A Elements of a story

BY CHARLES
DICKENS
ADAPTED FOR SCOPE
BY RACHEL WAUGH

Watch for
Oliver TWist
in movie theaters
Young Oliver is September 30! ,

alone in the world. CHARACTERS

Write your initials next to the character you're going to read.

He needs friends * NARRATOR 1

desperately, but "NARRATOR 2

*Ql\>ilRW\Sl a young orphan

can he trust the COOK

BOY 1, an orphan
BOY 2, another orphan
people he meets? *THE ARTFUL DODGER, a young pickpocket
* FAGIN, a receiver of stolen goods
Find out in *HkHCi, a thief working for Fagin
\
BOOKSELLER
this classic POLICE OFFICER
* MR. BROWNIOW, a kind old gentleman
story of survival
CROWD fyou can all read this together)
by the great * BILL SIKES, a brutal burglar and Nancy's boyfriend
MRS. BEDWIN, Mr. Brownlow's housekeeper
English novelist PASSERBY, a person on the street
* Starred characters are major roles.
Charles Dickens.
SCHOLASTIC SCOPE SEPTEMBER 5, 2005
 Scene 1
NARRATOR 1: In a small English town
many years ago, a young
orphan, Oliver Twist, is sent to
a workhouse.
NARRATOR 2: It's a dark and dingy
place where homeless people are
put to work for food and shelter.
NARRATOR 1: All day long, Oliver
labors making ropes. He and the
other boys are often beaten.
NARRATOR 2: At dinnertime, a cook
SAY I T ! dingy —DIN-jee
ladles gruel into their bow^ls. The
boys swallow the thin soup in
seconds, but they're still hungry.
BOY 1 (whispering): Psst! New boy,
ask for some more.
OLIVER (terrified): Me?
BOY 2 (whispering): Someonehas to.
NARRATOR 1: Trembling, Oliver takes
his bowl up to the cook.
OLIVER: Please, sir, I want some
more.
NARRATOR 2: The room falls silent.
COOK (shocked): V^hat did you say?
OLIVER: Please, sir, I want some
more.
COOK (yelling): I'll give you more—
more beatings!
NARRATOR 1: Oliver's had enough.
That night, he runs away.
Scene 2
NARRATOR 2: Days later, Oliver
arrives in London. He sits down
to rest.
SCHOLASTIC SCOPE SEPTEMBER 5, 2005
 NARRATOR 1: A boy Oliver's age Oliver. Then see if you can Scene 3
approaches wearing a man's coat take something from me NARRATOR 1: The next day, Dodger
and a dented top hat. without my noticing. and Oliver walk through a
ARTFUL DODGER: My name's l a c k - NARRATOR 1: Fagin pretends to read fancy neighborhood. Dodger
better known as the Artful while the boys pick his pockets. spots a well-dressed gentleman
Dodger. Then it's Oliver's turn. He pulls named Mr. Brownlow browsing
OLIVER: I'm Oliver TWist. out the handkerchief. at a bookstall.
DODGER: You look a bit tired. OLIVER: I got it! NARRATOR 2: Dodger slips his hand
OLIVER: I've walked for seven days. FAGIN: Well done, Oliver! into Mr. Brownlow's pocket.
'iODGER: You must be starving! NARRATOR 2: A young woman named Oliver watches, horrified. Dodger
JARRATOR 2: Oliver nods weakly. Nancy enters. She sees Oliver. pulls out a silk handkerchief. The
;)ODGER:rilfixyouup. NANCY: Teaching him the tricks of bookseller sees him.
NARRATOR 1: Dodger leads Oliver the trade, eh, Fagin? BOOKSELLER: Stop, thief!
past a stall in an outdoor market, FAGIN: Oliver, this is our friend NARRATOR 1: Dodger dodges through
then around a corner. Nancy. a doorway. Mr. Brownlow and
:)LIVER: Why are you called the NARRATOR 1: Oliver bows politely. others turn and see Oliver.
Artful Dodger? The other boys laugh. Panicked, he starts running.
DODGER (opening his coat): Here's NANCY: What a little gent! Sit next to CROWD: Stop, thief!
why. me, Oliver. NARRATOR 2: The crowd chases
NARRATOR 2: Dodger reveals a loaf of NARRATOR 2: Oliver feels at home Oliver. He trips, and they
bread and some ham. Oliver with his new friends. He has no surround him. A police officer
