Margaret

Mia – Student called into Reynolds office, 18

Professor Reynolds – History Professor at a University, older than 40.
Margaret (Mia) – Inventor of the Flat Bottom Paper Bag, 28
Judge (Reynolds) – Reynolds in a moustache.
Charles – The Defendant, 30
Peggy – Marge’s Coworker and Friend, 32
Beth – Marge’s Coworker and Friend, 22
James – Welder and works for Charles, 28

There is a spotlight center stage. In it is a desk and two chairs, one behind the desk one in front.
PROFESSOR REYNOLDS sits in the one behind, grading some papers. There is a knocking of a
door sound, and a student, MIA, comes cautiously into the light, wearing an overcoat and
glasses. She has a shy and quiet demeanor being only a Freshman in college.

Mia: Professor?

Reynolds: Oh Mia! Come in, come in, just finishing up here. It’ll only take a minute.

Mia walks in nervously. She stands awkwardly in the room as Reynolds continues to grade
papers.

Reynolds: You enjoying the course so far?

Mia: Hm? Oh… Yes! Very, I always liked history and stuff. It’s like, good stories, but they’re
real, ya know?

Reynolds does not respond engrossed in the grading. Mia continues to look around her to feel
like she isnt standing awkwardly.

Reynolds: Mia, are you afraid to sit down?

Mia: Oh, sorry, there was just some papers on the chair and I-
Reynolds: Yes, yes, that’s your paper, your allowed to move that.

Mia: Oh, thank you.

Reynolds doesn’t respond. Mia, after a moment’s hesitation looks at her paper. A look of ‘This
was not the grade I expected’ comes on her face. She sits.

Mia: Uh, Professor, I-

Reynolds: One second Mia, almost done.

Mia continues to go through her paper as Reynolds continues on. She taps her foot restless.
Finally, she can’t stand it any longer.

Mia: Professor Reynolds, sorry, but I don’t understand why I… and I do have another class in an
hour, and you called me in here so…

Professor Reynolds puts her pen down and looks up at Mia.

Mia: Sorry, Professor, I just don’t understand how I got this grade.

Reynolds smiles at Mia.

Reynolds: No, you’re right, I called you in here. It was rude of me to keep you waiting-

Mia: I wouldn’t say rude-

Reynolds: Of course you wouldn’t. You want to pass my class. However, your essay on-

Mia: The First Female Inventor.

Reynolds: Yes, Margret E. Knight… I found it quite intriguing.

Mia: Oh… uh… really?

Reynolds: Of course, I always enjoy reading about women in history-

Mia: And I like writing about them!

Reynolds: And you explained it very well, very detailed. Well researched, organized, sourced.

Mia: Well… Thank you, but, then why did I…

Reynolds smiles knowingly at Mia.

Reynolds: Ah, I take it you’re one of those students who got straight As in Highschool.

Mia: I don’t mind the grade, really, I was just… I was wondering why if it’s as good as you say
it is why it’s…

Reynolds: It’s a B? Well, that’s why I called you in here. To discuss it. Either I convince you
why you deserve a B or you convince me why…

Mia: It should be an A.

Pause.

Mia: Alright, ya… However, knowing myself I might just give up halfway through.

Reynolds: Ah, that’s why you’re going first. Tell me about Margret E. Knight.

Mia: Oh, okay… Well, she was an inventor. People called her the female Edison cause she
patented like over eighty inventions. This was during the 1870s too, so she was working in a
male dominated field. She also had to provide for her family cause her father left, which I found
to be pretty cool. She didn’t get to have any formal education, so she sorta made her own
profession, ya know, cause it was hard to be promoted anywhere as a women unless you were a
spinster and… ya, she’s pretty cool.

Reynolds: That’s your summary? Pretty cool?

Mia: Ya, like, badass…?

She trails off turning it into a sort of question.

Reynolds (smiling): You’re right. She was indeed “badass”.

Mia: Ya, so, her inventions included the sole cutting machine, internal combustion engine, flat
bottom paper bag, and a bunch of other stuff. She was pretty successful.

Reynolds: But she died a poor and unmarried woman.

Pause as Mia looks at Reynolds questioningly.

Mia: Okay… but that has nothing to do with her success as-
Reynolds grins at her jokingly.

