Read Death of a Salesman Online
Authors: Arthur Miller
Death of a Salesman (7 page)
BIFF: Did you knock them dead, Pop?
WILLY: Knocked ’em cold in Providence, slaughtered ’em in Boston.
HAPPY [
on his back, pedaling again
]: I’m losing weight, you notice, Pop?
on his back, pedaling again
]: I’m losing weight, you notice, Pop?
[LINDA
enters, as of old, a ribbon in her hair, carrying a basket of washing.
]
enters, as of old, a ribbon in her hair, carrying a basket of washing.
]
LINDA [
with youthful energy
]: Hello, dear!
with youthful energy
]: Hello, dear!
WILLY: Sweetheart!
LINDA: How’d the Chevvy run?
WILLY: Chevrolet, Linda, is the greatest car ever built. [
To the boys
] Since when do you let your mother carry wash up the stairs?
To the boys
] Since when do you let your mother carry wash up the stairs?
BIFF: Grab hold there, boy!
HAPPY: Where to, Mom?
LINDA: Hang them up on the line. And you better go down to your friends, Biff. The cellar is full of boys. They don’t know what to do with themselves.
BIFF: Ah, when Pop comes home they can wait!
WILLY [
laughs appreciatively
]: You better go down and tell them what to do, Biff.
laughs appreciatively
]: You better go down and tell them what to do, Biff.
BIFF: I think I’ll have them sweep out the furnace room.
WILLY: Good work, Biff.
BIFF [
goes through wall-line of kitchen to doorway at back and calls down
]: Fellas! Everybody sweep out the furnace room! I’ll be right down!
goes through wall-line of kitchen to doorway at back and calls down
]: Fellas! Everybody sweep out the furnace room! I’ll be right down!
VOICES: All right! Okay, Biff.
BIFF: George and Sam and Frank, come out back! We’re hangin’ up the wash! Come on, Hap, on the double! [
He and
HAPPY
carry out the basket.
]
He and
HAPPY
carry out the basket.
]
LINDA: The way they obey him!
WILLY: Well, that’s training, the training. I’m tellin’ you, I was sellin’ thousands and thousands, but I had to come home.
LINDA: Oh, the whole block’ll be at that game. Did you sell anything?
WILLY: I did five hundred gross in Providence and seven hundred gross in Boston.
LINDA: No! Wait a minute, I’ve got a pencil. [
She pulls pencil and paper out of her apron pocket.
] That makes your commission . . . Two hundred—my God! Two hundred and twelve dollars!
She pulls pencil and paper out of her apron pocket.
] That makes your commission . . . Two hundred—my God! Two hundred and twelve dollars!
WILLY: Well, I didn’t figure it yet, but . . .
LINDA: How much did you do?
WILLY: Well, I—I did—about a hundred and eighty gross in Providence. Well, no—it came to—roughly two hundred gross on the whole trip.
LINDA [
without hesitation
]: Two hundred gross. That’s . . . [
She figures.
]
without hesitation
]: Two hundred gross. That’s . . . [
She figures.
]
WILLY: The trouble was that three of the stores were half closed for inventory in Boston. Otherwise I woulda broke records.
LINDA: Well, it makes seventy dollars and some pennies. That’s very good.
WILLY: What do we owe?
LINDA: Well, on the first there’s sixteen dollars on the refrigerator—
WILLY: Why sixteen?
LINDA: Well, the fan belt broke, so it was a dollar eighty.
WILLY: But it’s brand new.
LINDA: Well, the man said that’s the way it is. Till they work themselves in, y’know.
[
They move through the wall-line into the kitchen.
]
They move through the wall-line into the kitchen.
]
WILLY: I hope we didn’t get stuck on that machine.
LINDA: They got the biggest ads of any of them!
WILLY: I know, it’s a fine machine. What else?
LINDA: Well, there’s nine-sixty for the washing machine. And for the vacuum cleaner there’s three and a half due on the fifteenth. Then the roof, you got twenty-one dollars remaining.
WILLY: It don’t leak, does it?
LINDA: No, they did a wonderful job. Then you owe Frank for the carburetor.
WILLY: I’m not going to pay that man! That goddam Chevrolet, they ought to prohibit the manufacture of that car!