stares in amazement. He's too idea Fagin is training him to he pushes through, followed by
mesmerized by the food to real- a thief! Mr. Brownlow.
ize Dodger has just stolen it.
DODGER: Eat up, Oliver. I'll show you
a place you can stay tonight.
B
' ARRATOR 1: Dodger takes him to a
street full of ragged children.
They enter a building.
NARRATOR 2: Upstairs is a dirty but
cozy room. Several boys are eat-
ing bread and butter. An old man
fries sausages over an open fire.
'ODGER: Fagin, this is my new
friend, Oliver Twist.
MRRATOR 1: The old man smiles, a
wicked twinkle in his eyes.
PLAY POINT:
FAGIN: Ah, so nice to meet you, my Oliver Twist is set
dear. Welcome to our little family. in Victorian times.
Boys, eat up, then we'll teach Queen Victoria was
the Queen of Engiand
Oliver our game. from 1837 to 1901.
NARRATOR 2: After dinner, Fagin
takes a wallet, watch, and white
silk handkerchief from a shelf,
and puts them in his pockets.
FAGIN: Watch the other boys.
SAY I T ! mesmerized — MEZ-muhr-
SCHOLASTIC SCOPE SEPTEMBER 5, 2 0 0 5
POLICE OFFICER: Is this the boy?
OLIVER: It wasn't me, sir!
OFFICER (sarcastically): Of course it
wasn't. It never is.
NARRATOR 1: The officer escorts
Oliver to the police station, then
to the courthouse. Oliver stands
before a judge, Mr. Fang.
NARRATOR 2: Mr. Brownlow arrives.
He feels sympathy for Oliver.
MR. FANG: Stand up straight.
OLIVER: I feel sick, sir.
MR. BROWNLOW: The boy is ill.
FANG: Nonsense! Oliver, I sentence
you to three months of hard
labor.
NARRATOR 1: A door bursts open, and
the bookseller rushes in.
BOOKSELLER: Stop!
FANG: What now?
BOOKSELLER: This boy is innocent. A
different boy robbed me.
FANG: This boy is fi-ee to go. Next
case!
NARRATOR 2: Outside, Oliver faints.
BROWNLOW: Poor Oliver. I'll take care
of you.
NARRATOR 1: Mr. Brownlow takes
Oliver to his home.
Scene 4
NARRATOR 2: Back at Fagin's place.
Dodger is in trouble.
FAGIN: Where's Oliver? Answer me or
I'll throttle you!
DODGER: The coppers got him.
NARRATOR 1: Fagin hurls a metal
cup at Dodger. Dodger ducks
just as the door opens. The
cup almost hits Bill Sikes,
Nancy's boyfriend, who is a
m e n a c i n g thug.
BILL (angrily): Who threw that?
FAGIN: Bill, my dear. Come in.
NARRATOR 2: Bill's mean-looking
dog, Bull's-eye, follows him in.
S A Y I T ! throttle—THROT-uhl
PLAY POINT:
In Victorian times, the
punishment for stealing
was death. There is
no death penalty in
Britain today.
BILL: Get me a drink, Fagin. BROWNLOW: How do you
And don't poison it. feel, Oliver?
NARRATOR 1: Bill throws a canvas OLIVER: Very happy, sir—and very
bag on the table. Fagin greedily grateful to you.
opens it and takes out stolen BROWNLOW: Something about
jewelry that Bill's brought him your face told me you were
to sell. innocent. How did you get
BILL: What's this fighting about? mixed up with thieves?
DODGER: A new boy, Oliver. He got NARRATOR 2: Oliver explains.
copped. BROWNLOW: You can stay here as long
BILL (indifferently): So what? as you like. Don't let me down,
FAGIN: I'm afraid he'll say something and I won't let you down either.
and get us in trouble. OLIVER: You can trust me, sir.
BILL (grinning): You'll be hanged, BROWNLOW: I know it. Please take
Fagin—and about time. this money to the bookseller
FAGIN (slyiy): It would come out for me.
worse for you than for me, Bill. NARRATOR \: Oliver is proud to have
NARRATOR 2: Bill realizes that if Brownlow's trust. He happily
Fagin's caught, he'll be caught leaves on his errand.
too. He kicks Bull's-eye. NARRATOR 2: But he doesn't know
BILL: Let's bring this Oliver back. Bill has tracked him down!
