- [after trying to audition, Helene leaves the room, sobs, and then returns]
- Helene Shaw: I'm terrible, aren't I?
- George Johnson: No! No, you're not, you're fine.
- Helene Shaw: [attempting a laugh] No, I'm not. It was awful. I...
- George Johnson: You were...
- Helene Shaw: - It's like I'm a walking ice-box or something.
- Doris: Oh, nobody could look at you and say that, dearie.
- Helene Shaw: When people get to know me, that's when they *do* say it. I don't want to be the way that I am. I just can't help it. I feel like I'm in... Well, when I get to know somebody nice, you know, like, like in real life? I feel like I'm in... Like I'm...
- [She lifts her hands and mimes being trapped in glass]
- Helene Shaw: ...in some, some kind of, um, a bottle, a-a-as though I can't touch that person, no matter how hard I try. I know what this play is about. I know what's Stella's feeling, I -
- [shakes her head]
- Helene Shaw: - I know I should feel it, I, I just...
- [She raises her hands again, pressing against the imaginary bottle, and lowers them]
- Doris: You what, dear?
- Helene Shaw: I, I just, I don't know how to begin!
- [In the phone company office, George can't help noticing that Helene is a nice-looking lady. He lowers his voice]
- George Johnson: Uh, excuse me, um, have you, have you ever... acted?
- [She stares at him with what might be hostility but is more likely bafflement]
- George Johnson: Um, what do you do? With the machine?
- Helene Shaw: I teach the local girls how to operate them.
- George Johnson: Ahh. How long are you gonna be in North Crawford?
- Helene Shaw: [still officious] I stay in each place eight weeks, sir, then I take a new machine to a new town.
- George Johnson: You see, the reason I'm asking is, uh, well, I've got this idea. You see, we're having auditions for our Dramatic Club. We're doing a new play, and, uh... Why don't you come over? There's a part in there that'd be perfect for you!
- [Helene looks down, and then looks up, but does not quite meet his eyes for a few seconds, as she is having a revelation]
- Helene Shaw: I've been going from town to town for two years. That's the very first time anyone has ever approached me about participating in any community thing.
- [Helene is auditioning for "A Streetcar named Desire," but she reads the lines stiltedly]
- Doris: With a little feeling. Now, pretend that George is Stanley, and that you love him very passionately.
- [George smiles flirtatiously - in a rugged, manly way, of course]
- Doris: On second thought, just try to imagine Stanley. Now, let's take it from where we left off.
- [George frowns at Doris, then looks down at the desk, deflated]
- [Right after Helene has sobbed her self-confession to George and Doris, they hear Harry shout from the doorway - in full Stanley Kowalski mode]
- Harry Nash: Are you ready for me yet, George? There's nobody else outside!
- George Johnson: Harry, come here. I'm, I'm sorry I kept you waiting, Harry. Excuse me.
- [Helene surreptitiously wipes her eyes]
- George Johnson: Uh, Harry, this is Helene Shaw. Helene, this is Harry Nash. Ehh, now, if you get the part of Stella, he'll be your husband in the play.
- [Helene turns to look at Harry and her eyes widen. Music suggesting imminent romance begins to play. Harry is still in his dorky hardware-store outfit, with glasses, hat, and bow-tie, but he removes his glasses and smiles slightly as he looks her up and down appreciatively]
- George Johnson: Say, I, uh, I wonder if, uh, if you two would read a scene for me from this play, all right? Right here.
- [Helene tears her eyes away from Harry to look at the playbook]
- George Johnson: Could you do that?
- Harry Nash: Sure! If Stella's game.
- [She looks up, still wide-eyed]
- Helene Shaw: Huh?
- Harry Nash: Stella! Stella, that's you.
- [then, gently:]
- Harry Nash: Stella's my wife.
- Helene Shaw: [weakly] Oh.
- [He turns away to remove his vest and shirt, and a heartbeat rhythm replaces the music. Stella sees Harry's muscular back and she can't look away. He begins shadow-boxing, and she begins to fall in love]
- [as Stanley Kowalski, in the audition]
- Harry Nash: [shouting] Pearls, ropes of 'em. What is this sister of yours - a deep-sea diver?