LINDA: Well, you owe him three and a half. And odds and ends, comes to around a hundred and twenty dollars by the fifteenth.
WILLY: A hundred and twenty dollars! My God, if business don’t pick up I don’t know what I’m gonna do!
LINDA: Well, next week you’ll do better.
WILLY: Oh, I’ll knock ’em dead next week. I’ll go to Hartford. I’m very well liked in Hartford. You know, the trouble is, Linda, people don’t seem to take to me.
[
They move onto the forestage.
]
They move onto the forestage.
]
LINDA: Oh, don’t be foolish.
WILLY: I know it when I walk in. They seem to laugh at me.
LINDA: Why? Why would they laugh at you? Don’t talk that way, Willy.
[WILLY
moves to the edge of the stage.
LINDA
goes into the kitchen and starts to darn stockings.
]
moves to the edge of the stage.
LINDA
goes into the kitchen and starts to darn stockings.
]
WILLY: I don’t know the reason for it, but they just pass me by. I’m not noticed.
LINDA: But you’re doing wonderful, dear. You’re making seventy to a hundred dollars a week.
WILLY: But I gotta be at it ten, twelve hours a day. Other men—I don’t know—they do it easier. I don’t know why —I can’t stop myself—I talk too much. A man oughta come in with a few words. One thing about Charley. He’s a man of few words, and they respect him.
LINDA: You don’t talk too much, you’re just lively.
WILLY [
smiling
]: Well, I figure, what the hell, life is short, a couple of jokes. [
To himself
] I joke too much! [
The smile goes.
]
smiling
]: Well, I figure, what the hell, life is short, a couple of jokes. [
To himself
] I joke too much! [
The smile goes.
]
LINDA: Why? You’re—
WILLY: I’m fat. I’m very—foolish to look at, Linda. I didn’t tell you, but Christmas time I happened to be calling on F. H. Stewarts, and a salesman I know, as I was going in to see the buyer I heard him say something about—walrus. And I—I cracked him right across the face. I won’t take that. I simply will not take that. But they do laugh at me. I know that.
LINDA: Darling . . .
WILLY: I gotta overcome it. I know I gotta overcome it. I’m not dressing to advantage, maybe.
LINDA: Willy, darling, you’re the handsomest man in the world—
WILLY: Oh, no, Linda.
LINDA: To me you are. [
Slight pause.
] The handsomest.
Slight pause.
] The handsomest.
[
From the darkness is heard the laughter of a woman.
WILLY
doesn’t turn to it, but it continues through
LINDA’S
lines.
]
From the darkness is heard the laughter of a woman.
WILLY
doesn’t turn to it, but it continues through
LINDA’S
lines.
]
LINDA: And the boys, Willy. Few men are idolized by their children the way you are.
[
Music is heard as behind a scrim, to the left of the house,
Music is heard as behind a scrim, to the left of the house,
THE WOMAN,
dimly seen, is dressing.
]
dimly seen, is dressing.
]
WILLY [
with great feeling
]: You’re the best there is, Linda, you’re a pal, you know that? On the road—on the road I want to grab you sometimes and just kiss the life outa you.
with great feeling
]: You’re the best there is, Linda, you’re a pal, you know that? On the road—on the road I want to grab you sometimes and just kiss the life outa you.
[
The laughter is loud now, and he moves into a brightening area at the left, where
THE WOMAN
has come from behind the scrim and is standing, putting on her hat, looking into a “mirror,” and laughing.
]
The laughter is loud now, and he moves into a brightening area at the left, where
THE WOMAN
has come from behind the scrim and is standing, putting on her hat, looking into a “mirror,” and laughing.
]
WILLY: ’Cause I get so lonely—especially when business is bad and there’s nobody to talk to. I get the feeling that I’ll never sell anything again, that I won’t make a living for you, or a business, a business for the boys. [
He talks through
THE WOMAN’S
subsiding laughter;
THE WOMAN
primps at the “mirror.”
] There’s so much I want to make for—
He talks through
THE WOMAN’S
subsiding laughter;
THE WOMAN
primps at the “mirror.”
] There’s so much I want to make for—
THE WOMAN: Me? You didn’t make me, Willy. I picked you.
WILLY [
pleased
]: You picked me?
pleased
]: You picked me?
