Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

Pelajia hammers shingles onto the roof of her house on the Wasaychigan Hill Indian Reserve. She shouts down to her sister Philomena that she wants to go to Toronto and then says that even though she wants to leave she likes it on her roof. She lists all the things she can see, says that if she were Superwoman she could see more, and then finishes by saying she's still just Pelajia and wants to go to Toronto.

Philomena, dressed in tight sexy clothes that are completely wrong for working outside, climbs up, hands Pelajia a shingle, and talks about being happy to stay and play bingo on the weekends, with the idea that one day with her winnings she'll be able to buy a beautiful new toilet. Pelajia comments that bingo doesn't matter, that all the old ways are gone...