Charlie, Come Home/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

Charlie, Come Home

(Setting: Harlem, at sunset. A group of pre-teens, a white girl with dirty blonde hair in a red and white T-shirt and blue shorts, two black boys and a Latina girl are playing a game of basketball.)

Girl: Tag me!

(The Latina girl dribbles the ball and tosses it to the blonde girl who scores a slam dunk. The friends cheer and slap five. Dodger and Oliver are watching from nearby.)

Oliver: How do they do that?

Dodger: I don't know, kid. I mean, I watch the Knicks on TV, but seeing it up close is something totally different.

(Out of nowhere, an Australian shepherd enters the basketball court. He balances the ball on his nose like a trained seal, before manouvering it like a Harlem Globetrotter. The pre-teens look on amazed, as the dog performs the manouvres, and applaud the performance. He approaches Dodger and Oliver.)

Dodger: Wow! You've got some moves on you.

Shepherd: Thanks.

Dodger: Anyway, let me introduce myself. I'm Dodger, this is my friend Oliver.

Oliver: It's lovely to meet you. What's your name?

Shepherd: I'm Charlie.

Dodger: Wait a minute, that name sounds familiar. That was the name of my friend when I was a pup.

Charlie: Well, that's me.

Dodger: Wait, you're Charlie? My gosh, it's been years! (The two tussle on the floor, laughing)

Charlie: So what have ya been up to since I last saw ya?

(Setting: the houseboat, later that evening. Dodger is introducing Charlie to the gang, who are listening in awe.)

Rita: You sound like a laugh riot, Charl. I wish you were a member of our gang.

Francis: (sarcastically) Oh joy.

Dodger: We had some real good times, didn't we, Charlie?

Charlie: We sure did!

(Flashback. A young Dodger and a young Charlie go racing through the streets of the Bronx; both of them are soaking wet and laughing. They shake themselves.)

Dodger: That was so much fun, wasn't it?

Charlie: Oh yeah. Even though I nearly ended up as that sea lion's chew toy!

Dodger: At least I was there to save your butt!

(The two wrestle each other to the ground, laughing. The flashback ends.)

Charlie: Yeah, those were the days. Anyway, Dodger, tomorrow there's somebody I'd like you to meet.

Dodger: Who?

Charlie: Wait and see.

(He rushes out of the houseboat, as Dodger looks on.)

Tito: Dodger, your old amigo seems cool! Why can't he stay with us full-time?

Dodger: I don't know. I'm gonna see who it is he wants me to meet tomorrow, though.

Rita: Well, till then, let's eat. Fagin picked up some takeout from Gupta's.

Dodger: I could use a decent meal about now!

(He runs off after the gang.)

(Setting: The next afternoon. Dodger is in Harlem, where he is greeted by Charlie.)

Charlie: Glad ya could make it, Dodge!

Dodger: I wouldn't miss this for the world. So, who is it I'm meeting?

Charlie: Come with me.

(The two head down the streets, which are abuzz with activity. They arrive at abandoned warehouse. A female Border collie approaches the two, followed by two mixed-breed pups, who rush excitedly towards Charlie.)

Charlie: Tucker! Buster! How are my two amazing boys?

Tucker: Great! We had so much fun!

Buster: So, today, we actually went into Central Park, and we met this big nasty--

Charlie: Anyway, this is your dad's old friend, Dodger.

Dodger: It's a pleasure to meet you. (looks toward the female dog) And you too. Your name is?

Collie: My name's Fleur. I'm Charlie's mate.

Dodger: (gets into a play-fighting position) Alright, wanna wrestle?

(Tucker and Buster pounce on Dodger, and tussle him to the floor; the three of them laugh uproariously.)

Fleur: (chuckles) The kids really like him.

Charlie: Yeah.

Dodger: Hey, Charl. I'm gonna take Tucker and Buster to the Central Park Zoo for a little excursion. That fine with you?

