Gresham doesn’t go to jail, he’ll start in business again, won’t he? And he can’t offer you anything less than a partnership. BALDWIN : A partnership? JOHN: ( with meaning )With the hundred thousand capital you could put in the business, Dad.
BALDWIN : John!( looks appealingly from one face to another; they are averted then ) You – you want me to take this money? ( There is no answer. ) Say ‘Yes’ one of you. ( still no answer ) or ‘No’.
( a long pause ) I couldn’t go into partnership with Gresham. MARTHA : ( promptly ) Why not? BALDWIN : People wouldn’t trust him. JOHN : Then you could go into business with someone else.
Dad, a hundred thousand is a lot of money. BALDWIN : ( walks to the window. looks out ) God knows I never thought this day would come! I know–I know no matter how you try to excuse it – I know that if I take this money I do a dishonourable thing.
And you know it! You, and you, and you! All of you! Come, admit it!
JOHN : ( resolutely ) Nobody’ll ever hear of it. BALDWIN : But amongst ourselves, John! Whatever we are to the world, let us be honest with each other, the four of us! Well?
(His glance travels from John to Evie, whose head is bowed; from her to his wife, who is apparently busy with her knitting. He raises Martha’s head; looks into her eyes. He shudders.) Shams ! Liars!
Hypocrites ! Thieves! And I no better than any of you! We have seen our souls naked, and they stink to Almighty Heaven!
Well, why don’t you answer me? MARTHA : ( feebly ) It’s not wrong, Robert. BALDWIN : It’s not right. JOHN : ( facing him steadily ) A hundred thousand is a lot of money, Dad.
BALDWIN : ( nodding slowly )You can look into my eyes now, my son, can’t you? JOHN : ( without moving ) Dad, why did you refuse? Wasn’t it because you were afraid