3-1-6A

How do you do.

LINDNER

WALTER

(Amiably, as he sits himself easily on
a chair leaning with loose interest
forward on his knees 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 Clybourne Park
Improvement Association -

WALTER

(Indicating with remark)

Why don't you sit your things on the floor?

LINDNER

Oh - yes. Thank you.

(He slides brief case and hat under
the chair)

And as I was saying - I am from the Clybourne Park Im-
provement Association and we have had it brought to our
attention at the last meeting that you people - or at
least your mother - has bought a piece of residential
property at -

(He digs for the little slip of paper
again)

406 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

(From across the room, ahead of every-
one in perception, watching Mr. Lindner)

Why don't you all let Mr. Lindner tell us what his business is.

(This is delivered tightly; loaded with
prior belief. She is resting one arm

on something and watching the man care-
fully)

(.VER) 3-1-6A

["3-1-6B", "LINDNER", "Uh - yes. Well, I don't know how much you folks\nknow about our organization.", "(He is a gentle man; thoughtful and\nsomewhat labored in his manner)", "It is one of these community organizations set up to\nlook after - oh you know things like block upkeep and\nspecial projects and we also have what we call our\nNew Neighbors Orientation Committee...", "BENEATHA", "(DRILLY) Yes - and what do they do?", "LINDNER", "(Turning a little to her and then\nreturning the main force to Brother)", "Well - it's what you might call a sort of Welcoming\nCommittee I guess. I mean they, we, I'm the chairman\nof the committee - go around and see the new People\nwho move into the neighborhood and sort of give 'em\nthe lowdown on the way we do things out in Clybourne\nPark.", "BENEATHA", "(With false appreciation the two\nmeansings of which escape all.)", "Un-huh.", "LINDNER", "- And we also have the category of what the Association calls\n(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\nmy 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.\nI'm sure we'll all appreciate that in the long run.", "BENEATHA", "WALTER", "Yes.", "Be still now!", "AUG-1-6B", "NETJAW", "no. 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

3-1-6C

LINDNER

Well -

(Innocently still)

Would you like another chair - you don't look comfortable.

RUTH

(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 -

BENEATHA

(Behind, unobtrusively)

Here we go, children.

(She exhales heavily and starts tossing a piece of fruit up and down in the air.)

No one looks or notices her.)

LINDNER

Well - because we have, what I think is going to be a unique type of organization in American community life - not only do we deplore that kind of thing - but we are trying to do something about it.

(Beneatha halts with the tossing and turns with a new and quizzical interest to the man)

We feel

(gaining in confidence in his mission due to the interest 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 pounds his fist just a little for emphasis on his knee)

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

(Also 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.

3-1-6E

BENBATHA

Nothing...let him go on...just let him go on. Tell us what you want, Mister Lindner.

LINDNER:

(Shaken a little bit by her reaction)

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 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 overwhelming 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 common 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!

ORANGE TO W

WALTER

(Dumbfounded 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 conversation I hope you'll hear me all the way through.

WALTER

(Tightly) Go ahead, man.

LINDNER

You see - in the face of all things I have said, we are prepared to make your family a very generous offer...

BENEATHA

Thirty pieces and not a coin less!

WALTER

LINDNER

(Putting on his glasses and drawing out a form from the brief case)

Our association is prepared through the collective effort of our people to buy the house from you at a financial gain to your family.

3-1-6F

RUTH

Lord have mercy, ain't this the living gall!

UP

WALTER

All right, you through?

UP

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 'about 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 reaching and assembling his hat
and brief case)

(Well - I ought to tell you...That people like myself
are in a minority in this world). I don't understand why
you people are reacting this way. What? You think you are
going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you
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

(To Walter as he approaches the
door with deep passion)
You just can't force people to change their hearts, son.

