Ebbie
Encyclopedia
Ebbie or Miracle at Christmas: Ebbie's Story is a 1995 TV movie directed by George Kaczender, written by Ed Redlich
, and starring Susan Lucci
in the title role.
). She has never appreciated Christmas, and has been very rotten to the holidays (similar to Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol). She doesn't give to the needy, doesn't care about her employees at Dobson's (the store she owns), and most of all, she works on Christmas. One night, the ghost of her partner, Jake Marley (Jeffrey DeMunn
), haunts her. She is soon brought to him and the ghosts of Christmas Past (Jennifer Clement
and Nicole Parker
) show her the Christmases she has celebrated. They take her to a very significant Christmas when her sister, Francine (Molly Parker
) died after nearly miscarrying her niece due to toxemia of pregnancy
(she would have survived had Ebbie not left her alone to attend a party). It is also the Christmas she met her soon-to-be boyfriend Paul (Ron Lea
). They show her many other Christmases, including another grim one when Paul leaves her for caring more about her job than them as a couple, when she and Marley take over Dobson's, and finally, the previous year, when Jake Marley died (these unhappy events could go to explain her hostile attitude toward Christmas). The Ghost of Christmas Present (Lorena Gale
) shows her the life of her co-worker, Roberta Cratchet (Wendy Crewson
), and her son, Tim (Taran Noah Smith
). Next, she sees the party that she is invited to every year by her niece (also Molly Parker
), but has always declined; the guests toast Ebbie, but her niece does not drink to her. She sees Paul and his wife and homeless children she has shunned, while the ghost shoves all of her bad words back on her. Then, the ghost of Christmas Future shows her many terrible futures, including one where Tiny Tim dies, one where Dobson's is shut down, and one where she herself dies and nobody comes to see her. After the experience, Ebbie becomes a better person. She is shown the next morning, where she bids good morning to the doorman, and he is surprised. She also orders a large turkey for the Cratchets, gives money for the poor children, buys a coat for a homeless woman (Elan Ross Gibson) and offers her a job, gives Rita a raise, gives a better job to Roberta, and finally attends the party her niece has been inviting her to, where she learns that the reason her niece didn't drink the toast to Ebbie is because she's pregnant. The movie ends with Ebbie at the Cratchets' house, eating dinner with them.
Ed Redlich
Ed Redlich is an American television producer. He was the executive producer for Without a Trace, for which he wrote 5 episodes, as well as the executive producer for Shark starring James Woods....
, and starring Susan Lucci
Susan Lucci
Susan Victoria Lucci is an American actress and entrepreneur, best known for portraying Erica Kane on the daytime drama All My Children. The character is considered an icon, and Lucci has been called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV Guide, with New York Times and Los Angeles Times citing her as the...
in the title role.
Plot
The story follows a scrooge-like woman, Elizabeth "Ebbie" Scrooge (Susan LucciSusan Lucci
Susan Victoria Lucci is an American actress and entrepreneur, best known for portraying Erica Kane on the daytime drama All My Children. The character is considered an icon, and Lucci has been called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV Guide, with New York Times and Los Angeles Times citing her as the...
). She has never appreciated Christmas, and has been very rotten to the holidays (similar to Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol). She doesn't give to the needy, doesn't care about her employees at Dobson's (the store she owns), and most of all, she works on Christmas. One night, the ghost of her partner, Jake Marley (Jeffrey DeMunn
Jeffrey DeMunn
Jeffrey DeMunn is an American theatre, film and television actor.-Life and career:DeMunn was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Violet and James DeMunn. Stepson of noted actress Betty Lutes DeMunn...
), haunts her. She is soon brought to him and the ghosts of Christmas Past (Jennifer Clement
Jennifer Clement
Jennifer Clement studied English Literature and Anthropology at New York University and also studied French literature in Paris, France. She is currently the President of PEN Mexico....
and Nicole Parker
Nicole Parker
Nicole Frances Parker is an Emmy Award-winning actress and singer best known for her work on Fox's sketch comedy show MADtv. In July 2009, she concluded her run as Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked...
) show her the Christmases she has celebrated. They take her to a very significant Christmas when her sister, Francine (Molly Parker
Molly Parker
Molly Parker is a Canadian actress, notable for her roles in Canadian and American independent films and the HBO television series Deadwood.Parker won a Genie Award in 1997 as Best Actress in a Leading Role for Kissed...
) died after nearly miscarrying her niece due to toxemia of pregnancy
Pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia or preeclampsia is a medical condition in which hypertension arises in pregnancy in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine....
(she would have survived had Ebbie not left her alone to attend a party). It is also the Christmas she met her soon-to-be boyfriend Paul (Ron Lea
Ron Lea
Ron Lea is a Canadian actor.Lea was born in Montreal and attended Concordia University before moving on to take acting training at the National Theatre School. His career took off after appearing in various local theatre productions. Lea can be seen in many movies on television, but may be most...
). They show her many other Christmases, including another grim one when Paul leaves her for caring more about her job than them as a couple, when she and Marley take over Dobson's, and finally, the previous year, when Jake Marley died (these unhappy events could go to explain her hostile attitude toward Christmas). The Ghost of Christmas Present (Lorena Gale
Lorena Gale
Lorena Gale was a Canadian actress, director, and writer. She was active onstage and in films and television since the 1980s...
) shows her the life of her co-worker, Roberta Cratchet (Wendy Crewson
Wendy Crewson
-Life and career:Crewson was born in Hamilton, Ontario, the daughter of June Doreen and Robert Binnie Crewson. She attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where she won the prestigious Lorne Greene Award for outstanding work in the theater. She then studied at the Webber Douglas Academy...
), and her son, Tim (Taran Noah Smith
Taran Noah Smith
Taran Noah Smith is an American actor. He is most notably known for his portrayal of youngest son, Marcus "Mark" Jason Taylor, on the sitcom Home Improvement.-Personal life:...
). Next, she sees the party that she is invited to every year by her niece (also Molly Parker
Molly Parker
Molly Parker is a Canadian actress, notable for her roles in Canadian and American independent films and the HBO television series Deadwood.Parker won a Genie Award in 1997 as Best Actress in a Leading Role for Kissed...
), but has always declined; the guests toast Ebbie, but her niece does not drink to her. She sees Paul and his wife and homeless children she has shunned, while the ghost shoves all of her bad words back on her. Then, the ghost of Christmas Future shows her many terrible futures, including one where Tiny Tim dies, one where Dobson's is shut down, and one where she herself dies and nobody comes to see her. After the experience, Ebbie becomes a better person. She is shown the next morning, where she bids good morning to the doorman, and he is surprised. She also orders a large turkey for the Cratchets, gives money for the poor children, buys a coat for a homeless woman (Elan Ross Gibson) and offers her a job, gives Rita a raise, gives a better job to Roberta, and finally attends the party her niece has been inviting her to, where she learns that the reason her niece didn't drink the toast to Ebbie is because she's pregnant. The movie ends with Ebbie at the Cratchets' house, eating dinner with them.