Script Olivia Junior.pdf - Musicline

Olivia 

Junior Script 

by 

Malcolm Sircom 

8/190214/3 ISBN: 978 1 84237 093 3

Published by 

Musicline Publications 

P.O. Box 15632 

Tamworth 

Staffordshire 

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All Rights Strictly Reserved.

Olivia (Junior) – Script 1 

CONTENTS 

Cast List ............................................................................................................................... 2 

Speaking Roles By Number Of Lines ................................................................................ 4 

Cast List In Alphabetical Order (With Line Count) ........................................................... 5 

List Of Characters In Each Scene ...................................................................................... 6 

List Of Properties ................................................................................................................ 7 

Production Notes ................................................................................................................. 9 

Scene One: Mrs. Murdstone’s Orphanage For Girls ........................................... 12 

Track 1: 

Orphans ........................................................................................... 12 

Track 2: 

Slop! ................................................................................................ 17 

Track 3: 

Orphans (Reprise) ........................................................................... 20 

Scene Two: A Country Lane ................................................................................ 21 

Track 4: 

Happiness Somewhere ................................................................... 21 

Scene Three: Covent Garden, London .................................................................. 23 

Track 5: 

London ............................................................................................. 23 

Track 6: 

I Want To Be A Lady ....................................................................... 25 

Track 7: 

Good Times ..................................................................................... 29 

Track 8: 

Let’s Go To The Opera .................................................................... 34 

Scene Four: Mrs. Dilber’s Poor School For Girls ................................................. 36 

Track 9: 

If There’s A Star ............................................................................... 38 

Track 10: 

That’s Life! ....................................................................................... 40 

Scene Five: Covent Garden ................................................................................ 41 

Track 11: 

The Charity Rag .............................................................................. 43 

Scene Six: 

Sherlock Holmes’s Study ................................................................. 47 

Track 12: 

Who Am I? ....................................................................................... 49 

Scene Seven: The Savoy Theatre (On Stage) ....................................................... 50 

Track 13: 

Here Comes The Judge .................................................................. 50 

Track 14: 

The Criminal’s Song ........................................................................ 51 

Track 15: 

The Convict’s Child .......................................................................... 52 

Track 16: 

The Criminal’s Song (Reprise) ........................................................ 53 

Scene Eight: Covent Garden ................................................................................ 54 

Track 17: 

If There’s A Star (Reprise)............................................................... 56 

Track 18: 

Olivia (Finale) .................................................................................. 59 

Photocopiable Lyrics ........................................................................................................ 61 

© Musicline Publications Ltd.

2 Olivia (Junior) – Script 

CAST LIST 

N.B. In the following list, the bracketed number shows the number of spoken lines 

each role has. 

An asterisk (*) before the character’s name indicates that this character ALSO has 

solo or featured sung lines. 

FEMALE 

* Olivia (138) An orphan girl, 10-12 years old [who is also The Daughter 

in “Trial By Judge”] 

* Mrs. Murdstone (45) A cruel, tyrannical middle-aged Harridan in charge of an 

Orphanage 

* Eliza Doolittle (106) Leader of the group of flower-sellers 

* Annie (50) Well-spoken flower-seller 

Queenie (34) A flower-seller 

Doris (29) A flower-seller 

Flo (28) A flower-seller 

* Mrs. Dilber (44) Middle-aged owner of a Poor School, as nice as 

Mrs.Murdstone is nasty 

Mrs. Hudson (3) Sherlock Holmes’ housekeeper 

* Emily (4) A poor school girl 

* Charlotte (3) A poor school girl 

Girl 1 (10) A poor school girl 




Orphan 1 (20) A poor school girl 




Placard Girl (1) A poor school girl 

* The Fat Lady (0) Opera singer 

Plus:- Chorus of Londoners & Opera-Goers, and Chorus in “Trial By Judge”. Feel 

free to augment the groups of Girls and Orphans too. 



