The next day, just two days before opening night of the show, Homer was in his office at the nuclear power plant rehearsing his lines.
"Please spirit, show me no more!" Homer rehearsed. He was rehearsing the part in which Scrooge vows to become a better person after he sees the ghost of Christmas Yet to Be. "Please, Spirit! I'm not the man I was!"
"Excuse me, Homer." Carl went to him.
Homer did not listen, since he was still rehearsing. "I will not be the man I would've been!"
"Homer!" Carl called.
"Take pity, Spirit!" Homer kept rehearsing.
Carl: "HOMER!"
The shout of his name made Homer jump out of his seat. He quickly turned and noticed Carl standing next to Lenny.
"Homer, you have an important request from Mr. Burns." Carl told Homer. "I shouldn't have to repeat your damn name three times."
"And you do know that, because you're rehearsing your lines out loud in the office, not only is Mr. Burns watching you on his monitor and isn't pleased, but also, everyone in the plant is staring and laughing at you." Lenny pointed out.
Indeed the plant workers were laughing at Homer rehearsing his lines out loud, making Homer turn red with embarrassment.
"Hey, Homer!" One plant worker called out. "I think you're impressive as Scrooge! Good luck!"
"Can't wait to see you on opening night!" Another plant worker yelled.
"Everyone get back to work." Mr. Burns' voice demanded from the speaker. "Mr. Simpson. I'd like to see you in my office."
"Hey, hey. I wonder if he wants to give me more compliments." Homer thought out loud. "Until I return, you boys have to collect the rods. I'll get the rest when I come back."
"Good lord." Carl said to Lenny. "He's a great Scrooge, alright."
"Amen to that." Lenny sighed.
When Homer got to Mr. Burns' office, he ended up with more than he bargained for.
"Homer Simpson, it seems you have time on our hands." Mr. Burns lectured. "Wasting your time telling everyone to do your shifts while you rehearse. That's my job as a boss. You, on the other hand, are a co-worker. Act like one. I know this role is important, but there are other things around here that are even more important. Don't become a Scrooge."
"All that coming from a real-life Scrooge himself." Homer remarked.
"I heard that." Mr. Burns shot back. "And I should've played Scrooge."
"If you were Scrooge in this play, it'd be stereotyping." Homer chuckled.
"Enough is enough, Mr. Simpson." Mr. Burns warned Homer. "I've got my eye on my monitor and you're on it. Get back to work, do as you've been told, and do NOT let me catch you and your rude behavior again!"
"I'll be seeing you in the show, Homer." Mr. Smithers called to Homer."
"I'll see you, too, Smithies!" Homer called back on his way out. "You'll be perfect in the ensemble!"
Mr. Burns turned to his assistant.
"Smithies, you see what you just did?" Mr. Burns questioned sternly.
"I was only…" Burns interrupted him.
"It seemed like you encouraging Mr. Simpson's conceited attitude." Mr. Burns warned Smithers. "I won't have it. The sooner he learns his lesson the better. I make a better Scrooge."