Ebenezer Ending Explainer: How Johnny Depp’s Remake Rewrites The Original Climax

Johnny Depp takes on one of literature's most recognizable characters in Ebenezer, a new supernatural reimagining of Charles Dickens' beloved Christmas novella A Christmas Carol.

Directed by Ti West, the film follows the miserable and grouchy businessman Ebenezer Scrooge as three haunting spirits force him to confront his past, reconsider his present, and witness the bleak future awaiting him if he refuses to change his miserable ways. Although the story follows the familiar structure of Dickens' classic tale, its conclusion introduces some particularly interesting differences that give Scrooge's redemption a new dimension.

Rather than ending with Scrooge simply becoming a kinder employer and a more generous member of society, Ebenezer gives him a more active role in changing the lives of the people he has mistreated. These changes make the ending one of the most distinctive aspects of the new adaptation. While the movie retains the hopeful spirit of Dickens' original story, it reimagines what redemption actually means for its central character.

Ebenezer's Ending Gives Scrooge A Different Kind Of Redemption From Dickens' Original Story

The ending of Ebenezer sees Ebenezer Scrooge abandon his humbug ways and begin making meaningful changes to the lives of the people around him. However, the film goes considerably further than Dickens' original Christmas Carol novella in showing exactly how he intends to make amends.

After awakening on Christmas morning, Scrooge sets out to repair some of the relationships he has neglected throughout his life. One of his first gestures involves purchasing a turkey and delivering it personally to his nephew Fred and Fred's wife, Clara. This is particularly meaningful because Scrooge has spent years rejecting Fred's invitations and refusing to participate in family celebrations. This also marks a notable change from Dickens’ novella as, in the source material, Scrooge gifts the Cratchit family, not Fred and Clara, a Christmas turkey.

His generosity also extends to Belle, his former fiancée, although their relationship cannot simply be restored. Having discovered that she has moved on and established a successful writing career, Scrooge purchases one of her novels from a local book shop and leaves an unsigned letter inside. In it, he congratulates her on her achievements and expresses happiness that she has managed to build the life she wanted.

However, the most significant development comes when Scrooge finally approaches Bob Cratchit. Instead of simply offering his employee a raise, Scrooge proposes a substantial change to their professional relationship. He promises Cratchit a significant pay increase, allowing him to afford medical treatment for his son, Tiny Tim, and then reveals that he intends to make him a business partner. Scrooge walks Cratchit outside and says he wishes to rename their shop “Scrooge and Cratchit.”

Scrooge’s newfound treatment of Cratchit is arguably the biggest departure from Dickens' story. In the original novella, Scrooge promises to raise Cratchit's salary and support his struggling family, but Ebenezer takes the gesture much further by offering him a share in the business itself. The sign outside the building will eventually read Scrooge and Cratchit, marking the beginning of an entirely different partnership.

It's a fitting conclusion for a character whose relationship with money has defined almost every aspect of his existence. Scrooge doesn't simply decide to give away some of his wealth. Instead, he recognizes that he has the power to give other people opportunities that he previously denied them.

The ending is also unique in that Scrooge does not meet or visit the Cratchit family. Instead, much of the emotional weight of the climax is allocated to Scrooge’s relationship with Fred, who he admits he has neglected as Fred reminds him of painful memories of his late sister. This pivots finds West’s film approach the emotionality of Dickens’ classic tale from a different perspective.

Why Scrooge Decides To Make Bob Cratchit His Business Partner

Scrooge's decision to make Bob Cratchit his business partner is particularly significant when considering the film's opening flashback involving Jacob Marley.

The movie establishes that Scrooge and Marley were business partners before the latter's death seven years earlier. Their relationship offers an insight into the ruthless commercial environment that helped shape Scrooge's attitude toward money and the people working beneath him.

During the flashback, Marley demonstrates very little compassion for his employees. He openly belittles Bob Cratchit, treating him with the same disregard that defines the business's approach to its workers and customers. Scrooge eventually finds Marley dead after hearing a crash from another room, and he is the only person who attends his former partner's burial.

The film later reveals the consequences of the life Marley led through his ghostly appearance. Bound by heavy chains, he is condemned to wander the earth because of the selfish, money-driven existence he pursued.

