December 11, 2019

A "Christmas Carol" the likes of which you've never seen

INT. A ROOM - MORNING.

SCROOGE lies slumped on the floor, his hands locked around the bedpost. For a moment the reality of the situation escapes him; then, looking around, he realizes that he is in his own bedroom. There are the bedcurtains; they haven't been torn down after all! The walls, the pictures - they're all his!


SCROOGE
My bed! My room! I'm alive! 
(Beginning to dance around the room)
I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future! The Spirits of all three will live within me. I'm as light as a feather, I'm as happy as an angel, I'm as merry as a schoolboy.
(He staggers slightly, as if lightheaded)
I'm as giddy as a drunken man. But what day is it? I don't know how long I've been among the Spirits. I don't know anything!

Hearing the chimes of the church bells outside, SCROOGE stops. 


SCROOGE
Is it? Could it still be Christmas Day?

He runs to the window and throws it open, and he is stopped in his tracks. His mouth falls open. If he was confused a moment ago, now he is utterly shocked.

CUT TO:
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE SCROOGE'S WINDOW. SCROOGE'S P.O.V.

Everything that is familiar to SCROOGE is gone. Across from his home rises a large glass skyscraper. Below him are people walking on sidewalks lining the sides of paved streets, wearing close in a style he has never before seen. Moving across his view from right to left is a red double-decker bus. As his eyes dart back and forth he sees a jet aircraft streaking across the clear blue sky, the sunlight glinting off its silver skin.

CLOSE SHOT SCROOGE

His lips are moving, but nothing comes out. He shakes his head, his hands pressed against either side. Finally he speaks.


SCROOGE
It...it...it must be the result of being with the Spirits. Well, yes, a shock to the system such as this is bound to cause confusion. Yes, that must be it.

SHOT OF STREET OUTSIDE WINDOW. WE SEE SOMEONE WALKING PAST SCROOGE'S HOME.

CLOSE SHOT SCROOGE.


SCROOGE
Here, let me ask that young woman out there.
(Raising his voice)
Excue me, miss. Can you tell me what is today?

MEDIUM SHOT PEDESTRIAN. 

We can see that despite the long hair, the young woman is, in fact, a YOUNG MAN.


YOUNG MAN

What? You talkin' to me?


SCROOGE
Excuse me, my good man, I meant no offense. It's just - it's just...
(Motions to head, tugs on own hair)
Your hair, I'm afraid, well I mistook you for a young lady.


YOUNG MAN
Whatever.
(Under his breath)
Sod off, old man.

He begins to walk away.


SCROOGE
Wait!


YOUNG MAN
(Impatiently)
Yeah?


SCROOGE
Can you tell me what day today is?


YOUNG MAN
What day it is? Are you barmy?


SCROOGE
(Insistent)
Today! What day is today?


YOUNG MAN
Why, It's Christmas Day. Whatdy'a think?


SCROOGE
(As if to himself)
Then it is still Christmas Day. I haven't missed it. But - (looking around at the inexplicable sights) what is all this?
(To YOUNG MAN)
What kind of place is this?

CLOSE SHOT YOUNG MAN


YOUNG MAN
What kind of nutter are you? This is London!


SCROOGE
(Confused)
London?

The YOUNG MAN again begins to walk away.


SCROOGE
(Suddenly)
Young man!

LONG VIEW YOUNG MAN, AS SEEN FROM OVER SCROOGE'S SHOULDER.


YOUNG MAN
(Exasperated)
Now what?


SCROOGE
(Desperately)
The year. What year is it?


YOUNG MAN
What year is it? First he wants to know the day, now the year. You really musta got rat-arsed last night!

CLOSE SHOT SCROOGE


SCROOGE
Never mind all that. What year is it.

CLOSE SHOT YOUNG MAN


YOUNG MAN
(Deciding he may as well humor SCROOGE)
Why, it's 1993!
(Sotto voce)
Wanker!

CLOSE SHOT SCROOGE - HIS CONFUSED EXPRESSION GIVES WAY TO HORROR AS HE LISTENS TO THE VOICE ECHOING SUDDENLY IN THE ROOM.


VOICE OF GHOST
(Mocking)
Yes, Ebenezer, you asked to be returned to Christmas Day, and I have done that. But you didn't say which Christmas!
(Laughs malevolently)


NARRATOR
(Voice over)
Presenting Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge, the world's most famous miser.

FAST PAN AROUND SCROOGE'S BEDROOM TO ROD SERLING, IN SUIT AND TIE, HIS HANDS FOLDED IN FRONT OF HIM, A COPY OF "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" TUCKED UNDER HIS ARM.


ROD SERLING
For over a century, every Christmas, the story of Scrooge's journey through his own personal reclamation has played out, in book, on stage and in film, thrilling millions of people around the world. But whenever you enter the ghostly fog of time travel, you're apt to discover that the rules can change without warning, and leave you in a place you weren't expecting. Tonight Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge is about to find out that clocks can run forward as well as backward, that the end is sometimes the beginning, and that this particular time, the road from ruin to redemption will take him through: The Twilight Zone.

t  t  t

Admit it: you'd like to see the rest of this story sometime, wouldn't you? TV  

4 comments:

  1. I was thinking that Scrooge woke up in a certain Village....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brilliant. One of my favorite stories re-imagined. Any hint of what happens to Tiny Tim?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know for sure, but wouldn't it have been funny if he'd wound up being "Tiny Tim"?

      Delete

Thanks for writing! Drive safely!