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
ALICE. Haven't you furnished?
MAGGIE. Partly what. We've made a start at the Flat Iron Market. (_Sits_
L. _of_ WILLIE.)
ALICE. I'd stay single sooner than have other people's cast-off sticks
in my house. Where's your pride gone to, Maggie?
MAGGIE. I'm not getting wed myself to help the furnishing trade along. I
suppose you'd turn your nose up at second-hand stuff, too, Vickey?
VICKEY. I'd start properly or not at all. (_Goes to desk_, L.)
MAGGIE. Then you'll neither of you have any objections to my clearing
out the lumber-room upstairs. (_Rises_.) We brought a hand-cart round
with us. (_Nudges_ WILL.)
(WILL _rises and takes his coat off. He has detachable cuffs which he
places carefully on the arm-chair_.)
VICKEY. You made sure of things.
MAGGIE. Yes. Get upstairs, Will. I told you what to bring.
ALICE. Wait a bit. (_Crosses to_ C.)
MAGGIE. Go on. (_Moves_ R. _slightly_.)
(WILL _goes into the house_.)
ALICE. Let me tell you if you claim the furniture from your old
bedroom--(_up to_ MAGGIE),--that it's my room now, and you'll not budge
a stick of it.
MAGGIE. I expected you'd promote yourself, Alice. But I said
lumber-room. There's a two-three broken chairs in the attic and a sofa
with the springs all gone. You'll not tell me they're of any use to you.
ALICE. Nor to you, neither.
MAGGIE. Will's handy with his fingers. He'll put in this afternoon
mending them. They'll be secure against you come to sit on them at
supper-time to-night.
VICKEY. And that's the way you're going to live! With cast-off
furniture. (_Moves to window_, L.)
MAGGIE. Aye. In two cellars in Oldfield Road.
VICKEY _and_ ALICE. A cellar!
MAGGIE. _Two_ of 'em, Alice. One to live and work in and the other to
sleep in.
ALICE. Well, it 'ud not suit me.
VICKEY. Nor me.
MAGGIE. It suits me fine. And when me and Will are richer than the lot
of you together, it'll be a grand satisfaction to look back and think
about how we were when we began.
(WILL _appears_ R. _with two crippled chairs and begins to cross the
shop_.)
VICKEY (_stopping him_). Just a minute, Will. (_She examines the
chairs_.) These chairs are not so bad.
MAGGIE. You can sit on one to-night and see.
VICKEY. You know, mended up, those chairs would do very well for my
kitchen when I'm wed.
ALICE. Yes, or for mine.
MAGGIE. I reckon my parlour comes afront of your kitchens, though.
VICKEY. Parlour! I thought you said you'd only one living-room.
MAGGIE. Then it might as well be called a parlour as by any other
name. (_Crosses to doors_, L., _and opens them_.) Put the chairs on the
hand-cart, Will.
(WILL _goes out to street_.)
And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan
for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some
crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage
portions.
ALICE. What? (_Moves to_ C.)
VICKEY. Marriage portions, Maggie!
(FREDDY _re-enters, accompanied by_ ALBERT.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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