[Laura bursts into tears. She runs out of the room.]

LAURA [calling back]: I’m going into my room and I won’t come out. I won’t come out for dinner. And you can have the gentleman caller yourself!

AMANDA: Don’t come out, then! Stay in that little mousetrap of a room the rest of your days as far as I am concerned. I’ll make no effort if everything’s resisted! I’ll call no more old women up to buy the Home Beautiful! I’ll work in no more bargain basements either! I’ll be just as neurotic as you, young lady, stay and keep my nose in books all the time and let the world pass by!

[The doorbell rings.]

AMANDA [looking panicky]: Oh, my heavens, and I’m still in my house-dress! [Crosses back.] Laura, Tom’s lost his door-key again and is ringing the bell. You’ll have to let them in.

LAURA: I won’t do it, let them in yourself.

AMANDA: I can’t go to the door. Just look at me, will you!

LAURA: I can’t either.

AMANDA: You’ll have to!

LAURA: Well, I won’t. I absolutely won’t.

[Bell rings again.]

AMANDA: Laura Wingfield, I do not intend to answer that door. And that is final. If you don’t open the door and let your brother and Mr. Delaney in, the bell will go on ringing till Doomsday and I’ll not budge an inch! You know me well enough to be quite certain I mean it! [Pause. Another ring. Laura’s door opens and she slips out.]

LAURA: I’ve been—crying.

AMANDA: I don’t care what you’ve been, you will go to the door!

LAURA: Well, then, get out of sight if you don’t want to be seen, and I don’t blame you! You really look like a witch!

AMANDA: Is that so!— Young lady. You—serpent’s tooth! I have you children to thank for a faded appearance! Making myself a slave, doing menial labor, cooking in a high-school cafeteria, working in a dirty bargain basement, selling subscriptions to horrible magazines over the phone! And you throw at me such—such—

LAURA: If you want me to answer the door, you’ll have to let go of my arm!

AMANDA: I don’t want you to do anything ever!— Believe me! [She bursts into tears and crosses out rear door.]

LAURA: I’ll let them in, but I won’t come to the table! [Crosses downstairs to front door as Tom starts knocking.]

LAURA: All right, all right! You don’t have to break the door down. [She opens the front door, admitting Tom and Jim. She stares coldly at Tom, ignoring Jim altogether.]

LAURA: Did you forget your key?

TOM: I lost it.

LAURA: You’d lose your head if it wasn’t fastened on.

TOM: Laura, this is—Jim.

LAURA: How do you do?

JIM [heartily]: Hello, there. I didn’t know Shakespeare had a sister.

LAURA [barely touching the hand he extends]: Excuse me. [She turns quickly and goes out.]

JIM: What was the matter?

TOM: She’s very shy.

JIM: Oh! It’s unusual to meet a shy girl. She looks a little like you except she’s pretty.