Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Humbug! The world's mad.
(He starts) What's that? Imagination, indigestion! Now I'm mad.
More humbug! (Listens) Eh? (Goes to the door and listens with his ear against the pane) Nothing! (Starts to walk back to his chair but freezes halfway there. Listens again, and slowly turns in terror to the door as he hears something. Moves back from the door as his face and gestures reveal that what he has heard is getting louder, coming closer. He cowers down to the floor. Suddenly)
Marley's ghost! (Screams)

Much!

Marley's voice! Who are you?

Ask me who I was.

Who were you, then? (Getting some of his old cantankerous spirit back) You're very particular, for a shade.

In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.

Can you - can you sit down?

I can.

Do it then.

You don't believe in me?

I don't.

Why do you doubt your senses?

Because the smallest thing affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard or a crumb of cheese. (Cackles) There's more of gravy than of a grave about you, whatever you are! You're humbug, I tell you. Humbug!
(The GHOST rises and spreads its arms, wailing, then slowly subsides) Mercy! Mercy! Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?

Man of worldly mind, do you believe in me or not?

I do. I must. But why do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come to me?

It is required of every man that his spirit should walk abroad among his fellows. If that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death - to witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth. (Another terrible cry)

(Trembling) You are fettered! Tell me why?

I wear the chain I forged in life, link by link and yard by yard. Would you know the weight and length of the strong chain you bear yourself? Yours is a ponderous chain, Ebenezer Scrooge!

Jacob! Old Jacob Marley, tell me more! Speak comfort to me, Jacob!

I have none to give. It comes from other regions, and is conveyed by other ministers to other kinds of men. I cannot rest, I cannot stay. In life my spirit never moved beyond our counting house, and weary journeys now lie before me.

You must have been very slow about them, Jacob.

Slow!

Seven years dead, and travelling all the time?

The whole time! On the wings of the wind. No rest, no peace. Incessant torture of remorse! Oh, captive, bound and double­ ironed - not to know that no space of regret can make amends for a life of opportunities misused! Yet such was I! Oh, such was I!

But you were always a good man of business, Jacob.

Business! Mankind should have been my business. Charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence were my proper business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business! At this time of the rolling year I suffer most. Why did I walk with my eyes turned down and never raise them to that blessed star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode?

Don't be hard on me! Don't be flowery, Jacob, pray!

Hear me! I have sat invisible beside you, many and many a day. (SCROOGE shivers) That was no light part of my penance. I am here tonight to warn you that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer.

You were always a good friend to me. Thankee, Jacob.

You will be haunted by Three Spirits.

Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob?

It is.

I - I think I'd rather not.

Without their visits you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first spirit tomorrow when the bell tolls one.

Couldn't I take 'em all at once, and have it over, Jacob?

You must take them as you made them, Ebenezer, for the first spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Past - your past!

And then, Jacob, what then?

Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The Ghost of Christmas Present - your present!

And after that phantom - what is the third?

The third comes upon the next night, when the last stroke of twelve has ceased to vibrate. The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come! He is your hope, Ebenezer. Mark him well! Look to see me no more. And look to that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us! Learn, learn! Learn from the shades of Christmas Past and Christmas Present how you must live for a Christmas Yet To Come!

(The GHOST rises, wraps its mantle about its head and starts to back away. SCROOGE sits forward on his chair, watching. The GHOST beckons him. SCROOGE approaches to within two paces, when the GHOST holds up his hands, warning him to come no nearer. SCROOGE covers his eyes and bows his head. The GHOST exits).
(drops his hands and darts looks around him. Then he moves quickly to the door, tries it to make sure it is still locked, goes centre and pauses and listens. He returns to his chair and sinks into it. Then he jerks upright) Humbu.. .! (He looks fearfully round and sinks back into his chair)