American Playhouse (TV Series)

Who Am I This Time? (1982)

Dorothy Patterson: Doris

Quotes 

• [after trying to audition, Helene leaves the room, sobs, and then returns] 

  Helene Shaw : I'm terrible, aren't I?

  George Johnson : No! No, you're not, you're fine.

  Helene Shaw : [attempting a laugh]  No, I'm not. It was awful. I...

  George Johnson : You were...

  Helene Shaw : - It's like I'm a walking ice-box or something.

  Doris : Oh, nobody could look at you and say that, dearie.

  Helene Shaw : When people get to know me, that's when they *do* say it. I don't want to be the way that I am. I just can't help it. I feel like I'm in... Well, when I get to know somebody nice, you know, like, like in real life? I feel like I'm in... Like I'm...

  [She lifts her hands and mimes being trapped in glass] 

  Helene Shaw : ...in some, some kind of, um, a bottle, a-a-as though I can't touch that person, no matter how hard I try. I know what this play is about. I know what's Stella's feeling, I -

  [shakes her head] 

  Helene Shaw : - I know I should feel it, I, I just...

  [She raises her hands again, pressing against the imaginary bottle, and lowers them] 

  Doris : You what, dear?

  Helene Shaw : I, I just, I don't know how to begin!

• [Helene is auditioning for "A Streetcar named Desire," but she reads the lines stiltedly] 

  Doris : With a little feeling. Now, pretend that George is Stanley, and that you love him very passionately.

  [George smiles flirtatiously - in a rugged, manly way, of course] 

  Doris : On second thought, just try to imagine Stanley. Now, let's take it from where we left off.

  [George frowns at Doris, then looks down at the desk, deflated] 

• [last lines] 

  [Harry is proposing to Helene, and they quote - or paraphrase - "The Importance of Being Earnest."] 

  Harry Nash : I've never loved anyone in the world but you.

  Helene Shaw : I hope that after we marry, you'll always look at me just like this...

  [They kiss passionately. Then Helene realizes that they have drawn a crowd: George, Doris, and their other friends. She laughs in embarrassment] 

  Helene Shaw : ...especially in front of other people!

  [the others gather around, clapping and laughing] 

  Helene Shaw : How are you all?

  George Johnson : Obviously, not as happy as you two are.

  Helene Shaw : Well, George, you know, this week I've been pursued by Marc Antony, and romanced by Henry Higgins, loved by Henry the Fifth, and I was just proposed to by Ernest Worthing.

  [the others laugh and clap again, with exclamations of "awww!" and the like] 

  Helene Shaw : Now, don't you think I'm just about the luckiest girl in town?

  George Johnson : Listen, not only do I think so, but most of the women in town think so too, may I say, hmm?

  [Two young ladies pass by, glaring jealously at Helene] 

  Helene Shaw : Well, they had their chance!

  Doris : Probably most of them couldn't stand the excitement.

  George Johnson : See, I don't think, I don't know if you've heard or not, but I've been asked to direct the next play.

  Helene Shaw : George, that's wonderful!

  George Johnson : Thank you. I, uh, I was just wondering if you two might be available for the cast?

  [Harry whispers into her ear] 

  Helene Shaw : [grinning with delight]  Who are we this time?