Ebenezer Scrooge is a wealthy and stingy old man. He treats his kindly clerk, Bob Cratchit, and his own good-hearted nephew with contempt-laden, 'Bah Humbugs.' It is nearly Christmas, but Scrooge refuses to donate money to the poor and begrudges giving his clerk a paid day off. At his home, Scrooge is visited by the chained specter of his miserly deceased business partner, Jacob Marley. Marley warns Scrooge to change his ways and tells Scrooge to expect three more ghosts.
Scrooge awakens and is confused when the bell rings twelve. At one o'clock, a hand draws back his curtains. The Ghost of Christmas Past is revealed, oddly both childlike and elderly and wearing a white tunic trimmed in flowers and a sparkling belt. A bright light beams from the ghost's head. The ghost shows Scrooge his past, including Scrooge as a boy left alone at school over Christmas, Scrooge being brought home by his little sister Fan, Scrooge as an apprentice at a Christmas party thrown by his generous master, Fezziwig, and Scrooge as a young man breaking up with his sweetheart, Belle. Finally, the spirit shows Belle enjoying a joyous Christmas with her husband and children, forcing Scrooge to reflect on the life he might have chosen.
Scrooge is next visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present, a jolly giant bearing a glowing torch. The Ghost shows Bob Cratchit and his family, including Tiny Tim, Scrooge's nephew and his friends and family, the children named Ignorance and Want, and many other people possessing little wealth but having great Christmas spirit. Scrooge is especially worried about Tiny Tim, who uses a crutch and is not growing properly. The Ghost tells Scrooge that Tiny Tim will die. Despite Scrooge's poor treatment of his nephew and Bob Cratchit, the men generously raise a toast to Scrooge. The Ghost of Christmas present disappears, and a new draped and hooded Phantom appears.
The spectral Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come visits Scrooge, a mute and skeletal figure robed in black. The ghost shows Scrooge a series of people who discuss a man's death. The people do not care that the man is dead. The ghost shows Scrooge the shrouded body of the dead man. Scrooge watches Bob Cratchit and his family mourning the death of Tiny Tim. Eventually, it is revealed that Scrooge is the dead man who no one mourned.
Scrooge awakes in his bed, remorseful for his past behavior, but ecstatic to be alive. He sends a prize turkey to the Cratchits and celebrates Christmas with his nephew. Scrooge gives Bob Cratchit a raise, and becomes a second father to Tiny Tim. Both Scrooge and Tiny Tim live to enjoy many more Christmases.
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