Misanthropic businessman Ebenezer Scrooge refuses to treat Christmas as different to any other day, much to Bob Cratchit's chagrin, as he is desperate to leave work and get home to his family on Christmas Eve. Scrooge's dead former business partner Jacob Marley begs for peace in his coffin. Although he has repented, the Spirits have news for him. He will linger in purgatory until Scrooge repents, something Marley knows he will never do.