Harold Brighouse

“ JABEZ (contemptuously) . You fool.
CHARLIE. I quite agree. (Rises and paces up and down.) Yes, fool, fool, fool. Fool as much as if I'd sought the philosopher's stone or the elixir of life. I did seek the elixir of life, and I will go on seeking it—life for those helpless hundreds driven by the need to live to certain death. Let me go on. Let me hope; but do not ask me to assist in getting orders for our deadly production. Every contract you sign your name to is the death-warrant of a workman. (Sitting on arm of sofa.)
JOHN (imploringly) . Charlie! ”

“ ROSIE. You can't marry me!
CHARLIE. Oh, don't think worse of me than you must. It's not another woman. It never was and it never can be. I shall never love any one but you.
ROSIE. Then why, why?
CHARLIE. My life's too full.
ROSIE (wonderingly) . Your life?
CHARLIE. Yes. How shall I put it? (Crossing to soja l.) A Catholic priest doesn't marry lest marriage distract him from his wrestle with the devil. I too am going to wrestle with a devils the devil of industrialism. I've things to do in the world, a battle to fight which can only be fought in the strength of loneliness. ”

“ JABEZ. A religion! Is that all.
CHARLIE. What more can it be?
JABEZ. My dear fellow, religion is a respectable pastime for Sundays, but it's got nothing to do with every-day life except for parsons and old women In this country, you can be a Mohammedan or a Mormon if you like, but I can't see that it any material difference in your ordinary conduct.
CHARLIE. Can't you? I'm different My religion is a thing I believe in on weekdays, a thing I act upon and live up to as far as I can.
JABEZ. Aren't we getting away from the point?
CHARLIE. The point is the men. ”

“ JABEZ. Oh, you're not quite up to date, John. We move fast nowadays, don't we, Charlie?
CHARLIE. I wish to God we did. (Sitting on armchair l. of fire.)
JABEZ. The latest is that some fools amongst the men want to strike. Lord knows what they think they'll get by striking, but let me introduce you. John, to the strike leader.
JOHN. Charlie, you couldn't——
JABEZ. Oh, he believes in variety, John, that's what it is. Last night Rosie, this morning no Rosie. The men are the latest love. It's off with the old and on with the new. ”

“ ROSIE. Oh, you can trust me to judge whether a man comes because he wants me or whether he's only a vulgar fortune-hunter. Whatever Charlie is or isn't, he's not after my money.
JABEZ. No, Charlie never is after money. You're easily the better business man. He's always got his head full of ideas about pampering the men instead of thinking of the welfare of the firm.
ROSIE (Snappishly) . You needn't think you can get me to break it off, so don't try. You can say what you like to him so long as you remember I'm going to marry him. ”

“ I never get the chance of seeing you alone.
ROSIE. Doctors are such busy people, aren't they?
CLAV. Not too busy to be human, to desire to see in the flesh the woman one's always communicating with through a cold-blooded telephone. We're allies, you know, Miss Thompson, fellow-conspirators, aren't we? That makes a bond between us.
ROSIE (Conventionally) . It's very good of you to let me know so promptly when any of the men fall ill and to keep it a secret between us—even from Charlie. ”

“ ROSIE. But why, Charlie?
JABEZ. Oh, that's as plain as the nose on his face. (To Charlie.) You're frightened of the men. You've been taught to-night that your second-hand, second-rate ideas may look very pretty in a book, but they won't wash in real life, and instead of facing it like a man and staying here to live this down, you can think of nothing better than running away. ”

“ JOHN. For mercy's sake, be reasonable.
CHARLIE (Hotly) Reasonable! What do you mean by "reasonable"? That I should put your petty pride before the health and wellbeing of scores of men and women. No, father, I can't be "reasonable." I've nailed my colours to the mast and I shall speak—speak as I've never spoken yet, speak with all my heart and soul. I've to fight Thompson in there, Thompson and his renegade, this turncoat, Clavering, and I shall fight to win. Right is with me and I'm not afraid to fight without the gloves. ”