Bill and Nancy are waiting for
Scene 5 him outside. Nancy spots Oliver
NARRATOR 1: Oliver wakes up the next and grabs him.
morning in a comfortable bed. NANCY (loudly): Oliver, dear! I've
NARRATOR 2: Mrs. Bedwin, Mr. found you!
Brownlow's housekeeper, touches OLIVER: Let me go!
Oliver's forehead. NARRATOR 1: People stop to look.
MRS. BEDWIN: Your fever's gone, PASSERBY: What's the matter?
dear. I'll get you breakfast. NANCY: He ran away from his mum.
There are new clothes for you OLIVER: I don't have a mother!
on the chair. BILL: You little liar!
NARRATOR 1: Oliver dresses and PASSERBY: How terrible to lie like
goes downstairs. that.
SCHOLASTIC SCOPE SEPTEMBER 5, 2005
 NARRATOR 2: Bull's-eye growls at
Oliver as Bill drags him to Fagin's.
Scene 6
FAGIN: Delighted to see you, Oliver!
BARRATOR 1: Dodger picks the money
out of Oliver's pocket. Fagin
snatches it.
BILL (grabbing the money): Hand it
over, you old skeleton.
OLIVER: No! That's Mr. Brownlow's
money! He'll think I've
stolen it.
AGIN (chuckling): Yes, he will.
What good timing.
•JARRATOR 2: Oliver runs out
the door.
LIVER: Help! Police!
iLL: Fetch him, Bull's-eye!
iARRATOR 1: Nancy shuts the
door and stands in front of it.
UNCY: No, Bill! That dog will tear
him to pieces!
ILL: It'll serve him right.
iARRATOR 2: Bill knocks Nancy
out of the way and chases
Oliver. Bull's-eye licks Nancy's ~
bruised face.
B
' ARRATOR t: Bill catches Oliver and
shoves him back inside.
AGIN: So, you wanted to run away,
dear, did you?
NARRATOR 2: Fagin gives Oliver a
sharp blow with a stick.
NANCY: Stop! Isn't it enough you're
teaching him to he a thief—just
like you taught me?
'ILL: Quiet, Nancy. You helped
bring him back.
NANCY: May God forgive me!
Scene 7
NARRATOR 1: When darkness falls,
Fagin takes Oliver's new clothes
and gives him rags to wear.
FAGIN: Was it nice in the fancy house?
8 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE SEPTEMBER 5, 2005
OLIVER r^M/er/yj: Yes. fire at the same time. Oliver is hit,
FAGIN: Did you see lots of pretty and so is Bill. Bill throws Oliver
things? over his shoulder and limps away
BILL: Let's go, Oliver. down a dark alley.
OLIVER: Where?
BILL: Never you mind. See this Scene 8
pistol? One word out of you and NARRATOR 2: Bill drops Oliver off at
I'll use it! Fagin's place and hobbles home.
NARRATOR 2: Oliver is terrified. Bill NARRATOR 1: The next day, Fagin
takes him through the dark visits Bill. Nancy is taking care
London streets. of him.
FAGIN: You look half-dead. Bill.
BILL: How's the boy?
FAGIN: Oliver? He'll live. But he
won't be running anywhere
for a bit.
BILL: As long as he's alive, we're
both as good as hanged.
FAGIN: What are you suggesting?
NARRATOR 2: Bill pulls Fagin
closer.
Fagin (above)
PLAY POINT: BILL (quietly): I'll take care
Do you recognize the
and the Artful of him.
actor playing Fagin? It's
Dodger <left)
Oscar winner Ben Kingsley. NARRATOR 1: Nancy gasps.
teach Oliver
He portrayed Indian
the ins and BILL (to Nancy): What's
outs of picking
leader Gandhi
in 1982. wrong with you?
pockets.
NANCY (forcing a smile):
NARRATOR 1: They arrive at Mr. Nothing, Bill.
Brownlow's house. Oliver guesses FAGIN: Such a shame. With a face like
what Bill has in mind. that he could have picked old
OLIVER: 1 can't rob Mr. Brownlow! ladies' pockets in church.
BILL: You will. Climb through the NARRATOR 2: Bill's bullet wound is
window and open the front door. infected. He feels feverish.
NARRATOR 2: Against his will, BILL (to Nancy): I'm burning up. Get
Oliver climbs through the me my medicine.
window, a lantern in hand. Bill NANCY: It's all gone. I'U go out
