The Glass Menagerie Scene 8 Jim Lines

AMANDA (Laughing, as JIM laughs too.): You know, Mr. O'Connor, haven't had such a pleasant evening in a very long time.

JIM (Rises): Well, Mrs. Wingfield, let me give you a toast. Here's to the old South.

AMANDA: The old South. (Blackout in both rooms.)

JIM: Hey, Mr. Light Bulb!

AMANDA: Where was Moses when the lights went out? Do you know the answer to that one, Mr. O'Connor?

JIM: No, ma'am, what's the answer to that one?

AMANDA: Well, I heard one answer, but it wasn't very nice. I thought you might know another one.

JIM: No, ma'am.

AMANDA: It's lucky I put those candles on the table. I just put them on for ornamentation, but it's nice when they prove useful, too.

JIM: Yes, ma'am.

AMANDA: Now, if one of you gentlemen can provide me with a match we can have some illumination.

JIM (Lighting candles. Dim in glow for candles.): I can, ma'am.

AMANDA: Thank you.

JIM (Crosses back to R. of dining-room table.): Not at all, ma'am.

AMANDA: I guess it must be a burnt-out fuse. Mr. O'Connor, do you know anything about a burnt-out fuse?

JIM: I know a little about them, ma'am, but where's the fuse box?

AMANDA: Must you know that, too? Well, it's in the kitchen. (JIM exits R. into kitchen.) Be careful. It's dark. Don't stumble over anything. (Sound of crash off-stage.) Oh, my goodness, wouldn't it be awful if we lost him! Are you all right, Mr. O'Connor?

JIM (Off-stage): Yes, ma'am, I'm all right.

AMANDA: You know, electricity is a very mysterious thing. The whole very mysterious thing. universe is mysterious to me. me. Wasn't it Benjamin Franklin who tied a key to-a kite? I'd like to have seen that - he might have looked mighty silly. Some people say that science clears up all the mysteries for us. In my opinion they just keep on adding more. Haven't you found it yet?

JIM (Re-enters R.): Yes, ma'am. I found it all right, but them fuses look okay to me. (Sits as before.)

AMANDA: You did! I might have known it!

JIM: Oh, maybe Shakespeare wrote a poem on that light bill, Mrs. Wingfield?

AMANDA: Maybe he did, too. I might have known better than to trust him with it! There's such a high price for negligence in this world today.

JIM: Maybe the poem will win a ten-dollar prize.

AMANDA: We'll just have to spend the rest of the evening in the nineteenth century, before Mr. Edison found that Mazda lamp!

JIM: Candle-light is my favorite kind of light.

AMANDA: That shows you're romantic! But that's no excuse for Tom. However, I think it was very nice of them to let us finish our dinner before they plunged us into everlasting darkness. Tom, as a penalty for your carelessness you can help me with the dishes.

JIM (Rising. TOM rises.): Can I be of some help, ma'am?

AMANDA (Rising): Oh, no, I couldn't allow that.

JIM: Well, I ought to be good for something.

AMANDA: What did I hear?

JIM: I just said, "I ought to be good for something."

AMANDA: That's what I thought you said. Well, Laura's all by her lonesome out front. Maybe you'd like to keep her company. I can give you this lovely old candelabrum for light. (JIM takes candles.) It used to be on the altar at the Church of the Heavenly venly Rest, Rest, but it was melted a little out of shape when the chùrch burnt down. The church was struck by lightning one spring, and Gypsy Jones who was holding a revival meeting in the village, said that the church was wae struck by lightning because the Episcopalians had started to have card parties right in the church.

JIM: Is that so, ma'am?

AMANDA: I never say anything that isn't so.

JIM: I beg your pardon.

AMANDA (Pouring wine into glass — hands it to Jim.): I'd like Laura to have a little dandelion wine. Do you think you can hold them both?

JIM: I can try, ma'am.

TOM: Yes, Mother. (Follows AMANDA. JIM looks around, puts wine-glass down, takes swig from wine decanter, replaces it with thud, takes wine-glassenters living-room. Inner curtains close as dining-room dims out. LAURA sits up nervously as JIM enters. Her speech at first is low and breathless from the almost intolerable strain of being alone with a stranger. In her speeches in this scene, before Jim's warmth overcomes her paralyzing shyness, Laura's voice is thin and breathless as though she has just run up a steep flight of stairs.)

JIM (Entering holding candelabra with lighted candles in one hand and glass of wine in other, and stands.): How are you feeling now? Any better?

LAURA: Yes, thank you.

