JIM: Maybe the poem will win a ten-dollar prize.
AMANDA: We’ll just have to spend the remainder of the evening in the nineteenth century, before Mr. Edison made the Mazda lamp!
JIM: Candlelight is my favourite kind of light.
AMANDA: That shows you’re romantic! But that’s no excuse for Tom. Well, we got through dinner. Very considerate of them to let us get through dinner before they plunged us into ever-lasting darkness, wasn’t it, Mr. O’Connor?
JIM: Ha-ha!
AMANDA: Tom, as a penalty for your carelessness you can help me with the dishes.
JIM: Let me give you a hand.
AMANDA: Indeed you will not!
JIM: I ought to be good for something.
AMANDA: Good for something? [Her tone is rhapsodic.] You? Why, Mr. O’Connor, nobody, nobody’s given me this much entertainment in years – as you have!
JIM: Aw, now, Mrs. Wingfield!
AMANDA: I’m not exaggerating, not one bit! But Sister is all by her lonesome. You go keep her company in the parlour! I’ll give you this lovely old candelabrum that used to be on the altar at the church of the Heavenly Rest. It was melted a little out of shape when the church burnt down. Lightning struck it one spring. Gypsy Jones was holding a revival at the time and he intimated that the church was destroyed because the Episcopalians gave card parties.
JIM: Ha-ha.
AMANDA: And how about you coaxing Sister to drink a little wine? I think it would be good for her! Can you carry both at once?
JIM: Sure. I’m Superman!
AMANDA: Now, Thomas, get into this apron!
[The door of kitchenette swings closed on Amanda’s gay laughter; the flickering light approaches the portières. LAURA sits up nervously as he enters. Her speech at first is low and breathless from the almost intolerable strain of being alone with a stranger.
THE LEGEND: “I DON’T SUPPOSE YOU REMEMBER ME AT ALL!”.
In her first speeches in this scene, before JIM’s warmth overcomes her paralysing shyness, LAURA’s voice is thin and breathless as though she has just run up a steep flight of stairs. JIM’s attitude is gently humorous. In playing this scene it should be stressed that while the incident is apparently unimportant, it is to LAURA the climax of her secret life.]
JIM: Hello, there, Laura.
LAURA [faintly]: Hello. [She clears her throat.]
JIM: How are you feeling now? Better?
LAURA: Yes. Yes, thank you.
JIM: This is for you. A little dandelion wine. [He extends it toward her with extravagant gallantry.]
LAURA: Thank you.
JIM: Drink it – but don’t get drunk!
[He laughs heartily. LAURA takes the glass uncertainly; laughs shyly.]
Where shall I set the candles?
LAURA: Oh – oh, anywhere…
JIM: How about here on the floor? Any objections?
LAURA: No.
JIM: I’ll spread a newspaper under to catch the drippings. I like to sit on the floor. Mind if I do?
LAURA: Oh, no.
JIM: Give me a pillow?
LAURA: What?
JIM: A pillow!
LAURA: Oh… [Hands him one quickly.]
JIM: How about you? Don’t you like to sit on the floor?
LAURA: Oh – yes.
JIM: Why don’t you, then?
LAURA: I – Will.
JIM: Take a pillow! [LAURA does. Sits on the other side of the candelabrum. JIM crosses his legs and smiles engagingly as her.] I can’t hardly see you sitting way over there.
LAURA: I can – see you.
JIM: I know, but that’s not fair, I’m in the limelight. [LAURA moves her pillow closer.] Good! Now I can see you! Comfortable?
LAURA: Yes.
JIM: So am I . Comfortable as a cow! Will you have some gum?
LAURA: No, thank you.
JIM: I think that I will indulge, with your permission, [Musingly unwraps it and holds it up.] Think of the fortune made by the guy that invented the first piece of chewing gum. Amazing, huh? The Wrigley Building is one of the sights of Chicago. – I saw it summer before last when I went up to the Century of Progress. Did you take in the Century of Progress?
LAURA: No, I didn’t.
