Act I “Please keep shoes off the seat.” The veteran pointed calmly at the polished black shoes resting on the silver subway bench. Cold white train lights…

Act I “Please give her the seat.” The elderly man stood near the blue plastic priority seat, one hand gripping a small cloth bag, the other softly…

Act I “Why are you holding my pay?” The veteran asked it beside the stacked lumber, sawdust clinging to his shoulders and the brim of his black…

Act I “My child needs medicine.” The mother stood beside the feed bags with dust on her shoulders and worry in her eyes. Her dark blue T-shirt…

Act I “I finished every container.” The older worker said it beside the cleaned industrial trash container, his soaked sleeves hanging heavy from a full day of…

Act I “My mom needs her pay.” The thirteen-year-old girl stood beside the stacked potato sacks with dusty cheeks and frightened eyes that refused to look away….

Act I “I earned my wages.” The elderly worker said it outside the glass office door, his yellow rubber raincoat dripping from the long shift under the…

Act I “I need today’s pay.” The widowed oyster worker stood beside the bins on the wet dock, sea wind pulling at her gray knit cap and…

Act I “I worked the whole day.” The boy said it beside the steel container, his voice small against the scrape and clang of the scrap yard….