The Stars Look Down Page #2

and Hell followed with him.

Another horse was red and power was

given to him to take peace from the earth.

Another horse that was red and power was

given to him to take peace from the earth.

- How again, Wept?

- Hello, Joe.

- I beheld a black horse...

- Got one for the Derby?

...he that sat on him held a pair of balances

and I looked and beheld a pale horse...

(SHOUTING)

Three months we've had of it!

Good job we've shown some sense

or it'd be another three months!

Longer!

I'm the last man to say owt

about Bob Fenwick, but it's got him in jail!

We never had no choice!

We never had no...

You'll get drowned!

Just stand out a few more weeks.

- A few more weeks?

- You said that when it started!

Kind of you to sympathise with my father,

but you're turning the men against him.

If Barras loses the contract for coking coal,

we won't have to work Scupper Flats.

We're the ones who've got to work coking coal!

- You're going to that posh college!

- Get back where you belong!

And what am I going to do in that college?

Educate myself to fight for my own kind!

I've worked down there with you.

I've got coal dust pitted in my skin!

It won't wash out as long as I live!

I've seen what it's done to you

with your coughs and your silicosis.

It's done it to my own father!

Mr Barras!

(EAGER SHOUTING)

- We've got a deputation, Mr Barras.

- Shan't be a minute, Arthur.

- All right, Father.

- Good afternoon.

- Good afternoon, Mr Barras.

- Afternoon.

- Ah, Fenwick. You got the scholarship?

- Aye.

- When do you leave?

- Today. I'm waiting for my father.

Let me know when you finish. I might

be able to get you into a council school.

- It's not schoolteaching I'm after.

- I'd like to see you get on anyway.

- You ready?

- Yes, Mr Barras.

- (CHEERY GREETINGS)

- We shan't have any trouble now.

Hey, you!

Hey, he chose me! He chose me!

Three good shirts I'm putting in for you.

Send thy washing to a good woman.

None of their new-fangled laundries.

- Have you got another handkerchief?

- Aye, Mother.

- Making sure he's all poshed up?

- And his pit clothes will be kept posh.

Maybe he'll be satisfied with them

some day, same as yourself, lad.

Hello, Dad! Did you have a good time?

Good as a holiday it was. Pity it weren't

licensed. Anyone seen owt of our Joe?

There's been no sign of him.

You off to Tynecastle, Davey? Best of luck,

lad. I've got great faith in you.

- Thanks, Slogger.

- Bye, Martha.

None of my family needed no college

education. They was good mining stock.

Same as I thought your father were

before he set himself up against pit.

You know they jailed me for nowt.

They got their knife into me over the strike.

That don't surprise me. And I noticed

no one came forward to stand up for thee.

It done one good thing -

left them free to settle strike.

Got it over before I was out, eh?

- Aye. How's your cough been, Father?

- This cough will never kill me.

- I don't want you down Scupper Flats.

- Don't worry about that.

You've got to think about making your way.

You're going to do something

about this industry.

- The men have great hopes of you, lad.

- They don't talk like it.

They think it all the same.

What time you leaving?

- Now you're back, the next train.

- I'll come with you.

Thank you, Martha.

- We'll be getting along, shall we, Davey?

- Aye.

- So long, Hughie.

- Good luck. I'll be in Tynecastle soon.

So long.

Well, I'm off, Mother.

Aye.

Don't forget to keep my pit clothes

waiting for me.

I don't expect thou'll be needing them.

- Here... You'll want a bite for the train.

- Thank you, Mother.

Goodbye, Mother.

- Goodbye, Father.

- Goodbye.

Wilkinson wants 10 each way,

but his limit's five.

Take it. Is that you, Laura?

Is he able to come tonight?

- Did you put it to him the way I asked?

- It's going to be all right, Joe.

That's fine. The place is the Percy Grill.

Have you got that?

I'll come over to your table. I've got to

rush away. I've got to put something off.

Of course, if it's something important...

Don't be daft, Laura. Since I've been

in Tynecastle, I've not looked at another girl.

That's it. The cooking doings...

The Percy Grill. Ta-ta.

Sounds like poetry, doesn't it?

- Hello, Joe. Looking for Jenny?

- Yes.

- When are you two getting married?

- Business is a bit busy.

Can you tell her

I've some business tonight?

OK.

Joe!

- What's the business tonight?

- I was just looking for you.

Some other girl tonight?

Don't be daft.

I've never set eyes on another girl.

- It can't be business every night.

- I get that from your mother.

I can't help it. I'd much sooner be with you.

- Would you, Joe?

- Of course I would.

Then let's go out tonight like we used to.

We'll go to the Percy Grill.

- Percy Grill?

- Where we first met.

- I wish I hadn't got this business tonight.

- Let's start afresh back at the beginning.

Joe, you might listen to me.

All right, Jenny. I'll put it off.

I'll wait outside for you.

- Davey! How then?

- Joe!

- Only one Joe Gowlan in Tynecastle.

- Only one Joe Gowlan anywhere!

- Did you get that scholarship?

- Aye. Where have you been?

After that scandal in Ramage's shop

and my dad getting pinched,

I just had to come away. Sorry.

Your dad was mixed up in that, wasn't he?

It's all right. What have you been doing?

- I'm a turf accountant.

- A bookie.

I've got bigger fish to fry. You're not

in a rush? Come out with me and my lady.

- All right.

- Fine. She's my landlady's daughter.

Here she comes.

Davey, this is Miss Sunley.

This is Davey Fenwick from the university.

- Hello.

- How about some snuff?

- Shall we pop into Lockhart's?

- This is on Joe Gowlan, so you shut up.

- What about the...?

- Joe?

Percy Grill. Come on, Davey.

I think I'll have some oysters.

Can I leave you for a minute. It's one of my

clients. One of the biggest foundry owners.

- That's all right, Joe.

- Back in a jiffy.

- Joe's a card, isn't he?

- Yes.

- Hello, Mr Millington.

- Hello, Gowlan. Anything good?

A whisper about Rock Boy for the 3.30.

Rock Boy, eh?

Laura, I believe you've met Joe Gowlan.

We did meet at the Spring Handicap,

but I doubt you'll remember.

- Of course. Won't you sit down?

- Well, I...

- Have a drink.

- Thank you, Mr Millington.

Smart lad. Wasting his time

in bookmaking. What was that horse?

- Rock Boy, Mr Millington.

- Pretty girl, Mr Gowlan. Your fiance?

No, you've got the wrong end of the stick.

She's with a friend of mine from university.

Oh.

Stanley, weren't you saying something

about Mr Gowlan?

I'm sorry. I thought you did.

Something about the Carnport works.

Yes. Someone was telling me...

I forget who.

I believe you know something

about coal, Gowlan.

Nothing except I was born and bred on it.

- I need a buyer for my Carnport works.

- I wouldn't say no.

It may be possible, but don't count on it.

- All I need's a start, you see...

- I know. You're a smart lad.

You see...

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