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Read Ebook: Woman on Her Own False Gods and The Red Robe Three Plays By Brieux by Brieux Eug Ne Fagan James Bernard Translator Miall Bernard Translator Shaw Charlotte Frances Translator
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Ebook has 2487 lines and 55953 words, and 50 pages
they'll tear one another's eyes out.
GU?RET. Oh, we know you don't believe the working classes have any sense.
F?LIAT I don't. I've been an employer too long.
TH?R?SE Why not try what my godfather suggests? What do you risk?
F?LIAT. I don't mind. But I will have nothing to do with it personally.
TH?R?SE. I'll go and see if Berthe and Constance are here. You go and fetch your men.
GU?RET. I give you my word that, if there's any possible way out, this is the only chance of getting at it.
F?LIAT. Very well, go and fetch them.
BERTHE Good-morning, Monsieur F?liat.
CONSTANCE Good-morning, Monsieur F?liat.
TH?R?SE. I want Berthe and Constance to tell you themselves whether you can count upon them in case of the men striking.
CONSTANCE. Oh yes, Monsieur F?liat. We'll do anything you want us to.
BERTHE. Oh, Monsieur F?liat, don't send us away!
CONSTANCE Oh, Monsieur F?liat, you won't send us away, will you?
BERTHE. We do want the work so, Monsieur.
CONSTANCE. It's God's truth we do.
F?LIAT. I'll do everything possible on my side, but it all depends on yourselves and the men. Try to come to some understanding.
CONSTANCE. Yes, Monsieur.
BERTHE If you can't pay us quite as much for the mending, we don't mind taking a little less. You'd keep it dark, wouldn't you?
F?LIAT. We'll see about it.
WORKMEN Good-morning, ladies and gents.
F?LIAT. Has my brother explained to you why he asked you to meet the representatives of the Women's Union and to try to come to an understanding with them?
GIRARD. Yes, Monsieur F?liat.
CHARPIN. That's all we want. All friends together, like.
DESCHAUME. That's the hammer, mate!
F?LIAT. Then I'll go. Do try and keep your tempers.
ALL Oh yes. To be sure, sir. You needn't trouble, sir.
CHARPIN. Well, what d'you say to a sit down?
DESCHAUME That lazy swine's only comfortable when he's sittin' down.
CHARPIN. I ain't agoing to tire meself for nix, not 'arf!
CONSTANCE Have my chair, Mademoiselle.
TH?R?SE. No, thank you, I prefer to stand.
CHARPIN. I see that all our little lot's here. There's four on us, but only three 'er you.
DESCHAUME One of the hens ain't turned up yet.
CHARPIN Perhaps she's a bit shy, like.
TH?R?SE. You mean Mother Bougne. You, workmen yourselves, mock at an old woman wrecked by work. But you're right. She ought to be here. I'll go and fetch her. Only to look at her would be an argument on our side.
DESCHAUME. Mademoiselle Th?r?se needn't kick up such a dust about a little thing like that. There's four on us; so there must be four on you, in case we have to take a vote.
TH?R?SE Give me a chair. Sit down, Mother Bougne. Mother Bougne, sit down.
MOTHER BOUGNE. Oh, don't trouble, miss, I'm not used to--
TH?R?SE Sit down.
CHARPIN. Well, here's the bloomin' bunch of us.
DESCHAUME. We'd best fix up a chairman.
GIRARD. What's the good of that?
DESCHAUME. We'd best have you, Girard. You've education, and you're up to all the dodges about public meetings.
GIRARD. It's not worth while.
DESCHAUME. Well, I only put it forrard because it's the usual. But have it your own way! Only don't all jaw at once. You'll see you'll want a chairman, I tell you that, but I don't care. It ain't my show.
CHARPIN. Get a move on you, Girard, and speak up.
GIRARD. Well, ladies--
VINCENT Now look here. I want to get at an understandin'.
TH?R?SE. Monsieur Girard, will you be kind enough to speak for your friends? We have nothing to say on our part. We're asking for nothing.
GIRARD. Well, that's true. We want to have the mending back.
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