♪ A very good evening, ladies and gentlemen ♪ ♪ Children and siblings and peers ♪ ♪ It is all in lot to preface our plot ♪ ♪ For delight of your eyes and your ears ♪ ♪ But first allow me to introduce myself ♪ ♪ I am the ghost of Jacob Marley ♪ ♪ That you may have guessed ♪ By the long and ludicrous lord of a chain ♪ ♪ That I wear on my lifeless vest ♪ ♪ Oh, do not take fright from my ghostly sight ♪ ♪ Or shake with trepidation ♪ For I'm only a figment ♪ Of Mr. Dickens prodigious imagination ♪ (dramatic orchestral music) (bell tolling) ♪ The Christmas spirit is what it's all about ♪ ♪ Though a Christmas ghost story it turns out ♪ ♪ This distinction twixt ghosted spirit ♪ ♪ Is not very clear to me ♪ For after all, what's a spirit ♪ ♪ But a ghost with a PHD ♪ Oh, see spook specter of spirit ♪ ♪ Here is our tale.

♪ Please sit back and hear it.

♪ This cold hard season.

♪ The freezing winter.

♪ This is soul like might tore him apart, ♪ ♪ the Scrooge that's wheezing, wrenching, ♪ ♪ grasping, scraping, clutching covered [Inaudible] ♪ ♪ There he is.

♪ Listen to him.

♪ And his ratchet like bark.

♪ He's always harassing poor Cratchit, his clerk ♪ ♪ - Cratchit!

Cratchit!

♪ What are you doing, you dunce of a clerk?

♪ ♪Expecting pay for a honest day's work.

♪ ♪ Cratchit!

Cratchit!

♪ Have you finished with that ledger yet?

♪ ♪ - No sir.

♪ - You certainly do work incredibly slow.

♪ ♪ - I only got it five minutes ago.

♪ ♪ My hands are so cold.

♪ I can't work very fast ♪ - I gave you a lump of coal day before last.

♪ ♪ - Yes sir.

♪ - You're not getting paid to stand there.

♪ ♪ - Yes, sir.

♪ - Go back to your desk.

♪ - Yes, sir.

♪ - 'Tis a very cold season for whatever reason ♪ ♪ to find yourself out of a job, Cratchit.

♪ ♪ - Yes, sir.

♪ - Now then, where was I?

Oh yes.

♪ 3,449, 3,450, 3,451... (choir singing) 3,455, 3,456, 3457 3,458, 3,459 ♪ Na na na na na na, ♪ oh tidings of comfort and joy.

♪ Comfort and joy?

♪ Get out of here!

♪ Musicians?

Bah humbug.

♪ - A merry Christmas Uncle, god bless you.

♪ ♪ - Bah, humbug!

♪ -Christmas, a humbug, Uncle, I can't believe that's true.

♪ ♪ - Christmas is a humbug, of that I'm very sure.

♪ ♪ What right have you to be happy ♪ ♪ compared to a church mouse, you're poor.

♪ ♪ - Why should you be gruff?

You're rich enough.

♪ - Bah humbug!

The last you like the year before ♪ ♪ Christmas came and went ♪ and did not bring one farthing more.

♪ ♪ Not a red copper cent.

♪ - Christmas is the only time ♪ - Not a red copper cent ♪ - Toward what one love may reign.

♪ ♪ If you never sew good cannot be rot in capital gain ♪ ♪ It's a time for spreading joy and cheer ♪ ♪ the only time in all the year ♪ ♪ when no man here is master - I'm the master of this house.

♪- and no man here is slave ♪ but all on earth are merely ♪ fellow travelers to the grave.

♪ ♪ And though I know it will never bring me ♪ ♪ farthing, franc, or stew, ♪ Still I'll always say it, Uncle, ♪ ♪ God bless you.

- Here!

Here!

♪- Good afternoon.

♪ - Merry Christmas!

♪- Good afternoon.

♪- Happy New Year!

♪- Good afternoon.

♪- God bless you.

♪- Good afternoon!

♪- Sir, may I leave little early today?

♪ ♪- He'll be expecting a total day's pay.

