Literaturech41英语文学写作教材教程教案讲义

41

PlaysforFurtherReading

Aplayisn7atext.It'sanevent.

—TOMSTOPPARD

ArthurMiller

DeathofaSalesman1949

CERTAINPRIVATECONVERSATIONSINTWOACTSANDAREQUIEM

ArthurMiller(1915-2005)wasbornin1915intoalower-incomeJewishfamilyinNewYorkCity'sHarlembut

grewupinBrooklyn.HestudiedplaywritingattheUniversityofMichigan,laterwroteradioscripts,andduring

WorldWarIIworkedasasteamfitter.WhentheNewYorkDramaCriticsnamedhisAllMySonsbestplayof1947,

Millertoldaninterviewer,"/don7seehowyoucanwriteanythingdecentwithoutusingasyourbasisthequestion

ofrightandwrong.n(Theplayisaboutaguiltymanufacturerofdefectiveaircraftparts.)DeathofaSalesman

(1949,PulitzerPrizeforDrama)madeMillerfamous.TheCrucible(1953),adramaticindictmentoftheSalem

witchtrials,gainedhimfurtherattentionatatimewhenSenatorJosephMcCarthywasconductingloyalty

investigations;in1996,TheCruciblewasmadeintoafilmstaringDanielDay-LewisandWinonaRyder.Fora

while(1956-1961),MillerwasthehusbandofactressMarilynMonroe,whomthemaincharacterofhisAfterthe

Fall(1964)resembles.AmongMiller'sotherplaysareAViewfromtheBridge(1955);ThePrice(1968);The

CreationoftheWorldandOtherBusiness(1972);PlayingforTime(1980),writtenfortelevision;BrokenGlass

(1994);Mr.Peters'Connections(1999);ResurrectionBlues(2002);andFinishingthePicture(2004).Hepublished

anautobiography,severalvolumesofessays,twocollectionsofshortstories,andtwonovels,Focus(1945)andThe

Misfits(I960),drawnfromhisscreenplayforthefilmstarringMonroe.

AnewproductionofDeathofaSalesman,starringBrianDennehyasWillyLoman,openedonBroadwayon

February1(),1999,fiftyyearstothedayafteritsoriginalpremiere.AlthoughMillermadeanumberofmemorable

countributionstotheAmericantheater,thisworkisunquestionablythepinnacleofhisachievement.InWillyLoman,

hehasgivenusafigurewhoisatoncebothrepresentativeandunique,whosedesperateplightisconveyedthrough

memorabledialogueandscenesofalmostunbearablepainfulnessandintensity.

CAST

WillyLoman

Linda

Biff

Charley

UncleBen

HowardWagner

Jenny

Happy

Bernard

TheWoman

Stanley

MissForsythe

Letta

SCENE.TheactiontakesplaceinWillyLoman'shouseandyardandinvariousplaceshevisitsintheNewYork

andBostonoftoday.Throughouttheplay,inthestagedirections,leftandrightmeanstageleftandstageright.

ActI

Amelodyisheard,playeduponaflute.Itissmallandfine,tellingofgrassandtreesandthehorizon.The

curtainrises.

BeforeusistheSalesman'shouse.Weareawareoftowering,angularshapesbehindit,surroundingitonall

sides.Onlythebluelightoftheskyfallsuponthehouseandforestage;thesurroundingareashowsanangry

glowoforange.Asmorelightappears,weseeasolidvaultofapartmenthousesaroundthesmall,fragile-

seeminghome.Anairofthedreamclingstotheplace,adreamrisingoutofreality.Thekitchenatcenterseems

actualenough,forthereisakitchentablewiththreechairs,andarefrigerator.Butnootherfixturesareseen.

Atthebackofthekitchenthereisadrapedentrance,whichleadstothelivingroom.Totherightofthekitchen,

onalevelraisedtwofeet,isabedroomfurnishedonlywithabrassbedsteadandastraightchair.Onashelf

overthebedasilverathletictrophystands.Awindowopensontotheapartmenthouseattheside.

