Nothing To Do With Me (Part II)

JONATHON
Hear the bells over London town,
How joyously they ring.
See the lamps aglow in…

SCROOGE
"For God's sake, child! Shut up and let me pass!"
(Jonathon kicks him in the shin.
Scrooge raises his stick to strike him but Jonathon dodges and runs.
The Sandwichboard Man blocks Scrooge.)

SANDWICHBOARD MAN
Hey! Have you forgotten how to smile, sir?

SCROOGE
"Smile? At what? Children should earn their wages by more than a song."

SANDWICHBOARD MAN
Come and buy a ticket to the show?

SCROOGE
"Only fools waste their time and money on frivolity. Now move aside."

SANDWICHBOARD MAN
Life'll pass you by
In just a while, sir,
And it may be later than you know!

(A Woman Lamplighter tumbles on the ground, her makeshift ladder broken.)

LAMPLIGHTER
Help a workin' person
Reach the light, sir?

SCROOGE
"A woman's not fit for the job."

LAMPLIGHTER
My husband's ill,
He'll likely get the sack!

SCROOGE
"Then it's the workhouse for you both, isn't it!"

LAMPLIGHTER
Oughta take the time
For doin' right, sir!

SCROOGE
"Good evening."

LAMPLIGHTER
(Menacingly)
You'll be sorry, sir,
When you look back!

(Scrooge hears the loud tap-tapping of the Bind Old Hag's cane.)

BLIND OLD HAG
Spare a coin
For someone who is blind, sir?

SCROOGE
"Devil take you, old woman. I have nothing for you."

BLIND OLD HAG
(Grabbing his arm hard)
None so blind
As those who will not see!

SCROOGE
"Release my arm. Let go of me!"

BLIND OLD HAG
Go your sorry way,
And never mind, sir!
Come the future,
You'll remember me!

(Scrooge reels away from her, and stops in his tracks, as a small funeral procession passes.
Following behind are Mr. Smythe and Grace Smythe.)

GRACE SMYTHE
Let the stars in the sky
Remind us of man's compassion.
Let us love till we die
And God bless us everyone.

(Grace and the funeral procession dissolve into the distance leaving Scrooge all alone.)

SCROOGE
Damn this silly season!
Damn all humankind!
Makes you lose your reason!
Makes you lose your mind!
Next thing you know
I'll be dancing in snow.
Throwing coins to the poor,
And the lame, and the blind!
Well, I wish that the whole world
Would just let me be!
Let the whole world be damned!
It has nothing to do with me!

(Suddenly the Blind Old Hag is at his elbow again.)

BLIND OLD HAG
(whispers menacingly)
"Look to yourself! You look to yourself, before it's too late."

SCROOGE
"Bah, Humbug!"