stella:
Does that surprise you?
blanche:
Forgive me--I didn't mean to-- [The sound of men's voices is heard. Stella goes into the
bathroom, closing the door behind her. When the men
appear, and Blanche realizes it must be Stanley returning,
she moves uncertainly from the bathroom door to
the dressing table, looking apprehensively toward the front
door. Stanley enters, followed by Steve and Mitch. Stanley
pauses near his door, Steve by the foot of the spiral stair,
27
t^.T^'^'^^" -: v'v1^"^,1'1^'
^'^^H^,'.''.� .� � ' ^'-^^^
SOBN'E ONE___
and Mitch is slightly above and to the right of them,
about to go out. As the men enter, we hear some of the
following dialogue.]
stanley:
Is that how he got it?
steve:
Sure that's how he got it. He hit the old weather-bird for
300 bucks on a six-number-ticket.
mitch:
Don't tell him those things; hell believe it
[Mitch starts out.}
stanley [restraining Mitch}:
Hey, Mitch�come back here.
[Blanche, at the sound of voices, retires in the bedroom.
She picks up Stanleys photo from dressing table, looks at
it, puts it down. When Stanley enters the apartment, she
darts and hides behind the screen at the head of bed.}
steve [to Stanley and Mitch}:
Hey, are we playin* poker tomorrow?
stanley:
Sure�at Mitch's.
mitch [hearing this, returns quickly to the stair rail]:
No�not at my place. My mother's still sick!
stanley;
Okay, at my place ... [Milch starts out again] But you
bring the beer!
[Milch pretends not to hear,�calls out "Goodnight all,"
and goes out, singing. Eunice's voice is heard, above}
Break it up down there! I made the spaghetti dish and ate
it myself.
steve [going upstairs}:
1 told you and phoned you we was playing. [To the men}
Jax beeri
eunice:
You never phoned me once.
steve:
I told you at breakfast�and phoned you at lunch...
as
SCENE ONE
eunice;
Well, never mind about that. You just get yourself home
here once in a while.
steve:
You want it in the papers?
[More laughter and shouts of parting come from the men.
Stanley throws the screen door of the kitchen open and
comes in. He is of medium height, about five feet eight or
nine, and strongly, compactly built. Animal joy in his being
is implicit in all his movements and attitudes. Since earliest
manhood the center of his life has been pleasure with women, the giving and taking of it, not with weak Indulgence,
dependency, but with the power and pride of a
richly feathered male bird among hens. Branching out from
this complete and satisfying center are all the auxiliary
channels of his life, such as his heartiness with men, his appreciation
of rough humor, his love of good drink and food
and 'games, his car, his radio, everything that is his, that
bears his emblem of the gaudy seed-bearer. He sizes women
up at a glance, with sexual classifications, crude images
flashing into his mind and determining the way he smiles
at them.]
blanche [drawing involuntarily back from his stare]:
You must be Stanley. I'm Blanche.
stanley:
Stella's sister?
blanche:
Yes.
stanley:
H'lo. Where's the little woman?
blanche:
In the bathroom.
stanley:
Oh. Didn't know you were coming in town.
blanche:
I--uh--
stanley:
Where you from, Blanche?
29
"SISSi.^
8CKNE OMH
blanche:
Why, I--live in Laurel.
[He has crossed to the closet and removed the whiskey
battle.}
stanley:
In Laurel, huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah, in Laurel, that's right.
Not in my territory. Liquor goes fast in hot weather. [He holds the bottle to the light to observe its depletion.^ Have a shot?
blanche:
No, I--rarely touch it.
stanley:
Some people rarely touch it, but it touches them often.
blanche fai' fitly]:
Ha-ha.
stanley:
My clothes're stickin' to me. Do you mind if I make myself
comfortable? [He starts to remove his shirt.]
blanche:
Please, please do.
stanley:
Be comfortable is my motto.
blanche:
It's mine, too. It's hard to stay looking fresh. I haven't
washed or even powdered my face and--here you arel
stanley:
You know you can catch cold sitting around in damp things,
especially when you been exercising hard like bowling is.
