The Dark Room by Tennessee Williams. Short summary

5 seconds

A social worker discovers that 16-year-old Tina, from a destitute family, hasn’t left her dark room in six months. She lets Saul in, a Jewish boy who was forced by his parents to marry a Jewish woman.

1 minute

Miss Morgan, a social-service worker, came to a destitute Italian family. At home was the landlady, Mrs. Lucca. After inquiring about her husband (he’s not all right in the head and doesn’t work), her older sons (gone and not helping the family), the younger boys, the schoolchildren, the conversation turned to her only daughter, Tina.

Her mother couldn’t even say for sure how old she was, about 16. The social worker wanted to talk to her. The mother said that since New Year’s, the girl has locked herself in her room and won’t come out. Ms. Morgan demands that she explain what this all means.

Tina had been friends with a Jewish boy, Saul, since she was 11 years old. Then on New Year’s Eve, he didn’t show up. Tina called him, but Saul’s mother told her to leave her son alone because he was marrying a Jewish girl. After that, Tina locked herself in and only goes out to the bathroom.

She only eats what Saul brings her. It turns out that he visits Tina regularly, and only then does she behave quietly. The social worker said they would remove Tina from the family.