Episode Twenty One: A Legacy of Ash

Summary

A Christmas Carol: Episode Twenty-One - "A Legacy of Ash"

Hosted by The Merry Beggars

---

Introduction

In Episode Twenty-One of A Christmas Carol, titled "A Legacy of Ash," The Merry Beggars delve deeper into the haunting journey of Ebenezer Scrooge. As Christmas approaches, Scrooge confronts the grim realities of his legacy through encounters with spectral figures and the remnants of his past. This episode masterfully intertwines dialogue and narrative to expose the profound transformation—or lack thereof—in Scrooge's character.

---

Scene Setting and Character Introduction

The episode opens in a dimly lit, cluttered beechwood shop where Scrooge finds himself alongside the enigmatic Phantom. The setting is immediately charged with tension as familiar characters emerge:

• Old Joe: A grizzled figure who oversees the examination of Scrooge's possessions.
• Mrs. Dilber: A bold and defiant woman, unafraid to challenge the legitimacy of Scrooge's legacy.
• Other Spectral Figures: Representing various facets of Scrooge's past relationships and transactions.

Key Interaction: The Assessment of Scrooge's Legacy

At 00:28, Scrooge and the Phantom stand amidst an unexpected assembly of characters:

Scrooge: "Scrooge and the Phantom stood in this low browed beetling shop as Old Joe, the two women and a man burst into laughter, astonished at seeing one another." (00:28)

Mrs. Dilber initiates a critical dialogue, challenging the fairness of Scrooge's dealings in life and death:

Mrs. Dilber: "A wicked old screw, why wasn't he more natural in his lifetime? If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with death..." (02:13)

Theme Exploration: Greed and Isolation

The conversation pivots to a scathing critique of Scrooge's greed and the isolation it fostered. Old Joe methodically appraises Scrooge's belongings, highlighting the futility and lack of sentimental value in his riches:

Old Joe: "That's your account. And I wouldn't give you another sixpence if I was to be boiled for not knowing it." (03:43)

Mrs. Dilber's defiance underscores the human cost of Scrooge's avarice:

Mrs. Dilber: "I certainly shan't hold my hand when I can get anything in it by reaching it out for the sake of such a man as he was." (04:38)

Supernatural Intervention: The Spirit's Warning

At 06:17, the Phantom becomes more assertive, urging Scrooge to heed the lessons of this desolate legacy:

Spirit: "Spirit. I see, I see. The case of this unhappy man might be my own. My life tends that way now. Merciful heaven, what is this?" (06:17)

Scrooge's internal horror is palpable as he witnesses the aftermath of his life's choices—a lifeless, neglected household filled with decay and abandonment:

Scrooge: "...a fine one, too. They'd have wasted it if it hadn't been for me." (05:24)

He reflects on the emptiness of his existence, questioning the true value of his wealth and the relationships he neglected:

Scrooge: "Truly, no voice pronounced these questions in Scrooge's ears, and yet he heard them when he looked upon the bed." (07:00)

Climactic Revelation: The Unveiling of Consequences

The Phantom intensifies the scene, revealing the stark consequences of Scrooge's life:

Spirit: "Spirit, this is a fearful place. In leaving it, I shall not leave its lesson. Trust me. Let us go." (08:16)

Scrooge's desperation mounts as the Phantom almost allows him to peer into a vision of his own death, representing the ultimate isolation his greed has wrought.

Conclusion: A Haunting Reflection

The episode concludes with Scrooge grappling with the haunting images and words of the past, forewarning a potential future marred by his own failings:

Spirit: "I understand you, and I would draw that veil from upon that body's head if I could. But I have not the power, Spirit. I have not the power." (08:29)

The rapid transition back to the present reality leaves Scrooge—and the listeners—to ponder the profound moral implications of his life's trajectory.

---

Notable Quotes and Insights

• Mrs. Dilber on Scrooge's Isolation:

  "If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with death..." (02:13)

• Old Joe on Reducing Scrooge's Wealth:

  "I always give too much to ladies. It's a weakness of mine, and that's the way I'll ruin myself." (04:03)

• Spirit's Urgent Plea:

  "Spirit, this is a fearful place. In leaving it, I shall not leave its lesson. Trust me. Let us go." (08:16)

These quotes encapsulate the episode's exploration of greed, loneliness, and the supernatural as tools for moral introspection.

