Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Read Online Free PDF Page A

for you.
    MARGARET:
    Feel embarrassed! But don't continue my torture. I can't live on
     and on under these circumstances.

    BRICK:
    You agreed to—
    MARGARET:
    I know but—
    BRICK:
    —Accept that condition!
    MARGARET:
    I CAN'T! CAN'T! CAN'T!
    [ She seizes his shoulder. ]
    BRICK:
    Let go!
    [ He breaks away from her and seizes the
     small boudoir chair and raises it like a lion-tamer facing a big circus
     cat.
    [ Count five. She stares at him with her fist
     pressed to her mouth, then bursts into shrill, almost hysterical laughter. He
     remains grave for a moment, then grins and puts the chair down.
    [ Big Mama calls through closed
     door. ]
    BIG MAMA:
    Son? Son? Son?
    BRICK:
    What is it, Big Mama?
    BIG MAMA [ outside ]:
    Oh, son! We got the most wonderful news about Big Daddy. I just had t’
     run up an” tell you right this—
    [ She rattles the knob. ]
    —What's this door doin’, locked, faw? You
     all think there's robbers in the house?

    MARGARET:
    Big Mama, Brick is dressin’, he's not dressed yet.
    BIG MAMA:
    That's all right, it won't be the first time I've seen Brick not
     dressed. Come on, open this door!
    [ Margaret, with a grimace, goes to unlock
     and open the hall door, as Brick hobbles rapidly to the bathroom and kicks the
     door shut. Big Mama has disappeared from the hall. ]
    MARGARET:
    Big Mama?
    [ Big Mama appears through the opposite
     gallery doors behind Margaret, huffing and puffing like an old bulldog. She is a
     short, stout woman; her sixty years and 170 pounds have left her somewhat
     breathless most of the time; she's always tensed like a boxer, or rather,
     a Japanese wrestler. Her “family” was maybe a little superior to
     Big Daddy's, but not much. She wears a black or silver lace dress and at
     least half a million in flashy gems. She is very sincere. ]
    BIG MAMA [ loudly,
     startling Margaret ]:
    Here—I come through Gooper's and Mae's gall'ry door.
     Where's Brick? Brick —Hurry on out
     of there, son, I just have a second and want to give you the news about Big
     Daddy.—I hate locked doors in a house. . . .
    MARGARET [ with
     affected lightness ]:
    I've noticed you do, Big Mama, but people have got to have some moments of privacy, don't they?
    BIG MAMA:
    No, ma'am, not in my house, [ without pause ] Whacha took off you’ dress
     faw? I thought that little lace dress was so sweet on yuh, honey.

    MARGARET:
    I thought it looked sweet on me, too, but one of m’ cute little
     table-partners used it for a napkin so—!
    BIG MAMA [ picking
     up stockings on floor ]:
    What?
    MARGARET:
    You know, Big Mama, Mae and Gooper's so touchy about those
     children—thanks, Big Mama . . .
    [ Big Mama has thrust the picked-up
     stockings in Margaret's hand with a grunt. ]
    —that you just don't dare to suggest there's any
     room for improvement in their—
    BIG MAMA:
    Brick, hurry out!—Shoot, Maggie, you just don't like
     children.
    MARGARET:
    I do SO like children! Adore them!—well brought up!
    BIG MAMA [ gentle—loving ]:
    Well, why don't you have some and bring them up well, then, instead of all the
     time pickin’ on Gooper's an’ Mae's?
    GOOPER [ shouting
     up the stairs ]:
    Hey, hey, Big Mama, Betsy an’ Hugh got to go, waitin’ t’ tell
     yuh g'by!
    BIG MAMA:
    Tell ‘em to hold their hawses, I'll be right down in a
     jiffy!
    [ She turns to the bathroom door and calls
     out .]
    Son? Can you hear me in there?
    [ There is a muffled
     answer. ]

    We just got the full report from the laboratory at the Ochsner Clinic, completely
     negative, son, ev'rything negative, right on down the line!
     Nothin’ a-tall's wrong with him but some little functional
     thing called a spastic colon. Can you hear me, son?
    MARGARET:
    He can hear you, Big Mama.
    BIG MAMA:
    Then why don't he say something? God Almighty, a piece of news like
     that should make him shout. It made me shout, I can tell
     you. I shouted and sobbed and fell right down on my knees!
     —Look!
    [ She pulls up her skirt. ]
    See