jandrea


 * __JUSTICE__

SETTING** March 30, 2009. Paredes Soda Company in Boston, Massachusetts. There are 2 colorful machines: one orange and the other one purple. Each color represents a different flavor. There’s a little podium in one corner. It’s hot inside the factory, but the windows have to be closed. The factory is very illuminated.There are workers at each of the machines.


 * CHARACTERS:**
 * Kourtney: Main character, undocumented worker trying to find a way to stop the boss from telling them what to say and act. Salvadorian. Moved here 2 years ago but is pretty good in her English. 17 years old.
 * John: American owner of the company, and thinks he can threaten his workers. 47 years old.
 * Investigator: The person chosen by the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) to investigate the company's low wages.
 * Sophia: Undocumented worker from Mexico who is afraid to do anything. Moved here 2 and a half years ago. Parents taught her English when she was young. 22 years old.
 * Junior: Documented worker who tries to help Kourtney. Puerto Rican. 20 years old.
 * Intergrated group workers: They are working all around the machines. They don't speak in the play.

//(When the curtains open, there are workers at each of the colorful machines making soda.Kourtney and Sophia are working on the orange colored machines which means they are making orange soda)//

JOHN: //(The boss enters and stands behind his podium. He claps loudly to ask for attention. Addresses the workers)// You better keep the good reputation of this company, because it is prohibited to say anything bad about this company. If rumors start, I will find out who has the big mouth and send them back to their countries! //(Loudly)// Understood?

EVERYONE: Yes, sir. ​

JOHN: Ok. //(demanding)// Go back to work and look happy!

//(Workers head back to work. John goes to talk to some reporters offstage) ​//

REPORTERS: //(offstage////)// Mr. John, how do your workers feel about working for this company?

JOHN:// (walking offstage, proudly) //Ah yes. They love the company. They couldn't be in a better place. They have everything they need, good pay, good schedules, so they can spend time with their families... //(voice fades as he gets offstage)//

KOURTNEY: //(Furious)// I can't take it anymore. All of this is a lie. He's nothing but a big fat liar. We don't get good pay. Obviously we don't have good schedules, because he makes us stay here for such a long time like 10 or more hours. I don't get to see my daughter. It's not fair that he treats us like this!

SOPHIA: //(Whispering)// Kourtney, shh! You better keep quiet; I don't want him to send me back. This is the only place where I can get food for myself.

KOURTNEY: //(Very frustrated)// What are you talking about? He only pays us $3.75 per hour. How can you eat with that? That's why I had to give my daughter to my mother. I can't afford food. I'm basically homeless, and you know what? If I have to be in these conditions I'd rather...

//(JOHN comes back onstage. The reporters do not appear onstage, but we see cameras flashing. Everyone fakes happiness)//

JOHN: Oh thank you!... Look how happy my workers are!... Ah thank you. Anytime. //(Closes door, turns abruptly to workers, and demands)// You better be happy. I'm not going to lose my job for your stupidity. //(leaves stage)//

KOURTNEY//:(Angrily)// See? //(points into the direction where JOHN disappeared)// How can he talk to us like that. He should be ashamed of himself thinking he can control us with fear!

SOPHIA: Umm... Kourtney, he is our boss.

KOURTNEY: //(whispering)// Sophia, this has been bothering me for a long time. I cry every night. I can't sleep. My mom's boyfriend from Puerto Rico told me that there were labor laws that protect workers' rights, and that I should research them at the library.

SOPHIA: //(whispering)// What?

KOURTNEY: //(whispering)// Yeah, so now,.....I'm going to file a complaint.

SOPHIA: //(Shocked and loud)// WHAT? //(whispering)// Are you crazy? He's going to fire you. Don't do it!

KOURTNEY: No, he can't. I was searching for workers' rights on the computer in the library, and it says, "It is a violation of the Fair Labor Standars Act to fire or in any other manner discriminate against an employee for filing a complaint or for participating in a legal proceeding under the Act." I got it from the Department of Labor's website [|www.dol.gov].

SOPHIA: Oh, please, Kourtney!

KOURTNEY: //(trying to persuade her)// It doesn't matter what we say. That's the law, and he's breaking it. He can go to jail for all this.

SOPHIA: //(Sarcastically)// Ha-ha! He might go to jail, but we'll be deported to our countries.