♪ ♪-But sir, it's is the night before Christmas ♪ ♪- Oh, well if you must.

♪- Yes sir!

Thank you, sir!

♪- Good afternoon.

♪- Merry Christmas.

♪- Good afternoon!

(somber music) ♪ What?

Who is it?

What could I have seen?

♪ ♪ - Ask not who I am but who I might've been.

♪ ♪- Very well then, who might you have been?

♪ ♪ - In life, I was your partner, Jacob Marley.

♪ ♪ -So it would seem, but it's not quite likely.

♪ ♪ 'Tis a stomach disorder which brings me this grief.

♪ ♪ You're an underdone potato ♪ some undigested bean.

♪ Oh you're probably last night's ragu ♪ ♪ There's much more of gravy than grave about you.

♪ ♪ Bah humbug!

♪ (chains rattling) ♪ Oh dreadful apparition, most horrid sight.

♪ ♪ I wish I knew why you came here tonight.

♪ ♪ The very side of you, old friend, ♪ ♪ gives me greatest pain.

♪ Why is it you are obliged to wear that heavy chain?

♪ ♪- Twas my life which was this chain for me ♪ ♪ The one you wear, you cannot see ♪ ♪ Only in death will it weigh you down ♪ ♪ yard by yard and pound by pound.

♪ ♪ But hear me, Scrooge, and avoid my fate ♪ ♪ For you, it is not yet too late.

♪ - Speak comfort to me, Jacob!

♪- You'll be haunted by three spirits ♪ ♪ - If it's all the same to you, Jacob ♪ ♪ I'd rather not.

♪- Expect the first this evening as the clock strikes ten ♪ ♪ expect the next an hour later as the chime sounds again.

♪ ♪- But couldn't I take them all at once ♪ ♪ and get it over with, Jacob?

♪- Expect the third without word ♪ ♪ at the last stroke of 12 - But Jacob!

♪- Expect to see me no more, Ebeneezer.

♪ - Bah, humbug!

(flute whistles) ♪- Are you the spirit whose coming was foretold?

♪ ♪ - I am the ghost of Christmas past.

♪ ♪- Long past.

♪- No, your past.

Rise and walk with me.

♪ ♪- What can I expect to see?

♪ (flute trills) ♪ Why, it's old Fezziwig!

His memory is dear.

♪ ♪ Twas long ago I apprenticed here.

♪ (upbeat strings) ♪- No more work tonight, boys.

It's Christmas Eve!

♪ ♪ Is it ever that tower could change an hour ♪ ♪ into a single minute - Merry Christmas to you, Ebeneezer.

♪ - He led his life so free of strife ♪ ♪ as if knowing what was in it ♪ His face was always gay and bright ♪ ♪ His smile could make our burdens light.

♪ ♪ How he did it, I'd forgotten how ♪ ♪ if only I could speak with Cratchit now.

♪ ♪ Oh, ghost, it pains me!

♪ Don't torment me, I beseech.

♪- My time is short, ♪ Yet I have one lesson left to teach.

♪ ♪ Do you remember her, pray tell?

♪ ♪ - Could it be?

Yes it could.

♪ Why of course, it's Belle.

♪- Was that when you were young [Inaudible] ♪ ♪ As you grew older and richer [Inaudible] ♪ ♪you both went far apart.

♪- I was only a child, ♪ I made a mistake.

♪- You were already callous, she never caused you pain ♪ - I know!

♪- Behold!

Belle [Inaudible] ♪ - I love you, ♪ and I thought that you loved me ♪ ♪ Yet from we two have turned ♪ to the part we two have earned ♪ ♪ So what might have been will never be ♪ ♪ And what had been our young love grew ♪ ♪ My lovely head without was through ♪ ♪ Yet one was gone, and now is true ♪ ♪ Oh Ebeneezer Scrooge, I love you ♪ ♪ and I know now I must set you free ♪ ♪ It is now that we part, I fear ♪ ♪ The vision has become quite clear ♪ ♪ That you love your money more than me.

♪ - Stop ghost!

I can bare no more!

♪ Show me not tales, but my chamber door ♪ (frantic music) (clock chimes) ♪ -Arise, oh Scrooge!