JIM (Gives her glass of wine.): Oh, here, this is for you. It's a little dandelion wine.

LAURA: Thank you.

JIM: Well, drink it- but don’t get too drunk. (He laughs heartily) Say, where’ll I put the candles?

LAURA: Oh, anywhere…

JIM: Oh, how about right here on the floor? You got any objections?

LAURA: No.

JIM: I'll just spread a newspaper under it to catch the drippings. (Gets newspaper from armchair. Puts candelabra down on floor C.) I like to sit on the floor. (Sits on floor.) Mind if I do?

LAURA: Oh, no.

JIM: Would you give me a pillow?

LAURA: What?

JIM: A pillow! LAURA: Oh. JIM: How about you. Do you like to sit on the floor?

LAURA: Oh, yes.

JIM: Well, why don't you?

LAURA: I- will.

JIM: Take a pillow! (Throws pillow as she sits on floor.) I can't see you sitting way over there. (Sits on floor again.)

LAURA: I can - see you.

JIM: Yeah, but that's not fair. I'm right here in the limelight. (LAURA moves a little closer to him.) Good! Now I can see you! Are you comfortable?

LAURA: Yes. Thank you.

JIM: So am I. I'm comfortable as a cow! Say, would you care for a piece of chewing-gum? (Offers gum.)

LAURA: No, thank you.

JIM: I think that I will indulge. (Musinglyly unwraps it and holds ho it up.) Geе, think of the fortune made by the guy that invented the first piece of chewinggum! It's amazing, huh? Do you know that the Wrigley Building is one of the sights of Chicago? - I saw it summer before last at the Century of Progress.- Did you take in the Century of Progress?

LAURA: No, I didn't.

JIM: Well, it was a wonderful exposition, believe me. You know what impressed me most? The Hall of Science. Gives you an idea of wht the future will be like in America. Oh, it's more wonderful than the present time is! Say, your brother tells me you're shy. Is that right, Laura?

LAURA: I - don't know.

JIM: I judge you to be an old-fashioned type of girl. Oh, I think that's a wonderful type to be. I hope you don't think I'm being too personal - do you?

LAURA: Mr. O'Connor?

JIM: Huh?

LAURA: I believe I will take a piece of gum, if you don't mind. (JIM peels gum gets on knees, hands it to LAURA. She breaks off a tiny piece. JIM looks at what remains, puts it in his mouth, and sits again.) Mr. O'Connor, have you- kept up with your singing?

JIM: Singing? Me?

LAURA: Yes. I remember what a beautiful voice you had.

JIM: You heard me sing?

LAURA: Oh, yes! Very often... . I — don't suppose - you remember me - at all?

JIM (Smiling doubtfully): You know, as a matter of fact I did have an idea I'd seen you before. Do you know it seemed almost like I was about to remember your name. But the name I was about to remember - wasn't a name! So I stopped myself before I said it.

LAURA: Wasn't it - Blue Roses?

JIM (Grinning): Blue Roses! Oh, my gosh, yes - Blue Roses! You know, didn't connect you with high school somehow or other. But that's where it was, it was high school. Gosh, I didn't even know you were Shakespeare's sister! Gee, I'm sorry.

LAURA: I didn't expect you to. - You - barely knew me!

JIM: But, we did have a speaking acquaintance.

LAURA: Yes, we - spoke to each other.

JIM: Say, didn't we have a class in something together?

LAURA: Yes, we did.

JIM: What class was that?

LAURA: It was - singing- chorus!

JIM: Aw!

LAURA: I sat across the aisle from you in the auditorium. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

JIM: Oh, yeah! I remember now - you're the one who always came in late.

LAURA: Yes, it was so hard for me, getting upstairs. I had that brace on my leg then - it clumped so loud!

JIM: I never heard any clumping.

LAURA (Wincing at recollection.): To me it sounded like - thunder!

JIM: I never even noticed.

LAURA: Everybody was seated before I came in. I had to walk in front of all those people. My seat was in the back row. I had to go clumping up the aisle with everyone watching!

JIM: Oh, gee, you shouldn't have been self-conscious.

LAURA: I know, but I was. It was always such a relief when the singing started.

JIM: I remember now. And I used to call you Blue Roses. How did I ever get started calling you a name like that?

LAURA: I was out of school a little while with pleurosis. When I came back you asked me what was the matter. I said I had pleurosis and you thought I said Blue Roses. So that's what you always called me after that!

JIM: I hope you didn't mind?

LAURA: Oh, no - I liked it. You see, I wasn't acquainted with many - people

JIM: Yeah. I remember you sort of stuck by yourself.

