Death of a Salesman (15 page)
Read Death of a Salesman Online
Authors: Arthur Miller
BIFF: Jesus, Dad!
WILLY: You mean you didn’t go up there?
HAPPY: Sure he went up there.
BIFF: I did. I—saw him. How could they fire you?
WILLY [
on the edge of his chair
]: What kind of a welcome did he give you?
on the edge of his chair
]: What kind of a welcome did he give you?
BIFF: He won’t even let you work on commission?
WILLY: I’m out! [
Driving
] So tell me, he gave you a warm welcome?
Driving
] So tell me, he gave you a warm welcome?
HAPPY: Sure, Pop, sure!
BIFF [
driven
]: Well, it was kind of—
driven
]: Well, it was kind of—
WILLY: I was wondering if he’d remember you. [
To
HAPPY] Imagine, man doesn’t see him for ten, twelve years and gives him that kind of a welcome!
To
HAPPY] Imagine, man doesn’t see him for ten, twelve years and gives him that kind of a welcome!
HAPPY: Damn right!
BIFF [
trying to return to the offensive
]: Pop, look—
trying to return to the offensive
]: Pop, look—
WILLY: You know why he remembered you, don’t you? Because you impressed him in those days.
BIFF: Let’s talk quietly and get this down to the facts, huh?
WILLY [
as though
BIFF
had been interrupting
]: Well, what happened? It’s great news, Biff. Did he take you into his office or’d you talk in the waiting-room?
as though
BIFF
had been interrupting
]: Well, what happened? It’s great news, Biff. Did he take you into his office or’d you talk in the waiting-room?
BIFF: Well, he came in, see, and—
WILLY [
with a big smile
]: What’d he say? Betcha he threw his arm around you.
with a big smile
]: What’d he say? Betcha he threw his arm around you.
BIFF: Well, he kinda—
WILLY: He’s a fine man. [
To
HAPPY] Very hard man to see, y’know.
To
HAPPY] Very hard man to see, y’know.
HAPPY [
agreeing
]: Oh, I know.
agreeing
]: Oh, I know.
WILLY [
to
BIFF]: Is that where you had the drinks?
to
BIFF]: Is that where you had the drinks?
BIFF: Yeah, he gave me a couple of—no, no!
HAPPY [
cutting in
]: He told him my Florida idea.
cutting in
]: He told him my Florida idea.
WILLY: Don’t interrupt. [
To
BIFF] How’d he react to the Florida idea?
To
BIFF] How’d he react to the Florida idea?
BIFF: Dad, will you give me a minute to explain?
WILLY: I’ve been waiting for you to explain since I sat down here! What happened? He took you into his office and what?
BIFF: Well—I talked. And—and he listened, see.
WILLY: Famous for the way he listens, y’know. What was his answer?
BIFF: His answer was—[
He breaks off, suddenly angry.
] Dad, you’re not letting me tell you what I want to tell you!
He breaks off, suddenly angry.
] Dad, you’re not letting me tell you what I want to tell you!
WILLY [
accusing, angered
]: You didn’t see him, did you?
accusing, angered
]: You didn’t see him, did you?
BIFF: I did see him!
WILLY: What’d you insult him or something? You insulted him, didn’t you?
BIFF: Listen, will you let me out of it, will you just let me out of it!
HAPPY: What the hell!
WILLY: Tell me what happened!
BIFF [
to
HAPPY]: I can’t talk to him!
to
HAPPY]: I can’t talk to him!
[
A single trumpet note jars the ear. The light of green leaves stains the house, which holds the air of night and a dream.
YOUNG BERNARD
enters and knocks on the door of the house.
]
A single trumpet note jars the ear. The light of green leaves stains the house, which holds the air of night and a dream.
YOUNG BERNARD
enters and knocks on the door of the house.
]
YOUNG BERNARD [
frantically
]: Mrs. Loman, Mrs. Loman!
frantically
]: Mrs. Loman, Mrs. Loman!
HAPPY: Tell him what happened!
BIFF [
to
HAPPY]: Shut up and leave me alone!
to
HAPPY]: Shut up and leave me alone!
WILLY: No, no! You had to go and flunk math!
BIFF: What math? What’re you talking about?
YOUNG BERNARD: Mrs. Loman, Mrs. Loman!
[LINDA
appears in the house, as of old.
]
appears in the house, as of old.
]
WILLY [
wildly
]: Math, math, math!
wildly
]: Math, math, math!
BIFF: Take it easy, Pop!
YOUNG BERNARD: Mrs. Loman!