MALE 

Dicken (35) Handyman at the orphanage, not the brightest knife in the 

drawer, but kindly 

Ebenezer Scrooge (17) 

George Bernard Shaw (34) 

* Fagin (62) [Who can also be The Judge in “Trial By Judge”] 

* The Artful Dodger (42) [Who is also The Criminal in “Trial By Judge”] 

Lamplighter (3) 

Sherlock Holmes (32) 

Doctor Watson (14) 

Gentleman (2) 

* The Usher (2) In “Trial By Judge” [could be female] 

The Judge (15) In “Trial By Judge” [if not Fagin] 

The Police Constable (9) 

In “Trial By Judge” 

Plus:- Chorus of Londoners, Fagin’s “Ghost Gang” (8 boys), Opera-Goers, and 

Chorus in “Trial By Judge” 



SPEAKING ROLES BY NUMBER OF LINES 

N.B. In the following list, the number shows how many spoken lines each role has. 



* Olivia/Daughter ............................................................................................................... 138 

* Eliza Doolittle .................................................................................................................. 106 

* Fagin ................................................................................................................................. 62 

* Annie ................................................................................................................................. 50 

* Mrs. Murdstone ................................................................................................................. 45 

* Mrs. Dilber ......................................................................................................................... 44 

* The Artful Dodger/Criminal ................................................................................................ 42 

Dicken .................................................................................................................................. 35 

George Bernard Shaw ......................................................................................................... 34 

Queenie ............................................................................................................................... 34 

Sherlock Holmes ................................................................................................................. 32 

Doris .................................................................................................................................... 29 

Flo ........................................................................................................................................ 28 

Orphan 1 .............................................................................................................................. 20 

Orphan 2 .............................................................................................................................. 20 

Ebenezer Scrooge ............................................................................................................... 17 

The Judge ............................................................................................................................ 15 

Doctor Watson ..................................................................................................................... 14 

Orphan 4 .............................................................................................................................. 14 

Orphan 3 .............................................................................................................................. 13 

Girl 1 .................................................................................................................................... 10 

Girl 2 .................................................................................................................................... 10 

Girl 3 ...................................................................................................................................... 9 

The Police Constable ............................................................................................................ 9 

Girl 4 ...................................................................................................................................... 8 

* Emily ................................................................................................................................... 4 

* Charlotte .............................................................................................................................. 3 

Lamplighter ............................................................................................................................ 3 

Mrs. Hudson .......................................................................................................................... 3 

* The Usher ........................................................................................................................... 2 

Gentleman ............................................................................................................................. 2 

Placard Girl ............................................................................................................................ 1 



CAST LIST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (WITH LINE COUNT) 

N.B. In the following list, the number shows how many spoken lines each role has. 



* Annie ................................................................................................................................. 50 

* Charlotte .............................................................................................................................. 3 

Dicken .................................................................................................................................. 35 

Doctor Watson ..................................................................................................................... 14 

Doris .................................................................................................................................... 29 

Ebenezer Scrooge ............................................................................................................... 17 

* Eliza Doolittle .................................................................................................................. 106 

* Emily ................................................................................................................................... 4 

* Fagin ................................................................................................................................. 62 

Flo ........................................................................................................................................ 28 

Gentleman ............................................................................................................................. 2 

George Bernard Shaw ......................................................................................................... 34 

Girl 1 .................................................................................................................................... 10 

Girl 2 .................................................................................................................................... 10 

Girl 3 ...................................................................................................................................... 9 

Girl 4 ...................................................................................................................................... 8 

Lamplighter ............................................................................................................................ 3 

* Mrs. Dilber ......................................................................................................................... 44 

Mrs. Hudson .......................................................................................................................... 3 

* Mrs. Murdstone ................................................................................................................. 45 

* Olivia/Daughter ............................................................................................................... 138 

Orphan 1 .............................................................................................................................. 20 

Orphan 2 .............................................................................................................................. 20 

