The Ghost of Christmas Future reveals the appalling events that will happen if Scrooge doesn’t become a kinder man. Tiny Tim will die, and so will Scrooge, though no one will mourn him. Scrooge begs the Ghost for a chance to put things right.
Full Episode
I'm Keith Morrison, and this is episode four of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. These days we'd probably call Ebenezer Scrooge a hater. What else do you call a man who doesn't like babies or Christmas? Or people, really. That is, until the ghost of Christmas passed, and the ghost of Christmas present got their hands on Scrooge.
Got him thinking about charity and kindness and what it means to be happy. And to make others happy. But as we rejoin our story, Scrooge doesn't have time to think too hard about any of that. Because heading his way is something dark. And Scrooge is seized by a cold fear. The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached.
When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee, for in the very air through which this spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.
But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded. He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread. He knew no more, for the spirit neither spoke nor moved. Am I in the presence of the ghost of Christmas yet to come? said Scrooge.
The spirit answered not, but pointed onward with its hand. You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened, but will happen in the time before us, Scrooge pursued. Is that so, spirit? The upper portion of the garment was contracted for an instant in its folds, as if the spirit had inclined its head. That was the only answer he received.
Though well used to ghostly company by this time, Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him, and he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it. The spirit paused a moment as observing his condition and giving him time to recover. But Scrooge was all the worse for this.
It thrilled him with a vague, uncertain horror to know that behind the dusky shroud there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him. Well, he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of lacquer.
ghost of the future he exclaimed I fear you more than any specter I have seen but as I know 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 and will do it with a thankful heart will you not speak to me it gave him no reply the hand was pointed straight before them Lead on, said Scrooge, lead on.
The night is waning fast, and it is precious time to me, I know. Lead on, spirit. The phantom moved away as it had come towards him. Scrooge followed in the shadow of its dress, which bore him up, he thought, and carried him along. They scarcely seemed to enter the city, for the city rather seemed to spring up about them. and encompassed them of its own act.
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