Scene 1: (OFF-STAGE)
Narrator: On a cold winter’s night, in a small town, a baby was
born. Not unusual in itself- being born. But being born on the
street and having your mother die straight afterwards, is quite
unusual. Although in South Africa, in 2013, abandoned babies
are not that unusual. But what was unusual was that the baby
actually survived! He was found by an old woman, who took
him to the nearest baby safe.
And so began life for young Oliver Twist - the life of an orphan.
Cared for in an over crowed orphanage, till his ninth birthday. A
life with little food, almost no clothing and no love. So, Oliver’s
ninth birthday found him a pale and very thin child.
(Oliver revealed)
Scene 2: (THE WORKHOUSE)
Mrs Corney: Now you make sure you remember your
manners. I’ll whip you if you embarrass me!
Mr Bumble: Oh, Mrs Corney you’ve brought us number 23.
Good, good! Hope he knows how to behave and what is
expected of him! Have you trained him right?
Mrs Corney: Cause he does - make your bow to the
gentleman, Oliver.
Mr Bumble: Well... well - he’ll do I suppose, don’t have much
choice do I?
(Members of the Board arrive)
Mr Bumble: Members... the new boy... only just sent to us from
the infant section.
Member 1: What is your name boy?
Member 2: What did he say?
Member 1: Nothing!
Member 2: Boy’s a fool!
Member 3: You know you are an orphan? No mother, no father!
Member 2: Is he crying?
Member 3: You have come here to be apprenticed.
Oliver: What trade will that be Sir?
Member 1: Hard work!
Mr Bumble: Thank you gentleman.
ALL: Evening
(Workhouse transforms with boys etc.)
Narrator: The rules were quite simple and all had to abide.
Member 1: Game pie, Mr. Bumble?
Narrator: The young orphans are fed three meals of gruel a
day.
Member 2: Yorkshire pudding, Mam?
Narrator: An onion twice a week.
Member 3: Some wine?
Narrator: And a bread roll on Sundays.
Member 1: What did he say?
Member 2: He said hard work on Mondays.
Narrator: While the boys ate they hungered and wanted more.
* Food glorious Food*
Workhouse Boy 1: We’ll draw straws.
Workhouse Boy 2: We must have some more I’m dying here!
Workhouse Boy 3: I’m hungry all the time!
Workhouse Boy 4: Make the newbie do it!!!
All boys: Ja, Oliver Twist you go and ask for more.
Workhouse Boy1: They’ll listen to you!!
All: Yes, they’ll listen to you.
(Oliver moves to the table)
Oliver: Please Sir, I want some more.
Mr Bumble: WHAT DID YOU SAY?
Oliver: Please Sir, I want some more.
Mr Bumble: How dare you, you ungrateful urchin.
*Oliver*
Scene 3: (STREET)
Bumble: You – come with me, I’ll offer R500 for you, to the first
person who will take you off of my hands.
BOY FOR SALE, BOY FOR SALE!
Mr. Sowerberry: Did I hear correctly, he comes with R500 ?
Bumble: Right!
Mr. Sowerberry: I’ll take him. I’m an undertaker. Do you think
he’ll enjoy it?
Bumble: Don’t matter if he do or he don’t, he can’t do anything
else.
Mr. Sowerberry: Can I send him back if he is - eh - unsuitable?
Bumble: Only with the R500!!!
Mr. Sowerberry: Ok then, come along with me.
Scene 4: (FUNERAL PARLOUR)
Noah Claypole: Don’t need any boy - I’m good enough.
Mrs Sowerberry: So you are, but it can’t help to have some
extra hands about. The Undertaking Business is in a boom time
at the moment!
Noah Claypole: Stay out of my way, runt!
Mr Sowerberry: You can sleep over there near the coffins – or
in them if you like!!
(laughs)
I don’t mind if you do or you don’t, you can’t sleep anywhere
else.
