from A Raisin in the Sun / Lorraine Hansberry

The play takes place in Chicago in the 1950s. The Younger family has been having money difficulties, but recently Mama has received an insurance settlement after the death of her husband. Her son, Walter, wants to use the money for a risky business investment.

WALTER Why do women always think there’s a woman somewhere when a man gets restless. (picks up the check) Do you know what this money means to me? Do you know what this money can do for us? (puts it back) Mama — Mama — I want so many things . . .

MAMA Yes, son —

WALTER I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy . . . Mama — look at me.

MAMA I’m looking at you. You a good-looking boy. You got a job, a nice wife, a fine boy and —

5 WALTER A job. (looks at her) Mama, a job? I open and close car doors all day long. I drive a man around in his limousine and I say, “Yes, sir; no, sir; very good, sir; shall I take the Drive, sir?” Mama, that ain’t no kind of job . . . that ain’t nothing at all. (very quietly) Mama, I don’t know if I can make you understand.

MAMA Understand what, baby?

WALTER (quietly) Sometimes it’s like I can see the future stretched out in front of me — just plain as day. The future, Mama. Hanging over there at the edge of my days. Just waiting for me — a big, looming blank space — full of nothing. Just waiting for me. But it don’t have to be. (Pause. Kneeling beside her chair.) Mama — sometimes when I’m downtown and I pass them cool, quiet-looking restaurants where them white boys are sitting back and talking ’bout things . . . sitting there turning deals worth millions of dollars . . . sometimes I see guys don’t look much older than me —

MAMA Son — how come you talk so much ’bout money?

WALTER (with immense passion) Because it is life, Mama!

10 MAMA (quietly) Oh — (very quietly) So now it’s life. Money is life, Once upon a time freedom used to be life — now it’s money. I guess the world really do change . . .

WALTER No — it was always money, Mama. We just didn’t know about it.

MAMA No . . . something has changed. (She looks at him.) You something new, boy. In my time we was worried about not being lynched and getting to the North if we could and how to stay alive and still have a pinch of dignity too . . . Now here come you and Beneatha — talking ’bout things we never even thought about hardly, me and your daddy. You ain’t satisfied or proud of nothing we done. I mean that you had a home; that we kept you out of trouble till you was grown; that you don’t have to ride to work on the back of nobody’s streetcar — You my children — but how different we done become.

WALTER (A long beat. He pats her hand and gets up) You just don’t understand, Mama, you just don’t understand.