Behindthekitchen,onalevelraisedsixandahalffeet,istheboys'bedroom,atpresentbarelyvisible.Two

bedsaredimlyseen,andatthebackoftheroomadormerwindow.(Thisbedroomisabovetheunseenliving

room.)Attheleftastairwaycurvesuptoitfromthekitchen.

Theentiresettingiswhollyor,insomeplaces,partiallytransparent.Theroof-lineofthehouseisone-

dimensional;underandoveritweseetheapartmentbuildings.Beforethehouseliesanapron,curvingbeyond

theforestageintotheorchestra.ThisforwardareaservesasthebackyardaswellasthelocaleofallWilly's

imaginingsandofhiscityscenes.Whenevertheactionisinthepresenttheactorsobservetheimaginarywall­

lines,enteringthehouseonlythroughthedoorattheleft.Butinthescenesofthepasttheseboundariesare

broken,andcharactersenterorleavearoombystepping^throughnawallontotheforestage.

Fromtheright,WillyLoman,theSalesman,enters,carryingtwolargesamplecases.Thefluteplayson.He

hearsbutisnotawareofit.Heispastsixtyyearsofage,dressedquietly.Evenashecrossesthestagetothe

doorwayofthehouse,hisexhaustionisapparent.Heunlocksthedoor,comesintothekitchen,andthankfully

letshisburdendown,feelingthesorenessofhispalms.Aword-sighescapeshislips——itmightbe,“Oh,boy,oh,

boy.MHeclosesthedoor,thencarrieshiscasesoutintothelivingroom,throughthedrapedkitchendoorway.

Linda,hiswife,hasstirredinherbedattheright.Shegetsoutandputsonarobe,listening.Mostoftenjovial,

shehasdevelopedanironrepressionofherexceptionstoWillybehavior-shemorethanloveshim,she

admireshim,asthoughhismercurialnature,histemper,hismassivedreamsandlittlecruelties,servedher

onlyassharpremindersoftheturbulentlongingswithinhim,longingswhichshesharesbutlacksthe

temperamenttoutterandfollowtotheirend.

Linda(hearingWillyoutsidethebedroom,callswithsometrepidation).Willy!

Willy:It'sallright.Icameback.

Linda:Why?Whathappened?(Slightpause.)Didsomethinghappen,Willy?

Willy:No,nothinghappened.

Linda:Youdidn'tsmashthecar,didyou?

Willy(withcasualirritation):Isaidnothinghappened.Didn'tyouhearme?

Linda:Don'tyoufeelwell?

Willy:Iamtiredtothedeath.(Theflutehasfadedaway.Hesitsonthebedbesideher,alittlenumb.)Icouldn't

makeit.Ijustcouldn'tmakeit,Linda.

Linda(verycarefully,delicately):Wherewereyouallday?Youlookterrible.

Willy:IgotasfarasalittleaboveYonkers.Istoppedforacupofcoffee.Maybeitwasthecoffee.

Linda:What?

Willy(afterapause),.Isuddenlycouldn'tdriveanymore.Thecarkeptgoingontotheshoulder,y'know?

Linda(helpfully),.Oh.Maybeitwasthesteeringagain.Idon'tthinkAngeloknowstheStudebaker.

Willy:No,it'sme,it'sme.SuddenlyIrealizeI'mgoin,sixtymilesanhourandIdon'trememberthelastfive

minutes.Fm-Ican'tseemto-keepmymindtoit.

Linda:Maybeit'syourglasses.Youneverwentforyournewglasses.

Willy:No,Iseeeverything.Icamebacktenmilesanhour.IttookmenearlyfourhoursfromYonkers.

Linda(resigned):Well,youUIjusthavetotakearest.Willy,youcan'tcontinuethisway.

Willy:IjustgotbackfromFlorida.