“ CHARLIE. You're wrong. Everybody's not as mercenary as you. You've got so used to expressing every idea in terms of L.S.D. that you can't understand a man's doing anything from higher motives than money.
JABEZ. Look here, Charlie, where do you think I'd be if I took up every notion that every crank brings along to me? The men are insured, aren't they?
CHARLIE. Yes, and a bad bargain the insurance people have of it.
JABEZ. Then what do the fellows want with safety devices? They get their compensation. The business won't stand more expense, Charlie. ”

“ That lift accident made me realize once again how much I'm needed and how little I could do if I married Rosie. I've seen Mrs. Wilcock this morning. Oh, it's pitiful!
JABEZ. Now, could I help the lift breaking down?
CHARLIE. No, but you could help a hundred other things happening, only safety apparatus costs money and men are cheap. Last night's accident was only the last straw. The men need me and I won't forsake them.
JABEZ. Who's asking you to forsake them? I'm only asking you to carry out your engagement. Good heavens, it's a chance any man in his senses would jump at. ”

“ CHARLIE, Yes, the gutter where you poke in slime for sixpences, afraid to look up at God's blue sky or about you at your fellow-men lest some one else should pick up a sixpence while your head's turned. Oh, you conform right enough. You do nothing else. You conform to Success and Respectability, and they're the stronghold of the Devil.
JABEZ (recovering his temper, sitting down at desk and rubbing his hands genially, looking at John, laughing.) Sit down, Charlie. ”

“ You see, I know Rosie.
CHARLIE. Very well then. You compel me to take other measures.
JABEZ. What, still fighting? You're getting quite pugnacious, Charlie. (Crossing to cupboard l. and unlocking it.)
CHARLIE. Don't laugh at me. I won't be laughed at.
JABEZ. Then don't make yourself ridiculous, my boy. Every man feels like you do when he's booked his passage. But most of us have it out with ourselves. We don't talk about it, but we all get a fit of funk and want to back out if we can. It's a natural reaction. Come, pull yourself together, Charlie. ”

“ These things mean so much to me—more than anything else in the world. Suffering—poverty—I see them so clearly. Whenever I think of other things, things I desire, my own personal wishes—they get in the way.
ROSIE. And are you alone blessed with eyesight? Do you think me blind? Do you combine your modern socialism with a mediaeval conception of women? Charlie, if the men's condition has been an obsession with you, with me it's been the passion of a lifetime. ”

“ JABEZ. Wait a bit. Don't go yet. (Clavering stops.) Open the door and let's listen to him. (Clavering opens doors, disclosing Charlie's hack as he stands speaking on platform.)
CHARLIE (off, c.) . Your trade's dangerous. You don't make old bones. If you're not poisoned by fumes at forty, you're chucked on the scrap heap because you're no longer strong enough to work. Don't you deserve some compensation when you risk your lives every day you work, when you're only fit to work while you're young? Life is a handicap where the weakest starts at scratch and the devil takes the hindmost. ”

“ JABEZ. Don't talk rubbish, sir. We are told to be content with the station into which it has pleased Providence to place us.
CHARLIE (passionately) . Virtue on ten thousand a year! This is your rich man's God, who is at home to you in his church one day a week from 10.30 to 12 and 6.30 to 8. You don't go because you hope to get a little dirt washed off your shop-soiled soul. You go because it isn't respectable to stop away. ”

“ CHARLIE. They're poisoned, and you know it. You refused to use his safety device, and he's naturally taken the only course open to him of arousing public opinion and forcing your hand. I was glad to help him.
JABEZ. You young idiot. Can't you see through his game? He wants to make money out of his patent safety respirator. He doesn't care a hang for the condition of the men. If he did, he wouldn't have put the price up by patenting his thing. No, my friend, he wants to do his philanthropy on twenty-five per cent, terms at some one else's expense. ”

“ JABEZ. But the men are all outside, they'll all see,
ROSIE. Why shouldn't they? Have you forgotten that we're going to be married on April 25? Come along, Charlie. (She takes his arm and urges him to door. Jabez stares aghast, then follows Charlie's hat and coat.) ”

