[Mr. Bell, Mr. Hale & Margaret Hale are standing beside the dinner table. There is background chatter & other guests in the room. Hannah Thornton approaches them.]

Mr. Hale:   Ah, Mrs. Thornton!

Mrs. Thornton:   I hope it is silent enough for you tonight, Mr. Hale. The men have been gracious enough to turn out for the last month, so all is quiet for our dinner party.

[Fanny Thornton & Margaret Hale are standing together, Fanny smiles at Margaret.]

Fanny:   I'm sorry that your mother is ill.

Margaret:   It's nothing serious, I'm sure. She is just a little tired.

Fanny:  [slightly hesitating]   I wonder if she might like to try the water mattress. It's the very latest thing, a mattress that fills with water. Gives great comfort to the back.

Margaret:   Have you been ill, Miss Thornton?

Fanny:   Oh no, no. I am very delicate. I send off for the latest inventions, just in case. Mother doesn't approve.

[Margaret's attention wanders across the room]

Slickson:  [in the background]   Ah, Thornton, good evening.

[John Thornton nods to Mrs. Slickson, shakes hands with Slickson, turns to Henderson and Watson.]

Thornton:   Slickson, good evening. Henderson. Watson.

[Fanny Thornton is glancing around and smiles as people pass by.   Margaret Hale is looking on. Hannah Thornton is standing with Mr. Hale, but looking at Margaret Hale. John Thornton approaches Mr. Bell who is standing beside Mr. Latimer and Miss Latimer.   John Thornton and Mr. Bell shake hands.]

Mr. Bell:   Ah, Thornton. I took the liberty of inviting myself, knowing your mother's hospitality.

Thornton:   I hope you're not worrying about Marlborough Mills.  We'll ride out the strike just as we always have.

Mr. Bell:   I've always had complete faith in you Thornton, but obviously in the present situation..

Thornton:   It's nothing I can't handle.

Mr. Bell:   No, of course not. [turns to Mr. Latimer and Miss Latimer.]  Thornton knows everything in matters of business.  He has my every confidence.

Mr. Latimer:   [shakes hands with John Thornton]   Thornton.

Mr. Bell:   Thornton, you know Miss Latimer?

[John Thornton takes Miss Latimer's hand, Miss Latimer curtsies and smiles at John Thornton.  Margaret Hale is watching them.  Henderson approaches John Thornton.]

Henderson:   Thornton, who's that fine young lady?

[John Thornton looks towards Margaret Hale, Margaret smiles back.  Fanny Thornton smiles at both.]

[John Thornton approaches Margaret Hale, with a warm smile on his face.  Margaret holds out her hands and clasps John's hand in both of hers.]

Margaret:   See, I am learning Milton ways, Mr. Thornton.

Thornton:  [looking warmly at Margaret]   I am sorry your mother was unable to join us.

[Margaret Hale gives a slight nod of acknowledgement and their hands separate.   Slickson approaches them.]

Slickson:   Thornton, I must speak with you.

[Margaret Hale glances at Slickson, John Thornton gives an even briefer glance at Slickson, his eyes are on Margaret.]

Thornton:   [regretfully]  Excuse me.

[John Thornton walks away, Margaret Hale turns to watch his progress.]

Slickson:  [in the background]   Have you left word at the barracks?

Thornton:    It's been done.

[John Thornton and Slickson are facing each other.]

Slickson:   Men on horseback, armed?

Thornton:   All those arrangements have been made.

Slickson:   If they find out you are planning to break the strike by bringing Irish workers...

Thornton:   I take this risk for myself. You need not join in.

Slickson:   [sighs]

Thornton:   I can and will protect myself and anyone that works for me from any kind of violence.

Slickson:   I sincerely hope so.

[Margaret Hale has been looking in John Thornton's direction, but turns to Mr. Bell on his approach.]

Mr. Bell:   Well really, Thornton is most ungallant this evening, leaving the most glorious woman in the room to talk to that slimy eel Slickson.

[John Thornton looks in their direction.]

Mr. Bell:   Now then, who can we introduce you to?  Come with me.

[Mr. Bell leads Margaret Hale away, Margaret looks back towards John Thornton.]

[The guests are seated around the dinner table.]

Mr. Bell:   I hear Arnold is moving lock, stock and barrel to America.

Watson:   America? I'll be damned.

Slickson:   That's what I'd like to do, pack up and leave.  The damn strikers'd have no work at all then.

Mr. Bell:   Well, they have no work at the moment.

Slickson:   There is work.  They choose not to do it.  Thornton?  What do you think?

Thornton:   Oh, I think our Mr. Bell is up to his old tricks, playing with words at the expense of us simpler fellows.

[Mr. Bell inclines his head and smiles at Mr. Thornton, Margaret also smiles.]

Thornton:   But it's a serious question.  I don't want to manufacture in another country, but it's logical for others to try if they cannot make enough profit here.

Fanny:   What do you think, Miss Hale?  Surely you don't condone the strikers?

Margaret:   Well, no.  Well, and yes.  It is surely good to try to see both sides of a question.

[John Thornton smiles.]

Fanny: Mrs. Arthur saw you taking a basket to the Princeton district the other afternoon.

Margaret: I have a good friend in Princeton. Her name is Bessy Higgins.

Watson: Higgins?

[There are serious looks from around the table.]

Watson:   Isn't he one of your union leaders, Hamper?

Hamper:   Yeah. He's a terrific firebrand.  A dangerous man.

Mrs. Thornton:   [scornfully]   I'm surprised, Miss Hale, that you keep such company.

Margaret:   Bessy is my friend.  Nicholas is a little...

Hamper:   Nicholas?  She's on first name terms.

[The other guests at the table are shocked]

Margaret:   Well, Mr. Higgins has been made a little wild by circumstances.  But he speaks from his heart, I'm sure.

Hamper:   Well, if he's so determined, I'm surprised he'll accept charity.

Margaret:   Well, he doesn't for himself.  The basket was for a man whose six children are starving.

Hamper:   Ah, well.  Then he knows what to do.  Go back to work.

[There are murmers of assent around the table.]

Mr. Bell:   I believe this poor starving fellow works at Marlborough Mills, doesn't he, Margaret?

[There is silence around the table.  Mrs. Thornton looks serious.]

Thornton:   You do the man, whoever he is, more harm than good with your basket.  Well, as you could say, the longer you support the strikers, the more you prolong the strike.  That is not kindness.  They will be defeated, but it will take longer.  Their pain will be prolonged.

[There is applause and murmers of assent around the table.]

Margaret:  [explaining defensively]  But surely to give a dying baby food... is not just a question of logic.

Mr. Hale:   Mrs. Thornton, um, I really must congratulate you on these magnificent... um, table settings.

[Mrs. Thornton looks perturbed at Margaret.]

Mr. Hale:   Um, I don't believe I've seen finer table decorations even in the grandest gatherings in Harley Street.

Thornton:   Not all masters are the same, Mr. Bell.  You do us an injustice to always think we're all up to some underhand scheme or other.

[The guests chatter in the background.  John Thornton sips from his glass.  Margaret looks subdued.  Thornton puts his glass back down and looks away from Margaret.  He turns and smiles warmly at the guest on his left.]