A stage play adapted from the novel; IN THE EYE OF THE STORM By Robert Thier

A stage play adapted from the novel; IN THE EYE OF THE STORM By Robert Thier

Cast of Characters Mr. Ambrose: A miserly rich man who owns a factory. He has a cool demeanor and does not like to show emotions. He has heard news that workers in his factory are on strike and has gone to check it out. Mr. Linton: Mr. Ambrose’s secretary. She is a woman but is dressed as a man to keep the job. He accompanies Mr. Ambrose to the factory. Boy: A worker in the factory. He is tasked to keep watch outside the gate while the rest are striking. Worker 1: A worker in the factory. He is loud and arrogant. Worker 2: A worker in the factory. He is afraid but readily sums up the courage to speak. Synopsis The workers at Factory Number 12 owned by Mr. Ambrose are holding a strike against capitalism, exploitation, and low pay. Mr. Ambrose and his personal Secretary, Mr. Linton arrive at the factory to see what is happening. The workers do not know what their employer looks like; they only know his name. The arrival of Mr. Ambrose ignites interesting interactions. Scene 1 SETTING: In front of the gate of factory number 12. AT RISE: A wall with large letters scrawled on the side saying: ‘Freedom for Workers’ and ‘To Hell with the Rich’. There is a sound of rattling machines and a gate carved on the wall is lightly a jar. Mr. Ambrose and Mr. Linton are standing in front of the wall and a boy is sitting on top of it. They can’t see him yet.

(A stone whizzes through the air and knocks off MR. AMBROSE’S hat out of his head. He freezes and turns to look up. On top of the factory wall, a boy is seated with a grin on his face, and in his hand, he is weighing a second stone.) MR. AMBROSE You! (The boy ignores him and tosses the stone in the air) You, up there on the wall! I’m talking to you. BOY Get stuffed, you skanky tosser. MR. AMBROSE (Coolly) I shall most certainly remain unstuffed. Taxidermists charge insufferable fees, nowadays. Now tell me what is going on in there in that factory! BOY We are striking! MR. AMBROSE Striking? Are you, now? BOY Yes, guv! We’re fighting o-presh-ion and Ecs-ploi-tay-shion. MR. AMBROSE How fascinating. BOY Oh, yes, it is! We’re fighting for our rights, you know, and for the first time really standing up to the bastard who owns this dump! Some rich bugger named Ambrose! ‘e’s been making us slave for ‘im for years for a pittance, and in all that time ‘e never once dared to show his ugly mug ‘ere! MR. AMBROSE (With a cocked head and narrowed eyes) So you don’t know what this Ambrose looks like, I assume? BOY Ah, those rich buggers in their fancy clothes look all the same! MR. AMBROSE Indeed? BOY Aye. I’m supposed to keep watch over ‘ere you know, for when he arrives in his fancy carriage and drags his fat paunch inside. MR. AMBROSE Indeed? Well, why don’t you keep on watching for Mr. Ambrose’s fancy coach? I’m sure he’ll be along any minute to drag his fat paunch inside, as you so eloquently put it. Mr. Linton and I will just go into the factory for a minute. We have a small matter to discuss with your fellow strikers. (Without waiting for an answer from the boy, Mr. Ambrose shoves the gate open and strides inside. Mr. Linton hurries after him) {They are now standing on the second part of the stage. The boy and the wall are behind them}

