A Winter's Tail/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

A Winter's Tail

Act I

(Overhead shot of Manhattan. The streets are covered in snow, and several New Yorkers are dressed in winter clothes. Cut to an interior shot of the houseboat. The gang are shivering and huddled around the TV. Francis is watching an opera performance, utterly engrossed.)

Dodger: Frankie, I know you're gonna call me an uncultured swine, but how do you watch this?

Francis: This, my friend, is opera. The art of telling a story through--

Dodger: Well, it sounds like noise to me!

Tito: Yeah, Frankie, man! It's muy painful to listen to.

Rita: Not to mention, the sopranoes kind of sound like Georgette!

Dodger: Trust me, Princess Snooty wishes she sang like that!

(The two slap five. Fagin approaches from off-screen.)

Fagin: Alright, Dodger. Come on.

Rita: And where, pray tell, are you going?

Dodger: Fagin's got a volunteer job at the homeless shelter. I'm coming with him.

Rita: Never knew you were the charitable type, Dodger!

Dodger: Well, no one should have to be out in the cold in this weather.

Rita: Proceed.

(He heads off after Fagin, as the gang watch. Cut to an interior shot of the homeless shelter. The place is packed with patrons. Fagin is serving cups of soup to a queue of people. Mr. Foxworth is accompanying him, and Dodger is sitting under the table.)

Mr. Foxworth: It's wonderful you could help volunteer, Fagin.

Fagin: My pleasure.

Mr. Foxworth: I volunteer here now and then, because, although my family's rich, there are people in the world who aren't as fortunate.

Fagin: Yeah. I can relate.

Mr. Foxworth: Are you OK, Fagin?

Fagin: I'm fine, just uh...thinking.

Mr. Foxowrth: About what?

Fagin: Nothing. It's nothing.

Mr. Foxworth: (nods) Mmhhm. Look, we're low on canned food. I'm going to pick up some more. See ya later. (Puts on his coat and exits)

(Fagin carries on serving. He is approached by a man with tousled brown hair, a slight beard, and wearing a threadbare coat, worn blue jeans and Adidas sneakers, which have clearly seen better days. He is flanked by a young boy of about six or seven years old with reddish-brown, and sporting a red winter coat with a red and white sweater underneath and blue jeans.)

Man: Can you give us three cups of soup and some bread, please?

Fagin: Of course. (He gives them their food and they head off)

(The man and the boy sit down on the floor to eat their meal; they are accompanied by a woman with dirty blonde hair tied in a ponytail, and wearing a ski cap, winter coat, worn brown trousers and boots; her stomach is swollen underneath her coat; she is clearly pregnant.)

Fagin: (realizing) Wow. I get it now.

(Cut to the houseboat later that evening. Dodger is telling the gang of his day, while Fagin relaxes on the couch. They are sharing Chinese takeout that Fagin has picked up.)

Dodger: (eating with his mouthful) So, it was a busy day. Got to see Jenny's dad helpin' out too.

Francis: I'm glad you and Fagin were out performing some good deeds, old chap.

Dodger: Thanks, Frankie.

Francis: It's Franci--Never mind.

(Cut to an exterior shot of the houseboat at night. The gang are sleeping, and Dodger is curled up Fagin's lap, as he sleeps in front of the flickering television screen. The rest of the gang are resting on the floor. Cut to commerical break.)

Act II

(Cut to an exterior shot of the homeless shelter, the next day. Fagin and Mr. Foxworth bring in two crates of canned food, and carry them to the kitchen area. Dodger is following them. The family from earlier in the episode approach Fagin.)

Mr. Foxworth: Fagin, I think Steven needs you.

Fagin: I'll see to him.

(He extends his hand to Steven, who shakes it.)

Fagin: I'm Fagin, I'm volunteering here.

Steven: Pleasure to meet ya, Fagin. I'm Steven. (gestures to the woman) This is my wife, Joan. (to the boy) And our son, Billy.

Fagin: Pleasure to meet you all.

(Billy is petting Dodger.)

Joan: Billy, leave the dog alone!

Fagin: No, it's OK! He's gentle.

Billy: He's cute. I always wanted a dog.

(Cut to a shot of the dining area. Fagin is talking to Steven and Joan.)

Fagin: So, Steven, not to be nosy, but...how long have you been homeless?

Steven: Well, to be honest, it wasn't always like this.

'Joan: Steve and I met when were in high school. Love at first sight, and I had Billy a year before we tied the knot.

Fagin: I see, interesting.

Steven: After we got married, we thought we'd be happy for the rest of our lives, but it never worked out that way.

Fagin: What do you mean?

Steven: Well, I once had a job working as a construction worker, but I got laid off after an accident.

Fagin: That's so sad.

Joan: I worked at a grocery store, but it was barely paying the bills, and...well the rest you know.

(Dodger places his head on Steven's lap, giving sad pathetic eyes. Steven strokes him.)

Steven: It's just unfair that my family hasn't got a home. Especially now.

Fagin: You mean, now that Joan's...?

Joan: Yes. We can't live like this forever, but I'm hopeful things will change.

Fagin: I can relate to what you've been through.

Steven: What do you mean?

Fagin: Well, I basically lived on the streets from when I was a kid. I lost my mom when I was young and...(cuts off)

Steven: It's OK if you don't wanna talk about it.

Fagin: Yeah.

(Cut to later that night. The gang are all asleep, and Fagin is resting on his armchair. Suddenly, Dodger wakes up to hear the sound of snuffling. He approaches to see Fagin crying, and burying his face in his hands. He jumps onto Fagin's lap, and curls up. Fagin strokes his head. Cut to commercial break.)

Act III

(Cut to the next morning. Fagin is still sleeping, but is woken by the sounds of footsteps running across the houseboat's deck and down the stairs. The door swings open, and Fagin sees Billy approaching him, out of breath. The gang have also woken up.)

Fagin: Billy? What is it?

Billy: Mr. Fagin, it's my mom!

Fagin: (panicked) What?!?!

(Fagin rushes out of the houseboat after Billy. Dodger follows them. Cut to the homeless shelter. Joan has gone into labor, and is screaming in pain, as Steven comforts her.)

Steven: Thank goodness you're here. Joan's gone into labor!

Joan: (grunting) Call an ambulance!

Fagin: I'm on it!

(Fagin rushes off, as Steven continues to comfort Joan. Cut to the interior of a hospital; Fagin and Dodger sit outside in the waiting room, looking tense. A doctor approaches, and leads them onto the ward. Steven and Billy are at Joan's bedside; Joan is sitting up in bed, holding her newborn baby.)

Fagin: How are ya holding up, Joan?

Joan: I'm fine. The baby's doing good as well?

Fagin: He's so precious!

Joan: Actually, it's a little girl.

Fagin: That's lovely. What are ya gonna call her?

Joan: (thinking) Well, it has to be something...special, appropriate...

Fagin: Hope?

Joan: That's a lovely name.

Steven: Because we can hope for a better future and a new start.

(Cut to the houseboat at sunset. Fagin enters with a pizza box; he opens it up and shares the pizza among the gang.)

Rita: So, you enjoy youver volunteer work?

Dodger: (talking with his mouth full) Yep.

Francis: So what's happening to that family you helped out?

Dodger: Well, Mr. Foxworth pulled some strings and he's gonna let them stay for a few days until they can find a new home.

Einstein: That's very nice.

Dodger: Yeah. Anyway, ya wanna hear me regale some of my daring exploits to ya?

Rita: Oh boy. Here we go.

Dodger: So, this one time, it was...

(Pan out to exterior shot of the houseboat. Fade to black. End credits)