MEG:

"My dearest Meg, I regret to inform you that I will be unable to attend our dinner engagement tomorrow evening as I have been detained in New York on business. Please accept my sincerest apologies. Yours, Edward."

JO:

Meg, I'm so sorry.

MEG:

That's the third time this month he's cancelled our plans.

JO:

You did say that he's trying to become a partner at the firm. He's going to have to put in extra hours.

MEG:

I know. I just miss him. When we first started courting, I didn't think the miles between Concord and Boston would be such a problem. Now he travels so much, he's hardly in Boston. He might as well live in California.

JO:

Meg, if you really feel that way then you need to talk to him about it. You need to let him know that that's - [Jo starts to pour the boiling water into the tea kettle and accidentally pours it over her arm. She screams and drops the kettle.] Oh!

DAN:

[Runs in, having heard Jo's cry.] What happened?

MEG:

She burned her arm. Dan, go fetch the wagon. We need to take her to Dr. Pierce.

DAN:

All right.

MEG:

Jo, it looks really bad. We should get some butter on it.

NAN:

[Enters and quickly assesses Jo's burn.] No, cold water is better. [She gets the water.]

MEG:

Nan, we've always used butter on burns.

NAN:

Cold water's better.

MEG:

Just anything. Quickly.

NAN:

[Grabs some tea leaves and applies them to the burn.] Tea leaves'll bring the heat out.

DR. PIERCE:

Tea leaves. Where did you learn that?

NAN:

Oh, I read it in one of my medical books at Plumfield.

DR. PIERCE:

Really? And you were able to remember that in the middle of a crisis.

MEG:

She stayed perfectly calm through the whole thing.

DR. PIERCE:

[Wraps Jo's arm in a bandage.] Very quick thinking prevented the wound from blistering, so as long as you apply the aloe twice a day and keep it wrapped, you should be as good as new in a couple of weeks.

NAN:

Don't worry, Dr. Pierce. I'll keep an eye on her.

DR. PIERCE:

Nan, you seem to have quite a gift for medicine.

NAN:

Really? 'Cause I really love it.

DR. PIERCE:

How would you feel about volunteering with me in your spare time? I could certainly use somebody like you to help me around the clinic.

NAN:

Really? I could work here?

DR. PIERCE:

If it's all right with Mrs. Bhaer.

JO:

Of course! I think that's a wonderful idea.

NAN:

Thank you, Mrs. Jo!

NAN:

It'll be great! I'm gonna set bones and help stitch people up. Maybe I'll even get to operate!

JO:

Maybe you will. I think this is a wonderful beginning, Nan. Next thing you know, you'll be off to college, then medical school, and before you know it, you'll have a clinic of your own, just like Dr. Pierce.

MEG:

Jo, a woman doctor?

JO:

I think she can do anything she wants.

NAN:

"Dr. Anthea Harding." I like the sound of that.

HARRISON:

Good afternoon, ladies.

MEG:

Good afternoon!

JO:

Good afternoon, Mr. Bridger. Advertising for the convention, I see.

HARRISON:

Yes, I'm going to Boston this week to cover it for the Chronicle.

NAN:

What's "suffrage"?

HARRISON:

Suffrage. That's an expression of an opinion by means of a ballot - voting - and seeing as this is an election year, there's no better time for women to fight for the right to vote. [To Meg.] Will you be attending?

MEG:

Oh, no.

JO:

I was considering it, but I haven't decided yet.

HARRISON:

A room full of outspoken women wouldn't be complete without you. [Finishes hanging the poster.] Well, I'd better go print some more of these up. Excuse me. [Exits.]

NAN:

It's not fair that women aren't allowed to vote.

JO:

No, it isn't. That's why conventions like this are trying to change things to ensure that, one day, women will be able to vote.

McBRIDE:

Women will never have a voice in politics, Mrs. Bhaer. No convention is going to change that.

JO:

And how can you be so sure of the Mr. McBride?

McBRIDE:

Because women cannot be trusted to vote responsibly. You base all your decisions entirely upon emotion, not intellect.

JO:

Women are just as capable as men of making intelligent decisions concerning politics, or anything else for that matter.

