Hobson's Choice Page #8

Now, look here, what's passed between

you and me isn't for everybody's ears.

Go on, I'd like to hear it all.

Nasty-minded curiosity.

I don't agree with you, Mr Hobson.

You're a dunderheaded

lump of obstinacy

but I have taken a fancy to you

and I decline to let ye kill yourself.

Can I have a word with you in private,

please, Mrs Mossop?

Thank ye.

Goodbye, Mr Hobson.

Oh, and a happy new year to ye.

Well? Out with it.

It seems you're not to be trusted

on your own anymore, Father.

Alice and Vicky'll come

and look after you.

I paid 500 to get rid of them.

- What about you?

- Nay, it's out of the question.

Alice and Vicky

have got time on their hands.

Will and me

have got a business to run.

I'm off now to see Alice and Vicky.

We'll all be back here later this afternoon.

And you'd better put a collar on

in case Will comes.

Put a collar on for Will Mossop?

I think you've lost

your sense of proportion, my girl.

I'll have him treated with respect.

I'll be back at one o'clock.

And now I'm going back there

to get things tidied up.

You put your best coat on,

and your new hat,

and I shall expect you there

at one o'clock.

Yes, Maggie.

And remember, you can take a high hand

with Alice and Vicky.

- Aye.

- And with Father and all.

He's not too ill to stand it.

I'm a bit short of practice

at taking a high hand with Mr Hobson.

You can do it, love.

Aye.

I'll do you credit, lass.

Mornin', Miss Alice.

You might have waited till after dark.

Darkness won't hide

what the whole street knows already.

I told you, it's a different place

from when we used to live here.

Come in.

Morning, Alice. Morning, Vicky.

Where's Father?

- Upstairs.

- Go and bring him down, and look sharp.

I'm busier at my shop

than they are at his.

Yes, Willie.

Aye, it used to be a good business

in its day, too, did Hobson's.

What on earth do you mean?

It's a good business still.

If you'd not married into the law, Alice,

you'd realise what the value

of your father's business is today

in trading circles.

Vicky ought to know.

Her husband's in trade.

My Fred in trade?

- Well, isn't he?

- He's in the wholesale.

That's business, not trade.

And the value of Father's shop

is no concern of yours, Will Mossop.

- What are you doing?

- I'm looking over the stock.

If I'm to come into a thing,

I like to know what I'm coming into.

You are coming here

to look after Father.

Maggie can do that,

with one hand tied behind her back.

I'll look after the business.

Will Mossop!

Do you know who you're talking to?

Aye, me wife's young sisters.

- He's been drinking.

- We've got to be careful.

- Well, what d'you mean?

- Look.

Suppose Father gets worse

and they're here.

- Yes?

- Can't you see what I'm thinking?

Well, go on.

- It's so difficult to say.

- Then say it.

- He might leave them all his money.

- He's here.

Willie! Father's down.

- Hello, Father.

- Alice.

- Father, you're ill.

- Vicky, my baby.

Oh, it's nice to know

that I've daughters that care for me.

Of course we care.

Come and sit down, Father.

You're looking all right.

You've quite a colour.

Now look here, Alice, I'm very ill

and I need someone to look after me.

They know all about it, Father.

Then which one is it to be?

It can't be me,

in my circumstances.

- What circumstances?

- Um...

- What are you whispering about?

She's expecting.

Well, I don't see how that rules you out.

It could happen to any of us.

- Maggie!

- Well, what's the matter?

It does happen

to married women, and we're all married.

I say it ought to be Maggie, Father.

She's the eldest.

- And I say...

- Good morning, Father.

- I'm sorry to hear you're not so well.

- I'm a changed man, Will.

There used to be room

for improvement.

- What?

- Sit down, Father.

Aye, well, don't let's be too long

about this.

My time's valuable.

I'm busy at me shop.

Is your shop

more important than my life?

I'm worrited about your life

because it worrits Maggie.

But I'll not see my business suffer

for the sake of you.

This is not what I've a right

to expect from you, Will.

You've no right to expect I care

whether you sink or swim!

- Oh!

- Will!

And we're to stay here

and watch Maggie and Will

abusing Father when he's ill?

- No need for you to stay.

- That's a true word, Will Mossop.

But, Father, dear Father!

- Are you willing to come?

- No.

- You, Vicky?

- It... it's me child, Father.

Never mind what it is!

- Are you coming or not?

- No, I'm not.

Very well.

Those that aren't willing

can leave me to talk with them that are.

Show them the door, Will.

Vicky.

Well, I don't know.

We'll be pleased to see you

tea-time any Sunday afternoon

if you'll condescend to come.

Huh! Beggars on horseback.

Now, my lad,

I'll tell you what I'll do.

Sit you down.

Aye, we can come to grips better

now there are no fine ladies about.

They've got stiff necks with pride,

and the difference between you and them's

the thing that I ought to mark

and I'm going to mark.

There's times for holding back and there's

times for letting loose and being generous.

Now, you're coming here to this house,

both of you.

You'll have the back bedroom

for your own

and the use of this room split along

with me - Maggie, you'll keep house.

If she's time

she can lend a hand in t'shop.

I'm finding Will a job.

You can have your old bench back

in t'cellar, and I'll pay you the old wage.

Eighteen shillings a week,

and you and me'll go equal whacks

in the cost of the housekeeping

and if that isn't handsome,

I don't know what is.

- Come on, Maggie.

- Aye, I think I'll have to.

Whatever's the hurry for?

It may be news to you,

but I've a business round in Oldfield Road

and I'm neglecting it

by wasting me time here.

Wasting time?

Maggie, what's the matter with Will?

I've made him a proposal.

He has a shop of his own

to see to, Father.

A man who's offered a job

at Hobson's

doesn't have to worry

about a shop of his own

in a wretched cellar in Oldfield Road.

Shall I tell him, Maggie,

or shall we go?

Go! I don't want to keep a man who...

If Willie goes, Father, I go with him.

I think you'd better speak out, Will.

All right, I will.

We've been a year

in yon wretched cellar.

D'you know what we've done?

We've paid back Mrs Hepworth

what she lent us for our start.

- Mrs Hepworth?

- Aye.

And we made a bit of brass

on top of that.

We've got your high-class trade

away from you.

Our shop's a cellar, but they come to us

and they don't come to you.

Your trade's gone down

till all you sell is clogs.

You've got no trade.

Me and Maggie's got it all.

And all you think you can offer me

is me old job at 18 shillings a week.

Me, the owner of a business

that's starving yours to death?

But you are Will Mossop,

you're me old boot hand!

Aye, I were,

but I've moved on a bit since then.

Your daughter married me

and set about me education.

And, er...

and now I'll tell you what I'll do.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes