The Skin Game

Hello.

I say, I see they're cutting down the trees in longmeadow.

Are they?

I say, Jill, I hardly ever see you now. 'Tis rotten.

Why are they cutting down those trees?

It's father. He wants to build more cottages.

Wants every cottage he can get for his workmen.

Always work. They simply spoil the place.

You going to take the same attitude as your people?

- What attitude? - Oh, this high-and-mighty

"we've owned the land forever" business.

It is rather snobbish, you know.

Do you know your mother hasn't even called on Chloe?

Mm, I know. I'm awfully sorry.

I know she ought to call.

My brother Charlie and she don't like it.

Nor does my father, I can tell you.

Mr. hornblower ought never to have found that land without those works.

Well, that's rather dog-in-the-manger-ish, Jill.

No... I like you,

but I don't like him, and I don't like his works.

You might realize that we've been here since Elizabeth

and rather naturally love the place

and can't bear to see it being spoiled.

Well, you call it spoiling, we call it progress.

My father's a very clever man, you know.

And he's just as human as yours.

Since mother died, he's been absolutely wrapped up in us.

And all this getting on is for us.

He thinks he's entitled to a little influence here,

and you and everybody else try to stop him.

- You ought to be just, Jill. - I am just.

And I want awfully to be on good terms.

Only, he's so pushy.

You won't let it come between us, will you?

I don't know.

I hate it too, but... I don't know.

Oh, well. I must be getting along. Good-bye.

Good-bye.

- See you soon, I hope. - Mm-hmm.

Take them sheep out of the road, will you?

I'll tell you what I'll do to you...

I keep on telling you, it's no good, sir.

I'm sorry.

But I want the cottages. You'll have to clear out.

Mr. hornblower, I'm sure Mr. Hillcrist would never have turned us out.

Oh, Mr. hillcrist be damned.

Mr. hillcrist told us when he sold the land to you

that it was on condition that we and the others shouldn't be turned out.

Yes, well, I didn't think I'd need the cottages then.

But now I must have them for my workmen.

I've got important works, you know.

Well, look here now. I don't want to be hard on you.

I'll give you five pounds to cover the whole thing.

We wouldn't take £50.

Why, we've brought up three children here,

and I've buried two.

We're very attached to it, you see, sir.

Well, look here, now. I'll give you £10, eh?

Here, I'll send a wagon to ship your things.

Here, here. If that isn't fair.

Hmm? Hmm?

Well, you'd better accept. I shan't keep it open.

Won't take it.

Not a farthing. Why, we come here when we was married.

Well, I was going to give you another week,

but now you'll go out next Saturday, all right?

Take care you're not late, or your things will be put out in the rain.

You're no gentleman. Don't put temptation in my way, that's all.

Yes, and you can tell your fine friend hillcrist what's happening.

Anyway, I'll soon let him know.

Here's your hat. We'll go right on up and see the squire now.

When I sold longmeadow and the cottages to hornblower,

it was on the distinct understanding

that there was to be no disturbance of tenancy.

He's no gentleman, sir. He put it so brisk.

We've been there 30 years. So now we don't know what to do.

I hope you'll excuse us coming round, sir.

I should think so, indeed.

I certainly would never have sold if I had known he was going to do this.

They talk about his having bought the centry, sir,

to put up more chimneys there.

That's why he wants the cottages.

Centry?

Impossible.

Yes, sir. It's such a pretty spot.

Looks beautiful from here.

Loveliest spot in all deep water, I always say.

And your father owned it, and his father before him.

I hope you're going to stop it, sir. It does put us about.

I said to Jackie, "Mr. hillcrist will stand up for us, I know."

You leave it to me, Mrs. Jackman, will you?

Good morning.

Good morning, Jackman.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning, sir. Good morning, and thank you kindly.

Good morning.

Fellows!

Is Mrs. hillcrist about, fellows?

