The Gibson Upright Part 4

GIBSON: I've learned to do things my father never learned to do, and it commands a higher return.

NORA: You _take_ a higher return!

GIBSON: You mean I don't deserve it?

NORA: Can it be possible that you think you deserve as much as any of these _workers_? You don't so much as touch one of these pianos that bring you your return. I do! I work on them with my hands. Do you think you deserve as much as I?

GIBSON: No; I don't go so far as that.

NORA: Don't talk to me as a woman! My work is pleasant enough now; but what work did I have to do before I got this far? I worked sixteen hours a day, and when I was only a child at that! Twelve hours I was sewing, and four I studied. If my father hadn't known music and taught me a little your capitalistic system would have me sewing twelve hours a day still!

GIBSON: Yes, Nora; when we learn how to do something we get better pay for it.

NORA: We do? Do you really think that? That we get paid for what we do?

GIBSON: Yes; that's what I think.

NORA: Then what do you get paid for? For nothing in the world but owning this factory. You're paid because you're a capitalist!

GIBSON: Is that all?

NORA: Why, look at the state the factory's in! The discontent you saw in those men--that's the fault of the capitalistic system! There aren't twenty workmen in the place that are contented.

GIBSON: You're right about that; and they never will be.

NORA: Not until the system's changed. What are you going to do about it?

GIBSON [_with quiet desperation_]: They've driven me as far as they can. If they walk out I'll walk out. I can stand it if they can.

NORA: You'd close down? Your only solution is to take the bread out of these men's mouths?

GIBSON: If they walk out I'll walk out!

NORA [_trembling_]: You coward!

GIBSON: That's fair?

NORA: You'll let us starve because you haven't the courage to come to the right solution! Don't you mind starving us?

GIBSON: You mean you'd starve if I quit.

NORA [_vehemently_]: No; but because you'd close the factory.

GIBSON: Oh, the factory could run if I quit, could it?

NORA: That's the capitalist! They think it's capital that runs the factories!

GIBSON: And I'm the capital, am I?

NORA: What in the world else? [_Touches the piano._] You think you produce this wealth because you've got your money in it? You pa.s.s out a pittance to those who do produce it, and when they ask for more than a pittance you take their tools away from them! If they rebel you set the police on them. That's capital--and that's you, Mr. Gibson!

GIBSON: Nora, you told me not to speak to you as a woman.

NORA: I mean it!

GIBSON: I'm going to disregard it. Couldn't you get your theories out of your mind for a while and make a little room there for me?

NORA: My theories! I haven't any theories! I'm talking about the truth, and the truth is my whole life. I can't find room for anything but the truth.

GIBSON: Couldn't you?

NORA: Ah, that's a man's egoism! With the whole world seething so that its wrongs should fill every mind--yes, and every heart--until they're righted, you ask me--

GIBSON: I think you needn't make it any clearer, Nora; I understand.

NORA [_turning away, agitated_]: I am glad you do.

[_The factory door opens to the impetuous arrival of a workingman of extraordinary size and vehemence_, RILEY, _a truck driver._]

RILEY [_as he opens the door_]: See here, Mr. Gibson, fer the love o'

heaven, don't the truck drivers fer this factory git no consideration?

GIBSON: I don't know! What do they want?

RILEY: Look here, Mr. Gibson, man to man, every department in this factory is makin' demands and goin' to walk out if they don't git 'em.

Ain't we got no chance fer no demands?

GIBSON: I said: What do you want?

RILEY: Why, we got grievances been hangin' over I don't know how long!

GIBSON: What are they?

RILEY: Why, all them other departments is going to git raises. You don't think fer a minute the truck drivers ain't going to--

GIBSON: How much raise do you want?

RILEY: Sir?

GIBSON: How much raise do you want?

RILEY: I can't jest say right this minute. We jest heard what was goin'

on in the other departments, and we ain't had no meetin' to settle just what raise we _are_ goin' to git. Now, Mr. Gibson, if I was runnin' this factory--

GIBSON: Well, what would you do?

RILEY: The first thing I'd do, I'd see that the truck drivers didn't have no more discontent than n.o.body else. What becomes of your freight if you can't run no trucks? You got to look out, Mr. Gibson! It's us got the upper hand.