Three Plays (17 page)

However, I wanted Kazan to direct the play, and though these suggestions were not made in the form of an ultimatum, I was fearful that I would lose his interest if I didn't re-examine the script from his point of view. I did. And you will find included in this published script the new third act that resulted from his creative influence on the play. The reception of the playing-script has more than justified, in my opinion, the adjustments made to that influence. A failure reaches fewer people, and touches fewer, than does a play that succeeds.

It may be that
Cat
number one would have done just as well, or nearly, as
Cat
number two; it's an interesting question. At any rate, with the publication of both third acts in this volume, the reader can, if he wishes, make up his own mind about it.

- TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

ACT THREE (an updated different version - BROADWAY VERSION)

AS PLAYED IN NEW YORK PRODUCTION

Big Daddy is seen leaving at the end of Act Two.

BIG DADDY
[shouts, as he goes out]
: ALL—LYIN'—DYIN'—L
IARS! LIARS! LIARS!

[After Big Daddy has gone, Margaret enters]

MARGARET
: Brick, what in the name of God was goin' on in this room?

[Dixie and Trixie rush through the room from the hall, brandishing cap pistols, which they fire repeatedly, as they shout: 'Bang! Bang! Bang!' | Mae appears and turns the children back. At the same moment, Gooper, Reverend Tooker and Dr Baugh enter.]

MAE
: Dixie! You quit that! Gooper, will y'please git these kiddies t'baid? Right now?

GOOPER
[urging the children along]
: Mae—you seen Big Mama?

MAE
: Not yet.

[Dixie and Trixie vanish through hall.]

REVEREND TOOKER
[to Mae]
: Those kiddies are so full of vitality.—I think I'll have to be startin' back to town.

[Margaret turns to watch and listen.]

MAE
: Not yet, Preacher. You know we regard you as a member of this fam'ly, one of our closest an' dearest, so you just got t'be with us when Doc Baugh gives Big Mama th' actual truth about th' report from th' clinic.

[Mae calls through door:]

Has Big Daddy gone to bed, Brick?

[Gooper has gone out at the beginning of the exchange between Mae and Reverend Tooker.]

MARGARET
[replying to Mae]
: Yes, he's gone to bed.

[To Brick:]

Why'd Big Daddy shout 'liars'?

GOOPER
: Mae!

[Mae exits | Reverend Tooker drifts.]

BRICK
: I didn't lie to Big Daddy. I've lied to nobody, nobody but myself, just lied to myself. The time has come to put me in Rainbow Hill, put me in Rainbow Hill, Maggie, I ought to go there.

MARGARET
: Over my dead body!

[Brick starts out. She holds him.]

Where do you think you're goin'?

[Mae enters to Reverend Tooker, who comes to meet her.]

BRICK
[walking out]
: Out for some air, I want air—

GOOPER
[entering]
: Now, where is that old lady?

MAE
: Cantcha find her, Gooper?

[Reverend Tooker goes out.]

GOOPER
: She's avoidin' this talk.

MAE
: I think she senses somethin'.

GOOPER
[calls]
: Sookey! Go find Big Mama an' tell her Doc Baugh an' the Preacher 've got to go soon.

MAE
: Don't let Big Daddy hear yuh!

[Brings Dr Baugh.]

REVEREND TOOKER
[calls]
: Big Mama.

SOOKEY and DAISY
[running in lawn, calling]
: Miss Ida! Miss Ida!

GOOPER
[calling]
: Lacey, you look downstairs for Big Mama!

MARGARET
: Brick, they're going to tell Big Mama the truth now, an' she needs you!

[Reverend Tooker appears in lawn area.]

DOCTOR BAUGH
[to Mae]
: This is going to be painful.

MAE
: Painful things can't always be avoided.

DOCTOR BAUGH
: That's what I've noticed about 'em, Sister Woman.

REVEREND TOOKER
[on lawn]
: I see Big Mama!

[Hurries off and reappears shortly in hall.]

GOOPER
[hurrying into hall]
: She's gone round the gall'ry to Big Daddy's room. Hey, Mama!—Hey, Big Mama! Come here!

MAE
[calls]
: Hush, Gooper! Don't holler, go to her!

[Gooper and Reverend Tooker now appear together in hall. Big Mama runs in carrying a glass of milk. She crosses past Dr Baugh to Mae. Dr Baugh turns away.]

BIG MAMA
: Here I am! What d'you all want with me?

GOOPER
[steps toward Big Mama]
: Big Mama, I told you we got to have this talk.

BIG MAMA
: What talk you talkin' about? I saw the light go on in Big Daddy's bedroom an' took him his glass of milk, an' he just shut the shutters right in my face.

[She steps into room.]

When old couples have been together as long as me an' Big Daddy, they, they get irritable with each other just from too much—devotion! Isn't that so?

MARGARET
[embracing Big Mama]
: Yes, of course it's so.

[Brick hobbles out to gallery.]

BIG MAMA
: I think Big Daddy was just worn out. He loves his fam'ly. He loves to have 'em around him, but it's a strain on his nerves. He wasn't himself tonight, Brick—

[Brick passes her on his way out.]

