NORA:  [amazed and rather gentle]:  Are you going to give them what they want?

GIBSON:  No; I only wanted to get rid of him a minute to think—­or try to.

NORA [in a low voice, offended]:  Oh, excuse me! [She is going out.]

GIBSON:  Stay here! [He seems to approach a decision—­one of desperation and anger.  Then he speaks crisply, but more to himself than to NORA.] All right—­they get it! [Looks up at NORA, gives her a frowning stare of some duration.] Tell Riley to call off his meeting, please.  I want all those spokesmen for the departments here.  I’ll give them their answer now.

[NORA looks at him, puzzled, bites her lip, and goes out quickly into the factory. GIBSON’S expression is determined; so is his action.  He goes to the wall, brings two chairs, one in each hand, places them at the large table.  Repeats this until he has chairs placed at the table on both sides and at the head as if for a directors’ meeting.  The door opens and SALVATORE, MIFFLIN, CARTER, RILEY, SHOMBERG, FRANKEL, and SIMPSON enter.  They come in, speaking together; most of them talking somewhat ominously.]

CROWD:  Well, he better!...  We ain’t workin’ for our health....  My whole department’ll walk out!...  You bet your life we’re goin’ to!...  He needn’t kid himself about our not meaning business!

FRANKEL:  Well, Mr. Gibson, we’d like to know what conclusion you come to.

GIBSON:  I’m going to tell you.  Simpson, please ask Miss Gorodna to step in.

     [SIMPSON merely looks out of the door, and NORA comes in
     quickly.]

Carter, take that chair at the head of the table.  Frankel, Salvatore, Shomberg, sit there, and there, and there!  Riley, sit there.  Simpson, there!  Miss Gorodna, will you please sit here? [They take the seats he indicates, but they look puzzled, somewhat perturbed; whisper and murmur to one another.] Thank you!  There!  That looks like a directors’ tables doesn’t it?

SALVATORE:  What’s this all about?

GIBSON:  I want to ask you people if any of you ever knew me to break my word to you?

FRANKEL:  Oh, no, Mr. Gibson, we know you never break your agreements!

GIBSON:  I want to ask you people:  Haven’t you found my word as good as my bond?

CARTER:  Why, yes, Mr. Gibson.

SIMPSON:  Sure!  We know you’ll do what you say.

GIBSON:  Do you all agree to that?

SALVATORE:  Soit’nly!  You’re a gentleman.

RILEY:  Sure, we agree to it!

SHOMBERG:  Oh, well, prob’ly so.