Mia: Oh, joking, I get it, haha… ya so. Look, everything I want to say is already in my paper so
maybe you can tell me what you didn’t like. You know, what caused me to get a B.

Reynolds: You make a good point. Very well, it actually has to do with something you glossed
over. You see her invention of the Flat Bottom Paper Bag-

Mia: Yes! That was her first. Well her first one to patent.

Reynolds: You know the story behind it?

Mia: Ya, something about how she went to court and like won her patent. I didn’t think it was
that important to be honest-

Reynolds: You like superhero movies Mia?

Mia: Ya, a bunch.

Reynolds: Well that thing you glossed over was her, what they call these days at least, origin
story.

Mia: Is that why I got a B? I didn’t write enough about her origin.

Reynolds: Not in the slightest. However, knowing her story might help you understand why you
got a B.

Mia: Okay, but there isnt much on that trial. I mean, I looked it up. All I could find is that she
won because she had witnesses. I think that’s pretty straight forward, right?

Reynolds: That may be but think about the context. Uneducated, unmarried woman in the 1800s
takes a man to court, and she wins? No, there’s something more there.

Mia: Alright, there could be something more, but how can I- like how- where do I…

Mia trails off unsure of wear to go from there.

Reynolds: Well, maybe it would help if you put yourself in her shoes to start.

Mia: Oh, okay so… hmm…

Mia closes her eyes.

Mia (standing up): If I was Margaret…

The scene suddenly changes around her. The lights change colors as the set changes into a court
room. Reynolds stands up from the desk and roles it and the chairs to the side and walks off
stage. Mia’s eyes are still closed as other characters take their positions yelling lines as they
change the set.

Peggy: I’m so proud of you for doing this!

Annan: A woman? An inventor? Please, where are we? The 21st century?!

James: This is gonna be interesting…

Beth: Oh, are you sure we’re at the right place?

Annan: Never in my life did I think a female could bring a man to court, unbelievable!

Peggy: Are you sure you have your Papers? Make sure you have your papers!

Beth: I packed you an apple. You don’t know how long were gonna be in there…

James: Annan is eyeing me weird already, the nerve of that guy…

Peggy: I swear that man has already paid me one too many unwanted compliments. Really I’ve
never met such a-

Beth: Peggy! Language!

Mia opens her eyes and the lights come on fully. Witness BETH runs up to a disoriented Mia.

Beth: Marge! Quickly! Get ready, were about to begin.

Mia: Oh!

Mia quickly takes off her glasses placing them in her pocket and then her coat revealing era
appropriate attire and becomes MARGARET. She then runs with Beth to their side of the room
as the JUDGE enters.

A voice is heard saying “All Rise” and all characters stand and face the Judge as he comes to
the stand. It is Reynolds in a robe, white wig and moustache.

Judge: Be seated.
All characters sit.

Judge: Good evening. Gentlemen of the Jury, today we are here to assess Miss Margaret Elois
Knight’s accusation of Mr. Charles Annan stealing her Patent to the invention of the Flat
Bottomed Paper Bag Machine. We shall begin with opening statements. Miss Knight, as you are
the plaintiff, you may go first.

Marge: With Pleasure.

Marge stands confidently and strides to the middle of the room. She stares everyone down with a
sense of pride and passion.

Marge: Ladies and Gentlemen of the court I come here today due to a great injustice. This man
over here, Mr. Annan, has stolen my patent of the improvements to the Paper Bag Machine, of
which I gave it a revolutionary Flat Bottomed design that not only saves time, but money for
Paper Bag Factories all over America. In turn improving our economy. In turn saving our
children. I’m not saying that makes me a national hero but…

She smirks and shrugs her shoulders.

Whatever Mr. Annan may claim over the course of this trial, know it is a lie. Not only do I have
the documents to back up my statements, but I have the witnesses. People who have seen me in
each phase of creation. I promise you whatever Mr. Annan has to say, I have something to
disprove it. Thank you. Your Honor?

Judge: Thank you Miss Knight. Quite the eloquent women if I do say so myself. Mr. Annan,
please, your opening statements.

No response from Annan, who’s hat is over his eyes as he leans back in his chair.

Judge: Mr. Annan?

No response as Annan snores on.

Judge: Mr. Annan!

Annan wakes up with a start and stands saluting.

Annan: Uh! Yes, your honor right away!

