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NOTES
[Present begins to deliquesce. Scrooge calls after him.]
Scrooge. Spirit, I’m frightened! Don’t leave me! Spirit!
Present. Prisons? Workhouses? Prisons? Workhouses . . .
[He is gone. Scrooge is alone now with the Phantom, who is, of
course, the Ghost of Christmas Future. The Phantom is
shrouded in black. Only its outstretched hand is visible from under
his ghostly garment.]
Scrooge. Who are you, Phantom? Oh, yes. I think I know
you! You are, are you not, the Spirit of Christmas Yet to
Come? [No reply] And you are about to show me the shadows
of the things that have not yet happened, but will happen in
time before us. Is that not so, Spirit? [The Phantom allows
Scrooge a look at his face. No other reply wanted here. Anervous
giggle here.] Oh, Ghost of the Future, I fear you more than any
Specter I have seen! But, as I know that your purpose is to do
me good and as I hope to live to be another man from what I
was, I am prepared to bear you company. [Future does not
reply, but for a stiff arm, hand and finger set, pointing forward.]
Lead on, then, lead on. The night is waningfast, and it is
precious time to me. Lead on, Spirit!
[Future moves away from Scrooge in the same rhythm and motion
employed at its arrival. Scrooge falls into the same pattern, a
considerable space apart from the Spirit. In the space between them,
Marley appears. He looks to Future and then to Scrooge. He claps
his hands. Thunder and lightning. Three Businessmen appear,
spotlighted singularly: One is D.L.; one is D.R.; one is U.C. Thus,
six points of the stage should now be spotted in light. Marley will
watch this scene from his position, C. Scrooge and Future are R.
and L. of C.]
First Businessman. Oh, no, I don’t know much about it either
way, I only know he’s dead.
Second Businessman. When did he die?
First Businessman. Last night, I believe.
Second Businessman. Why, what was the matter with him?
I thought he’d never die, really . . .
First Businessman. [Yawning] Goodness knows, goodness
knows . . .
Third Businessman. What has he done with his money?
Second Businessman. I haven’t heard. Have you?
First Businessman. Left it to his Company, perhaps. Money
to money; you know the expression . . .
46
47
48
49
CLOSE READ
ANNOTATE: Mark the words
and phrases that the Ghost of
Christmas Present repeats in
paragraphs 43–48.
QUESTION: Why might the
playwright have chosen to have
the Ghost of Christmas Present
repeat these words and phrases
upon departing?
CONCLUDE: What effect does
this repetition have on the
reader?
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley, Act II 277