Jabez. But it is necessary work, Charlie. You must see that.
Charlie. No work involving risk of death and the certaintv of ill health is necessary.
Jabez. Ours is. If the supply of our productions was cut short huge industries would be automatically dislocated. How are people to run their bleaching works and dye works if they can't get dye stuffs?
Charlie. Never mind. That wouldn't matter.
Jabez. Oh, the boy's mad. This is what comes of debating societies and political meetings for infants. Look here, Charlie, it's one thing to get on your legs and spout revolutionary rot to a roomful of fantastic fools as hare-brained as yourself, but it's a very different pair of steps to come here and ask me to take you seriously. If it wasn't for Rosie, I'd take you at your word and send you packing. As it is, I'll try something else first. John, this is your affair now. You've got to bring this fellow to his senses. (_Rises and goes round table to John, r._)
Jabez. (_Threateningly_) You'll succeed. (_Going up to door r.c._)
John (_Looking up at him_) What do you mean?
Jabez. You know as well as I do. I'm sorry, old man, but I've got to put the screw on. You can't expect me to keep my patience for ever if he won't hear reason. You can't blame me. I'll go and join Rosie while you straighten things out a bit between you.
(_Exit through door centre. John sinks back into his seat and buries his head in his hands on the table. Charlie goes behind table to him and tries to raise him up._)
John (_slowly removing his hands from his face and raising his eyes to Charlie_). You haven't called me that since you were a little boy.
Charlie. Dear old dad. I don't want to know what it is. Let him think he's got hold of something. I don't care. .
John. But you must know. I'm absolutely in his power. He can ruin me if he likes.
John. It's my dye works, Charlie. Jabez finances it. No one knows it's not my own, but if he cut off supplies I'd have to close it down to-morrow, and call my creditors together. I make a living out of it, but the capital's all his. I couldn't meet a tenth of my liabilities without his aid.
Charlie. Never mind, dad. (_Sits above table._) We'll fight it together, shoulder to shoulder, you and I against the world. What does poverty matter if we can be independent?