• Author / Uploaded
• Ida Antonović

Citation preview

*Sr Tennessee

PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY Eli THE GREAT

NEW

Willirbmsr

a Kazan

PICTURE PRESENTED BY

BY THE PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING

WARNER

BROS.

AUTHOR OF

^rtfreefcar Named Pjesire AND Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

A SIGNET

BOOK

INCLUDING « PAGES SCENES FROM THE3W

37417 NilesBlvd Fremont, CA 94536

m

510-494-1411 www.nilesfilmmuseuin.org

Scanned from the collections of Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

Coordinated by the

Media History

Digital Library

www.mediahistoryproject.org

Funded by a donation from Jeff Joseph

s4«A46e*U*ty> Here's an elemental and powerful story,

by

Pulit-

zer Prize-winning Tennessee Williams, of love desire,

and

vengeance and violence, in a small South*

era town. the unforgettable drama of a pretty who marries an oafish, older man on the condition that it would be a marriage in name only until her twentieth birthday. Two nights be-

Baby Doll

is

teen-age bride

fore Baby Doll's birthday, her husband, goaded by her taunts about their poverty and her threats to leave him, sets fire to a competitor's factory. He thereby brings to his doorstep the enraged owner, a

handsome young finds, instead

.

•

Sicilian, .

who

seeks revenge

and

Baby Doll!

This is the newest, important work from one of America's foremost authors, acclaimed by the critics in such glowing terms as: "The finest playwright now working in the American theatre . • all flesh and blood." Walter Kerr, Commonweal .

—

THIS

NEW

A REPRINT OF THE SCRIPT FOR THE FILM PUBLISHED BY DIRECTIONS IN A HARDCOVER EDITION UNDER THE TITLE,

IS

Baby Doll

Other

SIGNET Books

You'll Enjoy

The Eose Tattoo by

Tennessee Williams Written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of

A

Streetcar

Named

Desire, this

is

the fa-

mous drama about an earthy woman and her violent reaction when she discovered her husband's infidelity.

A

Streetcar

(#1236—35c)

Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

The famous play of a woman betrayed by love. Illustrated with scenes from the New York, London and Paris productions. (#S1262 50c)

—

Tea and Sympathy by Robert Anderson

A

poignant tale about a misunderstood adolesNew England prep school, and the

cent at a

woman who made him a man. (#1343

—35c)

Nine Stories by

J. D. Salinger penetrating and dramatic stories of life in our times by the author of The Catcher in the Rye. (#1111—35c)

Brilliantly

Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson Classic stories, by a great American writer, about the hopes and dreams, secret lusts, ambitions, and pretenses of people living in a small town.

(#1304—35c)

To Our Readers

We

welcome your comments about any Signet, Signet Key or Mentor Books, as weU as your suggestions for new reprints. If your dealer does not have the books you want, you may order them by mail, enclosing the list price plus 5c a copy to cover mailing costs. Send for our complete catalog. The New American Library of World Literature, Inc., 501 Madison Ave., New York 22,

N. Y.

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS The

Script for the Film

%

like,

us an* then yuh quit

some

fo'

archie:

Yeah, yeah, yeah! Some wife not ready

fo'

marriage, oh, no, not yet ready for

marriage but plenty ready funny, it.

how

can see

I

Oh ho ho ho

But

one

there's

—overlooked Here

tion!

brought up!

in I

it's

hoi Yes,

Oh,

t'

funny, it

sure

is

Got

She had

how

—thing that you

little

Where

was bo'n

I

hold a respected position, lifelong!

started to cross past

She wrenches

free.

it's

comic, comic as hell!

Wait! Wait!—Baby Doll.

ber of

see

position! Yeah, yeah, I got posi-

county!

this

I

the funny side of

I see

teensy-eensy

little

I!

I

innocent Baby Doll of

little

Vacarro

.

him; he

stirs

and

.

an*

—mem-

.

seizes her wrist.

tenses slightly but

doesn't rise or change his cool smile.

On my

side 're friends, long-standin' bus'ness associates,

an' social! See tage,

what

I

mean ? You

ain't

got that advan-

have you, mister? Huh, mister? Ain't you a dago,

or something, excuse me, thing, here in Tiger Tail

Page 120

I

mean

County?

Eyetalian or some-

I

silva:

Meighan,

man

Fm

in the

not a doctor, but

Navy and

I

was a medical

corps-

you've got a very unhealthy look-

now which

ing flush on your face right

is

almost purple

as a

He

9

to say 'baboon s behind*

was going

archie:

{Bellowing out)

GOT TO DO IN THE HALL! ALL

I

GIT

IS

ON THAT PHONE

silva:

And

an ambulance from the county hospital?

call

archie: Hell, I don't even need

t*

handle this situation m'seljl

make

phone

I

can

—with legal protection

that

a

call!

no one could silva: {Still coolly)

What

situation

do you mean, Meighan?

archie:

which

Situation roof!

Oh,

Fm

couldn't size

you was

still

I

come home

to find here

my

under

not such a marble-missing old fool!

it

on

up!

