The Man Who Had All the Luck (6 page)
Read The Man Who Had All the Luck Online
Authors: Arthur Miller
Evening, Mr. Falk. You want to go in to Shory's store? There's chairs there . . . [FALK
turns deliberately, heavily looks at him.
] You left your engine running. Stay awhile. Let me shut it off.
turns deliberately, heavily looks at him.
] You left your engine running. Stay awhile. Let me shut it off.
FALK: You willin' to push it?
DAVID: Oh, battery run down?
FALK [
caustically
]: I don't know what else would prevent her from turnin' over without a push. [
To
HESTER.] I'll see you home.
caustically
]: I don't know what else would prevent her from turnin' over without a push. [
To
HESTER.] I'll see you home.
HESTER [
smiling, she goes to him, but does not touch him
]: We were just comin' to the house, Daddy.
smiling, she goes to him, but does not touch him
]: We were just comin' to the house, Daddy.
FALK: Go on home, Hester.
DAVID: We'd like to talk to you, Mr. Falk. [
Indicating the store.
] We could all go . . .
Indicating the store.
] We could all go . . .
FALK [
in reply
]: Go on home, Hester.
in reply
]: Go on home, Hester.
DAVID [
with a swipe at indignation
]: I'd like for her to be here, Mr. Falk . . .
with a swipe at indignation
]: I'd like for her to be here, Mr. Falk . . .
FALK [
he does not even look at David
]: I'll be home right away. [
He takes her arm and moves her to the right. She digs her heels in.
]
he does not even look at David
]: I'll be home right away. [
He takes her arm and moves her to the right. She digs her heels in.
]
HESTER [
a cry
]: Daddy, why . . . !
a cry
]: Daddy, why . . . !
She breaks off, looking into his face. With a sob she breaks from him and runs off right. He turns slowly to
DAVID
, takes a breath.
DAVID
, takes a breath.
DAVID [
angering
]: That ain't gonna work any more, Mr. Falk. We're old enough now.
angering
]: That ain't gonna work any more, Mr. Falk. We're old enough now.
PAT [
reasonably
]: Look, Falk, why don't we . . . ?
reasonably
]: Look, Falk, why don't we . . . ?
FALK [
to
DAVID
, without so much as a glance at
PAT]: This is the last time I'm ever goin' to talk to you, Beeves. You . . .
to
DAVID
, without so much as a glance at
PAT]: This is the last time I'm ever goin' to talk to you, Beeves. You . . .
DAVID: Why is it you're the only man who hates me like this? Everybody else . . .
FALK: Nobody but me knows what you are.
SHORY [
from the store doorway
]: What is he? What are you blowin' off about?
from the store doorway
]: What is he? What are you blowin' off about?
FALK [
his first rise of voice. He points at
SHORY]: The good God gave you your answer long ago! Keep your black tongue in your head when I'm here.
his first rise of voice. He points at
SHORY]: The good God gave you your answer long ago! Keep your black tongue in your head when I'm here.
SHORY [
nervously. To
DAVID]: His brains are swimmin', don't you see? What are you botherin' with him for . . . !
nervously. To
DAVID]: His brains are swimmin', don't you see? What are you botherin' with him for . . . !
FALK [
roaring, he takes a stride toward
SHORY]: Shut up, you . . . you whoremonger! You ruined your last woman on
this
earth! The good God saw to that.
roaring, he takes a stride toward
SHORY]: Shut up, you . . . you whoremonger! You ruined your last woman on
this
earth! The good God saw to that.
SHORY [
with a screech of fury
]: You don't scare me, Falk. You been dead twenty years, why don't you bury yourself? FALK
strangely relaxes, walks away from
SHORY
's direction, raising his shoulder to run his chin on his coat collar. The motor outside stalls. His head cocks toward right.
with a screech of fury
]: You don't scare me, Falk. You been dead twenty years, why don't you bury yourself? FALK
strangely relaxes, walks away from
SHORY
's direction, raising his shoulder to run his chin on his coat collar. The motor outside stalls. His head cocks toward right.
DAVID [
pointing to the right
]: Your car stalled. I'll start her up for you.
pointing to the right
]: Your car stalled. I'll start her up for you.
FALK: Don't touch anything I own! [
Pause.
] What were you doin' that night I caught you with her by the river? You got backbone enough to tell me that?
Pause.
] What were you doin' that night I caught you with her by the river? You got backbone enough to tell me that?
DAVID [
recalls
]: Oh . . . we were kids then . . . just talkin', that's all.
recalls
]: Oh . . . we were kids then . . . just talkin', that's all.
FALK: You never come and ask me if she could talk to you. You come sneakin' every time, like a rat through the fences.
DAVID: Well . . . Hess was always scared to ask you, and I . . . I guess I got it from her.
