Speaker 1Why are you trembling so, Laura?
Speaker 2Mother, you've made me so nervous.
Speaker 1Why have I made you nervous?
Speaker 2By all this fuss, you make it seem so important.
Speaker 1I don't know.
Speaker 1Every time I try to do something nice for you, you just carry on now.
Speaker 1Look at yourself in the glass.
Speaker 1Isn't that lovely?
Speaker 2You make it seem as though we were set in a trap.
Speaker 1Well, we are.
Speaker 1All women are traps, and men want them to be traps.
Speaker 1Now look at yourself.
Speaker 1You look like an angel on a postcard.
Speaker 1So lovely.
Speaker 1Well, I am going to go get dressed, and you're going to be astonished at your mother's appearance.
Speaker 1I found an old dress in the trunk, but what do you know?
Speaker 1I had to do a lot to it, but it broke my heart when I had to let it out.
Speaker UnknownNow look at your mother, Laura.
Speaker 1Laura!
Speaker 2Oh, Mother, how lovely.
Speaker 1I led the cotillion in this dress.
Speaker 1I won the cakewalk twice, once at the governor's ball.
Speaker 1You should have seen how your mother just sashayed around.
Speaker 1Well, we had dances every night, and picnics, and in spring, country rides in the afternoon.
Speaker 1All so lovely, lovely in May.
Speaker 1with dogwood lacy and simply flooded with jonquils.
Speaker 1Whenever I saw them, I said, wait a minute, I see jonquils.
Speaker 1And my gentlemen callers would have to get out of the carriage and help me gather up some.
Speaker 1Oh, well, I'd just spend the afternoon with those jonquils.
Speaker 1I'd say, Mother, just because you don't have any vases, I can still, still gather them up.
Speaker 1I hear thunder, gee.
Speaker 1I wonder if they're going to arrive.
Speaker 1Oh my goodness, before I hope, before it starts to rain, I gave you both some change so that he and Mr. Connor could go on the streetcar.
Speaker 2Mother.
Speaker 1Oh, what is it now?
Speaker 1What did you say his name was?
Speaker 1O'Connor, that's what I guess.
Speaker 2O'Connor.
Speaker 2And what was his first name?
Speaker 1I don't really remember.
Speaker 1I think it was Jim.
Speaker 1Yes, that's what it is, Jim.
Speaker 2Oh, mother, no, not Jim O'Connor.
Speaker 1Yes, I believe it was Jim.
Speaker 1I've never known a Jim that wasn't nice.
Speaker 2Are you sure his name was Jim O'Connor?
Speaker 2I'm sure, I'm sure.
Speaker 2There was a Jim O'Connor we both knew back in high school, Tom and I.
Speaker 2if he is the one that Tom is bringing over for dinner.
Speaker 2Mother, I'd have to be excused.
Speaker 2I couldn't come to the table.
Speaker 1What sort of silly talk is that?
Speaker 1You mean that boy in the yearbook.
Speaker 2Yes, don't you remember?
Speaker 1Laura, were you in love with that boy?
Speaker 2I don't know, Mother.
Speaker 2All I know is that I couldn't sit at the table if it was him.
Speaker 1It won't be him.
Speaker 1It's not the least likely it will be him, and you will not be excused from that table.
Speaker 1Now, whether it is not, you will come today when you will not be excused.
Speaker 2I'll have to be mother.
Speaker 1Look, I don't intend to... humor, your silliness.
Speaker 1Lord, I've had too much from your brother.
Speaker 1Both.
Speaker 1Just sit down and compose yourself until they come.
Speaker 1Tom has forgotten his keys, so you'll have to let them in.
Speaker 2Mother, please, you answer the door.
Speaker 1No, honey, be reasonable.
Speaker 1I haven't even finished the mayonnaise dressing yet.
Speaker 2Mother, please, you answer the door.
Speaker 2Don't make me do it.
Speaker 1This is just one gentleman call, or just one, that there's no problem.
Speaker 1Now, you're going to answer that door.
Speaker 2Mother, please, you'll go to the door.
Speaker 2Please.
Speaker 1Laura, there.
Speaker 1There's the door.
Speaker 1Now go.
Speaker 2Mother, you go to the door.
Speaker 1No, why have you chosen this moment to do this?
Speaker 1You have to go to the door.
Speaker 2I can't.
Speaker 1Why can't you?
Speaker 2I'm sick.
Speaker 1I'm sick.
Speaker 1You're sick.
Speaker 1You and your brother have had me puzzled today.
Speaker 1You could never act like normal children.
Speaker 1Now will you give me one good reason why you should be afraid to go to that door?
Speaker 1Laura Wingfield, march right to that door.
Speaker 1Now I've got to put courage in you for living.
Speaker 2Yes, Mother.