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- 96 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
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Machinal (NHB Classic Plays)
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About This Book
A powerful expressionist drama from the 1920s about the dependent status of women in an increasingly mechanised society, based on the true story of Ruth Snyder.
Sophie Treadwell was a campaigning journalist in America between the wars. Among her assignments was the sensational murder involving Snyder, who with her lover, Judd Gray, had murdered her husband and gone to the electric chair.
'This is a play written in anger. In the dead wasteland of male society - it seems to ask - isn't it necessary for certain women, at least, to resort to murder?' - Nicholas Wright
With an introduction by Judith E. Barlow.
'gripping... doesn't loosen its hold on the senses until its shattering climax' Independent
'stingingly fresh and provocative' Time Out New York
'[a work of] rare and disturbing beauty' New York Times
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EPISODE EIGHT
The Law
Scene: courtroom.
Sounds: clicking of telegraph instruments offstage.
Characters
JUDGE
JURY
LAWYERS
SPECTATORS
REPORTERS
MESSENGER BOYS
LAW CLERKS
BAILIFF
COURT REPORTER
YOUNG WOMAN
The words and movements of all these people except the YOUNG WOMAN are routine – mechanical. Each is going through the motions of his own game.
At rise: all assembled, except JUDGE.
Enter JUDGE.
BAILIFF (mumbling). Hear ye – hear ye – hear ye! (All rise. JUDGE sits. All sit. LAWYER FOR DEFENSE gets to his feet – He is the verbose, ‘eloquent’ typical criminal defense lawyer. JUDGE signs to him to wait – turns to LAW CLERKS, grouped at foot of the bench.
FIRST CLERK (handing up a paper – routine voice). State versus Kling – stay of execution.
JUDGE. Denied.
FIRST CLERK goes.
SECOND CLERK. Bing vs. Ding – demurrer.
JUDGE signs. SECOND CLERK goes.
THIRD CLERK. Case of John King – habeas corpus.
JUDGE signs. THIRD CLERK goes. JUDGE signs to BAILIFF.
BAILIFF (mumbling). People of the State of — — — versus Helen Jones.
JUDGE (to LAWYER FOR DEFENSE). Defense ready to proceed?
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. We’re ready, your Honor.
JUDGE. Proceed.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Helen Jones.
BAILIFF. HELEN JONES!
YOUNG WOMAN rises.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Mrs. Jones, will you take the stand?
YOUNG WOMAN goes to witness stand.
FIRST REPORTER (writing rapidly). The defense sprang a surprise at the opening of court this morning by putting the accused woman on the stand. The prosecution was swept off its feet by this daring defense strategy and – (Instruments get louder.)
SECOND REPORTER. Trembling and scarcely able to stand, Helen Jones, accused murderess, had to be almost carried to the witness stand this morning when her lawyer –
BAILIFF (mumbling – with Bible). Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth – so help you God?
YOUNG WOMAN. I do.
JUDGE. You may sit.
She sits in witness chair.
COURT REPORTER. What is your name?
YOUNG WOMAN. Helen Jones.
COURT REPORTER. Your age?
YOUNG WOMAN (hesitates – then). Twenty-nine.
COURT REPORTER. Where do you live?
YOUNG WOMAN. In prison.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. This is my client’s legal address.
Hands a scrap of paper.
LAWYER FOR PROSECUTION (jumping to his feet). I object to this insinuation on the part of counsel of any illegality in the holding of this defendant in jail when the law –
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. I made no such insinuation.
LAWYER FOR PROSECUTION. You implied it –
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. I did not!
LAWYER FOR PROSECUTION. You’re a –
JUDGE. Order!
BAILIFF. Order!
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Your Honor, I object to counsel’s constant attempt to –
LAWYER FOR PROSECUTION. I protest – I –
JUDGE. Order!
BAILIFF. Order!
JUDGE. Proceed with the witness.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Mrs. Jones, you are the widow of the late George H. Jones, are you not?
YOUNG WOMAN. Yes.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. How long were you married to the late George H. Jones before his demise?
YOUNG WOMAN. Six years.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Six years! And it was a happy marriage, was it not? (YOUNG WOMAN hesitates.) Did you quarrel?
YOUNG WOMAN. No, Sir.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Then it was a happy marriage, wasn’t it?
YOUNG WOMAN. Yes, Sir.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. In those six years of married life with your late husband, the late George H. Jones, did you EVER have a quarrel?
YOUNG WOMAN. No, Sir.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Never one quarrel?
LAWYER FOR PROSECUTION. The witness has said –
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Six years without one quarrel! Six years! Gentlemen of the jury, I ask you to consider this fact! Six years of married life without a quarrel. (The JURY grins.) I ask you to consider it seriously! Very seriously! Who of us – and this is not intended as any reflection on the sacred institution of marriage – no – but!
JUDGE. Proceed with your witness.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. You have one child – have you not, Mrs. Jones?
YOUNG WOMAN. Yes, Sir.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. A little girl, is it not?
YOUNG WOMAN. Yes, Sir.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. How old is she?
YOUNG WOMAN. She’s five – past five.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. A little girl of past five. Since the demise of the late Mr. Jones you are the only parent she has living, are you not?
YOUNG WOMAN. Yes, Sir.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Before your marriage to the late Mr. Jones, you worked and supported your mother, did you not?
LAWYER FOR PROSECUTION. I object, your honor! Irrelevant – immaterial – and –
JUDGE. Objection sustained!
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. In order to support your mother and yourself as a girl, you worked, did you not?
YOUNG WOMAN. Yes, Sir.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. What did you do?
YOUNG WOMAN. I was a stenographer.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. And since your marriage you have continued as her sole support, have you not?
YOUNG WOMAN. Yes, Sir.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. A devoted daughter, gentlemen of the jury! As well as a devoted wife and a devoted mother!
LAWYER FOR PROSECUTION. Your Honor!
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE (quickly). And now, Mrs. Jones, I will ask you – the law expects me to ask you – it demands that I ask you – did you – or did you not – on the night of June 2nd last or the morning of June 3rd last – kill your husband, the late George H. Jones – did you, or did you not?
YOUNG WOMAN. I did not.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. You did not?
YOUNG WOMAN. I did not.
LAWYER FOR DEFENSE. Now, Mrs. Jones, you have heard the witnesses fo...
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Contents
- Introduction
- Original Production
- Characters and Episodes
- Notes on the Play
- Episode I
- Episode II
- Episode III
- Episode IV
- Episode V
- Episode VI
- Episode VII
- Episode VIII
- Episode IX
- About the Author
- Copyright and Performing Rights Information