03x13 - Part 2 - A Christmas Carol (Annie Scrooge)

[bunniefuu]

♪ Tell me a story

♪ Read me a poem ♪

♪ Wrap it in melody ♪

♪ Sing me the song ♪

♪ Then let me hold it ♪

♪ Deep in my heart ♪

♪ Where it can speak to me ♪

♪ All the day long ♪

♪ The adventure of virtue ♪

♪ The adventure of truth ♪

♪ The thrill of knowing ♪

♪ That it's up to you ♪

♪ Building a new day shining in the sun ♪

♪ This is my story ♪

♪ The adventure has ♪

♪ Begun. ♪

Let go before I really get rough with you!

Y-y-you just try it.

I can take you.

Both: This is all your fault!

Plato: Now that's quite enough, Sock and Ari.

We're too close to Christmas

to have you behaving so badly.

Welcome.

My apologies for those two.

This is the second part of our very special Christmas story.

Here's what happened in Part One.

Annie was just elected President of the Spring Valley Drama Club.

Ever since the Drama Club was first established

at Spring Valley

it has always lost money during

the Christmas season.

Well, that's because we always give

half of our profits to the Spring Valley Orphanage.

Plato: Annie insisted that she was going to run the club like

a business, and because of that

they would not be performing A Christmas Carol.

We're going to perform a newly written gymnastic dance musical

called I'm Dreaming of a Galactic Christmas.

Plato: Zach tried talking Annie out of dropping A Christmas Carol

but she chose not to listen.

Maybe if you read the story again, it'll change your mind.

Right after that, Annie met a little boy

who lived at the Spring Valley Orphanage.

You know, I have half a mind to report you.

Bah, humbug!

Plato: And that night, Annie had

a rather unusual visitor.

Charles Dickens, milady.

Why do you so dislike my chronicle?

Huh?

My story:

Huh?

It's quite good, you know.

Many people have told me that.

Please reconsider your decision.

Plato: And even later that night

she had a very interesting dream.

Well, mum...

tomorrow is Christmas.

I know how to read a calendar

and I also know

you're going to ask me for the whole day off.

If it would be convenient.

It's most inconvenient.

It's nothing more than an excuse

for picking a person's pocket every th of December.

Plato: Will Annie ever learn her lesson

about compassion and charity?

Let's watch the rest of our special Christmas story.

Oh, miserable snow.

Hey!

What...?

( groans )

What do you think you're doing?!

It wasn't me, mum.

What are you doing out here then?

Beg pardon, but could you kindly spare a tuppence or so, mum?

Are you asking for charity?

Humbug, I say.

Merry Christmas, mum.

Please to be begging your pardon, Miss Scrooge.

At this festive season of the year

it is more than usually desirable

that we should make some provision

for the poor and destitute.

Are there no prisons?

Plenty, I regret to say.

I'm very glad to hear it.

Many thousands are in want of common necessaries, mum.

I do not wish to be involved with other people's business

so I say humbug!

I don't make merry myself at Christmas

and I can't afford to make idle people merry.

Good day to you both.

( grumbling ): Christmas.

Made all the more miserable

by coming at the coldest time of year.

( gasps )

Beware, Annie Scrooge.

I say, who are you?

That is of little consequence.

It is this night and the holiday season that should concern you.

Beware.

( panting )

( knocking )

( gasps )

Begone! Whoever you are, begone!

( gasping )

( sighs )

( knocking )

( gasps )

Begone!

Mother: Hurry it up, honey.

You'll be late for school.

Oh. Sorry, Mom.

Be right down.

Oh, I wish I had never heard of this story.

Sock: Psst.

Annie.

You got a second?

Well, sure, Sock. What's up?

Like, I got a problem and I need your advice.

It's about Ari.

I haven't gotten a Christmas gift for him yet

and Christmas is just a few days away

and I'm afraid that time is running out.

What do you want from me?

He's your best friend.

Yeah, but you're the new President of the Drama Club

and that means you're good at making decisions, right?

Zach doesn't think so.

So tell me, from a purely executive's point of view

what would be the perfect gift

for a stubborn, thickheaded little furball

like Aristotle, huh?

Are you two still having your fight?

He's the one who insists on fighting, not me.

It was my turn to hang my stocking in Plato's cave.

Sorry, Sock.

I've really got more important things to worry about

besides your Christmas stocking.

You're going to have to work this one out yourself.