McBRIDE:

Believe what you like, Mrs. Bhaer, but the fact of the matter remains that women have a particular place in our society. The sooner you learn to accept that, the better off we'll all be. [He leaves in his carriage.]

MEG:

Don't let him get to you, Jo. Just ignore him.

JO:

Ignoring him isn't the answer, Meg. Don't you see? By doing nothing, we're going exactly what he wants us to do: sitting back and accepting this.

MEG:

You're going to that meeting, aren't you?

JO:

[With newfound determination.] I am now.

JO:

It was absolutely wonderful! I wish you could have been there. There were over five hundred women at this convention from all over the country, standing up for women's rights, demanding to be heard.

MEG:

It sounds like quite an event.

JO:

It was great! And the speakers, they spoke with such passion, such conviction, especially Susan B. Anthony. I've never felt so inspired in my life.

AMY:

That's nice, Jo.

JO:

Nice? Amy, these women are changing the way people see us, the way we see ourselves. [Hands a couple of flyers to her sisters.] Imagine what it would feel like to have the same rights as men, to be seen as equal.

ASIA:

[Enters with tea.] Equal? Wouldn't that be something?

JO:

Now, they've set up their own organization - The National Woman Suffrage Association - and they're asking people to open branches in their own communities. I'm thinking about doing it.

AMY:

What?

JO:

Amy, you can't just talk about change. You have to get involved. This is our chance.

MEG:

I don't see the need for us to get involved with something like this.

ASIA:

Well, if people don't get involved, things are never going to change, unless people change things.

JO:

That's right. People like us.

AMY:

But, Jo, these women are not like us. They're not ladies. I've heard stories about them. They're rude and unrefined, and one of them has even admitted to practicing… "free love". Do you really want to be associated with women like that?

JO:

The women that I met were nothing like that. All they're doing is trying to make things better for us, all of us. I think the least we could do is try and help.

NICK:

Hey! What are you still doin' up?

JO:

Oh, I can't sleep. I started reading these suffrage papers and I can't put them down. You know, when we were growing up, Marmee and Father taught us that women could do anything that men could do, so my sisters and I never thought of ourselves as anything but equal. Now that I'm reading these, I'm starting to see things in a whole new light.

NICK:

What do you mean?

JO:

I pay taxes to a government that doesn't recognize me as a citizen, and I don't even have any say in that government because I can't vote!

NICK:

Votin' ain't that big a deal.

JO:

How can you say that? Nick, how would you feel if somebody told you you couldn't vote in the election?

NICK:

Wouldn't bother me one bit. I wasn't plannin' on votin' anyway.

JO:

You're not going to vote?

NICK:

Nope. Never have before.

JO:

Why not?

NICK:

Well, I don't really see the point of it. I mean, how much difference is one vote gonna make anyway? [Exits.]

NAN:

Hey, Dr. Pierce, I finished wrapping those bandages for you.

DR. PIERCE:

Oh, Nan, don't come in here. I haven't finished cleaning up yet.

NAN:

Oh, that's all right. I don't mind a little bit of blood. [Inspects the basin.] Wow. Did all this blood come out of Mr. Brenner's head?

DR. PIERCE:

Yes. It took twenty-three stitches to close the wound.

NAN:

Wow. [Seeing that the medical tools are still out.] Hey, do you want me to clear these off for you?

DR. PIERCE:

Thank you, Nan. That would be a big help.

NAN:

Where do the clamps go?

DR. PIERCE:

Oh, in the top drawer.

NAN:

And the suture needles.

DR. PIERCE:

Right beside the clamps. Nan, you've learned the names of all the instruments?

NAN:

I figured I'm going to have to know them one day, so I might as well get a head start and learn them know.

LAURIE:

Why do you want to know, Amy?

AMY:

Because you spend so much time at the Gentlemen's Club, I just want to know what you talk about all day.

LAURIE:

Business and politics. Nothing you'd be interested in.

JO:

[Enters.] Amy, Laurie, I'm glad I caught you. I was wondering if I could put one of these posters in your window.

LAURIE:

Of course. What are they for?

JO:

I'm opening a Concord branch of the National Woman Suffrage Association. [Posts a flyer in the window.] I'm holding a meeting on Friday at Plumfield to give people in town a chance to get involved.

