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“The Factory Lad” is adapted from John Walker’s wonderful barnstorming 1832 pro-Luddite melodrama. The text has been updated, heavily edited, re-arranged and several new scenes added. An earlier version of this adaptation was first performed by The Mercators Drama Club, as part of “A Victorian Evening”. The Factory Lad Or; “The Flames of Justice!” Characters (In Order of Appearance) George Allen The Factory Lad Jack Hatfield Allen’s Fellow Worker Frank Wilson Another Fellow Worker Squire Westwood Master of the Factory Sam Rushton An Outcast Jane Allen George’s Devoted Wife Mary Their Eldest Daughter Milly Their Youngest Daughter Fenton A Hired Thug Mrs Grumbler Westwood’s Housekeeper Justice Bias A Magistrate Cringe His Clerk Factory Workers & C. The Action Passes in Bury, Near Manchester, During the Early Years of Queen Victoria’s Reign Synopsis of Scenes Scene 1: The Exterior of a Factory Scene 2: A Country Lane, Later That Same Evening Scene 3: George Allen’s Cottage, Later That Night Scene 4: A Room in “The Harriers” Scene 5: Westwood’s House Scene 6: Outside the Factory, Midnight Scene 7: The Jail, Dawn the Following Day
THE FACTORY LAD In this Scene, the “Flames of Justice” have been visited upon Squire Westwood… Rushton enters waving a firebrand. Rushton This has been a glorious night! To see the place of the tyrant levelled to the ground! Ha! To hear his engines of gain cracking… To see the red flame laugh in triumph! Westwood is finished! Ah! Many a day have I lain upon the cold, damp ground muttering curses. Many a night have I called upon the moon, when she has frenzied my brain, to revenge my wrongs. For days and nights I have never slept. Misery and want and the smart of the lash have been like scorpions, rousing me to revenge… Now, the time has come! I glory in the act! And my partners in this deed? They must away now. If the minions of power but touch a hair of their heads, this brand shall lay ‘em low! Allen and the others run in. Westwood, Fenton and the other hired thugs confront them. Westwood Ah, here are the rest! Seize them all and spare none! Fenton and the others make to attack them. Rushton intervenes. Rushton Hell hounds! Would you now murder the poor wretches you have deprived of bread? Westwood (Suddenly recognising him) Will Rushton! Damn yer eyes! I thought ye were condemned to exile? So, ye have returned? Vilest of Luddites, have ye not deprived me of bread? Answer! Rushton Then justice has been done and my revenge satisfied! Westwood What wrongs have I done thee? Rushton What wrongs, Westwood? (Laughs) Were not my wife in your employ? Did ye not try to seduce her? When she resisted your attentions, did ye not dismiss her from your service? Shameful one! I took the matter to the law, but they would have none of it… I were laughed out of court. I spent every farthing I had trying to bring you to justice, Westwood! We were finally forced to leave these shores, penniless, for a new life in the West Indies. Our new home were some heathen backwater, where we were whipped and starved for our pains. Westwood Thy wife, Rushton, were naught but a whore… Fenton! Do your duty and let them not escape. Fenton In the name of Queen Victoria, I desire you to yield! Hatfield Never! Fenton Then at thy peril! Fenton and the others advance upon them. A confused combat ensues. Allen and his compatriots are disarmed and held roughly. Allen has a wound on his forehead. Jane enters, distracted. She sees Allen wounded and screams. He is ashamed and tries to conceal himself from her. Jane (To Westwood) Oh, mercy! Mercy! My husband! Do not, do not murder him? Westwood Mercy? What mercy had he to me? Cast thy eye yonder and petition to the flames! He throws her aside. Allen Ah, Jane… My doom is fixed. Leave me and clasp those who are helpless… My little ones. (Sobs) Rushton There, monster! Dost thou see that? Thy doing! Westwood ‘Tis false… Liar, fiend, reprobate! He viciously slaps Rushton and draws blood. The other workers react angrily. Allen ‘Tis over now, Jane. Westwood Away with ‘em! Chord Rushton Stay! What are ye about? Seizing innocent men and women? Here stands the incendiary! I, Sam Rushton, the outcast, the degraded! Ha, ha! And the revenged! ‘Twas I as led ‘em on! This here hand lit the firebrand and I am satisfied! (Aside) Now my wife and children can rest in peace… Westwood ‘Tis the instigator, the ringleader! Fenton and the others turn their attentions to Rushton. He struggles and fights with them. Rushton Unhand me, or thy grave is at my feet! Westwood Away with ‘em all to the Magistrate! Jane Oh, pity? Mercy? Tear him not away from me? Fenton The law’s imperative. Allen and the others are led off, followed by Westwood. Jane swoons. Mary and Milly enter. Mary Mama? Where are you? Oh, alas… What do I see upon the cold ground? I fear ‘tis Mama! Milly Oh, dear… It is! Oh, Mama! They fall upon her, crying. Jane recovers and looks about her in wild disorder. Jane Where am I? Mary Here, Mama, upon the cold ground. Jane Ah, my children! Bless you, bless you… But where is your Papa? (She screams) I now remember all. They are tearing my husband away from me… All now crosses me like a wild dream. The factory! The red sky! Flames whirling in the air! My eyeballs seem cracked… My brain grows dizzy… I hear chains and screams of death! My husband! She makes to exit. Milly Mama, Mama! Where are you going? Mary Thy pale and wild demeanour frightens us! Milly Whither away? Jane To thy Papa… To the Magistrate. They will not refuse his weak and broken-hearted wife! Mary Nor us either, will they Mama? Jane Bless you, bless you! Never shall they part us! She embraces and kisses them. They exit.
© Copyright Alistair John Ferguson 2004. No Part of this work to be reproduced without written permission. All Rights Reserved. |