Tennessee Johnson (1942)

Ruth Hussey: Eliza McCardle Johnson

Photos 

Quotes 

• Eliza McCardle Johnson : Oh, that's a fine job Mordecai.

  [referring to the 'A. Johnson - tailor.' sign he's hanging up on Johnson's new shop] 

  Mordecai Milligan : I'm gettin' a brand new pair-a britches for doin' this.

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : Well I thought those old ones of yours would be too much for any tailor.

  [he chuckles and Mrs. Fisher walks outside from cleaning] 

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : Well, Mrs. Fisher.

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : Them cobwebs ain't been swept out since the Burgess moved out west, and I been chokin' and spittin' for weeks t'get the dust outta my lungs.

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : Well aren't you a good neighbor.

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : I ain't been messin' about in there to help that mule head. I'm-a gettin' paid! I'm gonna have the first new dress since the one I wore the day the parson tied me up.

  [Eliza laughs and heads inside to see Andrew] 

• Andrew Johnson : If I hadn't toted that gun, Milligan'd be asleep in his bed in there, not dead in it.

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : That's right, and we're gonna make 'em *pay* for it.

  Andrew Johnson : [begins addressing the crowd]  Put down those weapons!

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : You quittin' on us tailor?

  Andrew Johnson : I ain't never quittin'; from now on, never.

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : Then come along, join the party.

  Blackstone McDaniel : You begin this Andy with your cadence. And your tellin' us to stick up for our rights.

  Sam Andrews : You led the scrimmage when the sheriff Beery started throwin' us out the hall.

  Blackstone McDaniel : You done more-a your share-a fightin' your own self.

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : And who pulled the gun first?

  Andrew Johnson : It'll take me more than all my life... to pay for that.

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : He's quittin' on us. Come on!

  Andrew Johnson : No! Not fighting and shooting, hanging and burning: that ain't the way

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : Eye for eye, tooth for tooth: that's bible!

  Andrew Johnson : So you want to start killing. First you kill, militia comes from Nashville, then they start killing. And the dead they leave are you Maude Fisher; and Dick, you;, and Ebenezer, you; and Ethan, you; and you; and you McDaniel. Yes I told you to fight for your rights, but the constitution ain't to protect the dead, it's to protect the living.

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : Ain't nothin' in it I know of that says not to hang a murderin' sheriff.

  Andrew Johnson : I-it says the law hangs murderers, i-i-it says the people got the right to make the laws - that's us! And that's how we're gonna win our fight election day, and when we win it, we'll-we'll get Cass indicted!

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : How?

  Farmer : Lots of us ain't even got a vote.

  Blackstone McDaniel : You ain't got no vote Andy.

  Andrew Johnson : Well, a-a lot of us have. Come November I'm gonna have my ace paid for and a vote. Then we can elect one of our own sheriff; a common man, one of us!

  Farmer : Now you're talkin' crazy.

  Farmer : Who'll we get?

  Farmer : None of us is fittin'.

  Sam Andrews : Most of us can't hardly read.

  Farmer : We ain't good enough.

  Blackstone McDaniel : We ain't got no rights.

  Andrew Johnson : Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - those are our rights, as well as theirs. It's our fish in the stream, o-our flag on the fort.

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : Hey, what about the tailor? He's fittin'!

  Andrew Johnson : Me? No... no, I-I ain't fit enough.

  Mrs. Maude Fisher : [the crowd gathers around to encourage him]  You can read and write and figure.

  Farmer : And you can speak.

  Farmer : And you can fight.

  Sam Andrews : How 'bout it Andy? You're good enough.

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : [smiles and puts her hand on his shoulder]  And fit enough.

  all in this scene : [individual comments, non-discernable by character]  Eliza's right. / Andy for sheriff! / We can put you in. / Andy's the man. / We'll beat their pants off end let you sew 'em up! /

  [the crowd cheers all together and the scene fades out] 

• Addie : Now that Tennessee has left the Union and joined the Confederacy, I denounce Andrew Johnson as a *traitor* to the sovereign state of Tennessee!

  Andrew Johnson : May your black tongue rot in your throat you liar! No man can call me a traitor!

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : [gasping subtly from the balcony]  Andrew!

  [At the sight of Eliza he regains enough composure and the scene fades out] 

• Andrew Johnson : Now don't you want to hear what they had to say about your husband's speech?

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : No Andrew, please.

  Andrew Johnson : [reading the newspaper article]  'After being sworn in, the new Vice President indulged in an incoherent harangue concerning which the less said the better. In view of the obvious condition of the man between whom and the presidency stands only one human life.'

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : Stop Andrew, you were ill.

  Andrew Johnson : [depressed and sullen, in reference to his public drunkenness]  I disgraced my president. I disgraced my country and our cause.

  [doorbell rings and the bellboy brings in flowers and a card from the White House] 

  Andrew Johnson : Oh, I'm afraid to open this.

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : Oh, you needn't be. Mr. Lincoln sees deep into all hearts; he knows yours - all wool and a yard wide.

  Andrew Johnson : [reading Lincoln's letter]  'You ornery old galoot, if only you took a drink now and then you'd know enough about liquor not to fire yourself up with brandy on an empty stomach when you're sick. I know you only went through the ceremony for me because I asked you to. Don't worry at what they say; in hitting at you they're hitting at me, and I don't mind. We've got Lee all but whipped. You were a good tailor Andy, and you're going to help me now - you poor loyal cuss - to patch up the torn garment of our union. / Gratefully yours, / Abe Lincoln'

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : [They endearing hug]  Didn't I tell you?

  [the scene fades out] 

• Andrew Johnson : [addressing the gleeful crowd celebrating the Union's victory gathered around outside of Johnson's Hotel balcony]  The few words I shall say to you are not my own.

  [Quoting Lincoln] 

  Andrew Johnson : 'With malice toward none, with charity for all. Let us bind up the nation's wounds.' And General Grant; when he took Lee's army; was no pride, no boasting. He just said 'Let us have peace.' Now you trust and follow Mr. Lincoln to guide us under God for four years more!

  [the crowd cheers and the band begins to play] 

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : [as she lies in bed next to him at the window]  Oh, splendid Andrew. You said just the right thing.

• Andrew Johnson : [after gazing upon a portrait of Lincoln in the White House after his assassination]  I bark out at people. He knew how to turn 'em down with just a funny story.

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : The wonder of it; that you should work in his study, sit at his desk

  Andrew Johnson : The terror of it to ask myself every day of every hour 'what would he have done?', and not to know. Eliza, I ain't fit.

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : Andrew, it came to us at Milligan's forge that you were fit to be sheriff; you've grown a lot since then.

  Andrew Johnson : You tryin' to tell me I'm fit to follow him? You know better than that.

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : To follow him who is, who ever will be.

  Andrew Johnson : The trouble with me Eliza, I was never fit to lace up his boots, let alone stand in 'em.

  Eliza McCardle Johnson : You were the man he chose Andrew, to stand in his boots if anything should happen to him.

  [he smiles and lovingly nuzzles her hand]