The Silver Cord (1933)

Frances Dee: Hester

Quotes 

• Robert Phelps : What are you going to do? Now?

  Hester : I don't know. Yes, I do too know. I'm going to marry an orphan!

• 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?

• 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] 

• 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] 

• Hester : The truth is I used to think quite often that one of my beaus was coming to the point. But, none of them ever did.

  Robert Phelps : Why not?

  Hester : Oh, I don't think it was entirely lack of allure, Rob.

• Hester : You're a queer one.

  Robert Phelps : You think so? How?

  Hester : As a lover. I've never seen another like you.

• Hester : You just leave things to me. If we're poor, I'll - I'll cook and scrub floors. I'll bring up our children. I'll take care of you whether we live in New York or - Kamchatka.

• Hester : I don't know if I quite share your enthusiasm for children.

  Robert Phelps : You will.

  Hester : Well, they don't exactly help a career, you know.

  Robert Phelps : Oh, have you got a career?

  Hester : Well, I fully intend to have one.

  Robert Phelps : Oh, I'm glad. What kind?

  Hester : Well, I - I'm not quite sure. I can draw pretty well and I'm not a bad musician - I might decide to compose. I might even write! I've often thought of it.

• 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.