THE WOMAN [
who is quite proper-looking, Willy’s age
]: I did. I’ve been sitting at that desk watching all the salesmen go by, day in, day out. But you’ve got such a sense of humor, and we do have such a good time together, don’t we?
who is quite proper-looking, Willy’s age
]: I did. I’ve been sitting at that desk watching all the salesmen go by, day in, day out. But you’ve got such a sense of humor, and we do have such a good time together, don’t we?
WILLY: Sure, sure. [
He takes her in his arms.
] Why do you have to go now?
He takes her in his arms.
] Why do you have to go now?
THE WOMAN: It’s two o’clock . . .
WILLY: No, come on in! [
He pulls her.
]
He pulls her.
]
THE WOMAN: . . . my sisters’ll be scandalized. When’ll you be back?
WILLY: Oh, two weeks about. Will you come up again?
THE WOMAN: Sure thing. You do make me laugh. It’s good for me. [
She squeezes his arm, kisses him.
] And I think you’re a wonderful man.
She squeezes his arm, kisses him.
] And I think you’re a wonderful man.
WILLY: You picked me, heh?
THE WOMAN: Sure. Because you’re so sweet. And such a kidder.
WILLY: Well, I’ll see you next time I’m in Boston.
THE WOMAN: I’ll put you right through to the buyers.
WILLY [
slapping her bottom
]: Right. Well, bottoms up!
slapping her bottom
]: Right. Well, bottoms up!
THE WOMAN [
slaps him gently and laughs
]: You just kill me, Willy. [
He suddenly grabs her and kisses her roughly.
] You kill me. And thanks for the stockings. I love a lot of stockings. Well, good night.
slaps him gently and laughs
]: You just kill me, Willy. [
He suddenly grabs her and kisses her roughly.
] You kill me. And thanks for the stockings. I love a lot of stockings. Well, good night.
WILLY: Good night. And keep your pores open!
THE WOMAN: Oh, Willy!
[THE WOMAN
bursts out laughing, and
LINDA’S
laughter blends in.
THE WOMAN
disappears into the dark. Now the area at the kitchen table brightens.
LINDA
is sitting where she was at the kitchen table, but now is mending a pair of her silk stockings.
]
bursts out laughing, and
LINDA’S
laughter blends in.
THE WOMAN
disappears into the dark. Now the area at the kitchen table brightens.
LINDA
is sitting where she was at the kitchen table, but now is mending a pair of her silk stockings.
]
LINDA: You are, Willy. The handsomest man. You’ve got no reason to feel that—
WILLY [
coming out of
THE WOMAN’S
dimming area and going over to
LINDA]: I’ll make it all up to you, Linda, I’ll—
coming out of
THE WOMAN’S
dimming area and going over to
LINDA]: I’ll make it all up to you, Linda, I’ll—
LINDA: There’s nothing to make up, dear. You’re doing fine, better than—
WILLY [
noticing her mending
]: What’s that?
noticing her mending
]: What’s that?
LINDA: Just mending my stockings. They’re so expensive—
WILLY [
angrily, taking them from her
]: I won’t have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out!
angrily, taking them from her
]: I won’t have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out!
[LINDA
puts the stockings in her pocket.
]
puts the stockings in her pocket.
]
BERNARD [
entering on the run
]: Where is he? If he doesn’t study!
entering on the run
]: Where is he? If he doesn’t study!
WILLY [
moving to the forestage, with great agitation
]: You’ll give him the answers!
moving to the forestage, with great agitation
]: You’ll give him the answers!
BERNARD: I do, but I can’t on a Regents! That’s a state exam! They’re liable to arrest me!
WILLY: Where is he? I’ll whip him, I’ll whip him!
LINDA: And he’d better give back that football, Willy, it’s not nice.
WILLY: Biff! Where is he? Why is he taking everything?
LINDA: He’s too rough with the girls, Willy. All the mothers are afraid of him!
WILLY: I’ll whip him!
BERNARD: He’s driving the car without a license!
[THE WOMAN’S
laugh is heard.
]
laugh is heard.
]
WILLY: Shut up!
LINDA: All the mothers—
WILLY: Shut up!
BERNARD [
backing quietly away and out
]: Mr. Birnbaum says he’s stuck up.
backing quietly away and out
]: Mr. Birnbaum says he’s stuck up.
