ACTUAL SCRIPT- FIRST DRAFT

Two polish immigrants, Alina and Lidia (nine and twelve years old, respectively), run up and down

5th avenue begging passersby for money.

ALINA: Excuse me, sir! My family lives in poverty!

LIDIA: Do you have any spare change?

[Man walks away]

ALINA: It’s no use. We’ve been begging for hours.

LIDIA: Look at the sun in the sky. It must be time for our shift at the factory now, we’ve been wasting

our time.

[shouts at man walking away] Excuse me sir, do you have the time?

MAN: [looks back, annoyed] It’s ten till 8 am. Now scoot.

LIDIA: [cautiously] Thank you sir [to ALINA] We best be on our way.

ALINA: Okay.

[They begin to walk towards the factory. As they walk, they run into Miriam, who is playing with her

toys.]

MIRIAM: Hello! Do you two want to play ball with me?

LIDIA: No, sorry.

ALINA: We gotta work!

MIRIAM: Oh, thats too bad. Hey, what’s your name?

ALINA: Alina! This is my sister Lidia.

MIRIAM: Where do you guys live? I always see you walking in, but I never see where you come

from.

LIDIA: The Lower East Side.

ALINA: In a tenement. I try not to think about it [thinks seriously for a second] [cheerfully] You

know, one day we’re gonna be rich like you!

LIDIA: [embarrassed] Yeah, we have a plan. Something we’ve been working on for a while. Just a

fantasy.

MIRIAM: [intrigued] What is it?

ALINA: We’re gonna save up all our money and run away!

LIDIA: And find a nice place to live and get an education.

ALINA: And mom and dad will never know where we are and never care and we’ll be happy!

MIRIAM: How much do you make a day?

LIDIA: 10 cents each.

ALINA: Because we’re kids and don’t need as much!

LIDIA: That’s what the boss keeps telling us. But I have a nagging doubt that might not be true.

MIRIAM: The boss? That’s my father.

ALINA: Oh, that’s neat. He’s really big.

MIRIAM: Wait, but 10 cents? I get $2 for my weekly allowance!

ALINA: Whoaaaaa [mouth opens]

MIRIAM: Maybe you can come home with me after work! I’ll give you my allowance for last week. I

don’t really need it. Whenever I want something father just gives me a dollar.

LIDIA: [timidly] What kind of stuff do you buy? You have a house and food.

MIRIAM: Ice cream, books, dolls, a whole lot of stuff! Have you ever been to Macy’s on 6th avenue?

ALINA: No.

MIRIAM: Then let me take you there!

They exit. Alina enters and pantomimes being at work. Boss enters.

BOSS: [coming over to ALINA at work] What is your name, little girl?

ALINA: [faintly, surprised] Alina.

BOSS: Alina, that all?

ALINA: Kedzierski. Alina Kedzierski.

BOSS: Lidia’s sister?

ALINA: Yessir

BOSS: Ah. Well it appears she lost her arm in a little accident bout, oh, fi’e minutes ago

ALINA: [bewildered] Are you sure, sir? I know a little girl name of Liddie Majewski who works over

in the cutting department with her

BOSS: [glances at note] Yes, I’m afraid it is your sister. Now be a good little girl and get back to

work. Your sister is being properly cared for.

ALINA: [mute, returns to work]

OLD WOMAN: Don’t you worry dearie, I’ll cover your shift. Go run on and find your sister and get

her home. Don’t want her to get infected, I’ve heard many a horror story ‘bout little girls much like

you-all dieing this a-way.

[in the hospital]

(ALINA walks up to LIDIA at her hospital bed)

ALINA: Lidia! Lidia wake up!

LIDIA: [mutters]

ALINA: What am I going to do?

Miram enters

MIRIAM: Alina! I didn’t expect to see you here at this hour. [sees LIDIA and gasps]

[LIDIA regains consciousness]

LIDIA: What in hell happened to my arm?

ALINA: You lost it at the factory.

MIRIAM: I’ll stay with her for now. You need to get some sleep.

ALINA: Thank you so much. I better get home. God knows where my parents are.

A few days later, Alina is leaving work. Miriam stops her as she makes her way home.

MIRIAM: Alina. I visited your sister at the hospital today. Her arm was infected, and I-- she--

ALINA: Is she dead, Miriam?

Miriam nods.

ALINA (devoid of emotion): Oh.

Pause.

MIRIAM: Are you okay?

ALINA: Yes. You can go now. I don’t wanna to talk to you.

MIRIAM: (hesitantly) Okay. Goodbye, Alina. See you later. (she exits)

Pause.

ALINA (to herself): What am I gonna do about our escape plan? Who’ll tell me stories when I’m afraid? Who’ll make sure no one hurts me when I walk to work? [pause] Guess I’ll go back home, then. Go to work. I was never gonna escape anyway. We were never smart enough, strong enough. I guess stupid ideas like this only hurt you in the end.