American Buffalo

American Buffalo Summary | Act 1 Summary

The play opens with Don, owner of Don's Resale Shop, and Bob, his "gofer," discussing Bob's presence in the shop. It becomes apparent that Bob was supposed to be watching someone at his or her home. He left his post because the person hadn't come out, and Bob thought maybe they had left through the back door. Don is upset. The storeowner tells Bob that they had a business deal, and his reason for giving up on the job isn't good enough. Don tells Bob that action counts, not intentions, that action talks and bullshit walks. Bob tells Don that he's sorry, and Don replies that he's not mad at him.

As he cleans up the debris from a poker game, Don explains that he's only trying to teach Bob something. Don describes Fletcher, one of their poker-playing companions, as a fellow who stands for something. According to Don, if Fletcher were put down in a strange town with only a nickel in his pocket, by nightfall he would have the town under his control. This is not talk, Don says, this is action. Fletcher has skill and talent and the determination to arrive at his own conclusions.

Bob and Don then discuss the previous night's card game, when Fletcher won four hundred dollars. It comes up that another player, Ruthie, also did well. Bob mentions that he likes her, and Don agrees, but he seems less sincere about it. Don asks Bob if he thinks Fletcher was born with his abilities, or if he learned them. Bob says Fletcher learned them. Don agrees, and points out that everything he and Fletcher know they picked up on the street. That's all business is, common sense, experience, and talent.

As Don and Bob discuss a questionable business deal Fletcher struck with Ruthie, Don tells Bob that business is just people taking care of themselves. He goes on to say that there's business, and there's friendship. A moment later, he says that people don't have friends in this life.

Ironically, Don then offers to buy breakfast for Bob, reminding him that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Don eats yogurt, because it's good for him. Mentioning this leads him to suggest that Bob should take vitamins. Bob complains that they are too expensive. Don then offers to buy them for Bob. He claims that it's only because he can't use Bob in the store if he's like a zombie. Bob once again explains that he left his post just to go around the back. Don says he doesn't care, and asks him if he sees what he's getting at. When Bob says he does, Don replies that they'll see.

Before Bob can leave, Walter Cole, or "Teach," enters the store, muttering about Ruthie. He had just come from a restaurant, where Ruthie and her friend Grace were finishing up breakfast, and there were plates and crusts of food all over. Teach had sat down with them to have a cup of coffee. He took a piece of toast off Gracie's plate, and she had said: "Help yourself." This angered Teach because she seemed to be condescending to him. Teach says that he often buys snacks and other things for the poker players, and never makes anything of it, but he takes one slice of toast from Gracie's plate, and she has to comment on it. He says that he has been hurt in a way that he doesn't even know what to do.

Don tries to reassure Teach, and then sends Bob out for food and coffee for the three of them.

After Bob leaves, Don and Teach discuss the previous night's card game. Teach had not done well, and Ruthie had. Teach denies this has anything to do with how he feels about her. Don says that Ruth is a good card player, but Teach says she isn't. He says that Grace is always by Ruth's shoulder, and Don replies that she's Ruth's partner. Teach says let her be her partner. But Grace often walks around the table, getting an ashtray or some coffee, and nobody hides their cards. Teach says that if she walks behind him, he's going to hide his cards.

Then he echoes what Don had said, saying that they're talking about money. Friendship is wonderful, and he's all for it, but the two things should be kept separate. He says he knows Don has a soft spot in his heart for the women, and that Bob likes them too. Teach says that he likes them, too.

Don and Bob begin to make small talk, and the discussion turns to collectibles Don has from an event in 1933 (probably a World's Fair, or similar event). Don says there were all kinds of licensed souvenir items sold at the time, combs, brushes, clothing, etc. And now there are people who collect the items. Don says that if someone just walked in off the street and wanted a compact, he'd charge them fifteen bucks. Teach is amazed, and comments on all the stuff he's thrown out, things his father kept in his desk drawer, toys in the back yard. If he had kept these things, he'd be wealthy today, cruising on a European yacht.

Bob comes back with a bag full of coffee and food. He tells Teach Ruthie isn't mad at him. Teach asks him how he knows, and he responds that Ruthie told him. Teach reminds him that he wasn't supposed to talk to her, and Bob replies that she asked him if Teach was at the shop. At Don's urging, Teach tells Bob that it's all right, then mutters to himself that everything's all right to someone.

Teach tells Don that he shouldn't eat yogurt, because he "has a feeling" about health foods. Don replies that it's not health food, it's only yogurt, and it's been around forever. They used to joke about it on the radio show "My Little Margie." Teach responds everybody has a right to their own opinion.

Don discovers that the people at the restaurant had forgotten to give Bob his coffee. Bob volunteers to go back and get it, but first he asks to talk with Don. Bob says he saw the guy he was supposed to have been watching. The guy had left in his car, with a suitcase and a coat. When Bob leaves to get Don's coffee, Don tells him to get himself something to eat.

After Bob leaves, Teach asks Don if the cooks at the restaurant had done his bacon right. They hadn't. The talk turns again to business, that if you want it done right, you have to be there.

