ACT II, SCENE iii
ACT TWO
SCENE THREE
Time: Saturday, moving day, one week later.
Before the curtain rises, RUTH'S voice, a strident, dra-
matic church alto, cuts through the silence.
It is, in the darkness, a triumphant surge, a penetrating
statement of expectation: "Oh, Lord, I don't feel no ways
tired! Children, oh, glory hallelujah! 9 '
As the curtain rises we see that RUTH is alone in the
living room, finishing up the family's packing. It is moving
day. She is nailing crates and tying cartons. BENEATHA
enters, carrying a guitar case, and watches her exuberant
sister-in-law.
RUTH Hey!
BENEATHA (Putting away the case) Hi.
RUTH (Pointing at a package) Honey look in that
package there and see what I found on sale this morning
at the South Center. (RUTH gets up and moves to the
package and draws out some curtains) Lookahere
hand-turned hems!
BENEATHA How do you know the window size out there?
RUTH (Who hadn't thought of that) Oh Well, they
bound to fit something in the whole house. Anyhow,
they was too good a bargain to pass up. (RUTH slaps
her head, suddenly remembering something) Oh, Ben-
nie I meant to put a special note on that carton over
there. That's your mama's good china and she wants
5 em to be very careful with it.
BENEATHA I'll do it
(BENEATHA finds a piece of paper and starts to
draw large letters on it)
RUTH You know what I'm going to do soon as I get in
that new house?
BENEATHA What?
RUTH Honey I'm going to run me a tub of water up to
here . . . (With her fingers practically up to her nos-
trils} And I'm going to get in it and I am going to
sit ... and sit ... and sit in that hot water and the
first person who knocks to tell me to hurry up and
come out
BENEATHA Gets shot at sunrise.
RUTH (Laughing happily) You said it, sister! (Noticing
how large BENEATHA is absent-mindedly making the
note) Honey, they ain't going to read that from no
airplane.
BENEATHA (Laughing herself) I guess I always think
things have more emphasis if they are big, somehow.
RUTH (Looking up at her and smiling) You and your
brother seem to have that as a philosophy of life. Lord,
that man done changed so 'round here. You know
you know what we did last night? Me and Walter Lee?
BENEATHA What?
RUTH (Smiling to herself) We went to the movies.
(Looking at BENEATHA to see if she understands) We
went to the movies. You know the last time me and
Walter went to the movies together?
BENEATHA No.
RUTH Me neither. That's how long it been. (Smiling
again) But we went last night. The picture wasn't much
good, but that didn't seem to matter. We went and
we held hands.
BENEATHA Oh, Lord!
RUTH We held hands and you know what?
BENEATHA What?
RUTH When we come out of the show it was late and
dark and all the stores and things was closed up ...
and it was kind of chilly and there wasn't many people
on the streets . . . and we was still holding hands, me
and Walter.
BENEATHA You're killing me.
(WALTER enters with a large package. His happi-
ness is deep in him; he cannot keep still with his
new-found exuberance. He is singing and wiggling
and snapping his fingers. He puts his package in
a corner and puts a phonograph record, which he
has brought in with him, on the record player. As
the music, soulful and sensuous, comes up he
dances over to RUTH and tries to get her to dance
with him. She gives in at last to his raunchiness and
in a fit of giggling allows herself to be drawn into
his mood. They dip and she melts into his arms in
a classic, body-melding "slow drag")
BENEATHA (Regarding them a long time as they dance,
then drawing in her breath for a deeply exaggerated
comment which she does not particularly mean) Talk
about oldddddddddd-fashioneddddddd Negroes!
WALTER (Stopping momentarily) What kind of Negroes?
(He says this in fun. He is not angry with her
today, nor with anyone. He starts to dance with
his wife again)
BENEATHA Old-fashioned.
WALTER (As he dances with RUTH) You know, when
these New Negroes have their convention (Pointing at
his sister) that is going to be the chairman of the
Committee on Unending Agitation. (He goes on danc-
ing, then stops) Race, race, race! . . , Girl, I do be-
lieve you are the first person in the history of the
entire human race to successfully brainwash yourself.
(BENEATHA breaks up and he goes on dancing. He
stops again, enjoying his tease) Damn, even the N
double A C P takes a holiday sometimes! (BENEATHA
and RUTH laugh. He dances with RUTH some more and
starts to laugh and stops and pantomimes someone over
an operating table) I can just see that chick someday
looking down at some poor cat on an operating table
and before she starts to slice him, she says . . . (Pulling
his sleeves back maliciously) "By the way, what are
your views on civil rights down there? . . ."
(He laughs at her again and starts to dance hap-
pily. The bell sounds)
BENEATHA Sticks and stones may break my bones but
. . . words will never hurt me!
(BENEATHA goes to the door and opens it as
WALTER and RUTH go on with the clowning. BE-
NEATHA is somewhat surprised to see a quiet-
looking middle-aged white man in a business suit
holding his hat and a briefcase in his hand and
consulting a small piece of paper)
MAN Uh how do you do, miss. I am looking for a
Mrs. (He looks at the slip of paper) Mrs. Lena
Younger? (He stops short, struck dumb at the sight of
the oblivious WALTER and RUTH)
BENEATHA (Smoothing her hair with slight embarrass-
ment) Oh yes, that's my mother. Excuse me (She
closes the door and turns to quiet the other two) Ruth!
Brother! (Enunciating precisely but soundlessly: "There's
a white man at the doorr They stop dancing, RUTH cuts
off the phonograph, BENEATHA opens the door. The
man casts a curious quick glance at all of them) Uh
come in please.
MAN {Coming in) Thank you.
BENEATHA My mother isn't here just now. Is it business?
MAN Yes . . . well, of a sort.
WALTER (Freely, the Man of the House) Have a seat.
I'm Mrs. Younger's son. I look after most of her busi-
ness matters.
(RUTH and BENEATHA exchange amused glances)
MAN (Regarding WALTER, and sitting) Well My name
is Karl Lindner . . .
WALTER (Stretching out his hand) Walter Younger. This
is my wife (RUTH nods politely) and my sister.
LINDNER How do you do.
WALTER (Amiably, as he sits himself easily on a chair,
leaning forward on his knees with interest and looking
expectantly into the newcomer's face) What can we
do for you, Mr. Lindner!
LINDNER (Some minor shuffling of the hat and briefcase
on his knees) Well I am a representative of the Cly-
bourne Park Improvement Association
WALTER (Pointing) Why don't you sit your things on
the floor?
LINDNER Oh yes. Thank you. (He slides the briefcase
and hat under the chair) And as I was saying I am
from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association and
we have had it brought to our attention at the last meet-
ing that you people or at least your mother has
bought a piece of residential property at (He digs for
the slip of paper again) four o six Clybourne Street . . .
