(We open back on the stage. Slip lays behind the bed curtains when we see a golden light onstage. As the curtain opens, Slip opens the curtains on his bed, too.)

Sach: (He steps onto the stage as the light bathes the area behind him...and we see someone quickly run behind him) Hi, guys! Well, here's ol' Scrooge, snorin' away. Suddenly, a clock chimes one...the time the first ghost was supposed to appear...

*Slip awakes with a start.*

Slip: One o'clock...

Sach: Suddenly, ol'Scrooge was conscious of the light that seemed to be takin' over his room.

Slip: What's this light? It isn't daylight.

*Whitey appears, wearing a white tunic with leggings and a crown of leaves and flowers. He smiles a bit warily.*

Slip: What are you? How did you get in here?

Whitey: Come now, Scrooge. I know that my arrival was foretold.

Slip: *Eyes widen* Yer the ghost of Christmas Past?

Whitey: *Nods* I am.

Slip: Long past?

Whitey: No, only yours.

Slip: *eyes narrow* Why are you here?

Whitey: Your welfare.

Slip: Couldn't I just have a full, uninterrupted night's sleep, an' we'll call it even? :P

Whitey: Your salvation, then.

Slip: Why can't I sleep first, then be saved?

Whitey: *Shakes his head* Take my hand.

Slip: 'Scuse me?

Whitey: *Goes to the window; it opens* Take my hand.

Slip: I'm gonna fall. *looks out the window* Splat...

Whitey: *Becoming aggravated* Take my hand, and I will keep you from falling!

Slip: *Takes Whitey's hand* Yeah, well, I'm over the weight limit.

(Whitey just sighs. The two lean out the window and suddenly seem to "fly" into the air via obvious wires. There's a lot of yelling as the set changes below them to what appears to be the Scrooge's countinghouse set with lots of boxes and tables and more papers on the desk. Stagehands and extras bring out wreaths and garlands and party food.)

Louie: (He and Mama step out, both decked in late-Colonial-era finery) Gertie my girl, come along! We've gotta host this year's annual Christmas party! It's a tradition at Fezziwig's Tavern and Bakery!

(We see more people step into the room as what sounds like an instrumental "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" begins. Bobby limps in next, now looking more like himself in simpler late Colonial-era clothes.)

Bobby: Come on, Ebeneezer! All of the ladies will be here soon!

Slip: I'm comin'... *comes in; wears an outfit similar to Bobby’s* Fezziwig's outdone himself again.

Bobby: Ain't this place amazin'? And look! (Points to the door as several ladies come in, including Sally and Marsha) There's Fezziwig's daughters an' all their friends!

Slip: *Slight smile* Yeah...

Bobby: Are you still droolin' over Belle from afar?

Slip: Am I obvious?

Bobby: To just about everyone except for maybe you and Mr. Fezziwig. I think he only pays attention to the store.

Slip: *Shrugs* She wouldn't want me.

Bobby: How do you know? Have you ever asked her?

Slip: Well, um...no.

Bobby: Why don't you, before some other guy does?

(Buddy and Junior, both now wearing simpler Colonial clothes - and no chains - join them as well as more and people start dancing to the tune of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas.")

Buddy: Ebeneezer! Isn't this party somethin' else? Can you imagine what it costs?

Slip: Certainly a pretty penny, but cost means nutin' to Fezziwig as long as everyone's happy.

Buddy: I'll bet, if we had our own place, we could do everythin' a lot cheaper!

Bobby: (Shakes his head) I agree with Eb. I don't think that matters as much as everyone havin' a great time.

Slip: Never was such an employer.

Louie: (He gets on a table as everyone gathers around him) Merry Christmas, everybody! Are you all havin' a good time?

(A huge cheer goes up from the group around the table)

Louie: And at this time in the proceedin's, it's traditional for your boss to make a little speech.

Slip: *Calls out* An' It's traditional for us to take a little nap!

Louie: (Ignores the boys as they all laugh and slap Slip on the back) Ok then. (Looks at the paper) Thank you for coming, and Merry Christmas.

