00:04when i think of christmas stories charles dickens a christmas carol is one of the first that comes
00:10to mind even if you don't celebrate christmas the story is more so about the spirit of giving
00:16and forgiveness being wary of how we treat others around us and knowing that it's never
00:22too late to change our ways no matter how stubborn we are
00:32so
01:16The story begins on Christmas Eve in the cold streets of London.
01:20Down one particularly dreary road we come to the office of Scrooge and Marley where Ebenezer
01:29Scrooge sits at his desk going over his accounts and counting his money, perhaps his favourite
01:35pastime.
01:37Opposite him sits his clerk Bob Cratchit who is struggling to stop himself from shivering.
01:44Forgive me for asking again sir, but why don't you just buy some coal for the furnace
01:50so we don't have to freeze?
01:53Ha!
01:53And waste good money burning coal, why don't I just throw my money straight into the furnace?
01:59Man up and put on another layer.
02:02Ebenezer Scrooge was not one to part with his money, nor did he share in the Christmas spirit.
02:07Ever since his business partner Marley had passed away 7 years ago you'd be hard pressed
02:13to call anyone his friend.
02:16Shortly after they are visited by Scrooge's nephew Fred who invites him to his annual Christmas
02:22party and as is custom his uncle tells him he's not interested.
02:27No, just like I told you last time, Christmas parties are a waste of money.
02:32As Fred continues trying to persuade his uncle, in walk two men collecting for charity.
02:39Evening gentlemen, anyone spare a penny for the poor and homeless?
02:45No, not one, now if you don't mind, we are very busy.
02:51I can see that sir, Merry Christmas to you and your family.
02:57Grr, humbug, Scrooge replied with his usual bitterness and disdain.
03:04As it grew late, Scrooge finally decided it was time to call it a night, but little did
03:10he know his night was only just beginning.
03:13When Scrooge lay in his bed he heard the rattling of chains and the sound of something heavy scraping
03:19against the floor.
03:20Who's there?
03:22He called out, but no one answered.
03:25As he sat up from his bed, before him was the spirit of his ex-business partner.
03:31Gnarly?
03:32Is…
03:33Is that you?
03:35How can this be?
03:37I am afraid so old friend, as you can see I am forced to wander for eternity, held down
03:43by these chains and my misdeeds.
03:47It's been seven years, why do you visit me now?
03:51Because I fear you are destined to suffer a similar fate as myself.
03:55Our greed and obsession for wealth has destroyed the lives of countless individuals, but we
04:01were too blind to see.
04:04Tonight you will be visited by three spirits.
04:07They will show you the error of your ways.
04:09I hope only you realize it is not too late to make amends.
04:15I must go now.
04:17Goodbye old friend.
04:20Scrooge lay in his bed in a state of disbelief.
04:23Eventually he dozed off waiting for the spirits Marley had mentioned.
04:28All of a sudden a bright light flashed through the room and Scrooge stood up on his bed.
04:33A woman dressed in white stood before him, did Marley send you?
04:39Scrooge stuttered, no Ebenezer, I am the ghost of Christmas past, come with me and let
04:45us see how you ended up down this path.
04:48She took Scrooge's hand and within a flash they were in his old boarding school.
04:54The common room was full of children playing and having fun.
04:57But Scrooge notices a younger version of himself in the corner alone reading.
05:03He recounts the only person he truly called friend was his sister Fan.
05:09When she died the part of him that valued friendship also died.
05:14They are now at a party hosted by Scrooge's first boss Mr. Feswig.
05:19This man gave Scrooge his first real opportunity in life and he speaks of Mr. Feswig as a father
05:26figure to him.
05:28The next memory they relive is the moment Scrooge's ex-fiancee Belle ends their relationship.
05:34He acknowledges this was his fault as he often neglected her, caring more for his money.
05:41Finally the spirit takes him to Belle's house, the same Christmas Marley had passed away.
05:46He looks through the window and sees Belle and her family around a Christmas dinner as happy
05:51as can be.
05:53Scrooge is left distraught at the realisation of what he could have had.
05:57Enough!
05:58I demand to leave this place.
06:01I'm done with these games.
06:03And so the spirit returned him to his bedchamber.