Mrs Sowerberry: Noah, go and fetch the bits of food we put by
for the dog. I dare say you won’t mind, you’re probably not too
fussy to eat ‘em are you?
Oliver: No, mam.
Noah Claypole: No good will come of this, Mrs S. You watch.
He’ll be trouble.
(To the side) I’ll make sure of that.
( lights off- small light burns)
*Where is love?*
Scene 5: (FUNERAL PARLOUR)
(Lights up)
Noah Claypole: So underhouse rat! – ready for work?
Lazy good-for-nothing bum!
Bet you Mum was a lazy sid like you!
Oliver: Don’t you dare talk about my mother like that!
(fight)
Mr & Mrs Sowerberry: What’s all this?
Noah Claypole: He attacked me for nothing, just jumped up
and said he would kill us all in our beds.
Mr Sowerberry: Call Mr Bumble, quick! Oliver’s gone mad!
(Oliver escapes)
Narrator: Oliver ran for days. He set off on the road to
Johannessburg, Egoli City of Gold. As though perhaps he could
find a place for himself. In the big city. But lots of people think
the same!
Scene 6: (STREET - TAXI RANK)
(Oliver sits down to watch the passersby)
(Dodger enters to the group of boys)
All: It’s Dodger!
Dodger: All right boys, that’s enough.
Gang Member Boy 1: Not much!
Gang Member Boy 2: Got a few nice items, already stashed
them.
Gang Member Boy 3: Jake got his first cell phone this
morning; he’s lying low for the rest of the day.
(Dodger looks at Oliver and walks towards him)
Dodger: Hello mate, what’s up?
Oliver: I’ve walked a long way sir, seven days I’ve been on the
road.
Dodger: I know about that, been on the run from the fuzz
myself.
It’s not easy!
Oliver: Pardon?
Dodger: My, you are green as the grass, not from Jo-burg are
you? Guess you’ll be needing some shelter.
Oliver: Do you know of a nice shelter?
Dodger: I know a spectacular gentleman. He’ll let you hangout
for nothing, and never asks for charge. I’ll introduce you, he
knows me, know what I mean? Jack Dawkins, but my friends
never say it.
Oliver: What do they call you?
Dodger: The Artful dodger, cause my skills, my dodging skills.
Scene 7: (DERELECT WAREHOUSE – FAGIN’S DEN)
(Alone Fagin’s counting money with cell phones and wallets on
the table. Fagin hears noises off stage.
Boys enter)
Fagin: My boys - good to have you back home.
How was your day? Anything good? Anything that I should
know about?
Charley Bates: All good, no problems today.
Fagin: Good, good! Who is this now?
Dodger: Oliver! Oliver Twist! Fagin he needs a place.
Fagin: Glad to see you Oliver. Sit yourself down. Hey Jake,
how them sausages coming along – put them all in, plenty
more where they come from. We just ask and we’ll receive.
Oliver: Thank you Sir!
Fagin: We are always happy to have new blood...
I mean new boys join us.
From out of town are you?
Oliver: Yes.
(Jakes brings food to Oliver)
Oliver: Thank you.
Fagin: (To Dodger)
You bought me a clean one, Dodger! Clever boy, well spotted.
Oliver you’re tired, off to bed with you; rest yourself.
Oliver: Thank you, Sir!
(Boys settle down. Monks enters with Sikes)
Fagin: The lots ready for you in the boxes.
Carefully,... fragile stuff.
Sikes: Your boys working hard for you Fagin – getting good
stuff?
Fagin: Yea, yea and got a new boy today. Oliver twist – fine,
sweet, innocent! He will bring in a pretty good amount.
(Sikes leaves with boxes)
Monks: Oliver Twist you say, Fagin?
Fagin: Ja!
Monks: Hey, Fagin – I’ve been looking for him for a long time.
A personal matter. I want him gone!
Fagin: Gone? Finished? Why?