Annan runs disoriented to the middle of the stage. He has forgotten something at his table and
runs back to get his notes. He comes back center stage and takes in a deep breath.

Annan: Yes, Hello! I am Charles Annan inventor of the Plastic Bag Machine- I uh.. Paper Bag
Machine. Sorry your honor, missed my morning coffee.

Peggy (whispering to Marge): If he keeps this up, you’ll have this in the bag darling.

Judge: Mr. Annan, please go on. Your opening statement?

Annan: Yes! My… my opening statement…

Annan takes a pause. He closes his eyes and breaths in, adjusting his posture. He then opens his
eyes with a familiar condescending form of confidence. He looks at Marge and smirks ever so
slightly before he begins.

Annan: Gentlemen and Ladies (he winks) of the court. I come to you today a humble family man
trying to support his household. I created this invention with the intent to better the Paper Bag
experience for all Americans. I don’t know much big words such as economy and the sort like
Miss Knight, however, I guarantee you the invention is mine. I made it with the simple intent to
make the lives of those who work in factories, such as Miss Knight’s, easier. I’m no hero for
making it, simply a family man with an exceptional mind trying to pay the bills.

He pauses for a moment. He looks at Marge before changing his demeanor to more of a feeble
one and states.

Annan: And no offense to Miss Knight or anyone else here, but I’ve never seen a woman invent
anything. I just… I just don’t see how its possible. To put it simply, and in my humble opinion,
no woman could have possibly invented such a complex apparatus.

Marge: What?

Judge: Thank you Mr. Annan. We will take a brief recess before moving on to the-

Marge: Wait a minute!

The lights change and Marge puts glasses back on turning in to Mia and the Judge takes his
moustache of turning to Reynolds. Everyone else freezes.
Mia: Sorry Professor, but what?

Reynolds: What what?

Mia: That couldn’t have been his argument.

Reynolds: But it was. Look.

Reynolds gets out her phone and shows an article to Mia.

Mia: Oh my god. It does say that. It does say exactly that. But that makes no sense, why on earth
would the trial even go on.

Reynolds: Well it was the 1800s. Back then the jury tended to only consist of men so…

Mia: Oh, never mind, I get it, I get it.

Mia and Reynolds quickly turn back into Marge and the Judge.

Judge: As I was saying, we will take a brief recess before moving on to the witnesses. Ten
minutes!

Judge bangs the gavel.

Marge sighs and starts to walk back to her friends but sees Annan smirking at her out of the
corner of her eye. She faces him.

Marge: You’re only going to get so far with that sort of argument.

Annan(innocently): What sort of argument?

Marge: The kind that demeans me due to my sex.

Annan: Oh, you mean what I said about… Oh Miss Knight, you cant take that personally. I was
just simply reminding the jury that you are… uh.. let’s say limited, due to you being a female.
Don’t get me wrong, you gals can do plenty that we cant with all the cooking and cleaning and
sewing. I couldn’t thread a needle if I tried.

Marge: That is quite… unsurprising and sad. However, I have the knowledge, figures and
witnesses to prove that the invention is mine. So, why don’t you just quit while you still have
some dignity.
Annan: Darling, I wouldn’t be here if I had any of that.

Marge looks at him questioningly.

Annan: Lady, I got nothing to lose here, nowhere to be. This is what you would call for me a…
last hail marry. I intend on keeping this patent no matter the cost. So, you might wanna tell all
your female and colored witnesses what their dealing with if they get up on that stand.

Marge: If?

Annan: Miss Knight, while the proof provided by a witness is usually quite enlightening, those
you have brought with you today to lay out the truth well… let’s just say they aren’t the most
formidable sources of information. It’ll be quite easy to, well, discredit your little friends.

Pause.

Annan: Take care Miss Knight.

Annan Walks back to his side of the room. Marge pinches the bridge of her nose in annoyance as
Beth approaches her. She is a soft spoken and sweet young girl.

Beth: Is everything alright Margey?

Marge smiles at her.

Marge: Don’t worry about me uh… how are you? You’re going up first right?

Beth: Mhm, and all prepared and stuff. I even memorized all the big words you told me about
your creation. I’m prepared for anything that two-timing low life plans to throw at me.

Marge: Thank you Beth, but…

Beth: Ya Margey?

