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=** "What The People Didn't Know " **= = Page to Stage = = Mr. Batt/ Ms. Ferhani =

__**SETTING:**__ The cement floors of the clothes factory in Lynchberg, Pennsylvania are cold and grungy. Large machines are placed around the factory. The air is humid and sticky and very unpleasant. The walls are splattered in who knows what. An odd stench lurks about the air.

XIMENA: Is 33 years old. She is a llegal immigrant brought by her parents to the United States when she was 2 years old. She has grown up in Lynchberg, Pennsylvania where she now works at a food processing factory. She graduated high school but never attended college. She is a widow and has 3 children of the ages 2, 5 and 7. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Ximena is loyal, dedicated, supportives.
 * __CHARACTERS:__**

EVAN: Older white man who runs the factory around 60. He is sweet but at times makes the wrong decisions. He is kind and loyal to his employees.

MARIA VIRGINIA: Is one of the many wonderful people working in the factory. She works along side Ximena. She is an illegal Colombian immigrant and has quite the attitude. She is 25.

FENG: A nervous 30 year old man. Illegal immigrant but from China.

WORKER: Person working in the factory.

SCENE ONE:
//(Ximena and Maria Virginia work in silence with troubled expressions. The mood is tense and stressful. Maria Virginia begins talking in a hushed worried tone. She looks as if she might cry.)//

MARIA VIRGINIA: They came to my apartment…

//(Ximena looks up from her work and appears confused)//

XIMENA: Who?

MARIA VIRGINIA: La Migra…

XIMENA: //(Stressed)// What did you tell them? Better yet what did they tell you?

MARIA VIRGINIA: What was I supposed to say?

// (Maria Virginia pauses and begins to cry. Ximena drops what she’s doing and cradles Maria Virginia)//

XIMENA: Well are they going to deport you?

MARIA VIRGINIA: Yes…

XIMENA: Ay dios! La pobrecita!

//(Maria Virginia buries her face in Ximena’s shoulder)//

MARIA VIRGINIA: I’ve been here almost my whole life! How can they do this to me?! //(she begins to sob)//

XIMENA: Mi vida, todo estará bien…te prometo.

MARIA VIRGINIA: I was so terrified. They came at 12 lastnight...it's so much to take in...people banging on the door. I mean would you open up to some strangers who want to send you away//(stares off into the distance and whimpers)?//

XIMENA: It’s unbelievable the things these people do to us! You have nothing on your criminal record. You are smart and talented and you work well! We’ve been here forever…since we were young! Esto es ridículo!

MARIA VIRGINA://(calmer now)// I don’t think we should get too worked up…what’s done is done.

XIMENA: Si ya lo se pero no es justo que esto pase a tantos. Alguien tiene que hacer algo!

MARIA VIRGINIA: Tienes razon pero no creo que puedo hacer mucho…

//(They walk over to the lockers on the wall across from them. Behind the wall murmurs are heard. She recognizes the voice of her boss Evan and one of the other workers.)//

EVAN: I really don't like this new factory.

(//Maria Virginia's expression is that of surprise)//

WORKER: Yeah me neither…they're taking advantage of everyone. Five people working in the quality control department didn't even receive paychecks. It's all because the people here aren't aware of their rights...we should tell someone! I mean they're breaking a whole bunch of rules.

EVAN: We could all be fired and as you know most of the immigrants here are illegal so they MAY be deported! It's better we just keep it the way it is. Don't say anything.

WORKER: But it's not the way it is! Everyone has rights and people should know!//(remembers)// Isn't there a law that the U.S department of labor has an agreement with the immigration services to not disclose a complaint's status?

EVAN: //(stumbles over the words)// Well...I..uh...I just don't want to bring trouble. not that i would report you or anything just...Kyle the employer whom you are complaining against might.

WORKER: Well if we let this just keep going it will never change. Even undocumented workers have rights! But that's true it's hard to trust that he won't report me...

EVAN: I know, I know. But don't you think everyone should just be glad to even have a job.

WORKER: Yah i guess...but you paid us well and treated us right so why can't this company do the same?

EVAN: Different companies go by different rules.

WORKER: Don't you have any power over these people? Can't you change the way the workers are treated?

EVAN: I'm not in charge anymore... we aren't our own factory we were bought by this bigger one (//motions around him//). I no longer have authority...wait... shhh...what was that noise?

(//T////he door which Ximena is leaning on creaks a little.// //The room on the other side of the door gets quiet. Ximena and Maria Virginia hold their breath)//

WORKER: It’s probably one of those horrid rats that have burrowed in this factory. I don’t know how they managed to make it for so long with such filthy disgusting vermin roaming the floors and everything is contaminated! This isn't even sanitary!

EVAN: We are of a lower class and people think less of us it's just how it is. Please tell me you won't go and open your mouth about this. most of these factory workers probably aren't even aware of their rights. If you told them it would cause a bunch of trouble and it...it just isn't worth it. You could get deported or sent to jail...I just think we would be better off keeping all that info a secret.

WORKER: I won't say anything...

XIMENA: This is too much… (//Ximena grabs Maria Virginia by the wrist and pulls her away from the door)//

MARIA VIRGINIA: What has the world come to? Everyone is unhappy and all that anyone ever wants or talks about is money! And what happened to equal rights for all?

(//FENG stands next to them timidly. He’s mumbling to himself anxiously. Ximena and Maria Virginia struggle with their work.)//

FENG: //(trying to make conversation)// Hi…you guys are new here right?

XIMENA: Yeah this is our first day at this factory since your company bought ours.

