A Carol Christmas follows the basic plot of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, but the story has been modernized. The traditional "Scrooge" character is a talk show host named Carol Cartman, a conceited sensationalist talk show host. She is cynical, selfish, and generally treats her employees with cold contempt. She has been raised this way by her late Aunt Marla (the "Jacob Marley" figure). On Christmas Eve, she is haunted by her Aunt who warns her of the mistake she made and the terrible fate awaiting Carol if she doesn't change. In the tradition of the original story, she is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. She is shown how she will die alone, unloved and a fallen-from-stardom has-been if she doesn't change. At the end, she becomes a warm, caring person vowing to make amends. She goes on to her television show and makes a touching speech to her audience about the importance of Christmas and giving. She spends Christmas Eve visiting her sister Beth (read Scrooge's nephew Fred), whom she has previously blanked. Her assistant Roberta (read Bob Cratchit), is rewarded with a rent-free home, in which to look after her daughter Lily (Tim), and Carol is re-united with old flame John (a departure from Dickens, insofar as Scrooge never gets together with his love Belle).