A Street Car Named Desire

Scene One:

The opening scene is in New Orleans, in the poor but colorful neighborhood where Stanley and Stella have their apartment. Outside, the people of the city go about their business. Stanley Kowalski and his friend Mitch enter walking on the street outside the apartment building. They are both in their late twenties, and they are rough, powerfully built men. Stanley calls for Stella, and she appears on the first-floor landing of their apartment. She is about 25 years old and somewhat fragile looking. Stanley tosses her some meat, and announces that he is going bowling. Stella wants to come to watch.

Just after she leaves, Blanche Dubois arrives; she looks at the address she has and looks at her surroundings, surprised that her sister Stella lives in such a place. She is helped into the Kowalski apartment by Eunice, the landlady. Eunice mentions that she saw pictures of the Dubois home, Belle Reve; she says pensively that a place like that must be hard to keep up. Blanche, worn out and in no mood for small talk, finally says that she wants to be left alone. Eunice goes to fetch Stella.

Stella and Blanche greet each other with some emotion. Things start out warmly enough, but before long Blanche is irritable. They speak about the poor conditions Stella lives in; Stella talks about how much she needs Stanley. Blanche seems to criticize the relationship; the Dubois sisters come from Southern aristocracy, and now Stella is married to a "polack." Blanche has bad news: Belle Reve has been lost. Blanche, with her teacher's salary, couldn't keep the place up. She stayed and fought for Belle Reve, caring for all of their dying relatives, while Stella left. Blanche is full of resentment, and her harshness makes Stella cry. While Stella goes to the bathroom to wash her face, Stanley comes home. Outside, Stanley, Steve, and Mitch plan their next poker game. Stanley enters, giving Blanche a frank stare. They have an awkward conversation. Stanley is course and rough compared to delicate Blanche, and he is a very sexual man. Through their conversation, we learn that Blanche had a husband long ago, but the young man died.

Scene Two:

Six o'clock, the subsequent evening. The Kowalski apartment is being prepared for a poker game. Stella and Blanche are going to go out for the evening. Blanche is taking a bath, and Stella tries to tell Stan to be nice to her. She also tells Stan that they've lost Belle Reve. Stan, doubtful that the plantation was sold, begins to ask about papers. Stella is sure, and rightly so, that Blanche has not profited from the home's loss. Almost in frenzy, Stanley begins to pull out Blanche's "expensive" clothing. He is convinced that Blanche has pocketed the money and spent it on finery: in truth, anything fine that Blanche owns is old, and anything new is cheap. Stanley can't tell the difference.

Blanche emerges. As she prepares for her night out, Blanche tries to make small talk with Stanley, but the two converse in a way that is entirely incompatible. Stanley is increasingly rude, and Blanche is fully aware of what he suspects: she sends Stella to get a soft drink for her, and tells Stanley to ask away. He demands to see papers, and begins to search through the trunk. He upsets her terribly when he begins to examine love letters from her dead husband. She gives him the papers he demands, and Stanley says he's going to have a lawyer acquaintance go over them. Blanche is unconcerned. Stanley lets slip that Stella is pregnant.

Blanche greets her sister with joy. She feels exhilarated about winning her confrontation with Stanley, as well as the idea of Stella having a baby. Blanche feels strong, and the women go out for their dinner; on their way out into town, Blanche is startled by the shout of a tamale vendor.

Scene 3:

The same night at 2:30 AM, Stanley, Steve, Pablo, and Mitch play poker. Everyone is tipsy, and Stanley is quite drunk. He is somewhat bossy with the other men. Mitch announces that he should go home, as he fears his sick mother will be waiting up for him. Stella and Blanche return home to find the poker game still in progress. Stanley rebuffs her friendly overtures with absolute rudeness. On her way to the bathroom, Blanche meets Mitch. The two seem attracted to each other right away.

Blanche asks Stella about Mitch. In the back room, the two sisters chat and Blanche turns on the radio. Although the other men seem to like the music, Stanley demands that it be shut off. When the women don't obey, he jumps up and shuts it off himself.

Mitch goes to the bathroom, but it is being used by Stella. He chats with Blanche, and they smoke together. Blanche is tipsy, too. She admires his cigarette case, which was a gift