Tennessee Williams
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Act Two Big Daddy Scene
BIG DADDY: Are you satisfied?
BRICK: With what?
BIG DADDY: That half-ass story!
BRICK: What's half-ass about it?
BIG DADDY: Something's left out of that story. What did you leave out?
[The phone has started ringing in the hall. As if it reminded him of something, Brick glances suddenly toward the sound and says:]
BRICK: Yes!--I left out a long-distance call which I had from Skipper, in which he made a drunken confession to me and on which I hung up!--last time we spoke to each other in our lives....
[Muted ring stops as someone answers phone in a soft, indistinct voice in hall.]
BIG DADDY: You hung up?
BRICK: Hung up. Jesus! Well--
BIG DADDY: Anyhow now!--we have tracked down the lie with which you're disgusted and which you are drinking to kill your disgust with, Brick. You been passing the buck. This disgust with mendacity is disgust with yourself.
You!--dug the grave of your friend and kicked him in it!--before you'd face truth with him!
BRICK: His truth, not mine!
BIG DADDY: His truth, okay! But you wouldn't face it with him!
BRICK: Who can face truth? Can you?