Registry Hall, Ellis Island
Act 1 | Scene 2
Irene:
Like thousands and thousands and thousands of others
She came with hope
But no real plan,
Following a man
And the promises he made
The promises of the New World...
VOICES are heard, offstage and overlapping, but ringing clear:
Italian Voice: Il nome? (My name?)
German Voice: Mein name? (My name?)
Spanish Voice: Me llamo (I am called-)
Another Italian Voice: Mastrangelo!
Another German Voice: Edelssohn!
Another Spanish Voice: Ortega!
Lillian: Mee-nya zah-voot Lillian Alling! (My name is Lillian Alling!)
Jimmy puts the truck in gear and backs out. Irene watches Lillian as long as she can.
Irene:
Like thousands of others she said to herself,
"I will never again live like before-
Will not be ashamed,
Will not be poor,
Will not be afraid anymore!"
The truck disappears from view.
A swarm of immigrants suddenly surges forward, all around Lillian. It is early spring 1927 on Ellis Island in New York City harbour.
Lillian: Pah-zhal-stuh - Pah-zhal-stuh! (Please - Please!)
All Italians (shouting) / All Germans (at the same time):
Siamo qui (We are here)
Wir suchen (We are seeking)
Per lavoro (For work)
nur Arbeit (Only work)
E Liberta! (And freedom!)
und Freiheit! (And freedom!)
All Spaniards & All Greeks (at the same time):
Venimos (We come)
Ee-ma-steh el-tho (We are here)
Por trabajo (For work)
yia thu-leh-ah (For work)
Y libertad! (And freedom!)
keh eh-lef-the-ria! (And freedom!)
Lillian: (her voice rising above the others, as she pushes forward)
Mee-nya zah-voot Lillian Alling!
And yes, I can speak almost English
I come for to be with Jozef Nikitich
He is here now three yeras,
Work in a factory,
I will work too,
We will be married,
Have money for everything.
I will find him,
No matter how long it takes me,
I will find him,
No matter how far...
My life is bound to his life!
And I will never again live like before,
Will not be ashamed,
Will not be poor,
Will not be afraid any more!
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