Different ending to – All my sons

Act III: (The Keller living room, as in previous scenes. JOE and FRANK are seated on the couch, JOE is visibly agitated)

FRANK: (hesitantly) Joe, I have something to tell you.

JOE: (suspiciously) What is it?

FRANK: (takes a deep breath) I know about the faulty airplane parts.

JOE: (defensive) What are you talking about?

FRANK: (firmly) The ones that caused the deaths of 21 pilots. I know you were responsible.

JOE: (stammering) I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.

FRANK: (stands up) Joe, I have evidence. I found the old records from the factory. You knew those parts were defective, but you shipped them anyway to meet your deadlines and make a profit.

JOE: (hesitantly) I…I did what I had to do to provide for my family.

FRANK: (angrily) And what about the families of those pilots? Don’t they deserve justice?

JOE: (pauses, then hangs his head) You’re right. I’ve been living with this guilt for so long. I can’t keep running from it.

(JOE stands up, takes a deep breath)

JOE: (resigned) I’ll turn myself in.

(FRANK nods, JOE exits)

(The lights dim and then turn back on)

(Interior of a prison cell. JOE is seated on a cot, looking reflective)

JOE: (voiceover) I’ve been sentenced to life in prison. But for the first time in years, I can live with my conscience. I’ve taken responsibility for my actions.

(The lights dim and then turn back on)

(The Keller living room, as in previous scenes. KATE, CHRIS, ANN, and GEORGE are seated)

KATE: (sobbing) How could he do this to us?

CHRIS: (gently) Mother, he did what was right. He couldn’t keep running from the truth.

ANN: (tearfully) I know it’s hard, but we have to accept it and move on.

GEORGE: (nodding) And we have to remember that he did it for us, to provide for us.

KATE: (wiping her tears) You’re right. We’ll always love him, but now we can finally have peace.

(The lights dim, and the play ends)