Radium Girls

lines for Mrs. MacNeil and Court Judge

GRACE. Mrs. MacNeil!

Paintin’ yer faces. Have ya gone off yer minds?

IRENE. It was just a joke.

Just a joke? A joke like that can lose a girl her job.

VON SOCHOCKY. I’m sure that’s not necessary

I don’t tolerate no foolishness, Doctor

VON SOCHOCKY. My new vice president. And your new plant manager.

And I was just telling Mr. Roeder what a fine bunch of girls we have here. I’m sure now he must think I’m halfway out of my mind.

GRACE. Well it sounds like a nice service anyhow.

Girls, girls! The whistle’s already gone. Now, then. I’ve received new instructions this day. We’re going back to the old way of pointin’ the brushes. We was losin’ too much pain in the cloth

GRACE. But—

Yes, Grace? Something you wish to say?

GRACE. Hesaid it’s—unsanitary

Unsanitary? Well, I can’t hardly believe he’d say such a thing. We’ve done this as long as I’ve been here. Ya must’ve misunderstood him.

GRACE. Yes ma’am

And you’re not to get a new brush untill you’ve done with the old. And they got to be so bad they cant get a point no more.

KATHRYN. Ya cant make quota like that

Well you’ll do your best, then. Since I have my instructions

IRENE. I need a new brush

(walk around F of table pick brush up, set down get one from pocket, go around table) It’s not for us to be askin’ questions, is it? Its for us to do the work.

KATHRYN. And two days later we was taking her to Rosedale cemetery

Girls, girls! Your attention, please. The gentlemen are here to make an announcement

VON SOCHOCKY. More then I dreamed possible

(dab eyes) Thank you, Doctor

ROEDER. We’ll make it now. Mrs. MacNeil?

Uh. Well. We’ll be askin’ some of you girls to go on up there

ROEDER. You have some girls in mind?

Louise Conlon was one. Sarah Deutsch. Lena McCarthy… and Kathryn Schaub. I have the entire list downstairs. I’ll post it today

VON SOCHOCKY. Thank you, ladies. My best wishes to you.

That’s back to work with you, girls

BERRY. I withdraw. No more questions

Your witness, Mr. Markley.

MARKLEY. We have no questions for this witness, Your Honor.

All right, gentlemen. Please approach. I’m ready to issue my ruling

MARKLEY. Your honor, we have yet to present our defence

I relize that, Mr. Markley, but this proceeding is to determine standing. Now, i’ve heard enough these two days to make that determineation. the radium in the bones of these girls is an on going source of poison in their systems. Nothing your witness can say will change that fact. Will it?

MARKLEY. Our witnesses are prepared to testify that the company could not have known about the danger.

(look at jury, nod) Mr. Markley, in the interest of justice, I am asking that the defense rest without calling any witnesses. We can conclude this hearing today and schedule the case for trial.

MARKLEY. All right, Your Honor

Fine. I therefore rule that the statue of limitations has not been exhausted and these girls have standing to sue

MARKLEY. Surely you will not force us to make our defense at trial without the presence of our key witness?

(look for jury,theyre gone) All right, Mr. markley. Trial is set for September. This hearing is adjourned. (slam mallet)