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	A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
	by Tennessee Williams
Blanche:
I loved someone, too, and the person I loved I lost.  He was a boy, just a boy, when I was 
a very young girl.  When I was sixteen, I made the discovery -- love.  All at once and 
much, much too completely.  It was like you suddenly turned a blinding light on 
something that had always been half in shadow, that's how it struck the world for me.  
But I was unlucky.  Deluded.  There was something different about the boy, a 
nervousness, a softness and tenderness which wasn't like a man's, although he wasn't the 
least bit effeminate looking -- still -- that thing was there.... He came to me for help.  I 
didn't know that.  I didn't find out anything till after our marriage when we'd run away 
and come back and all I knew was I'd failed him in some mysterious way and wasn't able 
to give the help he needed but couldn't speak of!  He was in the quicksands and clutching 
at me -- but I wasn't holding him out, I was slipping in with him!  I didn't know that.  I 
didn't know anything except I loved him unendurably but without being able to help him 
or help myself.  Then I found out.  In the worst of all possible ways.  By coming suddenly 
into a room that i thought was empty -- which wasn't empty, but had two people in it... 
the boy I had married and an older man who had been his friend for years... Afterwards 
we pretended that nothing had been discovered.  Yes, the three of us drove our to Moon 
Lake Casino, very drunk and laughing all the way.  We danced the Varsouviana!  
Suddenly in the middle of the dance the boy I had married broke away from me and ran 
out of the casino.  A few moments later -- a shot!  I ran out -- all did!  All ran and 
gathered about the terrible thing at the edge of the lake!  I couldn't get near for the 
crowding.  Then somebody caught my arm.  "Don't go any closer!  Come back!  You 
don't want to see!"  See?  See what!  Then I heard voices say -- Allan!  Allan!  The Grey 
boy!  He'd stuck the revolver into his mouth, and fired -- so that the back of his head had 
been -- blown away!  It was because -on the dance floor -- unable to stop myself -- I'd 
suddenly said -- "I saw!  I know!  You disgust me..."  And then the searchlight which had 
been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there 
been any light that's stronger than this -- kitchen -- candle...