Trascrizione completa di The Machine Act 1

00:04:17.970 --> 00:04:18.250 What? 87 00:04:19.009 --> 00:04:20.389 His only daughter. 88 00:04:20.930 --> 00:04:22.310 Good God, Julia! 89 00:04:22.829 --> 00:04:23.569 What's the matter? 90 00:04:24.129 --> 00:04:26.029 You know I don't want to meet people like that. 91 00:04:26.850 --> 00:04:27.509 Why not? 92 00:04:28.290 --> 00:04:30.910 I don't care to mix with them. I've nothing to 93 00:04:30.970 --> 00:04:31.430 say to them. 94 00:04:32.089 --> 00:04:34.889 My dear Jack, the girl can't help her father. 95 00:04:34.910 --> 00:04:38.959 I know that, and I'm sorry for her. But, meantime, 96 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:40.600 I've got my work to do. 97 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:44.579 You couldn't be doing any better work than this. If 98 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:47.500 we can make a socialist of Laura Hegan. 99 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:52.529 Oh, stuff, Julia. I've given up chasing after Will-o'-the-Wisps like that. 100 00:04:53.050 --> 00:04:54.449 But think what she could do. 101 00:04:54.470 --> 00:04:58.269 Yes. I used to think what a whole lot of 102 00:04:58.350 --> 00:05:00.689 people could do. You might as well ask me to 103 00:05:00.750 --> 00:05:04.629 think what her father could do, if he only wanted 104 00:05:04.670 --> 00:05:07.209 to do it, instead of poisoning the lifeblood of the 105 00:05:07.250 --> 00:05:11.110 city and piling up his dirty millions. Go about this 106 00:05:11.170 --> 00:05:14.490 town and see the misery and horror, and think that 107 00:05:14.529 --> 00:05:17.649 it's Jim Hegan who sits at the top and reaps 108 00:05:17.730 --> 00:05:21.250 the profit of it all. It's Jim Hegan who is 109 00:05:21.370 --> 00:05:25.430 back of the organization. He's the real power behind Boss Grimes. 110 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:29.129 It's he who puts up the money and makes possible 111 00:05:29.170 --> 00:05:31.290 this whole regime of vice and graft. 112 00:05:32.069 --> 00:05:34.569 My dear boy, don't be silly. 113 00:05:35.170 --> 00:05:37.170 How do you mean? Isn't it true? 114 00:05:37.810 --> 00:05:41.750 Of course it's true. But why declaim to me about it? 115 00:05:42.769 --> 00:05:47.189 You forget, you are talking to the champion female muckraker 116 00:05:47.250 --> 00:05:47.990 of the country. 117 00:05:49.769 --> 00:05:53.209 Yes, that's right, but I don't want to meet these 118 00:05:53.290 --> 00:05:57.240 people socially. They mean well, a lot of them, I suppose. 119 00:05:58.180 --> 00:06:00.899 But they've been accustomed all their lives to being people 120 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:04.180 of importance, to have everybody stand in awe of them 121 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:08.019 because of their stolen money and all the wonderful things 122 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:10.819 they might do with it if they only would. 123 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:15.189 My dear Jack, did you ever observe anything of the 124 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:16.379 Tuft Hunter in me? 125 00:06:16.990 --> 00:06:19.110 No, I don't know that I have, but it's never

126 00:06:19.129 --> 00:06:19.610 too late. 127 00:06:20.470 --> 00:06:23.290 Well, until you do, have a little faith in me. 128 00:06:24.269 --> 00:06:26.850 Meet Laura Hegan and judge for yourself. 129 00:06:27.689 --> 00:06:30.750 All right. I'll meet her. But let me tell you, 130 00:06:31.290 --> 00:06:34.500 I don't propose to spare her feelings. She'll get things 131 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:35.379 straight from me. 132 00:06:36.129 --> 00:06:39.759 That's all right, my boy. Give her the class war 133 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:43.339 and the revolution with a capital R. Tell her you're 134 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:48.019 the only original representative of the disinherited proletariat, and that 135 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.839 some day before long you intend to plant the red 136 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:52.759 flag over her daddy's palace. 137 00:06:54.209 --> 00:06:54.649 Of course. 138 00:06:55.230 --> 00:06:57.790 What you'll actually do is meet her like a gentleman, 139 00:06:58.310 --> 00:07:00.589 and tell her of some of your adventures in Russia, 140 00:07:01.149 --> 00:07:03.689 and give her some idea of what's going on outside 141 00:07:03.730 --> 00:07:05.430 of her little Fifth Avenue set. 142 00:07:06.230 --> 00:07:07.290 Where did you run on to her? 143 00:07:07.949 --> 00:07:09.110 I met her at the settlement. 144 00:07:09.889 --> 00:07:14.470 Good Lord, Jim Hegan's daughter. They were toadying to her there, 145 00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:15.149 I'll wager. 146 00:07:15.810 --> 00:07:18.899 Well, you know what settlement people are. She's been coming 147 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:21.339 there for quite a while, and seems to be interested. 148 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:23.819 She's given them quite a lot of money. 149 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:25.279 No doubt. 150 00:07:26.110 --> 00:07:28.990 I had a little talk with her one afternoon. She's 151 00:07:29.009 --> 00:07:33.089 a quiet, self-contained girl, but she gave me a peculiar impression. 152 00:07:33.949 --> 00:07:37.569 She seemed to be unhappy. There was a kind of 153 00:07:37.689 --> 00:07:41.800 troubled note in what she said. I had felt uncomfortable 154 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:45.379 about meeting her. You can imagine, after my study of 155 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:47.399 Tammany and the Traction Trust. 156 00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:48.980 Did she mention that? 157 00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:52.819 No, she never has. But I've several times had the 158 00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:55.019 feeling that she was trying to get up the courage 159 00:07:55.079 --> 00:07:58.259 to do it. I've thought somehow that she must be 160 00:07:58.339 --> 00:07:59.680 suffering about her father. 