The Children's Hour (1961)

Shirley MacLaine: Martha Dobie

Photos 

Quotes 

• Martha : There's always been something wrong. Always, just as long as I can remember. But I never knew what it was until all this happened.

  Karen : Stop it Martha! Stop this crazy talk!

  Martha : You're afraid of hearing it, but I'm more afraid that you.

  Karen : I won't listen to you!

  Martha : No! You've got to know. I've got to tell you. I can't keep it to myself any longer. I'm guilty!

  Karen : You're guilty of nothing!

  Martha : I've been telling myself that since the night I heard the child say it. I lie in bed night after night praying that it isn't true. But I know about it now. It's there. I don't know how, I don't know why. But I did love you! I do love you! I resented your plans to marry. Maybe because I wanted you. Maybe I've wanted you all these years. I couldn't call it by name before, but maybe it's been there since I first knew you.

  Karen : But it's not the truth, not a word of it is true! We've never thought of each other that way.

  Martha : No, of course you didn't. But who's to say I didn't. I'd never felt that way about anybody before you. I've never loved a man. I never knew why before, maybe it's that.

  Karen : You're tired and worn out.

  Martha : It's funny. It's all mixed up. There's something in you, and you don't know anything about it because you don't know it's there. And then suddenly, one night a little girl gets bored and tells a lie, and there, for the first time, you see it. Then you say to yourself, did she see it? Did she sense it?

  Karen : But you know it could have been any lie. She was looking for anything to...

  Martha : But why this lie? She found the lie with the ounce of truth. Don't you see? I can't stand to have you touch me! I can't stand to have you look at me! Oh, it's all my fault. I have ruined your life and I have ruined my own. I swear I didn't know it! I didn't mean it! Oh, I feel so damn sick and dirty I can't stand it anymore!

• Mrs. Lily Mortar : God will punish you.

  Martha : He's doing all right.

• Mrs. Lily Mortar : Don't think you're fooling me young lady. Any day that he's in the house is a bad day.

  Martha : Now, look! Let's give it up. I'm tired. I've been working since six o'clock this morning.

  Mrs. Lily Mortar : I know what I know. You can't stand them being together and you're taking out on me. Well, God knows what you'll do when they marry. Jealous. Jealous.

  Martha : Aunt Lily.

  Mrs. Lily Mortar : You've always had a jealous, possessive nature even as a child. If you had a friend, you'd be upset if she liked anybody else. And that's what's happening now! And it's unnatural. It's just as unnatural as it can be.

• Martha : Cooking always makes me feel better... Well, I suppose I'll have to feed the duchess, even vultures have to eat. I baked a cake. And you know what, I found a bottle of wine. We'll have a good dinner. Where's Joe?

  Karen : Gone.

  Martha : Patient? Will he be back in time for dinner?

  Karen : No.

  Martha : Then we'll wait dinner for him... What's the matter, Karen?

  Karen : He won't be back anymore.

  Martha : You mean he won't be back anymore, tonight.

  Karen : He won't be back at all.

• Martha : Sleep well, Aunt Lily, and knit up the raveled sleeve of care.

• Martha : What time is it?

  Karen : I don't know.

  Martha : I was hoping it was time for my bath.

  Karen : Take it early today.

  Martha : Oh, I couldn't do that. I look forward all day to that bath.

• Martha : You need clothes.

  Karen : What about you?

  Martha : I'm a skirt-and-blouse character. We're always in style. But you're not. You're Fifth Avenue! Rue de la Paix. You need to be kept up.

  Karen : Yes, like an old battle monument.

  Martha : No, I'm serious. I remember how you used to dress in college. The first time I ever saw you, running across the quadrangle, your hair flying. At the time, I was running from a chemistry professor. I remember thinking, "What a pretty girl."

• Dr. Joe Cardin : Go ahead and sing. A woman who sings while she works is a happy woman.

  Martha : Who said that?

  Dr. Joe Cardin : Joseph Cardin, M.D. You ever hear of him?

  Martha : No. Ethical doctors don't advertise.

  Dr. Joe Cardin : Ethical doctors starve.

• Martha : I'll give you what little money we have now.

  Mrs. Lily Mortar : You think I'd take your money? Oh, I'd rather scrub floors first.

  Martha : You'll change your mind after the first floor.

• Karen : Time for lights out.

  Martha : Well, it's your turn to crack the whip.

• Martha : Why don't you just crawl in and browse around?

• Martha : You should not be around children. When you're at your best, you're not for tender ears.

• Martha : What is happening here? Has everyone gone insane?

• Martha : It's not true! It's just not true. Not one single word of it! We're standing here defending ourselves against what? Against nothing! Against a lie - a great, awful lie.

• Martha : Let's talk about it tomorrow. I want to go to sleep.