Wlnttv Honlron Dramatization of Oliver Twist In One Act By Geo. M. Rosener PRICE, 25c WETZEL, ROSENER, & JAMES 1402 BROADWAY NEW YORK IMP96-007111 'CI,D 31829 Under London by Geo. M. Eosener. ^ X Draiiiatizatiou of ''Oliver Twist" in One Act. (Coi)uright MCMXIIJ NOTICE — The acting rights of this play are re- served. This applies to amateurs as well as as i^ro- fessionals. Letters to be addressed to the sole own- ers, Wetzel, Rosener & James, Eoom 230, 1402 Broad- way, N. Y. City. CHARACTERS: BILL SYKES. NANCY SYKES. FAGIN. MR. BROWNLOW. BETSY. OLIVER TWIST. MR. GRIMWIG. SCENE — Garret in the Slums of London. DESCRIPTION OF GARRET— House tops; tvindow, door, door, table, door, chair, hed, barrel, chair, table and chairs. A deep toned hell chimes the hour of ten. Slow cur- tain; tohen curtain is up various toned hells in different parts of the city take up the striking of the hour until all the air is filled with their music. 2 UNDER LONDON NANCE — (Discovered on the hed, asleep. She aivak- ens with a start) Who's there? Ten o'- clock by the bells. Oi've been asleep these three hoars, (There is a knock at D. I. F. Nance is startled and looks ahout to see that she is alone; site nnhars door. Brown- loic enters.) You, sir? Yon shouldn't 'are come here sir. It ain't safe fer neither yon nor me. BEOWNLO^V — And do you really live in this wretch- ed place? Nx\NCE — This and the like o' this is the only 'ome Oi've ever known. BROWNLOW— Why do you look about you so? Is there some one here whom you fear? NANCE — It's not that sir; only if you, a fine g-en- tleman was found here talking- to me, they'd • say I was sellin' them to the police and Oi'd pay for it with my life. BKOWNLOW— Why not tell me where these thieves congregate, so that I might notify the po- lice? You may then come to my home where you will be safe from all harm. NANCE— Ah, no, sir. If the others was took. Bill would be took with them; Oi'll save little Oliver from becom.ing a thief, but that's all sir. Oi'll help the boy to escape from here so that Oi might have one g-ood deed to my credit in Heaven. BL'OWNLOW— Where is Oliver now? NANCE — (Indicating Room R.) In that room asleep. BROWNtLOW— Why not let me take the boy away now? NANCE — If that boy should escape while Oi was here alone they could place the blame on me alone. Oi must wait imtil some of the others are here and then fina a way to turn the boy loose. BROWNLOW — How shall I know when you have succeeded? NANCE — Between now and midnight walk on the UNDER LONDON 3 bridg-e, Oi shall find a way of seeing you there. I3R0WNL0W — I will do as you wish. And now mj' good girl is there nothing I can do for you? Cannot you see that sooner or later this Bill Sykes will go down to destruction, and then do you think that 3'our love for him will save him, or prevent you from going the same way ? NANCE — When ladies good and beautiful who have a 'ome and kind friends, will do anj'thing for the man they love, then when snch as Oi who have no certain roof but the coffin lid and friends in sickness or death, but the hospital nurse, sets our rotten hearts on a man, who can blame us? BROWNLOW — If I should try to save this man you ilove, would he listen to me? NANCE— ^i don't know sir ; Oi'll ask him sometime when he is in the humor. BEOWNLOW — I hope you will succeed. Can I expect the boy to-night? NANCE— To-night little Oliver will be free from this den of thieves and sleep beneath the roof of his friends and some day sir, Oi hope you will tell him of poor Nancy w^ho loved him for her dead brother's sake and saved him from a