---

Themes and Insights

"A Legacy of Ash" serves as a stark reminder of the destructive nature of avarice and the isolation it breeds. Through Scrooge's interactions with Mrs. Dilber, Old Joe, and the Phantom, the episode vividly portrays the aftermath of a life devoid of compassion and human connection. The spectral figures symbolize the tangible consequences of Scrooge's moral failings, urging listeners to reflect on their own values and relationships.

---

Final Thoughts

Episode Twenty-One masterfully continues the narrative arc of A Christmas Carol, blending Dickensian themes with contemporary storytelling techniques. The Merry Beggars successfully evoke a sense of dread and reflection, compelling audiences to consider the true cost of their actions and the importance of fostering meaningful connections.

For those seeking to delve deeper into Scrooge's transformation, subscribing to A Christmas Carol at adventwithscrooge.com not only grants access to daily episodes but also offers a complimentary 50-page Activity Book brimming with engaging activities and discussion questions for all ages.

---

Stay Connected

• Subscribe for Free Daily Episodes: AdventwithScrooge.com
• Explore More Shows: The Merry Beggars
• Follow on Social Media:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

---

Upcoming Episodes

Stay tuned for the next installment of A Christmas Carol, where further revelations await Ebenezer Scrooge on his path toward redemption.

Transcript

[Narrator]

The Merry Bakers at Relevant radio present episode 21 a legacy of Ash.

[Scrooge]

Scrooge and the Phantom stood in this low browed beetling shop as Old Joe, the two women and a man burst into laughter, astonished at seeing one another.

[Mrs. Dilber]

Lend the charwoman alone to be the first. Let the laundress alone to be the second. Let the undertaker's men alone to be the third. Look here. Oh, Joe, here's a chance. If we hadn't all three met here without meaning. Absolutely.

[Old Joe]

And you couldn't have met in a better place. Come into the parlour. You were made free of it long ago, you know. And the other two ain't strangers. Stop till I shut the door of the shop. Oh, how it screaks. Ain't such a rusty bit of metal in this place as its own hinges, I believe. And there's no such old bones here as mine. We're all suitable to our calling. We're well matched. Come into the parlor. Come in.

[Scrooge]

The parlor was the space behind the screen of rags. The old man raked the fire together with an old stair rod, and having trimmed a smoky lamp, for it was night, with the stem of his pipe, put it in his mouth again. While he did this, the woman who had already spoken threw her bundle on the floor and sat down in a flaunting manner on a stool, crossing her elbows on her knees and looking with bold defiance at the other two.

[Mrs. Dilber]

What odds then? What odds, Mrs. Dilber? Every person has a right to take care of themselves. He always did. That's true. Indeed. No man more so. Why then, don't stand staring as if you was afraid, woman. Who's the wiser? We're not gonna pick holes in each other's coats, I suppose.

[Old Joe]

No indeed.

[Mrs. Dilber]

No indeed.

[Old Joe]

We should hope not.

[Mrs. Dilber]

Very well then. That's enough. Who's the worse for the loss of a few things like these? Not a dead man, I suppose. If he wanted to keep em after he was dead. A wicked old screw, why wasn't he more natural in his lifetime? If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with death, instead of lying gasping out his last there alone by himself. It is the truest word that ever was spoken. It's a judgment on him. I wish it was a little heavier judgment. And it should have been. You may depend upon it. If I could have laid my hands on anything else. Open that bundle, O Jo, and let me know the value of it. Speak out plain. I'm not afraid to be the first, nor afraid for Them to see it. We know pretty well that we were helping ourselves before we met here. I believe it's no sin. Open the bundle, Joe.

[Spirit]

Not on your life. A lady should never go first.

[Scrooge]

The gallantry of her friends would not allow her to go first. And the man in faded black, mounting the breach, first produced his plunder. It was not extensive. A seal or two, a pencil case, a pair of sleeve buttons and a brooch of no great value were all. They were severally examined and appraised by old Joe, who chopped the sums he was disposed to give for each upon the wall and added them up into a total when he found there was nothing more to come.

[Old Joe]

That's your account. And I wouldn't give you another sixpence if I was to be boiled for not knowing it. Who's next?

[Narrator]

Oh, I'll go.

[Scrooge]

I fancy Mrs. Dilber was next. Sheets and towels, a little wearing apparel, two old fashioned silver teaspoons, a pair of sugar tongs and a few boots. Her account was stated on the wall in the same manner.