—

I

sized

this place

it

up the moment

and her!

I

—

seen

—with that sly smile

on herl

{Ta\es a great swallow of liquor from the fresh

And you

with yours on youl

both of those

sly

Vacarro

Vacarro

to

know how

to

bottle)

wipe

off

!

Crosses to closet door. nals

I

Baby Doll

utters

a gasp and

sig-

watch out.

rises calmly.

silva:

Meighan?

{He

spea\s coolly, almost with a note of sympathy)

Page i2i

—

.

You know, and that

knowl

I

You

night.

my

/

know, and

—That

burnt

you

down

pocket a signed

and

that's all I

got

.

.

.

.

.

you \now

that

my

cotton gin

Gin and up

—That's

whatever

all

else

in

got in

you suspect

well!

—you're mistaken.

your husband mistaken in thinking that

Isn't that so,

the law

come here

I

Isn't

.

I

last

paper, signed by a wit-

will even hold

courts of Tiger Tail County! for

\now

the Syndicate

affidavit, a

whose testimony

ness,

I

set fire to

Mrs. Meighan? I

got any-

thing out of this place but this signed affidavit which

my

was the purpose of

She loo\s

all-afternoon call?

him, angry, hurt.

at

Meighan wheels

about, panting.

silva:

{Continuing) Yes, I'm foreign but I'm not revengeful, Meighan, at least

not more than

is

rightful.

{Smiles sweetly)

—

I

think

we

got a workable good neighbor policy be-

anyhow

tween

us. It

might work

a try.

Now

as to the other side of the situation,

I

out,

don't have to mention. Well,

attraction

—

exists!

been rushed.

—excitement. with the

I

I

I

little

can say

all I

I

think

—and

down

to

accommodate

my

fairly small

have faint recollection of being sung to by .

.

low, caressing)

the touch of

—cool

fingers,

but

that's all, abso-

lutely!

archie:

Y'think I'm gonna put up with this

Page 122

which

a certain

But nothing's

believe!

—a lullaby song that was—sweet is

is,

deserves

shut-eye after last night's

someone

{His voice

it

took a nap upstairs in the nursery crib

slats let

frame, and

Mutually,

needed a

I

?

silva:

Situation? to get

up

my

You went

whole

to a

Now

business back.

to you, Archie Lee,

lot of risk an* trouble

don't you

want

it? It's

it's

archie:

COOL!

Yeah,

cool, very cool!

silva:

—The

heat of the

fire's

died down.

.

• •

archie:

UH-HUH! YOU'VE FIXED YOUR WAGON! WITH THIS SMART TALK, YOU JUST NOW FIXED YOUR WAGON! I'M GONNA MAKE A PHONE CALL THAT'LL WIPE THE GRIN OFF YOUR GREASY WOP FACE FOR GOOD! He charges into

hall

and

seizes phone.

silva:

{Crossing to Baby Is

my wop

Doll

at \itchen sin\)

face greasy, Mrs.

Meighan?

She remains at mirror but her childish smile fades: her face goes vacant

and

blind: she suddenly

bac\ against the bare throat of the her.

Her eyes clenched shut.

His

eyelids flutter as his

man

tilts

her head

standing behind

.

body presses against

all

mindless virgin softness of her abundant young

We can't

the

flesh.

see their hands, but hers are stretched behind

her, his before

him.

106]

HALL. archie:

{Bellowing li\e a steer) I

WANT SPOT, MIZZ HOPKINS, WHE' IS SPOT!

?

Page 123

107]

BABY DOLL WITH VACARRO. bAby doll: I

think you better go 'way.

. .

•

silva:

I'm just waiting to take you

girls

away with me.

. . •

baby doll:

dream)

{Softly as in a

Yeah, I'm goin*

Comfo't pack. Releases

too.

Now I

Hotel and

.

herself

.

I'll

check in at the Kotton King

better

—he'p Aunt Rose

go up an'

.

from

regretfully

the

embrace and

crosses into hall.

108]

HALL. CLOSE SHOT OF SILVA LOOKING AFTER HER. IN THE HALL SHE UTTERS A SHARP OUTCRY AS MEIGHAN STRIKES AT HER. baby doll:

YOU GONNA BE SORRY FOR EV'RY TIME YOU LAID YOUR UGLY OLE HANDS ON ME, YOU STINKER, YOU! YOU STINKING STINKER, STINKERRR! Her most

footsteps silently

running

and goes

upstairs.

Vacarro chuckles

al-

quietly out the bac\ door.

109]

THE YARD. Vacarro

crosses through a yard littered with uncollected

garbage, tin cans, refuse.

Page 124

.

.

.

I

110]

HALL. MEIGHAN REMOVES SHOTGUN CLOSET.

FROM

Ill]

YARD. CUT BACK TO EXTERIOR. Crooked moon beams

fitfully

erel slty, the airs full of

Vacarro pic\s

way

his

wades through the

tall

through a racing mack-

motion. fastidiously

among

the refuse,

seeding grass, into the front

yard. Clutches the lower branch of a pecan tree

swings up into

it.

and

—

Crac\s a nut between his teeth as

archie:

{Shouting and blundering through the house)

HEY! WHERE HIDING, WOP?