WALTER That's right. Care for something to drink? Ruth,
get Mr. Lindner a beer.
LINDNER (Upset for some reason) Oh no, really. I
mean thank you very much, but no thank you.
RUTH (Innocently) Some coffee?
LINDNER Thank you, nothing at all.
(BENEATHA is watching the man carefully)
LINDNER Well, I don't know how much you folks know
about our organization. (He is a gentle man; thoughtful
and somewhat labored in his manner) It is one of these
community organizations set up to look after oh, you
know, things like block upkeep and special projects and
we also have what we call our New Neighbors Orien-
tation Committee . . .
BENEATHA (Drily) Yes and what do they do?
LINDNER (Turning a little to her and then returning the
main force to WALTER) Well it's what you might
call a sort of welcoming committee, I guess. I mean
they, we I'm the chairman of the committee go
around and see the new people who move into the
neighborhood and sort of give them the lowdown on
the way we do things out in Clybourne Park.
BENEATHA (With appreciation of the two meanings, which
escape RUTH and WALTER) Un-huh.
LINDNER And we also have the category of what the
association calls (He looks elsewhere) uh special
community problems . . .
BENEATHA Yes and what are some of those?
WALTER Girl, let the man talk.
LINDNER (With understated relief) Thank you. I would
sort of like to explain this thing in my own way. I
mean I want to explain to you in a certain way.
WALTER Go ahead.
LINDNER Yes. Well. I'm going to try to get right to the
point. I'm sure we'll all appreciate that in the long run.
BENEATHA Yes.
WALTER Be still now!
LINDNER Well
RUTH (Still innocently) Would you like another chair
you don't look comfortable.
LINDNER (More frustrated than annoyed) No, thank
you very much. Please. Well to get right to the point
I (A great breath, and he is off at last) I am sure
you people must be aware of some of the incidents
which have happened in various parts of the city when
colored people have moved into certain areas (BE-
NEATHA exhales heavily and starts tossing a piece of
fruit up and down in the air) Well because we have
what I think is going to be a unique type of organiza-
tion in American community life not only do we
deplore that kind of thing but we are trying to do
something about it. (BENEATHA stops tossing and turns
with a new and quizzical interest to the man) We feel
(gaining confidence in his mission because of the in-
terest in the faces of the people he is talking to) we
feel that most of the trouble in this world, when you
come right down to it (He hits his knee for emphasis)
most of the trouble exists because people just don't
sit down and talk to each other.
RUTH (Nodding as she might in church, pleased with the
remark) You can say that again, mister.
LINDNER (More encouraged by such affirmation) That
we don't try hard enough in this world to understand
the other fellow's problem. The other guy's point of
view.
RUTH Now that's right.
(BENEATHA and WALTER merely watch and listen
with genuine interest)
LINDNER Yes that's the way we feel out in Clybourne
Park. And that's why I was elected to come here this
afternoon and talk to you people. Friendly like, you
know, the way people should talk to each other and see
if we couldn't find some way to work this thing out. As
I say, the whole business is a matter of caring about
the other fellow. Anybody can see that you are a nice
family of folks, hard working and honest I'm sure.
(BENEATHA frowns slightly, quizzically, her head tilted
regarding him) Today everybody knows what it means
to be on the outside of something. And of course, there
is always somebody who is out to take advantage of
people who don't always understand.
WALTER What do you mean?
LINDNER Well you see our community is made up of
people who've worked hard as the dickens for years
to build up that little community. They're not rich and
fancy people; just hard-working, honest people who
don't really have much but those little homes and a
dream of the kind of community they want to raise
their children in. Now, I don't say we are perfect and
there is a lot wrong in some of the things they want.
But you've got to admit that a man, right or wrong, has
the right to want to have the neighborhood he lives in
a certain kind of way. And at the moment the over-
whelming majority of our people out there feel that
people get along better, take more of a common interest
in the life of the community, when they share a com-
mon background. I want you to believe me when I
tell you that race prejudice simply doesn't enter into it.
It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing,
rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of
all concerned that our Negro families are happier when
they live in their own communities.
BENEATHA (With a grand and bitter gesture) This,
friends, is the Welcoming Committee!
WALTER (Dumjounded, looking at LINDNER) Is this
what you came marching all the way over here to tell
us?
LINDNER Well, now we've been having a fine conversa-
tion. I hope you'll hear me all the way through.
WALTER (Tightly) Go ahead, man.
LINDNER You see in the face of all the things I have
said, we are prepared to make your family a very gen-
erous offer . . .
BENEATHA Thirty pieces and not a coin less!
WALTER Yeah?
LINDNER (Putting on his glasses and drawing a form out
of the briefcase) Our association is prepared, through
the collective effort of our people, to buy the house
from you at a financial gain to your family.
RUTH Lord have mercy, ain't this the living gall!
WALTER All right, you through?
LINDNER Well, I want to give you the exact terms of the
financial arrangement
WALTER We don't want to hear no exact terms of no
arrangements. I want to know if you got any more to
tell us 'bout getting together?
LINDNER (Taking off his glasses) Well I don't suppose
that you feel . . .
WALTER Never mind how I feel you got any more to
say 'bout how people ought to sit down and talk to each
other? . . . Get out of my house, man.
(He turns his back and walks to the door)
LINDNER (Looking around at the hostile faces and reach-
ing and assembling his hat and briefcase) Well I
don't understand why you people are reacting this way.
What do you think you are going to gain by moving
into a neighborhood where you just aren't wanted and
where some elements well people can get awful
worked up when they feel that their whole way of life
and everything they've ever worked for is threatened.
WALTER Get out.
LINDNER (At the door, holding a small card) Well I'm
sorry it went like this.
WALTER Get out.
LINDNER (Almost sadly regarding WALTER) You just
can't force people to change their hearts, son.
(He turns and put his card on a table and exits.
WALTER pushes the door to with stinging hatred,
and stands looking at it. RUTH just sits and BE-
NEATHA just stands. They say nothing. MAMA and
TRAVIS enter)
MAMA Well this all the packing got done since I left
out of here this morning. I testify before God that my
children got all the energy of the deadl What time the
moving men due?
BENEATHA Four o'clock. You had a caller, Mama.
(She is smiling, teasingly)
MAMA Sure enough who?
BENEATHA (Her arms folded saucily) The Welcoming
Committee.
(WALTER and RUTH giggle)
MAMA (Innocently) Who?
BENEATHA The Welcoming Committee. They said they're
sure going to be glad to see you when you get there.
