Eight Men Speak: A Play by Oscar Ryan et al.

Act V

Eight Men Speak 40 popovich: We will not capitulate. boychuk: For behind us lies the strength of the strongest class of all, all: the working class! buck: Workers! carr (pointing out through bars): In your support lies the strength. boychuk (pointing out through bars): In your support lies the will. popovich (pointing out through bars): In your support lies the power. all: To free yourselves. carr: To free the working class, boychuk: - - from the chains that bind it. (pause) all (quietly but tensely): Eight men speak! (Here the blue border lights dim out and a full red light is flashed on scene.) buck: Smash Section 98! all (a little louder): Eight men speak! popovich: Smash the iron heel! all (still more power in their voices, but very tensely): Eight men speak - all (taking step forward and pointing through bars): - - to you! act curtain act v The scene is the same as Act III. —the Workers’ Court, with one exception, a bench at rear of stage, between Prisoners’ Box und the Witness Stand. After giving their evidence, the various witnesses take a seat on this bench. When the curtain goes up, all are in their respective places —the Judge and Co-Judges on the raised dais; the Clerk at his table; the c.l.d.l. at her desk; Guard X sitting in the Prisoners’ Box, and Capitalism, the Defense Attorney, is on his feet, just beginning to address the court. capitalism (bombastically, and at the same time cringingly to the judges): Your honors , and may it please the court. Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury (bowing to the audience). The prosecution has attempted to prove that our client shot Act v 41 deliberately at this convict, Buck, number 2524. To substantiate this charge, they have only been able to produce three witnesses—to wit, the convict Buck and two other witnesses, (emphatically) both criminals. We shall dispose of this evidence by proving that none of these men need to be believed, because they are only criminals. (Warming up to his case.) We shall further dispose of this evidence by producing several officials (with great emphasis) of the penitentiary , and others who did not see the shootings take place (he is very well pleased with himself) and who are certain that Guard X would not do such an un-British and un-Christian thing as this. This whole procedure is resulting in a wave of unrest among the laboring classes of Canada, who are no longer satisfied to occupy the lowly positions to which they have been called by providence. (This last very sanctimoniously.) As a result, the unity which should exist between employer and workman, in these days of tribulation (great display of sorrow) when we should all pull together— this spirit of team play, (again warming up to his subject) without which the glorious British Commonwealth of Nations could not have been built—this spirit of self-sacrifice which enabled us to send so many thousands of the best flower of Canadian manhood to give up their lives on the fields of Flanders for our sakes (here he shows signs of breaking into tears)—these glorious things are now seriously endangered. (Pauses, wipes eyes with handkerchief.) Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that this indictment be quashed, and that my client be found not guilty. If this sort of thing goes on, we shall no longer be able to govern as we have been used. We shall no longer be able to send gunboats to Anyox, or tanks to Stratford, to help our friends, the mine owners and manufacturers. For these reasons, I appeal to you, citizensof this great city, not to allow this poor Guard X, who only does his duty as he is ordered, to be found guilty; nor to permit the institutions of our country to be besmirched - - (waxing eloquent) - - the time honored relations of master and man, the system which guarantees to each and all the great British liberties and freedom, and a chance to make for himself and his family, the sort of home he desires (with emphasis) or deserves. (He has become very demagogic all during the latter part.) Do not allow these (with hands uplifted to audience) to be dragged down at this critical moment. judge (who has been listening impatiently to this long harangue, now raps with his gavel): Will the defense please get on with their case. [3.141.244.201] Project MUSE (2024-04-16 18:28 GMT...