The moment Scrooge’s hand was on the lock, a strange voice called hi by his name, and bade him enter. He obeyed.
It was his own room. There was no doubt about that./ But it had undergone a surprising transformation. The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove, from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, aa if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as that that dull petrification of a hearth had never known in Scrooge’s time, or Marley’s, or for many and many a winter season gone. Heaped on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, gees, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon this ouch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see; who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike plenty’s horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door.
“Come in!” exclaimed the Ghost. “Come in! and know me better, man!”
Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before the Spirit. He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been; and though the Spirit’s eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them.
“I am the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said the Spirit. “Look upon me!”
Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple deep green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free: free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust.
“You have never seen the like of me before!” exclaimed the Ghost.
“Never,” Scrooge made answer to it.
“Have never walked forth with the younger members of my family; meaning (for I am very young) my elder brothers born in these later years?” pursued the Phantom.
“I don’t think I have,” said Scrooge. “I am afraid I have not. Have you many brothers, Spirit?”
“More than eighteen hundred,” said the Ghost.
“A tremendous family to provide for!” muttered Scrooge.
The Ghost of Christmas present rose.
“Spirit,” said Scrooge submissively, “Conduct me where you will. I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learned a lesson which is working now. To-night, if you have ought to teach me, let me profit by it.”
“Touch my robe!”
Scrooge did as he was told, and held it fast.
Look at all the room Dickens gave moviemakers to play in! Scrooge’s attitude to the Ghost, the Ghost’s opinion of him, and how much they have to say to each other all vary. There are also a few technical matters to employ in making a giant appear in a live-action film. Camera angles can do the trick, or a miniature room to make the actor playing the Ghost stoop a bit so as to clear the ceiling; Caine has a gigantic head which peers through the door at him. Since Dickens makes it clear this Spirit can change size at will, most versions bring him down to a manageable height after the first impact.
Other things are constant from Scrooge to Scrooge: that parlor which becomes a larder, the massive Ghost based generally on Leech’s illustration, and, especially, that line “Come in! and know me better, man!”
Following that line, Hicks finds himself facing a gross goblin who seems to have escaped from some historical movie about Nero or henry VIII. (He’s one of a line of Christmases Present who actually eat the props.) They exchange the dialogue much as written; Scrooge is softening. “Touch my robe,” orders the Ghost. “And you shall see how your clerk, with his paltry fifteen shillings a week, which you so grudgingly dole out to him, keeps Christmas! Touch my robe!” Scrooge raises his hand high, hesitates for just a moment, and then lets it drop on the Spirit’s garment.
“Come here and know me better, Scrooge!” calls Owen’s wide-eyed, robust, but not so very giant Spirit. This Ghost has had “a huge number” of brothers, “Some eighteen hundred!” Owen asks “What’re we going to do?” “Walk into the world this Christmas night so that you can hear and see and feel Christmas in the world this night.” “Did you say walk or fly?” “Touch my robe.”
The Ghost has to summon Sim I several times; Scrooge keeps calling “I’m coming.” When he does finally go into the next room, and see what is waiting for him, he turns away, shaking his head. The giant Ghost declares, “You have never seen the like of me before!” to which Scrooge makes the immortal reply, “No. And I wish the pleasure had been indefinitely postponed.” “So! Is your heart still unmoved towards us, then?” Scrooge begins the refrain that he will reprise several times. “I am too old! I am beyond hope! Go and redeem some young, more promising creature and leave me to keep Christmas in my own way.” He is given a lecture on how Christmas spirits live not just one day any more than the Christ Child sees to only one day. “You have chosen not to seek Him in your heart; therefore you shall come with me and seek him in the hearts of men of good will. Come. Touch my robe!” The Ghost chuckles as Scrooge shuffles forward.
March finds a Ghost who looks a great deal like his nephew Fred, sitting in a room rather heavier on decorations than food. He wears no beard, and is not a giant; his costume is about half jester and half lieutenant, bells replacing brass. He is suitably hearty though, and sings the most rollicking song in the production, “A Very Merry Christmas”. Scrooge walks around and around him, once reaching timidly in to ring some of the bells. During this number, the Ghost shows off a few tricks, finding a sprig of mistletoe under Scrooge’s nightcap, drawing a long garland from inside Scrooge’s dressing gown, and so on. Scrooge’s glee and wonder grow with each trick. His stuffed raven flies out the window. Under duress at first, but then with good will, Scrooge finds himself dancing with the Ghost. Not that he’s perfectly convinced: his face goes through an alarming series of conflicting expressions; at one point he tries to hide in the bed again. Finally, he asks what we’ve all been wondering, “Nephew? Fred?” “Nephew?” cries the Ghost. “I am the Spirit of Christmas Present. Pluck up your courage. Only good will happen to you.” The Ghost picks up, and raises his nose at, the bowl of gruel as Scrooge asks “Christmas Present?” “Yes. You don’t give many of them, do you?” Scrooge is abashed: “Not of late years,” he admits. “I do,” the Spirit replies, “It’s my business. None of this will be wasted, you may be sure.” “How did you come here?” “I came on my regular round.” “Spirit, if you have anything to teach me, I’m ready to learn.” The Ghost sings more of his song while spreading a tablecloth on Scrooge’s table. He sets the gruel in the center of this, gestures, and we are looking at a plum pudding on the table of the Cratchit household.
