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Elizabeth Stroud: Sit down, Robbie. I want to talk to you about her.
Robert Stroud: About Stella?
Elizabeth Stroud: Your association with her will bring you nothing but trouble.
Robert Stroud: I don't know what you mean.
Elizabeth Stroud: I thought from the start she's the wrong kind of a woman for you to align yourself with.
Robert Stroud: She's worked her heart out for me. She saved my bacon.
Elizabeth Stroud: All right. She was of use temporarily, but she's served her purpose. And now if you'll follow my advice, you'll get rid of her.
Robert Stroud: I don't understand what you're talkin' about, Mom. She's my wife.
Elizabeth Stroud: Your trouble began with that other woman in Alaska. She's the same kind of a woman. She's a common adventuress.
Robert Stroud: Don't say things like that, Mother. She's a good woman. And she's kind. And she'd do anything in the world for me.
Elizabeth Stroud: It's disaster, Robbie. She'll bring you nothing but heartache. Besides, all she wanted was the publicity.
Robert Stroud: Mother... you can't be serious. I can't believe this is happening.
Elizabeth Stroud: Give her up, Robbie. Forget her.
Robert Stroud: You act as though you wanted me here for all time. With you as my only outside connection.
Elizabeth Stroud: Then you choose her instead of your own mother?
Robert Stroud: Don't say any more, Mother. Please.
Elizabeth Stroud: That's your decision? To desert me?
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Robert Stroud: Why did you come 2,000 miles for nothing? Just to see me once a month?
Stella Johnson: I came because I'm your wife, that's why. Bob, the only life I got is you.
Robert Stroud: Then you've got a damned poor future, old girl. I'm never gonna get outta here.
Stella Johnson: I could get a job in a factory. I could write letters every day. It would be like old times.
Robert Stroud: You'd wither away and die waiting. Forget it, Stell. It's the end of the line.
Robert Stroud: Please, Bob.
Robert Stroud: Now, listen to me. Listen carefully. You fought your heart out for me. You fought your heart out for me, but the sun's gone down. And don't look for it to rise again. I want you to pretend that I'm a dead man. I want you to pretend... that you're standin' on my grave.
Ben Roseman
Extended Reading
