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MINNIE. This is his busy day.
DR. JONATHAN (going toward the door). Oh, it's you, Hillman. Come in.
MINNIE. I guess I'll go for the mail.
(With a resigned expression she goes oust right as HILLMAN comes in, followed by RENCH and FERSEN. They are the strike committee.
HILLMAN is a little man, with red hair and a stiff, bristling red moustache. He holds himself erect, and walks on the b.a.l.l.s of his feet, quietly. RENCH is tall and thin, with a black moustache, like a seal's. He has a loud, nasal voice, and an a.s.sertive manner.
FERSEN is a blond Swede.)
(DR. JONATHAN puts one or two objects in place on the bench. His manner is casual but cordial, despite the portentous air of the Committee.)
(The men, their hats in their hands, go toward the bench and inspect the test tubes and apparatus.)
RENCH (New England tw.a.n.g). Always manage to have something on hand when you ain't busy with the folks, doctor. It must be interestin' to fool with these here chemicals.
DR. JONATHAN. It keeps me out of mischief.
HILLMAN. I guess you haven't much time to get into mischief.
FERSEN. We don't like to bother you.
DR. JONATHAN. No bother, Fersen,--sit down. (He draws forward some chairs, and they sit down.) How is the baby?
FERSEN. Oh, she is fine, now, since we keep her outside in the baby carriage, like you tell us.
(FERSEN grins, and immediately becomes serious again. A brief silence.)
HILLMAN (clearing his throat). The fact is, Dr. Jonathan, the boys have struck,--voted last night to walk out at noon today.
FERSEN. We thought we tell you now. You been such a good friend to us and our families.
DR. JONATHAN. But isn't this rather sudden, with Mr. Pindar in Washington?
RENCH. We couldn't wait no longer,--he's been standing us off for more than a year. When he comes back from Washington there'll be nothing doing. He's got to recognize the union or lose his contract.
DR. JONATHAN. He may prefer to lose his contract.
RENCH. Well, he can afford to. Then he can go to h.e.l.l.
HILLMAN. Hold on, Sam, that ain't no way to talk to the doctor!
RENCH. I didn't mean no disrespect to him. He don't go 'round preachin', like some fellers I could mention, but actions is louder than words.
Ain't that the reason we're here, because he sympathizes with us and thinks we're ent.i.tled to a little more of this freedom that's bein'
handed 'round? We want you to help us, doctor.
DR. JONATHAN. It seems to me you've come a little late, Rench,--after the event.
HILLMAN. Maybe if you'd said a word, they'd never have voted to strike.
FERSEN. But you never said nothing, Doctor.
DR. JONATHAN. Well, when you get around to admitting doctors to your labour unions, perhaps they'll talk.
HILLMAN. If all the doctors was like you!
DR. JONATHAN. Give 'em a chance, Hillman.
HILLMAN. We don't have to explain to you why we want the union,--it's the only way we'll ever get a say about the conditions in which we work and live, now that the day of individual bargaining is gone by. You understand. Mr. Pindar raised our wages when we threatened to strike last fall, but he calculates to drop 'em again when the soldiers come home.
FERSEN (nodding). Sure thing!
HILLMAN. It's this way, doctor. We notice Mr. Pindar comin' in here to see you every day or so,--like the rest of Foxon Falls. And we thought you could make him see this thing straight, if any man could.
DR. JONATHAN. So the shops will be idle.
RENCH. Not a shaft'll turn over till he recognizes the union.
HILLMAN. We don't want to do nothin' to obstruct the war, but we've got to have our rights.
DR. JONATHAN. Can you get your rights now, without obstructing the war?
RENCH (aggressively). I get what you're driving at, doctor. You're going to say that we've just reached quant.i.ty production on these here machines, and if labour gets from under now, the Huns win. But tell me this,--where'll labour be if America wins and our Junkers (he p.r.o.nounces the J) come out on top?--as they callate to.
DR. JONATHAN (smiling). When a building with dry rot catches fire, Rench, can you put limit to how much of it will burn?
RENCH (after a pause). Maybe not. I get you--but--
DR. JONATHAN. No nation, no set of men in any nation can quench that fire or make the world that is coming out of this war. They may think they can, but they can't.
HILLMAN. That's so!
DR. JONATHAN. Germany will be beaten, because it is the temper of the nation, the temper of the times--your temper. You don't want Germany to win, Rench?
RENCH. No, I guess not.
DR. JONATHAN. And if you don't work here, you'll go off to work somewhere else.
RENCH. Where they recognize the union.
DR. JONATHAN. A good many of your friends have enlisted, haven't they?
(RENCH nods.) And what do you suppose they are fighting for?
RENCH. For the same thing as we want, a square deal.
DR. JONATHAN. And what do you think George Pindar is fighting for?
RENCH. I ain't got nothing to say against him.
DR. JONATHAN. If you close down the Pindar Shops, won't it mean that a few more of your friends will lose their lives? These men are fighting for something they don't yet understand, but when they come back they'll know more about it. Why not wait until George Pindar comes back?
