Willy: "Wonderful coffee. Meal in itself.
WILLY Act 2 (page 55): Willy's appraisal of the coffee shows his shift in mood, it is upbeat and optimistic.
Linda: "Biff was very changed this morning. His whole attitude seemed to be hopeful.
LINDA Act 2 (page 55): Linda mentions Biff's change in attitude after the Bill Oliver plan the night before.
Willy: "Once in my life I would like to own something outright before it's broken! I'm always in a race with the junkyard! I just finished paying for the car and it's on its last legs.
WILLY Act 2 (page 57): Willy rants about how he would really like to own something that doesn't immediately break. Uses their car as an example.
Willy: "Gee whiz! That's really somethin'. I'm gonna knock Howard for a loop, kid. I'll get an advance, and I'll come home with a New York job. Goddammit, now I'm gonna do it!
WILLY Act 2 (page 57): Willy has a burst of confidence and plans to go and see Howard to change his job from Boston to New York.
Linda: "It's changing, Willy, I can feel it changing!
LINDA Act 2 (page 58): Linda enthusiastically shares Willy's excitement, talking about how she 'can feel it changing!'
Willy: "I don't need much any more. If I could take home - well, sixty-five dollars a week, I could swing it.
WILLY Act 2 (page 62): Willy's first beg to Howard about a constant salary he feels he could get by on ($65) per week.
Willy: "I tell ya why, Howard. Speaking frankly and between the two of us, y'know - I'm just a little tired.
WILLY Act 2 (page 62): Willy asks Howard to keep their conversation confidential and tells him that he is 'just a little tired.'
Howard: "But where am I going to put you kid?
HOWARD Act 2 (page 62): Howard puts little effort into how he can help Willy stay in the job and is condescending.
Willy: "... and without ever leaving his room, at the age of eighty-four, he made his living.
WILLY Act 2 (page 63): Willy talks about how Dave Singleman made his living at the age of 84.
Willy: "... what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?
WILLY Act 2 (page 63): Willy talks about how satisfying Dave Singleman's existence must have been and admires his popularity. (long quote)
Willy: "... by the way he died the death of a salesman, in his green velvet slippers...
WILLY Act 2 (page 63): Willy mentions how Dave Singleman died the death of a salesman.
Willy: "If I had forty dollars a week - that's all I'd need. Forty dollars, Howard.
WILLY Act 2 (page 64): Willy's lowest beg to Howard on how much he reckons he can get by on ($40) per week.
Howard: "This is no time for false pride, Willy. You go to your sons and you tell them that you're tired. You've got two great boys, haven't you?
HOWARD Act 2 (page 65): Howard says it how it is to Willy and tells him to ask his boys for some financial support.
Willy: "God, timberland! Me and my boys in those grand outdoors!
WILLY Act 2 (page 66): Willy dreams about working outdoors and in this quote talks about 'timberland' and being with his boys in 'those grand outdoors!'
Willy: "But in Alaska, kid, I could -
WILLY Act 2 (page 67): Willy is pulled in x2 directions by his own psyche, but doesn't seem to know himself well enough to follow his own path.
Willy: "Ben, am I right? Don't you think I'm right? I value your advice.
WILLY Act 2 (page 68): Willy isn't sure of himself, and checks with Ben because he really values his advice.
Bernard: " Oh, just a case I've got there, Willy.
BERNARD Act 2 (page 72): Bernard is so humble, providing a sharp contrast to the Lomans. He doesn't mention that the case he is taking a case in the Supreme court.
Willy: "[after a pause]: I'm - I'm overjoyed to see how you made the grade, Bernard, overjoyed. It's an encouraging thing to see a young man really - really - Looks very good for Biff - very - [He breaks off, then] Bernard - [He is so full of emotion, he
WILLY Act 2 (page 72): Willy starts by praising Bernard but quickly goes back to bigging up Biff, but he is clearly uneasy and emotional.
Willy: [small and alone]: What - what's the secret?
WILLY Act 2 (page 72): Willy asks Bernard what his secret to success is.
Willy: "His life ended after that Ebbets Field game. From the age of seventeen nothing good ever happened to him."
Bernard: "He never trained himself for anything.
WILLY & BERNARD Act 2 (page 72): Willy reflects on how Biff turned out but can't understand why. Bernard simply says that Biff 'never trained himself for anything.' (x2 quotes)
Willy: "[rising, faces BERNARD]: I regard you as a very brilliant man, Bernard. I value your advice.
WILLY Act 2 (page 73): Willy expresses his respect for Bernard and also tells him how he values his advice, like he does Ben's.
