Elizabeth Taylor Quotes

Maggie I think I made my mistake when I tried to tell you about Skipper. That's where I made my fatal error.

Brick Maggie...

Maggie I never should have confessed...

Brick Maggie, now you shut-up about Skipper. I mean it, you got to shut up about Skipper.

Maggie The laws of silence won't work about that. Not about Skipper and us. It's like lockin the door on the fire in hopes of forgettin the house is burnin - but not lookin at a fire doesn't put it out. This time, I'm gonna finish. That night in a hotel room, Skipper and I...

Brick I don't want to hear about it.

Maggie Why won't you face the truth just once about Skipper? About me? About yourself?

Brick Do you want me to hit you with this crutch?

Maggie You're still blamin me for Skipper's death.

Brick Now don't you know that I could kill you with this crutch?

Maggie Good Lord, man, d'you think I'd care if you did?

Brick Skipper and I had a friendship. Now why won't you let it alone?

Maggie It's got to be told.

Brick But I don't want to hear it.

Maggie It's got to be told and you never let me tell it. I love you, and that's worth fightin for. Not Skipper. Skipper was no good.

Brick Maggie!

Maggie Maybe I'm no good either - nobody's good. But Brick, Skipper IS DEAD! And I'M ALIVE!

Brick Maggie!

Maggie Maggie the Cat is ALIVE! I'M ALIVE! Why are you afraid of the truth?

Brick Truth!

Cleopatra How dare you and the rest of your barbarians set fire to my library? Play conqueror all you want, Mighty Caesar! Rape, murder, pillage thousands, millions of human beings! But neither you nor any other barbarian has the right to destroy one human thought!

Martha Fix the kids a drink, George. What would you like to drink, kid– kid.

Nick Honey? what would you like?

Honey Ohhhh, I don't know, dear, a little brandy maybe. "Never mix, never worry!

George Brandy? Just brandy? Simple, simple…

George What about you, em… em… em…

Nick Bourbon on the rocks, if you don't mind.

George Mind? I don't mind. I don't think I mind. Martha? Rubbing alcohol for you?

Martha Sure! "Never mix, never worry!

Cleopatra We'll make this our beginning. Beginning with tonight... You must never envy Caesar, or anyone, anything else again.

Martha I bust a gut! George didn't think it was funny at all.

George Martha thinks that unless you, as she demurely puts it, "bust a gut", you're not amused, you know. Unless you're… carrying on like a hyena, you're not having any fun.

Martha What a dump. Hey, w-what's that from? "What a dump!

George How would I know?

Martha Oh, come on, what's it from? You know!

George Martha…

Martha What's it from, for chrissake?!

George What's what from?

Martha I just told you. I just did it. "What a dump!" Huh? What's that from?

George I haven't the faintest idea.

Martha Dumbbell.

George I'm very impressed.

Martha You're damn right!

George I said I was impressed. I'm beside myself with jealousy. What do you want me to do, throw up?

Cleopatra You have such bony knees.

Caesar Not only bony, but unaccustomed to this sort of thing.

Nick Here we are.

Honey Hip, hop! Hip, hop! Hip, hop! Hip, hop!

Nick Are you a bunny, Honey?

Honey Bunny Honey!

George Well, now, how's the bunny?

Honey Bunny funny!

George Bunny funny. Good for bunny!

Martha Come on, George!

George Honey, funny bunny.

Maggie Oh, poor Big Daddy. I'm fond of him. I'm genuinely fond of that old man. I really am, you know. Oh, when he finds out. I wouldn't want to be the one to tell him. That's why you want to go now.

Brick Yeah, that's why I want to leave now. You gotta do this for me, Maggie, please.

Maggie And leave the field to Gooper and that wife of his? No sir. Let's face facts, baby. You're a drinker, and that takes money.

Brick I don't want his money.

Maggie Are you ready to settle for ten cent beer? Cause that's just what Gooper will dole out to you when they freeze you out. They got a plan, baby. Oh you should have heard them layin it on Big Daddy - a mile a minute. Big Mama's already on their side. You're a drinker and I'm childless. We got to beat that plan. We just got to. I-I been so disgustingly poor all my life. That's the truth, Brick.

