Family History/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

Family History

[The dockside of New York, at mid-morning. Dockers go about their business, hauling crates onto and off ships. Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse, Dodger and Oliver are talking. They are joined by a small Scottish terrier, Hugo.]

Hugo: [in thick Scottish accent] Aye, Dodger, ma boy. Why ya lookin' so dowie?

Dodger: Come again?

Oliver: He's asking what's up, Dodger. Is everything alright?

Dodger: Well...it's just...I've been thinking...

Oliver: About what?

Dodger: [breathes in] About...my family...

Hugo: Ah dinnae know what ya talkin' about, Dodger?

Dodger: I mean, who were my ancestors? Where did I come from?

Hugo: Dodger, ma boy, ah was born in auld reekie, but me and mah maw came to America when ah was a bairn tae start a new life.

Dodger: I mean, I've heard Georgette going on about her pedigree! [In a poor imitation of Georgette's voice] "My pedigree can be traced back to the poodles kept by Marie Antoinette." [normal voice] She certainly acts like a queen.

Hugo: Aye, mah wee pal. She sounds like she needs knockin' down a peg or tae.

Dodger: I'll take your word for it, Hugo.

[He and Oliver take off.]

Oliver: Dodger...I've heard you telling stories about your mom...and you've even made up stories about your ancestors.

Dodger: I will admit, that story about an outlaw dog living in the Old West was a classic...(in Southern accent) Pard'ner.

[Oliver laughs.]

Dodger: (Imitating John Wayne) This town ain't big enough for the both of us, pilgrim!

[Oliver continues laughing.]

Dodger: (normal accent) In all seriousness, though, it is something to think about.

[Fade. The caption reads "Upstate New York, 1813". A man trudges through the deep snow in the forest, holding a shotgun. He is cloaked in furs, and has brown hair and a beard. He is accompanied by a Schnauzer.]

Man: Come, Rusty! This is no time for man or beast to be out.

[The two continue trudging through the trees, the wind whipping in John's face.]

John: We'll set up camp for the night!

[John starts to pitch a tent, struggling in the wind as he does so. He finally gets the tent sent up, and starts to light a fire, rubbing two sticks together, until he produces a small flame.]

John: Perfect.

[It is night. John sits at the fire, eating a piece of meat which he has roasted over the flames. He tosses a piece to Rusty, who eats it. From off-camera, there is the howl of a wolf. Rusty's hackles go up; John runs towards the tent.]

Rusty: [growls] If you have the guts, you'd come and fight me!

[A pack of wolves emerge from the forest, snarling and ready to attack. John emerges from the tent with his shotgun, and fires two rounds at the animals; one of the wolves charges him, causing him to drop his weapon to the ground, and sinks its teeth into his leg; John cries out in agony.]

John: Let go! Get off!

[Rusty pounces onto the wolf's back, and bites it on the shoulder. It cries out, and tosses him aside, before joining the rest of its pack. Rusty barks at the wolves, as they take off into the forest.]

John: Rusty, you saved my life. You're the best friend I could ever have.

[John turns his head back to the forest.]

John: Come, let's move.

[Fade. Caption reads "Massachusetts, 1909". In an abandoned back alley, two dogs are talking.