Orphan 3 .............................................................................................................................. 13 

Orphan 4 .............................................................................................................................. 14 

Placard Girl ............................................................................................................................ 1 

Queenie ............................................................................................................................... 34 

Sherlock Holmes ................................................................................................................. 32 

* The Artful Dodger/Criminal ................................................................................................ 42 

The Judge ............................................................................................................................ 15 

The Police Constable ............................................................................................................ 9 

* The Usher ........................................................................................................................... 2 

Non-speaking roles: The Fat Lady (who sings solo), Chorus of Londoners & Opera- 

Goers, Chorus in “Trial By Judge”, Fagin’s “Ghost Gang” (8 boys). Feel free to 

augment the groups of Girls and Orphans too. 



LIST OF CHARACTERS IN EACH SCENE 

Scene One 

Chorus of Orphans 

Dicken 

Mrs. Murdstone 


Orphan 1 

Orphan 2 

Orphan 3 

Orphan 4 

Scene Two 

Dicken 


Scene Three 

Annie 

Chorus (of Fagin's Gang) 

Chorus (of Londoners) 

Doris 

Ebenezer Scrooge 

Eliza Doolittle 

Fagin 

Flo 

Gentleman 

George Bernard Shaw 

Lamplighter 


Queenie 

The Artful Dodger 

The Fat Lady 

Scene Four 

Charlotte 


Emily 

Girl 1 

Girl 2 

Girl 3 

Girl 4 

Mrs. Dilber 


Poor School Girls 

Scene Five 

Annie 

Charlotte 

Doris 



Emily 

Fagin 

Flo 


Queenie 


Scene Six 

Annie 

Doctor Watson 


Mrs. Hudson 

Placard Girl 

Sherlock Holmes 

Scene Seven 

Chorus 

Criminal (Dodger) 

Daughter (Olivia) 

The Judge 

The Police Constable 

The Usher 

Scene Eight 

All 



LIST OF PROPERTIES 

Throughout 

Olivia & Annie wear lockets round their necks. 

Scene One [Orphanage] 

Sign reading “Mrs. Murdstone’s Orphanage for Girls” .......................................... Scene Prop 

Table set with bowls and spoons .......................................................................... Scene Prop 

Benches for the girls to sit on (Optional) .............................................................. Scene Prop 

Tureen of slop with ladle set on table ................................................................... Scene Prop 

Bunch of keys hanging from waist ................................................................................ Dicken 

Scene Three [Covent Garden] 

Green flowers in buttonholes .................................................................. 2 or 3 men in Chorus 

5 baskets of flowers ................................................................................... The Flower-Sellers 

Coin ........................................................................................................................ Gentleman 

Mittens ........................................................................................................................ Scrooge 

Walking stick ............................................................................................................... Scrooge 

Handkerchief or tissue ........................................................................................................ Flo 

Penny ............................................................................................................................. Fagin 

Top hat (Optional)................................................................................ George Bernard Shaw 

Two wallets .......................................................................................... George Bernard Shaw 

Two one pound notes .......................................................................... George Bernard Shaw 

Two opera tickets .............................................................................................. Artful Dodger 

Lamplighter’s pole ................................................................................................ Lamplighter 

Wagnerian outfit: breast plate, spear, horned helmet etc. .................................. The Fat Lady 

Scene Five [Covent Garden] 

5 baskets of flowers, as before .................................................................. The Flower-Sellers 

3 Collecting tins ................................................................................ Olivia, Emily & Charlotte 

Coins and notes ...................................................................................................... The Crowd 

3 coins (could be in a purse) .................................................................... Ebenezer Scrooge 

Scene Six [Sherlock Holme’s Study] 

Tray of tea and Victoria sponge, with appropriate crockery ........ Mrs. Hudson or Scene Prop 

Placard reading “The Savoy Theatre” .................................................................. Placard Girl 



Scene Seven [Savoy Theatre] 