AMY:

Are you expecting many people?

JO:

Well, as many people as I can talk into coming. I was hoping the two of you would come as well.

AMY:

[Uncomfortably.] Jo, I'm not sure -

JO:

Amy, please, I really want you to be there.

AMY:

All right.

LAURIE:

Sure.

JO:

Thank you.

MEG:

It's for Mr. Edward Trenton in Boston, and it should read: "I hope your trip to New York went well. I look forward to seeing you in Concord soon. I miss you."

EDWARD:

I miss you to.

MEG:

Edward! What are you doing here? I thought you were still in New York.

EDWARD:

Well, things went very well. We finished early and I thought I'd come and visit you.

MEG:

I'm glad you did.

EDWARD:

Oh, these are for you. [Pulls a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.]

MEG:

Thank you. They're beautiful. [They kiss.]

MEG:

I can't believe you're really here.

EDWARD:

It's been a long time, I know. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you. I hope you know that.

MEG:

I do. It's just we hardly ever see each other anymore.

EDWARD:

I know you're frustrated. I could hear it in the tone of your last letter. Believe me, I feel the same way. It's not easy having a proper courtship when you live so far apart.

MEG:

I wish things could be different.

EDWARD:

Maybe they can.

MEG:

How?

EDWARD:

Meg, you know I've been doing a lot of business in New York recently.

MEG:

Yes.

EDWARD:

Things have been going very well for me there. I mean, much better than I could ever have imagined.

MEG:

And?

EDWARD:

Meg, the firm has offered me a partnership.

MEG:

Why, Edward, that's wonderful!

EDWARD:

They want me to move to New York and open up an office there.

MEG:

You're moving to New York?

EDWARD:

Yes. And I want you to come with me.

BESS:

Oh, I just love this dress on me. It's really quite flattering, don't you think?

NAN:

Bess, we are fighting for the right to vote, not having a tea party.

BESS:

Still, Nan, I think we should all look our best. [Nan sets down a chair and Bess sits.] Thank you.

ASIA:

[To Jo.] I thought your sisters would be here by now.

JO:

Oh, well, I guess they're running a little late.

NAN:

[A knock at the door.] I'll get it.

JO:

That must be them. Asia, thank you so much for doing this for me.

ASIA:

Well, it's my fight too.

JO:

[Harrison Bridger enters.] Mr. Bridger.

HARRISON:

Hi. [Surveying the empty chairs.] I must be early.

JO:

Actually, no, you're right on time. I'm so glad you could make it.

HARRISON:

Well, when I heard that you were hosting this little shindig, I knew that things were bound to get interesting. Well, you must admit you have a knack for stirring things up.

JO:

I'll take that as a compliment.

HARRISON:

You should.

JO:

[To Asia.] Well, let's go and get some more food. [To Harrison.] Please, make yourself comfortable.

HARRISON:

Thank you. [Asia and Jo exit to the kitchen.]

NAN:

Are you gonna put this in the newspaper?

HARRISON:

Of course. And I'm also here to show my support for the cause.

NAN:

I thought men were against women having the right to vote.

HARRISON:

Not all men.

ASIA:

[Reenters with Jo.] Do you think we need all these chairs?

JO:

Oh, I was wondering if we had enough chairs. A lot of people said they were coming today. Don't worry. They'll be here.

BESS:

I don’t understand. My mother and father told me they'd be here today.

HARRISON:

I can stay a little longer, if you like.

JO:

There's no point. It's obvious that no one's coming.

HARRISON:

I'm sorry, Jo. [Exits.]

AMY:

I'm sorry, Jo. We must have lost track of the time.

JO:

You lost track of the time?

LAURIE:

You know how busy things can get.

JO:

This meeting was important to me. I expected my family to show up.

AMY:

Well, at least you had Meg there.

JO:

No, I didn't.

AMY:

Meg didn't go?

JO:

No, and I don't know where she is either. I stopped by her house this afternoon. She wasn't there. Look, I understand people in town being reluctant to help, but my own family?

