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\documentclass[10pt]{article} \input{/etc/lengths.tex} \begin{document} \

\emph{Willy walks in from the entrance of the house, at left.}

\textsc{willy}: Even your grandfather was better than a carpenter. \emph{Pause. They watch him.} You never grew up. Bernard does not whistle in the elevator, I assure you.

\textsc{biff}, \emph{as though to laugh Willy out of it:} Yeah, but you do, Pop.

\textsc{willy}: I never in my life whistled in an elevator! And who in the business world thinks I'm crazy?

\textsc{biff}: I didn't mean it like that, Pop. Now don't make a whole thing out of it, will ya?

\textsc{willy}: Go back to the West! Be a carpenter, a cowboy, enjoy yourself!

\textsc{linda}: Willy, he was just saying---

\textsc{willy}: I heard what he said!

\textsc{happy}, \emph{trying to quiet Willy:} Hey, Pop, come on now. . .

\textsc{willy}, \emph{continuing over Happy's line:} They laugh at me, heh? Go to Filene's, go to the Hub, go to Slattery's, Boston. Call out the name Willy Loman and see what happens! Big shot!

\textsc{biff}: All right, Pop.

\textsc{willy}: Big!

\textsc{biff}: All right!

\textsc{willy}: Why do you always insult me?

\textsc{biff}: I didn't say a word. \emph{To Linda:} Did I say a word?

\textsc{linda}: He didn't say anything, Willy.

\textsc{willy}, \emph{going to the doorway of the living-room:} All right, good night, good night.

\textsc{linda}: Willy, dear, he just decided. . .

\textsc{willy}, \emph{to Biff:} If you get tired hanging around tomorrow, paint the ceiling I put up in the living-room.

\textsc{biff}: I'm leaving early tomorrow.

\textsc{happy}: He's going to see Bill Oliver, Pop.

\textsc{willy}, \emph{interestedly:} Oliver? For what?

\textsc{biff}, \emph{with reserve, but trying, trying:} He always said he'd stake me. I'd like to go into business, so maybe I can take him up on it.

\textsc{linda}: Isn't that wonderful?

\textsc{willy}: Don't interrupt. What's wonderful about it? There's fifty men in the City of New York who'd stake him. \emph{To Biff:} Sporting goods?

\textsc{biff}: I guess so. I know something about it and---

\textsc{willy}: He knows something about it! You know sporting goods better than Spalding, for God's sake! How much is he giving you?

\textsc{biff}: I don't know, I didn't even see him yet, but---

\textsc{willy}: Then what're you talkin' about?

\textsc{biff}, \emph{getting angry:} Well, all I said was I'm gonna see him, that's all!

\textsc{willy}, \emph{turning away:} Ah, you're counting your chickens again.

\textsc{biff}, \emph{starting left for the stairs:} Oh, Jesus, I'm going to sleep!

\textsc{willy}, \emph{calling after him:} Don't curse in this house!

\textsc{biff}, \emph{turning:} Since when did you get so clean?

\textsc{happy}, \emph{trying to stop them:} Wait a . . .

\textsc{willy}: Don't use that language to me! I won't have it!

\textsc{happy}, \emph{grabbing Biff, shouts:} Wait a minute! I got an idea. I got a feasible idea. Come here, Biff, let's talk this over now, let's talk some sense here. When I was down in Florida last time, I thought of a great idea to sell sporting goods. It just came back to me. You and I, Biff---we have a line, the Loman Line. We train a couple of weeks, and put on a couple of exhibitions, see?

\textsc{willy}: That's an idea!

\textsc{happy}: Wait! We form two basketball teams, see? Two water-polo teams. We play each other. It's a million dollars' worth of publicity. Two brothers, see? The Loman Brothers. Displays in the Royal Palms---all the hotels. And banners over the ring and the basketball court: ``Loman Brothers. Baby, we could sell sporting goods!

\textsc{willy}: That is a one-million-dollar idea!

\textsc{linda}: Marvelous!

\textsc{biff}: I'm in great shape as far as that's concerned.

\textsc{happy}: And the beauty of it is, Biff, it wouldn't be like a business. We'd be out playin' ball again. . .

