Hobson's Choice Page #3

I... I'll sit down.

I'm feeling queer like.

What...

What dost thou want me for?

To invest in.

You're a business idea

in the shape of a man.

- But I've no head for business at all.

- But I have.

My brains and your hands'll make

a working partnership.

Partnership?

Eeh, hey, that's different.

- I thought you were asking me to wed you.

- I am.

Well, by gum!

And you the master's daughter.

I'll tell you something, Willie.

It's a poor sort of woman

that will stay lazy

when she sees her best chance

slipping from her.

- I'm your best chance?

- You are that, Will.

Well, by gum!

I... I never thought of this.

- Think of it now.

- I am doing.

Only it blows a bit too sudden

to think very clear.

You're going to wed me, Will.

Nay.

Really, I... I can't do that,

Miss Maggie.

I... I can see I'm disturbing

your arrangements, like,

but... I'll be glad

if you'll put this notion from you.

When I make arrangements, my lad,

they're not for upsetting.

You're walking out with me.

Peel Park. Sunday.

Peel Park?

- But folks'll think...

- Thinking won't hurt them.

You can go home now, Willie.

I've come.

I told you to come.

Who's that?

William Mossop.

Who's William Mossop?

Our boot hand.

You're a natural-born genius

at making boots.

It's a pity

you're a natural fool at all else.

I'm not much use at owt but leather,

and that's a fact.

I saw the river clean once.

Sunday school outing, up on t'moors.

Will?

We'll have the first banns call

next Sunday.

Nay.

I have a great respect for you,

Miss Maggie,

but when it comes to marrying,

I'm bound to tell you

I'm none in love with you.

I've got the love all right.

Well, I've not and that's honest.

We'll get along without it.

But what will the master say?

He'll say a lot, but he can say it.

Makes no difference to me.

Much better not upset him.

- I'm the judge of that.

- Oh.

But what makes it

so desperate awkward is,

there's another woman.

- There's what?

- I'm tokened to Ada Figgins.

Then you'll get loose,

and quick.

Who's Ada Figgins?

I'm the lodger at her mother's.

Not that sandy-haired girl

that brings you dinner?

She's golden-haired, is Ada.

Where is it?

You... you'll not go there?

Won't I?

I'll soon clean this up.

I... I'd really rather wed Ada, Maggie,

if it's all the same to you.

She... she's a terrible rough side

to her tongue, has Mrs Figgins.

- Miss Hobson's coming.

- Miss Hobson?

- That... that's Mrs Figgins, Miss Maggie.

- I know.

- You... you know Ada.

- Aye, I do.

- I want a word with you, young woman.

- Yes, Miss Hobson.

- What's all this with you and him?

- Ada...

You want to hush.

This is for me and her to settle.

Young woman,

you're treading on my foot.

Me, Miss Hobson?

They're tokened, him and her.

We're all very happy about it.

Aye, he looks happy.

Take a look at him, Ada.

Take a good look.

Not much for two women

to fall out over, is there?

Maybe he's not much to look at,

Miss Hobson,

but he's the man

she's going to marry.

- That's right.

- That's funny. I can say t'same.

- You?

- You, Miss Hobson?

That's what I've been trying

to tell you, Ada,

and by gum, she'll have me from you

if you don't be careful.

Willie, you wait outside.

And by t'look of things

you'll come back to a thick ear!

- Don't lose your temper, Mrs Figgins.

- Lose my temper?

I'll do more than lose my temper

when I get my hands on him!

You've cornered him,

the pair of you!

Cornered him?

Insulting me, insulting my daughter!

He'll wed Ada.

What's your idea

of his future, Ada?

I'll tell you his future!

He'll wed our Ada!

And remain an 18-shilling-a-week

boot hand for the rest of his life!

What's wrong with that?

And what do you think

you're going to do with him, my fine lady?

Will Mossop is a good man,

as meek and fine as I'm strong and hard.

- Fine?

- Aye, fine!

And he can shape and fashion

leather like no other man in Lancashire.

A man who can do that

can go right on to the top.

What he lacks in business,

brains and sense, I'll supply him with.

I love that man,

and I'm going to work for him.

Take that!

Got a nose for the brass, have you?

I'll learn you to carry on with that hussy

under the nose of my Ada!

What are you doing?

If you lay one finger on either of us,

I'll have the law on you for assault.

- Come on, Willie.

- Have the law on me, she says!

We'll have the law on you,

my fine lady!

- It's daylight robbery!

- Common thief!

My girl's been betrayed!

Look at him!

Slipping away with his fancy bit!

Bringing that dirty

flipping dodger here

as though he were something

we should care about!

You just wait till that sonny

comes back here tonight!

- Where are we going now?

- We're going round to Tubby's.

You're going to stay with him

from now on.

You mean I'm... I'm not to go back there?

Never no more?

You're never

going back there again, Will.

It's like a happy dream.

Now you can kiss me, Will.

Well, I...

That's forcing things a bit an' all,

Miss Maggie.

We won't get a proper chance

back there at Tubby's.

But right...

right... right here in t'street?

Come on, lad, get it over.

But... but it's like saying

I agree to everything, a kiss is.

Nay, I couldn't.

- Where's Maggie?

- Just come in.

- She is late.

- Yes, she is.

- Ah.

- Tea ready?

Kettle's not boiled yet.

- What's this with you and Willie?

- I'm going to marry him.

Pass the tea, Alice.

- You're going to marry Will Mossop?

- You must've taken leave of your senses!

- Is there some disgrace in him?

- You ask Father.

Now look here, things are bad enough

without you spoiling our chances.

I'll not do that.

Father said get wed and you will.

D'you think Albert'll wed me

with Mossop for brother-in-law?

If Albert's got any sense,

he'll be proud to.

What you do touches us, it...

What's this?

You'll have your tea in a minute, Father,

if they have nothing to say.

We've a lot to say.

You always have,

you pair of chattering magpies.

Maggie's got more sense in her little finger

than the two of you put together.

Don't lose your temper with them, Father.

You'll need it when Vicky speaks.

What's Vicky been up to now?

I've done nothing, Father.

It's about Will Mossop.

- Will?

- Yes.

What's your opinion of Will, Father?

Will? He's a decent enough lad.

I've nowt against him that I know of.

- Would you like him in the family?

- Whose family?

Yours.

- I'm going to marry Will, Father.

- Marry?

You? Mossop?

You thought me past the marrying age.

I'm not. That's all.

Will Mossop, me boot hand?

Have you lost your senses, girl?

It's news to me

we're snobs in Salford.

But his father was a workhouse brat.

A come-by-chance.

I'm having Willie Mossop.

I've to settle my life's course,

and a good course, too, so think on.

I won't have it, Maggie!

I... I... I... I'd... I...

I'd be the laughing stock

of the place, if I...

Outside, you two.

D'you hear, Maggie?

I won't have it.

Why, it... it isn't decent,

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