Unwed Mother (1958)

Norma Moore: Betty Miller

Photos 

Quotes 

• Don Bigelow : [Catching Betty with packages as she falls from a department store ladder]  Are you all right?

  Betty Miller : Oh, yes. Thank you.

  Don Bigelow : My pleasure. I'm never too busy to help out a little lady in distress. So your, uh, first day?

  Betty Miller : Yes.

  Don Bigelow : Are you, uh, from Los Angeles?

  Betty Miller : [Giggles]  No. I'm a country girl. From Visalia.

• Betty Miller : [Sadly]  I think his headlights were a little dim when he saw me.

• Ernie : [Offering Betty a beer]  How about you?

  Betty Miller : Um. No, thanks.

  Ben : She don't smoke, drink or nothin'.

  Dee : What do you do for kicks?

  Betty Miller : [laughs uncomfortably]  Oh, read Schopenhauer and Spinoza... and help make coconut cake.

• Betty Miller : Mother, this is Don.

  Don Bigelow : I'm pleased to meet you.

  Mrs. Miller : I'm pleased to meet you.

  Don Bigelow : I, uh, had anticpated meeting a much older woman.

  Mrs. Miller : Daughters usually make out their mothers as old hags.

  Mrs. Miller : Mother, Don brought you some candy.

  Don Bigelow : It's nothing much. Just...

  Mrs. Miller : [Unimpressed]  Looks expensive. You're very generous.

  Betty Miller : Mother, please, you promised.

  Mrs. Miller : When a man begins by taking money from a young girl, I have a pretty good idea how it ends up.

  Betty Miller : Don, I had to tell her about the checks.

  Don Bigelow : Well, I'm glad you showed me what kind of family I might have gotten into.

  [Starts to leave] 

  Don Bigelow : You'll excuse me.

• Gertie : [In prison holding cell]  First time in, honey?

  [Betty nods yes] 

  Gertie : Little scared, huh? Ah, we all get scared at first. Don't let it throw ya. What are they holding you for?

  Betty Miller : I helped hold up a theater.

  Gertie : Well, you can't even hold up your chin. Well, never admit anything like that. Simply say you were accused.

  Betty Miller : We didn't use a gun or anything.

  Gertie : Save it for the judge. You got bail?

  Gertie : No. But they let me call my mother.

  Gertie : Oh. I thought maybe you were alone.

  Betty Miller : Well, I... Idon't have any friends here..

  Gertie : You from out of town?

  Betty Miller : Visalia

  Gertie : Visalia. You've got a lot of personality, honey. You could go places under right management. Ever hear of Gertie's Striptown?

  [Betty shakes her head no] 

  Gertie : That's me. I've got connections, honey. If things don't turn out right for ya, get in touch with me. Either way, get in touch with me, understand?

• Don Bigelow : [At the beach]  Are you going to stay down here with the kids or what?

  Betty Miller : Oh, we'll probably be going back soon.

  Don Bigelow : What for?

  Betty Miller : We came out early.

  Don Bigelow : Well, I've got a much better idea. Why don't we drive up the coast. They're not even going to miss you.

  Betty Miller : Oh, I couldn't.

  Don Bigelow : Why? Do you have a late date waiting for you at home?

  Betty Miller : I don't go in much for that sort of thing.

  Don Bigelow : Well, I have. With you it's not the same.

  Betty Miller : Well, I shouldn't really.

  Don Bigelow : Don't you want to go?

  Betty Miller : Yes.

  Don Bigelow : Then it's settled. Come on. We'll change in the car. Come on.

• Betty Miller : I'm sorry things are working out this way.

  Don Bigelow : Why be sorry? Everything's working out fine.

  Betty Miller : I mean our... our having to get married.

  Don Bigelow : Why are you complaining? You're getting yourself a husband and I'm getting out of jail. I think that's a pretty good deal all around.

  Betty Miller : You don't have to marry me.

  Don Bigelow : Really? That's not the way I heard.

  Betty Miller : What was the way you heard it?

  Don Bigelow : That I would serve every last day of that sentence unless I... I... Ha, what a choice.

  Betty Miller : You really mean that.

  Don Bigelow : What do you want me to do? Put my hand on the wedding Bible and swear that?

