Books: Hobson's Choice

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MAGGIE. Yes, father. One o'clock.

HOBSON (_disgusted_.) Come along, Jim.

(JIM _and_ HOBSON _go out to street_. MAGGIE _turns
to speak inside_ R. _door_.) MAGGIE. Dinner at half-past
one, girls. We'll give him half an hour. (_She closes door,
turns arm-chair facing C. and moves to trap, which she raises_.)
Willie, come here.

(_In a moment_ WILLIE _appears, and stops half-way up_.)

WILLIE. Yes, Miss Maggie?

MAGGIE (L. _of trap_.) Come up, and put the trap down, I
want to talk to you.

(_He comes, reluctantly_.)

WILLIE. We're very busy in the cellar.

(MAGGIE _points to trap. He closes it_.)

MAGGIE. Show me your hands, Willie.

WILLIE. They're dirty. (_He holds them out hesitatingly_.)

MAGGIE. Yes, they're dirty, but they're clever. They can shape
the leather like no other man's that ever came into the shop. Who
taught you, Willie? (_She retains his hands_.)

WILLIE. Why, Miss Maggie, I learnt my trade here.

MAGGIE. Hobson's never taught you to make boots the way you do.

WILLIE. I've had no other teacher.

MAGGIE (_dropping his hands_.) And needed none. You're a
natural born genius at making boots. It's a pity you're a natural
fool at all else.

WILLIE. I'm not much good at owt but leather, and that's a fact.

MAGGIE. When are you going to leave Hobson's?

WILLIE. Leave Hobson's? I--I thought I gave satisfaction.

MAGGIE. Don't you want to leave?

WILLIE. Not me. I've been at Hobson's all my life, and I'm not
for leaving till I'm made.

MAGGIE. I said you were a fool.

WILLIE. Then I'm a loyal fool.

MAGGIE. Don't you want to get on, Will Mossop? You heard what
Mrs. Hepworth said. You know the wages you get and you know the
wages a bootmaker like you could get in one of the big shops in
Manchester.

WILLIE. Nay, I'd be feared to go in them fine places.

MAGGIE. What keeps you here? Is it the--the people?

WILLIE. I dunno what it is. I'm used to being here.

MAGGIE. Do you know what keeps this business on its legs? Two
things: one's the good boots you make that sell themselves, the
other's the bad boots other people make and I sell. We're a pair,
Will Mossop.

WILLIE. You're a wonder in the shop, Miss Maggie.

MAGGIE. And you're a marvel in the workshop. Well?

WILLIE. Well, what?

MAGGIE. It seems to me to point one way.

WILLIE. What way is that?

MAGGIE. You're leaving me to do the work, my lad.

WILLIE. I'll be getting back to my stool, Miss Maggie.
(_Moves to trap_.)

MAGGIE (_stopping him_). You'll go back when I've done with
you. I've watched you for a long time and everything I've seen,
I've liked. I think you'll do for me.

WILLIE. What way, Miss Maggie?

MAGGIE. Will Mossop, you're my man. Six months I've counted on
you and it's got to come out some time.

WILLIE. But I never--

MAGGIE. I know you never, or it 'ud not be left to me to do the
job like this.

WILLIE. I'll--I'll sit down. (_He sits in arm-chair, mopping
his brow_.) I'm feeling queer-like. What dost want me for?

MAGGIE. To invest in. You're a business idea in the shape of a
man.

WILLIE. I've got no head for business at all.

MAGGIE. But I have. My brain and your hands 'ull make a working
partnership.

WILLIE (_getting up, relieved_). Partnership! Oh, that's a
different thing. I thought you were axing me to wed you.
(_Moves up stage_.)

MAGGIE. I am.

WILLIE (_sitting in front of counter_). Well, by gum! And
you the master's daughter.

MAGGIE. Maybe that's why, Will Mossop. (_Moving up stage_.)
Maybe I've had enough of father, and you're as different from him
as any man I know. (_Sits_ L. _of him_.)