WILLY: Get outa here!
BERNARD: If he doesn’t buckle down he’ll flunk math! [
He goes off.
]
He goes off.
]
LINDA: He’s right, Willy, you’ve gotta—
WILLY [
exploding at her
]: There’s nothing the matter with him! You want him to be a worm like Bernard? He’s got spirit, personality . . .
exploding at her
]: There’s nothing the matter with him! You want him to be a worm like Bernard? He’s got spirit, personality . . .
[
As he speaks,
LINDA,
almost in tears, exits into the living-room.
WILLY
is alone in the kitchen, wilting and staring. The leaves are gone. It is night again, and the apartment houses look down from behind.
]
As he speaks,
LINDA,
almost in tears, exits into the living-room.
WILLY
is alone in the kitchen, wilting and staring. The leaves are gone. It is night again, and the apartment houses look down from behind.
]
WILLY: Loaded with it. Loaded! What is he stealing? He’s giving it back, isn’t he? Why is he stealing? What did I tell him? I never in my life told him anything but decent things.
[HAPPY
in pajamas has come down the stairs;
WILLY
suddenly becomes aware of
HAPPY’S
presence.
]
in pajamas has come down the stairs;
WILLY
suddenly becomes aware of
HAPPY’S
presence.
]
HAPPY: Let’s go now, come on.
WILLY [
sitting down at the kitchen table
]: Huh! Why did she have to wax the floors herself? Everytime she waxes the floors she keels over. She knows that!
sitting down at the kitchen table
]: Huh! Why did she have to wax the floors herself? Everytime she waxes the floors she keels over. She knows that!
HAPPY: Shh! Take it easy. What brought you back tonight?
WILLY: I got an awful scare. Nearly hit a kid in Yonkers. God! Why didn’t I go to Alaska with my brother Ben that time! Ben! That man was a genius, that man was success incarnate! What a mistake! He begged me to go.
HAPPY: Well, there’s no use in—
WILLY: You guys! There was a man started with the clothes on his back and ended up with diamond mines?
HAPPY: Boy, someday I’d like to know how he did it.
WILLY: What’s the mystery? The man knew what he wanted and went out and got it! Walked into a jungle, and comes out, the age of twenty-one, and he’s rich! The world is an oyster, but you don’t crack it open on a mattress!
HAPPY: Pop, I told you I’m gonna retire you for life.
WILLY: You’ll retire me for life on seventy goddam dollars a week? And your women and your car and your apartment, and you’ll retire me for life! Christ’s sake, I couldn’t get past Yonkers today! Where are you guys, where are you? The woods are burning! I can’t drive a car!
[CHARLEY
has appeared in the doorway. He is a large man, slow of speech, laconic, immovable. In all he says, despite what he says, there is pity, and, now, trepidation. He has a robe over pajamas, slippers on his feet. He enters the kitchen.
]
has appeared in the doorway. He is a large man, slow of speech, laconic, immovable. In all he says, despite what he says, there is pity, and, now, trepidation. He has a robe over pajamas, slippers on his feet. He enters the kitchen.
]
CHARLEY: Everything all right?
HAPPY: Yeah, Charley, everything’s . . .
WILLY: What’s the matter?
CHARLEY: I heard some noise. I thought something happened. Can’t we do something about the walls? You sneeze in here, and in my house hats blow off.
HAPPY: Let’s go to bed, Dad. Come on.
[CHARLEY
signals to
HAPPY
to go.
]
signals to
HAPPY
to go.
]
WILLY: You go ahead, I’m not tired at the moment.
HAPPY [
to
WILLY]: Take it easy, huh? [
He exits.
]
to
WILLY]: Take it easy, huh? [
He exits.
]
WILLY: What’re you doin’ up?
CHARLEY [
sitting down at the kitchen table opposite
WILLY]: Couldn’t sleep good. I had a heartburn.
sitting down at the kitchen table opposite
WILLY]: Couldn’t sleep good. I had a heartburn.
WILLY: Well, you don’t know how to eat.
CHARLEY: I eat with my mouth.
WILLY: No, you’re ignorant. You gotta know about vitamins and things like that.
CHARLEY: Come on, let’s shoot. Tire you out a little.
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