It was around Christmastime in Springfield, and the Springfielders were all hustle and bustle in preparing for their plans during holiday season. However, several Springfield citizens were in a community play of A Christmas Carol. Homer Simpsons had, surprisingly, gotten the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge, and Marge, Bart, and Lisa as members of the ensemble.
At the Simpson home, a few days prior to the annual Christmas Carol production, Homer was rehearsing his lines for the show.
"Christmas. Bah Humbug." Homer rehearsed in his Scrooge-like acting accent.
"Damn, Homer." He said to himself confidently with a chuckle. "Everyone's gonna be impressed by you tonight. You shining superstar!"
Homer was excited about playing Scrooge in the show and took his acting quite seriously, which was rare considering the fact that he did not take important things seriously that often. Bart and Lisa followed Marge in the hallway.
"Hey, my dear wife and kids." Homer greeted them. "I think I'm starting to improve like, a ton! You wanna see and then give me some feedback?"
"Eh, you can, but if I could give you feedback now, I'd tell you that you're getting too wrapped up in your work." Warned Lisa. "While it's a good thing that you're rehearsing, taking it seriously and definitely have it in you, you've been so caught up that it feels like you haven't been giving us attention."
Homer: "Lisa, angel, I still give everyone attention."
Bart: Really, "Homer? Two days ago you forgot my sandwich. I had to ask Milhouse for half of his lunch money on those disgusting leftover turkeys! When will Lunch Lady Doris learn that Thanksgiving's over and Christmas is here?"
Marge: "Christmas. Hint, hint, Homer?"
Upon hearing Marge's hint, Homer felt some guilt, but not complete guilt.
"Look, I know I've been seemingly neglecting everyone, and I try not to, really, but I've got to memorize these lines." Homer assured his family. "The play's only days away so it has to be neat, so sometimes it makes me forgetful. Besides, I feel like I'm doing a great job being Scrooge."
"One more thing, Mr. Burns had a complaint from Lenny and Carl about your recent behavior at work." Marge reminded him. "They said that you've been telling everyone what to do, just as if you were a boss worse than Mr. Burns. Not to mention your rehearsing in work."
Marge took out what looked like costumes for the show and started working on them.
"Marge, you didn't tell us you were doing costumes." Homer noticed. "I thought you were just acting."
"It's a last minute job that was assigned to me." Marge sighed. "Helen Lovejoy bailed on the job all because she wanted a part in the show, so I'm stuck doing two jobs in case you didn't notice."
Homer listened, but not fully.
"Christmas." He rehearsed. "A poor excuse for picking a businessman's pocket every 25th of December."
Marge sighed in frustration. "I still love your dad." She assured the kids. "I know he's not perfect. Nobody is. But he needs to come back to reality and not become a real-deal Scrooge. That's the problem."
Homer kept rehearsing. "Christmas, Bah Humbug."
"Is it just me, or does it seem like dad's starting to become reality's Scrooge?" Lisa asked Bart.
"I'm gonna go with the second." Bart answered. "Dad's a real-deal Scrooge alright."
"What's Christmastime to you!?" Homer acted. "But a time for paying bills without money!"
Lisa: "Let's go, Bart. We've got rehearsing to do ourselves."