WILLIE. It's a bit awkward-like.

MAGGIE. And you don't help me any, lad. What's awkward about it?

WILLIE. You talking to me like this.

MAGGIE. I'll tell you something, Will. It's a poor sort of woman
who'll stay lazy when she sees her best chance slipping from her.
A Salford life's too near the bone to lose things through the
fear of speaking out.

WILLIE. I'm your best chance?

MAGGIE. You are that, Will.

WILLIE. Well, by gum! (_Rises_.) I never thought of this.

MAGGIE. Think of it now.

WILLIE. I am doing. Only the blow's a bit too sudden to think
very clear. I've a great respect for you, Miss Maggie. You're a
shapely body, and you're a masterpiece at selling in the shop,
but when it comes to marrying, I'm bound to tell you that I'm
none in love with you.

MAGGIE. Wait till you're asked. (_Rises_.) I want your hand
in mine and your word for it that you'll go through life with me
for the best we can get out of it.

WILLIE. We'd not get much without there's love between us, lass.

MAGGIE. I've got the love all right.

WILLIE. Well, I've not, and that's honest.

MAGGIE. We'll get along without.

WILLIE. You're desperate set on this. It's a puzzle to me all
ways. What 'ud your father say?

MAGGIE. He'll say a lot, and he can say it. It'll make no
difference to me.

WILLIE. Much better not upset him. It's not worth while.

MAGGIE. I'm judge of that. You're going to wed me, Will.

WILLIE. Oh, nay, I'm not. Really I can't do that, Maggie. I can
see that I'm disturbing your arrangements like, but I'll be
obliged if you'll put this notion from you.

MAGGIE. When I make arrangements, my lad, they're not made for
upsetting.

WILLIE. What makes it so desperate awkward is that I'm tokened.

MAGGIE. You're what?

WILLIE. I'm tokened to Ada Figgins.

MAGGIE. Then you'll get loose and quick. Who's Ada Figgins? Do I
know her? (_Moves_ L. _and turns_.)

WILLIE. I'm the lodger at her mother's.

MAGGIE. The scheming hussy. It's not that sandy gill who brings
your dinner? (_Moves_ C.)

WILLIE. She's golden-haired is Ada. Aye, she'll be here soon.

MAGGIE. And so shall I. I'll talk to Ada. I've seen her and I
know the breed. Ada's the helpless sort. (_Turns_ L.)

WILLIE. She needs protecting.

MAGGIE. That's how she got you, was it? (_Turns_ C.) Yes, I
can see her clinging round your neck until you fancied you were
strong. But I'll tell you this, my lad, it's a desperate poor
kind of a woman that'll look for protection to the likes of you.

WILLIE. Ada does.

MAGGIE. And that gives me the weight of her. She's born to
meekness, Ada is. You wed her, and you'll be an eighteen shilling
a week bootmaker all the days of your life. You'll be a slave,
and a contented slave.

WILLIE. I'm not ambitious that I know of.

MAGGIE. No. But you're going to be. I'll see to that. I've got my
work cut out, but there's the makings of a man about you.

WILLIE. I wish you'd leave me alone. (_Sits_ R.)

MAGGIE. So does the fly when the spider catches him. You're my
man, Willie Mossop. (_Moves to desk_.)

WILLIE. Aye, so you say. Ada would tell another story, though.

(ADA FIGGINS _enters from street. She is not ridiculous, but a
weak, poor-blooded, poor-spirited girl of twenty, in clogs and
shawl, with_ WILLIE'S _dinner in a basin carried in a blue
handkerchief. She crosses to him and gives him the basin_.)

ADA (C.). There's your dinner, Will.

WILLIE. Thank you, Ada. (_Rises_.)

(_She turns to go, and finds_ MAGGIE _in her way_.)

MAGGIE. I want a word with you. You're treading on my foot, young
woman.

ADA. Me, Miss Hobson? (_She looks stupidly at_ MAGGIE'S
_feet_.)