WALTER (Devilishly) Yeah, they said they can't hardly
wait to see your face.
(Laughter)
MAMA (Sensing their facetiousness) What's the matter
with you all?
WALTER Ain't nothing the matter with us. We just tell-
ing you 'bout the gentleman who came to see you this
afternoon. From the Clybourne Park Improvement As-
sociation.
MAMA What he want?
RUTH (In the same mood as BENEATHA and WALTER)
To welcome you, honey.
WALTER He said they can't hardly wait. He said the
one thing they don't have, that they just dying to have
out there is a fine family of fine colored people! (To
RUTH and BENEATHA) Ain't that right!
RUTH (Mockingly) Yeah! He left his card
BENEATHA (Handing card to MAMA) In case.
(MAMA reads and throws it on the floor under-
standing and looking off as she draws her chair up
to the table on which she has put her plant and
some sticks and some cord)
MAMA Father, give us strength. (Knowingly and with-
out fun) Did he threaten us?
BENEATHA Oh Mama they don't do it like that any
more. He talked Brotherhood. He said everybody ought
to learn how to sit down and hate each other with good
Christian fellowship.
(She and WALTER shake hands to ridicule the
remark)
MAMA (Sadly) Lord, protect us . . .
RUTH You should hear the money those folks raised
to buy the house from us. All we paid and then some.
BENEATHA What they think we going to do eat 'em?
RUTH No, honey, many 'em.
MAMA (Shaking her head) Lord, Lord, Lord . . .
RUTH Well that's the way the crackers crumble. (A
beat) Joke.
BENEATHA (Laughingly noticing what her mother is do-
ing) Mama, what are you doing?
MAMA Fixing my plant so it won't get hurt none on the
way . . .
BENEATHA Mama, you going to take that to the new
house?
MAMA Un-huh
BENEATHA That raggedy-looking old thing?
MAMA (Stopping and looking at her) It expresses ME!
RUTH (With delight, to BENEATHA) So there, Miss
Thing!
(WALTER comes to MAMA suddenly and bends
down behind her and squeezes her in his arms with
all his strength. She is overwhelmed by the sudden-
ness of it and, though delighted, her manner is
like that of RUTH and TRAVIS)
MAMA Look out now, boy! You make me mess up my
thing here!
WALTER (His face lit, he slips down on his knees beside
her, his arms still about her) Mama . . . you know
what it means to climb up in the chariot?
MAMA (Gruffly, very happy) Get on away from me
now . . .
RUTH (Near the gift-wrapped package, trying to catch
WALTER'S eye) Psst
WALTER What the old song say, Mama . . .
RUTH Walter Now?
(She is pointing at the package)
WALTER (Speaking the lines, sweetly, playfully, in his
mother's face)
I got wings . . . you got wings . . .
All God's Children got wings . . .
MAMA Boy get out of my face and do some work . . .
WALTER
When I get to heaven gonna put on my wings,
Gonna fly all over God's heaven . . .
BENEATHA (Teasingly, from across the room) Every-
body talking 'bout heaven ain't going there!
WALTER (To RUTH, who is carrying the box across to
them) I don't know, you think we ought to give her
that . . . Seems to me she ain't been very appreciative
around here.
MAMA (Eying the box, which is obviously a gift) What
is that?
WALTER (Taking it from RUTH and putting it on the table
in front of MAMA) Well what you all think? Should
we give it to her?
RUTH Oh she was pretty good today.
MAMA I'll good you
(She turns her eyes to the box again)
BENEATHA Open it. Mama.
(She stands up, looks at it, turns and looks at all
of them, and then presses her hands together and
does not open the package)
WALTER (Sweetly) Open it, Mama. It's for you. (MAMA
looks in his eyes. It is the first present in her Hie with-
out its being Christmas. Slowly she opens her package
and lifts out, one by one, a brand-new sparkling set of
gardening tools. WALTER continues, prodding) Ruth
made up the note read it ...
MAMA (Picking up the card and adjusting her glasses)
"To our own Mrs. Miniver Love from Brother, Ruth
and Beneatha." Ain't that lovely . . .
TRAVIS ( Tugging at his father's sleeve) Daddy, can I give
her mine now?
WALTER All right, son. (TRAVIS flies to get his gift)
MAMA Now I don't have to use my knives and forks no
more . . .
WALTER Travis didn't want to go in with the rest of us,
Mama. He got his own. (Somewhat amused) We don't
know what it is ...
TRAVIS (Racing back in the room with a large hatbox and
putting it in front of his grandmother) Here!
MAMA Lord have mercy, baby. You done gone and
bought your grandmother a hat?
TRAVIS ( Very proud) Open it !
(She does and lifts out an elaborate, but very
elaborate, wide gardening hat, and all the adults
break up at the sight of it)
RUTH Travis, honey, what is that?
TRAVIS (Who thinks it is beautiful and appropriate) It's
a gardening hat! Like the ladies always have on in the
magazines when they work in their gardens.
BENEATHA (Giggling fiercely) Travis we were trying
to make Mania Mrs. Miniver not Scarlett O'Hara!
MAMA (Indignantly) What's the matter with you all!
This here is a beautiful hat! (Absurdly) I always
wanted me one just like it!
(She pops it on her head to prove it to her grand-
son, and the hat is ludicrous and considerably
oversized)
RUTH Hot dog! Go, Mama!
WALTER (Doubled over with laughter) I'm sorry, Mama
but you look like you ready to go out and chop you
some cotton sure enough!
(They all laugh except MAMA, out of deference to
TRAVIS' feelings)
MAMA (Gathering the boy up to her) Bless your heart
this is the prettiest hat I ever owned (WALTER,
RUTH and BENEATHA chime in noisily, festively and
insincerely congratulating TRAVIS on his gift) What are
we all standing around here for? We ain't finished
packin' yet. Bennie, you ain't packed one book.
(The bell rings)
BENEATHA That couldn't be the movers . . . it's not
hardly two good yet
(BENEATHA goes into her room. MAMA starts for
door)
WALTER (Turning, stiffening) Wait wait I'll get it.
(He stands and looks at the door)
MAMA You expecting company, son?
WALTER (Just looking at the door) Yeah yeah . . ,
(MAMA looks at RUTH, and they exchange inno-
cent and unfrightened glances')
MAMA (Not understanding) Well, let them in, son*
BENEATHA (From her room) We need some more string.
MAMA Travis you run to the hardware and get me
some string cord.
(MAMA goes out and WALTER turns and looks at
RUTH. TRAVIS goes to a dish for money)
RUTH Why don't you answer the door, man?
WALTER (Suddenly bounding across the floor to embrace
her) 'Cause sometimes it hard to let the future begin!
