EXCERPTS FROM FIREDAMP

Act One: Scene One - The Arrival of the Women

Mary: I knew something was wrong when John's mates came to the house in the middle of shift-and in their pit clothes. They were talking and I stopped hearing them somehow .. rock fall they said. Killed instantly, so he didn't suffer they said. Strange words-killed instantly. No one is really killed instantly. John will take my whole lifetime, and then some, to die for me.

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Act One: Scene Two - The Mine

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Act One- Scene Four Main Street

Edna: Easy to keep?

Edie: Oh, I'll say. Said it's good for at least three months.

Edna: So you just comb it out and it stays?

Edie: Oh, yes! So much less bother.

Edna: Well, it really suits you. Expensive?

Edie: Not too bad ... two dollars altogether, but I thought what the heck. I said to Leo, I said, Look! I'm taking some of that egg money and I'm getting a permanent wave and if you don't like it, you can go and lay the eggs yourself! Didn't say a word!

Edna: Well, every once in a while a girl's got to treat herself, I always say.

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Act One: Scene Seven - The End of Shift

Angus: Need another route is part of the problem. Too much traffic through there. It's open all the time.

Ronny: I've seen it propped. Driver told me to leave it.

Angus: Close it! It's short-circuitin' the air from the fan!

Leo: Ha! I kick lots! You know what dey tell me? Dey say you coming too old to load coal, Leo.

Will: Hey, Harry. You mind if I ask you a question?

Harry: Sure, Will. What is it?

Will: You ever find much gas? You know .. when you check the rooms with your safety lamp?

Harry: No need for you to worry, Will. Anyone'll tell ya-this ain't a gassy mine.

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Act Two: Scene One - The Picnic

Angus: You know where I stand on it, Harry. The man's a fraud--just like those that gone before 'im.

Harry: Well, I don't know about that, Angus. I say give the man a chance.

Mabel: That's right, Mr. Crandall. He's a wonderful, decent man and I'll not hear you saying a things about him.

Angus: Very, well, Mrs. Bames. It's a lovely day for a picnic even if the fish won't bite, but I will say this, and you can mark my words. It won't last. Social Credit is just another flash in the pan!Helen: If the mine closes ... like they say it might ... have you thought about what you'd want to do?

Tom: What does want have to do with it, Helen? A man's got to work and that's all there is to it.

Helen: But there's lots of other things you could do, Tom.

Tom: I'm not scared of work, Helen, but there's lots like me out there. The country's full of men who want to work, and if this mine shuts down like they're talking, I'll be one of them.

Helen: But they keep saying in the newspapers that things are going to change.

Tom: Helen ... how .. what's going to change? And who's going to change it? Country's going to hell in a handbasket and we all sit around like a bunch of sheep being led to the slaughter .. waiting for some prophet to lead us to the promised land. Angus says we need a good war. Maybe he's right. It's one way of getting rid of your unemployed.

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Firedamp Cast

Excerpts from the Play

Author: Arlene Purcell has been a teacher for 21 years in Southern Alberta where she and her husband, Leighton, have raised two sons. She currently lives in Lethbridge and teaches language arts and drama at Coalhurst High School.