Oliver Twist: Episode 2
BBC Worldwide Learning
Sikes escapes back to London with a badly wounded Oliver. Nancy nurses him, determined to save his life. Mr. Bumble declares his love for Mrs. Corney and captivated by the promise of social advancement, she agrees to marry him. On her deathbed, Sally tells Mrs. Corney about the letter, the locket and Oliver’s mother. Mrs Corney recognizes the value of the items, and contacts Mr. Monks, who she feels sure will pay handsomely for information and evidence concerning the birth of Oliver Twist. Rose continues her search for Oliver, but is discovered by Monks, who immediately tells Brownlow of her secret mission. Brownlow deeply regrets having driven Rose’s sister Agnes and his own son Robert from the house ten years earlier, when he discovered their love affair and hopes one day to be reunited with them and their son. And though she too longs for a reunion, Rose’s immediate concern is for Oliver. Later Monks reveals his true colors to Rose, when he asks her to marry him, and threatens her with destitution should she refuse. Stumbling on a secret meeting between Monks and Fagin, Nancy is horrified to overhear Monks telling Fagin that he wants Oliver dead in two days, or he will do it himself. She goes home, wondering what she can do to save the boy. Sikes is suspicious and threatens to kill her if she ever betrays him. Monks travels to the workhouse. Despite Corney and Bumble’s attempts to extort money from him, Monks quickly gets the upper hand and leaves with the necklace, letter and a page of the register recording Oliver’s birth. Under Nancy’s tender care, Oliver is regaining strength, but still terrified for him, she promises that she will get him back to the safety of the Brownlows’. She arranges a secret night-time meeting with Rose and Brownlow, where she tells them of the danger to Oliver, and of the man who wants him dead – a man who fits perfectly the description of Brownlow’s grandson. Dodger meanwhile has followed Nancy, and runs back to tell Fagin of her betrayal. When he realizes that Sikes has also heard his shocking news, he knows that he has put Nancy in grave danger. Rose finally understands that Oliver must be her sister Agnes’s child and Brownlow’s grandson. She begs Brownlow to go and rescue Oliver and though he still finds it impossible to believe his grandson can be this evil man Monks, he reluctantly agrees. Sikes arrives home to find Nancy nervously waiting for him. Just as he promised, he kills her for her betrayal. He then runs to Fagin’s, where he snatches Oliver, and escapes to the country. The distraught Dodger arrives at Nancy’s too late, finding only her broken body. Meanwhile, Sikes goes on the run with Oliver, whom he thinks will be his protection. But his journey is haunted by the ghost of Nancy. Tormented by what he has done, he turns back to London in order to escape her. Brownlow and the police search Fagin’s den. There is no sign of Oliver and Fagin is arrested. Dodger goes to see him in jail, where his old mentor begs him to find Oliver, who might speak for him. Monks returns to London, satisfied that, now he has the evidence of Oliver’s birth, no one can prove that the boy is Brownlow’s other grandson, and heir to half his fortune. But when he arrives home, he finds Brownlow, Rose and the police waiting for him. They discover the locket and letter, the final proof of Monks’s betrayal and of Oliver’s birth. Brownlow banishes Monks, and cuts him out of his inheritance. Though he knows now that Agnes is dead, Brownlow vows to find his long lost grandson, Oliver. Back in London, Sikes is still running from Nancy’s ghost. Oliver manages to get away from Sikes, and pursued by an angry mob, Sikes descends into the sewers. But Nancy haunts him even there, and finally Sikes can run no more, and takes his own life. Fagin is sentenced to death and Dodger watches in horror as he mounts the gallows. As Fagin is hanged, Dodger retreats into the crowds accompanied by Bullseye. He stalks off, a young Bill Sikes in the making. Oliver runs to Brownlow’s, where he is at last reunited with his family.