A Christmas Carol Online – 2020

It’s a cold, Christmas Eve night and Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly businessman, continues to work away from the holiday merriment.  Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, calls to invite him to Christmas dinner with his family. Scrooge turns him down without even a “Merry Christmas.” While continuing to work, Scrooge accidentally answers a call from two solicitors who are helping to raise money for those in need. They encourage him to support their cause to which responds that his taxes already go towards prisons and workhouses and that is enough.

We then meet Scrooge’s assistant, Mr. Bob Cratchit, through an interoffice call, as he requests Christmas Day off from work. Scrooge begrudgingly agrees that he shall have the day, but return all the earlier the next day. Scrooge leaves his office and as he walks home, he begins to hear the voice of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley. Scrooge arrives home, scared and startled, and tries to convince himself that the voices were only his imagination. But soon the ghost of Marley appears to warn him that he will be visited by three spirits and that Scrooge must listen to them if he wants to escape the same fate.

Even though Scrooge doesn’t believe what he sees or hears, later that night the Ghost of Christmas Past appears. The spirit shows Scrooge images from his childhood and young adulthood, including moments with his sister Fan, his first employer Mrs. Fezziwig, and a painful memory with his fiancée, Belle. Soon the Ghost of Christmas present arrives and shows Scrooge Bob Cratchit’s tiny home on this Christmas Day. Cratchit is about to enjoy dinner with his husband and son, Tiny Tim. The spirit tells Scrooge that unless the future changes, Tiny Tim will die. The ghost also shows Scrooge his nephew Fred’s house, where the family is playing games and enjoying the holiday even though Scrooge refused to join. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come finally appears. They don’t speak to Scrooge, only showing him a conversation where people discuss the death of a lonely old miser. He begs the spirit to show him someone who is moved with emotion by death, and he finds his own clerk Cratchit at the gravestone of Tiny Tim. The last stop is Scrooge’s own tombstone, where he realizes that the lonely man whose death is being celebrated is his own.

Scrooge vows to change his ways. He honors Christmas Day when he wakes up in the morning, spreading through generosity and kindness. Never again does Scrooge ignore the joys of the holiday spirit.