WAITING FOR LEFTY by Clifford Odets 13M, 2W “The action of the play is comprised of a series of varied, imagina- tively conceived episodes, which blend iato a poweeful and stirring mosaic. The opening scene is a hiring hall where a union leader (obviously in the pay of the bosses) is trying to convince a commit- tee of workers (who are waiting for their leader, Lefty, co artive) not to strike. This is followed by a moving confrontation berween a discouraged taxi driver, who cannot earn enough to live on, and his angry wife, who wants him to show some backbone and stand up to his employer; a revealing scene between a scheming boss and the young worker who refuses to spy on his fellow employees; a sad/fanny episode centering on a young cabbie and his would-be bride, who lack the wherewithal to get married; a disturbing scene involving a senior doctor and the underpaid young intern (a labor activist) whom the doctor has been ordered to discharge: and, fi- nally, a return to the union hall where the workers, learning that Lefty has been gunned down by the powers-that-be, resolve at last to stand up for their rights and to strike — and to stay off their jobs until their grievances are finally heard and acted upon by those who have so cynically exploited and misused them. Also by Clifford Odets GOLDEN BOY . ‘THE COUNTRY GIRL | nh i aoezz4242757 ‘THE BIG KNIFE and many others $ DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC. WAITING FOR LEFTY By CLIFFORD ODETS (1 — ALIAT YOd DNILIVAL * | DRAMATISTS \ PLAY SERVICE } INC.WALLING FUK LEELY : Copyright © Renewed 1962, Clifford Oders ‘Copyright © 1935, Clifford Odets All Rights Reserved CAUTION: Profetonale and amateurs ae herby: warped. dhe fetormane of WAITING FOR LEFTY wabjes payment afar ISS Rly proced under the copyright ne af Le One Sas oF America, and of all countries cor 1¢ International Coy it Utiion 1 (eluding he Dominion of Canada and the rest of the Baiich moray, td of al cancer veel by dhe Pinta Cryrgh Camncaon, the Une Cophgie Contant te Coen, and of i cout wih REA ened Sees ‘eoproal copyight dons Al ips acing wekte eton sgl Fog tho te pu ek cderion vde of xb ont gioeiacl anna ere ‘gasiion and ibe, sch CD, DVD, tele Seshating ‘newos, information song 2nd rong dain os inp strictly reserved. Particular ems 5 placed upon ‘the mat adings rimibon for which ue besecd he Aor ap Renin see Sas, erate ala Serpe ely rece or : tice dot theo the name ofthe Author nix apres on immediately beneath the prominent leer used force tide ofthe Play. No person, im or ety opengl Sef Ne penn rey CHARACTERS kmbs Take the SqQGqr eas The weet os re ee . HENCHMAN & PERS 90%. rere a Lo RETEY- Ce manga the Phar © why cae dimes ot SDR BARNES oe a : DR. BENJAMINWAITING FOR LEFTY Asthe curtain go up we seca bare stage On itaresiting si or ‘een men in a semicircle. Lollng again? the prosceniam Down Left is a young man chewing a toothpick: gunman. A ‘Jat man of porcine appearances tlking direay 10th audi- ‘ence In other words he isthe head of a union and the men ‘ranged behind him area committee of workers. They are nots seated in interesting different atitudes and present a wide versity of type, as we shal on see. Th fat man is hot and ‘eaey under the collar, gear the end of Jong talk, but not too. ‘hot: he is well fed and confident. His name is Harry Fatt, FATT. You're so wrong I ain't laughing, Any. guy with eyes to read knowsit. Look atthe textile strike — ou fike lions and in ike lambs. Take the San Francisco te-up — staréation and broken heads The steel boys wanted to walk out tog, but they changed their minds. Ie’s the trend of the times, that’s What itis All we ‘workers gota good man behind us now. He's rop man ofthe coun- tury — looking out for our interests — the man in the White House is the one I'm referrin’ to. That’s why the ti "tripe for @ strike. He's working day and night— VOICE. (From the axdince), For who? (The guaman. stirs imsdlf) : FATT. For you! ‘The records prove it If this was the Hoover regime, would I say don't go out, boys? Not on your n-type! But things is different now. You read the papers as well as me. You know it And that’s why 'm against the suike, Because we gotta stand behind the man who's standin’ behind. us! The whole counery—