A View from the Bridge Read Online Free Page B

A View from the Bridge
Book: A View from the Bridge Read Online Free
Author: Arthur Miller
Pages:
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here’ll get a little bite....
    BEATRICE: I just hope they get work here, that’s all I hope.
    EDDIE: Oh, the syndicate’ll fix jobs for them; till they pay ’em off they’ll get them work every day. It’s after the pay-off, then they’ll have to scramble like the rest of us.
    BEATRICE: Well, it be better than they got there.
    EDDIE: Oh sure, well, listen. So you gonna start Monday, heh, Madonna?
    CATHERINE, embarrassed: I’m supposed to, yeah.
    Eddie is standing facing the two seated women. First Beatrice smiles, then Catherine, for a powerful emotion is on him, a childish one and a knowing fear, and the tears show in his eyes—and they are shy before the avowal.
    EDDIE, sadly smiling, yet somehow proud of her: Well ... I hope you have good luck. I wish you the best. You know that, kid.
    CATHERINE, rising, trying to laugh: You sound like I’m goin’ a million miles!
    EDDIE: I know. I guess I just never figured on one thing.
    CATHERINE, smiling: What?
    EDDIE: That you would ever grow up. He utters a soundless laugh at himself, feeling his breast pocket of his shirt. I left a cigar in my other coat, I think. He starts for the bedroom.
    CATHERINE: Stay there! I’ll get it for you.
    She hurries out. There is a slight pause, and Eddie turns to Beatrice, who has been avoiding his gaze.
    EDDIE: What are you mad at me lately?
    BEATRICE: Who’s mad? She gets up, clearing the dishes. I’m not mad. She picks up the dishes and turns to him. You’re the one is mad. She turns and goes into the kitchen as Catherine enters from the bedroom with a cigar and a pack of matches.
    CATHERINE: Here! I’ll light it for you! She strikes a match and holds it to his cigar. He puffs. Quietly: Don’t worry about me, Eddie, heh?
    EDDIE: Don’t burn yourself. Just in time she blows out the match. You better go in help her with the dishes.
    CATHERINE turns quickly to the table, and, seeing the table cleared, she says, almost guiltily: Oh! She hurries into the kitchen, and as she exits there: I’ll do the dishes, B.!
    Alone, Eddie stands looking toward the kitchen for a moment. Then he takes out his watch, glances at it, replaces it in his pocket, sits in the armchair, and stares at the smoke flowing out of his mouth.
    The lights go down, then come up on Alfieri, who has moved onto the forestage.
    ALFIERI: He was as good a man as he had to be in a life that was hard and even. He worked on the piers when there was work, he brought home his pay, and he lived. And toward ten o’clock of that night, after they had eaten, the cousins came.
    The lights fade on Alfieri and rise on the street.
    Enter Tony, escorting Marco and Rodolpho, each with a valise. Tony halts, indicates the house. They stand for a moment looking at it.
    MARCO— he is a square-built peasant of thirty-two, suspicious, tender, and quiet-voiced: Thank you.
    TONY: You’re on your own now. Just be careful, that’s all. Ground floor.
    MARCO: Thank you.
    TONY, indicating the house: I’ll see you on the pier tomorrow. You’ll go to work.
    Marco nods. Tony continues on walking down the street.
    RODOLPHO: This will be the first house I ever walked into in America! Imagine! She said they were poor!
    MARCO: Ssh! Come. They go to door.
    Marco knocks. The lights rise in the room. Eddie goes and opens the door. Enter Marco and Rodolpho, removing their caps. Beatrice and Catherine enter from the kitchen. The lights fade in the street.
    EDDIE: You Marco?
    MARCO: Marco.
    EDDIE: Come on in! He shakes Marco’s hand.
    BEATRICE: Here, take the bags!
    MARCO nods, looks to the women and fixes on Beatrice. Crosses to Beatrice: Are you my cousin?
    She nods. He kisses her hand.
    BEATRICE, above the table, touching her chest with her hand: Beatrice. This is my husband, Eddie. All nod. Catherine, my sister Nancy’s daughter. The brothers nod.
    MARCO, indicating Rodolpho: My brother. Rodolpho. Rodolpho nods. Marco
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