JIM: Well, it was quite a wonderful exposition. What impressed me most was the Hall of Science. Gives you an idea of what the future will be in America, even more wonderful than the present time is! [Pause. Smiling at her.]Your brother tells me you’re shy. Is that right, Laura?
LAURA: I – don’t know.
JIM: I judge you to be an old-fashioned type of girl. Well, I think that’s a pretty good type to be. Hope you don’t think I’m being too personal – do you?
LAURA [hastily, out of embarrassment]: I believe I will take a piece of gum, if you – don’t mind. [Clearing her throat.] Mr. O’Connor, have you – kept up with your singing?
JIM: Singing? Me?
LAURA: Yes. I remember what a beautiful voice you had.
JIM: When did you hear me sing?
[VOICE OFF STAGE IN THE PAUSE]
Voice [off stage] : O blow, ye winds, heigh-ho, A-roving I will go! I’m off to my love With a boxing glove Ten thousand miles away!
JIM: You say you’ve heard me sing?
LAURA: Oh, yes! Yes, very often I don’t suppose – you remember me – at all?
JIM [smiling doubtfully]: You know I have an idea I’ve seen you before. I had that idea soon as you opened the door. It seemed almost like I was about to remember your name. But the name that I started to call you – wasn’t a’ name! And so I stopped myself before I said it.
LAURA: Wasn’t it – Blue Roses?
JIM: [springs up. Grinning]: Blue Roses! – My gosh, yes – Blue Roses! That’s what I had on my tongue when you opened the door! Isn’t it funny what tricks your memory plays? I didn’t connect you with high school somehow or other. But that’s where it was; it was high school. I didn’t even know you were Shakespeare’s sister! Gosh, I’m sorry.
LAURA: I didn’t expect you to. You – barely knew me!
JIM: But we did have a speaking acquaintance, huh?
LAURA: Yes, we – spoke to each other.
JIM: When did you recognize me?
LAURA: Oh, right away!
JIM: Soon as I came in the door?
LAURA: When I heard your name I thought it was probably you. I knew that Tom used to know you a little in high school. So when you came in the door Well, then I was – sure.
JIM: Why didn’t you say something, then?
LAURA [breathlessly]: I didn’t know what to say, I was – too surprised!
JIM: For goodness’ sakes! You know, this sure is funny!
LAURA: Yes! Yes, isn’t it, though…
JIM: Didn’t we have a class in something together?
LAURA: Yes, we did.
JIM: What class was that?
LAURA: It was – singing – Chorus!
JIM: Aw!
LAURA: I sat across the aisle from you in the Aud.
JIM: Aw!
LAURA: Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.
JIM: Now I remember – you always came in late.
LAURA: Yes, it was so hard for me, getting upstairs. I had that brace on my leg – it clumped so loud I
JIM: I never heard any clumping.
LAURA [wincing at the recollection]: To me it sounded like thunder!
JIM: Well, well, well, I never even noticed.
LAURA: And everybody was seated before I came in. I had to walk in front of all those people. My seat was in the back row. I had to go clumping all the way up the aisle with everyone watching!
JIM: You shouldn’t have been self-conscious.
LAURA: I know, but I was. It was always such a relief when the singing started.
JIM: Aw, yes, I’ve placed you now I used to call you Blue Rose. How was it that I got started calling you that?
LAURA: I was out of school a little while with pleurosis. When I came back you asked me w
hat was the matter. I said I had pleurosis – you thought I said Blue Roses That’s what you always called me after that!
JIM: I hope you didn’t mind.
LAURA: Oh, no – I liked it. You see, I wasn’t acquainted with many – people….
JIM: As I remember you sort of stuck by yourself.
LAURA: I – I – never have had much luck at – making friends.
JIM: I don’t see why you wouldn’t.
LAURA:’ . Well, I – started out badly.
JIM: You mean being –
LAURA: Yes, it sort of – stood between me –
JIM: You shouldn’t have let it!
LAURA: I know, but it did, and –
JIM: You were shy with people!
LAURA: I tried not to be but never could –
JIM: Overcome it?
LAURA: No, I – I never could!
JIM: I guess being shy is something you have to work out of kind of gradually.
