NORA [_trembling_]: You coward!

GIBSON: That's fair?

NORA: You'll let us starve because you haven't the courage to come to
the right solution! Don't you mind starving us?

GIBSON: You mean you'd starve if I quit.

NORA [_vehemently_]: No; but because you'd close the factory.

GIBSON: Oh, the factory could run if I quit, could it?

NORA: That's the capitalist! They think it's capital that runs the
factories!

GIBSON: And I'm the capital, am I?

NORA: What in the world else? [_Touches the piano._] You think you
produce this wealth because you've got your money in it? You pass out a
pittance to those who do produce it, and when they ask for more than a
pittance you take their tools away from them! If they rebel you set the
police on them. That's capital--and that's you, Mr. Gibson!

GIBSON: Nora, you told me not to speak to you as a woman.

NORA: I mean it!

GIBSON: I'm going to disregard it. Couldn't you get your theories out of
your mind for a while and make a little room there for me?

NORA: My theories! I haven't any theories! I'm talking about the truth,
and the truth is my whole life. I can't find room for anything but the
truth.

GIBSON: Couldn't you?

NORA: Ah, that's a man's egoism! With the whole world seething so that
its wrongs should fill every mind--yes, and every heart--until they're
righted, you ask me--

GIBSON: I think you needn't make it any clearer, Nora; I understand.

NORA [_turning away, agitated_]: I am glad you do.

[_The factory door opens to the impetuous arrival of a
workingman of extraordinary size and vehemence_, RILEY, _a
truck driver._]

RILEY [_as he opens the door_]: See here, Mr. Gibson, fer the love o'
heaven, don't the truck drivers fer this factory git no consideration?

GIBSON: I don't know! What do they want?

RILEY: Look here, Mr. Gibson, man to man, every department in this
factory is makin' demands and goin' to walk out if they don't git 'em.
Ain't we got no chance fer no demands?

GIBSON: I said: What do you want?

RILEY: Why, we got grievances been hangin' over I don't know how long!

GIBSON: What are they?

RILEY: Why, all them other departments is going to git raises. You don't
think fer a minute the truck drivers ain't going to--

GIBSON: How much raise do you want?

RILEY: Sir?

GIBSON: How much raise do you want?

RILEY: I can't jest say right this minute. We jest heard what was goin'
on in the other departments, and we