Chapter 6
During the birthday supper, a despondent Blanche asks Stanley for a joke. She tells a vulgar “parrot” story that disgusts Stanley, leading him to hurl a plate and a cup, berate Stella for “greasy” fingers, and launch a tirade about being the “king” of the house and rejecting the insult “Polack.” He forces Stella to wash dishes, then storms onto the porch to smoke.
Blanche, unsettled, presses Stella about Mitch’s absence and rushes to the bedroom to leave a frantic message for Mitch, giving a false phone number (Magnolia 9047). She returns to the kitchen; Stanley comes back, adopts a feigned amiable tone, and hands her an envelope containing a Greyhound ticket back to Laurel, dated Tuesday, effectively ordering her departure. Shocked, Blanche clutches her throat, coughs, and collapses, fleeing to the bathroom where she continues to gag.
Stella, crying weakly, pleads with Stanley to stop his abuse. Stanley briefly comforts Stella, promising life will be “all right” after the baby is born and recalling their past nights together with lewd references to “colored lights” and “noisy women.” He leaves again, and Stella, terrified, demands that he take her to the hospital. The scene ends with Stanley supporting a trembling Stella as they go outside, while the unfinished birthday cake and the threat to Blanche remain unresolved.