The following morning, Blanche comes hesitantly and frightenedly to the Kowalski apartment and when she sees Stella alone, she rushes to her and embraces her. Stella tells Blanche to stop being so excitable. Blanche cannot understand how Stella could have returned to Stanley last night. Stella assures her that he was tame as a lamb. She tries to convince Blanche that she is quite content and happy in her present situation. Blanche ignores her and tries to think of some way of getting them out of the situation even though Stella repeatedly says she doesn’t want out. Blanche remembers an old boy friend named Shep Huntleigh. She plans to contact him to see if he can help her out of her situation. She tells Stella that she has only sixty-five cents to her name, but she feels that after what happened last night she can’t live under the same roof with Stanley: Stella tries to explain that Stanley was at his worst last night.
Through all of Blanche’s attacks, Stella remains calm and simply asserts that she loves Stanley. Then Blanche asks if she may speak plainly. At this moment, Stanley enters the room unheard by Blanche and Stella, and he overhears Blanche’s comments. Blanche says that Stanley is common and bestial. He has animal habits and is a “survivor of the Stone Age.” She pleads with Stella to remember some of the advances of civilization and not to “hang back with the brutes.” At this point, Stanley leaves quietly and calls from outside. When he comes in, Stella throws herself into his arms.
