new ending

(The stage is set in the Keller’s living room. Joe Keller is seated in an armchair looking at the wall Chris enters, looking worried)

Chris: Father, we need to talk.

Keller: What do you want Chris? I’m tired and not in the mood to listen to your lectures about social responsibility and about Larry’s death. I know he committed suicide because of me. I know I made a terrible mistake.

Chris: Father, your trial starts tomorrow. It’s serious. We need a plan.

Keller: What plan? What can I do. I have to admit I told Steve to cover the cracks and ship the cylinder heads to the army. I will be sent to prison for the rest of my life. I deserve this punishment.

Chris: I know, but we have to think about Mother. How will she live? What will happen to her. She will be alone. I’m leaving with Ann to New York. She has no more hope about Larry coming back and you will be in prison.

Keller: (stands up alarmed) You are right. I caused a lot of problems and now I can’t leave Kate alone. She won’t survive.

Chris: What can we do? I can’t stay here.

Keller: I have an idea. You are not going to like it but I’m thinking of Mother now.

Chris: Tell me.

Keller: I will leave the country tonight. I will run away with Kate. We will go to Colombia and hide. We will change our identity. I know people who can help me. We will live there. We are old. I won’t survive in prison and Mother won’t be able to live alone here.

Chris: You are doing the same thing again. You haven’t learnt anything. You think only about your family.

Keller: It’s true, but think about it, Colombia, away from my son, my friends, my factory. It’s a prison.