LAURA: I never did have much luck at making friends.

JIM: Well, I don't see why you wouldn't.

LAURA: Well, I started out badly.

JIM: You mean being -?

LAURA: Well, yes, it - sort of - stood between me..

JIM: You shouldn't have let it!

LAURA: I know, but it did, and I -

JIM: You mean you were shy with people!

LAURA: I tried not to be but never could -

JIM: Overcome it?

LAURA: No, I - never could!

JIM: Yeah. I guess being shy is something you have to work out of kind of gradually.

LAURA: Yes I guess it -

JIM: Takes time!

LAURA: Yes.

JIM: Say, you know something, Laura? (Rises to sit on day-bed R.) People are not so dreadful when you know them. That's what you have to remember! And everybody has problems, not just you but practically everybody has problems. You think of yourself as being the only one who is disappointed. But just look ou think or yourselr as being the omy onа around you and what do you see - a lot of people just as disappointed as you are. You take me, for instance. Boy, when I left high school I thought I'd be a lot further along at this time than I am now. Say, you remember that wonderful write-up I had in "The Torch?"

LAURA: Yes, I do! (She gets year-book from under pillow of day-bed.)

JIM: Said I was bound to succeed in anything I went into! Holy Jeez! "The Torch!" (She opens book, shows it to him and sits next to him on day-bed.)

LAURA: Here you are in "The Pirates of Penzance"!

JIM: "The Pirates"! "Oh, better far to live and die under the brave black flag I fly!" I sang the lead in that operetta.

LAURA: So beautifully!

JIM: Aw...

LAURA: Yes, yes - beautifully - beautifully!

JIM: You heard me then, huh?

LAURA: I heard you all three times!

JIM: No!

LAURA: Yes.

JIM: You mean all three performances?

LAURA: Yes!

JIM: What for?

LAURA: I - wanted to ask you to - autograph my program. (Takes program from book).

JIM: Why didn't you ask me?

LAURA: You were always surrounded by your own friends so much that I never had a chance.

JIM: Aw, you should have just come right up and said, Here is my -

LAURA: Well, I - thought you might think I was -

JIM: Thought I might think you was- what? Yeah, I was belaguered by females in those days.

LAURA: Yeah, you were terribly popular!

JIM: Yeah…

LAURA: You had such a - friendly way -

JIM: Oh, I was spoiled in high school.

LAURA: Everybody liked you!

JIM: Including you?

LAURA: I - why, yes, I — I did, too…

JIM: Give me that program, Laura. (She does so, and he signs it.) There you are - better late than never!

LAURA: My - what a - surprise!

JIM: My signature's not worth very much right now. But maybe some day - it will increase in value! You know, being disappointed is one thing and being discouraged is something else. Well, I may be disappointed but I am not discouraged. Say, you finished high school?

LAURA: I made bad grades in my final examinations.

JIM: You mean you dropped out?

LAURA: (Rises.) I didn't go back. (Crosses R. to menagerie. Jim lights cigarette still sitting on day-bed. Laura puts year-book under menagerie. Rises, under menagerie, Rises, picks up unicorn - small glass object - her back-to Jim. When she touches unicorn. MUSIC CUE #16-A.) How is Emily Meisenbach getting along?

JIM: That kraut-head!

LAURA: Why do you call her that?

JIM: Because that's what she was.

LAURA: You're not still - going with her?

JIM: Oh, I never even see her.

LAURA: It said in the Personal section that you were - engaged!

JIM: Uh-huh. I know, but I wasn't impressed by that - propaganda!

LAURA: It wasn't - the truth?

JIM: It was only true in Emily's optimistic opinion!

LAURA: Oh...

JIM: What have you done since high school? Huh?

LAURA: What?

JIM: I said what have you done since high school?

LAURA: Nothing much.

JIM: You must have been doing something all this time.

LAURA: Yes.

JIM: Well, then, such as what?

LAURA: I took a business course at business college

JIM: You did? How did that work out?

LAURA: (Turns back to Jim.) Well, not very - well... I had to drop out, it gave me - indigestion…

JIM: (Laughs gently.) What are you doing now?

LAURA: I don't do anything - much.... Oh, please don't think I sit around doing nothing! My glass collection takes a good deal of time. Glass is something you have to take good care of.

JIM: What did you say - about glass?

LAURA: (She clears her throat and turns away again, acutely shy.) Collection, I said - I have one.