Buddy: Hey, it was...short.

Bobby: Your best yet, Fezziwig!

Gertie: (She joins them) I'm tired of all these speeches. How about some more dancin'?

Junior: That's what we've been waitin' for!

Louie: (Takes Gertie's hand) And here's Mama Fezziwig to really get this party started! (Turns to the musicans behind them) Ok, boys, how about some "Deck the Halls?"

Bobby: (Points at Marsha and Sally...and Marsha's "assets") I know what halls I wanna deck. How 'bout you, Eb?

Slip: I'd like to...

Bobby: Go on! She won't bite! (He gives him a push...right into Sally.)

Slip: *Stumbles* Oof! Sorry...

Sally: (Stumbles...but she smiles when she sees him) Oh, that's all right. (Flutters her fan) Ebeneezer, right? One of my father's clerks.

Slip: Yeah, that's me. *Gulps* H...how are you enjoyin' the party?

Sally: Oh, I'm having a good time. I always have a good time at Father's parties. (Smiles) I've just been waiting for you to ask me to dance.

Slip: You have? Me?

Sally: (Nods) Certainly! I know you've been eyeing me ever since you came to work here. (Leans over him and stage-whispers) And I think you're cute, too.

Slip: *Nods* I find you very pretty an' intriguin'.

Sally: I heard you're a good dancer, too.

Slip: I'm fair.

Sally: Why don't we show Father's guests a thing or two?

Slip: *Shrugs* Sure.

(They at first just join the rest of the party guests as Louie and Mama lead them into the dance. At first, we just see the dancers perform in unison, but it quickly becomes obvious that Sally and Slip are better than the others. When the music changes over to "Good Christian Men Rejoice," Sally and Slip get a duo dance to themselves.)

Louie: (As the number ends) Let's give a big hand for my lovely daughter Belle and Ebeneezer, one of our brightest and most promisin' clerks!

Sally: (As the guests and the kids in the audience clap for them) I think we're a hit!

Slip: Sounds like it.

Sally: (She pulls Slip away from the crowd as they begin another dance; they're now under the mistletoe) Guess what this is?

Slip: Spinach an’ a red ribbon?

Sally: Funny. (Gives him a kiss on the lips) Um...Merry Christmas.

Slip: Merry Christmas... *He continues in a voice-over* I truly loved Belle. I wanted to do everything I could for her. I even started the countin’ house with the Marleys for her. We became engaged. Then... *sighs*

(The guests gradually wander off as the stage darkens and the curtain briefly closes. When it opens again, we're now back in Scrooge's counting house. Sally sits on a chair in front of Slip's desk. Slip wears a coat over his sweater and is looks more careworn. Sally wears a blue cloak that covers most of her dress and a matching, simple blue velvet bonnet. She shakes her head, frowning.)

Sally: Ebeneezer, I can't...I can't do this. I can't stay engaged to you.

Slip: You don't understand, Belle. In order to keep business boomin', I need to give more time to it.

Sally: That's all you care about anymore is business! I've seen the change in you. I've seen your noble ideals fall off one by one, until you don't care about anything but money.

Slip: There's nutin' wrong wit' the pursuit of wealth... *mutters under his breath* 'specially when nutin' else works.

Sally: You could have stayed with Father. He was devastated when you and the Marley brothers left. Dick Wilkins still works at the Tavern. There are so many other things in the world besides money. I don't want a fancy wardrobe or a huge house. I just want you.

Slip: I'm sorry. I made my decision, an' if you can't accept it...

Sally: (She looks right into Slip's eyes) Tell me, Ebeneezer...if you were free, now, would you marry a girl whose father's tavern was worth so little money?

*Slip turns away from her with no response.*

Slip: *voice over* You fool! Say som'en to her! I was so stupid! I loved her more than anythin'!

Sally: (Takes a ring off of her finger and puts it on the desk) Good bye, Ebeneezer. May you be happy in the life you've chosen. (She hurries off-stage, crying...and her tears are real. Buddy goes on as she goes off.)

