The Drone | Page 5

see that no one else can hear
him). Well, just a minute or two. Why?

ALICK. There was someone there told Andy McMinn this morning, I
believe, that you'd been talking of a great invention altogether, and he
was that much curious to see it that him and his sister Sarah are coming
over this day to have a look at it.
DANIEL. Who? Sarah McMinn?
ALICK. Aye. She's very anxious to see it, I believe.
DANIEL. Um. Rather awkward this. She's not a woman that, plainly
speaking, I care very much to talk about my ideas to.
ALICK. But have you got something struck out?
DANIEL. McCready, come here. (ALICK goes closer to him.) It is
really a great idea. Splendid. But I've a great deal of trouble over it. In
fact I've been thinking out details of a particular gear all morning.
ALICK. Aye. (He looks at DANIEL and then endeavours to restrain
unsuccessfully a burst of laughter.)
DANIEL (angrily). You were always an ignorant hound anyway and be
d----d to you. (He turns to go towards his workshop.)
ALICK. Ah, Mr. Murray, I beg your pardon. It's another thing
altogether I'm thinking about. I just wanted a talk with you this
morning. You have a nice wee girl for a niece, Mr. Murray.
DANIEL (somewhat mollified). Well?
ALICK (bashfully). And I was wondering if you could put in a good
word for me now and again with her.
DANIEL. Now, look here, Alick. We can all work nice and
comfortably together, can't we?
ALICK. Aye.
DANIEL. Well, if you behave yourself like a man with some manners,

and not like an ignorant clodhopper, I can do a great deal for you.
ALICK. Thank you, sir. You know, Mr. Murray, I have as nice a wee
farm, and as good stock on it as well, as any man in the county, and if
I'm lucky enough to get that niece of yours, you'll always be welcome
to come and pass a day or two and have a chat.
DANIEL. I think you and I will get along all right, Alick. There's one
or two little things I need badly sometimes in this house. I mean I want
help often, you know, Alick, to carry my points with John; points about
going to see people and that sort of thing, and it's really very hard to
manage John on points like that, unless we resort to certain means to
convince him they are absolutely necessary.
ALICK (uneasily). Yes. I sort of follow you.
DANIEL. You know what I mean. John's a little dense, you know. He
can't see the point of an argument very well unless you sort of knock
him down with it. Now, if a thing is fair and reasonable, and a man is
so dense that he can't see it, you are quite justified--at least, I take it
so--to manufacture a way--it doesn't matter how--so long as you make
that dense man accept the thing, whatever it is, as right. Do you follow
me?
ALICK. I'm just beginning to see a kind of way.
MARY (appearing at door from inner rooms). I can't see that thing
anywhere. (She suddenly sees ALICK.) Oh Alick! You here!
ALICK. Yes. It's a nice morning, and you're looking beautiful!
MARY. Oh, bother. (She seems to suddenly recollect something.) Oh, I
say! uncle! You remember? Uncle!
DANIEL (somewhat perplexed). Eh?
MARY (motioning towards ALICK). Telegram to come to London.
DANIEL. Ah----Oh, yes, yes.

MARY. Let's go into your workshop and tell Alick what we want.
Come on.
ALICK. I'll do anything in the world you want.
(They all go into the workshop. As they disappear, JOHN MURRAY,
sweating and angry looking, comes through from the yard followed by
BROWN. JOHN is a tall, stout man, with a rather dour countenance
and somewhat stolid expression. He is a year or so the elder of Dan in
age. He goes to the dresser, puts his hand on the top shelf, takes down
a spanner and throws it down angrily on the table.)
JOHN. There. There you are, you stupid-looking, good for nothing,
dunder-headed, Italian idiot you.
BROWN. You're something terrible cross this morning.
JOHN. (heatedly). Is it any wonder? Away out at once now and put her
to rights and quick about it. (BROWN meekly goes out.) The like of
servant men nowadays, I never seen in my mortal days. A concern of
ignorant bauchles, every one of them.
DANIEL (opening door of workshop and peeping out. He sees JOHN
and goes over to him with a genial air). Good morning John.
JOHN (snappishly). Morning.
DANIEL. John, what do you think, I believe I have just come on to a
great idea about----
JOHN. Ach! You and your great ideas! Here you've been blundering
and blethering