06:07The next time Scrooge woke it was to a thundering roar.
06:12Come on Ebeneezer get up we have places to go and people to see.
06:17Before Scrooge stood a giant man dressed in a green fur robe.
06:22I do not care to be mocked by my past anymore.
06:26Leave me alone.
06:28Well it's a good thing I am the ghost of Christmas present.
06:32Now get up so we can see how your actions affect those around you now.
06:37Scrooge took the giant's hand and they flew through the streets of London.
06:41They end up in the house of his clerk Bob Cratchit as they enjoy a Christmas feast.
06:47This can't be all they're having.
06:49There must be more in the kitchen.
06:52This is all Bob can afford of the salary you pay him.
06:56What of Bob's youngest son?
06:58Where is he?
06:59The spirit takes Ebeneezer into a room where Tiny Tim lays in bed sick.
07:04The boy is sick, why does Bob not buy him medicine?
07:09Because with what you pay him he cannot afford medicine.
07:13And if he does not buy medicine will the boy if the course of events do not change then
07:18this will be his last Christmas.
07:21Scrooge witnesses Bob pick up Tiny Tim and carry him to the dinner table.
07:26Despite their situation the family enjoy their meal and smiles echo throughout the room.
07:31None bigger than Tiny Tim's.
07:34How can they be so happy when they have so little?
07:37Because there is more to this world than money.
07:41Scrooge says nothing in response.
07:43He can only look down as he is overcome by the feeling of guilt and shame.
07:48The spirit takes him through the town where the celebrations continue.
07:53Eventually he lifts his robe to reveal two hideous children.
07:58What is the meaning of this?
08:00These are your children.
08:02Ignorance and want.
08:04They look sickly.
08:05What has happened to them?
08:07Of course for these you show concern.
08:10I have shown you all there is to see.
08:14Scrooge returned to his bedchamber once again.
08:18This time Scrooge is woken by an icy chill.
08:21His windows are closed but his room is freezing.
08:24Before him stands the last spirit.
08:27A hooded figure dressed in black.
08:30Are you the third spirit or the ghost of death itself?
08:34Scrooge inquires but receives no reply.
08:37If I have seen my past and present.
08:40Then you must be the ghosts of Christmas yet to come.
08:43Again he receives no reply.
08:45But the spirit reaches out encouraging Scrooge to take its hand.
08:50As Scrooge reaches out they appear on a street next to two businessmen who discuss the death of a mysterious
08:56individual.
08:58You know people only attended the funeral because lunch was provided.
09:01Yeah?
09:03I heard the undertaker and his staff stole all of his possessions before they buried the body.
09:08So has the old miser right.
09:10Next to them stood an old couple who heard the man who had died was in fact their creditor.
09:16The two rejoice and even celebrate his passing.
09:20Anxious to know the man's name Scrooge begs the spirit to tell him but he remains silent.
09:25The spirit takes him to a cemetery where he sees Bob Cratchit and his family mourning the loss of Tiny
09:31Tim.
09:32As Scrooge begins to cry he turns to a tombstone that no one has visited.
09:38When he kneels down he sees the name Ebenezer Scrooge.
09:43Please spirit I do not want to die a lonely miserable man.
09:48I see the error in my ways.
09:50Change my fate and I promise I will help those in need.
09:54The spirit shook its head and pointed to Bob Cratchit and his family.
09:58When Ebenezer turned to face them he was back in his bed.
10:05Ebenezer Scrooge woke on Christmas morning a changed man.
10:09He jumped from his bed and ordered for an enormous turkey to be sent to Bob Cratchit.
10:14He found the charity collectors from earlier and made a sizeable donation.
10:20He even attended his nephew Fred's party and before the night was done he paid Bob and his family a
10:26visit.
10:26He agreed that Bob deserved a pay rise and that he should work less hours so he could spend more
10:32with
10:32his family.
10:33He would also pay for Tiny Tim's medicine and provide gifts for all the children.
10:38From that day on Ebenezer Scrooge would treat everyone with kindness, generosity and compassion.
10:45He would embody the spirit of Christmas every year.
10:49As always, I've been your host, Mythology and Fiction Explained, wishing you all a Merry Christmas
10:57and Happy Holidays.
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