LAURA [sorrowfully]: Yes – I guess it –
JIM: Takes time!
LAURA: Yes –
JIM: People are not so dreadful when you know them. That’s what you have to remember! And everybody has problems, not just you, but practically everybody has got some problems. You think of yourself as having the only problems, as being the only one who is disappointed. But just look around you and you will see lots of people as disappointed as you are. For instance, I hoped when I was going to high-school that I would be further along at this time, six years later, than I am now – You remember that wonderful write-up I had in The Torch?
LAURA: Yes! [She rises and crosses to table.]
JIM: It said I was bound to succeed in anything I went into!
[LAURA returns with the annual.] Holy Jeez!The Torch! [He accepts it reverently. They smile across it with mutual wonder. LAURA crouches beside him and they begin to turn through it. LAURA’s shyness is dissolving in his warmth.]
LAURA: Here you are in The Pirates of Penzance!
JIM: [wistfully] : I sang the baritone lead in that operetta.
LAURA [raptly]: So – beautifully!
JIM [protesting]: Aw –
LAU R A: Yes, yes – beautifully – beautifully!
JIM: You heard me?
LAURA: All three times!
JIM: No!
LAURA: Yes!
JIM: All three performances?
LAURA [looking down]: Yes.
JIM: Why?
LAURA: I – wanted to ask you to – autograph my programme.
JIM: Why didn’t you ask me to?
LAURA: You were always surrounded by your own friends so much that I never had a chance to.
JIM: You should have just
LAURA: Well, I – thought you might think I was
JIM: Thought I might think you was – what?
LAURA: Oh
JIM [with reflective relish]: I was beleaguered by females In those days.
LAURA: You were terribly popular!
JIM: Yeah
LAURA: You had such a – friendly way
JIM: I was spoiled in high school.
LAURA: Everybody – liked you!
JIM: Including you?
LAURA: I – yes, I – I did, too – [She gently closes the book in her lap.]
JIM: Well, well, well! – Give me that programme, Laura. [She hands it to him. He signs it with a flourish.] There you are – better late than never!
LAURA: Oh, I – what a – surprise!
JIM: My signature isn’t worth very much tight now. But some day – maybe – it will increase in value! Being disappointed is one thing and being discouraged is something else. I am disappointed but I am not discouraged. I’m twenty-three years old. How old are you?
LAURA: I’ll be twenty-four in June.
JIM: That’s not old age!
LAURA: No, but
JIM: You finished high school?
LAURA [with difficulty]: I didn’t go back.
JIM: You mean you dropped out?
LAURA: I made bad grades in my final examinations. [She rises and replaces the book and the programme. Her voice strained.] How is – Emily Meisenbach getting along?
JIM: Oh, that kraut-head!
LAURA: Why do you call her that?
JIM: That’s what she was.
LAURA: You’re not still – going with her?
JIM: I never see her.
LAURA: It said in the Personal Section that you were engaged!
JIM: I know, but I wasn’t impressed by that – propaganda!
LAURA: It wasn’t – the truth?
JIM: Only in Emily’s optimistic opinion!
LAURA: Oh
[LEGEND: “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE SINCE HIGH SCHOOL?”]
JIM lights a cigarette and loans indolently back on his elbows smiling at LAURA with a warmth and charm which lights her inwardly with altar candler. She remains by the table and turns in her hands a piece of glass to cover her tumult.]
JIM: [after several reflective puffs on a cigarette] : What have you done since high school? [She seems not to hear him.] Huh? [LAURA looks up.] I said what have you done since high school, Laura?
LAURA: Nothing much.
JIM: You must have been doing something these six long years.
LAURA: Yes.
JIM: Well, then, such as what?
LAURA: I took a business course at business college
JIM: How did that work out?
LAURA: Well, not very – well – I had to drop out, it gave me – indigestion
JIM [laughs gently.]: What are you doing now?
LAURA: I don’t do anything – much. Oh, please don’t think I sit around doing nothing! My glass collection takes up a good deal of time. Glass is something you have to take good care of
JIM: What did you say – about glass?
LAURA: Collection I said – I have one – [she clears her throat and turns away, acutely shy.]