Linda:Butyoudidn'trestyourmind.Yourmindisoveractive,andthemindiswhatcounts,dear.

Willy:I'llstartoutinthemorning.MaybeI'llfeelbetterinthemorning.(Sheistakingoffhisshoes.)These

goddamarchsupportsarekillingme.

Linda:Takeanaspirin.ShouldIgetyouanaspirin?It'llsootheyou.

Willy(withwonder):Iwasdrivingalong,youunderstand?AndIwasfine.Iwasevenobservingthescenery.

Youcanimagine,melookingatscenery,ontheroadeveryweekofmylife.Butit'ssobeautifulupthere,

Linda,thetreesaresothick,andthesuniswarm.Iopenedthewindshieldandjustletthewarmairbathe

overme.AndthenallofasuddenI'mgoin'offtheroad!Fmtellin5ya,Iabsolutelyforgot1wasdriving.If

I'd'vegonetheotherwayoverthewhitelineImight'vekilledsomebody.SoIwentonagain—andfive

minuteslaterFmdreamin'again,andInearly——(Hepressestwofingersagainsthiseyes.)Ihavesuch

thoughts,Ihavesuchstrangethoughts.

Linda:Willy,dear.Talktothemagain.There'snoreasonwhyyoucan'tworkinNewYork.

Willy:Theydon'tneedmeinNewYork.TmtheNewEnglandman.I'mvitalinNewEngland.

Linda:Butyou'resixtyyearsold.Theycan'texpectyoutokeeptravelingeveryweek.

Willy:rilhavetosendawiretoPortland.I'msupposedtoseeBrownandMorrisontomorrowmorningatten

o'clocktoshowtheline.Goddammit,Icouldsellthem!(Hestartsputtingonhisjacket.)

Linda(takingthejacketfromhim):Whydon'tyougodowntotheplacetomorrowandtellHowardyou've

simplygottoworkinNewYork?You'retooaccommodating,dear.

Willy:IfoldmanWagnerwasaliveI'dabeeninchargeofNewYorknow!Thatmanwasaprince,hewasa

masterfulman.Butthatboyofhis,thatHoward,hedon'tappreciate.WhenIwentnorththefirsttime,the

WagnerCompanydidn'tknowwhereNewEnglandwas!

Linda:Whydon'tyoutellthosethingstoHoward,dear?

Willy(encouraged):Iwill,Idefinitelywill.Isthereanycheese?

Linda:I'Hmakeyouasandwich.

Willy:No,gotosleep.Tiltakesomemilk.Tilbeuprightaway.Theboysin?

Linda:They'resleeping.HappytookBiffonadatetonight.

Willy(interested)'.Thatso?

Linda:Itwassonicetoseethemshavingtogether,onebehindtheother,inthebathroom.Andgoingout

together.Younotice?Thewholehousesmellsofshavinglotion.

Willy:Figureitout.Workalifetimetopayoffahouse.Youfinallyownit,andthere'snobodytoliveinit.

Linda:Well,dear,lifeisacastingoff.It'salwaysthatway.

Willy:No,no,somepeople-somepeopleaccomplishsomething.DidBiffsayanythingafterIwentthis

morning?

Linda:Youshouldn'thavecriticizedhim,Willy,especiallyafterhejustgotoffthetrain.Youmustn'tloseyour

temperwithhim.

Willy:WhenthehelldidIlosemytemper?1simplyaskedhimifhewasmakinganymoney.Isthatacriticism?

Linda:But,dear,howcouldhemakeanymoney?

Willy(worriedandangered):There'ssuchanundercurrentinhim.Hebecameamoodyman.Didheapologize

whenIleftthismorning?

Linda:Hewascrestfallen,Willy.Youknowhowheadmiresyou.Ithinkifhefindshimself,thenyou'llbothbe

happierandnotfightanymore.

