The Man Who Had All the Luck by Arthur Miller Page B

He walks to the door, past DAVID, and goes out. ]
    Curtain.

ACT THREE

Scene i
    Living room. Night in the following February.
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    J.B. is asleep on the couch. SHORY and GUS are silently playing cards and smoking at a table near the fireplace. Snow can be seen on the window muntins. Several coats on the rack. Presently . . .
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    GUS: There’s no brainwork in this game. Let me teach you claviash.
    SHORY: I can win all the money I need in rummy and pinochle. Play.
    GUS: You have no intellectual curiosity.
    SHORY: No, but you can slip me a quarter. [ Showing his hand. ] Rummy.
    Enter BELLE from the stairs.
    GUS [ to BELLE]: Everything all right?
    BELLE [ half turns to him, holding blanket forth ]: She keeps sweating up all the blankets. That poor girl.
    GUS: The doctor says anything?
    BELLE: Yes . . . [ Thinks. ] . . . he said, go down and get a dry blanket.
    GUS: I mean, about when it will be coming along?
    BELLE: Oh, you can’t tell about a baby. That’s one thing about them, they come most any time. Sometimes when you don’t expect it, and sometimes when you do expect it. [ She goes up to door and turns again. ] Why don’t Davey buy a baby carriage?
    GUS: Didn’t he? I suppose he will.
    BELLE: But how can you have a baby without a baby carriage?
    SHORY: You better blow your nose.
    BELLE: I haven’t time! [ She blows her nose and goes out, up left. ]
    SHORY: A quarter says it’s a boy. [ Tosses a quarter on the table. ]
    GUS: It’s a bet. You know, statistics show more girls is born than boys. You should’ve asked me for odds.
    SHORY: Dave Beeves doesn’t need statistics, he wants a boy. Matter of fact, let’s raise it—a dollar to your half that he’s got a boy tonight.
    GUS: Statistically I would take the bet, but financially I stand pat. Enter DAVID from left door to outside. He is dressed for winter. It is immediately evident that a deep enthusiasm, a ruddy satisfaction is upon him. He wears a strong smile. He stamps his feet a little as he removes his gloves, and then his short coat, muffler, hat, leaving a sweater on. As he closes the door.
    DAVID: How’m I doing upstairs?
    GUS: So far she only sweats.
    DAVID: Sweating! Is that normal?
    GUS: Listen, she ain’t up there eating ice cream.
    DAVID [ goes to the fireplace, rubs his hands before it. Of J.B. as though amused ]: The least little thing happens and he stays home from work. He’s been here all day.
    GUS: Certain men like to make holidays. A new kid to him is always a holiday.
    DAVID [ he looks around ]: What a fuss.
    GUS: You’re very calm. Surprising to me. Don’t you feel nervous?
    SHORY [ to Gus ]: You seen too many movies. What’s the use of him pacing up and down?
    DAVID [ with an edge of guilt ]: I got the best doctor; everything she needs. I figure, whatever’s going to happen’ll happen. After all, I can’t . . .
    Breaks off. In a moment BELLE enters from the left door, carrying a different blanket. She goes toward the stair landing. DAVID finally speaks, unable to restrain it.
    Belle . . . [ She stops. He goes to her, restraining anxiety. ]
    Would you ask the doctor . . . if he thinks it’s going to be very hard for her, heh?
    BELLE: He told me to shut up.
    DAVID: Then ask J.B.’s wife.
    BELLE: She told me to shut up too. But I’ll ask her.
    BELLE goes up the stairs. DAVID watches her ascend a moment.
    DAVID [ looking upstairs ]: That girl is going to live like a queen after this. [ Turns to them, banging his fist in his palm. ] Going to make a lot of money this year.
    SHORY: Never predict nothin’ but the weather, half an hour ahead.
    DAVID: Not this time. I just finished mating my mink, and I think every one of them took.
    GUS: All finished? That’s fine.
    A knock is heard on the door. DAVID goes to it, opens it. PAT enters. He is dressed in a pea jacket, a wool stocking cap on his head. He carries a duffle bag on his shoulder.
    DAVID: Oh,