A Streetcar Named Desire Page #2

No, not at my house.

My mother's still sick.

- All right, you bring the beer.

WOMAN:
Break it up down there.

- I made that spaghetti and ate it myself.

- Now, honey, I told you...

...and told you

we were playing Jack's beer.

What's so funny?

You never phoned me once.

I told you at breakfast.

I phoned you at lunch.

Why don't you get yourself in here!

Do you want it in the newspapers?

I'm sick and tired of chasing you.

You must be Stanley.

I'm Blanche.

Oh, you're Stella's sister.

Yes.

Oh, hiya.

Yeah, where's the little woman?

- In the bathroom.

- Oh.

- Well, where you from, Blanche?

- Why, I...

I live in Auriol.

In Auriol. Auriol, huh?

Oh, yeah, that's right. Auriol.

That's not my territory.

Man, liquor goes fast

in the hot weather.

- You want a shot?

- No, I rarely touch it.

Well, there's some people that rarely

touch it, but it touches them often.

Mind if I make myself

comfortable? My shirt is sticking...

Please. Please do.

"Be comfortable." That's my motto,

where I come from.

It's mine too. It's hard to stay

looking fresh in hot weather.

Why, I haven't washed

or even powdered...

...and here you are.

You gotta be careful. You sitting around

in a damp thing, you catch a cold.

Especially when you been

exercising hard, like bowling is.

- Well, you're the teacher, aren't you?

- Yes.

- What do you teach?

- English.

Well, I never was

a very good English student.

- How long you here for?

- Why, I don't know yet.

You gonna shack up here?

I thought I would,

if it's not inconvenient for you all.

Good.

Traveling wears me out.

Well, take it easy.

What was that?

Oh, those cats.

Hey, Stella.

What did you do, fall asleep in there?

Huh?

Well, I guess I'm gonna strike you

as being the unrefined type, huh?

You know,

Stella spoke a good deal about you.

She said you were married once,

weren't you?

Yes.

When I was quite young.

Yeah? What happened?

The boy...

The boy died.

I'm afraid I...

I'm going to be sick.

Fresh fish! Fresh fish! Fresh fish!

- Looks like she's staying a while.

- Yeah.

- Hey, Stan, are we playing tonight?

- Yeah.

Well, I figured maybe we...

- Forget about maybe. It's the same.

- Stanley!

- Oh, hi, Steve.

- Put it down.

- Now I'll go get the other one?

- Yes.

- Thanks, darling.

- Stella?

Yes?

Is that Stanley back with my trunk?

- Yes, Blanche.

- Honey...

...will you get my blue net out for me?

- All right, Blanche.

It was so good of Stanley to call for my trunk.

He was glad to do it.

- I'll see you later.

- All right. Listen, don't forget.

Honey, I'm taking Blanche

to Galatoire's for supper tonight...

...and then to a show

because it's your poker night.

How about my supper?

I'm not going to Galatoire's tonight.

I put you a cold plate on ice.

I'm gonna try to keep Blanche

out until the party breaks up.

- I don't know how she'll take it.

- Isn't that just dandy?

So you'd better give me some money.

Hey, where is she now?

She's soaking in a hot tub

to quiet her nerves.

She's terribly upset.

Over what?

She's been through such an ordeal.

We lost Belle Reve.

- What, the place in the country?

- Uh-huh.

- Well, how?

- It had to be sacrificed or something.

Honey, look. When she comes in, 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.

- Try to understand her and be nice to her.

- All right.

She wasn't expecting

to find us in such a place.

- All right.

- I tried to gloss things over a little...

...in my letters.

Admire her dress.

Tell her she's looking wonderful.

It's important to Blanche.

Her little weakness.

Okay, honey, I get the idea, but...

Now, let's just skip back a little, the way

you said the place was disposed of.

Oh, yeah.

Well, how about

a few more details on that subject?

Honey, look, it's best not to talk much

about it until she's calmed down.

Is that gonna be the deal? Sister Blanche

can't be annoyed with details right now?

Well, you saw how she was last night.

I saw how she was. Now, let's

cop a gander at the bill of sale.

I haven't seen any.

What do you mean? She didn't show you

papers, deed of sale, nothing like that?

Seemed like it wasn't sold.

Well, now, what was it, then?

Giveaway to charity?

- Shh. She'll hear you.

- I don't care if she hears me.

- Now, let's see the papers.

- Honey, there weren't any papers.

She didn't show any papers.

I don't care about papers.

Wait. Now, listen, did you ever hear

of the Napoleonic Code, Stella?

- I haven't heard of the Napoleonic Code.

- All right. Okay, then.

- Let me enlighten you on a point or two.

- Yes?

We got here in the state of Louisiana

what's known as the Napoleonic Code.

According to which, what belongs to

the wife belongs to the husband also...

...and vice versa.

Will you listen.

Take, for instance, I had

that piece of property...

My head is swimming.

Oh, well, all right, dear.

Okay.

We'll wait till she's through

soaking in the hot tub...

...then I'm gonna inquire if she's

acquainted with the Napoleonic Code.

Oh, Stanley, don't be so silly.

It looks to me like you been swindled.

And when you get swindled...

...under Napoleonic Code, I get swindled

too. I don't like to get swindled.

Oh, Stanley...

...you've no idea how ridiculous

you're being...

...when you suggest that my sister...

...or I or anyone else of our family could

have perpetrated a swindle on anyone.

Oh, come on, now. Where's the money

if the place was sold?

Not sold. Lost!

- Lost.

- Come here.

- Stanley. Ow!

- Will you open your eyes to this stuff?

- What, she got this out of teacher's pay?

- Oh, hush.

Look at these fine feathers and furs

that she comes to preen herself in here?

What is this article?

That's a solid-gold dress, I believe.

- Oh, honest.

- This one here. What is that, a fox piece?

- Stanley!

- A genuine fur fox a half a mile long.

Where are your fox pieces?

This is bushy snow-white ones, no less.

Where are your white fox furs?

Those are inexpensive summer furs

that Blanche has had a long time.

I have an acquaintance who deals

in this sort of merchandise.

- He's coming to make an appraisal.

- Don't be such an idiot, Stanley.

Listen, I'm gonna bet you there's

a thousand dollars invested in this stuff.

Well, now, what is that?

That's the treasure chest of a pirate?

- Oh, Stanley. Would you...?

- That's pearls, Stella. Ropes of them.

What is this sister of yours,

a deep-sea diver?

Bracelets, solid gold. Where are

your pearls and gold bracelets?

Be still, Stanley.

And here. Diamonds.

A crown for an empress.

A rhinestone tiara

she wore to a costume ball.

- What is rhinestone?

- Next door to glass.

Yeah.

I have an acquaintance who works in

a jewelry store and he's coming...

...to make an appraisal of that stuff.

- Here's your plantation fella, right here.

- You know I... Stupid and horrid.

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