At the some time, on the other side of town, Harry practises his speech in his apartment by speaking with marbles in his mouth, a technique the Greek Demosthenes used to cure a stammer. Unannounced, Charlotte storms Harry's apartment and gives him a few of her own pointers on public speaking. Flora arives a short time later and all the best laid plans end in disaster: the evening ends abruptly for everyone. On the day of the rally Flora finds Charlotte has changed the simple rally at Garrett and Mellick's into a picket-line in an act of spite. Knowing there is no way to turn in her artwork without crossing the picketline - an act which would immediately expel her from the party - Flora gives the artwork to Willy to take to the store. Mr. Weiss and Elsa are not pleased with Flora's actions. Flora agrees. The first test of her newfound determination comes, however, when she realizes she has sent Willy to Garrett and Mellick's with the wrong envelope and has accidentally turned in the list of names of people interested in forming a union. Outside the store, Harry tries to speak, only to heckled by the crowd. He tosses aside his prepared remarks, speaks from the heart and for the first time the crowd listens. When Flora arrives at the store, Harry realizes she plans to cross the picket-line in order to retrieve the list of names. He becomes angry, pointing out that crossing a picket-line is an act of disloyalty and tells Flora she is either with them, or against them . . . "and if you're against us, you're against me.' Flora argues she has put other people's jobs on the line and refuses to look of the world in the black and white terms of the Party. Fully aware of the consequences, Flora crosses the line. Once inside Mr. Stanleys office, Flora pleads her case and sacrifices her own job in order to save the jobs of the other people on the list. As Flora reads her letter of dismissal, we see a montage of the strikers on the street and hear Willy sing. Floral returns to the studio just as the artists are leaving to celebrate Kenny and Maggie's new job at the Rainbow Room. Harry enters and tells Flora that things aren't going to work out between them. He tells her she'd never be committed to the party the way he is and despite their shared ambition to change the world, they go about their mission in two very different ways. Reluctantly Harry kisses Flora good-bye. Flora is left alone in the studio, momentarily defeated, but determined to pick up the pieces and start again. DAVID THOMPSON THE CAST Flora Meszaros Harry Toukarian Charlotte Willy Mr. Weiss Elsa Maggie Kenny Mr. Stanley MUSICAL NUMBERS Act One 1. PROLOGUE/UNAFRAID Flora, Company 2. STREET SONG I Company 3. THE KID HERSELF* Flora, Artists 4. ALL I NEED IS ONE GOOD BREAK Kenny, Maggie, Elsa, Mr. Weiss, Willie 5. NOT EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK Harry, Flora 6. STREET SONG II Company 7. SIGN HERE Harry, Maggie 8. STREET SONG III Company
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