(Stooping down in her face)
I got wings! You got wings!
All God's children got wings!
(He crosses to the door and throws it open. Standing
there is a very slight little man in a not too prosperous
business suit and with haunted frightened eyes and a hat
pulled down tightly, brim up, around his forehead.
TRAVIS passes between the men and exits. WALTER
leans deep in the man's face, still in his jubilance)
When I get to heaven gonna put on my wings,
Gonna fly all over God's heaven . - .
(The little man just stares at him)
Heaven
(Suddenly he stops and looks past the little man into
the empty hallway) Where's Willy, man?
BOBO He ain't with me.
WALTER (Not disturbed) Oh come on in. You know
my wife.
BOBO (Dumbly, taking off his hat} Yes h'you, Miss
Ruth.
RUTH (Quietly, a mood apart from her husband already,
seeing BOBO) Hello, Bobo.
WALTER You right on time today . . . Right on time.
That's the way! (He slaps BOBO on his back) Sit down
. . . lemme hear.
(RUTH stands stiffly and quietly in back of them,
as though somehow she senses death, her eyes
fixed on her husband)
BOBO (His frightened eyes on the floor, his hat in his
hands) Could I please get a drink of water, before I
tell you about it, Walter Lee?
(WALTER does not take his eyes off the man. RUTH
goes blindly to the tap and gets a glass of water
and brings it to BOBO)
WALTER There ain't nothing wrong, is there?
BOBO Lemme tell you
WALTER Man didn't nothing go wrong?
BOBO Lemme tell you Walter Lee. (Looking at RUTH
and talking to her more than to WALTER) You know
how it was. I got to tell you how it was. I mean first
I got to tell you how it was all the way ... I mean
about the money I put in, Walter Lee . . .
WALTER (With taut agitation now) What about the
money you put in?
BOBO Well it wasn't much as we told you me and
Willy (He stops) I'm sorry, Walter. I got a bad feel-
ing about it. I got a real bad feeling about it ...
WALTER Man, what you telling me about all this for?
. . . Tell me what happened in Springfield . . .
BOBO Springfield.
RUTH (Like a dead woman) What was supposed to
happen in Springfield?
BOBO (To her) This deal that me and Walter went into
with Willy Me and Willy was going to go down to
Springfield and spread some money 'round so's we
wouldn't have to wait so long for the liquor license
. . . That's what we were going to do. Everybody said
that was the way you had to do, you understand, Miss
Ruth?
WALTER Man what happened down there?
BOBO (A pitiful man, near tears) I'm trying to tell you,
Walter.
WALTER (Screaming at him suddenly) THEN TELL
ME, GODDAMMIT . . . WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOU?
BOBO Man ... I didn't go to no Springfield, yesterday.
WALTER (Halted, life hanging in the moment) Why not?
BOBO (The long way, the hard way to tell) 'Cause I
didn't have no reasons to ...
WALTER Man, what are you talking about!
BOBO I'm talking about the fact that when I got to the
train station yesterday morning eight o'clock like we
planned . . . Man Witty didn't never show up.
WALTER Why . . . where was he ... where is he?
BOBO That's what I'm trying to tell you ... I don't
know ... I waited six hours ... I called his house
. . . and I waited ... six hours ... I waited in
that train station six hours . . . (Breaking into tears)
That was all the extra money I had in the world . . .
(Looking up at WALTER with the tears running down his
face) Man, Willy is gone.
WALTER Gone, what you mean Willy is gone? Gone
where? You mean he went by himself. You mean he
went off to Springfield by himself to take care of get-
ting the license (Turns and looks anxiously at RUTH)
You mean maybe he didn't want too many people in
on the business down there? (Looks to RUTH again, as
before) You know Willy got his own ways. (Looks
back to BOBO) Maybe you was late yesterday and he
just went on down there without you. Maybe maybe
he's been callin' you at home tryin' to tell you what
happened or something. Maybe maybe he just got
sick. He's somewhere he's got to be somewhere. We
just got to find him me and you got to find him.
(Grabs BOBO senselessly by the collar and starts to
shake him) We got to!
BOBO (In sudden angry, frightened agony) What's the
matter with you, Walter! When a cat take off with your
money he don't leave you no road maps!
WALTER (Turning madly, as though he is looking for
WILLY in the very room) Willy! . . . Willy . . . don't
do it . . . Please don't do it ... Man, not with that
money * . . Man, please, not with that money . . .
Oh, God . . , Don't let it be true . . . (He is wan-
dering around, crying out for WILLY and looking for him
or perhaps for help from God) Man ... I trusted you
. . . Man, I put my life in your hands . . * (He starts
to crumple down on the floor as RUTH just covers her
face in horror. MAMA opens the door and comes into
the room, with BENEATHA behind her) Man . . . (He
starts to pound the floor with his fists, sobbing wildly)
THAT MONEY IS MADE OUT OF MY FATHER'S
FLESH
BOBO (Standing over him helplessly) I'm sorry, Walter
. . . (Only WALTER'S sobs reply. BOBO puts on his hat)
I had my life staked on this deal, too ...
(He exits)
MAMA (To WALTER) Son (She goes to him, bends
down to him, talks to his bent head) Son ... Is it
gone? Son, I gave you sixty-live hundred dollars. Is it
gone? All of it? Beneatha's money too?
WALTER (Lifting his head slowly) Mama , . , I never
. . . went to the bank at all ...
MAMA (Not wanting to believe him) You mean . . .
your sister's school money . . . you used that too ...
Walter? . . .
WALTER Yessss! All of it ... It's all gone . . .
(There is total silence. RUTH stands with her face
covered with her hands; BENEATHA leans forlornly
against a wall, fingering a piece of red ribbon from
the mother's gift. MAMA stops and looks at her son
without recognition and then, quite without think-
ing about it, starts to beat him senselessly in the
face. BENEATHA goes to them and stops it)
BENEATHA Mama!
(MAMA stops and looks at both of her children
and rises slowly and wanders vaguely, aimlessly
away from them)
MAMA I seen . . . him . . . night after night . . . come
in ... and look at that rug ... and then look at me
. . . the red showing in his eyes . . . the veins moving in
his head ... I seen him grow thin and old before he
was forty . . . working and working and working like
somebody's old horse . . . killing himself . . . and you
you give it all away in a day (She raises her arms to
strike him again)
BENEATHA Mama
MAMA Oh, God . . . (She looks up to Him) Look down
here and show me the strength.
BENEATHA Mama
MAMA (Folding over) Strength . . .
BENEATHA (Plaintively) Mama . . .
MAMA Strength!
