The Stars Look Down Page #5

Yes. Maybe you're right, Jenny.

Run and get ready.

You're so sweet to me.

We can just catch the 5.20.

- I'll be down in a minute.

- (KNOCKING)

That's the laundry. You see them. They

tried to charge me nine pence too much.

- How then, son?

- Mother!

- Come in, come in.

- She's brought some home-made broth.

That's fine. Come on in.

That's the kitchen. Here's the drawing room.

- Drawing room?

- It's grand, isn't it?

Is Jenny tidying up the kitchen?

She thought you were the laundry.

They tried to swindle her out of ninepence.

Laundry?

That never gets a chance to swindle me.

Sit down, Mother. Here's a fine chair.

- Tea in the parlour?

- Once in a while.

Shop cake.

I'll get you a drop of port.

It'll cheer you up.

We don't want to interfere

with your studies.

- It isn't often we get a chance for a talk.

- No.

Here she is.

How's that for a quick...?

Visitors for you, Jenny.

How are you, lass?

This is a great pleasure.

What a shame we're just going out.

But, Jenny...

We promised some friends

to meet them in Tynecastle.

How pretty.

- Jenny, we don't have to...

- No. We couldn't have stopped long.

- Of course. You can easily come again.

- Yes, lass.

You can still have a drop of port, Mother.

I don't know why you think

I've taken to drink.

The lad's just trying to be pleasant.

David, hurry. We'll be late for the train.

- What you doing, David?

- Coming.

- Come and see us soon.

- Best send a postcard first.

- Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

- Goodnight, Davey.

At least one son's

not breaking his neck to leave pit.

(ENCOURAGING CHEERS)

Hughie, pick it up and run wi' it!

Grand game Hughie's playing.

- Mr Fenwick!

- Yes, Denny.

- Mr Strother asked me to give you that.

- Thanks.

- Your boy's useful, Bob.

- Three goals!

You'll come up and have a bit of snack

with us, Davey?

I'll drop in a bit later.

I've got a bit of business.

- What's the matter?

- Nothing.

Hear your lad's doing well, Slogger.

If I sent him a telegram saying I was

starving, he'd send me a wreath.

...Cast into a bottomless pit.

We're through with Scupper Flats.

Let's have something cheery.

And out of the smoke came locusts

upon the earth...

- (KNOCKING)

- Come in.

Yes?

I'm expecting him over.

Yes, Fenwick?

- I wondered if you still wanted a tutor.

- Changed your mind?

I needed the time for studying

but now I'm leaving the school...

- Oh?

- Yes. Mr Strother's given me notice.

I heard he wasn't satisfied. It's a

disappointment after the trouble I've taken.

I was producing results.

But if the school doesn't consider you

efficient... I'll give you another chance.

- Thank you, Mr Barras.

- You can't expect the same terms.

What did I offer?

Half a crown a lesson,

three lessons a week.

Tell you what I'll do. I'll give you

ten shillings a week for five lessons.

You can start tonight.

Arrange it with my son. Good afternoon.

Thank you.

- I didn't know you were waiting.

- That's all right, Mr Barras.

- You're running Millington's now?

- And a partnership in the offing.

- I like to see one of my own men get on.

- Proud of it, Mr Barras.

- Davey Fenwick. How are you?

- Fine, Joe.

- How are you doing?

- Just pulled off a big deal.

I like to see a man getting on.

Remember me to... Jenny.

- It's been kept quiet?

- You don't want the men to know?

Maybe they wouldn't understand

with all this about Scupper Flats.

If I know where to find the best

coking coal, it's my duty to my firm.

There's no reason why anyone should

know. You worried about young Fenwick?

- You know him very well.

- I did and I didn't.

He's headstrong.

Just lost his schoolmaster job.

- Got the sack?

- Pity. He had brains.

Shame he threw himself away

over a bit of a lass.

I'll drop in on them and cheer him up.

Poor fellow, losing his job and all.

J...

How can we live on ten shillings a week?

I'll get another post somewhere.

I'll advertise in Tynecastle.

We can sell this house

and stay with my mother.

Your mother? I'd rather starve!

I've got ambitions. I was meant

to be a lady, not a skivvy for a failure!

- (KNOCKING)

- He's here again. The never-never man.

He can take his rotten furniture away for

all the chance we've got of paying for it!

Don't be an idiot, Jenny.

Hello, Jenny. D'you remember me?

Joe.

Hello, Joe. I hope you don't think

I was trying to cut Jenny's throat.

- The thought never entered my head.

- What a silly thing to say.

Come in, Joe. Wonderful to see you again,

isn't it, David?

- Yes. Come in.

- I just had a minute.

- Seen your father?

- That big boozer!

He's not a bad sort.

Sit down. Have some tea.

Only for a minute.

I've business with Barras.

We're selling him

some of those new pumps.

- At least Scupper Flats has closed down.

- There wasn't much to worry about there.

- You didn't always think so.

- How's married life treating you?

- It's ever so nice.

- How's business, Davey?

He's doing ever so well.

The school think a lot of him.

Mr Barras thinks the world of him. He's got

the job of teaching his son in the evenings.

- Haven't you?

- Well done, Davey.

Not doing bad yourself.

I don't hold with grumbling,

but it does get a fellow down.

Paris this week,

Brussels the next, London...

- (KNOCKING)

- Tell them I'm not in.

Probably my creditors

have spotted your car, Joe.

David's going out tonight, Joe.

I've got a bit of business myself tonight.

Hardly a moment to myself.

Visitor for you, Joe.

Hello, Dad. It is grand to see you again.

Thanks for all them five quids

you never sent me.

What brings you here? Tynecastle too hot?

You can't stop him having a joke.

I was just coming to see you.

I'd have killed you if you hadn't. Jenny.

- You're doing well.

- A lot of expenses.

Here's some more.

All the lads are at the Salutation.

You're celebrating the closing

of Scupper Flats with us.

- I've got five minutes.

- I can drink plenty in five minutes.

- Bye, Mrs Fenwick.

- Bye, Jenny.

I'm looking forward to riding with you.

Joe always makes me laugh.

He's a success. That's what he is.

- I could have had him by raising my finger.

- Why didn't you?

Why didn't I?!

Because I was a fool, that's why. A fool!

A fool!

So four is the relative change between

the second variable and that of the first.

Obviously, if A does not differ from X,

this ratio has no meaning.

It certainly hasn't any meaning for me.

I'm no good at mathematics.

I don't want to be an engineer.

- Why are we wasting our time, then?

- Father wants me to follow him at the pit.

I loathe it. All this Scupper Flats business.

The men didn't break through.

Their luck held out.

Yes, it did, didn't it?

Just held out.

- What's worrying you, Arthur?

- It won't hold out forever.

Is it anything to do with Mr Gowlan?

Coking coal for Millington's!

Scupper Flats isn't closing down after all.

- I'm not sure about this money clause.

- That's between me and Mr Millington.

Of course.

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