Turkey Fetcher

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1984) Feature

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"'What's to-day.' cried Scrooge, calling downward to a
boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look
about him.

'Eh.' returned the boy, with all his might of wonder.

'What's to-day, my fine fellow.' said Scrooge.

'To-day.' replied the boy. 'Why, Christmas Day.'

'It's Christmas Day.' said Scrooge to himself. 'I
haven't missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night.
They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of
course they can. Hallo, my fine fellow.'

'Hallo.' returned the boy.

'Do you know the Poulterer's, in the next street but one,
at the corner.' Scrooge inquired.

'I should hope I did,' replied the lad.

'An intelligent boy.' said Scrooge. 'A remarkable boy.
Do you know whether they've sold the prize Turkey that
was hanging up there -- Not the little prize Turkey: the
big one.'

'What, the one as big as me.' returned the boy.

'What a delightful boy.' said Scrooge. 'It's a pleasure
to talk to him. Yes, my buck.'

'It's hanging there now,' replied the boy.

'Is it.' said Scrooge. 'Go and buy it.'

'Walk-er.' exclaimed the boy.

'No, no,' said Scrooge, 'I am in earnest. Go and buy
it, and tell them to bring it here, that I may give them the
direction where to take it. Come back with the man, and
I'll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than
five minutes and I'll give you half-a-crown.'

The boy was off like a shot. He must have had a steady hand
at a trigger who could have got a shot off half so fast.

'I'll send it to Bon Cratchit's.' whispered Scrooge,
rubbing his hands, and splitting with a laugh. 'He shan't
know who sends it. It's twice the size of Tiny Tim. Joe
Miller never made such a joke as sending it to Bob's
will be.'"

- A Christmas Carol, Stave 5: The End of It

The character of the poulterer is performed by Alan Bodenham
The character of the turkey boy is performed by Ian Giles

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