waits outside. for more.
NARRATOR t: Oliver drops the BILL: Fagin can get it.
lantern as he opens the front NANCY: No, 1 need some air.
door. The crash wakes Mr. BILL (irritated): Then stick your head
Brownlow. He runs downstairs out the window.
holding a pistol. NANCY: Please, Bill. Let me go!
NARRATOR 2: Bill opens the door, BILL: Stop, or I'll set Bull's-eye
pushing Oliver to the floor. on you.
OLIVER: Save me! NARRATOR 1: Nancy slumps in her
NARRATOR 1: Bill and Mr. Brownlow chair. Fagin is suspicious. He
S A Y I T ! suspicious—suh-SPISH-uhss
 quickly goes home and tells
Dodger to follow Nancy if she
leaves Bill's place.
NARRATOR 2: That night when Bill
falls asleep, Nancy sneaks out.
Scene 9
NARRATOR 1: Nancy goes to Mr.
Brownlow's house. Dodger
follows her.
NANCY (whispering): Mr. Brownlow?
BROWNLOW: Who are you?
NANCY: I have information about
Oliver.
BROWNLOW: Is he safe?
NANCY: Yes, but not for long.
BROWNLOW: Where is he?
NANCY: Fagin has him. Find Fagin
and you find the boy.
BROWNLOW (kindly): What can I do
for you?
NANCY: Nothing. I'm past all hope.
NARRATOR 2: Nancy walks slowly back
to Bill's place. Dodger races to
Fagin's and tells him everything.
NARRATOR 1: Bill is there. He hears
what Nancy has done. In a fit
of rage, Bill goes home and
kills her.
Scene 10
NARRATOR 2: Bill leaves the city
for a few days. When he comes
back, he sees posters everywhere
that read, "Wanted for Murder:
Bill Sikes."
NARRATOR 1: As night falls, Bill arrives
at Fagin's. Oliver and the other
boys look at him fearfully.
FAGIN: It's not safe for you here.
BILL: If it's safe for you, it's safe
for me.
NARRATOR 2: A dog barks outside.
BILL: It's Bull's-eye. Quick! Let him
in. Dodger.
NARRATOR 1: Dodger doesn't move.
He's horrified by Nancy's murder.
NARRATOR 2: They hear a voice from
the street.
PASSERBY: Hey. isn't that Bill Sikes's
dog, Bulls-eye? Bill must be near-
by! Call the police!
BILL: Do it, I say! Open the door!
DODGER (yelling): Don't come near
me, you monster!
NARRATOR 1: Dodger makes a
decision. He runs to the window.
DODGER: Bill Sikes is here! Break
down the door!
NARRATOR 2: BUI looks out the
window. A small crowd has
gathered, holding lanterns.
CROWD: That's him! Murderer!
OFFICER: Police! Open up!
NARRATOR 1: Bill climbs onto the roof.
He pulls Oliver after him.
FAGIN: No, Bill. He's our hostage!
BILL: Not ours, Fagin—mine!
NARRATOR 2: Brownlow's in the
crowd.
BROWNLOW: Its Oliver! Don't fire!
NARRATOR 1: Bill scrambles over the
rooftops, dragging Oliver. The
crowd watches from the street.
NARRATOR 2: Bill finds an old rope.
Mr. Brownlow and the
crowd chase after Oliver,
but is Oliver the thief?
Holding Oliver, he ties the rope
around himself and uses it to
swing to the next building.
NARRATOR 1: When Bill pulls the rope
off over his arms, it circles his
neck. Suddenly Bull's-eye barks.
Bill turns—and slips off the roof!
NARRATOR 2: The rope tightens
around his neck. Bill dies by
hanging—^just as he's always
feared.
NARRATOR 1: The police officer climbs
up a ladder. He wraps a blanket
around Oliver and takes him
down to Mr. Brownlow.
BROWNLOW: Oliver—you're safe!
NARRATOR 2: Fagin is arrested and
sent to jail. Mr. Brovmlow takes
Oliver back to his house.
NARRATOR 1: Later, Mr. Brownlow
adopts Oliver as his son. At last,
Oliver finds a home. •
The full version of this
5torY has many more
exciting adventures! Read
Charles Dickens's original
novel Oliver Twist to
learn the whole story.
^ PLAY POINT:
Many of Dickens's
stories, including
Oliver Twist, were first
published in serial form
in magazines.
SCHOUSTIC SCOPE SEPTEMBER