Willy:Howcanhefindhimselfonafarm?Isthatalife?Afarmhand?Inthebeginning,whenhewasyoung,I

thought,well,ayoungman,it'sgoodforhimtotramparound,takealotofdifferentjobs.Butit'smore

thantenyearsnowandhehasyettomakethirty-fivedollarsaweek!

Linda:He'sfindinghimself,Willy.

Willy:Notfindingyourselfattheageofthirty-fourisadisgrace!

Linda:Shh!

Willy:Thetroubleishe'slazy,goddammit!

Linda:Willy,please!

Willy:Biffisalazybum.

Linda:They'resleeping.Getsomethingtoeat.Goondown.

Willy:Whydidhecomehome?Iwouldliketoknowwhatbroughthimhome.

Linda:Idon'tknow.Ithinkhe'sstilllost,Willy.Ithinkhe'sverylost.

Willy:BiffLomanislost.Inthegreatestcountryintheworldayoungmanwithsuch—personalattractiveness,

getslost.Andsuchahardworker.There'sonethingaboutBiff-he'snotlazy.

Linda:Never.

Willy(withpityandresolve):I'llseehiminthemorning.Tilhaveanicetalkwithhim.Filgethimajobselling.

Hecouldbebiginnotime.MyGod!Rememberhowtheyusedtofollowhimaroundinhighschool?When

hesmiledatoneofthemtheirfaceslitup.Whenhewalkeddownthestreet...(Heloseshimselfin

reminiscences.)

Linda(tryingtobringhimoutWilly,dear,IgotanewkindofAmerican-typecheesetoday.It'swhipped.

Willy:WhydoyougetAmericanwhenIlikeSwiss?

Linda:Ijustthoughtyou'dlikeachange一

Willy:1don'twantachange!IwantSwisscheese.Whyam1alwaysbeingcontradicted?

Linda(withacoveringlaugh):Ithoughtitwouldbeasurprise.

Willy:Whydon'tyouopenawindowinhere,forGod'ssake?

Linda(withinfinitepatience):They'reallopen,dear.

Willy:Thewaytheyboxedusinhere.Bricksandwindows,windowsandbricks.

Linda:Weshould'veboughtthelandnextdoor.

Willy:Thestreetislinedwithcars.There'snotabreathoffreshairintheneighborhood.Thegrassdon'tgrow

anymore,youcan'traiseacarrotinthebackyard.Theyshould'vehadalawagainstapartmenthouses.

Rememberthosetwobeautifulelmtreesoutthere?WhenIandBiffhungtheswingbetweenthem?

Linda:Yeah,likebeingamillionmilesfromthecity.

Willy:Theyshould'vearrestedthebuilderforcuttingthosedown.Theymassacredtheneighborhood.(Lost.)

MoreandmoreIthinkofthoseclays,Linda.Thistimeofyearitwaslilacandwisteria.Andthenthe

peonieswouldcomeout,andthedaffodils.Whatfragranceinthisroom!

Linda:Well,afterall,peoplehadtomovesomewhere.

Willy:No,there'smorepeoplenow.

Linda:Idon'tthinkthere'smorepeople.Ithink一

Willy:There'smorepeople!That'swhat'sruiningthiscountry!Populationisgettingoutofcontrol.The

competitionismaddening!Smellthestinkfromthatapartmenthouse!Andanotherontheotherside...

Howcantheywhipcheese?

OnWillyfslastline,BiffandHappyraisethemselvesupintheirbeds,listening.

Linda:Godown,tryit.Andbequiet.

Willy(turningtoLinda,guiltily):You'renotworriedaboutme,areyou,sweetheart?

Biff:What'sthematter?

Happy:Listen!

Linda:You'vegottoomuchontheballtoworryabout.

Willy:You'remyfoundationandmysupport,Linda.

Linda:Justtrytorelax,dear.Youmakemountainsoutofmolehills.

Willy:Iwon'tfightwithhimanymore.IfhewantstogobacktoTexas,lethimgo.