Long table and chairs or benches, courtroom style .............................................. Scene Prop 

Handkerchief ......................................................................................................... The Judge 

Five pound note .................................................................................................. The Criminal 

Scene Eight [Covent Garden] 

5 baskets of flowers, as before .................................................................. The Flower-Sellers 



PRODUCTION NOTES 

STAGING 

Scene One is set inside Mrs Murdstone’s Orphanage for Girls. It is a terrible, dismal and 

drab place. A refectory table is centre stage and set on it are basic bowls with spoons, a 

steaming cauldron of vile gruel and a serving ladle. There can be basic benches or forms 

for the girls to sit on. 

Scene Two is set in front of a cloth or the house tabs and is a link scene allowing the main 

set to be changed from the Orphanage to Covent Garden. It needs little in the way of set 

props, but could utilize such items as a sign post or mile stone, field gate etc. 

Scenes Three, Five & Eight are full sets with a backdrop revealing Covent Garden. If 

space permits, there could be costermonger barrows or wagons, otherwise the backdrop 

could suggest their presence. 

Scene Four – Mrs Dilber’s Poor School for Girls can be a half set with the next scene set 

behind it. Tabs, cloth or flats depicting the interior of an early 1800’s classroom and maybe 

a couple of desks and forms would complete the set; nothing too elaborate in terms of set 

props as it is a quick change to the next scene. 

Scene Six being Sherlock Holmes’s study is depicted by a vast array of books and some 

comfortable chairs. There is probably a desk or bureau that Holmes would sit at when 

writing his notes. It is not crucial to the plot however. 

Scene Seven – on stage at the Savoy Theatre – is depicted by a courtroom setting. A small 

dock for the convict to appear in and a lectern or similar, with a gavel and block will indicate 

the courtroom. This may be enhanced with forms for the jury or whatever as resources 

allow. It is a stage setting though and not intended to be an accurate courtroom setting. 

CHOREOGRAPHY 

In Track 1, the girls march in tempo in three distinct groups, along the lines of “Food, 

Glorious Food” in the film Oliver. They group up for the ending. 

Track 2 – Slop: The Orphans, including Olivia go up to the table, collect their bowls and 

spoons, then return to their places, sit cross-kneed or on forms, and eat the slop, all in the 

tempo of the song. 

In Track 7 - Good Times, Fagin’s gang appear, either behind a gauze, or in greenish 

lighting to make them ghost-like, and acknowledge their names in the song with a small arm 

gesture. 



Let’s Go To The Opera – Track 8 has a waltz set within it for the chorus to waltz on to and 

off to the Opera House. 

In Track 11 - The Charity Rag, there is an opportunity for the charity collectors to be 

choreographed to the music as they collect the donations from the crowd. 

COSTUME 

Much of the costume for this show draws on that used for other popular shows of the 

period, such as Oliver, My Fair Lady, Ebenezer Scrooge etc. Specifically, certain characters 

should be costumed as follows: 


Mrs. Murdstone 


Annie 

Queenie 

Doris 

Flo 

Mrs. Dilber 

Mrs. Hudson 

Emily & Charlotte 

Placard Girl 

Chorus of Orphans 

Orphans 1-4 

Poor school girls 

Girls 1-4 

Long, ragged skirt. Lacy top and shawl. All dirty and unkempt. 

Ankle length pinafore front dress, blouse with lace sleeve 

cuffs, mop cap. 

Ankle length skirt, apron, bloomers, blouse, velvety jacket, 

matching hat. 

As above. 

As above. 

As above. 

As above. 

Ankle length skirt, blouse, jacket. 

Ankle length pinafore front dress, bloomers, blouse with lace 

cuffs, mop cap. 

As Olivia. 


As Olivia for girls, shorts, boots ragged shirts, flat caps for 

boys. 


As Olivia but not ragged, dirty or unkempt. 

As Olivia but not ragged, dirty or unkempt. 

Londoners & Opera-goers Period style costume, including parasols for the ladies. 

