Death of a Salesman Page #7

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You're a road man, Willy...

we do a road business.

If I had a spot for ya,

I'd slam ya right in.

But I just don't have

a single solitary spot.

Howard I was with this firm

when your father used to

carry you in here his arms.

I know that.

Your father came to me

the day you were born

and asked me what I thought

of the name of "Howard".

May he rest in peace.

All I need to set my table

is $50 a week.

But where am I

gonna put ya, kid?

It isn't a question of whether

I can sell merchandise, is it?

No, but it's a business, kid, and everybody's

gotta pull his own weight.

You gotta admit,

business is business.

Sure, business is definitely business.

But I didn't become a salesman

just for the money.

But I had bigger opportunities.

Years ago my brother Ben

asked me to go to Alaska

and look after his timberlands

for him.

I'd almost decided to go...

when I ran onto a salesman

in the Parker House.

His name was Dave Singleman.

84 years old, and hed drummed

merchandise in 31 states.

Old Dave!...

Used to go up to his room, yunderstand...

put on his green velvet slippers...

Ill never forget...

Pick up the phone, call the buyers,

and without ever leaving his room...

At the age of 84,

he made a living.

When I saw that

I realized that selling was the

greatest career a man could want.

What could be more satisfying

than to pick up a phone

and be remembered

and loved and helped

by so many different people?

Even when he died, he died

the death of a salesman...

in his green velvet slippers in the smoker

of the 'New York, New Haven & Hartford',

goin' into Boston.

Hundreds of salesmen and buyers

attended his funeral.

Things were sad on a lotta trains

for months after that.

You see in those days there was

personality in it, Howard...

There was respect, and comradeship...

and gratitude in it.

Today, its all cut and dried...

Theres no chance for bringing

friendship to bear... or personality.

You see what I mean?

They dont know me any more.

Thats just the thing, Willy.

If I had $40 a week...

thats all Id need.

$40, Howard!

Kid, I cant take blood

from a stone... I...

All right... The year Al Smith

was nominated...

- Your father came to me...

- I gotta see some people.

I'm talking about your father!

There were promises

made across this desk!

I put thirty-four years

into this firm

and now I cant pay

my insurance!

You cant eat the orange

and throw the peel away...

A man's not a piece of fruit!

Now look, Willy... pull yourself together!

I'll be back.

In 1928, your father, right here

in this office, he promised me...

Mr Wagner...

Dont you remember

what you told me that time?

How you put your hand

on my shoulder...

Howard!

Turn it off!

Now look...

Willy...

I'll get some coffee.

Now Willy... look...

It's alright...

I'll go to Boston.

Willy, you can't go to Boston for us.

I don't want you to represent us

any more.

I've been meaning to tell you

for a long time now.

Howard...

Are you...

Are you firing me?

Well, I think you need

a good long rest, Willy.

When you feel better,

come back...

We'll see if we can

work something out.

I don't earn money, Howard.

- I'm in no position...

- Where are your sons?

Why don't your sons

give you a hand?

I can't throw myself at my sons.

I'm not a cripple!

You gotta let me go to Boston!

Now look... Willy...

I got a line o' people

to see this morning.

Now take 5 minutes out...

get control of yourself...

And then go home, will ya!?

I need the office.

Oh, yeah...

Whenever you can this week

stop by and drop off

your sample cases.

Is... Charley there?

I'll wait.

Charley... you gonna be

in the office for a while?

I gotta see you, right away.

No, won't be long... a few minutes...

I'll take the subway.

Nothing's working out.

No matter how I try.

How's a man supposed to live?

Family... obligations...

Ben... what am I gonna do?

Nothing's working out.

Things work out William

if you know what you're doing.

Ben!

Ben... how?

How, Ben?... How?

Ben!

There must be some answer!

Now let me see, William...

I can offer you

a great opportunity.

I have just bought timberlands

in Alaska... valuable timberlands.

And I could use a man up there

to take care of things for me.

Timberland!... What could be better

for me and the boys

When they finish school they could

grow up in the grand outdoors!

It's a new continent

at your doorstep, William.

Get out of these cities...

They're full of talk and time payments

and courts of law.

Screw on your fists and you can

fight for a fortune up there.

Yes!... Linda! Linda!

Hes got a beautiful job right here

Youre doing well enough, Willy!

Enough for what, my dear?

Enough to be happy right here,

right now.

But Linda, in Alaska...

Why must everybody

conquer the world?

Youre well liked... the boys love you,

and someday...

Why, old man Wagner told him

only the other day

that if he keeps it up

hell be a member of the firm...

Didnt he, Willy?

Sure, Ben, I'm building something

with this firm.

What are you building?

Lay your hand on it. Where is it?

Theres that man 84 years old...

That's right Ben... Dave Singleman...

When I look at that man

I say "what's there to worry about?"

I'm building a position, Ben...

a future!

It isn't something you can feel

in your fingers like timber, Ben.

But it's there.

I know it is.

You take Biff for instance...

18 years old and

not a penny to his name

and 3 great universities

are begging for him.

And from there,

the sky's the limit.

It's not what you do Ben,

but who you know...

The smile on your face...

It's contacts, Ben... contacts!

The whole wealth of Alaska passes over

the lunch table at the Commodore Hotel.

And thats the wonder, the wonder

of this country...

that a man can end with diamonds

on the basis of being well liked!

I've got to go William.

There's a new continent

at your doorstep.

Walk out rich.

Rich!

Ben!...

Gotta do it here!

I wonder if Biff gets to Ebbets Field...

Coming down Beetman's Stairs...

All rooting for him.

And the representatives

from all the colleges...

Buyers from the business world too.

Coz they'll want him!

All be calling for Biff... Loman!

You promised me I could

carry your helmet!

- No, I'm carrying the helmet.

- Biff! You promised me!

Don't fight!...

On a day like this,

you don't fight.

How'm I gonna get in the locker room

without I'm carryin' somethin'?

I'm carryin' the helmet!

Biff!

One of you can carry

the shoulder-guard.

All this fuss over a baseball game.

Charley, how many times do I have to tell you

it's the All-Scholastic Football Championship.

Oh, really?!

Charley, this is no time for kidding.

Careful with my flowers!

You shouldn't have been

so extravagant!

Diamonds wouldn't be extravagant

for you, Linda.

Hey Pop... look!

Hey... that's a fine job of printing!

University of Virginia?!

Pop, I've decided that's where

I'm gonna go when I've graduated.

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