Read The Man Who Had All the Luck for Free Online Page B

happened to you. The Marmon’s over at my house. He’s afraid to drive her any further on the snow. I’ll bring her over and you’ll go to work. All right?
    DAVID: Yeah, but look, John, I . . .
    J.B.: You better get in early and start on her first thing in the morning. All right?
    HESTER [ with a loud bubble of laughter ]: David, that’s wonderful!
    DAVID [ quickly ]: See, if we waited, Hess. In six months, maybe less, I’d have something to show!
    HESTER: But I’m going to Normal in a week if we don’t do it now!
    SHORY: You’re pushing him, Hester.
    HESTER [ a sudden outburst at SHORY]: Stop talking to him! A person isn’t a frog, to wait and wait for something to happen!
    SHORY: He’ll fight your father if you drag him there tonight! And your father can kill him!
    DAVID [ takes her hand. Evenly ]: Come on, Hess. We’ll go. [ To J.B.] Bring the car over, I’ll be back later . . .
    But J.B. is staring off right, down the driveway. DAVE turns, with HESTER and all to follow his stare. She steps a foot away from him. Enter ANDREW FALK , a tall, old man, hard as iron, nearsighted, slightly stooped. Sound of idling motor outside.
    J.B. [ after a moment ]: I’ll bring the car, Dave. Five minutes.
    DAVID [ affecting a businesslike, careless flair ]: Right, J.B., I’ll fix him up. [ as J.B. goes out. ] And thanks loads, John! FALK has been looking at HESTER , who dares every other moment to look up from the floor at him. DAVID turns to FALK, desperately controlling his voice. PAT enters from SHORY ’s store.
    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.
    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.
    HESTER [ 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 . . .
    FALK [ in reply ]: Go on home, Hester.
    DAVID [ 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. ]
    HESTER [ 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 [ angering ]: That ain’t gonna work any more, Mr. Falk. We’re old enough now.
    PAT [ 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 . . .
    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?
    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.
    SHORY [ 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.
    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.
    DAVID [ pointing to the right ]: Your car stalled. I’ll start