Hobson's Choice: A Lancashire Comedy in Four Acts

The SCENE represents the interior of HOBSON'S Boot Shop in Chapel Street, Bedford. The shop windows and entrance from street occupy the left side. Facing the audience is the counter, with exhibits of boots and slippers, behind which the wall is fitted with racks containing boot boxes. Cane chairs in front of counter. There is a desk down L. with a chair. A door R. leads up to the house. In the centre of the stage is a trap leading to the cellar where work is done. There are no elaborate fittings. Gas brackets in the windows and walls. The business is prosperous, but to prosper in Salford in 1880 you did not require the elaborate accessories of a later day. A very important customer goes for fitting into HOBSON'S sitting-room. The rank and file use the cane chairs in the shop, which is dingy but business-like. The windows exhibit little stock, and amongst what there is clogs figure prominently. Through the windows comes the bright light of noon.

Sitting behind the counter are_ HOBSON'S two younger daughters, ALICE, R., who is twenty-three, and VICTORIA, L., who is twenty-one, and very pretty. ALICE is knitting and VICTORIA is reading. They are in black, with neat black aprons. The door R. opens, and MAGGIE enters. She is HOBSON'S eldest daughter, thirty.

ALICE. Oh, it's you. I hoped it was father going out.

MAGGIE. It isn't. (She crosses and takes her place at desk L.)

ALICE. He is late this morning.

MAGGIE. He got up late. (She busies herself with an account book.)

VICKEY. (reading). Has he had breakfast yet, Maggie?

MAGGIE. Breakfast! With a Masons' meeting last night!

VICKEY. He'll need reviving.

ALICE. Then I wish he'd go and do it.

VICKEY. Are you expecting anyone, Alice?

ALICE. Yes, I am, and you know I am, and I'll thank you both to go when he comes.

VICKEY. Well, I'll oblige you, Alice, if father's gone out first, only you know I can't leave the counter till he goes.

(ALBERT PROSSER enters from the street. He is twenty-six, nicely dressed, as the son of an established solicitor would be. He crosses to R. _and raises his hat to _ALICE.)

ALBERT. Good morning, Miss Alice.

ALICE. Good morning, Mr. Prosser. (She leans across counter.) Father's not gone out yet. He's late.

ALBERT. Oh! (He turns to go, and is half-way to door, when MAGGIE rises.)

MAGGIE (coming C.). What can we do for you, Mr. Prosser?

ALBERT (stopping). Well, I can't say that I came in to buy anything, Miss Hobson.

MAGGIE. This is a shop, you know. We're not here to let people go out without buying.

ALBERT. Well, I'll just have a pair of bootlaces, please. (Moves slightly to R.)

MAGGIE. What size do you take in boots?

ALBERT. Eights. I've got small feet. (He simpers, then perceives that MAGGIE is by no means smiling.) Does that matter to the laces?

MAGGIE (putting mat in front of arm-chair R. C.) It matters to the boots. (She pushes him slightly.) Sit down, Mr. Prosser.

ALBERT (sitting in arm-chair R. C.) Yes, but--

(MAGGIE is on her knees and takes off his boot.)

MAGGIE. It's time you had a new pair. These uppers are disgraceful for a professional man to wear. Number eights from the third rack, Vickey, please.

ALICE (moving down a little). Mr. Prosser didn't come in to buy boots, Maggie.

(VICKEY comes down to MAGGIE with box which she opens.)

MAGGIE. I wonder what does bring him in here so often!

(ALICE moves back to behind counter.)

ALBERT. I'm terrible hard on bootlaces, Miss Hobson.

(MAGGIE puts a new boot on him and laces it.)

MAGGIE. Do you get through a pair a day? You must be strong.

ALBERT. I keep a little stock of them. It's as well to be prepared for accidents.

MAGGIE. And now you'll have boots to go with the laces, Mr. Prosser. How does that feel?

ALBERT. Very comfortable.

MAGGIE. Try it standing up.

ALBERT (trying and walking a few steps). Yes, that fits all right.

MAGGIE. I'll put the other on.