CurtainLast modified: Saturday, 27 November 2010, 02:11 AM Skip SettingsSettings
SCENE THREE
Time: Saturday, moving day, one week later.
Before the curtain rises, RUTH'S voice, a strident, dra-
matic church alto, cuts through the silence.
It is, in the darkness, a triumphant surge, a penetrating
statement of expectation: "Oh, Lord, I don't feel no ways
tired! Children, oh, glory hallelujah! 9 '
As the curtain rises we see that RUTH is alone in the
living room, finishing up the family's packing. It is moving
day. She is nailing crates and tying cartons. BENEATHA
enters, carrying a guitar case, and watches her exuberant
sister-in-law.
RUTH Hey!
BENEATHA (Putting away the case) Hi.
RUTH (Pointing at a package) Honey look in that
package there and see what I found on sale this morning
at the South Center. (RUTH gets up and moves to the
package and draws out some curtains) Lookahere
hand-turned hems!
BENEATHA How do you know the window size out there?
RUTH (Who hadn't thought of that) Oh Well, they
bound to fit something in the whole house. Anyhow,
they was too good a bargain to pass up. (RUTH slaps
her head, suddenly remembering something) Oh, Ben-
nie I meant to put a special note on that carton over
there. That's your mama's good china and she wants
5 em to be very careful with it.
BENEATHA I'll do it
(BENEATHA finds a piece of paper and starts to
draw large letters on it)
RUTH You know what I'm going to do soon as I get in
that new house?
BENEATHA What?
RUTH Honey I'm going to run me a tub of water up to
here . . . (With her fingers practically up to her nos-
trils} And I'm going to get in it and I am going to
sit ... and sit ... and sit in that hot water and the
first person who knocks to tell me to hurry up and
come out
BENEATHA Gets shot at sunrise.
RUTH (Laughing happily) You said it, sister! (Noticing
how large BENEATHA is absent-mindedly making the
note) Honey, they ain't going to read that from no
airplane.
BENEATHA (Laughing herself) I guess I always think
things have more emphasis if they are big, somehow.
RUTH (Looking up at her and smiling) You and your
brother seem to have that as a philosophy of life. Lord,
that man done changed so 'round here. You know
you know what we did last night? Me and Walter Lee?
BENEATHA What?
RUTH (Smiling to herself) We went to the movies.
(Looking at BENEATHA to see if she understands) We
went to the movies. You know the last time me and
Walter went to the movies together?
BENEATHA No.
RUTH Me neither. That's how long it been. (Smiling
again) But we went last night. The picture wasn't much
good, but that didn't seem to matter. We went and
we held hands.
BENEATHA Oh, Lord!
RUTH We held hands and you know what?
BENEATHA What?
RUTH When we come out of the show it was late and
dark and all the stores and things was closed up ...
and it was kind of chilly and there wasn't many people
on the streets . . . and we was still holding hands, me
and Walter.
BENEATHA You're killing me.
(WALTER enters with a large package. His happi-
ness is deep in him; he cannot keep still with his
new-found exuberance. He is singing and wiggling
and snapping his fingers. He puts his package in
a corner and puts a phonograph record, which he
has brought in with him, on the record player. As
the music, soulful and sensuous, comes up he
dances over to RUTH and tries to get her to dance
with him. She gives in at last to his raunchiness and
in a fit of giggling allows herself to be drawn into
his mood. They dip and she melts into his arms in
a classic, body-melding "slow drag")
BENEATHA (Regarding them a long time as they dance,
then drawing in her breath for a deeply exaggerated
comment which she does not particularly mean) Talk
about oldddddddddd-fashioneddddddd Negroes!
WALTER (Stopping momentarily) What kind of Negroes?
(He says this in fun. He is not angry with her
today, nor with anyone. He starts to dance with
his wife again)
BENEATHA Old-fashioned.
WALTER (As he dances with RUTH) You know, when
these New Negroes have their convention (Pointing at
his sister) that is going to be the chairman of the
Committee on Unending Agitation. (He goes on danc-
ing, then stops) Race, race, race! . . , Girl, I do be-
lieve you are the first person in the history of the
entire human race to successfully brainwash yourself.
(BENEATHA breaks up and he goes on dancing. He
stops again, enjoying his tease) Damn, even the N
double A C P takes a holiday sometimes! (BENEATHA
and RUTH laugh. He dances with RUTH some more and
starts to laugh and stops and pantomimes someone over
an operating table) I can just see that chick someday
looking down at some poor cat on an operating table
and before she starts to slice him, she says . . . (Pulling
his sleeves back maliciously) "By the way, what are
your views on civil rights down there? . . ."
(He laughs at her again and starts to dance hap-
pily. The bell sounds)
BENEATHA Sticks and stones may break my bones but
. . . words will never hurt me!
(BENEATHA goes to the door and opens it as
WALTER and RUTH go on with the clowning. BE-
NEATHA is somewhat surprised to see a quiet-
looking middle-aged white man in a business suit
holding his hat and a briefcase in his hand and
consulting a small piece of paper)
MAN Uh how do you do, miss. I am looking for a
Mrs. (He looks at the slip of paper) Mrs. Lena
Younger? (He stops short, struck dumb at the sight of
the oblivious WALTER and RUTH)
BENEATHA (Smoothing her hair with slight embarrass-
ment) Oh yes, that's my mother. Excuse me (She
closes the door and turns to quiet the other two) Ruth!
Brother! (Enunciating precisely but soundlessly: "There's
a white man at the doorr They stop dancing, RUTH cuts
off the phonograph, BENEATHA opens the door. The
man casts a curious quick glance at all of them) Uh
come in please.
MAN {Coming in) Thank you.
BENEATHA My mother isn't here just now. Is it business?
MAN Yes . . . well, of a sort.
WALTER (Freely, the Man of the House) Have a seat.
I'm Mrs. Younger's son. I look after most of her busi-
ness matters.
(RUTH and BENEATHA exchange amused glances)
MAN (Regarding WALTER, and sitting) Well My name
is Karl Lindner . . .
WALTER (Stretching out his hand) Walter Younger. This
is my wife (RUTH nods politely) and my sister.
LINDNER How do you do.
WALTER (Amiably, as he sits himself easily on a chair,
leaning forward on his knees with interest and looking
expectantly into the newcomer's face) What can we
do for you, Mr. Lindner!
LINDNER (Some minor shuffling of the hat and briefcase
on his knees) Well I am a representative of the Cly-
bourne Park Improvement Association
WALTER (Pointing) Why don't you sit your things on
the floor?