(He turns and puts his card on a table
and exits)

11:35

["3-1-60", "(After the exit Walter pushes the door to with stinging hatred; and stands looking at it. Ruth sits and Beneatha stands. They say nothing for several seconds; presently Ruth looks up)", "RUTH", "(SIMPLY) Why is it they think you want to be somebody's martyr 'cause you want to live in the sunlight?", "(It hangs. Then the bell and\nBeneatha answers as Walter wanders\noff to light a cigarette. It is\nMama and Travis)", "TRAVIS MORE CARToons\nMAMA SOME STICKS\nBREAD-SALT-BROOM", "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 dead. What time the moving men due - ?", "HAT\nCOAT OFF", "TRAVIS CARRY CARToons\nIN BEDROOM L.", "BENEATHA", "Four o'clock. You had a caller Mama.\n(She is smiling, teasingly)", "MAMA", "M X PLANE INK", "Sure enough - who?", "BENEATHA:", "(Her arms folded saucily)", "The Welcoming Committee.", "(Brother 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.", "M X CHW", "WALTER", "(Devilishly)", "Yeah, they said they can't hardly wait to see your face.", "(Laughter)", "MAMA", "(Sensing their facetiousness and looking up and putting her hands on her hips)", "What's the matter with you all?", "WALTER SH COWELL", "Ain't nothing the matter with us. We just telling you\nbout the gentleman who came to see you this afternoon.\nFrom the Clybourne Park Improvement Association.", "A Find @natter", "C. Keep Peppermint", "R", "Keep organized-", "M) Has done wrong out of\nright impulses - now, insecure\nin family - the girl.\nLike new rule but not\nsure of it.", "", "SUMMITS", "seeks silence and a last-minute appeal\nthat didn't work last time\n(then he adds, \"Good-bye\")\n\n(then his self-righteous, overbearing, and aloof\nview of himself, and his own self-righteousness and aloof\nsighs, \"Good-bye\" to himself and to his own aloof\n\nalone and then last year made his own aloof\nat last before they could get together and all of\n\n...and so on...", "SUGGEST", "SUGGEST\n(like this, at least, if not the rest of it)\n\n(then he adds, \"Good-bye\")", "RUBBISH", "and suggests an exit plan of attack", "(then suggests, \"Good-bye\" to Ruth)\n\n(then suggests, \"Good-bye\" to Ruth and then\nsaid a last time, \"Good-bye\")\n\n(then suggests, \"Good-bye

3-1-6H

MAMA
What he want?

RUTH
(The same as Beneatha and Walter)
To welcome you, honey.

WALTER
He said they can't hardly wait - He said it's one thing they don't have that they just dying to have out there and that's a fine family of colored people!
(To Ruth and Beneatha)
Ain't that right!

(Ruth and Beneatha, mockingly:
"Yeah! He left his card in case - ")

Bennie

Ruth

MAMA
(Throws it on the floor - understanding and looking off as she draws up her chair to the table where she has put her plant and some sticks and some cord)

Father give us strength.
(Knowingly and without fun)

Did he threaten us?

BENEATHA
Oh - Mama - they don't do it like that. He talked Brother-hood. He said everybody ought learn how to sit down and hate each other with good Christian fellowship.

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, marry 'em.

MAMA
(Shaking her head)
Lord, Lord, Lord....

RUTH
Well -- that's the way the crackers crumble. Joke.

3-1-12

BOBO

Lemme tell you -- Walter Lee, R- WATER
(Looking at Ruth and talking to her more
than 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 feeling 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 GODDANMIT... WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

BOBO

Man...I didn't go to no Springfield, yesterday. X DR

WALTER

(Halted, life hanging in the moment)
-- Why not?

3-2-17 (Rev)

1-22)

BENEATHA

The insurance money. My brother gave it away.

ASAGAI

Gave it away?

BENEATHA

He made an investment. With a man even Travie wouldn't have trusted with his most worn out marbles.

ASAGAI

And it's gone?

BENEATHA

Gone!

ASAGAI

I'm very sorry.

BENEATHA

But you know who is crazy ... not brother. By his lights he did what made sense to him. For days he's been floating because he never even had the sense to be scared. Mine's the crazy one. She's the one who threw away our lives.

ASAGAI

I see ... and you now?

BENEATHA

Me?...Me?...Me I'm nothing...Me. When I was very small... we used to take our sleds out in the winter time and the only hills we had were the ice covered stone steepes of some houses down the street. And we used to fill them in with snow and make them smooth and slide down them all day...and it was very dangerous you know ... far too steep, and sure enough one day a kid named Rufus came down too fast and hit the sidewalk...and we saw his face just split open right there in front of us...And I remember standing there looking at his bloody open face thinking that was the end of Rufus. But the ambulance came and they took him to the hospital and they fixed the broken bones and they sewed it all up...and the next time I saw Rufus he just had a little line down the middle of his face....I never got over that...