[Old Joe]

I always give too much to ladies. It's a weakness of mine, and that's the way I'll ruin myself. That's your account. If you asked me for another penny and made it an open question, I'd repent of being so liberal and knock off half a crown.

[Mrs. Dilber]

And now undo my bundle, Joe.

[Old Joe]

Come now, bring your bundle. Here we go. Come on. You've done a great nod on this one, haven't you? What do you call this? Bed curtains.

[Mrs. Dilber]

Bed curtains.

[Old Joe]

Don't mean to say you took them down, rings and all, with him lying there.

[Mrs. Dilber]

Yes, I do. Why not?

[Old Joe]

You were born to make your fortune and you'll certainly do it.

[Mrs. Dilber]

I certainly shan't hold my hand when I can get anything in it by reaching it out for the sake of such a man as he was. I promise you, Joe. Don't drop that oil upon the blankets now.

[Old Joe]

His blankets?

[Mrs. Dilber]

Who else is, do you think? He isn't likely to take code without him, I dare say.

[Old Joe]

I hope he didn't die of anything catching, eh?

[Mrs. Dilber]

Don't you be afraid of that. I ain't so fond of his company that I'd loiter about him for such things if he did. Ah, you may look through that shirt till your eyes ache, but you won't find an hole in it nor a threadbare place. It's the best he had, and a fine one, too. They'd have wasted it if it hadn't been for me.

[Old Joe]

What do you call the wasting of it?

[Mrs. Dilber]

Putting it on him to be buried in, to be sure. Oh, somebody was fool enough to do it, but I took it off again. If calico ain't good enough for such a purpose, it isn't good enough for anything. It's quite as becoming to the body. He can't look uglier than he did in that one.

[Scrooge]

Scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror as they sat grouped about their spoil in the scanty light afforded by the old man's lamp. He viewed them with a detestation and disgust which could hardly have been greater, though they had been obscene demons marketing the corpse itself.

[Old Joe]

There, you'll see the proper amount in there, too. Not a six bit small. Thank you kindly.

[Mrs. Dilber]

This is the end of it, you see. He frightened everyone away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead.

[Spirit]

Spirit. I see, I see. The case of this unhappy man might be my own. My life tends that way now. Merciful heaven, what is this?

[Scrooge]

He recoiled in terror, for the scene had changed and now he almost touched a bed. A bare, uncurtained bed, on which, beneath a ragged sheet there lay a something covered up, which, though it was dumb, announced itself in awful language. The room was very dark, too dark to be observed with any accuracy, though Scrooge glanced round it in obedience to a secret impulse, anxious to know what kind of room it was. A pale light, rising in the outer air fell straight upon the bed, and on it, plundered and bereft, unwatched, unwept, uncared for, was the body of this man. Scrooge glanced towards the phantom. Its steady hand was pointed to the head. The COVID was so carelessly adjusted that the slightest raising of it, the motion of a finger upon Scrooge's part, would have disclosed the face. He thought of it, felt how easy it would be to do, and longed to do it, but had no more power to withdraw the veil than to dismiss the specter at his side. Scrooge thought, if this man could be raised up now, what would be in his foremost thoughts? Avarice, hard dealing, griping cares? They have brought him to a rich end. Truly, no voice pronounced these questions in Scrooge's ears, and yet he heard them when he looked upon the bed. The body lay in the dark, empty house with not a man, not a woman or a child. To say that he was kind to me in this or that, or for the memory of one kind word, I would be kind to him. A cat was tearing at the door and there was a sound of gnawing rats beneath the hearthstone what they wanted in the room of death and why they were so restless and disturbed. Scrooge did not dare think.

[Spirit]

Spirit, this is a fearful place. In leaving it, I shall not leave its lesson. Trust me. Let us go.

[Scrooge]

Still the ghost pointed with an unmoved finger to the head.

[Spirit]

I understand you, and I would draw that veil from upon that body's head if I could. But I have not the power, Spirit. I have not the power. If there is any person in the town who feels emotion caused by this man's death, show that person to me. Spirit, I beseech you.

[Scrooge]

The phantom spread its dark robe before him for a moment, like a wing covering the scene before Scrooge's eyes before withdrawing it. The scene, with all its terror and dread, evaporated instantly.

[Narrator]

[e-mail] for the next episode of A Christmas Carol and download a free companion guide with activities, questions and coloring pages. Subscribe for free at adventwithscrooge.com adventwithscrooge.com.