FALK: You're scared of me now too, and you know why, Beeves? Nobody but me knows what you are.
DAVID: Why, what am I?
FALK: You're a lost soul, a lost man. You don't know the nights I've watched you, sittin' on the river ice, fishin' through a holeâalone, alone like an old man with a boy's face. Or makin' you a fire in Keldon's woods where nobody could see. And that Sunday night you nearly burned down the church . . .
DAVID: I was nowhere near the church that night . . . !
FALK: It couldn't have been nobody else! When the church burned there never was a sign from God that was so clear.
AMOS: He was down in the cellar with me when the church burned.
FALK [
looks at
AMOS]: I am not blind. [
Turns back to
DAVID.] The man Hester marries is gonna know what he's about. He's gonna be a steady man that I can trust with what I brought forth in this world. He's gonna know his God, he's gonna know where he came from and where he's goin'. You ain't that man. [
He turns to go.
]
looks at
AMOS]: I am not blind. [
Turns back to
DAVID.] The man Hester marries is gonna know what he's about. He's gonna be a steady man that I can trust with what I brought forth in this world. He's gonna know his God, he's gonna know where he came from and where he's goin'. You ain't that man. [
He turns to go.
]
DAVID: I'm marryin' Hester, Mr. Falk. [FALK
stops, turns.
] I'm sorry, but we're going to marry.
stops, turns.
] I'm sorry, but we're going to marry.
FALK: Beeves, if you ever step onto my land again, I'll put a bullet through you, may God write my words . . . I don't fool, Beeves. Don't go near her again. [
Points to
SHORY.] No man who could find a friend in that lump of corruption is going to live in my daughter's house. [
He starts to go again.
]
Points to
SHORY.] No man who could find a friend in that lump of corruption is going to live in my daughter's house. [
He starts to go again.
]
DAVID: I'm marryin' Hester, Mr. Falk! We're gonna do it!
FALK: You'll sleep with your shroud first, Beeves. I'm old enough to know what I'll do. Stay away!
He goes to the right edge of the stage, and hesitates, looking off right in the direction of his stalled car.
DAVID
starts doubtfully toward him, looking over his shoulder.
He goes to the right edge of the stage, and hesitates, looking off right in the direction of his stalled car.
DAVID
starts doubtfully toward him, looking over his shoulder.
SHORY [
rolling down the ramp
]: Let him start it himself! Don't be a damned fool! FALK
hurries out.
rolling down the ramp
]: Let him start it himself! Don't be a damned fool! FALK
hurries out.
PAT [
pointing right
]: Maybe you ought to give him a push.
pointing right
]: Maybe you ought to give him a push.
SHORY: Not on your life! [
He pushes himself between
DAVE
and the door.
] Get away from there, go on!
He pushes himself between
DAVE
and the door.
] Get away from there, go on!
DAVID [
looking off right all the time
]: Shory . . . he's going . . . what can I say to him . . . [
Starts to go right.
] I'll help him.
looking off right all the time
]: Shory . . . he's going . . . what can I say to him . . . [
Starts to go right.
] I'll help him.
SHORY [
pushes him back
]: Get away! [
Calling off right.
] That's it, Grandpa, push it . . . push it! Harder, you crazy bastard, it's only half a mile! Go ahead, harder! [
Laughs wildly, mockingly.
]
pushes him back
]: Get away! [
Calling off right.
] That's it, Grandpa, push it . . . push it! Harder, you crazy bastard, it's only half a mile! Go ahead, harder! [
Laughs wildly, mockingly.
]
DAVID [
wrenches the chair around
]: Stop it!
wrenches the chair around
]: Stop it!
SHORY: You can't talk to that man! You're through, you damned fool.
DAVID [
suddenly
]: Come on, Ame, we'll pick up Hester on the road before he gets home. I'm going to do it tonight, by God . . .
suddenly
]: Come on, Ame, we'll pick up Hester on the road before he gets home. I'm going to do it tonight, by God . . .
AMOS [
in ecstasy at the thought of action, he wings the ball across the stage
]. Let's go!
in ecstasy at the thought of action, he wings the ball across the stage
]. Let's go!
PAT [
grabs
DAVID]: No, Dave . . .
grabs
DAVID]: No, Dave . . .
DAVID [
furiously
]: No, I gotta do it, Dad!
furiously
]: No, I gotta do it, Dad!
PAT: I forbid it. [
To
AMOS.] I forbid you to go. [
To
DAVID.] She's his daughter and he's got a right, David.
To
AMOS.] I forbid you to go. [
To
DAVID.] She's his daughter and he's got a right, David.
DAVID: What right has he got!
She
wants me!
She
wants me!
PAT: Then let her break from him. That's not your province.
DAVID: She's scared to death of him! The whole thing is between me and Hester.
I don't understand why I can't have that girl!
