Hobson's Choice Page #4

at your time of life!

I'm 30 and I'm going to marry

Willie Mossop.

- And now I'll tell you my terms.

- Terms!

You'll pay my man Will Mossop

the same wages as before.

As for me, I've given you the better part

of 20 years' work without wages.

I'll work eight hours a day in future,

and you'll pay me 15 shillings by the week.

D'you think I'm made of brass?

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.

I might face that, Maggie.

Shop hands are cheap.

Cheap ones are cheap.

I'm value to you.

So's my man.

And you can boast it

in the Moonraker's

that your daughter Maggie's made

the strangest, finest match

a woman's made this 50 year.

Now you can put your hand in your pocket

and do what I propose.

Propose?

I'll tell you what I propose!

- Will Mossop!

- Yes, Mr Hobson?

- Come up!

- Yes, Mr Hobson.

You've taken up

with our Maggie, I hear.

Nay, I've not.

She's done t'taking up.

Well, either way, Willie,

you've fallen on misfortune.

Love's led you astray,

and I feel bound to put you right.

I'm watching you, my lad.

Now, mind, Willie, you can keep yourjob.

I don't bear malice.

But you've got an ailment

and I've got the cure.

We'll 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.

You'll not beat t'love in me.

You're making a great mistake, Mr Hobson.

You'll put aside

your weakness for my Maggie

if you've a liking for a sound skin.

I was none wanting thy Maggie.

It was her that was after me.

But I tell you this, Mr Hobson,

if you touch me with that belt,

I... I'll take her quick, aye,

and stick to her like glue.

There's nobbut one answer

to that kind of talk, my lad.

And I've nobbut one answer back.

Maggie, I've none kissed you yet.

I shirked before,

but, by gum, I'll kiss you now.

And if Mr Hobson

raises up that belt again, I'll do more.

I'll walk straight out of t'shop with thee

and us two'll set up by ourselves.

I knew you had it in you.

Come on, lass.

Oh, Willie! Oh!

Why, I've got to go back.

- What for?

- Well, I must apologise to Mr Hobson.

I don't know what came over me

to front the master as I did.

I came over you.

Look sharp now,

we've got to catch yonder tram.

Give me that card

Mrs Hepworth gave you.

What dost thou want it for?

If we're going to set up on our own,

we shall want capital.

Capital?

What's capital?

Good morning, Miss Hobson.

You're out early.

- Good morning, Mrs Hepworth.

- Morning, ma'am.

Why, you're the man

who made the boots.

Come and sit down.

Now, what is it you want?

You said he wasn't to make a change

without letting you know.

Well, he's making a change.

He's asked me to marry him.

I congratulate you

on your choice, Mossop.

But I referred to a change

in your employment.

Yes, he's changing that and all.

That's what he's come about.

He's setting up on his own

and needs 100 to start him off.

- 100?

- Does he?

You won't miss anything

for fear of speaking out.

He's the gift of making boots

and I've the gift of selling 'em.

There's brass in boots,

Mrs Hepworth,

and we could pay you your money back

plus 20 per cent in a year from now.

- What security can you give me?

- Him.

He's a security.

He's the best boot-maker

in Lancashire,

and the more you tell your friends

about him, the more secure you'll be.

One hundred pounds.

Thou means to say yon bit of paper

she gave you means all that?

It does.

Now we've got to get a move on.

We've a lot to do this morning.

We've a shop to find,

some bits of furniture,

the banns to see about,

and some leather and tools to buy.

I reckon we'll start with the shop.

What d'you want the place for?

A boot shop and a living room.

Oh.

- What's the rent?

- Ten shillings a week.

We shall be needing

some bed linen.

I'll buy it from you,

if we come to terms.

- I'll give you five shillings a week.

- Well, I might take seven and sixpence.

There's two pounds

for eight weeks' rent in advance.

Is it a bargain?

It is. I'll try and move all this stuff

out of your way tomorrow.

This shop's opening

at six in the morning.

Will, take your coat off.

I'm going out.

And if this place isn't clear

by the time I'm back,

you'll meet with trouble.

Set up on their own!

Set up on their own!

So I said to them...

I'd no temper, mind you.

I said,

"If you can't come to your senses

"and behave in a responsible manner,

out you go!"

And out they went.

D'you know what happened then?

The great lover goes past me

so fast to keep clear

of the business end of me boot,

that he goes

ass over tip on the pavement!

Aye, it's t'same again

all round, Sam.

It's his daughter!

I know.

Oh, dear!

I'll give that loving pair three months

and they'll be back beggin' on me doorstep

like a whipped dog and a whipped...

- Shall I say it for you, Henry?

- Now, now...

They haven't got a brass farthing

between 'em.

- I've just done a job for them.

- What did you say?

To print and deliver

500 of these leaflets.

Had to be done tonight.

They paid on the nail, too.

What's it say, Henry?

- Shame.

- All right, I got plenty more.

She told me I was to give one

to all the folks I could find,

at every opportunity.

A good head for business, your daughter.

Takes after you, I suppose.

I see your name's mentioned, Henry.

Late of Hobson's!

That's a good advertisement, that is!

Advertisement? Talk!

Wrong sign with nought behind it.

Love's gone to their heads.

They've got sick fancies. Now...

Let's keep sense of proportion.

The brains around this table know

there's more to setting up a business

than handing round bits of paper.

- Aye. Fine.

Time you were getting round

to Tubby's.

You can deliver these leaflets

on your way round in the morning.

I shall be expecting you

come six o'clock.

Well...

Good... good night, Maggie.

It... it's been a grand day and...

I... I...

You great soft thing.

Good morning, Alice.

Maggie! You here?

I thought I'd just pop in.

Where's Father?

He's out, and lucky for you he is.

Well, you can give him this

when he comes in.

It's an invitation to our wedding tomorrow

and a bit of supper afterwards.

- I expect you all to be there.

- Then you can go on expecting.

You've no need

to take that tone with me, Alice.

I've given you my word

I'll put things straight for you.

Eeh! Good morning, Miss Maggie.

Good morning, Tubby.

Oh Alice, there's some brass rings

in that drawer. You can sell me one.

Maggie, what are you doing here?

I'm buying a ring.

No.

Oh, this one'll do. Nice fit.

You're not taking it for that?

Will and me

are not throwing our money around.

There's fourpence for the ring.

Gather it up, Alice.

Wedded with a brass ring,

a ring out of stock?

They're always

out of someone's stock.

Alice, you haven't entered that sale

in your book.

Now, I expect you both tomorrow, mind.

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