SCENE 5-7

Presented by:

Thems

Summary Scene 5 (part

1)

It is early one spring evening, and Tom goes out on the

fire escape for a smoke. He turns to the audience and
talks about the Paradise Dance Hall, across the alley
from their apartment.
It is a modern, urban contrast to the tiny antebellum
plantation that Amanda runs in the apartment, filling the
alley with adventure, liquor, music and sex. Amanda
comes out and joins him on the escape. He informs her
that he has finally secured Lauras first gentleman caller.
Amanda immediately springs into action, enthusiastically
making plans. She panics a bit when he tells her that he
is coming over the next night, but decides that they will
be able to pull it off if they work round the clock.

Summary Scene 5 (part

2)

The visitors name is James Delaney OConnor, and because of his

name, Amanda is at first concerned that he might be a drinker.
But the more Tom describes him, the more impressed Amanda
becomes. He was a star athlete and very popular in school.

He is currently studying public speaking and radio engineering at

night school, which impresses Amanda even more. Amanda
wishes that Tom himself thought in more practical terms. You are
the only young man that I know of who ignores the fact that the
future becomes the present, the present the past, and the past
turns into everlasting regret if you dont plan for it (63) she
chides him. Tom informs her that Jim does not know about Laura,
and Amanda decides that they will simply proceed with the
evening as a surprise.

Tom also expresses some concern about Lauras shyness and

disability, but Amanda simply brushes it off, completely swept up
in the spectacle of Lauras marriage in her mind.

Summary
Scene 6

Amanda and Laura prepares for the gentleman

callers (Jim OConnor) visit

Tom reveals that he has made plans to join

merchant navy, and to have adventures like the
people from the movies

Laura refuses to open the door when she discovers

that Jim is her gentleman caller (her high school crush)

He used the payment for the electricity bills

He admits that he is just like his father, a bastard

Jim briefly gets introduced to Laura, and is won

over by Amandas Southern hospitality

Summary Scene 7 (part

1)

After dinner, the lights suddenly go out. They set about lighting
candles, and Amanda asks Jim to check the fuse box, as Tom is
apparently inept with machinery.

Jim says that the fuses seem fine, and Amanda is suspicious of
Toms keeping up on the bills. She has Tom help her with the
dishes and sends Jim into the living room with a bottle of
dandelion wine and candles.

They sit on the floor, drinking and talking. Laura is visibly better
than she was before supper. She inquires as to whether Jim has
kept up his singing, and Jim is taken aback that she remembers
him. She learns that he remembered her as well, as Blue Roses.
She expresses some insecurity, but Jim is genuinely taken with
her and thinks nothing of her disability or awkwardness.

Summary Scene 7 (part

2)

They take out her glass animals, and examine Lauras favorite, the
unicorn. Music starts pouring in from across the alley, and Jim
persuades Laura to dance with him, even though she has never
danced in her life.

They accidentally knock over the glass unicorn, which loses its horn
and looks just like a horse now. They get back to talking, more
personally and intimately now, and Jim is still trying to get Laura
embrace her uniqueness.

He says, Theyre one hundred times one thousand. Youre one times
one! They walk all over the earth You stay right here. Theyre
common as-weeds, but you, well, youre Blue Roses! (105). They
kiss, but as soon as theyre done Jim is struck with the reminder that
he is engaged to be married.

This leaves Laura in a state of complete shock. He excuses himself,

explaining the situation to Amanda, who is quite furious with Tom.
Tom turns back to the audience, telling how he was fired a few days
later from his job, and left Saint Louis, never to return.