Prologue

One night in the Maho-dou, inside Hana-chan's bedroom, Doremi sits next to her daughter with a new book.

Hana-chan: What are you reading to Hana-chan tonight, Doremi?

Doremi: It's something that my guardian wrote. It's all about us.

Hana-chan: Warlok-Papa must be a good writer.

Doremi: He sure is. And the best part is, Majo Rika is the main character.

Hana-chan: Really? Read it, please.

Doremi: (giggles) Okay. (opens book and reads) "Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of her burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner."

The scene changes from the bedroom to a funeral home in the Victorian Era Majo Kai on Christmas Eve. Laying in an open coffin is the body of the deceased Majo Ruka Marley. Its mouth is shut due to the folded kerchief bounding about its head and chin, and two tuppence cover its eyes. Marley's living partner, Majo Rika Scrooge, looks upon the lifeless corpse.

Scrooge: Yes. Quite dead. (turns to the undertaker) As a doornail.

Undertaker: (draws a parchment from her hat) The certificate of death, Ma'am.

Scrooge takes the certificate and writes her name on the witness line. She sets the quill in the ink bottle and the undertaker takes the certificate. As Scrooge was preparing to leave, the undertaker holds out her hand.

Undertaker: (Clears throat)

Scrooge removes her purse from her pocket and takes one tuppence from it. She makes a sharp sigh as she places it in the undertaker's hand. The undertaker leans closer, giving the impression that she wants another tuppence. Scrooge reaches in her purse and pulls another tuppence. Biting her lower lip, she brings her twitchy hand over the undertaker's and releases the coin. Just as the apprentice takes the coffin lid:

Scrooge: (pointing) Stop!

The apprentice freezes.

Scrooge: Back away, praddock!

Scrooge snatches the two tuppence from the body's closed eyes.

Scrooge: (rubbing coins together) Tuppence is tuppence.

Scrooge takes her leave. She walks down the streets of the city as a group of Christmas carolers sings from a distence.

Carolers:
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power

Scrooge bursts rudely through a couple witches.

Witch 1: Beg your pardon!

Witch 2: I say!

Scrooge ignores the witches and stops in front of the carolers.

Carolers:
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was-

Scrooges gives an angry glare at the carolers and one of them hides her cup behind her back. Scrooge resumes her walk and the carolers continue their carol in whisper. Scrooge stops to allow a carriage drives by and two children are holding on the rail sliding their feet down the snow-covered streets.

Children: Tally-ho! Yahoo!

After the carriage passes:

Scrooge: (under breath) Delinquents!

Scrooge resumes. As she walks on the route to her counting house, everyone prepares for Christmas. At the mayor's house, the servants are preparing a huge christmas feast. Outside of the house, a group of children gather to a window of the kitchen.

Children: Please ma'am. We're very hungry. Any morsel? Any scraps?

Cook: Aw! Merry Christmas, from her ladyship, the mayor.

The cook throws a turkey wing out the window. Just as the children were getting it, a dog grabs it in its mouth and runs off with the children chasing it. At a shopping street, people are buying fish, fresh-hot chestnuts, Christmas wreaths, and fresh eels. A group of people gather around to a witch who hides a pea under one of the three cups. A child tries to get closer but the witch shoos her away.

Witch: Now here is the father, the son, and the holy ghost. (to the child) Get lost. (back to the crowd) Now, which one of them has the pea. (moving cups around) Boom, boom, boom. (pushes child in the face) Boom. Get out of here.

The child blows a raspberry at the witch. Meanwhile, two children are rolling rings down the road and stop. They see Scrooge coming into the street and run off into the opposite direction. Scrooge takes her key and unlocks the door to Scrooge and Marley's counting house. Scrooge enters the building and slams the door behind her. The sign remains saying "Scrooge and Marley's" for all time.