Féliat. The Government can't prevent the strike.
Thérèse. But the women will do the work.
Féliat. You think of nothing but your women. And the men? They'll be starving, won't they? And their women and their children will starve with them.
Thérèse [almost in tears] And me, you have no pity for me. What's to become of me? If you abandon me, I'm done for. I'd made a career for myself. I had realized my dreams. I was doing a little good. And I was so deeply grateful to you for giving me my chance. I'm all alone in the world, you know that very well. Before I came here I tried every possible way to earn my living. Oh, please don't send me away. Don't drive me back into that. Try once again, do something. Let me speak to the men. It's all my life that's at stake. If you drive me out, I don't know where to go to.
Monsieur Guéret comes in.
Guéret [greatly excited] Féliat, we mustn't wait a moment; we must give in at once. They're exciting themselves; they're mad; they're getting worse; they may do anything. They've gone to the women's workroom and they're driving them out.
From the adjoining workshop there comes a crash of glass and the sound of women screaming.
Thérèse [desperately] Go, Monsieur! Go quickly! Don't let anything dreadful happen. You're right. I'll leave at once. Go!
Monsieur Guéret and Monsieur Féliat rush into the women's workshop. The noise increases; there is a sound of furniture overthrown and the loud screams of women.