The Americans Part 37

HARVEY ANDERSON.

And this man comes And cracks his whip, 'We'll oust you.' What do you say?

BUCK BENTLEY.

We came down here to see the square thing done, Not to take sides and try to break this strike.

(_Haskell stares at him in amazement_)

HARVEY ANDERSON.

What's your name?

BUCK BENTLEY.

Bentley.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

I'll remember that.

And my name's Anderson.

(_They shake hands_)

HASKELL.

(_Beckoning to the militiamen about the gate_)

Three or four of you.

I give you ten days in the guard house, Buck.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

You won't be there two hours, pard, take my word.

There's something going to drop here pretty soon.

HASKELL.

(_Calls after the militiamen_)

Tell Mr. Jergens to step here a minute.

(_Bentley is led away into the mill-yard_)

HARVEY ANDERSON.

(_To the crowd_)

G.o.d playing Santa Claus among the pines-- Why ain't you fellows had your stockings up?

Or if you have, what are you doing here Weighing yourselves out on the same old scales, Men against bread? Pard, let me ask you this: Suppose you do land with your Union boat, The bosses on the sh.o.r.e saying all right; What is it you land for? Grub for another cruise?

And you'll go back then to the fis.h.i.+ng grounds And sink your nets again? Who'll get the catch This time? Them that's had it all these years?

You've made a big haul here, it seems to me, Minnows and all. Hundreds of miles like that.

When are you fellows going to dry your nets, Haul up your boat and say, 'Let's weigh the fish'?

What do you say, pard?

SAM WILLIAMS.

You a Union man?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

I don't know much about your Union, pard.

It's all right, I suppose, far as it goes.

But tell me this--and here's your black side, men-- Long as they own the sea

(_Points to the mountains and the plains_)

and own the sh.o.r.e,

(_Points to the mill_)

You think they'll care much, pard, who owns the boat?

And how'll they not own you? You tell me that.

(_Williams and the crowd stand silent_)

HARVEY ANDERSON.

What do you say?

HASKELL.

(_Watch in hand_)

You've got two minutes left.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Two minutes left of freedom. What do you say?

You've got no North to look to, you white men.

A WOMAN.

(_With a child in her arms_)

If you go in there, John, don't you come home.

HARVEY ANDERSON.