Historical drama starring Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close. In 1183, after the death of his eldest son, King Henry II (Stewart) must decide which of his three remaining sons will succeed him. As the time for him to announce his successor approaches, Henry frees his imprisoned wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Close), who he held captive after she plotted to overthrow him. It soon becomes clear, however, that Eleanor favours first child Richard (Andrew Howard), while Henry sees his youngest, John (Rafe Spall), as the next in line but, in the weeks ahead, the King begins to have serious doubts if any of his sons are capable of becoming the new ruler.

Miserly money lender Ebeneezer Scrooge (Patrick Stewart) does not believe in the spirit of Christmas; he is bad-tempered and unpleasant to everyone he meets, including his loyal but badly underpaid clerk, Bob Cratchit (Richard E. Grant). Then one Christmas Eve Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him that three ghosts will arrive that very night and attempt to show him the error of his ways. Scrooge is shown visions of Christmases past, present and future which force him to reconsider his selfish lifestyle, but is it too late for him to change his nature?