Willy: "He flunked the subject, and laid down and died like a hammer hit him!
WILLY Act 2 (page 73): Willy's description of what happened to Biff after he flunked maths. The hammer that hit Biff was the realisation that his father wasn't the man he thought he was.
Bernard: "... even though he'd always taken advantage of me. I loved him...
BERNARD Act 2 (page 74): On reflection, Bernard knew that Biff had always taken advantage of him but Bernard 'loved him' anyway.
Bernard: "... remember those sneakers with 'University of Virginia' printed on them? He was so proud of those, wore them every day... he took them down in the cellar, and burned them up in the furnace.
BERNARD Act 2 (page 74): Bernard talks about Biff burning his shoes in the cellar.
Bernard: "I knew he'd given up his life. What happened in Boston, Willy.
BERNARD Act 2 (page 74): Bernard asks Willy what happened in Boston, because when Biff set fire to his shoes, Bernard 'knew he'd given up his life.'
Willy: [as CHARLEY takes out his wallet]: The Supreme Court! And he didn't even mention it!
WILLY Act 2 (page 75): Upon learning that Bernard is arguing a case at the Supreme Court, Willy can't understand why Bernard wasn't bragging about it.
Willy: "... you end up worth more dead than alive.
WILLY Act 2 (page 77): Willy starts to believe he is 'worth more dead than alive.'
Happy: "Don't try, honey, try hard.
[The GIRL exits. STANLEY follows, shaking his head in bewildered admiration.]
HAPPY Act 2 (page 81): Happy is a smooth talker and tells the girl to 'try hard'. The stage direction that follows shows Stanley's admiration for Happy and that both men and women alike, like Happy.
Biff: "I can't explain it. I - Hap, I took his fountain pen.
BIFF Act 2 (page 82): During the disastrous meeting with Bill Oliver, Biff ends up stealing his fountain pen.
Willy: "... the woods are burning, boys, you understand? There's a big blaze going on all around. I was fired today.
WILLY Act 2 (page 84): Willy's reference to forest fires symbolises how the danger is closing in. His mind is being consumed and is scatty, shown by his sudden unexpected honesty; revealing that he has just been fired.
[The knocking is heard again... she vanishes into the wing. The light follows him, and now he is facing YOUNG BIFF, who carries a suitcase. BIFF steps toward him. The music is gone.]
Act 2 (page 92): This long stage direction is tragic and a sad realisation that Biff and Willy's relationship is going to suffer. Biff has traveled to the Boston hotel room because he needs his dad... but the other woman is there.
Willy: "Get my suits out of the closet... [BIFF doesn't move.] What's the matter? [BIFF remains motionless, tears falling.]
WILLY Act 2 (page 94): Willy is trying to take control of the heartbreaking, awkward situation in Boston, he tries to act normal, asking Biff to get stuff to pack, but Biff is destroyed. This is the hammer that hit him.
Biff: "You - you gave her Mama's stockings! [His tears break through and he rises to go.]
BIFF Act 2 (page 95): Biff can't believe that Willy has given this woman 'Mama's stockings!' He tries to leave the hotel room.
Biff: "You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! [Overcome, he turns quickly and weeping fully goes out with his suitcase. WILLY is left on the floor on his knees.]
BIFF Act 2 (page 95): Biff explodes at Willy, calling him a fake and a phony, this also breaks Willy a little. All illusions are shattered and without belief in Willy, Biff can no longer believe in anything.
[As WILLY turns, STANLEY slips the money back into his jacket pocket.]
Act 2 (page 96): In this stage direction, Willy tries to tip Stanley, Stanley 'slips the money back' as refusing the tip would have deeply offended Willy's pride.
Happy: "[trying to laugh it off]: We met two girls, Mom, very fine types. Here we brought you some flowers... Put them in your room, Ma. [She knocks them to the floor...]
HAPPY Act 2 (page 97): Happy tries to justify them leaving Willy at the meal, to Linda, who is having none of it.
Linda: "[To BIFF] You can sleep in his apartment. [She starts to pick up the flowers and stops herself.] Pick up this stuff, I'm not your maid any more. Pick it up, you bum, you!
LINDA Act 2 (page 98): Linda tells Biff and Happy to basically get out. 'She starts to pick up the flowers' but then stands up for herself and Willy, telling the boys to do it instead.
Willy: "A man can't go out the way he came in, Ben, a man has got to add up to something.
WILLY Act 2 (page 99): Willy is talking to Ben and wants to leave something behind. He thinks Linda would rather have $20,000 than her husband.