//(JUNIOR enters into the conversation)//

JUNIOR: Where did you get all this information?

KOURTNEY: F rom the government website. It helped me open my eyes. There's so many things we didnt know. He could be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000.

SOPHIA: //(confused)// What does that mean?

JUNIOR: //(facing in SOPHIA's direction)// It means that he can go to jail and will have to pay $10,000.

SOPHIA: Oh. That's a lot of money.

KOURTNEY: Yes, I know... //(gets interrupted by JOHN who is clapping loudly and asking for attention)//

JOHN: //(angry, nervous, and talking in a rush)// Listen up. I have something to say. I was watching the news, and they said that there's rumors circulating about me not paying fairly in this company. So the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) are starting an investigation. I do not know how these rumors started, but whoever started them, they are in big trouble. //(Can't stand still)// Oh, I can't take this. I'm going to my office.

//(JOHN leaves the stage and the workers start talking to each other confused on what just happen. Kourtney, Junior, and Sophia are pretty shocked. Kourtney and Junior are thinking of what to do)//

SOPHIA: //(confused)// Kourtney, did you file your complaint?

KOURTNEY: I can't tell you that. That is extremely confidential, and I don't think I can trust you anymore, due to the fact that when I told you my plan, you just turned your back on me.

SOPHIA: You know I just did that, because I need money to survive.

KOURTNEY: I do too, and that's why someone needs to stand up for everyone. //(KOURTNEY// //gets a piece of paper out of her pocket and gives it to JUNIOR)// I printed this paper from where I got all my information.

SOPHIA: I feel as if you are doing all this to send us back. You don't really care about us.

KOURTNEY: No, I don't want to send you guys home, but I want to go. I don't want to stay here anymore.

SOPHIA: //(yelling)// Then why are you doing this? Why don't you just go and turn yourself in? We don't want to go back home!

KOURTNEY: I'm trying to help you...

SOPHIA: Well, you're not! You're just making things worse!

KOURTNEY: You have fake papers. So why do you care?

SOPHIA: I care, because even if they are fake, they can still find out. Don't you think before you speak?

JUNIOR: Can you guys stop? We don't have time for your stupid fights. We need to see what we can do.

SOPHIA: You're just saying that, because you're legal here. We're not. Oh she doesn't care. She wants to go home, but I don't, and I do not want to run away from justice.

JUNIOR: Sophia listen to this I was reading the paper Kourtney gave me and it says that the minimum wage is supposed to be $7.25 for all workers, both documented and undocumented immigrants. The employer, John, is supposed to pay all of us overtime. If an employee, Kourtney, files a complaint or gives information during an investigation they are protected under the law. They can't be discrimated or discharged because they did that. And if someone like breaks this the employee can sue them. So if John breaks any of this laws he may face criminal penalties, fines, imprisonment, they can lose their Federal contracts and be declared ineligible for future contracts for a specified period.

SOPHIA: //(confused)// Hmph. I dont understand that but I dont care!

KOURTNEY: See? He broke all the laws, when the WHD investigator comes John is going to prison and we will get all the money he stole from us.

JUNIOR: //(still looking at the paper)// This is very serious Kourtney.

KOURTNEY: //(a little offended)// You think I dont know. Of course this is serious.

SOPHIA: You're doing all this for just more money.

KOURTNEY: //(to SOPHIA)// You really dont get it do you? It's not only the money, it's the whole lie he's trying to make everyone believe. It's how he makes us work for so long and not pay us what he's supposed to. It's not just the money. Like Junior said he needs to pay us at least $7.25 per hour. Also for the over time we are supposed to get not less than time and one-half our regular rates of pay but he doesnt give us anything.

JUNIOR: Oh Kourtney? This is for legal immigrants for illegal they dont have a law. . SOPHIA: I knew that! Of course they don't have a law they don't care!

KOURTNEY: No the law for the right to be paid minimum wage and overtime applies to ALL workers no matter if they are legal or illegal. Exactly Sophia so shut up because you don't know anything.

SOPHIA: //(mad)// You dont tell me to shut up. Who you think you are//?//

JUNIOR: You both need to shut up.

