SIDE

MATRON

Pardon me Mr. Bumble, Widow Corney-

WIDOW CORNEY

What's the matter?

MATRON

It's old Sally, ma'am. She says she's got something to tell you that must be heard. She's not got long and she'll never die quiet till you listen, ma'am.

WIDOW CORNEY

Well what is it?

(The MATRON brings OLD SALLY forward.)

OLD SALLY

In this very workhouse I once nursed a pretty young creature that I brought in from the cold. She gave birth to a boy and... died. Let me think, what was the year again?

MR. BUMBLE

Never mind the year, what about her?

OLD SALLY

I robbed her. The only thing she had of any worth, it was round her neck and it was gold.

WIDOW CORNEY

Gold? What of it?

OLD SALLY

This is it. The locket. It's my belief she came from a rich family.

(WIDOW CORNEY grabs the locket from OLD SALLY's neck.)

WIDOW CORNEY

The boy's name?

OLD SALLY

He's called... he's called...

(speaking as she dies)

Oliver.

WIDOW CORNEY, MR. BUMBLE

Oliver?

WIDOW CORNEY

We must retrieve that boy, Mr. Bumble.

MR. BUMBLE

We must indeed, ma'am. We must indeed.

END