Monks: Don’t ask questions as I sad it’s personal. An
inheritance comes my way of... if he is out of the picture. Know
what I mean?
Fagin: You and he?
Monks: Same father - been trying to track him down for ages.
There is good money for you, Fagin, if you see he gets into big
trouble. Gone for good trouble!
Deal?
Fagin: Deal!
Scene 8: (DERELECT WAREHOUSE – FAGIN’S DEN)
Morning Comes
Dodger: Morning!
Charley: Hi!
Nancy: Morning all you sleepy-heads.
Betsy: Morning, breakfast time. We picked up a few things.
Fagin: Morning all. Good work... lighties.
(Oliver Awakes)
Fagin: Morning Oliver. You know Dodger and Charley. This is
Bets and Nancy. All one big happy family.
*Consider Yourself*
Fagin: What did you boys get?
(Boys handed over cellphones, wallets, bags)
Good, good – would you like to learn to do this Oliver?
Oliver: Yes, Sir, if you please Sir.
Fagin: Good, good – bring me my coat.
Now watch carefully.
(Shows wallet and cell phone. Walks around. Boys pickpocket
him)
Oliver: What did I learn?
Dodger: Everything. Do you think you can do it?
Oliver: I’ll try.
*You got to pick a pocket or two*
Nancy: Oh, but Oliver’s a gentleman. Polite and wellmannered.
Dodger: I can do posh geezer – watch, let’s show them how.
Come Nancy!
*I’ll do anything*
Fagin: No more fooling about! Off to work you go.
(To Dodger)
Look after Oliver - show him the ropes, but careful, I don’t want
his pretty face messed and I don’t want him known at the
charge office.
Dodger: Ok, boss. Come Oliver, learn from the best!
(All off the stage)
Scene 9: (SHOPPING MALL)
Car-guard 1: (Thumb towards Brownslow)
Hey dude! Now that guy is loaded! Pulled up in a brand,
spanking new Lexus.
Car-guard 2: Man, I can just smell the money walking!
Bro, If you’re looking for some profitable pickins, I would
definitely say that one!
Dodger: (Walking away, slowly following Brownslow)
D’you hear that manne! This oke is our perfect guy!
Oliver: (confused)
(on the side) What do you mean?
Charlie: Ya, boet! Let’s follow him!
Dodger: Keep your cool now boys! Follow me.
Charlie: Dodge, do you see what I see?
Dodger: Hey, Hey! He’s got the latest iPhone! Bonus! Ching,
Ching! And he looks pretty careless too…
Follow me Charlie, Ollie, keep back and watch ‘true poetry in
motion, Yeah!’
Charlie: The old tap and distract, for this one, hey Dodge?
Dodger: You bet! Just follow me!
Charlie: Oh, terribly sorry sir. My bad!
Brownslow: Hey! I can see you there behind me! What?! Give
me my phone, you rascal!
Somebody, stop that thief!
Dodger: Run Charlie, run!
Shop Keeper: (Pointing to Oliver)
Security stop that boy, he’s a pick-pocket and a thief!
Security: Haw, ok!
Brownslow: No! You’ve got the wrong boy! It was the other
two!
(Security guard chases Oliver and catches him)
Oliver: Let me go! You’ve got the wrong person!
Security: Why you run then, hey? You coming with me!
Oliver: (Struggles)
No! Let me go! Let me GO!
Security: Here is your THIEF!
Brownslow: NO! You’ve got the wrong boy! I told you that it
was the other two rascals!
Oliver: I told you! You’ve got the wrong person!
(Oliver faints)
(Nancy walks past)
Brownslow: Oh! Somebody get a doctor! Call an ambulance,
please!
Scene 10: (MR BROWNSLOW’S MANSION)
House-keeper: (Wiping Oliver’s brow)
Mr Brownlow, Mr Brownlow, he’s awake! He’s AWAKE!
