Death of a Salesman Page #8

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Wise decision. Southern schools

are always good.

Good teams... good mannered.

Hey Pop... this afternoon... just for you...

I'm gonna break through

for a touchdown.

Hey, you're supposed to pass.

I'm takin' one play for Pop.

You watch me, Pop.

When I take off my helmet,

that means I'm breakin' out.

And you watch me

crash through that line!

Good boy!

Hey! Here we are!

Ebbets Field!

Let's go, Pop!

Now remember...

You're coming home

this afternoon...

Captain of the All Scholastic

Championship Team of the City of New York.

Got it Pop!...

And remember, pal...

When I take off my helmet,

that touchdown is for YOU!

Knock a homer, Biff!

Knock a homer!

I don't think that's funny, Charley.

This is the greatest day

of his life.

Willy, when are you

gonna grow up?

When this game is over you'll be laughing

out the other side of your face...

They'll be callin' him

another Red Grange.

$25,000 a year.

Who's Red Grange?

Who do you think you are?

Better than everybody else, eh?

You don't know anything.

Put up your hands!

What are you walking away for?

I'm gonna rip the daylights

outta you.

Stand there!

Hey, buddy, who you talkin' to?

Yes?

Mr Bernard, is your father

in his office?

He's in with the accountant

checking over some figures.

Dad'll be back in a minute.

He's very anxious to see him.

Alright... I'll be right out.

Come in, Uncle Willy.

Bernard!

Look who's here!

Good to see you!

What are you doin' here?

Oh I just dropped by

to see my father

and get off my feet

til the train leaves.

I'm going on to Washington

in a few minutes.

- Is he in?

- He's busy.

He'll be back in a minute.

Sit down, Uncle Willy.

What are you doing

in Washington?

Oh, I'm arguing a case down there.

Is that so?

You play tennis, then?

I'm staying with a friend

who has a court.

You don't say! His own tennis court?

Must be fine people, I bet.

They are... very nice.

Dad tells me Biff's in town!

Yeah... Biff's in.

He's working on

a very big deal, Bernard.

Hes been doing well in the West.

But he decided to establish himself here.

Were having dinner.

Really, what kind of a deal's he got?

Well it's... Bill Oliver...

He's a very big sporting goods man.

He wants Biff very badly.

He called him in from the west...

long distance... carte blanche...

Special delivery...

So your friends have their own

private tennis court.

You still with the old firm, Willy?

Yes, I'm...

I'm overjoyed to see how

you made the grade, Bernard.

Its an encouraging thing

to see a young man...

It really looks very good for Biff...

Very.

Bernard...

What's the secret?

What secret?

How did you...?

Why didnt he ever catch on?

I wouldnt know that, Willy.

You're his friend, his boyhood friend.

Theres something I have never

understood about him.

His life ended after

that Ebbets Field game.

From the age of 18, nothing good

ever happened to him.

Willy... maybe this is

none of my business...

Say anything you like, Bernard.

I regard you as a very brilliant man.

I value your advice.

I couldnt advise you, Willy.

Theres just one thing

Ive always wanted to ask you...

Remember when Biff was supposed

to graduate high school...

and the math teacher flunked him...

That teacher ruined his life.

He laid down and died

like a hammer hit him!

No, he didn't!

Biff just got very angry...

but he was ready to enrol

in summer school.

He was?

Didn't seem beaten by it at all.

But then he disappeared from

the block for almost a month...

I got the idea he'd gone up

to New England to see you.

Did he have a talk with you then?

Willy?

Yeah... he came to Boston...

What about it?

Remember those sneakers

Biff used to wear...

the ones with the "University of Virginia"

printed on them?

He was more proud of those

than anything in the world...

Remember?

I remember.

And after he came back

from Boston

he took those sneakers

down in the cellar

and he was going to burn them up

in the furnace.

I tried to stop him...

we had a fist fight!

Lasted at least a half an hour.

Just the two of us punching each other

down there in the cellar...

And crying right through it.

Ive often thought

how strange it was

that I knew when Biff burned up

those sneakers

hed given up his life.

What happened in Boston, Willy?

Nothing.

What do you mean

"What happened?"

A boy lays down... it's my fault?

Willy, now dont get sore!

Well, dont talk to me like that!

What does that mean...

"What happened?"

Son... you're gonna miss that train.

- Yeah, Dad.

- Oh, hello, Willy.

Here, put that in your bag.

Thanks, Dad.

How do you like this kid!...

Gonna argue a case in front of

the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court!

Good seeing you Uncle Willy...

like old times.

Don't worry about it...

everything's gonna be all right.

'bye, Dad!

Knock 'em dead, Bernard!

The Supreme Court!

And he didn't even mention it.

He don't have to...

He's gonna do it.

You never told him

what to do, did you?

You never took any interest in him.

My salvation is, I never took

any interest in anything.

Oh... here's some money, Willy... $50.

- Charley... look...

- I've gotta get back.

I've got my insurance to pay...

If you can manage it,

I need $110.

That's an awful lot of money.

Oh, I'd draw it from the bank...

but then...

Linda would know.

I'm keepin' strict account, Charley.

I'll pay you back every penny.

Charley, I'm strapped.

I'm strapped.

I don't know what to do.

Howard just fired me.

Howard fired you!?

Imagine that! That snotnose!

I named him. I named him Howard.

Willy, when're you gonna realize

those things don't mean anything?

You named him Howard,

but you can't sell that.

The only thing you got in this world

is what you can sell.

And the funny thing is you're a salesman,

and you don't even know that.

I've always tried to think

otherwise, I guess.

I always felt that if a man was impressive,

and well liked, that nothing...

Why must everybody like you?

Why must you always

be impressive?

I know a man

with a lot of money.

In a Turkish bath,

he looks like a butcher.

But with his pockets on,

he's very well liked.

I know you're not

fond of me Willy

and nobody could say

I'm in love with you.

But I'll give you a job.

If you want it.

And you won't have to

go on the road.

I just can't work for you, Charley.

What, are you jealous of me?

I can't work for you, that's all...

Don't ask me why.

Willy, when are you gonna grow up?

You big ignoramus...

You say that again,

I'll rap you one.

I don't care how big you are!

You fool, you...

You've been jealous of me

all your life!

Here...

Pay your insurance.

It's funny, y'know...

After all the highways...

the trains, and the appointments,

and the years...

you end up worth more dead

than alive.

Willy, nobody's worth nothin' dead.

Did you hear what I said, Willy?

Willy!

Apologize to Bernard for me

when you see him.

I didn't mean to argue with him.

He's a fine boy.

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