Wake up, old boy!

♪ ♪ 'Tis time to spread some Christmas joy.

♪ ♪- What?

Who?

Whoa!

♪ The second ghost.

♪ - Ha ha ha!

Be that you are a reluctant host ♪ ♪ The time is short to now me better ♪ ♪ Make haste to pray for winter weather ♪ ♪ - Do you have our name, sir?

♪- I am the ghost of Christmas present.

♪ - Oh!

♪ My live's been spot a single year, ♪ ♪ my job is spreading joy and cheer ♪ ♪ and we must departed fast ♪ E'er I become the ghost of Christmas past.

♪ ♪ Don't stand there with eyes cast down ♪ ♪ but quickly grasp my ghostly gown ♪ ♪ We've joy to spread around the town.

♪ (joyful music plays) ♪- Yours is quite a pleasant task ♪ ♪ What do you have in that little red basket?

♪ ♪- Christmas cheer, that's the thing ♪ ♪ Ah, would you like to have a gleam?

♪ ♪ Just blow it out.

(music trills) ♪ There!

Isn't that fun?

♪ Bet you can't stop after trying just one!

♪ ♪ Throw a little over here ♪ They could use some Christmas cheer!

♪ ♪ -Why, it's Cratchit's house!

♪ -Mother, Peter, hurry!

♪ Father's coming round the corner ♪ ♪ And he has Tiny Tim on his back ♪ ♪ Hide, Martha, hide!

♪ -We'll tell Father you're not here yet ♪ ♪ -Get your cloak there off the rack!

♪ ♪ They're so poor, how can they be so happy?

♪ ♪- Is our Martha here?

♪- She's not coming this year.

♪- Not coming?

♪- Surprise, Father!

♪ -Oh, Ghost, please tell me, I must know.

♪ ♪ Will Tiny Tim live and grow?

♪- I see a lonely crutch without an owner ♪ ♪ and a little vacant seat ♪ at the poor chimney corner ♪ If the future does not an alteration give ♪ ♪ In the shadows will remain ♪ And the child will not live ♪ Or perhaps you say he should die now ♪ ♪ without procrastination?

♪ And thereby decrease the world's surplus population ♪ ♪ - Oh taunt me not with my own words!

♪ ♪ I knew not what I said.

♪ I'd do anything within my power ♪ ♪ before I see him dead.

(Scrooge cries) ♪ - Let's drink a toast to Mr. Scrooge ♪ and always hold him dear.

♪- Scrooge, indeed, I wish I had him here ♪ ♪ I have a few choice words I'd like ♪ ♪ to pour into his ear ♪ - My dear, the children!

It's Christmas.

♪ ♪ - That it's Christmas day I'm sure ♪ ♪ but why drink the health of an audience's dandy, ♪ ♪ Hard unfeeling boar?

♪ But because it's Christmas and for your sake, I'll say ♪ ♪ (all sing together) God Bless Mr. Scrooge.

Bleh!

♪ ♪- Let us now drink to our family ♪ ♪ (all sing together) God bless us ♪ ♪ - God bless us, everyone.

(somber violin) (Clock chimes) (dramatic music) ♪ -Am I in the presence of the ghost ♪ ♪ Of Christmas, Christmases yet to come?

♪ ♪ Are you about to show me ♪ shadows of things that have not yet been?

♪ ♪ Is that so, spirit?

♪ Speak to me, ghost of the future.

♪ ♪ I fear you more than any other I have yet seen.

♪ ♪ Lead on.

♪- I only know what others said, ♪ ♪ that he was found some three days dead.

♪ ♪ -Three days and no one found him there?

♪ ♪ -Twas Mr. Scrooge, who would care?

♪ ♪ -What kind of man could come to such an end?

♪ ♪ -Why Mr. Scrooge had not a single friend.

♪ ♪ -When I think about it, it's really not funny ♪ ♪ -They found him all alone, ♪ Just scrooging all his money.

♪ ♪- Oh spirit, just tell me, how far we must go ♪ ♪ Do you have something for me, something to show?

♪ ♪ What?

I see nothing!

(haunting music) Oh no!

Oh no!