161 00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:03.870 My God. Wouldn't it be a joke if Nemesis were 162 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:05.930 to get at Jim Hegan through his daughter? 163 00:08:06.490 --> 00:08:07.529 Yes, wouldn't it? 164 00:08:07.550 --> 00:08:10.290 How do you suppose he takes her reform activities? 165 00:08:10.970 --> 00:08:13.670 I don't know. But I fancy they must have had 166 00:08:13.730 --> 00:08:16.149 it out. She's not the sort of person to let 167 00:08:16.189 --> 00:08:18.569 herself be turned back when her mind's made up. 168 00:08:19.129 --> 00:08:20.879 A sort of chip off the old block. 169 00:08:21.509 --> 00:08:22.269 After a pause. 170 00:08:22.889 --> 00:08:26.029 If I'd known what was up, I wouldn't have suggested 171 00:08:26.110 --> 00:08:27.430 asking anybody else to come. 172 00:08:28.089 --> 00:08:30.129 Oh, that's all right. It won't make any difference. 173 00:08:30.730 --> 00:08:34.269 This chap Montague that I phoned you about, he's a 174 00:08:34.309 --> 00:08:37.360 sort of a convert of my own. 175 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:40.039 I see. We'll reciprocate. 176 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:43.600 I think I've got Montague pretty well landed. You'll be 177 00:08:43.659 --> 00:08:46.840 interested in him. It's quite a story. It was last 178 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:47.720 election day. 179 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:49.000 The bell rings. 180 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:50.600 Ah, there's somebody. 181 00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:52.929 She goes to the door, calls. 182 00:08:53.529 --> 00:08:56.100 Is that you, Miss Hegan? Laura, off. 183 00:08:56.679 --> 00:08:57.470 Yes, it's I. 184 00:08:58.039 --> 00:08:59.320 You found your way, did you? 185 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.039 Oh, no trouble at all. 186 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:06.679 Enters a tall, stately girl, about twenty-three, simply but elegantly clad. 187 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:07.720 How do you do? 188 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.940 I'm so glad to see you. Jack, this is Miss Hegan. 189 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:12.879 Mr. 190 00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:13.240 Bullen. 191 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:15.120 How do you do, Mr. Bullen? 192 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:17.120 I'm very glad to meet you, Miss Hegan. 193 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:18.779 Let me take your things. 194 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:20.639 Laura, looking about. 195 00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:24.940 Oh, what a cozy place. I think these model tenements 196 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:25.820 are delightful. 197 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:30.940 They're indispensable to us agitators, an oasis in a desert. 198 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:34.039 Built for the proletariat and inhabited by cranks. 199 00:09:34.669 --> 00:09:35.490 Is that the truth? 200 00:09:36.169 --> 00:09:39.350 It's certainly the truth about this one. Below me are 201 00:09:39.409 --> 00:09:42.490 two painters and a settlement worker, and next door is 202 00:09:42.529 --> 00:09:44.909 a blind anarchist and a Yiddish poet. 203 00:09:45.529 --> 00:09:46.690 What's the reason for it? 204 00:09:47.250 --> 00:09:50.960 Julia, going to room off left with Laura's things. 205 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:54.820 The places are clean and cheap, and whenever the poor 206 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:57.009 can't pay their rent, we take their homes. 207 00:09:57.570 --> 00:09:59.370 The elimination of the unfit. 208 00:09:59.929 --> 00:10:03.379 It

sounds like a tragic explanation, but I guess it's true. 209 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:04.919 Looking at Jack. 210 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:06.580 And so this is Mr. 211 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:07.120 Bolin. 212 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.799 For such a famous revolutionist, I expected to find someone 213 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:13.460 more dangerous-looking. 214 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:15.340 Julia, returning. 215 00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:18.769 Don't make up your mind too soon about Jack. He's 216 00:10:18.850 --> 00:10:20.149 liable to startle you. 217 00:10:20.750 --> 00:10:24.330 I'm not easily startled anymore. I'm getting quite used to 218 00:10:24.370 --> 00:10:25.450 meeting revolutionists. 219 00:10:26.029 --> 00:10:28.600 You don't call them revolutionists that you meet at the settlement, 220 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:29.019 I hope? 221 00:10:29.539 --> 00:10:31.600 No, but all sorts of people come there. 222 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:34.879 By the way, Jack phoned me this afternoon and said 223 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:37.440 he'd invited a friend here. I hope you don't mind. 224 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:40.519 Why, no, not at all. Is it one of your 225 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:41.279 Russian friends? 226 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:42.350 Oh, no. 227 00:10:42.710 --> 00:10:46.169 He's an American. His name is Montague. I was just 228 00:10:46.210 --> 00:10:48.950 starting to tell Julia about him. when you came in. 229 00:10:49.549 --> 00:10:50.049 Go ahead. 230 00:10:50.509 --> 00:10:52.909 It was quite an adventure. I don't know that I've 231 00:10:53.129 --> 00:10:55.850 ever had one that was more exciting, and I've had 232 00:10:55.929 --> 00:10:56.730 quite some, you know. 233 00:10:57.309 --> 00:10:58.789 Yes, I've been told so. 234 00:10:59.250 --> 00:11:01.509 It was last election day, in a polling place on 235 00:11:01.529 --> 00:11:04.600 the Bowery. I was a watcher for the socialists, and 236 00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:07.440 this Montague was one of the watchers for the reform crowd. 