\textsc{biff}, \emph{enthused:} Yeah, that's. . .

\textsc{willy}: Million-dollar . . .

\textsc{happy}: And you wouldn't get fed up with it, Biff. It'd be the family again. There'd be the old honor, and comradeship, and if you wanted to go off for a swim or somethin'---well, you'd do it! Without some smart cooky gettin' up ahead of you!

\textsc{willy}: Lick the world! You guys together could absolutely lick the civilized world.

\textsc{biff}: I'll see Oliver tomorrow. Hap, if we could work that out. . .

\textsc{linda}: Maybe things are beginning to---

\textsc{willy}, \emph{wildly enthused, to Linda:} Stop interrupting! \emph{To Biff:} But don't wear sport jacket and slacks when you see Oliver.

\textsc{biff}: No, I'll---

\textsc{willy}: A business suit, and talk as little as possible, and don't crack any jokes.

\textsc{biff}: He did like me. Always liked me.

\textsc{linda}: He loved you!

\textsc{willy}, \emph{to Linda:} Will you stop! \emph{To Biff:} Walk in very serious. You are not applying for a boy's job. Money is to pass. Be quiet, fine, and serious. Everybody likes a kidder, but nobody lends him money.

\textsc{happy}: I'll try to get some myself, Biff. I'm sure I can.

\textsc{willy}: I see great things for you kids, I think your troubles are over. But remember, start big and you'll end big. Ask for fifteen. How much you gonna ask for?

\textsc{biff}: Gee, I don't know---

\textsc{willy}: And don't say ``Gee. ``Gee is a boy's word. A man walking in for fifteen thousand dollars does not say ``Gee!

\textsc{biff}: Ten, I think, would be top though.

\textsc{willy}: Don't be so modest. You always started too low. Walk in with a big laugh. Don't look worried. Start off with a couple of your good stories to lighten things up. It's not what you say, it's how you say it---because personality always wins the day.

\textsc{linda}: Oliver always thought the highest of him---

\textsc{willy}: Will you let me talk?

\textsc{biff}: Don't yell at her, Pop, will ya?

\textsc{willy}, \emph{angrily:} I was talking, wasn't I?

\textsc{biff}: I don't like you yelling at her all the time, and I'm tellin' you, that's all.

\textsc{willy}: What're you, takin' over this house?

\textsc{linda}: Willy---

\textsc{willy}, \emph{turning on her}: Don't take his side all the time, goddammit!

\textsc{biff}, \emph{furiously:} Stop yelling at her!

\textsc{willy}, \emph{suddenly pulling on his cheek, beaten down, guilt ridden:} Give my best to Bill Oliver---he may remember me. \emph{He exits through the living-room doorway.}

\textsc{linda}, \emph{her voice subdued:} What'd you have to start that for? \emph{Biff turns away.} You see how sweet he was as soon as you talked hopefully? \emph{She goes over to Biff.} Come up and say good night to him. Don't let him go to bed that way.

\textsc{happy}: Come on, Biff, let's buck him up.

\textsc{linda}: Please, dear. Just say good night. It takes so little to make him happy. Come. \emph{She goes through the living-room doorway, calling upstairs from within the living-room:} Your pajamas are hanging in the bathroom, Willy!

\textsc{happy}, \emph{looking toward where Linda went out:} What a woman! They broke the mold when they made her. You know that, Biff?

\textsc{biff}: He's off salary. My God, working on commission!

\textsc{happy}: Well, let's face it: he's no hot-shot selling man. Except that sometimes, you have to admit, he's a sweet personality.

\textsc{biff}, \emph{deciding}: Lend me, ten bucks, will ya? I want to buy some new ties.

\textsc{happy}: I'll take you to a place I know. Beautiful stuff. Wear one of my striped shirts tomorrow.

\textsc{biff}: She got gray. Mom got awful old. Gee, I'm gonna go in to Oliver tomorrow and knock him for a---

\textsc{happy}: Come on up. Tell that to Dad. Let's give him a whirl. Come on.

\textsc{biff}, \emph{steamed up}: You know, with ten thousand bucks, boy!

