Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Page #3

Hundreds of them from every corner

of this great state...

Wishing you happy birthday.

Do you want me to read them?

One from the governor and the senator...

It must be getting on to election time,

hey, Deacon?

Let's remember,

we're all lambs in the same pasture.

Everybody, including Big Daddy,

owes thanks to those in high places who...

Gave us nothing!

Every scrap on this table was raised

right here on this place, Deacon.

I made a pastureland out of this place

when it was nothing but a swamp.

And it was done with the help of God,

and not any governor.

Amen.

"Boom, boom and it makes me crazy"

Great balls of fire!

Surprise!

- What are they up to now?

- It's part of the entertainment.

Don't they get any intermission?

That's funny!

That's very funny!

He don't mean it, Sister Woman.

- He loves children!

- Of course he does!

Will you put some honey on this?

They're all Pollitts,

I'm proud to say, every one of them.

I know Big Daddy's

just as proud as we are...

...that there's a flesh-and-blood dynasty...

...waiting to take over.

That's no way to talk.

What way?

"Take over." When we all know...

...Big Daddy's going to live

to be at least 100.

I'll drink to that!

Anytime, anyplace, anywhere!

To Big Daddy!

In the name of every person

in this county...

...in the name of the church

and school board, the board of trustees...

...felicitations on your 65th birthday.

Brick, honey,

I brought you something to eat.

I'm not hungry.

What's that supposed to mean?

We're leaving.

- We can't.

- I can.

- The party's coming up here to you.

- I'll get one of the boys to drive me.

You just can't walk out

on Big Daddy's birthday party!

Don't you care nothing about him?

Get out of my way.

Get out of my way, Maggie!

You've got no cause to dislike him.

Do I dislike him?

It's obvious to everybody.

Especially to him.

What's he ever done to you?

What?

Why do you hate him so much?

What's he ever done to you?

Nothing.

What was Dr. Baugh doing up here?

What did he...

That's right. Big Daddy is going to die.

I don't believe that.

Dr. Baugh wouldn't lie to Big Daddy.

Wouldn't he, Maggie?

Poor Big Daddy.

I'm fond of him.

I'm genuinely fond of that old man.

I really am, you know.

When he finds out...

I wouldn't want to be the one to tell him.

That's why you want to go now.

Yeah, that's why I want to leave now.

You've got to do this for me, Maggie.

And leave the field to Gooper and his wife?

No, sir!

Let's face facts, baby.

You're a drinker. That takes money.

I don't want his money!

Are you ready to settle for ten-cent beer?

That's what Gooper'll dole out to you

when they freeze you out.

They've got a plan, baby.

You should've heard them

laying it on to Big Daddy. A mile a minute!

Big Mama's already on their side.

You're a drinker and I'm childless.

We've got to beat that plan,

we've just got to!

I've been so...

...disgustingly poor all my life.

That's the truth, Brick.

Have you, Maggie?

You don't know what it's like to have to...

...suck up to people you can't stand,

just because they have money.

You don't know what it's like...

...never having any clothes.

That dress I married you in...

...was a hand-me-down

from a snotty, rich cousin I hated.

You can be young without money.

But you can't be old without it.

Where did I fail you?

Where did I make my mistake?

Make that your last drink

until after the party...

...please, honey.

I think I made my mistake

when I tried to tell you about Skipper.

That's my fatal error.

- I never should...

- Shut up about Skipper!

I mean it! Shut up!

The laws of silence won't work about that!

Not about Skipper and us.

It's like locking the door on a fire

to forget the house is burning.

Hey, everybody!

But not looking at a fire doesn't put it out.

This time I'm going to finish.

That night in the hotel room, Skipper...

I don't want to hear about it!

Why won't you face the truth, just once...

...about Skipper, about me, about yourself?

Are you bringing that party up here or not?

Kit and caboodle, son.

That won't do any good.

I'm going to say this...

...and I don't care if it's in front of them.

Do you want to be hit with this crutch?

Are you still blaming me

for Skipper's death?

I could kill you with this crutch.

Good Lord! Do you think I'd care?

Skipper and I had a friendship.

Why won't you let it alone?

- It's got to be told!

- I don't want to hear it!

It's got to be told

and you never let me tell it. I love you...

...and that's worth fighting for.

Not Skipper!

Skipper was no good!

Maybe I'm no good.

Nobody's good.

But Skipper is dead!

And I'm alive!

Maggie the cat is alive!

I'm alive!

Why are you afraid of the truth?

Truth?

Little girl, somebody ought to teach you...

...to knock before you open a door.

Otherwise, people might think

you're lacking in good breeding.

What's Uncle Brick doing on the floor?

I tried to kill your Aunt Maggie...

...but I failed...

...and I fell. Little girl,

would you hand me my crutch, please?

What were you jumping high hurdles for?

Because I used to, and people like to do

what they used to do...

...after they've stopped being able to do it.

That's right. And that's your answer.

Now go away.

Stop that, you little no-neck monster!

You're just jealous

because you can't have babies.

You see?

Mae and Gooper gloat over us

being childless...

...even in front of their little

no-neck monsters.

I went to a doctor in Memphis.

A gynecologist.

He says there's no reason

why we can't have a child...

...whenever we want.

- Are you listening?

- Yes, Maggie, I hear you.

But how in hell do you imagine

you're going to have a child...

...by a man who cannot stand you?

That, boy of mine...

...is a problem I'll just have to work out.

Here comes that party, here we come!

Here comes that birthday party!

That's nice.

The preacher almost cried when I told him

I got a stained-glass memorial window.

Who gave you that window, Deacon?

Clyde Fletcher's widow,

a generous woman of fine character.

What someone should give our church

is a cooling system.

Yes, sir. Exactly my thought.

Let's see, they've had the typhoid shots

and the tetanus shots...

...diphtheria shots, hepatitis shots,

polio shots.

Gooper, what have all the kiddies

been shot for?

Everything but stealing chickens.

Well, Brick?

Congratulations, Big Daddy,

on your birthday.

- Bull!

- Guess what memorial Gus's family gave?

- A new house and basketball court...

- Deacon!

What's all this talk about

memorial stained-glass windows?

Figuring on somebody kicking off

around here?

How about some nice music

to start the party off with?

Turn that damn thing off!

Where's my Brick?

- Where's my precious baby?

- Sorry, turn it back on.

How does your leg feel, honey?

Your hand was made for holding

something better! Put that liquor down.

- He is putting it down, all right!

- Turn that off!

How about a birthday kiss, honey?

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