Mommy Dearest/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

Mommy Dearest

Act I

(The scene opens outside the Foxworth house; it is late afternoon. Dodger and Oliver are outside.)

Oliver: I really enjoyed our day at the Central Park Zoo, Dodge.

Dodger: No problem, kid. Anytime ya wanna see me, you're more than welcome!

(The two high five.)

Oliver: Jenny's coming home from school, so I'm gonna wait for her.

Dodger: Take care, kid!

(The two go their separate ways. Dodger heads off down the street, talking to himself.)

Dodger: You are awesome, Dodge. Taking on that sea lion!

(He suddenly stops.)

Dodger: What?

(He runs ahead to get a closer look, stopping in horror at what he sees; it's an older female Jack Russell; she almost looks exactly like Dodger, save for a white spot on her right ear and faded brown front paws. She's out cold, but still alive.)

Dodger: Could it be...? (He lifts her onto his back) Alright, I gotta get you somewhere safe.

(He runs off. Cut back to the houseboat, early evening. Francis and Tito are wrestling on the floor. Rita watches on, disapprovingly. Einstein is watching TV.)

Rita: Honestly, I sometimes wish I didn't have to act as babysitter for you guys!

Tito: Hey, what would we do without you, mamacita?

Rita: I'm gonna forget I heard that.

(Dodger comes down the stairs with the dog from earlier. He sets her down on the floor, as the gang approach.)

Tito: Hey Dodge, man!

Rita: Are you OK?

Dodger: I'm fine! I just got a bit...sidetracked coming home.

Francis: Are you alright? (He prods the dog with his paw.)

Dodger: Cut it out! I found her as I was leaving Oliver's place.

Rita: Is she OK?

Dodger: I think so.

(Suddenly, the dog wakes up. She looks disoriented .)

Dog: Where in the world am I? Who are you?

Rita: Don't worry. You're safe.

Dodger: Maybe I should introduce myself. I'm Dodger. (He gestures to each member of the gang) This is Rita, Frankie, Einstein and Tito.

Francis: (indignant) My name is Francis!

Rita: What's your name?

Dog: My name? I'm Tess.

(Cut to commercial break.)

Act II

(The gang are gathered around Tess, who still looks slightly disoriented. Suddenly, Fagin enters the boat, carrying a pizza box. The gang pile onto him, knocking him over.)

Fagin: (laughing) Yes, yes! I missed you too! (Tess approaches him, timidly) And who are you? (He strokes her ears) You're more than welcome to stay, fella. I picked us up a little something from Sonny's.

(He gets up and picks up the pizza box. He holds up a piece of pizza in Tess's face; she gingerly takes it and eats. The rest of the gang dig in; Dodger and Rita approach Tess.)

Dodger: Tess, would ya like some of mine? (He drops a slice of pizza at Tess's paws.)

Tess: That's lovely, thank you, but...you hardly have enough as it is...

Rita: Nonsense! You can have whatever you want.

Tess: I mean...well, of course.

Dodger: So, Tess, I was thinking, I'd like to get to know you.

Tess: yes? In what way?

Dodger: You know, like friends, find out about you.

(Francis and Tito are watching from afar.)

Tito: (makes kissing noises) Smoochie, smoochie, Dodger's in love!

(Dodger and Tess look appalled.)

Both: What? No! Are you--?

Tess: I don't think it's the right time for me to be dating anyone.

Dodger: I mean, like, she could be my mom! Not that she--That came out wrong.

Rita: Look, Dodger, you and Tess can catch up on whatever you need to. But, right now...(yawns) I'm gettin' tired. Let's hit the hay.

(The gang start settling down for the night. Dodger pushes an upturned crate over towards Tess.)

Tess: For me? You shouldn't have. I mean---

Dodger: We never abandon a friend in need, Tess.

Tess: Thank you so much!

(She climbs in and settles down. Cut to later that night. We see a panning shot of the gang sleeping. Tess wakes up, and stares at Dodger, with a forlorn expression on her face. She then settles back down. Cut to the next morning. The gang are chased out of a cafe. The door slams and they all exit, laughing.)

Tess: I never knew what fun this could be!

(Rita tosses two pancakes at her feet. She tucks into them voraciously.)

Francis: For a street dog, Tess has the appetite of a starving lion!

Dodger: I'm gonna spend some time with Tess today. What about you?

Rita: We'll be around. We'll meet you back at the houseboat later.

Dodger: Sounds good to me. (To Tess) So, Tess, I thought you and I could spend some together this afternoon.

Tess: I'd like that!

Dodger: Awesome! So...

(Cut to later that afternoon. Dodger and Tess are in a back-alley in Queens.)

Tess: Thanks for taking me out for lunch, Dodger. You know how to treat a lady.

Dodger: Thanks. Those steaks came courtesy of Mario's Brazilian steakhouse.

(Tess chuckles.)

Dodger: Anyway, Tess. Tell me about yourself.

Tess: Well, I wasn't actually born in New York.

Dodger: Really?

Tess: I was born on Long Island, in a town called Hawk Bay.

Dodger: Uh huh, good start.

(What Tess describes next is shown in washout colors.)

Tess: (narrating) When I was a pup, my mom and I moved to New York City. I got separated from her and I never saw her again. I picked myself up, and learned to survive on the streets.

(Back in the present.)

Dodger: Sounds like you had it rough.

Tess: Well, after a while, things got better. And then I met the love of my life...

(Flashback. Tess and Duke, a grey-furred dog, presumably a mix of Schnauzer and fox terrier, walk through Central Park together, smiling.)

Tess': His name was Duke. We were happy and everything was bright.

(Back in the present...)

Dodger: Did you have any pups together?

Tess: We did. Three pups and we loved them more than anything in the world. But, you know what they say about all good things...

(Another flashback. The scene is a construction site in the Bronx.