This history makes Scrooge's final decision to bring Cratchit into the business particularly important. Marley represents the kind of businessman Scrooge once was, someone who measured success through financial accumulation while showing little concern for the people whose labor helped create his wealth.

By offering Cratchit a partnership, Scrooge effectively reverses the relationship he once shared with Marley. Instead of treating his employee as someone beneath him, he gives him an opportunity to become an equal.

The decision also suggests that Scrooge's transformation involves more than simply feeling guilty about his past. He understands that changing his behavior means changing the way he conducts his business and treats the people who depend on him.

Why Scrooge Doesn't Visit The Cratchit Family On Christmas Morning

Another interesting difference between Ebenezer and Dickens' novella concerns how Scrooge approaches the Cratchit family after his transformation.

In the original story, Scrooge famously sends a large turkey to the Cratchit household on Christmas morning, beginning his efforts to improve their circumstances. Many adaptations also include a scene in which he visits the family or otherwise makes his generosity known to them.

However, Ebenezer takes a slightly different approach. Scrooge doesn't actually enter the Cratchit home or spend Christmas with the family. Instead, he briefly looks through their window and watches as Tiny Tim offers a blessing to everyone.

The moment is significant because it demonstrates that Scrooge has finally begun to appreciate the happiness and affection that exist within the family, despite their difficult financial circumstances.

Earlier in the film, the Ghost of Christmas Present had shown him the hardships facing Bob and his loved ones, particularly the medical problems affecting Tiny Tim. Scrooge had also been forced to recognize how his unwillingness to pay his employee fairly had contributed to their struggles.

Watching the family from outside their home gives Scrooge another opportunity to reflect on what he has learned. He can see that their happiness isn't dependent on wealth, but their circumstances could be considerably improved if someone with his resources were willing to help.

What Happens To Belle At The End Of Ebenezer

Scrooge's attempt to reconnect with Belle is another important part of the ending, specifically because it demonstrates that his redemption isn't necessarily about recovering everything one has lost.

During his encounter with the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge revisits his relationship with his former fiancée. Belle genuinely loved him, but his growing obsession with accumulating wealth put an end to their once loving relationship. Eventually, she recognized that money had become more important to him than their future together and decided to leave him.

The painful memory of Belle forces Scrooge to confront the devastating cost of his callous decisions. His fixation on financial success didn't simply make him an unpleasant businessman. It also prevented him from building a meaningful life with someone who genuinely cared about him.

By the time Scrooge awakens on Christmas morning, he has discovered that Belle has moved on. She has established a successful writing career, married someone else, spends time volunteering at a local shelter, and has built a life for herself without him.

But instead of attempting to win her back, Scrooge purchases one of her published novels and leaves an unsigned letter inside. His message congratulates her on her accomplishments and expresses his happiness that she has achieved the things she wanted in life. It's a relatively understated moment, but an important one for understanding the nature of Scrooge's transformation.

In many redemption stories, the central character's newfound goodness is demonstrated through the restoration of relationships that were previously damaged. However, Ebenezer recognizes that some things cannot simply be repaired. Belle has moved forward, and Scrooge's responsibility is to acknowledge her happiness rather than expect her to return to him. His gesture suggests that he has finally learned to care about someone else's happiness without expecting anything in return.

Ebenezer's Ending Keeps The Spirit Of A Christmas Carol

Despite its changes, Ebenezer retains the optimistic conclusion that has made Dickens' original story so enduring.

In both versions, Scrooge awakens on Christmas morning with a renewed appreciation for life and a determination to become a better person. His transformation is profound as he begins putting his newfound outlook into practice by showing generosity toward the people around him.

However, the film places considerably more emphasis on the practical consequences of his redemption. Dickens' novella concludes with Scrooge becoming somewhat of a second father figure to Tiny Tim, improving Cratchit's circumstances, and establishing himself as someone who knows how to keep Christmas throughout the year. His generosity and kindness demonstrate that even someone who has spent a lifetime behaving selfishly can change.

Ebenezer preserves that central message but gives Scrooge a more substantial role in changing the structures that contributed to other people's suffering, rather than stepping in and intervening in people’s lives directly. His decision to make Cratchit a business partner holds value as it demonstrates that he is willing to share not just his money, but also his power and opportunities.