Brick Have you, Maggie?

Maggie You-you don't know what it's like to have to suck up to people you can't stand just cause they have money. You don't know what it's like. Never havin any clothes. That dress I married you in was a hand-me-down from a snotty rich cousin I hated. You can be young without money, but you can't be old without it. Where did I fail you? Where did I make my mistake? Make that your last drink until after the party, please honey!

Cleopatra How it hurts. How love can stab the heart.

Nick Ah, who, ah… who did the painting?

Martha That? Oh, that's by…

George … some Greek with a moustache Martha attacked one night in a, in a…

Honey I want some! I want some dancing!

Martha That's not such a bad idea.

Honey I love dancing, don't you.

Martha With the right man.

Honey I dance like the wind.

Martha Oh-ho, you pig.

George Oink, oink.

Martha Fix me another drink… lover.

George My God, you can swill it down, can't you?

Martha Well, I'm thirsty.

George Oh, Jesus.

Martha Look, sweetheart, I can drink you under any goddamn table you want, so don't worry about me.

George I gave you the prize years ago, Martha. There isn't an abomination award going that you haven't won.

Martha I swear to God George, if you even existed I'd divorce you.

George You're a monster. You are.

Martha I'm loud, and I'm vulgar, and I wear the pants in the house because somebody's got to… but I am not a monster! I'm NOT!

George You're a spoiled, self-indulgent, willful, dirty-minded, liquor-ridden…

Martha It went SNAP! I-I-I'm not gonna try to get through to you anymore. There was a second back there — yeah, there was a second, just a second — when I could have gotten through to you, when maybe we could have cut through all this, this CRAP! But it's past, and I'm not gonna try.

Martha Hey!

George Hark! Forest sounds.

Nick Hmm?

George Animal noises.

Martha Heyyyy!

Big Daddy Why did you and Brick suddenly decide to drive up from New Orleans?

Maggie For your birthday, what else?

Big Daddy I had a birthday last year and the year before. I didn't see ya then.

Maggie Well, you know how Brick is sometimes.

Big Daddy Maybe he thought he was comin to my funeral instead of my birthday?

Maggie Why, Brick loves you! Well he does.

Big Daddy But does he love you?

Maggie What do you want - Truth?

Big Daddy If I was married to you three years, you'd have the livin proof. You'd have three kids already and the fourth in the oven.

Nick We'll go in a little while.

George Oh no! No, you mustn't! Martha is changing, and Martha is not changing for me! Martha hasn't changed for me in years! If Martha is changing, that means we're going to be here for days. You're being accorded an honor. You mustn't forget that Martha is the daughter of our beloved boss. She is his right… arm, heh heh. I was going to use another word, but we'll leave that sort of talk to Martha.

Martha What sort of talk?

Nick Well, now.

George Why, Martha! Your Sunday chapel dress!

Cleopatra Octavian, when I am ready to die, I will die.

Cleopatra I am the Nile. I will have sons. Isis has told me… My breasts are full of love and life. My hips are rounded and well apart. Such women, they say, have sons.

Brick Why you heard what Big Daddy said? That girl's got life in her body.

Mae That's a lie.

Brick No. No, truth is somethin desperate and Maggie's got it. Believe me, it is desperate and she has got it.

Mae Why don't you say somethin', honey?

Gooper All right, honey. SHUT-UP!

Brick Maggie?

Maggie Yes?

Brick Come on up here.

Maggie Yes, sir. Thank you for keepin still, for backin me up in my lie.

Brick Maggie, we are through with lies and liars in this house. Lock the door!

Brick Big Daddy! Now what makes him so big? His big heart? His big belly? Or his big money?

Maggie The heat has made you cross.

Brick Give me my crutch.

Maggie Why don't you put on your nice silk pajamas, honey, and come on down to the party? There's a lovely cool breeze.

Brick Give me my crutch, Maggie.

Maggie Lean on me, baby. You've got a nice smell about you. Is your bath water cool?

Brick No.

Maggie I know somethin that would make you feel cool and fresh. Alcohol rub. Cologne.

Brick No thanks. We'd smell alike. Like a couple of cats in the heat.

Maggie It's cool on the lawn.

