Imitation of Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman

Arthur Miller

(The knocking is heard again. He takes a few steps away from

her, and she vanishes into the wing. The light follows him, and

now he is facing Young Biff, who carries a suitcase. Biff steps toward him. The music is gone.)

BIFF: Why didn’t you answer?

WILLY: Biff! What are you doing in Boston?

BIFF: Why didn’t you answer? I’ve been knocking for five minutes, I called you on the phone...

WILLY: I just heard you. I was in the bathroom and had the door

shut. Did anything happen home?

BIFF: Dad — I let you down.

WILLY: What do you mean?

BIFF: Dad...

WILLY: Biffo, what’s this about? (Putting his arm around Biff.)

Come on, let’s go downstairs and get you a malted.

BIFF: Dad, I flunked math.

WILLY: Not for the term?

BIFF: The term. I haven’t got enough credits to graduate.

WILLY: You mean to say Bernard wouldn’t give you the answers?

BIFF: He did, he tried, but I only got a sixty-one.

WILLY: And they wouldn’t give you four points?

BIFF: Birnbaum refused absolutely. I begged him, Pop, but he

won’t give me those points. You gotta talk to him before they

close the school. Because if he saw the kind of man you are,

and you just talked to him in your way, I’m sure he’d come

through for me. The class came right before practice, see, and I

didn’t go enough. Would you talk to him? He’d like you, Pop.

You know the way you could talk.

WILLY: You’re on. We’ll drive right back.

BIFF: Oh, Dad, good work! I’m sure he’ll change it for you!

WILLY: Go downstairs and tell the clerk I’m checkin’ out. Go

right down.

BIFF: Yes, sir! See, the reason he hates me, Pop — one day he was

late for class so I got up at the blackboard and imitated him. I

crossed my eyes and talked with a lithp.

WILLY (laughing): You did? The kids like it?

BIFF: They nearly died laughing!

WILLY: Yeah? What’d you do?

BIFF: The thquare root of thixthy twee is... (Willy bursts out

laughing; Biff joins him.) And in the middle of it he walked in!

(Willy laughs and The Woman joins in offstage.)

WILLY (without hesitation): Hurry downstairs and...

BIFF: Somebody in there?

WILLY: No, that was next door. (The Woman laughs offstage.)

BIFF: Somebody got in your bathroom!

WILLY: No, it’s the next room, there’s a party —

THE WOMAN (enters, laughing; she lisps this): Can I come in?

There’s something in the bathtub, Willy, and it’s moving!

(Willy looks at Biff, who is staring open-mouthed and horrified

at The Woman.)

WILLY: Ah — you better go back to your room. They must be

finished painting by now. They’re painting her room so I let

her take a shower here. Go back, go back... (He pushes her.)

THE WOMAN (resisting): But I’ve got to get dressed, Willy, I

can’t —

WILLY: Get out of here! Go back, go back... (Suddenly striding for

the ordinary.) This is Miss Francis, Biff, she’s a buyer. They’re

painting her room. Go back, Miss Francis, go back...

THE WOMAN:But my clothes, I can’t go out naked in the hall!

WILLY (pushing her offstage): Get outa here! Go back, go back!(Biff slowly sits down on his suitcase as the argument continues

offstage.)

THE WOMAN: Where’s my stockings? You promised me stockings, Willy!

WILLY:I have no stockings here!

THE WOMAN: You had two boxes of size nine sheers for me, and

I want them!

WILLY: Here, for God’s sake, will you get outa here!

THE WOMAN (enters holding a box of stockings): I just hope

there’s nobody in the hall. That’s all I hope. (To Biff.) Are you

football or baseball?

BIFF: Football

THE WOMAN (angry, humiliated): That’s me too. G’night. (She

snatches her clothes from Willy, and walks out.)

WILLY (after a pause): Well, better get going. I want to get to the

school first thing in the morning. Get my suits out of the

closet. I’ll get my valise. (Biff doesn’t move.) What’s the matter!

