Episode #459: Tranquility Base Gets Scrooged: Part #5 - Future Perfect

[Episode 459]
Episode #459: Tranquility Base Gets Scrooged: Part #5 - Future Perfect
Volume V / Saturday, 21 December 2013

Episode Notes

Part #5 of "Tranquility Base Gets Scrooged!" (Part #1 here): the future!

The hologram of Christmas Yet-to-Come is, in some ways, the simplest figure, being described thusly:

It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.

He felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread. He knew no more, for the Spirit neither spoke nor moved.

A Christmas Carol, Stave 4: The Last of the Spirits, by Charles Dickens

In this possible future, Scrooge's corpse gets jettisoned into space like a piece of rubbish and there was much rejoicing. Oh and Bob never gets a pay rise and the Tiny T.I.M. dies breaks down for good.

But, it is one possible future. Tune in Christmas Day for the conclusion of Tranquility Base Gets Scrooged!

Transcript

Panel 1: In Scrooge's office, a death-like form has appeared.
Scrooge:
{{Eep}} you must be the Hologram of Christmas Yet-to-Come?
…?
Not one of the talkative ones then.
Panel 2: The scene shifts and Scrooge and the Hologram of Christmas Yet-to-Come (Future-Gram) observer two co-workers having a conversation.
Caption:
Tranquility Base Financial Dept. - A Christmas Eve Yet-to-Come
Co-worker 1:
I can't believe he's gone, it's such a relief!
We can leave the office at a reasonable time and maybe we'll finally get pay rises.
Co-worker 2:
Of course it's too late for poor Bob and his wife.
Scrooge:
Who's gone?
Why is it too late for Bob?
Panel 3: The scene shifts to Bob's apartment, where Bob and his wife are grieving and consoling each other.
Caption:
Bob's Apartment
Bob:
There's nothing more we could do for him.
Bob's Wife (sobbing):
I'll miss Tim so much
Scrooge:
Oh no, oh dear.
Panel 4: The scene shift yet again, to a cargo storage bay, where Admiral Slog is signing some paperwork handed to him by an Ensign.
Caption:
Tranquility Base outgoing Cargo Storage
Admiral Slog:
Ensign, those must be the final papers?
Is there really no family or even friends to do this?
Ensign:
No, Sir, nobody.
He wasn't… popular… Sir.
Panel 5:
Admiral Slog:
What about his belongings, are they being put in storage?
Ensign:
Squid man offered to do an apartment clearance, but after taking a look, decided it was mostly junk.
Admiral Slog:
Oh well, let me sign the authorisation for a space-jettison.
It seems fitting that a cold heartless man gets jettisoned into the cold heartless void of space.
Panel 6: A coffin is revealed to be the cargo.
Scrooge:
Jettisoned into space?
Nobody wanted to have this poor soul buried or scattered somewhere?
Who is this reviled and unloved man?
Panel 7: Scrooge looks at the name on a coffin waiting to go - it says "Ebenezer Scrooge".
Scrooge:
It's my coffin?
Is this to be my end?
No… no…
Panel 8: The scene shifts one final time and Scrooge is revealed to be at his desk, asleep, but dreaming.
Scrooge (anguished):
NO! {{Gasp}}
SFX:
Sudden Awakening!
Scrooge:
I must have fallen asleep at my desk.
What day is it?