Brick I'm not goin down there, Maggie, not for you and not for Big Daddy.

Maggie At least you can give him his present that I remembered to buy for you for his birthday. Do you think you could write a few words on this card?

Brick You write somethin Maggie.

Maggie It's got to be your handwritin'. It's your present. It's got to be your handwritin'.

Brick I didn't get him a present.

Maggie Well, what's the difference?!

Brick Then if there's no difference, you write the card.

Maggie And have him know you didn't remember his birthday?

Brick I didn't remember.

Maggie Well, you don't have to prove it to him. Just-just write Love, Brick for heaven's sakes.

Brick NO!

Maggie You've got to.

Brick I don't have to do anything I don't want to! Now you keep forgettin the conditions on which I agreed to stay on livin with you.

Maggie I'm not living with you. We occupy the same cage, that's all. You know, that's the first time you've raised your voice in a long time. Crack in the stone wall? I think that's a fine sign. Mighty fine.

Martha I looked at you tonight and you weren't there! Finally snapped! And– and I'm gonna howl it out! And I'm not gonna give a damn what I do, and I'm gonna make the biggest goddamn explosion you've ever heard!

George You try and I'll beat you at your own game.

Martha Is that a threat, George, huh?

George That's a threat, Martha.

Martha You're gonna get it, baby.

George Be careful, Martha. I'll rip you to pieces.

Martha You're not man enough. You haven't the guts!

George Total war?

Martha Total!

Martha Well, aren't you going to apologize?

George Wasn't my fault — the road should've been straight.

Martha Not that! For making her throw up.

George I did not make her throw up.

Martha You most certainly did.

George I did not.

Honey No, now, no…

Martha Well, who do you think did? Sexy, back there? You think he made his own wife sick?

George Well, you make me sick.

Martha That's different.

Martha Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf / Virginia Woolf, Virginia Woolf / Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf…

Martha What's the matter? Didn't ya think that was funny? I thought it was a scream.

Martha You laughed your head off when you heard it at the party.

George I smiled. I didn't laugh my head off.

Martha You laughed your goddamn head off.

Martha Truth and illusion, George; you don't know the difference.

George No, but we must carry on as though we did.

Martha Amen.

Maggie We've got one thing on our side. No, two things. Are my seams straight? Big Daddy dotes on you, honey. He just can't stand Brother Man and his wife...that fertility monster. She's odious to him. I can tell. Just like I can tell he likes me. That's the second thing we've got on our side. He likes me. The way he looks me up and down, and over... He's still got an eye for girls.

Brick That kind of talk is disgusting.

Maggie Anybody ever tell you you were a back-aching Puritan? I think it's mighty fine how that old fellow, on death's doorstep takes in my shape with what I consider deserved appreciation.

Cleopatra Strange, there has never been... such a silence.

Brick That's what you hated. Bein shut out.

Maggie Not by the crowds, baby. By you, by the man I worshipped. That's why I hated Skipper.

Brick You hated him so much that you got him drunk and went to bed with him.

Big Daddy Well, is that true?

Maggie Oh Big Daddy, you don't think I ravished a football hero?

Brick Skipper was drunk.

Maggie So were you most of the time. I don't seem to make out so well with you.

Brick Are you? Are you trying to say that nothing happened between you and Skipper?

Maggie You know what happened!

Brick I don't know what happened. I don't know, Maggie. Now I wasn't there. I couldn't play that Sunday. I wasn't in Chicago. I was in the hospital...

Maggie But Skipper played. Oh, he played all right. Played his first professional game without Brick...Without you, Skipper was nothin'. Outside - big, tough, confident. Inside - pure jelly. You saw the game on TV. You saw what happened.

Brick But I didn't see what happened in Skipper's hotel room. That little episode was not on TV. Go ahead, tell Big Daddy why you were in Skipper's room.

