Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.Please wait while we process your payment
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
Please wait while we process your payment
By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy.
Don’t have an account? Subscribe now
Create Your Account
Sign up for your FREE 7-day trial
Already have an account? Log in
Your Email
Choose Your Plan
Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan!
Purchasing SparkNotes PLUS for a group?
Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more!
Price
$24.99 $18.74 /subscription + tax
Subtotal $37.48 + tax
Save 25% on 2-49 accounts
Save 30% on 50-99 accounts
Want 100 or more? Contact us for a customized plan.
Your Plan
Payment Details
Payment Summary
SparkNotes Plus
You'll be billed after your free trial ends.
7-Day Free Trial
Not Applicable
Renews June 10, 2023 June 3, 2023
Discounts (applied to next billing)
DUE NOW
US $0.00
SNPLUSROCKS20 | 20% Discount
This is not a valid promo code.
Discount Code (one code per order)
SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Free trial is available to new customers only.
Choose Your Plan
For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more!
You’ve successfully purchased a group discount. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. You'll also receive an email with the link.
Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership.
Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Continue to start your free trial.
Please wait while we process your payment
Your PLUS subscription has expired
Please wait while we process your payment
Please wait while we process your payment
Roma sees Lingk outside, walking toward the office. When Lingk walks in, Roma pretends to be deep in conversation with Levene, a "client" who he refers to by the false name "D. Ray Morton." Lingk tells Roma that he needs to talk to him. Roma politely steamrolls over Lingk's attempt at getting his attention, improvising chatter about "Mr. Morton's" important work for American Express. Occasionally Roma asks Levene questions about his work, and Levene struggles to come up with realistic-sounding answers. Roma is able to smooth over Levene's stumbles and make the performance convincing. Lingk cannot get a word in edgewise.
Roma pretends to remember that he needs to rush "Mr. Morton" to the airport. He apologizes to Lingk, telling him that he will get in touch with him soon, and starts to leave with Levene. Roma is almost out the door when Lingk blurts out that his wife has insisted that he cancel the deal that they signed the night before. Roma says that he understands Lingk's wife's reaction, that it is a sensible one, and that they will discuss it when Roma is available next, on Monday. Lingk says that Monday is too late, as his wife has called the Attorney General's office and has been informed that the law allows only three business days in which to cancel the sale. Roma tries to trick Lingk into thinking that Monday is within that three-day timeframe, but Lingk knows that it is not. Roma tells Lingk that there is nothing to worry about because he knows for a fact that his check has not been cashed yet.
Baylen finishes interrogating Aaronow. Baylen calls for Levene, and Levene, still pretending to be "D. Ray Morton," ignores him. The scene becomes chaotic as Aaronow emerges from his interview, complaining about Baylen, and Williamson comes out, also trying to get Levene's attention. Levene decides to rush quickly into the office with Baylen, hoping to hide the fact that he is Levene and not "Morton."
Aaronow vents his frustrations about the interrogation. Williamson, angry, commands Aaronow to go to lunch. Roma apologizes to Lingk for all of the chaos he has just witnessed. Baylen puts his head out of Williamson's office again and tries to call in Roma. Lingk, nervous, starts to leave. Roma tries to calm him down, assuring Lingk that whatever the problem is, they can work it out. Roma tells Lingk that the deal is not what is important here, and starts into a philosophical speech about marriage.
Baylen demands to talk to Roma again. Roma tells Williamson to explain to Baylen that he is in the middle of conducting business with Mr. Lingk. Williamson hears Lingk's name and assumes that Lingk, upset by the obvious disarray of the office, fears for the safety of his contract. Trying to help, Williamson reassures Lingk that his contract went out to the bank and his check was cashed yesterday—exactly what Roma has been trying to tell him did not happen. Lingk, flustered, apologizes to Roma and exits.
This part of Act Two, in which Lingk shows up at the office and Roma improvises an elaborate con to distract him, is the most outrageous example of a scam in the play. Although the salesmen are not necessarily criminals—technically there is nothing illegal about convincing people to buy worthless property at inflated prices—they do rely on dishonest manipulation as a cornerstone of their work. For Roma to pretend that Levene is "D. Ray Morton," an important businessman who needs to be rushed to the airport immediately, clearly exceeds the scope of fair salesmanship, and enters the realm of outright, egregious lying. Roma's attempt to confuse Lingk about how many days he has, legally, to reverse his decision, is hilarious for its obvious sneakiness.
Please wait while we process your payment