  Betty Miller : [Cries]  You...

  Don Bigelow : What?

  Betty Miller : [Giving him back a cameo he gave her as she leaves]  That's something I won't be giving to my eldest son.

• Mrs. Horton : Our home is supported largely from what we receive from the adopting foster parent. For that reason, we are reluctant to admit unwed, expectant mothers with police records. But I see no reason why we shouldn't make an exception in your case in view of what Mr. Curtis has told us are the circumstances.

  Betty Miller : Thank you. There are no excuses.

• Doctor : [Creepily to Betty]  There's nothing to be frightened about.

  [to his female nurse] 

  Doctor : If you knew she was nervous, why didn't you give her a sedative to relax her? I don't want to be around here all day.

  Doctor's Nurse : She's one of Gertie's gals. You want me to cancel out?

  Doctor : When I want your suggestions, I'll ask for them.

  [He checks Betty's eyes with his hands] 

  Betty Miller : Why are you doing that?

  Doctor : Let's say I'm a little bit choosey about my patients, dear. I don't take any chances.

  Betty Miller : Is it dangerous?

  Doctor's Nurse : Not a thing to worry about, dearie.

  Doctor : You'll have to stop shaking. I can't do my work!

  [to his nurse] 

  Doctor : She's too nervous. Give her a double sedative. Make it strong. Call me when she's ready.

  [Abortion doctor exits] 

• Betty Miller : You named the baby after the father, didn't you?

  Louella : I wouldn't name one of our cats after him.

• Mrs. Horton : There are a few formalities we have to finish up. Now if you will sign this paper for me please. You can sign it right here.

  [Betty stalls in signing the adoption paper] 

  Mrs. Horton : You know, Betty, the Paulleys have been very liberal with us. The check they gave us can take care of 20 girls, maybe more. What's the trouble, Betty?

  Betty Miller : I won't do it.

  Mrs. Horton : I thought we made an agreement. I... I thought that you agreed to do this.

  Betty Miller : I did. But it was wrong.

  Mrs. Horton : Is it?

  Betty Miller : That check they gave you. It was as if they were buying my child.

  Mrs. Horton : Betty, you are an emotionally young, stable girl. If you weren't you wouldn't be facing this problem now . Are you going to let your own selfishness stand in the way of a financial security for your baby? A chance to have a good home? A good education? A good future? Well, are you?

  Betty Miller : What about a mother's love?

  Mrs. Horton : Well, if you decide to keep your baby, what can you really offer him? Blank space on a birth certificate? The opportunity to be called a lot of nasty, vile names? A mother who has to act as both parents when she'll be so busy earning a living she won't have time to be one?

  Betty Miller : Don't worry about my child's future.

  Mrs. Horton : Well, Betty, I wouldn't if you would just place him in a proper home.

  Betty Miller : Well, my home is the proper home

  Mrs. Horton : Oh, who are you to stand there and tell me what is right and what is wrong? So far your actions have been wrong.

  Betty Miller : You don't know what it's like. You sit there so safe and sound and sure of yourself. on the other side of the desk.

  Mrs. Horton : I WAS on the other side of that... on the other side of that desk. 11 years ago.

  Betty Miller : You have a child?

  Mrs. Horton : There never was a Mr. Horton. But I had a child, yes.

  Betty Miller : I didn't know.

  Mrs. Horton : Nobody does.

  Betty Miller : You've never regretted your decision?

  Mrs. Horton : A million times. But I know the decision was the right one for my baby.

  [after a long pause, Betty signs the adoption paper and exits the office] 

• Mr. Paully : We do know how to raise a child. We had one of our own. Joey. And there was the war. Well, it's lonely when there is no one.

  Betty Miller : I understand that you were concerned about my criminal record. That my baby might inherit some of my traits.

  Mr. Paully : Well, I have to admit we were a little afraid of it. Now that we have met you, I am certain we have nothing to worry about.

  Mrs. Paully : And we hope it will be a boy.

  Betty Miller : Well, I will certainly do my best.

• Betty Miller : You know I use go hunting with my dad a lot. We had a bird dog named Katy. She got ill and was in so much pain Dad had to put her down to sleep. Ever see a man cry?

  Mousie : My Uncle Ben. When he was sauced to the eye.