- [after Harry and Helene have just given a dynamic performance of a scene at the audition, Harry has returned to his dorky clothes and leans over to whisper to Harry]
- Harry Nash: Was that all right?
- [George pretends that he hasn't already determined that Harry will play the part of Stanley Kowalski]
- George Johnson: Oh, uh, for a first reading, that, that wasn't too bad, Harry, yeah.
- Harry Nash: Is there a chance I'll get the part?
- George Johnson: Uh, I think we can safely say that we, we're leaning powerfully in your direction, Harry.
- [after a rehearsal that has gone very well, with Helene and Harry acting powerfully, and almost erotically, with each other:]
- George Johnson: Lydia. Do we have a play, or do we have a play?
- Lydia: What play? There isn't any play going on now.
- George Johnson: What?
- Harry Nash: [still in Kowalski mode, though with that undeniable Walken accent:] Hey, you!
- [George points toward himself questioningly, to be sure that Harry is speaking to him]
- Harry Nash: You t'rough wit' me?
- George Johnson: What?
- Harry Nash: [shouting] Can I go home now?
- George Johnson: Sure, Harry, yeah.
- [Harry waves his hand in a sort of angry farewell and turns away]
- Lydia: You aren't directing this play, George.
- George Johnson: What do you - What are you saying, what do you mean, "I'm not directing this play"? Who is?
- Lydia: Mother Nature at her worst.
- [Helene is watching Harry leave with a hungry, almost feral look. Harry turns back to give Helene a predatory, seductive smile]
- Lydia: What's going to happen to that girl when she discovers what Harry really is? What Harry really *isn't*.
- [last lines]
- [Harry is proposing to Helene, and they quote - or paraphrase - "The Importance of Being Earnest."]
- Harry Nash: I've never loved anyone in the world but you.
- Helene Shaw: I hope that after we marry, you'll always look at me just like this...
- [They kiss passionately. Then Helene realizes that they have drawn a crowd: George, Doris, and their other friends. She laughs in embarrassment]
- Helene Shaw: ...especially in front of other people!
- [the others gather around, clapping and laughing]
- Helene Shaw: How are you all?
- George Johnson: Obviously, not as happy as you two are.
- Helene Shaw: Well, George, you know, this week I've been pursued by Marc Antony, and romanced by Henry Higgins, loved by Henry the Fifth, and I was just proposed to by Ernest Worthing.
- [the others laugh and clap again, with exclamations of "awww!" and the like]
- Helene Shaw: Now, don't you think I'm just about the luckiest girl in town?
- George Johnson: Listen, not only do I think so, but most of the women in town think so too, may I say, hmm?
- [Two young ladies pass by, glaring jealously at Helene]
- Helene Shaw: Well, they had their chance!
- Doris: Probably most of them couldn't stand the excitement.
- George Johnson: See, I don't think, I don't know if you've heard or not, but I've been asked to direct the next play.
- Helene Shaw: George, that's wonderful!
- George Johnson: Thank you. I, uh, I was just wondering if you two might be available for the cast?
- [Harry whispers into her ear]
- Helene Shaw: [grinning with delight] Who are we this time?
- [George finds Harry in the hardware store. They are both nervous: George because he will be directing a play for the first time, Harry because he is always nervous. First thing, Harry spills a box of nails from the shelf and they crash upon the floor]
- George Johnson: Anyway, I suppose you heard about the, uh, the next play!
- [pause. Harry's face is blank, giving nothing away, good or bad]
- George Johnson: Well, they asked me to direct, Harry! And I, I know you've only worked with Doris before, so I hope that isn't a problem.
- [Another pause. Harry does a hilarious, spasmodic job of nervousness: looking away, rearranging his glasses, adjusting cap, causing George in turn to tug his ears, twitch, and stammer]
- George Johnson: You've seen me act, Harry. Directing can only be a step up. You know?
- [He chuckles, then gets serious]
- George Johnson: That club needs you, Harry. I mean, uh, actually, I need you, Harry. I don't even know if I can direct traffic, let alone a play!
- [Harry is silent throughout, gazing at him]
- George Johnson: Would you consider playing the lead in this one, Harry?
- [Harry takes off his cap and runs his hand through his hair, looking almost distressed]
- Harry Nash: Who am I this time?