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Streetcar Named Desire

Page 3

by Tennessee Williams

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.r />
  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

 

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