Scene 4 Flashcards
(41 cards)
Stella?
Hmmm?
Baby, my baby sister!
Blanche what is the matter with you?
He’s left?
Stan? Yes.
Will he be back?
He’s gone to get the car greased why?
After what happened- I started to rush in after you
I’m glad you didn’t!
What were you thinking of?
Answer me!
Please Blanche sit down and stop yelling!
Why you must have slept with him!
Blanche I’d forgotten how excitable you are. You’re making much too much fuss about this
Am I?
Yes you are Blanche. I know how it must have seemed to you and I’m awful sorry it had to happen, but it wasn’t anything as serious as you seem to take it. In the first place, when men are drinking and playing poker anything can happen. It’s always a powder-keg. He didn’t know what he was doing…. He was as good as a lamb when I came back and he’s really very, very ashamed of himself.
And that–that makes it all right?
No, it isn’t all right for anybody to make such a terrible row, but–people do sometimes. Stanley’s always smashed things. Why, on our wedding night–soon as we came in here–he snatched off one of my slippers and rushed about the place amashing the light bulbs with it.
He did–what?
He smashed all the light bulbs with the heel of my slipper!
And you–you let him? Didn’t run, didn’t scream?
I was–sort of–thrilled by it.
Eunice and you had breakfast?
Do you suppose I wanted my breakfast?
There’s some coffee left on the stove.
You’re so–matter of fact about it, Stella
What other can I be? He’s taken the radio to get it fixed. It didn’t land on the pavement so only one tube was smashed.
And you are standing there smiling!
What do you want me to do?
Pull yourself together and face the facts.
What are they, in your opinion?
In my opinion? You’re married to a madman!
No!
Yes, you are, your fix is worse than mine is! Only you’re not being sensible about it. I’m going to do something. Get hold of myself and make myself a new life!
Yes?
But you’ve given in. And that isn’t right, you’re not old! You can get out.
[slowly and emphatically]:
I’m not in anything I want to get out of.
What–Stella?
I said I am not in anything that I have a desire to get out of. Look at the mess in this room! And those empty bottles! They went through two cases last night! He promised this morning that he was going to quit having these poker parties, but you know how long such a promise is going to keep. Oh, well, it’s his pleasure, like mine is movies and bridge. People have got to tolerate each other’s habits, I guess.
Is this a Chinese philosophy you’ve cultivated?
Is what-what?
This–shuffling about and mumbling–“One tube smashed–beer bottles–mess in the kitchen.”–as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened!
Are you deliberately shaking that thing in my face?
No
I won’t have you cleaning up after him!
Then who’s going to do it? Are you?
I? I?
No, I didn’t think so
Oh, let me think, if only my mind would function! We’ve got to get hold of some money, that’s the way out!
I guess that money is always nice to get hold of.
