A Mile in My Shoes/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

A Mile in My Shoes

Act I

(The scene opens in Central Park at night. The park itself is empty, and an owl flies past the camera. Shooting stars streak across the night sky. The gang are watching from a grove of trees, with fascination.)

Dodger: Woah. This is amazing!

Francis: Yes, Dodger. I was watching a documentary on television. It's said that ancient civilizations--

Dodger: I'm not in the mood for one of your fascinating anecdotes, Frankie.

Rita: Hey, Dodger. Look.

(A shooting star hurtles across the pitch-black sky. Dodger and Rita close their eyes. The others look on, a bit perplexed. Tito cocks his head.)

Tito: OK, Dodger, if ya needed to go the little chicos'' room, you coulda just told me!

(Francis shoots him a disapproving look.)

Francis: That's what you do when you wish upon a star.

(A little while later, the gang are making their way through the park and into the city streets on their way back to the houseboat. When they arrive, Fagin is slouched in the armchair in front of the TV.)

Rita: So Dodge, what did you wish for?

Dodger: Well...You're gonna think it's silly.

Rita: I won't laugh.

Dodger: OK. What would it be like if we were both human?

Rita: I don't understand.

Dodger: I'm just saying. If we were human, imagine what we could do. Jobs, a house. Maybe, even, you know...(wiggles his eyebrows suggestively)

Rita: (chuckles) OK. I get it. Look, it just seems like a weird thing to wish for you. Ya know?

Dodger: Yeah.

(The two settle down to sleep. Cut to a wide shot of the gang, who are sleeping. Tito is sleeping on Francis's stomach. Einstein is sleeping on a cushion. The camera zooms in on Dodger, who is sleeping, and we see a close-up of his closed eyes. From his perspective, his eyes open. We can see the interior of a bedroom, with faded cream and ink wallpaper.)

Dodger: (to himself) Woah. OK, note to self, I gotta cut back on the sugar before bed. Where in the world am I?

Woman's voice: (o.c.) Honey! Breakfast's ready.

(Dodger races out of the bedroom and into the adjoining bathroom, and gets a look at his reflection. He is now a red-headed Caucasian man with slight stubble and wearing white and red pajamas with polka dots. He stares at himself somewhat confused.)

Dodger: Wait, my wish to be human? It came true? (looks down at his pot-belly) I really need to go easy on the Burger King.

(Dodger hurries down the stairs, still wearing his pajamas. He is greeted by Rita; her human form is that of a beautiful African-American with black hair in a white tank top, and pink pajama bottoms. Sitting at the table are two mixed-race children, a boy and a girl.)

Dodger: Morning, Rita.

Rita: Hi honey. I made your breakfast. (She hands him a plate of breakfast, with bacon, sausages, tomatoes, and two fried eggs and a coffee mug with the words "World's Greatest Dad" on the side)

Dodger: Thanks.

Rita: Eat up, now. It's your first day at your new job. (turns to the children) Evan, Olivia. You two get dressed. I'll drop you at school on the way to work.

Evan (boy): Yes, mom.

(They get down. Cut to a shot of Dodger riding in a taxi, and dressed in a smart suit. He is clean-shaved, and his hair is slicked back.)

Dodger: Can't wait to see where I work! Maybe I'm a cop? No. I hope it's something cool though!

(The taxi pulls up and Dodger gets out. As the vehicle drives away, Dodger sees where he's been dropped off.)

Dodger: (thinking to himself) The Foxworth house? Well, I suppose when you got lemons, you gotta make lemonade.

(He enters. He is greeted by Winston, who shakes his hand, vigorously.)

Winston: (eagerly) Welcome! I've heard a lot about you! Your name is?

Dodger: (trying to get the words out) Dodger--I mean, Danny. My name is Danny.

Winston: Well, Danny. I have quite the long list of tasks that I need you to do.

Dodger: (thinking to himself) Oh joy.

(A little while later, Dodger is on the phone talking to someone on the other end. Winston greets him.)

Dodger: I've just rescheduled Mr. and Mrs. Foxworth's business trip to Tokyo to meet with Mr. Fujiyama.

Winston: Wonderful.

Dodger: Also, I've scheduled the meal with his work colleagues for this weekend, OK.

Winston: You are good, aren't you?

(He pats Dodger on the head; as soon as Winston's gone, Dodger sticks his tongue out. Cut to commercial break.)

Act II