The Americans Part 68

There you go!

It does beat h.e.l.l. You just keep saying that, That you ain't nothin' agin him, and you'll see.

VOICE.

(_Near the door_)

Who's to be judge what's for the Public Good?

ROME MASTERS.

I ain't said that I wouldn't do the job.

JIM KING.

(_Stands on tip-toe and looks over the crowd, then turns back to Masters_)

Didn't you think and didn't I think and Wes That when they cut the pie we'd get our share, One big long table with no head and tail But all the boys the same, and everything Piled on it and divided?

(_The group about Dicey become more noisy_)

VOICE.

(_From the crowd_)

Put him out!

(_Dicey comes from the centre of the group and catches sight of King, who beckons to him_)

FIRST WORKMAN.

(_From the group_)

If you don't like it, Wes, why don't you leave?

SECOND WORKMAN.

(_Following Dicey_)

Why in the h.e.l.l don't you leave? We're free men.

(_Dicey, King and Masters walk over to the pile of sash, left_)

THIRD WORKMAN.

(_Of the Dicey faction_)

Offer 'em coppers for their Union cards.

FOURTH WORKMAN.

And where's the mine that you was goin' to share?

FIFTH WORKMAN.

You want old Egerton to have it, eh?

VOICE.

(_Back in the mill_)

Bring on the Const.i.tution and let's vote!

CHRIS KNUDSON.

(_Comes out of the crowd_)

Don't use that name.

(_To the Dicey faction_)

Let's have no trouble, men.

This ain't no time to quarrel among ourselves.

(_To the other party_)

Try to remember, boys, it's his name, too.

(_Suddenly there is a tremendous cheering by those about the door.

A militiaman hurries from the crowd, grabs a bugle from the Sixth Militiaman and, darting out centre, starts to blow it_)

SIXTH MILITIAMAN.

(_Excitedly_)

Don't do that! Here!

MILITIAMAN.

(_With the knapsacks_)

Don't do that!

(_The crowd begins to break up, many of the men climbing back over the railing into the mill proper_)

MILITIAMAN.

(_Comes sliding down the pole_)

What's the trouble?