Amanda Rutledge, Nyrene Monforte, Adam Kristensen, Willow Edge

Magenta Group
Plot:
Katherine is lying sick in bed, slowly dying of sickness. Family crowded around, and the father
promises to try and work harder to save her. Her brother volunteers to start working to help pay for
living expenses, and experiences harsh treatment in the factories.

Theme:
Ones opportunities and chances of survival in life are based on economic income.
Setting:
A New York tenement house, Tuesday, midday/afternoon, September of 1868
and
A couple of days later in a New York shoe factory

Amanda Rutledge, Nyrene Monforte, Adam Kristensen, Willow Edge

Magenta Group
Characters:
(German family)
Katherine: Daughter with cholera (on deathbed) (Willow)
Klaus Jger: Father (Adam)
Fritz: Son (Urchin) (Nyrene)
John: Mean Factory Manager (American) (Amanda)
Ronaldo: Italian Factory Worker (Willow)
Script:
Katherine is dying, frail, on a bed. Fritz and her Papa, crowded around her, are talking quietly,
concerned.
KLAUS: She needs a doctor.
FRITZ: With what were earning well never be able to save enough.
KLAUS: Ill just work ten times as hard. Maybe I can get a raise at work.
KATHERINE: (weakly) No, Papa, you work too hard as is, you mustn't. Im fine. (coughs)
FRITZ: Kat, I cant let you die. Youre my best friend and my sister.
KATHERINE: (reassuring) I wont die, its just a little cold Fritz.
FRITZ: (stops, thinks) Wait, Papa, could you get me a job at the factory?
KLAUS: It wont be easy, but I still can try. You shouldnt have to work when youre just twelve,
though. Im the Papa of the family; I should bring in the money.
FRITZ: But Papa, I must! Ill head to the shoe factory first thing tomorrow. Getting a doctor is
expensive.
KLAUS: What do you think Katherine?
KATHERINE: He mustn't! Frit I swear Im fine!
FRITZ: I will! If Papa wont get me a job at his factory, Ill just go to a different one. I have to do this
for Katherine!

Amanda Rutledge, Nyrene Monforte, Adam Kristensen, Willow Edge

Magenta Group
KLAUS: If this is what you really want, its best if Im there to watch over you. Come with me
tomorrow and well talk to my manager, John.

There is a pause before next scene. The next day, in the described shoe factory. The factory is dark,
cramped, and filled with large and complex machines.
JOHN: Get it line boys, youve got lots of work ahead of you.
KLAUS: Excuse me Sir, this is my son, Fritz. Hed like a job at the factory.
JOHN: Im sure there will be a job for him somewhere, but it wont be pleasant. You up for that, boy?
FRITZ: Yessir!
JOHN: Now see all of the other urchins in the back? Go join them there, youre going to be cutting
lengths of shoelace.
FRITZ is harshly pushed into position by JOHN, and stumbles next to RONALDO.
JOHN: Hurry up! You dont want to make a bad impression on day one. (John walks away)
FRITZ: (mutters under breath)
RONALDO: (heavy Italian accent) Yeah, watch out for him, hell yell at you any chance he gets.
FRITZ: Is he really always like that?
RONALDO: Thats what I just said, kid. Pay attention.
FRITZ: (belligerently) Just wanted to be clear, its hard to tell with that accent of yours.
RONALDO: Listen kid, I dont know if youre trying to start something, but you need ta keep yer head
down and shut yer yap if you want to get anywhere in this factory, hell, in this world.
FRITZ: (mutters)
RONALDO: Speak up, I couldnt hear ya.
FRITZ: I just--

Amanda Rutledge, Nyrene Monforte, Adam Kristensen, Willow Edge

Magenta Group
JOHN: (shouts, cutting Fritz off) Less talking, more working!
FRITZ: (in a quiet voice) Never mind.
The two begin to work silently, close together. FRITZ recoils as RONALDO coughs on him. FRITZ then
returns back to working and they do a tableau vivant to end the scene.
Later, they arrive at home, FRITZ hesitates for a moment then walks in, KLAUS close behind. FRITZ
has a few cents in his pocket, and is hopeful that it will be enough to save KATHERINE.
FRITZ: Sis...Katherine! Its gonna be fine! I have a bit o money! It should be enough, and Ill go fetch
the doctor right now (hearing silence he speaks again, but concerned) Katherine...?
KATHERINE: (calling softly from bed) Fritz? Is that you?
FRITZ: Katherine, is everything okay? You look much worse than before. But its alright, see, I can get
a doctor! (shows the money) Everythingll be okay. (starts to walk out but is stopped by Katherine)
KATHERINE: No, Fritz, dont worry yourself. (suddenly overtaken by a coughing fit)
FRITZ: Katherine, Katherine!
KLAUS: Quickly, Fritz, get her some water!
(Fritz runs over to get water and then back to Katherines side)
FRITZ: Drink this.
KATHERINE: Thank you, Fri- (Katherine suddenly coughs violently, drops the glass, and falls to the
bed she was sitting on. She is presumed dead)
FRITZ: Katherine? Katherine! Wake up!! Katherine! (Klaus puts his hand on Fritzs shoulder)
FRITZ: (still in shock) Katherine(softly, almost sobbing) If you could have just held out a little longer
I could have saved you.
They all freeze, and the scene ends.