ACT ONE

REQUIEM

REQUIEM charley: It’s getting dark, Linda. [linda doesn’t react. She stares at the grave.]

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION The Depression of the 1930s seemed to break the promises America had made to its citizens. The stock market crash of 1929, it was assumed, ended a particular version of history:

ACT TWO

ACT TWO Music is heard, gay and bright. The curtain rises as the music fades away. [willy, in shirt sleeves, is sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee, his hat in his lap. linda is filling his cup when she can.]

ACT ONE

ACT ONE A melody is heard, played upon a flute. It is small and fine, telling of grass and trees and the horizon. The curtain rises. Before us is the salesman’s house. We are aware of towering, angular shapes behind it, surrounding it on all sides.