Ebeneezer Scrooge (Alistair Sim) is a rich miser who mistreats his employee, Bob Cratchitt (Mervyn Johns) and is much despised by those around him. He once had a business partner, Jacob Marley (Michael Hordern) who is now deceased. On Christmas Eve, when Scrooge returns to his home, Marley’s ghost appears to him. Marley is in chains and warns Scrooge that if he continues in his ways, he’ll end up like he did. Scrooge is terrified, but Marley tells him three ghosts will come to him to help him. After Scrooge retires for the night, he’s first visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past. This ghost takes him to see himself as he was as a child and a young man and brings back the happier times in his life. The second ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Present, shows him how things are with others this Christmas season, including Cratchitt’s family and his small, disabled son, Tiny Tim. The third ghost shows him what the future will be like if he doesn’t mend his ways. Scrooge awakens to find it is Christmas Day and immediately sets out to change the course of the future.