WILLY [
furiously
]: If you hadn’t flunked you’d’ve been set by now!
furiously
]: If you hadn’t flunked you’d’ve been set by now!
BIFF: Now, look, I’m gonna tell you what happened, and you’re going to listen to me.
YOUNG BERNARD: Mrs. Loman!
BIFF: I waited six hours—
HAPPY: What the hell are you saying?
BIFF: I kept sending in my name but he wouldn’t see me. So finally he . . . [
He continues unheard as light fades low on the restaurant.
]
He continues unheard as light fades low on the restaurant.
]
YOUNG BERNARD: Biff flunked math!
LINDA: No!
YOUNG BERNARD: Birnbaum flunked him! They won’t graduate him!
LINDA: But they have to. He’s gotta go to the university. Where is he? Biff! Biff!
YOUNG BERNARD: No, he left. He went to Grand Central.
LINDA: Grand—You mean he went to Boston!
YOUNG BERNARD: Is Uncle Willy in Boston?
LINDA: Oh, maybe Willy can talk to the teacher. Oh, the poor, poor boy!
[
Light on house area snaps out.
]
Light on house area snaps out.
]
BIFF [
at the table, now audible, holding up a gold fountain pen
]: . . . so I’m washed up with Oliver, you understand? Are you listening to me?
at the table, now audible, holding up a gold fountain pen
]: . . . so I’m washed up with Oliver, you understand? Are you listening to me?
WILLY [
at a loss
]: Yeah, sure. If you hadn’t flunked—
at a loss
]: Yeah, sure. If you hadn’t flunked—
BIFF: Flunked what? What’re you talking about?
WILLY: Don’t blame everything on me! I didn’t flunk math—you did! What pen?
HAPPY: That was awful dumb, Biff, a pen like that is worth—
WILLY [
seeing the pen for the first time
]: You took Oliver’s pen?
seeing the pen for the first time
]: You took Oliver’s pen?
BIFF [
weakening
]: Dad, I just explained it to you.
weakening
]: Dad, I just explained it to you.
WILLY: You stole Bill Oliver’s fountain pen!
BIFF: I didn’t exactly steal it! That’s just what I’ve been explaining to you!
HAPPY: He had it in his hand and just then Oliver walked in, so he got nervous and stuck it in his pocket!
WILLY: My God, Biff!
BIFF: I never intended to do it, Dad!
OPERATOR’S VOICE: Standish Arms, good evening!
WILLY [
shouting
]: I’m not in my room!
shouting
]: I’m not in my room!
BIFF [
frightened
]: Dad, what’s the matter? [
He and
HAPPY
stand up.
]
frightened
]: Dad, what’s the matter? [
He and
HAPPY
stand up.
]
OPERATOR: Ringing Mr. Loman for you!
WILLY: I’m not there, stop it!
BIFF [
horrified, gets down on one knee before
WILLY]: Dad, I’ll make good, I’ll make good. [WILLY
tries to get to his feet.
BIFF
holds him down.
] Sit down now.
horrified, gets down on one knee before
WILLY]: Dad, I’ll make good, I’ll make good. [WILLY
tries to get to his feet.
BIFF
holds him down.
] Sit down now.
WILLY: No, you’re no good, you’re no good for anything.
BIFF: I am, Dad, I’ll find something else, you understand? Now don’t worry about anything. [
He holds up
WILLY’S
face.
] Talk to me, Dad.
He holds up
WILLY’S
face.
] Talk to me, Dad.
OPERATOR: Mr. Loman does not answer. Shall I page him?
WILLY [
attempting to stand, as though to rush and silence the
OPERATOR]: No, no, no!
attempting to stand, as though to rush and silence the
OPERATOR]: No, no, no!
HAPPY: He’ll strike something, Pop.
WILLY: No, no . . .
BIFF [
desperately, standing over
WILLY]: Pop, listen! Listen to me! I’m telling you something good. Oliver talked to his partner about the Florida idea. You listening? He—he talked to his partner, and he came to me . . . I’m going to be all right, you hear? Dad, listen to me, he said it was just a question of the amount!
desperately, standing over
WILLY]: Pop, listen! Listen to me! I’m telling you something good. Oliver talked to his partner about the Florida idea. You listening? He—he talked to his partner, and he came to me . . . I’m going to be all right, you hear? Dad, listen to me, he said it was just a question of the amount!
WILLY: Then you . . . got it?
HAPPY: He’s gonna be terrific, Pop!