LINDNER Oh yes. Thank you. (He slides the briefcase
and hat under the chair) And as I was saying I am
from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association and
we have had it brought to our attention at the last meet-
ing that you people or at least your mother has
bought a piece of residential property at (He digs for
the slip of paper again) four o six Clybourne Street . . .
WALTER That's right. Care for something to drink? Ruth,
get Mr. Lindner a beer.
LINDNER (Upset for some reason) Oh no, really. I
mean thank you very much, but no thank you.
RUTH (Innocently) Some coffee?
LINDNER Thank you, nothing at all.
(BENEATHA is watching the man carefully)
LINDNER Well, I don't know how much you folks know
about our organization. (He is a gentle man; thoughtful
and somewhat labored in his manner) It is one of these
community organizations set up to look after oh, you
know, things like block upkeep and special projects and
we also have what we call our New Neighbors Orien-
tation Committee . . .
BENEATHA (Drily) Yes and what do they do?
LINDNER (Turning a little to her and then returning the
main force to WALTER) Well it's what you might
call a sort of welcoming committee, I guess. I mean
they, we I'm the chairman of the committee go
around and see the new people who move into the
neighborhood and sort of give them the lowdown on
the way we do things out in Clybourne Park.
BENEATHA (With appreciation of the two meanings, which
escape RUTH and WALTER) Un-huh.
LINDNER And we also have the category of what the
association calls (He looks elsewhere) uh special
community problems . . .
BENEATHA Yes and what are some of those?
WALTER Girl, let the man talk.
LINDNER (With understated relief) Thank you. I would
sort of like to explain this thing in my own way. I
mean I want to explain to you in a certain way.
WALTER Go ahead.
LINDNER Yes. Well. I'm going to try to get right to the
point. I'm sure we'll all appreciate that in the long run.
BENEATHA Yes.
WALTER Be still now!
LINDNER Well
RUTH (Still innocently) Would you like another chair
you don't look comfortable.
LINDNER (More frustrated than annoyed) No, thank
you very much. Please. Well to get right to the point
I (A great breath, and he is off at last) I am sure
you people must be aware of some of the incidents
which have happened in various parts of the city when
colored people have moved into certain areas (BE-
NEATHA exhales heavily and starts tossing a piece of
fruit up and down in the air) Well because we have
what I think is going to be a unique type of organiza-
tion in American community life not only do we
deplore that kind of thing but we are trying to do
something about it. (BENEATHA stops tossing and turns
with a new and quizzical interest to the man) We feel
(gaining confidence in his mission because of the in-
terest in the faces of the people he is talking to) we
feel that most of the trouble in this world, when you
come right down to it (He hits his knee for emphasis)
most of the trouble exists because people just don't
sit down and talk to each other.
RUTH (Nodding as she might in church, pleased with the
remark) You can say that again, mister.
LINDNER (More encouraged by such affirmation) That
we don't try hard enough in this world to understand
the other fellow's problem. The other guy's point of
view.
RUTH Now that's right.
(BENEATHA and WALTER merely watch and listen
with genuine interest)
LINDNER Yes that's the way we feel out in Clybourne
Park. And that's why I was elected to come here this
afternoon and talk to you people. Friendly like, you
know, the way people should talk to each other and see
if we couldn't find some way to work this thing out. As
I say, the whole business is a matter of caring about
the other fellow. Anybody can see that you are a nice
family of folks, hard working and honest I'm sure.
(BENEATHA frowns slightly, quizzically, her head tilted
regarding him) Today everybody knows what it means
to be on the outside of something. And of course, there
is always somebody who is out to take advantage of
people who don't always understand.
WALTER What do you mean?
LINDNER Well you see our community is made up of
people who've worked hard as the dickens for years
to build up that little community. They're not rich and
fancy people; just hard-working, honest people who
don't really have much but those little homes and a
dream of the kind of community they want to raise
their children in. Now, I don't say we are perfect and
there is a lot wrong in some of the things they want.
But you've got to admit that a man, right or wrong, has
the right to want to have the neighborhood he lives in
a certain kind of way. And at the moment the over-
whelming majority of our people out there feel that
people get along better, take more of a common interest
in the life of the community, when they share a com-
mon background. I want you to believe me when I
tell you that race prejudice simply doesn't enter into it.
It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing,
rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of
all concerned that our Negro families are happier when
they live in their own communities.
BENEATHA (With a grand and bitter gesture) This,
friends, is the Welcoming Committee!
WALTER (Dumjounded, looking at LINDNER) Is this
what you came marching all the way over here to tell
us?
LINDNER Well, now we've been having a fine conversa-
tion. I hope you'll hear me all the way through.
WALTER (Tightly) Go ahead, man.
LINDNER You see in the face of all the things I have
said, we are prepared to make your family a very gen-
erous offer . . .
BENEATHA Thirty pieces and not a coin less!
WALTER Yeah?
LINDNER (Putting on his glasses and drawing a form out
of the briefcase) Our association is prepared, through
the collective effort of our people, to buy the house
from you at a financial gain to your family.
RUTH Lord have mercy, ain't this the living gall!
WALTER All right, you through?
LINDNER Well, I want to give you the exact terms of the
financial arrangement
WALTER We don't want to hear no exact terms of no
arrangements. I want to know if you got any more to
tell us 'bout getting together?
LINDNER (Taking off his glasses) Well I don't suppose
that you feel . . .
WALTER Never mind how I feel you got any more to
say 'bout how people ought to sit down and talk to each
other? . . . Get out of my house, man.
(He turns his back and walks to the door)
LINDNER (Looking around at the hostile faces and reach-
ing and assembling his hat and briefcase) Well I
don't understand why you people are reacting this way.
What do you think you are going to gain by moving
into a neighborhood where you just aren't wanted and
where some elements well people can get awful
worked up when they feel that their whole way of life
and everything they've ever worked for is threatened.
WALTER Get out.
LINDNER (At the door, holding a small card) Well I'm
sorry it went like this.
WALTER Get out.
LINDNER (Almost sadly regarding WALTER) You just
can't force people to change their hearts, son.
(He turns and put his card on a table and exits.
WALTER pushes the door to with stinging hatred,
and stands looking at it. RUTH just sits and BE-
NEATHA just stands. They say nothing. MAMA and
TRAVIS enter)
MAMA Well this all the packing got done since I left
out of here this morning. I testify before God that my
children got all the energy of the deadl What time the
moving men due?
BENEATHA Four o'clock. You had a caller, Mama.
(She is smiling, teasingly)
MAMA Sure enough who?
BENEATHA (Her arms folded saucily) The Welcoming
Committee.
(WALTER and RUTH giggle)
MAMA (Innocently) Who?
BENEATHA The Welcoming Committee. They said they're
sure going to be glad to see you when you get there.