Linda:He'llfindhisway.

Willy:Sure.Certainmenjustdon,tgetstartedtilllaterinlife.LikeThomasEdison,Ithink.OrB.F.Goodrich.

Oneofthemwasdeaf.(Hestartsforthebedroomdoorway.)rilputmymoneyonBiff.

Linda:AndWilly-ifit'swarmSundaywe'lldriveinthecountry.Andwe'llopenthewindshield,andtake

lunch.

Willy:No,thewindshieldsdon'topenonthenewcars.

Linda:Butyouopenedittoday.

Willy:Me?Ididn't.(Hestops.)Nowisn'tthatpeculiar!Isn'tthataremarkable——(Hebreaksoffinamazement

andfrightasthefluteishearddistantly.)

Linda:What,darling?

Willy:Thatisthemostremarkablething.

Linda:What,dear?

Willy:IwasthinkingoftheChewy.(Slightpause.)Nineteentwenty-eight...whenIhadthatredChewy一

(Breaksoff.)Thatfunny?IcouldaswornIwasdrivingthatChewytoday.

Linda:Well,thal'snothing.Somethingmusfveremindedyou.

Willy:Remarkable.Ts.Rememberthosedays?ThewayBiffusedtosimonizethatcar?Thedealerrefusedto

believetherewaseightythousandmilesonit.(Heshakeshishead.)Heh!(ToLinda.)Closeyoureyes,I'll

berightup.(Hewalksoutofthebedroom.)

Happy(toBiff):Jesus,maybehesmashedupthecaragain!

Linda(callingafterWilly):Becarefulonthestairs,dear!Thecheeseisonthemiddleshelf!(Sheturns,goes

overtothebed,takeshisjacket,andgoesoutofthebedroom.)

Lighthasrisenontheboys'room.Unseen,Willyisheardtalkingtohimself,uEightythousandmiles,and

alittlelaugh.Biffgetsoutofbed,comesdownstageabit,andstandsattentively.Biffistwoyearsolder

thanhisbrotherHappy,wellbuilt,butinthesedaysbearsawornairandseemslessself-assured.Hehas

succeededless,andhisdreamsarestrongerandlessacceptablethanHappy's.Happyistall,powerfully

made.Sexualityislikeavisiblecoloronhim,orascentthatmanywomenhavediscovered.He,likehis

brother,islost,butinadifferentway,forhehasneverallowedhimselftoturnhisfacetowarddefeatand

isthusmoreconfusedandhardskinned,althoughseeminglymorecontent.

Happy(gettingoutofbed):He'sgoingtogethislicensetakenawayifhekeepsthatup.Fmgettingnervous

abouthim,y'know,Biff?

Biff:Hiseyesaregoing.

Happy:No,I'vedrivenwithhim.Heseesallright.Hejustdoesn'tkeephismindonit.Idroveintothecitywith

himlastweek.Hestopsatagreenlightandthenitturnsredandhegoes.(Helaughs.)

Biff:Maybehe'scolor-blind.

Happy:Pop?Whyhe'sgotthefinesteyeforcolorinthebusiness.Youknowthat.

Biff(sittingdownonhisbed):Tmgoingtosleep.

Happy:You'renotstillsouronDad,areyou,Biff?

Biff:He'sallright,Iguess.

Willy(underneaththem,inthelivingroom):Yes,sir,eightythousandmiles-eighty-twothousand!

Biff:Yousmoking?

Happy(holdingoutapackofcigarettes),.Wantone?

Biff(takingacigarette),.IcanneversleepwhenIsmellit.

Willy:Whatasimonizingjob,heh!

Happy(withdeepsentiment):Funny,Biff,y'know?Ussleepinginhereagain?Theoldbeds.(Hepatshisbed

affectionately.)Allthetalkthatwentacrossthosetwobeds,huh?Ourwholelives.

Biff:Yeah.Lottadreamsandplans.

