Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Page #9

- No, Papa.

We've known each other all my life

and we're strangers.

You own 28,000 acres.

You own $10 million.

You own a wife and two children.

You own us, but you don't love us.

- In my own way...

- No, sir.

You don't even like people.

You wanted Gooper and me to have kids.

Why?

I want a part of me to keep living.

I won't have it end with the grave.

Look!

This is what my father left me.

This lousy old suitcase!

On the inside was nothing...

...but his uniform

from the Spanish-American War.

This was his legacy to me.

Nothing at all!

And I built this place from nothing.

And that's all he left you?

Yeah, he was a hobo.

Best-known tramp on the boxcar circuit.

He worked once in a while as a field hand.

I'd tag along.

Sat on my bare bottom, in the dirt,

waiting for him.

Outside of hunger...

...first thing I could remember is shame.

I was ashamed

of that miserable, old tramp.

I was riding boxcars when I was nine,

something you never had to do.

And you'll never have to bury me

like I did him.

I buried him in a meadow,

alongside a railroad track.

We were running to catch a freight

and his heart gave out.

You know something?

That lousy old tramp died laughing.

Laughing at what?

Himself, I guess.

A hobo tramp...

...not a nickel in his jeans.

No future, no past.

Or maybe he was laughing

because he was happy.

Happy at having you with him.

He took you everywhere

and he kept you with him.

I don't want to talk about that.

Yeah, I loved him.

I reckon I never loved anything

as much as that...

...Iousy old tramp.

And you say...

...he left you nothing but a suitcase...

...with a uniform in it

from the Spanish-American War?

And some memories.

And love.

Did I tell you all them stories

about my old man?

About fifty times.

It's a plan to protect the Delta's

biggest estate from irresponsibility.

You have to sign.

Where is it?

What?

What the doctor left

to make his pain easier.

Brick's down there with him.

He'll help Big Daddy.

Help him? How?

By running the 100-yard dash?

Maybe he'll cheer him up

by kicking some field goals.

One more crack, Queenie...

...and I will not only spit in your eye

but I will punch it black and blue.

Hold on a minute!

- I'm not listening to any more...

- Mae was only saying...

I know what she said,

and I know exactly what she meant.

The only world that Brick knows...

It's not a world he made.

Ladies!

- No.

- Why won't you take it?

- It'll kill the pain, that's all.

- It'll kill the senses, too.

When you've got pain

at least you know you're alive.

It's easing somewhat now.

When you've got pain...

...it's better to judge yourself,

a lot of things.

I'm not going to stupefy myself

with that stuff.

I want to think clear.

I want to see everything

and feel everything.

Then I won't mind going.

I've got the guts to die.

What I want to know is,

have you got the guts to live?

I don't know.

We can try.

We could start by helping each other

up these stairs.

Yes, sir.

At least read them.

Put those papers away

before I tear them up.

I don't want to know what's in them.

I'm talking in Big Daddy's language.

I'm his wife, not his widow. His wife!

- What I've got here...

- He said it's just a plan.

Plan basis. What I'll say to your plan is...

What is it Big Daddy says

when he's disgusted?

He says "bull" when he's disgusted.

That's right. I say "bull" like Big Daddy.

- Coarse language don't seem called for.

- Bull!

I am outraged by this kind of talk.

Then stop talking like your father's dead

and me along with him.

What about her? She wants her share, too.

As far as Brick is concerned...

...nobody's going to take nothing.

Not till Big Daddy lets go...

...and maybe just possibly, not even then!

No, Mama, not even then.

Hello, Bucky!

Looks like the wind took some liberties

with this place.

- Evening, Cap'n!

- Evening, Cap'n!

- Storm cross over the river?

- Gone to Arkansas.

Rain do some good, Cap'n?

Some good, I reckon.

Some good.

You could at least read them.

Put them away before I tear them up.

I don't know what's in them.

I don't want to know.

Can I come in?

Has the storm done any damage?

Which storm are you talking about?

The one outside...

...or that hullabaloo going on in here?

Excuse me, sir.

Heard some mighty loud talking.

What's the powwow about?

Nothing, Big Daddy. Nothing at all.

What's in them important-Iooking

documents you've got there?

Nothing. Nothing much of anything at all.

Then what are you and Sister Woman

scurrying and scrounging around for?

Looks like a whole lot of nothing to me.

What's that smell in this room?

Didn't you notice it, Brick?

Didn't you notice the powerful

and obnoxious odor of mendacity?

Yes, sir, I think I did.

Ain't nothing more powerful

than the odor of mendacity.

- Didn't you notice it, Gooper?

- What, sir?

What about you, Sister Woman?

Didn't you notice an unpleasant smell

of mendacity in this room?

I don't even know what that is.

You can smell it. It smells like death.

What's the matter with that woman?

What's-your-name, what's wrong?

She just had a slight dizzy spell.

You'd better watch that.

A stroke's a bad way to go.

Look, he's wearing

Brick's birthday present.

I haven't given you my present yet

but I will now.

I have an announcement.

What kind of an announcement?

An announcement of life beginning.

A child is coming...

...sired by Brick out of Maggie the cat.

I have Brick's child in my body.

And that is my present to you.

Did you ever in your born days

hear such a bald-faced lie?

Shut up.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Yes, indeed, this girl has life in her body.

And that's no lie.

I want my lawyer in the morning.

My lawyer!

- Brick?

- Yes, Big Daddy?

I'm going out to look this place over

before I give it up.

The place and the people on it.

You want to come with me?

What were you two talking about

down there?

Us.

Me, too?

Yeah.

You ripped your own brother apart.

Do you believe that, Gooper?

- No.

- Well, I do!

Keep still.

A family crisis brings out the best

and the worst in every member.

That's the truth.

Amen.

You want to talk about the truth?

You're not pregnant.

- Be still.

- She made it up.

- I said shut up.

- Don't you try to kid us.

She's not kidding you.

How can she have a child by you,

when you won't even...

Keep quiet!

We occupy the next room

and the walls aren't soundproof.

We hear the nightly pleading

and the nightly refusals!

Not everybody makes as much noise

about love as you do.

I never thought you would stoop

to her level!

You heard what Big Daddy said,

"That girl's got life in her body."

- That's a lie!

- No.

No, truth is something desperate,

and Maggie's got it.

Believe me, it is desperate,

and she has got it.

Why don't you say something, honey?

All right, honey.

Shut up!

Yes?

Come on up here.

Yes, sir!

That girl's got life in her, all right.

Thank you for keeping still.

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