Oliver

1830’s in the workhouse. Oliver is bullied by the half-starved orphan boys into asking for more. Mr Bumble, the heartless workhouse beadle, flabbergasted by Oliver’s behaviour sells Oliver to Mr Sowerbeny the local undendertaker. The next morning Noah Claypole, Sowerberry’s other apprentice, insults Oliver’s dead mother. A fight ensues and Oliver is locked in a coffin while Bumble is summoned. Oliver is let our but during a commotion Oliver escapes.

He runs to London where he meets Dodger, a boy pickpocket who offers Oliver shelter with a gang run by Fagin, a career petty criminal teaching young boys to pick pockets. Oliver is unaware of the criminality and believes that the boys make handkerchiefs and wallets rather than steal them. The next day Oliver meets Nancy, the live-in girlfriend of the terrifying Bill Sykes, a burglar whose abuse she endures because she loves him. Oliver is sent out with the other boys on his first pickpocketing job. Oliver is bullied into picking the pocket of a wealthy old gentleman, a Mr. Brownlow. After a chase Oliver is arrested for the crime. However, Mr Brownlow takes pity on Oliver, drops the charges and takes him back to his home.

Dodger tells Fagin about Oliver’s capture. Fagin and Bill Sykes decide to kidnap Oliver to protect themselves. Nancy at first refuses to help, but Bill physically abuses her and forces her into obedience. The next morning Oliver is sent to return some books to the library. Nancy and Bill appear and grab Oliver. They take him back to Fagin’s den where Nancy saves Oliver from a beating from Sykes. Nancy remorsefully reviews their dreadful life, but Bill maintains that any living is better than none. Fagin tries to act as an intermediary. Left alone, Fagin wonders what his life might be like if he left London and began an honest life. However, after thinking of various excuses, he elects to remain a thief.

Back at the workhouse, Mr. Bumble and Widow Comey, now happily married, meet the dying pauper Old Sally who tells them about Oliver’s mother and a legacy gold locket. Realizing that Oliver may have wealthy relatives Bumble and Comey visit Mr Brownlow, hoping to profit from any reward about Oliver’s whereabouts. He throws them out but recognizes the picture inside the locket as his niece and realizes Oliver is actually his great nephew!

Nancy visits Brownlow and promises to deliver Oliver to him safely that night on London Bridge. Suspecting that Nancy is up to something, Bill Sykes follows her. At London Bridge, Bill grabs Oliver and murders Nancy. Mr. Brownlow arrives and discovers Nancy’s body. A large crowd forms. Bill is spotted at the top of the bridge holding Oliver as hostage. Two policemen sneak up on him. One of them shoots Bill. Oliver is reunited with Mr. Brownlow. The mob disperses offstage in order to track down Fagin. However Fagin
appears and decides that the time has never looked better for him to straighten out his life.