\textsc{happy}, \emph{as they go into the living-room:} That's the talk, Biff, that's the first time I've heard the old confidence out of you! \emph{From within the living-room, fading off:} You're gonna live with me, kid, and any babe you want just say the word . . . \emph{The last lines are hardly heard. They are mounting the stairs to their parents' bedroom.}

\textsc{linda}, \emph{entering her bedroom and addressing Willy, who is in the bathroom. She is straightening the bed for him:} Can you do anything about the shower? It drips.

\textsc{willy}, \emph{from the bathroom:} All of a sudden everything falls to pieces! Goddam plumbing, oughta be sued, those people. I hardly finished putting it in and the thing. . . \emph{His words rumble off.}

\textsc{linda}: I'm just wondering if Oliver will remember him. You think he might?

\textsc{willy}, \emph{coming out of the bathroom in his pajamas:} Remember him? What's the matter with you, you crazy? If he'd've stayed with Oliver he'd be on top by now! Wait'll Oliver gets a look at him. You don't know the average caliber any more. The average young man today---\emph{he is getting into bed}---is got a caliber of zero. Greatest thing in the world for him was to bum around.

\emph{Biff and Happy enter the bedroom. Slight pause.}

\textsc{willy}, \emph{stops short, looking at Biff:} Glad to hear it, boy.

\textsc{happy}: He wanted to say good night to you, sport.

\textsc{willy}, \emph{to Biff:} Yeah. Knock him dead, boy. What'd you want to tell me?

\textsc{biff}: Just take it easy, Pop. Good night. He turns to go.

\textsc{willy}, \emph{unable to resist:} And if anything falls off the desk while you're talking to him---like a package or something---don't you pick it up. They have office boys for that.

\textsc{linda}: I'll make a big breakfast---

\textsc{willy}: Will you let me finish? \emph{To Biff:} Tell him you were in the business in the West. Not farm work.

\textsc{biff}: All right, Dad.

\textsc{linda}: I think everything---

\textsc{willy}, \emph{going right through her speech:} And don't undersell yourself. No less than fifteen thousand dollars.

\textsc{biff}, \emph{unable to bear him}: Okay. Good night, Mom. \emph{He starts moving.}

\textsc{willy}: Because you got a greatness in you, Biff, remember that. You got all kinds a greatness. . . \emph{He lies back, exhausted. Biff walks out.}

\textsc{linda}, \emph{calling after Biff:} Sleep well, darling!

\textsc{happy}: I'm gonna get married, Mom. I wanted to tell you.

\textsc{linda}: Go to sleep, dear.

\textsc{happy}, \emph{going:} I just wanted to tell you.

\textsc{willy}: Keep up the good work. \emph{Happy exits.} God. . . remember that Ebbets Field game? The championship of the city?

\textsc{linda}: Just rest. Should I sing to you?

\textsc{willy}: Yeah. Sing to me. \emph{Linda hums a soft lullaby.} When that team came out---he was the tallest, remember?

\textsc{linda}: Oh, yes. And in gold.

\emph{Biff enters the darkened kitchen, takes a cigarette, and leaves the house. He comes downstage into a golden pool of light. He smokes, staring at the night.}

\textsc{willy}: Like a young god. Hercules---something like that. And the sun, the sun all around him. Remember how he waved to me? Right up from the field, with the representatives of three colleges standing by? And the buyers I brought, and the cheers when he came out---Loman, Loman, Loman! God Almighty, he'll be great yet. A star like that, magnificent, can never really fade away!

\emph{The light on Willy is fading. The gas heater begins to glow through the kitchen wall, near the stairs, a blue flame beneath red coils.}

\textsc{linda}, \emph{timidly:} Willy dear, what has he got against you?

\textsc{willy}: I'm so tired. Don't talk any more.

\emph{Biff slowly returns to the kitchen. He stops, stares toward the heater.}

\textsc{linda}: Will you ask Howard to let you work in New York?

\textsc{willy}: First thing in the morning. Everything'll be all right.

\emph{Biff reaches behind the heater and draws out a length of rubber tubing. He is horrified and turns his head toward Willy's room, still dimly lit, from which the strains of Linda's desperate but monotonous humming rise.}

\textsc{willy}, \emph{staring through the window into the moonlight:} Gee, look at the moon moving between the buildings!

