A Christmas Carol

PLOT

On Christmas Eve in London, Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly moneylender at a counting house, does not share the merriment of Christmas. Scrooge declines an offer from recently widowed Mr. Smythe and his daughter Grace to pay for Mrs. Smythe's funeral, voicing his support for the prisons and workhouses for the poor, declining his nephew Fred's invitation to Christmas dinner, and reluctantly accepts his loyal employee Bob Cratchit's request to have Christmas Day off since there will be no business for Scrooge on the day. As Scrooge leaves for home, he encounters three individuals—a candle-lighter, a barker and an old blind woman—and declines their offers to collect money for charity. In his house, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns Scrooge to repent or be condemned in the afterlife like he was, informing him that three spirits will visit him during the night.

At one o'clock, Scrooge is visited by the fairy-like Ghost of Christmas Past, who takes him back in time to his childhood and early adult life. They visit the time when his father John William was sentenced for not paying debts, his lonely days as a boot factory worker, and then his time as an employee under Mr. Fezziwig. Fezziwig throws a Christmas party, where Scrooge befriends and is engaged to a young woman named Emily. However, the Ghost shows Scrooge how he and Marley chose money over Fezziwig and how Emily later left Scrooge after realising how hard-hearted he has become. The Ghost finally shows him when Marley dies in 1836 after overworking himself. A devastated Scrooge dismisses the Ghost as he returns to the present.

At two o'clock, Scrooge is visited by the merry Ghost of Christmas Present who shows him the joys and wonder of Christmas Day. Scrooge and the Ghost next visit Bob Cratchit's house, learning his family is content with their dinner, as Scrooge takes pity on Bob's ill son, Tiny Tim. The Ghost then comments that Tiny Tim might not survive until next Christmas. Scrooge and the Ghost visit Fred's house, where Fred hopes that someday his uncle will join them as family. The Ghost abruptly ages and shows him the evils of "Ignorance" and "Want" before he disappears and Scrooge returns to the present.

At three o'clock, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be approaches Scrooge, appearing as a tall, silent and beautiful woman under a beggar's robes. The Ghost takes Scrooge into the future. In a cemetery, Scrooge recognizes his deceased self as his housekeeper Mrs. Mopps trades his possessions to a fence named Old Joe. Scrooge then discovers Tiny Tim has died and when the Ghost points out his own grave, he decides to change his ways. Scrooge is surrounded by the Cratchits, Grace and the spirits of his mother and sister, which encourage him to feel love and compassion again. Scrooge's grave begins to crack, hinting the future already has begun to change, and Scrooge, misunderstanding this to be a sign he is doomed, tries to run as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come throws his bed curtains over him to return him to the present.

Awakening in his bedroom on Christmas Day, Scrooge decides to surprise Bob's family with a turkey dinner, and ventures out to spread happiness and joy throughout London. After paying off Mr. Smythe's debt, Scrooge once again encounters the three individuals—who are the Ghosts in their human forms—and thanks them. Scrooge goes to the Cratchit house, at first putting on a stern demeanor, and then revealing he intends to raise Bob's salary and pay off his mortgage. Scrooge then goes to Fred's house to celebrate Christmas with the neighborhood and the Cratchits, with the three spirits (in the forms of the candle-lighter, barker, and blind woman from the beginning) watching from afar.

CAST

Kelsey Grammer as Ebenezer Scrooge

Jane Krakowski as Ghost of Christmas Past / Lamplighter

Jesse L. Martin as Ghost of Christmas Present / Sandwich Board Man

Geraldine Chaplin as Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be / Blind Old Hag

Jennifer Love Hewitt as Emily

Jason Alexander as Jacob Marley

Edward Gower as Bob Cratchit

Linzi Hateley as Mrs. Cratchit

Jacob Collier (Moriarty) as Tiny Tim[1]

Julian Ovenden as Fred Anderson

Julie Alannagh-Brighten as Sally Anderson

Ruthie Henshall as Mrs. Scrooge (Scrooge's mother)

Mike Kelly as John William Scrooge (Scrooge's father)

Lea-Verity White as Fan Scrooge Anderson

Sheila Reid as Mrs. Mops

Ian McLarnon as Mr. Smythe

Emily Deamer as Grace Smythe

Brian Bedford as Mr. Fezziwig

Claire Moore as Mrs. Fezziwig

Steven Miller as Young Ebenezer Scrooge