Gentleman 

Dicken 


George Bernard Shaw 

Fagin 


As Londoners (no parasol!). 

Well worn trousers and boots. Shirt with rolled up sleeves, flat 

cap. 

Black Trousers, spats, black shoes, black waistcoat and 

jacket, top hat and overcoat with cape. Walking cane. 

3 piece suit (could be tweed), shirt with collar and tie, top hat 

and, of course, full beard. 

Battered hat, tatty, non-matching 3 piece suit and large 

overcoat. Shirt with cravat. 

Crumpled top hat, large overcoat, dirty shirt and cravat. 



Lamplighter 

Sherlock Holmes 

Doctor Watson 

Anything pertaining to the period. Some wore bowler hats and 

brown tweed suits but anything of the era would be fine. 

Classic costume with Deer-stalker hat. 

Classic costume with bowler hat. 

LIGHTING AND SOUND 

Lighting 

Scene One is set in Mrs Murdstone’s Orphanage, which is a dim and dreary place. 

However, the lighting needs to allow the audience to see the characters and therefore, 

whilst the overall effect is dingy, specific acting areas need to be illuminated. If possible, 

use yellows etc. to give the right effect. There is a ‘window’ off stage to which the orphans 

run to watch the chase when Olivia escapes. This can be effected by a spotlight set in the 

wings, with perhaps a bluish tinge and a ‘window effect gobo’ focused onto the stage floor. 

Scene Two. No specific lighting required. 

Scene Three needs coolish lighting if possible, to create a morning feel to Covent Garden. 

Later in the scene (when Fagin’s gang appears at Song 7) the lighting is brought up on the 

gang using floor lights and spots with a greenish tinge to them. The lighting returns to 

normal at the end of the song. Progressively, the lighting should warm throughout the scene 

as the day unfolds so that by the time the lamplighter enters, we have moved through to 

evening. A spotlight should be focused on the ‘Fat Lady’ as she enters for her song. 

Scene Four requires no specific lighting effects. 

Scene Five should be lit as for the start of Scene Three. 

Scene Six – in Holmes’s study - would benefit if possible, from general lighting to enhance 

the feel of the period: possibly light from a window, gaslights illuminating the room with a 

yellowish tinge, or something else along those lines. A spotlight is required at the end of the 

scene to illuminate the character carrying the placard, to separate the actor from the main 

scene. 

Scene Seven is set on stage at the Savoy Theatre. If you have the resources, just make it 

very theatrical with the lighting, remembering that footlights were the norm for this period. 

Scene Eight should be brightly lit for the Finale of the show. 

Sound Effects (SFX) 

There are no specific sound effects required in this show. 



SCENE ONE: 

MRS. MURDSTONE’S ORPHANAGE FOR GIRLS 

(There could be a sign on the back wall reading Mrs. Murdstone’s orphanage for 

girls. The setting is as drab and dismal as possible. There is a table set with bowls 

and spoons, a steaming cauldron full of goo, and a serving ladle.) 

TRACK 1: 

ORPHANS 

(The first group of Orphans marches on.) 

GROUP 1: 

ORPHANS, ORPHANS, ORPHANS, ORPHANS, 

SHUT UP IN AN ORPHANAGE DAY AND NIGHT. 

(The second group marches on. The two groups sing simultaneously:) 

GROUP 1: 

ORPHANS, ORPHANS, 


AH. 

GROUP 2: 



WORKING HARD AS SLAVES, 

DO YOU THINK THAT’S RIGHT? 

(The third group marches on. The three groups sing simultaneously:) 

GROUPS 1 & 2: 



AH. 

AH, AH. 

GROUP 3: 



NOBODY TO LISTEN 

TO OUR PLIGHT. 

ALL: 

GROUP 3: 

GROUP 2: 

GROUP 1: 

GROUP 3: 

ALL: 

MRS. MURDSTONE IS IN CHARGE. 

