Death of a Salesman_ Certain Private Conversations in Two Acts and a Requiem - Miller, Arthur [42]
WILLY: Oliver?
BIFF: Yeah, Oliver. All day, as a matter of cold fact. And a lot of—instances—facts, Pop, facts about my life came back to me. Who was it, Pop? Who ever said I was a salesman with Oliver?
WILLY: Well, you were.
BIFF: No, Dad, I was a shipping clerk.
WILLY: But you were practically—
BIFF [with determination]: Dad, I don’t know who said it first, but I was never a salesman for Bill Oliver.
WILLY: What’re you talking about?
BIFF: Let’s hold on to the facts tonight, Pop. We’re not going to get anywhere bullin’ around. I was a shipping clerk.
WILLY [angrily]: All right, now listen to me—
BIFF: Why don’t you let me finish?
WILLY: I’m not interested in stories about the past or any crap of that kind because the woods are burning, boys, you understand? There’s a big blaze going on all around. I was fired today.
BIFF [shocked]: How could you be?
WILLY: I was fired, and I’m looking for a little good news to tell your mother, because the woman has waited and the woman has suffered. The gist of it is that I haven’t got a story left in my head, Biff. So don’t give me a lecture about facts and aspects. I am not interested. Now what’ve you got to say to me?
[STANLEY enters with three drinks. They wait until he leaves.]
WILLY: Did you see Oliver?
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?
BIFF: He won’t even let you work on commission?
WILLY: I’m out! [Driving] So tell me, he gave you a warm welcome?
HAPPY: Sure, Pop, sure!
BIFF [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!
HAPPY: Damn right!
BIFF [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?
BIFF: Well, he came in, see, and—
WILLY [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.
HAPPY [agreeing]: Oh, I know.
WILLY [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.
WILLY: Don’t interrupt. [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!
WILLY [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!
[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!
HAPPY: Tell him what happened!
BIFF [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