LAURIE:

I'm sorry, Jo, but you know this is a sensitive subject. The suffrage movement has been the topic of conversation at the Gentleman's Club all week. At first, the idea of allowing women to vote was nothing more than a joke to them, but now that the women's movement is gaining momentum across the country, they don't think it's very funny anymore. They want things to stay the same.

JO:

That's why we need men like you to support us.

LAURIE:

I'm afraid it's not that simple. Several of my clients strongly oppose the suffrage movement and, if I support it, I know they won't approve.

AMY:

It will affect his business, Jo.

LAURIE:

You know that I believe in this cause, and I will try to help you. I just want you to understand that I have to be careful.

BESS:

Have you heard his heartbeat yet?

NAT:

Well, she probably won't if you keep on talking.

NAN:

Something's wrong.

TOMMY:

What? What is it?

NAN:

I can't hear anything.

TOMMY:

I don't have a heartbeat?

NAN:

No, you have a heartbeat, I just can't hear it yet.

TOMMY:

Oh, I thought I was dead.

EMIL:

[Enters.] What are you doing?

NAN:

I'm listening to Tommy's heart.

EMIL:

[Accusingly.] Where'd you get that?

NAN:

Dr. Pierce.

EMIL:

Dr. Pierce is letting you play with his stethoscope?

NAN:

I'm not playing, Emil. I'm practicing. Come here. I'll listen to your heartbeat.

EMIL:

No, thanks.

ROB:

I'm next, Nan. I wanna see if I have a heartbeat.

NAN:

All right. Everyone has to be quiet so we can hear.

JO:

How can we support a government that denies women their basic human rights, rights that every American should have? We need to have a voice in this country. We need to be heard loud and clear, but we're never going to have that voice until we're given the right to vote. If we all pull together, we can make them listen. We can finally be heard!

McBRIDE:

[Walks up to Jo.] I have no doubt you have been heard, Mrs. Bhaer. I'm sure that every citizen from here to New York has heard your hysterical outburst today. [Exits.]

JO:

Hysterical outburst! [Seeing how people are staring, Jo sits on a nearby bench, discouraged.]

HARRISON:

[Sits beside Jo.] Excuse me. May I have one of those, please. [Jo hands him a flyer.] Yes, that's very good. Very passionate.

JO:

Unfortunately, not very effective.

HARRISON:

Well, that all depends on what you're trying to achieve. If you wanted to clear Main Street, I think you did an excellent job. Look, maybe it's time for a different approach, a shift in thinking, something a little more radical.

JO:

What exactly are you suggesting?

HARRISON:

A new departure. It's a whole new way of interpreting the constitution that says that women already have the right to vote.

JO:

How can that be possible?

HARRISON:

Read the fourteenth amendment. [Exits.]

AMY:

The fourteenth amendment?

JO:

Yes. It actually says that all persons born in the United States are considered citizens. All "person", Amy, not just men. So, I'm going to contact the Suffrage Association and see if we can use that argument to take the vote this year.

AMY:

Do you really think that's going to work?

JO:

Well, I spoke to Harrison and he seems to think it's a bit controversial, but worth a try.

AMY:

[Meg enters.] Meg, where on earth have you been?

MEG:

I'm sorry. I've been a little distracted lately. Edward came to town.

JO:

Oh, wonderful. [Jo notices the dreaded look on Meg's face.] Are you all right?

MEG:

Edward has asked me to move to New York with him.

JO:

What?

MEG:

Edward has been offered a partnership in his firm, so he has to move to New York… permanently.

AMY:

Has he proposed?

MEG:

Well, no. At first I thought he was going to, but then he told me that his firm would be leasing him an apartment, and he'd be buying a house for me nearby.

AMY:

So, you'd be living in New York together… separately?

MEG:

Yes, for now. But he said that he'd like to continue our courtship and I'm sure it's just a matter of time before he does propose.

AMY:

Meg, he can't possibly expect you to move to New York without a proposal. And, quite frankly, I'm appalled that he would even ask you to do such a thing!

MEG:

Amy…

JO:

Well, she's right. If he's not going to ask you to marry him, Meg, exactly what are his intentions?

MEG:

I don't know. Well, I hope he wants to marry me. I would really love to marry him, but if I don't move to New York, he may never propose.