WILLY [
trying to stand
]: Then you got it, haven’t you? You got it! You got it!
trying to stand
]: Then you got it, haven’t you? You got it! You got it!
BIFF [
agonized, holds
WILLY
down
]: No, no. Look, Pop. I’m supposed to have lunch with them tomorrow. I’m just telling you this so you’ll know that I can still make an impression, Pop. And I’ll make good somewhere, but I can’t go tomorrow, see?
agonized, holds
WILLY
down
]: No, no. Look, Pop. I’m supposed to have lunch with them tomorrow. I’m just telling you this so you’ll know that I can still make an impression, Pop. And I’ll make good somewhere, but I can’t go tomorrow, see?
WILLY: Why not? You simply—
BIFF: But the pen, Pop!
WILLY: You give it to him and tell him it was an oversight!
HAPPY: Sure, have lunch tomorrow!
BIFF: I can’t say that—
WILLY: You were doing a crossword puzzle and accidentally used his pen!
BIFF: Listen, kid, I took those balls years ago, now I walk in with his fountain pen? That clinches it, don’t you see? I can’t face him like that! I’ll try elsewhere.
PAGE’S VOICE: Paging Mr. Loman!
WILLY: Don’t you want to be anything?
BIFF: Pop, how can I go back?
WILLY: You don’t want to be anything, is that what’s behind it?
BIFF [
now angry at
WILLY
for not crediting his sympathy
]: Don’t take it that way! You think it was easy walking into that office after what I’d done to him? A team of horses couldn’t have dragged me back to Bill Oliver!
now angry at
WILLY
for not crediting his sympathy
]: Don’t take it that way! You think it was easy walking into that office after what I’d done to him? A team of horses couldn’t have dragged me back to Bill Oliver!
WILLY: Then why’d you go?
BIFF: Why did I go? Why did I go! Look at you! Look at what’s become of you!
[
Off left,
THE WOMAN
laughs.
]
Off left,
THE WOMAN
laughs.
]
WILLY: Biff, you’re going to go to that lunch tomorrow, or—
BIFF: I can’t go. I’ve got no appointment!
HAPPY: Biff, for . . . !
WILLY: Are you spiting me?
BIFF: Don’t take it that way! Goddammit!
WILLY [
strikes
BIFF
and falters away from the table
]: You rotten little louse! Are you spiting me?
strikes
BIFF
and falters away from the table
]: You rotten little louse! Are you spiting me?
THE WOMAN: Someone’s at the door, Willy!
BIFF: I’m no good, can’t you see what I am?
HAPPY [
separating them
]: Hey, you’re in a restaurant! Now cut it out, both of you! [
The girls enter.
] Hello, girls, sit down.
separating them
]: Hey, you’re in a restaurant! Now cut it out, both of you! [
The girls enter.
] Hello, girls, sit down.
[THE WOMAN
laughs, off left.
]
laughs, off left.
]
MISS FORSYTHE: I guess we might as well. This is Letta.
THE WOMAN: Willy, are you going to wake up?
BIFF [
ignoring
WILLY]: How’re ya, miss, sit down. What do you drink?
ignoring
WILLY]: How’re ya, miss, sit down. What do you drink?
MISS FORSYTHE: Letta might not be able to stay long.
LETTA: I gotta get up very early tomorrow. I got jury duty. I’m so excited! Were you fellows ever on a jury?
BIFF: No, but I been in front of them! [
The girls laugh.
] This is my father.
The girls laugh.
] This is my father.
LETTA: Isn’t he cute? Sit down with us, Pop.
HAPPY: Sit him down, Biff!
BIFF [
going to him
]: Come on, slugger, drink us under the table. To hell with it! Come on, sit down, pal.
going to him
]: Come on, slugger, drink us under the table. To hell with it! Come on, sit down, pal.
[
On
BIFF’S
last insistence,
WILLY
is about to sit.
]
On
BIFF’S
last insistence,
WILLY
is about to sit.
]
THE WOMAN [
now urgently
]: Willy, are you going to answer the door!
now urgently
]: Willy, are you going to answer the door!
[THE WOMAN’S
call pulls
WILLY
back. He starts right, befuddled.
]
call pulls
WILLY
back. He starts right, befuddled.
]
BIFF: Hey, where are you going?
WILLY: Open the door.
BIFF: The door?
WILLY: The washroom . . . the door . . . where’s the door?
BIFF [
leading
WILLY
to the left
]: Just go straight down.
leading
WILLY
to the left
]: Just go straight down.
[WILLY
moves left.
]
moves left.
