1.6 spirit the present

8/7/2019 1.6 Spirit the Present

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STEAM MACHINE

PROPS

High and half staging

The Chair

Re-arrange the

staging

PROPS

Cross

Scrooge [Huge snore wakes him up] Oh, oh,

oh! No Spirit then! [Sighs with relief]

They have given up on me!

Mrs M I hope not!

Marley There are two more. I hope will be

fulfilled.

Scrooge Perhaps I shall rest a little more

before going to the office. I am not

getting any younger after

Spirit 2 [A disembodied voice behind tabs]

Scrooge! Scrooge! Come in! Come in

and know me better, man!

Scrooge [Enters with head hanging]

Spirit 2 [Is seated on a throne] I am the ghost

of Christmas present! Look upon me!

Scrooge [He looks up and gasps; he then

shields his eyes]

Spirit 2 You have never seen the like of me

before.

Scrooge [Between his hands, nods head]Never!

Spirit 2 How many years have you wasted,

Ebenezer Scrooge!

Scrooge Spirit, conduct me where you will. I

only went with the first spirit on

compulsion. But it taught me a lesson

which is working now. If you have

aught to teach me, let me profit by it.

[Walk down and help stand the one and a

half staging on top of one another.

They stand on it]

Spirit 2 Hold my robe, Ebenezer.

Congregation [All come on and sit on floor in rows.

A minister stands with a cross]

Scroo e You are fl in !


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Spirit 2 [Hands on hips] Ho! Ho! Ho! Weare

flying, Ebenezer Scrooge

Scrooge A church!

CAROL [2 verses then script then two verses]

Scrooge Christmas spirit.

Spirit 2 I am here, Scrooge.

Scrooge No, below us. They are so happy, so

happy!

Spirit 2 [Moving off the stages and down to

the front] Not all can be happy at this

time, Scrooge.

Scrooge But its Christmas!

Spirit 2 Do you mean humbug?

Scrooge I dont know what I mean

Spirit 2 Its humbug for those you see here.

But then they deserve it, dont they

Ebenezer?

STEAM MACHINE

PROPS

Window for prison

Marley and Mrs M

nudge one another


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Scrooge Where are we?

Spirit 2 Prison, of course. The prisons that

you are happy to support, Ebenezer

Scrooge.

Guard [From CSR: Shoving Mr Welp in front

of him] In ere you. Through there!

Mr Welp But it wasnt my fault!

Guard The leather wallet accidentally fell

into your pocket did it?

Mr Welp But I had no choice.

Guard No choice? We all have choices,

Welp. The right ones and the wrongones.

Mr Welp You dont understand. My family

weve no food. No rent I owe Mr

Scrooge

Guard Well, more fool you then!

Mr Welp Wed have been turned out of our

home. I had to get the moneysomehow

Guard Or it would have been the workhouse

for you?

Mr Welp Yes, yes, exactly!

Guard Then thats where you deserve to be,

you young wastrel!

But - youve chosen prison instead.

[Turns Welp around and holds onto his

collar and drags him off USL]

Dont worry, the rest of your family

will be safe and sound in the

workhouse!

Marley [Shakes head] You do wonder whether

we should be trying to save him.

Mrs M. [Big shrug of shoulders]

S irit 2 Scroo e?

STEAM MACHINE


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Scrooge Perhaps I was a bit harsh. But I didnt

know

Spirit 2 Didnt know?

Scrooge Well, I didnt understand

Spirit 2 You did not ask. You are not

interested in people, Scrooge. Just in

profit. Hold my robe. [They drift away]

Scrooge [Looks around him] Where are we

now?

Spirit 2 [Laughs] Where else but the

workhouse! This is where you are

happy to put your money. Yes, theyare still in operation, Ebenezer

Scrooge!

Scrooge But, but They do keep families off

the streets

Spirit 2 But not as families, Ebenezer. [Turns

to look around them]

Warden And who have we here?

Mrs Welp Mrs Welp. And here is Serafina and

and young Philip.

Warden [Sarcastic] What a Merry Christmas

Im sure it will be for you all.

Mrs Welp Why thank you kind

Warden Quiet woman. Go through there. [USR]

Mrs Welp Come Serafina, Philip

Warden No, no no! Yougo there I said.

Mrs Welp But what about my children?

Warden [menacingly] Oh, theyll be taken care

of, dont worry.