AMY:

What if you do move to New York and he still doesn't ask? What are you supposed to do then?

MEG:

I don’t know.

JO:

I don't know why you're in such a hurry to get married anyway. You’ve been managing just fine on your own the past few years.

MEG:

Yes, I know, but that's because I didn't have a choice. I didn't have a man around to take care of things, to take care of me. I miss that. I miss being married, and I love Edward.

JO:

Well, what are you going to do?

MEG:

I don't know.

NAN:

What's going on?

DR. PIERCE:

It's Mr. Kennedy. He's taken a turn for the worse. [Nan quickly joins Dr. Pierce.] Quick. Get me the forceps.

NAN:

[Doing as told.] But you just took his appendix out last week and you said he was fine.

DR. PIERCE:

He was, but he developed an infection.

NAN:

What are you doing?

DR. PIERCE:

I'm cutting away the dead tissue to try to prevent the infection from spreading.

NAN:

He's burnin' up.

DR. PIERCE:

Cold compresses. We need to bring his fever down. [Nan puts the cloth on Mr. Kennedy's forehead.] I need to cauterize the wound. Nan, quick, get me the nitric acid. It's in the cupboard, second bottle from the left.

NAN:

What's wrong?

DR. PIERCE:

It's too late, Nan.

NAN:

No, it's not. Here's the acid. We can cauterize it.

DR. PIERCE:

There's nothing more we can do.

NAN:

We can't just give up.

DR. PIERCE:

He's gone, Nan.

NAN:

No, you said he was going to be fine. [Breaks down into tears.]

DR. PIERCE:

[Puts his arm around Nan.] I'm sorry.

McBRIDE:

And remember, gentlemen, that it is your civic duty to vote, so be sure to register here today.

WOMAN:

More tea?

McBRIDE:

Ah, no, thank you.

JO:

[Walks up to the table.] You're the polling official?

McBRIDE:

Yes. The mayor was kind enough to appoint me. Actually, I'm glad to see you. You're just in time to help the other ladies serve tea.

JO:

I'm not here to serve you, Mr. McBride.

McBRIDE:

Ah, then you're here to entertain us again. Another one of your… hysterical outbursts?

JO:

Actually, no. I'm here to register to vote.

McBRIDE:

Ah, how novel.

JO:

It is my constitutional right.

McBRIDE:

Your constitutional right?

JO:

As a citizen.

McBRIDE:

Ah, but you see, Mrs. Bhaer, women are not citizens.

JO:

Well, then, Mr. McBride, it would appear that you haven't read the fourteenth amendment recently, because if you had, you would have noticed that it reads, "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside." So, as a citizen, I am therefore entitled to all the rights of citizenship, including the right to vote.

McBRIDE:

Read further, Mrs. Bhaer, and you will learn that in the second section of the fourteenth amendment it defines a voter as a male inhabitant being at least twenty-one years of age. Furthermore, the fifteenth amendment guarantees the right to vote to all men regardless of race or previous condition of servitude. All men, Mrs. Bhaer, not women.

JO:

I will vote in this election next week, Mr. McBride, whether you register me or not.

McBRIDE:

You do so, Mrs. Bhaer, and I will have you arrested.

JO:

We'll see about that.

MEG:

She told him that she was going to show up to vote next week and then McBride threatened to have her arrested. He can't do that, can he?

EDWARD:

He most certainly can.

MEG:

But she mentioned something called "The New Departure".

EDWARD:

Ah, yes, the Woman Suffrage strategy. There's no legal foundation. It's really an excuse these women have come up with to justify their unlawful behaviour, and there isn't a court in the country that would see it as anything more than that. If they really want to elicit change, they should find a more civilized way to do it.

MEG:

But if they don't speak up for themselves, how will they ever be noticed?

EDWARD:

They have been noticed, but if they expect to be taken seriously, they need to conduct themselves in a more ladylike fashion. They'd be wise to take a lesson from you. [Beat.] I think we've wasted enough time talking about politics. Let's talk about New York.

MEG:

Oh, yes. New York.

EDWARD:

Meg, I know this would be an adjustment for you, but you're going to love it there. It's a wonderful city.

