Scrooge: A Christmas Carol 2022

On Christmas Eve in 1843, the festivities are in full swing, and a cheerful man named Harry Huffman joyfully sings about his affection for the holiday with the tune “I Love Christmas.” However, his encounter with his miserly uncle, Ebeneezer Scrooge, is anything but warm. Scrooge, accompanied by his loyal dog Prudence, skillfully avoids Harry’s attempt to reconnect, as he refuses to give a donation to charity and instead demands repayment from local toy shop owner Tom Jenkins, who is already struggling to afford medical expenses for his ailing mother. Tom admits he owes 25 pounds but pleads for an extension of just two more days to pay his debt. Unfazed, Scrooge adds another 25 pounds, further worsening Tom’s burden.

Upon returning to his counting house, Scrooge’s cold-heartedness continues as he dismisses Harry’s invitation to a Christmas dinner party. Reluctantly, he allows his underpaid clerk, Bob Cratchit, to take the next day off for Christmas despite gouging him on pay for every little mistake. Bob lives in dire poverty with his wife Ethel and their many children, one of whom, Tiny Tim, suffers from a grave illness preventing him from getting the medical treatment he desperately needs.

After closing up for the night, Scrooge heads to his usual tavern for dinner, where he expresses his discontent with the holiday by singing “Tell Me.” However, the real turmoil begins at home when he is haunted by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. Marley appears bound in heavy chains, a punishment for the greedy life he led, and warns Scrooge that he too will be condemned to a similar fate unless he changes his ways. Marley informs Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits who will guide him to redemption.

As Scrooge settles down for the night, he meets the first spirit, The Ghost of Christmas Past. This whimsical spirit, made of candle wax and with a flame atop her head, takes him on a journey through his past. They relive moments of Scrooge’s childhood, including his time spent working in a factory on Christmas due to his father’s imprisonment for debts. He recalls happier times spent with his younger sister Jen and his engagement to Isabel, the daughter of kind-hearted businessman Mr. Fezziwig. But as their love fades, Scrooge chooses ambition and wealth over love, leading to Isabel’s heartbreak as she leaves him, a choice he rationalizes was made for financial security.

The second visitor, The Ghost of Christmas Present, is a jovial giant clad in a green robe. He shows Scrooge the joyous celebrations around him, including Harry’s heartfelt love for his uncle, stemming from stories of Scrooge’s late sister Jen, and the Cratchit family’s modest but happy Christmas, despite their hardships and Tiny Tim’s frail condition. When Scrooge inquires about Tim’s future, the ghost ominously suggests that he should seek answers from the final spirit.

Next, Scrooge encounters [The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come], a dark and foreboding figure who reveals a grim future where even Tom Jenkins leads a toast in gratitude—only for Scrooge to realize they are celebrating his death. The revelation that Tiny Tim has passed away devastates him, compounded by the sight of his lonely funeral, attended only by a few out of obligation. A horrifying glimpse into the afterlife shows Scrooge a hellish existence with heavy chains if he does not amend his ways. Moved by his visions, he pledges to change and redeem himself, especially for Tiny Tim’s sake.

On Christmas morning, Scrooge awakens with a newfound spirit and determination. He sets about bringing joy to all around him, attending Harry’s dinner, taking Bob on as a business partner, and erasing Tom’s burdensome debt. He promises to ensure that Tiny Tim receives the medical attention he needs with an increase in his father’s wages. In this spirit of change and generosity, Scrooge joyfully celebrates Christmas with his newfound friends, singing “I’ll Begin Again.”