life that is far worse than death. BROWNLOW— It shall be as you wish. (Offers her a inirse.) Will you take this? NANCE — Not a penny sir ! BROWNLOW — It is but a small recompense for this great service you have done me. I wush to serve you, indeed I do. NANCE — You could serve me best, by taking me from this place and taking my life at once, Oi have felt more grief to think of what Oi am, tonight, than Oi ever did before and it would be something not to die in the Hell in which Oi've lived so long. God bless you sir, and may He bring as much happiness 4 UNDER LONDON on your head as Oi've brought shame on mine. BKOWNLOW— God bless you my girl. Good night. (Starts for D I. F.) NANCE — Hark ! There is a step on the stairs below. Go this way sir, and down the back stairs. IIHOWNLOW— I will await you at the bridge. (Exits D. D. L.) NANCE — Can it he? (Listens) No that is a stranger's step. (Goes to D. I. L., icith candle) Be careful of the steps whoever j^ou are. There ain't much light. GllIMWIG— rOj^ stage) Light, light. It's dark. It's damn dark. It's as dark as five thousand black cats or I'll eat my head. (Enters D. I. F.) Phew, I say phew ! Uo you live here? eh? NANCE— Yes sir. GIUMWIG — Was there a gentleman here a mo- ment ago, a white haired gentleman, my friend Brownlow — don't lie to me, I know he was here, I saw him enter this house or I'll eat mv head. NANCE— What sir? GEIMWIG — I said that I would eat my head, and I'll eat yours also if you say two words to me. NANCE — What is it you wish sir? GRIMWIG — I want my friend Brownlow. I saw him enter here. W^hat have you done with him, eh? What have you done with him, have you eaten him? Bah ! He came here in search of that confounded relation of his, Oliver Twist I can't see why he wants to save that boy from becoming a thief ; all boys are thieves and if Brownlow rescues this Oliver from these kidnapjDers, when he grows to be a man, he will cut all our throats as we live a beau some night. He will or I'll eat my head. NANCE — Mr. Brownlow has gone sir. Won't you UNDER LONDON 5 please go? GEi:\IWIG— My friend Brownlow is a fool, I'm a fool, you're a fool. Why doesn't Brown- low notify the police? They're a pretty parcel of fools, and then we could all be a set of comfortable fools together. NANCE — Won't you please go sir? GKIMWIG — I suppose this is 'a den of thieves like we read in the papers? I don't believe there is such a place in London Lies, lies ! All lies or I'll eat my head. How do I get out of here? NANCE— rA^ D. D. L) This way, sir. GIiI^NIWIG — Thank j'ou, here's some money. NANCE— Thank you, but I— GEIMWIG — Don't you say you don't want it, be- cause you do. You do, oi* I'll eat my head. Is this the way out? NANCE— Yes, sir. (With candle) Oi'll light you down the stairs. (Grimtcig throtvs money on the table and exits D. D. L. Nancy stands in door way talking ad. lib., until Grinncig is well off). FAGIN — (Enters D. I. L.) Good evening, my dear. (Nance turns quickly) Vos you talking to some von? NANCE — Yes, I was talking to myself. (Picks up money from the table without Fagin see- ing her. Takes a long drink from bottle and rocks herself back and forth as she sits R. of table.) FAGIN — And vere vould you say Bill vos now my dear? NANCE — He should be 'ome by now. For three weeks the fever has had him and wrecked his body. Poor Bill. FAGIN— Too bad, too bad. And little Oliver, have you got him safe my dear? NANCE — Aye, safe enough. FAGIN — That's right my dear, keep him so ; ve shall get money ven vonce ve have made 6 UNDER LONDON him a thief. NANCE — Why do you