as Scrooge counts his money in his office.

How many times has he tried to say I love you?

How many times has he tried to show he cares?

How many times has he tried to sing those happy songs?

How many times has he tried to right his wrongs?

For he has no friends, for he has no friends,

for he’s all alone in the world.

There’s something inside. There’s something inside.

It’s deep in his mind, making him cruel.

How many times has he tried to say he’s sorry?

How many times has he tried to say he’s wrong?

How many times has he tried to say don’t worry?

How many times has he tried to belong?

For he has no friends, for he has no friends,

for he’s all alone in the world.

There’s something inside. There’s something inside.

It’s deep in his mind, making him cruel.

SCENE THREE

SCROOGE’S LOUNGE

NARRATOR: Scrooge was very annoyed with the children. Indeed, he was very annoyed with everybody, except himself! He settled down to a measly bowl of gruel. The cold and lonely house was very damp, but a large coal fire was burning brightly. As he began eating, a strange, ghostly noise broke into his thoughts.

SCROOGE: (Angry) Bah! Humbug!

Jacob Marley enters, accompanied by eerie, haunting music.

MARLEY: Ebenezer Scrooge! Ebenezer Scrooge! Do you remember me?

SCROOGE: Ahh no, I don’t believe in ghosts! No such thing!

MARLEY: (Screaming out loud in a haunting voice) Scrooge! Scrooge!

SCROOGE: What do you want with me? Who are you?

MARLEY: Ask me who I WAS.

SCROOGE: Who WERE you then?

MARLEY: In my earthly life, I was your business partner, Jacob Marley.

SCROOGE: Ahh, but, but, why do Spirits walk the earth? And why have you come to me?

MARLEY: I made many, many mistakes in my life, Ebenezer, so now I am paying for it.

SCROOGE: But you were always a good man of business, Jacob.

MARLEY: Listen to my song, Scrooge! Listen to my song…

Hello Ebenezer. Do you remember me?

Your old business partner, it’s Jacob Marley.

I’m here to bring you a warning. I’m here to save your soul.

Listen to my message. Come in from the cold.

Do you want to have a life, Ebenezer?

Or do you want to follow me?

Do you want to help the poor, Ebenezer?

Or do you want to shun reality, Ebenezer?

Early in the morning, when the clock strikes one.

Frost on your mittens will melt without the sun.

The spooks will pay you a visit and you must listen to their voice.

Your past, present and your future days, they will judge you but you’ll have no choice.

Do you want to have a life, Ebenezer?

Or do you want to follow me?

Do you want to help the poor, Ebenezer?

Or do you want to shun reality, Ebenezer?

SCENE FOUR

SCROOGE’SBEDROOM CHAMBER

Scrooge jumps out of his bed. He’s shaking with fear but eventually falls asleep.

He is woken by his Grandfather clock, striking one o’clock in the morning.

He is confronted by the Ghost of Christmas past.

NARRATOR: Scrooge had fallen asleep in his rocking chair. A strange, ghostly noise broke into his thoughts at exactly one o’clock in the morning. (The clock starts to strike and the ghost slowly appears)

SCROOGE: Who are you?

GHOST 1: I am the Ghost of Christmas past, Ebenezer Scrooge.

SCROOGE: What do you want of me?

GHOST 1: I have come to help you, Ebenezer.

SCROOGE: I need no help from anybody

GHOST 1: Beware, Ebenezer Scrooge! Remember the words of your old friend, Jacob Marley. Now come with me to the window. Look out and tell me what you see.

SCROOGE: I can see nothing. This is all a trick! A figment of my overworked imagination!

GHOST 1: Look out of the window and tell me what you see.

SCROOGE: How can this be spirit? It’s the village of my boyhood, with the very same trees and lanes. There’s the church with the river flowing beside it! There’s the crossroads with Mr. Jenner’s horse and cart, outside the ‘Black cow’ inn! How can this be?

GHOST 1: They are only buried memories. The ghosts of things long, long ago.

SCROOGE: I’ll admit, I had forgotten the village and my childhood there. Oh I don’t like to remember, Spirit. I don’t like it at all.

GHOST 1: You MUST remember, Ebenezer. It’s the only thing that will save you!

SCROOGE: Look! That’s my old school, St. Bedes! And there’s my old desk! Why is that really me there?

GHOST 1: It’s you as a young boy, Ebenezer. Do you remember?

SCROOGE: Yes, I do!

SCENE FIVE

IN THE CLASSROOM

MASTER: Ebenezer Scrooge, wake up! What do we do every morning?

CHILD: What Sir?

MASTER: We don’t say ‘What Sir?’ in this school, we say ‘pardon’. Now class, let’s read our school’s motto.

CLASS: Relate, rejoice, reflect!

MASTER: It’s not reflect, boy, it’s RESPECT!

CHILD: (Laughing) Oh, sorry, Mr. Hurst, Sir.

MASTER: Now class, let’s sing my favourite song…

CHILD: (Interrupting) Sir, I have a funny joke to tell you!

MASTER: I’m sick of your jokes, Scrooge! They’re almost as bad as Mr. Hurst’s!

CHILD: (Eagerly) Where was Queen Victoria crowned?

MASTER: I don’t know, Scrooge. Where was Queen Victoria crowned?

CHILD: On the head!

The whole class, including the teacher, burst out laughing.

SCROOGE: Did I really used to tell good jokes? Did I really used to laugh out loud?

GHOST 1: You did, indeed, Ebenezer. You did indeed.

SCROOGE: Oh what happy times they were!

GHOST 1: Remember what sort of boy you used to be, Ebenezer. And what sort of man you have become. Listen to my song, Ebenezer. Listen to my song!

It was late one night about a week ago; you walked past them in the street.

Do you remember the boy and girl, who were begging at your feet?

They were two little orphans, freezing cold, just looking for a bite to eat.

Your pocket full of silver, your pocket full of gold, so why did you cross the street?