ASAGAI

What?

BENEATHA

That that was what one person could do for another, fix him up -- say up the problem, make him alright again. That was the most marvelous thing in the world... I wanted to do that.

3-2-23 (REV.)

BENEATHA-

HOW.

ASAGAI

I use my marvelous will to impose <u>purpose</u> in life. Imagine - only man can do this. A <u>magnificent power!</u>

(Grinning happily)

Isn't it splendid to be human!

BENEATHA

You're being funny.

ASAGAI

No - as a matter of fact I am speaking of things about which I feel most deeply. I am being quite serious. You see all you are doing in this moment is trying to find a simple, intellectual road to despair - and I won't help you do that.

BENEATHA

What is wrong with despair?

ASAGAI

(With a wave of his hand)

Everything. It is also <u>stubborn</u> and unattractive.

BENEATHA

You <u>are</u> being funny.

ASAGAI

Yes - now I am. But only because despair doesn't deserve very serious thought. One requires no truly serious thought to arrive at a philosophy of despair and so one ought not extend serious thought in arguing against it. It is what it has always been - the easy way out. The pain of it is almost imaginary and the profundity quite superficial. It is merely the old struggle with life that remains difficult and profound.

(He sighs)

I am afraid that even in the twentieth century it is still necessary to go on asserting that mystical intangibles do not transform us - but that realities most certainly do. Your Brother's view of the world is contained in that statement - and, interestingly enough - so is mine. [Emph: As a matter of fact even God is anchored in that remark. Clearly without the despair of our very real trials on this earth we would not hanker for some External Agent on which to lay the blame. Say what?

BENEATHA

Oh I know all of that!

ASAGAI

Good! Then stop moaning and groaning and tell me what you plan to do - I have a bit of a suggestion.

3-2-24 (REV.)

BENEATHA

What?

ASAGAI

(Rather quietly for him)

That when it is all over - that you come home with me -

BENEATHA

(Slapping herself on the forehead
with exasperation out of misunder-
standing)

Oh - Asagai - at this moment you decide to be romantic!

ASAGAI

(Quickly understanding the misunder-
standing)

My dear, young, creature of the New World - I do not mean
across the city - I mean across the ocean; home - to Africa.

BENEATHA

(Slowly understanding and turning to
him with murmured amazement)

- To - to Nigeria - ?

ASAGAI

Yes!..

(Smiling and lifting his arms play-
fully)

Three hundred years later the African Prince rose up out
of the seas and swept the maiden back across the middle
passage over which her ancestors had come -

BENBATHA

quit

(Unable to play) - Nigeria?

ASAGAI

Nigeria. quit

Home.

(Coming to her with genuine romantic
flippancy)

- I will show you our mountains and our stars; and give
you cool drinks from gourds and teach you the old songs
and the ways of our people - and in time - we will pretend
that (very softly) you have only been away for a day -

(She turns her back to him - thinking)

Or - at least that is the way you will make it sound in
your letters home. In reality -

(He takes her by the shoulders and
turns her to him face to face, quite
close)

In reality you will wear one of those ugly white medical
gowns and one of those terrible white things around your
head and a stethoscope forever around your neck no doubt -

(MORE)

3-2-26 (REV.)

BENEATHA

(Hissingly) Yes - just look at what the New World hath wrought!...Just look!

(She gestures with bitter disgust)

There he is! Monsieur le petit bourgeois noir - himself!
There he is - Symbol of a Rising Class! Entrepreneur! -
Titan of the system!

(Brother ignores her completely and continues frantically and destruc- tively looking for something and hurl- ing things to floor and tearing things out of their place in his search. Beneatha ignores the eccentricity of his actions and goes on with the mono- logue of insult)

Did you dream of yachts on Lake Michigan, Brother? Did you see yourself on that Great Day sitting down at the Conference Table, surrounded by all the mighty bald-headed men in America? All halted, waiting, breathlessly waiting for your pronouncements on industry? Waiting for you - Chairman of the Board?

