Title: The Roaring Women

Argument: Gender equality was one of the central issues of the period, challenging social
expectations and people’s mentality in an attempt to bring change. In order to illustrate this
we wrote a play about the efforts of women in an industry which they had been part of since
its institution but never acknowledged the same way as their male counterparts. Showing their
determination and willingness to take risks to prove their worth helps demonstrate that there is
always room for positive change and the first step towards it is an open mind.

Characters:
Helen –actress, women’s rights activist, revolted, aggressive
June –actress, scared, doubtful
Alice –actress, pacifist
Samuel Emerson – director of the film
Studentsi: Adăscăliței Oana, Buhăceanu Andreea, Crețu Delia, Mihailov Alexandra
 The Roaring Women

Setting: a room in the Metro Golden Meyer complex

Introduction:The story takes place in the Roaring Twenties, where four up-and-coming
actresses of the brand new sound movie technique receive offers to star in the next great work
of director Samuel Emerson and discuss the merits of the script they were given.
Helen: (angrily throws a stack of papers on a nearby table) I can’t believe it! Are we going to
accept this as it is?
June: It’s not like there is much we can do.
Helen: That’s the exact attitude that brought us here in the first place!
Alice: Stop yelling! Everyone will hear us!
Helen: That is precisely my intention! I am a woman and have the right to be heard! (throws
her hands in the air)
Alice: Let’s just calm down for a moment. We cannot expect to be taken seriously unless we
communicate in a civilized manner.
June: I agree…
Helen: Do you mean to tell me you are fine with this? The way the script puts it, we’re more
an element of décor rather than characters.
Alice: And what do you suggest we do, refuse the roles? Someone else will come along and
replace us. Nobody wins! (gesticulates in a placating manner)
Helen:(sighing heavily) You’re right…I’m just tired of being treated differently. How is it
fair that a woman’s success in cinema is decided more by her looks than her talent?
June: Now you’re sounding just like the activists I passed by this morning on my way to the
studio.
Alice: Ladies, please! I don’t know about you, but I really need this role and unless you keep
it down we’re sure to get fired.
June: (sighs) It has always been like this, and it will always be. I don’t see why you are so
outraged by the script, really. Judging by your experience in this field, you should be used to
it by now.
Helen: (about to outburst with anger)
Alice: Now, now… No need to behave in such a manner. We are ladies and need to behave as
such.. Now, take a deep breath and think about what we could do to make the script
more(emphasizes) appealing.
June:This is hopeless…
Alice: Oh come on, June! Let the lady speak her mind! Complaisance will get us nowhere.
June:(sighs and rolls her eyes)
Helen: (talking to June) And you think I have a negative attitude!
June: Ok, I’m sorry, I have to agree with you here. So, what do you have in mind to change
this situation?
Helen: A strong discussion with the director of course!
June: What do you mean by “strong”? (sounding reluctant)
Alice: I can already tell that by discussion she means a massive argument with the exact same
person that refuses to see reason.
June: Oh no… I can’t do that. (apprehensive)
Helen: Why, are you too scared?! (sarcastic tone)
Alice: Look, a talk is alright, but I don’t think we should jump in and start yelling without
thinking about it first. He’s the one that controls the entire production of this movie.
Helen:Exactly, HE! (looks pointedly at June)
June: Now, now, don’t discriminate men!
Helen: DISCRIMINATE MEN?! Do you hear her? (shocked and angered)
June: Stop shouting!
Alice: I agree. With the both of you. (to Helen) Speak a little lower please. (to June) And as
far as I’m concerned women have always been the the target of discrimination.
(Samuel Emerson enters the room, suspicious of the loud voices he overheard)
Samuel: Is there a problem, ladies?
(at the same time) Helen: Yes, this misogynist script! June: No, not at all!
Alice: Well, the truth is we are having mixed feelings about the script.
Samuel: Mixed feelings, how so? (looks atJune) I thought you said you love my newest idea!
Helen: (to June) You said that?!
June: (stuttering) Well, a woman can change her mind, can’t she?
Samuel: So you changed you mind? You don’t want to be in this movie anymore?
June: No, of course we do! It’s just…
Alice: We would like to discuss about certain scenes, that’s all.
Helen: Damn right we want!
June: (a little louder this time) Yes, indeed.
Alice: For example…(looking through her stack of papers) in the casino scene, where all the
men gather up to talk business over a play of poker and the woman, played by June here, is
sent away with the line, and I quote “You can go now, darling! Neither the game nor the
conversation are of any concern for your little mind.”
