Here is the vote for women Votes for Women! Characters
1 [Early afternoon in spring 1903. A dozen women are seated in a well-furnished living room. They have just finished tea and cookies.]
2 BELLE: [leaning over to whisper to Emmaline] I don’t see Betty yet. Do you suppose she is just late?
3 EMMALINE: [also speaking in low tones.] My dear, I do believe that Betty came mainly because of Mildred’s encouragement. Now that Mildred has left the group, I wouldn’t be surprised if Betty stopped attending as well.
4 BELLE: [disappointed] It’s just that we need every member we can get. I hope we don’t lose anyone else.
5 ANNETTE FINNIGAN: [Stands.] Ladies, the meeting of the Equal Suffrage League of Houston will now come to order. We will first hear a report of the suggestions for furthering our cause. Emmaline?
6 EMMALINE: [Stands.] Thank you, Madame Chairwoman. You will all remember that last month we took pamphlets to our mayor’s office. Nothing has come of that attempt. I believe it is time we stepped up and organized a protest.
7 KATHERINE: We need something stronger than a protest march. We should tie ourselves to the fence outside the governor’s mansion.
8 [Several of the women look at one another, clearly alarmed.]
9 JANE: Katherine, that’s a long way to travel.
10 KATHERINE: Yes, I know. It’s more than 150 miles, so it will show that we are serious about our need to vote.
11 BELLE: Who will look after our children and homes while we are gone?
12 KATHERINE: We can surely organize care for one another.
13 ANNETTE FINNIGAN: Before we become too attached to one idea—are there other suggestions?
14 EMMALINE: We need to write letters to the editors of the Houston newspapers. We could send copies to Austin as well.
15 [General murmurs of agreement from the other women.]
16 BELLE: Could we also picket the mayor’s office on the day the editorials are printed?
17 JANE: I like that idea. No offense, Katherine, but I cannot imagine going to Austin. I could carry a sign in front of the mayor’s office, though.
18 KATHERINE: Well, I don’t see how that’s going to get all the women in Texas the vote.
19 JANE: Perhaps we could start branch organizations in other cities. We could begin with letters to key women in each city, inviting them to be part of this effort.
20 ANNETTE FINNIGAN: That is a sound idea, Jane. Belle, could you design some signs for us to carry in protest?
21 BELLE: Certainly!
22 KATHERINE: I think you are missing the big picture. We need to do something bold that will lead to change for all women. But I can see that I am alone in my feelings. I will leave you to your planning. Good afternoon.
23 [She leaves. The others look at one another in dismay.]
SCENE 2
24 [The following week, eight women from the previous act are walking back and forth in front of the mayor’s office, carrying signs of protest.]
25 BELLE: [To Emmaline as they walk.] Katherine didn’t come. [nervously] Do you think—do you think she went to Austin alone? I—I—[blurting it out now] I’m so worried that she’s angry I didn’t support her ideas.
26 EMMALINE: [reassuringly] Yes, I noticed she was missing. I would hate to lose her from the League. She does have good ideas, even if they are too wild for me sometimes. I don’t think she’ll carry a grudge. You know how quickly she got over being angry with Annette last year. She was the first to support her as president of the League.
27 BELLE: We both want women to have the right to vote. We just go about working to achieve our goal differently. I don’t want to lose her friendship.
28 KATHERINE: [Entering excitedly.] Here I am! Sorry to be late—is there an extra sign?
29 EMMALINE: [Hands her a sign.] Where have you been?
30 KATHERINE: I met the train at the station. Our state senator was on it, coming home for the weekend. I talked to him about a woman’s right to vote while he waited for the porter to get his luggage. He seemed interested in our cause.
31 BELLE: [Gives Katherine a quick hug and a sign.] How exciting! I’m so proud of you, Katherine! That was a brave thing to do.
32 KATHERINE: Well, we didn't go to Austin, but Austin came to us!
33 [The women laugh and continue marching. The lights fade, leaving just one spotlight on Katherine, upstage left.]
34 KATHERINE: And so ends our little local protest. How brave they are, my friends in the league: brave, smart, funny, and all very dear to me. I love them all—but alas, I am not sure they see the big picture. If we want to change things nationally, we need to act on a large scale. [She begins pacing the stage.] Sadly, that’s exactly the reason there is no way to act alone. If members of the league choose to protest in Houston, not Austin, Houston it is! My conversation with our senator was wonderful—but I doubt women will have the right to vote any time soon. It’s likelier that people will fly to the moon or that a woman will serve as a soldier!