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

            return $ptr->tpl_vars;
        } elseif ($scope == Smarty::SCOPE_GLOBAL) {
            return Smarty::$global_tpl_vars;
        }
        $null = null;

        return $null;
    }