Glass Menagerie Lines Act 2

Front 1

Why are you trembling so, Laura?

Back 1

Mother, you've made me so nervous!

Front 2

Why, how have I made you nervous?

Back 2

By all this fuss! You make it seem so important.

Front 3

Wait just a minute- I forgot something.

Back 3

What is it?

Front 4

When I was a girl we had round lacy things like that and we called them "Gay Deceivers"

Back 4

I won't wear them!

Front 5

Of course you'll wear them.

Back 5

Why should I?

Front 6

Well, to tell you the truth, honey, you're just a little bit flat-chested.

Back 6

You make it seem like we were setting a trap.

Front 7

Laura, come look at me now!

Back 7

Oh, Mother, how lovely!

Front 8

I hope they get here before it starts to rain. I gave your brother a little extra change so he and Mr. O ' Connor could take the service car home.

Back 8

Mother!

Front 9

What's the matter now?

Back 9

What did you say his name was?

Front 10

O'Connor. Why?

Back 10

What is his first name?

Front 11

I don't remember - Oh, yes, I do too - it was - Jim!

Back 11

Oh mother, not Jim O ' Connor!

Front 12

I've never known a Jim that wasn't nice.

Back 12

Are you sure his name was Jim O'Connor?

Front 13

Why, sure I'm sure. Why?

Back 13

Is he the one that Tom used to know in high school?

Front 14

I think he just got to know him- at the warehouse.

Back 14

There was a Jim O'Connor we both knew in high school. If that is the one that Tom is bringing home to dinner - Oh, Mother, you'd have to excuse me, I wouldn't come to the table!

Front 15

What sort of silly talk is this?

Back 15

You asked me once if I'd ever liked a boy. Don't you remember I showed you this boy's picture?

Front 16

You mean the boy in the yearbook?

Back 16

Yes, that boy.

Front 17

Laura, Laura, were you in love with that boy?

Back 17

I don't know, Mother. All I know is that I couldn't sit at the table if it was him.

Front 18

But whether it is or not, you will come to the table - you will not be excused.

Back 18

I'll have to be, Mother.

Front 19

Tom has forgotten his key, so you'll have to let them in when they arrive.

Back 19

Oh, Mother- you answer the door!

Front 20

How can I when I haven't even finished making the mayonnaise dressing for the salmon?

Back 20

Oh, Mother, please answer the door, don't make me do it!

Front 21

What's all this fuss about- just one gentleman caller- that's all- just one! Laura, sweetheart, the door!

Back 21

Mother, please, you go to the door!

Front 22

What is the matter with you, you silly thing?

Back 22

Please you answer it, please.

Front 23

You go to that door.

Back 23

I can't.

Front 24

Why can't you?

Back 24

Because I'm sick.

Front 25

Laura Wingfield, you march straight to that door!

Back 25

Yes, Mother.

Front 26

How are you, Laura?

Back 26

How- how do you do?

Front 27

Your hand's cold, Laura!

Back 27

Yes, well - I've been playing the victrola...

Front 28

Laura!

Back 28

Yes, Mother?

Front 29

Laura, we can't say grace till you come to the table.

Back 29

Oh, Mother, I'm so sorry.

Front 30

Any better?

Back 30

Yes, thank you.

Front 31

It's a little dandelion wine.

Back 31

Thank you.

Front 32

Say where'll I put the candles?

Back 32

Oh, anywhere...

Front 33

You got any objections?

Back 33

No.

Front 34

I like to sit on the floor. Mind if I do?

Back 34

Oh, no.

Front 35

Would you give me a pillow?

Back 35

What?

Front 36

A pillow!

Back 36

Oh...

Front 37

Don't you like to sit on the floor?

Back 37

Oh, yes.

Front 38

Well, why don't you?

Back 38

I- will.

Front 39

I can't see you sitting way over there.

Back 39

I can- see you.

Front 40

Are you comfortable?

Back 40

Yes. Thank you.

Front 41

Say, would you care for a piece of chewing-gum?

Back 41

No, thank you.

Front 42

Did you take in the Century of Progress?

Back 42

No, I'd didn't.

Front 43

Is that right, Laura?

Back 43

I- don't know.

Front 44

I hope you don't think I'm being too personal- do you?

Back 44

Mr. O'Connor?

Front 45

Huh?

Back 45

I believe I will take a piece of gum, if you don't mind. Mr. O'Connor, have you - kept up with your singing?

Front 46

Singing? Me?

Back 46

Yes. I remember what a beautiful voice you had.

Front 47

You heard me sing?

Back 47

Oh, yes! Very often... I - don't suppose - you remember me - at all?

Front 48

So I stopped myself before I said it.

Back 48

Wasn't it - Blue Roses?

Front 49

Gee, I'm sorry.

Back 49

I didn't expect you to.- You- barely knew me!

Front 50

But we did have a speaking acquaintance.

Back 50

Yes, we - spoke to each other.

Front 51

Say, didn't we have a class in something together?

Back 51

Yes, we did.

Front 52

What class was that?

Back 52

It was- singing- chorus!

Front 53

Aw!

Back 53

I sat across the aisle from you in the auditorium. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Front 54

I remember now - you're the one who always came in late.

Back 54

Yes, it was so hard for me, getting upstairs. I had that brace on my leg then- it clumped so loud!

Front 55

I never heard any clumping.

Back 55

To me it sounded like - thunder!

Front 56

I never even noticed.

Back 56

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 up the aisle with everyone watching!

Front 57

Oh, gee, you shouldn't have been self-conscious.

Back 57

I know, but I was. It was always such a relief when the singing started.

Front 58

How did I ever get started calling you a name like that?

