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

me call you. I’ll let you know.
    DIBBLE: Oh, I’ll bide my time. Just remember, in New York they murder people for a mink coat. Women sell their jewels for mink, they sell their . . . them New York women’ll sell damn near anything for mink!
    They laugh, as horns of two cars sound urgently outside.
    DAVID [ to DIBBLE]: This is my brother!
    GUS [ as DAVID opens the door ]: Look, like two peacocks!
    HESTER [ at the door, over her shoulder ecstatically to DIBBLE]: They’ve waited so long!
    DAVID [ exuberantly, backing from the door ]: Here he comes! Christy Matthewson the Second!
    Enter AMOS and PATTERSON followed by J.B.
    HESTER [ grabbing AMOS ’s hand ]: How’s your arm, Ame! AMOS [ winds up and pitches ]: Wham!—He’s out!
    PAT [ throwing up his arms ]: God bless this day! [ Suddenly. ] I’m not waiting for anybody! [ Threatens to go out again. ]
    J.B. [ to HESTER]: Shory’s waiting in the car! Let’s go!
    HESTER: Bring him in. Let’s have a drink!
    Nobody hears her.
    DAVID: What’re you lookin’ so sad about, Dad! [ Suddenly hugs PAT.]
    HESTER: Get some whiskey, Dave!
    PAT [ indignantly—he has broken from DAVE]: You want to suffocate in here? Open the windows in this house! [ He rushes around throwing windows up. ]
    DAVID [ laughing ]: We’re going in a minute! Where’s the telegram, Ame! [AMOS opens his mouth but PAT cuts him off. ]
    PAT [ busy with the windows ]: Let the day come in! What a day! What a year! What a nation!
    HESTER [ rushing after PAT]: Did you bring the telegram? [ She corners him, laughing. ] Where’s the telegram?
    PAT: I don’t need to bring it. I will never forget that telegram so long as I live. [ Takes it out of his pocket. ] “Western Union. Class of Service. This is a full-rate Telegram or Cablegram unless its deferred character is indicated by a suitable symbol . . .”
    HESTER: What’re you reading that part for? [ Tries to grab it from him. ] What did the scout say!
    PAT [ grabbing it back ]: I’m reading it to you just the way I read it when I got it—from the very top, to the very bottom.
    DAVID: Let him read it, Hess! They go quiet.
    PAT: I haven’t felt this way since the last time I read the Bible. “Patterson Beeves, 26 Murdock Street. Will be in Burley for the Black Giants game Sunday, July 16th. Looking forward to seeing Amos Beeves’s performance. Best regards, Augie Belfast, Detroit Tigers.” [ Looks around imperiously. ] Twenty-one years I have been waiting for this telegram. Training him down the cellar since he was old enough to walk. People laughed when Amos got bad marks in school. Forget the homework, I said. Keep your eye on the ball. Concentration, I said . . .
    J.B. [ touched and fearing PAT ’s continuing indefinitely ]: For God’s sake, let’s all have a drink!
    DAVID: Comin’ up! [ Goes out door. ]
    HESTER [ pointing outside. To J.B.]: I’ll bring Ellie in! Why don’t you come to the game with us, Mr. Dibble? [ She starts across to the door. ]
    J.B. [ a little embarrassed, stops HESTER]: Better leave her, baby. You know how she is about alcohol. Let’s not start anything.
    GUS: Shory likes a drink. I’ll bring him in. [ He goes out left. ]
    PAT: Plenty of room in Dave’s car, Mr. Dibble. [ He studies DIBBLE, automatically massaging AMOS ’s arm. ]
    J.B. [ holds his hand out to HESTER]: What do you think of this?
    HESTER: A wedding ring! You’re giving Ellie a new ring?
    J.B. [ warmly ]: No, this is for me. Since we decided to adopt a baby I been feeling like we’re newlyweds.
    HESTER [ flings her arms around him ]: You’re such a silly man! Enter SHORY , pushed in by GUS.
    SHORY [ to J.B.]: Hey, Poppa, don’t start nothin’ you can’t finish.
    Enter DAVID with drinks on a tray .
    HESTER [ three-quarters joking, but only that much. To SHORY]: And you’ve got a filthy mind.
    SHORY: Madam,