237 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:11.159 The other one was drunk, and so he had the 238 00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:14.399 work all to himself. It was in the heart of 239 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:16.789 Leary's district, and the crowd there was a tough one. 240 00:11:17.350 --> 00:11:20.029 I can tell you, it was a close election. 241 00:11:20.549 --> 00:11:21.389 Yes, I know. 242 00:11:21.809 --> 00:11:24.669 There'd been all kinds of monkey work going on, and 243 00:11:24.710 --> 00:11:27.620 the box was full of marked and defective ballots, and 244 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:30.120 Montague set to work to make them throw them out. 245 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:33.679 I didn't pay much attention at first. I was only 246 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:36.620 there to see that our own ballots were counted. But 247 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:40.549 pretty soon, I began to take interest. He had every 248 00:11:40.750 --> 00:11:43.409 one in the place against him. There was a Tammany 249 00:11:43.450 --> 00:11:47.470 inspector of elections and four tally clerks. All in with Tammany, 250 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:51.350 of course. There were three or four Tammany policemen, and 251 00:11:51.470 --> 00:11:54.570 outside of the railing, the worst crowd of toughs that 252 00:11:54.789 --> 00:11:58.809 ever you laid eyes on. To make matters worse, there 253 00:11:58.830 --> 00:12:01.490 were several men inside who had no business to be there. 254 00:12:02.090 --> 00:12:05.009 One of them, a judge of the city court, and another, 255 00:12:05.029 --> 00:12:09.039 a state's attorney, and all of them storming at Montague. 256 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:10.379 What did he do? 257 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:13.539 He just made them throw out the marked ballots. They 258 00:12:13.580 --> 00:12:16.220 were willing enough to put them to one side, but 259 00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:19.909 wanted to count them in on the tally sheets. And 260 00:12:19.950 --> 00:12:23.309 of course, Montague knew perfectly well that if they ever 261 00:12:23.389 --> 00:12:26.190 counted them in, they'd close up at the end, and 262 00:12:26.289 --> 00:12:28.789 that would be all there was to it. He had 263 00:12:28.830 --> 00:12:31.649 the law with him, of course. He's a lawyer himself, 264 00:12:32.129 --> 00:12:34.240 and he seemed to know it all by heart, and 265 00:12:34.269 --> 00:12:38.120 he'd quote it to them, paragraph by paragraph, and they'd 266 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:40.700 look it up and find that he was right. And 267 00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:44.269 of course, that only made them madder. The old judge 268 00:12:44.330 --> 00:12:49.029 would start up on his seat. Officer, he'd shout. He 269 00:12:49.070 --> 00:12:54.620 was a red-faced, ignorant fellow. Typical barroom politician. I demand 270 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:57.779 that you put that man out of here. And the 271 00:12:57.820 --> 00:13:01.279 cop actually laid his hand on Montague's shoulder. If he'd 272 00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:04.289 ever been landed on the other side of that railing, 273 00:13:04.370 --> 00:13:06.830 the crowd would have torn him to pieces. But the 274 00:13:06.870 --> 00:13:10.590 man stayed as cool as a cucumber. Officer, he said, 275 00:13:11.230 --> 00:13:13.740 you are aware that I am an election official. here 276 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:16.299 under the protection of the law, and if you refuse 277 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:19.610 me that protection, you are liable to a sentence state's prison. 278 00:13:20.149 --> 00:13:21.889 Then he'd quote another paragraph. 279 00:13:22.450 --> 00:13:24.549 It's a wonder he ever held them. 280 00:13:25.169 --> 00:13:28.549 He did it. He made them throw out 47 ballots, 281 00:13:29.009 --> 00:13:32.080 and 38 of them were Tammany ballots, too. There was 282 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:34.159 one time when I thought the gang was going to 283 00:13:34.179 --> 00:13:36.779 break loose, and I sneaked out and telephoned for help. 284 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:40.059 Then I came back

and spoke up for him. I 285 00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:43.799 wanted them to know there'd be one witness. You should 286 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:45.940 have seen the grateful look that Montague gave me. 287 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.480 I can imagine it. 288 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:49.440 And how did it end? 289 00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:53.159 Why, you see, we kept them there till eleven o'clock 290 00:13:53.230 --> 00:13:56.149 at night, and by that time everybody knew that Tammany 291 00:13:56.169 --> 00:13:58.690 had won, and the ballots were not needed. So the 292 00:13:58.730 --> 00:14:00.909 old judge patted us on the back and told us 293 00:14:00.990 --> 00:14:03.289 we were heroes and invited us out to get drunk 294 00:14:03.309 --> 00:14:06.480 with him. Montague and I walked home together through the 295 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:09.799 election din and got acquainted. I don't know that I 296 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.159 ever met a man I took to more quickly. 297 00:14:12.769 --> 00:14:15.110 You are making a socialist out of him, of course. 