Death of a Salesman Page #9

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They're all fine boys

and they'll end up big... all of them.

Someday they'll all play tennis together.

Wish me luck, Charley.

Biff seen Bill Oliver today.

Good luck.

Charley...

You're the only friend I got.

Isn't that a remarkable thing?

Here you are Mr Loman...

Just the way you like it.

I told the bartender

not to use the bar Scotch.

That's my boy, Stanley.

Tell me, how are

the lobsters tonight?

Oh... great... great!

Then make it three

of the best you got.

I want 'em with the claws.

You better bring some wine, too.

It'll put a head on the meal.

What, did ya hit a number

or somethin'?

No, it's a little celebration

for my old man.

My brother... I think he pulled off

a big deal today...

We're goin' into business together.

Great... great... that's the best for ya...

Family business...

You know what I mean?

Somebody steals...

It's in the family!

What's the matter?

Notice I wasn't lookin'

to the right or left, was I?

My eyes are closed.

How did ya know, Mr Loman?

I got radar or somethin'.

Stanley!

Look at that mouth!

Boy, you've got a life, Mr. Loman.

Wait on her.

Would you like a menu, madam?

No, I'm expecting someone

but I'd like a...

Why don't you bring her...

Excuse me, miss...

excuse me...

Do you mind?

I happen to sell champagne..

I'd like you to try my brand...

Would you bring her

a champagne, Stanley?

Sure... sure.

That's awfully nice of you.

Don't mention it...

It's all company money.

Would you object to a compliment

from a stranger?

You ought to be

on a magazine cover.

I've been on several of them.

What did I say before Stanley?

You see... she's a cover girl!

I can see! I can see!

That's a charming product

to be selling.

Well, gets to be like everythin' else.

Sellin' is sellin', y'know.

Even my trips to Europe

lose their kick after a while.

Yes, I suppose.

Hi ya, Biff!

Hello, kid. Sorry I'm late.

Where's Dad?

I just got here. Uh, Miss...?

Forsythe.

Miss Forsythe?

This is my brother. His name is Biff.

How do you do?

Might of heard of him...

great football player.

Oh really? What team?

Are you familiar with football?

No, I'm afraid I'm not.

Biff is quarterback for the NY Giants.

Well... that is nice, isn't it?

There we are... champagne.

You know what they say

in France, don't you?

"Champagne is ze drink

for ze complexin"

I'm happy to meet you.

Hey, that's my name... Hap!

It's really Harold...

But they called me Happy

at West Point.

Really?!

Isn't Dad coming?

Do you like her?

I don't think there's much chance.

Are you kiddin'?

Where's the old confidence?

Biff... watch this.

Honey...

Busy?

I am.

But I could make a phone call.

Do that, will ya, honey?!

See if you bring a friend for Biff.

He's one of the greatest football

players in the country.

I'll try!

Don't try, honey, try hard.

Isn't that a shame, now?

A beautiful girl like that...

That's why I can't get married!

There's not one good woman

in a thousand...

Cut it out, will ya!

I want to say something to ya...

Did you see Oliver?

Hap...

I did a terrible thing today.

It's been the strangest thing

I've ever been through...

I'm all numb, I swear.

You mean he wouldn't see you?

I waited 6 hours for him!

Kept sending my name in.

But he remembered ya didn't he?

Finally, about 5 o'clock

he comes out.

He didn't remember

who I was or anything.

Did you tell him

my Florida idea?

I saw him for 1 minute!

How did I ever get the idea

I was a salesman...

I even believed it myself!

Well you were... kind of...

I was a shipping clerk.

And I didn't quit... he fired me.

Oh, he didn't really, Biff!

I stole those basketballs, Hap.

He gave me one look

this afternoon...

and I realized what a ridiculous lie

my whole life has been!

We been livin' in a dream...

Yeah... But what did you do then?

Well, he... he left, see... and...

I was all alone

in the waiting room.

Hap...

I don't know what

came over me...

The next thing I know,

I'm in his office...

Panelled walls... everything...

I can't explain it, Hap...

I took his fountain pen.

His... f...?!

He didn't catch you?

I ran out.

I ran down all eleven flights.

I ran and ran and ran.

But that was awful dumb, Biff!

Whatcha do that for?

I don't know!

I don't know.

I had to show 'im.

I had to show 'im!

I... Now look...

You're gonna help me.

I wanna tell Pop.

What, are you crazy?

What do want to go

and do that for?

No, you gotta tell 'im somethin' nice!

Say you got a lunch date

with Oliver tomorrow.

So what do I do tomorrow?

So tomorrow you leave the house see...

and then you come back

tomorrow night and you say

"Oliver's thinkin' it over. "

Then Oliver thinks it over

for a couple of weeks

and gradually it fades away

and nobody's the worse.

I can't do that.

Hap, he's got to understand

I'm not the man

someone lends that kind of money to.

He thinks I been spiting him

all these years and it's killing him.

He's got to face the facts, Hap.

There they are.

Haven't been here in years.

Hasn't changed a bit.

You want a drink, Pop?

You sure?

Make it Scotch, Stanley...

doubles all around.

Tell me, boy... everything go all right?

Well...

I had an experience today...

Terrific, Pop!

What happened?

I want to tell you everything,

from first to last...

It's been a strange day.

Well, I had to wait

quite a while for him...

Oliver?

Yeah, Oliver... All day,

as a matter of cold fact.

And a lot of instances... facts, Pop...

facts about my life came back to me.

Now Pop... you remember

when I worked for Oliver...

Sure I do.

Go on.

You remember Oliver fired me...

and you remember why.

I just want to get

the facts straight.

Now look...

Don't give me a lecture on facts

or stories about the past...

because I'm not interested.

The woods are burning,

you understand?

There's a big blaze going on

all around.

I was fired today.

How could you be?

I was fired!

And I'm looking for a little good news

to tell your mother

because the woman has waited

and the woman has suffered.

The gist of it is that I haven't

got a story left in my head.

Now what've you got

to say to me?

Well?

Here we are, gentlemen.

Three double Scotches.

So tell me...

What kind of a welcome

did he give you?

Well, Pop... he...

How could they fire you!?

I'm out! I'm off!

So he gave you a warm welcome, eh?

Sure, Pop, sure! Warm welcome.

Now that you mention it, Pop... he...

Fine... yeah, he gave me

a fine welcome.

Sure... he... came out very friendly

and all you know...

Shook hands all around.

I was wondering if he'd

even remember you.

Imagine that... man doesn't see him

for 10 or 12 years

and gives him that kind

of a welcome!

No, wait a minute, Pop,

it wasn't quite...

Do you know why

he remembered you?

Because you impressed him

in those days.

Great news, Biff.

Did he take you into the office?

Or did you talk in the waiting room?

He came out first, see...

and...

What'd he say? What'd he do?

Put his arms around you,

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