MEG:

I'm sure it is. It's just….

EDWARD:

What? What is it?

MEG:

Edward, I'm not quite sure I know why you want me to move to New York with you.

EDWARD:

Meg, you know why. So we can spend more time together.

MEG:

So, you won't be travelling as much.

EDWARD:

Well, no, I will still be travelling a lot, but at least I will have you to come home to.

MEG:

Me to come home to? But we won't be living together.

EDWARD:

No, but we'll be in the same city.

MEG:

Yes, I know. I guess… Well, I suppose what I'm wondering is what are your intentions?

EDWARD:

My intentions? Oh, ah, yes, I see. You want to know if I intend to marry you.

MEG:

Do you?

EDWARD:

Well, I haven't really given it much thought. I suppose I did - I assumed that we would be married eventually.

MEG:

Oh.

EDWARD:

Meg, if the only reason that you don't want to go to New York is that I haven't proposed to you, we can solve that problem right now. [He kneels and takes her hand.]

MEG:

Edward.

EDWARD:

Darling Meg, nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life looking after you and your children. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?

MEG:

Edward, this is a very big decision for me. Would you mind terribly if I took some time to think about it?

EDWARD:

[Rises.] Um, of course. Take as much time as you need, but just think about the wonderful life we'll have together in New York as Mr. and Mrs. Edward Trenton.

JO:

Laurie! Laurie, wait.

LAURIE:

Jo, I can't talk. I'm expecting a client.

JO:

I just wanted to thank you for helping me pay for these posters.

LAURIE:

Well, you're welcome.

JO:

I know that it was difficult for you getting involved in this.

LAURIE:

Jo, it was nothing really. [To his client.] Ah, Mr. Keaton. Please, go right inside. I'll be with you in just a minute. [To Jo.] Jo, I'm sorry. One of my clients pulled his account today because he found out you're my sister-in-law.

JO:

What?

LAURIE:

I have to go. [Exits.]

NAN:

No, it's no use. I can't figure out how to work this thing.

NAT:

Nan, you can do it. You just need to keep on trying.

NAN:

No, I can't.

NAT:

Yes, you can.

EMIL:

[Enters from the barn.] You've been trying to get that thing to work for days, Nan. I don't see why you're bothering.

NAT:

If she's gonna be a doctor, she's gotta practice. Right?

EMIL:

She's just wasting her time. She'll never be a doctor.

NAT:

Who says she can't.

EMIL:

She's a girl, Nat, and everyone knows that girls can't be doctors.

NAT:

Yes, they can.

EMIL:

How many female doctors do you know?

NAT:

Well, Nan, you said yourself, there are two medical schools just for women. That means there are gonna be plenty of female doctors, and Nan's gonna be one of them.

EMIL:

Don't expect me to be one of her patients.

NAT:

Nan, don't listen to him. I think you'll make a great doctor. [Emil exits.]

NAN:

I'm just not cut out to be a doctor. [Gathers her things.] I'm not strong like Dr. Pierce. When Mr. Kennedy died, what did I do? I cried.

NAT:

That's because you care about people and that's what being a doctor's all about. You'll get it. You've got nothing to worry about. [Puts his arm over Nan's shoulder.]

AMY:

If you try to vote, you're going to get arrested.

JO:

Well, if I get arrested, then I get arrested.

LAURIE:

Jo, you're being completely irrational about this. What happens to the school if you get thrown in jail.

AMY:

Please, think about what you're doing. [Meg enters.] Meg! I'm so glad you're here. Maybe you can talk some sense into her.

MEG:

Edward just asked me to marry him.

AMY:

Really? That's wonderful.

LAURIE:

Congratulations.

JO:

I guess this means you'll be moving to New York after all.

MEG:

Well, I haven't accepted his proposal yet.

AMY:

But, Meg, I thought you said that you wanted to marry Edward.?

MEG:

I do. It's just the thought of moving to New York…

AMY:

But if that's where he needs to be…

MEG:

But he said he'd still be doing a great deal of travelling.

JO:

Well, if that's the case, why doesn't he move here to Concord?

LAURIE:

She can't expect him to change his whole life around.

JO:

Well, that's what he's expecting of her.