\emph{Biff wraps the tubing around his hand and quickly goes up the stairs.}

\begin{center}\emph{Curtain}\end{center} \newpage

\Large ACT TWO \normalsize \vspace{30pt}

\emph{Music is heard, gay and bright. The curtain rises as the music fades away. Willy, in shirt sleeves, is sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee, his hat in his lap. Linda is filling his cup when she can.}

\textsc{willy}: Wonderful coffee. Meal in itself.

\textsc{linda}: Can I make you some eggs?

\textsc{willy}: No. Take a breath.

\textsc{linda}: You look so rested, dear.

\textsc{willy}: I slept like a dead one. First time in months. Imagine, sleeping till ten on a Tuesday morning. Boys left nice and early, heh?

\textsc{linda}: They were out of here by eight o'clock.

\textsc{willy}: Good work!

\textsc{linda}: It was so thrilling to see them leaving together. I can't get over the shaving lotion in this house!

\textsc{willy}, \emph{smiling:} Mmm---

\textsc{linda}: Biff was very changed this morning. His whole attitude seemed to be hopeful. He couldn't wait to get downtown to see Oliver.

\textsc{willy}: He's heading for a change. There's no question, there simply are certain men that take longer to get---solidified. How did he dress?

\textsc{linda}: His blue suit. He's so handsome in that suit. He could be a---anything in that suit!

\emph{Willy gets up from the table. Linda holds his jacket for him.}

\textsc{willy}: There's no question, no question at all. Gee, on the way home tonight I'd like to buy some seeds.

\textsc{linda}, \emph{laughing:} That'd be wonderful. But not enough sun gets back there. Nothing'll grow any more.

\textsc{willy}: You wait, kid, before it's all over we're gonna get a little place out in the country, and I'll raise some vegetables, a couple of chickens. . .

\textsc{linda}: You'll do it yet, dear.

\emph{Willy walks out of his jacket. Linda follows him.}

\textsc{willy}: And they'll get married, and come for a weekend. I'd build a little guest house. 'Cause I got so many fine tools, all I'd need would be a little lumber and some peace of mind.

\textsc{linda}, \emph{joyfully:} I sewed the lining. . .

\textsc{willy}: I could build two guest houses, so they'd both come. Did he decide how much he's going to ask Oliver for?

\textsc{linda}, \emph{getting him into the jacket:} He didn't mention it, but I imagine ten or fifteen thousand. You going to talk to Howard today?

\textsc{willy}: Yeah. I'll put it to him straight and simple. He'll just have to take me off the road.

\textsc{linda}: And Willy, don't forget to ask for a little advance, because we've got the insurance premium. It's the grace period now.

\textsc{willy}: That's a hundred. . . ?

\textsc{linda}: A hundred and eight, sixty-eight. Because we're a little short again.

\textsc{willy}: Why are we short?

\textsc{linda}: Well, you had the motor job on the car. . .

\textsc{willy}: That goddam Studebaker!

\textsc{linda}: And you got one more payment on the refrigerator. . .

\textsc{willy}: But it just broke again!

\textsc{linda}: Well, it's old, dear.

\textsc{willy}: I told you we should've bought a well-advertised machine. Charley bought a General Electric and it's twenty years old and it's still good, that son-of-a-bitch.

\textsc{linda}: But, Willy---

\textsc{willy}: Whoever heard of a Hastings refrigerator? Once in my life I would like to own something outright before it's broken! I'm always in a race with the junkyard! I just finished paying for the car and it's on its last legs. The refrigerator consumes belts like a goddam maniac. They time those things. They time them so when you finally paid for them, they're used up.

\textsc{linda}, \emph{buttoning up his jacket as he unbuttons it:} All told, about two hundred dollars would carry us, dear. But that includes the last payment on the mortgage. After this payment, Willy, the house belongs to us.

\textsc{willy}: It's twenty-five years!

\textsc{linda}: Biff was nine years old when we bought it.

\textsc{willy}: Well, that's a great thing. To weather a twenty-five year mortgage is---

\textsc{linda}: It's an accomplishment.

\textsc{willy}: All the cement, the lumber, the reconstruction I put in this house! There ain't a crack to be found in it any more.

