Memorable Quotes from Mary Astor
10 quotesNavigating Awkward Situations with Grace
Nancy Gibson
How do you do, Miss Preston. Thank you. I'm delighted also. ... That's charming of you. I was wondering whether you and your mother would like to spend the weekend with us. Yes, I'm afraid it is rather necessary. You see, it seems to be the only way out of ... an awkward situation. Why, of course; I'd love to have you. You see, Don and I have a ... perfect understanding. And he suggested .. well, he thought that if you came down here, it would ... avoid a possible ... scandal. You know. Yes, scandal. You're sweet. I knew you'd appreciate my position.
[On the phone, with the 'other woman' (i.e. Peggy Preston, whom her husband Donald intends to marry just as soon as Nancy consents to a divorce); Listens.; Listens; Struggling to hold it together.; Listens.]
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Disappointment in Love Affects Relationships
Nancy Gibson
You mustn't mind Mrs. Ross. She's been disappointed in love.
[Following the sudden and unmistakably furious exit of her sister-in-law Sally Ross, clearly unable to stomach the combined presence of her brother with his new girl friend and would-be mother-in-law]
Billy Ross
She has not!
Mrs. Preston
I hope we didn't say anything.
Ross
You haven't said a thing. Sally's always like that when she's in the country.
Mrs. Preston
I like the country. Don't you like the country, Mr. Ross?
Ross
Yes ... when I'm in the city.
Nancy
Oh, here's the tea. Will you pour, Peggy?
Peggy Preston
I suppose I might as well get used to it.
Mrs. Preston
Aren't you having tea, Mr. Ross?
Billy Ross
I never touch it. My doctor tells me it's poison.
Mrs. Preston
Really?
Ross
I'll get you some.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Value of Home and Love
Peggy Preston
It was sweet of you to show me around the place. It's just too fascinating.
Nancy Gibson
It is lovely, isn't it?
Peggy
Yes, it really is. You know.... I never dreamed that I...
Nancy
My grandfather gave it to me as a present. He said, "No matter what happens to you, child, you'll always have a roof over you." I'm afraid Don will miss it. But after all, true love in a cottage is much better, isn't it?
Donald Gibson
Well, we thought you were never coming back.
Peggy
You really shouldn't leave me alone with Mrs. Gibson. She puts wicked ideas into my head.
Billy Ross
Ha ha ha... Impossible.
Peggy
She's been telling me more of her fascinating experiences in Paris.
Donald
Oh, now, let's be accurate. You mean her mythical experiences.
Nancy
Isn't he the perfect husband? No matter what you do, my dear, he'll always believe in you.
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The Complexity of Love and Loyalty
Nancy Gibson
And you said you wouldn't help me.
Sir Guy
I've always been a very weak character. You know, as a matter of fact, you have an extremely nice husband.
Nancy
Now you know why I fought so hard, not to lose him.
Guy
You can't ever lose a man who really loves you, and you can't hold a man who doesn't. And so, my dear, even though we'll never meet again, you'll never quite succeed in losing me.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Confession of a Troubled Life
Brigid O'Shaughnessy
I haven’t lived a good life—I’ve been bad.
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Confession of a Deceiver
Brigid O'Shaughnessy
I’ve always been a liar.
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Card Game Strategy Among Friends
Donald Gibson
One spade.
Billy Ross
Two spades.
Peggy Preston
Three spades.
Nancy Gibson
I pass
Donald
Four of spades.
[Lengthy deliberation, clearly distracted by the presence of Sir Guy Harrington, who plays piano while the others play cards.]
Peggy
Three would've put us out.
Donald
Oh, I'm sorry.
Peggy
Don always does that; he never bids to the score.
Donald
I said I was sorry, didn't I?
Peggy
Lot of good that would do you with some partners. They'd snap your head off.
Billy
But not you. You just smile and hold your tongue. Atta girl!
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The Nature of Marriage and Fidelity
Billy Ross
A wife should stick to her husband. If she doesn't, some other woman will.
Nancy Gibson
But Don has never been like that.
Billy
All men are like that. You marry them. You put them in cages. You lock them up every night and you say, "Oh, see? My nice tame husband." But you just leave him for a while and see what happens?
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Assumptions in a Future Encounter
Dolores de Muro
I shall see you again.
Don Cesar de Vega
You presume.
Dolores de Muro
I assume.
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Anticipation of Arrival Home
Nancy Gibson
Well, did you find out?
[Emerging from a brief catnap, she first turns to see an empty deck chair, then looks up just in time to acknowledge her traveling companion's return.]
Sir Guy Harrington
Yes, the captain assures me we'll dock by noon tomorrow.
Gibson
Oh, then we are making up time. I was so afraid we'd be late.
Harrington
So you're really... happy to be getting home.
Gibson
Oh, so happy.
Harrington
Just what does home mean to you, if I may ask?
Gibson
Why, it means ... everything I love! ... My house, my garden ... my husband...
Harrington
By Jove, I believe you mean it. It's most refreshing.
[Pauses to take a drag on his cigarette.]
Gibson
What's refreshing?
[Turns and regards her traveling companion quizzically.]
Harrington
Oh, to find, in this day and age, a woman who truly loves her husband. You know, I thought all American women were restless and dissatisfied.
Gibson
That just shows you haven't been to America.
Harrington
No, but I've met a good number of your countrywomen on the continent.
Gibson
Well, that accounts for it; our happy women stay home.
Harrington
You didn't.
[Gently]
Gibson
Oh, but that's different: my mother was ill in Paris, they cabled for me, now she's all right.
Harrington
You know, I must meet this exceptional husband of yours.
Gibson
He'll be on the dock tomorrow.
[Smiles]
Harrington
Aren't husbands the faithful old things.
[Takes another drag, ruefully conceding his defeat.; This elicits one more quizzical sidelong glance before Gibson laughs along with Sir Guy, perhaps belatedly grasping what has just taken place.]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.