298 00:14:15.850 --> 00:14:18.230 Oh, he's coming on. But he's not the sort of 299 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:21.000 man to take his ideas from anyone else. He wants 300 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:24.220 to see for himself. He hasn't been in New York long, 301 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:27.299 you know. He comes from the South. From Mississippi. 302 00:14:27.779 --> 00:14:30.299 From Mississippi? What's his first name? 303 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:31.139 Allen. 304 00:14:31.730 --> 00:14:32.710 Allen Montague? 305 00:14:32.730 --> 00:14:33.789 Do you know him? 306 00:14:34.289 --> 00:14:37.570 Yes, I know him very well indeed. Oh, I didn't... 307 00:14:38.129 --> 00:14:41.169 That is, I have not seen him for a long time. 308 00:14:41.809 --> 00:14:42.929 Recovering her poise. 309 00:14:43.509 --> 00:14:44.669 Is he surely coming? 310 00:14:44.690 --> 00:14:46.710 He generally keeps his engagements. 311 00:14:47.289 --> 00:14:48.450 How did you come to know him? 312 00:14:49.149 --> 00:14:50.730 He's Ali Montague's brother. 313 00:14:50.750 --> 00:14:52.809 Who's Ali Montague? 314 00:14:53.269 --> 00:14:56.330 He's one of those pretty boys that everybody knows in society. 315 00:14:56.870 --> 00:14:59.269 He brought his brother up from the south to introduce him. 316 00:14:59.970 --> 00:15:02.610 He was in some business deal or other with my father. 317 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:05.620 Then he seemed to drop out of everything and nobody 318 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:07.840 sees him anymore. I don't know why. 319 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:10.799 I think he was disgusted with his experiences. Oh. 320 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:14.970 Jack, realizing that he had said something awkward. 321 00:15:16.110 --> 00:15:18.649 I think I was the first socialist he'd ever met. 322 00:15:19.370 --> 00:15:22.009 He had just gotten to the stage of despair. He'd 323 00:15:22.070 --> 00:15:24.649 started out with a long program of reforms, and he 324 00:15:24.690 --> 00:15:28.049 was going to educate the people to them, one by one, 325 00:15:28.850 --> 00:15:31.549 until he made them all effective. I said to him, 326 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:34.360 by the time you've got the attention of the public 327 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:38.080 on reform number 30, what do you suppose the politicians 328 00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:40.220 will have been doing with reform number one? 329 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:43.600 We all have to go through that stage. I can 330 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.740 remember just as well. 331 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.440 A ring upon the bell. 332 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:47.860 Ah, there he is. 333 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:50.620 Jack rises and goes to the door. 334 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:53.519 But I think he's most through butting his head against 335 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:54.200 the stone wall. 336 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.019 Calls. 337 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.519 Are you there, old man? 338 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.100 Montague, off. 339 00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.159 I'm here. 340 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:00.240 How are you? 341 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.279 Fine. 342 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.360 Come right in. 343 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:07.340 Montague enters a tall, handsome man of thirty, self-contained and 344 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:10.340 slow of speech, the dark type of a southerner. 345 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:21.700 I'm a trifle late. Miss Hagen, you? Why, an unexpected pleasure. 346 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:26.080 I'm delighted to meet you, really. 347 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:31.019 Julia, my friend Mr. Montague, Miss Patterson. 348 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:33.879 I'm very glad to meet you, Miss Patterson. 349 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:37.000 We had no idea we were bringing old friends together. 350 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.360 No, it was certainly a coincidence. 351 00:16:41.029 --> 00:16:44.169 It's been, let me see, a year since we've met. 352 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:46.120 It must be fully that. 353 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:48.340 Where do you keep yourself these days? 354 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:51.519 Oh, I'm studying, in a quiet way. 355 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:53.879 And none of your old friends ever see you? 356 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.779 I don't get about much. 357 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.049 And friendship means so little to you as that. I, 358 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.220 it would. 359 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:04.680 Be hard to explain. I have been busy with politics. 360 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.720 A pause of embarrassment. 361 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:10.349 Mr. Bullen has just been telling us about your heroism. 362 00:17:10.950 --> 00:17:12.609 My heroism? Where? 363 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.240 At the polling place. 364 00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:16.500 Oh, that. It was nothing. 365 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:18.559 It seemed like a good deal to us. 366 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:21.559 They can tell you about some of his own adventures. 367 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:25.259

Would you ever think to look at his innocent countenance 368 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:27.650 that he had helped to hold a building for six 369 00:17:27.730 --> 00:17:29.690 hours against Russian artillery? 370 00:17:30.410 --> 00:17:31.849 Good heavens, where was this? 371 00:17:32.609 --> 00:17:34.470 During the St. Petersburg uprising. 372 00:17:34.970 --> 00:17:37.569 And weren't you frightened to death? No. 373 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:41.650 No. We were too busy taking pot shots at the Cossacks. 374 00:17:42.470 --> 00:17:45.299 It was like the hunting season in the Adirondacks. 375 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.980 And how did it turn out? 376 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:49.140 Well, they were too much for us in the end. 377 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:52.779 I got away across the ice of the Neva. I 378 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:55.940 had the heel of one shoe shot off, and yet 379 00:17:56.359 --> 00:18:00.089 people tell us romance is dead. Anybody who is looking 380 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:03.670 for romance and knows what it is can find all 381 00:18:03.710 --> 00:18:04.589 he wants in Russia. 382 00:18:05.089 --> 00:18:07.369 Pause. Laura to Montague. 383 00:18:08.170 --> 00:18:09.730 Have you seen my father lately? 384 00:18:10.329 --> 00:18:12.069 No, not for some time. 385 00:18:12.589 --> 00:18:15.210 You may see him this evening. He promised to call 386 00:18:15.269 --> 00:18:15.630 for me. 387 00:18:16.269 --> 00:18:16.769 Indeed. 388 00:18:17.490 --> 00:18:19.809 Oh, by the way, Julia, I forgot. 389 00:18:20.569 --> 00:18:21.109 How's Annie? 390 00:18:21.609 --> 00:18:22.569 Oh, yes, how is she? 391 00:18:23.390 --> 00:18:25.849 She's doing well, I think. Better every day. 392 00:18:26.410 --> 00:18:27.450 Is she still violent? 393 00:18:28.069 --> 00:18:30.910 Not so much. I can always handle her now. 394 00:18:31.609 --> 00:18:32.829 Is she in the next room? 395 00:18:33.349 --> 00:18:34.329 Looking to the right. 396 00:18:34.869 --> 00:18:37.519 Yes, she's been asleep since this afternoon. 397 00:18:38.190 --> 00:18:40.450 And you still won't let me send her to a hospital. 398 00:18:40.970 --> 00:18:43.440 Oh, no. Truly, it would kill the poor girl. 399 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:46.220 But you, with all your work and your engagements. 400 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:50.240 She's very quiet. And the neighbors come in and help 401 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:52.539 when I'm out. They all sympathize. 402 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:56.400 Talking about heroism, it seems to me that you are 403 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.440 entitled to mention. 404 00:18:58.299 --> 00:19:02.180 Why, nonsense. The girl was simply thrown into my arms. 405 00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:05.029 Most people would have managed to step out of the 406 00:19:05.069 --> 00:19:08.200 way just the same. You've heard the story, have you, Mr. 407 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.740 Montague? 408 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:12.460 Bullen has told it to me. You haven't been able 409 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.609 to get any justice? 410 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:18.569 From the police? Hardly. But we're keeping at it, to 411 00:19:18.609 --> 00:19:22.529 make the story complete. I went to see Captain Quinn today. 412 00:19:23.190 --> 00:19:23.829 What's this? 413 00:19:24.529 --> 00:19:25.009 Says he. 414 00:19:25.650 --> 00:19:26.769 Annie Rogers again? 415 00:19:27.609 --> 00:19:29.990 Didn't your lady friend get her picture in the papers 416 00:19:30.230 --> 00:19:34.430 over that case? And what more does she want? 417 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:37.519 I went this afternoon to see the tammany leader of 418 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:42.289 our district leary the same i went straight into his 419 00:19:42.329 --> 00:19:47.329 saloon lady says he the goyle's nutty you got a 420 00:19:47.430 --> 00:19:50.690 bug-house patient on your hands this here talk about the 421 00:19:50.730 --> 00:19:53.529 white slave traffic, ma'am, it's all the work of these 422 00:19:53.609 --> 00:19:59.740 magazine muckrakers.'' A meaning myself, Mr. Leary,' said I, and 423 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:02.279 he looked kind of puzzled. I don't think he knew 424 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:02.940 who I was. 425 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:07.059 All the work of the muckrakers. I see Boss Grimes 426 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:08.880 is out to that effect also. 427 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:11.960 and I see that half a dozen clergymen sat down 428 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:14.640 to a public banquet with him the other day. That's 429 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:18.180 what we've come to in New York. Bob Grimes, with 430 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:21.809 his hands on every string of the whole infamous system, 431 00:20:22.329 --> 00:20:25.190 with his paws in every filthy graft pot in the city. 432 00:20:26.049 --> 00:20:30.430 Bob Grimes, the type and symbol of it all. Every 433 00:20:30.470 --> 00:20:33.390 time I see a picture of that bulldog face, it 434 00:20:33.490 --> 00:20:35.930 seems to me as if I were confronting all the 435 00:20:35.970 --> 00:20:38.299 horrors that I've ever fought in my life. 436 00:20:39.170 --> 00:20:42.609 It's curious to note how much less denunciation of Tammany 437 00:20:42.730 --> 00:20:44.730 one hears now than in the old days. 438 00:20:45.410 --> 00:20:47.150 Tammany's getting respectable. 439 00:20:47.730 --> 00:20:49.759 The big interests have found out how to use it, 440 00:20:50.069 --> 00:20:51.529 the Traction Gang especially. 441 00:20:52.049 --> 00:20:56.779 He stops abruptly, a tense pause. Laura, leaning toward him 442 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:58.220 with great earnestness. 443 00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:01.180 Mr. Bullen, is that really true? 444 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.839 That is true, Miss Hegan. 445 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.960 Mr. Bullen, you will understand what it means to me 446 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:09.359 to hear that statement made. I hear it made continually, 447 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:11.440 and I ask if it is true, and I am 448 00:21:11.529 --> 00:21:14.190 told that it

is a slander. How am I to know? 449 00:21:14.849 --> 00:21:16.609 Would you be able to tell me that you know 450 00:21:16.650 --> 00:21:18.349 it of your own personal knowledge? 451 00:21:18.930 --> 00:21:20.630 Jack, weighing the words. 452 00:21:21.250 --> 00:21:23.410 No, I could not say that. 453 00:21:23.910 --> 00:21:25.880 Would you say that you could prove it to a jury? 454 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:28.759 I would say that if I had to prove it, 455 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.440 I could get the evidence. 456 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:32.359 What would you say, Mr. 457 00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:32.920 Montague? 458 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:35.759 I would rather not say, Miss Hagen. 459 00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.529 Please. 460 00:21:37.109 --> 00:21:38.650 Please, I want you to answer me. 461 00:21:39.210 --> 00:21:41.029 Montague, after a pause. 462 00:21:41.690 --> 00:21:44.170 I would say that I shall be able to prove 463 00:21:44.210 --> 00:21:45.539 it very shortly. 464 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.519 How do you mean? 465 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:49.619 I have been given most of my time to a 466 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:52.779 study of just that question, and I think that I 467 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:54.000 shall have the evidence. 468 00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:58.970 I see. She sinks back, very white. A pause. The 469 00:21:59.009 --> 00:21:59.730 bell rings. 470 00:22:00.289 --> 00:22:01.109 Who can that be? 471 00:22:01.670 --> 00:22:02.950 Jack, springing up. 472 00:22:03.390 --> 00:22:04.099 Let me answer it. 473 00:22:04.349 --> 00:22:06.190 Presses button, then to Montague. 474 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:09.460 Had no idea you were going in for that, old man. 475 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:12.180 This is the first time I have ever mentioned it 476 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:12.859 to anyone. 477 00:22:13.349 --> 00:22:17.289 Julia, rising, hoping to relieve an embarrassed situation. 478 00:22:17.950 --> 00:22:19.750 I hope this isn't any more company. 479 00:22:20.210 --> 00:22:22.529 Jack, to Montague, aside. 480 00:22:22.869 --> 00:22:24.609 You must let me tell you a few things that 481 00:22:24.650 --> 00:22:27.410 I know. I've been running down a little story about 482 00:22:27.470 --> 00:22:28.950 Grimes and the Traction Crowd. 483 00:22:29.430 --> 00:22:30.819 Indeed? What is it? 484 00:22:31.309 --> 00:22:33.650 I can't tell it to you now. It would take 485 00:22:33.690 --> 00:22:34.069 too long. 486 00:22:34.289 --> 00:22:35.349 But, gee. 487 00:22:36.130 --> 00:22:38.630 If I can get the evidence, it'll make your hair 488 00:22:38.730 --> 00:22:41.210 stand on end. It has to do with the Grand 489 00:22:41.410 --> 00:22:42.609 Avenue railroad suit. 490 00:22:43.190 --> 00:22:46.210 The one that's pending in the Court of Appeals? Yes. 491 00:22:46.609 --> 00:22:50.039 You see, Jim Hegan stands to lose a fortune by it, 492 00:22:50.410 --> 00:22:52.849 and I've reason to believe that there's some monkey work 493 00:22:52.930 --> 00:22:55.829 being done

with the court. It happens that one of 494 00:22:55.849 --> 00:22:59.839 the judges has a nephew, a dissipated chap who hates him. 495 00:23:00.210 --> 00:23:02.170 He's an old college friend of mine, and he's trying 496 00:23:02.210 --> 00:23:03.420 to get some evidence for me. 497 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:05.519 Good Lord. And think. 498 00:23:06.349 --> 00:23:08.670 It concerns Jim Hagen, personally. 499 00:23:09.210 --> 00:23:10.069 A knock at the door. 500 00:23:10.769 --> 00:23:11.170 I'll go. 501 00:23:11.849 --> 00:23:14.369 Opens the door. Hagen, without. 502 00:23:14.970 --> 00:23:17.210 Good evening. Is Miss Hagen here? 503 00:23:17.849 --> 00:23:19.240 Laura, standing up. 504 00:23:19.650 --> 00:23:21.589 Father! Won't you come in? 505 00:23:22.170 --> 00:23:22.549 Thank you. 506 00:23:23.289 --> 00:23:27.289 Enters a tall, powerfully built man with a square jaw, wide, 507 00:23:27.450 --> 00:23:32.170 overarching eyebrows, and keen eyes that peer at one. A 508 00:23:32.210 --> 00:23:36.539 prominent nose, the aspect of the predatory eagle. a man 509 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:39.859 accustomed to let other people talk and to read their thoughts. 510 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.200 Why, Mr. 511 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:45.059 Montague, you here? Mr. Hagen, why, how do you do? 512 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:48.920 We stumbled on each other by chance. Father, this is 513 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.819 Miss Patterson. 514 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:53.160 I am very pleased to meet you, Miss Patterson. How 515 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:54.269 do you do, Mr. Hagen? 516 00:23:54.789 --> 00:23:55.609 They shake hands. 517 00:23:56.269 --> 00:23:56.869 And Mr. 518 00:23:56.890 --> 00:23:57.269 Bullen? 519 00:23:57.789 --> 00:24:00.269 Bullen, remaining where he is stiffly. 520 00:24:00.789 --> 00:24:01.509 Good evening, sir. 521 00:24:02.069 --> 00:24:03.069 Turns to Laura. 