SHE’S ROUGH, 

SHE’S TOUGH, 

SHE’S EVER SO LARGE. 

SHE TREATS US LIKE WE WERE DIRT. 

SHE’S LIKE A SERGEANT-MAJOR IN A SKIRT! 


SHUT UP IN AN ORPHANAGE DAY AND NIGHT. 


NO-ONE CARES ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU’RE OUT OF SIGHT! 

IT’S NOT RIGHT! 

(After applause, all the Orphans start girl-chatter. Enter Mrs. Murdstone, a fearsome, 

cruel, middle-aged female.) 

ORPHAN 3: 

It’s Mrs. Murdstone! 



(The Orphans scream.) 

MRS. M: 

Silence when you scream! 

(All fall silent.) 

MRS. M: 

THE ORPHANS: 

MRS. M: 

You need discipline – rigid discipline, iron discipline; and I, Mrs. 

Murdstone will apply that discipline. So answer when I speak to you. 

Good morning, girls. 

(Cowed) Good morning, Mrs. Murdstone. 

I trust you’re all ready for another day’s hard work? 

(The Orphans groan.) 

MRS. M: 

Silence when you groan! Let me repeat the rules of this establishment. 

You will not chatter, talk or gossip, except in the times stipulated in the 

regulations. Which are – to remind you - two minute’s chatter every 

hour, and after your work is finished for the day, you may have half an 

hour’s riotous and girlish behaviour – for which I will take great 

pleasure in punishing you. 

I know it’s breakfast time, but today, we have a new orphan joining us. 

(She calls into the wings/offstage.) Step this way, if you please, 

young lady. 

(Enter OLIVIA.) 

MRS. M: 

ORPHAN 1: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 1: 

This is Olivia. I will delay breakfast by a few minutes while you get 

acquainted. You may talk with her till I return – but don’t expect treats 

like this every day! (She exits.) 

Hello, Olivia. 

Hello. 

Come and sit down, and tell us all about yourself. 

(The Orphans sit down and Olivia joins them.) 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 2: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 2: 

OLIVIA: 

Nothing much to tell, really. I’ve just come from the St. Francis 

Convent. 

What was it like? 

Terrible. The nuns were so strict, they never allowed us any fun. 

Well, I warn you, Olivia, you’ll think of it as heaven compared to this 

place. 

Oh, I can’t believe that. The Mother Superior ruled us with a rod of iron. 



ORPHAN 3: 

ORPHAN 1: 

ORPHAN 2: 

ORPHAN 4: 

ORPHAN 1: 

ORPHAN 3: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 1: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 2: 

OLIVIA: 

Talk about a tyrant. 

Your Mother Superior is a pussycat compared with Mrs. Murdstone. 

She’s horrible. 

She’s cruel. 

She has the foulest temper. 

Why, if we even so much as cough when we’re supposed to be silent, 

we get punished. 

Where is your convent, Olivia? 

Just outside Stockport. 

Why did you leave it, and come here to Manchester? 

I didn’t leave. The nuns threw me out. I kept misbehaving. 

What did you do? 

I flicked ink pellets at the Sisters when their backs were turned. 

(The Orphans giggle.). 

OLIVIA: 

I drew a moustache on a picture of the Order’s founder. 

(More giggles.) 

OLIVIA: 

And I burped after meals. 

(More giggles.) 

ORPHAN 4: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 1: 

ORPHAN 2: 

ORPHAN 3: 

ALL ORPHANS: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 4: 

ORPHAN 1: 

ORPHAN 2: 

ORPHAN 3: 

ORPHAN 2: 

OLIVIA: 

Well, you won’t burp after meals here. You’ll more likely throw up. 

Why, what are they like? 

They’re the same every day. 

Breakfast, dinner and tea, it’s the same revolting swill. It’s…it’s… (She 

struggles to describe it.)…yucky! 

It’s garbage! 

It’s slop! 

Why do you put up with it? 

