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

Act VI

Act v/vi 53 respecting government is going to let itself be influenced by a group of unemployed , or a group of common laborers, or a group of plain farmers. We have much more impressive delegations up in my office in the course of the year and these delegations of respectable lawyers (here he bows to Capitalism, who returns the bow) and bankers and manufacturers, who are also interested in the administration of justice, they never ask for such a preposterous thing. c.l.d.l.: Then you are quite aware that more and more of the people of Canada are becoming determined to end the existence of Section 98? dufrie (his patience exhausted, has become very angry): Yes, of course. Mr. Bedwin, show the lady the telegrams and letters we received on this point this morning. (Bedwin produces a huge sheaf of telegrams from the brief case he is carrying and hands them to Dufrie, who flourishes them angrily at the c.l.d.l.) There, look at these. c.l.d.l. (not the least bit disturbed): Well, when are you going to listen to the demands of these Canadians? dufrie (leaning forward on witness stand and shaking his cane at the audience): We’ll listen to them when you force us to listen to them. act curtain act vi The curtain rises slowly on a street scene. The raised Judges’ dais, draped in red, is at the rear centre of stage. A painted banner covers almost the entire backdrop and depicts a crowd of workers, bearing banners. The three Worker Judges are in their places on the dais. To the right and left of Judges’ dais are levels, grouped on these are workers. The Clerk of the Court and his table and chair are missing in this scene, as is also the Witness Stand. At the extreme right, front, is the c.l.d.l., sitting at her desk. Near centre front is Capitalism’s desk. A little to the right and a few paces behind Capitalism’s desk is the Prisoners’ Box. In it Guard X. Although he has sat stolidly throughout the entire trial, he now begins to show signs of nervousness, he fidgets with his cap, undoes the collar of his tunic and becomes more agitated as the scene progresses, until he almost breaks down. As the scene opens, Capitalism is on his feet, in the middle of a speech. capitalism:.... this sort of thing must be as long as we value the age old trad- Eight Men Speak 54 itions of the British people. Never must we allow dissension to be sown among us. We must always preserve the blind faith with which we have taught the man in the street to regard our institutions—our state—our prison system —our banks—our Empire (this in crescendo, until on “Empire” he is standing facing the audience with his arms uplifted). Therefore I say again that on no account can we permit this charge against Guard X to be proven. If this court finds Mr. X guilty, it will be doing a serious harm to the beliefs which we have cultivated through church and school; and which our press has been maintaining for the past century. (He is gradually losing his composure and is becoming greatly affected by the sad story of Guard X. The rest of the court are by this time leaning forward in their seats gazing silently and fixedly on him.) Why, I tell you, this is a terrible thing you are doing. Exposing the prison system, and the methods in which we have to use the police and troops. (pleadingly) Don’t you understand? (He goes over to Guard X and places his hand on the prisoner’s shoulder.) Look at this poor man. Remember that he has a wife and eight children. Buck was only a prisoner—and a worker at that. It isn’t as if he was anybody of importance. It’s much more important that we keep the Canadian working class quiet at this time. (pleadingly) Surely we have enough trouble with strikes and hunger and unemployed demonstrations, without dragging this thing into it. (Guard X is visibly affected by this plea). I implore you all, not to let this thing go any further, I can absolutely promise that we will devise new ways of keeping the workers quiet in the future—if we possibly can. (Capitalism stops speaking and remains with a paternal hand on...