Big Daddy wasn't himself, I could tell he was all worked up.

REVEREND TOOKER
: I think he's remarkable.

BIG MAMA
: Yaiss! Just remarkable.

[Puts down glass of milk.]

Did you notice all the food he ate at that table?—Why he ate like a hawss!

GOOPER
: I hope he don't regret it.

BIG MAMA
[toward Gooper]
: What! Why that man ate a huge piece of cawn bread with molasses on it! Helped himself twice to hoppin' john!

MARGARET
[to Big Mama]
: Big Daddy loves hoppin' John. We had a real country dinner.

BIG MAMA
: Yais, he simply adores it! An' candied yams. Son-

[looking out at Brick.]

That man put away enough food at that table to stuff a field-hand.

GOOPER
: I hope he don't have to pay for it later on.

BIG MAMA
: What's that, Gooper?

MAE
: Gooper says he hopes Big Daddy doesn't suffer tonight.

BIG MAMA
[turns to Margaret]
: Oh, shoot, Gooper says, Gooper says! Why should Big Daddy suffer for satisfyin' a nawmal appetite? There's nothin' wrong with that man but nerves; he's sound as a dollar! An' now he knows he is, an' that's why he ate such a supper. He had a big load off his mind, knowin' he wasn't doomed to—what—he thought he was—doomed t'—

[She wavers. Margaret puts her arms around Big Mama.]

GOOPER
[urging Mae forward]
: M A E!

[Mae runs forward. She stands below Big Mama, Margaret above Big Mama. They help her to the wicker seat. Big Mama sits. Margaret sits above her. Mae stands behind her.]

MARGARET
: Bless his ole sweet soul.

BIG MAMA
: Yes—bless his heart.

BRICK
[on gallery, looking out]
: Hello, moon, I envy you, you cool son of a bitch.

BIG MAMA
: I want Brick!

MARGARET
: He just stepped out for some fresh air.

BIG MAMA
: Honey! I want Brick!

MAE
: Bring li'l Brother in here so we cin talk.

[Margaret exits to Brick on gallery.]

BRICK
[to the moon]
: I envy you—you cool son of a bitch.

MARGARET
: Brick what're you doin' out here on the gall'ry baby?

BRICK
: Admirin' an' complimentin' th' man in the moon.

MARGARET
[to Brick]
: Come in, baby. They're gettin' ready to tell Big Mama the truth.

BRICK
: I can't witness that thing in there.

MAE
: Doc Baugh, d'you think those vitamin B12 injections are all they're cracked up t'be?

[Enters room to upper side, behind wicker seat.]

DOCTOR BAUGH
: Well, I guess they're as good t'be stuck with as anything else.

[Looks at watch]

MARGARET
[tto Brick]
: Big Mama needs you!

BRICK
: I can't witness that thing in there!

BIG MAMA
: What's wrong here? You all have such long faces, you sit here waitin' for somethin' like a bomb—to go off.

GOOPER
: We're waitin' for Brick an' Maggie to come in for this talk.

MARGARET
: Brother Man an' Mae have got a trick up their sleeves, an' if you don't go in there t' help Big Mama, y'know what I'm goin' to do—?

BIG MAMA
: Talk. Whispers! Whispers!

[Looks out]

Brick!...

MARGARET
[answering Big Mama's call]
: Comin', Big Mama!

[To Brick.]

I'm goin' to take every dam' bottle on this place an' pitch it off th' levee into th' river!

BIG MAMA
: Never had this sort of atmosphere here before.

MAE
[sits above Big Mama on wicker seat]
: Before what, Big Mama?

BIG MAMA
: This occasion. What's Brick an' Maggie doin' out there now?

GOOPER
[looks out]
: They seem to be havin' some little altercation.

BIG MAMA
[taking a pill from pill box on chain at her wrist]
: Give me a little somethin' to wash this tablet down with. Smell of burnt fireworks always makes me sick.

[Mae crosses to bar to pour glass of water. Dr Baugh joins her. Gooper crosses to Reverend Tooker.]

BRICK
[to Maggie]
: You're a live cat, aren't you?

MARGARET
: You're dam' right I am!

BIG MAMA
: Gooper, will y'please open that hall door—an' let some air circulate in this stiflin' room?

[Gooper starts, but is restrained by Mae]

MAE
[crosses to Big Mama with water, sits]
: Big Mama, I think we ought to keep that door closed till after we talk.

BIG MAMA
: I swan!

[Drinks water. Washes down pill.]

MAE
: I just don't think we ought to take any chance of Big Daddy hearin' a word of this discussion.

BIG MAMA
[hands glass to Mae]
: What discussion of what? Maggie! Brick! Nothin' is goin' to be said in th' house of Big Daddy Pollitt that he can't hear if he wants to!

[Mae joins Gooper]

BRICK
: How long are you goin' to stand behind me, Maggie?

MARGARET
: Forever, if necessary.

[Brick to gallery door.]

BIG MAMA
: Brick!