All Quotes

"[Eva takes a shot of the couple with Dodger perched between them. As she hands back the camera, the woman hands her a dollar. An entire dollar. Eva's jaw drops]"

"[And the money piles in. An hour later, Eva and Dodger are yet at it, and Eva's cap jingles with change and some bills. If this keeps up, they won't have to concern about a fashion for the rest of the weekend. This is becoming a lot of fun. Eva raises her voice and really gets into it]"

"Eva: Step right up and see the wonderful Caribbean pirate monkey! Pet him for a quarter, pictures for a buck, rub his head and get a farewell!"

"[Suddenly, a man in the crowd yells]"

"Man: My wallet's gone! Somebody stole my wallet!"

"[Eva's face falls as Dodger jumps straight into her arms. Of all the times for something like this to happen, right until she and Dodger are getting the hang of it]"

"[Everyone turns to look at the man who shouts]"

"Man: There's a pickpocket in the crowd!"

"[People begin searching their pockets and checking their purses]"

"Abigail: My earrings!"

"Amelia: My bracelet!"

"[Within seconds, the crowd has melted off. The festival is over. Yet carrying Dodger, Eva walks back to her bike, but sinks onto a nearby bench. She jingles her cap, which is loaded with money]"

"Eva: It's alright, we've had enough. You're brilliant, you know that? We made a fortune!"

"[Eva begins counting the money with raised eyebrows. It is even more than she has hoped to make––almost ten dollars in quarters and several single dollar bills. Then Dodger opens his furry paw to drop another bill in her cap. Eva's jaw drops]"

"Eva: Woah! Who gave you twenty bucks? They would have made a mistake! [She chortles and snaps the twenty] But that's not our fault, is it? Dodger, this is our lucky day! Let's go to the store and stock up on food. I'm starved!"

"[She straps Dodger back on the bike and rides to the nearby supermarket, praising her pet the whole road. After parking the bike outside, she carefully zips Dodger into the knapsack and enters the store. She walks up and down the aisles, putting orange juice, milk, syrup and a box of cereal in her shopping cart. The knapsack, now only half zipped, is twitching. Dodger is getting restless]"

"Eva: Stop it! They know my dad here."

"[She brings the cart up front, where a bored young cashier begins to ring up the items]"

"Cashier: Cash, check or credit card?"

"Eva: What? Just regular money."

"[As she hands him the twenty-dollar bill, Eva notices an older woman cashier at the next register staring at her. Thinking Dodger may be acting up, Eva shifts the knapsack around. She gets her grocery bag to change and hurries to the exit]"

"[But the woman cashier suddenly steps into her path]"

"Woman: Little girl, can I look into your backpack?"

"[That's all she needs]"

"Eva: No, why not?"

"[Now the other customers are staring. Eva begins to squirm]"

"[The woman cashier whispers to the guy who has rung up her items]"

"Woman: I know her dad. He has a charge account here. [Then she faces Eva directly] I just want to see what you've had in there."

"Eva: It's personal."

"Woman: Where's your dad?"

"Eva: He's at the stores across the street. Can I please go now?"

"[Eva takes a step toward the door, but then she sees more danger coming––the store manager]"

"Woman: I think this little girl has been shoplifting."

"[Eva's jaw drops]"

"Eva: I didn't steal anything!"

"Woman: Then why don't you want me to look in your sack?"

"[She has a point, Eva thinks. The bulging knapsack probably does look suspicious. But to think she'll shoplift. This is a hard situation, sure to get worse, and it makes her hesitant and frightened]"

"[As if sensing this, the store manager takes her aside and kneels to be on eye level with her. He puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder]"

"Store Manager: Look, darling, we all make mistakes. All I want you to do is walk up an aisle, and if there's anything in your backpack you forgot to pay for, just leave it there. If you do, I'll forget the entire nonsense."

"[Not knowing what else to do, Eva follows his orders. Shoulders stern, totally embarrassed, she walks down an aisle until she is out of everyone's sight and then stops in her tracks. Hurriedly, she sets the knapsack down]"

"Eva: Dodger, I have to leave you somewhere, then I'll––"

"[She breaks away in shock at what she sees. There is Dodger, dipping a stolen chicken drumstick into a stolen jar of peanut butter and taking a carefree bite]"

"[Her pet is a thief. Dodger has shoplifted these items behind her back, and now the store manager and the suspicious woman are staring at her from the end of the aisle. Her mouth open in shock, and feeling as if a ten-pound basketball has just smacked her in the stomach, Eva snatches the chicken and peanut butter out of Dodger's hands and zips up the knapsack. She places the stolen items back on the shelf. Wishing that the floor will open up and swallow her, she returns to the front of the store. Everyone is staring at her frustratingly––customers, cashiers, the kind-faced store manager. In tight-lipped silence, she grabs the groceries she's paid for and storms out of the store]"

"Eva: How could you do this to me? You made me a thief!"

"[Eva is in for another shock until she gets back to the condo. She is scolding Dodger, trying to make him understand how wrong stealing is]"

"Eva: Why did you have to do that? If they caught you, I'd have to get rid of you! Is that what you want?"

"[Dodger sits on the coffee table, hanging his head. Then he looks up and blows her a kiss]"

"[Eva stops pacing]"

"Eva: Don't you kiss up to me now! You have no idea what you did, do you?"

"[Dodger jumps off the table. He drags the knapsack over to Eva and begins fishing inside]"