The Man in the White Suit

'Now that calm and sanity have returned to the textile industry,

'I feel it my duty to reveal something of the true story

'behind the recent crisis,

'a story which we were, happily,

'able to keep out of the newspapers at the time.

'The trouble began, not in my own mill, I'm glad to say,

'but during my visit to the mill owned by Michael Corland,

'which manufactures an artificial fibre similar to my own.

'Corland is a personable young man,

'who seemed to have impressed my daughter.

'He was also anxious to impress me

'with the idea that his mill was a sound financial investment.'

Output is excellent. Six million yards of filament a day.

- How many? - Six million.

That's right, isn't it, Hill?

Six million feet. Yes, Mr Corland.

- Feet, of course. - Of course.

Good morning. I'm lunching here with Mr Corland and my father.

They're still looking around the mill, Miss Birnley.

Would you care to wait in Mr Corland's off...?

Um...Michael. Hello, Daddy. Good morning, Mr Hill.

Now, now, Daphne, please don't interrupt.

I'm having a most illuminating tour. Is it this way?

- This way, Mr Birnley. - Oh, this way. Thank you.

- How's it going? - Sticky.

- Why, what does he say? - Oh, nothing. That's the trouble.

Oh, that's only his "kingpin of industry" act.

"Forty glorious years in textiles." Don't let it get you down.

I'm sure he'll put up all the money you want.

- Sorry...sir. - Come on. Come on.

Of course, it's hardly up to what you have at Birnleys.

Quite.

Er...for instance, sir, if you'd step this way.

Mr Green, perhaps you would show Mr Birnley

the latest thing you've been working on.

Just a moment, Green.

Thank you.

What's this?

I really couldn't say, Mr Birnley. Mr Green?

- Perhaps you would explain. - Er...gladly.

Well, it's, er...

Obviously, it's, er...

- (Green) Mr Wilkins? - Yes, sir?

- Is, er...this yours? - No, sir.

Harrison?

- Yours? - No, sir.

I thought it was...his.

- (Men chattering) - Well, does it matter, really?

- Merely a matter of interest. - Fotheringay?

Er...could you spare us a moment?

What is this?

Don't you know?

I think it was a special job.

Who for?

Come along, come along. Who authorised it?

Apparently you did.

Surely, Mr Green, you must know whether you did or you didn't.

What does it matter, anyway? I think you're being very ru...

There must be some quite ordinary explanation.

Well, of course it...

It's ridiculous. The thing can't have grown there.

Mr Hill, will you please find out what this is all about?

Yes, sir. Green, check with the accounts department.

Of course. Take them the order number.

Uh, very good, sir. Right away, sir. 3-7-8-2-5. 3-7-8-2-5.

3-7-8-2-5. 3-7-8-2-5.

I'm so sorry. I really shouldn't start asking questions.

- On the contrary. Shall we lunch? - Yes.

I think you've seen just about everything.

Yes, I think I have.

3-7-8-2-5.

Here it is.

£4,000?

- But spent on what? - Hydrogen, sir. Heavy hydrogen.

This is absolute nonsense!

Oh, for heaven's sake!

I want to aim at materials and designs,

combining the strengths and simplicity

of the old English hand-loom weavers,

with the colour and fire of the Flemish or Provençal.

- Now, if I had an extra 100,000... - (Clears throat)

- Excuse me, sir. - After lunch, Hill.

- It's very urgent. - After lunch, Hill.

Now, where was I?

Well, you mustn't let us keep you from anything vital.

No, it's nothing. Nothing at all.

What is it, Michael, hm?

It's nothing. Excuse me, will you, please?

Well, I told him it was nothing to do with me.

- Mr Wilkins! - Yes?

Mr Corland wants you. He's in accounts.

Mr Harrison!

They want you too, in accounts.

Excuse me. Could you tell me where Mr Corland is, please?

Stratton! Mr Corland wants you!

No, Mr Corland, you're not firing me. I resign.

I'm not a cheat nor a swindler.

I did what I did because there was no other way.

