Labor unions -- United States -- Drama; Social classes -- United States -- Drama; Strikes and lockouts -- Drama
My brothers,
If hunger hath driven you here, then know I speak
For one whose self was hungry, Jesus Christ;
Yet was he meek and lamb-like. Why do you not
Go to those places that have been prepared
By charitable, Christian men and women
For this very purpose, to relieve distress?
If you are worthy you will there be fed.
FIGURES.
Whited sepulchre! He's a whited sepulchre!
(_They advance toward him_)
BISHOP HARDBROOKE.
How dare you, armed with Labor's sacred tools
Which our Lord's father sanctified when he
Wrought at his wood in Nazareth, how dare you,
With envy in your hearts, on murder bent,
Intrude upon the quiet social hour
Of honorable, law-abiding men?
God sees you with your axes lifted there.
And though you fear not law nor anything
Of man, fear God, for he hath power
And he can reach you in the uttermost
Parts of the earth or air, as David saith.
FIGURES.
The rich man's friend! The rich man's friend!
GOVERNOR BRADDOCK.
Then by the power vested in me----
FIGURES.
We are the power! We are the power!
GOVERNOR BRADDOCK.
As Governor of this commonwealth
I will call out the military!
FIGURES.
We are the military! We are the military!
GOVERNOR BRADDOCK.
(_Calls_)
General Chadbourne!
PEOPLE.
(_Who have been peering in forward right_)
Chadbourne! Chadbourne!
(_Egerton and the Bishop follow the Governor out centre right, and
the people disappear_)
FIGURES.
(_Aloud_)
Release, release us from this spell!
LION.
Release yourselves!
FIGURES.
(_With tremendous surprise_)
We can! We can!
(_There are shouts and a thunder of tools falling upon the floor_)
SHOUTS.
We're free! We're free!
OTHER SHOUTS.
And seize the throats that nailed us fast!
HARRY EGERTON.
Forget the past! Forget the past!
SHOUTS.
An enemy! He's an enemy!
HARRY EGERTON.
Release your brothers!
SHOUTS.
To hell with the scabs!
(_They rush through the house, right_)
VOICE OF DONALD EGERTON.
Fire on them!
VOICE OF MRS. EGERTON.
No, no, Donald! Shed no blood!
Think of their children!
VOICE OF DONALD EGERTON.
Fire, I say!
MEN'S VOICES.
We are your fathers and your brothers!
A DEEP VOICE.
Fire!
(_A pause_)
CRIES.
Treason! Treason!
THE DEEP VOICE.
Shoot them down!
(_Shots are heard and noises as of a riot_)
HARRY EGERTON.
My God! My God!
(_The noises die away. In the darkness the walls are heard
sighing_)
HARRY EGERTON.
My father! O my father!
(_A pause_)
VOICE.
(_Forward right, in the darkness_)
It's mine!
SECOND VOICE.
It's mine!
FIRST VOICE.
Let go that hand!
SECOND VOICE.
I had it first!
FIRST VOICE.
Hain't you the rubies?
(_Sounds of quarrelling here and there_)
THIRD VOICE.
(_Centre right_)
Shut up your mouths! You'll have the police here!
VOICES.
(_From the walls_)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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