INTRO:

RJ Marshall is the modern Ebenezer. He has time for his money but that’s about all. There is a family. There is a Church. But in RJ’s thinking, they are all put there for his benefit, and not the other way around.

RJ is joined in this presentation by wife Emily, son Ronald Jr., secretary “Nancy”, and Pastor Collins. We see family and friend from the past, including an old Army buddy, Al.

In this army scene is explained why RJ must walk with a slight limp throughout.

Most of the drama takes place in RJ’s office and from thence to the past, present, and future. No ghosts in this tale , and for one who has been redeemed by Christ, the story told will seem even more familiar than the Dickens classic.

To the Marshall Industries then, office of founder and C.E.O. RJ Marshall. It is a very busy day towards the end of the Christmas season.

(Note: Story written in 1974, slightly revised 2003)

SCENE 1:

The office of RJ Marshall. Many phones ringing. Persons in waiting room with secretary Nancy.

RJ: Nancy, will you come in here! There are at least ten lines lit up, I can’t do all this by myself!

Nancy: Sir, it’s not like we’re out here reading a magazine. We’re getting to the phone calls as quickly as we can.

Oh, and also, there’s someone here in person who needs to see you .

RJ: Isn’t this ridiculous? A man gets a little money, and everyone in town assumes that it belongs to the community.

Nancy: No need to take it personal, sir, I’m sure other businesses are being asked for donations. It’s Christmas. It’s a happy time. People want to give, they want to share.

RJ: Christmas! They want to give and share MY money! Let them give and share their own! Why do they have to come to me?

Nancy: You’ve been blessed, sir.

RJ: Please, no talk of religion just now.

Nancy: All I said was “blessed.” It’s been given to you, and they genuinely believe you want to share it.

RJ: Well I genuinely disagree with them. Genuine! There’s nothing “genuine” about this holiday! It’s merely everyone’s excuse for giving presents they can’t afford to impress people they don’t like. It’s nonsense, and it always has been.

Nancy: Always? Seems to me you told me once about a happy Christmas you had…

RJ: Oh, yeah...that one...that was long ago, Nancy, and far from here… far in many ways…

SCENE 2.

Office scene blacks out, and set next to it appears. We are in the Marshall home, and RJ is now 9 years old. It is Christmas, and the house is meagerly decorated. There are other children, and under the tree is one gift for each child.

Mother (entering): OK, kids, gather ‘round the tree, while daddy tells us about the first Christmas! (All but RJ appear, and gather as directed.)

Mother: RJ… RJ!

Father: I think he went outside for a minute. It just began to snow and… (Father is interrupted by the front door opening. RJ comes in accompanied by a smaller boy.)

Mother (rushing to RJ): Ronald! (She takes the smaller boy and lays him on the couch, as all gather.)

RJ (hugging his mother, crying): I found him outside, in the snow, alone…

Father (looking out the window) : Well, there’s no way we’ll be able to get anyone to come 20 miles out in the country on a night like this… especially on Christmas Eve… Which means, children (he begins to grin) that we have a special guest this Christmas. (the children react happily)

Father (reaching for Bible) : OK, let’s have the story… (they all gather). You know , it was probably on a dark, lonely night like this that God let His own Son be born. It seemed He might be misplaced there for awhile. Born in a pile of hay, in a tiny village...almost no one knew anything about Him. But God knew. God had a special plan for this Baby… and later there were some kings who came and gave gifts to Him, when they found out how special He was. They gave Him money, and lots of other things that kings give.

RJ: What if you’re not a king and want to give a present to Jesus? Do you have to be rich? And does He actually come down and take the gift, and make it disappear?

Father (laughing a little): No, not exactly. You see, Jesus said that when you give something to somebody else, it’s just like giving it to Him. He tries to make us to love each other that way.

RJ: (hesitantly, with growing understanding): You mean, if I gave my gift to our special guest, it’d be like giving it to Jesus?

Father: Yes.

RJ (dramatically going to tree, picking up his gift and laying it at the feet of the little stranger) : Dad, you know, this is the most fun Christmas I’ve ever had! back to office

RJ: Yeah, we all had one gift apiece in those days… and I gave mine to a little boy I didn’t even know… (changes abruptly from wistful to official).. Now don’t get me talking about those days… they’re gone. This is today, and it’s a mad world. The rich keep getting’ richer, the poor, poorer… I just happen to be one of the rich.

Nancy: You just happen to be?

RJ: Yeah...well, I guess I started early… was forced to…

SCENE 3

RJ is a teenager in the same home we saw in scene 2. He is pleading with his mother.

RJ: Oh come on, Mom, all the kids are going! It’s the annual Christmas Party. It won’t cost over $5.00 each.

Mother: I know, RJ, but we just can’t stretch the budget that far. When your father had his accident, we lost all our regular income. And even with my job it’s almost impossible to make ends meet. Besides, RJ, Christmas isn’t just parties, it’s about Jesus born into the world...and especially into our hearts.

RJ: I know, Mom, but… well, if we didn’t have to give ten percent of our income to the Lord, we could do a few more things...like maybe even go to a Christmas Party.

Mother: RJ! The Lord gives us all that we have. A tithe is the least we can give of our money. Some give so much more. Don’t forget the widow who gave ALL she had.

RJ: Yeah, sure, Mom. That’s all right for widows. But there aren’t any widows in our family. We’re people that have things to DO with our money. Or we would have things to do if the Man in the sky didn’t gobble up 10% every week! (He walks out, slamming the door behind him.)

back to office

Nancy: So you started out on your own personal road to fame and fortune?

RJ: Yeah… I left home as soon as I was done with High School, got a good-paying job, even got married and had a kid… all before I was 20… then Uncle Sam said he needed me, and I spent another lousy Christmas...in the War.