You're a teacher, arent you?
blanche:
Yes.
stanley:
What do you teach, Blanche?
blanche:
English.
stanley:
I never was a very good English student. How long you here
for, Blanche?
80
SCENE ONE
blanche:
I�don't know yet
stanley:
You going to shack up here?
blanche:
I thought I would if it's not inconvenient for you au.
stanley:
Good.
blanche:
Traveling wears me out
stanley:
WeH, take it easy.
[A cat screeches near the window. Blanche springs up.}
blanche:
What's that?
stanley:
Cats... Hey, Stella!
stella [faintly, from the bathroom}:
Yes, Stanley.
stanley:
Haven't fallen in, have you? [Be grins at Blanche. She tries
unsuccessfully to smile back. There is a silence} I'm afraid
I'll strike you as being fhe unrefined type. Stella's spoke
of you a good deal. You were married once, weren't you?
[The music of the polka rises up, faint in the distance.}
blanche:
Yes. When I was quite young.
stanley:
What happened?
blanche:
The boy�the boy died. [She sinks back down} I'm afraid
Fm�going to be sick!
[Her head falls on her arms.}
Sl
SCENE TWO
It is Six o'clock the following evening. Blanche is bathir;.
Stella is completing her toilette. Blanche's dress, a flowel d
print, is laid out on Stella's bed.
Stanley enters the kitchen from outside, leaving the doer
open on the perpetual "blue piano" around the corner.
stanley:
What's all this monkey doings?
stella:
Oh, Stan! [She jumps up and kisses him which he accefis
with lordly composure] I'm taking Blanche to Galatoin:'3
for supper and then to a show, because it's your pok'r
night
stanley:
How about my supper,
huh? I'm not going to no Galatoire's
for supper!
stella:
I put you a cold plate on ice.
stanley:
| I'j' Well, isn't that just dandy!
stella:
I'm going to try to keep Blanche out till the party breaks
up because I don't know how she would take it. So we'!'
go to one of the little places in the Quarter afterwards an;' you'd better give me some money.
stanley:
Where is she?
stella:
She's soaking in a hot tub to quiet her nerves. She's t; �ribly
upset
stanley:
Over what?
stella:
She's been through such an ordeal.
stanley:
Yeah?
SCENE TWO
stella:
Stan, we've--lost Belle Revel
stanley:
The place in the country?
stella:
Yes.
stanlby:
How?
stella [vaguely]:
Oh, it had to be--sacrificed or something. [There is a pause
while Stanley considers. Stella is changing into her dress} When she comes in be sure to say something nice about
her appearance. And, oh! Don't mention the baby. I haven't
said anything yet, I'm waiting until she gets in a quieter condition.
stanley [ominously}:
Sol
stella:
And try to understand her and be nice to her, Stan.
blanche [singing in the bathroom]:
"From the land of the sky blue water,
They brought a captive maidi"
stella:
She wasn't expecting to find us in such a small place. You
see I'd tried to gloss things over a little in my letters.
stanley:
So?
stella:
And admire her dress and tell her she's looking wonderful. That's important with Blanche. Her little weakness!
stanley:
Yeah. I get the idea. Now let's skip back a little to where
you said the country place was disposed of.
stella:
Oh!--yes...
stanley:
How about mat? Let's have a few more details on that
subjeck.
SCENE TWO
stella:
It's best not to talk much about it until she's calmed down.
stanley:
So that's the deal, huh? Sister Blanche cannot be annoy et
with business details right nowl
stella:
You saw how she was last night
stanley:
Uh-hum, I saw how she was. Now let's have a gand ;t
the bill of sale.
stella:
I haven't seen any.
stanley:
She didn't show you no papers, no deed of sale or nothing
like that, huh?
stella:
It seems like it wasn't sold.
stanley:
Well what in hell was it then, give away? To charity?
stella:
Shhh! She'll hear you.
stanley:
I don't care if she hears me. Let's see the papers!
stella:
There weren't any papers, she didn't show any papers, 1
don't care about papers.
stanley:
Have you ever heard of the Napoleonic code?
