A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Kim Hunter: Stella Kowalski
Photos
Quotes
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Blanche : Oh, Stanley! What sign were you born under?
Stanley : What sign?
Blanche : Astrological sign. I'll bet you were born under Aries. Aries people are forceful, dynamic, they dote on noise. They love to bang things around.
Stella : Stanley was born just five minutes after Christmas.
Blanche : Capricorn - the goat!
[long silence follows as Stanley stares at Blanche]
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Blanche : You're married to a madman.
Stella : I wish you'd stop taking it for granted that I'm in something I want to get out of.
Blanche : What you are talking about is desire - just brutal Desire. The name of that rattle-trap streetcar that bangs through the Quarter, up one old narrow street and down another.
Stella : Haven't you ever ridden on that streetcar?
Blanche : It brought me here. Where I'm not wanted and where I'm ashamed to be.
Stella : Don't you think your superior attitude is a little out of place?
Blanche : May I speak plainly?... If you'll forgive me, he's common... He's like an animal. He has an animal's habits. There's even something subhuman about him. Thousands of years have passed him right by, and there he is. Stanley Kowalski, survivor of the Stone Age, bearing the raw meat home from the kill in the jungle. And you - you here waiting for him. Maybe he'll strike you or maybe grunt and kiss you, that's if kisses have been discovered yet. His poker night you call it. This party of apes.
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Stella : I never listen to you when you're being morbid.
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Stanley : Now will you just open your eyes to this stuff here. Now I mean, what - has she got this stuff out of teacher's pay?... Will you look at these fine feathers and furs that she comes to bring herself in here. What is this article? That's a solid gold dress, I believe.
Stella : Oh, honest.
Stanley : This one here. What is this, Fox piece?
Stella : Stanley!
Stanley : A genuine fur fox a half a mile long... Where are your fox pieces? This is bushy snow-white ones, no less. Where are your white fox furs?
Stella : Those are inexpensive summer furs that Blanche has had a long time.
Stanley : Listen, I have an acquaintance who deals in this sort of merchandise and he's coming to make an appraisal.
Stella : Oh, don't be such an idiot, Stanley.
Stanley : Listen, Listen, I'm gonna bet you there's a thousand dollars invested in this stuff. Well, now, what is that? That's the treasure chest of a pirate?
Stella : Oh, Stanley! Would you...?
Stanley : That's pearls, Stella. Ropes of them. What is this sister of yours, a deep-sea diver? Bracelets, solid gold. Where are your pearls and gold bracelets?
Stella : Be still, Stanley.
Stanley : And here you are, Diamonds. A crown for an empress.
Stella : A rhinestone tiara, she wore to a costume ball.
Stanley : What is rhinestone?
Stella : Next to glass.
Stanley : Yeah.
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[as Stanley's friends gather to play poker]
Stella : The blind are leading the blind!
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Stella : [Entering the room] Stanley! Stanley, you come on outside with me and left Blanche finish dressing!
Blanche : I've finished dressing honey.
Stella : Well you come out then.
Stanley : Your sister and I are having a little talk.
Blanche : Honey, do me a favor. Run to the drug store and get me a lemon coke with chipped ice. Will you do that for me, sweetie, please.
Stella : All right.
[she leaves to the drug store]
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Stella : [talking about her husband, Stanley] He's on the road a good deal... I can hardly stand it when he's away for a night.
Blanche : Oh, Stella.
Stella : When he's away for a week, I nearly go wild.
Blanche : Gracious.
Stella : When he comes back... I cry in his lap like a baby. I guess that's what's meant by being in love.
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Stella : You think you're going bowling now?
Stanley : That's right.
Stella : If you're not going bowling, why'd you do this to her?
Stanley : Let go of my shirt.
Stella : I want to know why. Tell me why?
Stanley : Hey, cool it! Listen, baby, when we first met, you and me, you thought I was common. Well, how right you was. I was common as dirt. You showed me a snapshot of a place with columns and I pulled you down off them columns and you loved it. Having them colored lights going. And wasn't we happy together? Wasn't it all okay till she showed here? Huh? Wasn't we happy together? Wasn't it all okay till she showed here? Hoity-toity, describing me like a ape.
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Blanche : I - I - I took the blows... on my face and my body. All of those deaths, the long parade to the graveyard. Father, Mother, Margaret, that dreadful way... You just came home in time for funerals, Stella. And funerals are pretty compared to deaths. How do you think all that sickness and dying was paid for? Death is expensive, Miss Stella. And I, with my pitiful salary at the school... Yes, accuse me. Stand there and stare at me, thinking I let the place go. I let the place go? Where were you? In there with your Polack.
Stella : Blanche, be still. That's enough.
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Stella : Sure you wouldn't like another
[drink]
Stella : ?
Blanche : Well... Well... Maybe I will take just one tiny nip more just to put the stopper on sort of speak. Now, now, don't get worried. Your sister hasn't turned into a drunkard. She's just all shaken up, and... hardened, dirty... and tired.
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Stella : Mr. Kowalski is too busy making a pig of himself... Your face and your fingers are disgustingly greasy.