522 00:24:03.569 --> 00:24:03.990 My dear. 523 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:07.420 I finished up downtown sooner than I expected, and I 524 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:10.190 have another conference at the house. I stopped off to 525 00:24:10.210 --> 00:24:12.289 see if you cared to come now, or if I 526 00:24:12.309 --> 00:24:12.890 should send. 527 00:24:12.730 --> 00:24:13.609 Back the car for you. 528 00:24:14.190 --> 00:24:15.490 I think you'd best send it back. 529 00:24:16.450 --> 00:24:18.769 Why, yes. She only just got here. 530 00:24:19.529 --> 00:24:20.029 Very well. 531 00:24:20.789 --> 00:24:23.430 Won't you stop a minute? No, I really can't. 532 00:24:23.970 --> 00:24:25.799 Mr. Grimes is waiting for me downstairs. 533 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:28.079 Laura, involuntarily. 534 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:28.819 Mr. 535 00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:29.339 Grimes? 536 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:30.140 Yes. 537 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.720 Robert Grimes? 538 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.579 Yes. 539 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.259 Why? 540 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:33.349 Why? 541 00:24:33.950 --> 00:24:36.779 Nothing,

only we happened to be just talking about him. 542 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:37.960 I see. 543 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.140 We happen to have one of his victims in the 544 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:42.099 next room. One of his victims? 545 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.240 Jack? 546 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:46.619 A daughter of the slums. One of the helpless girls 547 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:49.000 who have to pay tribute that he... A. 548 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:51.779 Piercing and terrifying scream is heard off right. 549 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:52.759 Annie! 550 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.960 Runs off. 551 00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.019 What's that? 552 00:24:55.569 --> 00:24:58.529 The screams continue. Julia, off. 553 00:24:59.130 --> 00:24:59.410 Help! 554 00:24:59.930 --> 00:25:00.269 Help! 555 00:25:00.849 --> 00:25:04.380 Jack, who is nearest, leaps toward the door. but before 556 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:07.940 he can reach it it is flung violently open annie 557 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:12.339 enters deliriously her bare arms and throat covered with bruises 558 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:17.099 her hair loose and her aspect wild an irish peasant 559 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:22.279 girl aged twenty no no let me go rushes into 560 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:26.809 the opposite corner and cowers in terror julia following her 561 00:25:27.490 --> 00:25:31.930 annie annie annie flings her off and stretches out her 562 00:25:32.089 --> 00:25:33.380 arms What do. 563 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.099 You want with me? 564 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:34.880 Help! 565 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:35.720 Help! 566 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.390 I won't do it. 567 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.140 I won't stay. 568 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:40.240 Let me alone. Wild and frantic sobbing. 569 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:44.430 Annie, dear. Annie, look at me. Don't you know me? 570 00:25:45.170 --> 00:25:49.529 I'm Julia. Your own Julia. No one shall hurt you. 571 00:25:49.670 --> 00:25:50.269 No one. 572 00:25:51.029 --> 00:25:55.049 Annie stares at her wildly. He's after me still. 573 00:25:55.410 --> 00:25:56.410 He'll follow me here. 574 00:25:56.470 --> 00:25:57.809 He won't let me get away from him. 575 00:25:57.970 --> 00:25:58.809 Oh, save me. 576 00:25:59.410 --> 00:26:00.869 Julia, embracing her. 577 00:26:01.509 --> 00:26:04.789 Listen to me, dear. Don't think of things like that. 578 00:26:05.569 --> 00:26:09.609 You are in my home. Nothing can hurt you. Don't 579 00:26:09.690 --> 00:26:12.089 let these evil dreams take hold of you. 580 00:26:12.930 --> 00:26:19.099 Annie stares, succumbing out of a trance. Why didn't you 581 00:26:19.130 --> 00:26:21.779 help me before? Come, dear, come. 582 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.180 It's too late. 583 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.779 Too late. 584 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:27.049 Oh, I can't forget about it. 585 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.900 Yes, dear, I know. 586 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:31.140 Annie, seeing the others. 587 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:31.900 Who? 588

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:36.619 They are all friends. They will help you. Come, dear, 589 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.559 lie down again. 590 00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:39.700 Oh, what shall I do? 591 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.559 Is led off sobbing. 592 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:45.000 It will be all right, dear. Exit. 593 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:46.119 A pause. 594 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.640 What does this mean? 595 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:50.420 Jack, promptly and ruthlessly. 596 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.690 It means that you have been seeing the white slave 597 00:26:52.730 --> 00:26:53.589 traffic in action. 598 00:26:54.069 --> 00:26:54.930 I don't understand. 