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SCENE 2: THE BEDROOM.

 

(Lights up on Scrooge, sitting in front of an empty fireplace in his dressing-gown, slippers, night-cap, eating his gruel, mumbling occasionally. His bed is nearby. Suddenly calling bells begin to ring, startling SCROOGE. It begins slowly at first, then becomes

faster and louder, more insistent. It stops just as suddenly, leaving Scrooge momentarily frozen. He goes back to his gruel, mumbling. We hear the sound of heavy chains being dragged across a floor. Scrooge looks up, spooked.)

MARLEY (off stage left, In a booming voice): Scrooge!

 

(Scrooge springs up from his chair, dropping bowl and spoon.) MARLEY: Scro-o-ooge!!

SCROOGE (after a pause): Humbug! I won't believe it!

 

(MARLEY enters slowly, a grayish-white figure bound in cash-boxes and thick ledgers on oversized chains secured with huge padlocks, all of the same color. He stops center stage.)

SCROOGE (eyes wide, incredulous): How's this?! What do you want with me? MARLEY (proceeding in a dark, low tone): Much!

SCROOGE: Who are you? MARLEY: Ask me who I was.

SCROOGE: Alright, who were you then? MARLEY: In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley. SCROOGE: Ha—I don't believe it.

MARLEY (screaming monstrously): AAAHHH!

 

MARLEY: Do you believe in me or not?

SCROOGE: I do. I must! But why have you come to me?

 

MARLEY: I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, yard by yard, and wore it of my own free will. Is the pattern strange to you? Or would you know the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was as long and heavy as these seven Christmas Eves ago. It is a very hard chain!

 

(Scrooge looks about him on the floor, seeing nothing.)

SCROOGE (starting to stand): But you always were a good man of business, Jacob.

 

MARLEY: Business?! Humankind was my business! (Scrooge falls to his knees again.) The common welfare was my business! Charity and mercy were all my business! Oh, why did I walk through crowds of fellow beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star? (beat) Hear me! My time is nearly done!

 

SCROOGE: I will, Jacob. But don't be hard on me!

 

MARLEY: I am here to warn you, that you have yet a chance of escaping my fate, Ebeneezer.

 

SCROOGE: You always were a good friend! Thankee! MARLEY: You will be visited by three Spirits.

SCROOGE (nervously): Is...is that the chance you mention? MARLEY: It is. Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tolls one.

SCROOGE (standing): Can't they all come at once, Jacob?

 

MARLEY: Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. And the third, upon the next night!

 

(MARLEY backs up, exits L. We hear screams of remorse and suffering off stage. Scrooge attempts to shake the whole thing off.)

 

SCROOGE: Oh, humb...

 

 


Date: 2015-12-24; view: 689


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ACT 1 SCENE 1: THE COUNTING HOUSE | SCENE 3: THE BEDROOM.
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