Act I “Why are you holding my pay?” Samuel Reed stood beside the stacked lumber with sawdust across his dark blue flannel jacket. At sixty-seven, he moved…

Act I “I finished every container.” Arthur Hale stood beside the last industrial trash container with water dripping from his faded orange safety suit. His thick gloves…

Act I “My mom needs her pay.” Thirteen-year-old Sofia Ruiz stood beside the stacked potato sacks with dust across her cheeks and fear tightening her small face….

Act I “I earned my wages.” Walter Briggs stood outside the glass office door with water running from his yellow raincoat. He was seventy-four, tired, and balancing…

Act I “I need today’s pay.” Thirty-nine-year-old Mara Ellis stood beside the oyster bins with seawater dripping from her blue waterproof jacket. The coastal wind pulled at…

Act I “I worked the whole day.” Fifteen-year-old Leo Carter stood beside the steel container with dust across his face and torn cloth gloves hanging from his…

Act I “You owe me two weeks.” Eleanor Vance stood beside the pressure hose with water dripping from the sleeves of her blue work coat. The milking…

Act I “I finished the trench.” Raymond Cole stood beside the small excavator with one hand resting on his crutch. Wet soil clung to his construction boots….

Act I “My mom needs medicine tonight.” Eighteen-year-old Noah Turner stood beside the metal tool cabinet with engine grease darkening his hands and face. The garage was…