SCROOGE SYNOPSIS Lyrics - Scrooge Soundtrack

The story begins on the streets of London at Christmastime, where locals are gathered to celebrate the holiday season (A Christmas Carol). Their joyous holiday spirit, however, is soon put to a halt by Ebenezer Scrooge, calling from his countinghouse for them to keep quiet.

Inside Scrooge's countinghouse, his employee Bob Cratchit is eager to get home. He is working at his desk when a visitor arrives at the countinghouse. It is none other than Scrooge's own nephew, Fred. Scrooge, not particularly happy to see his nephew in the first place, is even more put out when Fred invites him to spend Christmas with himself and his new bride. Scrooge declines and rudely orders him to leave, but the upbeat Fred, not put out, insists that his door will always be open for Scrooge. Once Fred has left, Bob Cratchit asks for his pay so that he may go home and be with his family on this Christmas Eve. Scrooge isn't happy about handing it over, but is even angrier when Bob Cratchit asks if he might have the entire day of Christmas off from work. Even though Scrooge finds the entire idea upsetting, he finally agrees, and he and Bob Cratchit both leave the countinghouse for the night.

On the streets of London, Bob Cratchit meets with his daughter, Kathy, and son, Tiny Tim. The children marvel at their father's newly-earned money, and the three admire the streets and shops decorated for the holidays (Christmas Children). Also on the streets, however, is Ebenezer Scrooge. He makes no secrets about how he feels about Christmas and people in general (I Hate People). Scrooge mercilessly demands money from those who owe him, despite the holiday season. The young urchins in the area see this and tell everyone just what they think about Scrooge (Father Christmas).

Once Scrooge returns home, he prepares himself for a peaceful night's sleep. However, strange and eerie things begin to happen, and soon a ghost appears before Scrooge's eyes. The apparition is the ghost of Scrooge's old partner, Jacob Marley, who died seven years ago to the night. Marley claims that, now on the other side, he is paying for the horrible way he lived his life. Chains and eternal suffering are his reward for a life of swindling, cheating, and greediness. Marley warns Scrooge that unless he changes his ways, he will also be doomed forever in the afterlife (Make The Most Of This World). Jacob Marley bids Scrooge farewell with yet another warning; that he will be visited that night by three spirits.

Scrooge is soon to dismiss his reunion with his dead partner. But it is not long that another ghost appears. This ghost, with an aire of innocence, introduces herself as the Ghost of Christmas Past. She tells Scrooge that she has come to take him on a journey into his past, to look at the life he left behind and the mistakes he has made. Before he knows it, Scrooge finds himself in his old school, looking down at himself when he was just a young boy. Scrooge watches as the lonely-looking boy is greeted by an excited girl, and is able to identify her as his sister, Fan. Scrooge watches on as Fan tells the small Ebenezer that he will be able to come home for Christmas, and Scrooge is reminded of his sister's kind spirit. As he is still remembering Fan, though, another scene begins to form. In this one, Scrooge is a bit older. Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past look in on this part of Scrooge's past, when he was working for the jolly Mr. Fezziwig. At this time, Mr. Fezziwig and his wife, the equally jolly Mrs. Fezziwig, are holding a Christmas party, one in which all the guests seem jovial and delighted. Everyone there sings and dances in praise of the holiday season (December the 25). But it was not merely the happy party that Scrooge was meant to remember, for something else happened that night; he began to become close with the Fezziwigs' daughter, Isabel. As the night wears on, Young Ebenezer and Isabel begin to fall in love (Happiness). Too soon, however, the happy scene changes yet again, and suddenly Young Ebenezer is sitting in his counting house, while a mournful and frustrated Isabel bids him farewell because of the greediness that has begun to consume him. Sadly, Scrooge watches on as Isabel leaves forever, and he and his young self both mourn the loss of the only love they had ever known (You ... You).

As quickly as Scrooge was transported through his past, he finds himself back in his bedroom, and despite his pleading for her not to, the Ghost of Christmas Past takes her leave of him. As Scrooge sits in his room alone, he wonders what will be in store for him next. He hasn't long to wait, however, before a jolly-looking ghost appears before him, and introduces himself as the Ghost of Christmas Present. He tries to make Scrooge understand what he is missing out on in life, (I Like Life). As Scrooge begins to warm up to the spirit, the Ghost of Chrismas Present takes him on a journey to look at those whom he has wronged during the holiday season. They arrive, first, a the home of Bob Cratchit. Inside the Cratchit home, Bob, his wife, and their children celebrate Christmas with enthusiasm, despite their situation of poverty, and vow that things will get better and that they will always remain strong (Good Times). The Cratchit children then urge their ill brother, Tiny Tim, to sing a song. So Tiny Tim sings about a better life that he can invision, and the wishes he has for the future (The Beautiful Day). Scrooge begins to realize, for the first time, the situation that his employee is in, and also that young Tiny Tim is in danger of dying. Scrooge has not much time to think on this, though, for he is soon whisked away to another home: the home of his nephew, Harry. Harry and his wife, Helen, are having a grand time with their friends celebrating the season, playing games and having fun (The Minister's Cat). Scrooge begins to realize how much he is missing out on by not spending the holidays with his family. He is taken back, once again, to his bedroom, and the Ghost of Christmas Present leaves him. Alone, Scrooge reflects on what he has seen this night, from Isabel to Bob Cratchit, and wonders if it is too late to make things right for himself (A Better Life).

As the night nears its end, Scrooge is visited by another spirit, this one dark and sinister. Scrooge realizes that it must be the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, and follows him into the dark night. He soon finds himself on the streets of London amidst a crowd of highly excited people. They cheer in praise of Scrooge, because of the wonderful thing that he did for them (Thank You Very Much). The next place that Scrooge finds himself in, however, is a cemetery. The first thing that Scrooge sees is Bob Cratchit, crying over the grave of his youngest son, Tiny Tim. But beside that grave, Scrooge soon sees his own -- and realizes that the wonderful thing he had done for the people in the streets was die. Terrified and remorsful, Scrooge begs for another chance and swears that he will repent and change forever.

Scrooge wakes up in his bed the next morning, and wonders if anything had really happened at all the night before. But, despite if it had or hadn't, he is thrilled to get another chance to make things right, and vows that he will begin a new life from this day forward (I'll Begin Again). Excited and happy, Scrooge heads out into the streets of London, calling off the debts from people who had owed him money, and giving generous gifts to people. The urchins notice this, and sing of his new, kind spirit (Father Christmas Reprise). Scrooge decides that he will, after all, visit Fred and Helen for Christmas. But they are not the only ones he vists...

Scrooge, after buying many Christmas delicacies and toys, pays a visit to the Cratchit house. All of the Cratchit children are joyous to recieve their gifts. With the delight of Christmas in the air, Scrooge offers to make Bob Cratchit his partner, giving him a raise and vowing to help make Tiny Tim well. The show closes with a warm and festive holiday spirit, and the phrase said by young Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one."