I don't understand why I can't have that girl!
SHORY [
sardonically
]: Must there be a reason?
sardonically
]: Must there be a reason?
DAVID [
he stops for an instant as though a light flashed on him
]: Yes, there has to be a reason! I did everything a man could do.
I didn't do anything wrong and . . .
he stops for an instant as though a light flashed on him
]: Yes, there has to be a reason! I did everything a man could do.
I didn't do anything wrong and . . .
SHORY: You didn't have to! [DAVE
stares at
SHORY.] A man is a jellyfish. The tide goes in and the tide goes out. About what happens to him, a man has very little to say. When are you going to get used to it? DAVID
stands staring.
stares at
SHORY.] A man is a jellyfish. The tide goes in and the tide goes out. About what happens to him, a man has very little to say. When are you going to get used to it? DAVID
stands staring.
PAT: You better go home and sleep, Dave. Sleep is a great doctor, you know.
SHORY [
gently
]: He said it, Dave.
Enter
J.B.
in a hurry.
gently
]: He said it, Dave.
Enter
J.B.
in a hurry.
J.B.: Where is Dan? Where's the Marmon?
PAT: He didn't come here.
J.B.: That ox! I tell him I'll drive it over for him. No, Dan Dibble don't allow anybody behind the wheel but himself. I go into the house to tell Ellie I'm goin' and when I come out he's gone. [
Starts to go right.
] That seven passenger moron . . .
Starts to go right.
] That seven passenger moron . . .
DAVID: He probably decided to go back home to Burley.
J.B.: No, I'm sure he's tryin' to get here. Rugged individualist! I'll find him on some dirt road some place . . . [
He shuts up abruptly as a door slams outside.
]
All look right.
He shuts up abruptly as a door slams outside.
]
All look right.
DAVID [
alarmed
]: Hester!
alarmed
]: Hester!
He quickly goes off right. For an instant
AMOS, PAT,
and
SHORY
are galvanized.
AMOS
goes off and returns immediately supporting
DAN DIBBLE
who is shaking all over and seems about to collapse in distress.
AMOS, PAT,
and
SHORY
are galvanized.
AMOS
goes off and returns immediately supporting
DAN DIBBLE
who is shaking all over and seems about to collapse in distress.
DIBBLE [
on entering
]: God help me, God in Heaven help me . . .
Enter
DAVID
and
J.B.
helping
HESTER
. She is sobbing on
DAVID
's arm and he's trying to lift her face up.
on entering
]: God help me, God in Heaven help me . . .
Enter
DAVID
and
J.B.
helping
HESTER
. She is sobbing on
DAVID
's arm and he's trying to lift her face up.
DAVID: Stop crying, what' the matter? Hester, stop it, what happened? J.B.!
DIBBLE [
goes prayerfully to
HESTER]: I couldn't see him, Miss, how in the world could I see him? His car had no lights . . . HESTER
's loud sob cuts him off.
goes prayerfully to
HESTER]: I couldn't see him, Miss, how in the world could I see him? His car had no lights . . . HESTER
's loud sob cuts him off.
DAVID [
to
DAN]: What happened? What did you do?
to
DAN]: What happened? What did you do?
DIBBLE: Oh, God in Heaven, help me . . .
J.B. [
goes to him, pulls his hands down
]: Dan . . . stop that. . . . For Pete's sake, what happened?
goes to him, pulls his hands down
]: Dan . . . stop that. . . . For Pete's sake, what happened?
DIBBLE: This girl's father . . . an old man . . . I couldn't see him . . . He was pushing a car without lights. There were no lights at all, and he walked out from behind just as I came on him.
But for
HESTER
's subsiding sobs, there is silence for a moment. She looks at
DAVID
, who looks once at her, then comes to life.
HESTER
's subsiding sobs, there is silence for a moment. She looks at
DAVID
, who looks once at her, then comes to life.
DAVID [
to
DAN]: Where is he now?
to
DAN]: Where is he now?
DIBBLE [
points upstage
]: I took him to his house . . . she was there. It happened a few feet from his house.
points upstage
]: I took him to his house . . . she was there. It happened a few feet from his house.
DAVID [
horrified
]: Well, why didn't you get a doctor! [
He starts for the back door.
]
horrified
]: Well, why didn't you get a doctor! [
He starts for the back door.
]
HESTER: No . . . he's dead, Davey.
Almost at the ramp,
DAVID
stops as though shot. After an instant he turns quickly. He comes as in a dream a few yards toward her, and, as in a dream, halts, staring at her.
DAVID
stops as though shot. After an instant he turns quickly. He comes as in a dream a few yards toward her, and, as in a dream, halts, staring at her.
He's dead.
