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be discussed by those of us who agreed to work on it, in terms of what is suitable for this, that, or that, you know, in a review.” She said, “You know, a big hit on Broadway is ‘A Chorus Line.’ That's really what we're talking about, is something in which the workers express their views and that we take from them, and then put it out.” Micki said, “Hmm,” and she added some ideas. Ossie said, “Hmm, that's good, and I have an idea.”

We began to sketch out the idea of the subjects. We put it all down, and I said, “Look, let me think about it and let's have another meeting.” I thought about it and discussed it with a couple of people -- with members and some other people -- and came back to another meeting. By this time I was prepared. I said, “We would like it to be limited to the experiences inside the hospitals, about the workers themselves. We'd like it to deal with all kinds of workers in the hospital -- nurses, service workers.” You know, representative. “We think we could produce workshops. Who would lead the workshops?” Eve said, “There's a young guy Louis Cole. I think I could get him to lead the workshops.” “The writers ought to be invited to come in to the workshop, to listen in. If you can possibly get someone to come in to the workshops to take notes on it.” You know, I couldn't see transcribing. I could see myself going crazy transcribing these things. I got the publications department to agree that they would divide up to come in and take notes, and type up the notes.

So there were no verbatim transcripts.

There are some verbatim transcripts. The second time around there are verbatim transcripts. There are some verbatim transcripts, but there are lots of notes -- lots of notes.

Let me stop you for one second. Who was Eve Merriam, and why was she having such a great idea.?

Eve Merriam was on the advisory board.

I mean what was her background?

Poet, playwright. “Mother Goose Rhymes,” “In My Father's House.” She's written a number of things that have been performed on Broadway, off Broadway. She is very very very strong women's activist, and was taken with the idea. I think she saw it as a good thing for herself too. She wanted to devote time to it.

I was able to come back and say, “Okay, I think we can do two workshops. I'm going to try to get maybe forty people. We'll sign up --