public function getScopePointer($scope)
    {
        if ($scope == Smarty::SCOPE_PARENT && !empty($this->parent)) {
            return $this->parent;
        } elseif ($scope == Smarty::SCOPE_ROOT && !empty($this->parent)) {
            $ptr = $this->parent;
            while (!empty($ptr->parent)) {
                $ptr = $ptr->parent;
            }

            return $ptr;
        }

        return null;
    }