Marge looks at Beth worried about Annan’s threats and considers not letting her go up.
However, she shakes the feeling off and decides against it.

Marge: Thank you for doing this. You’ll be great up there, I believe in you.

Beth (jokingly): Well I knew that much.

Beth runs off to the stand. The Judge enters the room and bangs his gavel.
Judge: Alright, let us begin. Miss Knight, you have the floor.

Marge: Thank you your honor.

Pause as she looks over at Annan and back at Beth. But she shakes off her worries once more
before getting straight to the point.

Marge: Miss Lendy, it’s quite simple. You work with me at the factory correct?

Beth: Yes, eight-hour shifts, seven days a week.

Marge: Right, and ever since you’ve known me, what have I been working on?

Beth: A machine that’ll make our lives a sure of a lot easier. You’re always talking pullies and
glue, scribbling away at your sketchbook, printing out designs. Your honor, Miss Knight doesn’t
even eat lunch with us, always off working on her little project.

Marge: So, to put it simply, you saw me create my invention.

Beth: Yes. I saw it all. In my opinion it’s dang near impossible to believe anything else. Also
rear-side elevation.

Everyone looks at her questioningly.

Beth: That’s just one of the big words Miss Knight would talk about with me.

Marge: Thank you, Miss Lendy. Your honor, no further questions.

Judge: I assume none more are needed. That you Miss Knight. Mr. Annan, you now have the
floor.

Annan: Oh, I take it gladly your honor.

Annan walks to the middle of the room.

Annan: Miss Lendy was it?

Beth: Mhm.

Annan: Miss Lendy, you’re quite young aren’t you, twenty-one, twenty-two years old?

Beth: Twenty-two.
Annan: Yes, Twenty-two. And how long have you been working at the factory?

Beth: A couple of months.

Annan: A couple of months? So, two months correct?

Beth: Ya, I guess around two months.

Annan: And Miss Knight, was she working on the project before or after you came to the
factory?

Beth: Oh no, long before I ever came. You could see it in her drawings.

Annan: Right, so you cant vouch and say that the idea was originally her’s?

Beth: Uh… what do you-

Annan: I’m asking did you see Miss Knight come up with the idea on her own?

Beth: Uh… I mean I didn’t personally-

Annan: Then how do you know she did?

Beth: Well Peggy-

Annan: I’m not asking Peggy, I’m asking you. Did you see Miss Knight come up with the idea
herself.

Beth (getting nervous): Well… no, but I saw her work on it and… her designs and… the rear-
side elevation and…

Annan: But what’s to say she didn’t steal the idea from me?

Beth: Well how could she. She doesn’t know you.

Annan: Oh, Miss Lendy I don’t think that’s true given she introduced us.

Beth: Us? What… I’ve never met you before…

Annan: You see gentlemen, Miss Knight is a frequent visitor of my welding shop. I didn’t
understand why before, but now I do, given her attempt to steal my invention. She would come
in every week and ask my boys more and more questions. Miss Lendy came with her on one
occasion and I’m quite surprised she’s forgotten about me, I mean, we did share a… a moment
together if you will.

Beth: What?

Annan: So, as you see, Miss Knight had opportunity and means to steal my designs.

Beth: We’ve never met before let alone… We’ve never met before your honor.

Annan: Look I understand why you’d lie about that. Protect your honor as you see fit, but I must
protect my rights. Gentlemen, Miss Lendy will never admit it, and that’s perfectly
understandable, but we have uh… met.

Beth: That- That’s not true! Marge-

Annan: Your Honor, as you can see Miss Lendy is quite emotional and is probably not fit to be
up on the stand at this current moment…

Judge: Yes well. Mr. Annan thank you for your questions. Miss Lendy you are dismissed. Let us
reconvene with our second witness after a brief recess.

The Judge bangs his gavel. As Beth runs off, her face red, tearing up.

Beth: Marge! I promise I never fooled around with him before. I promise.

Marge: Beth! Beth… it’s okay, I never took you to the shop. I know.

Beth: Ya, well you’re the only one. Look at those guys (she refers to the jury). They’re all
looking at me like those men on the corner do. I’m so embarrassed.

Peggy: Beth… Beth honey, you didn’t do anything. You know that right?

Beth: Ya, but they think I did so what’s the difference. Oh Marge. I’m so sorry. They wont
believe a word I said.