MAGGIE. What's this with you and him?

ADA (_gushing_). Oh, Miss 'Obson, it is good of you to
take notice like that.

WILLIE. Ada, she--

MAGGIE. You hold your hush. This is for me and her to settle.
Take a fair look at him, Ada.

ADA. At Will?

MAGGIE (_nodding_). Not much for two women to fall out over,
is there?

ADA. Maybe he's not so much to look at, but you should hear him
play.

MAGGIE. Play? Are you a musician, Will?

WILLIE. I play the Jew's harp.

MAGGIE. That's what you see in him, is it? A gawky fellow that
plays the Jew's harp?

ADA. I see the lad I love, Miss 'Obson.

MAGGIE. It's a funny thing, but I can say the same.

ADA. You!

WILLIE. That's what I've been trying to tell you, Ada, and--and,
by gum, she'll have me from you if you don't be careful.

MAGGIE. So we're quits so far, Ada.

ADA. You'll pardon me. You've spoke too late. Will and me's
tokened. (_She takes his arm_.)

MAGGIE. That's the past. It's the future that I'm looking to.
What's your idea for that?

ADA. You mind your own business, Miss 'Obson. Will Mossop's no
concern of thine.

WILLIE. That's what I try to tell her myself, only she will have
it it's no use.

MAGGIE. Not an atom. I've asked for your idea of Willie's future.
If it's a likelier one than mine, I'll give you best and you can
have the lad.

ADA. I'm trusting him to make the future right.

MAGGIE. It's as bad as I thought it was. Willie, you wed me.

ADA (_weakly_). It's daylight robbery. (_Moves
slightly_ L.)

WILLIE. Aren't you going to put up a better fight for me than
that, Ada? You're fair giving me to her.

MAGGIE. Will Mossop, you take your orders from me in this shop.
I've told you you'll wed me.

WILLIE. Seems like there's no escape. (_Sits in arm-chair_.)

ADA (_angry_). Wait while I get you to home, my lad. I'll
set my mother on to you.

MAGGIE. Oh, so it's her mother made this match!

WILLIE. She had above a bit to do with it.

MAGGIE. I've got no mother, Will.

WILLIE. You need none, neither.

MAGGIE. Well, can I sell you a pair of clogs, Miss Figgins?

ADA. No. Nor anything else.

MAGGIE. Then you've no business here, have you? (_Moves up to
doors and opens them_.)

ADA (_going to him_). Will, are you going to see me ordered
out?

WILLIE. It's her shop, Ada.

ADA. You mean I'm to go like this?

WILLIE. She means it.

ADA. It's cruel hard. (_Moves towards doors_.)

MAGGIE. When it comes to a parting, it's best to part sudden and
no whimpering about it.

ADA. I'm not whimpering, and I'm not parting, neither. But he'll
whimper to-night when my mother sets about him. (_Slight
movement back to him_.)

MAGGIE. That'll do.

ADA (_in almost a scream_). Will Mossop, I'm telling you,
you'll come home to-night to a thick ear.

(_She goes_.)

WILLIE (_rising_). I'd really rather wed Ada, Maggie, if
it's all same to you.

MAGGIE. Why? Because of her mother?

WILLIE. She's a terrible rough side to her tongue, has Mrs.
Figgins.

MAGGIE. Are you afraid of her?

WILLIE (_hesitates, then says_). Yes.

MAGGIE. You needn't be.

WILLIE. Yes, but you don't know her. She'll jaw me till I'm black
in the face when I go home to-night.

MAGGIE. You won't go home to-night.

WILLIE. Not go?

MAGGIE. You've done with lodging there. You'll go to Tubby
Wadlow's when you knock off work and Tubby'll go round to Mrs.
Figgins for your things.

WILLIE. And I'm not to go back there never no more?

MAGGIE. No.

WILLIE. It's like an 'appy dream. Eh, Maggie, you do manage
things.

(_He opens the trap_.)