Teach asks Don what he had spoken with Bob about. Don says it's about some guy he and Bob spotted. Teach guesses that they intend to steal jewelry from him, but says he only wants to know for the sake of conversation. Don tells him they are after some coins. While Teach listens, Don makes a phone call to a potential buyer, and arranges to contact the buyer about "various pieces" that will be available later that night. Don plans to steal the coins from one collector and sell them immediately to the other. That way, he's not sitting on the stolen merchandise. Teach wonders if the buyer is an asshole, then he notes that it doesn't matter. It's business.

Don tells Teach how he met "the mark," the man they intend to steal the coins from. He had come into the shop and browsed around. He picked up a buffalo head nickel, and asked Don how much he wanted for it. Don almost said, "Two bits (twenty-five cents)," but instead asked the mark what he was willing to pay. Teach agrees this was a good business move. After the mark browsed some more and pretended interest in a few other items, he haggled with Don over the cost of the coin. Finally they settled on ninety dollars, but Don feels the coin is probably worth five times that amount. The mark left the store without the other items, and without paying for them.

The next day, the mark came back again, did more browsing, and then asked if Don had any more "articles of interest." Don said not offhand, so the mark left his card and asked Don to call him if anything cropped up. Don is angry, feeling like he'd been treated like a doorman, and then told to call if he finds any other coins. Teach asks Don if he's going to "get" the mark, and Don replies, "You know I am."

Teach asks who is going to break into the house. Don says Bob is, and then adds that he's a good kid. Teach says not to send the kid in. He tells Don that he admires his loyalty, and respects what Don is doing in trying to help Bob. But a guy can be too loyal. He has to consider business. If Don wanted the mark's blender, or a Magnavox, it would be fine to send Bob (who Teach repeatedly calls "the kid") in. But this is a real job, and Don doesn't want the mark to return and immediately know he's been had. There may be a safe, or at least a good lock or two. The job calls for someone who's not going to mess with silverware or a digital clock.

During his speech, Teach makes a reference to Bob's drug use. Don becomes angry, and tells Teach he doesn't want that mentioned; Bob is clean and trying hard. Teach apologizes.

Don says that Bob is no dummy, and Teach agrees. But he says the job is beyond Bob's ability. Teach points out that this is not a game, where if something goes wrong you just give everything back and get to go home. If there's the least chance that something could go wrong and bring the police in, or if the coins can't be found, then Don shouldn't take that chance. Teach wants to get the mark too. There is no shame in this. And it's fine that Don takes care of Bob, that's loyalty. But it's in Bob's best interest, too, if he is not sent. Don just cannot afford to take the chance.

Don tells Teach he already set up the plan with Bob. Teach responds that Don set up the plan and then told Bob. Don doesn't deny it. After a long pause, he tells Teach that he gave ten percent to Earl, who put him in contact with the potential buyer. Teach responds that it means ten (percent) off the top, and a forty-five, forty-five split. Don asks about Bob's share, for spying on the mark. Teach replies a hundred, a hundred fifty, or, if they hit big, whatever.

Teach says he will go into the house, while Don "minds the fort." He tells Don that fifty percent of some money is better than ninety percent of the broken toaster that he'll get if he sends Bob. They don't know if there's an alarm, or what would happen if the mark walked in. If "somebody" was nervous and hit the mark with a table lamp it would ruin everything, and all because Don didn't take the time to go first class.

Bob comes back with Don's coffee. Teach tries, none too subtly, to get Don to tell Bob that he's out of the plan. Don wants to wait. Then, Bob asks for an advance on his share of the money. He says he doesn't need it, implying that it's not for drugs, but that he really wants it. Don finally agrees to give Bob some money for spotting the mark, and add a loan to it. He tells Bob they're not going to do the job now, but lets Bob think that they may do it later. Eventually, Don tells Bob to just forget about the job. Bob leaves. Teach tells Don that he's doing the right thing for Bob, and that it's the best thing for everyone. Besides, what's done is done.

Don and Teach begin making their plans. Teach wants to have everything well planned out, because if people are loose, they pay the price. He asks for a crash course on coins, so he will know what to take and what to leave behind. He also suggests they should think about what other kinds of things they might take for their trouble. Don says he doesn't know, and Teach admits it's hard to make up rules about this sort of thing.

Don pulls out a book he bought on coin values. Teach looks through it, and asks Don what he thinks is the value of a particular coin. Don guesses thirty-six dollars, and then eighteen sixty. He is shocked to find out the coin is only worth twenty-five cents.

Don asks how Teach is going to get into the house. Teach says he'll find an open window, or some other easy means. People always leave some easy way to get into their home. Don presses the issue, and Teach says he didn't know there was going to be a test. They argue briefly, and finally Teach tells Don not to push him, that he is not "other people."

Then Don surprises Teach by telling him he wants to bring Fletch into the plan. Teach is angry, and states that they do not need him. Don tries to call Fletch on the telephone, but the line is busy. Teach tries to talk Don out of it. He says he is hurt, just as he said about the incident with Grace. Finally he agrees that Fletch might be helpful. They agree to a three-way split, making Fletch an equal partner. Don will continue to try and reach Fletch on the phone. Teach, who hasn't slept since the poker game the night before, is going to take a nap. He agrees to meet Don and Fletch at the shop at eleven o'clock that night, and exits. Don mutters a comment about "business."