You boy! Through there! [Points to CSL]

Girl. Through there! [Serafina does

not move, frozen to the spot]

STROBE LIGHTING

STAGING: FULL and

HALF


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Mrs Welp Oh, but you cant separate us. We are

a family!

Warden Oh, but I can!

Mrs Welp But its Christmas!

Warden [Bites back] Not in the workhouse it

isnt! [Proceeds to shove the

family in different directions]

Scrooge [Shocked] What is he doing?

Spirit 2 He is making sure that the workhouse

is operating efficiently.

Scrooge But I didnt know [He stops, knowing

that he has said this before]

Spirit 2 [Laughs] You only know about making

money, dont you Scrooge? [Slaps him

on the back, jovially]

Scrooge Take me away from here, cruel Spirit.

Spirit2 Is seeing the truth so cruel, Ebenezer

Scrooge? Anyway, there is more to

see here. [Holds out his hand to

Scrooge] Let me give you a tour.

Scrooge What are they doing?

Spirit 2 It is not called a workhouse for

nothing! They are working. They pick

at the thick ropes in order to extract

oakum. To make new ropes with.

Scrooge But there little fingers are bleeding

Spirit 2 Their little fingers are said to be very

proficient at such work.

But come. I can show you the way out

for those suffering such torture.

Scrooge I am glad of it, Spirit, I am truly glad.

Spirit 2 [The Spirit moves Scrooge onwards.

There is a good deal of coughing]

STEAM MACHINE

STROBE LIGHTING?


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Spirit 2 This is the infirmary.

For the infirm, the sick. The longer

the stay in the workhouse, the more

likely you will visit the Infirmary.

Scrooge But once you are in the workhouse

Spirit 2 It is almost impossible to get out? Oh

but you can. And this is just the

place for it. Some call it the morgue.

Scrooge [Shocked] The morgue? For the dead?

Spirit 2 As doornails. Its a joke of the

inmates.

Scrooge I dont find it amusing.

Marley Youve got to admit it. That Spirit is

good at this.

Mrs M Yes, perhaps there is hope for us yet!.

Song: Time to Remember the Poor

Cold winter is come, with its cold chilling breath

And the leaves are all gone from the trees.

And all seems touched by the finger of death

And the streams are beginning to freeze.

When the young wanton lads oer the river slide,

When Flora attends us no more,

When in plenty you are sittingby a warm fireside:

Thats the time to remember the poor.

The cold featherd snow will in plenty descend

And whiten the prospects around.

The keen cutting wind from the North will attend

And cover it over the ground.

When the hills and the dales are all candied with

white

And the rivers are froze on the shore,

When the bright twinkling stars they proclaim the

cold night:Thats the time to remember the poor.


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The thaw shall ensue and the waters increase

And the rivers vehemently grow;

The fish from oblivion obtains its release

And in danger the travellers go.

When your minds are annoyed by the wide

swelling flood

And your bridges are useful no more;

When in plenty you enjoy everything that is good

Do you grumble to think of the poor?

The time will come when our Saviour on Earth

All [the] world shall agree with one voice.

All nations unite to salute the blest morn

And the whole of the Earth shall rejoice.

When grim death deprived of its killing sting

And the grave rules triumphant no more

Saints, angels and men Hallelujah shall sing

Then the rich must remember the poor.

[They all move forward, dreamlike behind them

the stage is being set for the Cratchets]


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Spirit 2 Do you remember the poor at

Christmas, Scrooge?

Scrooge You know that I do not.

Spirit2 Not Cratchet?

Scrooge Cratchet? Cratchet? Hes my clerk!

Spirit 2 Precisely, yourclerk. On 15 shillings

a week.

Scrooge But

Spirit 2 [Shakes head] Hold my robe.

Mrs C [With Belinda, puts the table cloth on

the table]

Mrs C Peter. You can start putting the food

on the table.

Peter Yes, mother.

Mrs C You too Belinda.

Dora/Thomas [Run in and rush about the table] Its

Martha, its Martha! Shes here!

Martha [Enters]

Dora/Thomas Theres sucha goose, Martha!

Mrs C [Hugging her and taking off her bonnet

and shawl] Why bless your heart alive,

my dear. How late you are!

Martha We had so much to clear up

Mrs C Never mind, you are here now. Sit by

the fire dear, and have a warm.

[sitting her down]

Dora/Thomas [Looking out of the window] No! No!

Father is coming! Hide Martha, hide!

Martha [Hides]

CratchitTim [Both enter, Cratchit stops still] Why,

wheres our Martha?