wish to see that boy a thief? FAGIN — A certain man died and left a will. In dis vill little Oliver's name was mentioned, but if he should turn out bad, he vos to get not a shilling" and the whole fortune vos to go to another gentleman ; now this gentleman vill pay us good money if ve take care that de boy turns out bad. (Nancy leans over ta- J)lc deeply interested) This gentleman who's name is — NANCE— Well, what's the rest of it? FAGIN — The rest of it is my pisuess my dear, only ve must make de boy a thief. NANCE — Before that day comes I 'opes to see the boy's young bones a rottin' in some way- side ditch. FAGIN— Vot? NANCE — Aye, Oi do Fagin, Oi should be glad to have the boy away from my eyes and know the worst is over. Oi can't bear to have him about me, the sight of his childish face turns me again meself and all of you. (Fagin looks at her sharply, Nance catches his eye and realizing that she has said too much she pretends to stagger as if intom- cated.) FAGIN— You're drunk. NANCE — Am 01? It ain't no fault of yours if Oi ain't ; you'd never have me anything else if you had your way. FAGIN — Listen to me you drab, I tell you plain- ly I don't trust the boy in your hands? NANCE— Well? FAGIN — Yell? When the boy is worth a hundred pounds to me am I to lose it because a vo- man gets chicken hearted or through a drunken gang that I could vid six words send to de gallows? (Fagin has toorked him- self into a rage and it note heing his turn to realize that he has said too much He im- UNDER LONDOy 7 )nc(liatclij calms doion.) CANCE— What's all this? ^AGIN — Nothing-, nothing my dear. I vos only try- ing to frighten you. I ani a little cross my dear. This damp weather has got into my bones. I vill get something at the corner to varm me vith. I shall look in again. Give my respects to Bill, my dear, and take good care of yonr precious self. (At D. I. F., as if to himself) She is up to some mis- chief. I vill vatch her. (To Nancy) Good night, my dear. (Exits D. I. F.) s^ANCE — I \Yonder if he suspects? I must lay my plans at once. (She takes a revolver from under the barrel, goes to D. U. B. and calls softly) Oliver! )IA\FJR— (Enters D. U. R.) Yes, Nancy. L\NCE — When Bill comes home I shall see that he goes to sleep. You must then come out and escape by yonder window, hide behind the last shimnet pot. Oi will tell your friends where you are. Do you understand? HJVER— Yes, Nancy. [ANCE — (Gives him revolver) Now take this and hide it beneath your jacket and if Fagin 'tries to stop you, use it, you know how? iLIVER — I think so, Nancy. lANCE — Hark ! Some one is coming. Go. aAyEIl—(Ej-its D. U. R.) )OJ}G^^~-^( Enters D. I. L.) 'Ello, Nancy, my hie wot's ailin' you? rANCE — Oi ain't ailin'. What's the reason you ask? )ODGEE — Your face is as white as a mile stone and as long as a water butt. lANCY — Ain't nothing the matter with me. (Exits D. U. L.) >ODGER — Blow my hies but she's hall done hup. Poor girl, three watchin' along o' Bill's fever has done for her. lETSY — (Off stage) Hi some one show a light or Hi'm hall hat sea. 8 UXDER LONDOy DODGEE — Here comes that pretty creetur Betsy. Oh, she's a precious bundle o' beauty, she is. BETSY — (Enters D. I. F.) Is there anyone at 'ome? DODGER — Xo one except the Lord Mayor o' Lon- don. (Puts his thumbs into the arm i^its of his coat.) BETSY— My hie, hif hit hain't the hartful Dodger. Hain't it the hartful that Hi sees? DOBGEFt— (Sniffs in contempt.) BETSY — Ho, ho. Dodger you will be the undoin' of me, that you will. (Laughs loundcr than ever.) DODGEE — Don't you just wig-gle so much my girl