The Gibson Upright | Page 8

get away from it. You take it and run it.
[He gets his hat and coat.]
SIMPSON: What in thunder does he mean?
SALVATORE: Say, what's the game?
GIBSON: There it is! Take it and run it yourselves, for yourselves. It belongs to every workman in the factory on equal shares. [Throws keys on table.] There are the keys of the safe, and the combination's in the top drawer of that desk. It's all yours as it stands, down to the very correspondence on that table, without any let, hindrance, or interference from me.
FRANKEL [hoarsely]: Say! He means it!
SALVATORE: All the money ours?
GIBSON: The money for every piano you make and sell is yours--every cent of it.
MIFFLIN [rising transfigured]: Gentlemen, a glorious time has come! This is an example to every employer of labour in our land. I thank that power which destined all men to be equal both in service and reward that I should have chanced to be present to see such a splendid band of forward-looking fellows--of brothers, of comrades--come into their own! Let us hope that this great moment but marks the beginning of an epoch when every capitalist and manufacturer shall see the light as Mr. Gibson has just done.
As spokesman for these--these men, Mr. Gibson, I would congratulate you for anticipating the inevitable and certain world future! You have done well for yourself to perceive it. I am sure on that account you leave here with their respect. And to you I should think it might be some relief--
GIBSON: Relief? I should think it might! And you can translate that into your nineteen languages and dialects--including the Scandinavian! As for you men--you wouldn't work for me--now see if you can work for yourselves! Good-bye, Miss Gorodna!
[NORA, who has been looking at him tensely, inclines her head slightly. He opens the door that leads to the street and goes out decisively. There are exclamations from everyone, loud but awed. "Say, look here, look here, look here!"
"Give it to us!" "Equal shares! Did you hear what he said?" "Gosh! Is this the end of the world?" "My wife won't believe it!"]
MIFFLIN: Gentlemen, this factory comes into the possession of every workman in it on equal terms; each has a like share in the profits. At last the workman owns his tools.
FRANKEL [suddenly, as if light had just come]: Gibson's crazy!
MIFFLIN: No, no! He saw the writing on the wall!
NORA [as if entranced, her eyes to heaven]: Isn't it wonderful--wonderful!
MIFFLIN [beaming]: But we mustn't forget that it entails responsibilities.
NORA: We mustn't forget that.
[The telephone bell rings. They all turn their heads in silence and look at it, MIFFLIN watching them, benevolently chuckling. The bell rings again.]
CARTER [blankly]: The telephone is ringin'.
MIFFLIN: Well, answer it, answer it!
SIMPSON: Who?
MIFFLIN: Why, you--any of you. It's yours--it's your telephone.
SIMPSON: You answer it, Carter.
[CARTER goes to the telephone and picks it up in a somewhat gingerly way.]
CARTER: Hello!... Yes.... Yes, it's The Gibson Upright.... No, he ain't here.... What? Wait a minute. [Puts his hand over the mouthpiece.] He wants to know who it is talking.
FRANKEL: My goodness! Can't you tell him it's you?
CARTER: He wouldn't know who that was.
MIFFLIN: Tell him it's one of the owners of the company.
CARTER [looks at MIFFLIN solemnly; then in a hushed voice]: It's one of the owners of the company.... Wait a minute; let me get that. "The Central Associated Lumber Companies?" I hear you. Wait a minute. [Looks round.] This here company says they want to lower their bid for a couple hundred thousand feet o' lumber to forty-seven dollars a thousand. They say that's a dollar lower than they offered yesterday and a half a dollar lower than they offered this morning--says got to know now.
FRANKEL: Says they come down to forty-seven, do they?
CARTER: Yes; says so!
SIMPSON: Well, tell 'em that's good; we'll take it.
THE OTHERS: Sure, that's right!... That's a good offer.... Sure, we'll take it!
CARTER [at the telephone]: We'll take it. [Pause.] You're welcome.
[Puts down the telephone amid general buzz from all the others. They rise somewhat dazedly, but relaxing, beginning to take in their surroundings in the new life. SHOMBERG and SIMPSON shake hands. FRANKEL goes over and examines the safe. SALVATORE picks up a basket of correspondence from the desk as if it were a strange bug. SHOMBERG opens a drawer in the table. There is a buzz of congratulative, formless talk. They spread over the stage, looking at everything.]
MIFFLIN [transfigured, his right hand lifted]: Gentlemen, this is the New Dawn!

ACT II
The yard beside GIBSON'S house. Upon our left is seen the porch or sun-room wing of a good "colonial" house of the present type. A hedge runs across at the back, about five feet high, with a gateway and rustic gate. Beyond is seen a residential suburban quarter, well wooded and with