“ JABEZ. Oh, there you are, sir. About time, too. (Seeing Charlie's agitation.) Hello, what's wrong with you?
CHARLIE. There's been an accident. (He gasps.) Jabez. Fatal?
CHARLIE. Yes.
JABEZ. Curse their carelessness. (Irritably.) Another inquest, of course, and headlines in the papers and questions from the Coroner. What is it this time? Another, drunken fool walked into the vitriol tanks?
CHARLIE (bitterly) . Oh, no, this needn't trouble you. We don't often kill men suddenly. We poison them by gradual degrees. ”

“ It is like this, lads. I always like to think of myself as the father of my men. I'm proud of you fellows. The way you back me up when the spying factory inspectors come round is a thing any man would be proud of....
PULLEN (off) . We're glad to do it for you, sir. (Clavering whistles softly and looks at Rosie, who avoids his eye.)
JABEZ (off) . We're just a big family, and I'd like to think we're a happy-one. But in a big family there's bound to be some selfish lad who's discontented and tries to make others discontented. I'll name no names.
CLAV. (Softly) That's one for Master Charlie. ”

“ But I think sometimes the problems I face in the laboratory are child's play to those I've to face outside it.
ROSIE. Is it anything I can help with? Let me try.
CHARLIE. It is you.
ROSIE. Am I a problem? (Rising and moving slightly away) How exciting!
CHARLIE. It's not exciting. It's serious.
ROSIE (soberly, above soja) . And I'm not? All right. I'll be serious, Charlie. What's the matter?
CHARLIE. Rosie, it's about—about our engagement. We've been engaged quite a long time now.
ROSIE. Two years.
CHARLIE. Yes. It seems people are wondering why we don't get married. ”

“ JABEZ. Go ahead.
CHARLIE (reading from the proof as if selecting detached sentences, mumbling a few words between each) . "The book bears on every page the sign-manual of sincerity. Its facts are an incontrovertible proof of the inadequacy of our factory law administration to cope with the rapacity and unscrupulousness of manufacturers. A book to read not only with the eyes, but with the heart. The authors has drawn public attention to a festering sore in our midst. The great heart of the public cannot fail to be moved by such an exposure of man's inhumanity to man. ”

“ Lomax. I think so, sir.
JABEZ. You might ask him to step this way. Lomax. Yes, sir.
(Exit Lomax, r.c. Jabez opens a side drawer in his desk, takes out a cigar box, selects and lights a cigar, and goes to fireplace and turns back to fire with the air of a man who, having done a good mornings work, may legitimately permit himself some reward. Enter Charlie, r.c.)
JABEZ. Good morning, Charlie. Hope you slept well.
CHARLIE. Good morning. Can't say I did.
JABEZ. You'll soon get over that. At your age a night's rest more or less makes no difference. ”

“ Clavering makes a questioning gesture.)
JABEZ. No. Hear him out. (Clavering nods, still holding the door open.)
CHARLIE (off, c.) . You're not dogs. You're men. (Cheers.) You want decent homes and a bit of pleasure in life and something to put by for the time when you can't work! How are you going to do it?
LIVESEY (off, c.) . Demand higher wages. Strike! (Cries off of "Strike," "More wages," "Vote.")
JABEZ (motioning Clavering) . That'll do, Clavering. (Clavering shuts the door and comes down stairs.)
JOHN (putting out his hand in timid appeal) . Jabez! ”

“ I'm not to diverge by one hand's breadth from the path laid down for me. I'm to marry the wife you choose and do the work you choose and own the wealth you choose and take the place in society laid down for me. ”

“ CHARLIE. All right. I met the doctor on the doorstep and brought him along to say a few words.
LIVESEY (to Clavering) . Glad to see you with us, sir.
CLAV. (nervously) . Er—yes. I'd like to speak to Mr. Bunting first if you don't mind. Suppose you fellows go on to the platform and set the ball rolling. We'll follow.
JONES. All reeght. (A little awkwardly.) Tha'll noan be long wilta? We's none on us much at speakin' on our own, tha knows.
CHARLIE (reassuringly) . Don't be afraid of me, I'll do the talking. If the men don't strike, it won't be my fault.. ”