(Biff remains motionless, tears falling.) She’s a buyer. Buys for

J. H. Simmons. She lives down the hall — they’re painting.

You don’t imagine — (He breaks off. After a pause.) Now listen,

pal, she’s just a buyer. She sees merchandise in her room and

they have to keep it looking just so... (Pause. Assuming command.) All right, get my suits. (Biff doesn’t move.) Now stop

crying and do as I say. I gave you an order. Biff, I gave you an

order! Is that what you do when I give you an order? How dare

you cry! (Putting his arm around Biff.) Now look, Biff, when

you grow up you’ll understand about these things. You mustn’t

— you mustn’t overemphasize a thing like this. I’ll see Birnbaum first thing in the morning.

BIFF: Never mind.

WILLY (getting down beside Biff): Never mind! He’s going to give

you those points. I’ll see to it.

BIFF: He wouldn’t listen to you.

WILLY: He certainly will listen to me. You need those points for

the U. of Virginia.

BIFF:I’m not going there.

WILLY: Heh? If I can’t get him to change that mark you’ll make

it up in summer school. You’ve got all summer to —

BIFF (his weeping breaking from him): Dad...

WILLY (infected by it): Oh, my boy...

BIFF: Dad...

WILLY: She’s nothing to me, Biff. I was lonely, I was terrible

lonely.

BIFF: You — you gave her Mama’s stockings! (His tears break

through and he rises to go.)

WILLY (grabbing for Biff):I gave you an order!

BIFF: Don’t touch me, you — liar!

WILLY: Apologize for that!

BIFF: You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! (Overcome, he

turns quickly and weeping fully goes out with his suitcase.

Willy is left on the floor on his knees.)

WILLY:I gave you an order! Biff, come back here or I’ll beat you!

Come back here! I’ll whip you!

(Stanley comes quickly in from the right and stands in front of

Willy.)

WILLY (shouts at Stanley):I gave you an order...

Hammil:

Death of a Salesman

(The knocking is heard again. He takes a few steps away from her, and she vanishes into the wing. The light follows him, and now he is facing Young Biff, who carries a suitcase. Biff steps towards him. The music is gone. )

Biff: Hey dad!

Willy: Biff! I’m glad you could make it! How was your trip?

Biff: It was great. The car ride took a lot longer than I thought. There was a lot of traffic near the Boston area.

Willy: Well I’m glad you made it son. I have something very important to tell you.

Biff: What is it dad?

Willy: Angela and I are getting married.

Biff: Dad that is great! How did you ask her?

Willy: I took her to her favorite Italian restaurant, La Bella Luna and we had a romantic evening of pasta and her favorite Merlot red wine. We spent hours at the restaurant enjoying our wine and then I ordered us a cheesecake. I considered proposing over dessert but she has never been a huge fan of public affairs. After dinner I took her on a walk near the restaurant. Out of sheer luck I found this gorgeous fountain so I asked her there on the spot.

Biff: That sounds great dad! Congratulations!

Willy: Thank you son. Are you ready to meet her?

Biff: Yeah that would be great.

Willy: She’s on the back porch.

(Biff set his suitcase near the door and he and Willy make their way down stage left. The spotlight shines on them and Angela.)

Willy: Angela I would like you to meet my eldest son Biff.

Angela: It’s great to meet you Biff.
Biff: You too Angela. Congratulations on the engagement. Dad  just got done telling me the story.

Angela: Thank you very much. It was very unexpected but such a great surprise.

Willy: How about some wine to celebrate?

(Willy exits towards stage top stage right. The light fades off him and continues shining on Angela and Biff.)

Angela: So Biff, I hear that you are going to school to be a lawyer. Is that right?

Biff: Yes ma’am that is correct. I will be graduating next year.

Angela: Are you enjoying school?

Biff: Yes I am. My football season just ended so my life won’t be as hectic but I will enjoy the peace.

Angela: What position did you play?

Biff: I played offense. It was my first year of playing but I had a lot of fun. If I play next year you and dad should come to one of my games. We get a pretty good turnout.

Angela: That would be a lot of fun. I’m always telling Willy we need to get out of Belmont.

(Willy returns down stage right with wine in hand)

Willy: I would like to make a toast. It’s not very often that I get to see my son but to have both my son and my fiancé in the room is a rare delicacy. Cheers to an amazing life ahead.

Angela: Cheers.

Biff: Cheers.