//**SCENE TWO**//

//(2 hours after all the confusion everyone starts hearing noises of people talking and cameras flashings. JOHN is coming in to the stage to stand behind his podium)//

JOHN: //(talking pretty fast)// Oh my gosh the WHD investigator is outside I am going to let him come in have a sit here and all of you will get out of this room then he will call for you. Do not even dare say anything bad about the company. I have no time to tell you everything but remember negative equals unemployment/deportation. //(Laughs nervously)//

KOURTNEY: //(whispering to SOPHIA, talking fast)// I'm going to say the truth, Junior.

JUNIOR: You might get deported.

KOURTNEY: I know that.

//(KOURTNEY is called. She is very nervious. but she's determined to do it)//

INVESTIGATOR: //(friendly tone)// Hello. I am the investigator from (WHD). I come here because there has been reports that this company pays its workers way less than the minimum wage is supposed to be. So Im going to ask a few questions and I would really appreciate if you answered with full sincerity. How you feel working here for this company?

KOURTNEY: //(trying to figure how to put her words)// I feel exploited.

INVESTIGATOR: //(not shocked at all writing in a small notebook)// Everyone else said they felt happy and never in a better place. Can you explain a little more of how you feel?

KOURTNEY: He threatens us to say everything he wants you guys to hear. That's why all those people said good stuff because they are afraid. I can't stand his politics, he's abusing his sovereignity. We need to stay here for so long like 10 or more hours. He doesnt pay over time.

INVESTIGATOR: How does he threaten you?

KOURTNEY: Well... I am an illegal immigrant so I have no papers so he threatens me by saying he's going to send me back to my countrY and I have no opportunities there. I am afraid because in our countries is too hard and sometimes impossible to find a decent job that pay us well.

INVESTIGATOR: What does he pay you?

KOURTNEY: We only get $3.75 and hour. and i know you are supposed to get at least $7.25 per hour.

INVESTIGATOR: Yes thats true. Since 1986 the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) made it unlawful for an employer, like John, to hire an undocumented worker knowing that the person is not authorized to work in this country. When your employed you are entitled to get minimum wage and overtime wages.

KOURTNEY: Ohhh, I didn't know that. And like I said, I was afraid. But I just couldn't hold everything in, all the abuse inside of me I felt as if I was going to explote that's why I had to file my complaint.

INVESTIGATOR: And now your not afraid?

KOURTNEY: I am... because I don't know what's going to happen to me but i cant let him control me with such fear. Am I going to be deported?

INVESTIGATOR: My job is only of looking into the violation of the labor laws.

KOURTNEY: Oh.

INVESTIGATOR: I'm going to report your name to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) though.

KOURTNEY: //(interrupting)// Who are they?

INVESTIGATOR: The Immigration Authorities. Anyways continuing with what i was saying //(thinking of where he left off)// Umm... Oh, //(remembering were he left off)// I'm going to report your name and you are right that they would most likely begin deportation proceedings against you for working illegally in the United States without the required authorization.

KOURTNEY: //(trying to understand what he just said)// ok so what your saying is that you are going to snitch on me to the immigration people?

INVESTIGATOR: Yes, that's what im saying.

KOURTNEY: //(a little frustrated)// Is that even your job? Seriouly, i thought you only investigated. Not snitch on people.

INVESTIGATOR: Ok calm down.

KOURTNEY: Come down? Whatever.

INVESTIGATOR: IT IS THE DUTY OF THE EMPLOYERS, NOT THE WORKERS, TO VERIFY THAT THE WORKERS THEY HIRE FOR THEIR COMPANY ARE AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THIS COUNTRY. EMPLOYERS ARE SUPPOSED TO FILL OUT A SPECIAL FORM, CALLED AN "1-9 FORM", OR "EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION FORM, FOR EACH NEW EMPLOYEE THEY HIRE THAT VERIFIES THE IDENTITY AND EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY OF THE EMPLOYEE. EMPLOYERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, SO WORKERS DON'T HAVE TO GIVE THEM TO THEIR EMPLOYERS. BUT AN EMPLOYEE MIGHT HAVE TO SHOW THEIR BOSS THE DOCUMENTS AGAIN AFTER THEY ARE HIRED IF THEIR EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO RE-VERIFY ITS EMPLOYEES' DOCUMENTS. THIS WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN IF THE WHD IS INVESTIGATING THEM.

KOURTNEY: //(in a oh-ok tone)//Oh i better start saying good-bye then

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