The Man Who Had All the Luck by Arthur Miller Read Free Book Online

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?
    DAVID [ 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 hole—alone, 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. ]
    DAVID: I’m marryin’ Hester, Mr. Falk. [FALK 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. ]
    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.
    SHORY [ 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.
    SHORY: Not on your life! [ 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.
    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. ]
    DAVID [ 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 . . .
    AMOS [ in ecstasy at the thought of action, he wings the ball across the stage ]. Let’s go!
    PAT [ grabs DAVID]: No, Dave . . .
    DAVID [ 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.
    DAVID: What right has he got! 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!
    SHORY [ 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