Maggie He was sick, sick with drink and he wouldn't come out. He busted some furniture and the hotel manager said to stop him before he called the police. So I went to his room. I scratched on his door and begged him to let me in. He was half-crazy, violent and screamin one minute and weak and cryin the next. And all the time, scared stiff about you. So I said to him, maybe it was time we forgot about football. Maybe he ought to get a job and let me and Brick alone. I thought he'd hit me. He walked toward me with a funny sort of smile on his face. Then he did the strangest thing. He kissed me. That was the first time he'd ever touched me. And then I knew what I was gonna do. I'd get rid of Skipper. I'd show Brick that their deep true friendship was a big lie. I'd prove it by showin that Skipper would make love to the wife of his best friend. He didn't need any coaxin'. He was more than willin'. He even seemed to have the same idea. I was tryin to win back my husband. It didn't matter how. I would have done anythin - even that. At the last second, I-I got panicky. Supposin I lost you instead. Supposin you'd hate me instead of Skipper. So I ran. Nothin happened. I've tried to tell him a hundred times but he won't let me. Nothin happened.

Brick Hallelujah - Saint Maggie! (He raises his drinking glass)

Maggie I wanted to get rid of Skipper but not if it meant losin you. (To Big Daddy) He (Brick) blames me for Skipper's death. Maybe I got rid of Skipper. Skipper went out anyway. I didn't get rid of him at all. Isn't it an awful joke, honey? I lost you anyway.

Maggie Why can't you lose your good looks, Brick? Most drinkin men lose theirs. Why can't you? I think you've even gotten better-lookin since you went on the bottle. You were such a wonderful lover... You were so excitin to be in love with. Mostly, I guess, cause you were... If I thought you'd never never make love to me again... why, I'd find me the longest, sharpest knife I could and I'd stick it straight into my heart. I'd do that. Oh, Brick, how long does this have to go on? This punishment? Haven't I served my term? Can't I apply for a pardon?

Brick Lately, that finishin school voice of yours sounds like you was runnin upstairs to tell somebody the house is on fire.

Maggie Is it any wonder? You know what I feel like? I feel all the time like a cat on a hot tin roof.

Brick Then jump off the roof, Maggie, jump off it. Now cats jump off roofs and they land uninjured. Do it. Jump.

Maggie Jump where? Into what?

Brick Take a lover.

Maggie I don't deserve that! I can't see any man but you. With my eyes closed, I just see you. Why can't you get ugly, Brick? Why can't you please get fat or ugly or somethin so I can stand it?

Brick You'll make out fine. Your kind always does.

Maggie Oh, I'm more determined than you think. I'll win all right.

Brick Win what? What is, uh, the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof?

Maggie Just stayin on it, I guess. As long as she can.

George Let me tell you a secret, baby — there are easier things in this world, if you, uh… happen to be teaching at a university, there are easier things than being married to the daughter of the president of that university. There are easier things in this world.

Martha It should be an extraordinary opportunity. For some men, it would be the chance of a lifetime.

George There are, believe me, easier things in this world.

Martha Some men would give their right arm for the chance!

George Alas, Martha, in reality, it works out that the sacrifice is of a somewhat more private portion of the anatomy.

Martha George is bogged down in the history department. He's an old bog in the history department. That's what George is. A bog. A fen. A GD swamp!

Martha A swamp! Hey, swamp! Hey swampy!

George Yes, Martha? Can I get you something?

Martha Ah… well, sure! You can, um, light my cigarette, if you're of a mind to.

George No. There are limits. I mean, a man can put up with only so much without he descends a rung or two on the, uh, old evolutionary ladder, which is up your line. Now, I will, uh, hold your hand when it's dark and you're afraid of the boogeyman, and I will tote your gin bottles out after midnight so no one can see, but I will not light your cigarette. And that, as they say, is that.

Martha Jesus!

Maggie Why are you looking at me like that?

Brick Like what, Maggie?

Maggie Like you were just lookin'.

Brick I wasn't conscious of lookin at you, Maggie.

Maggie I was conscious of it. If you were thinkin the same thing I was...

Brick No, Maggie.

Maggie Why not?!

Brick Will you please keep your voice down.

Maggie No! I know you better than you think. I've seen that look before. And I know what it used to mean. And it still means the same thing now.

Brick You're not the same woman now, Maggie.

Maggie Oh, don't you think I know that? Don't you think I know that...

Brick Know what, Maggie?

Maggie That I've gone through this horrible transformation, that I've become hard and frantic and cruel...Oh Brick, I get so lonely.

Brick Everybody gets that.

