The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-11-01
BY M. DWORKIN
SCENE ONE

Twilight. Autumn. A workers
home. A drab atmosphere. On the
wall facing the audience bright red
placard depicting the class struggle,
lie. two giants in combat. Working
woman, rather young and handsome,
but emaciated and aged from toll and
privation, is sitting in a rickety old
rocker, a babe nervously jerking at
her empty breast and crying spasm-
odically. Four little pale girls, in
GLIDING Negro child, are playing on
the floor with empty tin cans)
WORKING WOMAN (Sighs)-"No
work. Hungry Children. How
quiet. All joy gone. No work. -.
Day in and day out a giant of man
returns home from city overladen
with riches-A man who has toiled
since childhood producing mountains
Of wealth, is left breadless. 49,. CBaby
at her breast cries nervously). Hush,
my darling, it's only the beginning.
We, the working class, are growing
stronger every year, and with every
struggle. Hush, my darling, our day
is coming. But now there is a ia
mine in the land. q. &. j.. CRocks baby
back and forth and stares at the chill
dren who are playing on the foor).
FIRST LITTLE GIRL: clicking
empty tin can bearing label of fish,
Il love fish. 1t was so long ago since
mother gave me some fish and bread.
IL was Christmas, think, and we
had nice smelly needle tree in the
house. 1t was so long, long, ago. And
am so hungry.
SECOND LITTLE GIRL: dicks
hungrily at a tin can bearing label
OF baked beans) 81 love beans. We
had some once, on Sunday. 1t was
So swell. think maybe it was in the
winter. know, snow butterflies dane
ed outside, and our house was so
warm. We had apples too. Oh, gee,
but I am hungry now. DROPS
weakly to the foor)
THIRD LITTLE GIRL: Serves
you right. Don't lick empty tin cans,
you'll cut your tongue and it will
bleed"
SECOND LITTLE GIRL: Then /
will suck my own blood. I am SO
hungry. My papa says rich people
always suck working peoples blood,
that's why they are so fat and rich"
Landlord appears in the door, and
disappears.)
THIRD LITTLE GIRL: IT don't
think it's nice to cut people, and eat
their blood"
SECOND LITTLE GIRL: NO but
when you are hungry. -"
LITTLE NEGRO GIRL: (Claps her
hands joyfully noticing appearance
OF landlord in door, "Oh, gee, man
like a tree. oh, trees. =. loves'em
So They sings and dance in the
wind, and washes their hair in the
clouds. $50" Crises in ecstasy, at
temps to dance, drops to floor.) us
So hungry, can't walk. :" DROPS
weakly to the floor not parting with
empty can which she is still licking
"a cat appears in the rear window
staring hungrily with green eyes at
the children on the floor. 1t is ter
ribty emaciated. The children at
tempt to drive it off. 1t does not
move.)
WORKINGMAN: (Staggers in, car
rying a few bundles under his coat.
Seats himself at the table. Children
surround him. He caresses them
Observes empty tin cans on the floor
...Silence. Attempts to read red
covered magazine, on whose cover the
letters. "U.S.S.R., $780," are plainly
visible. He smiles hopefully: 1.-THE
Workers Fatherland."
WORKING WOMAN: CDownheart.
ed, eyes lowered) I am pregnant
again. 49,"
WoRKINGMAN: bitterly Great
heavens! How can we. -" (Paces
madly across the room. The children
watch him. .Silence.)
WORKING WOMAN: "How could
I help ill.,. The sun had risen fol
me when my first was born. But. il.
now, try and feed them. :. (Sht
rises. comforts him caressingly.) re-
alize it's hell. i. d. .Comrade. -"
WORKMAN: Crises, magazine
open, his eyes glow hopefully mo!
1t is notl The change has begun
We are not alone!... Our numbers
are increasing daily. I have seen
thousands roaming the streets home
less, naked, hungry. :. They are or
Notwithstanding work or wages
...All day long I have heard the CRY
of the millions Of hungry children
(He begins to unwrap bundles.) "Anc
They shall not hunger. 49,"
WOMAN: (Suspiciously) "Whert
did you get 1t?
WORKINGMAN: placing in the
center of the table tiny can Of sar-
dimes and small loaf or bread.)