WALTER (Devilishly) Yeah, they said they can't hardly
wait to see your face.
(Laughter)
MAMA (Sensing their facetiousness) What's the matter
with you all?
WALTER Ain't nothing the matter with us. We just tell-
ing you 'bout the gentleman who came to see you this
afternoon. From the Clybourne Park Improvement As-
sociation.
MAMA What he want?
RUTH (In the same mood as BENEATHA and WALTER)
To welcome you, honey.
WALTER He said they can't hardly wait. He said the
one thing they don't have, that they just dying to have
out there is a fine family of fine colored people! (To
RUTH and BENEATHA) Ain't that right!
RUTH (Mockingly) Yeah! He left his card
BENEATHA (Handing card to MAMA) In case.
(MAMA reads and throws it on the floor under-
standing and looking off as she draws her chair up
to the table on which she has put her plant and
some sticks and some cord)
MAMA Father, give us strength. (Knowingly and with-
out fun) Did he threaten us?
BENEATHA Oh Mama they don't do it like that any
more. He talked Brotherhood. He said everybody ought
to learn how to sit down and hate each other with good
Christian fellowship.
(She and WALTER shake hands to ridicule the
remark)
MAMA (Sadly) Lord, protect us . . .
RUTH You should hear the money those folks raised
to buy the house from us. All we paid and then some.
BENEATHA What they think we going to do eat 'em?
RUTH No, honey, many 'em.
MAMA (Shaking her head) Lord, Lord, Lord . . .
RUTH Well that's the way the crackers crumble. (A
beat) Joke.
BENEATHA (Laughingly noticing what her mother is do-
ing) Mama, what are you doing?
MAMA Fixing my plant so it won't get hurt none on the
way . . .
BENEATHA Mama, you going to take that to the new
house?
MAMA Un-huh
BENEATHA That raggedy-looking old thing?
MAMA (Stopping and looking at her) It expresses ME!
RUTH (With delight, to BENEATHA) So there, Miss
Thing!
(WALTER comes to MAMA suddenly and bends
down behind her and squeezes her in his arms with
all his strength. She is overwhelmed by the sudden-
ness of it and, though delighted, her manner is
like that of RUTH and TRAVIS)
MAMA Look out now, boy! You make me mess up my
thing here!
WALTER (His face lit, he slips down on his knees beside
her, his arms still about her) Mama . . . you know
what it means to climb up in the chariot?
MAMA (Gruffly, very happy) Get on away from me
now . . .
RUTH (Near the gift-wrapped package, trying to catch
WALTER'S eye) Psst
WALTER What the old song say, Mama . . .
RUTH Walter Now?
(She is pointing at the package)
WALTER (Speaking the lines, sweetly, playfully, in his
mother's face)
I got wings . . . you got wings . . .
All God's Children got wings . . .
MAMA Boy get out of my face and do some work . . .
WALTER
When I get to heaven gonna put on my wings,
Gonna fly all over God's heaven . . .
BENEATHA (Teasingly, from across the room) Every-
body talking 'bout heaven ain't going there!
WALTER (To RUTH, who is carrying the box across to
them) I don't know, you think we ought to give her
that . . . Seems to me she ain't been very appreciative
around here.
MAMA (Eying the box, which is obviously a gift) What
is that?
WALTER (Taking it from RUTH and putting it on the table
in front of MAMA) Well what you all think? Should
we give it to her?
RUTH Oh she was pretty good today.
MAMA I'll good you
(She turns her eyes to the box again)
BENEATHA Open it. Mama.
(She stands up, looks at it, turns and looks at all
of them, and then presses her hands together and
does not open the package)
WALTER (Sweetly) Open it, Mama. It's for you. (MAMA
looks in his eyes. It is the first present in her Hie with-
out its being Christmas. Slowly she opens her package
and lifts out, one by one, a brand-new sparkling set of
gardening tools. WALTER continues, prodding) Ruth
made up the note read it ...
MAMA (Picking up the card and adjusting her glasses)
"To our own Mrs. Miniver Love from Brother, Ruth
and Beneatha." Ain't that lovely . . .
TRAVIS ( Tugging at his father's sleeve) Daddy, can I give
her mine now?
WALTER All right, son. (TRAVIS flies to get his gift)
MAMA Now I don't have to use my knives and forks no
more . . .
WALTER Travis didn't want to go in with the rest of us,
Mama. He got his own. (Somewhat amused) We don't
know what it is ...
TRAVIS (Racing back in the room with a large hatbox and
putting it in front of his grandmother) Here!
MAMA Lord have mercy, baby. You done gone and
bought your grandmother a hat?
TRAVIS ( Very proud) Open it !
(She does and lifts out an elaborate, but very
elaborate, wide gardening hat, and all the adults
break up at the sight of it)
RUTH Travis, honey, what is that?
TRAVIS (Who thinks it is beautiful and appropriate) It's
a gardening hat! Like the ladies always have on in the
magazines when they work in their gardens.
BENEATHA (Giggling fiercely) Travis we were trying
to make Mania Mrs. Miniver not Scarlett O'Hara!
MAMA (Indignantly) What's the matter with you all!
This here is a beautiful hat! (Absurdly) I always
wanted me one just like it!
(She pops it on her head to prove it to her grand-
son, and the hat is ludicrous and considerably
oversized)
RUTH Hot dog! Go, Mama!
WALTER (Doubled over with laughter) I'm sorry, Mama
but you look like you ready to go out and chop you
some cotton sure enough!
(They all laugh except MAMA, out of deference to
TRAVIS' feelings)
MAMA (Gathering the boy up to her) Bless your heart
this is the prettiest hat I ever owned (WALTER,
RUTH and BENEATHA chime in noisily, festively and
insincerely congratulating TRAVIS on his gift) What are
we all standing around here for? We ain't finished
packin' yet. Bennie, you ain't packed one book.
(The bell rings)
BENEATHA That couldn't be the movers . . . it's not
hardly two good yet
(BENEATHA goes into her room. MAMA starts for
door)
WALTER (Turning, stiffening) Wait wait I'll get it.
(He stands and looks at the door)
MAMA You expecting company, son?
WALTER (Just looking at the door) Yeah yeah . . ,
(MAMA looks at RUTH, and they exchange inno-
cent and unfrightened glances')
MAMA (Not understanding) Well, let them in, son*
BENEATHA (From her room) We need some more string.
MAMA Travis you run to the hardware and get me
some string cord.
(MAMA goes out and WALTER turns and looks at
RUTH. TRAVIS goes to a dish for money)
RUTH Why don't you answer the door, man?
