Script

SIDE 1

JACK

How much do we owe you?

CARRIAGE DRIVER

One shilling, if you please, sir.

JACK

(whispering to ANNIE as he pulls out coins)

How much is a shilling?

ANNIE

I don't know, but it has to be more than a tuppence. Give him one of the big ones.

(JACK selects the largest coin he has and hands it to the CARRIAGE DRIVER.)

JACK

I hope this is enough.

(CARRIAGE DRIVER looks at the coin, amazed.)

CARRIAGE DRIVER

Why, good heavens, I should say it is! I thank you, gentlemen. My wee children thank you! All the good, hardworking people of the world thank you! Shall I come to pick you up later?

JACK

Sorry, but we don't know how long we'll be here.

CARRIAGE DRIVER

Well, perhaps I'll pass this way now and again and if I see you, I shall certainly stop. I'm always pleased to carry such fine gentlemen! Good day, good day, sirs! And again I bid you, good day!!

(CARRIAGE DRIVER tips his hat and clatters off in his carriage.)

JACK

He was nuts.

ANNIE

I think that coin must have been a lot more than a shilling.

(ANNIE jangles a bell hanging from the gate.)

Nice place. It looks like Charles Dickens has already given his gifts to the world.

JACK

Yeah, and gotten some back. So I wonder what his problem is?

SIDE 2

COLIN

Ah, Harry, we ain't even swept our first chimney today and me neck is already crick'd, and me back is already crooked. Maybe we should look for another profession?

HARRY

Colin, our pa was a chimney sweep, our grandpa was a chimney sweep, and his pa before him was a chimney sweep. I reckon you'll sweep chimneys and like it.

(COLIN heaves a sigh, and HARRY and he head toward the house. They see JACK and ANNIE standing in front of the bell.)

COLIN

'Scuse us, gents. We was just needin' to ring the bell.

JACK

Oh, sure. But the housekeeper's not letting anyone in today. That's why we're leaving.

HARRY

She'll let us in. We've come to sweep the chimneys.

ANNIE

Really? She'll let you into the house?

(to COLIN and HARRY)

Hold on!

(to JACK)

I've got another idea-

JACK

No you don't. See you, guys. Bye.

ANNIE

(to COLIN and HARRY)

Wait! Don't ring the bell yet! Would you be interested in trading places with us for awhile?

JACK

Annie!

ANNIE

SHH!

HARRY

Trade places? Why? What's yer meanin'?

JACK

Actually...

COLIN

Yeah, why would anybody in their right mind want to be a chimney sweep?

SIDE 3

MR. DICKENS

You see there? Over near the river? There was once a shoe polish factory there. It was a rickety old building, filled with river rats. I went to work there when I was twelve.

(The ORPHANS all become factory workers, laboring in slow motion to create a factory tableau.)

Eleven hours a day, six days a week, I sat at a table, pasting labels onto shoe polish pots-

JACK

You were only twelve?

MR. DICKENS

Yes. And I lived alone.

ANNIE

Were you an orphan?

MR. DICKENS

No. I had parents. My father was a good man, but as hard as he worked, he still couldn't pay his bills. So he was sent to a debtors' prison across the river. My mother went there to live with him.

JACK

Wait a minute. You mean your dad was sent to prison because he couldn't pay his bills?

MR. DICKENS

Yes.

JACK

That doesn't make sense. How could he earn the money to pay his bills if he was in prison?

MR. DICKENS

That is a very good question.

ANNIE

But at least things are different for you now. You're a famous writer. That should make you feel better.

MR. DICKENS

How? How can that make me feel better? What is writing? Just ink on a page.

ANNIE

Ink on a page?

MR. DICKENS

Yes! Don't you see? Writing isn't food for the hungry. It's not medicine for the sick. Perhaps - perhaps I should give up my writing altogether.

ANNIE

Oh, no. You can't do that.

MR. DICKENS

It seems so foolish and vain!

JACK

But-

MR. DICKENS

(an epiphany)

No! I have decided: I shall write no more! Be kind, children,
 and leave me now. I need to be alone.

SIDE 4

MRS. TIBBS

Yesssss?

JACK

(putting on a formal tone)

Ah, good day, madam. We've come to call on Charles Dickens.

MRS. TIBBS

Indeed. And who are you?

ANNIE

We're Jack and An-

JACK

Andrew!

ANNIE

Right!

(lowering her voice)

Right. We're Jack and Andrew from Frog Creek. And who are

you?

MRS. TIBBS

I? Why, I am Mrs. Tibbs, housekeeper for Mister Charles Dickens! And it is my sad but deliberate duty to inform you that Mister Charles Dickens will be seeing no visitors today. No callers of any kind.

ANNIE

But we've traveled so far, Mrs. Tibbs-

MRS. TIBBS

Young man, I am afraid that right now Mister Dickens needs every minute he can spare for his writing. Surely you know how important Mister Dickens' work is.

ANNIE

Yes, ma'am, surely we do.

JACK

Yes, surely... but...

MRS. TIBBS

I am terribly sorry, young gentlemen. It grieves me so to turn you away, but, I must. And I pray that you will bear no grudge against Mister Charles Dickens.

SIDE 5

OLIVE

That's him, Officer, right over there!

POLICEMAN

I'll take that bag, boy.

JACK

But it's mine, sir!

EMMA

It isn't. It belonged to our dear departed father.

JACK

No, it didn't.


OLIVE

Take him to jail, Officer.

ANNIE

But, sir, it really is our bag. Those two kids stole it from us and my brother just grabbed it back and-

POLICEMAN

You can make your case to the Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard! Step aside! Let us through!

(The POLICEMAN marches JACK and ANNIE off to

Scotland Yard, followed by the CROWD.)

This way!

(MR. DICKENS enters. ANNIE sees him.)

ANNIE

Jack, look!

JACK

Mister Dickens!

ANNIE

Hello! Hello! It's us! Remember us?

(MR. DICKENS sees her.)

POLICEMAN

Button up, boy!

ANNIE

It's us! The chimney sweeps in your study, remember?

(MR. DICKENS starts towards ANNIE, pushing his way through the CROWD.)

POLICEMAN

I said button it!