When Dodger Met Rocky/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

When Dodger Met Rocky

(Setting: The streets of Queens, late afternoon. Dodger and the gang come running out of an Indian takeout, laughing, and carrying food.)

Dodger: Come on, guys! Is that all you got?

Tito: Don't get snippy with me! We got what we could!

Man's voice: (off-camera) Get back here, you thief!

(The takeout owner, a heavy-set Indian man, comes running out, screaming and waving his arms.)

Takeout owner: Get back here, you filthy mutts! (throws a ladle at them)

Dodger: O.K., guys, let's make a run for it.

(They take off, as the takeout owner shakes his fist, and screams abuse in Hindi.)

Dodger: We are gonna have a heck of a story to tell Oliver, tonight guys!

(Cut to the houseboat, that evening. The gang are eating their meal, and telling Oliver about their exploits.)

Dodger: So, Patel comes after us like, (in hammy Indian accent) "Get here, you filthy mutts!" (normal accent) And we're outta here!

Oliver: Well, Dodger, sounds like you had an interesting day, today.

Rita:Anyway, enough about us. How are things in your neck of the woods?

Oliver: Not much. Jenny and her parents went to Greece to see her cousins. They brought back some souvenirs, and I got a new collar.

(Oliver shows his new collar; it's white with blue Greek spirals decorating it.)

Oliver: Anyway, I'm gonna take off. I'll see you round guys, OK?

(He leaves the houseboat. Dodger smiles.)

Rita: Dodge, is something wrong?

Dodger: No, it's just...(inhales) I kinda miss the kid, OK?

Rita: I do, too, but...he's got his life, we have ours.

Dodger: Yeah, I know, but...sometimes I wish it was like old times.

Rita: Me too. Fagin: Alright, guys. Who wants to hear a story?

Rita: (to Dodger) Shall we?

(Later, that night, the gang are sleeping. Dodger gets up, and exits the houseboat, onto the deck.)

Dodger: (thinking to himself) I need a day to myself. A day when it's not my turn to bring back food.

(Setting:The houseboat, early morning. Dodger sneaks out, tiptoeing over the sleeping gang, and onto the deck. He looks back at the gang, and takes off into the city.)

Dodger: Man! Good morning New York City!

(Dodger runs through the streets of Manhattan, people are going about their business. He turns and sees a group of skateboarders, performing stunts. One of them tries, but ends up falling off his board, His friends laugh, Dodger shakes his head.)

Male voice: Get back here, you thief!

Dodger: Wow, only been out a couple of hours. Must be a new record.

(A young male dog, a husky-collie cross with blue eyes, and a bandana similar to Dodger's, but blue with a white trim, weaves through the mass of New Yorkers, looking back as if he's being chased, and carrying a paper bag. He collides with Dodger. The two right themselves.)

Dodger: You OK, champ?

Dog: Look, it's none of your business, now...

(An angry-looking American bulldog comes charging up to the two.)

Bulldog: Alright, Rocky, you little pipsqueak. Hand it over.

Rocky: (acting innocent) I have no idea what you're talking about, Thor.

Thor: Do you think I'm stupid? My breakfast!

Dodger: (whispering) What's going on?

Rocky: (whispering) Play along.

Thor: You really are testing my patience!

Rocky: I don't have it. (turns to and winks at him. Dodger, confused, winks back) But he does!

Dodger: What?

Thor: OK, then. (approaches Dodger) Alright, slick, how bout you give me my food, and I'll let you go no problems.

Dodger: I could...(grabs the back and tosses it to Rocky)...but I won't! Ciao!

(He and Rocky take off; Dodger jumps onto the fallen skater's skateboard, and rides off, with Thor in hot pursuit.)

Skateboarder: Hey! What gives!

(Dodger jumps off the skateboard, and continues running alongside Rocky. Thor continues his chase. They run into Central Park, and hide in some bushes.)

Thor: I know you're hiding somewhere. When I find you, I'll make you wish you'd never crossed me.

(He takes off. As soon as he's left, Dodger and Rocky emerge from the bushes.)

Dodger: He's gone, now. Who was that idiot?

Rocky: That, my friend, is Thor. I've been stealing his breakfast every day for a month, and he finally caught on. Alright! Let's eat.

(He pours out the bag's contents, which consists of left-over fast food.)

Dodger: Definitely! (starts eating) By the way, I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Dodger.

Rocky: I'm Rocky.

Dodger: So, you from around here?

Rocky: Well, I was actually born in Queens. You?

Dodger: I'm from...around here. You know, I've been to Queens quite a few times.

Rocky: No way!

Dodger: (nods) They got some really nice food there. Last time I ate like this was at a birthday party last year.

Rocky: (laughs) Wow, a year ago!

Dodger: I know. My gosh, that feels like forever!

(The two laugh. Rocky looks up; there are grey clouds forming in the sky.)

Rocky: Uh oh. Look's like it's gonna rain. (gets up to leave)

Dodger: Wait, don't go! I have a place where we can get out of the rain.

(Later that afternoon, Dodger and Rocky arrive at the houseboat. It's empty.)

Rocky: This is where you live? No offence, but a good spring clean here and there wouldn't kill ya.

Dodger: Yeah. It's not much, but it's home.

(Rocky slumps himself onto the armchair, accidentally pressing the TV remote. The screen lights up, and a basketball match is shown.)

Rocky: Awesome! The Knicks vs the Bulls! (turns to Dodger) Do you watch basketball?

Dodger: Baseball's more my thing. Named after the L.A. Dodgers.

Rocky: Makes sense.

(Dodger looks out of the window. He can see the gang returning.)

Dodger: Crud! My gang's coming back.

Rocky: You're in a gang. Never would have guessed.

Dodger: (whispering) Hide!

Rocky: Where?

Dodger: I don't know. Anywhere! (sees a tarpaulin strewn on the floor) Under there.

(Rocky hides under the tarp. Dodger greets the gang, laughing nervously.)

Dodger: Guys! How are you?

Francis: Alas, we have little to show for expenditure!

Rita:: Well, it was alright. Could have gone better, but it is what it is. You?

Dodger: (unconvincingly) Alright. You know, just went into the city, that sort of thing.

Rita: Are you sure there's something you're not hiding?

Dodger: (like a child having been caught stealing cookies) No. Uh, well, you see...

(As all this is going on, Rocky is watching from under the tarp. Francis jumps onto the armchair, and turns the channel over, watching a performance of Shakespeare. Rocky sneaks out, Mission Impossible-style, and sidles onto the armchair next to Francis, who screams in horror.)

Francis: Get off, you guttersnipe!

(The two wrestle each other onto the floor. At this point, Fagin enters the houseboat, and is surprised by what he sees.)

Fagin: Break it up! That's no way to greet a guest.

(The gang turn towards Rocky, who blushes. Dodger is trying to sneak off, whistling innocently.)

Rita: Dodger, would you mind introducing us to our little guest?

(Dodger exhales.)

(Sometime later...)

Dodger:...And that's how Rocky followed me back here.

Francis: I see.

Rita: So, he followed you back here?

(Dodger nods)

Dodger: Look, I'm just asking, if he could stay with us, just for the night?

Rita: I don't know, Dodge...

Einstein: I think that would be nice.

Dodger: That's all I'm asking. One night. Please?

(He puts on big, pathetic puppy dog eyes.)

Rita: Alright. He can stay with us. For the night.