or you'll come undone afor you knows it. BETSY — Now hain't that clever. Hi allers says, says Hi, for a witty remark, or a comic song, says Hi, give me the hartful Dodger. DODGEE — Hi says me girl, what are you arter? BP]TSY — Hi just dropped hin to see what was hin the wind. DODGEE— Eh? What do you mean by that? BETSY — Hit's the jew. As Hi came by a moment ago Hi saw him bitin his finger nails and a lookin' somethin' dreadful. Hi knows 'im too long not to know when 'e is hup to mischief. DODGEE- -'Es hup to do Nancy a mischief, that's hit, mark my words Betsy, hif 'e or any of the others does the girl a 'arm, Hi'll give them hup to the police, so 'elp me. BETSY — Hi've got enough blunt for you and me to 'ave a pot o' porter, we'll get them at the pub and then we'll come back and see that no 'arm comes to Nancv. DODGEE— That we will. Sh, (Looks Toivard D. D. L.J My life, that's the bold fence now a creepin hup the back stairs. Hi can tell im by the weezin' o' his breath. (They exit D. I. F.) OLIVEE — (Comes creeping on from D. U. RJ FAGIN — (Enters D. D. L.) Veil, vere are you go- UNDER LONDON 9 ing? OLIVER — I was a looking' for my cap sir. FAGIN — Your cap, eh? You vos trying to run away. OLIVER— No sir, honest. FAGIN — I'll teach you to lie to me. (He picks up a ipiece of tvood and starts for Oliver who runs off D. U. L.) OLIVER— Nancy ! Nancy ! FAGIN — '(Attempts to foUoio Oliver. Nancy conies from D. U. L.) I'll teach you; I'll teach you! NANCE— Well? FAGIN — Stand aside. I want to see the boy. NANCE — ^You don't lay a hand on him Fagie, aye, not a finger. You made him a liar and a devil and all that's bad. Ain't that enough without blows? FAGIN — Just as you say my dear, yiA'SC^— (Throws herself in chair L. of tahle) Then let it be so. FAGIN — Vot's the matter, are you ill my dear? NANCE — No, I was just thinking. FAGIN— Tinking? Tinking about vot? NANCE— About me soul. FAGIN — So you are tinking on souls to-night? NANCE — Yes. Do you ever think of yours? FAGIN — Sometimes I tink on von ting — sometimes on a nudder. NANCE— Sometime you will think of your soul. FAGIN — And ven vill dot be, Nancy my dear? NANCY — When? When you stand on the gallows and the black cap is drawn over your head ; then you'll think of your soul and of me fer havin' told you of it. (Fagin holds the candle before her eyes) Well, what are you staring at? FAGIN — I vos tinkin' of a dream I had last night. NANCE— Well? FAGIN — I dreamed you vent to London Bridge. ('Nance starts) I dreamed dot you meet peo- ple there and dot \o\\ betray us all to the police. 10 UNDER LONDON NANCE — (In dvaflhj fear. Laughs JiijstcricaUjj.) FAGIN — You are cleverer dan ever. You are acting beautifully, my dear. NANCE — ^Am I? Then look out oi don't over do it. You'll be the worse for it if Oi do, Fagie, and so oi'ni tellin' you. FAGIN — Suppose I tell Bill dot you betray us to the police? NANCE— But Oi haven't; 'ave I? FAGIN — But suppose I tell him dot you have. Vot den? NANCE— Yot then? Yot then? Then Oi'd put a mark upon you, Fagie, that would send me to the gallows afore my time. FAGIN — Keep off, Nance, or I vill do you mischief vorse dan dot. Civil vords, Nance. Ye must have civil vords. NANCE— Civil vords! Civil vords, you old villin ! Do you deserve them from me? Whj', Oi thieved fer you when Oi wasn't 'alf as old as Oliver, and Oi've been in the same trade, in the same service, these ten long years. Don't 5^ou know it? Speak out! Don't you know it? FAGIN — Yell, vot if you have? It's been j^our livin' ; ai'nt it? NANCE — Aye, it has been my livin'. And the