LAURIE:

That's not the same thing, Jo.

JO:

And why is that? Because his life is more important than hers?

LAURIE:

I didn't say that.

JO:

Why don't we all just admit it? Meg has no say at all in where they live.

MEG:

Jo, I think that Edward would at least consider my opinion.

JO:

I hope so, Meg.

NAN:

Hey, Dr. Pierce.

DR. PIERCE:

Nan? I must admit, I'm a little surprised to see you here.

NAN:

Why?

DR. PIERCE:

Well, you were so upset after Mr. Kennedy died. I didn't think you'd want to come back.

NAN:

Well, I couldn't just give up. I mean, medicine's all about taking care of people. You got a whole room of waiting patients out there.

DR. PIERCE:

Nan, I'm really proud of you. A lot of people would have given up after what you went through the other day. The fact that you were able to pick yourself up and move on shows me that you have the strength of character to succeed in medicine. You are going to make a wonderful nurse someday.

NAN:

Nurse? You mean doctor.

DR. PIERCE:

What?

NAN:

Well, I'm going to be a doctor, just like you.

DR. PIERCE:

Oh, Nan, if I had known that's what you were thinking, I never would have encouraged you.

NAN:

What do you mean?

DR. PIERCE:

Being a doctor is very difficult. It takes years of dedication and hard work.

NAN:

You've seen how hard I can work.

DR. PIERCE:

This profession is just not suited to the emotional nature of women. It's not for the weak of heart.

NAN:

But you said I was strong enough.

DR. PIERCE:

Strong enough to be a nurse, yes. But a doctor? I'm sorry.

NAN:

Mrs. Jo said that I can be whatever I want, and I'm going to be a doctor! [Storms out, slamming the door behind her.]

NAN:

Dan, where's Mrs. Jo?

DAN:

She's on the porch.

NICK:

Well, if it means that much to ya, I'll vote for ya. Just tell me who you want.

JO:

Nick.

NICK:

I know. It's not gonna solve all your problems, but at least it's somethin'.

JO:

The whole point is that you and I should have the same rights, and we don’t. And it's not just about voting either. I mean, look at all the parents who pulled their boys out of the school after Fritz died. They did that because they didn't think that a woman was capable of running a business on her own, Nick. And without Fritz, would I have ever been able to start the school in the first place? Probably not.

NICK:

I don't know about that, Jo. I gotta feelin' you would've found a way to do it, no matter what.

JO:

I don't know, Nick. I just don't know if I'm doing the right thing. I mean, Laurie is right. If I do try and vote, the only thing that will happen is I'll get thrown in jail. And all that's going to do is put the school at risk again. Maybe I should think about giving up.

NICK:

Well, you knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Nothin' worth fightin' for ever is.

JO:

I just didn't think it was going to be this difficult. No one is supporting me, Nick, not even my family. In fact, it's tearing us apart. It just isn't worth it.

JO:

Nan? Where are you going with all of this?

NAN:

I'm going to give it back to Dr. Pierce. There's no point practicing if I can't be a doctor.

JO:

What are you talking about?

NAN:

Dr. Pierce said that women can't be doctors.

JO:

He said that to you?

NAN:

Yeah, but I'll make a real nice nurse though.

JO:

Nan… Honey, you shouldn't give up just because people tell you that you can't do it.

NAN:

Why not? You are. I heard you talkin' to Nick today, and you were right. We are never going to be treated the same as men, so why even bother trying. [Exits.]

AMY:

What!?

JO:

I'm voting in the election tomorrow.

MEG:

I can't believe you're still going through with this.

AMY:

Think about the school.

JO:

I am thinking about it. That's exactly why I'm doing this. I'm doing it for the two girls in our school, one of whom is your daughter. Meg, you have a daughter as well. You look them in the eye and tell them they're not worth fighting for, that you don't care if they grow up to be second class citizens. I'm sorry, I can't. Now, as far as I'm concerned, I have to vote in that election tomorrow. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't.

EDWARD:

Meg! [To driver.] Come around here.

MEG:

[Pulling her carriage to a stop.] Whoa….

EDWARD:

Meg, I've been looking for you everywhere.

MEG:

I was at Amy's.

