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Death of a Salesman_ Certain Private Conversations in Two Acts and a Requiem - Miller, Arthur [46]

By Root 979 0
hall!

WILLY [ pushing her offstage]: Get outa here! Go back, go back!

[BIFF slowly sits down on his suitcase as the argument continues offstage.]

THE WOMAN: Where’s my stockings? You promised me stockings, Willy!

WILLY: I have no stockings here!

THE WOMAN: You had two boxes of size nine sheers for me, and I want them!

WILLY: Here, for God’s sake, will you get outa here!

THE WOMAN [enters holding a box of stockings]: I just hope there’s nobody in the hall. That’s all I hope. [To BIFF] Are you football or baseball?

BIFF: Football.

THE WOMAN [angry, humiliated]: That’s me too. G’night. [She snatches her clothes from WILLY, and walks out.]

WILLY [after a pause]: Well, better get going. I want to get to the school first thing in the morning. Get my suits out of the closet. I’ll get my valise. [BIFF doesn’t move.] What’s the matter? [BIFF remains motionless, tears falling.] She’s a buyer. Buys for J. H. Simmons. She lives down the hall—they’re painting. You don’t imagine—[He breaks off. After a pause] Now listen, pal, she’s just a buyer. She sees merchandise in her room and they have to keep it looking just so . . . [Pause. Assuming command] All right, get my suits. [BIFF doesn’t move.] Now stop crying and do as I say. I gave you an order. Biff, I gave you an order! Is that what you do when I give you an order? How dare you cry? [Putting his arm around BIFF] Now look, Biff, when you grow up you’ll understand about these things. You mustn’t—you mustn’t overemphasize a thing like this. I’ll see Birnbaum first thing in the morning.

BIFF: Never mind.

WILLY [ getting down beside BIFF]: Never mind! He’s going to give you those points. I’ll see to it.

BIFF: He wouldn’t listen to you.

WILLY: He certainly will listen to me. You need those points for the U. of Virginia.

BIFF: I’m not going there.

WILLY: Heh? If I can’t get him to change that mark you’ll make it up in summer school. You’ve got all summer to—

BIFF [his weeping breaking from him]: Dad . . .

WILLY [infected by it]: Oh, my boy . . .

BIFF: Dad . . .

WILLY: She’s nothing to me, Biff. I was lonely, I was terribly lonely.

BIFF: You—you gave her Mama’s stockings! [His tears break through and he rises to go.]

WILLY [ grabbing for BIFF]: I gave you an order!

BIFF: Don’t touch me, you—liar!

WILLY: Apologize for that!

BIFF: You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! [Overcome, he turns quickly and weeping fully goes out with his suitcase. WILLY is left on the floor on his knees.]

WILLY: I gave you an order! Biff, come back here or I’ll beat you! Come back here! I’ll whip you!

[STANLEY comes quickly in from the right and stands in front of WILLY.]

WILLY [shouts at STANLEY]: I gave you an order . . .

STANLEY: Hey, let’s pick it up, pick it up, Mr. Loman. [He helps WILLY to his feet.] Your boys left with the chippies. They said they’ll see you home.

[A second waiter watches some distance away.]

WILLY: But we were supposed to have dinner together.

[Music is heard, WILLY’S theme.]

STANLEY: Can you make it?

WILLY: I’ll—sure, I can make it. [Suddenly concerned about his clothes.] Do I—I look all right?

STANLEY: Sure, you look all right. [He flicks a speck off WILLY’S lapel.]

WILLY: Here—here’s a dollar.

STANLEY: Oh, your son paid me. It’s all right.

WILLY [ putting it in STANLEY’S hand]: No, take it. You’re a good boy.

STANLEY: Oh, no, you don’t have to . . .

WILLY: Here—here’s some more. I don’t need it any more. [After a slight pause] Tell me—is there a seed store in the neighborhood?

STANLEY: Seeds? You mean like to plant?

[As WILLY turns, STANLEY slips the money back into his jacket pocket.]

WILLY: Yes. Carrots, peas . . .

STANLEY: Well, there’s hardware stores on Sixth Avenue, but it may be too late now.

WILLY [anxiously]: Oh, I’d better hurry. I’ve got to get some seeds. [He starts off to the right.] I’ve got to get some seeds, right away. Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground.

[WILLY hurries out as the light goes down. STANLEY moves over to the right after him, watches him off. The other waiter has been staring

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