The First Series Plays | Page 2

a Liberal--there's ve--lill difference,

because of the principles of the Lib--Liberal Party. We're all equal
before the law--tha's rot, tha's silly. [Laughs.] Wha' was I about to say?
Give me some whisky.
[JONES gives him the whisky he desires, together with a squirt of
syphon.]
Wha' I was goin' tell you was--I 've had a row with her. [He waves the
reticule.] Have a drink, Jonessh 'd never have got in without you--tha 's
why I 'm giving you a drink. Don' care who knows I've scored her off.
Th' cat! [He throws his feet up on the sofa.] Don' you make a noise,
whatever you do. You pour out a drink--you make yourself good long,
long drink--you take cigarette--you take anything you like. Sh'd never
have got in without you. [Closing his eyes.] You're a Tory--you're a
Tory Socialist. I'm Liberal myself--have a drink--I 'm an excel'nt chap.
[His head drops back. He, smiling, falls asleep, and JONES stands
looking at him; then, snatching up JACK's glass, he drinks it off. He
picks the reticule from off JACK'S shirt-front, holds it to the light, and
smells at it.]
JONES. Been on the tiles and brought 'ome some of yer cat's fur. [He
stuffs it into JACK's breast pocket.]
JACK. [Murmuring.] I 've scored you off! You cat!
[JONES looks around him furtively; he pours out whisky and drinks it.
From the silver box he takes a cigarette, puffs at it, and drinks more
whisky. There is no sobriety left in him.]
JONES. Fat lot o' things they've got 'ere! [He sees the crimson purse
lying on the floor.] More cat's fur. Puss, puss! [He fingers it, drops it on
the tray, and looks at JACK.] Calf! Fat calf! [He sees his own
presentment in a mirror. Lifting his hands, with fingers spread, he
stares at it; then looks again at JACK, clenching his fist as if to batter in
his sleeping, smiling face. Suddenly he tilts the rest o f the whisky into
the glass and drinks it. With cunning glee he takes the silver box and
purse and pockets them.] I 'll score you off too, that 's wot I 'll do!
[He gives a little snarling laugh and lurches to the door. His shoulder
rubs against the switch; the light goes out. There is a sound as of a
closing outer door.]
The curtain falls.

The curtain rises again at once.

SCENE II
In the BARTHWICK'S dining-room. JACK is still asleep; the morning
light is coming through the curtains. The time is half-past eight.
WHEELER, brisk person enters with a dust-pan, and MRS. JONES
more slowly with a scuttle.
WHEELER. [Drawing the curtains.] That precious husband of yours
was round for you after you'd gone yesterday, Mrs. Jones. Wanted your
money for drink, I suppose. He hangs about the corner here half the
time. I saw him outside the "Goat and Bells" when I went to the post
last night. If I were you I would n't live with him. I would n't live with a
man that raised his hand to me. I wouldn't put up with it. Why don't you
take your children and leave him? If you put up with 'im it'll only make
him worse. I never can see why, because a man's married you, he
should knock you about.
MRS. JONES. [Slim, dark-eyed, and dark-haired; oval-faced, and with
a smooth, soft, even voice; her manner patient, her way of talking quite
impersonal; she wears a blue linen dress, and boots with holes.] It was
nearly two last night before he come home, and he wasn't himself. He
made me get up, and he knocked me about; he didn't seem to know
what he was saying or doing. Of course I would leave him, but I'm
really afraid of what he'd do to me. He 's such a violent man when he's
not himself.
WHEELER. Why don't you get him locked up? You'll never have any
peace until you get him locked up. If I were you I'd go to the police
court tomorrow. That's what I would do.
MRS. JONES. Of course I ought to go, because he does treat me so
badly when he's not himself. But you see, Bettina, he has a very hard
time--he 's been out of work two months, and it preys upon his mind.
When he's in work he behaves himself much better. It's when he's out
of work that he's so violent.
WHEELER. Well, if you won't take any steps you 'll never get rid of
him.
MRS. JONES. Of course it's very wearing to me; I don't get my sleep at
nights. And it 's not as if I were getting help from him, because I have
to do for the children and all of