Suddenly, Last Summer

Violet enters in a wheelchair pushed by Miss Foxhill. Miss Foxhill hands Violet a cardboard folder containing the reports on her son’s death from the Cabeza de Lobo police, the American consul, and private investigators. Violet turns to George, who has offended her by “parading” her son’s wardrobe in front of her. Both he and his mother broach the subject of the will. Violet rises abruptly from her wheelchair and asks Miss Foxhill to summon the doctor. Miss Foxhill states outright that the doctor has been answering a phone call from Lion’s View, and Mrs. Holly reacts with horror.

Violet offers the justification that she has been paying over $1,000 a month to have Catharine treated at St. Mary’s. When Mrs. Holly thanks her for putting her daughter there, Catharine contends with Sister Felicity about her treatment; it emerges that she lost her “yard privileges” for signaling to passing cars to get out a “message” for her. Catharine says she became “panicky” because none of the many treatments they had given her were successful in quieting her; she feared that more drastic measures were coming, such as a lobotomy.

Dr. Cukrowicz enters, and Violet introduces him as a “specialist” from Lion’s View.