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ACT TWO
6. Coketown
A hot day in Coketown – the Hands have been drinking.
HANDS
Song
The song ends with a great cheer.
HAND
Men and brothers – part the way for Mr –
HANDS
Slackbridge.
SLACKBRIDGE
My friends, my friends.
The general mood now shifts – some applaud, others groan.
SLACKBRIDGE
Oh – the down-trodden operatives of Coketown. Oh my friends and fellow countrymen, the slaves of iron hands and a grinding despotism. Oh my friends and fellow sufferers – and fellow workmen and fellow men–
HAND
Be a good fellow then and get on wi’ it.
SLACKBRIDGE
I tell you that the hour is come, when we must rally round one another as one united power – The United Aggregate Tribunal.
HANDS
Good, hear, hear – hurrah!
SLACKBRIDGE
And in doing so crumble into dust the oppressors that for too long have lived from the sweat of our brows, the labour of our hands, the strength of our sinews!
Some cheer.
HANDS
We have felt the wind of this speech before Slackbridge.
HANDS
Aye – what’s new in it?
SLACKBRIDGE
But oh my friends and brothers – men and Englishmen – what shall we say of that man – that working man, who being well acquainted with the grievances and wrongs of you – the injured pith and marrow of this land, a man who knows that you have all resolved to subscribe to the funds of the United Aggregate tribunal – and to abide by the injunctions issued by that body – whatever they may be – what I ask you, will you say to that working man who deserts his post, sells his flag – turns traitor against us all – and is not ashamed to hold himself aloft from you and decides that he will not be associated in our gallant stand for freedom?
Some groans and hisses but the assembly is divided.
PRESIDENT
Be sure you’re right, Slackbridge.
HAND
Put him up – let’s hear him.
General commotion.
HAND
Is the man here?
HAND
If the man’s here, Slackbridge, let’s hear the man himself stead o’ yo.
Applause.
PRESIDENT
My friends – by virtue o’ my office as your President, I asks our friend Slackbridge, who may be a little over eager in this business, to step down while this man – Stephen Blackpool is heard.
General surprise.
PRESIDENT
You all know Stephen Blackpool. You know him along with his misfortunes and his good name.
The President shakes Stephen by the hand. Silence.
STEPHEN
My friends, I have heard what’s been spoken of me and tis likely I shan’t mend it – but I’d rather you heard the truth about me from my own lips – though I never could speak afore so many, without bein’ moydert and muddled – unlike some what are practised by saying the same thing over and over.
Laughter – Slackbridge shakes his head.
HAND
Don’t shake your head so Slackbridge – it’ll drop off.
Laughter – then silence again.
STEPHEN
Tis true – I’m the one Hand in Bounderby’s mill, o’all the men there as don’t come in with the proposed Union – with its – regulations. I canna coom in wi’ them my friends. I doubt they’re doin’ you any good. Licker they’ll do yo hurt. (Slackbridge laughs sarcastically – others moan.) For this man’s ‘freedom’ is another word for trouble – and will I think lead down a path I fear to tread where Christian men do harm to other Christian men. (Uproar.) But it ain’t for that alone that I stands out. If that were all, I’d coom in with the rest. I have my reasons – mine you see – for being hindered and kept clear of trouble, not only now but always – life long.
Low murmurs of ‘shame on you Stephen’ – that build up to an uproar.
PRESIDENT
Stephen Blackpool, we don’t want to lose you. But you must understand, the junction of the times we stand at. We all have our troubles – and any collective action we may take may end in individual hardship for a time but we must look beyond these times so that our children and their children are not so burdened as we. We cannot be divided in our cause – it is our only strength – so I beg you as a friend to think on’t once again lad, afore thou art shunned by all old friends. Tw’ll be hard living outside of us – that we can promise.
All shout for this.
STEPHEN
My brothers, I made a promise – and what’s a man who canna keep a promise? I know well what’s afore me so you sees sir – I ha’ thought on it above a bit. Many’s the pleasant word as some here have spoke with me. Many’s the face I seen since I was young and lighter hearted than now – and I never had no fratch afore with any of my like – I have none now that’s of my own making but I simply canna coom in with you.
HAND
Traitor.
SLACKBRIDGE
Aye, traitor!
General uproar.
STEPHEN
You may call me traitor – and I make no complaints – nor o’ bein’ turned to the wall and being outcast from this time forward but I hope I will be allowed to work solitary among you.
HANDS (Shouting)
Never/Always Stephen.
STEPHEN
If there is any right for me at all, my friends, I think it’s that. (Holds up his arms then slowly drops them.) More I canna say – exceptin’ that I must go the way as lies before me. I must take m...
