A Streetcar Named Desire

Can I help you, ma'am?

Well, they told me to take

a streetcar named Desire...

...and then transfer

to one called Cemeteries...

...and ride six blocks

and get off at Elysian Fields.

There's your car now.

Thank you.

When he got home, she was waiting.

Boy, you never heard nothing like that.

What's the matter, honey?

You lost?

I'm looking for Elysian Fields.

This is Elysian Fields.

What number you looking for?

Six forty-two.

You don't need to look no further.

I'm looking for my sister, Stella DuBois.

I mean, Mrs. Stanley Kowalski.

Yeah, that's the party, all right.

You just did miss her, though.

This?

- Can this be her home?

- She got the downstairs. I got the up.

Oh, she's out?

You notice that bowling alley

up the street?

- I'm not sure I did.

- Well, that's where she's at, honey.

She's watching her husband bowl.

Blanche!

Blanche, honey!

- Stella. Oh, Stella for star!

- Blanche!

Oh, my darling. Now, let me look at you.

But don't you look at me, Stella. No, no!

- I won't be seen in this merciless glare.

- Did you find our place?

What are you doing in a place like that?

Never, never, never

in my worst dreams did I picture...

Only Poe. Only Mr. Edgar Allan Poe

could do justice to it.

What are you doing

in that horrible place?

Oh, what am I saying?

I didn't mean to say that.

I meant to be nice and say,

"What a convenient location," and such.

- You haven't said a word to me.

- You haven't given me a chance to.

- Open your pretty mouth and talk.

- Come say hello to Stanley first.

- No, not now. Not now.

- Just say hello.

Oh, which is he?

Which one is he?

- Is he the one that's...?

- The one that's making all the rhubarb.

Isn't he wonderful-looking?

Stella, I can't meet him now.

Not till I've bathed and rested.

- Would you like a cold drink?

- Oh, bless you for that lovely inspiration.

Oh, my baby, my baby.

Would you like some pop?

Honey. Pop?

Not with my nerves tonight.

Scotch for me, please.

Grape.

You haven't asked me how I got away

from school before the spring term ended.

I thought you'd volunteer that

information if you want to tell me.

You thought I'd been fired?

No. I thought you might have resigned.

Oh, 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.

Thank you. He suggested I...

I take a leave of absence.

I couldn't put all those

details into the wire.

This buzzes right through me

and feels so good.

- Would you like another?

- Uh-uh. One's my limit.

You haven't said a word

about my appearance.

- You look just fine.

- God love you for a liar.

Daylight never exposed so total a ruin.

But you...

You put on some weight. Yes.

You're just as plump as a little partridge.

It's so becoming to you too.

- Oh, Blanche.

- Yes, it is. Or I wouldn't say it. You...

...just have to

watch around the hips a little.

I want you to look at my

figure, you know?

I haven't put on one ounce

in 10 years, Stella.

I weigh now what I weighed

the summer you left Belle Reve.

The summer Dad died...

...and you left us.

It's just incredible, Blanche,

how well you look.

- Sure you wouldn't like another?

- Well...

Well, maybe I will just

take one tiny nip more.

Just to put the stopper on,

so to speak. Now, don't get worried.

Your sister hasn't turned into a drunkard.

She's just all shaken up...

...and hot and dirty and tired.

Waiter.

- You want it hot?

- Scalding.

- Stella.

- What is it, hon?

There's only two rooms.

I don't see where you're gonna put me.

We'll put you right here.

What kind of a bed's this?

One of those collapsible beds?

- Feel all right?

- Wonderful, honey.

I don't like a bed that gives much.

Stella, there's no door between

the two rooms, and Stanley...

- Will it be decent?

- Oh, Stanley's Polish, you know.

Oh, yeah.

Something like Irish, isn't it?

Well...

I bought some nice clothes

to meet all your lovely friends in.

Well...

I'm afraid

you won't think they're lovely.

Well, anyway, I bought nice clothes

and I'll wear them.

I guess you're hoping I'll say

I'll put up at a hotel.

I'm not going to put up at a hotel.

I've got to be near you, Stella.

I've got to be with people.

I can't be alone because...

Because as you must have noticed, I...

I'm not very well.

You do seem a little...

Will Stanley like me...

...or will I just be a visiting in-law?

I couldn't stand that, Stella.

You'll get along fine together.

If you just try not to compare him...

- Oh, he was an officer?

- He was master sergeant...

...in the Engineers Corps,

decorated four times.

He had those on when you met him?

I assure you I wasn't just blinded

by all the brass.

- Oh, that's not what I...

- Of course, there...

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, he's on the road a good deal.

- Oh, he travels?

- Mm-hm.

- Good. I mean, isn't it?

I can hardly stand it

when he's away for a night.

Oh, Stella.

When he's away for a week,

I nearly go wild.

- Gracious.

- When he comes back...

...I cry in his lap like a baby.

I guess that's what's meant

by being in love.

Stella.

I haven't asked you the things you

probably thought I was going to ask...

...so I'll expect you to be understanding

about what I have to tell you.

What, Blanche?

You'll reproach me. I know you're bound

to reproach me, but before you do...

...take into consideration you left.

I stayed and struggled.

You came to New Orleans

and looked out for yourself.

I stayed at Belle Reve

and tried to hold it together.

Oh, I'm not meaning this

in any reproachful way.

- But the burden fell on my shoulders.

- Best I could do was make my own living.

But you were the one

that abandoned Belle Reve, not I.

I fought for it,

bled for it, almost died for it.

Stop this outburst.

Tell me what happened.

- I knew you'd take this attitude about it.

- About what? Please!

The loss.

Belle Reve? Lost, is it?

Yes, Stella.

But how did it go? What happened?

- You're a fine one to ask me how it went.

- Blanche.

You're a fine one to stand there

accusing me of it.

- I won't stay in this house.

- Blanche!

- Blanche.

- I... I... I took the blows...

...on my face and my body.

All of those deaths,

the long parade to the graveyard.

Father, Mother,

Margaret, that dreadful way...

You just came home

in time for funerals, Stella.

And funerals are pretty

compared to deaths.

How do you think all that sickness

and dying was paid for?

Death is expensive, Miss Stella.

And I, with my pitiful salary

at the school...

Yes, accuse me.

Stand there and stare at me,

thinking I let the place go.

I let the place go? Where were you?

- In there with your Polack.

- Blanche, be still. That's enough.

- Stella. Stella, you're crying?

- Does that surprise you?

Mitch, we gonna play

at your house tomorrow?

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