A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
NARRATOR
Old Blairly was as dead as a door-nail. This must be distinctly understood or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. So, remember, Old Blairly was as dead as a door-nail. The registrar of his burial was signed by Ebenezer Brown. And Brown's name was good on the London Exchange for anything he chose to put his hand to.
EXT. THE LONDON EXCHANGE
A shivering, POORLY-DRESSED MAN sees Ebeneezer walking toward him.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
Mister Brown, sir.
BROWN
Who are you?
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
An IT Contractor, sir.
BROWN
Oh, yes. You owe me a little matter of two hundred thousand-odd pounds, I believe. Well, if you want to pay it, come to my place of business. I don't conduct my affairs in the teeth of inclement weather.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
I-I don't owe it, sir.
BROWN
Indeed,and why ever not, pray.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
You changed the rules sir, one minute I didnt owe it, next minute you
changed the rules and then I did, how am I to know what I owe when I
cant trust the rules sir, how can anyone?
BROWN
The rules.. THE RULES.... the rules are whatever I say they are sir.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
but I cant pay it sir, if you would give me more time
BROWN
Did I ask you for more time to conduct my investigation into your affairs?
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
Oh, no, sir. ... but it did take you six years.. and you never asked me any questions sir
BROWN
Then why should you ask for more time to pay it back?
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
I can't take my wife to a debtors' prison.
BROWN
Then leave her behind. Why should she go to a debtors' prison anyway? She doesn't owe the two hundred thousand pounds. You do. What has your wife got to do with it? For that matter, what have I got to do with it? Good afternoon.
Ebeneezer tries to walk off but the man clutches at his sleeve.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
But, Mister Brown. It's Christmas!
Ebeneezer shakes the man off.
BROWN
Christmas has even less to do with it, my dear sir, than your wife has or I have. You'd still owe me two hundred thousand pounds that you're not in the position to repay if it was the middle of a heat wave on August
Bank holiday. Good afternoon.
BROWN stalks away as the stunned man stands and stares at him.
A Christmas Carol
NARRATOR
Old Blairly was as dead as a door-nail. This must be distinctly understood or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. So, remember, Old Blairly was as dead as a door-nail. The registrar of his burial was signed by Ebenezer Brown. And Brown's name was good on the London Exchange for anything he chose to put his hand to.
EXT. THE LONDON EXCHANGE
A shivering, POORLY-DRESSED MAN sees Ebeneezer walking toward him.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
Mister Brown, sir.
BROWN
Who are you?
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
An IT Contractor, sir.
BROWN
Oh, yes. You owe me a little matter of two hundred thousand-odd pounds, I believe. Well, if you want to pay it, come to my place of business. I don't conduct my affairs in the teeth of inclement weather.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
I-I don't owe it, sir.
BROWN
Indeed,and why ever not, pray.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
You changed the rules sir, one minute I didnt owe it, next minute you
changed the rules and then I did, how am I to know what I owe when I
cant trust the rules sir, how can anyone?
BROWN
The rules.. THE RULES.... the rules are whatever I say they are sir.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
but I cant pay it sir, if you would give me more time
BROWN
Did I ask you for more time to conduct my investigation into your affairs?
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
Oh, no, sir. ... but it did take you six years.. and you never asked me any questions sir
BROWN
Then why should you ask for more time to pay it back?
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
I can't take my wife to a debtors' prison.
BROWN
Then leave her behind. Why should she go to a debtors' prison anyway? She doesn't owe the two hundred thousand pounds. You do. What has your wife got to do with it? For that matter, what have I got to do with it? Good afternoon.
Ebeneezer tries to walk off but the man clutches at his sleeve.
POORLY-DRESSED MAN
But, Mister Brown. It's Christmas!
Ebeneezer shakes the man off.
BROWN
Christmas has even less to do with it, my dear sir, than your wife has or I have. You'd still owe me two hundred thousand pounds that you're not in the position to repay if it was the middle of a heat wave on August
Bank holiday. Good afternoon.
BROWN stalks away as the stunned man stands and stares at him.
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