Brownslow: Good morning my boy! I am so glad to see that
you are at last awake! Did you know that you slept solidly for
the last five days? The doctors weren’t sure you were going to
make it at one point!
House-keeper: (Still wiping Oliver’s brow)
Terrible case of dysentery you had young sir.
Brownslow: What is your name boy?
Oliver: It’s Oliver, Oliver Twist… (falls back to sleep)
Brownslow: We will let him rest ... He needs more rest, poor
soul.
(lights fade out - ‘A FEW DAYS LATER’. Lights come on again Oliver is playing a TV game)
Doctor: Well, he has recovered very nicely. I can now certainly
pass him with a clean and fit bill of health.
Brownlow: Thank you doc.
Thank you for coming by to make a final check on Oliver.
Doctor: My pleasure.
Look after yourselves, now.
Good bye.
Brownlow: Goodbye Doc.
(Oliver continues to play)
(Doorbell rings)
Brownslow: Ah, Grimsby, hello.
Come on in.
As you can see our Oliver is all better now.
Grimsby: Hello Brown. Yes I can see that!
(On the side) I’ve asked you this before, are you REALLY sure
that you can trust this kid? He is from off the streets?!
Brownslow: I have faith in his good nature, Grim. I trust him.
Grimsby: Well, I hope for your sake you are right!
(Turning towards Oliver) Hey, Oliver, you wouldn’t happen to be
in the mood for a challenge on ‘Nitro Racer’, would you?
Oliver: Uncle Grim, I love that game - the challenge is on!
Grimsby: Ok, what you waiting for? Let’s get this party started!
Oliver: Whoo! Whoo!
(Play game)
(Brownlow’s cell Phone rings)
Brownslow: Hello, Brownslow here.
Hello Martin, how are things going at the office?
What! You need me in Cape Town ,THIS afternoon! For a
couple of days?
Well, I don’t know if I can do this at such late notice!
Grimsby: Hey, Brown relax, you go! I will look after the kid.
Brownlow: Are you sure about this?
Grimsby: Of course I am! I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.
Brownlow: Thanks man.
Back to phone)
Martin, get my ticket ready, I’m on my way!
Cheers!
Scene 11: (SHOPPING MALL)
Oliver: Hey, Grim, thank you for bringing me to the mall today.
This place is awesome!
Grimsby: My pleasure little dude, my pleasure.
Oliver: Hey, Grim, do you think we can go into Game Zone. I’m
really keen to look at that new game ‘Ferrari Challenge’.
Grimsby: Sounds cool to me. But, hey, let’s get something to
drink. I’m really thirsty. Wait a minute, looks like I need to
withdraw some cash. Look there is an ATM right over there.
Oliver: Sure, Grim.
Grimsby: There we go, a thousand bucks should do it; and
now I can get that new pair of hiking boots I have always
wanted.
Oliver: Cool, Grim.
(Three teenagers carrying large cups of cola bump into Gimsby,
soaking his trousers)
Grimsby: Hey, you morons! Why don’t you look where you are
going! My new chinos are ruined!
Naughty Boy 1: Sorry, old man.
Naughty Boy 2: Yeah, we didn’t see you!
Naughty Boy 3:Yeah, sorry sir!
(Laugh and run off)
Grimsby: Oliver, I’m going to have to dry these off in the
bathroom. Here, hold my wallet before that gets soaked too. I’ll
be right back!
Oliver: Ok, Grim. I’ll wait here for you.
Sikes: (Grabbing Oliver’s arm tightly)
Well, look who we have got here? You are coming with us!
Oliver: NO, leave me alone! I don’t want to go with you. I am
here with somebody. Leave me, leave me alone.
(Nancy and Sikes pull Oliver into the exit passage)
Nancy: (Says to passers by)
Oh, he hates the dentist! Kicks up such a fuss, oh! Come on
now my boy!
