Death of a Salesman_ Certain Private Conversations in Two Acts and a Requiem - Miller, Arthur [36]
BEN: There’s a new continent at your doorstep, William. You could walk out rich. Rich! [He is gone.]
WILLY: We’ll do it here, Ben! You hear me? We’re gonna do it here!
[Young BERNARD rushes in. The gay music of the boys is heard.]
BERNARD: Oh, gee, I was afraid you left already!
WILLY: Why? What time is it?
BERNARD: It’s half-past one!
WILLY: Well, come on, everybody! Ebbets Field next stop! Where’s the pennants? [He rushes through the wall-line of the kitchen and out into the living-room.]
LINDA [to BIFF]: Did you pack fresh underwear?
BIFF [who has been limbering up]: I want to go!
BERNARD: Biff, I’m carrying your helmet, ain’t I?
HAPPY: No, I’m carrying the helmet.
BERNARD: Oh, Biff, you promised me.
HAPPY: I’m carrying the helmet.
BERNARD: How am I going to get in the locker room?
LINDA: Let him carry the shoulder guards. [She puts her coat and hat on in the kitchen.]
BERNARD: Can I, Biff? ’Cause I told everybody I’m going to be in the locker room.
HAPPY: In Ebbets Field it’s the clubhouse.
BERNARD: I meant the clubhouse. Biff!
HAPPY: Biff!
BIFF [grandly, after a slight pause]: Let him carry the shoulder guards.
HAPPY [as he gives BERNARD the shoulder guards]: Stay close to us now.
[WILLY rushes in with the pennants.]
WILLY [handing them out]: Everybody wave when Biff comes out on the field. [HAPPY and BERNARD run off.] You set now, boy?
[The music has died away.]
BIFF: Ready to go, Pop. Every muscle is ready.
WILLY [at the edge of the apron]: You realize what this means?
BIFF: That’s right, Pop.
WILLY [ feeling BIFF’S muscles]: You’re comin’ home this afternoon captain of the All-Scholastic Championship Team of the City of New York.
BIFF: I got it, Pop. And remember, pal, when I take off my helmet, that touchdown is for you.
WILLY: Let’s go! [He is starting out, with his arm around BIFF, when CHARLEY enters, as of old, in knickers.] I got no room for you, Charley.
CHARLEY: Room? For what?
WILLY: In the car.
CHARLEY: You goin’ for a ride? I wanted to shoot some casino.
WILLY [ furiously]: Casino! [Incredulously] Don’t you realize what today is?
LINDA: Oh, he knows, Willy. He’s just kidding you.
WILLY: That’s nothing to kid about!
CHARLEY: No. Linda, what’s goin’ on?
LINDA: He’s playing in Ebbets Field.
CHARLEY: Baseball in this weather?
WILLY: Don’t talk to him. Come on, come on! [He is pushing them out.]
CHARLEY: Wait a minute, didn’t you hear the news?
WILLY: What?
CHARLEY: Don’t you listen to the radio? Ebbets Field just blew up.
WILLY: You go to hell! [CHARLEY laughs. Pushing them out] Come on, come on! We’re late.
CHARLEY [as they go]: Knock a homer, Biff, knock a homer!
WILLY [the last to leave, turning to CHARLEY]: I don’t think that was funny, Charley. This is the greatest day of his life.
CHARLEY: Willy, when are you going to grow up?
WILLY: Yeah, heh? When this game is over, Charley, you’ll be laughing out of the other side of your face. They’ll be calling him another Red Grange. Twenty-five thousand a year.
CHARLEY [kidding]: Is that so?
WILLY: Yeah, that’s so.
CHARLEY: Well, then, I’m sorry, Willy. But tell me something.
WILLY: What?
CHARLEY: Who is Red Grange?
WILLY: Put up your hands. Goddam you, put up your hands!
[CHARLEY, chuckling, shakes his head and walks away, around the left corner of the stage. WILLY follows him. The music rises to a mocking frenzy.]
WILLY: Who the hell do you think you are, better than everybody else? You don’t know everything, you big, ignorant, stupid . . . Put up your hands!
[Light rises, on the right side of the forestage, on a small table in the reception room of CHARLEY’S office. Traffic sounds are heard. BERNARD, now mature, sits whistling to himself. A pair of tennis rackets and an overnight bag are on the floor beside him.]
WILLY [offstage]: What are you walking away for? Don’t walk away! If you’re going to say something say it to my face! I know you laugh at me behind my back. You’ll laugh out of the other side of your goddam face after this