Hobsons Choice | Page 6

'em and get 'em wed. (Rises.)
HOBSON. I've thought of that. Trouble is to find the men.
JIM. Men's common enough. Are you looking for angels in breeches?
HOBSON. I'd like my daughters to wed temperance young men, Jim.
JIM. You keep your ambitions within reasonable limits, Henry. You've three daughters to find husbands for.
HOBSON. Two, Jim, two.
JIM. Two?
HOBSON. Vickey and Alice are mostly window dressing in the shop. But Maggie's too useful to part with. And she's a bit on the ripe side for marrying, is our Maggie.
JIM. I've seen 'em do it at double her age. Still, leaving her out, you've two.
HOBSON. One'll do for a start, Jim. (Crosses to R.) It's a thing I've noticed about wenches. Get one wedding in a family and it goes through the lot like measles. (Moves round chair to up R.)
JIM. Well, you want a man, and you want him temperance. It'll cost you a bit, you know. (Sits in chair below L. side of counter.)
HOBSON (going to him). Eh? Oh, I'll get my hand down for the wedding all right.
JIM. A warm man like you 'ull have to do more than that. There's things called settlements.
HOBSON. Settlements?
JIM. Aye. You've to bait your hook to catch fish, Henry.
HOBSON. Then I'll none go fishing. (Sits.)
JIM. But you said--
HOBSON. I've changed my mind. I'd a fancy for a bit of peace, but there's luxuries a man can buy too dear. Settlements indeed!
JIM. I had a man in mind.
HOBSON. You keep him there, Jim. I'll rub along and chance it. Settlements indeed!
JIM. You save their keep.
HOBSON. They work for that. And they're none of them big eaters.
JIM. And their wages.
HOBSON. Wages? Do you think I pay wages to my own daughters? (Rises and goes to desk L.) I'm not a fool.
JIM. Then it's all off? (Rises.)
HOBSON (turns). From the moment that you breathed the word "settlements" it was dead off, Jim. Let's go to the "Moonraker's" and forget there's such a thing as women in the world. (He takes up hat and rings bell on counter.) Shop! Shop!
(MAGGIE enters from R.)
I'm going out, Maggie.
MAGGIE (She remains by door). Dinner's at one, remember.
HOBSON. Dinner will be when I come in for it. I'm master here. (Moves to go.)
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