Happy(withadeepandmasculinelaugh):Aboutfivehundredwomenwouldliketoknowwhatwassaidinthis

room.

Theyshareasoftlaugh.

Biff:RememberthatbigBetsysomething—whatthehellwashername—overonBushwickAvenue?

Happy(combinghishair):Withthecolliedog!

Biff:That*stheone.Igotyouinthere,remember?

Happy:Yeah,thatwasmyfirsttime——Ithink.Boy,therewasapig!(Theylaugh,almostcrudely.)Youtaught

meeverything1knowaboutwomen.Don'tforgetthat.

Biff:Ibetyouforgothowbashfulyouusedtobe.Especiallywithgirls.

Happy:Oh,Istillam,Biff.

Biff:Oh,goon.

Happy:Ijustcontrolit,that'sall.IthinkIgotlessbashfulandyougotmoreso.Whathappened,Biff?Where's

theoldhumor,theoldconfidence?{HeshakesBiff'sknee.Biffgetsupandmovesrestlesslyaboutthe

room.)What'sthematter?

Biff:WhydoesDadmockmeallthetime?

Happy:He'snotmockingyou,he一

Biff:EverythingIsaythere'satwistofmockeryonhisface.Ican'tgetnearhim.

Happy:Hejustwantsyoutomakegood,that'sall.IwantedtotalktoyouaboutDadforalongtime,Biff.

Something's—happeningtohim.He—talkstohimself.

Biff:Inoticedthatthismorning.Buthealwaysmumbled.

Happy:Butnotsonoticeable.ItgotsoembarrassingIsenthimtoFlorida.Andyouknowsomething?Mostof

thetimehe'stalkingtoyou.

Biff:What'shesayaboutme?

Happy:Ican'tmakeitout.

Biff:What'shesayaboutme?

Happy:Ithinkthefactthatyou'renotsettled,thatyou'restillkindofupintheair...

Biff:There'soneortwootherthingsdepressinghim,Happy.

Happy:Whatdoyoumean?

Biff:Nevermind.Justdon5tlayitallonme.

Happy:ButIthinkifyoujustgotstarted-Imean-isthereanyfutureforyououtthere?

Biff:Itellya,Hap,Idon'lknowwhatthefutureis.Idon'tknow—whatTmsupposedtowant.

Happy:Whatdoyoumean?

Biff:Well,Ispentsixorsevenyearsafterhighschooltryingtoworkmyselfup.Shippingclerk,salesman,

businessofonekindoranother.Andit'sameaslymannerofexistence.Togetonthatsubwayonthehot

morningsinsummer.Todevoteyourwholelifetokeepingstock,ormakingphonecalls,orsellingor

buying.Tosufferfiftyweeksoftheyearforthesakeofatwo-weekvacation,whenallyoureallydesireisto

beoutdoors,withyourshirtoff.Andalwaystohavetogetaheadofthenextfella.Andstill—thal'showyou

buildafuture.

Happy:Well,youreallyenjoyitonafarm?Areyoucontentoutthere?

Biff(withrisingagitation):Hap,Tvehadtwentyorthirtydifferentkindsofjobssince1lefthomebeforethewar,

anditalwaysturnsoutthesame.Ijustrealizeditlately.InNebraskawhenIherdedcattle,andtheDakotas,

andArizona,andnowinTexas.It'swhyIcamehomenow,Iguess,becauseIrealizedit.ThisfarmIwork

on,it'sspringtherenow,see?Andthey'vegotaboutfifteennewcolts.Therenothingmoreinspiringor——

beautifulthanthesightofamareandanewcolt.Andit'scooltherenow,see?Texasiscoolnow,andit's

spring.AndwheneverspringcomestowhereIam,Isuddenlygetthefeeling,myGod,I'mnotgettin'

anywhere!Whattheheliam1doing,playingaroundwithhorses,twenty-eightdollarsaweek!Fmthirty-

fouryearsold,Ioughtabemakin,myfuture.That'swhenIcomerunninghome.Andnow,Igethere,andI

don'tknowwhattodowithmyself.(Afterapause.)I'vealwaysmadeapointofnotwastingmylife,and

everytimeIcomebackhereIknowthatallTvedoneistowastemylife.