What else can we do? Nowhere else we can go. No parents. 

No relations. 

Some of us remember our parents. 

Most of us don’t. 

Do you remember yours, Olivia? 

No. I think they died in an accident when I was a baby. But look… (She 

takes a locket from around her neck.) This might be my mother... 



(The Orphans gather round to look, and express admiration, etc.) 

ORPHAN 4: 

ORPHAN 1: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 2: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 3: 

ORPHAN 4: 

ORPHAN 1: 

ORPHAN 2: 

ORPHAN 3: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 4: 

ORPHAN 1: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 2: 

ORPHAN 3: 

ALL ORPHANS: 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 4: 

ORPHAN 1: 

OLIVIA: 

She’s very like you. 

She must be your mother. 

Perhaps she is – but I’ll never know. 

You mustn’t let Mrs. Murdstone see that. She’ll take it off you. 

She wouldn’t dare! 

She would – and she does. She takes all our trinkets off us. 

She says when we’re old enough to leave she’ll give us them back, 

unless we’ve misbehaved. 

And of course, she always finds some way we’ve misbehaved, even 

when we haven’t. 

So no-one ever gets them back. 

Then she sells them. 

Well, she’s not having mine. (She puts the locket in her pocket.) 

We were just like you, Olivia, when we first arrived. We had spirit; we 

had hopes. 

They soon get dashed. 

Is it that bad? 

You wouldn’t believe it. You know what we do, for fourteen hours a 

day? We sew. 

Every day, except Sunday, sew and sew. 

Sew and sew. 

What do you sew? 

Old clothes, which Mrs. Murdstone sells on for a profit. 

And mailbags – they’re the worst of all, they tear your fingers to shreds. 

Sounds like Mrs. Murdstone is a right so-and so. 

(The Orphans titter.) 

ORPHAN 2: 

OLIVIA: 

Don’t let her hear you say that, or she’ll have you sewing double-time. 

But I’m useless at sewing. The Nuns tried to teach me, but I kept 

making mistakes. I once sewed up the bottom of Mother Superior’s 

habit so badly she couldn’t get into it. 

(The Orphans laugh.) 

ORPHAN 3: 

Well, you’d better learn fast, otherwise you’re in big trouble. 



(Enter Mrs. Murdstone, with Dicken, a middle-aged dogsbody, who is not blessed 

with the brightest of intellects. He has a West-Country accent.) 

MRS. M: 

DICKEN: 

Did I hear someone mention trouble? I hope none of you are thinking of 

causing any, for, as you know, my punishment is swift and terrible. 

What do you say, Dicken? 

Donkeys. 

(The Orphans titter.) 

MRS. M: 

Did I give you permission to snigger? 

(The Orphans go silent, cowed). 

MRS. M: 

DICKEN: 

MRS. M: 

ORPHAN 4: 

MRS. M: 

Dicken, explain yourself. What have donkeys got to do with discipline? 

It’s just that anyone would have to be a donkey to make trouble. 

Not quite the way I’d express it, but I take your point, and so, I trust, do 

all of you young ladies. I also hope you girls have explained the strict 

standards I expect to Olivia. 

Yes, Mrs. Murdstone. 

And, now, it’s time for breakfast. 

(All the Orphans groan.) 

MRS. M: 

DICKEN: 

MRS. M: 

I thought you’d be pleased. Dicken, start serving your culinary 

masterpiece! 

(Totally baffled) Duh... do what? 

Dish out the gruel, man! Girls – line up – and enjoy! 



TRACK 2: 

SLOP! 

(The Orphans, including Olivia, go up to the table, collect their bowls and spoons, 

then return to their places, sit cross-kneed and eat the slop, all during the course of 

the song.) 

ORPHANS: 

ORPHANS: 

MRS. M: 

ORPHANS: 

MRS. M: 

ORPHANS: 

MRS. M: 

ORPHANS: 

MRS. M: 

ORPHANS: 

SLOP! EVERY MEAL IS THIS SLOP! 

