- Mrs. Emily Hedges: Be careful, Joyce. When a woman starts getting old, time can be the avalanche and loneliness - a disaster.
- Mrs. Edna Blanton: It's a man's world. They get everything out of it. I've told Fred hundreds of times, I'd never divorce him. No matter what he did, he couldn't make me divorce him. I'm his wife till death do us part - and I'm very healthy!
- Joyce Ramsey: Your home is lovely, Mrs Hedges.
- Mrs. Emily Hedges: Are you satisfied now?
- Joyce Ramsey: Satisfied? I don't understand.
- Mrs. Emily Hedges: Oh yes you do, my dear. You understand perfectly. You've been angling for months to be invited here. Did you think I didn't know? You've done all the proper things. Let me beat you at bridge, flattered me about my clothes, laughed at my jokes.
- Joyce Ramsey: You're smarter than I thought you were, or I'm less subtle than I thought I was. Your clothes are good, but you're a dull bridge player. I did want to come here - I wanted my husband to meet your husband.
- Mrs. Emily Hedges: Well, they've done that. What's next?
- Joyce Ramsey: David may need financing. He may need business advice. If your husband likes him, he'll help him.
- Mrs. Emily Hedges: You are a ruthless climber aren't you? You won't be a nobody. You'll connive, manage, manoeuvre, do whatever is necessary.
- Joyce Ramsey: Naturally I'm interested in my husband's career.
- Mrs. Emily Hedges: Step over anyone to help it, won't you?
- Joyce Ramsey: Would you like us to leave, Mrs Hedges?
- Mrs. Emily Hedges: No, Joyce - I can't help thinking how you remind me of myself at your age.
- Joyce Ramsey: No wonder you recognised my technique.
- Mrs. Emily Hedges: Recognised it? My dear, I invented it!
- David Ramsey: There's an old rule: never play cards with strangers.
- Mr. Hedges: Come and have a drink. We'll get to be friends.
- Joyce Ramsey: Our children are going to have all the good things in life - all the things that you and I didn't have!
- David Ramsey: We had enough - we turned out alright...
- Joyce Ramsey: Without me you'd be nothing! less than nothing. And then you wouldn't be able to afford a conscience or to help your indigent, snivelling, whining friends, so-called.