Hobson's Choice: A Lancashire Comedy in Four ActsBrighouse, Harold
General
Hobson's Choice: A Lancashire Comedy in Four Acts
Brighouse, Harold
English drama -- 20th century; Fathers and daughters -- Drama; Sisters -- Drama
WILLIE. Aye, so you say. Ada would tell another story, though.
(ADA FIGGINS _enters from street. She is not ridiculous, but a weak,
poor-blooded, poor-spirited girl of twenty, in clogs and shawl, with_
WILLIE'S _dinner in a basin carried in a blue handkerchief. She crosses
to him and gives him the basin_.)
ADA (C.). There's your dinner, Will.
WILLIE. Thank you, Ada. (_Rises_.)
(_She turns to go, and finds_ MAGGIE _in her way_.)
MAGGIE. I want a word with you. You're treading on my foot, young woman.
ADA. Me, Miss Hobson? (_She looks stupidly at_ MAGGIE'S _feet_.)
MAGGIE. What's this with you and him?
ADA (_gushing_). Oh, Miss 'Obson, it is good of you to take notice like
that.
WILLIE. Ada, she--
MAGGIE. You hold your hush. This is for me and her to settle. Take a
fair look at him, Ada.
ADA. At Will?
MAGGIE (_nodding_). Not much for two women to fall out over, is there?
ADA. Maybe he's not so much to look at, but you should hear him play.
MAGGIE. Play? Are you a musician, Will?
WILLIE. I play the Jew's harp.
MAGGIE. That's what you see in him, is it? A gawky fellow that plays the
Jew's harp?
ADA. I see the lad I love, Miss 'Obson.
MAGGIE. It's a funny thing, but I can say the same.
ADA. You!
WILLIE. That's what I've been trying to tell you, Ada, and--and, by gum,
she'll have me from you if you don't be careful.
MAGGIE. So we're quits so far, Ada.
ADA. You'll pardon me. You've spoke too late. Will and me's tokened.
(_She takes his arm_.)
MAGGIE. That's the past. It's the future that I'm looking to. What's
your idea for that?
ADA. You mind your own business, Miss 'Obson. Will Mossop's no concern
of thine.
WILLIE. That's what I try to tell her myself, only she will have it it's
no use.
MAGGIE. Not an atom. I've asked for your idea of Willie's future. If
it's a likelier one than mine, I'll give you best and you can have the
lad.
ADA. I'm trusting him to make the future right.
MAGGIE. It's as bad as I thought it was. Willie, you wed me.
ADA (_weakly_). It's daylight robbery. (_Moves slightly_ L.)
WILLIE. Aren't you going to put up a better fight for me than that, Ada?
You're fair giving me to her.
MAGGIE. Will Mossop, you take your orders from me in this shop. I've
told you you'll wed me.
WILLIE. Seems like there's no escape. (_Sits in arm-chair_.)
ADA (_angry_). Wait while I get you to home, my lad. I'll set my mother
on to you.
MAGGIE. Oh, so it's her mother made this match!
WILLIE. She had above a bit to do with it.
MAGGIE. I've got no mother, Will.
WILLIE. You need none, neither.
MAGGIE. Well, can I sell you a pair of clogs, Miss Figgins?
ADA. No. Nor anything else.
MAGGIE. Then you've no business here, have you? (_Moves up to doors and
opens them_.)
ADA (_going to him_). Will, are you going to see me ordered out?
WILLIE. It's her shop, Ada.
ADA. You mean I'm to go like this?
WILLIE. She means it.
ADA. It's cruel hard. (_Moves towards doors_.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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