Back 58

I was out of school a little while with pleurosis. When I came back you asked me what was the matter. I said I had pleurosis and you thought I said Blue Roses. So that's what you always called me after that!

Front 59

I hope you didn't mind?

Back 59

Oh, no- I liked it. You see, I wasn't acquainted with many - people...

Front 60

Yeah, I remember you sort of stuck by yourself.

Back 60

I never did have much luck at making friends.

Front 61

Well, I don't see why you wouldn't.

Back 61

Well, I started out badly.

Front 62

You mean being -?

Back 62

Well, yes , it- sort of - stood between me...

Front 63

You shouldn't have let it!

Back 63

I know, but it did, and I -

Front 64

You mean you were shy with people!

Back 64

I tried not to be but never could-

Front 65

Overcome it?

Back 65

No- I never could!

Front 66

I guess being shy is something you have to work out of kind of gradually.

Back 66

Yes- I guess it-

Front 67

Takes time!

Back 67

Yes...

Front 68

Say, you remember that wonderful write-up I had in "The Torch" ?

Back 68

Yes, I do!

Front 69

Holy jeez! The torch!

Back 69

Here you are in " The Pirates of Penzance "!

Front 70

I sang the lead in that operetta.

Back 70

So beautifully!

Front 71

Aww...

Back 71

Yes, yes- beautifully-beautifully!

Front 72

You heard me then, huh?

Back 72

I heard you all three times!

Front 73

No!

Back 73

Yes.

Front 74

You mean all three performances?

Back 74

Yes!

Front 75

What for?

Back 75

I- wanted to ask you to - autograph my program.

Front 76

Why didn't you ask me?

Back 76

You were always surrounded by your own friends so much that I never had a chance.

Front 77

Aw, you should have just come right up and said, Here is my-

Back 77

Well, I- thought you might think I was-

Front 78

Thought I might think you was - what?

Back 78

Oh-

Front 79

Yeah, I was beleaguered by females in those days.

Back 79

You were terribly popular!

Front 80

Yeah...

Back 80

You had such a- friendly way-

Front 81

Oh, I was spoiled in high school.

Back 81

Everybody liked you!

Front 82

Including you?

Back 82

I- why yes, I- I did too...

Front 83

There you are - better late than never!

Back 83

My- what a- surprise!

Front 84

Say, you finished high school?

Back 84

I made bad grades on my final examinations.

Front 85

You mean you dropped out?

Back 85

I didn't go back... How is Emily Meisenbach getting along?

Front 86

That kraut-head!

Back 86

Why do you call her that?

Front 87

Because that's what she was.

Back 87

You're not still- going with her?

Front 88

Oh, I never even see her.

Back 88

It said in the Personal section that you were- engaged!

Front 89

I know- but I wasn't impressed by that- propaganda!

Back 89

It wasn't- the truth?

Front 90

It was only true in Emily's optimistic opinion!

Back 90

Oh...

Front 91

What have you done since high school? Huh?

Back 91

What?

Front 92

I said what have you done since high school?

Back 92

Nothing much.

Front 93

You must have been doing something all this time.

Back 93

Yes.

Front 94

Well, then, such as what?

Back 94

I took a business course at business college.

Front 95

How did that work out?

Back 95

Well, not very- well... I had to drop out, it gave me- indigestion.

Front 96

What are you doing now?

Back 96

I don't do anything-much... Oh, please don't think I sit around doing nothing! My glass collection takes a good deal of time. Glass is something you have to take good care of.

Front 97

What did you say- about glass?

Back 97

Collection, I said- I have one.

Front 98

Do you know that until that time I never thought of myself as being outstanding in any way whatsoever!

Back 98

Oh, my!

Front 99

You've got to think of yourself as being superior in some way!

Back 99

In what way would I think?

Front 100

I'm taking that course and studying public speaking.

Back 100

Ohhhh. My!

Front 101

I guess you think I think a lot of myself!

Back 101

No-o-o-o, I don't.

Front 102

Isn't there some one thing that you take more interest in than anything else?

Back 102

Oh- yes..

Front 103

Well, then, such as what?

Back 103

Well, I do- as I said- have my- glass collection.

Front 104

What kind of glass is it?

Back 104

Little articles of it, ornaments mostly. Most of them are little animals made out of glass, the tiniest little animals in the world. Mother calls them the glass menagerie! Here's an example of one, if you'd like to see it! This is one of the oldest, it's nearly thirteen. Oh, be careful- if you breathe, it breaks!

Front 105

I'd better not take it. I'm pretty clumsy with things.

Back 105

Go on, I trust you with him! There, you're holding him gently! Hold him over the light, he loves the light! See how the light shines through him?

Front 106

It sure does shine!

Back 106

I shouldn't be partial, but he is my favorite one.

Front 107

Say, what kind of thing is this one supposed to be?

Back 107

Haven't you noticed the single horn on his forehead?

Front 108

Oh, a unicorn, huh?

Back 108

Mmhmm

Front 109

Unicorns, aren't they extinct in the modern world?

Back 109

I know!

Front 110

Poor little fellow must feel some kind of lonesome.

Back 110

Well if he does he doesn't complain about it. He stays on a shelf with some horses that don't have horns and they all seem to get along nicely together.

Front 111

They do. Say, where will I put him?

Back 111

Put him on the table. They all like a change of scenery once in a while!

Front 112

Look how big my shadow is when I stretch.

Back 112

Oh, oh, yes, it stretched across the ceiling!

Front 113

Where does the music come from?

Back 113

The Paradise Dance Hall across the alley.

Front 114

Ahhh, a waltz!

Back 114

I can't dance!

Front 115

There you go with that inferiority stuff!

Back 115

I've never danced in my life!