Nightmares/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

Nightmares

Act I

(The houseboat at night. The gang are sleeping. Dodger fidgets around, struggling to rest. We cut to an image of a background full of swirling, red mist and no ground. Dodger walks through it, looking terrified.)

Dodger: Wh-where am I? Who's there?

(Roscoe and DeSoto both emerge from the mist, with sinister grins on their faces.)

Roscoe: (mocking) Poor little Dodger.

Dodger: No, no, you're--

DeSoto: What a shame. You're all alone, but don't worry.

Roscoe: With us around...

Both: You're never alone!

(They laugh maniacally. Dodger wakes up with a jolt, barking his lungs out, and waking up the rest of the gang.)

Fagin: It's OK, Dodger. It's OK. You just had a bad dream. (sits back down)

(The next day. Dodger and Rita are together walking through the streets of Manhattan.)

Rita: Hey, Dodge. You sure you're alright? You look rough.

Dodger: That's an understatement.

Rita: Have a bad dream?

Dodger: You could say that.

(A male and female mixed-breed dog of indeterminate origin approach the two. The male has faded brown fur and a white spot on his muzzle; his mate is brindle and white, and her belly is swollen, indicating she is pregnant.)

Dodger: Rit, why don't you catch up with the guys? I'll meet you later. (turns to the two dogs) Can I help you?

Male dog: My name's Tracker. This is my mate Leah.

Dodger: My name's Dodger. How can I help?

Tracker: Would you mind coming back to our home?

Dodger: Sure. I'll bite.

(We cut to a construction site, buzzing with activity. One of the workers is sitting outside his crane eating a sandwich. Caesar approaches him, resting his head in his lap.)

Construction worker: Move it, mutt! (shoves him aside)

(Caesar runs off, stops to shoot the construction worker a dirty look, and joins Nero, who is waiting for him.)

Nero: Any luck?

Caesar: No. This is unfair. We deserve better than--

Nero: Calm down. I have news for you.

Caesar: Guess who I just saw.

(Both smile wickedly.)

(Cut to Dodger, Tracker and Leah. They are in Brooklyn and approach a derelict apartment block.)

Dodger: The Perelli housing projects? No offence, but the last time anybody lived here was about a thousand years ago!

Leah: It's not much, but it's our home.

(They enter. In one of the abandoned apartments, Dodger jumps onto an armchair that's clearly seen better days. Tracker and Leah sit on the floor.)

Dodger: Not that I'm trying to pry, but...why are you living here?

Leah: We used to live in Greenpoint.

Tracker: We lived near the docks, until we were forced out.

Dodger: It's not fair, being forced to leave your home. If you don't mind me asking, who forced you to leave?

Tracker: I usually don't like talking about it, but...(breathes in) Two Dobermans. I think they were called...

Dodger: Caesar and Nero?

Leah: How did you know?

Dodger: Trust me, they're bad news.

Cut to commercial break

Act II

(The apartment, later that evening. Dodger jumps off the armchair and addresses Tracker and Leah.)

Dodger: I had a couple of run-ins with Caesar and Nero. They're pretty much evil.

Tracker: Evil doesn't even start to describe them!

Dodger: And if you think they're bad, you should have seen their old men, Roscoe and DeSoto.

Leah: What were they like?

Dodger: They were evil, but I guess that kind of runs in the family?

Leah: (cringes) I know they're bad, but...

Tracker: We can't let them force us out of our home.

Dodger: (scratches his ear) I understand, but if I had the choice, I'd rather be anywhere else in the world just to get away from them! (chuckles)

Tracker: Where would you go? L.A.? Boston? San Francisco?

Leah: (sarcastically) I was thinking Australia.

Dodger: (in Australian accent) I'm with ya there, 'ey, my Sheila!

(Tracker giggles.)

Tracker: I wouldn't say that far, but, yeah! (recomposes himself) I'm going out for some food. We haven't eaten in a while.

(He dashes off.)

(Meanwhile, Caesar and Nero walk down the halls of the housing projects. Nero looks around, disapprovingly.)

Nero: This place always gave me the creeps, Caesar.

Caesar: Don't be such a wimp! We know that Tracker and Leah live here, and no doubt that flea-bitten Dodger's with them.

(Back in the apartment, Dodger, Tracker and Leah are eating two half-eaten hamburgers.)

Tracker: It's not much, but it'll do.

Dodger: (with mouth full) Hey...you can't beat triple-A, number one beef from Whopper's!

(He swallows. Tracker passes off his portion to Leah, who eats it.)

Caesar: (off-screen) My, my, are we late for the dinner party?

(Dodger, Tracker and Leah look up. Caesar and Nero are standing in the doorway.)

Cut to commercial break

Act III

(Caesar and Nero enter the apartment. Dodger gets into a fighting pose. Tracker joins him.)

Dodger: Leave them alone, ya pair of bullies!

Caesar: You really think I'm scared of you, Dodger?

(Tracker steps in.)

Tracker: You should be.

Caesar: (laughs dismissively) I can't believe this! (baby-talk) Does little baby Dodger need a stronger doggy to fight for him? Need someone to--?

(Tracker pounces and wrestles Caesar to the floor. The two fight, crashing into furniture and breaking objects. Dodger tackles Nero, who tosses him aside like a rag doll. Dodger gets back to his feet, and Leah pounces on top of Nero, biting him on the paw, causing him to yelp in pain. Caesar rushes to his aid.)

Caesar: You're gonna pay for that!

(Caesar and Nero chase Dodger, Tracker and Leah out of the complex and into the streets, cornering them in an alleyway. Dodger and Tracker get into fighting poses.)

Nero: Give up, you've got nowhere to run!

Dodger: I'm not gonna run...but you are!

Tracker: Get out of here, now! If you know what's good for you.

(Caesar and Nero run off, but not before Caesar stops to shoot the three a look of contempt.)

Dodger: That showed 'em.

(Suddenly, Leah collapses. Tracker runs over to her side.)

Tracker: Leah!

(Cut back to the apartment block, later that evening. Dodger is waiting outside nervously. Tracker emerges, and Dodger follows him inside. Leah is nursing five puppies. Dodger smiles as Tracker joins her.)

Dodger: (on the verge of tears) Hey, pups! Uncle Dodger's here.

(Tracker nuzzles Leah, and he smiles at Dodger. Dodger smiles back before making his exit.)

(Back at the houseboat, later that evening. The gang are watching TV, when Dodger enters.)

Rita: Well, look at what the cat dragged in!

Dodger: Sorry, I got a little bit...uh...sidetracked.

Tito: Well, you're home now, Dodger, hombre. Fagin's bringing us our dinner back from Sonny's.