The Skin Game Page #3

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interesting for you, not for us.

Look here, Jill, is

there anything between you

and this young

what's-his-name Rolf?

No, but...

now it's all spoiled.

You don't expect me

to regret that.

I don't mean any tosh

about love's young dream,

but I do like

being friends.

I want to enjoy things,

and you can't do that

when everybody's

on the hate.

You're going to

wallow in it.

So shall I.

Oh, I know I shall.

We shall all wallow

and think of nothing

but one for his nob.

Aren't you fond

of your home?

Of course.

I love it.

Well, you won't be abl e to live

here unless we stop that ruffian.

Imagine it.

Chimneys and smoke,

all the trees cut down,

piles of pots

all over the place.

You know,

I was born here

and my father

and his and his.

They loved those fields and the old trees.

Do you know I learned to

ride in the centry meadows?

Prettiest spring

meadows in the world.

You may go through life

and never find anything

so good and beautiful

as this old home,

and I'm not going to have

it spoiled without a fight.

I told you!

I knew perfectly well

what he told me...

Well, lad,

how are you?

Hey, dad!

Ah, love.

Not much, are they?

I'll just get the.

I say, do you see old

Hornblower and his son Charlie?

Oh, look.

There's Chloe.

You know, Charlie's

wife standing with Rolf.

I say, Rolf, just leave me

alone for a moment, would you?

What? All right.

What did that woman mean

by insulting you like that?

I'll make them

pay for it.

Wonderful improvement we're

having in the town, ma'am.

I did hear we're having

the electric lights soon.

Mrs. Hillcrist.

I beg your pardon?

Mrs. Hillcrist, I...

well?

I haven't done you

any harm.

Did I ever say you had?

No, but you act

as though I had.

I'm not aware

that I acted at all...

as yet.

You're nothing to me except

as one of your family.

It isn't as if I want

to spoil your home.

Stop them, then.

I see your husband out

there with his father.

I'll try.

I suppose such men pay no

attention to what women are.

I'm fond of my husband

I don't quite know

why you spoke to me.

I only thought you might like

to treat me as a human being.

Really, I... I'd rather

you left me alone just now,

if you don't mind.

Very well.

I'll move further up.

Excuse me.

Get up, Dawker.

In case I don't

see the squire,

would you ask him when I come to his limit,

blow his nose if he wants me to go on.

And when he blows

the second time,

I'll stop for good

what limit

did you settle?

6,000.

That's a fearful price.

From the ground...

from the ground, you see

that chap I told you about

come down from town.

He's a fellow who can tell

us all about young mrs. H.

Watch me cross over, you'll

see me stand beside him.

Hello.

Jack, I've just seen

Dawker.

He says if you want

to go about 6,000,

blow your nose once.

When you blow it

the second time,

he'll take it as a signal

to stop bidding altogether.

I see.

I say, look.

Jack, go and offer her

my smelling salts.

Thank god for human touch.

I say, have a sniff.

You look awfully white.

No, I'm all right.

Thank you.

No, no, do.

You must.

I'll get you

some water.

Now, you know,

I've only one property

to sell.

That very desirable

corn and stock-rearing

and parklike residential

land known as the, uh,

centry, deepwater.

Unique property.

An a-1 chance

to an a-1 audience.

Mister...

you won't mind listening to the conditions.

Mr. Brinker will

read them,

and they won't worry you,

I'm sure.

Very short.

Speak up!

Now, gentlemen,

it's not often a piece of land

like this comes into the market.

No better land

in deepwater.

No better land in deepwater.

That's right, mr. Spicer.

I know the village well,

and a charming place it is.

Perfect locality,

to be sure.

Well, I'm not gonna waste your time by

singing the praises of this property.

There it is, well-watered,

nicely timbered,

no reservation of timber.

Gentlemen, no tenancy

to hold you up,

free to do what you like

with it tomorrow.

And you've got a jewel

of a site there, too.

Perfect position

for a house.

Lies between the dukes

and squire Hillcrist's.

An emerald isle.

No allusion to our

ireland gentlemen.

Perfect peace

in the centry.

Nothing like it

in the county.

Carries the

mineral rights,

and as you know,

perhaps,

there's a very valuabl

e deepwater clay there.

Well, now...

What shall I start it at?

A gentleman site,

a gentlemen site.

You don't have that

given you every day.

I'm not particular.

Anything you'd like to give me

come on, you've got more time

than me, I expect. Come on.

grazing and corn land.

And a site for a residence

unequaled in the county.

Now, then. Now, then.

What shall I say?

Think of all the possibilities.

What shall I say?

hurt you, mr. Spiza.

Why, it's worth that

to overlook the duke.

For 2,000. for 2,000.

Mr. Sammy, don't scratch

your head over it.

desirable property.

Why, you'd think

it wasn't desirable.

gentlemen. A little spirit.

For 3,500.

May I say 4?

Take hundred?

I'm not particular.

I'll take hundreds. 3,600.

Uh, 700.

Come on, gentlemen,

I don't want to wait all day.

I don't want to wait all day.

Now we're beginning.

And one, and two.

And 3.

May I... and 4 and 5, and 6.

And 7. 8. 9, may I say? 9.

There's more spirit

in that, gentlemen.

More spirit. 5,000.

Dada, why can'

t I see the bids?

That last

was Hornblower.

Now, gentlemen,

I'm not going to give

this property away.

And one, and two, and 3.

And 5 did you say, sir?

Who was that,

dada?

Hornblower. It's the

duke agent in the center.

Yes, but...

shh. Shh.

Now, this chance may

never come again.

As the poet says, how we

regret it if we don't get it.

Now, may I say 5,600?

Well, we're getting on.

But we haven't reached

the value yet.

For 5,800. now,

come on, gentlemen.

Come along. We're not beaten.

For 6,000. the centry.

Finest spot in the county.

the low price of 6,000.

Come gentlemen,

we haven't dried up.

A little spirit.

For 6,000.

Very well. I'm selling.

We've got it!

And one, sir?

Blow your nose, Jack.

If it goes over 7,000,

I don't know if

we can't stand it.

And two, thank you.

For 6,000... and 3.

For 6,300.

And 4? For 6,400?

This coveted property.

For 6,400.

Why, it's giving

it away, gentlemen.

And 6. and 7. and 8.

For 6,800. for 6,800.

Once, twice.

For the last time,

this dominating site.

Thank you, mr. Hornblower.

For 6,900.

Don't blow your

nose again, Jack.

That's the signal

for Dawker to give in.

Don't do it yet.

once, twice...

and one. Thank you, sir.

What about you, sir?

Gentlemen, I have a bid

for $7,100 for the centry.

I'm instructed to take it

if I can't get more.

It's a fair price.

It's not a big price.

Sunken price.

Sunken price?

Well, you ought to know

about sunken, I admit.

Now, I suppose someone

will offer $7,200.

No one?

Well, I can't make you,

gentlemen.

Well, to mr. Hornblower,

for 7,100.

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