Men Sleeping Under Bridges
The General’s Bedroom
Sound / Light tap on door
Bramwell
Good morning, General, you called for me?
Booth
Come in Bramwell.
Bramwell
General, if I might say so, you look terrible.
Booth
I haven’t had a wink of sleep all night.
Bramwell
Is it mother?
Booth
No, uh, yes, that bothers me . . . constantly, but there’s something else.
Bramwell
What is it?
Booth
Do you remember those poor souls we saw under the bridge on our way to the station?
Bramwell
Yes . . .
Booth
Were you aware that they sleep out all night on the stone? In this weather?
Bramwell
Yes, I knew . . .
Booth
You knew that?
Bramwell
Yes, General, I knew that. I thought everyone knew that.
Booth
You knew that . . . and you haven’t done anything about it?
Bramwell
Well, sir, we can’t do everything. We just don’t have the manpower. What with the rapid spread of the Army internationally, the growth of the work among fallen women, and the demands made upon us from so many quarters, our staff is spread pretty thin. There aren’t finances to do anything about those people. We don’t have the money.
Booth
But, Bramwell, there are still men and women sleeping out in winter under the bridges.
Bramwell
Yes, but . . .
Booth
(interjecting) Do something, Bramwell! Do something! Something must be done. Get a warehouse or something. Just make sure they have a roof over their heads and walls to keep the wind off.
Bramwell
Yes sir . . .
Sound / Bramwell exiting
Booth
Bramwell . . .
Bramwell
Sir . . . ?
Booth
Don’t pamper them though. Pampering never did any good for anybody.
Bramwell
Yes, sir . . . no pampering.