The Skin Game Page #2

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There's generally

some gold where I am.

I daresay you wish

there's been no...

We certainly like people to

keep their word, mr. Hornblower.

Amy.

Never mind, Hillcrist. Takes

more than that to upset me.

You promised me, you know,

not to disturb the tenancies.

Yes, well, I've come to

tell you that I've got to.

I wasn't expecting to have

the need when I bought.

I thought the duke would

sell me a bit down there,

but devil if he will.

And now I must have those

cottages for my workmen.

I've got important

works, you know.

The Jackmans have their

importance, too, sir.

Their heart's

in that cottage.

Well, if you think so

much of these Jackmans,

why not build them

a cottage yourselves?

You've got the space.

That's beside the point.

You promised me, and I sold

on that understanding.

I bought on the

understanding

I'd get some more

land from the dukes.

That's nothing

to do with me.

Ah, you'll find

that it has,

'cause I'm going

to have those cottages.

Well, I call it

simply...

now, now,

look here, Hillcrist.

You've not had occasion

to understand men like me.

I've got the guts, and I've got the money

and I don't

sit still on it.

I'm going ahead becaus

e I believe in meself.

I've no use for sentiment,

that sort of thing.

Why, 40 of your Jackmans

aren't worth me little finger.

Of all the blatant things

I ever heard said...

well, as we are

speaking plainly...

I've been thinking

you want the village run

your old-fashioned way,

and I want it

run mine.

I'll fancy there's not

room for the two of us here.

When are you going?

Oh, never fear.

I'm not going.

I'm told that you

wish to buy the centry

and put up some more

of your chimneys there,

regardless of the fact

that you'd utterly ruin

a house we've had

for generations

and all of our

pleasure here.

Oh ho!

Is it true

about the centry?

Gospel true.

Well, if you

want to know,

my son Charlie is buying

it this very minute.

Ah, he's with

the old lady.

She wants to sell.

And she'll get her

price, whatever it is.

If this isn't a skin game,

mr. Hornblower,

I don't know what is.

Oh!

Huh!

You've got a very

nice expression there.

Skin game.

Well, bad words

break no bones,

and they're wonderful

for hardening the heart.

If it wasn't for

a lady's presence,

I could give you

a specimen or two.

That needn't stop you,

I'm sure, mr. Hornblower.

Oh, and I don't know that it need.

You're an obstruction,

the likes of you.

You're in my path.

G. And anyone in my path

doesn't stay there lon

or if he does, he

stays there on my terms,

and my terms are chimneys in

the centry, where I need them.

It'll do you a power of good to

know that you're not almighty.

This is being neighborly?

And how have you tried

being neighborly to me?

Eh?

If I haven't a wife,

I've got a daughter-in-law

have you called

on her, ma'am?

No. No, I'm new,

and you're an old family.

You don't like me.

You think I'm

a pushy man.

I go to chapel,

and you don't like that.

I make things and I sell

them. You don't like that.

I buy land, and you

don't like that.

It threatens the view

from your windows.

Well, I don't like you,

and I don't want to put up

with your attitude.

You've had things

your own way too long,

and now you're not

gonna have them any longer.

That's a declaration

of war.

Oh ho ho!

Now, look here,

Hillcrist.

I don't object

to you personally.

You seem to me

a poor sort of creature

that's bound to get left with

your gout and your dignity.

But of course, you can make

yourself pretty disagreeable

before you're done.

Now I want to be

the moving spirit here.

I'm full of plans.

I'm gonna stand

for parliament.

I'm gonna make this

a prosperous place.

I'm a good-natured man if

you'll treat me as such.

Now, you take me on as a

neighbor... and all that,

and I'll manage withou

t chimneys in the centry.

Here, is it a bargain?

Not if you'd bought

the centry 10 times over.

Your ways are not mine.

I'll have nothing

to do with you.

Really?

Is that so?

Very well.

Now you are going

to learn some things,

and it's time you did.

Do you realize that I'm

very nearly around you?

Eh?

I'm at... up hill.

The works are here.

Here's Longmeadow.

Here's the centry,

that I've just bought.

So my goods will be running

right round you.

How will you like that

for a country place?

Eh?

That's not a bit sporting

of you, mr. Hornblower.

Well...

you should hear both sides

before you say that, missy.

There isn't anothe r side

to turning out the Jackmans

after you promised...

oh, dear me, yes. Why, they

don't matter a row of gingerbread

compared to the schemes I've got

for bettering this neighborhood.

I had been standing

up for you.

Now I won't.

Oh, dear, dear.

What'll become of me, eh?

I won't say anything

about the other thing,

because I think it's

beneath dignity to notice it,

but to turn poor people out

of their cottage is a shame.

Hoity me!

Jill!

Well, what's the good?

Life's too short

for rows.

Now, now, look here.

You'll just have to learn that a man

who's worked as I have, risen as I have,

and who knows the world is the proper

judge of what's right and wrong.

I'll answer to god for my

actions, not to you, young lady.

Poor god!

You blasphemous

young thing.

Jill, I wish you'd kindly not talk.

Oh.

I don't think I want to say

anything more to you, Hornblower.

Good morning.

All right.

We'll play what you call

a skin game, Hillcrist,

without gloves on.

We won't spare each other.

You look out for yourselves.

By god, after this morning,

I mean business.

Where's my hat?

Good-bye.

Say that I'm here,

will you?

Dawker, sir.

Well... Dawker?

Safe, for the moment.

The old lady will

put it up to auction.

Couldn't get her

to budge from that.

Said she didn't want

to be unneighborly.

Ask me, it's money

she smells.

Can I see you alone for

a moment, please, ma'am?

It's rather important.

In the study, Dawker.

I bet Dawker's

up to no good.

I can tell

by his expression.

I don't like Dawker,

father.

He's so common.

My dear, we can't all

be uncommon.

And he's got lots

of dough.

I bet they've got

some scheme on

that'll make you do things

you don't approve of

if you don't look out.

Mother's fearfully bitter

when she gets her knife in.

If old Hornblower'

s disgusting,

there's no reason

why we should be.

So you think

I'm capable?

That's nice, Jill.

No, no, darling.

But I want to

warn you solemnly

ir that mother would tell

you you're fighting fa

no matter what

she and Dawker do.

Jill, I never saw you

so serious.

Well...

hey!

Sorry.

I was just beginning

to enjoy myself,

now everything's going

to be bitter and beastly

with mother

in that mood.

That horrible old man.

Oh, daddy, I...

don't let them

make you horrid.

You're such a darling.

How's your gout,

ducky?

Better, a lot better.

There, you see?

That shows.

It's going to be half

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