Christmas Carol

Сцена 1

This is Mr. Scrooge.  He lives a lonely life. The frost in his heart makes the air around him cold. He hates people. Animals are afraid of him. Dogs hide in doorways when they see him. He is an awful man.

It`s Christmas Eve. Mr. Scrooge is working in his office.

Забегает мальчик, племянник Скруджа и весело выкрикивает

• Merry Christmas, uncle! God bless you!
• Bah! Humbug!
• Why are you so cross?
• Of course, I am cross, when I live in a world full of stupid people like you! Christmas is just a time when you spend much money!
• Uncle! Please don`t say that! Christmas is a time to be kind to other people…Come and have dinner with us tomorrow.
• Humbug! Don`t get on my nerves! Go home!
• Merry Christmas, uncle! Still my family waits for you!

Племянник уходит, Скрудж сидит за столом, насупившись…

Сцена 2

At last it is time to close the office and go home. He reaches his front door. To his great surprise he sees the ghost of his partner Marley. He closes his eyes then opens them again and sees Marly.

• Who are you? What do you want?
• In life I was your partner.
• It`s humbug! There are no ghosts!

Привидение издает громкий крик и лязгает цепями, которыми увешано его тело. Скрудж падает на колени.

- Yes! Yes! You ARE real! I see that now. Why have you come?

- The spirit of every man who does not help other people has to travel through the world after his death. No peace, no rest for me!

- But you were always a good man of business, Jacob!

- Business! Why didn`t I think of people as my business! I am here tonight to warn you. Three spirits will come to visit you at one o`clock tomorrow, the next night and at midnight the following night. You will have a chance to save yourself. Remember!

И привидение  исчезает.

Сцена 3

Скрудж ложится спать. Спит. Ровно в час ночи начинают бить часы. Странная фигура маленького человечка появляется у его изголовья. (ДУХ ОДЕТ В БЕЛОЕ)

 - Who and what are you, sir?

 - I am the ghost of Christmas Past. Your PAST. I am here to change your life. Watch and listen! Get up and come with me!

Привидение подводит Скруджа к проектору. Проносятся кадры из детства Скруджа.

• Good Heavens! I was born near here! I remember it well!
• What is that on your face? Are you crying?
• It`s nothing! I`ve got a cold, that`s all…
• I want to show you the first shadow.
• Oh! That`s my sister. (Скрудж плачет). What a warm heart she had!
• She married and had children before she died…
• One child…
• True! Your nephew!
• And do you remember that girl? You didn`t marry her. You wanted much money! And she loved you…
• Spirit! Show me no more! Take me home! This is too painful!
• One more shadow!

Привидение хватает Скруджа и несет его дальше. Они останавливаются у одного окна. Там разворачивается милая сцена Рождества. Дети радуются, разворачивают подарки, муж подходит к жене, и нежно обнимая ее, говорит

• Belle! I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon. Guess who? Mr. Scrooge. He was sitting in his office. His partner is dying, and I don`t think he has any other friends.

Скрудж в неистовстве и ужасе отпрянул от окна, закрыл лицо ладонями и закричал

• Spirit! Take me away from this place!
• These are shadows of the things that happened in the past. You chose the life that you liked, so why cry now?

 Скрудж замахивается на дух Рождества, оно исчезает, а Скрудж оказывается в постели и засыпает глубоким сном.

Сцена  4

Бьют часы ровно час. Скрудж открывает глаза. Он уставший. Слышится стук в дверь.

- Come in! Come in, Man!

- I am the ghost of Christmas Present. (ДУХ ОДЕТ В ЗЕЛЕНОЕ)

- Spirit, take me where  you want! Last night I learned a lesson. Let me learn something from you!

- Touch my robe.

И привидение со Скруджем полетели в ночи. Они подлетели к окну Боба, работника Скруджа. Они готовились к Рождеству, собирая скромный стол и общаясь друг с другом. После ужина дети убрали со стола и помыли посуду. Боб с больным сыном на коленях поднимает тост за Скруджа

• Let`s drink to Mr. Scrooge, whose money gave us this meal!
• Why should we drink to the health of this hateful, mean old man?
• My dear, remember, it`s Christmas!
• Well, Bob, I`ll drink to his health only because of you and because it`s Christmas. Long Life to Mr Scrooge! A merry Christmas and a happy new year to him!

Скрудж расплакался, осознав насколько благородны бедные люди. Он посмотрел на больного сына Боба и спросил у духа:

• Spirit, tell me…Will Tiny Tim live?
• I can`t see him in the future…The child will die before next Christmas…If his life does not change soon…
• Oh, no! Kind spirit! Tell me he will live…

Дух Рождества хватает Скруджа за руку, они несутся обратно в его квартиру, Скрудж оказывается в кровати и засыпает крепким сном.

Сцена 5

В полночь бьют часы. Скрудж просыпается от страха. Что-то в черном неподвижно стоит возле его кровати.

• Who are you?
• I am the Ghost of the Future. I want you to come with me to the centre of London, not far from your office.

Привидение хватает Скруджа, и они летят в центр Лондона.

• Look, there's a group of businessmen. Come up to them.  

Один из бизнесменов говорит:

- Look at the former Mr Scrooge`s office. It`s mine now. I saw his grassy grave last week. No flower! No one remembers him. Poor Mr Scrooge.

- No, Spirit! Oh, no, no! I will remember the Past, and think of the future! I will be good to others! I will try to be kind? And cheerful, and merry! Just tell me that I can change the future!

- You can, if you keep Christmas in your heart and learn our lessons!

Дух рождества пропал, а Скрудж снова заснул крепким сном…

Сцена 6

Mr. Scrooge opens his eyes, he sees his own bed, his own room. He is alive! He is ready to wish merry Christmas to all the people in the world. He goes to the meat shop and buys the biggest turkey. He sends the turkey to his clerk`s house. He goes to church and gives children money for sweets. He discovers that he has never been so happy before! He dresses up and comes to Christmas dinner to his nephew. It is the happiest Christmas he has ever had! Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful happiness! He pays Bob twice as much now. Moreover, he becomes the second father to Tiny Tom who will never die because Mr Scrooge`s heart laughs inside him!

God bless Jacob Marley!

God bless Christmas!

Merry Christmas!