Maggie Living with somebody you love can be lonelier than living entirely alone - if the one you love doesn't love you.

Brick Would you like to live alone, Maggie?

Maggie No! No, I wouldn't.

Cleopatra The corridors are dark, gentlemen… but you mustn't be afraid. I am with you.

Honey They're dancing like they danced before.

George It's a familiar dance, Monkey Nipples. They both know it.

Honey I don't know what you mean.

Martha I like the way you move.

Nick I like the way you move, too.

George They like the way they move.

Honey That's nice.

Julius Caesar Ah, yes. I seem to recall some mention of an obsession you have about your divinity... Isis, is it not?

Cleopatra I shall have to insist that you mind what you say. I am Isis. I am worshiped by millions who believe it. You are not to confuse what I am with the so-called divine origin which every Roman general seems to acquire together with his shield. It was, uh, Venus you chose to be descended from, wasn't it?

Cleopatra We must not disappoint the mighty Caesar! The Romans tell fabulous tales of my baths and handmaidens... and my morals!

Big Mama Oh shoot, Maggie, you just don't like children.

Maggie Why that's not true! I adore them - well brought up.

Big Mama Well why don't you have some then and bring them up well instead of all the time pickin on Gooper's an Mae's?

Maggie Big Mama, what you said about havin children, it's still kind of a secret but...

Big Mama Oh shoot, Maggie, stop playing so dumb. I mean, is he still drinkin this stuff much?

Maggie Oh, well he may have had a little highball...

Big Mama Don't laugh about it! Some single men stop drinking when they get married. Others start. Brick never touched liquor before he was...

Maggie THAT'S NOT FAIR.

Big Mama Fair or not fair. I want to ask you a question, one question: Do ya make Brick happy? Well?

Maggie Why don't you ask me if he makes me happy?

Big Mama Cause I know that...

Maggie It works both ways.

Big Mama Somethin ain't right. You're childless and our son drinks... When a marriage goes on the rocks, the rocks are there, right there!

Maggie That's not fair.

Martha You make me puke!

George wasn't a very nice thing to say, Martha.

Martha That wasn't what?!

George A very nice thing to say.

Martha Oh, I like your anger. I think that's what I like about you most. Your anger.

Cleopatra Catullus doesn't approve of you... why haven't you had him killed?

Caesar Because I approve of him.

Cleopatra That’s how Romans frighten little girls. They like to frighten little girls!

Cleopatra There are never enough hours in the days of a queen, and her nights have too many.

Cleopatra I will not be told where I can go and where I cannot go!

Nick To you, everybody's a flop! Your husband's a flop, I'm a flop…

Martha You're all flops. I am the Earth Mother, and you are all flops.

Martha I disgust me. You know, there's only been one man in my whole life who's ever made me happy. You know that? One.

Nick What, the gym instructor or something?

Martha No, no, no, no. George. My husband?

Nick You're kidding.

Martha Am I?

Nick You must be! Him?

Martha Yep.

Nick George, sure!

Martha You don't believe it.

Nick Well, of course I do!

Martha You always deal in appearances?

Nick Oh, for God's sake.

Martha George, who is out somewhere there in the dark. Who is good to me. Whom I revile. Who can keep learning the games we play as quickly as I can change them. Who can make me happy and I do not wish to be happy. Yes, I do wish to be happy. George and Martha — sad, sad, sad.

Nick Sad.

Martha Whom I will not forgive for having come to rest, for having seen me and having said, "Yes, this will do". Who has made the hideous, the hurting, the insulting mistake of loving… me. And must be punished for it. George and Martha — sad, sad, sad.

Cleopatra How strangely awake I feel. As if living had been just a long dream. Someone else’s dream. Now finished at last...

Ben Banks Can't be June. I've got my final. Why not May?

Ellie Banks May's too early.

Tommy Banks July's out. I'm going to camp.

Kay Banks This isn't a kids party. It's my wedding and my friends.

Stanley T. Banks Ellie, what did you mean by?

Kay Banks No one has to raise a finger. When the time comes, I'll do everything. And I mean everything.

Ellie Banks I can imagine that.

Ben Banks I'm not going.

Kay Banks Listen! I don't care if you come or not!