Marge: No, I’m sorry, I knew Annan was gonna pull something like that and I let you go up
anyway.

Beth: Margey I would have gone up anyway. I know how important this is to you.

Peggy: Ya, but you could have at least sent me up first.

Marge and Beth look at Peggy questioningly.

Peggy: I mean, no offense to Beth, but I can take a lot more hits than you.

Beth: No, you make a good point… I’m not offended…

Peggy: But at least now we know what we’re dealing with.

Marge: Ya, we do…

Marge looks around suddenly noticing something.

Marge: Hey where’s…

She looks over at Annan who is talking to James.

Marge: Shit…

She walks over to them, but Annan gets away before she gets there.

Marge: What did he say to you.

James: Oh… Marge, I uh…

Marge: What did he say?

James: Marge he… Nothing. He said nothing.

Marge: It didn’t look like nothing.

James: Ya, well, lets just say it’s nothing you should be concerned about.

Marge: James, if it concerns you, it concerns me. Stop acting like we haven’t been eating lunch
over molten metal together for the past year.

James: Look, I just know that if I go up there he’s gonna convince everyone that I somehow stole
his designs for you.

Pause.

Marge: That’s what he told you?

James: That’s besides what he told me.

Pause.

James: And they’ll believe it. I mean, my complexion isnt really the most “trustworthy” to these
jury folk.

Marge: That doesn’t mean we cant try. If we know that’s what he’s gonna ask, then I’ll just have
to ask better questions.

James: Do you have better questions?

Silence as Marge and James think. Suddenly their faces light up.

Marge and James: The prototype!

Marge: You have it right?

James: You asked me to bring it-

Marge: That’s not the same thing, I asked you to bring me a sandwich last Thursday and ended
up-

James: Yes. Yes, I brought it.

Marge: Perfect.

Judge: This court is back in session. Please take your seats.

James looks at Marge questioningly.

James: You got this?

Marge: I got this.

James: Then it’s worth it.

Marge: Then it’s what…?

James is already walking up to the stand leaving a confused Marge behind. But she shakes it off
and gets ready to question him.

Judge: Miss Knight, you may begin.

Marge: Thank you your honor. Mr. Johnson, as we understood from Mr. Annan’s last line of
questioning, he likely believes that you were the one to steal “his” invention from him and give it
to me. Would that be wrong to assume?

James: No ma’am. But that’s not true.

Marge: Why do you believe that?

Pause. James looks over at Annan and looks him directly in the eye and says.

James: Because me and Miss Knight have been working for a year on this project and Mr. Annan
has only recently took over our shop.

Judge: Do you have any proof to this statement.

Marge: Yes, we do your honor. James.

James looks at Annan confidently before bringing out a metal model of an old version of her
invention.

Marge: What you see here your honor is a prototype of my invention. Mr. Johnson may you
please read the date on the bottom of the model.

James: Gladly Miss Knight. It says here 8/14/70. Also known as…

Marge: August 14th, 1970. Almost a year ago. Before Mr. Annan even stepped foot in Mr.
Johnson’s shop.

Pause.

Marge: No further questions your honor.

Judge: Uh… well. Thank you Miss Knight. Mr. Annan, you may question the witness, though, I
don’t think I really see the point.

Annan (sharply): Oh, don’t worry your honor. There’s a point.

Annan walks over to the middle of the room.

Annan: Mr. Johnson, I would just like to begin by saying that I did not believe that you stole my
designs for Miss Knight. I fought in the war, I don’t hold those prejudices whereas she on the
other hand… but I digress. However, I would like to question you in another topic of interest. To
start, would you say Miss Knight is a remarkable woman?

James: Uh… I would yes. She’s quite bright.

Annan: But she never got an education?

James: No, but that only makes her even more remarkable.

Annan: I see, I see…

Pause.

Annan: Mr. Johnson, have you ever heard of a woman who could do what Miss Knight has done
with that prototype?

James: No, but that doesn’t prove she didn’t make it. She’s special.

Annan: Special! That’s the word I was looking for. Gentlemen, if Miss Knight wins here today
that would prove she is special. Which isnt a bad thing. But before now I’ve proven she had both
means and opportunity to steal my designs. Now I give you motive.

James: Excuse me?