As Rathbone peers out the window, a voice calls “Come here! Come here and know me better, man!” The cold fireplace Scrooge peeked into a second ago is now ablaze, and there is food all over the place. In the corner sits a man with a Sants suit and the shortest beard of any Christmas present except for Hicks (well, and Curry.) Scrooge, removing that absurd nightcap at last, admits he has never seen the like of this Ghost before. “You could have known many of my older brothers, if you’d wanted.” The Spirit tosses the mug he is holding to one side, and rises: he is not quite a giant, but he is taller than Scrooge (now that the cap is gone.) Scrooge asks the Ghost to conduct him where he will; if the Spirit has ought to teach him, he is ready to elarn. “Good,” says the Ghost, a bit grim. “Toich my cloak.”
Magoo gets a rather rotund white-bearded man who observes that Scrooge has never seen the like of him before. “I’m not sure I see the like of you now,” says the squinting Scrooge. “So I’ve heard; you’re the one who’s too tight with a penny to buy himself a pair of spectacles.” The Ghost orders Scrooge to come in and know him better, man. Scrooge replies by asking “Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me?” (He has to use that line here, remember, because in this version Christmas present is the first of the Spirits.) “Touch my robe,” the Ghost replies.
Haddrick finds a white-bearded Spirit very much like the last one; this Ghost does seem a wee bit younger, and carries a lantern instead of a crozier. He is not a giant, and stands in a room now featuring a Christmas tree and presents. “Come in! and know me better, man! I am the Ghost of Christmas Present! Lok upon me well!” “Spirit, take me where you will. I have already been forth this night—or last night—and I am anxious to end this ordeal.” “Touch my robe.” They rise through the ceiling.
Sim II’s Ghost is definitely based on the Leech illustration, even to the hairy chest. “Come in! and know me better, man! You have never seen the like of me before!” Scrooge merely shakes his head. His only line here is to request the Ghost to “Take me where you will. If you have ought to teach me, let me profit by it.” The Ghost looks a wee bit irritated, but rises and commands him to touch the robe. (You will observe that this Ghost actually wears a scabbard, as required by the text, but it looks like plain leather.)
Finney unlocks the door to the next room, but, hearing his name, runs back to bed. When the Ghost threatens to come fetch him, he scuttles to the door again. The light there is too bright for him; when the Ghost lowers it, he finds a vast, glittering array of food and a bushily-bearded, fully furred giant. “Come over here, you weird little man! I am the Ghost of Christmas Present! Now look upon me! You have never seen the like of me before!” “Never.” “Yet how many of my brothers have you rejected in your miserable lifetime!” “I’ve never met any of your brothers, sir.” “You have never looked for them.” “How many of them are there?” “What year is this?” “1860.” “Then I have 1859 brothers. Every year at this time, one of us visits your puny little planet to spread happiness and to remove as many as we can of the causes of human misery. That is why I have come to see you, Ebenezer Scrooge.” Scrooge is levitated to allow the Spirit a closer look. “You’re a funny-looking little creature. I must admit, I found it hard to believe you’d be as horrible as my brothers said you’d be, but now I come to look at you, I see they were understating the truth.” Scrooge protests that he is a man of high principles and generous spirit. The Ghost forces a large goblet on him and orders him to drink. Scrooge is reluctant, but finds the beverage to his liking; he says he’s never tasted anything like it before. “Of course you haven’t.” “What is it?” “The milk of human kindness.” The Spirit begins a poem which becomes a song; he rather dislikes humans, especially Ebenezer Scrooge, but the song is “I Like Life.” Scrooge explains that he hates life because life hates him. “You’re an even bigger fool than I took you for.” The Ghost teaches Scrooge the song; Scrooge reacts to it as he did the contents of the goblet; reluctant at first, he comes to enjoy it. He even enjoys being flown across the room by the Ghost. Eventually the pair of them burst through the glass of the window and sail into the night sky.
Matthau cries, “My parlor! What’s happened to my parlor?” Well, it’s packed with food; a fire blazes in the fireplace. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Present. Come in and know me Better, for you have never known the likes of me before!” “Who are you?” “The Christmas Spirit. Come!” “No!” Toys under a Christmas tree sing “Listen to the Song of the Christmas Spirit” as a terrified Scrooge is drawn in and shrunk to their size. He is forced to dance with them, and gradually seems to be enjoying himself. The Christmas Spirit itself is a tall man with white hair and a white beard. A wreath rests on his head. He carries the cornucopia torch, and an empty (but intact) scabbard hangs at his waist. Finally, catching up Scrooge and B.A.H. Humbug, he hurls them through the window. “I shall fall!” “Touch my robe and be lifted!” They fly.
