You’ve 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.
WILLY: Yes, yes! Linda, Linda!
[LINDA enters as of old, with the wash. ]
LINDA: Oh, you’re back?
BEN: I haven’t much time.
WILLY: No, wait! Linda, he’s got a proposition for me in Alaska.
LINDA: But you’ve got—[ To BEN] He’s got a beautiful job here.
WILLY: But in Alaska, kid, I could—
LINDA: You’re doing well enough, Willy!
BEN [ to LINDA]: Enough for what, my dear?
LINDA [ frightened of BEN and angry at him ]: Don’t say those things to him! Enough to be happy right here, right now. [ To WILLY, while BEN laughs ] Why must everybody conquer the world? You’re well liked, and the boys love you, and someday—[ to BEN]—why, old man Wagner told him just the other day that if he keeps it up he’ll be a member of the firm, didn’t he, Willy?
WILLY: Sure, sure. I am building something with this firm, Ben, and if a man is building something he must be on the right track, mustn’t he?
BEN: What are you building? Lay your hand on it. Where is it?
WILLY [ hesitantly ]: That’s true, Linda, there’s nothing.
LINDA: Why? [ To BEN] There’s a man eighty-four years old—
WILLY: That’s right, Ben, that’s right. When I look at that man I say, what is there to worry about?
BEN: Bah!
WILLY: It’s true, Ben. All he has to do is go into any city, pick up the phone, and he’s making his living and you know why?
BEN [ picking up his valise ]: I’ve got to go.
WILLY [ holding BEN back ]: Look at this boy!
[BIFF, in his high school sweater, enters carrying suitcase. HAPPY carries BIFF’S shoulder guards, gold helmet, and football pants. ]
WILLY: Without a penny to his name, three great universities are begging for him, and from there the sky’s the limit, because it’s not what you do, Ben. It’s who you know and 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 that’s the wonder, the wonder of this country, that a man can end with diamonds here on the basis of being liked! [ He turns to BIFF.] And that’s why when you get out on that field today it’s important. Because thousands of people will be rooting for you and loving you. [ To BEN, who has again begun to leave ] And Ben! when he walks into a business office his name will sound out like a bell and all the doors will open to him! I’ve seen it, Ben, I’ve seen it a thousand times! You can’t feel it with your hand like timber, but it’s there!
BEN: Good-bye, William.
WILLY: Ben, am I right? Don’t you think I’m right? I value your advice.
BEN: There’s a new continent at your doorstep, William. You could walk out rich. Rich! [ He is gone. ]
WILLY: We’ll do it here, Ben! You hear me? We’re gonna do it here!
[ Young BERNARD rushes in. The gay music of the boys is heard. ]
BERNARD: Oh, gee, I was afraid you left already!
WILLY: Why? What time is it?
BERNARD: It’s half-past one!
WILLY: Well, come on, everybody! Ebbets Field next stop! Where’s the pennants? [ He rushes through the wall-line of the kitchen and out into the living-room. ]
LINDA [ to BIFF]: Did you pack fresh underwear?
BIFF [ who has been limbering up ]: I want to go!
BERNARD: Biff, I’m carrying your helmet, ain’t I?
HAPPY: No, I’m carrying the helmet.
BERNARD: Oh, Biff, you promised me.
HAPPY: I’m carrying the helmet.
BERNARD: How am I going to get in the locker room?
LINDA: Let him carry the shoulder guards. [ She puts her coat and hat on in the kitchen. ]
BERNARD: Can I, Biff? ’Cause I told everybody I’m going to be in the locker room.
HAPPY: In Ebbets Field it’s the clubhouse.
BERNARD: I meant the clubhouse. Biff!
HAPPY: Biff!
BIFF [ grandly, after a slight pause ]: Let him carry the shoulder guards.
HAPPY [ as he gives BERNARD the
WILLY: Yes, yes! Linda, Linda!
[LINDA enters as of old, with the wash. ]
LINDA: Oh, you’re back?
BEN: I haven’t much time.
WILLY: No, wait! Linda, he’s got a proposition for me in Alaska.
LINDA: But you’ve got—[ To BEN] He’s got a beautiful job here.
WILLY: But in Alaska, kid, I could—
LINDA: You’re doing well enough, Willy!
BEN [ to LINDA]: Enough for what, my dear?
LINDA [ frightened of BEN and angry at him ]: Don’t say those things to him! Enough to be happy right here, right now. [ To WILLY, while BEN laughs ] Why must everybody conquer the world? You’re well liked, and the boys love you, and someday—[ to BEN]—why, old man Wagner told him just the other day that if he keeps it up he’ll be a member of the firm, didn’t he, Willy?
WILLY: Sure, sure. I am building something with this firm, Ben, and if a man is building something he must be on the right track, mustn’t he?
BEN: What are you building? Lay your hand on it. Where is it?
WILLY [ hesitantly ]: That’s true, Linda, there’s nothing.
LINDA: Why? [ To BEN] There’s a man eighty-four years old—
WILLY: That’s right, Ben, that’s right. When I look at that man I say, what is there to worry about?
BEN: Bah!
WILLY: It’s true, Ben. All he has to do is go into any city, pick up the phone, and he’s making his living and you know why?
BEN [ picking up his valise ]: I’ve got to go.
WILLY [ holding BEN back ]: Look at this boy!
[BIFF, in his high school sweater, enters carrying suitcase. HAPPY carries BIFF’S shoulder guards, gold helmet, and football pants. ]
WILLY: Without a penny to his name, three great universities are begging for him, and from there the sky’s the limit, because it’s not what you do, Ben. It’s who you know and 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 that’s the wonder, the wonder of this country, that a man can end with diamonds here on the basis of being liked! [ He turns to BIFF.] And that’s why when you get out on that field today it’s important. Because thousands of people will be rooting for you and loving you. [ To BEN, who has again begun to leave ] And Ben! when he walks into a business office his name will sound out like a bell and all the doors will open to him! I’ve seen it, Ben, I’ve seen it a thousand times! You can’t feel it with your hand like timber, but it’s there!
BEN: Good-bye, William.
WILLY: Ben, am I right? Don’t you think I’m right? I value your advice.
BEN: There’s a new continent at your doorstep, William. You could walk out rich. Rich! [ He is gone. ]
WILLY: We’ll do it here, Ben! You hear me? We’re gonna do it here!
[ Young BERNARD rushes in. The gay music of the boys is heard. ]
BERNARD: Oh, gee, I was afraid you left already!
WILLY: Why? What time is it?
BERNARD: It’s half-past one!
WILLY: Well, come on, everybody! Ebbets Field next stop! Where’s the pennants? [ He rushes through the wall-line of the kitchen and out into the living-room. ]
LINDA [ to BIFF]: Did you pack fresh underwear?
BIFF [ who has been limbering up ]: I want to go!
BERNARD: Biff, I’m carrying your helmet, ain’t I?
HAPPY: No, I’m carrying the helmet.
BERNARD: Oh, Biff, you promised me.
HAPPY: I’m carrying the helmet.
BERNARD: How am I going to get in the locker room?
LINDA: Let him carry the shoulder guards. [ She puts her coat and hat on in the kitchen. ]
BERNARD: Can I, Biff? ’Cause I told everybody I’m going to be in the locker room.
HAPPY: In Ebbets Field it’s the clubhouse.
BERNARD: I meant the clubhouse. Biff!
HAPPY: Biff!
BIFF [ grandly, after a slight pause ]: Let him carry the shoulder guards.
HAPPY [ as he gives BERNARD the
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