The Good Fairy (1935)

Reginald Owen: The Waiter

Photos 

Quotes 

• Konrad : How's the lobster soup?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Terrible, sir.

  Konrad : What?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : If there's one thing our chef can't make, it's lobster soup.

  Konrad : Well, how's the filet of sole?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Filet of sole, sir?

  Konrad : Yes, yes!

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Vile, sir.

  Konrad : Vile?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : I couldn't' recommend it. We're so far from the channel, you know sir, it has to be packed in ice. I suspect that the ice gave out about half way, sir.

  Konrad : You don't mean?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Uhm...

  [Gestures holding his nose] 

  Konrad : It's terrible?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Unfortunately, sir.

  Konrad : Well, is there anything the matter with the... lamb?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Very leathery, sir.

  Konrad : What is leathery? How can lamb be leathery?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : I suspect it's goat, sir.

  Konrad : Goat! This is ridiculous!

• Detlaff, the Waiter : What's your name?

  Luisa : Luisa Ginglebusher.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Ginglebusher? Baron so and so, shake hands with, with Miss Ginglebusher? Never!

  Luisa : Well, wh..

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Don't mention your name to anybody. Just be aristocratic.

  Luisa : I'll try.

• Detlaff, the Waiter : [Standing and taking off his shoes]  And now, I'm going to give you a dancing lesson.

  Luisa : Can you dance?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : I've been watching it long enough to know the gist.

• Luisa : Oh, no, I've never been anywhere.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Really?

  Luisa : Except to the asylum.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Huh?

  Luisa : Where I came from.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : [as he slowly takes a dinner knife from Luisa that she's been fiddling with]  Ohhh. The asylum huh? Have you been out long?

  Luisa : Just this morning.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Just this morning? And how does it feel to be out?

  Luisa : Oh, wonderful.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : It must be, uh, uh, cured of course?

  Luisa : Huh?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : I mean, you didn't run away or anything?

  Luisa : Oh, no, I didn't run away. Some of the girls run away sometimes. They always bring them back.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Good.

  Luisa : Well, I, I don't blame 'em much for running away. It isn't as much fun as you think being an orphan.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Orphan asylum?

  Luisa : Why, naturally.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : [Looking very relieved]  I'm glad to hear it.

• Detlaff, the Waiter : Say, would you like some beer and sandwiches?

  Luisa : [Having dodged an aggressive Romeo, Caesar Romero]  Oh, yes, with a face like yours.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : What's the matter with my face?

  Luisa : I like it.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Come on, then. I know a place with music.

  Luisa : Oh, I love music.

• Luisa : [Directing seating as an usherette, with her pointing arrow]  Uh, you're supposed to go this way.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : That way?

  Luisa : Yes, sir

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Why?

  Luisa : Why?

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Yes, why?

  Luisa : Well, I, I, don't know, sir.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Then why do you do it?

  Luisa : Well, it's orders.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : You trying to give me orders?

  Luisa : Oh, no, sir

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Because I don't like being given orders. I take orders all day in the restaurant, and when it comes night time, I like to be free. Like the birds. Remember that.

  Luisa : Yes, sir.

• Detlaff, the Waiter : Little by little it will come to you.

  Konrad : Oh, shut up!

• Luisa : Oh, Detlaff, I'm so grateful to you. This has been the most wonderful evening in my whole life.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Not for me, it hasn't. I've never spent such an evening. This is positively the last time that I play nursemaid. If I ever do anything like this again you can call me a dish washer.

• Luisa : Look! Somewhere out there... Just think, somewhere out there in the night - maybe one of those twinkling lights, maybe one of those dark windows, is little Maxie, sleeping gently.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Little who?

  Luisa : He's worried about his rent, or how he's going to eat tomorrow, or something like that. And he doesn't know, Detlaff - just think, he doesn't know.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Doesn't know what?

  Luisa : That I'm watching over him while he sleeps. That I'm' taking care of him. That I'm his good fairy.

• Luisa : Even if he doesn't like me anymore, he's got to keep his pencil sharpener, Detlaff.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : Who thinks what? What do you mean, his pencil sharpener? The trouble with you is you've been drinking again.

  Luisa : Don't be silly. If you start off to be a good fairy you can't stop right in the middle.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : In the middle of what? Where does the pencil sharpener come in? You ought to go back in the asylum.

• Dr. Sporum : You are the good fairy. You flew into my life and changed everything.

  Luisa : No, you're the good fairy who changed my life.

  Detlaff, the Waiter : No, no, no! As a matter of fact, I'm entirely responsible.

  Konrad : If you say it was you, I'll punch you right in the eye. If there's any good fairy around here, it's me.

• Detlaff, the Waiter : [Meeting Luisa when she leaves the theatre employee entrance]  I thought I'd better just keep an eye on you. Where'd you get that fur?

  Luisa : I don't want an eye kept on me.