WALTER (Suddenly bounding across the floor to embrace
her) 'Cause sometimes it hard to let the future begin!
(Stooping down in her face)
I got wings! You got wings!
All God's children got wings!
(He crosses to the door and throws it open. Standing
there is a very slight little man in a not too prosperous
business suit and with haunted frightened eyes and a hat
pulled down tightly, brim up, around his forehead.
TRAVIS passes between the men and exits. WALTER
leans deep in the man's face, still in his jubilance)
When I get to heaven gonna put on my wings,
Gonna fly all over God's heaven . - .
(The little man just stares at him)
Heaven
(Suddenly he stops and looks past the little man into
the empty hallway) Where's Willy, man?
BOBO He ain't with me.
WALTER (Not disturbed) Oh come on in. You know
my wife.
BOBO (Dumbly, taking off his hat} Yes h'you, Miss
Ruth.
RUTH (Quietly, a mood apart from her husband already,
seeing BOBO) Hello, Bobo.
WALTER You right on time today . . . Right on time.
That's the way! (He slaps BOBO on his back) Sit down
. . . lemme hear.
(RUTH stands stiffly and quietly in back of them,
as though somehow she senses death, her eyes
fixed on her husband)
BOBO (His frightened eyes on the floor, his hat in his
hands) Could I please get a drink of water, before I
tell you about it, Walter Lee?
(WALTER does not take his eyes off the man. RUTH
goes blindly to the tap and gets a glass of water
and brings it to BOBO)
WALTER There ain't nothing wrong, is there?
BOBO Lemme tell you
WALTER Man didn't nothing go wrong?
BOBO Lemme tell you Walter Lee. (Looking at RUTH
and talking to her more than to WALTER) You know
how it was. I got to tell you how it was. I mean first
I got to tell you how it was all the way ... I mean
about the money I put in, Walter Lee . . .
WALTER (With taut agitation now) What about the
money you put in?
BOBO Well it wasn't much as we told you me and
Willy (He stops) I'm sorry, Walter. I got a bad feel-
ing about it. I got a real bad feeling about it ...
WALTER Man, what you telling me about all this for?
. . . Tell me what happened in Springfield . . .
BOBO Springfield.
RUTH (Like a dead woman) What was supposed to
happen in Springfield?
BOBO (To her) This deal that me and Walter went into
with Willy Me and Willy was going to go down to
Springfield and spread some money 'round so's we
wouldn't have to wait so long for the liquor license
. . . That's what we were going to do. Everybody said
that was the way you had to do, you understand, Miss
Ruth?
WALTER Man what happened down there?
BOBO (A pitiful man, near tears) I'm trying to tell you,
Walter.
WALTER (Screaming at him suddenly) THEN TELL
ME, GODDAMMIT . . . WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOU?
BOBO Man ... I didn't go to no Springfield, yesterday.
WALTER (Halted, life hanging in the moment) Why not?
BOBO (The long way, the hard way to tell) 'Cause I
didn't have no reasons to ...
WALTER Man, what are you talking about!
BOBO I'm talking about the fact that when I got to the
train station yesterday morning eight o'clock like we
planned . . . Man Witty didn't never show up.
WALTER Why . . . where was he ... where is he?
BOBO That's what I'm trying to tell you ... I don't
know ... I waited six hours ... I called his house
. . . and I waited ... six hours ... I waited in
that train station six hours . . . (Breaking into tears)
That was all the extra money I had in the world . . .
(Looking up at WALTER with the tears running down his
face) Man, Willy is gone.
WALTER Gone, what you mean Willy is gone? Gone
where? You mean he went by himself. You mean he
went off to Springfield by himself to take care of get-
ting the license (Turns and looks anxiously at RUTH)
You mean maybe he didn't want too many people in
on the business down there? (Looks to RUTH again, as
before) You know Willy got his own ways. (Looks
back to BOBO) Maybe you was late yesterday and he
just went on down there without you. Maybe maybe
he's been callin' you at home tryin' to tell you what
happened or something. Maybe maybe he just got
sick. He's somewhere he's got to be somewhere. We
just got to find him me and you got to find him.
(Grabs BOBO senselessly by the collar and starts to
shake him) We got to!
BOBO (In sudden angry, frightened agony) What's the
matter with you, Walter! When a cat take off with your
money he don't leave you no road maps!
WALTER (Turning madly, as though he is looking for
WILLY in the very room) Willy! . . . Willy . . . don't
do it . . . Please don't do it ... Man, not with that
money * . . Man, please, not with that money . . .
Oh, God . . , Don't let it be true . . . (He is wan-
dering around, crying out for WILLY and looking for him
or perhaps for help from God) Man ... I trusted you
. . . Man, I put my life in your hands . . * (He starts
to crumple down on the floor as RUTH just covers her
face in horror. MAMA opens the door and comes into
the room, with BENEATHA behind her) Man . . . (He
starts to pound the floor with his fists, sobbing wildly)
THAT MONEY IS MADE OUT OF MY FATHER'S
FLESH
BOBO (Standing over him helplessly) I'm sorry, Walter
. . . (Only WALTER'S sobs reply. BOBO puts on his hat)
I had my life staked on this deal, too ...
(He exits)
MAMA (To WALTER) Son (She goes to him, bends
down to him, talks to his bent head) Son ... Is it
gone? Son, I gave you sixty-live hundred dollars. Is it
gone? All of it? Beneatha's money too?
WALTER (Lifting his head slowly) Mama , . , I never
. . . went to the bank at all ...
MAMA (Not wanting to believe him) You mean . . .
your sister's school money . . . you used that too ...
Walter? . . .
WALTER Yessss! All of it ... It's all gone . . .
(There is total silence. RUTH stands with her face
covered with her hands; BENEATHA leans forlornly
against a wall, fingering a piece of red ribbon from
the mother's gift. MAMA stops and looks at her son
without recognition and then, quite without think-
ing about it, starts to beat him senselessly in the
face. BENEATHA goes to them and stops it)
BENEATHA Mama!
(MAMA stops and looks at both of her children
and rises slowly and wanders vaguely, aimlessly
away from them)
MAMA I seen . . . him . . . night after night . . . come
in ... and look at that rug ... and then look at me
. . . the red showing in his eyes . . . the veins moving in
his head ... I seen him grow thin and old before he
was forty . . . working and working and working like
somebody's old horse . . . killing himself . . . and you
you give it all away in a day (She raises her arms to
strike him again)
BENEATHA Mama
MAMA Oh, God . . . (She looks up to Him) Look down
here and show me the strength.
BENEATHA Mama
MAMA (Folding over) Strength . . .
BENEATHA (Plaintively) Mama . . .
MAMA Strength!
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