YOU HIDING? WHERE YOU

112]

HOUSE. CLOSE SHOT OF MEIGHAN WITH SHOTGUN AND LIQUOR BOTTLE, ALREADY

STUMBLING DRUNK 113]

YARD. EXTERIOR NIGHT. VACARRO IN TREE. VOICE OF BABY DOLL AT PHONE. BABY DOLL: I

want the

Police Chief. Yes, the Chief, not just the

This is Baby Doll McCorkle speakMeighan on Tiger Tail Road! My husband has got a shotgun and is threat'nin' to

police, the Chief.

ing, the ex-Mrs.

Page 725

Her

She comes running out

voice turns into a scream.

front door followed by Meighan. She darts around side

Meighan is very drun\ now. He goes the way around the house. Vacarro drops out of and gives Baby Doll a low whistle. She rushes

of house.

opposite tree

bac\ to front yard. baby doll:

Oh, Gah, Gah, watch

out,

9

he s got a shotgun.

He s— f

crazy! I callt th' Chief of

Vacarro leaps

into tree again.

silva:

my

Grab

He

hand! Quick!

Now

hoists her into tree with

bull

up! Up,

him

now Baby

comes charging bac\ around house

weapon.

He

blasts

windy shadows.)

away

at a

Doll!

as the wild-eyed old

with

shadow. (Yard

his

is full

of

He is sobbing.

archie:

BABY DOLL! BABY! BABY! BABY DOLL! MY BABY! Goes stumbling around bac\ of house, great wind in Doll rests in the arms of Vacarro.

the trees. Baby

Meighan Meighan

in

bac\ yard. Storm

fires

through

it.

cellar

Then

door bangs open.

at chicken coop.

into wheelless limousine chassis in side yard,

Shot of Vacarro and Baby Doll in for\ of pecan silva:

(Grinning)

We're

still

playing hide-and-seek I

baby doll: (Excitedly, almost giggling)

How Page 126

long you guess

we gonna be up

Then

etc., etc.

this tree?

tree.

..

silva: I

don't care.

Fm comfortable—Are you?

Her answer

is

and "Shhhhl"

it

divides

a sigh.

He

cracks a nut in his

mouth

with her. She giggles and whispers:

archie:

(Raving, sobbing, stumbling)

my

Baby,

baby, oh, Baby Doll,

my

baby.

. •

Silence.

WHERE ARE

HEY! WOP! YELLOWBELLY!

YUH? Aunt Ros£ Comfort comes forlornly out on the porch, weighed down by ancient suitcase, roped together. aunt

rose:

(Fearfully, her hair

blown wild by the wind)

Baby Doll, honey? Honey? Baby

Doll, honey?

archie: (In bac\ yard)

SEE YOU! COME OUT OF THERE, YOU LOWBELLY WOP, YOU! I

Shotgun

blasts

away behind

house.

YEL-

Aunt Rose Com-

fort on front porch utters a low cry and drops her suitcase.

Fade

Bac\s against wall, hand to

in police siren

approaching

chest.

down Tiger

Tail Road.

baby doll: (Nestling in Vacarro'j arms in tree) I

feel

doesn't

sorry for poor old

know where

Moon comes -figures in

briefly

for\ on

Aunt Rose Comfort. She

go or what to do. out and shines on their crouched

to

.

.

tree.

silva:

(Gently)

Does anyone know where

to go, or

what

to

do?

Page 127

7Ju4t 114]

THE YARD. ANOTHER ANGLE. POLICE CAR STOPPING BEFORE THE HOUSE AND MEN JUMPING OUT. Shot of Meighan staggering and sobbing litter

among

the

of uncollected garbage.

archie:

Baby Doll,

my

baby! Yellow son of

a——

115]

THE YARD. ANOTHER ANGLE. SHOT OF AUNT ROSE COMFORT RETREATING INTO SHADOW AS POLICE COME AROUND THE HOUSE SUPPORTING ARCHIE LEE'S LIMP FIGURE. SHOT OF COUPLE IN TREE AS MOON GOES BACK OF CLOUDS. Stillness.

Dar\.

Aunt Rose Comfort

hymn: "Roc\ of Ages." aunt rose: Rock of ages, Let

me

me,

hide myself in Thee!

Vacarro drops out of for Baby Doll.

Page 128

cleft for

begins to sing a

tree

and stands with arms

lifted

f

The

A

Glass Menagerie..,

Named

Streetcar

U A

L

X

SJCNET) V BOOKS J LITmSGRKTSHED IN

CANADA

Desire...

The Rose Tattoo... Cat on a Hot Tin Roof... and now—

BafyDotil

xploding with earthy, elemental passion, this

is

the latest dramatic

Mt by Tennessee Williams. fey

Doll

is

the highly cha

.gh£r age, who

dtoa

falls irH

9 stranger. DIRECTED BY ELI A

K,

RNER BROS. STARRING aker, Karl Maiden, and

Eli

Wallach

-

d by the

New American

\"