FENG: Oh...well hope things are well for you two. Our factories are pretty different...it might take a little while to get used to it.

XIMENA: When is our break?

FENG: Break? We don't get a break here...

MARIA VIRGINIA: //(shocked)// You don't?!

FENG: No... they say they can't afford to waste time.

MARIA VIRGINIA: So you have to just work non stop all day?

FENG: This factory is much different from your old one.

XIMENA://(curious)// How much do you get paid?

FENG: 10 cents for each piece of clothing I put together.

MARIA VIRGINIA: What?! That's less than minimum wage! But you guys work so hard!

FENG: //(acts as if this is all normal)// We are all immigrant workers. We have no rights. We can't do anything.

MARIA VIRGINIA: Is that what everyone around here thinks?! That you have no rights?

XIMENA: //(nudges Maria Virginia)// Shhh...//(shakes head worried)//.

FENG: And what do you mean rights?

XIMENA: //(interupting)// Your putting people on the line by telling people this!

MARIA VIRGINIA: Ximena they deserve to know! I'm already being deported so what does it matter if I open my mouth? //(frustrated)// Everyone seems to be totally unaware of their rights! //(waves arms around)// For Gods sake you have rights! Why would you put up with all this? You work hours on end with no breaks and you get paid less than you should!

XIMENA: It doesn't matter for you but these people could lose a lot because you go and open your mouth!

FENG: Look I don't know if you are here to start trouble or what but I just feel lucky I have a job. Back in China I wasn't lucky enough to have a job that paid even as little as this. I'd rather this job than no job at all.

XIMENA: Maria Virginia...

MARIA VIRGINIA: No! The people should know! Esto es ridículo! I know that you are thankful to have a job but the conditions that you deal with are unacceptable.

XIMENA: Pero tienes que pensar en las consequencias!

MARIA VIRGINIA: //(Ignoring Ximena)// You are people just like the other workers and you deserve to be treated equally. You don't need to let them tell you otherwise because of where you come from... don't let them be ethnocentric. Y que va a pasar si nadie empieza a mejorarlo?

XIMENA: Tienes un punto //(expression looks more hopeful).// Alguien debe hacer algo. Eso es cierto. But you are endangering peoples lives. They'll get fired and then they won't be able to support their families!

MARIA VIRGINIA: Ximena tu quieres vivir tu vida asi? Do you want your kids to have to face this, too? Con todos estos obstaculos? That person is you. You are here legally. I'm not. You are a citizen. You have more of a say than I do. You have the power to change things SO don't let them scare you. It's just coercion.

XIMENA: Where do we go? What am I supposed to do? How do we start?

MARIA VIRGINIA: A good place to start would probably be going to him //(points off stage)//. Kyle, he owns this company. He makes these rules. You need to make a change.

XIMENA: No puedo hacerlo sola.

MARIA VIRGINIA: Yes you can but you won't have to be alone you have us.

XIMENA: Tengo una idea...//(////pauses thinking)// meet me here tomorrow I have a plan.

FENG: A plan? What if it doesn't work? What will become of us?

XIMENA: No it'll work //(looks thoughtful).// Meet me there. I'll bring a friend.

**SCENE 2:**
SETTING: Same place as yesterday. The day is hot and sunny and inside the factory it's humid and clothes stick to their sweaty skin. A man from the news paper is standing next to Ximena.

//(Maria Virginia and Feng walk through the door looking confused then their expressions change as they realize what Ximena is doing)//

XIMENA: This is Maddox Abassi, a writer for the newspaper. He's here to write about the injustice in this factory and about how the power structure abuses us and suppresses information. With Mr. Abassi here Kyle will have to tell the truth about ripping people off and being ethnocentric and we will have proof to show the government so we can get our rights.

FENG: //(excited)// This is great!

XIMENA: People should really know what goes on around here and how not everyone is treated equally. There's a complaint procedure for workers so as to protect them from disclosing their status.

MARIA VIRGINIA: What will happen to the undocumented immigrants who work here though? If this paper gets out, won't that cause trouble?

FENG: Well at least people will know the truth...plus even undocumented workers have rights. and although this will be a long process we need to fight.

XIMENA: We are giving a lot up we have created a path for new people and effected the way factories work. Who knows maybe something will happen like they won't deport people or they might not even find out. The point is is that we've given this a bunch of effort and no one should have to deal with this.

FENG: Because of us this story these abuses will no longer be hidden!

MARIA VIRGINIA: What do you mean a new path?

XIMENA: This is a huge newspaper company! When everyone sees what people are going through they will be inspired to fight back to and if everyone starts fighting eventually there won't be any more problems. We are paving the way of this path so it's not so bumpy for the next people who follow.

MADDOX: When I write this article and it gets published in the news paper everyone in the United States will know how horrible this all is.

XIMENA: //(smiles looking confident)// This will show everyone! We are beautiful just the way we are and where ever we are from we are all equal and deserve a chance for freedom to fight for what is ours. (//curtains close)//


 * BIBLIOGRAPHY**

//Immigration direct//. Web. 16 Dec. 09. ."Food, Inc." //PBS//. Web. 21 Dec. 2009. . 2009 JumpStart Productions. All rights reserved. Copyright 1995-2009 Public Boadcastic Service (PBS). All rights reserved.

Alami, Shauna. et al. "NBC reports from immigration protests - Life- msnbc.com." //Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- msnbc.com//. Web. 04 Jan. 2010. .

Herrera, Rev. Angela M. "Immigration Policy." Personal interview. 23 Dec. 09.

U.S. Congressional Budget Office. "Immigration Policy in the United States." Web.