(Inside the factory shouts, yells and bellows of workers are loud. There is a sound of crashing metal and breaking glass. Another boy hurls a stone through the factory's window and it shatters. Mr. Ambrose hasten his steps toward the door.) MR. LINTON Um… Sir? MR. AMBROSE Yes, Mr. Linton? MR. LINTON Don’t you think it might be wiser not to go in there? MR. AMBROSE No, Mr. Linton. (He halts) You can leave at any time, Mr. Linton. MR. LINTON (In a hot temper) Not on your sweet life! And not on mine, either! MR. AMBROSE I see. Then let’s stop wasting time. WORKER 1 (Shouts from inside) Death to the Capitalists! MR. AMBROSE (Nods thoughtfully and gazes beyond the entrance) That would be me, I presume. (At this point Mr. Ambrose steps into the factory and Mr. Linton hesitates for a moment before hurrying after him) Scene 2 SETTING; A factory in a bad state. It is dark and it reeks of a thick mix of smoke, sweat and unidentifiable filth. Mr. Ambrose and Mr. Linton are standing in front of a crowd with torches axes and protest signs. WORKER 1 is standing high on a prop machine. WORKER 1 …ain’t gonna suffer under the yoke of oppression any longer! (The crowd nods and cheers him on) The pittance that bugger Ambrose pays us ain’t worth pissing for, let alone working! We’ll have our due at last. (Mr. Linton winces, Mr. Ambrose maintains a cold stare, and the crowd cheers) When that tosser Ambrose shows his bloody face here, I ain’t gonna be afraid of him! I’ll step up to him and tell him to go bugger himself! Aye, I will! MR. AMBROSE (Clears his throat and the sound cuts through the cheers) If I might introduce myself – Rikkard Ambrose, not at your service. You were waiting for me? (He turns to the worker on the machine) I believe you had something to say to me. (WORKER 1 tries to speak but no sound comes out. MR. AMBROSE starts forward and the crowd makes way for him, they lower their torches and hide their signs. MR. AMBROSE stops once he is standing directly in front of WORKER 1) MR. AMBROSE Tell me what you have to say to me. I’m most interested to hear it. WORKER 1 (Squeaks a little then jumps off the machine prop and vanishes in the crowd) MR. AMBROSE (Nods to himself and turns to the crowd) Now – does anybody else have something to say? What is the matter here? (He plucks a man out of the crowd and hauls him in front) You. Tell me what seems to be the trouble. Slowly and clearly. WORKER 2 (Looks afraid) We want money! Sir. (Crowd shouts in support) MR. AMBROSE If you want money, why are you standing around idly? You should be working! You’ll have to work at least two hours longer than usual to get more money out of me, and if you laze about now, you’ll have to do overtime until one in the morning. (The crowd shares uncertain glances) WORKER 2 Err… No, Mr. Ambrose, Sir. You don’t understand. We want more money without doing overtime. MR. AMBROSE (Narrows his eyes infinitesimally) Do I understand you correctly? You want more money without working for it? WORKER 2 Um… Aye, Sir. MR. AMBROSE In case you haven’t noticed, man, this is a factory, not a charity. In a factory, you work to earn money. That’s what a factory is for. WORKER 2 I know, Sir. MR. AMBROSE Indeed? Well, then that problem is solved. Back to work everyone! (The crowd share uncertain glances again and some turn and resume working on the machine props) WORKER 2 Stop, everyone! Stop, you bloody buggers! You’re not supposed to be working. MR. AMBROSE Yes, they are, actually. WORKER 2 (In a desperate voice) No, they aren’t. This is a strike! A strike for our rights, people, and you’re just going to let him talk you out of it? MR. AMBROSE Much the more sensible option. You don’t want me to do more than talk. WORKER 2 (To the crowd) There! There, now ‘e’s threatening you! Are you gonna put up with that? MR. AMBROSE That was no threat. Trust me when I threaten you, you’ll know for certain. WORKER 2 We ain’t gonna put up with your threats, you bloody bugger! We’re free men and we ‘ave rights. MR. AMBROSE True. You have the right to work, and the right to get fired if you don’t. WORKER 2 (Pointing a hand at Mr. Ambrose) There! There! That’s what we’re fighting against! Capitalism! Exploitation! We ‘ave a right to fair wages! We have a right to shorter work hours! We have a right of protection from… (Right then Mr. Ambrose grabs worker 2 by the collar an action which makes the other workers retreat) MR. AMBROSE (In a low voice) Listen to me carefully. I wish for you to go back to work. If you don’t, well… (He bends forward and whispers something in the worker’s ear. The worker’s face pales) …That was a threat. WORKER 2 (Nodding jerkily) Yes, Sir! I understand. Sir. MR. AMBROSE I want you to consider my next question carefully, man. Think about what I just told you before you answer and take a good look at me. Now, the question is this: do you really expect to get more money out of me by stopping your work than by going on? WORKER 2 Err… no, Sir. MR. AMBROSE ‘Ah. You’re reasonably intelligent, after all. WORKER 2 Um… thank you, Sir. MR. AMBROSE (He lets go of the worker's collar and wipes his hand on his trousers) And since you are reasonable intelligent, can you tell me what you should do now? WORKER 2 Um… get back to work, Sir? MR. AMBROSE How perspective. I’ll leave you to it, then. (MR. AMBROSE swivels around and marches towards the exit. The crowd parts in fear. MR. LINTON is just as flattened as the crowd and he does not notice as MR. AMBROSE walks past him.) End scene