The Painted Veil (1934)

Greta Garbo: Katrin

Photos 

Quotes 

• Katrin Koerber Fane : [after Townsend impulsively kisses Katrin]  How could you?

  Jack Townsend : I could.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : [to Fane]  Right now you and I are closer than we ever were... and much further apart.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : The water has to boil?

  Dr. Walter Fane : They say the longer you watch it, the longer it takes.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : My present for you.

  [holds up a negligee] 

  Katrin Koerber Fane : But don't you tell mother! She'll think it's wicked!

  Olga : Oh, it's lovely. But isn't it?

  Katrin Koerber Fane : Wicked? Why, of course, it's wicked!

• Katrin Koerber Fane : I like China very much. I like America too. I like all the places I haven't been.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : [to Townsend]  You seem to be like a Chinese garden fountain... everywhere one turns.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : Think of all the pork chops I could have if I married Thomas.

• Olga : [hugs Katrin tightly]  Come with us to the crossroads.

  Katrin Koerber Fane : No, darling, let's say goodbye here where we've always been together.

  [kisses Olga on the lips, four times] 

• Katrin Koerber Fane : He'll make Olga a good husband. And a good husband is what every girl...

  Frau Koerber : Well, what more do you want than a good husband? I like to know?

  Katrin Koerber Fane : Must he be good, mother? It's not very exciting to be good.

• Dr. Walter Fane : What are you thinking about? I'd like to know.

  Katrin Koerber Fane : Our house. My old home. Us. Everything - all at once.

  Dr. Walter Fane : Happy?

  Katrin Koerber Fane : I'm excited. Is that happy?

  Dr. Walter Fane : I hope so.

  Katrin Koerber Fane : And you?

  Dr. Walter Fane : Never a man so happy, anywhere, in the new world - or the old.

• Jack Townsend : You will come again sometime, won't you?

  Katrin Koerber Fane : I'd like to. Thank you, so much.

  Jack Townsend : You know, it's fun showing you things you haven't seen before.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : Oh, Missy, Master telephone. He say very busy. So sorry.

  Amah : Not coming home for dinner?

  Katrin Koerber Fane : No, Missy. He's very busy. All time - busy, busy. Maybe tomorrow, not busy?

• Amah : You like your dress now, Missy?

  Katrin Koerber Fane : Oh, just put it down. I'll dress myself.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : And who is he?

  Jack Townsend : The god of fate. He's supposed to frighten you.

  Katrin Koerber Fane : I'll oblige him. He's very grim. You can't laugh at him.

  Jack Townsend : Oh, yes you can.

  [Katrin laughs] 

• Jack Townsend : Things happen. We can't always arrange our lives as we want them. Or, even try to explain why we arranged them so...

  Katrin Koerber Fane : So strangely.

  Jack Townsend : So strangely.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : You've been as silent as a stone god. If there's something on your mind, why don't you say it.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : How you despise me.

  Dr. Walter Fane : I despise myself - for ever caring anything about you.

• Deputy Commissioner Waddington : What was I saying? Oh yes, you don't have babies. Of course, I don't have babies. Well, I don't have anything. Of course, I'm glad I was born. But, if I were a woman, in this cheery vail of tears, I'm hanged if I -

  [Katrin stands up, distressed] 

  Deputy Commissioner Waddington : I say, I didn't mean, I never do. I never mean anything. You know, dash well, if you ever decide to have a little one...

  Katrin Koerber Fane : Oh, please...

  Deputy Commissioner Waddington : I'd mother it, father it, I'd great grand-father it...

  Katrin Koerber Fane : Will you stop raving.

  Deputy Commissioner Waddington : You're not taking me seriously?

• Katrin Koerber Fane : I suppose I haven't a soul big enough to love a man like you. I'll never meet anyone as fine, ever.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : Why have you come?

  Jack Townsend : If you don't mind, that can wait.

• Katrin Koerber Fane : All I pray for is a chance to tell him how much I love him. You see, he doesn't know that. It's the only thing he ever asks the heaven for. In everything else, he gives. His life. His work. Everything he does. His love. Every second. Every hour. It's another language. It's another world.

• Mrs. Townsend : [Katrin stands up to leave with Jack Townsend]  Don't forget, we're dining with the Governor at eight, Jack.

  Katrin Koerber Fane : Thank you, so much.

  Mrs. Townsend : What for? My husband?