(Grimsby comes out)
Grimsby: Oliver?... Oliver!
I knew that boy was no good! Ask him to hold onto a little
money, and off he goes! I warned Brownlow! I warned him!
Scene 12: (DERELECT WAREHOUSE – FAGIN’S DEN)
(Sikes and Nancy enter Fagin’s den, pulling Oliver along with
them)
Fagin: My little Oliver, we missed you so much my dear. How
are you?
Oliver: I’m not your dear. Now let me go!
Fagin: Oh, I see you have been doing alright! Fancy new
clothes, Reebok shoes!
What? Have these nice things changed your mind about Fagin,
the one who helped you, when you were homeless and
hungry?
Oliver: You are a thief! That’s all you are!!
Sikes: Do you want me to shut him up for you, good and
proper?
Fagin: No need for harsh actions, Bill. Just put him in there.
Oliver: (shouting)
Let me out! (banging on door)
(Fagin locks padlock on door)
(Sikes and Fagin walk out; Nancy walks behind - looks at
Oliver, feeling guilty)
(Lights fade)
Scene 13: (OUTSIDE LARGE HOUSE – ON STREET)
Monks: Keep yourself covered and your head down.
Sikes: Don’t like these kind of jobs, too risky – everyone in
South-Africa’s got high security!
Monks: Was better in the good old days. A quick in and out,
with min hassle.
Sikes: The biggest problem was the locked door.
Monks: Now we have to deal with immobilizers, alarms,
gearlocks and alarmed garages, and even outdoor beams.
Sikes: The world has become an ugly place.
Monks: Hey, Oliver come on over here, we’ll put you over the
fence. You check out the beams.
Oliver: I’m scared!
Sikes: Don’t give me no lip! Over you go!
(Lifts Oliver over)
Monks: No beams, good, now see if you can use the remote to
open the gate. Should work my china I get these things from is
usually good.
(Alarm sounds)
Sikes: Fool – what did you do?
Oliver: I bumped the car!
Monks: Great!!!
(from inside the house)
Owners: What is going on, who is there? I have a gun!
Oliver: Help me!
Sikes: Get him over.
Monks: Leave him.
Oliver: Please!!! ( starts to climb gate)
Sikes: Here give me your hand!
(Shot)
(They help him over)
Oliver: Ugh!!!!
Monks: Shut that yapper of yours, you’re gonna wake the
world!
Sikes: You only caught yourself on the spikes of the fence. A
scratch – stop bleating like you dying!
Oliver: (Crying) There’s lots of blood.
Sikes: Fool, let’s take him to Fagin’s, Nancy’ll look after him.
(All run off carrying Oliver between them)
Scene 14: (STREET, THEN FAGIN’S DEN)
Monks: We should have left him for the cops. You too soft,
Sikes!
Sikes: I don’t want anything getting back to us. I value my
freedom. What’s wrong with you? You want him caught or
something? He’ll shoot his mouth off. Nancy! (shout)
Nancy: What happened? Oh, Oliver what have they done to
you?
Come on love, let me help you.
You both should be ashamed of yourself, a young innocent like
this.
Sikes: What’s up Monks- you know we don’t leave boys behind
on jobs. We need them. They come in handy and make us a lot
in the petty theft department.
Monks: We don’t need this one. He stands between me and a
fortune. I stand to inherit if he is jailed or worse.
Sikes: What – tell more- you’re got my attention hey china.
Monks: We are half brothers – been searching for him for
years. I don’t get nothing if that brat lives. My father’s second
marriage you see. I need him to disappear, if you know what I
mean?
Sikes: How much loot you stand to gain?
Monks: More than I’d let you know about! We need plans,
china. Think careful, like, you know, make sure our plans work
next time.
(Monk and Sikes leave)
Nancy: The poor boy! What has become of you?
*As long as he needs me*
Scene 15: (SHOPPING MALL)
Brownslow: We’ll put these up all over the mall, perhaps
someone will recognize him. Good thing we took those photos
of him.