Annan: Miss Knight is in an uneducated, unmarried thirty-year-old woman. I doubt she ever felt
special day in her life. Always looked down on, always in the background. So, she starts
tinkering around with things, trial and error, calling herself an inventor. But, naturally she cant
get very far. She tries to learn more with my good friend James over here but… She still cant
crack it. So, she snoops around back after one of their little study sessions and finds my designs.
Just in time for her to create the perfect model for a patent.

Pause.

But I was lucky enough to beat her to it. So, gentlemen of the jury. You can believe that Miss
Knight is special, that she is the first woman inventor in all of the world. That her female brain
finally cracked the code on how to think like us. Or… or you can believe that she simply stole
my invention.

He looks jury with a knowing smile.

Thank you. No further questions.

He walks away but before he can get all the way there Marge stands.

Marge: Okay! Wait a minute.

The lights change. She puts on her glasses turning back into Mia and the Judge takes off his
moustache turning into Reynolds. Everyone freezes. Mia groans dramatically in frustration.

Mia: Professor that Annan is getting on my nerves.

Reynolds: I mean that’s hardly his fault, it is your own imagination.

Mia: What… she looks around at the frozen room – oh, right.

Reynolds: But good, I’m glad your really getting into this exercise. You’re getting really close.

Mia: To the reason I got a B?

Reynolds: Yes.

Pause.

Mia: I don’t think I am…

Reynolds: You are, believe me-

Mia: And I have a class to get to…

Reynolds: I know you know it.

Mia: But I don’t! Why can’t you just tell me?

Reynolds: Because you already know.

Pause.

Mia: Professor, I don’t. All I am so far is confused to how she won. If arguments like Annan’s
were even viable at the time-

Reynolds: What don’t you like about Annan’s argument?

Mia: It’s sexist. Obviously.

Reynolds: Okay, obviously, but why else?

Mia: Because… because Marge is special. I just wrote a paper on how special she is. She did it.
She broke the glass ceiling. She became the first woman inventor. She did the unlikely. And he’s
somehow using that against her by pitting it against a more realistic lie and…

Silence as Reynolds looks a bit disappointed.

Mia: Did I say something wrong?

Reynolds: Oh what? No, no I guess I was just beginning to agree with you.

Mia: So, I’m on the right track?

Reynolds: No agree with you that you have no idea why you got the grade you did.

Pause.

Reynolds: Marge being special is not an argument. Don’t get me wrong, she is special. But not
for the reasons your believe.

Mia: That’s why I have a B?

Reynolds: No, you not understanding why she is special is why you have a B.

Mia: I’m trying.

Reynolds: I know you are and that’s only making me all the more convinced that you should
keep this grade so…

Mia looks at Reynolds who starts taking out papers and grading them once more.

Mia: Look, I don’t know why yet, but I want to.

Reynolds: With where your thinking you won’t be able to. You said you had a class to get to.
Please close the door on your way out.

Mia looks at Reynolds expectantly. But realizing Reynolds is not gonna look back, she gives up
and starts moving off stage. However, before she can fully make it off, she suddenly decides
against it.

Mia: The trial isnt over yet.

Reynolds: Oh?

Mia: Let us finish the trial. Regardless of history, I will argue in favor of Marge. If she wins, I
get an A. If she loses I keep my B.

Reynolds: No.

Mia: No?

Reynolds: The stakes are too low for you, and they weren’t for Marge. You lose, you get a C.

Mia: What… That’s kind of unfair.

Reynolds: Then I’m assuming you don’t want that A.

Mia looks at Reynolds. She straightens her posture and nods.

Mia: Are all your classes like this?

Reynolds: Meh…

Mia: Let’s do it.

The lights change back, and Mia turns back into Marge and Reynolds into the Judge. James is
suddenly behind her and taps her on the shoulder.

James: You did great, I promise.

Marge: I know. he just did better.

James: Not better. Dirtier.

James looks over Marge’s shoulder.

James: Speak of the devil.

Annan (walking up to them): Well, I have got to say you made quite the compelling argument.

Marge: I would like to say the same for you but…

Annan: Hah, nice one. Listen James, about our little agreement earlier-

James: Listen Annan I know, but I couldn’t-

Annan: You’re fired.

Pause.

Annan: Enjoy the rest of the trial Miss Knight.

Annan walks away smugly. Marge turns to James.

Marge: That… that’s what he was threatening you with earlier? He was gonna fire you?