MAGGIE. And while Tubby's there you can go round and see about
putting the banns up for us two.

WILLIE. Banns! Oh, but I'm hardly used to the idea yet. (_A
step down_.)

MAGGIE. You'll have three weeks to get used to it in. Now you can
kiss me, Will.

WILLIE. That's forcing things a bit, and all. It's like saying I
agree to everything, a kiss is.

MAGGIE. Yes.

WILLIE. And I don't agree yet. I'm--

MAGGIE. Come along.

(ALICE, _then_ VICKEY _enter_ R.)

Do what I tell you, Will.

WILLIE. Now? With them here?

MAGGIE. Yes.

WILLIE (_pause_). I couldn't. (_He dives for trap, runs
down, and closes it_.)

ALICE. What's the matter with Willie?

MAGGIE. He's a bit upset because I've told him he's to marry me.
Is dinner cooking nicely? (_To desk_, L.)

ALICE. You're going to marry Willie Mossop! Willie Mossop!

VICKEY. You've kept it quiet, Maggie.

MAGGIE. You know about it pretty near as soon as Willie does
himself.

VICKEY. Well, I don't know!

ALICE. I know, and if you're afraid to speak your thoughts, I'm
not. Look here, Maggie--(_moving to_ L. C.),--what you do
touches us, and you're mistaken if you think I'll own Willie
Mossop for my brother-in-law.

MAGGIE. Is there supposed to be some disgrace in him?

ALICE. You ask father if there's disgrace. And look at me. I'd
hopes of Albert Prosser till this happened.

MAGGIE. You'll marry Albert Prosser when he's able, and that'll
be when ho starts spending less on laundry bills and hair cream.
(_Goes to_ R.)

(HOBSON _enters from the street_.)

HOBSON. Well, what about that dinner? (_Comes_ C.)

(_The positions are_ MAGGIE R., VICKEY _up_ R. C., HOBSON
_up_ C., ALICE L. C.) MAGGIE. It'll be ready in ten minutes.

HOBSON. You said one o'clock.

MAGGIE. Yes, father. One for half-past. If you'll wash your
hands, it'll be ready as soon as you are.

HOBSON. I won't wash my hands. I don't hold with such finicking
ways, and well you know it. (_Sits in front of counter_.)

VICKEY. Father, have you heard the news about our Maggie?
(_Down_ R. C.)

HOBSON. News? There is no news. It's the same old tale.
Uppishness. You'd keep a starving man from the meat he earns in
the sweat of his brow, would you? I'll put you in your places.
I'll--(_Rises_.)

MAGGIE. Don't lose your temper, father. You'll maybe need it soon
when Vickey speaks. (_Moves down_ R.)

HOBSON. What's Vickey been doing?

VICKEY. Nothing. It's about Will Mossop, father.

HOBSON. Will?

ALICE. Yes. What's your opinion of Will?

HOBSON. A decent lad. I've nowt against him that I know of.

ALICE. Would you like him in the family?

HOBSON. Whose family? (_Coming down_ C.)

VICKEY. Yours.

MAGGIE. I'm going to marry Willie, father. That's what all the
fuss is about.

HOBSON. Marry--you--Mossop? (_Moves to her_.)

MAGGIE. You thought me past the marrying age. I'm not. That's
all.

HOBSON. Didn't you hear me say I'd do the choosing when it came
to a question of husbands?

MAGGIE. You said I was too old to get a husband.

HOBSON. You are. You all are.

VICKEY. Father!

HOBSON. (_crossing to_ C.) And if you're not, it makes no
matter. I'll have no husbands here.

(VICKEY R., ALICE L. _of_ HOBSON.)

ALICE. But you said--

HOBSON. I've changed my mind. I've learnt some things since then.
There's a lot too much expected of a father nowadays. There'll be
no weddings here.

ALICE. Oh, father!

HOBSON (_taking them down_). Go and get my dinner served and
talk less. Go on now. I'm not in right temper to be crossed.