Annie...

about the Drama Club's donation to the orphanage.

Sorry, Zach, nothing has changed since yesterday.

Be careful with that, you two.

We still can't afford

to give the Orphanage anything this year.

I understand that

but how about a special holiday performance for them?

After all, it is Christmas and we should do something.

No way. We've got to worry about

regular performances for paying...

( yawns ): ...customers.

( sighs ): Okay.

I'm heading over there after today's rehearsal

to drop off this clothing that I've collected.

You want to come along?

And get bombarded by more snowballs?

No, thanks.

Use that one.

Besides, I've got too much to do before opening night.

( yawns )

If I can stay awake until then.

( yawns )

Plato Marley: Annie Scrooge...

Beware.

( gasps )

Dreadful apparition...

...what do you want of me?

Do you believe what you see before you?

No.

Do you believe in Christmas then?

Certainly not.

And there lies your problem.

You are fettered. Tell me why.

I wear the chain I forged in life.

Link by link, I turned away from those who needed my help.

If only I had helped more often, been more compassionate.

Do you wish to carry

weights like these then?

They look most uncomfortable, sir.

Not as uncomfortable as the length of chains

you yourself will carry unless you change your ways.

All because of your selfish misdeeds.

Humbug! You're not even real.

Not real?

Why do you doubt your own senses?

Because they can be affected by any little thing.

A slight disorder of the stomach can confuse and distort them.

You are nothing more than a figment of my imagination

merely a piece of undigested potato.

Now kindly leave!

And stop with these ridiculous parlor tricks.

My time with you is nearly gone.

Good.

I am here tonight to warn you

that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate.

That is nice of you, but...

Since you won't listen to me

perhaps you will listen to one of three ghosts.

G-Ghosts?

Tonight you will be haunted by three spirits.

Listen well to them

so that you might carry the spirit of Christmas

and the spirit of true compassion in your heart.

( yawns )

I would love to meet these friends of yours

but I'm quite tired and would prefer to...

Expect the first when the bell tolls :.

Followed by a second

and then a third.

Listen to them, Scrooge.

Look to see me no more

and for your own sake, remember what passed between us.

( loud ticking )

( clock tolls once )

Stop this!

Stop!

Ari Ghost: Miss Scrooge?

( gasping )

We must be going now.

Are you the spirit whose coming was foretold to me?

That is I.

I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Long past?

No, just your past.

But, but, but...

Rise and walk with me a bit.

But I am mortal and liable to fall.

Bear but a touch of my hand

and you shall be upheld in more than this.

( both laughing )

These are but shadows of things that have been.

They won't see or hear us.

Remember this place?

Yes, the pond behind our elementary school.

( laughing continues )

A time when the two of us were the best of friends.

And when Melissa seemed ever so jealous

of my new dress, I didn't invite her to my party, and of course

I didn't invite Jonathan

because his father isn't working at the bank

with my father any longer.

Must you go on so?

Just stop it.

What has gotten into you, Zach?

It's you, Annie.

You've changed.

You've become too greedy and heartless

toward other people.

Of course I changed

and I was all the better for doing it, I might add.

Ah, not everyone would agree with you.

I'm growing up, that's all.

You'll understand in time.

No, you're the one who doesn't understand.

We've been friends for a long time, but now

I don't like the kind of person you've become.

Fine. Be that way.

I don't need you anyway.

And that was the last time he was your friend.

Yes, the last time.

I wish...

What is it?

Nothing.

There was a boy at an orphanage yesterday.

I should like to have another word with him, that's all.

Please, Spirit.

( gasping )

Zach: Annie, move!

( gasping )

I'm so sorry!

( grunting )

I was clearing space for some prop pieces

and I knocked that over.

Are you okay?

Yeah, fine, I think.

Mmm!

Hey, what gives?

Some mistletoe hanging around here or something?

No, just felt like a friendly hug, that's all.

See you tomorrow, Annie.

Zach, wait.

Maybe I was wrong about canceling A Christmas Carol.

Hey! Now you're talking.

I told you it was a silly idea.

And with the money we can raise...

Wait... not so fast.

I haven't made any decisions yet

and no matter what

we still can't afford to donate any money

to the Spring Valley Orphanage.

( sighing ): Well...

( grunting )

...you'd also better figure out who's going to tell them.

They should know.

( loud ticking )

( clock tolls twice )

Sock Ghost: Time to hop to it, sleepyhead.

( gasping )

Boo!

