The Children's Hour Quotes

Martha: There's always been something wrong. Always, just as long as I can remember. But I never knew what it was until all this happened.

Karen: Stop it Martha! Stop this crazy talk!

Martha: You're afraid of hearing it, but I'm more afraid that you.

Karen: I won't listen to you!

Martha: No! You've got to know. I've got to tell you. I can't keep it to myself any longer. I'm guilty!

Karen: You're guilty of nothing!

Martha: I've been telling myself that since the night I heard the child say it. I lie in bed night after night praying that it isn't true. But I know about it now. It's there. I don't know how, I don't know why. But I did love you! I do love you! I resented your plans to marry. Maybe because I wanted you. Maybe I've wanted you all these years. I couldn't call it by name before, but maybe it's been there since I first knew you.

Karen: But it's not the truth, not a word of it is true! We've never thought of each other that way.

Martha: No, of course you didn't. But who's to say I didn't. I'd never felt that way about anybody before you. I've never loved a man. I never knew why before, maybe it's that.

Karen: You're tired and worn out.

Martha: It's funny. It's all mixed up. There's something in you, and you don't know anything about it because you don't know it's there. And then suddenly, one night a little girl gets bored and tells a lie, and there, for the first time, you see it. Then you say to yourself, did she see it? Did she sense it?

Karen: But you know it could have been any lie. She was looking for anything to...

Martha: But why this lie? She found the lie with the ounce of truth. Don't you see? I can't stand to have you touch me! I can't stand to have you look at me! Oh, it's all my fault. I have ruined your life and I have ruined my own. I swear I didn't know it! I didn't mean it! Oh, I feel so damn sick and dirty I can't stand it anymore!

Mrs. Lily Mortar: God will punish you.

Martha: He's doing all right.

Mrs. Amelia Tilford: I don't believe this talk of jealousy between Miss Dobie and Miss Wright.

Mary Tilford: But I didn't say she was jealous of Miss Wright. I said that Mrs. Mortar said that Miss Dobie was jealous of cousin Joe.

Mrs. Lily Mortar: [about Mary] Oh, what happened? Did she fall?

Karen: No, I was disciplining her.

Mrs. Lily Mortar: And you finally hit her?

Dr. Joe Cardin: We can't go on like this. Everything I say is made to mean something else!

Karen: I guess every word has a new meaning. Child, love, friend, woman. There aren't many safe words anymore. Even 'marriage' doesn't have the same meaning anymore.

Dr. Joe Cardin: It does to me, and it should to you, if

[he pauses]

Karen: If what?

Martha: Cooking always makes me feel better... Well, I suppose I'll have to feed the duchess, even vultures have to eat. I baked a cake. And you know what, I found a bottle of wine. We'll have a good dinner. Where's Joe?

Karen: Gone.

Martha: Patient? Will he be back in time for dinner?

Karen: No.

Martha: Then we'll wait dinner for him... What's the matter, Karen?

Karen: He won't be back anymore.

Martha: You mean he won't be back anymore, tonight.

Karen: He won't be back at all.