She was in the garden with Mr. dawker, sir,

but I think she's come in since and gone into the study.

Oh.

Look. Look what a nice coat he has.

Are you very busy at the moment?

Is it anything important?

All right. We'll leave the question of showing for the moment.

I'll see you later.

Don't go, dawker. This has something to do with you.

The jackmans have been turned out of their cottage by hornblower.

Oh!

You remember when I sold, I stipulated they were not to be.

They've been there 30 years.

I won't have it. It's a breach of faith.

Do you suppose this hornblower would care two straws about that, Jack?

He must, when it's put to him, if he has any decent feeling.

He hasn't.

The jackmans talk about his having bought the centry

to put up more chimneys.

What?

Impossible.

It'd ruin the place utterly, besides cutting us off from the Duke's.

Oh, no. Miss mullins would never sell behind our backs.

Well, I must see that he... I must stop his turning these people out.

What do you think about it, dawker?

Smart man, hornblower. Never lets the grass grow.

"Smart"...

Don't do to underrate your neighbors, sir.

A cad, I call him.

That's right, ma'am, with all the advantages.

But miss mullins would never sell the centry, would she, dawker?

I heard she wants to, and hornblower won't stick at the price, sir.

What's it worth, dawker?

All depends what you want it for, ma'am.

He wants it for spite.

We want it for sentiment.

It's worth what you'd like to give for it,

and he's a rich man.

Give me your figure, sir. I'll try the old lady before he gets her.

Better let dawker make sure, Jack.

Jackman tells me this hornblower is coming to see me.

I'll put it to him.

Make him all the keener, sir. Better get in first.

- Ape his methods? - Dawker, go and see miss mullins now.

We leave it to you to do the best you can.

Yes.

Mr. hornblower, sir.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Morning.

It's a fine morning.

Lovely weather.

Haven't seen you for a long time, hillcrist.

Not since I sold you longmeadow and the cottages, I believe.

Dear me, now, that's just what I've come about.

Forgive me. Won't you sit down? Ah.

What, have you got gout?

That's unfortunate. I never get it.

I have no disposition that way.

Had no ancestors, you see.

Just me own drinking to answer for.

You're lucky.

I wonder if Mrs. hillcrist thinks that.

Am I lucky to have no past, ma'am?

Just the... future?

You're quite sure you have the future, Mr. hornblower?

Oh, yes, I've got the future, all right.

I've had the jackmans here, Mr. hornblower.

Oh, man with the little spitfire wife?

They're very excellent, good people,

now, you wanted me to stir you up a bit.

You know, deep water needs a bit of go put into it.

There's generally some go where I am.

I daresay you wish there'd been no "come."

We certainly like people to keep their word.

Amy.

Never mind, hillcrist. Takes more than that to upset me.

You promised me, you know, not to disturb the tenancies.

Yes. Well, I've come to tell you that I've got to.

I wasn't expecting to have the need when I bought.

I thought the Duke would sell me a bit down there, but devil a bit he will.

And now I must have those cottages for my workmen.

I've got important works, you know.

The jackmans have their importance too, sir. Their heart's in that cottage.

If you think so much of these jackmans, why not build them a cottage yourselves?

- Hey? You've got the space. - That's beside the point.

You promised me, and I sold on that understanding.

And I bought on the understanding I'd get some more land from the Duke.

- That's nothing to do with me. - Ah, you'll find that it has,

'cause I'm going to have those cottages.

- Well, I call it simply... - Now, now, look here, hillcrist.

You've not had occasion to understand men like me.

I've got the guts, and I've got the money, and I don't sit still on it.

I'm going ahead because I believe in myself.

I've no use for sentiment and that sort of thing.

Why, 40 of your jackmans aren't worth me little finger.

Of all the blatant things I ever heard said...

Well, as we are speaking plainly,

I've been thinking.

You want the village run your old-fashioned way, and I want it run mine.

I'll fancy there's not room for the two of us here.

When are you going?