Hobsons Choice | Page 9

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