The year is 1944 and the place is a town mmeeting in Oberlin, Ohio. Many community members and college students are upset that the only barbershop in town has refused to cut African-American hair, so they are meeting to discuss the problem and find a solution.

Megan: I feel that the barbershop should be open to blacks and whites because blacks should be allowed to go anywhere they want to without being judged by their color.

Elizabeth: Well, I don't want the barbers using the same clippers on my kids that they just used on some colored person.

Mary: I agree. We could end up with lice or something!

Jezebel: Give me a break. We're just as likely to get lice from you as you are from us. Why are you always giving my people problems? A hundred years ago it was slavery, and today we don't have the right to get our hair cut in town? When will this kind of treatment stop?!

B.: Exactly. It's not fair that there's no place in town where I can get my hair cut. I didn't do anything to deserve this.

Danny: Well, I don't care whose hair the scissors are cutting. Everyone in town should be able to get their hair cut at that shop!

Grey: So what are we going to do about this?

Mary: I don't care. I can go get my hair cut wherever I want, so it's not my problem. I don't even know why I came to this stupid meeting in the first place. (Exits)

Elizabeth: Personally, I think that there should be two separate barbershops in town: one for blacks and one for whites. That way everyone could get their hair cut and all this fussing would stop!

Megan: But it's not just that no one will cut my hair; it's the principle of the thing! Even though your idea solves the immediate issue, there's a bigger problem here: discrimination. I should be able to get my hair cut in the same barbershop as a white person. I am a good person and mother. I am also an active community member. I am not a criminal and I refuse to be treated like one.

Danny: I agree with you. We have a very special town where all kinds of people are accepted. I don't think there are many other towns in America that can say that. If there's a group of people anywhere who can find a solution, I think it's us.

Elizabeth: Whatever. Do what you want; just leave me out of it. (Exits)

Jezebel: Good riddance. We didn't need her negative attitude, anyway.

Grey: Hey, I've got an idea! What if we were somehow able to buy the barbershop? Then we'd be in charge. We could hire a different barber; one who would cut everyone's hair!

B.: That's a great idea and all, but how can we afford to do that? Where's all the money going to come from?

Grey: Well, anyone who wants to can throw in and we'll run it as a co-op, so we're all owners.

Megan: Itt's going to take a lot of planning and effort, but I really think we could do it if the college and the town can pull together as a solid community.

Danny: This is a wonderful solution! Not only will everyone be able to get their hair cut, but it also shows that we will not stand for any sort of racial discrimination in our community; we're above all that!

B.: Now we need to spread the word and try to get as many people on our side as possible. The more people who throw in money, the less we'll each have to pay individually. We need to make this as affordable as possible!

Grey: We also have to start looking for a barber right away.

Jezebel: Let's not get ahead of ourselves here! We haven't even bought the place out, yet. First things first: we have to make sure we can come up with the money, otherwise this can't work.

Danny: Exactly. I think we should adjourn this meeting now and go home to our friends and relatives to tell them what's going on.

Grey: All right, let's do it! (All exit)

Scene.