(_He drives_ ALICE _and_ VICKEY _before him. They go out
protesting loudly. But MAGGIE stands in his way as he follows
and she closes the door. She looks at him from the stair_.)

MAGGIE. You and I 'ull be straight with one another, father. I'm
not a fool and you're not a fool, and things may as well be put
in their places as left untidy.

HOBSON. I tell you my mind's made up. You can't have Willie
Mossop. Why, lass, his father was a workhouse brat. A come-by-
chance. (_Moves_ C.)

MAGGIE. It's news to me we're snobs in Salford. I have Willie
Mossop. I've to settle my life's course, and a good course, too,
so think on.

HOBSON. I'd be the laughing-stock of the place if I allowed it. I
won't have it, Maggie. It's hardly decent at your time of life.

MAGGIE. I'm thirty and I'm marrying Willie Mossop. And now I'll
tell you my terms.

HOBSON. You're in a nice position to state terms, my lass.

MAGGIE. You will pay my man, Will Mossop, the same wages as
before. And as for me, I've given you the better part of twenty
years of work without wages. I'll work eight hours a day in
future and you will pay me fifteen shillings by the week.

HOBSON. Do you think I'm made of brass?

MAGGIE. You'll soon be made of less than you are if you let
Willie go. And if Willie goes, I go. That's what you've got to
face.

HOBSON. I might face it, Maggie. Shop hands are cheap.

MAGGIE. Cheap ones are cheap. The sort you'd have to watch all
day, and you'd feel happy helping them to tie up parcels and sell
laces with Tudsbury and Heeler and Minns supping their ale
without you. I'm value to you, so's my man; and you can boast it
at the "Moonraker's" that your daughter Maggie's made the
strangest, finest match a woman's made this fifty year. And you
can put your hand in your pocket and do what I propose.

HOBSON. I'll show you what I propose, Maggie. (_He lifts trap
and calls_.) Will Mossop! (_He places hat on counter and
unbuckles belt_.) I cannot leather you, my lass. You're
female, and exempt, but I can leather him. Come up, Will Mossop.

(WILL _comes up trap and closes it_.)

You've taken up with my Maggie, I hear. (_He conceals
strap_.)

WILLIE. Nay, I've not. She's done the taking up.

HOBSON. Well, Willie, either way, you've fallen on misfortune.
Love's led you astray, and I feel bound to put you right.
(_Shows strap_.)

WILLIE. Maggie, what's this? (_Moves down_ R. _a
little_.)

MAGGIE. I'm watching you, my lad.

HOBSON. Mind, Willie, you can keep your job. I don't bear malice,
but we must beat the love from your body, and every morning you
come here to work with love still sitting in you, you'll get a
leathering. (_Getting ready to strike_.)

WILLIE. You'll not beat love in me. You're making a great
mistake, Mr. Hobson, and--

HOBSON. You'll put aside your weakness for my Maggie if you've a
liking for a sound skin. You'll waste a gradely lot of brass at
chemist's if I am at you for a week with this. (_He swings the
strap_.)

WILLIE. I'm none wanting thy Maggie, it's her that's after me,
but I'll tell you this, Mr. Hobson--(_seizing_ MAGGIE
_roughly
by the arm_),--if you touch me with that belt, I'll take her
quick, aye, and stick to her like glue.

HOBSON. There's nobbut one answer to that kind of talk, my lad.
(_He strikes with belt_. MAGGIE _shrinks_.)

WILLIE. And I've nobbut one answer back. Maggie, I've none kissed
you yet. I shirked before. But, by gum, I'll kiss you now--(_he
kisses her quickly, with temper, not with passion, as quickly
leaves her, to face_ HOBSON)-and take you and hold you. And if
Mr. Hobson raises up that strap again, I'll do more. I'll walk
straight out of shop with thee and us two 'ull set up for
ourselves.

MAGGIE. Willie! I knew you had it in you, lad. (_She puts her
arm round his neck. He is quite unresponsive. His hands fall
limply to his sides_.)

