A Christmas Carol Page #2

I will. But don't be hard upon me,

Jacob. Pray.

I am here to warn you

that you have yet a chance

at a hope of escaping my fate.

A chance of my procuring, Ebenezer.

You were always a good friend

to me, Jacob. Thank 'ee.

You will be haunted by three spirits.

That's the chance and hope?

- I'd rather not.

- Expect the first

tomorrow when the bell tolls one.

Couldn't I take them all at once,

and have it over with, Jacob?

Expect the second the next night

at the same hour.

And the third upon the next night,

when the last stroke of 12

has ceased to vibrate.

Look to see me no more.

Ah!

Ah!

I'm sorry.

I wish I could help you.

Ah!

Oh!

Ah!

Ah!

Are you the spirit whose coming

was foretold to me?

I am.

Is it possible that

you might put your cap on?

Would you so soon put out,

with your worldly hands,

the light I give?

No, no! No, no! I'm so sorry.

I meant nothing by it.

I meant no of fence.

I just thought I...

Who and what are you?

I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Long past?

Your past.

Rise.

And walk with me.

But I am modal and liable to fall.

Bear but a touch of my hand there...

...and you shall be upheld

in more than this.

Whoa!

Good heavens.

I was bred in this place.

I was a boy here.

Your lip...is trembling.

And what's that?

- On your cheek?

- Nothing.

Something in my eye.

Do you remember the way?

Remember it?

I could walk it blindfolded.

Giddyup! Giddyup!

Oh! Whoa!

These are but shadows of things

that have been.

They have no consciousness...of us.

I knew them.

I know every one of them.

They were schoolmates of mine.

Let's go on.

This...

This was my school.

This school is not quite deserted.

A solitary child...

...neglected by his friends...

...is left here still.

I know.

Poor boy.

Poor, poor boy.

Let's...see another Christmas.

Ebenezer!

Ebenezer!

Dear, dear brother!

I've come to bring you home!

- Home, little Fan?

- Yes, home!

Father is so much kinder

than he used to be.

He spoke so gently to me one night.

I was not afraid to ask him

if you might come home.

And he said yes!

And he sent me in a coach to fetch you.

And we're to be together

all the Christmas long.

And to have the merriest time

in all the world!

You're quite a woman, little Fan.

- She had a large head.

- She died a woman.

And had, as I think...

...children.

Yes, one child.

True.

- Your nephew.

- Yes.

Do you know this place?

Know it? I was an apprentice here!

Why, it's old Fezziwig.

Bless his head!

it's Fezziwig alive again!

Yo-ho! Ebenezer, come on!

Come on! Dick! Come on! It's 6:00.

They're going to be here soon.

Dick Wilkins. Bless me, yes.

There he is, Dick Wilkins.

He was very attached to me, was Dick.

Yo-ho, me lads! No more work tonight.

it's Christmas Eve!

Hooray!

Dick, Ebenezer,

let's get cleared away.

We want lots of space.

Lots and lots of space.

Hee-hi!

Whoa!

Maestro!

May I present...?!

Whoo!

Whoo!

Well done! Well done!

And now, kind fiddler, if you please.

It is time for Sir Roger de Coverley!

Hey!

Might I have this dance with you?

Whoo!

Ebenezer, it's your pass.

Another idol has replaced me.

Another idol?

What idol?

A golden one.

There is nothing on this earth

more terrifying to me

than a life doomed to poverty.

May I ask, why do you condemn,

with such severity,

the honest pursuit of substance?

You fear the world too much, Ebenezer.

- You've changed.

- Changed?

Perhaps grown wiser,

but I have not changed toward you.

Our contract is an old one.

It was made when we were

both poor and content to be so.

When it was made...

- You were another man.

- I was a boy!

I release you, Ebenezer.

Have I ever sought release?

- In words, no.

- In what, then?

In an altered spirit.

In another atmosphere of life.

In everything that made my love

of any worth in your sight.

Tell me, Ebenezer, if this contract

had never been between us,

would you seek me out now?

No.

You think not?

I would gladly think otherwise

if I could.

But if you were free today,

would you choose a dowerless girl?

A girl left penniless

by the death of her parents?

You, who weighs everything by gain?

I release you, Ebenezer.

May you be happy in the life

you've chosen.

Spirit, remove me from this place.

I told you, these were shadows

of things that have been.

They are what they are.

Do not blame me.

Remove me. I cannot bear it.

Leave me! Take me back!

Haunt me no longer!

Ah! Oh!

Ah! Ah!

Oh, blast!

Enter, Scrooge!

Come in! Come in

and know me better, man!

I am the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Look upon me!

You have never seen

the likes of me before?

Never.

Have never walked forth

with my elder brothers?

I don't think that I have.

You have many brothers?

More than 1,800.

1,842, to be exact.

Oh.

I see you wear a scabbard, but no sword.

Indeed.

Peace on Earth. Goodwill toward men.

Spirit, conduct me where you will.

Oh...

Touch my robe.

Oh! What's happening?

What are you doing?

Ah!

Oh!

Very strange.

Indeed. Not many mortals are granted

- a heavenly perspective of man's world.

- Yes.

It's quite beautiful.

Spirit, these poor people

have no means to cook their food.

And yet you seek

to close the only places

in which they can warm

their meagre meals every seventh day.

Oh!

Hear me, Scrooge.

There are some upon this earth of yours

who claim to know me and my brothers,

and do their deeds of ill will

and selfishness in our name.

These so-called "men of the cloth"

are as strange to me and my kin

as if they never lived.

Charge their doings to them, not us.

Aye. I will.

Smell that?

Cooking goose!

Come on!

I take it this bleak paupers'

dwelling is of some significance.

It is all your loyal clerk can afford

for his meagre 15 bob a week.

- Mother!

- Papa!

We just came by the baker shop.

And smelled our goose,

cooking delicious.

Shut the door, please. What

happened to your precious father?

And your brother. And Martha,

she wasn't as late last Christmas Day.

Mother, here she is, Mother.

Here's Martha.

Martha! Wait till you see

our goose. 'Tis a wonderful one.

Peter, off with you

to the baker's and collect the bird.

And take the children with you.

And pray, no dallying.

Why, bless your head alive!

Dear, how late you are!

We had a deal of work to finish up last

night and clear away this morning.

Never mind. Long as you're here. Sit ye

down before the fire and have a warm.

No. No, no, no. There's Father coming.

Hide, Martha.

You must hide. Hide, Martha.

- It's cold out there.

- Hello, Father. Hello, Timmy.

- Why, where's our Martha?

- Uh...not coming.

Not coming?

Not coming upon Christmas Day?

Here I am, Father!

We got you, Father.

I couldn't bear to see you in a state

of disappointment. If only for a giggle.

It's so lovely to see you, my Martha.

Come on, Timmy. I hear

the pudding singing in the copper.

Shall we have a look, then?

- How did little Timmy behave?

- As good as gold. And better.

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