]
THE WOMAN: Willy, Willy, are you going to get up, get up, get up, get up?
[WILLY
exits left.
]
exits left.
]
LETTA: I think it’s sweet you bring your daddy along.
MISS FORSYTHE: Oh, he isn’t really your father!
BIFF [
at left, turning to her resentfully
]: Miss Forsythe, you’ve just seen a prince walk by. A fine, troubled prince. A hard-working, unappreciated prince. A pal, you understand? A good companion. Always for his boys.
at left, turning to her resentfully
]: Miss Forsythe, you’ve just seen a prince walk by. A fine, troubled prince. A hard-working, unappreciated prince. A pal, you understand? A good companion. Always for his boys.
LETTA: That’s so sweet.
HAPPY: Well, girls, what’s the program? We’re wasting time. Come on, Biff. Gather round. Where would you like to go?
BIFF: Why don’t you do something for him?
HAPPY: Me!
BIFF: Don’t you give a damn for him, Hap?
HAPPY: What’re you talking about? I’m the one who—
BIFF: I sense it, you don’t give a good goddam about him. [
He takes the rolled-up hose from his pocket and puts it on the table in front of
HAPPY.] Look what I found in the cellar, for Christ’s sake. How can you bear to let it go on?
He takes the rolled-up hose from his pocket and puts it on the table in front of
HAPPY.] Look what I found in the cellar, for Christ’s sake. How can you bear to let it go on?
HAPPY: Me? Who goes away? Who runs off and—
BIFF: Yeah, but he doesn’t mean anything to you. You could help him—I can’t. Don’t you understand what I’m talking about? He’s going to kill himself, don’t you know that?
HAPPY: Don’t I know it! Me!
BIFF: Hap, help him! Jesus . . . help him . . . Help me, help me, I can’t bear to look at his face! [
Ready to weep, he hurries out, up right.
]
Ready to weep, he hurries out, up right.
]
HAPPY [
starting after him
]: Where are you going?
starting after him
]: Where are you going?
MISS FORSYTHE: What’s he so mad about?
HAPPY: Come on, girls, we’ll catch up with him.
MISS FORSYTHE [
as
HAPPY
pushes her out
]: Say, I don’t like that temper of his!
as
HAPPY
pushes her out
]: Say, I don’t like that temper of his!
HAPPY: He’s just a little overstrung, he’ll be all right!
WILLY [
off left, as
THE WOMAN
laughs
]: Don’t answer! Don’t answer!
off left, as
THE WOMAN
laughs
]: Don’t answer! Don’t answer!
LETTA: Don’t you want to tell your father—
HAPPY: No, that’s not my father. He’s just a guy. Come on, we’ll catch Biff, and, honey, we’re going to paint this town! Stanley, where’s the check! Hey, Stanley!
[
They exit.
STANLEY
looks toward left.
]
They exit.
STANLEY
looks toward left.
]
STANLEY [
calling to
HAPPY
indignantly
]: Mr. Loman! Mr. Loman!
calling to
HAPPY
indignantly
]: Mr. Loman! Mr. Loman!
[STANLEY
picks up a chair and follows them off. Knocking is heard off left.
THE WOMAN
enters, laughing.
WILLY
follows her. She is in a black slip; he is buttoning his shirt. Raw, sensuous music accompanies their speech.
]
picks up a chair and follows them off. Knocking is heard off left.
THE WOMAN
enters, laughing.
WILLY
follows her. She is in a black slip; he is buttoning his shirt. Raw, sensuous music accompanies their speech.
]
WILLY: Will you stop laughing? Will you stop?
THE WOMAN: Aren’t you going to answer the door? He’ll wake the whole hotel.
WILLY: I’m not expecting anybody.
THE WOMAN: Whyn’t you have another drink, honey, and stop being so damn self-centered?
WILLY: I’m so lonely.
THE WOMAN: You know you ruined me, Willy? From now on, whenever you come to the office, I’ll see that you go right through to the buyers. No waiting at my desk any more, Willy. You ruined me.
WILLY: That’s nice of you to say that.
THE WOMAN: Gee, you are self-centered! Why so sad? You are the saddest, self-centeredest soul I ever did see-saw. [
She laughs. He kisses her.
] Come on inside, drummer boy. It’s silly to be dressing in the middle of the night. [
As knocking is heard
] Aren’t you going to answer the door?
She laughs. He kisses her.
] Come on inside, drummer boy. It’s silly to be dressing in the middle of the night. [
As knocking is heard
] Aren’t you going to answer the door?
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