DAVID
stares at her. Then turns his head to
PAT
,
AMOS, SHORY, DAN
. . . as though to seek reality. Then looking at her once more he goes to the nail barrel and sits.
stares at her. Then turns his head to
PAT
,
AMOS, SHORY, DAN
. . . as though to seek reality. Then looking at her once more he goes to the nail barrel and sits.
DAVID [
whisper
]: I'll be darned. [
Goes to
HESTER
. . . after a moment.
] I'm so sorry.
whisper
]: I'll be darned. [
Goes to
HESTER
. . . after a moment.
] I'm so sorry.
HESTER: It was nobody's fault. Oh that poor man!
PAT [
goes to
DAVID]: You better . . . come home, David.
goes to
DAVID]: You better . . . come home, David.
DAVID [
he gets up, goes to
HESTER
, takes her hand
]: Hess? I really am sorry.
he gets up, goes to
HESTER
, takes her hand
]: Hess? I really am sorry.
HESTER
looks at him, a smile comes to her face. She thankfully throws her arms around him and sobs.
looks at him, a smile comes to her face. She thankfully throws her arms around him and sobs.
Don't Hess . . . don't cry anymore. Please Hess . . . John, take her to your house for tonight, heh?
J.B.: I was going to do that. [
Takes
HESTER
's arm.
] Come on, baby. I'll tend to everything.
Takes
HESTER
's arm.
] Come on, baby. I'll tend to everything.
DAVID: Goodnight, Hess. You sleep, heh?
HESTER: You mustn't feel any fault, Davey.
DAVID: I could have gotten him started, that's all. He said . . . [
A filament of sardonic laughter.
] . . . don't touch anything I own.
A filament of sardonic laughter.
] . . . don't touch anything I own.
HESTER: It wasn't your fault! You understand? In any way.
DAVID [
nods inconclusively
]: Go to bed, go ahead.
nods inconclusively
]: Go to bed, go ahead.
J.B. [
leading
HESTER
off
]: We'll get you home, and you'll sleep.
leading
HESTER
off
]: We'll get you home, and you'll sleep.
DIBBLE [DAN
follows them until he gets to the right edge. Turning to
DAVID]: If there's any blood on the car will you clean it off? Please, will you? DAN
goes,
DAVID
looks after them.
follows them until he gets to the right edge. Turning to
DAVID]: If there's any blood on the car will you clean it off? Please, will you? DAN
goes,
DAVID
looks after them.
SHORY: Get me home, will you, Dave?
DAVID: Huh? No, I'll stay awhile. I want to look at the car. You take him, will you, Dad?
PAT [
taking hold of the back of
SHORY
's chair
]: Sure. Come on, Amos.
taking hold of the back of
SHORY
's chair
]: Sure. Come on, Amos.
SHORY: Well, wake up, jellyfish. A hundred and ten of the best acres in the valley. Not bad, eh?
DAVID [
stunned
]: Just like that.
stunned
]: Just like that.
SHORY: Never happens any other way, brother. [
Almost intones it.
] Jellyfish don't swim. . . . It's the tide moves him . . . out and in . . . out and in . . . and in. Keep it in mind. [
To
PAT.] Let's go, father.
Almost intones it.
] Jellyfish don't swim. . . . It's the tide moves him . . . out and in . . . out and in . . . and in. Keep it in mind. [
To
PAT.] Let's go, father.
They push him out as
DAVID
stands there lost in a dream. Curtain.
Scene iiDAVID
stands there lost in a dream. Curtain.
The barn near dawn.
Â
DAVID
is lying under the front end of the Marmon. Beside it the hood stands on end on the floor.
DAVID
is lying under the engine with one light near his head, hurriedly tightening a nut on the pan. There is one other light on, over the bench, but this is shaded. After a moment,
DAVID
hurriedly slides out from under and eagerly looking at the engine, wipes his hands. He is about to get into the car to start it when a soft knock from offstage right is heard. Startled, he peers through the darkness.
is lying under the front end of the Marmon. Beside it the hood stands on end on the floor.
DAVID
is lying under the engine with one light near his head, hurriedly tightening a nut on the pan. There is one other light on, over the bench, but this is shaded. After a moment,
DAVID
hurriedly slides out from under and eagerly looking at the engine, wipes his hands. He is about to get into the car to start it when a soft knock from offstage right is heard. Startled, he peers through the darkness.
Â
DAVID: Who's that? [
Surprised.
] Hester . . .
Surprised.
] Hester . . .
HESTER [
she comes out of the darkness at right
]: Aren't you finished yet?
she comes out of the darkness at right
]: Aren't you finished yet?
DAVID [
glancing defensively at the car
]: What are you doing up? What time is it?
glancing defensively at the car
]: What are you doing up? What time is it?
HESTER: It's almost five. I called your house, I just couldn't sleep. Belle said you were still here. Can I watch you?
DAVID: . . . It's pretty cold in here, you'll catch cold.
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