"Ebbie" is a 1995 made-for-TV movie directed by George Kaczender and starring Susan Lucci in the titular role. The movie is a modern retelling of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story "A Christmas Carol," set in the contemporary world of business and consumerism.
As the story goes, Elizabeth "Ebbie" Scrooge is a successful businesswoman who owns and runs a department store in New York City. Ebbie is cold, ruthless, and solely focused on profits, with no regard for her loyal employees or even her own family. She is particularly hard on her kind-hearted assistant Roberta "Robbie" Cratchet, who struggles to make ends meet and support her young son Tim.
On Christmas Eve, Ebbie is visited by the ghost of her former business partner Jake Marley, who warns her of the three spirits that will visit her to show her the error of her ways. The first spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past, takes Ebbie on a tour of her unhappy childhood and early adulthood, revealing how her father's death and her own ambition led her to become the heartless person she is today.
The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, shows Ebbie the joys and struggles of the people around her, including Robbie and Tim, who are facing financial hardship and illness. Ebbie is deeply moved by their plight and begins to realize the true meaning of Christmas.
Finally, the third spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, shows Ebbie a bleak future in which she dies alone and unloved, with no one to mourn her passing. Terrified by this vision, Ebbie begs for a chance to change her ways and make amends.
In the end, Ebbie wakes up on Christmas morning with a renewed sense of purpose and compassion. She goes to her store and gives her employees the day off, then invites Robbie and Tim to her home for a Christmas dinner. Ebbie's redemption is complete when she decides to donate a large sum of money to a charity that helps underprivileged children, and she finally begins to experience the true joy of giving.
Overall, "Ebbie" is a heartwarming and entertaining holiday movie that stays true to the spirit of Dickens' iconic tale while adding its own modern twist. Susan Lucci delivers a strong performance as the tough yet vulnerable Ebbie, and the supporting cast, including Wendy Crewson as Robbie and Ron Lea as Ebbie's nephew Fred, is equally excellent.