(Brother finds what he is looking for - a small piece of white paper and pushes it in his pocket and puts on his coat and rushes out without ever having looked at her. She shouts after him)

I look at you and I see the final triumph of stupidity in the world!

(The door slams and she returns to sitting again. Ruth comes out quickly from Mama's room)

RUTH:

Who was that?

BENEATHA

Your husband.

RUTH

Where did he go - ?

BENEATHA

Who knows - maybe he has an appointment at U.S. Steel. Sale to coach

RUTH

(Anxiously, with frightened eyes) You didn't say nothing bad to him did you?

BENEATHA

(Jumping up in anger) Bad-? Say anything bad to him. No - I told him he was a sweet boy and full of dreams and everything is strictly peachy keen(as the ofay kids say!)

up

STDR

3-2-30 (REV.)

WALTER

Talking 'bout life, Mama. You all always telling me to
see life like it is. Well - I laid in there on my back
today...and I figured'out. Life just like it is. Who
gets and who don't get.

(He sits down in his coat and
laughs)

Mama, you know it's all divided up. Life is. Sure
enough. Between the takers and the'tooken.

(He laughs)

I've figured it out finally.

(He looks around at them)

Yeah. Some of us always getting'tooken.

(He laughs)

People like Willy Harris, they don't never get'tooken." And
you know why the rest of us do? Cause we all mixed up.
Mixed up bad. We get to looking round for the right and
the wrong; and we worry about it and cry about it and stay
up nights trying to figure out 'bout the wrong and the right
of things all the time...And all the time, man, them takers
is out there operating, just taking and taking. Willy
Harris? Shoot - Willy Harris don't even count. He don't
even count in the real" scheme of things. But I'll say
one thing for old Willy Harris...He's taught me something.
He's taught me to keep my eye on what counts in this world.

Yeah -

(Shouting out a little)

Thanks, Willy!

RUTH

What did you call that man for, Walter Lee?

WALTER

Called him to tell him to come on over to the "show." Gone
to put on a "show"For the man. Just what he wants to see.
You see Mama. The man came before today and he told us
that them people out there where you want us to move -
well they so upset they willing to pay us not to move out
there.

(He laughs again)

And - and oh Mama - you would of been proud of the way me
and Ruth and Bennie acted. We told him to get out...Lord
have mercy! We told the man to get out. Oh we was some
proud folks this afternoon, yeah.

(He lights a cigarette)

We still full of that old time stuff...

RUTH

(Coming toward him slowly)

You talking 'bout taking white people's money to keep us
from moving in that house?

WALTER

I ain't just talking 'bout it, Baby - I'm telling you that's
What's going to happen.

3-2-31 (REV.)

BENEATHA

Oh God! Where is the bottom! (Where is the real honest to God bottom so he can't go any farther!)

WALTER

See - that's the old stuff. You and that boy that was here today. You all want everybody to carry a flag and a spear and sing some marching songs, huh? You wanna spend your life looking into things and trying to find the right and the wrong part, huh? Yeah. You know what's going to happen to that boy someday - he'll find himself sitting in a dungeon, locked in forever - and the takers will have the key! Forget it, baby! There ain't no causes - there ain't nothing but taking in this world and he who takes most is smartest - and it don't make a damn bit of difference *now*.

BENEATHA

(To RUTH)

Are you really going to let Travis grow up in the same house with this creature?

MAMA

You making something inside me cry, son. Some awful pain inside me.

WALTER

Don't cry, Mama. Understand. That white man is going to walk in that door able to write checks for more money than we ever had. It's important to him and I'm going to help him...I'm going to put on the show, Mama.

MAMA

Son - I come from five generations of people who was slaves and share croppers - but ain't nobody in my family never let nobody pay 'em no money that was a way of telling us we wasn't fit to walk the earth. We ain't never been that poor.

(Raising her eyes and looking at him)
We ain't never been that dead inside.

BENEATHA

Well - we are dead now. All the talk about dreams and sunlight that goes on in this house. All dead. Not even splendidly dead from a noble battle - just pathetically dead. Sort of shriveled up like a little insignificant dried up old raisin in the sun...