Willie the Giant plays McDuck’s Christmas Present, so he is a proper giant, four stories tall, calling “Fee Fi Fo Fum” as he looks around for Scrooge. Scrooge thinks he’s going to be devoured, but the Ghost, showing him to room heaped with food, tells him there are better things to eat than a distasteful little miser. “Where did this all come from?” ””From the heart, Scrooge! It is the food of generosity, which you have long denied your fellow man.” “Nobody has ever shown ME generosity.” “You’ve never given them reason to. And yet there are still some who find enough warmth in their hearts even for the likes of you.” “No acquaintance of mine, I assure you.” “You’ll see.” The Ghost pushes the roof off the house and starts away. (Shall we note at this point that though in this version, Scrooge carries Christmas Past with him, he is carried away by Christmas Present? Or are we overthinking things?)
Scott is told to “Come in!” Scrooge is grim in reply: “I intend to,.” He blinks at the light until it is dimmed. “Come in, and know me better, man! You’ve never seen the likes of me before, eh?” “That’s quite true,” says Scrooge, his expression one of wonder and confusion, “I have not.” The Ghost is a robust bearded man who likes to laugh. “You never walked forth with any of the younger members of my family.” “No, not that I remember.” “Nor any of my elder brothers, born these late years?” “No, I’m afraid not, no. Do you have many brothers, Spirit?” “Over eighteen hundred.” “A tremendous family to provide for!” This remark, which IS a bit mercenary if you think about it, seems to offend the Ghost. “Take hold of my robe, Ebenezer Scrooge!”
The roliest poliest softest giant in all creation calls to Caine, heartily identifying himself twice, saying “Come in and know me better man!” no fewer than three times. Scrooge notes, “You’re a little absent-minded, Spirit.” “No, I’m a LARGE absent-minded Spirit!” He and Scrooge chuckle heartily about this. The Ghost goes on to explain that his mind is filled with the here and now, “And the now is Christmas!” “I don’t believe I’ve met anyone like you before.” The Ghost is surprised. “Really? Over 1800 of my brothers have gone before me.” Scrooge ventures a little joke about grocery bills; they laugh inordinately over it, and the Giant shrinks a little toward Scrooge’s size. “Have you ever noticed how everything seems wonderful at Christmas?” Scrooge replies, with some regret, “In all honesty, Spirit: no. Perhaps I’ve never understood about Christmas.” “Before the day is done, you WILL understand.” He marches over to throw open the window, tossing the eavesdropping Dickens and Rizzo into the snow once more.
When Curry is called, he closes his bed curtains. Light forces them back. “Come out, come out, and know me better!” The light flies back to the Ghost, a Black woman in a green gown. “No! Gi away!” Debit growls at the Spirit, but she throws him a leg of lamb. “I bet you’ve never had a Guest like me before.” Scrooge is still hiding; she takes a deep breath and blows the covers away. They converse as in the text, though when she mentions the other members of her family, Scrooge asks “Do you have many sisters?” “Nearly nineteen hundred. Come! Touch my robe!” “After that last Spirit, I’d rather not.” “This is not a multiple choice, Mr. Grumpy-face.” He says he can’t leave his dog; she points out that Debit is obviously happy with that bone. As she snatches him up and sails out into the night, he grumbles, “I’ve got to get a lock for that window.”
Stewart finds a dark-haired giant, not quite bare-chested, not so brightly lit; this Ghost relies on flickering firelight. “Come in and know me better, man! Have you never seen anything like this before?” “Not in this house.” The Ghost laughs; they discuss the younger members of the Ghost’s family. Scrooge’s line about providing for so large a family seems to offend this Ghost as well. He is stern as he rises. Stewart asks him to go ahead with whatever he has in mind. “I’d like to get this over and done with.” He moves like a condemned man on the gallows as he goes to touch the robe.
FUSS FUSS FUSS #12: How Do You Like Him Now?
Ghosts of Christmas Present regard Scrooge with a mixture of amusement and contempt. Lined up in order, from Most Amused to Most Annoyed, one must begin with Caine’s Christmas Present, a large-hearted soul who honestly believes everyone considers Christmas a time to be jolly and generous, and work to the other end in this order
Caine
Curry
March
Sim I
Owen
Sim II
Scott
Magoo
Stewart
Matthau: this Spirit is sort of a midpoint, neither very amused nor contemptuous, but more of warm, happy soul who will not take “no” for an answer
Haddrick
McDuck
Rathbone
Hicks
Finney
Finney’s Ghost doesn’t seem to have any affection for humans or Earth (so presumably they have Christmas other places, too) and particularly dislikes Scrooge, calling him weird, horrible, unpleasant, and funny-looking.
For their part, most Scrooges greet this Ghost with terror, though a few, like the textual Scrooge, are merely resigned to their fate. Sim I seems merely dismayed, while Scott is grimly angry. Caine, of course, seems to be as pleased by the encounter as the Ghost
Blogsy Babbles 