LIZA

Must?  Why?

JOHN

I don’t know.

LIZA

Wot do you want?

JOHN

Who lives here?

LIZA

Mr. and Mrs. Cater; firm of Briggs, Cater, and Johnstone.  What do you want?

JOHN

Could I see Mr. Cater?

LIZA

He’s out.  Dining at the Mansion House.

 John

Oh.

LIZA

He is.

JOHN

Could I see Mrs. Cater?

LIZA

See Mrs. Cater?  No, of course you couldn’t.

[She prepares to shut the door.]

JOHN

Miss!  Miss!  Don’t go, miss.  Don’t shut me out.  If you knew what I’d suffered, if you knew what I’d suffered.  Don’t!

Liza [coming forward again]

Suffered?  Why?  Ain’t you got enough to eat?

JOHN

No, I’ve had nothing all day.

LIZA

’Aven’t you really now?

JOHN

No.  And I get little enough at any time.

Liza [kindly]

You ought to work.

JOHN

I . . .  I can’t.  I can’t bring myself . . . 
I’ve seen better times.

LIZA

Still, you could work.

JOHN

I—­I can’t grub for halfpennies when I’ve —­when I’ve . . .

LIZA

When you’ve what?

JOHN

Lost millions.

LIZA

Millions?

JOHN

I’ve lost everything.

LIZA

’Ow did you lose it?

JOHN

Through being blind.  But never mind, never mind.  It’s all gone now, and I’m hungry.

LIZA

’Ow long ’ave you been down on your luck?

JOHN