Big Daddy:
I suddenly noticed that you don't call me Big Daddy any more. Ah, if you needed a Big Daddy, why didn't you come to me? You wanted somebody to lean on. Why Skipper and why not me? I'm your father! I'm Big Daddy. Me! Why didn't you come to your kinfolks, the peoples that love ya?
Brick:
You don't know what love means. To you, it's just another four letter word.
Big Daddy:
Why, you've got a mighty short memory. What was there that you wanted that I didn't buy for ya.
Brick:
You can't buy love! You bought yourself a million dollars worth of junk. Look at it. Does it love you?
Big Daddy:
Who'd you think I bought it for? Me? It's yours. The place, the money, every rotten thing is yours!
Brick:
I don't want things! [pushes down and smashes vases, an old athletic trophy and other accumulated objects] Waste! Worthless! Worthless! [destroys a life-sized poster of himself throwing a football and then breaks down in a fit of uncontrollable tears]
Big Daddy:
Don't, son. Please don't cry, boy. That's funny. I never saw you cry before. How's that? Did you ever cry?
Brick:
Can't you understand? I never wanted your place or your money or any—... I don't wanna own anything. All I wanted was a father, not a boss — I wanted you to love me.
Big Daddy:
I did and I do.
Brick:
No. Not me, and not Gooper, and not even Mama.
Big Daddy:
That's a lie. I did love her. I give her anything, everything she wanted.
Brick:
Things. Things, Papa. You gave her things. A house, a trip to Europe, all this junk, some jewelry, things. You gave her things, Papa, not love.
Big Daddy:
I gave, I gave her an empire, boy.
Brick:
The men who build empires die, and empires die, too.
Big Daddy:
No. No, it won't. That's why I've got you and Gooper.
Brick:
Look at Gooper. Look at what he's become. Is that what you wanted him to be? And look at me. You put it very well indeed. I'm a thirty-year-old kid, and pretty soon I'm gonna be a fifty-year-old kid. I don't know what to believe in. Now what's the good of livin' if you've got nothin' to believe in? There's gotta be some, some purpose in life, some meanin.' Look at me. For the sake of God, look at me before it's too late. For once in your life, look at me as I really am. Look at me. I'm a failure. I'm a drunk. On my own in the open market, I'm not worth the price of a decent burial.