EDWARD:

I got a telegram from my office. They want me in New York right away, as soon as possible. I'm leaving tomorrow night.

MEG:

Tomorrow?

EDWARD:

[They get out of their carriages.] I know I promised to give you time to consider my proposal. I really need your answer now.

MEG:

Edward, I haven't made my decision yet.

EDWARD:

Oh, I see.

MEG:

Oh, it's not that I don't want to marry you. I do. It's just that New York is so far away from my family.

EDWARD:

I will be your family.

MEG:

Edward, isn't there any way that you could move to Concord.

EDWARD:

Concord? Don't be ridiculous.

MEG:

But you said that you'd still be doing a great deal of travelling. Couldn't you at least consider it?

EDWARD:

There is nothing to consider. We have to move to New York.

MEG:

Don't you care at all about what I want?

EDWARD:

Meg, what's gotten into you.

MEG:

I just think that my opinion should count for something.

EDWARD:

Meg, this is not like you. You're starting to sound like your sister Jo. Look, I know this is all happening very quickly, and I wish I could give you more time, but I can't. I have to go to New York tomorrow, and I want you to come with me. I hope you will.

McBRIDE:

Again, gentlemen, you may place your ballots in any one of these four boxes. At the end of the day, we shall have it tallied up -

JO:

I'm here to vote, Mr. McBride.

McBRIDE:

Of course you are. It would go against your nature not to perform such an irrational act. The very fact that you are here, knowing full well that your actions will have serious consequences, proves that women are incapable of logical, rational thought.

JO:

I know exactly what I'm doing.

McBRIDE:

I will have you arrested.

ASIA:

[Emerges from the crowd.] Then you'll have to arrest me to. [The crowd murmurs.]

AMY:

[Steps forward.] Me, too.

MEG:

[Joins her sisters.] Well, looks like we're all voting today.

McBRIDE:

If you try to vote, you will all be thrown in jail.

AMY:

I can't believe we're in jail.

MEG:

I never thought I'd see the inside of this place.

ASIA:

Well, at least now you can say you've seen it.

AMY:

How long are they going to keep us in here?

JO:

I don't know. They'll probably set a hearing for tomorrow or the next day.

AMY:

We're going to have criminal records now.

JO:

Don't you see what we've accomplished?

AMY:

Yes. We're in jail!

JO:

We made them notice us.

MEG:

Yes, we did.

JO:

We showed them that we're going to stand up for our rights. Now, it may have only been the four of us today, but next year, there will be more women.

AMY:

[Laurie enters.] Laurie!

LAURIE:

I just came here to tell you the Sheriff's getting ready to release you.

JO:

Release us?

LAURIE:

I posted bail for all of you.

JO:

Laurie, what about your clients?

LAURIE:

Well, I don't care what they think. I want my daughter to know that she's worth fighting for.

JO:

What happened?

MEG:

I made my decision.

JO:

Meg, I'm so sorry for getting you involved in all of this.

MEG:

It's not your fault, Jo. I made the decision to do this knowing full well what Edward truly wanted. I just wish he could have -

HARRISON:

[Enters with a copy of the Chronicle, fresh off the presses.] Sorry to interrupt, ladies. I just thought you might like to take a look at an advance copy of tomorrow's newspaper. You made history in Concord. Women like you have set an example that others will follow for years, [Looks directly at Meg] not that it didn't come without sacrifice. What you did today took a great deal of courage. I admire you for that.

JO:

[Reads the headline.] "History made as women vote in Concord."

NICK:

Are you sure you didn't do all this just to get your name in the newspaper again?

JO:

It was quite a day, huh?

NICK:

Yeah. Never thought I'd be the one waitin' for you to get out of jail. With all the commotion you caused today, I almost didn't have time to vote.

JO:

You voted?

NICK:

Well, I figured it was time for me to see what all the fuss was about.

JO:

I think that's wonderful, Nick. Who'd you vote for?

NICK:

Ah, I can't tell you that. It's private.

JO:

Nan?

NAN:

I can hear it. I can hear my heartbeat. Listen. [She hands the stethoscope to Jo.] Can you hear it?

JO:

[Nods.] Loud and clear.