Death of a Salesman Page #5

---

to fall into his grave...

like an old dog!

Attention...

Attention must finally be paid

to such a person.

You called him crazy...

I didn't mean...

No...

A lot of people think

he's... lost his balance.

But you don't have to be very smart

to know what his trouble is.

The man is exhausted.

Sure.

A small man can be just as

exhausted as a great man.

He works for them

36 years this March...

opens up un-heard-of territories

to their trademark...

and now in his old age

they take away his salary.

I didn't know that, Mom.

You never asked, my dear!

Now that you get your spending money

someplace else

you don't trouble your head

with him.

For the past 5 weeks he's been

on a straight commission.

Like a beginner... an unknown.

Those ungrateful...!

Are they any worse

than his sons?

When he brought them business

when he was young

they were glad to see him.

But now his old friends...

all the old buyers who loved him...

and always managed to hand him

some order in a pinch...

They're all dead, retired.

He drives 250 miles to Boston...

When he gets there

no one knows him anymore.

No one welcomes him.

What goes through a man's mind

driving home without

having earned a cent?

Why shouldn't he talk to himself?

Why?

When he has to go to Charley

and borrow fifty dollars a week...

and pretend to me

that it's his pay?

How long can that go on?

How long?

You see what I'm sitting here

and waiting for?

And you tell me he has no character?

The man who never worked a day

but for your benefit?

When does he get

the medal for that?

Is this his reward... to turn around

at the age of 63...

and find his sons, who he loved

better than his life...

One a philandering bum...

Hey... Mom!

That's all you are, my baby!

And you!

What happened to the love

you had for him?

You were such pals!

How you used to talk to him

on the phone every night!

How lonely he was till

he could get home to you!

All right, Mom... all right...

I'll live here in my room,

and I'll get a job.

I'll just keep away from him,

that's all.

No, Biff. You can't stay here

and fight all the time.

He threw me out of this house.

Remember that!

Why did he do that?

I never knew why.

Because I know he's a fake...

and he doesn't like anybody

around who knows it!

Why a fake? In what way?

What do you mean?

Never mind...

Just don't lay it all at my feet.

It's between him and me.

I'll chip in half my pay check.

He'll be all right.

I'm going to sleep.

He won't be all right.

I hate this city and I'm staying.

Now what do you want?!

He's dying, Biff.

He's been trying to kill himself.

How?

I live from day to day.

Last month... I was looking for a fuse...

The lights blew, and I went

down in the cellar and...

Behind the fuse-box...

it just happened to fall out.

It was a length of rubber pipe...

just short.

No kiddin'!

There was an attachment

on the end of it.

I knew right away.

And sure enough,

on the bottom of the water heater...

there's a new little nipple

on the gas pipe.

Oh, that fool!

Did you have it taken off?

I'm ashamed to.

How can I mention it to him?

Every day I go down and take away

that little rubber pipe.

When he comes home,

I put it back again.

How can I insult him that way?

I don't know what to do.

I tell you I know

every thought in his mind.

It sounds so old-fashioned

and silly, but...

he put his whole life

into you...

and you've turned

your backs on him.

Biff, I swear to you...

his life is in your hands!

All right...

It's all settled now.

I've been remiss. I know that, Mom.

Now I'll stay, and I swear

to you, I'll apply myself.

Mom, you see I just don't fit

in business.

Not that I won't try, though.

I'll try... and I'll make good.

Sure, Biff... sure you will!

The trouble with you in business was

you never tried to please people.

Like when you worked

for Harrison's.

Bob Harrison said you were tops!

Then you go and do

some stupid thing

like whistlin' whole songs

in the elevator, like a comedian.

So what? I like to whistle sometimes.

You don't raise a guy to a responsible job

who whistles in the elevator!

Biff, I'll tell you somethin'

I hate so say...

...but in the business world,

some of 'em think you're crazy.

I don't care what

the business world thinks!

They've laughed at Dad for years,

and you know why?

Because we don't belong

in this nuthouse of a city!

We should be on some open plain...

mixing cement, or...

or carpenters.

A carpenter is allowed to whistle!

I never in my life whistled

in an elevator!

Who in the business world

thinks I'm crazy?

Pop, I didn't mean it like that...

Now don't make a big thing of it.

They laugh at me, eh?

You go into any department store

in Boston...

Filenes, Slatterys, The Hub...

Call out the name Willy Loman

and see what happens!... Big shot!

- All right, Pop.

- Big!

All right!

Why do you always insult me?

I didn't say anything.

He just decided to stay!

Isn't that wonderful, Pop?...

he's settling down...

He's goin' to see

Bill Oliver tomorrow.

Oliver?!...

For what?

He always said he'd stake me.

I'd like to go into business...

So maybe I'll take him up on it.

That's all.

- Isn't that wonderful?

- Don't interrupt!

What's wonderful about it?

There's 50 men in the City of New York

who'd stake him.

Sporting goods, eh?

I guess so. I know something

about it...

Something! You know sporting goods

better than Spalding.

So, what's the proposition?

Pop... I didn't even see him yet.

Then what're you talkin' about?

Pop, wait a minute... I got an idea...

When I was down in Florida

last time

I thought of a great idea

to sell sporting goods.

You and me Biff... we got a line...

the Loman Line.

We train a couple of weeks,

and put on a couple of exhibitions, see?

That's an idea, that's

a 1 million dollar idea!

Wait a minute Pop...

we form 2 basketball teams...

or 2 water-polo teams

and we play each other!

It's a million dollars worth of publicity!

Displays in all the Hotels

"Loman Brothers"...

Baby, could we sell

sporting goods!

Well, I'm in great shape.

You guys together could absolutely

lick the civilized world.

Now tomorrow,

when you see Oliver...

Don't wear sport jacket

and slacks.

A business suit, and talk

as little as possible...

and don't crack any jokes.

He did like me.

He loved you!

Will you stop!

Walk in very serious.

Money is to pass.

Be quiet, fine, and serious.

Everybody likes a kidder,

but nobody lends him money.

And remember, start big

and you'll end big.

How much you gonna ask for?

Gee... I hadn't figured.

No, don't say "gee"...

Gee is a boy's word.

A man walking in for $15,000

does not say "Gee!".

Ten, I think, would be top...

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,

but how you say it...

Because personality

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote