A Winter's Tail/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

A Winter's Tail

Act I

(Overhead shot of Manhattan. The streets are covered in snow, and several New Yorkers are dressed in winter clothes. Cut to an interior shot of the houseboat. The gang are shivering and huddled around the TV. Francis is watching an opera performance, utterly engrossed.)

Dodger: Frankie, I know you're gonna call me an uncultured swine, but how do you watch this?

Francis: This, my friend, is opera. The art of telling a story through--

Dodger: Well, it sounds like noise to me!

Tita: Yeah, Frankie, man! It's muy painful to listen to.

Rita: Not to mention, the sopranoes kind of sound like Georgette!

Dodger: Trust me, Princess Snooty wishes she sang like that!

(The two slap five. Fagin approaches from off-screen.)

Fagin: Alright, Dodger. Come on.

Rita: And where, pray tell, are you going?

Dodger: Fagin's got a volunteer job at the homeless shelter. I'm coming with him.

Rita: Never knew you were the charitable type, Dodger!

Dodger: Well, no one should have to be out in the cold in this weather.

Rita: Proceed.

(He heads off after Fagin, as the gang watch. Cut to an interior shot of the homeless shelter. The place is packed with patrons. Fagin is serving cups of soup to a queue of people. Mr. Foxworth is accompanying him, and Dodger is sitting under the table.)

Mr. Foxworth: It's wonderful you could help volunteer, Fagin.

Fagin: My pleasure.

Mr. Foxworth: I volunteer here now and then, because, although my family's rich, there are people in the world who aren't as fortunate.

Fagin: Yeah. I can relate.

Mr. Foxworth: Are you OK, Fagin?

Fagin: I'm fine, just uh...thinking.

Mr. Foxowrth: About what?

Fagin: Nothing. It's nothing.

Mr. Foxworth: (nods) Mmhhm. Look, we're low on canned food. I'm going to pick up some more. See ya later. (Puts on his coat and exits)

(Fagin carries on serving. He is approached by a man with tousled brown hair, a slight beard, and wearing a threadbare coat, worn blue jeans and Adidas sneakers, which have clearly seen better days. He is flanked by a young boy of about six or seven years old with reddish-brown, and sporting a red winter coat with a red and white sweater underneath and blue jeans.)

Man: Can you give us three cups of soup and some bread, please?

Fagin: Of course. (He gives them their food and they head off)

(The man and the boy sit down on the floor to eat their meal; they are accompanied by a woman with dirty blonde hair tied in a ponytail, and wearing a ski cap, winter coat, worn brown trousers and boots; her stomach is swollen underneath her coat; she is clearly pregnant.)

Fagin: (realizing) Wow. I get it now.

(Cut to the houseboat later that evening. Dodger is telling the gang of his day, while Fagin relaxes on the couch. They are sharing Chinese takeout that Fagin has picked up.)

Dodger: (eating with his mouthful) So, it was a busy day. Got to see Jenny's dad helpin' out too.

Francis: I'm glad you and Fagin were out performing some good deeds, old chap.

Dodger: Thanks, Frankie.

Francis: It's Franci--Never mind.

(Cut to an exterior shot of the houseboat at night. The gang are sleeping, and Dodger is curled up Fagin's lap, as he sleeps in front of the flickering television screen. The rest of the gang are resting on the floor. Cut to commerical break.)

Act II

(Cut to an exterior shot of the homeless shelter, the next day. Fagin and Mr. Foxworth bring in two crates of canned food, and carry them to the kitchen area. Dodger is following them. The family from earlier in the episode approach Fagin.)

Mr. Foxworth: Fagin, I think Steven needs you.

Fagin: I'll see to him.

(He extends his hand to Steven, who shakes it.)

Fagin: I'm Fagin, I'm volunteering here.

Steven: Pleasure to meet ya, Fagin. I'm Steven. (gestures to the woman) This is my wife, Joan. (to the boy) And our son, Billy.

Fagin: Pleasure to meet you all.

(Billy is petting Dodger.)

Joan: Billy, leave the dog alone!

Fagin: No, it's OK! He's gentle.

Billy: He's cute. I always wanted a dog.

(Cut to a shot of the dining area. Fagin is talking to Steven and Joan.)

Fagin: So, Steven, not to be nosy, but...how long have you been homeless?

Steven: Well, to be honest, it wasn't always like this.

'Joan: Steve and I met when were in high school. Love at first sight, and I had Billy a year before we tied the knot.

Fagin: I see, interesting.

Steven: After we got married, we thought we'd be happy for the rest of our lives, but it never worked out that way.

Fagin: What do you mean?

Steven: Well, I once had a job working as a construction worker, but I got laid off after an accident.

Fagin: That's so sad.

Joan: I worked at a grocery store, but it was barely paying the bills, and...well the rest you know.