A Christmas Carol（chapter 1）

Narrator
This is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who loved money anddidn't like Christmas. There he was, on Christmas Eve, in his office. He waskeeping an eye on his clerk Bob Cratchit. Scrooge wanted to get every littlebit of work from Cratchit before allowing him to spend Christmas Day at home.Scrooge thought Christmas was a waste of time! Even his nephew couldn'tconvince him that it wasn't. 

IN SCROOGE'S OFFICE

Scrooge's Nephew
A Merry Christmas, uncle!

Scrooge
Bah! Humbug!

Scrooge's Nephew
You don't mean that, I'm sure!

Scrooge
What's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills withoutmoney? You find yourself a year older, but not an hour richer! What good has itever done you?

Scrooge's Nephew
I've always thought of Christmas as a kind, forgiving,charitable, pleasant time. A time when men and women seem to open their heartsfreely. It's never put money in my pocket, but I believe that it's done megood!

Scrooge
Humbug!

Scrooge's Nephew
Come on, uncle, come and have dinner with us tomorrow.

Narrator
Scrooge's nephew was persistent but the old man wouldn't changehis mind. He was in his usual bad mood when two gentlemen came to his office toask for a donation to offer Christmas dinner to the poor. Scrooge worked in themoney-lending business. No donation from him...

Scrooge
Gentlemen, are there no prisons and workhouses, where the poorreceive food and accommodation in return for some work?

Gentleman
We wish we could say there aren't any, Mr Scrooge. Many poorpeople would rather die than go to prison or the...

Scrooge
They should die and decrease the surplus population. And...well, it's none of my business anyway. They cost a lot of money, and the poorshould go there. Goodbye, sir.

Narrator
Typical Scrooge! He feels sorry for no-one, helps no-one. Withhim, it's all about money. He thought of nothing else. His partner, JacobMarley, had died seven years before, at Christmas. Marley was like Scrooge whenhe was alive. But now he was gone. Or was he?

AT SCROOGE'S HOUSE 

Scrooge
Who's there? I'm finally home and I want some peace!

Marley
Scroooge... Scrooooooge...

Scrooge
What is this? A ghost?! It's not possible! I must be havingindigestion and seeing things that aren't there!

Marley
Scrooge. In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.

Scrooge
Marley, is it really you?! And what is this strange metal chainyou are wearing? It's made of cash-boxes, keys, locks, heavy purses...

Marley
I wear the chain I made in life. Of my own free will I wore itwhen I was alive. Is its pattern strange to you? Or do you wish to know theweight and length of the heavy chain you are carrying yourself?

Scrooge
Don't say that, Jacob. And why is this happening to you? Youwere always a good man of business…

Marley
Business!? Mankind was my business. Charity, kindness - were allmy business. Why did I walk through crowds of people with my eyes turned down?I'm here to warn you, that you still have a chance of escaping my fate. You'llbe visited by three spirits. Expect the first spirit tomorrow at one o'clock inthe morning. And remember what I've told you.

Narrator
Marley disappeared into the night, flying out of an open windowwith other ghosts which looked as miserable as him. Scrooge was shocked. I'lltell you about the visit of the first spirit next time.