Stanley seeks to find out about Blanche's past and when he learns of her promiscuity, he tells Stella about it on Blanche's birthday. He also informs Stella that he has told Mitch that his innocent goddess was no more than a slut. He takes pride in the fact that he prevented Mitch from making a fool of himself by marrying Blanche. He hands Blanche a bus ticket to Laurel as a birthday present. This gift causes a scene between Stanley and his wife and as a result, she goes into an early labor and is rushed to the hospital. While Stanley and Stella are at the hospital, Mitch arrives, confronts Blanche about her past, and accuses Blanche of being a liar. She tries to explain her actions, but he is not refined enough to understand. He then demands that she surrender to him as well. When she says she wants to marry him, he tells her, "You're not clean enough to bring in the house with my mother". This remark angers her, and she dismisses him from her life.

The last scene shows Eunice and Stella helping Blanche to pack her things. The tragedy is that when, for once, Blanche speaks the truth about Stanley's assault, Stella disbelieves her and decides, with her husband, to send Blanche to the state institution. The doctor and the nurse arrive to take Blanche away. At first she resists, but the kind doctor finally persuades Blanche to accompany him. She pathetically admits, "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." When Mitch learns that Blanche was tricked into going to the institution, he turns on Stanley and accuses him of master minding his and Blanche`s unhappiness. He strikes Stanley and then collapses in sobs. After Blanche has left, Stanley and Stella are together again.

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