What Do They Want?

Sally is a character who makes me feel sad for her- She comes across as brash and flighty, having brief affairs with a variety of men but I believe that what Sally truly desires is a loving relationship. In my chosen scene, Sally and Cliff are discussing what he can write his book about; Cliff suggest writing about her and Sally responds with the following:

"Of course! I told you I'd inspire you! "The Affairs of Sally." But make me ravishing and sublimely seductive- so no man can resist me- not even a very handsome, rather strange, young American... Who allows me to share his room... and his bed- and falls desperately in love with me! (Pause) This is fiction! A guaranteed bestseller!"

Masteroff, J & Ebb, F. (1967). Prompt Book, Cabaret. Available: http://nutic.wikispaces.com/file/view/CABARET+Script.pdf. Last accessed 23rd Oct 2014. 

If we take this extract at face value, this is an idea that Sally has invented merely to inspire Cliff's writing; however, if we read between the lines, I think we can see that it is much more than this to her. We know that her idea for the novel is partly based in truth- Sally is prone to many affairs... and I think it safe to assume that the slant of a love story she puts on this is based on a deep-rooted desire for love. Having just found that she is pregnant, Sally would be feeling vulnerable... No steady relationship to rely on, limiting her options and backing her into a corner. I think the most notable part of the above quote is the stage direction when Sally pauses... She has expressed this idea that someone could love her and then cuts off her train of thought, eventually continuing to dismiss the idea as fiction which would be the stuff of great acclaim. I think this dismissal of the relationship she talks about is a front to cover her vulnerability, she has shown a glimpse of her true self, beneath the façade and quickly back tracks to cover this up. Another reason that she might do this is because she is aware of the fact that keeping the baby is not an option, even though this is probably what she wants- covering the desire for love as a mistake will make it easier for her to pretend that an abortion is what she wants, avoiding questions from those closest to her.