We continue our look into the necessary story elements of "A Christmas Carol" that should be included in short-form adaptation, such as an audio drama.
For the introduction of the Ghost of Christmas Present, I would have Scrooge see the light coming from the other room and enter right away. The a bit of exposition about the ghost sitting on the throne of food and such.
I would just get them over to Bob Cratchit's house rather than any description of the bustle of city, which while very evocative, would just slow down the story.
At the Cratchit house, as much as I like the Martha character and how she playfully hides from Bob, I don't think we need all that. Same with Peter and the potatoes and the young Cratchit kids.
Let's just have the family welcome Bob and Tiny Tim with the narrator telling us about Tim and also Bob and his wife talking about how he behaved in church.
Some talk about the goose and the pudding and have Tiny Tim say his big line.
The Scrooge asks the ghost about Tiny Tim's fate and it is imperative that the ghost throws the "surplus population" back at him!
The toast to Scrooge with Mrs. C objecting, then we can leave.
A bit of a mention that the ghost takes Scrooge on a whirlwind tour, but they should get to Fred's house pretty quickly.
Again, as much as I like the antics with Topper, I think we really only need to have Fred talking about Scrooge and everyone raising a toast to him. But don't have Fred say "whatever he is" because we didn't get a chance to play that yes or no game!
I would probably end things with the present right there and not include Ignorance and Want as that whole thing seems hard to describe aurally.
On to the future!
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