2nd Engineer. Every movement must be quickened.
Chief Engineer. Shortened—
2nd Engineer. Calculated—
Chief Engineer. To a second—
2nd Engineer. To the nth of a second—
Chief Engineer. So as to save time—
2nd Engineer. So as to increase the output—
Chief Engineer. Work had been too slow—labour must be carried out unsparingly—
2nd Engineer. Ruthlessly—
Tramp. And what ’s the hurry, anyway?
Chief Engineer. The interests of the whole.
2nd Engineer. It is a question of output—question of power.
Chief Engineer. Peaceful competition.
2nd Engineer. We are fighting the battle of peace.
Blind Ant. Blank, two, three, four—
[An Official approaches the Two Engineers and makes a report.
Tramp. Blank, two, three, four! Yer must go quicker. Why,
If I was countin’, ’stead o' you, I’d make them vermin fly.
Quicker, quicker, quicker! We men are jest like you,—
We're all for speed. I tell yer, we’re countin’ quicker, too;
And if we rush to ruin, we’ll ’ave ourselves to thank,—
So wake up, ole blind feller. On with yer countin’! Blank—