stella:
No, Stanley, I haven't heard of the Napoleonic code
if I have, I don't see what it�
stanley:
Let me enlighten you on a point or two, baby.
stella:
Yes?
stanley:
In the state of Louisiana we have the Napoleonic <
84
SCENE TWO
according to which what belongs to the wife belongs to the husband and vice versa. For instance if I had a piece of
property, or you had a piece of property--
stella:
My head is swimmingi
stanley:
All right, ni wait till she gets through soaking in a hot tub
and then 111 inquire if she is acquainted with the Napoleonic
code. It looks to me like you have been swindled,
baby, and when you're swindled under the Napoleonic code
I'm swindled too. And I don't like to be swindled.
stella:
There's plenty of time to ask her questions later but if you
do now she'll go to pieces again. I don't understand what
happened to Belle Reve but you don't know how ridiculous
you are being when you suggest that my sister or I or anyone
of our family could have perpetrated a swindle on
anyone else.
stanley:
Then where's the money if the place was sold?
stella:
Not sold--lost, lost!
[He stalks into bedroom, and she follows him.] Stanley!
{He pulls open the -wardrobe trunk standing in middle of
room and jerks out an armful of dresses.}
stanley:
Open your eyes to this stuffi You think she got them out
of a teacher's pay?
stella:
Hush!
stanley:
Look at these feathers and furs that she come here to preen
herself in! What's this here? A solid-gold dress, I believel
And this one! What is these here? Fox-pieces! [He blows on
them] Genuine fox fur-pieces, a half a mile long! Where
are your fox-pieces, Stella? Bushy snow-white ones, no less!
Where are your white fox-pieces?
85
stella:
Those
alonj
stanle'
I got
dise.
yout
stella
Don'
[He)
draw,
jewel
stanle
And
stell/
Shhl
stanli
And
SCENE TWO
stanley:
The Kowalslds and the DuBois have different notions.
stblla [angrily]:
Indeed they have, thank heavens!�I'm going outside.
[She snatches up her white hat and gloves and crosses to
the outside door] You come out with me while Blanche is
getting dressed.
stanley:
Since when do you give me orders?
stella:
Are you going to stay here and insult her?
stanley:
You're damn tootin' I'm going to stay here.
[Stella goes out to the porch. Blanche comes out of the
bathroom in a red satin robe.]
blanche [airily]:
Hello, Stanley! Here I am, all freshly bathed and scented,
and feeling like a brand new human being!
[He lights a cigarette.]
stanley:
That's good.
blanche [drawing the curtains at the windows]:
Excuse me while I slip on my pretty new dress!
stanley:
Go right ahead, Blanche.
[She closes the drapes between the rooms.]
blanche:
I understand there's to be a little card party to which we
ladies are cordially not invited!
stanley [ominously]:
Yeah?
[Blanche throws off her robe and slips into a flowered print
dress.]
blanche:
Where's Stella?
stanley:
Out on the porch.
37
SCENE TWO
blanche:
I'm going to ask a favor of you in a moment.
stanley:
What could that be, I wonder?
blanche:
Some buttons in back! You may enteri
[He crosses through drapes with a smoldering look.}
How do I look?
stanley:
You look all right.
blanche:
Many thanks! Now the buttons!
stanley:
I can't do nothing with them.
blanche:
You men with your big clumsy fingers. May I have a drag
on your cig?
stanley:
Have one for yourself.
blanche:
Why, thanks!... It looks like my trunk has exploded.
stanley:
Me an' Stella were helping you unpack.
blanche:
Well, you certainly did a fast and thorough job of iti
stanley:
It looks like you raided some stylish shops in Paris.
blanche:
Ha-ha! Yes�clothes are my passion!
stanley:
What does it cost for a string of fur-pieces like that?
blanche:
Why, those were a tribute from an admirer of mine!
stanley:
He must have had a lot of�admiration!
blanche:
Oh, in my youth I excited some admiration. But look at me
38
SCENE TWO
now! [She smiles at him radiantly] Would you think it
possible that I was once considered to be�attractive?
|stanley:
, Your looks are okay.
blanche:
I was fishing for a compliment, Stanley.
