December 26th - A Humbug Hangover

Ebeneezer Scrooge awakens filled with a newly discovered Christmas spirit and a headache. In an all too familiar move, he runs to his bedroom window and yells down to a street urchin with instructions to buy the biggest bird in the poulterer's window-and have it delivered to the Cratchit's. This time, his iconic question, "What's today, my fine fellow!" is answered with "It's December 26th!" Scrooge has no memory of Christmas, but he soon discovers that his home is littered with half-eaten plates of food, empty bottles of booze, and passed-out randos strewn about his furniture, one of which is Mary, a lady of ill repute. Scrooge finds himself trying to avert Mary's aggressive sexual advances. This uncomfortable altercation sends Scrooge into a dreamy reminiscence of Belle, his long-lost love. Poundpenny, The Ghost of Christmas Day Regret, visits Scrooge. Together, they travel through time and space to witness the night before revealing that Scrooge threw a massive, out-of-control party. Overcome by his newfound Christmas Spirit and more than his share of alcoholic spirits, Scrooge managed to give away all of his wealth in one night. With no home and no money, Poundpenny offers Scrooge the chance to erase all that happened over the last few nights-his memory of the ghosts that showed him the error of his miserly ways erased forever, and all of his wealth returned to him. Scrooge refuses the offer. He would rather start his life over than go back to being the selfish man he once was. In a final twist, Vanessa, yet another ghost, appears before Scrooge, accompanied by none other than his long-lost love, Belle. Vanessa is Belle's moral lesson ghost, who has brought Belle to Scrooge. Both Belle and Scrooge have been on similar fantastical journeys over the last several days. Belle and Scrooge set off on their new lives, wiser, happier people.