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ACT II, SCENE ONE (Small-town Meeting )
NOTE: During overture of Act Two, a map of TVA territory is projected on house curtain.
[Fictional characters. Incidents from article by Fred Pasley, News Syndicate, August 20, 1936.]
CHARACTERS
- LOUDSPEAKER
CHAIRMAN
BARBER
GROCER
BUTCHER
TWO SMALL BUSINESS MEN
LOUDSPEAKER: 1935, Dayton, Tennessee.
(Light on group, right. Six small-town BUSINESS MEN seated on boxes. A grocery store interior is projected.)
CHAIRMAN (probably insurance agent): ...Now here's the situation: The company's chargin' us five and a half cents. If we get the juice from TVA it'll cost us two and a half or less. Now, what're we goin' to do about it?
BARBER (in his working clothes): Seems pretty silly to get me down here to answer a question like that. Let's get it from the Government! (Stands up and takes step toward center) So long, boys. I got a fellow in the chair who's waitin' for a shave.
CHAIRMAN: Wait a minute, Joe. The Government won't supply us with juice while another company's in here.
GROCER: You mean we got to pay double just because there's a company in here already... that if we didn't have light and power, the Government could come in and we'd save fifty per cent?
CHAIRMAN: That's right. But they won't compete with private industry.
BUTCHER: Then the company's still top dog.
CHAIRMAN: That's the way it looks.... I had a talk with 'em this morning, and they won't cut rates. Say they're down to the bone now. Cut 'em and they'll show a loss.
BUTCHER: At two and a half cents I could have that electric refrigerator in the store.
GROCER: And I could electrify the whole business — coffee grinder, slicing machine and all.
BARBER: Let's do something about it.
CHAIRMAN: Seems to me there's two things we can do. We can either buy out the plant...
BARBER: With what?
CHAIRMAN: I'm coming to that — or we can build our own plant. Lots of other towns have 'em.
GROCER: What'll we use for money?
CHAIRMAN: The Government will lend it to us at three per cent and we can pay it back in twenty-five years out of the profits.
BUTCHER: Will there be any profits?
CHAIRMAN: At two and a half cents we'll make enough each year not only to pay off the debt, but to light every street in town and maybe take care of the pavin' too. (Excitedly) Now here's the proposition. (Stands up) We go to the company and ask them to cut rates. If they won't cut we offer to buy 'em out. And if...
GROCER: And if they won't sell...
CHAIRMAN: By God, we'll build our own! (Slowly, after a pause) All those in favor?
CHORUS: Aye.
Blackout
Introduction | Essay | Script | Lessons | Resources