(Scrooge cries) ♪ I'm awake, I'm alive!

♪ I'm here in my bed!

♪ Chances are good that I'm not really dead.

♪ ♪ The spirit have taught me ♪ To live life at last ♪ I'll live in the future, ♪ The present and past.

♪ Now that the spirits have finished their visit ♪ ♪ I'm really quite puzzled, just what day is it?

♪ ♪ You there on the street, ♪ What day is today?

♪ -Did I hear him right?

♪- Well, what did he say?

♪What day is today?

♪ - It's Christmas day!

♪- It's Christmas day, by Joe, you're right!

♪ ♪ The spirits have done it all in one night.

♪ ♪They can do anything they like.

It's Christmas day.

♪ ♪ See here my boy, are you quick on your feet?

♪ ♪ Can you buy a turkey from the grocer ♪ ♪ on the next street?

♪- Yes, sir.

♪ - Here, this should do it.

♪ Have it killed and dressed and quickly ♪ ♪ take it to this address.

♪I'll send it to Cratchit.

♪In fact, I'll go there myself.

♪ ♪ I can't spend Christmas tucked away on a shelf.

♪ (playful music) ♪ Merry Christmas!

♪ Happy New Year!

♪God bless you!

♪ Merry Christmas, Fred!

♪ What are you doing along this way?

♪ ♪ Don't you know that it's Christmas day?

♪ ♪- I don't think I see what I see that I see ♪ ♪ You look like my uncle, ♪ but you can't really be.

♪ - Yes, Fred, 'tis I and it's Christmas ♪ ♪ Don't stand there, Fred, ♪ you're as cold as a toad ♪ Come, let's hop over to Cratchit's abode!

♪ ♪ Let's go.

Merry Christmas!

♪ Happy New Year!

♪ Here's the Cratchit house, Fred ♪ ♪ Knock on the door, ♪ Knock on the walls and ceiling and floor ♪ ♪- Belinda, have you heard?

♪Scrooge just sent us a huge Christmas bird!

♪ ♪-What's the occasion for all this cheer?

♪ ♪ - There's something different about this year.

♪ (three knocks on the door) ♪ -Quickly, Peter, the door!

(all gasp) ♪- Mr. Scrooge, Fred, please come in.

♪ ♪ - Quickly, Peter, Mr. Scrooge is here ♪ ♪ Run and get a tankard of beer.

♪ ♪ - Merry Christmas to you, Bob, and Mrs. Cratchit ♪ ♪ And the children, and Tiny Tim.

♪ ♪ (playful music) ♪ A toast, a toast to our gracious host ♪ ♪ And to his lovely spouse ♪ And most especially to everyone here ♪ ♪ Gathered in this house.

♪ A merry Christmas to everyone here ♪ ♪ And may God give you a happy new year ♪ ♪- A merry Christmas to everyone here ♪ ♪ And may God give you happy new year ♪ ♪- A merry Christmas to everyone here ♪ ♪ And may God give you happy new year ♪ ♪- A merry Christmas to everyone here ♪ ♪ And may God give you happy new year ♪ ♪- A merry Christmas to everyone here ♪ ♪ And may God give you happy new year ♪ ♪ -May you have a happy new year ♪ ♪ May it be the very best ♪ -Ah yes, may you see the fullest next year ♪ ♪ And especially for the rest ♪ -The very best ♪ (all sing together) ♪ God give you joy on this Christmas day ♪ ♪ And health and wealth and fun ♪ ♪ And may you always be home to say ♪ ♪ - God bless us, every one.

♪ - God bless us, every one.

♪ (Christmas music) ♪ A merry Christmas to everyone here ♪ ♪ and may God give you a happy new year ♪ ♪ A merry Christmas to everyone here ♪ ♪ and may God give you a happy new year ♪ ♪ A merry Christmas to everyone here ♪ ♪ and may God give you a happy new year ♪ ♪ A merry Christmas to everyone here ♪ ♪ and may God give you a happy new year ♪ ♪ God give you joy on this Christmas day ♪ ♪ And health and wealth and fun ♪ ♪ And may you always be home to say ♪ ♪ God bless us, every one.

♪ God bless us, every one.