stanley:
I don't go in for that stuff.
blanche:
What�stuff?
stanley:
Compliments to women about their looks. I never met a
woman that didn't know if she was good-looking or not
without being told, and some of them give themselves
credit for more than they've got. I once went out with a
doll who said to me, "I am the glamorous type, I am the
glamorous type!" I said, "So what?"
blanche:
And what did she say then?
stanley:
She didn't say nothing. That shut her up like a clam.
blanche:
Did it end the romance?
stanley:
It ended the conversation�that was all. Some men are took
in by this Hollywood glamor stuff and some men are not.
blanche:
I'm sure you belong in the second category.
stanley:
That's right
blanche:
I cannot imagine any witch of a woman casting a spell
over you.
stanley:
That's�right.
blanche:
You're simple, straightforward and honest, a little bit on the
89
SCENE TWO
primitive side I should think. To interest you a woman ' would have to--[She pauses with an indefinite gesture.]
stanley [slowly]:
Lay... her cards on the table.
blanche [smiling]:
Well, I never cared for wishy-washy people. That was why,
when you walked in here last night, I said to myself--"My
sister has married a man!"--Of course that was all that I
could tell about you. stanley [booming]: ,
Now let's cut the re-bop? if blanche [pressing hands to her ears]:
Ouuuuut i
stella [calling from the steps]: I
Stanley! You come out here and let Blanche finish dress- |
ing!
blanche:
I'm through dressing, honey.
stella:
Well, you come out, then.
stanley:
Your sister and I are having a little talk.
blanche [lightly]:
Honey, do me a favor. Run to the drug-store and get me
a lemon-coke with plenty of chipped ice in it!--Will you
do that for me. Sweetie?
stella [uncertainly]:
Yes. [She goes around the corner of the building.]
blanche
The poor little thing was out there listening to us, and I
have an idea she doesn't understand you as well as I do.
... All right; now, Mr. Kowalski, let us proceed without
any more double-talk. I'm ready to answer all questions. I've nothing to hide. What is it?
stanley:
There is such a thing in this state of Louisiana as the Napoleonic
code, according to which whatever belongs to my wife
is also mine--and vice versa.
40 |
SCENE TWO
blanche:
My, but you have an impressive judicial air!
[She sprays herself with her atomizer; then playfully sprays
him with it. He seizes the atomizer and slams it down on
the dresser. She throws back her head and laughs.} stanley:
If I didn't know that you was my wife's sister Fd get ideas
about you!
blanche:
Such as what!
stanley:
Don't play so dumb. You know whati
blanche [she puts the atomizer on the table]:
All right. Cards on the table. That suits me. [She turns to
Stanley.] I know I fib a good deal. After all, a woman's
charm is fifty percent illusion, but when a thing is important
I tell the truth, and this is the truth: I haven't cheated
my sister or you or anyone else as long as I have lived.
stanley:
Where's the papers? In the trunk?
blanche:
Everything that I own is in that trunk.
[Stanley crosses to the trunk, shoves it roughly open and
begins to open compartments.]
blanche:
What in the name of heaven are you thinking of! What's
in the back of that little boy's mind of yours? That I am
absconding with something, attempting some kind of
treachery on my sister?--Let me do that! It will be faster
and simpler . . . [She crosses to the trunk and takes out a
box] I keep my papers mostly in this tin box. [She opens
it.]
stanley:
What's them underneath? [He indicates another sheaf of
papers.
blanche:
These are love-letters, yellowing with antiquity, all from
one boy. [He snatches them up. She speaks fiercely] Give those back to me!
I ~~4l
SCENE TWO
stanley:
I'll have a look at them first!
blanche:
The touch of your hands insults them! stanley:
Don't pull that stuff!
[He rips off the ribbon and starts to examine them.
Blanche snatches them from him, and they cascade to the
floor.}
blanche:
Now that you've touched them It! burn them!
stanley [staring, baffled}:
What in hell are they?
blanche [on the floor gathering them up}:
Poems a dead boy wrote. I hurt him the way that you
would like to hurt me, but you can't! I'm not young and
Streetcar Named Desire Page 3