Mrs C Not comin .

PROPS

Fireplace

Fire

Table and chairs

Food/dishes for

the table

Window


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Cratchit Not coming? Not coming upon Christmas

day?

Dora/Thomas [Take Tiny Tim out]

Martha [Runs out and hugs Cratchit] Papa! Papa!

Mrs C And how did little Tim behave?

Cratchit As good as gold. He is so thoughtful.

Coming home, he said that he hoped

that a lot of people had seen him in

Church. Then they could remember on

Christmas Day, who made lame

beggars walk and blind men see.

Tiny Tim [Re-enters with Dora and Thomas]

Mrs C Ive been hearing what a good boy you

have been! [Gives Tim a kiss] Its time!

Dora/Thomas [Clap hands excitedly] Its time! Its

time!

All [All sit down]

Mrs C [Comes in with the goose] Here it is!

Cratchit Mrs Cratchit, you have surpassed

yourself!

Mrs C You deserve it working for that Mr

Scrooge!

All [Bang their knives on the table and shout]

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

All [Eat all the food]

Dora/Thomas Pudding! Pudding!

Mrs C All in good time, my little piggies! [Goes

out, fetches the pudding. Re-enters]

Cratchit [Takes a bite] Mrs Cratchit! What a

wonderful pudding. Your greatest success

since the bells rang out at our wedding!

All [Eat the Pudding. All sit back with a sigh]

Cratchit A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears!

God bless us.

PROPS

Goose

Christmas pudding


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Tiny Tim God bless us every one!

Scrooge Spirit. Tell me if Tiny Tim wll live?

Mrs M [Nudges Marley] Look, he cares, he

cares!

Marley Sshhh!

Spirit 2 I see a vacant seat and a crutch

without an owner. If these shadows

remain unaltered by the Future, the

child will die.

Scrooge No, no. Oh no, kind Spirit! Say he will

live!

Spirit 2 Why your concern, Ebenezer Scrooge?

If he be like to die, he had better do it,

and decrease the surplus population.

Scrooge [Folds in on himself;Falls to his

knees, and bows his head] No, no, no!

Cratchit [Raises his glass] Mr Scrooge!

Scrooge [He looks up in surprise at the sound

of his own name]

Cratchit I give you Mr Scrooge, the founder of

our Feast.

Mrs C. [Indignant] The Founder of the Feast,

indeed! I wish I had him here. Id give

him a piece of my mind to feast upon.

Cratchit My dear, the children; Christmas Day.

Mrs C. It could only be Christmas Day on

which one can drink the health of

such an odious, stingy, hard and

unfeeling man as Mr Scrooge. You

know he is Robert. No-one knows

better than you!

Cratchit My dear, Christmas Day!

Mrs C Ill drink his health for your sake and

the Days, not for his. [Raises her

lass all echo her Lon life to him!


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A merry Christmas and a happy New

Year! [Shakes head] Hell be very

merry and very happy, and very rich - I

have no doubt!

Spirit 2 They talk of the deserving poor yet

they end up in the workhouse. Areyou the deserving rich, Scrooge? And

where are you going to end up?

Scrooge [Shakes head] Take me away from

here. Take me far away!

Mrs M [Nodsadmiringly] Hes hard that Spirit.

Marley Just what old Scrooge needs!

ALTERNATIVE: FLYING

Welsh Carol

Fishermans Carol


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5

X10

Fred [Laughs]

Lizzie [Begins to laugh with him]

All [Laugh]

Fred He really did say that Christmas was

humbug. As I live!

Lizzie More shame him, Fred!

Fred Hes certainly a comical old fellow, thatsthe truth. But his offences will carry

their own punishment, I am sure of

that. I have nothing to say against

him!

Lizzie I am sure he is very rich, Fred.

Fred What of that my dear, his wealth is of no

use to him. He doesnt do any good

with it!

Lizzie Well, I have no patience with him!

All [All say variously: Nor I; Nor I; absolutely

not etc]

Fred Oh, I have! I am sorry for him; I

(Continued)


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couldnt be angry with him if I tried.

He is the one who suffers! He dislikes

us, and so will not come to dine with

us!

Topper And its all the merrier for that.

Fred Topper!

Topper Well, its true! I have never heard a

kind word from him about you and as

for Lizzie

Fred Topper!

Topper Besides [Looking at Philomena]

there would be uneven numbers fordancing. And that would lead to

disappointment. What do you

think, Philomena?