JIM: [abruptly]: You know what I judge to be the trouble with you? Inferiority complex I know what that is? That’s what they call it when someone low-rates himself! I understand it because I had it, too. Although my caw was not so aggravated as yours seems to be. I had it until I took up public speaking, developed my voice, and learned that I had an aptitude for science. Before that time I never thought of myself as being outstanding in any way whatsoever! Now I’ve never made a regular study of it, but I have a friend who says I can analyse people better than doctors that make a profession of it. I don’t claim that to be necessarily true, but I can sure guess a person’s psychology, Laura I [Takes out his gum] Excuse me, Laura. I always take it out when the flavour is gone. I’ll use this scrap of paper to wrap it in. I know how it is to get it stuck on a shoe. Yep – that’s what I judge to be your principal trouble. A lack of amount of faith in yourself as a person. You don’t have the proper amount of faith in yourself. I’m basing that fact on a number of your remarks and also on certain observations I’ve made. For instance that clumping you thought was so awful in high school. You say that you even dreaded to walk into class. You see what you did? You dropped out of school, you gave up an education because of a clump, which as far as I know was practically non-existent! A little physical defect is what you have. Hardly noticeable even! Magnified thousands of times by imagination! You know what my strong advice to you is? Think of yourself as superior in some way!
LAURA: In what way would I think?
JIM: Why, man alive, Laura! just look about you a little. What do you see? A world full of common people! All of ‘em born and all of ‘em going to die! Which of them has one-tenth of your good points! Or mine! Or anyone else’s, as far as that goes – Gosh! Everybody excels in some one thing. Some in many!
[Unconsciously glances at himself in the mirror.]
All you’ve got to do is discover in what! Take me, for instance.[He adjusts his tie at the mirror.]
My interest happens to lie in electro-dynamics. I’m taking a course in radio engineering at night school, Laura, on top of a fair
ly responsible job at the warehouse. I’m taking that course and studying public speaking.
LAURA: Ohhhh.
JIM: Because I believe in the future of television!
[Turning back to her.]
I wish to be ready to go up right along with it. Therefore I’m planning to get in on the ground floor. In fact I’ve already made the right connexions and all that remains is for the industry itself to get under way! Full steam –
[His eyes are starry.]
Knowledge – Zzzzzp! Money – Zzzzzzp! – Power! That’s the cycle democracy is built on!
[His attitude is convincingly dynamic. LAURA stares at him, even her shyness eclipsed in her absolute wonder. He suddenly grins.]
I guess you think I think a lot of myself!
LAURA: No – o-o-o!
JIM: Now how about you? Isn’t there something you, take more interest in than anything else?
LAURA: Well, I do – as I said – have my – glass collection [A peal of girlish laughter from du kitchen]
JIM: I’m not right sure I know what you’re talking about What kind of glass is it?
LAURA: Little articles of it, they’re ornaments mostly! Most of them are little animals made out of glass, the tiniest little animals in the world. Mother calls them a glass menagerie! Here’s an example of one, if you’d like to see it. This one is one of the oldest. It’s nearly thirteen.
[MUSIC: “THE GLASS MENAGERIE”. He stretches out his hand.]
Oh, be careful – if you breathe, it breaks!
JIM: I’d better not take it. I’m pretty clumsy with things.
LAURA: Go on, I trust you with him!
[Places it in his palm.]
There now – you’re holding him gently! Hold him over the light, he loves the light I You see how the light shines through him?
JIM: It sure does shine!
LAURA: I shouldn’t be partial, but he is my favourite one.
JIM: What kind of a thing is this one supposed to be?
LAURA: Haven’t you noticed the single horn on his forehead head?
JIM: A unicorn, huh?
LAURA: Mmmm-hmmm!
JIM: Unicorns, aren’t they extinct in the modern world?
LAURA: I know!
JIM: Poor little fellow, he must feel sort of lonesome.
LAURA [smiling]: Well, if he does he doesn’t complain about it. He stays on a shelf with some horses that don’t have horns and all of them seem to get along nicely together.
JIM: How do you know?
The Glass Menagerie Page 6
