The Silver Cord (1933)

Irene Dunne: Christina Phelps

Quotes 

• Christina Phelps : Have you ever thought what it'd be like to be trapped in a submarine in an accident? I've learned tonight what kind of panic that would be like. I'm in that kind of panic now. This minute.

• Mrs. Phelps : I used to watch David and Robert's photographs, just as I did their weight. I felt that I wanted a record of the development of their little minds and souls, as well as, their bodies. So, they were photographed every three months until they were 12 years old.

  Hester : Good heavens! What an awful lot of photographs.

  David Phelps : Now mother will be getting out the old family album. I remember one of me sitting in a shell.

  Christina Phelps : In the nude?

• Christina Phelps : Oh, there are normal mothers around. Mothers who want their children to be men and women and take care of themselves. Mothers who look on their children as *people* and enjoy them as people. Not be forever holding on them and pawing them and fussing about their health, tucking them up as if they're everlasting babies.

• Christina Phelps : You belong to a type that is very common in these days, Mrs. Phelps. A type of self-centered, self-pitying, son devouring tigress.

• Mrs. Phelps : I offer a mother's love. I bet you scoff at that.

  Christina Phelps : Not if it's kept within bounds. I expect to love my baby with as much and as deep respect as I hope my baby will feel for me - if I deserve its respect. To love my baby unpossessively and, above all, unromantically.

• Christina Phelps : Oh, Dave, it looks as though this experiment's really coming out right. Aren't you happy?

  David Phelps : You bet I am. Say, how about a slight demonstration of affection?

  [Christina gives him a long kiss] 

  David Phelps : Mmm. Not bad for a cold blooded scientist.

• German Doctor : I knew it. I knew it five months ago when you two were married, that this is going to happen. Young man, you are taking away my prized pupil. She has a rare gift and she throws it away for love. Huh, for love.

  Christina Phelps : Oh no, Doctor. I can go on with my work. At the Rockefeller Institute. I had an offer there two months ago.

  German Doctor : And you never told me. Well, that's very good! Go to the Rockefeller Institute. Keep up your work! You are the kind that can have both: a husband and a job. Some women cannot; but, you - you can.

  Christina Phelps : Why you darling!

• Hester : Hello. You're David and Christina, aren't you? I'm Hester.

  David Phelps : You're not. Well. Look, Chris. Here's Hester, who's going to marry my brother, Rob.

  Christina Phelps : Isn't she lovely.

  [reaches out to hold Hester's hands] 

  Hester : I think you're dears, both of you.

  [kisses Christina on the lips] 

• Christina Phelps : Dave and I met in Rome last winter. And then he came to Heidelberg where I was working.

• Hester : Now, what I say about children is this: have 'em, love 'em, and then leave 'em be.

  Christina Phelps : I'm not so sure that isn't a very profound remark.

  [Mrs. Phelps politely smiles] 

• Christina Phelps : You'll see that things come straight, somehow, and turn out for the best. Life takes care of those things. All we have to do is just keep out of life's way and make the best of things.

• Christina Phelps : The third time I refused Dave, he asked me for a reason. And I told him, I couldn't throw myself away on a big frog in a small puddle.

  Mrs. Phelps : Yes, but, you don't mean - you want him a small frog, a mere pollywog, in a great ocean like New York?

  Christina Phelps : Yes, I'm afraid that's just what I do mean.

• David Phelps : I hope you're going to behave. You ought to be ashamed - when you know how much my mother means to me.

  Christina Phelps : Your mother! Your mother! Always your mother!

• Christina Phelps : I've got to get this off my chest. Ever since we've been married, I've been coming across queer riffs in your feeling for me.

• Christina Phelps : You won't listen. You can't even hear me.

  David Phelps : I can hear you and a worst line of hooey I've never listened to in all my life.

• Mrs. Phelps : What is it you're about to say, Hester?

  Hester : Why, I was just looking at Christina's dress and I was just about to say, well, of all the lovely dresses I've ever seen, that's the loveliest.

  Christina Phelps : Yes, it is nice, isn't it.

  Mrs. Phelps : I know who that dress would look well on. Dave, do you remember Clara Judd? What a exquisite figure Clara always had and such distinction. That dress needs distinctions and a figure.

• David Phelps : What do you expect me to say?

  Christina Phelps : I don't know. I've never known. That's been the thrill of it.

• Christina Phelps : If my baby ever feels toward me, the way your sons feel toward you, I hope someone will take a little enameled pistol and shoot me, because, I'll deserve it.

• David Phelps : If you'd only leave things be, they'll be all right, you may believe it or not.

  Christina Phelps : I can't believe it and I can't leave things be.