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ACT I, SCENE ELEVEN (Consumer Sues)
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CHARACTERS
- CONSUMER
LOUDSPEAKER
(Music interlude. Enter CONSUMER, left. Instead of his normal, timid self, he has become a roaring lion. He crosses, full of determination, his shoulders high. The projection becomes a cartoon of Justice over a prizefight ring.)
CONSUMER: I'm sick and tired of all this kickin' around. Every time they want to take a sock at somebody, I'm the guy that gets it. First it was that monopoly business. Then it was the rate base. Then it was the holding company. On top of that, stocks go up but I can't squawk because what would happen to the poor little widows and orphans that eke out a bare existence on their dividends! I say, to hell with 'em; I'm goin' to fight! (Takes off coat and hat and drops them on floor.)
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LOUDSPEAKER: December 28, 1929 — Long Island consumers file a petition for lower rates against the Long Island Lighting Company. [Public Service Commission, New York, N. Y.] (CONSUMER begins to shadow box.) January 27, 1930 — the Company answers. The case is argued. (CONSUMER throws out blows left and right.)
LOUDSPEAKER (continuing): The Company wins an injunction. (CONSUMER takes a haymaker and sits down hard. He shakes his head to clear it, then:)
CONSUMER (philosophically): Oh, well, what did I lose?
LOUDSPEAKER: Plenty.
CONSUMER: Huh?
LOUDSPEAKER: That case cost the company two million, two hundred thousand dollars to fight. It's appearing in your rate base next year. [New York Times, February 9, 1935, p. 1, col. 1.]
CONSUMER (groaning): Oooooh! (He keels over.)
Blackout
Introduction | Essay | Script | Lessons | Resources