The Gibson Upright Part 20

GIBSON: Other men in the business think so. [_Shows her a letter._]

Here's an offer from the Coles-Hibbard people, out in Cleveland, of that much salary to do for them what I did here.

NORA: It isn't right; you pay labour only what you have to pay.

GIBSON: The Coles-Hibbard people offer to pay me what they'd have to, and they're pretty hard-headed men. The whole world pays only what it has to.

NORA: It isn't right! It isn't right!

GIBSON: Last winter I saw you in a three-dollar seat listening to Caruso. Have you ever given that much to the organ grinder who comes under these windows?

NORA: Will it always be so?

GIBSON: I don't know. But it's so now.

NORA: But will the plan _always_ fail?

GIBSON: I think it will until human beings are as near alike as the ants and bees are. Your system is in full effect with them, but we--we strive; even in this fellowship here of yours the striving began to show.

NORA [_looking up at him appealingly_]: But are these inequalities _right_?

GIBSON [_gently, rather sadly_]: I don't know. I only know what is.

NORA: Well--I'm whipped.

[_Smiles ruefully, away from him; then she turns again to him._]

Are you going to accept that offer?

GIBSON: What do you say?

[_Her head droops again. Angry voices are heard, growing louder as they approach. The door is thrown open, and the members of the committee, noisily talking, appear in the doorway._]

FRANKEL: It was a b.u.m deal all through!

s...o...b..RG: Shovin' his run-down factory off onto us!

RILEY [_fiercely_]: You never give us no deed to this plant, Mr. Gibson!

SIMPSON: They ain't a court in the land'll hold us to it!

CARTER: No, sir; and we've voted this is your factory, Mr. Gibson! We ain't responsible!

GIBSON: It is my factory and I'm going to run it! Any man of you not back at work in ten minutes on the old scale of wages will be fired!

[_The members whoop with joy._ FRANKEL _and_ CARTER _both try to shake hands with_ GIBSON _at once._]

CARTER: Well, that's a relief to _me_. Thank you, Mr. Gibson!

FRANKEL: That takes a heap off my mind!

RILEY: G.o.d bless you, sir!

GIBSON: Never mind that! You go back to work.

[_Whooping, the committee, in great spirits and with the greatest friendliness to one another, depart rapidly. Closing the door_, GIBSON _turns briskly to_ NORA, _and speaks in a businesslike way._]

GIBSON: Nora, will you marry me?

NORA [_meekly_]: Yes--I will.

GIBSON: Will you marry me to-day?

NORA [_with a little more spirit_]: Yes, I will!

GIBSON: Will you go with me and marry me right now?

NORA [_more loudly and promptly_]: Yes, I will!

GIBSON: Well, then--

[_He gets his hat and coat, then thinks of something he wants from his desk and goes over to get it. Meantime_ NORA, _not moving so rapidly as_ GIBSON, _but more thoughtfully, goes up to the wall where hang her jacket and hat, takes off her ap.r.o.n, puts on the jacket and hat and goes to the door that leads to the street, where she stands waiting. There is a knock on the factory door, which opens without waiting, and_ SIMPSON _comes in._]

SIMPSON: I don't want to detain you if you're goin' out, Mr. Gibson, but there's something's got to be settled. And the men in my department say it's got to be settled right now. That wage scale says we get time and a half for overtime, and the men in the finishing department, they ain't gettin' no time and a half on piecework and we never understood that agreement you claim we signed with you anyhow. So what we says, if we don't get double time instead of time and a half for overtime--why, Mr. Gibson, it looks like them men couldn't hardly be held back. Now what we demand is--

[_He is still talking as the final curtain descends upon these three_: GIBSON _seated at his desk, looking fixedly at_ SIMPSON, NORA _waiting thoughtfully by the door that leads to the street._]

CURTAIN