Buddy: What got into Belle?

*Slip just shrugs, paying more attention to his paperwork.*

Buddy: (Sees the ring) Didn't you buy that for her?

Slip: *Looks up briefly* Yeah. Might as well hock it an' get my money back.

Buddy: She broke up with ya, didn't she?

Slip: *Returns to his paperwork* So what if she did?

Buddy: Nuthin'. Women are all alike, anyway. You're better off without 'em.

*Slip nods, but doesn't respond out loud.*

Buddy: So, why don't we get those foreclosures rollin' an' start talkin' real business?

Slip: *Smirks* Now yer talkin', Jacob. *voice over* That was the last time I saw Belle. I decided to concentrate solely on the business an’ left behind everything else, including Fezziwig an' Dick Wilkins.

Buddy: Let's get goin'... (We never see if they "get goin'" or not. The curtain closes...and Whitey walks back out. Slip hurries behind him, now back in his dressing gown, night cap, and gray wig.)

Slip: Why must you torment me by showing me these things?

Whitey: (Puts up a hand) These are the shadows of things that have been. That they are what they are, do not blame me.

(As the two speak, the curtain opens, revealing the Scrooge's bedroom set again and his bed, the curtains open.)

Whitey: I am but the first spirit tonight. You have two more shadows who will be arriving very soon.

Slip: An' what're they gonna do? Point an’ laugh? I wish to see no more, spirit.

Whitey: Two shadows more... (He raises his holly, and his light glows...before it finally fades out all together. Sach walks back in as we see Whitey quickly run offstage.)

Sach: At this point, Scrooge became aware that he was feelin' really exhausted, an' tired, too.

Slip: *Sighs* Humbug. *Goes to the bed and crawls into it. The curtain closes as Slip settles with his back to the audience.*

Sach: (Pokes his head in) Hi, Chief! Hey, you were really good in that last part!

Slip: *Sits up* Yeah, wonderful.

Sach: Are you still in character?

Slip: No, Sach, I'm not.

Slip: Where'd Sally go?

Sach: I dunno. Backstage, I guess.

*Slip heads off, looking for Sally.*

Slip: *Knocks on one of the dressing room doors* Sally!

Sally: It's open.

Slip: *He goes in and closes the door after him* What was that out there? *Holds out the ring "Belle" had left behind during the scene.*

Sally: Slip...you aren't the same guy I used to know.

Slip: What's that s'posed ta mean? *Lowers his hand with the ring and goes over to her*

Sally: You've been a real grouch lately, jumpin' down everyone's throats. The Boys say you've been a pain to live with, and when was the last time we went on a date?

Slip: You an' the boys know what I've been through the past few months. I ain't allowed to take it badly?

Sally: Yes, we know...but Slip, it's Christmas. Can't you find it in your heart to just enjoy things and feel better, even for a little while?

Slip: Why should I when I don't?

Sally: The Slip I know would have already come up with an idea to make things better instead of mopin'.

Slip: Like what? Snap my fingers an' make everythin' magically better? Make my shoulder finally stop botherin' me? Make me somehow forget what's been done to me an' my friends?

Sally: GET OVER IT! (She stands) Your shoulder will heal. We can't help what happened with that play. Yes, it was terrible. Yes, it hurt a lot of people. Slip, it was over a month ago!

Slip: "Get over it." Easy for you to say. You didn't have one-a yer friends turned against you. Yer not the one dealin' wit' the constant throb an' ache in yer shoulder where some days it hurts to even raise my arm! *holds out the ring again* Maybe I will hock this. I really could use the cash.

Sally: Fine! Do it then! You're really turnin' into some old Scrooge! You're gonna end up just like him, with no friends and no one to love you. See if I care! (She storms out of the dressing room in tears.)

*Slip tightens his hand into a fist, the ring in the middle. He pulls back as though to throw it, but pauses. He lowers his arm, but doesn't uncurl his fist. Scowling, he storms out of the dressing room and slams the door behind him, rattling the walls.*