JIM: (Put out cigarette. Abruptly.) Say! You know what I judge to be the trouble with you? (Rises from day bed and crosses R.) Inferiority complex! You know what wnat that is? That's wh that is? That's what they call it when a fellow low-rates himself! Oh, I understand it because I had it, too. Uh-huh! Only my case was not as aggravated as yours seems to be. I had it until I took up public speaking and developed my voice, and learned that I had an aptitude for science. science. Do you know that until that time I never thought of myself as being outstanding in any way whatsoever!

LAURA: Oh, my!

JIM: Now I've never made a regular study of it - (Sits armchair R.) mind you, but I have a friend who says I can analyze people better than doctors that make a profession of it. I don't claim that's necessarily true, but I can sure guess a person's psychology. Excuse me, Laura. (Takes out gum.) I always take it out when the flavor is gone. I'll just wrap it in a piece ofof paper. paper. (Tears a piece of paper off the newspaper under candelabrum, wraps gum in it, crosses to day-bed, look to see if LAURA is watching. She isn't. Crosses around day-bed.) I know how it is when you get it stuck on a shoe. (Throws gum under day-bed, crosses around L. of day-bed. Crosses R. to LAURA.) Yep - that's what I judge to be your prin- cipal trouble. A lack of confidence in yourself as a person. Now I'm basing that and fact on a number of your remarks and on certain observations I've made. For instance, that clumping you thought was so awful in high school. You say that you dreaded to go upstairs? You see what you did? You dropped out of school, you gave up an education all because of a little clump, which as far as I can see is practically non-existent! Oh, a little physical defect is all you have. It's hardly noticeable even! Magnified a thousand times by your imagination! You know what my strong advice to you is? You've got to think of yourself as superior in some way! (Crosses L. to small table R. of day-bed. Sits. LAURA sits in armchair.)

LAURA: In what way would I think?

JIM: Why, man alive, Laura! Look around you a little and what do you see? A world full of common people! All of 'em born and all of 'em going to die! Now, which of them has one-tenth of your strong points! Or mine! Or anybody else's for that matter? You see, everybody excels in some other thing. Well - some in many! You take me, for instance. My interest happens to lie in electro-dynamics. I'm taking a course in radio engineering at night school, on top of a fairly responsible job at the warehouse. I'm taking that course and studying public speaking.

LAURA: Ohhhh. My!

JIM: Because I believe in the future of television! I want to be ready to go right up along with it. (Rises, crosses R.) I'm planning to get in on the ground floor. Oh, I've already made the right connections. All that remains now is for the industry itself to get under way - full steam! You know, knowledge -ZSZZppp! Money -Zzzzzzpp! POWER! Wham! That's the cycle democracy is built on! (Pause.) I guess you think I think a lot of myself!

LAURA: No-0-0-o, I don't.

JIM (Kneels at armchair R.): Well, now how about you? Isn't there some one thing that you take more interest in than anything else?

LAURA: Oh- yes...

JIM: Well, then, such as what?

LAURA: Well, I do - as I said - have my - glass collection (MUSIC CUE #16-A.)

JIM: Oh, you do. What kind of glass is it?

LAURA (Takes glass ornament off shelf.): Little articles of it, ornaments mostly. Most of them are little animals made out of glass, the tiniest little animals in the world. Mother calls them the glass menagerie! Here's an example of one, if an the giass eliagerie: fiere s an example or one, if you'd like to see it! This is one of the oldest, it's nearly thirteen. (Hands it to JIM.) Oh, be careful - - if you breathe, it breaks!

JIM: I'd better not take it. I'm pretty clumsy with things.

LAURA: Go on, I trust you with him! (JIM takes horse.) There - you're holding him gently! Hold him over the light, he loves the light! (JIM holds horse up to light.) See how the light shines through him?

JIM: It sure does shine!

LAURA: I shouldn't be partial, but he is my favorite one.

JIM: Say, what kind of a thing is this one supposed to be?

LAURA: Haven't you noticed the single horn on his forehead?

JIM: Oh, a unicorn, huh?

LAURA: Mmmm-hmmmmm!

JIM: Unicorns, aren't they extinct in the modern world?

LAURA: I know!

JIM: Poor little fellow must feel kind of lonesome.

LAURA: Well, if he does he doesn't complain about it. He stays on a shelf with some horses that don't have horns and they all seem to get along nicely together.

JIM: They do. Say, where will I put him?

LAURA: Put him on the table. (JIM crosses to small table R. of day-bed, puts unicorn on it.) They all like a change of scenery once in a while!

JIM (C., facing upstage, stretching arms.): Hey! Look how big my shadow is when I stretch.