An Oliver and Company Christmas Carol/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

An Oliver and Company Christmas Carol

(We open in a live-action living room with a roaring fireplace and a bookshelf. The camera pans over to see Ed Asner sitting in a large armchair and holding a book.)

Ed: Hello, I'm Ed Asner. You know, Christmas comes but once a year, a time of giving gifts and spending time with loved ones. Not everyone is lucky to have family to spend the holidays. This happened one Christmas in New York City. Let us begin...

(A shot of an illustration of the Manhattan skyline viewed from the air. The image transitions to animated form and we see the streets of New York blanketed in snow. Dodger and the gang are at the Foxworth house, which is beautifully decorated.)

Dodger: Jenny's folks have really gone all out with for Christmas haven't they, Ollie?

Oliver: Definitely. You know, maybe if you're good, they'll let you have some turkey.

Dodger: I like turkey.

Francis: I'd steer clear of the turkey, Dodger. Remember you ate it raw and you had gas for a week?

Rita: That still plays on my mind, every day! (she and Francis slap five)

Dodger: Don't bring it up, Frankie. Anyway, I'm out.

Oliver: Where are you going?

Dodger: Fagin and I are helping at the retirement home.

Rita: Well, we will see you when you get back.

Francis: I didn't think you were the charitable type.

Tito: Who are you and what did ya do with the real Dodger?

Dodger: (rolls his eyes) Ha ha. That was so funny I almost forgot to laugh.

(He and Fagin head out of the door.)

(We transition to the retirement home. It is filled with elderly patients; two men sit at a table laying checkers. Fagin and Dodger arrive and approach an elderly woman with grey hair tied into a bun, sunken eyes, and sporting a purple dress, cotton shawl and with a caring, smiling face. A cat rests on her lap.)

Old woman: You must be the new volunteer. (extends her hand) My name's Mary. You are?

Fagin: (shaking her hand) You can call me Fagin. (gestures to Dodger) This is my dog, Dodger.

Mary: That's lovely. He won't bite, will he?

Fagin: No! He's friendly and great with cats as well!

Mary: Alright.

(Mary's cat hops off her lap and follows Dodger.)

Dodger: It's OK, cat. I don't bite.

Cat: First off, name's Ruby. Second, I'm actually cool with dogs.

Dodger: Anyway, your owner seems nice.

Ruby: Yeah. She treats me well.

Dodger: You know, a friend of Fagin's actually has a cat who I'm quite close with.

Ruby: Really? That's cool!

Dodger: (nods) I visit him from time to time.

(Meanwhile, Fagin and Mary are sharing cups of coffee.)

Fagin: I hope you like your coffee with no sugar. (takes a sip)

Mary: That's wonderful. (sighs) It's just...

Fagin: What's wrong?

Mary: Nothing.

Fagin: You can tell me. I'll listen.

Mary: Well, it's just...I miss having my family.

Fagin: You do?

Mary: Yes. Every year, my family would be around me for the holidays and now...I hardly see them.

Fagin: Oh my gosh. That's terrible.

(Fagin clasps Mary's hand.)

Fagin: Tell me more.

Mary: What?

Fagin: I'd like to know more.

Mary: For me, Christmas has always been about spending time with my family.

(Flashback. In washed-out colors, Mary is shown as a child with her family at Christmas. They are smiling, and opening presents.)

Mary: (narrating) When I was a little girl, Christmases were always a wonderful occasion. The family would always come around, we'd have dinner and open our presents. It was like magic. But then, my father, walked out on me and my mother when I was just twelve years old.

(Mary's father is seen walking out of the door of their house, while she and her mother watch on crying.)

Mary: It was so devastating for us both. After that, Christmas for us lost some of the magic, but we tried to still make the holiday worthwhile.

(Flashback ends. Fagin is listening intently.)

Mary: But, to be honest, it wasn't really the same without him. I missed him.

(She looks down, with a downcast expression.)

Fagin: Well, what else?

Mary: Yes.

