Streetcar Scene One - Blanche

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I’ve got to keep hold of myself!

Blanche!

Stella, oh, Stella, Stella! Stella for Star!

They catch each other in a spasmodic embrace

Now, then, let me look at you. But don’t look at me, Stella, no, no, no, not till later, not till I’ve bathed and rested! And turn that over-light off! Turn that off! I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare! Come back here now! Oh, my baby! Stella! Stella for Star! I thought you would never come back to this horrible place! What am I saying? I didn’t mean to say that. I meant to be nice about it and say- Oh, what a convenient location and such- Ha-a-ha! Precious lamb! You haven’t said a word to me.

You haven’t given me a chance to, honey!

Well, now you talk. Open your pretty mouth and talk while I look around for some liquor! I know you must have some liquor on the place! Where could it be, I wonder? Oh, I spy, I spy!

Maybe a coke’s in the icebox. Look’n see, honey, while I’m-

No coke, honey, not with my nerves tonight! Where- where- where is-?

They’re having a- found some soda!- tournament…

Just water, baby, to chase it! Now don’t get worried, your sister hasn’t turned into a drunkard, she’s just all shaken up and hot and tired and dirty! You sit down, now, and explain this place to me! What are you doing in a place like this?

Now, Blanche-

Oh, I’m not going to be hypocritical, I’m going to be honestly critical about it! Never, never, never in my worst dreams could I picture- Only Poe! Only Mr. Edgar Allan Poe!- could do it justice! Out there I suppose is the ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir!

No, honey, those are the L & N tracks.

No, now seriously, putting joking aside. Why didn’t you tell me, why didn’t you write me, honey, why didn’t you let me know?

Tell you what, Blanche?

Why, that you had to live in these conditions!

It’s not that bad at all! New Orleans isn’t like other cities.

This has got nothing to do with New Orleans. You might as well say- forgive me, blessed baby! The subject is closed!

Thanks. Pause.

You’re all I’ve got in the world, and you’re not glad to see me!

Why, Blanche, you know that’s not true.

No?- I’d forgotten how quiet you were.

So I just got in the habit of being quiet around you.

A good habit to get into… You haven’t asked me how I happened to get away from the school before the spring term ended.

Well, I thought you’d volunteer that information- if you wanted to tell me.

You thought I’d been fired?

No, I- thought you might have- resigned…

I was so exhausted by all I’d been through my- nerves broke. I was on the verge of- lunacy, almost! So Mr. Graves- Mr. Graves is the high school superintendent- he suggested I take a leave of absence. I couldn’t put all of those details into the wire… Oh, this buzzes right through me and feels so good!

Won’t you have another?

No, one’s my limit.

Sure?

You haven’t said a work about my appearance.Y

You look just fine.

God love you for a liar! Daylight never exposed so total a ruin! But you- you’ve put on some weight, yes, you’re just as plump as a little partridge! And it’s so becoming to you!

Now, Blanche-

Yes, it is, it is or I wouldn’t say it! You just have to watch around the hips a little. Stand up.N

Not now.

You hear me? I said stand up! You messy child, you, you’ve spilt something on the pretty white lace collar! About your hair- you ought to have it cut in a feather bob with your dainty features. Stella, you have a maid, don’t you?

No. With only two rooms it’s-

What? Two rooms, did you say?

This one and-

The other one? Silence. I am going to take just one little tiny nip more, sort of to put the stopper on, so to speak… Then put the bottle away so I won’t be tempted. I want you to look at my figure! You know I haven’t put on one ounce in ten years, Stells? I weigh what I weighed the summer you left Belle Reve. The summer Dad died and you left us…

It’s just incredible, Blanche, you well you’re looking.

But, Stella, there’s only two rooms, I don’t see where you’re going to put me!

We’re going to put you in here.

What kind of bed’s this- one of those collapsible things?

Does it feel all right?

Wonderful, honey. I don’t like a bed that gives much. But there’s no door between the two rooms, and Stanley- will it be decent?

Stanley is Polish, you know.

Oh yes, They’re something like Irish, aren’t they?

Well-

Only not so- highbrow? I brought some nice clothes to meet all your lovely friends in.

I’m afraid you won’t think they are lovely.

What are they like?

They’re Stanley’s friends.

Polacks?

They’re a mixed lot, Blanche.

Heterogeneous- types?

Oh, yes. Yes, types is right!

Well- anyhow- I brought nice clothes and I’ll wear them. I guess you’re hoping I’ll say I’ll put up at a hotel, but I’m not going to put up at a hotel. I want to be near you, got to be with somebody, I can’t be alone! Because- as you must have noticed- I’m- not very well…

You seem a little bit nervous or overwrought or something.

Will Stanley like me, or will I just be a visiting in-law Stella? I couldn’t stand that.

You’ll get along fine together, if you’ll just try not to- well- compare him with men that we went out with at home.

Is he so- different?

Yes. A different species.

In what way; what’s he like?

Oh, you can’t describe someone you’re in love with! Here’s a picture of him!

An officer?

A Master Sergeant in the Enigneers’ Corps. Those are decorations!

He had those on when you met him?

I assure you I wasn’t just blinded by all the brass.

That’s not what I-

But of course there were things to adjust myself to later on.

Such as his civilian background! How did he take it when you said I was coming?

Oh, Stanley doesn’t know yet.

You- haven’t told him?

He’s on the road a good deal.

Oh. Travels?

Yes.

Good. I mean- isn’t it?

I can hardly stand it when he is away for a night…

Why, Stella!

When he’s away for a week I nearly go wild!

Gracious!

And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby…

I guess this is what is meant by being in love… Stella-

What?

I haven’t asked you the things you probably thought I was going to ask. And so I’ll expect you to be understanding about what I have to tell you.