(HOBSON _stands in amazed indecision_.)

CURTAIN.

ACT II

_A month later. The shop as Act I. It is about mid-day_.
ALICE _is in_ MAGGIE'S _chair at the desk, some ledgers in
front of her, and_ VICKEY _is reading behind the counter.
The trap is open and_ TUBBY _stands near the desk by_
ALICE.

ALICE. I'm sure I don't know what to tell you to do, Tubby.

TUBBY. There's nothing in at all to start on, Miss Alice. We're
worked up.

ALICE. Well, father's out and I can't help you.

TUBBY. He'll play old Harry if he comes in and finds us doing
nowt in the workroom.

VICKEY. Then do something. We're not stopping you. (_Rises and
moves over to_ R.)

TUBBY (_turning on her_). You're not telling me neither. And
I'm supposed to take my orders from the shop.

ALICE. I don't know what to tell you. Nobody seems to want any
boots made.

TUBBY. The high-class trade has dropped like a stone this last
month. Of course we can go on making clogs for stock if you like.

ALICE. Then you'd better.

TUBBY. You know what's got by selling clogs won't pay the rent,
let alone wages, but if clogs are your orders, Miss Alice--(_He
moves towards trap_.)

ALICE. You suggested it.

TUBBY. I made the remark. (_Starts going down_.) But I'm not
a rash man, and I'm not going to be responsible to the master
with his temper so nowty and all since Miss Maggie went.

ALICE. Oh, dear! What would Miss Maggie have told you to do?

TUBBY. I couldn't tell you that, Miss, I'm sure. I don't
recollect things being as slack as this in her time.

VICKEY. You don't help us much for an intelligent foreman.

TUBBY. When you've told me what to do, I'll use my intelligence
and see it's done properly.

ALICE. Then go and make clogs.

TUBBY. Them's your orders?

ALICE. Yes.

TUBBY. Thank you, Miss Alice.

(TUBBY _goes down trap and closes it_.)

ALICE (_rises and moves up_ L.). I wonder if I've done
right?

VICKEY. That's your look-out.

ALICE. I don't care. It's father's place to be here to tell them
what to do.

VICKEY. Maggie used to manage without him.

ALICE. Oh, yes. Go on. Blame me that the place is all at sixes
and sevens. (_Coming down to desk_.)

VICKEY. I don't blame you. I know as well as you do that it's
father's fault. He ought to look after his business himself
instead of wasting more time than ever in the "Moonraker's," but
you needn't be snappy with me about it.

ALICE. I'm not snappy in myself. (_Sitting at desk_.) It's
these figures. I can't get them right. What's 17 and 25?

VICKEY (_promptly_). Fifty-two, of course.

ALICE. Well, it doesn't balance right. Oh, I wish I was married
and out of it. (_Closes book_.)

VICKEY. Same here.

ALICE. You! (_Rises_.)

VICKEY. You needn't think you're the only one.

ALICE. Well, you're sly, Vickey Hobson. You've kept it to
yourself.

VICKEY. It's just as well now that I did. Maggie's spoilt our
chances for ever. Nobody's fretting to get Willie Mossop for a
brother-in-law.

(MAGGIE _enters, followed by_ FREDDY BEENSTOCK _and
then_ WILL. MAGGIE _and_ WILL _are actually about to be
married, but their dress does not specially indicate it. They are
not in their older clothes, and that is all_. FREDDY _is
smarter than either, though only in his everyday dress. He is not
at all a blood, but the respectable son of a respectable
tradesman, and his appearance is such as to justify his
attractiveness in_ VICKEY'S _eyes_. WILL, _very shy,
remains up_ L. C. _near the counter_.)

ALICE. Maggie, you here!

MAGGIE. I thought we'd just drop in. Vickey, what's this that Mr.
Beenstock's telling me about you and him?

VICKEY (_sullenly_). If he's told you I suppose you know.

