Death of a Salesman Dialogue Order

Stanley is polishing glasses. He looks up as happy enters, stage right.

He puts a glass in its place as happy takes a seat at the bar:Stanley: Hey Mr. Loman. Long time no see. How ya been?Happy: I’m good.

Working hard. Scotch; make it a double.Stanley: Comin’ right up.Stanley turns to get a glass and places it on the bar counter and pours the scotch:Stanley: How’s the family?Happy: snatches the glass from the bar and drinks: Fine.

Stanley: How’s your brother? Haven’t seen him around here, lately either.Happy: sipping: Good. He’s gone. Went back to work at that ranch in Texas.Stanley: Gone to Texas? I thought your father got him a job selling sporting goods?Happy: shakes his head: Naw, He walked out on it. Left me the fountain pen.

I took the job instead.Stanley: Really?Happy: he chuckles: Yeah. The guy liked my Florida idea.Stanley: Your father must be happy. At least one son is following in his footsteps, so to speak.

Happy: stops and stares at Stanley: Yeah.Stanley: How’s Mr. Loman, Senior? He on the road?Happy: drinks content whole: More please.Stanley: goes on talking as he pours: Yup. Must be tough on your mother with him being on the road all the time. I don’t know how she copes all these years.

Happy: whispers: She copes.Stanley: What?Happy: drinks: Nothing.Stanley: Stanley laughs: Yeah, well. Your mother I’m sure is always happy when your father finally comes home from the road. Happy: stops Stanley with a gesture: Not this time, Stanley.Stanley: What?Happy: lifts his eyes to meet Stanley’s: He’s never coming home to ma again, Stanley.

He’s dead.Stanley: his smile fades and he stares at Happy: I’m so sorry. When it happen?Happy: sighs: About three weeks ago.Stanley: strangely unnerved: What did it?Happy: looks up to meet Stanley’s eyes: He drove off one night and crashed his car.Stanley: Accident? Happy: Looked like one at first, but then it began to seem like it may have been on purpose.

That’s what the cops told me and Biff anyway.Stanley: stares at Happy: What do you think it was?Happy: shrugs: I don’t know Stanley. I wasn’t there.A silence fell between the two men:Stanley: You know Mr.

Lowman, I didn’t want to say anything before but…Happy: looks up and frowns at Stanley: What?Stanley: Your father was acting weird the night you and your brother had that big party here.Happy: frowns and shakes his head: Yeah. Like how?Stanley: shrugs: I donno. He was talkin’ to himself and then he started screamin.” And then he fell out his chair.

I helped get him back to his chair but he refused and just ran out still screamin’ at nobody. I don’t know what happened after that. I let him go, knowing he’d catch up with the two of you, outside.Happy: nodding: I found him standing in front of this place in the cold without his coat. I called out his name, but he didn’t answer me at first. He kept calling me Biff.

I told him “It’s Happy pop, not Biff, but he kept callin’ me Biff so I gave him my coat and we went home.The two men nodded their heads.Stanley: How’s your mother holding up? You’re still living there, right?Happy: sighs: Yeah. Be there a while.

Keeping mama, company. She’s ok. She cleans the house now. Stays up practically all night doing it. chuckles: I help her clean everyday after work and the weekends.

We both don’t sleep much, anymore.Stanley: smiles: You’re a good son, Mr. Loman.Happy: chuckles and shrugs: Yeah. Well.Stanley: How’s your brother dealing with it?Happy: Before leaving for Texas, he told me he was going to miss the old man; that pop finally found a way to escape before they could really talk and that pop never listened to him, anyway.

He wanted to leave after the funeral, but stayed a while longer for ma’s sake.Stanley: frowns: He wanted to leave after the funeral?Happy: Yeah. He was angry and wanted to get away from the lying, hypocrisy that was pop as fast he could.Stanley: Sounds like they didn’t get along.Happy: shakes his head: No not really. They were great pals when we were younger.

It’s just when Biff got older is when they grew apart.Stanley: Yeah. He was always telling me “Watch out for that kid. He’s going to be magnificent.”Happy: nodding his head: Yeah, pop had his big dreams for Biff, but Biff had other dreams.

Realistic ones, he’ll say. He never swallowed pops “You are going to be the greatest speech” he’s heard since we were boys.Stanley: chuckles: He gave you boys the same speech?Happy: Biff got the whole speech, while I got the second hand version. Chuckles: Yeah. He wanted more from Biff; he wanted him to be like a god.Stanley: That’s a tall order for any boy to live up to.

Happy: I donno. I listened to everything pop told Biff as if he was talking to me and I followed through. I took Biff’s job and now I am top seller at the store. Its just Biff rejected the things Pop wanted for him and went down his own path.Stanley: I’m sure he’s looking down from heaven now and is very proud of the both of you.Happy: nods: I’m hope so.

Biff and pop were different types of people. I guess I understood him better.Stanley: And Biff didn’t.Happy: nods his head: He told me that I now could have pop’s dreams; he never wanted it anyway, because he knew who he was.Stanley takes the half finished scotch bottle and pours it into Happy’s empty glass; he then pours one for himself and places the bottle of scotch at his elbow.Stanley: lifts glass: Here’s to Willy Loman and his son’s.

May they all be happy at whatever they do.Happy: smile and lifts glass: To you pop. I hope you’re happy now in Heaven. the glasses clink and they both drink:The two swallow the contents in one gulp and moan at the taste.Stanley: reaching for the bottle again: Let’s have another.Happy: lifts himself up from the stool: No more for me Stanley.

It’s getting dark. I got to go home before ma worries. She wants me to help her plant some carrots in the garden before supper.Stanley: pours himself one: Ok.

Mr. Loman. Have a good night. Say hi to your mother for me.Happy: walks to the door and turns he smiles: Will do. Hey thanks for listening.

Stanley: smiles: Anytime. Your pop was a good man. We here at the bar are going to miss him.Happy nods and goes out the door as daylight begins to fade.

End. Curtain falls.