cold, wet, dirty streets has been my home, and you're the w retch that sent me there, and w ill keep me there, day and night, night and day, until I die. Until I die. (Exits D. IL, icecp- ing hysterically.) FAGIN — If I vos only sure dot she vould meet de boy's people on de bridge, I vould have some- thing to vork on. I could den tell Bill dot she betraj^s us to the police. I hate her. I hate her more every day. Yate ; Bill vill fix her. He shall hear about this. Bill vill fix her. Bill vill fix her. (Exits D. I. F.) ^ANCF,--{( Enters D. R.) He's gone; thank Heaven. UNDER LONDON 11 Oh, if this night was only over. He knows that Oi'm going* to help the boy to escape ; I can feel it in my bones. Hark ! There's Bill now ! (Cals off D. V. L.) Oliver. Oliver, my >- boy. Bill is coming. Look sharp. BILL — (Throws open the D. I. F. He is weak from the fever.) NANCE — Ah, Bill, j^ou 'ave come home? BILL— Wot time is hit? NANCE — It's turned ten this half hour. How do you feel to-nig'ht? BILL — As weak as water. 'Ere, lend a hand and get me to that bed. 'NA'NCE~( Helping Bill) Yes, Bill. Come on, BILL — (Roughly) Go easy, Hi tells yer. ^ANC^—(Hurt) Yes, Bill. BILL — Don't stand there snivilin'. Hif you can't do better than that cut hoff altogether or Hi'U see that you do. NANCE — You don't mean to say that you'd be hard on me to-night. Bill? BILL— No? Why not? NANCE — ^Such a number o' nights as Oi've been pa- tient with you, a-nursing of you and a-caring of you if you was a child ; and this the first Oi've seen you like yourself; you wouldn't have served me as you did just now if you had thought of that. Vould you? Come, Bill, say you vouldn't. BILL — Veil, then, Hi wouldn't Why, damme, now the girl's whinin' again. NANCE — Don't mind me, Bill ; it will soon be over. BILL — (Suspiciously) Wot will soon be over? Wot are you up to now? Don't come over me with any of your w Oman's nonsense. 'Ere, give me a drink. (Bill is on hed.) NANCE (Pours out a cupful of liquor and drugs it) Here you are. Bill. BILL — (Takes a drink and spits it out) Bah! Wot's 12 UNDER LONDON the matter with the stuff? NANCE— What— what is the matter with it, Bill. BILL — Why, burn my body, you look like a corpse. Wot's the matter? 'Ere; w^ot is it? NANCE— Why, nothing, Bill. BILL — Why, wot are you up to? Wot are \^ou thinkin' of? NANCE— Of many things. Bill. But, Lor', what odds is that?' BILL — Hi'll tell you wot it is. Hif you ai'nt caught the fever, you've got it comin' hon, or there's something dangeroiis in the wind. You're not a goin' — to — to — to^ — NANCE— Not a' goin' to what. Bill? BILL — (DrinlxS the liquor) You're not a goin' to be- tray — No — damme you wouldn't do that — she's got the fever comin' on ; that's what it is — you wouldn't do that — no — no — you — you — (Falls haclc asleep). NANCE— rCf/77.lace off D. U. L.) BILL — (Enters and hars the door) Stay in there with her, vou 3'oung 'ell 'ound. VOICES— /Are heard off stage). BILL— (Bars D. I. F.J VOICES — Open; open, in the name of the King. BILL — Ha, hi ai'nt to be took so eas3^ VOICES — (Continue to call and hammer on the doors.) BILL — The window. Hi'll get away by that. (He creeps along the wall. He mounts a chair and is ahout to get through the tvindow. A shot is heard. Bill falls. Oliver appears at the window ivith a smoking pistol in his hand. (The Curtain.) r PRINT OF J. B. SHUFELDT & CO. BRONX, NEW YORK CITY DEC '81 Wt PiikliqVi^fl One Act Dl^w^l^i.- 1 UUllbllt^a __ ^jg^^j^Y OF CONGRESS PRICE, 2J No. 016 103 829 5* 18 The Mining Agent — . 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