Fagin: Tell me more. I'd like to know.

Mary: You want me to continue?

Fagin: Yes. I do.

Mary: Are you sure?

Fagin: Sure.

(Meanwhile, Ruby has been listening intently. She hears the sound of snuffling nearby, she approaches the sound and sees it's Dodger; his eyes look bleary, as though he's been crying.)

Ruby: Are you OK, Dodger?

Dodger: (coughs) I'm fine. Really.

Ruby: I can tell you're lying.

Dodger: It's just...When I was a pup, I got separated from my parents.

Ruby: Do ya miss them?

Dodger: Every day. I don't even know if--

Ruby: If they're alive?

Dodger: Yeah. But I'd like to think they are. Especially my mom.

Ruby: You miss her?

Dodger: She's my mom! Of course I do. She was kind and loving and--(cuts off)

Ruby: You don't have to carry on if it's too painful.

Dodger: (close to tears) Yeah.

Ruby: I'll give you a few minutes.

(Meanwhile, Fagin is continuing his conversation with Mary.)

Fagin: Well, what happened next?

Mary: Well, years went by, and I'd eventually go on to meet my future husband. He was charming and kind and funny, and within two years of dating, he asked me to marry him, and I said yes.

(What Mary describes next is shown in monochrome colors.)

Mary: (narrating) We had such wonderful times together, and Christmases with our children, and I'd always remember the magic that I spent with my mom and dad.

Fagin: (v.o) I bet that was so amazing and happy.

Mary: Yes, but like they say, all good things come to an end.

(Flashback ends. We are back in the retirement home.)

Fagin: What happened to your husband?

Mary: I don't want to tell you.

Fagin: You don't have to if you don't want to. (He pats her shoulder)

Mary: Well, after I lost my husband, I was sent here. Don't get me wrong, the people here are wonderful, but--

Fagin: You miss your family?

Mary: More than anything in the world! My children all have their own lives now, raising their own children. Even my oldest daughter Susan has her own life, she lives in Boston and I rarely see her.

Fagin: If it's any consolation, I miss my family too.

Mary: Goodness.

Fagin: Yeah. My mom and dad didn't have much, but we had love and Christmas was always the best.

Mary: I bet you miss them too.

Fagin: They died when I was a kid. I basically lived on the streets for most of my life, but then I found Dodger, so I'm not exactly alone.

Mary: You poor thing.

(She takes his hand.)

Woman's voice: (o.c.) Mom?

(Mary and Fagin look up. A woman in her late-thirties to early forties with strawberry-blond hair and sporting a winter coat, blue jeans and brown fur-topped boots approaches.)

Mary: (surprised) Susan? (joyfully) Susan!

(Susan rushes towards her mother, and hugs her.)

Mary: What are you--? I thought?

Susan: I'm in New York for the holidays! I wouldn't miss you for the world!

(She turns to Fagin and Dodger.)

Susan: I want to say thank you. For looking after my mom. You're like a Christmas miracle.

Fagin: You're welcome.

Mary: I don't know how I could repay you for your kindness, Fagin.

Fagin: Nothing is more satisfying than helping out a friend in need.

(Mary and Susan smile.)

(We transition back to the Foxworth house. Fagin is talking to Jenny and Winston, while Dodger has reunited with the gang.)

Rita: So, Mr. Charity, how'd ya do?

Dodger: Pretty good. We helped this old lady who was missing her family.

Oliver: That's really sweet.

Dodger: Yeah.

Francis: I never expected this of you, Dodger, of all dogs.

Dodger: I am just full of surprises. (slumps onto the couch)

Rita: Well, if you're done being charitable, we've got Christmas dinner to eat. You coming?

Dodger: You can read me like a book. (hops off the couch)

(As Dodger follows the gang, we fade back out to the live-action living room, where Asner is reading from the book.)

Ed Asner: And so it came to pass one Christmas in New York when a man and his dog changed the life of a lonely old woman who missed her family. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

(He winks at the camera.)

(End credits.)