Scene 3
(THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST and SCROOGE arrive in a small village square.)
Past: You remember this place?
Scrooge: Yes, of course! I was a boy here!
(Various children begin to walk by. SCROOGE stares at each with a look of recognition on his face.)
Scrooge: Well, there's Trevor Clancy! And Edward Nit! Hello boys! (They cannot hear him.) Hello?
Past: These are but the shadows of the things that have been. They have no consciousness of us.
Scrooge: What is it you wish me to see?
Past: In the distance, do you see that building?
Scrooge: Yes, it was my old schoolhouse.
Past: Lead the way. You know it?
Scrooge: Know it? I could walk it blindfolded!
(Scrooge walks, the ghost floats. They arrive upon YOUNG SCROOGE sitting in the classroom, by his self.)
Past: You know this boy?
Scrooge: Good heavens…it's me!
Past: So lonely, so desolate.
Scrooge: Well, father never asked me home for Christmas. The holiday was a chance to get some extra work done.
(Enter FAN. She is either a small girl or a young woman. She runs into the room, happily.)
Fan: Ebenezer!
Young Scrooge: Fan?!
Fan: Yes Ebenezer! I've come to take you home!
Young Scrooge: But father-
Fan: Oh, father is so much nicer than he used to be. In fact, last night, he was so cordial that I was not afraid to ask him just once more if you could come home this holiday. And he said yes!
Young Scrooge: God bless you, Fan!
(They embrace, and the scene freezes.)
Past: Your sister died, soon after.
Scrooge: Yes…yes. Giving birth to my nephew, Fred.
Past: Your lip is trembling. And what is that upon your cheek?
Scrooge: Nothing…(rubbing his eyes and cheeks)Nothing. Just a pimple.
Past: I have much to show you yet. Come.
(Scrooge rejoins the ghost, and she resumes humming "A Dream Within A Dream". They arrive upon a scene, where MR. FEZZIWIG, MRS. FEZZIWIG, GENTLEMAN 1, 2, 3, VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE ENSEMBLE, YOUNG SCROOGE, AND BELLE stand, clustered in a disorganized fashion. As they come closer, the scene unfreezes.)
Scrooge: It's Old Fezziwig! Fezziwig, alive again!
Fezziwig: Here's your pay, Ebenezer! (Handing YOUNG SCROOGE a coin)
Young Scrooge: Thank you, sir.
Mrs. Fezziwig: Now, enough talk of work, it's Christmas Eve! Let's get this show on the road, boys!
(The orchestra will play a medley of the songs listed, with the exception of "A Dream Within A Dream" and "Isn't it Grand, Boys?" And the cast present at the party will do a choreographed dance number.)
Fezziwig: (After the dancing ends.) Well! Isn't that just the most fun in this earth?
Gentleman 1: Indeed it is.
Belle: (walking around and bumping into Ebenezer) Oh, pardon- (catching sight of him) me…
Fezziwig: Ah, I see you two have met. Ebenezer Scrooge, this is Belle, a friend of the Fezziwig family.
Young Scrooge: Charmed.
(The scene freezes, one spotlight on YOUNG SCROOGE and BELLE, the other on the ghost and present-day scrooge.)
Past: You remember this meeting?
Scrooge: Remember? ….Yes. I remember.
Past: There is, of course, another Christmas with this young woman. Some years later.
Scrooge: Oh, no. No, spirit…do not show me that Christmas.
(The scene changes. Belle and Scrooge stand on a city street, Belle with her back to Scrooge and the ghost and present-day Scrooge in the back.)
Belle: Another year before our wedding, Ebenezer?
Young Scrooge: It is not my decision, Belle. How could we get married now? We can't even afford a decent home.
Belle: Money never used to mean so much, Ebenezer. Not for our love, no. It took so little to make me happy.
Young Scrooge: Business continues to be poor.
Belle: I see. Another idol has displaced me.
Young Scrooge: Such nonsense! What idol has displaced you?
Belle: A golden one.
Young Scrooge: I'm doing this for you. Have I ever sought release from you?
Belle: In words, no.
Young Scrooge: In what, then?
Belle: In your demeanor, the very actions you execute. Answer me this: If you met me now, as I was ten years ago; poor, with nothing to my name, would you have asked me for my hand as you did, so many years ago?
(Young Scrooge remains silent. Belle takes this as an answer, removes a ring from her finger, places it in Young Scrooge's hand.)
Young Scrooge: I love you, Belle.
Belle: You did, once. (Starts singing, very very slowly)
LOVE AND JOY, COME TO YOU…
AND TO YOU YOUR WASSAIL TOO…
AND GOD BLESS YOU…
AND SEND YOU…
A HAPPY NEW YEAR…
(spoken, tearfully)
And God send you a happy new year.
(Belle runs off stage, leaving Young Scrooge and Scrooge together on stage. The Ghost of Christmas Past exits.)
Scrooge: Fool! (to young scrooge) There is still time! Go after her!
(Young Scrooge merely exits, leaving Scrooge alone.)
Scrooge: Spirit, I wish to see no more…Why do you delight in tormenting me?
Past: (from offstage) I told you. These are the shadows of the things that have been. They are what they are. Do not blame me.
Scrooge: (dissolves into sobs, and the bedroom set returns. He climbs back into bed.)