Tucker and Buster: (in unison) Please? (put on huge, forced grins)

Charlie: I...I don't think that's a good idea.

Dodger: Oh, don't be such a spoilsport! What happened to my friend, Charl?

Charlie: Dodger, can I talk to you for a second?

(Dodger follows Charlie to an isolated area.)

Charlie: Look, I enjoyed all the times we had as kids, but those are in the past! I'm a dad now, and being a dad has changed me.

Dodger: I know, Charl. But, come on, let them have a bit of fun!

Charlie: I wish it were that simple.

(Later that night at the Foxworth house, Dodger is talking to Oliver about his day.)

Dodger: And, I know being a dad has kind of made Charlie grow up a bit but I think he's a bit overprotective of his kids, y'know what I'm saying?

Georgette: Maybe, he's raising them not to be utter hooligans. If I had children, I'd raise them right.

Dodger: Nobody asked your opinion, Miss Priss.

Oliver: Well, it wouldn't hurt to ask him why.

Dodger: I suppose so. Anyway, I'm going back to the houseboat, kid. I'll see ya round. (jumps off the couch)

(Setting: The next day. Dodger is with Charlie, Tucker and Buster in Central Park. The place is full of visitors.)

Charlie: Alright, kids. You go have fun, alright, but stay where I can see you.

Tucker: We know. (The two run off)

Dodger: Alright, so now those two little monkeys are occupied, I'd like to ask you something, Charlie.

Charlie: Ask me anything you want.

(The two walk off to a secluded area of the park.)

Dodger: Well, it's about the kids. I wanna know why you're so overprotective of them?

Charlie: Well, ya see, something happened to me when I was a pup.

Dodger: And that was?

Charlie: Well, it was--

(He gets cut off. Tucker and Buster come running towards them, looking distressed.)

Dodger: What's wrong?

Tucker: (close to tears) We got attacked by--

Buster: We were playing and we came across these teenagers and we accidentally--

(Suddenly the sound of shouting comes from off-screen. Charlie turns to his sons.)

Charlie: Look, I'll handle this! Go back to your mom. (They nod and take off.)

(Two shadows tower over Dodger and Charlie.)

(Setting: an animal shelter. An animal control officer drags Dodger and Charlie into two adjoining enclosures.)

Officer: Don't you even think about making a break for it, hear me? (swaggers off)

Dodger: Huh, the pound. How cliche. (beat) Charl, I gotta ask.

Charlie: (confused) What?

Dodger: Why you're so overprotective of your kids? So they don't end up in--?

Charlie: Not exactly.

(Dodger raises his eyebrow.)

Charlie: It's because, before I met you, I lost my mom and dad.

(Flashback. Charlie's father, a mature male Australian shepherd is tossed aside like a rag doll. Three street dogs tower over him, and his mate and a young Charlie watch in the background.)

Lead street dog: (snarls) Give up, and get off our turf!

Charlie's father: No! I don't take orders from no-one!

Street dog #2: Is that so?

Street dog #3: Well, time we taught you manners.

(Charlie's mother turns to him.)

Charlie's mother: Charlie, you have to go!

Charlie: But, I don't--!

Charlie's mother: There's no time! (she nuzzles him) I love you Charlie. Always.

(Charlie takes off. The street dogs approach Charlie's mother and father, snarling. Flashback ends.)

Dodger: I get it now. You don't wanna---

Charlie: I don't wanna lose my kids, Dodge.

Dodger: Charl, that's so sad, but, you can't let it dictate your relationship with your boys.

Charlie: I...you're right.

Dodger: That's part of life, Charl. You sometimes have to---

Charlie: I understand. But first, we've gotta get outta here.

Dodger: But how?

Charlie: I might have an idea.

(The officer heads down the hallways, eating a donut. He hears the sound of whimpering and howling, and rushes down the halls to see what is wrong. He notices Dodger lying on the floor of his enclosure, crying out and seemingly in great pain.)