A Voice of Their Own
Characters: NARRATOR THOMAS (a young apprentice) MR. HARRIS (a shop owner)
Scene 1: Outside the Shop (Thomas sweeps outside a small shop. Mr. Harris stands nearby, looking over papers.) NARRATOR: In the colonies, most laws were made far away in Great Britain. Over time, some colonists began to question this. THOMAS: (curious) Mr. Harris, why do we follow laws from people who don’t live here? MR. HARRIS: (sighs) Because the king and Parliament make the rules. That’s how it has always been. THOMAS: But it doesn’t seem fair.
Scene 2: Later That Day (Thomas stops sweeping and leans on the broom. Mr. Harris looks thoughtful.) NARRATOR: As more laws were passed, colonists began to think differently. MR. HARRIS: I’ve been hearing about Virginia. They have a group of representatives who help make decisions. THOMAS: (interested) So people there have a voice? MR. HARRIS: Yes. It’s called self-government. THOMAS: That sounds better than having no say at all.
Scene 3: A New Understanding (Both stand facing each other, more serious now.) NARRATOR: Slowly, ideas about self-government began to grow. MR. HARRIS: (firmly) If we live here and follow these laws, we should have a part in making them. THOMAS: (nodding) I didn’t understand before, but now I do. People want to be heard. MR. HARRIS: And once people start thinking that way, it’s hard to go back. NARRATOR: These ideas continued to spread and helped shape the future of the colonies.