Samuel:(incredulous) I hope you are not suggesting I should have a woman that knows how
to play poker in my film!
Helen: It’s not your movie, it’s ours! We are the leading characters!
Samuel: That’s what you think? I pay for it, I direct it and the leading characters are
Christopher and James.
Alice: So you don’t consider us your leading characters?
Samuel: Well, yes, you do have a lot of screen time, but not enough lines or relevance to the
plot to matter.
June: What do you mean “not enough lines to matter”? We don’t matter to your movie?
Helen: That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all along!
Alice: We really don’t like your attitude towards us, Samuel.
Samuel: What is wrong with it? It is a perfectly normal, professional attitude in my opinion.
Helen: Well, we are starting to get tired of your opinion.
June: Yes, we aren’t useless! (determined)
Samuel: (louder) What are you trying to say? I’ve always treated you with the highest
respect!
Alice: We want to play an active role in the plot of the movie.
June, Helen: Exactly!
Samuel: What couldpossibly be a more active than being on screen, around the main
characters through-out almost the entire movie?
Helen: We want to be the main characters.
Samuel: A woman being the main character? Now that’s something I’ve never heard before!
(demeaning laughter)
Helen: We mean it, Samuel!
Samuel: What you mean, my dear Helen, is that you want me to ignore the basic social that
have functioned since the beginning of time.
Helen The ones that state women are inferior?
Samuel: Are you joining that new activist movement, Helen?
June: What is wrong with it, after all?
Alice: Samuel, do you actually believe we are inferior and we don’t deserve your attention?
Samuel: You say it as if I thought you were animals! You know I appreciate your talent on
screen. (defensive)
Helen: Then prove it!
Samuel: What do you want me to prove? This is a movie like any other, with characters and
cast as any other!
Alice: That doesn’t mean no change should be made whatsoever. Otherwise there is no room
for improvement.
Samuel: People don’t like changes. You have to give them something they are comfortable
with, deliver what is expected of you
June: Everybody enjoyed the new sound films. They had an outstanding success.
Samuel: It is not the same thing!
Helen:Only because you refuse to see it!
Samuel: (rubbing his temple in a tired gesture) I’m starting to lose my patience. Look at
Sunrise! It is one of Murnau’s greatest movies! Its popularity speaks for itself, many enjoyed
watching it! Both men and women! It is this kind of roles attract viewers and if that’s what
people like, that’s what I’ll make! You can’t change that!
June: (naively) Why not?
Samuel:(defeated) Look, girls, it’s not just me. Nobody believes women are fit to make their
own decisions. I just reflect that mentality on screen.
Helen: Well I believe in women!
Alice: And I believe in equality!
Samuel: Well I believe in money, which is what none of you is going to get if you walk away
from this opportunity!
June: (very brave and determined) Well this is none of your concern anymore, we hereby
hand in our collective resignation.
Samuel: Don’t make me laugh! You think you’re irreplaceable? (chuckles with disdain)
Helen: Yes, we are!
Samuel: Well I’m sorry to break it to you, but I can find plenty of other young actresses to fit
the description. Maybe even for less money. You can leave the set immediately (grinning
mockingly) and good luck in your future careers!
(Samuel exits the room)
June: What do you propose we do now? Our credibility as actors will be ruined the moment
Samuel makes the news public.
Helen: Plenty others have succeeded against all odds, why shouldn’t we?
Alice: What we need now is to find a director, someone like Dorothy Arzner,
Helen: Why not Dorothy Arzner herself?
June: (hopeful) Do you think she’ll accept working with us?
Alice: If we have a good idea… perhaps even a script to begin with.
Helen: It’s set then. Girls, we’re writing a script!
June: About what?
Alice:Whatever it is, its focus should be on women and what they can achieve by themselves.
Helen: How about the suffragette movement? Such a brave and influential initiative deserves
to be captured on film and who knows? It might help people see things differently by showing
how far women have come in claiming their rights and individual freedom.
June: (clapping excitedly) It might actually work!
Alice: All right then, let’s get to work!
Helen: I’m really confident in this project, girls! And I won’t give Samuel the satisfaction to
mock our public image anymore. I’m going to the press before him to tell them our version of
the story! No doubt they’ll jump at the chance to dig up dirt on him.
June: My cousin knows an actor that worked with Mrs. Arzner, I think he might be able to
arrange something for us.
Alice: (animated) I’ll start writing!
Helen:(declares with authority) That’s the spirit girls! Tomorrow we’re wearing trousers to
celebrate!