Happy:You'reapoet,youknowthat,Biff?You'rea——you'reanidealist!

Biff:No,I'mmixedupverybad.MaybeIoughtagetmarried.MaybeIoughtagetstuckintosomething.Maybe

that'smytrouble.I'mlikeaboy.I'mnotmarried,I'mnotinbusiness,Ijust一I'mlikeaboy.Areyou

content,Hap?You'reasuccess,aren'tyou?Areyoucontent?

Happy:Hell,no!

Biff:Why?You'remakingmoney,aren'tyou?

Happy(movingaboutwithenergy,expressiveness):AllIcandonowiswaitforthemerchandisemanagertodie.

AndsupposeIgettobemerchandisemanager?He'sagoodfriendofmine,andhejustbuiltaterrificestate

onLongIsland.Andhelivedthereabouttwomonthsandsoldit,andnowhe*sbuildinganotherone.He

can'tenjoyitonceit'sfinished.AndIknowthat'sjustwhatIwoulddo.Idon'tknowwhatthehellI'm

workin'for.SometimesIsitinmyapartment——allalone.AndIthinkoftherentI'mpaying.Andit'scrazy.

Butthen,it'swhatIalwayswanted.Myownapartment,acar,andplentyofwomen.Andstill,goddammit,

I'mlonely.

Biff(withenthusiasm):Listen,whydon'tyoucomeoutWestwithme?

Happy:YouandI,heh?

Biff:Sure,maybewecouldbuyaranch.Raisecattle,useourmuscles.Menbuiltlikeweareshouldbeworking

outintheopen.

Happy(avidly):TheLomanBrothers,heh?

Biff(withvastaffection):Sure,we'dbeknownalloverthecounties!

Happy(enthralled):That'swhatIdreamabout,Biff.SometimesIwanttojustripmyclothesoffinthemiddle

ofthestoreandoutboxthatgoddammerchandisemanager.ImeanIcanoutbox,outrun,andoutliftanybody

inthatstore,andIhavetotakeordersfromthosecommon,pettysons-of-bitchestillIcan'tstanditany

more.

Biff:Tmtellin,you,kid,ifyouwerewithmeI'dbehappyoutthere.

Happy(enthused):See,Biff,everybodyaroundmeissofalsethatPmconstantlyloweringmyideals…

Biff:Baby,togetherwe'dstandupforoneanother,we'dhavesomeonetotrust.

Happy:IfIwerearoundyou一

Biff:Hap,thetroubleisweweren'tbroughtuptogrubformoney.Idon'tknowhowtodoit.

Happy:NeithercanI!

Biff:Thenlet*sgo!

Happy:Theonlythingis-whatcanyoumakeoutthere?

Biff:Butlookatyourfriend.Buildsanestateandthenhasn'tthepeaceofmindtoliveinit.

Happy:Yeah,butwhenhewalksintothestorethewavespartinfrontofhim.That'sfifty-twothousanddollars

ayearcomingthroughtherevolvingdoor,andIgotmoreinmypinkyfingerthanhe'sgotinhishead.

Biff:Yeah,butyoujustsaid一

Happy:Igottashowsomeofthosepompous,self-importantexecutivesovertherethatHapLomancanmakethe

grade.Iwanttowalkintothestorethewayhewalksin.ThenI'Hgowithyou,Biff.We'llbetogetheryet,I

swear.Butlakethosetwowehadtonight.Nowweren'ttheygorgeouscreatures?

Biff:Yeah,yeah,mostgorgeousI'vehadinyears.