FREDDY (L. _of counter, smilingly_). She got it out of me,
Vickey.

VICKEY. I don't know that it's any business of yours, Maggie.

(_The positions now are_ VICKEY R., MAGGIE R. C., FREDDY C.,
WILL _up_ L. C., ALICE _down_ L. C.)

MAGGIE. You'll never get no farther with it by yourselves from
what I hear of father's carryings-on.

VICKEY. That's your fault. Yours and his. (_Moving behind
counter and indicating_ WILLIE, _who is trying to efface
himself at the back_.)

MAGGIE (_sharply_). Leave that alone. I'm here to help you
if you'll have my help.

(VICKEY _would say "No" but--_)

FREDDY. It's very good of you, Miss Maggie, I must say. Your
father has turned very awkward.

MAGGIE. I reckon he'll change. Has your young man been in yet
this morning, Alice? (_Moves to desk_.)

(FREDDY _moves to_ VICKEY _and leaning across the counter
carries on a mild flirtation with her_.)

ALICE (_indignantly_). My young--

MAGGIE. Albert Prosser.

ALICE. No.

MAGGIE. Do you expect him?

ALICE. He's not been here so often since you and Willie Mossop
got--

MAGGIE (_sharply_). Since when?

ALICE. Since you made him buy that pair of boots he didn't want.

MAGGIE (_moving_ C.). I see. He didn't like paying for
taking his pleasure in our shop. Well, if he's not expected,
somebody must go for him. Prosser, Pilkington & Prosser,
Solicitors of Bexley Square. That's right, isn't it?

ALICE. Yes. Albert's "and Prosser."

MAGGIE (_moving up stage_ R.). Aye? Quite a big man in his
way. Then, will you go and fetch him, Mr. Beenstock? Tell him to
bring the paper with him.

VICKEY (_dropping down_ R., _indignantly_). You're ordering
folk about a bit.

MAGGIE. I'm used to it.

FREDDY. It's all right, Vickey.

ALICE. Is it? Suppose father comes in and finds Albert and Freddy
here?

MAGGIE. He won't.

ALICE. He's beyond his time already.

MAGGIE. I know. You must have worried father very badly since I
went, Alice. (_Goes to_ ALICE, L.)

ALICE. Why?

MAGGIE. Tell them, Mr. Beenstock.

FREDDY. Well, the fact is, Mr. Hobson won't come because he's at
our place just now.

VICKEY. At your corn warehouse? What's father doing there?

FREDDY. He's--he's sleeping, Vickey.

ALICE. Sleeping?

(WILLIE _sits on a chair in front of the counter_.)

FREDDY. You see, we've a cellar trap in our place that opens in
the pavement and your father--wasn't looking very carefully where
he was going and he fell into it.

VICKEY. Fell? Is father hurt? (_Up to_ FREDDY.)

FREDDY. He's snoring very loudly, but he isn't hurt. He fell soft
on some bags.

MAGGIE. Now you can go for Albert Prosser.

(FREDDY _moves to doors_. L.)

ALICE. Is that all we're to be told?

MAGGIE. It's all there is to tell till Freddy's seen his
solicitor.

FREDDY (_to_ VICKEY). I'll not be long.

MAGGIE. Don't. I've a job here for you when you get back.

(FREDDY _goes out_ L.)

ALICE. I don't know what you're aiming at, Maggie, but--

MAGGIE. The difference between us is that I do. I always did.
(_Goes_ L.)

VICKEY (_indicating_ WILLIE). It's a queer thing you aimed
at. (_Moves up to behind counter_.)

MAGGIE (_moving up to_ WILL). I've done uncommon well
myself, and I've come here to put things straight for you. Father
told you to get married and you don't shape.

ALICE. He changed his mind.

MAGGIE. I don't allow for folks to change their minds. He made
his choice. He said get married, and you're going to.

VICKEY. You haven't made it easier for us, you know.

MAGGIE. Meaning Willie?

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