\textsc{linda}: Well, it served its purpose.

\textsc{willy}: What purpose? Some stranger'll come along, move in, and that's that. If only Biff would take this house, and raise a family. . . \emph{He starts to go.} Good-by, I'm late.

\textsc{linda}, \emph{suddenly remembering:} Oh, I forgot! You're supposed to meet them for dinner.

\textsc{willy}: Me?

\textsc{linda}: At Frank's Chop House on Forty-eighth near Sixth Avenue.

\textsc{willy}: Is that so! How about you?

\textsc{linda}: No, just the three of you. They're gonna blow you to a big meal!

\textsc{willy}: Don't say! Who thought of that?

\textsc{linda}: Biff came to me this morning, Willy, and he said, ``Tell Dad, we want to blow him to a big meal. Be there six o'clock. You and your two boys are going to have dinner.

\textsc{willy}: Gee whiz! That's really somethin'. I'm gonna knock Howard for a loop, kid. I'll get an advance, and I'll come home with a New York job. Goddammit, now I'm gonna do it!

\textsc{linda}: Oh, that's the spirit, Willy!

\textsc{willy}: I will never get behind a wheel the rest of my life!

\textsc{linda}: It's changing, Willy, I can feel it changing!

\textsc{willy}: Beyond a question. G'by, I'm late. He starts to go again.

\textsc{linda}, \emph{calling after him as she runs to the kitchen table for a handkerchief:} You got your glasses?

\textsc{willy}, \emph{feels for them, then comes back in:} Yeah, yeah, got my glasses.

\textsc{linda}, \emph{giving him the handkerchief:} And a handkerchief.

\textsc{willy}: Yeah, handkerchief.

\textsc{linda}: And your saccharine?

\textsc{willy}: Yeah, my saccharine.

\textsc{linda}: Be careful on the subway stairs.

\emph{She kisses him. and a silk stocking is seen hanging from her hand. Willy notices it.}

\textsc{willy}: Will you stop mending stockings? At least while I'm in the house. It gets me nervous. I can't tell you. Please.

\emph{Linda hides the stocking in her hand as she follows Willy across the forestage in front of the house.}

\textsc{linda}: Remember, Frank's Chop House.

\textsc{willy}, \emph{passing the apron:} Maybe beets would grow out there.

\textsc{linda}, \emph{laughing:} But you tried so many times.

\textsc{willy}: Yeah. Well, don't work hard today. He disappears around the right corner of the house.

\textsc{linda}: Be careful!

\emph{As Willy vanishes, Linda waves to him. Suddenly the phone rings. She runs across the stage and into the kitchen and lifts it.}

\textsc{linda}: Hello? Oh, Biff! I'm so glad you called, I just. . . Yes, sure, I just told him. Yes, he'll be there for dinner at six o'clock, I didn't forget. Listen, I was just dying to tell you. You know that little rubber pipe I told you about? That he connected to the gas heater? I finally decided to go down the cellar this morning and take it away and destroy it. But it's gone! Imagine? He took it away himself, it isn't there! \emph{She listens.} When? Oh, then you took it. Oh---nothing, it's just that I'd hoped he'd taken it away himself. Oh, I'm not worried, darling, because this morning he left in such high spirits, it was like the old days! I'm not afraid any more. Did Mr.~Oliver see you? . . . Well, you wait there then. And make a nice impression on him, darling. Just don't perspire too much before you see him. And have a nice time with Dad. He may have big news too! . . . That's right, a New York job. And be sweet to him tonight, dear. Be loving to him. Because he's only a little boat looking for a harbor. \emph{She is trembling with sorrow and joy.} Oh, that's wonderful, Biff, you'll save his life. Thanks, darling. Just put your arm around him when he comes into the restaurant. Give him a smile. That's the boy. . . Good-by, dear. . . . You got your comb? . . . That's fine. Good-by, Biff dear.

\emph{In the middle of her speech, Howard Wagner, thirty-six, wheels on a small typewriter table on which is a wirerecording machine and proceeds to plug it in. This is on the left forestage. Light slowly fades on Linda as it rises on Howard. Howard is intent on threading the machine and only glances over his shoulder as Willy appears.} \end{document}