James: Well…

Marge: And you knew this?!

James: I mean I didn’t think he’d go through with it.

Marge: James you have a newborn, you can’t afford to be fired.

James: Ya, which is why I didn’t think he’d actually do it.

Marge: Have you been watching this trial? He’s willing to do anything.

James: Marge it was my decision.

Marge: It was a stupid decision.

James: No, it wasn’t.

Pause.

James: Marge, there is just so many people like Annan in the world who get away with so much,
without any consequences. Guys like Annan, those are who I’m worried about in my daughters
future. Not money, she can make that, but the men who think they can take it from her, like
Annan’s doing now. This is important, so that one day if this happens to my little girl she can say
“Miss Knight got her rights so why can’t I”.

Silence. Marge contemplates what to do next.

Marge: Well… I’m flattered…

James: Don’t be flattered. Win.

Marge: Well I think you’ve given me no choice.

James smiles at her and walks back to the table Peggy comes up to her.

Peggy: What was that all about?

Marge: I cant lose Peggy. James lost his job helping me. I need the money from the patent to
help him back. Without it, I don’t think his family will make it to the end of the year.

Peggy: What’s all this melodrama and how the hell did I miss it?

Marge: Peggy what on earth do I do? Every logical argument I make, he makes a more
believable illogical one.

Peggy: Illogical to you maybe, I see his point.

Marge: Excuse me?

Peggy: Darling, I know it’s your invention, but that’s not what this trial is about.

Marge: Then what is it about?

Peggy: Convincing the white men of the jury that you are ten times the man they’ll ever be.
Show your proof, show your intellect. Show how special we all know you are.

Marge: They wont listen to that. They don’t want to believe that I could be on their level, let
alone better than them. They just won’t hear it.

Judge: Final witness to the stand.

Peggy: Well then you better think of something else quick because this is your last shot.

Marge nods.

Peggy: For James?

Marge: For James.

They hug as Peggy tells her.

Peggy: You just need some inspiration.

Peggy then walks to the stand leaving Marge who eyes suddenly light up.

Marge: Wait!
The lights change. Marge turns into Mia. Everyone else freezes. She quickly looks at some
papers on a desk.

Mia: Inspiration… Mary Kies… Hannah Slater… how did I miss that…

She takes the papers with her center stage. She takes off her glasses. The lights change back.

Marge: Ladies and Gentlemen of the court. Mr. Annan is right.

Silence as everyone in the room looks confused.

Judge: I’m sorry Miss Knight, but may you please elaborate.

Marge: Of course, your honor. You see, this entire time me and my colleagues have been trying
to convince you that I’m special. I have the mind of a man, that I am the exception. But Mr.
Annan is right, it is highly unlikely. That I managed to do something that no one else has done
before. However, it is still true that the invention is mine, so I thought to myself how can both
these ideas exist without each other. And I realized, they don’t.

She takes a pause and looks at Peggy.

Marge: Mrs. Mayfold, you are an intelligent woman. When the steam cap broke last month at the
factory, there weren’t any spare caps around, what did you do?

Peggy: I fixed it.

Marge: And how’d you do that?

Peggy: Well, I mean, there wasn’t much to it. I just fancied a cap out of a piece of my dress some
tape and some leather.

Marge: And how did you know to do that?

Peggy: Well… common sense? I’m assuming…

Marge: So that kind of sense is common to you.

Peggy: Well, of course. I’ve been working in factories for years, you can’t help but pick up these
things. It’s only natural.

Marge: It’s only natural… and that makeshift “cap” you made still holds up today doesn’t it?
Peggy: Well when you use the right materials anything can hold up.

Marge: Exactly. Gentlemen of the jury, what Mrs. Mayfold did is an example of what men claim
to hold a monopoly on: inventive thinking.

Annan: Objection! Your honor, fixing a cap is not the same as inventing a new piece of
technology.

Marge: No, no you’re right, but Miss Lendy.

Beth: Yes.

Marge: The other day when your hands were full and it was raining, you wanted to hold your
umbrella and your basket, so you used the ribbon in your hair to attach the basket to the
umbrella-

Beth (proudly): Ya, I called it an Umbrasket!

Marge: -exactly! And you managed yourself a comfortable walk home.

Beth: Ya, well… I guess I did do that.