WALTER

What's the matter with you all? I didn't make this world! It was give to me this way! And there got to be some kind of way to be on top of it. Hell yes I want me some yachts someday! Yes-I want to hang some real pearls round my wife's neck. Ain't she supposed to wear no pearls? Somebody tell me - tell who it is that decides which women is suppose to wear pearls in this world. I tell you I am a MAN - and I think my wife should wear some pearls in this world!

3-2-35 (NEW)

RUTH

He's here.

(A long minute passes and WALTER slowly gets up)

LINDNER

(Coming to the table with efficiency and putting his brief case on the table and starting to unfold papers and unscrew fountain pens)

Well I certainly was glad to hear from you people.

(WALTER has begun the trek out of the room, slowly awkwardly - rather like a small boy, passing the back of his sleeve from time to time across his mouth)

Life can really be so much simpler than people let it be most of the time. Well - with whom do I negotiate - You, Mrs. Younger or your son here?

(MAMA sits with her hands folded on her lap and her eyes closed as WALTER advances in the same manner.)

(TRAVIS goes close to Lindner and looks at the papers curiously)

Just some official papers, sonny.

RUTH

Travis you go downstairs.

MAMA

(Opening her eyes and looking into Walter's)

No. Travis you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harris taught you. You show where our five generations done come to. Go ahead son -

WALTER

(Looks down in his boy's eyes. TRAVIS grins at him merrily and WALTER draws him beside him with his arm lightly around his shoulder)

Well, Mister Lindner.

(Beneatha turns away)

We called you -

(There is a profound simple groping quality in his speech)

because well, me and my family

(MORE)

3-2-37 (NEW)

WALTER

and my boy needs sunlight. We don't want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes - but we will try to be good neighbors. That's all we got to say.

(He looks at the man absolutely in the eyes)

We don't want your money.

(He turns and walks away from the man)

LINDNER

(Looking around at all of them)

I take it then that you have decided to occupy.

BENEATHA

That's what the man said.

LINDNER

(To Mama in her reverie)

Then I would like to appeal to you Mrs. Younger. You are older and wiser and understand things better I am sure...

MAMA

(Rising)

I am afraid you don't understand. My son said we was going to move and there ain't nothing left for me to say.

(Shaking her head with double meaning)

You know how these young folks is nowadays, mister. Can't do a thing with 'em. Goodbye.

LINDNER

(Folding up his materials)

Well - if you are that final about it. There is nothing left for me to say.

(He finishes almost ignored by the family who are concentrating on Walter Lee)

(At the door he halts and looks around)

I sure hope you people know what you're doing.

(He shakes his head and exits)

RUTH

(Looking around and coming to life)

Well for God's sake - if the moving men are here - LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!

MAMA

(Into action)

Ain't it the truth. Look at all this here mess. Ruth put Travis' good jacket on him...Walter Lee fix your tie and tuck your shirt in you look just like somebody's hoodlum. Lord have mercy where is my plant.

(MORE)

3-2-38 (NEW)

MAMA

(She flies to get it amongst
general bustling among the family
which is deliberately trying to
ignore the nobility of the past
moment)

y'll start on down...Travis, child don't go empty handed...
Ruth where did I put that box with my skillets in it. I want
to be in charge of it myself...I'm going to make us the big-
gest dinner we ever ate tonight...Beneatha, what's the matter
with them stockings? Pull them things up girl...

(The family starts to file out as
moving men appear and start bumping
into them carrying out the heavier
pieces)

BENEATHA

(Over in a corner quickly and stub-
hornly to her brother after tapping
him)

Mama, Asagai - asked me to marry him today and go to Africa -

MAMA

(In the middle of her getting ready
activity)

He did - You ain't old enough to marry nobody -
(Seeing the moving men lifting one
of her chairs precariously)

Darling that ain't no bale of cotton, please handle it so
we can sit in it again. I had their chair twenty-five years...

(The movers sigh with exasperation
and go on with their work)

BENEATHA

(Girlishly and unreasonably trying
to pursue the conversation)

To go to Africa Mama - be a doctor in Africa...

MAMA

(Distracted) Yes Baby -

WALTER

Africa! What he want you to go to Africa for.

BENEATHA

To practice there...

WALTER

Girl, if you don't get all them silly ideas out your head.
You better marry yourself a man with some look...

BENEATHA

(Angrily, precisely as in the first
scene of the play)

What have you go to do with who I marry!