Happy:IgetthatanytimeIwant,Biff.WheneverIfeeldisgusted.Theonlytroubleis,itgetslikebowlingor

something.Ijustkeepknockin'themoveranditdoesn'tmeananything.Youstillrunaroundalot?

Biff:Naa.I'dliketofindagirl—steady,somebodywithsubstance.

Happy:That'swhatIlongfor.

Biff:Goon!You'dnevercomehome.

Happy:Iwould!Somebodywithcharacter,withresistance!LikeMom,y'know?You'regonnacallmeabastard

when1tellyouthis.ThatgirlCharlotteIwaswithtonightisengagedtobemarriedinfiveweeks.(Hetries

onhisnewhat.)

Biff:Nokiddin'!

Happy:Sure,theguy'sinlineforthevice-presidencyofthestore.Idon'tknowwhatgetsintome,maybeIjust

haveanoverdevelopedsenseofcompetitionorsomething,butIwentandruinedher,andfurthermoreI

can'tgetridofher.Andhe'sthethirdexecutiveI'vedonethatto.Isn'tthatacrummycharacteristic?And

totopitall,Igototheirweddings!{Indignantly,butlaughing.)LikeI'mnotsupposedtotakebribes.

Manufacturersoffermeahundred-dollarbillnowandthentothrowanordertheirway.Youknowhow

honestIam,butit'slikethisgirl,see.Ihatemyselfforit.BecauseIdon'twantthegirl,and,still,Itakeit

and—Iloveit!

Biff:Let'sgotosleep.

Happy:Iguesswedidn'tsettleanything,heh?

Biff:IjustgotoneideathatIthinkI'mgoingtotry.

Happy:What'sthat?

Biff:RememberBillOliver?

Happy:Sure,Oliverisverybignow.Youwanttoworkforhimagain?

Biff:No,butwhenIquithesaidsomethingtome.Heputhisarmonmyshoulder,andhesaid,“Biff,ifyouever

needanything,cometome.^^

Happy:Irememberthat.Thatsoundsgood.

Biff:1thinkI'llgotoseehim.IfIcouldgettenthousandorevensevenoreightthousanddollarsIcouldbuya

beautifulranch.

Happy:Ibethe'dbackyou.'Causehethoughthighlyofyou,Biff.Imean,theyalldo.You'rewellliked,Biff.

That'swhyIsaytocomebackhere,andwebothhavetheapartment.AndI'mtellin'you,Biff,anybabe

youwant...

Biff:No,witharanchIcoulddotheworkIlikeandstillbesomething.Ijustwonderthough.IwonderifOliver

stillthinksIstolethatcartonofbasketballs.

Happy:Oh,heprobablyforgotthatlongago.It'salmosttenyears.You'retoosensitive.Anyway,hedidn't

reallyfireyou.

Biff:Well,Ithinkhewasgoingto.Ithinkthat'swhy1quit.Iwasneversurewhetherheknewornot.Iknowhe

thoughttheworldofme,though.Iwastheonlyonehe'dletlockuptheplace.

Willy(below):Yougonnawashtheengine,Biff?

Happy:Shh!

BifflooksatHappy,whoisgazingdown,listening.Willyismumblingintheparlor.

Happy:Youhearthat?

Theylisten.Willylaughswarmly.

Biff(growingangry),.Doesn'theknowMomcanhearthat?

Willy:Don'tgetyoursweaterdirty,Biff!

AlookofpaincrossesBiff'sface.

Happy:Isn'tthatterrible?Don'tleaveagain,willyou?You'Hfindajobhere.Yougottastickaround.Idon't

knowwhattodoabouthim,it'sgettingembarrassing.

Willy:Whatasimonizingjob!

Biff:Mom'shearingthat!

Willy:Nokiddin',Biff,yougotadate?Wonderful!

Happy:Goontosleep.Buttalktohiminthemorning,willyou?

Biff{reluctantlygettingintobed):Withherinthehouse.Brother!

Happy{gettingintobed