Marge: That right there. That’s inventive thinking. It’s not thinking isolated just to a single sex.

Annan: Who here’s gonna believe that? What kind of nonsense-

Marge: Want more proof. (she looks at her papers) Hannah Slater, who patented the invention of
the spinning wheel in 1809. Or Mary Kies who patented hats, yes hats such as the one you own
Mr. Annan, a patent signed by President James Madison himself. And those are just the ones I
was able to find. The amount of things I have invented throughout my years that someone else
took credit for are innumerable. I cant even imagine the amount of ideas that have been stolen
from people like me all across history. It’s not that I can think like a man, its that men have been
stealing my kind of thinking and passing it off as their own.

She pauses and looks around the room.

What’s remarkable about me today is not that I’m gonna win by convincing you that I’m special.
I’m gonna win by convincing you that I’m not. Because if the likes of Hannah and Mary are lost
to history, then I will be too. And I don’t plan to be. Mary Kies, Hannah Slater. Margret E.
Knight. Remember our names. We didn’t do it first, you just knew about us first, we’ve been
doing this all along. And we will continue to, so go ahead gentlemen, make whatever decision
you see fit. You can only pretend we don’t exist for so much longer.

Silence.

I have nothing left to say Professor.

The lights dim. She puts on her glasses turning into Mia. The Judge changes back into Reynolds.

Reynolds: None needed.

Mia nods.

Mia: You gave me a B, because… because I didn’t acknowledge the women that came before
her.

Reynolds: The title of your essay-

Mia: The First Female Inventor.

Reynolds nods.

Mia: I didn’t even put her name in it.

Reynolds: Listen, Mia, I’m not saying that what you wrote isnt admirable, it is always important
to acknowledge women in any way. But, we cant forget who history is written by. And how
much of it we missed or weren’t told. That’s why Marge is important, not because she did it first,
but because she fought to be recognized so those after her wouldn’t have as hard a time.

Mia: Funny… my motive was to get an A, but you’ve convinced me I deserve that B. I mean my
entire premise was wrong.

Reynolds: That may be true, but a deals a deal. You ready to hear the verdict?

Mia takes a deep breath and takes off her glasses.

Mia: Hit me.

The lights change, Reynolds turns back into the Judge.

Judge: Ladies and Gentlemen of the court. It is my honor to announce the verdict in favor of the
plaintiff Miss Margret Elois Knight. Mr. Annan you shall be fined accordingly and Miss
Knight…

Marge: Yes?

Judge: The Patent is yours.

The Judge bangs his gavel.

Marge: Thank you your honor.

She turns to her friends.

Marge (to Beth): Well I knew that much.

Peggy: You played that very smart.

Beth: I didn’t doubt you for a second.

Peggy: And James, that patent money if for your child, do not dare declare pride. You can pay
Marge back when you get another job.

James: Screw pride, I’ll take it. And return everything I borrow-

Marge: No need-

James: Yes need. That patent and everything that comes with it, it’s yours, you earned it.

Marge: Ya, but it’s just the one patent. Watch me make eighty more.

James notices Annan coming from behind.

James: Oh, watch your back.

She turns to find Annan in her face.

Annan: Your just a sad lonely little bitch aren’t you? You have nothing better to do than mess
around in other people’s lives.

Marge: Listen-
Annan: That invention is mine. I found it, I claimed it, Its mine! You think you’re so smart with
your thoughts and your big words and your “inventive thinking”. You think you’ll gain some
respect out of this? Reality check darling, your lot in life provides you with nothing but being a
nobody. Someday, you’ll just be a dowdy housewife with a kid being called someone else’s
name. You don’t get to exist, not before men like me get what they deserve. You wait your turn!

Pause.

Marge: Well… that’s not your choice to make.

She indicates to the rest that they all should leave. She speaks to him as she walks off stage.

Marge: And thankfully it never will be.

Annan still furious shouts after her.

Annan: No one will even remember your name!

Reynolds (having taken off the moustache): It’s Margret E Knight, ( faintly heard as she walks
off stage) it’s not that hard to remember. God, and you wonder why your life is a string of
failures, with a memory like that. I honestly feel sorry for…

The sound of her voice trails off as we walks away. Annan is left alone in the court room. The
lights begin to dim. Annan turns to the audience.

Annan: Would you?

The lights close.