Mrs Bedwen: Poor pet, I can’t bear to think of what might have
happened to him. There are some awful people out there.
Mr Brownslow: We’ll do all we can do for him... all we can.
(Move off stage)
Scene 16: (SHOPPING MALL)
Nancy: Why that’s our Oliver- seems there’s more than just
Monk’s looking for him.
(Takes out cellphone)
Nancy: Hello, I’ve some information regarding Oliver Twist,
could I speak to Mr Brownslow.
(Dodger approaches)
Nancy: I know where you can find Oliver. Do you know the old
warehouse in Eloff street? Yes, yes, that’s the one.
You’ll find a place run by a Mr. Fagin, he’s there. (Sees Dodger)
I must go, meet me there tomorrow at 10:00 am bring the cops
– I must go.
(Dodger moves off)
Nancy: Oh no, I think he heard me.
Scene 17: (DERELECT WAREHOUSE – FAGIN’S DEN)
Dodger: (Bursts into room screaming)
Nancy has spilled the beans! She has split on us! She has told
that fancy-pants where Oliver is, and the stuff we do here. The
fuzz is comin! They are comin to get us!
Fagin: This can’t be true! How can this be?
Boys: Our Nancy? No, never!
Sikes: Leave this one to me! I will take care good care of this!
(Slams door on the way out)
Boys: Aaaaaaaah!
(Scream running in circles)
(Lights fade out)
Scene 18: (SCARCELY FURNISHED ROOM – NANCY’S)
(Light on Nancy, sitting on box, rocking)
Sikes: Just who do you think you are? Spilling the beans like
that! You will regret what you have done!
Nancy: (Screams)
No, Bill. Noooooo! Please no-o-o-o-o-o!
(Lights fade)
(Thump - silence)
Scene 19: (DERELECT WAREHOUSE – FAGIN’S DEN)
(Sikes enters Fagin’s den)
Boys: Where is Nancy?
Sikes: Don’t you worry about her! She won’t be speaking to
anybody!
Monks: You did what you had to do then?
(Sikes nods)
Boys: Ah!!! (Gasp)
(Sirens outside)
(Policemen burst onto stage)
Policeman 1: (Holding baton)
Nobody move! Put your hands up in the air! Nobody move!
Policeman 2: You three men! Put your hands behind your
backs!
(Boys all scream and run off stage)
Policeman 3: Come back here you villains! Get back here at
once!
Policeman 1: Leave them; we need your help over here!
(Policemen cuff Fagin, Monks and Sikes)
(Policemen move Fagin, Monks and Sikes to side of stage and
lock him up)
*Reviewing the situation*
(Lights fade)
Scene 20: (STREET OUTSIDE BROWNSLOW’S HOUSE)
(Boys seated, looking glum - on side of the stage with spot on
them)
(Oliver runs onto the stage)
Oliver: Hey, okes, why are you looking SO sad? I’ve got a
surprise for you!!
Boy 1: A surprise?
Boy 2: What kind of surprise?
Boy 3: We have all had enough of surprises!
Brownslow: (Enters next to Oliver)
Boys, he is telling the truth! Come and see for yourselves.
Boy 4: Ah, man! What are they on about?
Boy 5: Well, we won’t know unless we go and see what this
fuss is all about!
Oliver: Mr Brownslow called ‘Extreme Makeover SA’, to makeover his house into a children’s home. So, we all of have a
proper place to live in now!
Boy 6: Can this be real?
Oliver and Brownslow: You bet it is!
Brownslow: Now, move that bus!
All: (While clip shows)
Move that bus! Move that bus! Move that bus!
Boy 7: Ah, man! This is truly awesome!
Oliver: And plenty of food for EVERYONE!
(Pulls cloth off table laden with food)
(Entire cast comes out and all sing ‘Food Glorious Food’)