Philomena [Embarrassed] Oh, Topper!

Fred Lets have a dance!

All [Dance]

All [Blind Mans Buff. Fred started and found

no-one. Topper took over. They

bumped into him he pretended not to

catch them. Topper pursued

Philomena all around the room.]

Lizzie Are you sure that you could not see,

Topper.

Topper Oh, absolutely. Blind as a bat, old girl!

Fred [A game of Twenty Questions revolving

around Scrooge. Fred can only say

yes or no to the questions raised.All

have a glass of wine. (75)]

Okay. You must guess what I am.

Georgie Oh good! I like this game!

Cora I love it too Georgie. Bags first question!

First question! First Question!

MUSIC

Mozart Minuet

PROPS

6 glasses of wine

Scrooge: he joins in with the games

and so is particularly mortified by

the game of Twenty Questions


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Fred Fire away, Cora!

Cora Are you an animal?

Fred Well, I suppose I am.

Lizzie You can only say yes or no, Fred.

Fred Sorry! Yes.

Lizzie Do you live in Africa?

Fred No.

Georgie Europe?

Fred So much closer, old chap!

Lizzie Fred!

Fred [Holds up hands and pulls a face] Okay, yes

or no, yes or no.

Philomena London!

Fred Yes.

Cora Do you have feathers?

Fred No.

Philomena Do you have four legs? [Fred shakes

head: saysNo when Lizzie stares]

Cora No legs!

Georgie A snake!

Fred Georgie! Far too quick. A snake is not ananimal, its a reptile and besides - you

did not give me a chance to answer

Coras question. No.

Lizzie Not two legs!

Fred Yes. Come on Topper! Have a shot!

Topper Its not my sort of game, Fred. But if

you insist. A performing bear.

Fred No.

Philomena And Topper, thats awful! Its awful!

Scrooge

Asia?

England!

A wren!

A horse!

[at same time as

Georgie] snake

[Holds hands up and

wide, does not know]


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Topper [Hands up in defence, shrugs] You

wanted me to have a go.

Cora One of us.

Fred No.

Philomena A relation.

Topper Dont be daft, Philomena! [She looks

upset; e.g. fingers to mouth. Topper

realises his mistake, punches a hand

in his palm. Philomena turns away

from him]

Fred Yes!

Georgie Not grumpy!

Fred Yes!

Cora Not hard as flint!

Fred Yes!

Philomena Not miserly!

Fred Yes!

Lizzie I have it, I have it. Your uncle

All [In long low moan] Scroooooooge!

Fred Now, now. [Fred raises his finger] Uncle

Scrooge has given us much

merriment. It would be ungrateful not

to drink his health.

Lizzie But Fred

Fred It is Christmas.

Lizzie [Little shrug and then holds up her

glass]

Uncle Scrooge!

All Uncle Scrooge!

Scrooge [Shakes his head] Do they mean it,

Spirit?

[Scrooge now simply

looks from player to

player, getting

increasingly

concerned/upset]

STEAM MACHINE


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Mrs M. What didthey mean?

Marley No idea. But has it changed him? He

does not care what they think anyway!

Spirit 2 Hold my coat.

Scrooge Spirit, your hair is grey. Are spirits

lives so short?

Spirit 2 My life upon this globe is very brief. It

ends tonight.

Scrooge Tonight?

Spirit 2 Tonight at midnight.

Scrooge [Scrooge notices something under the

Spirits cape] Spirit. There is

something strange; in your coat.Is it

a foot or a claw?

Spirit 2 It might be a claw, but look, Ebenezer

Scrooge. Look here! [The spirit opens

its coat]

Scrooge [Leapt back]

Mrs M [Leapt back]

Marley [Leapt back]

Scrooge Spirit! Are they yours?

Spirit 2 They are Mans. And they cling to me.

This boy is Ignorance. The girl isWant. Beware them both, but most of

all beware this boy. On his brow is

written Doom!

Scrooge Have they nowhere to go?

Spirit 2 Are there no prisons? Are there no

workhouses?

Scrooge [DCS: At each statement (a) falls tohis knees (b) bows his head]

PROPS for Spirit 2

White wig

? MUSIC INTERLUDE

SOUND EFFECT

Tolling of the bell 12times

EFFECT

The Spirit of

Christmas Present

becomes Christmasfuture

2 children: ignorance and want

1.6 spirit the present

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