The Man Who Had All the Luck by Arthur Miller

don’t flatter me. [ To DAVID, who has been watching HESTER since SHORY came in. ] Hey, husband, where’s that drink?
    DAVID: Come on, everybody. Before we go! [ Gives out the drinks. . . . Raises his glass. ] A toast! To everybody’s luck—everybody’s!
    All raise their glasses.
    GUS [ to AMOS]: And the next World Series! [ Starts to drink. ]
    DAVID: Wait! Make one big toast . . . to all our hearts’ desires. For Amos! For Dad . . .
    GUS: To David and Hester! To their prosperity, their shop, their tractor station, their farm . . .
    DIBBLE [ suddenly struck with the idea ]: And their mink!
    HESTER [ quick complaint ]: No . . .
    DAVID [ he looks at HESTER . Her face softens toward him ]: Not the mink now! From today on everything is coming true! To our children.
    GUS: To their children.
    J.B.: Their children.
    HESTER [ softly ]: And in this year. Say that.
    DAVID [ their eyes meet for an instant, and hold ]: In this year . . . everything our hearts desire . . . all of us : in this year. All drink.
    PAT [ looks at watch ]: Hey! We’re late! We’re getting drunk and the whole world is waiting for us out there! Come on! They all rush out yelling and laughing as . . . Curtain.

Scene ii
    Living Room. About seven o’clock that night.
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    The stage is empty. The gentle murmur and occasional laughter of the guests at the barbecue can be heard dimly.
    Presently, DAVID , followed by DAN DIBBLE, comes in through the front door. DAVID crosses to the desk and removes a large checkbook. He pauses over it, pen in hand.
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    DAVID: It’s a fortune. I never wrote a check this big in my life. DIBBLE: You never got so much for so little, David. You’ll have prize stock, the finest breeding mink alive. The rest’s up to you. DAVID: Mr. Dibble, I never thought I’d see my hand shaking.
    The door at lower left opens and PAT appears. He closes the door gently behind him.
    DAVID: Still asleep?
    PAT: Shhh, I always make him take a long nap after a game. DAVID: Aren’t you going to eat anything?
    PAT: I couldn’t eat anything now. I’ll eat after Belfast gets here. [ He sits on the couch. ] I was watchin’ Amos just now asleep on the couch, and it suddenly struck me. Did you ever notice what a powerful face he has?
    DAVID [ as he writes check ]: He’s great. After that game today there ain’t a man in the world can doubt it. He’s just great.
    PAT: Didn’t he look noble out there?
    DAVID: Noble enough to vote for.
    DAVID [ as he tears out check ]: Here’s your check, Mr. Dibble. [DIBBLE takes it. ]
    DIBBLE: You’ll never regret it, David.
    DAVID: I hope not.
    DIBBLE: Well, I’ll be runnin’ along now. You call me as soon as you get your cages ready and I’ll bring ’em over. [DAVID has walked him to the front door. ] Goodnight.
    DAVID: G’night.
    DIBBLE exits. DAVID turns back into the room.
    PAT: You know why I’m extra glad? I think you were beginning to take it too hard, Dave. I was going to have a talk with you. Because I never had a doubt he’d scale the heights.
    DAVID: I just didn’t like the idea of me getting everything so steady, and him waiting around like . . . I mean you get to wondering if your own turn isn’t coming.
    PAT: Like what do you mean?
    DAVID: A loss . . . a big unhappiness of some kind. But he’s on his way now. I know it, Pop.
    The door opens and J.B. enters with a grand new valise. He is slightly drunk. In one hand he has a slip of paper.
    J.B.: Surprise! [PAT springs up with finger to his lips. ]
    PAT: Shhh!
    J.B. [ whispers ]: Surprise! Wake him up. [ Pointing to valise. ] Surprise . . .
    PAT: After a game he’s got to sleep an hour or he’s peevish. [ Pointing at watch. ] Wait a few minutes.
    DAVID: Wait’ll he sees the initials.
    PAT [ violently ]: Ssh! [ To J.B. . . . threatening. ] If he’s peevish . . . ! The door opens and AMOS stands in the doorway.
    J.B.: Hey Amos