( gasping )

I am the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Look upon me.

Bet you've never seen the likes of me before, huh?

Uh, you're here to teach me a lesson

as did the other spirits?

( goofy laughter )

Ooh-ooh! I might have something to show you. Come on!

( goofy laughter )

( snarling playfully )

( Annie yelling )

What is Cratchit doing here, of all places

wasting his only day off all year?

Let's find out, shall we?

Child: Oh, wow.

Child : Oh, thank you so much.

Huh! Look at that pathetic gift.

He's just giving them cheap scraps of cloth

and insignificant used toys.

The gifts may not look valuable to you

but just look at their faces.

Come closer.

Don't be nervous.

Annie Scrooge: I know that child.

He threw a snowball at me!

Why is he limping?

His feet are swollen from being outside barefoot.

He doesn't own any shoes.

Tell me, spirit, will he get better?

If these shadows remain unaltered by the future

I see a child who will never be able to run and play again.

( giggling )

Sock Ghost: Insignificant and used items sure made those children happy

didn't they, Miss Scrooge?

You know, maybe...

maybe I have been wrong about a few...

( gasping )

What happened?

Where am I?

( gasping )

Specter, are you the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?

Are you about to show me

the shadows of the things that have not yet happened?

I think of all the spirits that have visited me

I fear you the most.

( gasps )

My business! Closed!

But where am I?

Did I retire?

Phantom, where is the little boy?

The one who had the limp?

The poor thing. He can't come out and play any longer.

Will he always have to stay in that chair?

Couldn't someone have helped him?

Spirit, why have you brought me to such a dreadful place?

( Annie Scrooge gasping )

Please... before I see

what name is etched on that stone

answer one question for me:

Are the things I've seen really going to happen

or might they change if I change?

Please, spirit.

My heart has changed.

If I heed this warning

and am truly more compassionate

will these dark shadows leave my life?

( gasping )

Christmas.

It's Christmas morning!

Sock: Drop it! Drop it!

No, I found it!

It's mine!

No, mine!

Annie: Hey, Sock, Ari, knock it off!

Your friendship is too precious to lose

over a stocking or an old artificial tree or anything.

Don't spend your Christmas bickering like this.

Give each other the best gift that you can...

Both: Huh?

Your friendship.

Put her there, pal.

You bet, buddy.

Merry Christmas!

Both: Merry Christmas!

Ah, it's yours. Take it.

No, no, yours. I insist.

Oh, no, I insist. Take it.

Oh, please, no. You first.

( Annie whistling )

Zach, get up!

Do you know what time it is, Annie?

Yes, it's early.

I had to tell you the good news.

Forget I'm Dreaming

I had to tell you the good news.

Yeah, I'd like to forget it.

Yes, for your holiday enjoyment

the Spring Valley Drama Club proudly presents

A Christmas Carol.

Yes! Ow!

Then I get to play Scrooge again this year?

Not that I have my heart set on it or anything like that.

Annie: You can have it.

I wouldn't want that role

for all the sales receipts in Spring Valley.

Hurry! Get dressed and meet me downstairs.

Cool!

Oh, I'll be right back, Zach.

( doorbell rings )

May I help you?

Uh, yesterday, there was this snowball fight out front.

Yes, I've been told all about it

and I plan to strongly discipline those responsible.

Oh, no, don't do that.

He was just having a little fun, weren't you?

I remember when I was his age

and just itched to throw a snowball.

Here, this is for you.

Thanks.

And I want to invite you and all the other kids

to this year's Drama Club Christmas play

as my special guests.

( all cheering )

Child: Cool.

We'll be sure to be there.

Thank you.

Great, see you at the performance.

Bye!

Oh! Hey, you.

Now that was a perfect snowball.

Merry Christmas!

Thank you all for coming tonight

our last night of the performance.

As President of the Drama Club, I'm honored to be able to donate

all of the sales receipts from this week's performance

of A Christmas Carol to the Spring Valley Orphanage.

( all cheering )

Receipts that will to go

toward buying new clothing, toys and good, solid shoes.

( cheering )

I'm really proud of you, Annie Scrooge.

What did you call me?

What?

I said, "Annie

I'm really proud of you."

Maybe I still need to catch up on some sleep.

Thanks.

( cheering continues )

I knew Annie would recapture the spirit of Christmas.

Ah, that's my girl.

Plato: And God bless us, everyone

and merry Christmas to us all.