All Quotes

"Tom: It's fine with me. [He winks at Eva] I have to take that guy in. See you later, bucko."

"[As soon as Tom has left, Eva turns to her mum]"

"Eva: Then whaddya say? Can I keep him? Can I?"

"[But before Amy can respond, Eva spots something that makes her heart sink. It is a boy about ten or eleven wearing a baseball cap, standing fifty yards aside among a tree. He is watching what is going on with a funny expression on his face]"

"[The pirate really does have a son. He hasn't been lying]"

"[And that boy probably loved Dodger as much as he does]"

"[Clutching the monkey, Eva walks super slowly toward the boy. As she is about ten yards afar, she stops. He hasn't said a word or moved a muscle the whole time]"

"[Tears fill Eva's eyes as she stares down at Dodger]"

"Eva: He's your daddy, isn't he?"

"[Dodger looks at the boy]"

"[Eva can barely speak]"

"Eva: I love him a lot, you know?"

"Boy: Who cares? He belongs to me."

"[Eva hesitates, dreading the horrible, heartbreaking moment of letting Dodger go. As she does, the boy reaches into his pocket and pulls something out]"

"[The boy kneels down and extends a cupped hand to Dodger. Eva can't see what he is holding]"

"[Charlie pulls out his wallet and hands it to Shorty. As Shorty takes it, Dodger jumps between the two men. He grabs the billfold and returns it to Charlie. Drake makes a hissing sound and grabs Shorty, but releases him until a grim-faced assistant comes out of the boss's office]"

"Assistant: He's ready for you guys."

"Drake: In a second."

"Assistant: Now, Drake! C'mon, Charlie."

"[Charlie follows the assistant into the office. A rather-looking Drake frowns back at Shorty. He points a don't-mess-with-me finger at him]"

"Drake: Don't move."

"[Drake enters the boss's office like a naughty boy having to visit the principal]"

"[Shorty doesn't need to be whacked over the head to know he is in danger. They all are, but him most of all. He grabs a wiggling Dodger and takes off. Now he has to beat feet to escape from the two goons. As he runs, he wonders what the girl has done to his monkey. He grinds his teeth, thinking of fashions to get even with the little brat if he ever finds her again]"

"[Eva silently slips in the front door of the Gregory apartment and then hesitates in the hall. Losing Dodger has hurt like crazy, and now she has to warn her mother and Tom everything. This is turning out to be the worst day of her life]"

"[Walking in slow motion, feeling her knees wobble, Eva heads for her parents' bedroom. She can hear them inside, speaking. From the sound of their conversation, they aren't turning cartwheels, either]"

"[Eva screws up her courage and opens the door. Her mum is sitting on the bed, her eyes red and swollen. A grim-faced Tom stands behind her]"

"Eva: Mum, I want to speak to you. I'm in such big danger..."

"Tom: You bet you are! [He holds out Eva's jewelry box, crammed to the top with jewelry, wallets, tie clips and money]"

"[Amy turns shocked eyes on Eva]"

"Amy: Tom found this in your room! Eva, how could you have done this? Why?"

"[Eva brings her hands to her face and sighs heavily. Dodger up to his old tricks again. If only she has known......]"

"Eva: I've never seen this stuff before, Mum. I didn't steal anything. It's my monkey. My monkey did it."

"[Tom stares at her]"

"Tom: Your monkey? What monkey?"

"Eva: He jumped down on me in the park one day! I've had him for over a month."

"Amy: What are you speaking about? We've never seen any monkey."

"Eva: Because I've been hiding him! And just the other day, I found out that he steals like a maniac! And today, I went to pick him up at the pet shop, and the pirate who trained him had taken him back! My poor Dodger....I was trying to make him stop stealing, but now..."

"[Eva breaks apart, afraid she'll start to weep. Tom and Amy don't say a word. Their shocked, disbelieving faces say it all]"

"[Tom is a police lieutenant. Perhaps he can get some officers to search the neighborhood for Dodger. Eva turns to him]"

"Eva: Tom, you have to help me find him!"

"[But her stepdad is frowning and shaking his head, no]"

"Tom: For heaven's sake, Eva, if you're going to make up a lie––"

"Eva: But it's the truth!"

"Amy: No! Absolutely not!"

"[Neither of them believes her, Eva realizes. Not Tom, who always listens to her side of the story, and not even her mum]"

"[Tom moves to the phone]"

"Tom: Alright, let's call the pet shop."

"Eva: No, wait! The stuff is, the man who's there now doesn't know about my monkey, because Annie had to leave after the pirate, and––"

"Amy: That's enough, just stop it! [She begins to weep] How could you steal from me?"

"[Eva can't get a word out. How can her mum think such a horrible fashion?]"