599 00:26:55.490 --> 00:26:58.049 Tens of thousands of girl slaves are needed for the 600 00:26:58.089 --> 00:27:01.450 markets of our great cities, for the number of camps 601 00:27:01.509 --> 00:27:04.230 of the North. the mining camps of the West, the 602 00:27:04.289 --> 00:27:07.730 ditches of Panama. And every four or five years, the 603 00:27:07.750 --> 00:27:10.950 supply must be renewed. And so the business of gathering 604 00:27:10.970 --> 00:27:13.349 these girl slaves from our slums is one of the 605 00:27:13.410 --> 00:27:18.150 great industries of the city. This girl, Annie Rogers, a 606 00:27:18.210 --> 00:27:21.210 decent girl from the north of Ireland, was lured into 607 00:27:21.250 --> 00:27:24.150 a dance hall and drugged, and then taken to a 608 00:27:24.190 --> 00:27:27.380 brothel and locked in a third-story room. They took her 609 00:27:27.390 --> 00:27:29.910 clothing away from her. but she broke down her door 610 00:27:29.970 --> 00:27:32.410 at night and fled to the streets in her wrapper 611 00:27:33.049 --> 00:27:36.609 and flung herself into Miss Patterson's arms. Two men were 612 00:27:36.650 --> 00:27:39.950 pursuing her. They tried to carry her off. Miss Patterson 613 00:27:39.970 --> 00:27:43.009 called a policeman, but he said the girl was insane. 614 00:27:43.769 --> 00:27:46.019 Only by making a disturbance and drawing a crowd was 615 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:48.859 my friend able to save her. And now we have 616 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:52.160 been the rounds, from the sergeant at the station and 617 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:54.799 the police captain to the chief of police and the 618 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:57.750 mayor himself. We have been to the Tammany leader of 619 00:27:57.789 --> 00:28:00.950 the district, the real boss of the neighborhood. And there 620 00:28:01.009 --> 00:28:04.039 is no justice to be had anywhere for Annie Rogers. 621 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.740 Impossible. 622 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:09.240 You have my word for it, sir. And the reason 623 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:11.660 for it is that this hideous traffic is one of 624 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:14.940 the main cogs in our political machine. The pimps and 625 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:18.369 the panders. The cadets and the macro. They vote the 626 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:21.650 ticket of the organization. They contribute to the campaign funds. 627 00:28:21.950 --> 00:28:26.000 They serve as colonizers and repeaters at the polls. The 628 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:29.640 tribute that they pay amounts to millions, and it is 629 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:32.920 shared from the lowest to the highest in the organization, 630 00:28:33.329 --> 00:28:36.150 from the ward man on the street to the police captain, 631 00:28:36.509 --> 00:28:40.170 up to the inner circle of the chiefs of Tammany Hall. Yes, 632 00:28:40.549 --> 00:28:45.289 even to your friend, Mr. Robert Grimes himself. A thousand times, sir, 633 00:28:45.390 --> 00:28:48.529 has the truth about this monstrous infamy been put before 634 00:28:48.569 --> 00:28:50.910 the people of your city, and that they have not 635 00:28:50.970 --> 00:28:53.650 long ago risen in their wrath and driven its agents 636 00:28:53.690 --> 00:28:56.680 from their midst is due, to but one single fact, 637 00:28:57.259 --> 00:29:00.539 that this infamous organization of crime and graft is backed 638 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:04.079 at each election time by the millions of the great 639 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:11.220 public service corporations. It is they Montague, interfering. Bullen, let 640 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:14.700 me go on. It is they, sir, who finance the 641 00:29:14.809 --> 00:29:18.750 thugs and repeaters who desecrate our polls. It is they 642 00:29:18.849 --> 00:29:21.490 who suborn our press and blind the eyes of our people. 643 00:29:22.089 --> 00:29:24.779 It is they who are responsible for this traffic in 644 00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:28.339 the flesh of our women. It is they who have 645 00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:32.380 to answer for the tottering reason of that poor peasant 646 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.700 girl in the next room. 647 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:38.069 Laura has been listening to this speech white with horror 648 00:29:38.509 --> 00:29:41.720 as the indictment proceeds she covers her face with her 649 00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:46.380 hands at this point she breaks into uncontrollable weeping oh 650 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:51.190 i can't stand it hegan springing to her side my 651 00:29:51.269 --> 00:29:56.230 dear laura clasping him father father. 652 00:29:55.829 --> 00:29:58.930 My child i have begged you not to come to 653 00:29:58.950 --> 00:30:01.609 these places Why should you see such things? 654 00:30:02.549 --> 00:30:05.190 Why should I not see them so long as they exist? 655 00:30:05.990 --> 00:30:07.730 I won't have it. This is the end of it. 656 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:09.920 I mean what I say. Come home with me. 657 00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:11.200 Come home at once. 658 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:14.000 With Grimes? I won't meet that man. 659 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:17.839 Very well, then. You need not meet him. I'll call 660 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:19.339 a cab and take you myself. 661 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:20.799 Where are your things? 662 00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:23.519 Laura, looking to the left. 663 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:24.789 In that room. 664 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:25.970 Come, then. 665 00:30:26.490 --> 00:30:27.230 Takes her off. 666 00:30:27.750 --> 00:30:28.009 Jack. 667 00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:31.670 Turns to Montague and to Julia, who appears in the 668 00:30:31.710 --> 00:30:32.690 doorway at right. 669 00:30:33.170 --> 00:30:35.089 We gave it to them straight that time, all right. 670 00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:38.660 Curtain End of Act 1