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Tarkington, Booth, 1869-1946

"The Gibson Upright"

The door opens and_
SALVATORE, MIFFLIN, CARTER, RILEY, SHOMBERG, FRANKEL, _and_
SIMPSON _enter. They come in, speaking together; most of them
talking somewhat ominously._]
CROWD: Well, he better!... We ain't workin' for our health.... My whole
department'll walk out!... You bet your life we're goin' to!... He
needn't kid himself about our not meaning business!
FRANKEL: Well, Mr. Gibson, we'd like to know what conclusion you come
to.
GIBSON: I'm going to tell you. Simpson, please ask Miss Gorodna to step
in.
[SIMPSON _merely looks out of the door, and_ NORA _comes in
quickly._]
Carter, take that chair at the head of the table. Frankel, Salvatore,
Shomberg, sit there, and there, and there! Riley, sit there. Simpson,
there! Miss Gorodna, will you please sit here? [_They take the seats he
indicates, but they look puzzled, somewhat perturbed; whisper and murmur
to one another._] Thank you! There! That looks like a directors' tables
doesn't it?
SALVATORE: What's this all about?
GIBSON: I want to ask you people if any of you ever knew me to break my
word to you?
FRANKEL: Oh, no, Mr. Gibson, we know you never break your agreements!
GIBSON: I want to ask you people: Haven't you found my word as good as
my bond?
CARTER: Why, yes, Mr. Gibson.
SIMPSON: Sure! We know you'll do what you say.
GIBSON: Do you all agree to that?
SALVATORE: Soit'nly! You're a gentleman.
RILEY: Sure, we agree to it!
SHOMBERG: Oh, well, prob'ly so.


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