Streetcar Flashcards
[There is something about her
uncertain manner, as well as her white clothes, that suggests a moth]
“They told me to
take a Streetcar named Desire, and then transfer to one called cemeteries… and get off at - Elysian Fields”
“You were married
once, weren’t you?” [The music of the polka rises up, faint in the distance]
“I can’t stand
a naked light bulb. Anymore than I can a rude remark or vulgar action”
“I have always
relied on the kindness of strangers”
[Animal
joy… implicit in all his movements and attitudes]
“Turn that off!
I won’t be looked at in this merciless glare!”
“But you are the one
that abandoned Belle Reve not I! I stayed and fought for it, bled for it, almost died for it!”
“Some people
rarely touch it, but it touches them often”
“Have you ever
heard of the Napoleonic code?”
“Every man
is a King! and I am the king around here, so don’t forget it!”
“Which way
do we - go now - Stella?
“There he throws
back his head like a baying hound”
[Over her
head he grins through the curtains at Blanche]
“It would be nice
to keep you, but Ive got to be good and keep my hands off children”
“A few moments
later - a shot!” [The polka stops abruptly
[The headlight
of the locomotive glares into the room as it thunders past]
“It’s only a
paper moon, just as phone as it can be - but it wouldn’t be make-believe if you believed in me!”
[She stares fearfully
at Stella who pretends to be busy at the table. the distant piano goes into a hectic breakdown]
“Oh I feel
so good after my long, hot bath. I feel so good and cool and - rested!”
“Hey. Canary bird!
Toots! Get OUT of the BATHROOM”
“I don’t tell
the truth. I tell what ought to be the truth and if that is sinful then let me be damned for it! Don’t turn the light on!”
[He tears
the paper lantern off the lightbulb. She utters a frightened gasp]
[Now she is placing
the rhinestone tiara on her head before the mirror of the dressing table and murmuring excitedly as if to a group of spectral admirers]
“So I could
twist the broken end in your face!”
“We’ve had this
date with each other from the beginning”
“I couldn’t believe
her story and go on living with Stanley”
“I was flirting
with your husband”
