Barbie in a Christmas Carol Page #4

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(ALL LAUGHING)

No, it's fine.

My kids love that Papa isn't home today.

Whoops!

(ALL LAUGHING)

You're out. You're all out of my theatre.

(LAUGHING)

That's priceless.

EDEN:
Priceless?

He's throwing tomatoes at me.

While juggling.

Oh, you could put that in your act.

Oh, whose side are you on?

These people wouldn't

be anywhere without me. They owe me.

(SIGHS) At least Freddy's happy.

What? Working through Christmas?

- Now he can ask...

- Catherine out on a date.

As long as we clean up before she gets back.

I don't think she'd like

us throwing tomatoes at her friend.

(DOOR OPENING)

Hello, everyone. Did you...

(GASPS)

We're sorry, Catherine.

See? Catherine understands gratitude.

She won't let you get away with this.

What?

(EXCLAIMS)

Shall we dance?

I'd love to.

(EXCLAIMING HAPPILY)

(CHRISTMAS CAROL PLAYING)

That's it. I want to leave.

- Oh, what? Right now?

- Now!

Oh... Oh, all right.

(EDEN EXCLAIMS)

(MEOWS)

(EDEN EXCLAIMS)

This isn't my bedroom.

I told you to take me home.

Oh, I thought you said

you just wanted to leave.

You have to be more specific.

(CHRISTMAS PRESENT LAUGHS)

Oh, did I sit in something?

(YELPS)

Feisty little thing, aren't you?

(YELPS)

(EXCLAIMS)

(BOTH WHINNYING)

She's a monster if you ask me.

To keep you away from your family

after everything we did for her.

She's not a monster.

She makes me crazy sometimes,

but then I remember

all the times she made me laugh,

and everything we did together.

My friend's still in there, Nell.

I can get mad at her, but I can't hate her.

And look, since I'm not racing home,

I don't have to

drop off my costumes and run.

I can stay and see my other show.

Your other show?

I knew it! The ingratitude!

You are done at the Gad's Hill. Done!

- Can you believe that?

- Oh, yes, she's very talented.

I'm sure she could do a million shows.

(LAUGHS) I hope we can still get a seat.

(GIGGLES)

Oh, would you look at this?

(CLICKING TONGUE)

I'd never expect a Catherine Beadnell show

in a place like this.

Would you?

(MEOWS)

Of course not. Don't you see?

She doesn't want me to know

about her little sideline,

so she made sure they rehearsed here

where no one in the universe would come.

Oh, you're devious, Catherine Beadnell.

Devious.

And what new actress is waiting for you

in here, Catherine? Hmm?

Anastasia Wobbler, Renata Trilby?

(DOOR OPENING)

- Cassandra...

- ALL:
Catherine! Catherine!

- GIRL:
Hello!

- Hello, everyone.

- Catherine! Merry Christmas, Catherine.

- Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

Hello, Tammy.

Merry Christmas, Catherine.

BOY:
Would you hug me, Catherine?

- I want a hug, too.

- All right.

Big group hug.

(ALL GIGGLING)

GIRL:
Thank you.

Ah, orphans.

Oh, you're right. She is devious.

So, is everyone ready

for your Christmas carol costumes?

(ALL GASPING)

GIRL 1:
Yay! Hurray!

GIRL 2:
I love mine.

Oh, don't worry. I have one for everybody.

Catherine, did you get to tell

Eden Starling about us?

BOY:
Yes.

TAMMY:
Will she come see our show?

Will she, Catherine? Will she?

I did tell Eden about you.

And she wanted me to tell you

that she's very sorry she can't come,

but she's so proud of all of you.

And she personally wishes each of you

a Merry Christmas.

Hear that?

Eden Starling wishes me a Merry Christmas.

It must be so amazing

to hear her sing every day.

- You're so lucky!

- I am lucky.

- But not because I get to hear Eden sing.

- Then why?

Because I get to hear you sing.

Now, come on, everyone.

People will be here soon.

Time to put on your costumes

and get ready for the show.

BOY:
Yeah, let's go!

(ALL CHATTERING EXCITEDLY)

BARBIE:
Eden was amazed by the way

those children came alive with Catherine.

And it wasn't just that

she brought them new clothes.

In fact, the clothes were the least of it.

It was Catherine's attention.

The simple fact that she cared.

It got to Eden,

and she couldn't stop watching.

(ALL HUMMING)

(SINGING) Joy to the world

The Lord has come

Let Earth receive her king

Let every heart

Prepare him room

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and heaven and nature sing

Thank you. Thank you for this.

Oh, it's the least I can do.

Have you heard any more

about the possible closing?

Only rumours. But they don't sound good.

We can only wait and hope.

Closing? What is she talking about?

Oh, the orphanage

doesn't have the funds to stay open.

Most likely they'll close it before spring.

But if the orphanage shuts down,

then what will happen to the children?

Oh, they'll find their way, I imagine.

Street urchins have for centuries.

Of course, that's all

a batch of humbug to you, right?

(SINGING) Joy to the world

Wonderful! Wonderful! Spot on!

(MEOWS)

That was amazing. Thank you.

I'm afraid I have to go.

ALL:
Oh, no, you can't go.

But I'll see you all very soon.

- No...

- Don't go.

- Can't you just stay for a little while?

- Come on, Catherine.

- Please?

- You can stay, can't you?

I'd love to, but I have to go back to work.

TAMMY:
No!

BOY:
No!

- Oh, no!

- TAMMY:
Please don't go.

(LAUGHS) That's funny.

Almost sounds like you changed your mind

about working through Christmas.

Oh, not at all.

I'm just saying she could take

a slightly longer break if she needed to.

Slightly.

I see.

(RINGING)

(EXCLAIMS)

Would you look at the time?

I'm dreadfully late for another appointment.

- So just take my sleeve.

- Now?

Oh, I just thought

you'd need your beauty sleep

more than you'd need to watch

a bunch of singing children.

(LAUGHING) What was it

your aunt told me she said?

In a selfish world, the selfish succeed.

(ALL CHATTERING)

All right. Let's go.

(CHIMING)

Shh!

Hello, Eden.

Hello. You're the third spirit, aren't you?

The Spirit of Christmas Future.

Are you ready to come with me?

Mmm. I don't know.

Will I like what I'm going to see?

You might not.

But sometimes we need to

face things that frighten us.

It's how we grow.

No, I think you should come, too.

(SIGHS)

- Ready?

- Mmm-hmm.

- Why are there so many holes?

- The future isn't like the past.

Every choice you make

alters what will happen next.

But as of this moment,

we'll find your most likely future right here.

(EDEN SHIVERS)

It's so cold.

None of the other ones were cold like this.

This future starts with a cold choice.

After making everyone at the Gad's Hill work,

you found out they came

in a few minutes late on Christmas day.

So, you fired them all.

Of course I did.

That's not a cold choice,

it's simple consequence.

- I warned them that would happen.

- Oh, you did, yes.

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