Quotes

A Walk in the Spring Rain

Ellen Meredith: Why is it that if a woman wants to accomplish something, even her own parents consider her aggressive, unhappy or neurotic?
Roger Meredith: Because it's usually true.

Libby Meredith: Oh, God, Will. You still believe in miracles. But, I don't. I almost did. Oh, I came so close.

Roger Meredith: It's amazing, isn't it. Imagine going on half-salary for the privilege of finding out that one was quite mediocre, really, when one could stay on full salary and maintain illusions of brilliance.

Roger Meredith: It's funny, isn't it. A man can lose an arm and people pity you. Lose a child and they cry for him. If he should lose himself, it passes as quietly as a marshmallow on a cup of hot cocoa.

Libby Meredith: I wonder if you have ever thought of me, if I may borrow a word that has been taken over by very young, as "a person"?
Ellen Meredith: You're my mother!
Libby Meredith: What a catchall that is.

Libby Meredith: I wonder, in the whole world, was there ever one child who really knew his mother?

Libby Meredith: Only the young are free to choose? To be taken by surprise and find - joy?
Ellen Meredith: Unfortunately, yes. Older people have made their commitments, they've accepted their responsibilities, they have other compensations.
Libby Meredith: Such as?
Ellen Meredith: Peace of mind.

Ellen Meredith: I know that father can be pretty trying. He's selfish; but, what man isn't?

Will Cade: You know what I found out? The clouds just keep right on movin'. Just keep movin'.

Roger Meredith: I always thought there was time - lots of time. But, there isn't, is there? Fifty-two years old and no scratch on the world, just, chalk marks on a blackboard.

Libby Meredith: Roger, do I know you too well - or not at all?
Roger Meredith: We're in a time of change, Lib. Did either one of us know each other?

Roger Meredith: Damnit, Libby, what do you think I'm trying to write? A damn bestseller? What do you want? Sex and the Supreme Court?

Roger Meredith: Why couldn't Mark make it or last night?
Ellen Meredith: You can't sell insurance in the daytime, father. Not when you're third from the bottom. It's all after seven.

Libby Meredith: I should have brought wading boots.
Will Cade: Here.
[Will picks up Libby and carries her across a stream]
Libby Meredith: I'm heavy.
Will Cade: Not as I can notice. No, you got a fine shape, Miss Roger. A fine shape.
Libby Meredith: Oh, listen, I'm a grandmother!
Will Cade: Oh, listen, there's a lot of woman left in ya, Miss Roger. A lot of woman.

Will Cade: Roger, how 'bout you and me goin' frog huntin'?
Roger Meredith: Frog hunting?
Will Cade: Yea, I got gun in the jeep and I know this breeding pond. There's some big devils! As soon as it gets dark, they'll be out.
Libby Meredith: Let us all go!
Will Cade: Well, it's pretty damp out there in the swamp. But, I got a jug of shine that'll help to keep us warm.

Will Cade: That's the male frog makin' all that racket. He's courtin' the ladies.

Libby Meredith: You are the only man, other than my husband, who's ever rubbed my feet.
Will Cade: Miss Roger, if you belonged to me, would you let me - wash your back?
Libby Meredith: Well, that's just something - one doesn't talk about.
Will Cade: Anyone to talk to? Tell me, do you let - Roger - wash your back?
Libby Meredith: Of course.

Libby Meredith: You are a wonder, you are, Will Cade.
Will Cade: Well, you might say I'm special.
Libby Meredith: Oh, and vain.
Will Cade: Nah, you're wrong, Miss Roger. It's just that you're never gonna meet nobody like me, at least ways, I never did. Though I'd like to.
Libby Meredith: Just what would you do?
Will Cade: I'd watch 'im. I'd stand back and watch 'im. See what he's gonna do.

Will Cade: You're full of love, ain't ya, Miss Roger. I mean, so am I! You know, there's no one can love more than me. I could love a woman so - so the roof could just come off the house from the happiness inside.

Will Cade: You know, Miss Libby, you know that - that I love you.
Libby Meredith: You mustn't say that! You mustn't even think that! I love Roger and I wouldn't do anything...
Will Cade: Of course you love Roger. It just makes me happy to love you. It's just something to think about. You know, at night I go to sleep, thinkin' of you. In the mornin', I wake up thinkin' of you! Well, I mean it's better than nothin'!
Libby Meredith: Oh, Will, it's childish. It's - it's fantasy. It's unreal and harmful.
Will Cade: Why? Is it hurting you?
Libby Meredith: No.
Will Cade: Well, it sure ain't hurtin' me! So, what's the harm?
Libby Meredith: It's harmful in a psychological way. Any deviation from reality can turn to - oh, the heck with it, it's just plain stupid, that's what it is.

Roger Meredith: We'll go dancing! I'm pretty good, remember? The Nile Casino, The Meadowbrook, The Astor Roof. Of course, I might not be tuned into all the new groovy steps, but, our age.
Libby Meredith: What's wrong with our age?

Will Cade: You got joy all over you, gal, jes shines outta yer eyes. Makes me happy, Libby, real happy!

Ellen Meredith: I've been accepted at Harvard - the law school!
[turns around, walks into the kitchen]
Ellen Meredith: Didn't you hear me? Mother? I thought that you'd be thrilled. I thought that father was going to be my only problem. I mean, you know how he feels about careers for women.
Libby Meredith: And Mark? How does he feel?
Ellen Meredith: Once he got over all that foolishness, thinking that I was emasculating him, then he got excited about the prospect. I mean, marriage should be a partnership. Why shouldn't the woman contribute?
Libby Meredith: But, she does Ell! As a mother and as a wife! Do you know what that means?
Ellen Meredith: It doesn't mean slavery.

Ellen Meredith: Mother, it hurts me to hear you say that I don't know you. You're a beautiful person. I've always admired you and respected you and I've loved you and I've tried to copy you.

Libby Meredith: [to Ellen] You and I, we're both afraid of the same thing: pointlessness of finally being nothing at all. You want to be somebody. Isn't that what you said? So do I.

Boy: Was you, eh, expectin' my daddy? Huh? Huh? Was you expectin' my daddy?
Libby Meredith: Get out of my way! You're drunk!
Boy: Don't I know my daddy? Like a bee to the flower that old man. He wouldn't let a gal like you get by, now would he?

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