EVERY DAY WITHOUT STOP 

ALL WE GET IS THIS STICKY GOO, 

SMELLS LIKE GLUE, AND TASTES LIKE IT TOO! 

SLOP! 

IT’LL HELP YOU GROW UP 

BUCKETFULS OF THIS SLOP! 

IF IT DOESN’T BLOW UP! 

SCUM THAT FLOATS TO THE TOP. 

THOUGH IT MAKES YOU THROW UP, 

AND YOUR TUMMIES MAY GET UPSET, DON’T FORGET, 

IT’S ALL THAT YOU’LL GET! 

SHE CALLS IT GRUEL, IT’S MORE LIKE SLIME. 

WAS THERE EVER MORE CRUEL A CRIME 

THAN THIS DISGUSTING SLOP? 

WITH ITS WIND WE GO POP! 

WISH THAT WE COULD JUST DROP THE LOT 

DOWN THE NEAREST DRAIN. 

BUT TIME AND AGAIN. 

NO MATTER HOW WE PLEAD, 

THEY FEED US MORE AND MORE 

OF THIS REVOLTING SLOP! 

KEEPS YOU ON THE HOP! 

(Shouted) It’s slop! 

(Olivia is the only one who hasn’t tasted her slop yet.) 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 1: 

I can’t believe it’s that bad. 

Just you taste it. 

(Olivia does so, and splutters.) 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 2: 

OLIVIA: 

MRS. M: 

Ugh! It’s not fit for pigs. I’m not putting up with it. (She gets up) 

What are you going to do? 

You’ll see. (She walks up to Dicken, bowl & spoon in hand.) Please, 

sir, I want less. 

Less! Aaah! (She swoons into Dicken’s arms.) Dicken, I’ve come 

over all funny. 



DICKEN: 

You’re not making me laugh. 

(Mrs. M. recovers, with a glare at Dicken.) 

MRS. M: 

OLIVIA: 

DICKEN: 

OLIVIA: 

I could have sworn I heard this child say she wanted less. 

You heard right. I want less slop – starving dogs wouldn’t eat it. 

Besides, look, what’s this fly doing in it? (She holds it under Dickens’ 

nose.) 

Looks like the breast-stroke. Don’t shout too loud, or everyone will want 

one. 

(To Mrs. M.) I want less slop. And, while we’re about it, less sewing. 

We all want less, don’t we girls. 

(The Orphans, cowed, keep silent.) 

OLIVIA: 

I said, don’t we, girls? 

(Still an awkward silence.) 

OLIVIA: 

MRS. M: 

What’s the matter with you lot, afraid to stand up for your rights? 

(Fierce & formidable.) Rights? Rights? Listen to me, young lady, in 

here you have no rights. You’re here to work, and do as you’re told. 

You want less, Miss – less you’ll get. Less freedom, less light, less 

company, less everything. Dicken!, Put her in the Hole! 

(The Orphans gasp.) 

OLIVIA: 

ORPHAN 3: 

ORPHAN 4: 

ORPHAN 1: 

ORPHAN 2: 

MRS. M: 

ORPHANS: 

MRS. M: 

OLIVIA: 

MRS. M: 

DICKEN: 

What’s the Hole? 

A windowless cell way underground. 

No mattress or pillow, just a concrete slab. 

The mildew runs down the walls. 

And so do the spiders. 

(Savagely, to the Orphans.) Did I say you could speak? Do you want 

the hole too? 

No, Mrs. Murdstone. 

(To Olivia.) Well, girl, you’ve been here two minutes, and already 

you’re making trouble. Let’s see if three days in the Hole dampens your 

rebellious nature. Dicken, take her down! 

You’ll have to catch me first. (She runs out.) 

I’ve grown to detest that Olivia! But she’ll be back in two minutes. 

No-one done ever escape from ‘ere.

Script Olivia Junior.pdf - Musicline

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