I may have had just a menial job here,

but at Cambridge they gave me a first and a fellowship.

I would be there still, if they hadn't been so shortsighted.

Just as you are and all the others I've worked for.

But one day there'll be someone with real vision.

I shall have a laboratory given to me.

A proper laboratory with really modern equipment.

And assistants of my own. No, don't interrupt me.

It's small minds like yours that stand in the way of progress.

But this is too big a thing, bigger than you...

I see you've been discharged from your last six positions.

- Seven. - Oh.

Oh, well, perhaps a change of environment might...

Oh, no, it must be a textile mill.

I see there's a vacancy at the Birnley mill, but...

- Birnleys? - Yes, but...

They have a research lab, haven't they?

I'm afraid this hardly suits your qualifications.

- They want a works labourer. - Oh, that'll suit me.

- That's a nice place to leave it! - Sorry.

- Sorry. - Don't mention it.

- You've got it loaded too heavy. - Have I?

You want to leave it so you can see over the top.

Oh. Yes, of course. Thanks.

- New, aren't you? - Er...yes.

- Never worked in a mill before? - Oh, yes, several.

I know. Leave school, into the first blind-alley job that comes along.

Too old for that. Into another and another.

By the time you're 30, what are you?

Flotsam floating on the flood tide of profits.

There's capitalism for you.

It wasn't quite like that.

I got a scholarship to Cambridge.

But you hadn't got the old school tie.

Oh, you can't tell me. Discrimination.

I've seen plenty. Where were you going with this lot?

The loading bay, I think they call it.

You were going the wrong way, anyhow. It's down there.

- (Siren wails) - Tea up. Better leave it.

Oh, tea? No, thanks. I think I'd rather...

Tea break! We had to fight for it.

Just a moment.

Look, er...we'd better help you with it. It's very delicate.

Yes, sir. Pete, give us a hand with this.

And get these gentlemen some overalls.

Well, where's Sid? Sid!

- Sid! - No, no, quite wrong.

Sid!

- Where's it got to go? - Up to the lab.

- It's an electro...electrola... - An electron microscope.

Ah, at last!

We'd better go and check this over.

Mm, it's a beautiful job.

No, no!

You must have the gun filament off before you switch on the projector,

otherwise you're liable to put 4,000 volts through the cathode

and blow it to bits.

Quite.

That's the specimen stage, I suppose.

The intermediate alignment section. This is the specimen stage.

Of course.

It seems to be all right. If the chief's satisfied, we'll go.

I don't suppose you could spare someone for a while,

just till we get the hang of it?

- What, me? - Well, not necessarily you yourself.

One of your assistants, perhaps.

Oh, I see.

Well, I...I think perhaps I might manage it.

In fact, it might be quite convenient.

You sure you're not too, er...busy?

There are a few things, of course,

but if while I'm here, you could let me have a corner of a bench...

Oh, certainly, certainly. Er...see to that, will you, Wilson?

I couldn't say, I'm sure.

All right, love. Tell her she can pay it Friday.

He didn't say nothing this morning.

Sid, what's all this? Harry says you've quit.

Oh, yes, yes.

- Why? - Well, you see, I...

- You didn't get the sack? - Oh, no, no, no.

- Then what happened? - I've got the chance of another job.

- Where? - At Birnleys too, in a way.

- You haven't quit, then? - Yes and no.

I got the chance of working in the laboratory.

- It's a better job? - Oh, yes, much.

- And more money? - I shan't actually get paid for it.

What? We'll see about that! Scab labour. Huh!

The works committee had better hear about this.

- But I don't want to get paid. - Not want to?

I don't care whether you want to get paid or not! You've got to get paid!

Oh, you mustn't do that. It'll ruin everything.

It's only for a few weeks. I promise you.

What are you going to do for money?

I was going to speak to you about that, Mrs Watson.

I know it's a lot to ask,

but if I could owe you the rent for a couple of weeks...

Only the rent. I shan't need any food.

- You'll not need food? - Oh, I'll get that somewhere.